Archive of Our Own ^beta

If it’s a good thing or not, she has no clue. She can’t decide if the alcohol has numbed her feelings or amplified her consciousness of them. Probably the price to pay for trying to use alcohol as a crutch, responsibly and in moderation. But she hates the loss of control that comes with excessive consumption.

And she probably wouldn’t have noticed Supergirl sitting on her couch as quickly. 

“Kara,” she greets as she closes and locks the door behind herself. “What are you doing here?”

“What’s going on with, Alex?” Kara cuts to the chase as she approaches the agent. 

Vasquez sighs. “Have you tried talking to her?”

“You know how Alex is.”

“Then you’ll just have to wait it out.”

“It’s serious though?” Kara watches Vasquez move to her fridge and open it. 

“No,” Vasquez says with her back to Kara. 

“She was crying when you left,” Kara points out. “Are you okay, Susan?”

The brunette pulls a bottle of water from the fridge and then faces Kara.

“If it was serious, Alex would have told you.” Vasquez takes a sip from the bottle. 

“She just keeps a lot to herself and wants to deal with everything on her own. She even told Maggie to stay away,” Kara states defeated. “I’m worried.”

“Alex will be fine. And she knows she has the support of you and Maggie.”

“And you,” Kara adds. 

“Yeah.” Vasquez shrugs. 

Alex’s Apartment

Alex feels like an idiot. A selfish idiot. How could she not see this? The longer she stews on this, the worse she feels. Because maybe she wasn’t as oblivious as she wants to believe. Maybe there’s a reason she avoided any talk about their past with Vasquez. Maybe she shouldn’t have brought Maggie around so much. And been so engrossed with her.  It must have felt like she was rubbing their relationship in Vasquez’s face. Maybe she shouldn’t have tried so hard to keep Vasquez so entwined in her life after they reconnected. 

So many maybes. 

And as of right now, there’s only one thing she knows for sure: she hurt Vasquez. Again.

“Kara?” Alex calls out before she takes another sip from the beer in front of her.

“Hey,” Kara says as she flew threw Alex’s window. 

“Were you just patrolling?” Alex asks taking in the super suit.

“Yeah. Susan kinda kicked me out and told me to patrol.” Kara sits next to her sister on the couch. 

“You were with Vasquez? Is she okay? Did she say anything?”

“She said you’d tell me if it was serious. What’s going on, Alex? First, Vasquez is late, then she’s distracted, then you guys go talk, she leaves and you’re crying.”

“I wasn’t crying,” Alex grumbles before she take a swig of her beer.

“There were tears involved,” Kara says seriously. “And both of you are drinking.”

“I made a mistake,” Alex starts. “A lot of them, actually.”

“With Vasquez? That’s no big deal. Just apologize. She’ll forgive you.”

“I know she will. She always does. And we move on like it never happened.” She takes another pull from her drink. 

“And that’s a problem?”

“I’m not sure I deserve her forgiveness, Kar. Or if I ever did.” Alex takes another pull from her beer.

“Alex.” Kara takes the alcohol from her sister’s hand. “What is going on with you two?”

Alex stares at the bottle as it makes its way from Kara to the coffee table. She says nothing. 

Kara waits. 

They sit in silence. Alex tries to find the words to confide in the blonde. And Kara tries to hide her impatience with her sister. It’s obvious something is bothering both Alex and Susan and since the brunette agent won’t reveal what that is, Alex is the only person who can. And, Kara thinks, is the only one who wants to.

Silence stretches between them. The steady tick, tick, tick of Alex’s analog kitchen clock and Alex’s slightly elevated heartbeat compete in Kara’s head as she waits. Seventeen ticks later:

Alex sighs. “Vasquez loves me. You know, is in love with me.”

Kara’s eyebrows fly up. She had no idea what to expect but it certainly wasn’t this.

“And I think - I think I’ve always known that. And maybe used that? I don’t know.” Alex hangs her head. “I don’t know,” she ends desperately.  “I shouldn’t have asked her to be in the wedding. I shouldn’t have involved her in any of this.  It was dumb and selfish,” Alex rambles.

“Alex, slow down. What are you talking about?”

“Vas and I - there was - it was a long time ago. We —“

“Hold on, hold on.” Kara says seriously. “Are you trying to tell me you and Susan - you guys used to -“ Kara waves her hands ambiguously. “Be intimate? Or date?”

“We were  - Our relationship was - .” Alex sighs. “Okay,” Alex starts again, “You remember when I came out to you?”

“Of course.”

“Looking back, Maggie wasn’t really my first.”

“Right. You said you thought there was something with your friend, Vicky?”

“Well, yeah that was a crush that went nowhere. But Vas was after.  Being with her was different. 

“Like Maggie?”

“No… maybe. I don’t know. Maybe it could have been?"

“But?”

“But I liked partying and drinking and was deep in denial - about everything. I never took the time to analyze it.”

“Alex, you’re gonna have to start at the beginning.” Kara says. She can’t wrap her head around this and Alex’s rambling doesn’t help much. 

Vasquez Apartment

A knock sounds at Vasquez’s apartment door. She groans from the couch and desperately wishes she were Kryptonian, so she'd be able to use her X-ray vision to see who was at the door.  She didn’t even know who she’d want it to be. 

The agent trudges to the door, her feet dragging with each step. She looks through the peephole and is surprised by who she sees. She pulls the door open.

“Lena,” she acknowledges.

“Hello, Susan,” Lena greets. She pushes past Vasquez and moves into the apartment.  “Kara called and said you needed company.”

Vasquez rolls her eyes and closes the door.

“So, are we talking, drinking, or watching tv in silence?” Lena asks as she slips out of her jacket.

Vasquez’s manners take over without regard to her wanting to be alone. She takes Lena’s jacket and hangs it in the coat closet. “Lena, you don’t need to do this. Kara shouldn’t have called you. I’m fine.” 

Lena takes a seat on Vasquez’s couch. The DEO agent sets down two glasses of water on the coffee table.

“Well,” Lena starts. “Kara did call me to interrogate you, but we don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want.”

Vasquez sighs. “It’s just…it’s a lot. And was a long time ago.”

“But you’re feelings are in the present,” Lena intuits.

“It doesn’t matter.” Vasquez shakes her head and shrugs.

“Of course it matters,” the CEO assures. “All of your feelings matter - past, present, or future.”

