How Many Tears Are Enough?

Nine

They're at the observatory at night when everything really comes crashing down. It's getting really late – or rather, early – and they're about to head out when Lena pulls Kara aside to a secluded bench.

"I had a really fun night tonight, Kara. Thank you for taking me," she says but the sad look in her eyes makes Kara realise there's something very, very bad looming overhead. The unspoken 'but' is so strong Kara hardly listens to Lena's compliment.

Lena bites her lower lip for a moment and looks at Kara. Kara feels like she's about to be broken up with when she's not even in a relationship. Not like that at least. Friendship breakups are the hardest, she once heard someone proclaim and she's inclined to agree. Whatever would she do without Lena?

At this point it's inevitable, though, and there's nothing more she can do about it except prepare herself for the harsh words about to be uttered.

"I got offered a job transfer. A promotion really," Lena continues, her hands fidgety but her words sure. Kara didn't expect them but, in the end, they say the same as 'I want to breakup'. "It's in Ireland."

For a solid minute, Kara doesn't know what to say. She was prepared to be let down, be told she wasn't good enough or it wasn't her but Lena. She was not prepared for Lena telling her she's moving to the other side of the world. Kara knows how important work has become for Lena. Always had been but even more so now, away from her mother's influence and meddling.

"Ireland," Kara manages to whisper after she's got her bearings back. A little.

"Ireland," Lena confirms. "I already accepted. It's not for forever though."

It isn't any consolation. Lena is still moving away. Far away. Kara can't afford to just fly over to Ireland for a movie night if she misses Lena or feels alone. Not to mention the duration of said flight or the impossible time difference. They'd only be awake at the same time for a few hours a day.

"How long?" Kara feels like she's dreaming. Like she's not here herself. Like someone else is moving her lips and making her talk.

"Depends on how well I do." Lena's eyes search Kara for something. Kara isn't sure what, so she can't willingly give it to her and she's not sure Lena finds it but the ravenette starts talking again. "Initially only to deal with a merger. That could be anywhere between two to six months, probably around four or five is the estimate right now. Then maybe they want me to stay to help reorganise their R&D division if the merger is successful. That could be a few years." Lena casts her eyes down as she waits for Kara's reaction. She hunches in on herself a little, likely preparing for Kara to scream or even get physical. Kara is not Lillian, though, and it saddens her a little Lena hasn't realised that yet. Or hasn't been able to shake the deeply ingrained habit, which might be even sadder.

"A few years." Kara is unable to form her own words, sticking to reciting Lena's so she at least has something to say.

"Or only two months," Lena rushes to say, looking up again.

Even two months seem like an eternity if she has to spend them without Lena. Kara's not sure how she'd survive. She would, of course, if it were just to wait for Lena's return. Kara always keeps going. Doesn't mean she'll be happy about it.

"When?" she asks then, half fearing Lena waited to tell her until the day before she leaves so it can't really get awkward between them.

"Next month," she answers instead. "In a little over four weeks."

Kara nods mechanically and a silence falls over them for a while. A loudly giggling couple startles them both from thought. As soon as the couple notices there's other people in the small area, they turn beet red and scurry away.