CHAPTER TWENTY ONE: 'Team Building'
"THERE IS ONE QUESTION I've been meaning to ask."
Alex and Lena had been in the interrogation room for a few hours. Giving and receiving information that was absolutely necessary, given Alex's state of desperation to end the murders.
At times, Lena would have a small insight to Alex's personality. A sliver to the kind, caring, courageous, slightly awkward older sister Kara described her to be.
She saw it through the way Alex spoke, firmly and clear. Sometimes she saw it through her light sense of humour, by being sarcastic when Lena was being vague or sarcastic as well. It was intriguing to see how the redhead can be two of the same.
"Go ahead."
"How do you sustain your… hunger?"
Lena thought about it. Should she bring Sam into the situation, it could cost more than she bargained. She could jeopardise Sam and Alex's friendship or hers. Or she could be offered more protection under the DEO. Something Lena hoped upon. Then again, it wasn't her place to say. She owed Sam's loyalty that much.
"I feed off animals."
Alex cringed. "Like deer?" She asked.
Lena shrugged. "I'll take what I can get. It renders me of my full strength, as opposed to a human diet."
Alex looked at the girl a bit in awe, "studying your biology would be interesting to look at." She murmured more to herself.
"Don't even think about putting me under a microscope." Lena remarked. "And haven't you already studied our biology with vampires you'd probably have locked away?" Lena asked coolly.
"We're scientists, not monsters." Alex argued, "we study them under consent. Believe it or not, some aliens and supernatural beings are much friendlier than you think. But so far, we have none that have volunteered."
Maybe because you stake them all Lena wanted to say. Instead, she raised her brow as if to say seriously? "What is it that you do here, Agent Danvers?"
"I'm a microbiologist here. I study the biology of aliens and other supernatural creatures. See what substances that can affect or alter their cells if exposed to it. For the better of course. I also go into the field when needed."
"And is that often?"
"Are you the one questioning me right now?" Alex asked incredulously, a hint of humour to her tone that surprised Lena.
"I mean, I am curious." Lena shrugged. "I had you pegged as a janitor there. Though I suspect 'when needed' means 'when I want to.'"
Alex scoffed, chuckling a bit. It surprised Alex too. How she found herself able to let loose now that the tangled lies within her burst open like a Jack in the box.
It was foreign for her to really get to know a vampire. Well, she barely scratched the surface with Lena. But it was rather different, for Alex to confide in her after months of having to pretend and lie to everyone. It almost felt good to catch a break from it all.
"It's a shame. I would have liked you. Too bad you're a vampire."
Lena rolled her eyes, "I am charming, as your sister says."
Alex gagged. "Gross. I take it back." The redhead stood up. "I guess this wraps it up for now."
Lena spoke up once again, "wait. You said you altered our cells, basically our DNA, for better. But, you hunt us. That seems counteractive."
"We hunt rogue vampires. Or, murderous vampires who have been lingering since the birth of Christ." Alex replied dryly.
Lena nodded and stood up. She stuck her hand out for a handshake, which Alex accepted with a firm grip. "Alex?" Lena asked, after letting go of Alex's hand.
They were walking down the corridors of the DEO. Alex looked at her and waited for her to continue. "When we tell Kara, and if she shuts us out—"
"If? I think you mean when." Alex sighed, putting the code in for one of the doors. "She has a habit of pushing people away. It's best to give her the space she needs. Trust me, I'm mentally preparing myself for the worst." The Agent pushed through the doors ahead of Lena.
"What will happen between us?" Lena asked softly. Alex stopped in her tracks, and turned around and wasn't expecting to see Lena so… broken.
The human's heart dropped at the sight. Knowing Lena after three hours, Alex learnt that she's become a woman of her own. She never had much of a mother figure. She rarely got to see her father, and her brother Lex was on a power trip.
Alex understood now, that after three thousand years of loneliness, and finally stumbling upon Kara, Lena was afraid she'd lose her. What stunned her the most was seeing Lena in this state.
Lena was shocked by it too. But she can't help but lean on someone other than Sam for a change. Sam, who Lena wanted to protect. But with Alex, it was like she knew the redhead can protect her too.
