Chapter Text
“I’m telling you Lena, there’s no good Luthor. All of them are shady.” Kara said and downed a shot of tequila while Lena cringed internally.
“Maybe one of them will surprise you.”
“Impossible.” Kara chuckled, grabbing a handful of peanuts and popping them into her mouth. “Where there’s smoke there’s a Luthor.”
“I’m sure there’s something good in one of them.”
“No, I don’t think so. There’s what, three of them left? A mother whose foundation has been under investigation for allegedly mishandling funds, a son under investigation for his links to the mob and controversial political speech, and a third one no one knows anything about… probably in jail for all we know.” She chuckled.
“Or maybe doing work on their own, away from the nefarious family stuff.”
“No, Lena… I’m telling you. That family’s rotten.”
“Don’t be so rude, Kara.” Alex chuckled, handing her another shot of tequila. “We don’t know if this other Luthor is actually a good person… say for a moment Lena’s right, what if we don’t know anything about this person because they’re doing good and don’t want to be associated with the family scandals?”
“I guess it’s a possibility.” Kara finally conceded, clinking her glass to Lena and downing the shot. “I just don’t like it that there’s so much noise about them investing in the hospital… yay for them to do something good, but at what cost?”
“Maybe it’s a good thing.” Alex shrugged.
“Maybe they’re just trying to save face.”
“Whatever the reason, lots of people will benefit from it.” Lena interrupted her. “The hospital got more money, we can certainly use it for good.”
“That’s true. I hope we get some help to renew the facilities and that sweet new machine for-”
“Hell no, Alex. We need more nurses! We’re swamped and busy! You get your machine when we stop having to work overtime to help with the workload.” Kara scoffed. “You fancy doctors always forget about us.”
“Impossible to forget about you… you whine too much.” Alex smirked playfully, making Lena laugh at the offended look on Kara’s face.
“Oh you don’t laugh, Dr Kieran!” She said in a mocking voice.
“Sorry nurse Danvers.”
“What would your surgeries be without us? What would your patients do without us?”
“Kara, chill! We’re not the union people, okay?” Alex laughed. “We know nurses see important, but improving the technology we have at hand to help people makes a difference too.”
“I know, but don’t play all high and mighty when- is it the hospital?” She asked when she saw Lena checking her phone and frowning.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” Lena said simply to Kara and grabbed her bag before making her way out of the small bar near the hospital where they usually met after work.
“I know you said you’d wait to tell her, but-”
“I can’t just tell her I love her, Alex.”
“You can, and in fact you should do just that.”
“She’s just not into me like that.” She pouted. “She’s perfect and so amazing.” She groaned, looking down at her hands. “Why would a prestigious surgeon like her be interested in someone like me?”
“Because you’re great and Lena isn’t some superficial asshole who looks down on you because you’re a nurse.” She rolled her eyes. “Kara, if I’m insisting on you telling her it’s because I see you two together… the way she looks at you? That’s not friendship.” She chuckled. “You know which friend looks at me like that? My girlfriend.”
“You’re so funny.”
“I mean it, Kara. Just… tell her how you feel.”
“What if she doesn’t feel the same?”
“What if she does?” She groaned, knowing the road the conversation would take if she didn’t stop Kara’s train of thought. “She’s Lena when she’s with you, and she looks at you with more than professional respect and friendship. I have my own two eyes and I see it, Kara. You have to tell her.”
“I have to find the perfect moment.”
“You guys are going to the theater tomorrow… that screams date. Tell her when you walk her home.”
“How do you know I’ll walk her home?”
“You always do. It’s your way of making sure she’s safely home.” She rolled her eyes. “Tell her… you might get lucky with a goodnight kiss, or maybe some more.” She smirked and Kara groaned and nodded for another shot to be poured for her.
The next morning Kara walked into the hospital ready for a normal day, but she was welcomed by more rumors about the Luthor family intervention in the hospital, something that made both personnel and patients feel a little restless. She tried to focus on doing her job, focused on making the patients feel better and helping the doctors with anything she could, even if she still had a bad feeling she couldn’t shake.
By lunch time she met with Alex and they discussed the latest rumors, surprised by the various versions of the information. They were joined by some friends, but Kara was disappointed to know that Lena was busy in surgery and wouldn’t be joining them.
“I heard that they’re removing the current chairman of the board.” Nia, a resident in psych, said to them. “They’re gonna sit someone from their side and control the hospital…”
“They’re gonna run this like a business.” Kara scoffed. “Why am I not surprised?”
“I’m just crossing my fingers for them to keep Lex away from here.” Alex said with a frown. “That man would have no repair in making human experiments here with the patients.”
“All of them are the same. That’s what I was telling you and Lena yesterday! These people are evil, all of them.”
“Well let’s just hope for the best.” Brainy, a neurosurgeon, said almost sadly.
“I know Dr Grant will fight tooth and nail to protect the hospital.” Kara said with determination. “She’s been here since forever and she’s just not going to let them take over and destroy what she’s worked so hard to achieve.”
“Cat can do anything she wants, but money talks and the Luthors have plenty of that.” Alex insisted.
They finished lunch and then headed back to their respective jobs, with Kara counting down the seconds to get out and finally see Lena for their night out. She was finishing some paperwork for a new patient when she looked up and smiled, watching how Lena approached her in her deep blue scrubs.
“I have bad news.”
“You can’t come tonight?” She said trying to hide her slight disappointment.
“I really can’t, I’m sorry.” She smiled, reaching to squeeze her hand for comfort. “But I did manage to convince Nia to come with you, so you can still go. I know you’ve been waiting to see this show and I really don’t want you to miss it or wait anymore.”
