Let's Let Go of Our Broken Hearts (Cause You'll be Safe in these Arms of Mine)

Chapter 2

The first thing Lena noticed when she started to come to was that she was still cold, but the hard icy floor of the fortress had been replaced by damp grass. Even as she opened her eyes, she remained in darkness. She could somewhat make out the shapes of twisted tree branches with leaves as big as a small child. Lena sat up, giving her eyes a chance to adjust to the darkness before standing to her feet. Once she felt comfortable that her vison was as clear as it was going to get, she attempted to stand to her feet. She must have stood too quickly because she found herself struggling to stand, the dark world around her spinning causing her to stumble. She was prepared to hit the ground but instead found herself wrapped in a pair of strong familiar arms.

"Lena!? How...How are you here?"

"Kara? Is it really you?"

Kara lowered Lena back down to the ground, keeping her wrapped protectively in her arms. As Lena leaned into her embrace, her body shivered. Whether it was from the cold of the forest she'd found herself in or from being once again wrapped in Kara's embrace, Lena will never know. Perhaps it was a little of both. Kara wrapped Lena in her cape, pulling her close to keep her warm. Using her heat vision, she lit two lanterns that had seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. Had she been thinking clearly, Lena may have questioned their existence. But after a year of fighting with Kara and months of searching for her, she was finally back in the arms of her best friend. Nothing else mattered right now! Lena can't help but continue to shiver. It's cold and dark and the whole atmosphere is terrifying!

"Lena, its ok. You're safe here. I've got you. Always!"

"I'm so sorry, Kara. It's my fault you're here in the first place. I should have found you sooner."

"No, Lena. This is not your fault! This was Lex. Not you!"

Lena was fighting back tears, Alex was right. Kara didn't blame Lena, at all.

"Kara, I."

"Lena."

Kara continued to say her name. First softly repeating it, then louder and louder, becoming more and more urgent. As Lena stared into Kara's eyes, the world around her began to fade. Kara's calming face was replaced with an urgently frightened one.

"LENA!!!"

The forest around them disappeared and was replaced by a dark wasteland. Lena was no longer wrapped safely in Kara's cape, but was instead lying on the dusty ground with Kara pulling on her hands screaming for her to run! She barely had the strength to stand much less run, but Kara's screams were urgent and compelling and somehow strengthened Lena to the point where with Kara's help she was able to make it to her feet, stumbling as she ran alongside her through twists and turns, mountainous rocks towering above them.

She could hear the familiar growls and snarls of the phantoms coming closer and closer to them. Kara pulled her into a small cavern and pressed their bodies together as close as they could go. Putting her body between Lena and the cave opening, Kara took one hand and covered Lena's mouth with one hand and putting a finger on her own with the other. They stayed pressed together like that until the sounds of the phantoms grew silent. Kara lowered her hands from their mouths and took Lena's hands into her own.

"Come with me."

Lena nodded. She was still too much in shock to ask any questions, so she just did as she was told. Kara led them deeper into the cavern, never letting go of Lena's hand even for one second. They seemed to walk for ages before coming to a large opening within the cavern walls where it seemed like someone had lived for quite some time. Lena looked around, taking note of the Kryptonian markings that covered the wall.