Chapter Text
“Jess!” Lena calls out.
A few seconds later her assistant opens the door. “Yes Ms. Luthor?”
“Cancel the rest of my plans for this morning till one,” Lena announced, “I have to go.”
“To where Ms. Luthor?” Jess asked.
Lena paused, not really wanting to disclose that information, but then again- it was Jess. Lena cleared her throat, feeling that small itch that was the reason she was going in the first place.
“I have a doctor’s appointment this morning,” Lena answered. Jess’s mouth practically dropped open. Lena pursed her lips. “I know what you're going to say- but Kara is the one making me do this.”
Jess let out a small smile. Lena rolled her eyes at her and walked out the door, hearing Jess’s footsteps following.
“When will you be back?” Jess questioned.
Lena pressed the door to the elevator. “A little after 1:00, I’m having a lunch date with Kara.”
Jess nodded, “sounds nice, I’ll see you when you return.”
Lena entered the elevator and smiled at Jess at the doors closed. She felt the little itch in the back of her throat again, and coughed in an attempt to make it go away. Lena started to remember back to that morning when she had a minor coughing fit in Kara’s bathroom while she was doing her hair.
Of course, because of her super hearing, Kara heard. She had insisted Lena go to the doctor’s and even made an appointment for her. Lena had insisted she was fine, that she worked through sickness much worse than this alone at her office. Lena had to admit- looking back on it- that that was a poor choice of words to convince Kara to let it go.
Lena smiled to herself, then put her composure back in place when the elevator doors opened. A few of her employees greeted her as she left the building, where her driver was waiting for her.
“Good morning Ms. Luthor!” Al said with a cheery voice and a smile on his face. Lena really needed to give that man a raise. Everyday- rain or shine- he drove her wherever the hell she wanted, with a smile.
“Good morning Al,” Lena greeted back just as cheerfully. “How are the kids?”
Al opened the car door for Lena as he answered. “It seems like they never lose energy,” Al laughed, “George is turning 4 in a few days.”
Lena’s smile grew, “Wow, already? Tell him happy birthday for me!”
“Will do Ms. Luthor,” Al chuckled and shut the door once she was settled.
The drive was spent with Lena staring out the window imagining seeing her beautiful girlfriend flying through the sky, saving people’s lives. She must have sighed- or said something because when she looked forward, she spotted Al looking at her in the mirror with a big smile on his face.
Lena blushed then pulled out her phone.She was staring at the screen- but she wasn’t really looking at it. Instead of Kara flying through the sky, she was flying through Lena’s brain. The back of her throat tickled and brought her back to the present. She realized that they had arrived only after Al had opened the door for her.
She cleared her throat. “Thank you- Al.”
“No problem Ms. Luthor,” Al said. Lena could tell he was holding back a smile. “I will be here when you are finished.”
Lena waved her hand. “Nonsense, go home- be with your kids for a few hours. Kara will pick me up for our lunch date.”
Al nodded and went back to the driver's side. Before he climbed in he said, “have a nice time Ms. Luthor.”
Lena smiled and nodded, watching Al drive away before heading inside. She took a deep breath and steeled herself. ‘Let’s just get this done with,’ she thought. The waiting room was relatively empty, so after checking herself in, she took a seat by the far wall. There was a TV in her view, so she put her phone down and watched the news.
The slide screen at the bottom read, ‘Supergirl stops scientist trying to poison the lake with a strange black goo.’
Lena made a weird face at the screen. “A strange black goo.” Lena frowned, she had heard about that “goo”. Apparently if ingested it was supposed to essentially kill you from the inside, but it had a faulty chemical makeup- and the worst it would do would make you wish you were dead for a few days. A fool if Lena had ever seen one. That man was just a mad guy who wanted to leave a pointless mark on the world. But Lena suspected that contaminating the lake would probably kill people anyway, despite the goo not being dangerous.
