Always Someone Marches Brave Here Beneath My Skin

Chapter 7

"WHERE IS SHE? WHERE IS MY WIFE?"

"Kara is exactly where she needs to be and that is where she will stay."

Alex, Sam, and Lena had spent the better part of the last 3 hours ignoring calls and text messages from an enraged James. Sam, being the calmest of the group, decided to answer his most recent call, if for no other reason than his constant attempts at contact were causing Kara to become more and more conflicted.

"Who the hell do you think you are, Sam! You have no right to hide her from me! You are NOBODY! You hear me? You are NOBODY to her! If you don't tell me where my wife is right this minute I am calling the cops!"

"If Kara wanted you to know, she would have told you," spoke Sam, taking a deep breath and ignoring the venom in his words. "I'm sure you read her text."

"Yeah, I read it. 'I'm not coming home James. I'm sorry. I deserve better.' Bullshit. Kara wouldn't dare speak to me that way! She knows she's mine!"

"KARA BELONGS TO HERSELF," Yelled Sam. "NOT YOU!"

Across the room, Alex was holding Kara close. Sam's change in demeanor caused them both to jump, and though Kara knew everyone was trying to help her, she couldn't help but feel a little guilty. Christmas was only a few days away and here she was stressing everyone out.

"I want to talk to him, Alex," whispered Kara.

"Kara you don't have to do that! Let us do it!"

"Alex, I need to do this. Please."

"Ok, if that's what you really want. But at least put it on speaker, that way if he threatens you there will be 3 witnesses!"

Kara nodded, agreeing to let the three women listen in on her conversation with James. Sam made her way back to the bedside and turned on the speakerphone before handing it to Kara.

"James. It's me."

"Kara where the fuck are you? Tell me now so I can come bring you back home where you belong!"

"I told you James, I'm not coming home."

"Like hell you aren't! Kara, you are my wife, damnit! You WILL tell me where you are now or so help me god..."

"You'll what James? Track me down and fuck me into submission?"

Everyone in the room, including Kara herself, was shocked at the words that had come from her mouth.

"I am your husband Kara!!!"

"I'm not coming home James. Please stop calling me."

"Kara, please. Just tell me where you are. We can work this out."

"No, James, we can't."

"You're really going to throw away almost half a decade of marriage? Just like that?"

Kara felt herself starting to question her decision. James hadn't always been the way he is now. There were good times, especially at the beginning. Maybe it was worth trying to fix things. Maybe he COULD change, maybe they could go to therapy and be happy and she could learn to enjoy being intimate with him.

"James, I need time to think. Please, if you ever loved me you will give me the time that I need. And stop blowing up Sam's and Alex's phone, and showing up at LCorp causing a scene. If or when I'm ready I'll call you, but until then James, please leave us alone."

"You WILL tell me where you are, Kara! If you need time to think, fine. You can think in OUR home. You can't hide with the rich bitch and the dykes for long!"

"James Olsen, I am going to say this ONE time. You will NOT talk to or about my sisters or Lena like that in front of me again!"

"I'm sorry Kara, you're right, that was out of line. I'm just worried about you. I don't know where you are or if you're ok. Christmas is only a few days away, I don't want to spend it away from you! I was going to surprise you but I bought us train tickets back to Midvale so we can spend it with our family. Please, Kara, just let me come pick you up."