Another chapter, warning same as the last!
"He...he forced himself on me."
Kara turned her head as a lone tear slipped down into her hair.
Alex was quiet. There was nothing she could say and Kara was sure that she would leave.
but Alex didn't. "There were...signs."
"Of what?" Kara mumbled as she accepted that Alex didn't want to talk about it.
"Of rape. There were signs but I didn't want to believe it."
"I'm sorry."
Alex grunted and when Kara turned her head she could see the tears that she was so set on holding inside were sliding down her sister's cheeks.
"Don't. He should be the one who's sorry. He will be. You were on your stomach, when we found you. He was carving into your back and I saw...you were unconscious and I saw red. I wanted to kill him. Even though he..."
"I remember he took off...most of my clothes," Kara muttered through her fear of going into a dark place after telling Alex. "He said he wanted to see...if I would get my powers back sooner if-"
"No."
Kara lifted her hand to touch Alex' cheek. "You saved me."
"I was too late to keep you from hurting." Alex stood to her feet, restlessness in her body as they spoke about the hurts Kara had suffered.
"You were there in time for me to stay alive Alex."
"Why did you go?" Alex asked after what seemed like an eternity of silence. "We lost contact. Why'd you go in alone?"
"They had Mon-El...how is he? They-"
"He's fine. The bullet has been taken out and he's on antibiotics to keep the...Kara, why'd you go in there alone?" Alex asked again and Kara took a moment to feel the relief at Mon-El's health. He was okay.
"Cadmus. She called me, Lillian called me to tell me they had him. I couldn't reach you, so I decided that I had to go in and find him. I wasn't going to let him die."
She knew Alex wouldn't like it. It's why she'd gone before they had restored contact.
"You...I know you're Supergirl, but you're not invincible."
"I was until I gave them my powers." Kara cursed herself for it. Even after a year of being Supergirl she was still naive. "It's my fault Alex not yours or anyone else's."
She turned her head, tears slipping into her hair. Even though she knew Alex deserved to know everything she was done with the conversation. For now.
She feigned sleep and waited until Alex left the room before she sobbed.
It was all her own stupid fault.
She'd fallen asleep and had been asleep for two days. Her wounds, on the outside, healed quickly because of her alien blood but the ones on the inside...nothing could heal those kind of wounds.
Alex sat beside her sister as she rolled her shoulders and sighed. There was nothing she could do to help her sister and it made her angry. Mr. James had been questioned by J'onn and Alex together and apart but he had not told them any more of the plans CADMUS had.
"Alex?" Kara's voice broke through her thoughts and she looked up to see her sister look at her, confusion on her face. "Why do you look like you've been awake for a week?"
"I think because it's been that long...or something like that," Alex said with a smile. "You look better."
"I feel...I don't hurt as much." Kara moved around in her bed and then sat up. "Dizzy though." She lifted a hand to her forehead and rubbed.
"You still have anemia but the injuries have healed...mostly." Alex nodded at her and Kara sighed. "You've slept for a couple of days...nothing happened out there just so you know. The city is safe for now."
She could see the wheels in Kara's head start to turn and before she could explain, Kara asked, "what happened?"
"As your mother explained, sometimes this happens after a big trauma. You sleep while your body works to heal the wounds you've sustained and it'll make it easier to...I think it'll be easier to deal." Alex rubbed her burning eyes. "She told me that it might take a while for your earthly powers to return because of it though, which means you'll have to ride the next couple of days out without any of your powers."
"I don't mind." Kara slowly let her weight down on her feet and sighed in relief. It took Alex a moment to realize what she had said.
"You don't?"
"I kind of need to heal, Alex. On the inside. Even if I did get my powers back I need to take the time to heal my...I don't know."
"That makes sense." Alex nodded and Kara looked at her, suspicious of the turn. "I get it Kara. You have to deal with what happened to you, you didn't just...you have a lot to think about and a lot of healing to do before you can return as Supergirl." Alex felt a different kind of burning in her eyes as she looked at the pale face of her sister. "I love you Kara, I'll be here for you."
"Thank you, Alex." Kara slowly made her way toward her sister and leaned against her. Alex wrapped her arms around her and held her for a moment before she realized that Kara was crying. Sure, she was an emotional woman, always had been. But ever since the last conversation they'd had, she didn't expect Kara to actually let herself feel anything that could make her cry.
"Hey..."
"I was helpless, Alex. I've never been helpless and now I still feel like that. I don't know if...if I'm ever going to get over this."
Alex winced and rubbed Kara's back slowly, gently. "You will, Kara. You're the strongest person I know and not just because of your super powers. I've seen you deal with pain and you're so strong..."
"I'm just glad I have you...and mom..." Kara sighed as she leaned into Alex, tears sliding down her cheeks as she realized. She realized how many people she had around her, wanting to help her. "I'm glad I'm not alone."