This little idea popped into my head. And it's turned into a not so little story.

Trouble was a word that seemed symbiotic with the Luthor name. To be a Luthor meant you were always in trouble. Or that you were causing it.

Trouble and Lena knew each other like old acquaintances. She flirted with it. Every day. And each day it came to her with a new face, in a new form. One day it could be wearing an Armani suit. On another, it could be fitted with a lead casing. A lot of the time for her it came on a freshly printed page. She'd seen it come in so many different ways it never surprised her anymore. That's what she thought. Until one day, it showed up in a cotton candy hoodie, fuchsia pink tutu skirt and bubblegum sneakers.

Her mother's arrest was still on the edge of media interest and L-Corps investors were not happy. The stock was dropping and the company needed something to make people forget its connections to the Luthors currently in jail. The PR team have come up with the brilliant idea of a toy drive and fundraiser.

"It will be great! We'll make a hold day out of it. Kiss some kids. Probably shake some hands. All that good stuff. Everyone loves to see little orphans in need." That's what the head of the PR team had said when he came in to sell the idea.

Lena detested the fact that once again she was cleaning up and saving face after the actions of another Luthor. But she'd be damned if she let this company die because of them. And at the very least the event was for a good cause. So she gave her seal of approval and the event was announced that day and the team started to put things in place for it right away.

Lena wasn't all too surprised the next night when she heard the balcony door to her office open.

"What do you have with putting yourself in danger?"

Lena chuckled, turning to face her guest.

"It's just a toy drive. There'll be games and rides for the kids. How could that be dangerous?"

"Oh, I don't know? Let's look at how the last two public events L-Corp host turned out," Supergirl said, raising her hand. "One blew up, literally. You're building almost collapsed and you almost got shot. The next one got hijacked, you and your guest were almost robbed and you almost got shot, again. By alien weapons,"

"And each time, thanks to you, everything turned out fine,"

"I guess this means I have an invitation to the event?"

"You do. And even if it isn't attacked it will be a nice treat for the kids if Supergirl shows up,"

Supergirl huffed, partly amused, "Okay, I'll be there. But I really hope I'll only have to be there for kids,"

That's how Lena ended up handing out presents with Supergirl on the day of the toy drive. L-Corp had rented out a convention centre and packed it with as many games, attractions and rides as possible in the space. The event was open to the public, the only stipulation was adults entering either donate a toy or a small fee. The toys and money gathered would go towards foster kids and the city orphanage.

The highlight of the event so far had to be Supergirl flying in, causing hundreds of simultaneous screams of delight. She seemed just as excited as the kids. Lena's PR manager was having a nightmare of a time trying to get the superhero to pose for pictures.

Each time he tried to ask, the response was, "Sure, sure, just a minute, this little girl asked for a ride," or "Hold on the picture can wait. These boys just challenged me to a race, I can't say no!"

Lena couldn't contain her laughter. She was actually genuinely enjoying herself. She almost forgot this was intended to a press event. Being dragged away for the kids every so often to give a quote or smile for a camera made sure she didn't forget entirely, but she could live with that.

The event was running smoothly and the convention centre was packed with people by the evening. Supergirl's warning played in the back of her mind, but the presence of both a hired security force and the NCPD helped settle her nerves about a potential attacker getting in. She was sure she even spotted Alex Danvers in the crowd at one point. Whether she was here in an official capacity or simply as a patron Lena wasn't sure. Seeing her here had gotten Lena's hopes for seeing Kara. She'd invited Kara to the event, both as a reporter and a friend, but Kara regrettably couldn't come because she had another assignment she to do.

A blur passing overhead caught her attention. She looked up to see Supergirl flying around with a young boy on her back. She did a lap of centre before landing in the middle of a group excited kids. "Okay, who's next?" She asked, setting the boy on the ground. Dozens of little hands went up at the same time, a chorus of 'Oh me! Me! Pick me,'s going off.

She was distracted by a tug on her shirt. Looking down she saw a little girl standing next to her. She had dark messy hair and piercing grey eyes, both of which contrasted with the oversized puffy hooded bright pastel pink jacket, fluffy ballerina skirt and glittery rose coloured shoes. There was a gangly thin look to her that seemed slightly off. But when she smiled at Lena she seemed to radiate joy.

"Well hello there," Lena said, smiling herself, "And who might you be?"

"I'm Ella,"

"It's nice to meet you, Ella. Are you having fun?"

She nodded and looked down shyly. She tugged Lena's shirt again and made a gesture for to come closer. Lena kneeled down.

