Almost towards the end of the work day, Cat gave a quick glance up, in the direction of her assistant's desk. There she was, typing on her computer. Probably the e-mails Cat had asked ealier. She watched as Kara looked behind her, trying to see James in his office. Cat sighed. She couldn't belive how long the two were taking to get together. Anyway, the man was lying on his couch, recuperating well deserved hours of sleep.
Cat had done it all day. She had watched Kara occasionly, detailing her every feature, emotion and move. She frowned as she saw how her assistant was struggling to focus on her computer. Kara earased almost an entire sentence with a heavy sigh and leaned back in her seat. She closed her eyes and readjusted her pony tail in frustration. Eventually, she leaned on her desk and started typing again. Cat was exasperated.
"Kira!" she shouted firmly just to make her assistant come faster.
It didn't miss. Kara snapped her head up and stood up fast. Too fast maybe. She had to take support on her desk before heading in the big office.
"Yes, Miss Grant." she said automatically, pacing towards the desk with her tablet against her chest
"Go on the balcony." Cat ordered without looking up, earning only confusion
"Wh-I don't understand." Kara confessed perplexe
"Well it's rather simple." Cat started looking at her with a bored stare. But Kara knew there was something more in it. There was care. "Get out on the balcony and stay there until I come talk to you."
"Do you want me to... bring work?" Kara asked hesitantly, showing her desk behind her with her thumb.
Cat didn't respond. Instead, she glared at the young woman and it only took three seconds for Kara to go on the balcony. Once there, the kryptonian looked back in hope of more instruction but only saw her boss working intensely on her paperwork.
Kara looked around the balcony, not sure of what to do. Finally, she sat on one of the couch, her back to Cat and facing the sun. She took a moment to appreciate the warmth provided by the yellow star. Kara had always considered it was a privilege and a shame that she was one of the only beings on this planet capable of fully enjoy sunlight. The young woman closed her eyes for a second and sighed. She took in all of the energy she could before going back to work. Kara put her tablet on her knees and leaned forward to have a better grip. The work she could do was a little restricted since she hadn't the papers and the documents that were waiting on her desk. She didn't even have a pen. So the young kryptonian settled for treating e-mails.
What in the world was Cat planning? This was a very unusual situation. Forty five minutes had passed. The work day was officially over and Kara could imagine her coworkers getting home. But she couldn't. She was still on the balcony, waiting for her boss to come out. Kara had even wondered if Cat hadn't forgotten her. The young woman glanced inside and saw the Queen of all Media, still focussed on work. Kara wouldn't dare tell her she was still waiting. She hadn't been raised like that. She had been raised to obey her superiors, according to Krypton's education. And Cat was probably the only person capable to give orders to Supergirl and make her respect them.
Kara was feeling tired, really tired. The morning had passed quite easily even if she had to admit it had taken her a lot more energy than usual. The afternoon had been hard. Around 3 pm, a headache had dug through her brain, stayed stucked in the middle of her forehead and was still there. Focussing had became harder starting from that point. But Kara had taken upon herself and kept working. She had to keep working. It was the only way she could feel a little helpful and there was no way she would go back to her apartment and watch crappy TV again. And besides, there had been some improvement since the day before. Kara had ordered take out for lunch and everything stayed were it belonged.
But now the young woman could barely keep her eyes open. The effect of the work day additionned to the last rays of sunshine had some kind of soporific effect on her. So without really realizing it, Kara fell asleep on the couch.
Cat had done her best to forget about the young woman sitting on her balcony. She had decided to teach her a lesson. Kara had tried to take too much too soon and had done the mistake to hide her fatigue to everyone. This girl was definitely stubborn and stupid to think she would get away with it. Cat had glanced over the balcony a few times and had always seen her assistant moving above her tablet. But this time, she was immobile. Cat stopped her work and looked at the bullpen. It was empty. The night was almost settled. The woman stood up and walked curiously out on her balcony.
She was satisfied to find Kara asleep, her head slightly on the side, a hand still on her tablet. She looked so peaceful. Suddenly, Cat wondered if she should let her sleep or wake her up. But a quick thought made her decide. Cat crouched in front of Kara, took carefully the tablet and put it safely on the coffee table. Then, softly, she shook the young woman's arm. It took a few seconds but Kara finally awoke in a gasp of surprise and fear. Cat jerked backward and had to steady herself by putting a hand on the ground.
