Chapter 2 - A Hard Listen.

CatCo. Cat Grant's office.

Cat hasn't seen Kara's face in so long that the reality of Kara's radiant skin, and kind blue eyes overwhelms her senses. She closes her eyes and takes a cleansing breath. "Kara." Cat says quietly, while rising from her chair. "Please have a seat. Eve please push my 1 pm to 2 pm." Eve nods. "Of course Ms. Grant" she says, as she closes the door.

Cat walks over to the couch were Kara is sitting, and takes a seat on the coffee table right in front of her. She looks at the Kryptonian intensely. "So tell me the truth - how good or bad have things been?" Kara is unnerved by Cat's gaze and blushes slightly.

"Things have been eventful" Kara says slowly, leaning forward slightly she takes Cat's delicate hands in her own. "We still need you" Kara says, her voice shaking slightly. "With Snapper going to Reuters and me trying to fill the gap, things have been messy. Not to say that I regret taking on the role, but I miss the simple joys of reporting." Kara drops Cat's hands, gets up and begins to pace. "I want to be a great reporter, but my other job is so demanding that I feel I can't figure out a way to make it work." Kara is now speeding back and forth.

"Kara stop - sit" Cat says, in a calm yet stern voice. Cat can feel her body tense as an emotional wave hits her. Kara returns to the couch, she sits down not bothering to hide the defeated look on her face. "You will have to choose or life will choose for you. If you let yourself get to your breaking point there may be no coming back from it... You have 2 weeks Kara - no more." Cat lets her gaze travel languidly along Kara's perplexed face.

Kara nods and stands slowly. She looks down at Cat and smiles. "Thank you Cat, thank you." She extends her hands and Cat takes them. Relishing their warmth, Cat allows herself to be pulled to her feet. Kara, still holding Cat's hands, takes a moment to really look at the woman before her - Kara likes what she sees.

Cat, seeing Kara's trademark bashful grin, smiles and shakes her head. "Get out of my office - you have work to do!" she says releasing Kara's hands and walking back to her desk.

Kara, now looking at her empty hands, immediately misses Cat's delicate and distinctively human touch. "Right away Ms. Grant - how about lunch tomorrow?" she says huskily, looking at Cat shyly.

Cat can feel her heart begin to race, she chuckles. "Of course Kara - now stop stalling and go!" Kara blushes, but can't think of any excuse to extend her stay. She nods and giggles quietly. "I'm going Ms. Grant."

When the door closes Cat collapses into her chair. She is shaking and gentle beads of perspiration have formed on her forehead. Why are you pushing her away? She needs you - she said it herself! Put aside this pathetic, self-sacrificing act, and take what she is so willing to give! Cat with her head in her hands takes deep breaths, she can feel a tightness all over her body and her temperature is rising.

"Enough" Cat says aloud. She stands up slowly and walks over to the garment bag hanging in the corner. On the bag is a note:

To be used in times of distress and turmoil

– C.

Cat smiles and shakes her head. Unzipping the bag she finds the calm and grace she has been grasping for.

Undressing quickly she wraps the awaiting garment around herself. Laying herself on the ground Cat takes deep yogic breaths. As her pulse slows all sensation disappears and she begins to float between her thoughts...

CatCo. Kara's office.

Lena enters Kara's office to find her gazing aimlessly out the window. "Penny for your thoughts?" she says resting 3 large take out bags on Kara's desk. Kara blinks rapidly and turns to Lena smiling. "What only a penny - have you fallen on hard times Lee?" she teases. Lena lets out a hearty laugh. "I see you're in good spirits! What's going on?" Lena says smiling, while reading an email on her phone.

"Cat is back" Kara says, with a dreamy look on her face that Lena misses. Stiffening slightly, Lena looks up. "Really - when did this happen?" she asks tensely.

Kara, not noticing the sudden tension, leans back in her chair. "Today. We had a long talk and she gave me an ultimatum. It's weird, I should be angry, but instead I'm relieved. She's one of the few people I really listen to - you know? As in - hard listen - Kara says, briefly meeting Lena's gaze.

Lena gives her a confused look ."I don't follow". Kara looks absently out the window. "I can hear her muscles move, her heart beat, subtle changes in her breathing - all as she's talking. With everyone else it comes through as noise, but with Cat it's like she has one sound. Coherent and clear..."

Lena looks at Kara and catches the dreamy awe like expression she missed earlier. She nods as she contemplates Kara's reverent, and clearly romantic, description of Cat Grant. Lena's heart constricts and her breathing grows shallow. Why not me, she thinks to herself...