To Catch a Thief

Chapter 11 - (Un)likely Cohorts

The two weeks since she confronted Lena have been some of the worst in Kara's adult life. They're still on the case, and knowing Lena is the thief but not being able to prove it let's them focus on one subject. Winn has been cursing his way through trying to delve into Lena's travel and bank records. He declares Lena's security tighter than Patty Anderson's jeans in the 12th grade, and Kara doesn't want more details on that. He's made small bits of headway, but it's too early to know if they're on her digital trail or a trail of breadcrumbs she's left leading them deeper into the woods.

Morgan Edge has made an appearance into the mix, much to Alex's consternation (and lots and lots of cursing). He's visited Lena three times, coming away looking smugger and more arrogant with each visit (though Alex swears that isn't possible). His background is as murky and tainted as Lena's is sealed away, but his security isn't as good. Winn has managed to pull out a few key details that only raises Alex's anxiety at Sam working there. The fact that Sam's house is on the market and she's packing up isn't making things better.

About a week back, Kara gave up physically tailing Lena. Seeing the woman every day, watching her laugh and smile, just kills Kara a bit more each time, and she's certain that she isn't discovering anything Lena doesn't want her to know. That's confirmed when Kara goes to Noonan's after leaving Lena at a restaurant with Jessica, and there's a box of cinnamon rolls with a lipstick stained card, this one with actual lipstick, waiting for her. It just adds insult to injury. Now even cinnamon rolls have been ruined.

It's not the first gesture Lena has made. Flowers have arrived at her office along with a cornucopia of delicious foods. It kills Kara to push away the treats, to hand them off to Winn whose slacks are getting a little tight around the middle at the overfeeding. The one thing she can't toss away is the original Jack Spheer painting that's delivered. It's of Lena, of course, one of his less revealing pieces. It does show off pale flesh, beautiful curves, and haunting green eyes. Though she wants to return to sender, Kara lacks the strength. Instead, she slides it to the back of her closet to be forgotten... but it isn't. It calls to her at night like the tell-tale heart, and she'd be lying if she said she never pulls it out just to stare into those eyes again.

Today has been another long day in a string that is becoming drearily familiar. All Kara wants to do is kick off her shoes and fall face down onto her bed for about twenty hours. Actually changing is completely optional. However, when she flicks on the light switch in her bedroom, she's met with an unexpected visitor.

"Hey," Lena says from where she reclines across Kara's bed, a book in her hand and a gentle smile on her face.

"Fuck!" Kara jumps back from the uninvited guest, her hands in fists before she even knows who's there.

"Are you okay?!" Alex calls from the adjoining bedroom.

"Fine, I'm fine!" Kara closes the door, her mind racing, and her pulse pounding, as she stares into those eyes she's missed so much.

Lena rolls off the bed, tossing the book to land on the comforter, as she smiles sheepishly at Kara. It's the same gentle smile she gave Kara the last time they spoke, and it hits just as hard. "So, you're probably wondering what I'm doing here."

"I'm wondering a lot of things," Kara says in a harsh whisper. "How the hell did you get into my apartment?"

Lena thumbs over her shoulder, and it's only then that Kara notices the curtain slightly waving from the breeze of the open window. She rubs both hands over her face, trying to scrub away frustration and anger from this invasion of her home and Lena's very presence.

"That window was locked and alarmed." Kara enunciates each word carefully, her temper barely kept in check. Not that she needs it, but this is further proof of Lena's guilt. What she didn't need was Lena rubbing it in her face.