"Hey, everthing is fine." she reassured as her assistant looked around her a little lost. Cat didn't want to scare her and she had aparentely failed. But she had also expected an other reaction, something not so sudden and brutal.
Kara finally realized where she was and bent over, elbows on knees, taking her head in her hands.
"Oh my God. I'm so sorry, Miss Grant. It won't happen again, I swear." she said in embarassement
"Kara, stop." Cat ordered sitting on the table. "I knew this would happen. I made you fall asleep here." she added making Kara look at her in confusion
"I-I don't understand."
"Why didn't you tell me you were tired?" Cat asked firmly
"Because I wasn't." Kara tried, not convincing her boss
"Listen, I asked you earlier if you were up to the job but I already knew the answer. I knew you weren't strong enough to take on a full day of work. And don't you dare tell me the contrary." Cat said as she saw Kara was about to talk. "You're not like all the other employees, Kara. You don't go home as soon as the clock hit the right number. You stay until I tell you to leave and you don't complain, which I usually appreciate. But not today. From now on, you will get out of this office at six like everyone else does." Cat finished looking intensely in Kara's eyes to make her point.
Under the intensity of the stare, the young woman felt like she was forced to look back but as soon as her boss stopped talking, Kara immediately looked down.
"I just want to be useful. Or at least feel useful." she confessed snapping her head up and pressing her hands together. "I'm sick of staying home, I'm sick of Alex worrying about me, I'm sick of being afraid. And I'm sick of staying on the ground while all I want is fly!" Kara added standing up.
So there it was. There was the real frustration that was tirering the young hero. Cat turned slightly on the table so she could follow Kara with her eyes, who was now pacing the balcony.
"I just want to go back at saving people. I need to save people." she started waving her hands slightly. "I've known since I landed here that it was what I was meant to do. I've always felt that need. But now that I actually came out as a superhero...that need became stronger and when I'm not capable of doing so I feel guilty."
"Guilty of what? Taking time to recover from a near death experience? Doing your best as humanly possible?" Cat said after standing up and blocking Kara from pacing more
"But I'm not human!" the young woman whined back
"Right now you're not very far from it." Cat responded calmly. "You may still have your powers but you have to get used to the idea that you need to take it easy. People don't need a half-fonctionning hero. They need you at full power." she added making Kara sigh in acceptance.
The young woman leaned on the balcony and took a look at the city for a few seconds. Cat joined her not long after and waited.
"I just... I want this to be over and forget about it." Kara finally said, breaking the comfortable silence between the two women
"I know. Me too." Cat confessed. "You should go home now. Tomorrow will be a big day." she said almost smiling at her
"What do you mean?" Kara asked more relaxed
"It's just a hunch." the boss smirked before looking back at the city.
Kara took it as the end of their conversation and was about to go back inside. But just before stepping in, she spun back.
"Thank you Miss Grant." she said with all her honesty.
She waited a second but Cat didn't turn to face her. Kara smiled before heading finally home. She knew Cat very well and therefor, she knew her boss was smiling at the city. She had achieved her goal, she had teached her a lesson and Kara was grateful for that. Cat had started by being a mentor to an insecure and doubtfull Kara. A few months later, she had added friend and confident to the list. The young woman could only be admirative of the Queen of all Media.
In her bedroom, Kara was now lying on her bed. Talking to Cat had really been helpful. She was feeling relaxed, relieved. A little tired too but it wasn't bothering her. The young woman was just staring at the ceiling, thinking about all the good she would accomplish in a few days. A back thought still brought sadness since she couldn't bring good right at this moment but as Cat had told her, her time would come.
Suddenly feeling hungry, Kara got up and went to her fridge. She smiled as she saw a pizza that seemed to be just waiting for her. The young woman put it in the microwave and waited. It was rare and weird for her to wait like that. It felt unnatural but she didn't want to use heat-vision and lose all her energy again. Finally, the pizza was ready and Kara huridelly brought it on her , she sat crossed leg against the headboard and took her first bite of pizza in a long time. The kryptonian couldn't retain a moan of satisfaction.
