Exs & Ohs

Kara finds Alex and Maggie waiting for her in one of the DEO’s labs. Alex is wearing her white lab coat over her usual special agent get-up, and Maggie is sitting on top of one of the counters, her legs swinging back and forth casually.

“Hey, Little Danvers!” Maggie greets her with a dimpled smile. This earns her a sharp glare from Alex. “Oh-uh, I mean, Hiya, Supergirl!” Maggie halfheartedly corrects herself with a shrug.

Kara laughs at the exchange.

“It’s okay, Maggie. I know, you know, and it’s fine.” She tells her, leaning against the counter next to Alex, who winces and gives Kara an apologetic look.

“I’m sorry, Kara, I didn’t tell her, I swear! She’s just so...damn smart.” Alex turns away from Maggie to hid the smile that pulls at her lips.

“This is very true.” Maggie says, smugly. “And come on, Little Danvers, glasses and a ponytail, really?”

Alex can’t stifle her laughter as Kara flounders.

“Hey! Okay, believe it or not, it works, alright!” Kara says defensively “Maybe not on you, but on most, I swear.”

“On most, huh? Like on Lena Luthor, the girl genius?” Maggie waggles her eyebrows causing Kara to turn a deep shade of pink.

“I-um...Lena doesn’t know.” Kara says uncertainly. Yet. She doesn't say. She glances at Alex as if for confirmation.

Alex shrugs placing several glass vials into a secure briefcase.

“She has like an above two hundred IQ, Kara.” Alex says skeptically.

Kara’s brow crinkles. She had been so nervous about starting a relationship with Lena with her Supergirl secret between them, and so eager to tell Lena this afternoon that it had never occurred to her that Lena might already know.

Kara shakes her head.

“No,” she says firmly “most people see what they want to see. Even Lena.”

Maggie shrugs “If that’s what you need to tell yourself.”

Kara forces a sweet smile. “Why are you here?”

Maggie smiles back seemingly pleased with her teasing.

“I went with Alex to that black marketplace, then we came back here and she slipped into that lab coat…” Maggie’s eyes roam over Alex suggestively. “I’ve been sitting here getting all sorts of ideas while she worked.”

“Maggie!”

The Danvers sisters both scold her loudly and turn red, avoiding each other’s eyes.

Maggie chuckles even as she holds her hands up in mock surrender.

“Sorry, sorry, I forgot you guys were, prudes.”

Alex scoffs, indignantly “I am not a prude! It's just...my little sister doesn't need to know that, okay.”

Kara raises her hand and points at herself “I for one am most definitely a prude.” She declares “And would rather not be scarred for life with images of my sister doing anything other than work in that lab coat. Thank you very much.”

Maggie laughs and shakes her head. “My life with the Danvers Sisters! I should get a tv show.”

“Here.” Alex says handing Kara the briefcase. “This is the anti-venom. You should get going.”

Kara takes the case, carefully holding it in both hands. “Right.” she nods, nervously.

Alex must sense Kara anxiety, she lays a comforting hand on Kara’s shoulder, squeezing firmly.

“Hey, we’ve done everything we can for him.” Alex reassures her. “If...if this doesn’t work, it’s not your fault, okay. You’ve done your best.”

Kara nods, not entirely convinced. “I know. I know. I just...I hope this works.”

Alex nods and gives Kara an encouraging smile.

“I’ll let you know how it goes.” Kara assures her, heading for the door.

“Up, up, and away!” Maggie calls after her with a wave.

----------

Kara’s flies to Midway in record time. Well, she imagines it’s record time. She’s never been to Midway before, and so there isn’t actually a record to beat, but nevertheless she feels she made good time.

Arriving at the address Lena had given her, Kara spots a Tate Industries helicopter on the roof. Lydia must already be here, which is both a relief and a annoyance.

Since this whole situation with Marshall Tate had started, Kara had been torn between hating Lydia’s guts and feeling sorry for her. Which was a rather disorienting feeling and came with no small amount of guilt. Here Lydia was counting on Kara, well on Supergirl, to somehow save her grandfather’s life and all Kara could think about was Lydia kissing Lena.

