Glasses Pt 4 (rewrite)
Edited as of 10/29/22
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El didn’t sleep well Sunday night into Monday morning. The young teen tossed and turned in her bed, constantly grabbing the spare pair of her Jeje’s glasses and putting them on before taking them off once again and setting them carefully on her bedside table. It's not that the world was particularly loud this evening, but rather that the phenomenon was strange and intriguing and a much welcome break from thinking about Monday. Her moms had explained to El that she wouldn’t be going to school with Lori but instead visiting the lab to have some tests done. El had been through so many tests already – they were always tedious and the people administering the tests always talked down to El as if she were a dimwitted child. But, this time it was different because Aunt Alex would be the one administering the tests. Were these new tests? What were they looking for? Does this have to do with Jeje? Will there be needles involved? El’s mind continued to spin through the unknown, until she heard the creak of her door opening.
“Ellie? Are you awake?” Lori tiptoed further into the room seeing El (wearing the glasses once again) wiggle over to make room on the bed.
“Couldn’t sleep either, huh?” Lori said in an exasperated whisper. “This is crazy - I mean can you believe she lied to us for so long?”
El just shrugged. She could believe that Jeje lied because everyone lies – a fact El knows better than most people as she’s been so observant, like a fly on the wall for so many years. But, there was a difference to El between a good lie and a bad lie and the lies that fall somewhere in the middle. El didn’t think Jeje’s lie was good or bad, just somewhere in the middle. Jeje was still jeje and mom was still mom and Lori still Lori and El… well El wasn’t so sure anymore.
“Fine. Think whatever you think but I still think it's a breach of trust.” Lori stared up at the ceiling for a while. “El… can I ask you something?” El nodded yes and turned her attention to her sister.
“Do you… er…. If you can talk… then why don’t you… or haven't you in the past?”
El looked away from her sister. This was the question El knew everyone had on their minds, but it's not a simple yes or no. Even if El could properly pronounce all of the words to explain how it felt over the years – the physical pain, the overwhelming sensation of simply existing and worst of all the isolation. There was so much to say but El didn’t have the words for it, not yet at least.
Lori, seeing El’s inner turmoil, decided not to push. Lena had joined Lori in her room before bed and talked to her about the revelations of the day - Jeje’s secret and El’s potential abilities. Lena explained that it was too early to set any expectations and that while El was figuring out her voice, it was best not to mention it to anyone one at school or outside the family. More secrets were just what Lori wanted in her life…
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“Morning love.” Kara said as she wrapped her arm around her wife who was reading through the mountain of unanswered emails on her tablet. “Hmm,” Lena managed to grumble back, still somewhat distracted by the current email she was reading through on the upcoming board meeting.
“Hey kiddo, ready for school?” Kara greated her eldest trying to gauge Lori’s mood toward her since the big reveal.
“Morning.” Lori said just before taking a big gulp of coffee. “It's whatever. When do El’s tests start?” This was Lori’s attempt at burying (temporarily) the hatchet. Sure Lori was still upset with Kara, especially since Lori and Kara were two peas in a pod. They got upset with each other often but that only made their bond stronger. Everyone always said Lori was a mini-Kara and Lori looked up to her Jeje even if she hated admitting it. But now Lori was hurt that she had been left out of something so profound. Despite the hurt, Lori knew her parents had bigger fish to fry right now and she always took her duty as a big sister to heart.
“Your Aunt Alex is meeting us at the lab in another hour.” Kara had popped her head into El’s room earlier that morning to see her youngest with bags under her eyes working through a set of advanced physics problems. Ellie, like her mom, worked through her nerves by piling on work so Kara let her be for now.
“She probably needs to have at least a little something to eat beforehand.” Kara said partially to herself as she reached for the cupboard filled with cereal.
“Not before the blood work.” Lena cut in. “She needs to be fasted for that or the results will be flawed.” Kara looked at Lena as if skipping breakfast were absolute torture.
“She’ll be fine, I’ll make sure the lab has plenty of snacks.” Lena reassured as she packed her briefcase. “Son of a…” Lena stared down at her phone intently.
“Everything alright?” Lori said as she filled up her travel mug with more coffee. Kara and Lori wait for a growingly tense Lena to respond.
“Ugh… Kar, I’m so sorry but I need you to take Ellie on your own. I’ll try to get to the lab as soon as I resolve this situation with Wayne Enterprises.”
“It's fine babe. I’ve got this.” Kara reassured, besides Kara would be lying if she said she wasn’t somewhat happy to spend some one on one time with Ellie.
“Thank you thank you thank you” Lena said as she grabbed her jacked and strode out towards the door. “And tell Ellie I love her and she’s going to do great with the tests. Lori! I love you too! Now come on, you're going to be late to school.” Lena never missed a beat. Lori just rolled her eyes, hugged her Jeje and headed out on Lena’s tail.
Kara and El arrived at Lena’s private lab at L Corp with less than a minute to spare. El did everything she could to prolong the process of leaving the house including packing everything she could possibly need (and some things she definitely didn’t need) in her backpack - physics book, school tablet, power chord, headphones, spare pair of headphones, stress ball, fidget spinner, stuffed moose, extra shirt, sun glasses, and small bottle of glasses cleaner. El was somewhat familiar with the L-Corp lab, though Lena made it very clear to both of her children that it wasn’t a playground and neither was allowed in the lab unsupervised. El had also been to the lab for medical check-ups with Aunt Alex, which usually involved being poked. El never thought it was that unusual that Aunt Alex did their check-ups or that they never went to a real doctor’s office or hospital, but Lori sure did. Lena had always explained that they were extremely privileged and having private medical care meant ensuring the girl’s privacy.