Finally somebody opened the door and called her name. She gave the TV one last glance then followed after the nurse. She was led down a series of hallways into a typical looking hospital room. This one had windows that she could look out of, and it made the room seem less scary. The nurse took her vitals and then left, leaving Lena alone. She coughed to rid herself of the itch, but this time it didn’t go away the first time. After a few minutes of waiting, Lena was starting to become impatient, and when Lena was impatient she usually became snappy- or worse- paranoid.
The giant windows in the room weren’t helping with the feeling that something was wrong. She played with her fingers while sitting on the patient's bed. She picked up her phone, and was seriously debating dialing Kara and telling her that coming to the doctor was pointless. After another minute of nothing- Lena broke. She opened up her contacts and clicked Kara’s name. The phone rang for a few seconds before she heard the click that told her Kara had picked up.
“Hey Lena!” Kara greeted. “Are you at the doctors?”
Lena almost scoffed out loud. “Yea, I’ve been waiting for close to twenty minutes now, with no sign of the doctor. If I’m waiting for half an hour, I’m walking out, so you better be ready to pick me up.”
“I can tell you are annoyed,” Kara began. Lena snorted amused at the statement. “-but just be patient, I’m sure they will be in soon. Besides, you know I wouldn’t let you leave.”
Lena sighed. “Yea. Fine. But he better be in here soon.” She heard Kara laugh on the other end. “But- Kara. I’m going to be honest, I have a bad feeling.”
She could practically hear Kara’s eye roll. “Lena, you only think that because you have never gone to the doctor. It’s totally fine- well, I mean. I don’t really know- cause I haven’t been there, and Alex doesn’t go either…. But I’m sure it’s fine!”
“Uh huh,” Lena said sarcastically, “you definitely convinced me with that argument.”
Kara laughed again, “yea… but seriously, It will be fine. I’ll see you in a bit, love you!”
“Love you too,” Lena sighed. She heard Kara laugh one more time before she hung up. Fine. For Kara.
She tapped her fingers impatiently, trying to shake the bad feeling. Before she could get up and start pacing, the door opened- revealing an older man in a white doctor’s coat. Lena squinted at him. He had a strange resemblance to the mad man she saw on TV, but she chalked it up to her impatient paranoia.
“Well Ms. Luthor,” he said, his voice surprisingly light and cheery, “I haven’t seen you in here before, and I remember all my patients.”
Lena cleared her throat subconsciously. “Well, if I’m honest- this is the first time I’ve been to the doctor since I was little.”
The doctor looked at her curiously. “I’m Doctor Motar, and based on your very detailed symptoms chart-” he said that bit sarcastically “-you have a scratchy throat.”
Lena rubbed her throat without realizing, then quickly moved her hand away. “Yes.”
The doctor looked up from his papers. “Are you afraid of the Doctors Ms. Luthor?”
Lena scoffed, “why would I be afraid of the Doctors?”
It was his turn to look at her disbelievingly, “well for starters: You filled out the bare minimum of personal information, you wrote almost next to nothing about your symptoms, and when I walked in, you seemed close to jumping out the window. It seems to me like you don’t want me to actually know anything about you.”
Lena scoffed again- then realized she should stop doing that; it was making her throat hurt. “That’s very presumptuous of you, and besides you’re wrong.”
“Uh huh,” he said, “well, I’ll give you some medication and send you on your way.”
“Finally,” Lena muttered under her breath.
Lena watched Dr. Motar prepare something at the counter. She sniffed in annoyance at how long it was taking.
“You are a very impatient woman,” Dr. Motar commented.
“I’m a very busy woman,” Lena shot back.
Dr. Motar grunted in acknowledgement. He held up some sort of syringe gun. “This is going to make you feel better. It’s something I’ve been working on most of my life, and I’ve finally perfected it.”
The Doctor stepped toward Lena, and she basically jumped off of the bed and stepped away. “If you’re going to dose me with an experimental drug, I’m going to leave. I can make my own drug.”
Dr. Motar chuckled. “I promise it’s safe. It’s only meant to strengthen your immune system and rid you of the illness.”