The situation was only made more awkward by Lydia’s clear contempt for Kara Danvers, but possible attraction towards Supergirl. Yeah, Kara was oblivious to alot, but she had picked up on that.

The whole thing was a mess. And Kara wanted nothing more than to save Marshall’s life real quick and heroic-like then promptly never ever see Lydia Tate again in her life.

Kara hovered just above the building, unsure how best to enter. Luckily, she was expected. Lydia and several armed guards walk out onto the roof and wave to her. Kara touches down, briefcase firmly in hand.

“Hey.” Kara says awkwardly, resisting the urge to put her hands on her hips in light of the briefcase.

“Hi.” Lydia says quickly “Thank you again for coming.” Lydia tries to smile, but it’s lost to anxiety as the blonde wrings her hands.

“Of course. Is he…?”

“Yes,” Lydia says gesturing inside “right this way, please.”

Lydia and the guards lead Kara inside and they all take the elevator down several floors. It’s awkward being in an elevator as Supergirl. She feels like too much for the small space.

Finally they arrive in a high tech laboratory that is obviously doubling as Marshall Tate’s hospice. Several doctors, all looking tired, are gathered to greet her. And there in the corner of the lab is Marshall Tate.

Kara had seen a few photos of him online when she was doing her research for the Co-Op. In the photos he had been a rather impressive man. Not particularly tall or broad, but very fit and handsome for his age. Just a few months ago he had been running marathons and now he had been reduced to a shell. He lay unconscious in the hospital bed, wires and tubes everywhere, a machine helping him breathe. He was incredibly pale and his cheeks were hollow. He’d obviously lost weight.

Kara suddenly felt the tragic gravity of the situation. If this didn’t work Marshall Tate would die, and soon. She steels herself against this possibility. This has to work. She thinks, her brow furrowing in determination.

One doctor steps forward eyeing the briefcase in Kara’s hand.

“Is this it?” He asks, hopefully.

Kara nods and offers him the briefcase, wordlessly.

The doctor takes it eagerly, taking out the medicine and going to Marshall. Lydia follows closely behind him. She goes to Marshall’s side and takes his frail hand in both of hers.

Her face is blank, emotionless as she stares at him, already preparing herself for the worse.

Kara keeps her distance, but watches at the doctor administers the anti-venom.

The clear liquid disappears into Marshall’s system and the whole room holds it’s breath.  Logically, they all know they won’t see results right away, and yet they all stare at Marshall as if he’ll jolt from sleep any second. The reality is it could take hours to see any improvement in his condition.

And so they wait hours. Kara stays, because how could she not? This man was counting on her. Alex was right, they’d done all they could, but Kara still felt the weight of his life on her shoulders. This is who she was. This is why she was on Earth, to save people. 

At last, Marshall’s results start to show improvement. His organ failure slows and then stops altogether. His fever dissipates.

“It worked!” The doctor declares in disbelief. “It really worked!” They all look from Marshall to Kara in awe of this apparent medical miracle. The doctors all gather to study Marshall's test results. 

Lydia, who is still sitting at Marshall’s bedside, cried quietly. She kisses his hand then his forehead, hysterical in her relief.

“It will take some time for him to fully recover.” The doctor tells her “It may be a few days before he wakes up, but...he’s going to be okay, Ms. Tate.”

Lydia nods frantically, smiling and trying not to cry. She stands and wipes tears from her eyes turning to Kara.

“You did it. I can’t believe it, honestly. You really...You really are a hero, huh?"

Kara shrugs and offers Lydia a reassuring smile.

“It wasn’t just me, Ms. Tate. But I’m glad we could help him. I’m glad you came to me.”

Lydia runs a shaky hand through her hair, glancing back at her grandfather.

“I just- I don’t know how to thank you.” Lydia breathes her voice breaking and tears glistening in her eyes again.

Kara steps forward into her hero pose.

“Well, you did say it was an alien gang selling illegal weapons that did this to him right?”

Lydia looks back at her nodding “Yes, the police here have been having trouble with them for a few months.”

Kara smiles mischievously “I would really love to do something about that.”