AN: Wow! I think that's the first time that I have so much reviews, follows and fav for a first chapter! Thank you so much
A few hours later, in the middle of the afternoon, Kara was working at her desk when she suddenly felt something was wrong. It was a very light sensation, barely noticible. Her throat was somehow itching. She didn't think much and just assumed she was thirsty. The young woman took the small bottle of water in her purse and took a sip. The fresh sensation was enough to calm her throat. Satisfied and not very preoccupied, Kara went back to work.
An other few minutes later, the young kryptonian was suddenly the prisoner of a coughing fit. This was an unusual and very displeasing sensation. Kara was stuck and had troubled to breathe as the coughs became uncontrolable.
Winn's attention, of course, got cought by the unusual noise coming from his best friend. He stood up from his desk and rushed over her.
"Hey, Kara, are you ok?" he asked worried putting a hand on her back
"Yes, just *caugh* just need a minute." she said pressing her hands against her chest
The caughing fit quickly stopped just as Cat was walking in her office.
"Relevant people. In my office. Kira, try not to die on you desk please." she said coldly without stopping.
Cat went behind her desk but stayed standing. She put a hand on her hip, looking at the layouts in front of her whilst her employees were invading her office. Kara stayed in the back with a note pad and a pen, ready to take note.
"Alright people, let's make it quick so I can go home early." Cat started without looking at them "Financials, speak." she ordered suddenly glaring at the man
"W-we saved twenty thousands this month by reducing the cleaning staff and reorganizing the art budget." the man said trying to sound confident
"Where is the next month plan?" Cat asked quickly after he finished
"You will have it by the end of the day."
Cat didn't respond and simply stared at him for a second
"Fashion, where are my layouts?" the boss asked firmly
"T-there was a problem with o-one of the models. She didn't want to pose and-" the woman started under the sudden sorry look of all her collegues
"I don't care what justifies your incompetance. Tell the model to suck it up or she's fired. I want the layouts first thing tomorrow." Cat said commanded before sitting down. "When will my art director be back from Egypt?" she asked Kara.
But the young woman didn't notice immidiately she was the one to be asked the question. The office fell into silence until Cat cleared her throat. It made Kara look up from her note pad with a disoriented look. Suddenly blushing, she took a step forward.
"Uh, sorry." she said adjusting nervously her glasses. "James said he needed two more weeks. He said the desert isn't very kind and won't let him take good pictures." she stated feeling uncomfortable with all the looks around her.
Cat stared at her for a second, faking annoyance to hide her slight concern. It wasn't in Kara's habits to be that distracted at work, even if she had to deal with a Supergirl matter.
"Everybody out." Cat ordered.
Kara waited for all the employees to leave before walking towards her boss' desk, unsure of her steps.
"Is there anything you want me to do, Miss Grant?" she asked gripping her note pad close to her chest
"Professionally, no. But I'm going to ask you something quite absurde, considering your abilities. Are you alright? I mean caughing isn't really your style." Cat wondered a bit worried for her superhero
"I'm fine. I can't get sick, remember." Kara said confidently
"Are you sure? Because I don't know when was the last time you took a look at yourself but you're defenitely not in your normal state." the boss insisted seeing her assistant was paler than usual.
Kara was about to smile a response but was cut off by an other caughing fit. The young woman put down her note pad on her boss' desk and walked to the bar. Cat quickly followed her, determined to get more details on her condition. The young woman poured herself a glass of water and drank it in one go. Then, the caughs calmed and that's only then that Kara noticed Cat was rubbing her back with one hand. The boss then lifted her hand and tried to put it on her assistant's forehead.
"Miss Grant...I'm fine." she tried to assure jerking backward
"Clearly you're not." Cat said firmly, forcing her hand on her head. "Kara you're burning up!" she exclaimed suddenly more worried.
Kara accepted the touch as she didn't really feel the strength to refuse. And that's maybe what made her realize how bad she was. She wasn't feeling good at all. She was weak, cold and hot at the same time. The young woman put her hands on the bar to support her. She closed her eyes and sighed hoping this would make the dizziness go away. She felt a hand on her arm and looked up to see Cat's worried stare.
"Come sit on the couch before you throw up or something on my expensive bar." Cat advised being sacastic only to hide her concern to herself.
