Another Time, Another Place (SUPERCORP AU)

Part 30: Stubborn

Alex's pov

It's a slip of the tongue.

I can tell she didn't mean to, but Maggie sort of revealed to me that Kara and Lena are way more than just friends. It sure did surprise me, but seems to me, all those unusual things about Kara these days are starting to make sense.

Something is unusual about Maggie, too. I may not know her as well as I know Kara, but I can feel it in my bones that something is bothering her. I don't mean to pry, but I just got to ask.

"What is it?" I stopped practicing my balance on her skateboard and sat beside her on the crate.

"What?" She was busying herself poking her eyes out with her eyeliner.

"Bothering you...what is it?"

"What makes you say that?" She huffed my question like it was nonsense.

She thinks she can hide herself so well in that dark make-up on her face, but it only takes one look in her eyes for me to see that she's not okay.

"Just asking...tell me, did the likes of Olsen and Sinclair and their posse gave you another insult? Or did Winn finally beat your high score, so high its very depressing for you? Is Buffy sick? Are you sick?!"

"Alex...no, I'm not sick or Buffy. Nor did Winn beat my score, that's just never gonna happen. As for those assholes in school, I don't care about them... they're assholes,"

"What is it then?"

".... nothing...I'm fine Alex, really,"

I stopped pressing the matter and kept my mouth shut. Mostly because I also know how much Maggie enjoys silence, especially now that the afternoon sun is setting on the horizon way beyond the boats and ships here in Port Sherwood.

"...if you say so. But you should know I'm always here to listen, if you feel like talking..."

She quietly put down her eyeliner and looked at the orange sun,

"I know..." She said with a weak grin, her eyes still on the horizon.

She looked so lovely and serene, with the last rays of that glowing ball of light just before the dark, shining on her. I just wish she'll take off all that black ink on her face, because I bet she's way more beautiful without that mask she puts on everyday....

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Kara's pov

Cover Lena.

That's my first thought soon as I realized what's happening. It's not just impulse or instinct, but it's like the most natural thing to do.

I first saw the barrel of the rifle, then it flashed like a dozen cameras taking pictures at once, only it popped out bullets. Without any thought, I immediately wrapped my arms over Lena's shoulders and her head, pushing her with my body down to the gift shop's wall.

I just can't bear it if Lena gets hurt.

The firing took only a while, but it felt like an eternity in Benghazi. I felt sorts of stuff being thrown at my back and on my side, can't tell if it's shards of glass or debris from the brick walls, but something struck me anyway.

Then, it stopped. I heard tire screeched against the pavement, and then silence. It only took a moment before everything sunk in, and people around started gasping, exclaiming dear Gods and OMGs, phones beeping, and 911's hello what's your emergency.

I'm still holding on to Lena, tentatively looking around if everything is indeed clear of blazing guns.

"Are you hurt?!, Did you get shot?! Are you bleeding?!" Lena rambled as she wiggled out of my grip.

"I-i don't think so, no..." That's what I said but I do feel sore on my right side. Better me than Lena.

"Are you sure?!...can you stand? Let me see..."

"How about you? Are hurt?" I countered her questions, as she's about to have a panic attack fussing over me.

"No...thanks to you," she started to tear up,"that was scary, Kara. What was that about? Did somebody got robbed? Or was it a gang fight?..."

"I don't know..."

And then a woman screamed. Another one started wailing, hysterical. Apparently, three men were dead, right there at that store, several others we're injured...

As passersby begin to gawk at the scene, cops and EMTs started to show up as well. Followed by news crews from different stations within seconds.

"Let's get out of here..." Lena grabbed my hand and we went back to her car.

Once we're in, we were both silent. The shock of the shooting incident happening right in front of us was sinking in deep. I looked at Lena and caught her wipe a tear off her face.

"Hey..."

"I'm fine...I just haven't seen something so horrible,"

"Me too..." I said as I reached her for a hug. But the move made me wince in pain.

My right side really hurt so bad now, and I can't keep it from Lena anymore.

"Kara!! You're really hurt!"

She checked my side. Seeing there's no visible blood on my shirt, Lena lifted it to find a nasty purple bruise. It's not that big, but it hurt anyway.

"Oh my God Kara...this is my fault,...I'll take you to the hospital now...call your mom while I drive and let her know,"

"It's only a little bruise, love...and its not your fault. Just take me home to sleep it off...no need to tell Mom or hospital,"

"A little?! That's a bruise the size of Texas and I can see the map of Houston right over here!!" She said poking it a bit to make a point that it's something I shouldn't ignore.

"Okay...okay, we can tell Mom, just don't take me to the hospital. I hate it, especially if I'm the patient," I said stifling a wince.

"No...I'm driving you to the ER and if you're not going to call your mom, I will. Don't be too stubborn on this,"

"Stubborn?! You're stubborn...it's nothing really, I'll put ice on it, go to sleep. It'll be better the next day, no need for ER and doctor mcdreamy"

"You sure that'll work? You're no doctor to tell for sure, for all you know your kidney on that side's been mashed like potatoes...I'm taking you to the hospital, end of discussion,"

"End of discussion, you sound like mom...look who's stubborn now, insisting not to take me home,"

Lena glared at me, and I'm still pouting at the idea of hospital. But I can't exactly take the wheel from her and drive myself home.

So, since there isn't much else for me to do, I suck it in and braced myself for one major check up...

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