Alex’s Apartment

“Okay.” Alex leans back on the couch. “Vas and I met by chance before either of us got into the DEO. I was at a club and had a bit more to drink than I should have. I don’t even remember much. A lot of this is just what Vasquez has told me. But anyway there was this group of guys. You know usual club guys, each showing off for my attention. One got way more aggressive than the others - I remember that - and Vasquez stepped in with her group of buddies. All Marines you know? Vas rode with me in a cab to my place. She says I passed out as soon as I hit the seat.”

“Alex,” Kara admonishes. 

“I know. I know.” Alex responds guiltily. After all these years she’s still ashamed of that part of her past. 

“Then what?”

“She looked in my purse for my ID and got my address. She woke me up enough to identify the building when we got there.  She got me in bed and stayed on the couch. She said she stayed up all night and listened for me in case I needed something.”

“Why have you never mentioned knowing Vasquez before the DEO?” Kara questions. “She’s our friend.”

“Exactly, Kar. It would have been weird to bring up. So, we just moved on.”

“But now you’re thinking that was the wrong thing to do.”

“The way things ended back then wasn’t exactly the best,” Alex starts. “I’m thinking maybe we should have dealt with it -talked about it- instead of just pretending it didn’t happen.”

“What happened with you guys?”

“The morning after, she left a note with her number asking that I call her so she knew I was okay, so I did. And it led to us hanging out and getting to know each other.”

“You guys became friends?”

“Yeah,” Alex agrees with a small smile. “She, of course, was a great friend. Me? Not so much.” Alex takes another swig from her beer. “It was pretty much a coin toss on if I was going to show up sober or drunk when we hung out. And she called me out on it.”

“So she wanted you to change?” Kara asks genuinely confused.

Alex scoffs and shakes her head. “No. Of course not, you know how she is. She wants everyone to be who they are. And for a bit, it worked. I drank less. Unfortunately the person I was back then was an awful bitch. And apparently severely repressed.”

Vasquez Apartment

A nature documentary plays on the tv as both Vasquez and Lena pretend to watch. It’s obvious to Lena that Susan’s mind is elsewhere and Lena is fine with playing her role as silent supporter.

Vasquez lets out a groan and she throws her head toward the back of the couch and scrubs her hands over her face. She exhales harshly.

“You need to tell Kara how you feel.”

“What?” Lena chuckles in surprise.

“This needs to work out for one of us and you’re up. Plus you actually have a chance,” Vasquez proposes while staring at the ceiling.

Lena turns to face the DEO agent on the couch. She watches the other dark-haired woman for several moments, finally deducing most of the situation. “What made you tell her?”

“Stupidity” Susan answers drily.

“Susan. I’m serious.”

“Me too. It was dumb. And made everything worse.”

“Ah, you’re selling the situation beautifully. I’ll definitely tell Kara.”

“You and Kara will be different.” Vasquez turns her head to look at Lena. “I thought I would feel relief. I thought I was prepared and had come to terms with any outcome, had no expectations, but I think the truth is, I wanted her to pick me.”

“Of course you did. There’s nothing wrong with that, Susan.”

“There is when she’s already made her choice. And it has never been me,” Susan laments with a crack in her voice.

Lena watches as the agent swallows down her emotions.

“Kara always chooses you. Hell, she was choosing you before she was even in love with you.”

“You still haven’t said why you told her today.”

“All day, I felt like I was on the thinnest  knife’s edge. Just balancing on one foot for my life. It started when I first saw Alex and Maggie together. Seeing them together, then their engagement, and then agreeing to be a bridesmaid, the knife just got thinner and thinner each day. Today, I figured I could jump off or eventually fall off. I chose to jump.”

“You think I should jump with Kara,” Lena concludes.

“I think…given the choice, I’ll always choose to jump on my terms than to fall on someone else’s. And I think I know you well enough to know that you think the same,” the DEO challenges.

“Fair point,” the CEO concedes.

“You’ll always regret falling, but you can never regret jumping. The pain may last, but knowing you gave yourself a shot can be pretty soothing.”

“Sounds like you’ve thought on this a lot.”

The agent shrugs. “I don’t know.” Vasquez leans forward to take a sip of water. “If I’m completely honest, I guess everything with Alex started with a fall.”

The Past

“Faith, can we talk about this later?” Vasquez asks into her phone as she shoulders open the door to Big Belly Burger and exits, her hands occupied with her phone, a bag with two restaurant orders, and a drink carrier.

Vasquez listens to the voice down the line as she walks down the street. She sighs heavily.

“I know. I know. I just want to enjoy our time now,” Vasquez explains.

She stops short in the middle of the street in response to the caller’s words. Her jaw tightens and she readjusts her grip on the bag and drinks.

“I know she’s not,” the marine hisses. “And I’m done talking about this. I know where you stand so thank you.”

She continues walking down the street and shakes her head as she listens.

“I got it, Faith.” Vasquez answers stoically as she stops in front of a building. “I gotta go.” She hangs up without waiting for a goodbye from Faith.

The brunette enters the building and makes her way to the elevator. She presses the number six and watches the doors close. She’s glad there’s no elevator music. In this metal box, she acknowledges she’s pissed at Faith. Faith’s right. Of course she is, but that doesn’t mean Vasquez wants to hear it. Not now at least. Maybe in a few days.

The elevator doors open and Vasquez walks on autopilot as she stews over Faith’s words. She stops at an open door on the left side of the hallway.

She’s too far away to hear anything so she just watches as Alex’s head lifts from a microscope and she begins explaining, with excited hand gestures, to the man standing across from her. He has such a baby face that Susan wonders how he’s with Alex and not in some high school science class right now. He notices her in the doorway.

“Hey, Susan!” The guy greets politely as Alex follows his eyes to the lab door.

“Hey, Miguel. Lunch time, Danvers.” The marine calls out as she holds up the bags.

Alex turns to the man. “Will you be alright by yourself?”

Miguel looks between the two of them quickly, assessing the smiles they exchange. “Yeah, of course. You go eat!”

“What are you doing here?” Alex asks as she makes her way to the door.

“Can’t a girl just be in the neighborhood, pick up food, and deliver said food to someone who often forgets food’s a necessity?

“No.” Alex deadpans.

“So you don’t want this Big Belly burger?” Vasquez shrugs. “Okay.”

“Hand it over.”

“Thought so.”

“Shut up,” Alex grumbles and both Miguel and Vasquez laugh.

“Thanks for your help, Alex,” Miguel says with a smile.  “I’ll keep you posted.”