"I have a gift for you,"

"For me?" Lena's eyebrows shot up in surprise, "You're the one who's supposed to be getting the gifts,"

"I already got my gifts,"

"You did? Where are they?" Lena looked at the girl's empty hands, knowing for a fact all the toys they gave out had been wrapped or in a gift bag, "Does your mom or dad have them?"

She shook her head, "Lost my parents,"

"Then I can help you find them,"

"No, I lost them forever ago,"

Lena was really confused now, "Ella, how did you get here? Who did you come with?"

"The nice man who gave me my gifts," She did a little twirl, "Aren't they pretty?"

"He gave you your clothes?" Lena asked, even more confused now. A pit was starting to open in her stomach, as red flags began to rise. "Who is he?"

She shrugged, "I don't know," She said simply.

"Where did you meet him?"

"He picked me up yesterday and let me sleep in the back of his car as he drove,"

"He did what?" Lena started to look around now for someone to help. Something was seriously wrong here.

"Yep!" Ella said, completely oblivious to Lena's growing panic, "And we went to a hotel! With a huge bathtub!" She held her hands apart as far as she could, "So big I could swim in it,"

"Is he here now? Is he here with you?"

She shook her head, "I don't think so. He dropped me off and said I could play before I gave you your gift,"

"My gift?" Lena for a moment had forgotten about that, "What did he give you?"

She suddenly looked worried, "Well, I wasn't supposed to give it to you yet. He said to wait until he called before I showed it to you. But I was really excited 'cause I never got to give a gift anyone before. Oh! This is the phone he gave me! It's got your picture on it! That's how I knew it was you,"

She fumbled to pull a phone from her hoodie pocket. She showed Lena the screen. The lock screen was a picture of her exiting the L-Corp building, obviously taken with her unawares, from a distance away.

"Ella, sweetie," Lena said a little firm, trying to get the girl to pay attention now, "What's the gift he gave you for me?"

"I'm really not supposed to show you yet. He said he it had to be a surprise,"

"It's okay sweetie. You can show me now,"

She dragged her foot on the ground, looking nervous.

"Please Ella, I'd really like to get my gift." Lena smiled reassuringly.

"O…okay," She said and started to unzip the front of her hoodie. She'd undone about half of it when Lena's heart leapt into her throat. She grabbed the girl's hands, stopping her from unzipping anymore.

"That's enough Ella, we're just going to move your hands from there, okay? Let's try not to touch it too much,"

"But don't you want your gift?" She looked hurt.

"It's fine sweetie. I just don't want to damage it by accident,"

Lena was close to hyperventilating. She forced her breaths to remain calm and even. "It's okay. We're just going to get some help first," She looked around and all once she realized how many people there were here. How many kids. Her mouth went dry and she was sure her heartbeat was rivalling that of a hummingbird's. She took a deep breath in, knowing she needed to keep a clear head. What she did next could cause a panic if she wasn't careful. A lot of people could get hurt.

She raised her voice, only slightly, calling, "Supergirl,"

The hero heard, even over the mass of voices in the room. She was in the air, twin girls in her arms. She floated towards the floor where Lena stood.

"What is it?" She asked, noticing Lena's slightly uneven breath and her racing pulse. That's when she saw the little girl next to Lena, "Oh Rao," She put the two girls down, "Why don't you two go find your mom? Now," She gave them a little insistent push in the direction of their mother before turning her full attention back to Lena.

"Is that what I think it is?" She asked.

"A bomb vest," Lena said in a whisper. She stood, taking Ella's hand,

"We need to evacuate the building. We could set off the fire alarm," Supergirl was already turning to leave. Lena grabbed her hand, stopping her.

"Wait. I took a look at it. It doesn't seem to be activated yet. That means it must have a remote detonator or a timer or something. I was talking to her," Lena said, indicating to the little girl, "Whoever set this up, I'm their target. If he sees people leaving en masse –"

"He might set off the bomb," Supergirl nodded, "But we need to do something,"

Just then Lena's PR manager appeared, "Finally caught you Supergirl. If we could –"

"We don't have time for that right now," Lena said to him, "We have a potential bomb situation,"

"What are you talking about? This event is far from a bomb for us Ms. Luthor,"

"No Percy, I mean literally, a bomb," She pointed at Ella.

He looked at the girl. His face went from confused, to shock, to pure terror in time it took him to blink.

"H-how…"

"It doesn't matter how right now. It matters that we evacuate the building. You need to see it that people get out safely, without causing a panic" Supergirl said.