“Oh but you shouldn’t have bothered, we could go any other day.”
“No worries, Kara. You go tonight and then we’ll go together in a couple days.”
“Okay, sure. Sounds perfect.” She smiled shyly at her, feeling her intense gaze on her.
“Kara… there’s something I need to tell you but-“
“Doctor Kieran please present to OR3.”
“I have to go, but… I need to talk to you.”
“We’ll talk tomorrow.” Kara smiled and watched her hesitate for a second before she took off to the OR.
“Hey, I thought you’d be busy.” Kara said with a small smile when she saw Lena walking out of the hospital later that day.
“I am, just not in here.” She said almost sadly. “Where’s Nia?”
“She had a patient and she’s running a bit late, but we’ll make it to the show just fine.”
“Oh, of course.” She smiled. “Listen, Kara… I just- I need to tell you something and it’s important. I don’t want you to freak out or-”
“You can tell me anything, Lena.” She said softly, not noticing a black luxury suv approaching them and stopping in front of them, with a man in an all black suit getting out of the passenger seat to open the door. “Who are these people?” She chuckled, confused.
“I told her I would be there.” Lena told the man with a frown.
“She doesn’t want to wait.” The man grinned like an idiot, making Kara feel uneasy.
“Lena, who are these people?”
“I have to go now- we’ll talk tomorrow, okay?” She sighed and got in the car, looking almost defeated while Kara stared at her.
“Who was that?” Nia asked while she approached her.
“Some guy in a suit taking Lena to see some woman.” She mumbled, frowning and feeling annoyed.
“I’m sure it’s nothing… she’ll probably tell you about it tomorrow.” She said and Kara nodded, feeling uneasy and unsure.
“What’s going on?” Kara asked when she and Brainy joined the usual group that was gathering in the auditorium after being ushered in by hospital staff.
“There’s gonna be an announcement.” Alex said sipping her coffee. “Have you seen Lena? I saved her and Kelly a seat, but Kelly’s grabbing a coffee.”
“I haven't seen her since last night.” Kara sighed.
“How did the date go?” Alex asked and Nia barked a laugh next to them.
“It went well but she didn’t take me home after the show.”
“What do you mean?” Alex frowned.
“Lena couldn’t make it to the show and asked me to go instead.”
“Oh that sucks.” Alex shrugged. “I was hoping Kara would finally tell her about her feelings.”
“Same… but it was a good show.” Nia chuckled. “With amazing seats too.”
“I bet… Lena always gets the best for Kara.” Alex winked and Kara scoffed, making them all laugh.
“Is that Lillian Luthor?” Brainy asked when he noticed the tall woman walking into the room, bringing with her the end to all the conversations around them.
“Yeah that’s her with Dr Grant… those other guys are members of the board and that’s- that’s Lena with them.” Alex said surprised, watching their friend walking up behind the others.
“Well she’s dressed to impress.” Nia said softly, noticing how the usually comfy clothes she wore were replaced by expensive stilettos with a red sole, a black pencil skirt and a delicate and expensive looking white shirt that was complemented by her long hair up in a bun and burgundy lips.
“That can’t be Lena- why would she be there?” Kara said even when her eyes were fixated on her friend, her heart pounding in her chest.
“No idea.” Alex said and smiled when Kelly came to sit beside her. “Hey.”
“What did I miss?”
“Kara’s date didn’t happen, she had to go to the show with Nia, and Lena’s down there with the board, Dr Grant and Lillian Luthor, and we don’t know why.”
“Why would Lena be there?”
“We don’t know!” Alex and Nia said at the same time, making Kara laugh.
“Good morning everyone.” Dr Grant’s voice said loudly around the auditorium. “This is a brief meeting so please stay with us unless you have an emergency to tend to.”
“My patients don’t care about this, does that count?” Kara mumbled and Alex smacked her arm.
“I know there’s been rumors going around and all that ends today.” Dr Grant said with a fake smile. “I am pleased to confirm that there has been a financial takeover by a private investor in our hospital, and that investor is the Luthor family.” She said and a round of timid applause was heard around the room. “The Luthors have made a considerable investment and have taken control of the board, but that isn’t all they will do… there will be a new chairman of the board and a Luthor representative that will oversee the daily operations here.”
“Great… we work for Lillian Luthor now.” Alex mumbled.
“I don’t think that’s it.” Kelly said with a curious look in her eye.
“We are pleased to announce the new chairman of the board and CEO is Dr Lena Luthor, one of our own.”
“Lena Luthor?” Kara, Nia and Alex asked at the same time.
“Dr Kieran Luthor has been part of the hospital staff for years and has been an incredible leader as a cardiac surgeon, and she will continue to perform surgeries in addition to her new role. There will be other changes to the staff and those will be announced in the upcoming days, but for now let’s just welcome the Luthor family to the hospital.” She said and a cold round of applause followed, even though the murmuring and whispering about the situation quickly filled the room, even as the important guests left the auditorium.
“No wonder she was defending the Luthors… she’s one of them.” Kara said softly while they sat there in silence, processing the news.
“I didn’t know she was a Luthor.” Brainy said. “Although it doesn’t surprise me, she holds some resemblance to the late Mr Luthor.”
“I had no idea either… I’m actually surprised she never said anything.” Kelly said and Alex chuckled.
“She wasn’t about to tell us she’s a Luthor when all Kara does is talk about them being devil incarnate.”
“She lied to us, Alex.” Kara said annoyed. “That’s not on me.” She said and stormed off the room, frowning angrily and walking around the hospital looking to find who she considered her best friend until then.