“Thanks, Miguel. I’ll see you.”

“Thanks, Miguel,” Vasquez says with a smile. “Good luck with your science,” she adds.

Miguel chuckles. “Thanks. Have fun!”

And the two women are gone from the lab. They walk towards the courtyard for some fresh air. The two find a table under an umbrella and make themselves comfortable.

Alex digs into her burger straight away, while Vasquez fiddles with her burger’s wrapping paper.

“So, I’m here for another reason too.” Vasquez starts. “I wanted to see if you’d want to go out tonight.” Vasquez unwraps her burger.

“You could have text me.”

“Then I wouldn’t bare witness to the absolutely grace with which you are devouring that burger,” Vasquez smirks.

Alex rolls her eyes. “We heading to the bar tonight?”

“Nope.”

When the marine offers no addition information, Alex continues, “so…where?”

“It’s a surprise.”

“Oh come on. Last time you said that I -

“You had a great time at that pop up interactive exhibit on medical instruments through the years,” Vasquez finishes with a bite from her burger.

Alex groans. “True.”

Vasquez laughs. “Alright, I’ll tell you.”

“Good, you know I hate surprises. You only get one.”

Vasquez clears her throat and takes a long sip from her lemonade.

“So where are we going?” Alex asked again.

“My friend opened a club a couple years ago. I haven’t been able to go until now. We’ll go do some dancing and have fun.”

“I do love to dance,” Alex contemplates.

Vasquez chuckles. “I know.”

“Pick me up tonight.”

Vasquez was far from a baby gay, but she can acknowledge that, just for a moment, she was catapulted back to the Susan Vasquez who had zero chill in front of pretty ladies when Alex opened the door. Alex’s deep purple halter top with a plunging neckline and shorts that showed off amazing legs were a sight to behold. But since Susan Vasquez was no longer a baby gay, she allowed herself only a second of ogling before speaking.

“You look good. Ready to go?”

“You look good too,” Alex replied, taking in Vasquez outfit of a black button down, with rolled up sleeves, lightly distressed jeans, and red and black high top Jordan’s. And, of course, the watch she always wore on her wrist. “Let’s go.”

The ridiculously long line for La Luz de la Luna was not what Vasquez was expecting as she guided Alex down the street. They bypass the line and turn the corner.

“Oh my god, is that little Jesus?” the marine calls out to the bouncer at the door, pronouncing his name in Spanish. The bouncer is six foot five and pure muscle with close cropped hair and a five o’clock shadow.

“Susan!” The bouncer smiles and the two hug once they are close enough. “What are you doing here?”

“Seeing the club, of course,” Vasquez smiles. “Julian called me,” she informs, again pronouncing the name in Spanish.

“Him and his secrets.” Jesus turns to Alex.  “Who’s your friend?”

“I’m Alex, nice to meet you.”

Jesus shakes Alex’s hand, then looks at Vasquez who gave a small shake of her head.

“Well you’re in luck, Suze. It’s bachata night.

“Oh,” Vasquez startles. “I didn’t know.”

“What’s wrong?” Alex asks catching on to the marine’s reticence.

“Bachata can be…” Vasquez searches for the right word.

“Why don’t you go in and see for yourself,” Jesus smiles. “You’re in good hands with Suze.”

“No, I’m not sure you’d enjoy-,” Vasquez stammers and shuffles her feet.

“Oh my god,” Alex exclaims with a smirk. “Come on, I want to see what’s got you so off.” Alex’s elbow jabs Vasquez’s side playfully before she grabs Vasquez’s hand and pulls her into the club.

Jesus calls out to Vasquez in Spanish and Vasquez raises her middle finger to him behind her back.

Alex stops short when she sees the dance floor. It’s not packed to the gills, but it’s full of partners dancing, some are doing turns and others are dancing pressed so closely together their bodies moving as one.

“Oh,” Alex says.

“We can leave if you want,” Vasquez offers.

Alex contemplates for a moment. “We don’t have to dance like that, do we?” Alex nods to a couple pressed together and dancing sensually.

“Of course not.”

“Can you teach me? Just enough so I won’t make a fool of myself?”

“Sure.”

Vasquez pulls Alex to the dance floor and claims a spot. She teaches Alex basic footwork steps and Alex quickly gets the hang of it. Vasquez slowly adds the arms to their routine.

“Great,” Vasquez praises. “Try not to think too much about the steps, just let your body move.”

The two continue dancing slowly, letting Alex get the hang of feeling the music and incorporating everything she’s learned.  After about an hour, the two find a table and Vasquez goes to get them drinks.

Alex watches the dance floor as she waits. Some of the crowd’s moves are really impressive. She catches two women dancing closely together and smiling at each other, clearly in their own world. She adverts her eyes searching for Vasquez.

Susan sets their drinks down on the table before sitting across from Alex. “So, what do you think?” Susan asks.

“I’m having fun.”

“I’m glad. I know this wasn’t what you were expecting.” Vasquez chuckles, “I mean, it wasn’t even what I was expecting for the night.”

A squeal is heard and a shadow falls over their table. “Susan Vasquez, get over here and hug me,” a naturally tanned, brunette, in a tube top and skirt, demands.

“Aurelia.” Vasquez gets to her feet quickly and wraps her arms around the woman. “How are you?”

“I’m good. I haven’t heard from you in a while. I couldn’t believe it when Jesus said you were here.”

“Sorry it’s been a bit. Had a few assignments.” The marine looks to Alex. “This is my friend, Alex.”

“Hi, Alex. I’m Aurelia, co-owner of this place.”

"Nice to meet you," Alex replies.

“So, you talked Julian into adding a bachata night,” Vasquez interjects.

“You wouldn’t believe how hard it was,” Aurelia complains.

“Probably didn’t want you around anyone who dances bachata better than him,” Vasquez jokes.

“Dios mio, that’s not a high bar at all,” Aurelia laughs. “Have you danced a lot tonight?”

“I’ve been teaching Alex,” the marine shrugs.

Aurelia turns to Alex. “How are you liking it?”

“It’s my first time but I’m having a good time,” Alex answers honestly.

Aurelia nods in understanding. “Susan is a great teacher.” She puts a hand on Vasquez’s shoulder. “What do you say to a dance, for old time’s sake?”

“Oh, I don’t-,”

“Come on, Alex should see what you can do,” Aurelia coaxes. She turns to Alex. “She’s so modest, but she’s amazing.”

