As Eliza entered her house she saw J'onn and Superman and immediately feared the worse.
"What happened?" She asked as she felt the panic rise.
"Kara needed some time off. So we brought her here." J'onn said. "She is upstairs sleeping."
"Why? I mean, why couldn't Kara make her own way here? Is she hurt?" Eliza asked, not reassured but J'onn's explanation.
"After Myriad Kara had a new confidence in her abilities, but so did the people of National City. She got into a rut expecting too much of herself and when she didn't meet those expectations kept pushing. It got too much for her and she ran away and blew out her powers." Clark said. "She'll be okay, she just needs some time. Alex is with her."
"Alex? But I thought she was in Geneva." Eliza said confused.
"She was. When Kara disappeared I asked Alex to come back." J'onn explained.
"Kara disappeared? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I thought she just needed to cool off." J'onn said. "If I had known how much Kara was suffering I would have called you."
Seeing Eliza was turning to go upstairs Clark added. "Eliza, the only person who could have stopped this was Kara. Alex was not to blame, but she needs to believe that. She's taking it really hard."
-00-
"Hey." Eliza whispered as she entered Kara's and Alex's room. "How is she?"
"Exhausted." Alex said watching her sister who lay sleeping. "Did J'onn and Clark fill you in?"
"Yes." Eliza said noticing the bandage on Kara's arm.
"She fell down a hill and hurt herself. None of the wounds were serious so she should be okay." Alex said almost mechanically.
"And you?"
"I'm fine. I wasn't hurt. I wasn't even there." Alex said, her guilt obvious.
"You are not to blame for what happened." Eliza said.
"Yes I am, I'm her big sister. I am meant to look after her. I am meant to stop her putting herself in danger and I didn't. I wasn't even there."
"Kara told you to go." Eliza said as she sat next to Alex on the bed.
"But I knew she was feeling down. I should have stayed."
"Alex, Kara is just as stubborn as you are. She wanted you to go." Eliza went on as she hooked an arm around Alex's shoulders. "You look exhausted, you should try and get some sleep."
"I don't want Kara to feel alone when she wakes up." Alex replied.
"You sleep, I'll sit over there and make sure she is okay. First sign of her coming round I'll wake you."
-00-
"How are you feeling?" Alex asked when Kara opened her eyes late the following morning.
"Alex?" Kara questioned confused. "Where are we?"
"Midvale." Alex said as she moved to Kara's side. "You were kind of adamant you did want to go the DEO so we brought you here."
"How? When? We?"
"Last night. Your cousin flew you here and J'onn flew me."
"My cousin? Kal-El saw me?" Kara asked looking mortified.
"Yeah. We had no other way to get you here, J'onn could only take one of us at a time back here and there was a big tropical storm about to hit the island. We were worried about you." Alex said as Kara pulled away from Alex and stood.
As pain shot through her knee Kara winced in pain and sat down mumbling. "It sucks being human."
"It's not that bad and it is only temporary." Alex then paused before asking whilst poking Kara's head. "So you ready to talk about what's going on in there?"
"I just needed to get away and blow off some steam."
"Everyone needs to blow of steam occasionally." Alex said pulling Kara into a hug. "Not all of us attempt to destroy a tropical island though." She waited a moment then asked. "Why were you angry?"
"There was a fire and I got there too late and a little boy died. The parents hated me. Not even Non looked at me like that. Then J'onn called because of an escaped alien and I screwed up the capture and when J'onn pulled me up on it I got angry and he thought that I was on Red-K or something and it just started to feel like everyone was expecting me to not have emotions and I got angry. I mean I could feel the anger build and I just had to get away so I flew off. I actually have no idea where I ended up. But no one else was there so I kind of let rip."
"Feel better now?"
"Less angry." Kara nodded.
"But?" Alex pressed.
"But still frustrated." Kara sighed.
"We are going to get you through this." Alex said hugging Kara once more.
-00-
"Sweetie! How are you?" Eliza said as she engulfed Kara in a hug when her foster daughter finally made it downstairs.
"Okay, I guess. Has Kal-El gone?" She asked not seeing her cousin.
"Yes. He and J'onn left last night, but Clark said he'll come over later." Seeing Kara's awkward expression Eliza added. "He's worried about you. He wants to help."
"I'm fine." Kara said.
"Do you want some breakfast?" Eliza offered, not wanting to push Kara.
"No. I need to go to get back. I'm already in Cat's bad books."
"You are not going anywhere. Not while you don't have powers." Eliza said.
"But I have to go to work." Kara protested.
"No, you have to get your powers back. You can phone in sick."
"But-"
"If you are desperate to do something there is plenty of housework to do."
"That would be a first without powers." Alex commented earning a glare from Kara.
"Last time I lost my powers I went to work." Kara pointed out.
"And you broke your arm." Alex pointed out before realising what she had confessed to in front of Eliza.
"She broke her arm?" Eliza asked. "Why didn't you tell me? And how could you let her go to work with no powers? You should have been with her. You are meant to look after her."
"By the time she told me she had broken her arm I was locked inside the DEO being chased by a homicidal alien." Alex explained.
"It wasn't Alex's fault." Kara said louder than either Eliza or Alex was expecting. "It was my choice to go into work then. What happened was my fault just like me losing my powers this time. It is also my choice to go to work."
"Today you don't get that choice." Eliza said with a tone normally reserved for Alex.
"Fine." Kara said limping to the door.
"Where are you going?" Eliza asked.
"To sit on the beach."
"I'm not sure that is a good idea." Eliza said. "You should stay inside where it is safe."
"The sun will do her good." Alex said. "I'll sit out with her."
"I don't need babysitting." Kara protested.
"Say that without limping and we'll talk." Alex said moments before Kara disappeared from the house.