As Cat was going to help her assistant, Kara turned to remove her hands from the bar. But as she took a first step to the couch, her vision got blurry and without even realizing it, her legs gave up and she fell in a heap. Cat couldn't retain a gasp of surprise and almost fell with her as she was still holding her arm.
"Kara!" she breathed out kneeling beside the young woman. "Somebody, help!" Cat shouted at the bullpen.
Almost instantly, Winn came in and frozze for a second at the sight of his best friend lying on the ground. He rushed over the two women and was quickly joined by an other one of his male collegues.
"What are you waiting for!? Get her to the couch!" Cat yelled.
The two men didn't hesisitate further and grabbed the uncounscious young woman. They laid Kara gently on the couch and took a step back. Winn stayed there while the other man joined the rest of the small group of employee that had gathered in the doorway.
"What the hell are you all looking at!? Go back to work or you're all fired!" Cat shouted
"Kara, hey, wake up." Winn begged kneeling next to her head. "What happened?" he asked looking at his boss
"I don't know. I was just asking how she was and then she caughed and fell."
Winn picked his phone from his back pocket and texted the only competent person he knew.
"What are you doing?" Cat asked still looking at Kara
"I'm texting her sister. Alex will know what to do."
Kara began to stir and almost startled the two humans.
"Kara... Are you ok?" Cat asked unsure
"Argo..." she said weakly
"What?" Winn asked in confusion
"Argo..." Kara repeated barely opening her eyes.
She really didn't look good at all. Her face was paler than ever, her hair were messy, probably due to her temperature rising, and her glasses were twisted due to the fall. Cat saw it and decided it was certainly bothering Kara so she took them off her face and carefully put them in the pocket of her jacket. The young woman didn't even seem to notice.
"Kara, what does Argo mean?" Winn asked taking her burning hand. "Oh my god! Her temperature must be really high." he exclaimed surprised by the touch.
Cat quickly put a hand on Kara's forehead like she did before and was as surprised as Winn. The temperature was higher than a few minutes ago.
"It's Argo-" Kara breathed out before falling back into darkness
"Kara!" Cat exclaimed wishing it would make the young woman re-open her eyes.
It didn't work. Instead, Kara moaned and frowned like she was still aware of the people around her.
"Squeeze my hand if you hear me." Winn said but didn't get any response.
This time, Kara was out for good.
A few minutes later, Winn was still next to Kara and Cat was pacing when paramedics entered the office. Well, they looked like paramedics but Winn quickly recognised Alex among them.
"What happened?" the agent asked without stopping looking at her sister
"Earlier she had a few caughing fit. When I asked her if she was alright, Kara swear she was fine. But I quickly saw she was burning up and when she tried to get to the couch, she fell unconscious." Cat explained
"But Kara woke up for a minute." Winn quickly added. "She kept saying this word over and over. uh... Argo! She was repeating 'Argo'."
"What does it mean?" Alex asked herself
"We were hoping you would know." Cat said quite upset no one knew what was happening to Kara.
The young woman was now lying on a stretcher and the other agents were ready to leave. Alex started to follow them when Cat suddenly stopped her.
"Miss Danvers!" she started in a hury. "Her glasses. They twisted when she fell." Cat added handing the object to Alex.
The agent nodded with thankfulness and glanced quickly at Winn before leaving.
At the DEO, Alex was outside the box where Kara was examinated by two doctors. The agent wouldn't miss any details, she wanted to know, to understand more than anyone. Kara was still unconscious and pale. Even from where she was, Alex could see her sister was sweating quite a lot and this was worrying her the most. Kara's temperature hadn't stopped rising and was starting to really make her uncomfortable. For now, the young woman had been left in her short-sleeved shirt and her pants. Her cardigan was completely wet from the sweat and her shirt was starting to stick to her skin. As soon as the doctors would finish their first tests, they would change her in hopital clothes.
Alex wasn't moving. Her arms were crossed on her chest, like they were protecting her somehow. Her mind was racing. What could possibly make Kara so sick? Who was behind this? Alex was pulled out of her reflexion when Hank stepped beside her.
"How is she?" he asked looking through the glass
"I don't know. The doctors are still working but they will be over any minute now." Alex said before sighing.