“I’d love to see it,” Alex adds.

“Oh. Alright,” Vasquez concedes cautiously.

Aurelia squeals in delight again. “You’ll love this,” she says to Alex before she pulls Vasquez onto the dance floor.

Aurelia and Vasquez Dance 1 Aurelia and Vasquez Dance 2 Aurelia and Vasquez Dance 3

Alex’s Apartment

“Then what happened?” Kara asks Alex.

“She danced. And I got jealous. I mean, back then I didn’t know what it was, but now? I was so jealous. She was so good and the chemistry they had was ridiculous. I could see them smiling at each other and talking as they danced. They were so in sync and having such a good time. And Aurelia was right, Vasquez was an amazing dancer. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. The stuff she did…” Alex didn’t know how to finish her thought. “Anyway, they did a couple songs and the whole time I remember just seething and stewing as I watched.”

“Hold on.” Kara grabs her phone and types and scrolls for a moment before her eyes go wide. “This? Susan can dance like this?” Kara exclaims. She shows her sister a glimpse of the first video that came up.

“Yup.”

“Lead or follow?”

“Lead.”

“Wow. No wonder you were jealous.”

Vasquez’s Apartment

“So when I finished dancing with Aurelia, I went back to our table and Aurelia went back to do whatever she was doing. But I could tell immediately that something was off with Alex.” Vasquez explains.

“Well, you did dance with another woman,” Lena points out. “I’m no bachata expert, but I know bodies can get pretty close.”

“It wasn’t like that. Rel and I have danced together hundreds of times.”

“Maybe so, but an unknown woman whisking my date away to the dance floor? And then dancing perfectly with her?  I wouldn’t be too happy either.”

“It wasn’t a date,” Vasquez rebuffs.

“Sure.” Lena shrugs and takes a sip of her wine.

The Past

Vasquez drops down onto the seat across from Alex. “So, what did you think?”

“How do you know her?” Alex takes a swig from her beer bottle.

“We met in a dance class when we were kids. Then, we were dance partners for some years.”

“Cool.”

“Are you okay, Alex?”

“Yeah, fine.”

“You’re not acting fine. Did someone bother you when I was dancing? Are they still around? Point them out.” The marine asks protectively. Her eyes scanning every corner of the club.

“No, no. No one bothered me. I just have a headache, think it’s the music and lights.”

“Oh. Let’s get out of here then. I don’t want you to be in pain.” Vasquez stands from the table and pulls her keys from her back pocket. “Tell you what: I have to catch up with Julian, shouldn’t take long. But you can get out of here, just stick close to Jesus, ok? Do you need a water?”

“No. I’ll be outside.” Alex walks away quickly. Susan’s brow furrows as she watches Alex leave.

The drive to Alex’s apartment is quiet. Vasquez can feel the tension radiating from Alex and filling the car. The marine’s eyes swiftly take in her passenger, who is staring out the window.

“Your head still bothering you?” Vasquez asks in a soft voice.

“Yeah,” the scientist answers without looking away from the window.

“I’m sorry I don’t have anything for it in here.”

“It’s fine.”

Vasquez bites the inside of her cheek. “If something more is bothering you, you can tell me, you know. No judgement.”

“Yeah, Susan.” The car stops in front of Alex’s building. Alex tries to hurry out, but Vasquez grabs her hand.

“We’re still on for tomorrow night, right? It’s kinda important to me.”

“Sure,” Alex says with what she hopes is a smile, but feels more like a grimace to her.

“Thanks.” Vasquez lets Alex exit the car. She watches in worry and confusion as Alex makes it into the building.

Alex stomps through her apartment door and immediately goes to the second upper cabinet in her kitchen. She pulls out a tumbler and a bottle of whiskey. Filling her glass generously, Alex shuffles to the couch with her glass and the bottle. She plops down on the couch and continues drinking.

The Next Day

Alex forces herself off the couch, downs aspirin dry, and stumbles through her morning routine slower than usual. Before she know it, she’s in the elevator going up to her lab at the university. Alex shuffles into the lab to see Miguel already there. She goes straight into her experiments with only a “hey” to her lab partner.

Miguel’s been waiting for her to come in, but she looks like she needs some time to herself, so he gives her space while he focuses on his work. After a few hours, Alex seems to have gotten over her morning grumpiness and he’s desperate to share with her.

Alex sighs and looks over at him. “What is it?”

Miguel stops writing in his notebook and gives her his attention. “What?”

“You keep looking at me. Say what you want to say.”

“Oh, it’s just that,” he thumps his pen against his notebook. “I saw you and your girl at La Luz last night, and damn Susan can move,” he says happily. “You - not so much.” He laughs. “You were stiff as a board. You think your girl would give me some pointers?”

“What?” Alex’s eyes lock on his like lasers.

“Do you think Susan would give me some tips?” Miguel asks, his eyes darting to and from Alex’s.

“You said ‘my girl.’  Why did you say that?”

“Oh, uh.” Miguel’s leg bounces with unease. “I don’t know.” He doesn’t even try to hide that he’s avoiding eye contact. But Alex’s intense gaze still reaches into his soul. “You guys hang a lot. She brings you lunch all the time,” he rambles.  “You told me you workout together, and visit museums. I guess last night when I saw you two at La Luz I assumed. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t-,”

Alex slams her notebook closed as sharply as her jaw clenches. She sets about clearing her station, quickly but methodically.

“I’m sorry, Alex. I didn’t mean to upset you,” Miguel tries.

“I’m not upset. I just need to go.”

“Are you sure? Stay and finish. I’ll shut up,”

“I’m finished and I’m fine.” Alex swings her bag onto her back. “I’ll see you later, Miguel.” And she’s gone.

“Shit,” Miguel slumps back in his seat.

Hours Later

Vasquez dodges the night crowd strolling down the street as she jogs down the block, her heart pounding in time with her steps. She skids to a stop and yanks open the bar’s door.

Her eyes jump around the bar until she finally spots the person she’s looking for. She’s slumped over in her seat and leaning heavily on the bar as she talks with the bartender, but Vasquez would know Alex anywhere. Susan wants to sigh in relief, but her heart is still pumping way too fast. She speeds over to Alex.

“Alex, thank god I found you. I’ve been looking all over.”

Alex whips herself around toward Vasquez’s voice. She gives herself a moment to let the room stop spinning.

“What are you doing here?” Alex asks with fire in her eyes at the same time the bartender asks, “You her girlfriend?” Alex glares at the bartender and she slinks off.

