This idea came from a brilliant one shot prompt from KaraLena90, so thank you! It immediately spiralled in my mind from a single story to a multi-chapter fic.

This AU very loosely begins by following 1x07, Human for a Day, but when Kara finds herself in danger, a striking raven-haired woman is the one who saves her. And from there, who knows where their newfound friendship will take them?

I'm not going to follow the timelines from the show, there will be characters who aren't in S1 as well as storylines from later series' included.

But enough of me rambling, I hope you enjoy reading it as much I as enjoyed writing it!

"Don't exhale on the way out," Cat instructs through tight lips, glaring at Kara as if she's going to give her the flu just by looking at her.

Kara sniffles. She can feel every eye trained on her as she walks, completely embarrassed, towards the elevator.

She's so self-conscious that she's pretty sure that she can feel her cheeks flushing, which is a first.

When she steps inside and the doors finally close, she lets out a huge sneeze that she's been holding since she pressed the call button and waited what felt like forever for the elevator to arrive.

"Ugh," she sighs to herself as she leans tiredly against the wall, grateful that she's alone.

If this is what having a cold feels like, she doesn't know how humans survive past infancy because right now she feels like crap.

Stupid sniffling kid on the bus.

Stupid Red Tornado.

She decides that she's going home, putting on her favourite pyjamas and socks, ordering a ton of potstickers and binge watching The Good Place on Netflix while snuggled under a cosy blanket and surrounded by a pillow fort.

She thinks that that's what a human would do.

That's what Alex usually does, and right now the idea of nestling into her couch seems so appealing that she thinks she'll probably never want to leave.

This bad day can surely only get better from here.

The elevator doors whoosh open with a ping that sends a little stabbing pain through Kara's already-pounding head. She makes a beeline for the exit and steps outside into the warm sunlight.

Rao, that feels so good, she thinks as the sun's yellow rays wash over her Kryptonian cells.

She just wishes that they would bring her powers back, or at the very least make her feel a little less crappy.

That's if her powers ever come back.

Kara shakes her head as she tries to push the thought to the back of her mind, but quickly stops when she feels like her brain is going to burst out of her skull.

She takes a sip of the latte she had ordered for Cat, who had visibly retreated when Kara offered it to her. She feels its warmth soothe her tickling throat a little.

The world can survive without Supergirl for one day, she thinks.

And then the ground begins to shake violently beneath her feet.

Its vibrations get stronger and stronger until a crack begins to form in the sidewalk, splitting it in two as it stretches further and further down the street.

Kara falls to the ground, unable to maintain any sense of balance.

She doesn't need her powers to be able to hear fear in the screams and cries of people who had been enjoying their day in the sunshine, doing some shopping and sitting leisurely in quaint little cafes. They sprint in all directions trying to avoid the widening gash in the sidewalk and falling debris from wobbling buildings and disintegrating bridges as they endeavour to get to somewhere that they think is safe.

When the terrifying tremors lessen a little, Kara begins to unsteadily get to her feet, the ache in her head quickly turning into a pulsing throb.

Blinking, her eyes focus on the sound of the screeching noise that squeals through her eardrums.

There's a gold SUV careering right towards her.

And in that moment, she freezes.

She can't tear her eyes away from the vehicle, can't make her legs move even though her brain screams at her to get the hell out of its way!

And then she feels a hand shove hard against her shoulder, tackling her to the ground.

A severe splitting pain shoots through her right arm, causing Kara to cry out in immense pain.

She's never felt anything like it in her life.

She clutches her tender arm to her chest. Pangs of pain radiate from her elbow down to her fingertips and all the way up to her shoulder.

She whimpers as she rolls around against the cold sidewalk, which is now thankfully finally still.

The car has hit a bright yellow fire hydrant, which sends waves of flowing water leaking onto the cracked sidewalk.

It feels like every little movement sends a fresh wave of pain burning through Kara's arm.

But she has to get up, has to make sure that everyone's okay.

Because maybe the world can't survive without Supergirl, even for a day.

"Hey, take it easy there!" Exclaims a feminine voice as Kara uneasily props herself up on her uninjured arm, her other still clutched tightly to her chest. No matter where she holds it, the pain doesn't seem to become any less severe.

Kara looks up to see striking green eyes staring into hers, concern evident in them.

She has to fight the tears welling up in her own.

The woman kneels on the floor next to Kara. She brings her hands towards Kara's arm.

The Kryptonian flinches when the woman's fingers gently touch her arm.

"Sorry, sorry," she says softly, her eyebrows furrowing together as she thinks, analysing Kara's arm. "That might be broken."

Kara whimpers again as she realises that the pain still isn't subsiding.

The woman reacts quickly, pulling her summery scarf from around her neck.

"I'm gonna tie this around you, okay?" She says gently, looking into Kara's eyes again.

