Mercy

Chapter Twenty

The image of the fallen L-Corp Tower was the National City Headline for every news outlet in the city, and even featured on many all over the country. The crumpled building with folds of steel, wires, iron rods, and concrete and glass all thrown together in a tangled heap, ironically with the L of the tower undamaged and resting above the rubble. Supergirl was in the center of the photo, hovering above the ground, blood-red cape fluttering behind her majestically, pulled by some unseen wind, with a woman limp in her arms, bridal style. They were both covered in soot and debris and the hero was gazing down at the woman in her arms, features too far away to make out, as ash fluttered down around them like snow. Sunlight lit the two, casting the Super and her rescuee in shadow, even as the rubble and torn buildings and broken surroundings glowed orange, red and yellow. It was a magnificent picture.

The other photos on the front page were of the young CEO and Supergirl at the OneLove rally (evidently they started their love affair there), and of Supergirl being comforted by an unknown brunette woman (who was obviously a home-wrecker and Alex had to delete her social media accounts to protect herself from the back lash-people loved the idea of Lena and Supergirl together, and Alex was a perceived threat to that ideal). The main story carried on for three pages, the first, and then the inside, and had eye-witness accounts, theories, and authoritative reports of the explosion. Rumors were flying about why and how the L-Corp tower had exploded; everything from terrorist attacks, alien suicides, martyrdom, her brother, insurance claims, someone wanting to kill the Luthor for her xenophobia, were being flung through all media platforms.

Supergirl had carried Lena Luthor to an awaiting stretcher and once the medical team had deemed her safe for transport Kara had torn through the air to the nearest hospital. She didn't have a scratch, bar her already existing injuries, and the medical team were proclaiming it a miracle, even as she lay in a coma for no apparent reason— CAT scan's and MRI's had revealed nothing out of the ordinary, but they couldn't give a cause for her coma. The hospital had to increase security and had moved Lena to a private room the moment she was declared stable and the police department had two uniforms posted outside her door day and night. She didn't have many visitors, not in the first few days, only a small reporter from CatCo- -cleared by security by Federal order- though how a nobody reporter from CatCo could have FBI sway, the hospital staff didn't know— and a woman who was identified as the CEO's assistant.

Supergirl also was shown striding in and out of the hospital, no thought given to proper visiting hours, but no one was about to say no to the hero. Groups were lobbying left and right, insurance claims being made, accusations being thrown, employees were left leaderless, and through it, all Lena Luthor slept on.

Kara sighed as she tossed the latest article about the L-Corp Tower explosion onto the bedside table next to Lena. The young CEO had curls of wires and needles and tubes all around her and a nurse had carefully combed back her long, dark hair and tied it into a braid. For all that she was clearly a patient in a hospital, Lena looked as though she were sleeping like she could wake up at any moment and smile that special smile at Kara and or laugh with her eyes.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Kara glanced up at the noise and instantly smiled a greeting at Lena's assistant Jess. "I didn't realize anyone would be here." She was carrying a bundle of flowers and had a tablet under the other arm. "I'll— I'll come back later."

"No. Jess, wait!" Kara half rose to her feet. "Don't go," she cast a glance at Lena and sighed. "I really should get back to work anyway."

Jess came back into the room and her features twisted into a sneer. "Can you believe the shit they are writing?" She asked as she settled herself into the other guest chair, setting her bag down and Kara followed her gaze to the article on the front of one of the magazines. "No offense," Jess added after a moment, realizing she was talking to a reporter.