Tea
Lena works through rest of the day, looking through all the medical data on Alura. As Lena pours through the data she does feel the glare of Alex Danvers, Kara's sister, at the back of her head. But Lena doesn't give Alex the satisfaction of acknowledging that she's being closely watched. Lena understands why Alex is distrustful of her, if she were in Alex's position she'd be just as distrustful.
While Lena works through the data and medical records Winn joins her on occasion, explaining certain details to Lena, and explaining the procedures and cures they have already attempted on Alura. Through all this Kara just remains seated at Alura's bedside. As Lena works she flinches every time she hears Alura wretch, puke or cough. Lena then hears Kara's soothing words to Alura, all while Alura complains to her mother about her throat hurting. In response to this Lena texts Jess and gets her to send some ingredients to the DEO for her. A few hours go by and Lena hears Alura cough once more, causing her to flinch from looking at the medical data. This particular time Kara notices Lena flinching.
"Oh, you can read through that in another room so she doesn't distract you if you'd like." Kara suggests, softly.
Lena turns around to face Kara.
"No it's okay. It's not distracting, it's just.... I don't like hearing it, knowing she's having..... problems." Lena says with a sad smile.
Kara smiles back weakly at Lena.
Lena gets a text from Jess telling her she has dropped off the things Lena needs, at security of the building Lena told her to. Lena thanks Jess and is glad her assistant doesn't ask any questions.
"I'll be right back. I've just had my assistant drop off some things for me at security." Lena smiles as she stands.
"Okay, we'll be right here." Kara nods.
Lena works her way to security and is joined by Winn.
"Did you have some stuff delivered? That's what security is alerting me to?" Winn asks.
"Yes, it's just some special herbal tea mixtures from Ireland along with a change of clothes." Lena explains.
"Oh, okay..... uhmmm..... I'm sorry but I'm going to have to look through your stuff..... just in case.... it's protocol.... nothing personal." Winn says shyly.
Lena smiles at Winn.
"I understand." Lena nods.
Winn and Lena are greeted by security and they hand Winn the box containing the items Lena has had delivered. Winn does a quick but thorough search through the box and then scans it.
"Okay, you are all good to go." Winn says as he hands the box to Lena.
"Thank you. Is there a kitchen area I can use to make some tea?" Lena asks.
"Yeah sure. The corridor next to Alura's room and second door on the right." Winn explains.
"Thank you." Lena nods.
A few minutes later Lena is in the kitchen making three cups of her special tea. She has always found that the tea helps to soothe her throat, and make her feel better generally, she hopes that it may have a similar effect on Alura, even if only a small one. The tea itself contains a rare herb from Ireland which is rumoured to have healing properties, but there hasn't been enough extensive scientific studies to prove this, mostly due to how rare the herb is.
Lena walks back into the medical room with the three teas on a tray she found in the kitchen. Kara looks up at her from her seat with a smile.
"Hi, I made some special teas that I had delivered. It's all herbal and it's rumoured to have healing properties. I don't know if it's true or not, but I've always found it soothes my throat at least. I'm hoping it does the same for Alura." Lena says kindly as she approaches Kara.
Lena places the tray down on the table next to Kara. Kara looks at the teas questioningly. Lena notices Kara's look.
"I didn't poison them if that's what you are thinking." Lena says, completely understanding if Kara would jump to that conclusion.
"No of course not!" Kara quickly replies, "I just don't like tea is all."
"Oh, okay. But.... can we get Alura to try some?" Lena asks.
"Sure, she just nodded off, I'll wake her." Kara smiles.
Kara gently places a hand on her daughter and rocks her awake.
"Alura, wake up please." Kara says softly.
Alura opens her eyes and smiles lightly as she looks at Kara.
"Miss Luthor here has made you some special tea. She thinks it might help your throat. Would you like to give it a try?" Kara asks her daughter.
Alura's eyes look at Lena, Lena smiles in response. Alura then looks at Kara and nods her head. Kara smiles back.
"Okay, Great." Kara says softly.
Lena then picks up a tea and hands it to Kara.
"Alura honey I'm going to need you to sit up okay?" Kara asks.
Alura nods and moves her body to a more sitting position in her bed. Kara then moves the tea to Alura's lips and Alura begins slowly sipping. After a few sips Kara moves the tea away but Alura holds onto Kara's hand to move the tea back, wanting to drink more. Alura drinks the entire cup of tea and has a slight smile on her face when she finishes.
"How does your throat feel honey?" Kara asks.
"Better." Alura replies.
Kara is shocked, not just by Alura's response, but more so by how strong Alura's voice sounded compared to how weak it has sounded recently.
"Thank you Miss 'uthor." Alura smiles.
"Thanks okay." Lena smiles, "And you can call me Lena darling."
Alura smiles but then Lena thinks she may have overstepped.
"I mean.... if that's okay with you Kara." Lena says awkwardly.
"It's your name." Kara jests. Kara's mood has drastically lifted since hearing Alura's stronger voice. For the first time in several weeks Kara has some hope that maybe, just maybe things will get better for Alura.
"Thank you 'ena." Alura says.
Kara chuckles lightly.
"She still has some trouble with L's." Kara explains.
Lena smiles.
"Thats okay, I did too when I was your age." Lena says looking at Alura, "So imagine my issue when my whole families first and last names began with l's and ended with l's."
Alura smiles at Lena.
"Lena why don't you go home and gets some rest. You've been at it all day." Kara suggests.
"No way." Lena says firmly.
"Lena, you need sleep so your brain functions properly. I..... I can't have you trying to help my daughter if you are half asleep." Kara says, but not in a harsh way.
Lena sighs.
"Fine, but can I stay here somewhere? I want to be here just in case something happens." Lena explains.
"Sure. There's some sleeping quarters at the end of the hall where the kitchen is. I'll let Alex and J'onn know. Just pick an empty room and you can have it for yourself. If you need it there are some DEO issue clothes inside, and a bathroom with a shower inside the sleeping quarters." Kara explains.
"Okay thank you. What about you?" Lena asks.
"I'm just going to stay here for a while. Probably until Alex or J'onn orders me to get some sleep while one of them watches Alura." Kara says.
"Okay, well I'll be back bright and early to continue working." Lena smiles.
"Okay." Kara nods.
"I'll see you tomorrow Alura." Lena says.
"Night 'ena." Alura replies softly as her eyes begin the close.
Lena heads out of the room and walks through the corridor that Kara told her. She grabs her box of stuff from the kitchen and heads in the direction of where the sleeping quarters are. A few doors down Lena looks inside a room and sees what Kara must have been describing to her. It is however smaller than Lena thought it would be. Lena thought the room would have several beds, but instead it just has two large beds and a few metal tables. Lena doesn't think anything of it, who is she to criticise a government's base design of its sleeping quarters. Lena finds the bathroom attached to the quarters and prepares for bed, including changing into some comfy clothes that Jess sent over in the box. Lena then makes her way back to the beds. Lena turns off the lights to the room and makes herself comfortable in one of the beds.
Lena's mind stays active for a long while trying to think of solutions to Alura's problems, and recalling all the medical data she read in her head. Eventually Lena drifts off to sleep. During the night Lena could swear she is woken by movement in the room but she's in such a tired state she ignores it and goes back to sleep.