“I waited for you for an hour; I’ve been texting you. I went everywhere I could think of.” The marine explains.

“Well, you found me.” Alex downs the last shot in front of her.

“Alex… this was-,” Vasquez stops herself and runs her hand through her hair in frustration. She breathes in and then out slower than her inhale. “Let’s get you home.”

“I’m fine.”

“Alex, you’re not.”

“Don’t tell me what I am!”

All eyes in the bar go to Alex as she jumps from the barstool quickly and sways on her feet. Vasquez reaches out to steady her, but Alex swats her hands away before gripping the bar with both hands.

“Hey,” the bartender’s back, “here’s her keys.”

Alex glares at both women as her keys are handed over to Vasquez. “How’d you get those?”

“You traded me for those shots, remember?” The bartender nods over to the 4 shot glasses in front of Alex’s seat.

“Please just let me take you home,” Vasquez requests.

Alex looks between both of the women again. “Fine.” Alex shuffles past Vasquez, who raises her hands away from Alex’s body.

Vasquez gives a quick thanks to the bartender before following Alex.

Thankfully, Alex’s car is right out front, so they don’t have a hard time finding it. Vasquez holds the passenger side door open for Alex and the look she receives is nothing short of the ultimate death glare. This drive to Alex’s place is way more concerning than the previous night’s.

Vasquez finds a spot on the street a short distance from Alex’s building and parks. They both get out of the car and Vasquez starts toward the building.

“I can get there on my own.”

“What?”

“Just give me my keys.”

“I’m not leaving you alone, Alex,” Vasquez says with no room for debate. Alex only tightens her jaw and glares at the back of Vasquez’s head as she follows her.

Once they are in the apartment, Vasquez goes straight to the kitchen and starts the coffee maker. Alex’s grinds her teeth as she watches.

Alex stomps over to her bedroom and closes the door. She flops down onto the bed.

It’s not long before Vasquez knocks on the bedroom door. “Alex?”

“What?” Alex grumbles.

“There’s coffee and a grilled cheese out here.”

Alex growls as she shuffles to the door and yanks it open. “You can go now.”

“You should eat,” Vasquez says while trying and failing for a smile.

Alex walks past Vasquez without a word.

“I put your blanket on the couch if you want to rest out here.”

Alex stops short and eyes the blanket on the couch. It’s her favorite one - the one that's broken in just right and provides the perfect amount of coziness and warmth - and it definitely wasn’t on the couch when they came in. She turns and glares at the marine.

“What are you doing?” Alex asks in a low voice.

“What?”

“What are you doing?” Alex says louder.

“Alex, relax, I’m just making sure you’re okay,” Vasquez says as she raises her hands harmlessly.

“I already told you I am.”

Vasquez sees Alex’s hands clench into fists. “But you haven't been acting like it and I’m worried. So I just want to help,” Vasquez speaks calmly.

“Who asked you to?” Alex explodes. “You’re not my girlfriend, Susan! And I don’t want you to be. I’m not fucking gay and we will never be together. So go and dance with all the gorgeous women you want and use your fucking tricks on them! I don’t need you here making me coffee and food and whatever the hell else you’re trying to do, so just go!”

Vasquez is still. She looks at Alex, whose chest heaves, while she feels like she isn’t breathing at all. She tries to swallow past the lump in her throat, but it’s too painful, so after she fails for the fourth time, she settles for trying to clear her throat.

“Alex, let’s just -,”

“What don’t you get about ‘I don’t want you here’?” Alex stomps to the apartment door and opens it. “Get out.”

Vasquez takes a breath, though she’s not sure if any oxygen has traveled to her lungs because even breathing hurts right now.

“Okay,” Susan whispers. She forces her legs to move toward the door and out into the hallway. She turns back and focuses on a spot over Alex’s shoulder as she says, “Bye, Alex.”

The door slams in her face and her breath shudders with every inhale and exhale.

Alex’s Apartment

“Then what happened?” Kara asks quietly.

Alex’s head rests on the back of her couch and her eyes are closed. Anything not to look her sister in the eye as she answers. “I completely spiraled - stopped going to lab, drinking even worse than before Vasquez, sleeping with any guy I picked up at a bar. Until a few months later when I got arrested and J’onn got me out. Three years after that, Vasquez joined the DEO.”

Vasquez’s Apartment

“Wow,” is the only thing Lena can say in the moment.

Vasquez grabs her beer from the coffee table and takes a drink. She replaces the drink on the table and the leans forward with her elbows on her knees.

“What happened after you left?”

“The next day I was on a plane to Serbia.” The DEO agent lets out a heavy sigh. “That day, I was gonna tell Alex I’d been called on assignment. Next time I saw Alex was a few years later when I joined the DEO. Of all the places I imagined us meeting again, the DEO was definitely not one of them.”

“How’d that reunion go?” Lena sips her wine.

“It was all business. And has been since.”

“You guys didn’t talk about what happened?” Lena exclaims.

“She seemed perfectly fine with ignoring it so…” Vasquez finishes her thought with a shrug.

“And then came Maggie.”

Vasquez nods lazily and keeps her head down. “Then came Maggie.”

Alex’s Apartment

“So, what are you going to do?” Kara questions. “Does this change things? With Susan? With Maggie?”

Alex gives a puff. “I have no idea. I’ve been thinking about it since we left the bridal shop.”

Kara nods, “That makes sense.”

Alex turns on the couch to face Kara. “What do you mean?”

“It just makes sense. You can’t find the answer to those questions here,” Kara taps the side of Alex’s head, “because they are here,” she places her hand over Alex’s heart. “And you locked the door on any possible feelings for Susan back then, and then probably added a few more locks while you’ve been avoiding the past with her. Then, Maggie comes along when you’re more open to those feelings and it’s easier for you to go through the door in front of you than look back and unlock the ‘Susan’ door.”

Alex stutters and gapes at Kara’s astute dissection of the situation.

“What?” Kara asks.

“How can you be so in tune with my relationship woes and completely blind to your own?”

“I like to think I’m an Alex expert.” Kara smiles as she straightens in her seat, arms akimbo. “Wait, my relationship woes? I’m not dating anyone.

Alex hums in response. As much as Alex wanted to question Kara about Lena, that was definitely something she needed to figure out on her own.

“So, any advice on getting answers from here?” Alex points at her heart.

“Just listen to it?” Kara tries.