El sat on a table in the lab and fiddled with one of her fidget toys while she and Kara waited for Alex to arrive. Given that Kara was on family business, not supergirl duty, she was in civilian clothes today.
“Hey little one,” Kara spoke quietly out of habit and put her hand over El’s trying to provide some comfort. El looked up and gave a nervous smile. The teen still hadn’t said any new words since the beach house, which her parents assumed was out of habit and discomfort with her vocal chords, something Lena planned to enroll a speech pathologist to assist with.
“It's ok to be nervous you know,” Kara was trying to get her youngest to open up. If El had powers then she would need someone there to support her through the ups and downs, something Kara herself lacked as a teen. “You know, I come here sometimes… like after my fight with Meta (the latest of the bad guys tormenting National City) and your mom and Aunt Alex put me right under these big sun lamps to make me better.” El only nodded solemnly. She wasn’t a superhero, not like her jeje. Just like she was smart like her mom, but would never be a CEO scientist like her mom. El always felt to her very core that she was broken in some way. No matter what she accomplished – the science awards and moving ahead in school – she was still herself, still different. And El figured that these powers, if that's what they are, are only going to lead her parents and everyone else to further disappointment.
“Hey Ellie, Kara. El, I like those glasses. Very sharp kiddo.” Ellie pushed her glasses up her nose and Alex couldn't help but remember Kara at that age with very similar glasses. “Sorry I’m late by the way… some dumb college kid thought he could put a spaceship’s generator into a ‘47 mustang… idiot.” That got Ellie to smile ever so slightly.
Alex took a few seconds to log onto the system and start pulling up El’s charts. “OK, so Ellie, did your moms tell you why you’re here today?” Alex was already very well aware of the entire beach house talking situation, but wanted to hear for herself. Ellie shook her head ‘yes’ and reluctantly passed her fidget toy to Kara as she pulled out her tablet and started writing. Once finished, Ellie turned the tablet and answered Alex - “tests”. Alex looked at Kara, trying to figure out why Ellie wasn’t speaking.
“That's right. Your moms told me that you said something yesterday. Can you try to say it again for me?” Kara had warned Alex over the phone that El wasn’t speaking much at all, but Alex still needed to hear for medical reasons. El’s nerves were starting to get the best of her, the silence was caving in as Aunt Alex waited patiently. Kara could hear El’s heart beat pick up.
“Al…” Kara began.
“N-” El tried but with her nerves her voice felt caught in her throat. She tried again, “n-no.” Ellie didn’t like the sound of it. It felt so foreign and sounded wrong - it was muddled and poorly pronounced just like at the beach house.
Alex was in shock at hearing her niece’s voice for the first time. It took her a moment to finally responde. “Wow kiddo that was…” Alex paused for a moment, feeling there was no single word that could encompass this moment, “amazing Ellie. I know you’re still getting used to it and it will take some time but me, your moms, even Lori, we’re all here to help.” El nodded but felt odd with all the attention on her so she simply looked down and continued fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.
“OK, here’s what we’ll do. To start a full physical work up, which unfortunately means blood tests. Sorry Ellie.” Alex gave an apologetic smile to El who simply nodded, her moms had prepared her for the needles. “After that, we’ll start the powers work up we typically give your Jeje. Sound good?” Alex look from Ellie to Kara, both of whom nodded.
“Alright El, we’re going to start with the easy one. Pee in this cup and then leave it on the counter with the blue towel.” El jumped down from the table and made her way to the bathroom.
“I can’t believe she can really talk. You and Lena must be so happy.” Alex squeezes her sister’s hand.
“We are!” Kara says giddily. “I mean we love El no matter what. But now… I mean now I might get to have a full conversation with my daughter Alex.” Kara had to stop herself from getting teary eyed as El came from the restroom.
Alex moved quickly through the rest of the tests, including blood work which El only slightly flinched at. It wasn’t until the MRI that things got interesting. The MRI was going to require the glasses to come off and the machine was going to be extremely loud, even for a person with normal hearing.
“Ellie, everything with metal has to come off. That means earrings, belt, watch, and glasses.” Alex explained as she started getting everything set up. El followed ever instruction but hesitated with the glasses.
“Come on Ellie.” Kara put out her hand, willing El to give in. “Please kiddo.” Kara had explained to El what the MRI would be like and why she had to take the glasses off for a little while, but El was having none of it.
“What if we get ice cream after?” Kara tried to bribe, but El still wasn’t budging.
“What if I call Lena and have her come down here.” Alex threatened and El knew her aunt wasn't throwing an empty threat.
“Cl- clo-” El spoke with a strained voice but Kara and Alex waited patiently for her to finish. “-sa.”
“You’ll give us the glasses when we get closer to the machine?” Kara confirmed. El gave a quick nod.
El stayed as still as possible as the thudding of the machine caused her head to pound. She tried to keep her breathing even but as the test went on her heart rate spiked and she couldn't do it any longer. Luckily Alex got what she needed. Kara immediately went to help El, who was now in the fetal position with tremors, her eyes closed tight and hands over her ears despite the machine being off. It broke Kara’s heart to see El like this. She really hoped whatever came next wouldn't put any more strain on El.
Kara did what she always did when El was having an episode. She picked her daughter up and held her tight to help ground El until she was ready to rejoin the situation. When El finally came to, she was still in her Jeje’s arms, with glasses back on, and feeling completely and utterly drained. This is exactly how Lena found them when she made her way to the lab with lunch in hand.
TO BE CONTINUED...