As Kara sat on the sand Alex dropped down next to her.
"Please don't start." Kara pleaded.
"No talking, just hugging." Alex said pulling Kara into her arms. The two sat like that in silence for several minutes before Kara said.
"I'm sorry I ruined your trip."
"You didn't."
"You told me it was really good."
"I told you the research was really good." Alex corrected. "But I missed you. Remember when you told me I should tell mum I worked for the DEO and that my job is protecting you?"
"And you pointed out that protecting me wasn't your actual job." Kara replied.
"But then you reminded me I have way more fun when I am protecting you." Alex countered. "And I do. I wouldn't change anything about my life or my job. Which is why I need you to stop trying to make decisions for me based on what you think I want." Alex said. "If I want to change something about my life I will. But if I want to keep everything the same, that is my choice."
"I just want you to be happy and not be burdened by me."
"You are not a burden." Alex said hugging her tighter.
-00-
As Kara and Alex lay on the beach watching birds Alex became aware of someone approaching moments before a shadow fell over her and Kara. Looking up and seeing who it was she greeted.
"Hey Clark."
"Hi Alex." Clark smiled as Kara bolted upright and looked round. "You mind giving us some space?"
"Not a problem." Alex said standing and walking back to the house.
"How is she?" Eliza asked as she saw Alex.
"Okay, I guess." Alex said as she turned and looked out of the window at Kara and Clark who were already deep in conversation.
"And you?" Eliza asked. Seeing Alex's shoulders slump she approached her daughter and forced her to turn round to look at her. Seeing guilt and sorrow in her daughter's eyes she pulled her into a hug.
"None of this is your fault."
"It was because of me Kara came out as Supergirl. Everything that has happened since then is because of me. The worse part is I never really thanked her, I just lectured her."
"Kara chose to save that plane." Eliza said pulling away from Alex so she could look her in the eyes. "And I'm so glad she did." She then paused and added. "I know we always wanted Kara to keep her powers hidden so she would be safe, but sometimes I feel like we held her back. We stopped her being complete."
"Even using her powers she isn't complete." Alex reminded Eliza. "Even when she was fighting Astra she wasn't this broken. The worse part is I knew Kara was down and I left anyway. I don't know how to help her." Alex confessed.
"Yes you do." Eliza said, drawing a confused look from Alex. "Kara is feeling the weight of the world. She is trying to live up to impossible expectations whilst putting so much pressure on herself. If anyone can relate to that, it's you." She then paused and asked. "Is that all that's bothering you?"
"No. I still haven't found dad. I'm no closer than I was during Myriad." Alex said as Eliza drew her into another hug.
"Like you, your father was always a fighter." Eliza said. "If he is still alive I have no doubt that you will find him. But focus on one problem at a time."
"I still miss him." Alex said a stray tear ran down her face.
"I know. So do I." Eliza said holding her tighter.
-00-
"So, what are you going to do today?" Alex asked the following day as she joined Kara on the beach.
"Look for a new job?"
"Why?"
"I may have lost my temper with Ms Grant."
"What? When?" Alex asked concerned that Kara had had another outburst.
"A few days ago." Kara explained.
"What did she do?"
"Nothing really. It was me." Kara said sadly. When she didn't expand on the comment Alex asked.
"Any more details to go with that?"
"It's just that when I was her assistant she was always giving advice as well as criticism. But now, it's like I get the criticism without the advice and I had enough."
"So what did you do?"
"Nothing, to start with anyway. Then I started to snap and I think Ms Grant sensed it and sent me to her balcony."
"Why?"
"To cool off."
"For how long?"
"A few hours."
"Then what happened?"
"She came out, asked if I was capable of having an adult conversation. Then I somehow offended her and she talked about trust and her disappointment in me. And seeing how I have not been to work since I assume she thinks I have run away, which is a sackable offence."
"Except Winn hasn't texted to say you were fired." Alex pointed out.
"She probably wants to do it in person." Kara pointed out.
"She may surprise you." Alex said drawing Kara in for a hug. "So are you ready to talk yet?"
"Talk?"
"About what drove you over the edge?"
"It wasn't any one thing. I mean, that little boy dying was one of the last straws, but it wasn't just that. It was everything. There was so much expectation from everyone, it was like I was swimming against the tide. It made me feel so tired, so lost, so defeated. I don't know why I'm telling you this. You've had so much pressure on you your whole life."
"Have you been talking to mom?" Alex asked thinking back to her conversation with Eliza.
"No. Why?" Kara asked confused.
"Doesn't matter." Alex said.
"How did you do it?"
"Do what?" Alex asked.
"Cope with everything."
"I didn't. I got drunk and partied and cut myself off and then got drunk some more. Definitely wouldn't recommend it."
"What turned it round?"
"I got arrested."
"You what?" Kara asked pulling away and looking at Alex. "Why didn't you tell me. Does Eliza know?"
"No she doesn't, so don't tell her. I didn't tell you as it was a low point and when I was finally sober was too ashamed to tell you. I was too scared to tell you because I couldn't face you losing faith in me."
"I will never lose faith in you." Kara said before asking. "So the arrest kicked you into action?"
"No. Hank came to visit me while I was in holding and offered me a job. He gave me purpose and direction."
"I'm sorry I wasn't a better sister." Kara said. "I should have been there."
"There was nothing you could do. It was down to me. I pushed you away." Alex said before asking. "Why are we even talking about this? We are meant to be worrying about you."
"You taught me the art of deflection." Kara said.
"Deflection won't solve the issue." Alex pointed out. "Trust me, I'm the expert."
"I don't know where to start." Kara sighed.
"Talking helps. As does not shutting people out."
"Okay, but can we eat first? I'm kinda hungry." Kara admitted earning a smile from Alex.
-TBC
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. Final chapter up tomorrow.