Alex’s unimpressed face is just what Kara expects.

Vasquez’s Apartment

“So what’s next from here?” Lena asks.

“I’ve no idea. Part of me wants to skip the wedding, and another part wants to be there for Alex. I do want her to be happy, you know?”

Lena hums and raises an eyebrow as she sips her wine.

Vasquez turns, one leg bent under her and the other flat on the floor, her arm stretches across the back of the couch, to face Lena.

What?” Susan questions. She knows the hum and eyebrow combination.

“I think you shouldn’t go, not if it’s gonna hurt you. You backed out today because being there hurt.”

“I can’t not go. Alex is one of my best friends.”

“You do realize you guys have been ignoring a huge part of your history, right? Not exactly best friend moves, Susan. And based on that history and what’s going on now, I’d say that you often prioritize Alex’s wellbeing and feelings ahead of your own.” Lena takes Vasquez’s hand that’s along the back of the couch. “You put yourself first today; I think you need to keep doing it. So, don’t go to the wedding.”

The two sit in silence. Vasquez processing Lena’s reasoning, and Lena giving her the space to do so.

“What am I gonna do? She’s getting married. We work together, and she’s getting married.”

Lena scoots closer to Vasquez on the couch and pulls her into a hug.

A month later, Vasquez hears from Kara that the wedding is off. Kara doesn’t give a reason, and Vasquez doesn’t ask.

Her first instinct is to go to Alex — see if she’s okay, see if she needs anything. A broken engagement so close to the big day must be heartbreaking. Then, she supposes this first instinct is exactly what Lena was talking about the night Vasquez backed out of Alex’s bridal party.

Since that night, Alex and Vasquez’s interactions have mostly centered around work, which considering their history of avoiding necessary talks was to be expected. Work-related interactions aside, they haven’t talked much because the staccato nature of every conversation is both awkward and frustrating. They’ve never been this way before.

Two days after Kara tells Vasquez about the wedding, Susan is home for the evening, ready to relax and do some binge watching. Tomorrow is her day off,— J’onn’s “suggestion”— and she’s planning to make the most of it by staying up late and sleeping in tomorrow.

Just as she’s finally decided on what to watch first, her doorbell rings. With an annoyed groan, she makes her way toward the door. She checks her phone to make sure she hasn’t missed a text from someone saying they are coming over — there’s no text. She checks the peephole, and then opens the door.

“Alex. What are you doing here?” The former marine asks, her eyebrows close in confusion.

“Do you want kids?” Alex asks, leaning heavily on the door frame.

Vasquez knows this Alex. It’s in her eyes. This is drunk Alex.

“Did you drive here?” Vasquez asks alarmed.

“Uber.”

“That’s only slightly better.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“What?”

“Do you want kids?”

“Yes? Why?”

Alex nods slowly a couple times with a faraway look. Vasquez can tell she’s thinking, processing, in the way that Alex isn’t looking at her but over her right shoulder. Before Vasquez can question Alex further—

— Alex’s lips are on hers.

For three glorious seconds, it’s all that Vasquez has wanted since they met, honestly. But they are older now. Things are different. Alex’s wedding was just called off.

Vasquez pushes Alex away, even as Alex tries to chase her lips.

“Damn it, Alex!” Vasquez says before wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

“Vas-.” Alex tries, sobering up at Vasquez’s shout.

“No,” Vasquez cuts her off harshly. “Don’t say anything,”

She reaches for Alex’s wrist and pulls her into the apartment, straight to the couch, and pushes her down to sit. Vasquez goes to her fridge and pulls out a bottle of water and slams it down on the coffee table in front of Alex.

“Drink that. I’m gonna call Kara to pick you up.”

“Sus-.”

“No. You don’t get to come here and use me as some consolation prize,” Vasquez says in a low voice. “So. I’m calling Kara. Please stay where you are.”

Vasquez stalks off to her bedroom. She snatches the stress ball from her dresser and turns it over in her hands a few times while taking deep breaths. When she feels somewhat steady, she pulls out her phone and calls the superhero.

“Hey, are you busy?” Vasquez greets as soon as the call connects. 

Kara immediately catches the tightness in the agent’s voice. “What’s wrong?”

“Alex is at my place. She’s had a bit to drink. Can you come pick her up?”

“Yeah, of course. But what happened?”

“Nothing. The balcony is open.”

“Alright. I’m here. I’ve got her.”

“Thanks, Kara. Bye.” Vasquez hangs up before Kara can say anything else.”

Vasquez flops back onto her bed, the heels of her hands pressed against her eyes.

“Fuck!”

All of My Friends Say

Vasquez’s Apartment

The doorbell rings again, and Vazquez is well, and truly, over this night. Does she even dare answer?

She’s on her feet before she can think twice about not answering. She looks through the peephole and sighs as she pulls the door open.

“What are you doing here, Faith?” The DEO agent asked tiredly.

“I got your text,” Faith says with a smile, standing there in all her 5’9, brunette, Hey Arnold shirt, and leather jacket-wearing glory.

“I asked you if you were okay.” Vasquez steps out of the way for Faith to enter the apartment.

“Which is Susan Vasquez speak for ‘shit’s hit the fan with me and I’ve no idea what to do about it, so let me solve your problems’.”

Vasquez frowns at her.

“Don’t look at me like that, Sue.”

“Don’t call me that.” Susan flops down the the couch.

“Is that any way to talk to your personal Santa?” Faith holds up a six pack in each hand.

“Fine,” Vasquez concedes with an eye roll and small smile, that she makes sure Faith doesn’t see.

Faith sets the beers on the coffee table and sits with one leg under her, facing Vasquez.

“Alright!” Faith pats the former marine’s thigh with one hand while passing her a beer with the other. “So, what’s up?” Faith cracks open her beer and takes a drink.

“Alex kissed me,” Vasquez rushes out, and then takes a drink from her own beer.

Faith cough violently a few times. “Alex?” Faith exclaims. “Isn’t her wedding in like 2 weeks?”

“Nope. It got called off a couple days ago.”

“Because of you?”

Susan scoffs. “No. I don’t why; didn’t think it was my place to ask.”

“So you don’t know that it’s not about her having feelings for you.” Faith gestures toward the DEO agent with her beer.

“It’s not that.”

“So how’d this kiss come about?”

“She just showed up. Drunk. And ended up kissing me.”

“Out of nowhere?”

“Pretty much. She asked me if I wanted kids and then….” Vasquez takes a drink from her beer.