Lena frowned at him. He took another step toward her, she took another back. He tilted his head and put his hands up. Lena bit her lip. She felt the pestering itch in the back of her throat and groaned inwardly. Against her better judgement, she sat back down on the patient's bed, and lowered her jacket so Motar could see her shoulder. He moved slowly to her, and pressed the cold metal against her skin. She braced herself for the pain as she heard a click. The gun pressed into arm, and she felt something break her skin. It didn’t hurt, but it felt strange; she could feel every drop of- whatever it was- flowing through her veins. Lena’s muscles tensed and in response she felt pain from her shoulder- where the gun was still injecting the antidote.
“Relax, Lena,” Dr. Motar instructed, “it won’t hurt if you relax, it’s almost….done!”
With a click and a snap, he pulled the gun away. Lena gasped in surprise, her arm felt terribly sore. She was about to rub her arm, but the Doctor quickly slapped her hand away and applied a bandage before Lena could even look at the damage to her arm.
She gave him a look as he finished applying the bandage. He looked up at her, “I’m sorry about that. I wouldn’t take your bandage off for at least a day, but I would move your arm as much as possible, it will feel a lot less sore later.”
Lena nodded and made sure he saw that she was rubbing her arm. She wished that she wasn’t so stubborn sometimes, because rubbing her arm was only making it hurt worse. Dr. Motar raised his eyebrows at her but said nothing. Lena got up to leave, but before she closed the door fully, she saw Dr. Motar smiling at her. His face sent shivers down Lena’s spine, and she shut the door abruptly. She felt sick to her stomach, and it wasn’t because of the mystery drug.
Lena noted to herself to run tests on her blood the second her lunch date with Kara was done. She walked back down the same hallways as before, but this time it felt like everybody- patient, doctor, and nurse alike- were watching her. She tugged at her purse around her shoulder nervously. She picked up her pace- heels clicking echoed through the hallway.
Fortunately as soon as she exited the building, Kara was there waiting for her. Lena smiled as she walked to her girlfriend. Before either of them could say anything, Kara’s hand whipped out from behind her back holding a big swirly rainbow lollipop, one she dreamed of having when she was kid.
Lena laughed loudly. She took the lollipop and smiled so brightly she felt like she was the sun. “Kara- I-” she couldn’t seem to find the words.
Kara shrugged like it was nothing. “Patients always get a lollipop after going to the doctors… or so I’ve heard.”
Lena pulled Kara into a hug. Tears welled in Lena’s eyes, but she wiped them before Kara could see.
“Thank you!” Lena said, “this means a lot.”
“It was nothing,” Kara reassured, “now let’s go get some lunch.”
Lena nodded and climbed into the front seat of Kara’s car. Lena cringed slightly when she felt a crunch under her shoe. She looked down and saw a half full water bottle- amongst some other bottles and trash.
“I’m so so sorry-” Kara apologized quickly when she got it. She threw a water bottle from under her chair into the back. “I don’t use this car a lot- and obviously I haven’t cleaned it in a while. I can pick it up quick it you want- or we can walk-”
“Kara,” Lena interrupted her, “It’s fine, really.”
Kara smiled sheepishly and then put the car into drive. They started off smoothly until Kara slammed on the brakes before they made 2 feet. Lena threw her hands out in front of her- which caused pain to flair in her shoulder. She let out a yelp the second time Kara did it- managing to at least get out from behind the car in front of them.
“Sorry!” Kara shouted. She adjusted her glasses.
Lena let out her breath and leaned back- still ready to catch herself if Kara slammed on the brakes again. This time Kara made it to the hospital lot exit, but she wasn’t slowing down.
Lena assumed that she would start slowing down soon, but when she didn’t and they were almost at the stop sign she shouted, “KARA SLOW DOWN!”
Kara physically jumped in her seat and Lena heard her foot slam down. She threw her arms in front of her face when the seatbelt caught her from impacting the dashboard. The whiplash made Lena’s head spin.
