Insanity
2019
Kara snapped back into reality when her daughter enveloped her in a hug. Elaine was wearing a hospital gown and a pair of socks, which slid on the tile floor under her feet. When she pulled away, she scratched at her pale skin, her grey-blue eyes full of worry. She had her mother's crinkle between her eyebrows, which Kara found hilarious, but this wasn't a time for laughter. Elaine was sweating but shivering. Her eyes were watery, and her hair a wreck. She looked like hell.
"Mom." The teen whimpered, sniffling.
"Hey, what's going on?" Kara asked softly, motioning for the nurse to continue pushing her so that they could have the room.
"I don't know! Dr. Robbins said she'd run tests, but Mom, I'm scared." The young girl had never seemed so innocent before that moment. Kara was used to her strong demeanor. The kid was a badass, but now, she was a kid.
"Elaine, we need you in bed. Is this your mom?" A blonde doctor called.
"Dr. Robbins?" Elaine whimpered. "What's wrong with me?"
"Let's get you into bed, sweetie." Arizona cooed, pulling Elaine into her room.
"What's going on?" Kara asked, glancing between her daughter and the doctor.
"Elaine, it looks like you're in withdrawal." Arizona murmured.
"I hope he rots in jail." Kara spat, her eyes narrowing as she gripped the arm of her wheelchair.
"Don't we all," Elaine spoke through gritted teeth, falling back so her head hit the pillow.
"Arizona, is there any way to tell what she's on?" Kara sighed.
"Looks like some sort of cocktail of drugs, maybe some heroin, some hallucinogens." Arizona shrugged, running a hand through her blonde hair.
"Okay, well, we just have to wait it out then, don't we? I have to go see if Lena's okay." Kara pinched the bridge of her nose, shaking her head.
"Come on, I'll be your ride." The blonde doctor announced, stepping behind the wheelchair and taking hold of the handles. Elaine smiled weakly as Kara was rolled away
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Who's Elaine, Aunt Alex?" Lexa asked as the door closed behind her mother.
"No one important, sweetie," Alex stated simply. Maggie shot her a knowing look, but Alex ignored it. "We need to go soon and pick up Lyla, then we'll head to your place, and I'll stay there with you."
"Okay." Lexa sighed.
"Can Lyla stay and play for a while?" Lori asked, her little eyes lighting up at the mention of her favorite (and only) cousin.
"What about a sleepover instead?" Alex asked, glancing up at Maggie.
"That way we can all pick up Grammy from the airport in the morning together," Maggie added, sending Alex a gentle smile.
"Yeah!" Kayla squealed, hopping onto the ground to do a little dance. Lexa shrugged, refocusing her attention on her book. She was a tough kid, smart, resilient, brave, but she was terrified. Both of her moms were in the hospital, one undiagnosed, the other acting like a lunatic, and she was terrified. Kara was hurt, emotionally and physically, and Lena had forgotten her daughters.
"Hey, Lexa, do you want to come with me for a walk?" Alex called. The oldest of the sisters shrugged again, shutting her book carefully and leaving it on her seat.
"Be back soon," Maggie called after the pair, a slight frown on her lips. Lexa was so emotional but so closed off that sometimes it was hard to get her to even talk to you.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Why are we going on a walk?" Lexa muttered, crossing her arms over her chest.
"We're going to talk about why you're upset," Alex announced.
"I'm fine. If that's all, I'll go back." Lexa stopped walking, beginning to turn on her heel.
"Nope, one-eighty, back to here. I am a doctor, and I say bottling up your feelings is unhealthy." Alex stepped in front of the girl, blocking her path back to the room.
"You're a physical doctor, not a psychologist," Lexa replied simply, attempting to sidestep her aunt.
"I'm a doctor, you're a child prodigy, so we both know the physical effects of stress on you, and I know from experience that keeping it all hidden and tucked into boxes in your head can drive you to the brink of insanity," Alex called after Lexa, her words stopping the teen in her tracks.
"I'm not talking about this right now. I want to talk to Mama." Lexa muttered, her voice shaky. Alex pulled Lexa into her arms and held her there. It was easy to forget that Lexa was still a kid when she understood aspects of the human body that very few adults did.
"I know, sweetheart, but Mama needs some time to heal. She'll be better soon, and you can talk to her all you want, but for now, I'm probably your best shot." Alex murmured, placing a gentle kiss on the top of Lexa's head.
"Today started out normal, and now that I have Mom back, Mama's gone, and it's like the universe is just torturing me, and all I can do is watch." Lexa sobbed.
"Hey, you're here for your sisters. They need you right now. I need you. How the heck am I supposed to handle all three Danvers-Luthors and Lyla in the same house for a whole week?" Alex joked.
"You won't. Maggie and I will be there, and I hardly count as a kid anymore. I cook better than Mom does." Lexa giggled.
"Anyone can cook better than your mom, kid, it's not that hard." Alex chuckled, taking a step backward so she could see Lexa's face.
"Mama told me that once." Lexa's smile dimmed, her gaze falling again.
"You know why your mothers named you after me?" Alex asked.
"No, they never told me."
"It's because the second you were born, they knew you were going to a badass, just like me."
"Now you're complimenting yourself." Lexa rolled her eyes.
"I'm being serious! Kid, I'm an FBI agent. I caught Livewire. I'm as badass as they come."
"You're a big softie, and I have no idea who Livewire is."
"You make me feel old. Livewire was this insane serial killer who electrocuted her victims." Alex explained.
"Cool! How did she get the right voltage? I wonder how the autopsies looked. Did she go for the brain or the heart? Probably the heart, right?"
"You scare me sometimes." Alex laughed, draping her arm over Lexa's shoulder and leading her back to the room.