I want to talk to you so badly

Small steps forward

Kara wakes with the start. Gasping for air with her face pressed into a pillow and fisting the sheets underneath her in a white-knuckled grip, her muscles tense, her tank top damp and stuck to her back and her heart hammering against her ribcage like a frightened bird against the cage. Her mind is hazy, her mouth is dry and her chest is tight with dreadfully cold heaviness, all-consuming and impossible to escape, threatening to leave her trapped in the darkness she can't seem to blink away...

It's just a dream.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, Kara knows it's just a dream. That she's in her room, in her bed, but the numbing fear left in a wake of a vivid nightmare she can't now seem to remember clearly is too real, paralyzing her muscles and ebbing every coherent thought away, leaving her frozen, stuck.

She's not sure how long she lays still, trying to take in breaths big enough to soothe her burning lungs, until a soft puff of air brushes over her cheek.

Then another.

And another.

And slowly Kara's starting to realize a body splayed across her shoulder blades, it's weight and warmth gradually seeping into her back and into her senses. And a rhythmic, steady panting somewhere above her head, making her blink again.

She's in her room. And it's dark. Dark because it's still the middle of the night or very very early and not because stuck in the darkness of her dream.

Something furry lands on the back of her neck. Something wet and cool nudges behind her ear.

Krypto.

Kara closes her eyes and tries to match every other inhale of Krypto with her own.

In through the nose.

Out through the mouth.

Until her body slackens and her fingers relax the vice grip on the sheets and her heart calms enough to not be drumming against her eardrums.

The furry body moves from atop of her to her side, wriggling and nuzzling it's way under her arm until Kara obliges and pulls it closer, burying her face in the fur of Krypto's neck.

"Hey, buddy." Kara croaks and Krypto sighs under her grip.

She has totally forgotten that the dog has been sleeping in her bed ever since the Danvers' arrived last night.

"Did I wake you, Krypto?" she whispers into his warm body.

She gets a loud sniffle in response and holds him tighter.

It's long since she last had a nightmare, even longer since the one that would work her up like this, but she should know to expect them giving the time of the year.

She sniffles, brushing the gloomy thoughts away and smiles when Krypto turns his head, trying to lick her face.

"I'm gross, baby."

The dog just whimpers, wiggling around until he's able to drag his smooth wet tongue across her face and keeps it up until her grin widens and her eyes clear.

"Okay okay, boy.." Kara rolls on her back trying to escape the onslaught, Krypto follows after her until they both roll off the bed with a soft thud.

They freeze for a moment listening for any sign of it being heard. Both of them seemingly relax when the rest of the house stays silent. Krypto lands a last sloppy dog kiss on Kara's cheek and cocks his head appreciatively.

"Ugh, thanks," Kara grumbles, lifting the bottom of her tank top to clean her face, and regrets it immediately at the wounded look in hazel eyes as Krypto whines nudging her knee with his paw. "Sorry, buddy," she reaches to scratch under his ear - she shouldn't take it out on the sweet creature that the white shepherd is, even if the cold fingers of a bad dream still claws at her spine.