If she wanted that.
Sisterly instincts dawned over Alex, and she noticed that Lena must have craved for familial love. And in that moment, she found it in Alex. The older sister of Kara. The closest thing she could get to an older sister herself.
If she wanted that.
Alex wasn't sure of what to do. But she found it in herself to ask, what would Kara do? And so, for the first time in her twenty seven years of living, she hugged a vampire.
"Lena," Alex sighed, "she won't hate you. Like I said, the best thing for her when she processes this and when wants space, is to give it to her. She'll come around when she's ready."
Lena nodded silently, refusing to let herself cry in front of Alex. "Thanks." Lena cleared her throat, remembering her mother's words. Luthor women do not cry.
"Don't mention it." Alex let go of Lena when she felt her tense up, watching as the vampire straightened her posture. "I'll keep in touch."
Lena nodded, before the doors opened. Bright sunlight hit her eyes, as she blinked owlishly and jumped slightly, when the metal door shut behind her with a clang. Dirt and the hot sun was all she saw for miles.
"Where the hell am I?" She asked herself.
XXX
"Where the hell were you?!"
Lena wasn't surprised to see Sam waiting in her apartment, as frantic as any friend would be. "I tried calling you and you didn't pick up, so I came here and I see this— this paint."
"Sam."
"—and I thought, 'I must have gotten the wrong apartment,' until I saw polaroids of you and Kara."
"Sam."
"—Which you need to tell me about by the way, and so I tried tracing your steps and—"
"Sam!" Lena didn't mean to shout, but it's been a few days since her last feed, she's tired, she's had vervain in her system for the past twenty hours, was kidnaped and questioned about her brother who she hated discussing. Sue her.
"Sorry." Sam mumbled as she sat down on the couch. "You just make me worried sick, Lena."
"I know. I know, and I'm sorry." Lena's eyes fell onto her phone that was sitting on her kitchen countertop.
She checked the notifications.
Kara [11:43]: Got home safely :) thank you for tonight x
Kara [7:04]: Good morning, Lu! Meet up for lunch today?
Sam [8:00]: Where are you? You're supposed to take Ruby to school for me today!
Sam (7 Missed Calls)
Kara [8:32]: Hey, is everything okay?
Kara (3 Missed Calls)
Ruby Arias added you on Snapchat!
"What's a Snapchat?" Lena asked, a headache coming her way.
"You have Snapchat?"
"No, I don't think—" Lena paused. "Kara." She figured, after the blonde told her to 'get with the times, Lena.'
"Speaking of, are you guys a thing now? Officiated?"
Lena sighed, "as much as I love to talk to you about Kara, I really need to get blood in my system."
"Here." Sam rolled her sleeve up, but Lena shook her head.
"You're on vervain."
"Actually," Sam spoke up and Lena narrowed her eyes on her.
"You're not on vervain? Sam, I told you about Lex!"
"Let me finish, geez." Sam rolled her eyes, before she fiddled with the bracelet hanging around her left wrist. "I laced it. That way you can feed on me, without it feeling like you're downing a bottle of vodka. You'll thank me later."
Lena let out a sigh. "You're incorrigible. And for the record, I can down a bottle of vodka without it burning." The vampire gently took hold of Sam's wrist, before biting into it.
"I knew it!" A new voice was heard at the door, causing Lena to detach her fangs from her best friend's wrist and speed to the intruder to find—
"Alex?!"
"I had an inkling that Sam was your little pet." Alex said, although there was no bite to it. But she did feel a little hurt that Sam didn't tell her.
"Excuse me? Pet!?" Sam asked incredulously, before looking at Lena, "and aren't you supposed to tackle her or something?!"
"Dammit, guys!" Lena raised her voice, like a mother scolding two children. She certainly didn't expect this, or for Alex to 'keep in touch' within the next three hours. "Can't a vampire catch a damn break?" she muttered under her breath.
Her phone started ringing, and she growled, picking up the phone without looking at whom it may be. "What!?" She barked.
"Lena." Came Kara's relieved but hesitant voice.
"Oh, Kara." Lena's voice immediately softened, and Sam made a smitten face at Alex who snickered.