She had barely finished her first slice that an other quickly followed. On that note, Kara decided to call her sister. She took her phone from the nightstand and smiled when Alex picked up after only two rings.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" the older Danvers asked from the other side of the line
"Good actually. Work helped me get better." Kara answered thinking about Cat
"Really? Is it weird to think you're lying even if I can tell by your voice that you're telling the truth?" Alex said making Kara chuckle
"It is, yes. But if it makes you feel better, I ate take out for lunch and I'm eating a pizza right now." she said picking up an other slice
"That's great news, Kara! You know, hunger is actually one of the first signs of recovery... especially for you." Alex joked
"Yeah." Kara chuckled. "So how was your day?"
"Pretty good too. Everyone is really nice to me. I think they are afraid more than anything else since I apparently yelled at a few agents when you were... uh, sick. Hank is following me everywhere. He's trying to do it discreetly but is falling miserably... Anyway, same as you, it felt good to be back." the agent confessed
"Alex, I thinking I'm going to put the suit on tomorrow." Kara suddenly said, changing drastically the subject.
The line went silent for a moment and the young woman could almost feel her sister's tension like she was in the room.
"Kara... I don't think it's a good idea." Alex started
"But I feel ready." the young kryptonian whined
"I know you do and I know you want to go back out there but... Just wait one more day so I can run some tests at the DEO... Please." the young agent said with a pleading voice.
Kara closed her eyes a second before answering.
"Ok... I'll come after work." she finally accepted
The next morning, Kara arrived at CatCo, the usual latte in hand and the usual bright smile on her face. She was feeling good, better than ever. Or at least the best in days. Walking in through the bullpen, Winn, who was already there talking to James, quickly saw her and noticed her sunny attitude. The young man stopped James and started to walk towards his best friend. The photographer turned in confusion and his face lit up when he saw the object of all the attention.
"Morning." Kara cheered when the two men joined her at her desk
"You look happy." Winn simply said, smiling
"Yep. Today is a big day." Kara started repeating Cat's words. "I'm putting on the suit again tonight." she added with pride
"Isn't it um...a little too soon?" James asked crossing his arms
"Well I won't actually save people tonight. I'm going to the DEO and Alex is going to run all kinds of tests. Check my strength and everything." the young woman explained
"That's great. So you think that tomorrow... you'll be flying around?" Winn wondered, trying to not fangirl too much about his favorite superhero returning to duty
"Hope so." Kara said before snapping her head towards the private elevator. "She's here." she added before standing and rushing with her boss' latte in hand.
The two men smiled, glad their friend was finally well in her head and physically. That's what they were hoping for anyway. They were a little scared about Kara returning in line of danger but waiting for it to happen at the same time. They were just hoping the tests would be conclusive.
Later in the day, around 2:45 pm, Kara was doing intense paperwork when her name, or at least a version of it, was called. The young woman stopped right away and rushed into Cat's office. She quickly saw that her boss wasn't at her desk. Instead, she was sitting on one of the couch on the balcony.
"Yes Miss Grant." Kara said stepping out
"Sit down please." Cat demanded showing the couch in front of her.
Kara frowned for a split second, wondering if it was an other one of Cat's tricks, before doing as told. The young woman frowned again when she saw that her boss had a note pad and a pen on her lap.
"Frist things first, how are you feeling today?" Cat asked
"Pretty good. I'm doing tests tonight and I might be back in action tomorrow." Kara said trying not to sound too impatient
"Really. Well that's an interestingly good timing." Cat said not very impressed. "If I brought you here it's to talk about what I suggested a few days ago. About people hearing Supergirl."
"Yes, the interview." Kara nodded
"Actually I was thinking about a public statement rather than a simple piece of paper." Cat corrected making Kara's eyes widened
"Y-You want me to talk directly to people? Like-like a press conference?" Kara asked in disbelief
"Exactely." the Queen of all Media confirmed with a smirk. "After what happened people are scared and worried. I'm sure you're aware that the crime rate lived its first major rise since Supergirl showed up. People need to feel close to their hero. They need to hear you say that you're ok to convince themselves that they are safe again."
