A/N: Thank you for the comments.

Guest(1) - Thanks! I will try to update regularly - I should get 5-ish chapters out a week.

Guest(2) - No matter how bad this gets over the following few chapters it will have a happy ending.

Guest(3) - Unfortunately I had quite a lot of real work that has been taking up my time. On the bright side it has inspiring all this angst. I will try to get round to at least one of your ideas. Life is just a little hectic at the moment and it is hard to get traction on much

Alexfan - Alex's path in this will be complicated, but not like that.

Guest(4) - I will be trying to explore several of those aspects as the story progresses.

Guest (5) - Sorry! There will be a few more cliff hangers dotted around.

"Kara? Can you hear me?" Eliza asked as she squeezed her daughter's hand.

"-Liza?" Kara croaked.

"It's okay. You're going to be okay." Eliza said as she placed an ice chip in Kara's mouth.

"Hurts." Kara mumbled before asking. "Alex?"

"Get some rest Sweetie." Eliza soothed as Kara shut her eyes again.

-00-

"Eliza?" Kara asked the next time she woke.

"Sweetie, how are you feeling?" Eliza said taking hold of her hand. "Are you in pain?"

"Yeah." Kara replied.

"We can give you something to help." Eliza said.

"Alex?" Kara asked.

"Kara, you need to listen to me." Eliza said putting a device into Kara's hand. "When the pain gets bad, press that button. You are not used to pain, so don't try to be brave."

"Alex?" Kara asked again as Eliza squeezed Kara's hand round the device.

"Press it just like that." Eliza instructed as the pain meds washed through Kara's system knocking her out.

-00-

"How is she?" J'onn asked entering the room.

"J'onn? You're back?" Eliza asked surprised and relieved as she stood and walked over to him.

"I came as soon as I got the message. I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner" He said before pausing and adding. "I'm sorry I ever left."

"It's not your fault." Eliza said.

"I was the one who left them alone." J'onn said guiltily. "How's Kara?"

"She's starting to stay awake for more than a couple of minutes."

"That's good." J'onn smiled before turning solemn and asking. "Does she know?"

"No. Not yet." Eliza said as a tear fell. "She asks every time she wakes, but I just don't know how to tell her. She is going to take it so badly."

"And you? I know how hard it is to lose a child and I know words can't help. But when you are ready I will always be there for you."

"Thank you." Eliza said as more tears ran down her face.

"Come here." J'onn said pulling Eliza into him.

Eventually Eliza pulled away and said. "You were like a father to Alex and I can never thank you enough for that. Thank you for being here."

"It's the least I could do." J'onn said. "I didn't come straight here, I went to where it happened, to search. Part of me was still hoping to find her alive. When I was searching the site I found this. It must have come off when...during the incident." He said handing Eliza Alex's watch, which had a broken face.

Silently she took the time piece and clasped it like if she let go of it, her memories would also disappear.

"I agree with the assessment made by the team here. Although there is no body, she couldn't have survived. Even if she survived the initial impact, when the ground collapsed, she couldn't have survived that fall, or if she did, the coldness of the river would have been too much."

"I know. Brainy took me through the report." Eliza said sadly.

"I wish I could have brought her body back for you to bury, but with the currents, there's no chance we'll find her now."

"I know." Eliza said again.

"I am going to take over here for awhile. In the mean time if you want me to handle any of the arrangements all you have to do is ask."

"Thank you." Eliza said still clasping the watch. "But I don't want to do anything until Kara is recovered."

"I understand. Make sure you get some rest" J'onn said kindly. "Kara will need you more than ever. You know she is going to blame herself."

"I know and she has lost so many people in her life. What if this breaks her?"

"It won't. She's tough. Just like all the other Danvers women." J'onn said.

-00-

"Are you in pain?" Eliza asked as she stroked hair off Kara's forehead the next time she woke.

When Kara nodded Eliza pressed a device back into her daughter's hand. "Press that to help." Eliza smoothed. She watched as Kara pressed the button a couple of times before asking. "How's that?"

"Fuzzy." Kara said hoarsely before asking. "Alex?"

"You need to rest Sweetie." Eliza said, trying not to give into her grief.

"But-" Kara started before weariness once again took hold.

"It's going to be okay." Eliza soothed. "Just get some rest."

-00-

"Does she know yet?" Brainy asked when he passed Eliza in the corridor later that day.

"No." Eliza said.

"I will not visit then. I have not fully mastered deception. I am not good at lying. But I thought you may appreciate this...uh, comfort food. Kara and Alex often talked about it." He said offering her a tub of ice cream. Seeing her expression he said. "Ah, I have made a mistake. I have misunderstood this custom….I will do better next time." He said walking off leaving Eliza confused.

-00-

"Eliza?" Kara asked as she opened her eyes and saw her foster mother sitting in a chair.

"Sweetie, how are you feeling?" Eliza asked leaning forward and taking Kara's hand.

"Hurt." Kara said trying to figure out what had happened.

"Your leg is broken." Eliza explained. "As well as a couple of ribs. You also have a couple of bullet wounds. But they'll heal, you just need your powers back." She added as Kara looked round. "Use the pain meds." Eliza reminded her helping her press the button.

"Where's Alex?" Kara asked, trying to take in everything that Eliza had said.

"You need to rest." Eliza said.

"Where's Alex?" Kara repeated picking up the pained expression on Eliza's face, despite her fogginess. When Eliza didn't immediately answer Kara tried to sit up only to yelp in pain.

"Kara, please lie still." Eliza pleaded.

"Alex? Where is she?" Kara asked, deep down knowing, but fearing the answer.

"She….she didn't make it." Eliza said slowly, trying to keep her voice steady.

"No." Kara said before the news finally sunk and she croaked. "No." Once more as the tears flowed freely.

-TBC...

A/N: Thanks, for reading and reviewing.