"R-r-right… how do I that?"

"Figure something out Percy, if you can't then stay out of the way," Lena said to him.

"I'm going to get someone who might be able to disable that," Supergirl said, taking off over the heads of the crowd.

"Is something wrong?" Ella asked.

Lena looked down, "Oh, no. No dear, nothing's wrong. We're just going to get help,"

"I did something wrong, didn't I?" She started to tear up.

Lena knelt down to her side, shushing her gently, "No. You did nothing wrong. Everything is going to be alright,"

"This isn't a gift,"

Lena took a breath, a moment to think about the answer, then she shook her head, "It's not, no. But that's okay,"

Ella was crying fully now, "Am I going to hurt people?"

"No, no. Supergirl is going to get someone who can get you out of this. Everything is going to be okay,"

Almost on cue Supergirl came running back, with Alex Danvers and female cop right behind her.

"Oh my god," the cop said when she saw Ella.

"It's just a little girl," Alex said in shock.

"I need to call this in. We need to get these people out of here," The cop said, pulling out her walkie-talkie.

"I don't think the bomb is activated yet. I think it might have a remote detonator," Lena said, "And if this guy is around, and sees everyone leaving he could set it off,"

"We still need to get to the civilians out,"

"Is it going to blow up?" Ella sobbed.

"Hey no, no." Supergirl said, kneeling next to the girl, "Alex will turn it off so it doesn't do that, okay? I promise you,"

Alex looked around, "We need to get her out of the main room at the very least,"

"Right, this way," Lena said, leading the group. Supergirl picked up the girl, speaking to her softly, trying to calm her.

"Supergirl, be gentle with her. As little movement as possible. Maggie, see to that evacuation. We need to limit possible casualties,"

"Right," The cop, Maggie nodded and started speaking into the walkie, "Attention all units, this is Detective Maggie Sawyer. We have a confirmed 10-89. We need an immediate evac of civilians. I repeat a confirmed 10-89. Need immediate evac. Someone on site attempting to disarm. Requesting bomb squad."

"The bomb isn't going to get here in time,"

Lena lead them into the kitchen the caterers were using. Maggie and Alex whipped out their badges.

"NCPD!"

"FBI!"

"We need everyone to clear the room now,"

The staff didn't need to be told twice, rushing out the doors. Alex cleared away a table and Supergirl set Ella down carefully.

"Hi sweetie," Alex smiled reassuringly at her, "Can you tell me your name?"

"E-Ella," She sniffed.

"Okay, Ella, you're being very brave. I'm going to unzip your jacket and take it off, okay?"

She nodded. Alex slowly took off the hoodie and started to examine the bomb strapped to Ella. She pulled out a pocket knife and carefully started to cut small sections of cloth away to expose more wiring.

"Can you disarm it?" Maggie asked.

Alex stood and look towards the others, mouthing, 'I'm not sure,'

"Can't we just take it off her?" Supergirl asked.

Alex shook her head, "We'll have to cut her out of it and I'm sure that will… you know," She avoided saying the words 'cause it to explode' in front of Ella.

"Lena, Maggie," Supergirl turned to them, "Maybe you should go,"

"If Alex is here then I'm not moving an inch," Maggie said, glaring down Supergirl, daring her to challenge her.

Supergirl knew she couldn't convince her, so she looked to Lena. Lena shook her head.

"If something goes wrong –" Supergirl started to say.

"That little girl has a bomb strapped to her chest because someone wants me dead. I'm not leaving until she's safe," Lena said, eyes burning with conviction.

Supergirl didn't say anything for several seconds, then she nodded. "Okay,"

"Okay,"

It was all they said. It was all that needed to be said in that moment.

"Ella, think you could tell me how the man put this on you?" Alex asked as she traced a blue wire from once source to the other.

Ella shook her head and started weeping again, "I'm sorry! I didn't- I didn't-" Her chest heaved and her shoulders shook with sobs. Lena was at the girl's side in an instant, murmuring softly to her.

"It's okay. You're being very brave right now. Everything will be just fine,"

Alex nodded, motioning for her to keep calming her down. Lena took the girl's hands, continuing to reassure that everything was going to be alright. Supergirl asked her what she liked to do. Ella said she liked to look at the clouds. Supergirl promised to take her up the clouds once this was over.

"I don't know if this helps you," Lena said, "but Ella told me before that the man who put her in the bomb said to wait to it to me until he called her,"

"That just might help. Supergirl, call Winn and get him to scramble all phone and radio signals in the area,"

At the same moment, a voice crackled on Maggie's device and she stepped to the side to respond.