Had Kara not been in so much pain, those eyes would have made her heart flutter because they're so, so beautiful, so unlike any she's ever seen. The pretty blue scarf that she has unravelled from around her neck only accentuates them further.

But all Kara's mind can really focus on is her broken limb as she nods.

She bites down hard on her lip to stop herself from crying out as the woman carefully secures her arm in a makeshift sling.

"Almost there, you're doing great," she says reassuringly, flashing Kara a kind smile in an effort to comfort her. She pulls her scarf into a knot behind Kara's neck. "Done!"

Kara takes a few deep, shaky breaths and does her best to smile at the woman who is being so kind to her. "Thank you." She slowly gets to her feet, finding that the woman has slipped her hand into her own and has allowed Kara to rest some of her weight on it.

"Don't mention it. Now we really need to get you checked out."

Kara ignores the pounding in her head as she shakes it vigorously. "No, no, I don't do hospitals. I hate hospitals."

She knows that she needs to go to the DEO, let Alex and Doctor Hamilton take a look at her.

And once her powers come back, her arm will heal in no time.

Rao, she hopes that her powers come back soon.

She can't go to the hospital with this woman in case they suddenly do come back, because how could she possibly explain to her that her arm is miraculously not broken anymore?

Plus, the city needs Supergirl right now.

"But you need one."

The woman's voice cuts through Kara's rapid thoughts.

Why won't she just let this go?

"But I have to help people!" Kara says, gesturing at the chaos around her with her good arm.

"Listen-"

The woman looks at her expectantly with those piercing green eyes that Kara very nearly finds herself getting lost in.

Oh!

She's waiting for her name.

"Kara."

"Okay, Kara, you're in no fit state to help anyone and right now you're not helping yourself. If there's anything you should be doing, it's letting me take you to the hospital to get your arm checked out."

Kara sighs reluctantly.

She figures this raven-haired woman is probably right.

Plus her tone is so full of authority, so demanding that it might as well be Alex or Cat practically yelling at her right now because she would never beat either of them in an argument.

"Fine," she mutters, defeated, finding herself unable to say no to this stranger. She suddenly realises that she's only trying to help. "Thank you, uh… I didn't catch your name."

The woman smiles sweetly at Kara, holding out her left hand for her to shake.

"I'm Lena."

/

"Kara, we're on lockdown. Jemm escaped when there was a power outage because of the earthquake. I'm fine, everything's under control, just stay safe. Love you."

Liar, Kara thinks.

Alex doesn't sound fine on the voicemail she left a little over twenty minutes ago.

Kara hits her speed dial, desperately hoping that Alex really is okay.

No answer.

She calls again and then again but Alex doesn't pick up.

Kara notices Lena look at her when she sighs and slips her phone back into her the pocket of her navy trousers.

"My sister," Kara explains, noting the way that Lena's emerald eyes look boldly into hers. "I can't reach her."

"I'm sure she's fine," Lena says sympathetically, finding it sweet that this pretty blonde girl seems to care about everyone else's wellbeing before her own. "If she's anything like you, she's probably helping people right now."

Kara smiles at Lena as they walk to the hospital. "I guess."

Lena's face reflects Kara's. "How's your arm?"

Kara looks down at the sling and sees the way that it has been delicately, neatly wrapped around her arm with care, like it's not the first time Lena has done one for someone. "It hurts like hell," she admits. "But it'll be okay."

/

"Alex, you have to come help me!"

Kara jumps in the second she picks up the phone, cutting Alex off before she can speak.

She eyes Lena as she talks to the person on the reception desk of the hospital, content that she's far enough away to be out of earshot.

"Why, what's the matter? Are you okay?" Alex sounds really worried, especially because she knows that Kara doesn't have her powers and is susceptible to literally anything right now.

"Arm's broken here. Which, by the way, a warning would have been nice about how much that hurts," Kara complains, looking down at her sling.

"What? Kara, where are you?" The worry in Alex's voice doubles at the sound of broken bones.

"There was a swerving car, this really nice woman pushed me out of the way but I landed on my arm. I'm at National City General. I tried to get out of it but I couldn't think of a good reason to say no." Kara looks over at Lena, who takes a clipboard and pen from the receptionist and begins to walk back towards Kara.

"Oh, Kara," Alex says sympathetically. "Just sit tight, okay? I'm on my way."

"Alex?" Kara asks. "Are you okay?"

There's a slight pause before Alex answers. "I'm fine, Kara. I'm just worried about you right now. I'll be there in twenty, okay?"

"Okay. Love you."

"Love you too."

Kara hangs up as Lena sits in the empty seat beside her.

"Your sister?" She asks, her intense eyes finding Kara's slightly tired blue ones.

"Yeah, she's on her way."

Lena smiles endearingly at Kara, and Kara can't help but reciprocate it.

It's infectious.

"Glad to hear it," Lena says. "The receptionist says that we have to fill out these forms, but we might be in for a long wait because of the earthquake."

We.