“Fuck.” Faith pulls off her leather jacket.

“Jeez, Faye.” Vasquez reaches over and runs her hand down the tall brunette’s well-muscled upper arm. She pokes at her bicep until Faith flexes. “Do you live at the gym?”

“Nah, I’ve got a better work-life balance than that.”

“How much do you charge again?”

“Don’t worry about it. You’ll get the Susan discount.”

“Not sure if that’s good or bad, but ok,” Vasquez smirks.

Faith smacks Susan’s chest with the back of her hand. “Anyway, back to the matter at hand. How do you feel about the kiss?”

“It doesn’t matter. She was drunk.”

“Maybe she just needed a little liquid courage?”

“I don’t care. I’m not gonna be someone’s second choice.”

Faith doubts very much that her friend doesn't care, but that’s a talk for rational minds. Right now is the time for drinking. She cracks open another can and passes it to Vasquez.

“Damn right,” Faith agrees as they touch cans before drinking. “This is a shit situation, so you can drink as much as you want tonight. And don’t worry, I won’t let you go off kissing random ladies.” Faith winks.

Kara’s Apartment

As soon as Kara touches down in her apartment with Alex, Lena leaps from the couch.

“Hey, is everything alright?” Lena asks.

Kara shrugs.

“Oh god, oh god, Jesus,” Alex paces, her hand running through her hair in worry.

“Alex, what happened?” Kara questions.

“I’m horrible. God, I’m a horrible person.” Alex slides down the wall and sits with her knees tucked to her chest, her head resting on her knees. “What is wrong with me?”

Kara kneels down next to her sister. “You’re not horrible. Far from it.”

“Kara’s right, Alex,” Lena says. “You’re one of the best people I know.”

“Whatever it is, we can fix,” Kara reassures.

Alex scoffs and looks up, with teary eyes, at the superhero. “It can’t be fixed. I’m making everything worse. I’m hurting everyone.”

Kara sits next to Alex on the floor and takes her into her arms. Lena moves to the corner of the couch closest to the sisters.

“What happened, Alex?” Kara asks.

Kara and Lena sit in the silence, waiting for Alex to answer. Eventually, she does —

“I got drunk and kissed Vasquez.” Alex hangs her head in shame in Kara’s arms.

“Oh!” That’s not at all what Kara expected. She exchanges a worried look with Lena.

“She called you right after,” Alex continues. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Well, for starters, you need to stop talking to Susan when you’re drunk,” Lena chimes in drily.

“Lena!” Kara chastises.

“What? Alex hurts Susan the most when she’s drunk.”

Neither Kara nor Alex can dispute Lena’s statement.

“Why did you go over there, Alex?” Kara asks.

“I don’t know,” Alex whines and flails. “I was thinking about the wedding, and Maggie, and how I messed up. It seemed like a good idea. Vasquez always knows how to cheer me up.”

Lena stifles an exasperated sigh, but can’t stop her eye roll.

“Right,” is all Kara can say as her crinkle deepens. “I’m gonna walk Lee out and we’ll talk about this more, okay?”

Alex nods and pushes away from her sister. Lena grabs her purse from the couch and lets Kara lead her to the door. Kara closes the door behind her for at least the illusion of privacy in the hallway.

“That Danvers obliviousness is very strong,” Lena comments.

“Hey! We’re not all oblivious,” Kara disagrees.

Lena narrows her eyes as if to say, ‘are you sure?’.

Kara rolls her eyes. “Fine. But I’m less, right?” Kara grins.

Lena chuckles. “Yes, Kara.  Recent events show that you are slightly,” her thumb and forefinger slightly apart, “less oblivious than Alex.”

“Yes!” Kara pumps her fist. She turns serious. “I’m sorry our night got interrupted.”

“Don’t worry about it. Alex needs you.”

“So, rain check?” Kara asks nervously.

“Of course.” Lena smiles.

“Awesome. Um, let me know when you get home?”

Lena steps closer to Kara — well within her personal space. She whispers into Kara’s ear. “I thought you listen to my heartbeat.” Lena moves back and raises her eyebrow at the superhero.

Kara’s blush is instant. “I, uh, um,” Kara clears her throat. “Uh.” She has no idea what she’s trying to say.

Lena kisses Kara’s cheek. “I’ll let you know. Bye, Kara.”

Kara watches the CEO walk down the hall. The two wave at each other just before Lena steps onto the elevator.

Vasquez’s Apartment

“Come on,” Faith whines. “Drink more. I’m drunker than you and I’m not the one who needs to drown her sorrows.” Faith pushes a can into Vasquez’s thigh repeatedly.

Vasquez chuckles as the doorbell rings. “What is going on tonight?” Vasquez sighs.

“You’ve always been popular, Sue,” Faith calls from the couch.

“Don’t call me that.” The DEO agent pulls open her door. “Rel? What are you doing here?” Vasquez lets Aurelia into the apartment.

“I got your text,” Aurelia says with worry.

Vasquez takes the woman’s jacket and hangs it in the hallway closet.

“Hey, Relly. You got an ‘are you okay’ text too?” Faith holds out a beer to Aurelia as she sets down next to her.

“Hi. Yeah, I did.” She takes the beer and turns to Vasquez. “I’m sorry it took me so long to get here. It was my night at the club, so I had to wait for Julian to get there. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Vasquez shrugs off.

“Alex kissed her.” Faith supplies.

“What?” Aurelia exclaims.

“It’s not a big deal. I’m more concerned about you both clearly misinterpreting my texts. I was literally just checking in on you two.”

Aurelia gestures the beer can toward Vasquez. “That’s not how you check in.”

“What? How do I check in?”

Faith and Aurelia exchange a glance, and then remain silent.

“Really? You two are -,” the agent is interrupted by yet another doorbell ring. “Damn it. Who is it now?”

Vasquez opens the door to Lena.

“Hey, can you take these?” Lena immediately says as she pushes two pizza boxes into Vasquez’s body. “Thanks. I’ve got pizza, Chinese, in case you’re in that mood, some snack options, and some ice cream options.”

“Lena Luthor, oh my goddess.” Faith hops off the couch and approaches the agent and CEO. “You’re even more beautiful in person.” Faith takes a couple bags out of Lena’s hands. “And you brought food," Faith clutches a hand over her heart, "a woman after my own heart.”

Lena can feel her face warm at the attention.

“Calm down,” Vasquez tells Faith as they all put the food on the kitchen island. “Her heart belongs to another woman.”