“Sorry! I’m so so so sorry- I forgot- that’s oh my, I’m so sorry!” Through Kara’s rushed and rambling apologies Lena heard her shift the car into park.
Lena slowly turned her head to look at Kara, her eyebrows raised. Kara was looking at her like a deer in headlights when Lena spoke. “How about I drive?” She suggested. At first Lena wasn’t sure if Kara heard her- but then she nodded quickly.
Lena unbuckled her seatbelt- which was practically hugging her- and got out of the car. When Kara got out she gave Lena a big hug.
“Sorry,” she chuckled nervously.
“It’s fine Kar- I think I can see why you don’t use it very often,” Lena commented.
Kara blushed and smiled awkwardly. They both got in the car and Lena shifted the stick into drive. She looked both ways then turned the car onto the road. The drive was smooth, and fun even as Kara blasted some Katy Perry and opened the windows. Lena and Kara both sang along, and the last song that played was ‘Fireworks’ as they pulled up to Noonan’s. They ordered their usuals and sat down at a booth by a window.
“So how did the doctor's appointment go?” Kara asked before sipping her coffee.
Lena grabbed her arm and tapped her pointer finger twice before putting her hand down. She shrugged, “it was going fine.”
Kara perked up, “...going fine?”
Lena shifted uncomfortably, unsure how to explain it. “He gave me this… new drug. It supposedly strengthens the immune system and cures your illness or whatever.”
Kara sat back. “You’re going to run tests aren’t you?” Lena nodded. Kara rolled her eyes like she knew that was coming. “Then what?”
Lena swallowed her bite of sandwich. “Well, the weird part was when he actually administered the drug. It was like I could feel it coursing through my entire body…and it seemed like it went on forever.” Lena paused for a moment. “Then I was done, and when I tried to touch my arm and slapped my hand away and bandaged my arm so quickly I didn’t even get a chance to see the bruise he said I'd have.”
Kara was looking at her all concerned like, and Lena felt like she had to continue.
“As I left… he gave me the weirdest look. I mean I guess it wasn’t weird, per say- but creepy. He just watched me go, with a giant smile on his face. It scared me a little, Kara.”
Kara pursed her lips, took a sip of coffee, then scrunched her face in thought. “Well, I’m not really sure what to say. I mean you were waiting for a while and we both know how you can get. I bet he was just being nice.”
“And slapping me?”
Kara raised her eyebrows, showing that what she was saying was a possibility even though she didn’t believe it. “Maybe he just didn’t want you to hurt yourself?...”
One of Lena’s eyebrows raised quickly in acknowledgement. She didn’t feel like talking about it anymore. “How is it going at Catco?”
This time it was Kara’s turn to be shy about what she was saying. “Fine.”
“Kara.”
“Ugh. FiNe!” Kara slumped in her chair. “It sucks. Our new boss is even worse than Andrea was when we first met her- but like in a different way! He’s so. SO- ugh- condescending! And arrogant! And he thinks he’s the best writer there!” Kara voice was raised. Lena kept her amusement to herself and looked at Kara like her problem was the only one on planet earth.
“And I’ve seen his work! It's AVERAGE at BEST!” Kara punctuated her statement by sitting back in her chair dramatically.
Lena choked on her coffee. She laughed a little once she could breathe again. Kara gave her an annoyed look. “I’m sorry my misery is funny to you.”
“No no-” Lena chuckled again. “I’m sorry. That does sound hard. It’s just…”
Kara sat forward in faux interest.
“You’re just so cute when you're mad,” Lena finished with a shrug.
Kara’s face lit up and she crossed her arms. “Awww. You really think so?”
Lena almost choked again. She nodded as she coughed inside her mouth. Kara took a happy bite of her sandwich and stared out the window. After a moment she sighed and said, "I guess I can go back to work knowing that you think I’m cute.”
Lena spit out her coffee this time. Kara laughed loudly as Lena let out a series of coughs and wheezes. The hot coffee burned her previously scratchy throat as she tried to collect herself. Kara grabbed a napkin and started wiping Lena’s mouth, but Lena slapped her hand away.
