A/N: If it's possible, I think this update might be softer and fluffier than the first.
Thank you so much for all your kindness on the first chapter. Keep an eye out for more Sanvers fics, because I love writing this pair ( + little sister Kara, because she's pretty great, too) so much it's sometimes hard to contain myself. So, yeah.
I hope you like this. :)
Maggie's feet drag across the floor as she paces slowly outside Alex's apartment, phone tucked between her shoulder and ear as she flips through notes. Papers in one hand, pen in the other.
There'd been a discrepancy at the precinct over a recent case and even though it's just past midnight she has to stay on the line, talk through everything once again to ensure that a fifteen year old kid doesn't get let down by the system.
She's nearing forty five minutes on the phone call when she finally passes the pen to the hand holding the papers too, and pulls the phone from the crook of her neck.
Images of Alex shine behind her eyes as she closes them and leans against the door. "We all good here?" she asks after recounting details of the incident. She receives affirmation and bids goodnight to the other detective, clicking off her phone and turning around.
Soft, yellow light illuminates the apartment when Maggie steps back in. Her gaze is trained on the handle as she eases the door closed.
A sniffle catches her attention as the lock clicks into place and Maggie looks up, is met with Alex's silhouette in the dim room.
One hand grips the countertop as her legs wobble and her frame sways.
Another sharp inhale punctuates the still night air and Maggie knows exactly what it means—has her suspicions confirmed a mere second later when light glimmers in the water pooling in Alex's eyes.
"Hey," Maggie closes the distance and has her arms around Alex before the agent can even let out another quivering breath. "Hey, hey, what's wrong?"
Alex blinks and tears brim her eyelids before slipping over, painting tracks across her cheeks one drop at a time. She removes her hand from the counter and puts it around Maggie instead.
Alex squeezes Maggie close and the detective reciprocates the action as Alex buries her face in the crook of her neck. "Sweetie," Maggie whispers and runs a hand over Alex's hair. "What happened?"
A few moments pass before Alex's breathing steadies and she pulls away so there's just enough space for Maggie to hear her words. "I couldn't remember where Kara was, I know—know she was here but I don't know where she went." Alex takes a shaky breath. "And then…and then…I couldn't remember where you went either and I couldn't find my phone so—so I decided to go look for you but I wanted to leave a note in-incase you came back but I kep-kept misspelling everything I tr-tried to write." She hiccups and takes another sharp breath. Her words are higher and shakier, sentences a little slurred. "And… and…" She struggles to remember what she wants to say next and there's a little hitch in her breath and her features fall again and…
"Okay," Maggie says and brushes tears off Alex's soft, red cheeks. She crushes Alex into a tight hug. "Shh," she murmurs as Alex shakes with sobs and then flinches against her.
"I know it's hard, but you have to try to calm down, otherwise it's only going to feel worse and your head's just going to hurt more."
Maggie rubs Alex's shoulder, slips a hand under the back of the agent's shirt and draws slow, rhythmic circles against her skin. Finally Alex's breath isn't so ragged, her movements aren't so sharp.
"There you go," Maggie whispers into Alex's hair. "Good job." She presses a kiss against the agent's forehead.
"Sorry," Alex breathes.
Maggie shakes her head. "You don't need to apologize, Alex. It's okay, your brain is hurt right now but you'll be okay." Alex sniffles. "Okay," she murmurs.
"You just need time."
"Time," Alex repeats with a watery voice and warm lips that brush against Maggie's shoulder.
"Mhmm," Maggie hums.
"And maybe to snuggle too," Alex offers with timid words and a soft smile that turns up the corners of her lips.
Maggie laughs. "Of course." She leans back, looks Alex in the eyes, brushes tears from the brunette's cheeks and tucks hair behind her ear.
"You okay?"
Alex nods.
"You want to snuggle now?"
Alex nods eagerly, then scrunches up her face at the movement and brings a hand to rub her forehead.
"Oh babe, you are such a mess sometimes," Maggie teases as she takes Alex's hand and guides them to the couch.
"No 'm not," Alex mutters and curls into Maggie's side as soon as they sit down, draws her knees up to her chest and leans her head against Maggie's collarbone.
"I don't think your sister is the only puppy in the Danvers family."
Alex's face contorts in confusion. She pulls back to look at Maggie. "My mom's not a puppy."
Maggie rolls her eyes. "I'm talking about you, Danvers."
The agent's features normalize. "Oh..." her brows crinkle again. "Hey, wait! I'm not a puppy, either."
Maggie laughs. "Your cuddle habits would disagree, but whatever you say, babe," she teases as she runs her hands through Alex's hair and the woman settles back against her.
Alex shakes her head, feigning shock. "I'm injured, cut me some slack, Mags. So, I want to snuggle with my girlfriend, fight me."
"I, for one, am not complaining; and you, are absolutely not picking fights with anyone for at least a week, so settle down over there, Danvers."
Alex purses her lips and attempts a faux-glare at Maggie, but it hurts her eyes a little and it's so much more comfortable to just lie against her girlfriend and feel her chest rise and fall gently which each breath cycling through her lungs.
"Speaking of puppies and fighting and Danvers, where did my sister go? I seriously can't remember."
"She's working an article, apparently it's a big deal. The lead reporter called in sick so Snapper put Kara on it."
Alex smiles. "That's so great."
Maggie nods. "It is."
"You know what's also great?" Alex asks as she tilts her head to look up at Maggie.
"Huh?"
"You."
Maggie snorts. "I told you, you get soft on me sometimes, Danvers."
"I'm jus' so 'appy you're here," she murmurs and when Maggie looks down she sees that Alex's eyes have fallen closed.
"I'm happy I'm here too," Maggie whispers and runs her fingers over the ridges of Alex's ribs, feels the agent relax further against her touch and into the warmth of her side.
"Thank you for staying," Alex says.
Maggie laughs and nuzzles her nose against Alex's hair. "You already thanked me a few hours ago, but you're still welcome and there's still nowhere I'd rather be."
"Don't make fun of me," Alex whispers and shifts. Maggie can feel the agent drifting further away from wakefulness. "I had a traumatic brain injury."
"I know."
"I cried, earlier."
"I know, it was pretty scary. I don't like seeing you hurt." The detective threads her hands through Alex's hair and with each swirl and gentle pressure of her fingertips some of the ache in Alex's head is alleviated.
"That's 'cause you're soft, too."
Maggie smiles. "Always for you, Danvers."
At her words, a little identical smile tugs across Alex's features and she tucks her face into the crook of Maggie's neck. "Maggie," she begins, eyes still closed. She takes a deep breath. "I love you."
Maggie's heart swells and pounds in her chest at the woman curled against her. "I love you, too, Alex."