“Please tell me it’s that reporter you’re always with.” Faith’s hopeful, blue eyes look down at Lena.

Vasquez rolls her eyes at her friend. “Since she clearly doesn’t know how to meet someone new, I’ll introduce her.” Vasquez interjects.

“It’s Lena Luthor,” Faith retorts with unbridled awe as if that’s a reason for poor manners.

“This mess,” Vasquez gestures to Faith, “is Faith Carter. And the one over there not making a scene,” Vasquez nods toward Aurelia, “is Aurelia Montoya.”

Aurelia waves in reply.

“I’m sorry, Susan,” Lena starts. “I didn’t know you had company. I found out what happened and came to check on you. I can go if you’d like.”

“Nooooo,” Faith whines, drying her wet hands on a kitchen towel.

Lena smiles to hold in her laugh at the woman who is now checking the pizza boxes.

Vasquez closes the boxes and shoves them at Faith. “Go back over there.”

“Lena Luthor, if she tells you to leave, Rel and I will kick her out,” Faith says on her way to the couch with the pizzas.

Vasquez turns to face Lena. “Sorry about her,” Vasquez says quietly.

“Don’t worry about it,” Lena chuckles. “Not many people are that happy to see me. But seriously, I can leave if you want.”

“No, stay. I’m happy you’re here. This night has been… too many things.” Vasquez shakes her head.

“Alright. I’ll stay.”

Kara’s Apartment

Kara managed to get Alex to move from the floor to the couch. Having a conversation was a different matter. It's been ten minutes since Lena left, and Kara has been struggling through the silence for all ten minutes.

“Are you ready to talk about it?” Kara caves.

“I don’t know what else to say. I just keep ruining everything.”

“You haven’t ruined anything, Alex.”

“Kara,” Alex rolls her head to look at the blonde, “I asked her if she wanted kids and then I kissed her.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. The way she sounded, I’ve never heard her voice that way before.”

“You need to apologize.”

“I don’t think I can face her, Kar.”

“Alex. You have to. Avoiding talks clearly does more harm than good.”

“I don’t even know what to say. There’s literally no explanation good enough for what I did.”

“Well, you have to say something, Alex. And preferably sober like Lena said.”

Alex looks the blonde in the eye. “What if I make things worse?”

“Just start with an apology for tonight. Then, you have to figure out your feelings and how you want her in your life.”

Alex nods in contemplation. With a plan of action, the redhead feels more settled. She finally takes in Kara’s living room —but more importantly the candles strategically placed around the room.

“I interrupted something,” Alex realizes.

“No, it’s okay. Don’t worry about it,” the superhero says with a slight blush.

“Oh, no. What was it?” Alex asks before remembering, “Lena was here. Was this a date?” Alex asks with both excitement and hesitation.

“Yeah…but it’s okay,” Kara reassures quickly. “Hopefully it’s the first of many so…”

“Oh, god.” Alex puts her head in her hands. “I ruined your first date, too.”

“Alex, seriously, Lena understands. It’s okay.”

Alex turns to Kara. “It’s not, but okay. Tell me how this happened,” Alex prompts as she gestures to the living room. Happy to focus on something else, especially something great thing for Kara.

Vasquez’s Apartment

The four women are sprawled around the living room. Faith and Aurelia sit on the couch with their beers, as Lena is settled in an armchair with a glass of wine, and Vasquez is on the floor with her back against the couch with a beer of her own.

“Alex is an idiot,” Aurelia states.

“No. She’s oblivious. It’s a terrible Danvers trait,” Lena interjects.

“Yeah, she’s always been oblivious to her own feelings,” Faith adds.

“Weren’t you the one swearing she was straight?” Vasquez challenges.

“She was repressed back then,” Aurelia jumps in. “That gets her a pass.”

“Exactly,” Faith agrees.

“So where are we now?” Aurelia asks the group. “Team Alex or Team Move On for Susie?” Aurelia runs her fingers through Vasquez’s hair.

“Seriously, guys?” Vasquez whines as she leans her head back slightly to improve Aurelia’s reach.

“After this? I gotta say Move On,” Faith says.

“So surprising.” Vasquez rolls her eyes.

“Hey, I didn’t want you to be a straight girl’s experiment back then, and I don’t want you getting even more caught up in her confusion now.”

“That’s valid,” Aurelia says. “But I still think there’s a chance.”

“I agree,” Lena adds. “Before, Alex didn’t know Susan was an option; now, she does. I think it’s just a matter of time.”

“Hmm, maybe. Plus, you’d know Alex better than the two of us,” Faith says.

“Are we done talking like I’m not here?” Vasquez asks.

“Yes, because I have a request,” Lena says with an eyebrow raise.

“I’m gonna regret this, but what?”

“Since I’ve now had the pleasure of meeting Aurelia and know a certain story of her meeting our mutual friend…,”

“Oh no. Please no. They’re drunk. They can’t. Take it back, take it back,” Faith pleads with a whine.

“Drinks or no, I can perform.” The club owner declares with a slight slur. She stands from the couch, jostling Vasquez in the process, who groans.

“Why, Lena, why? Our peaceful night is over.”

“Faith, stop complaining. Move this table," the dancer demands.

“So bossy,” Faith gripes as she does as instructed.

“Up you get, Susie.” Aurelia takes Vasquez’s hands and pulls her up. “Lena, find some music.”

“Only one,” Vasquez says as she teeters side to side on her own feet and then sways with Aurelia back and forth.

Lena chuckles at the three friends in amusement as she searches for music on her phone. Faith flops back down on the couch.

“It won’t be one,” Faith whispers to Lena.

Lena presses play on a song and after about ten seconds of the dancing duo getting a feel for the song, they start dancing — improvising on surprisingly steady feet, Lena notices. Gone were the clumsy steps and fidgety movements they both exhibited two minutes ago.

Later

After definitely not one dance, Aurelia and Faith are passed out on the couch while Lena and Susan sit out on the balcony getting some air and looking at the stars.

“How’d you hear about tonight?” The agent asks.

“I was with Kara when you called.”

“Did you see Alex? Was she okay?”

“About the same as you it seemed”

Vasquez nods in acknowledgment. “Do you really think there’s still a chance for me and Alex?”

“Yes,” Lena answers quickly.

“But?” Vasquez prompts.

“But… I also think you need to ask yourself: what would it take for you to leave Team Alex for Team Move On?”