Lena rolled her eyes at the two, as she turned to talk to Kara in her room in private. "I'm sorry I didn't return your calls or texts." Lena apologised. "I'll make it up to you with lunch?"
"I just wanted to make sure you're okay." Kara said, "I didn't do anything wrong, did I?"
"Of course you didn't Kara. I just got caught up… with the wall painting." Lena lied, she pinched her nose at the lie that escaped her mouth. It almost became too easy. "I lost track of time and I slept in. I'm so very sorry."
There was shuffling on the other side of the phone, and a 'I'll be right there, Miss Grant.' Kara cleared her throat, "You can steal me in half an hour. We can try that new fermentation place."
There was a throat being cleared behind her, and there stood Alex and Sam. She knew the redhead needed her for today, based on the look she was giving her. "I'm sorry, Kara. Actually, something came up. With Lex."
Kara deflated."Oh." Lena can picture Kara furrowing her brows, a crinkle etching itself onto her forehead, "you offered to make it up to me with lunch... and you suddenly can't?" Kara said slowly. She didn't sound mad, she sounded suspicious and a little hurt.
"He needs me." Lena said shortly, cursing herself for not covering up better. "I have to go." Lena said, not wanting to spit anymore lies.
"Uh, sure. Text me later?" Kara sounded hopeful.
"Of course." Lena promised, before she hung up the phone and Alex looked at her sympathetically.
"I'm sorry, honey." Sam said, as she saw Lena's face fall.
Lena shook her head. "It's fine." But she knew it wasn't. "So, what is it today, Agent Danvers?"
Alex pursed her lips, before she dug something out of the leather satchel that hung by her hips. A blood bag. Lena's eyes darkened, her hunger resurfacing as her feed with Sam was rudely interrupted.
"I figured you needed your strength." Alex said, as she handed Lena the bag, who muttered a thank you.
"Hang on, are you guys like best friends now?" Sam asked, eyes flickering between the two. "I thought I was your best friend." She hissed at Lena.
"We're allies." Alex cleared up the air. "I'm curious though. Sam, did you know this entire time?"
"I'm her Alfred." Sam said in a nutshell, and Lena smacked her arm. "What?" Sam said defensively, and Alex understood her role in this play now.
"Right." Alex stated. "And you know what I do?"
"Well, I had suspicions. I guess Lena would have caught me up to date. But I guess this just confirms it all." Sam waved her hands around at Alex.
"So what can you do, Sam? Are you just Lena's researcher or something?"
"'Just Lena's researcher?' I can kick your ass, Danvers." And Alex let out a scoff.
"Yeah, right—" Sam effectively flipped Alex onto her back, using the element of surprise.
"You were saying?" Sam smirked, as she held her hand out to help Alex up.
"Damn, Arias." Alex muttered, as she stood up. "We could use you on the DEO."
"Uh, I think I'm good as a CEO." Sam said as she folded her arms. "I've got Ruby to think about too."
Lena finished up on her meal, satisfied that she felt replenished and energised. "Right. What's happening?"
"We need a briefing. Before we send you undercover."
"Briefing?"
"We explain the objective of the mission, your role in the task, an oath of secrecy to prevent the knowledge of the DEO to the public." Alex listed, also looking at Sam.
Sam's eyes bulged. "We're going to work with Lex?"
"I didn't agree to that." Lena said, sternly.
"Sam knowing doesn't mean she has to go undercover. She just needs to swear to deny the existence of the DEO, keeping it a secret organisation."
"No offence, but a majority of the vampire world already know you exist." Sam said.
"She's right. They think the DEO is just a new coven of vampire hunters, not an organisation that specifies for a range of supernatural and extraterrestrial life."
"I don't care, about the vampire world. I care about my world. The DEO is responsible for keeping them apart. Even if it means to eliminate the threat."
Lena wanted to fight for her world too. Not all vampires were careless like the newborns in National City. But in a world where vampires fight for themselves, or are under the influence of Lex, she knew she had to side with the humans.
"That's heavy stuff." Sam breathed out. "Alright. Where's your mysterious lair, Danvers?"