“I can do it myself,” she rasped.
Kara kept laughing at her as she cleaned herself up. Suddenly Kara’s watch started beeping.
“Oh no! I have to get my story in or Patrick will KILL ME!” Kara scrambled to collect her things. She gave Lena a peck on the cheek and shouted, “I love you!” as she left.
She chuckled to herself and ordered a cup of water. She checked her own watch and noted with a sigh that she would be back at the office half an hour early. Thankfully Al was waiting for her, with a meal of his own sitting on the hood of his car. When he saw her exit Noonan’s and packed his meal in a plastic bag, and put it into the paper one. He wiped his mouth quickly and opened Lena’s door.
“Thanks Al,” Lena said, climbing in.
She watched all the cars pass by as they drove back to L-corp. The rest of the afternoon consisted of numerous phone calls, one board meeting, a mid-day coughing fit, and a muffin for dinner before Lena headed down to the labs for the night. She had already texted Kara that she’d be home a little later, and got to work.
She picked up her recorder. “Test one. I drew my blood and found a black liquid mixed in. I can only assume that the substance is the magic drug. I extracted it from my blood and have started analyzing its properties.”
She put the recorder down. It would take a few hours to get results, but she wanted to test one more thing. She put her arm in an x-ray machine of her own making. It showed an image of her veins and arteries and she could see the drug running its course. Lena narrowed her eyes when she saw that the substance started to dissolve.
She gasped when all traces of it disappeared, which caused her throat to itch and she coughed. The cough turned into a fit, but in the middle- the urge suddenly went away. She felt fine- better than fine. She rubbed her throat and bit her lip in thought. Maybe it was really a magical drug.
She shook her head and cursed herself for being foolish. “There is no such thing, Lena,” she whispered to herself.
She took one last look at the machines analyzing the drug before shutting off the lights and heading home. She knocked on the door of Kara’s apartment even though she knew Kara knew that Lena was here. She walked in, dropped her bag and kicked her shoes off.
Kara was sitting on the couch watching tv and didn’t look away from the car chase when Lena walked in. “Hey babe!” she called in between chews of popcorn.
Lena smiled and joined her on the couch. She crawled under Kara’s arms and laid on a pillow on her lap. One of Kara’s hands offered her popcorn- which she took- while the other stroked her raven hair.
“How did the testing go?” she asked.
Lena sighed and turned to look up at Kara. Kara looked down into her green eyes. “Fine I guess. Maybe I was wrong.” Kara raised an eyebrow. Lena sat up and leaned against the opposite arm rest. “The drug dissolved into my blood, and in the middle of a coughing fit- suddenly it went away. And now I’m fine.”
“Well that's good!” Kara exclaimed.
Lena shrugged. “I guess. I still have a few tests running on the drug itself so hopefully they provide some insight.”
Kara smirked. “Well in the meantime…”
Kara scooted over next to Lena so fast and kissed her on the lips hard. Lena cupped her face and kissed her back. The next moment suddenly Lena was running away from Kara- who was trying to tickle her.
“KARA!” she screamed playfully.
Lena managed to get to the other side of the island in Kara’s kitchen and that started with the cat-and-mouse chase around the table.
“I’m gonna get you!” Kara cheered.
Lena laughed, then screamed when Kara jumped over the island. Lena barely got away before Kara's hands could grab her. She ran into her bathroom and shut the door, locking it. She kept her back to the door as she caught her breath. Maybe it was because she hasn’t run in awhile, but she was finding it hard to get enough air.
“Leeeeeenaaaa!” Kara taunted, “you can't stay in there foreverrrrr.”
“Haha- try me!” Lena said breathily.
Lena stopped leaning on the door and grabbed a cup of water. She took a big gulp, then wiped her mouth. Her breathing was still a little erratic- but she would live. She smoothed back her air and grabbed the watergun Kara kept under her sink. Time to round two- but this time it was Lena’s turn to be the cat. She opened the door- and Kara screamed.