Chapter 7: Friends

Lena wasn't expecting any visitors that day. The weather was bright and the temperature warm, most people would be out and about enjoying their Saturdays. But not Lena. She had been rather slow with her work recently, and so she decided to dedicate this day to catch up and uphold her schedule. Though she was finding it hard to concentrate on the paperwork in front of her. She couldn't help but feel as if there was something seriously wrong about her best friend. Despite seeing Kara enjoying herself only a few days ago, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something deeper and more sinister at play within her best friends mind. She just couldn't let go of the image of Kara sobbing in her arms, her fainting at work. It seemed so… different. Lena felt bad that she couldn't do anything for her. A knock on her office door pulled her back to reality, sighing as she shuffled her still blank paperwork to the side of her desk.

"Come in!" Lena wasn't expecting the one and only Kara Danvers to walk into her office, yet she was almost relieved. It gave Lena a sense of normality to see her best friend walk into her office like she had done so many times before.

"Kara!" Lena couldn't help but smile. "It's so good to see y-" Lena paused as she noticed the way that Kara walked, leaning forward slightly as if she were in pain. Kara met Lena's eyes and forced a smile. The CEO's green eyes were stunning. Kara's view was suddenly overtaken by a painful flashback. The bullet from PSI's gun ripped right through one of Lena's eyes, the other rolling back into her head as she collapsed onto the ground. It was all Kara's fault… Kara snapped out of it, noticing Lena's look of concern and giving a reassuring smile as she sat opposite Lena at her desk, putting her small bag down next to the seat.

"Lena… I haven't been totally honest with you."

"What do you mean?" Lena attempted to sound comforting.

"I, well, it's not just panic attacks. Something happened, and it really got to me."

"Kara. Whatever it is, you can tell me. I won't judge you. I'm your friend." Lena took Kara's hand, mentally noting that Kara was slightly trembling.

"I've-" Kara choked back a sob, but managed to pull herself together. She hated feeling so weak and vunerable, dumping her feelings onto Lena like this.

"I've-" Kara couldn't force the words out. So she decided that showing Lena would make it so much easier to communicate. Kara took in a shaky breath as she used the hand that Lena wasn't holding to pull up her sleeve. Kara closed her eyes in shame, not wanting to remind herself of what her scars looked like.

Lena raised her hands to her mouth as she took in the grisly sight. There were deep cuts in even and almost measured lines up and down Kara's arm. Lena knew that Kara wasn't okay, but she had no idea that it would come to self-harm. Lena sat in shock, having no idea what to say or do. How had she not known about this? Apparently Kara was better at keeping secrets that she had thought. Lena pulled herself from that train of thought, and decided that she needed to say something, anything to help Kara feel better in some shape or form.

"Kara, you're not alone, I'm here for you. But you need to promise me that you won't do this again. You can't do this to yourself okay? I won't let you." Lena's face changed to confusion as she heard Kara chuckle slightly under her breath.

"What's so funny?" Lena genuinely wanted to know if she had said something wrong.

"No no it's nothing. You just sound exactly like my sister."

"Yeah well your sister has a point, Kara. I… I'm sorry that I didn't know. You shouldn't have had to go through this without a friend by your side."

"You don't have to apologise Lena. You've done nothing wrong. I'm sorry for not telling you sooner. I was afraid of what you'd think of me…"

"Stop, stop. I would never, ever think anything bad of you because you've reached out for help. This is what friends are for. Just please don't do this again, for me."

"Okay. I promise that I won't. I'm sorry." Kara said in a small voice. Lena walked around her desk and enveloped Kara in her arms.

"Kara, you don't have to be sorry."

Kara couldn't keep the tears at bay anymore. They began to cascade down her face as she began to quietly cry.

Dammit, pull it together. You've cried more in this month alone than you have in the past year.

Kara sniffled and wiped her eyes with her sleeve, untangling herself from Lena and abruptly standing. Kara picked up her bag and made for the door.

"I'm sorry for piling this all on you Lena, you shouldn't have to deal with this. I've got to go."

"Kara, wait. You don't ever have to use a brave face around me, you know. I'll be here for you no matter what."

"I know. Thanks Lena. I'll see you soon." And with a sad smile, Kara exited Lena's office. Lena didn't know what to think. That had certainly been an eventful hour.

"Kara…" Lena mumbled to herself as she sat back down at her desk. She made a promise there and then, that she would help her best friend through this, like Kara had done for her so many times in the past. But Lena couldn't help but wonder what the "something" was that turned Kara Danvers, the living embodiment of sunshine and happiness, into only a shell of what she knew her best friend to be. The more she knew about what happened, the more she could help Kara. Time to find out…

Lena stood up, putting the work that she was supposed to be doing into a draw on her left. She would pass it down to her desk employees to complete later. She walked to the door, picking up her coat and handbag on the way. Lena took the elevator down and left L-corp. She turned left towards Cat Co, hoping to find James or Winn. She would find out what happened, and she would find a way to help Kara. Her best friend needed her by her side, and God knows that she'll be there.

Author's Note: Hey guys! Sorry for such a large delay in getting this chapter out! I've been completely swamped with school work and music that I've had barely any time to write! I'll try to keep to a faster schedule, and hopefully the next chapters will be a little more interesting than this particular one. Thanks for sticking with me, you won't regret it. :)