This woman, who has already been so unbelievably kind to her, is going to stay with her.

"I've already taken up so much of your time, I'm sure you're a very busy person. You really don't have to stay. Alex'll be here soon."

As Kara speaks, she realises that she doesn't actually want Lena to leave. She seems really nice, fiercely protective, the kind of person you'd want fighting your corner.

Lena frowns at Kara's words.

She has no idea who I am, she thinks.

Lena isn't being arrogant, far from it. It's just that most people know of her notorious family and automatically assume that she's just like them, that the rotten apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

So this sweet blonde seemingly not knowing her, not judging her for her family or wealth makes a refreshing change.

It actually makes her heart flutter a little.

"Are you right handed?"

Kara frowns, her crinkle forming deep into her forehead.

"Because if you are, you probably can't fill out this stack of forms," Lena says, gesturing at the papers when Kara doesn't answer her question. She can't help but smile at the adorable way that Kara's cutely furrowed brow turns into light embarrassment when she realises Lena's point.

"Right," Kara sighs as Lena begins to write on the first of many pages.

"K or C?"

"K."

"Surname?"

"Danvers."

"Middle name?"

"No."

Kara answers all of Lena's questions until it comes to health insurance.

"I don't actually have any," Kara says quietly, without adding that she doesn't need any because it's virtually impossible for her to get sick.

And of all the times that that tiny percentage of possibility could actually occur, it just had to be today.

"What? Why not?" Lena frowns at Kara.

She has all sorts of life cover in case anything happens to her, because people seem to be trying to kill her often enough.

Although Kara doesn't know that.

"I, uh, I've never needed it before," Kara says, cringing internally and probably on the outside too at her pathetic justification. It's the best she can come up with so quickly, and she adjusts her glasses nervously, hoping that it satisfies Lena.

Lena's eyes bore into Kara's and Kara doesn't know what to make of the little glint in them, or her expression.

"That has to be the worst excuse I've ever heard," she declares, raising her eyebrow cynically. "That's the whole point of having it."

The news bulletin on the waiting room TV captures both of their attentions, for which Kara is grateful.

"After the worst earthquake in over a hundred years rocks National City to its core, there is one question on everyone's lips; where is Supergirl? The Girl of Steel has been noticeably absent since chaos erupted all around the city just over an hour ago. Have we become too dependent on an unreliable hero?"

Kara simmers, feels anger and frustration bubble in her chest.

She doesn't fly to the rescue for one day and she's practically a villain.

She might as well have caused the earthquake herself.

"I think that if Supergirl could be here today, right now, she would be," Lena says, not taking her eyes off the TV. She's actually glaring at the news anchor as if she can see her.

Kara feels a little weight lift off her shoulders, even if her arm still pangs.

If this woman she doesn't know still believes in Supergirl, maybe other people will too.

It's not like she doesn't wish she could be out there helping people.

Although, she admits to herself, she's quite enjoying Lena's company, even if it is under unforeseen and incredibly unusual circumstances.

"I think you're right," Kara agrees, smiling at Lena's side profile as she continues to stare at the TV. She takes in the strength of her sharp jaw line and the way that her long hair is scraped back into a neat high ponytail.

"Ah, finally! Someone who talks sense!" Lena exclaims when Cat Grant appears, sat behind her huge desk, her hands brought together in front of her like she means business.

"She definitely champions Supergirl," Kara says in response, adjusting her glasses again. She's probing to see what Lena might say next.

"And who can blame her? She's a hero."

Kara bites her bottom lip and smiles at the ground as she realises that that's exactly what she was hoping for.

/

"Kara!"

Alex's voice piques Kara's attention. She sits in the seat that was occupied by Lena, who is handing in Kara's forms at the reception desk.

"Oh my God, Kara," she says softly. She takes in her sister's unusually messy appearance.

Her arm sits gingerly in Lena's scarf, her hair is a little dishevelled, her nose is red from the number of times she's sneezed and had to blow it and her sparkling blue eyes look tired.

"I'm okay, Lexie," she says, and it's partly true.

"I find that a little hard to believe, sweetie," Alex replies gently, putting a stray strand of Kara's hair behind her ear.

She hates to see her sister hurting and it tugs at her heart that right now there's very little she can do to ease her pain. She, as much as Kara, hopes that her powers return soon.

"Lena's taken good care of me," Kara says honestly.

"Lena?"

Kara points at Lena, who looks to be finishing her conversation with the receptionist.

"Kara, you do know who that is, right?" Alex looks over at the younger woman before returning her attention to Kara, her eyebrow raised both sceptically and a little in humour at Kara's apparent obliviousness.

Kara shakes her head, which feels a little better than it did earlier.

"For someone who wants to be a journalist and works for the biggest media company in the world, you don't watch the news much, do you?"

Alex has to stifle a giggle as she looks at the blank expression plastered across Kara's face.

"Kara, the woman over there who saved your life today, she's Lena Luthor."