The Heat of Ice

5.

"Wow, I'm surprised you are here."

Lena walked in to the rink fully expecting it to be empty today. Surprisingly, finds Kara sitting near the door of the rink, taking off her skates.

"Hey," Kara says with an easy smile.

Lena goes to the bench to put on her skates, sitting next to Kara.

"How are you?" Lena asks quietly.

"Better," Kara says with a sigh, "I definitely needed some extra rest."

"Yea, maybe waking up at 3am isn't really the best idea for you," Lena responds with a laugh.

"No, I am alright now," Kara starts, "I was just overdoing it yesterday. Stressing myself out."

"Yeah," Lena said, "I could tell."

Lena finishes up putting on her skates and begins to stand up.

"Sorry about yesterday," Kara said with a grimace, "I am really struggling with my nerves and I found out Clark is coming to watch the games this year, so I feel extra pressured to be perfect and live up to his name."

Lena leaned against the side of the rink, facing Kara.

"I get it," Lena began, "now that my mother is here, I definitely can feel myself striving for more and pushing myself harder to please her and keep her off of my back."

Kara pauses for a second, as if holding a question back from Lena.

"You can ask me about Lillian if you want, just know I cannot answer some questions."

This confused Kara. Why couldn't she answer certain questions about her mother? 

"I was wondering..." Kara says, slowly, thinking of how to approach her question, "if you are trying to rebuild your own name, why associate yourself with someone like Lillian?"

Ah. Lena couldn't answer this. Like she suspected. 

"I don't know. I honestly feel stuck," Lena responded sadly, knowing the real reason she couldn't leave her mom's coaching was because it was curate rumors in the media that Lena believed her mother was guilty, "but, after this is all over, I will be free from her oversight."

Kara really didn't know what to say to that. Is Lena quitting the sport soon? The fact that this is also probably going to be her only and last olympics, makes Kara more curious about Lena.

"What would you want to do outside of this sport?" Kara asks curiously, "Have you ever thought of plans for after you retire?"

Lena laughs. "Are you telling me I am old and need to start having a back up plan?"

"No!" Kara exclaims in horror, "That's definitely not what I mean."

"I know," Lena says reassuringly with a smile, "besides you aren't too far behind me in age so I know that's not what you meant. But yes, I have a lot of goals with my life besides skating. I enjoy science. I have a degree already in biochem that I studied while also training for the games."

"Oh, wow!" Kara says with shock, "How did you find time for that? I have been on so many gaps because of how rigorous the training schedule can be."

"I finished school early," Lena began , "and then did part time student hours until eventually obtaining a degree after about 6 years. I plan on going back to school to specialize in sports medicine, open a free clinic, and hopefully invent new ways to heal athletes and recover them back to their fullest potential. There are so many people that have had accidents beyond their control, who are fully capable setting new milestones and never given the chance, which you are obviously aware of."