Chapter Text
Eleanor Shepard checked her pockets yet again to make sure she had the flyers for the clinic and was so caught up in what she was doing that she didn't see the visibly upset redhead come careening out of the bar's doorway. They collided painfully and she stumbled back and fell against the wall, papers flying everywhere. She looked up and met the other woman's eyes that were opened wide in surprise. “Oh god, I’m so sorry.” The other woman choked out, before paling and starting to breathe rapidly.
Alex Danvers felt her whole body make contact with something soft yet surprisingly solid as she fled the bar after humiliating herself by kissing Maggie. She stumbled back and looked up to see a tall blonde stumbling back to hit the wall. She felt her chest get tight and she suddenly couldn’t breathe, the events of the night overwhelming her.
“Are you alright?” Brown eyes sought blue ones and she heard the wheezing breath. “Okay, take slow breaths. Breathe with me. Breathe in...now out.” Ellie placed a gentle hand on the woman's upper chest. "Breathe deep enough that you make my hand rise. That's it." Ellie felt the redhead shiver and slipped out of her cardigan and draped it over the other woman’s shoulders, then walked her through slowly breathing for several minutes until she started to calm.
“I’m sorry.” The redhead looked sheepish as she realized that the blonde in front of her was holding her by the biceps and looking into her face intently. "I've never had something like that happen before."
“Don’t be. It happens to the best of us, you had a slight panic attack.” Ellie gave her best comforting smile. “I think it’s passed for the most part. If they happen very often you may want to see someone about that.”
“Thank you.” Alex fought to keep the blush from coloring her face. “I’m Alex.”
“Nice to meet you Alex, I'm Ellie.” Ellie smiled gently. “Are you feeling a little better now?”
“Yeah, thanks for your help.” Alex said then all but ran away from the other woman, and Ellie heard a stifled sob as the Alex rounded the corner and disappeared from view.
“Okay.” Ellie murmured to herself as she realized that Alex had run off with her sweater, and her flyers. “Damn it.” She swore under her breath and turned and headed to her car, eager to be home with her children after a long day in a new city. When she got home she paid the sitter and went in to check on her kids. Aveline and Lincoln who were both sleeping soundly and Ellie reached down into the crib to gently smooth Lincoln's dark hair, reveling in his warmth for a moment before doing the same to blonde curls where Aveline was curled up on her bed. She watched them for a few long moments before moving back out into the living room. She poured herself a glass of water and grabbed her laptop, settling onto the couch to continue her research into Jeremiah and Eliza Danvers. She was going to find her birth parents, come hell or high water.