Chapter Text
She didn't even remember what day of the week it was. She just knew that it was sixteen days since Kara was gone.
She isn't gone. I'll bring her back.
Sixteen days and Lena had hardly ever left her lab at L-corp, hellbent on finding a way to bring Kara back from the phantom zone. At first, Brainy, Nia, Alex, and J'onn had worked with her in the lab. The more they worked on this together, the faster they could bring the super back home.
But after a week without an inch of progress, doubt had started to instill itself in everyone's mind. Brainy still needed to rest to recover properly, and Nia brought him back to the DEO with her, arguing that dropping dead from exhaustion wouldn't help in any way. J'onn had to leave often to protect National City from all other villains and aliens that hadn't stopped just because Supergirl was gone.
Alex was a mess. The redhead had tried to hold herself together, willing to do anything to get her sister back. But cracks had started to appear in her armor. Dark smudges under her absent eyes, tousled hair, shaking hands… Lena knew those symptoms all too well. The agent was known to be emotional and all the more so when it came to her little sister. The more time passed, the more she worried.
Kara would be isolated, and they all knew about her previous experience in the phantom zone and the trauma it had left in its wake. That was if she got injured as well. Or worse.
Lena had been the one to call Kelly, so she would bring her girlfriend back home. Learning that Kelly had been in the dark so far, just like Lena, had created a new understanding between the two women. They didn't have the time to properly talk about it and process all the implications yet, but Lena was sure they would get to it. Knowing she had not been the only one left out of the superfriends secret had brought her some sort of peace with herself and with the blonde hero.
I want to tell her that I understand now. I really do. We just got each other back, and I refuse to lose her. I didn't even get the chance to tell her.
That's how Lena found herself tucked away alone in her lab, on the beginning of the 17th day without her best friend. She wouldn't stop. She couldn't stop.
Her gaze moved from the computer screen just for a minute, fatigue hammering hard in head. Propped up next to the keyboard was the framed picture Kara had offered her. They were holding each other, bright smiles painted on their lips.
Lena traced the cracks she had made in the glass when hurt had taken over all those months ago. When she thought she was utterly alone.
Now she knows she's not and that she has never been. She traced Kara's face with trembling fingers, her throat getting tight with emotions and unshed tears.
Soon Kara. I promise, we will see you soon.