Alex and Lena)
Maggie and Lena aren’t exactly sure how it happened. How Kara ended up with Maggie at her Alex’s place and Alex ended up with Lena at Kara’s place. Yet they’re both actually quite relieved by the strange coincidence. You see the Danvers sisters have been too busy trying to look after each other lately with zero concern for themselves. The death of Eliza had been equally, albeit differently, difficult for both siblings. They were both stubbornly trying to remain strong for each other leaving Maggie and Lena frustrated to no end. So when Alex goes looking for Kara and Kara goes looking for Alex, Lena and Maggie take the opportunity to distract them into focusing on themselves for more than a minute at a time. It’s easier said than done.
As soon Lena tells Alex that Kara isn’t home, she is on her way back out the door to continue her search. Lena stops her though, adamant to look after her older sister in law even if she risks bodily harm from the secret agent. ‘Alex, Kara is fine. She went to see you so she’ll be with Maggie or on her way back here.’ Lena reassures, ‘now stop for a second, take a breath.’ Alex shakes her head, she doesn’t want to stop. Looking after Kara is easy, she’s been doing it her entire adult life. Grieving for her mother, that’s something she doesn’t want to do. Something she doesn’t know how to do. ‘Lena, I can’t.’ Alex breathes out. ‘You can Alex, just sit with me a moment.’ Lena responds. Alex looks reluctant, still unconsciously edging towards the door. Lena can see the war raging in her head. Just as it looks like Alex is going to bolt a phone alert diverts her attention. Alex glances down at her phone and lets out a sigh. ‘Kara is with Maggie.’ Lena gives her an I told you so look that only a little sibling can give and then shakes her head when Alex still doesn’t move to sit. ‘Do you trust Maggie with Kara?’ ‘Of course I do. Maggie loves Kara.’ ‘Ok, well come sit down. We can finish that documentary we only got half way through last week.’ At that Alex smiles, it’s small but real and Lena considers it a win. The documentary only managed to hold the attention of their wives for an hour before they started talking about a police/Supergirl related incident that had happened earlier in the day, never missing an opportunity to debate, in good nature of course, the occasional clashing of their respective professions or their egos, if you asked Lena or Alex. Naturally Lena and Alex paused the documentary with loving annoyance to finish another time, without the other two... not that they even noticed.
Thirty minutes in and Lena pauses the documentary. ‘Where’s your head at Alex? Alex? Hey Alex?!’ Lena exclaims a bit louder. ‘Sorry Lee, I can’t seem to focus on anything for very long at the moment.’ ‘No sorry necessary, you know that.’ Alex nods but doesn’t offer anything else. ‘How about we watch something a little easier?’ Lena suggests. Alex nods again eyes watery. So Lena puts on Friend’s reruns and pulls Alex towards her, lying her head on her lap with a pillow underneath. A weakness of the both the Danvers sisters. ‘Did you want to talk Alex, you know you can tell me anything? You don’t have to be ok all of the time, especially not with me.’ At that Alex stops holding in the tears and starts to cry. ‘I just don’t know what to do Lena, how am I ever supposed to be ok this? She’s gone and I miss her but I’m angry and frustrated and I just don’t know Lena!’ Lena soothes her gently, fingers running through her short hair. ‘I wish there was something I could say to make it better but there isn’t. What I can do is repeat what my wise big sister tells be every time I’ve dealt with loss and grief. You don’t have to bear it alone and it’s ok to not be ok. I’ll always be here, you’ll always have your family. We love you.’ She receives only a watery chuckle followed by a vigorous nod but it’s enough of an acknowledgement for Lena. Alex isn’t sure she feels any better as she starts to fall asleep in Lena’s lap, eyelids too heavy to fight it. She does however, feel safe and loved. Maybe that’s enough for the moment.