To Catch a Thief

Chapter 10 - Misery Loves Company

The Junípero Serra Museum is located on a hill above Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. It sits on one of the most significant historical sites on the west coast, the site of the first permanent European settlement in what is now San Diego, California. Though the trip from National City only took fifteen minutes, when Kara's commute home and the go ahead from Maggie are combined (she needs local police approval and coordination), that extended the time considerably. Nearly two hours later, Kara sits in the back seat of Alex's SUV, her sibling in the driver's seat and Sam in the front passenger's seat, both studiously ignoring each other. It's vaguely reminiscent of her parents' rare fights, her stuck in the middle, and not in a good way.

"So, how's Ruby doing?" Kara asks, breaching the oppressive silence.

"Good," Sam replies. "Same as she was doing last night."

"Right, right. We talked last night. Um... I went on a date tonight."

"I heard. It was with Miss Luthor, the owner of the Luthor Gallery?"

"Yeah, Lena," Kara replies, clearly hearing the smile in her own voice but unwilling to hide her happiness even for the sake of Alex and Sam's misery. "She's great. The date went great until... You know."

"Sorry about that," Sam says. "Next time I have a hot tip about an imminent crime, I'll try to schedule it around your date night."

"We could have handled this without her."

Sam's head turns sharply, the smile falling from her face as she glares at Alex. "I trust Kara's judgment. I like Kara's company."

"You mean you prefer her company to mine."

"Anyone in their right mind would," Sam mutters, arms crossed as she slumps back into her seat.

In the back seat, Kara slides down, trying to get out of view. As uncomfortable as the silence was, she didn't appreciate a good thing when she had it. It seems she and Alex have that in common.

"I'm sorry." Alex speaks so quietly, so differently from their usual bravado, that it's barely audible. But Sam must hear it because her shoulders relax slightly, and she angles her body so she's partially facing Alex. "I'm sorry I didn't appreciate you when I had you."

Sam scoffs. "You never had me."

"You're right, but I had your friendship, the pleasure of your company, and I pretended that was enough. I lied to you, and I lied to myself, and that drove you away. If you're willing to give me another chance, I promise you nothing but honesty from now on, maybe more honesty than you want sometimes but total and complete honesty."

Kara's frozen in the back, worried about reminding the couple of her presence and breaking the spell.

"It's too late, Alex."

"Don't say that."Alex reaches over, hand hesitating and pulling back before touching Sam. The casual gestures that are shared between friends, between more than friends, now something of the past. "It's only too late if you want it to be too late. Is that what you want?"

"It doesn't matter what I want. I accepted a job with Morgan Edge."

Alex nods, unwavering at this news. "So we won't work together. I was an idiot to think it mattered this whole time, but we won't work together. That doesn't mean we can't—"

"I'm moving to Metropolis."

Kara can't help but gasp, can't stop that quick intake of air. It's like she's sitting through a movie, through the worst part, and she wishes she could fast forward to the happy ending or rewind back to better times.