DISCLAIMERS/NOTES

1. This is a fan fiction based on characters owned by DC Comics. I DO NOT OWN THEM. This is just for fun.

2. This is a femslash story. If you don't like that sort of thing, you won't like this.

3. Just a reminder: the Supergirl in this story is not Kara Zor-El, but the post-Crisis Matrix with an altered backstory. For more information, see Disclaimers/Notes for the first chapter.

TRAPPED

The attack came from out of nowhere. One moment the city street was normal, with people going about their regular activities - the next, decimation. A swarm of soldiers flew above, firing volleys to the ground below, then soaring away to other areas. It would later be learnt it was an assault from the Citadel, under the command of Blackfire, in an attempt to lure her sister away from Tamaran IV. But at the moment, that was unknown.

The Batson-Trix's were enjoying a light meal in a secluded area. Mary was five months pregnant and giddy with excitement. Mae was always near, protective but not suffocating. That closeness saved their lives, as the ensuing chaos was so abrupt, it was mere seconds before an explosive strike struck a nearby building. Mae switched to her costume - out of reflex more than anything - and put herself over her wife, as the mountain of debris engulfed them almost instantly.

Which led to them now, trapped under the rubble in a makeshift dugout, the only light coming from a smashed ceiling bulb from the building that once was. They were completely enclosed, with no exit. Supergirl stood on wavering legs, bracing the debris on her back. "Mary... are you... alright... ?"

Mary was on her knees, under her wife. "Oh gods... Mae, what, what happened?"

Supergirl clenched her jaw. "I... I don't know," she huffed. "Are... you hurt... ?"

"No, no... I'm fine." She looked desperately at Mae. "Whatabout you?"

"I'm... I'm holding it up... with strength and... telekinesis... " groaned Supergirl. "Don't know... for how long, though... " She closed her eyes in stress as tiny specks of dirt and debris trickled down around them.

The expectant mother's breath caught. "Mae, let me help you. Together we can easily get out of this. " Though she was the Girl of Steel, the shapeshifter's physical strength - even bolstered with telekinesis - was nothing compared to the World's Mightiest Girl's. Mary Marvel could probably brush aside the mountain of building above them on her own.

"No... " Supergirl strained. "Can't... risk... what it might do... to the baby... " That was indeed one of the things Dr. Mid-Nite warned them about. Though there was every chance all would be fine, there was also every chance Mary's transformations to-and-fro might cause damage to the child. So Mary Marvel had essentially been on maternity leave for the past five months. Sweat began pouring down Supergirl's head. "It's... so heavy... "

Mary knew what she had to do. "Darling, please... I can't let what might happen stop me from helping you, from... "

Supergirl frantically shook her head, closing her eyes tighter. "No, no, no... can't risk it... I... can do this... " She grit her teeth hard and her muscles strained. "Just... need some... leverage... " Her feet dug deeper into the ground. "Need... to... push... " Supergirl tried to move her back straighter, to raise the roof of debris and create an opening for escape. But it was too much - letting out a huge gasp in shock and pain, she lost her footing and fell to a knee. "Arrrgh!" Her entire body visibly shook as the enclosure became smaller. Mary squealed, knowing evenmore mass just fell onto her wife's back. "I... I... " Supergirl's voice was barely audible. "I... must... save... " Her other leg buckled and she was reduced to both knees, pinning them down evenmore.

Mary had to. Despite the possible danger, she had to. Any risk was not worth the pain of seeing the love of her life in this torture. It had to be done. "Sha... "

"NO!" Supergirl darted her head up, wide-eyed and crazed in desperation. "Don't... risk... !" She then clenched hard, her body shaking uncontrollably. "I... can... do... this... !" She somehow got a knee off the ground, planting a foot down. Breathing so hard it sounded like hyperventilating, Supergirl slowly, minutely, began to rise her body up, until she was eventually on a delicate standing position again.

Mary stared in wonder at her wife. The strain, the agony she must be in...

Supergirl continued the upward motion. The noise from the moving rubble above them was like groaning, matching the shapeshifter's own. Then, agonisingly slowly, natural light began to fill the enclosure. Tears ran from Mary's eyes as she saw an opening form, centremetre by centremetre...

Eyes closed tight, teeth clenched so hard blood trickled down her chin, Supergirl screamed in agony. "I... MUST... !" With a final thrust and roar of pain, she heaved the roof of rubble up until the opening was wide enough to pass through. "Go!" she screamed. "Go QUICKLY! For the love of everything, PLEASE!"

Mary took one last glimpse of her wife, then crawled through the opening out into the open street. Once clear, she instantly turned back to the dugout. "Mae... Mae!"

The expectant mother choked when she saw, from the small opening, two legs buckle again. She then heard the all-so-weak voice of her beloved from within. "Mary... I... love... "

Tears poured down Mary's cheeks. "NO!" The magic word was again on the verge of utterance...

Suddenly, the mountain of collapsed building began to raise up. Mary's jaw dropped as the mass of debris and rubble rose into the sky, until eventually, it was several metres above them. Then, as the mass seemed to move on its own, two figures came into view alongside it.

"Superboy! Miss Martian!" Mary blinked in shock. "How... what... ?"

The two Teen Titans moved the rubble away through the combination of raw strength and their own forms of telekinesis. "We were coming to investigate," said Superboy. "And help any survivors."

"And I sensed your distress like a foghorn," M'gann M'orzz continued. "A quick scan revealed your situation. I'm just sorry we didn't get here sooner."

"Thank you," Mary said sincerely. In the back of her mind she wondered if she should perhaps be asking what exactly caused the attack, but right now, all that mattered was her wife. She clambered to her feet and ran as quick as her belly allowed. Supergirl was slumped down amongst the dirt and cracked street, barely moving. Mary reached her and dove back to her knees. "Oh Mae, my love... " she wept. "Talk to me! Please... "

Supergirl shakily raised her head, looking at her spouse through pained, half-lidded eyes. "Are... are you... ?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Mary assured. She helped the Girl of Steel to a sitting position, then cradled her in her arms. "Oh Mae... why didn't you let me help you? Why did you stop me?!"

"Had to... protect... " Supergirl's exhausted voice whimpered. "... protect you... " She then groggily put a hand to Mary's stomach. "Protect you... both... "

Mary held the shapeshifter tight, rocking gently. "We're fine... we're fine... " she soothed. "Just rest... I'm right here... we're both with you... "

They stayed there for sometime, the only sounds Mary's soft tears of relief...