As the agent had predicted it, two minutes later, Doctor Hamilton showed up. Alex suddenly unfolded her arms, craving for answers.
"We did every test we possibly could but even in her state, she weirdly has her power. We can't stick a needle for blood testing or put an IV." the doctor said with incomprehension
"Then why isn't she healing?" Hank asked
"Could this be some kind of kryptonite poisonning?" Alex added
"That's very unlikely but we will probably know more when we will have the results of the last tests. Until then, the only thing we can do is make her as comfortable as possible and monitor her closely." Hamilton explained
"What's her condition?" Alex asked wanting more informations
"What concerns me the most is her temperature. It's stable for now but it's extremely high. Supergirl is experiencing some light trouble to breathe correctly but nothing alarming for now. What's intriguing is that it generaly look like a high level flu." the doctor added.
Hank nodded and dimissed Doctor Hamilton. Seeing Alex droping her head and staring at her feet, he moved to face her and put his hands on her shoulders.
"Alex, we will find what happened to her. If someone found a way to hurt Supergirl on this planet, we will find him." Hank assured
Alex suddenly looked up, eyes widly open, like she had a revelation.
"What?" the martian asked confused
"What if it's not from this planet? What if no one is trying to hurt Kara?"
"Alex... Stop turning around the pot." Hank said slightly annoyed
"Maybe it's a virus or a bacteria that came with Fort Rozz or even with Kara." Alex explained with a light of hope in her eyes
"Let's find out." Hank conclued
The two agents headed to the AI room. As soon as Alex openend the door, Alura appeared in the center of the plateform. When the door closed, Hank leaned against the wall and Alex took a step forward but without stepping on the plateform. She didn't want to be closer to Alura. Even if it was just a hologram, it was still the image of Kara's mom. Someone Alex didn't know and felt like a stranger to her.
"Tell me about Argo." Alex ordered crossing her arms
"Argo was one of the most important city of Krypton, the second after Kandor, the capital. Our familly lived and died on Argo expect for Kara and Kal'El who escaped." the AI said with a monotone voice
"What does it have to do with Supergirl's condition?" Hank wondered
"Kara is sick. She has a very strong fever and has been unconscious for almost two hours now. We suspect she caught something that came with her or Fort Rozz." Alex added upset not to have answers already
"It is very likely my daughter is suffering from the Argo fever."
"Explain it to us." Hank commanded with a firm voice even if it wasn't necessary
"The Argo fever is a virus that causes a high temperature rise and as consequences, difficulties to breathe and strong dreams and hallucinations. The virus has been like a plague on Krypton for years but as soon as a vaccine had been discovered, it became very well curable. The virus is air born and contagious to kryptonians. Your human physiology will protect your cells from being infected. However, you must remain careful. Any injection or fluids exchange could contaminate you. Well treated, the Argo fever can last between five days and two weeks depending of the subject. However, if the disease is not correctly handled, it can lead to death."
Alex gasped and took a step back in horror.
"What do we need to make a vaccine?" Hank asked seeing Alex was unable to speak
"I am afraid you do not have neither the ingredients or the technologies to make it."
The martian droped his head and Alex became suddenly furious.
"There must be a way!" she shouted. "Tell me more!"
"I am sorry. I do not have further information regarding this disease." The AI said calmly
"Your daughter, my sister is sick! And she will die if I don't find something soon; and that can't happen!" Alex yelled stepping on the plateform
"I am sorry. I do not have further information regarding this disease."
Alex screamed, desperate. Then, she sighed heavily and started to walk out of the room. Hank shut down the AI and caught the young woman by the arm.
"Alex-" he started only to be cut off
"I will find a cure, Hank." she stated turning to face him.
The martian could see the determination in Alex's eyes. He decided not to add anything and let her go.
AN: A lot of you were waiting for Kara to be sick at CatCo and here it happened! It was already supposed to be this way but seeing all your messages made happy with my choice ;)
Now we know more about the fever thanks to the AI and now it's up to Alex to find a cure.
What did you think about Alex's interaction with the hologram? What about the scene at CatCo? Don't forget to review, I will respond to you. (also thanks to the guests' reviews)
Next, Alex and the doctors will find a way to help Kara while Alex stuggles to find a cure. Also, Kara will start to dream.