"Maybe you should go," Ella said, "I don't want to hurt anyone,"

"You're not going to hurt anyone," Alex said, "I just need a minute again and I'll have this vest off of you,"

Just then a phone started to ring. The women all looked at Ella. Specifically, they looked at the cellphone in her hands.

Alex picked it up, "Unknown number, of course,"

"Let me talk to him," Lena said, "I'm the one he wants,"

"Yes, the one he wants to blow up," Supergirl said.

"He hears your voice he might set off the bomb. We don't even know if there's any delay," Maggie said, "Let me talk to him. I'll buy us some time,"

The women all looked at each other, then nodded, Alex handed Maggie the phone before going to back the bomb.

Maggie took a breath and answered the phone, "Hello, Detective Sawyer here,"

"Hello?" A slightly distorted voice answered, "Where is Ella?"

"Ella, she just gave me her phone. A fire alarm got pulled somewhere and that sent everyone into a panic. Little Ella got lost in the crowds and found me. Are you her father?"

"Yes, I am. Where are you?"

"Where are you now? Can you come get Ella? Or can I bring her to you?"

"Did she find Lena Luthor?"

"Ms. Luthor isn't here, not that I can see. But Ella is here safe with me,"

The other line went dead.

"He hung up," Maggie said.

"Did it work?" Supergirl asked.

A green light flashed to life on the vest, then a clock appeared with thirty seconds on it. It started to countdown. Ella screamed.

"Alex!" Supergirl and Maggie shouted.

Lena's jaw fell in shock and horror.

"Shit!" Alex said.

"Alex you have to do something!"

Lena took Ella's hand, telling her again it was going to be okay.

"Screw it!" Alex quickly cut three wires. There was second more where the clock was still counting down, then stopped. For several seconds no one moved, no one spoke. No one even dared breathe.

Then all once they all sighed. Alex dropped her head into her arms on the table next to Ella. Lena, laughing and crying, hugged the young girl, who was crying too. Supergirl placed a hand on Alex's shoulder, giving it a warm squeeze. Maggie leant against the wall, clutching her heart.

"That was some good work there Danvers," She said.

Alex gave a shaky laugh, "And you thought this evening was going to be boring,"

"Come here,"

Alex moved over to her and the two hugged, tightly.

Supergirl smiled at Ella, "Everything is over now. It's going to be fine,"

She took off the vest and set it aside. Once it was off Ella hugged Supergirl and then Lena. She still crying, saying she was sorry. They tried to calm her down. She did eventually settle down. Once she had Maggie took her aside to ask her some questions that could help them find the bomber. Alex took the bomb to be properly disposed of. The convention centre, which only a short time ago was overrun with laughter and kids was now being overrun with police. People were being questioned. Areas were being sectioned off to look for evidence.

"Are you okay?" Supergirl asked Lena, once a detective was finished questioning her on what happened.

"Honestly… A little shaken. A little girl almost died because of me,"

"It's not your fault,"

"Isn't it?"

Supergirl shook her head, "No, it's not,"

Lena didn't say anything.

Supergirl watched Alex walk up to Maggie and moved over to join them. Lena followed.

"What did she say?" Alex asked.

"Not much. Poor girl is scared out of her mind. From what she did say… well, I think she's a street kid, and that she'd been on her own for a while"

"You aren't serious?" Supergirl said, "This guy just took her off the streets?"

"That would explain why we haven't found her records. If she does have any they aren't going to be current," Alex said.

"What are we going to do then?" Maggie glanced at her watch, "It's almost ten on a Friday on a holiday weekend no less. It's going to be hell to get a social worker right now,"

"Do we really have to toss her into the system right now? After everything she's just been through," Supergirl said.

"Probably won't be able to find anywhere for her until Monday," Alex said.

"Bureaucracy sucks," Supergirl frowned.

"You can say that again," Maggie said.

"I'll take her,"

Everyone looked at Lena. For a split-second, Lena was confused because she hadn't even realized those words had come out of her lips.

"Really?" Maggie asked.

"Lena are you sure?" Supergirl asked.

"Yeah," Lena nodded, "I can keep her until they find her a proper foster home for her. It's just for the weekend, right?"

"Yes, but…" Alex started.

"Please, let me do this for her. It's two days. What's the worst that can happen?"

This story will probably be three, maybe four chapters long. I'll update as soon as possible. Please let me know what you think so far.

Nardragon~ until the next page.