"But what am I going to say? I don't know how to do this." Kara said a little panicked
"Don't worry, we are going to prepare a little speech for you and you won't have to actually answer any questions since that's my job." Cat assured. "You just have to reassure people. Tell them that you are fine and out of danger and tell them you're good to go back to work."
"That's it?" the young woman wondered in disbelief
"Yes, it's that simple. We'll do it in front of CatCo. The flowers will make a perfect background. We might have to stage a few things like your entrance or even your exit. Maybe you could leave by flying away. I'll make an annoucement on social networks. It will be all over the internet." Cat almost cheered. She was definitely happy to organize this ceremony and see National City's hero again. In fact, she was more than happy. She was thrilled. Her journalistic soul was so exited of doing the first ever Supergirl conference. It was going to be a worldwide exclusive.
"Um ok... You're sure it's a good idea? I mean there's going to be a lot of people and photographs." Kara said clearly freaked out
"Don't think about the number of people looking at you. Think about the number of people looking after you. That's how you do it. That's how you stand in front thousands of people and inspire."
Kara stopped talking, understanding how Cat was doing her job so well.
At the end of the day, Kara felt a heavy glare. She looked up and quickly saw Cat staring at her, threatening her with her eyes. A little confused, the young woman looked around and saw the bullpen slowly emptying itself. She understood quickly and gathered her belongings before heading out. On the parking lot, she met Alex who was waiting, leaning on the side of her car.
"Hey!" she cheered at a smiling Kara. "Still got energy?" she asked playfully
"You'll see at the DEO." Kara smirked. "You'll see how I'm going to crush these tests." she added making her sister laugh.
"Let's go then." Alex said before getting in the car.
A few minutes later, the two sisters were near the desert. Alex was driving in silence, listening to the radio. At first, Kara seemed bored as her elbow was resting on the passenger door and her head was supported by her hand. Alex wasn't concerned since her sister had always been bored during car trips. But then, the young woman started to look alternatively at the road and Alex. The agent noticed it and decided to intervene after a minute.
"Ok, what is it?" she asked a little annoyed
"What?" Kara tried innocently
"You're looking at me with your guilty face and I can see your leg doing ups and downs." Alex pointed
"Do you remember when Cat told us it would be nice for people to hear Supergirl?" Kara started. The agent nodded positively and waited for the rest, slightly concerned. "Well I may or may not make a public press conference tomorrow in front of CatCo." she added trying to shrink in her seat
"Kara!" Alex shouted in disbelief. "What are you thinking!? I mean what if someone recognizes your voice?"
"I think we're way past that, Alex." the young kryptonian shrugged
"But what if you're still too weak? You'll be promissing people a hero that you can't provide." the agent countered
"No I won't." Kara shot back. "I know I'm up for this." she finished confidently
"I really hope you're right."
Thirty minutes later, Kara was in her Supergirl suit, in front of the DEO entrance. Hank and Alex were right next to her, waiting, while Doctor Hamilton was placing all kinds of detectors on the hero's body. She was determined to get all the information she could. The doctor couldn't risk to put her patient in danger.
"Feels good, isn't it?" Hank asked suddenly breaking the silence
"What?" Kara wondered
"Having the suit back on." he explained as Kara's smile grew bigger
"You have no idea."
Alex smiled at the statement before regaining a more serious face. She stepped in front of her sister, taking the place of Hamilton who retreated behind monitors a few meters away.
"We are going to test all of your powers. You've already done some of the test before so you know the drill. At the first sign of weakness, Hamilton will stop everything. If you're feeling something isn't right, don't keep it to yourself." Alex instructed, making Kara nodd without hiding her determination. "And Kara...you're going to be great." she added less formally.
Kara smiled shyly at her and pulled her in a hug before looking at Hank for his approuval.
"After you're done with your tests, we're going to have a little discussion about journalistic exposure, Miss Danvers." he smirked, pointing a finger.
AN: Chapter 13!
A lot lighter in my opinion. Kara is definitely getting better and it's fun to see how she evolves from that point. Tell me what you think about this chapter and you can send me suggestions on what to do next if you want.
I think this story is coming to an end. I might write a couple more chapter because I don't quite see where I can go from now.
Next, of course, we'll see the Supergirl press conference ;)