Chapter 42
(Lee's POV)

As soon as I see the look in Dee's eyes I know this is not going to be pretty. Sure, I know she is not happy about the current situation, in fact I know this has been simmering for a while but up until today she hadn't really said anything about it. Unfortunately it looks like that is about to change now and --to make matters worse-- I suspect that trying to tell her that this is really not a good time for this to boil over would do more harm than good.

"Lee," she says by way of greeting.

"Dee," I reply, feeling exhausted and just wanting this whole thing to be over with once and for all.

"Where were you?"

"You know where I was," I say, refusing to play this game.

"You were with her."

"Yes."

"You were with her for more than four hours?"

"I guess," I reply though the truth is that I have no idea of just how long it's been because keeping track of time was the furthest thing from my mind.

"I am your wife."

"And she is my friend. You have no idea..."

"Of course I don't. You haven't told me anything!" she all but yells at me.

"It's not my story to tell," I remind her, not willing to back down.

"And it's not your place either. She has a husband, in case you haven't noticed."

"You see, that's where you are wrong. It is my place. Sam may be her husband but she is still my friend. The fact that she is married to someone else doesn't change that and I am not going to abandon her, that is not open for debate," I warn her.

"And her husband is okay with this little arrangement?" she asks, the disbelief clear in her voice.

"I don't know. I haven't really talked to him in a while."

"So he wasn't there," she says, glaring at me and not even bothering to phrase that as a question.

"No. I think Cottle has been keeping him up to date but as far as I know Kara hasn't really asked to see him," I admit, knowing that that is not going to go over well.

"But she wants to see you."

"Yes."

"And you don't find that odd?"

"I don't care if it's odd, I'm just glad to be there."

"And that's precisely the point. I'm your wife!"

"Would you just listen to yourself? I nearly lost her, damn it!"

"Maybe you are the one who should be listening to himself instead! You nearly lost her? She is not yours to lose, Lee!"

"So what do you want me to do?"

"I don't know! I guess I want you to be here with me, where you belong. Is that too much to ask?"

"Yes," I say, even though I already know that that is not going to go over well.

"WHAT!?" she yells

"You heard me. You may be my wife but I don't belong to you. I haven't done anything wrong and I sure as hell am not going to apologize for being there for her," I reply, knowing that there's no way I can get Dee to understand, especially not without betraying Kara's trust.

"It's not your place," she insists for what feels like the umpteenth time.

"That's where you are wrong and I sure as hell won't abandon Kara just because you are jealous!"

"Then leave!" she yells.

"Is that what you really want?" I ask, somewhat taken aback by that.

"No, it's what you want. Tell me something Lee, if our positions were reversed, if you were married to her and I were the one stuck in sickbay, would you be having this argument with her, would you be fighting her for the right to stay by my side?" she asks and I can do nothing but to look away because the truth is that she is right, that if their positions were reversed I wouldn't be there.

"Just go," she says, obviously fighting back the tears.

"I'm sorry," I whisper as I walk out of our quarters, feeling incredibly ashamed even as a deep sense of relief washes over me.