Maggie yawned and took a sip from her fifth cup of coffee of the day. Despite the late hour, or early hour depending on how you looked at it. The precinct was still bustling with activity. Maggie had been thrilled with her promotion, but with the promotion had come nearly quadruple the paper work. Along with the promotion also came a tiny little office toward the back of the precinct. However, there was little privacy as the front wall was made completely of glass and that glass had little to no soundproofing, so she could hear all the noise from the main room.
The lack of noise from said room is what caused Maggie to look up.
There standing in the middle of the frozen chaos in all her bright blue glory was Supergirl.
Standing quickly Maggie rushed to her door. A feeling of dread washed through her body. She knew Kara wouldn't show up unannounced for any good reasons, "Supergirl," Maggie's voice is loud in the quiet room. Kara's usual fluorescent smile is absent.
"I'm sorry to just show up," Kara apologized once they were seated at Maggie's small desk.
"What's happened? Is Alex OK?" Maggie couldn't keep the worry out of her tone. The look that crossed Kara's features didn't ease Maggie's worries.
"She's OK physically, but," Kara wiped at a tear on her cheek.
"It's OK Kara, tell me."
Kara told her about the disastrous mission and it was hard to think of Alex doing something so, careless to endanger her team.
"And last night when I went to check on her…," she paused shaking her head. "I found her in bed with some young girl with a green mohawk."
Maggie had to bite down a moan, from the pain the words caused. Even though she was mostly responsible for the breakdown of her relationship the thought of Alex with someone else physically hurt.
"There were drugs on the coffee table," Kara continued, oblivious to Maggie's pain.
Maggie's blood turned cold, "Alex used them?"
Kara nodded, more tears streaking her cheeks, "The apartment was full of empty liquor bottles. She more or less confessed to drinking at work." Kara looked helplessly at Maggie, "How did I not know?"
Trying to think of this as information about a suspect and not about her family Maggie questioned, "Has Alex ever used before?" Maggie knew that Alex had told her once when they were learning about each other that she had never done anything other than smoking a couple of joints.
"Nothing more than a couple of joints in college, and she told me it made her sick."
"I never saw her drink to excess. I mean she drinks a little too much when she's upset," Maggie couldn't wrap her brain around what Kara was saying. "What was it they took?" she finally asked afraid of the answer.
"The mohawk girl said it was Haedrid Powder. I've heard of it, but don't really know anything about it."
Haedrid Powder was a new alien street drug. It was potent stuff and Maggie had seen the results of abuse of the drug many times and it wasn't pretty, "It's still a relatively new drug. We don't know exactly how it works or where it came from even. But there's already been a number of deaths linked to it."
There's a long silence, both women lost in their own thoughts before Kara says, "I don't know how to fix this. How did I not know?" She's out right crying now.
"We both know how well Alex is at hiding away her emotions."
"We found Jeremiah dead, not long after you left. She told me not to tell you."
The words were another slap to the face. She could still remember the feel of Alex sobbing in her arms after Jeremiah had shown his true colors after magically appearing back in her life. And the determination Alex had to find him once she found out he wasn't completely bad.
"We need a plan," Maggie finally spoke. "We can't let her keep going like this."
Alex was a little wobbly on her feet and sporting a black eye from the jealous boyfriend of a woman who had decided Alex was more interesting company. He never would have gotten a punch in if she hadn't been so drunk, but as it was she had a black eye and some sore ribs but he had a broken nose and some bruised balls. She chuckled to herself as she tried to get her key into the door. It was several tries before she finally got it open.
As the door swung open she was surprised to see Kara standing just inside. She hadn't talked to Kara since the day before when she had discovered Alex in a compromising position. It had been a major low point in Alex's life and she had been trying not to think about it.
"Hey," Alex tried to hide just how drunk she was but knew the fact she missed the table beside her when she tried to put her keys on it, didn't help her case any. She ignored it hoping Kara wouldn't notice but when her eyes moved to the floor she knew she had failed.
"What happened to your face?" were the first words out of Kara's mouth.
"A little disagreement." A movement to her left drew Alex's attention toward the couch. Maggie, Winn, James and, J'onn all sat watching her. She had been so focused on Kara she hadn't even noticed them. "Oh look, the whole gang's here." Alex's heart gave a lurch at seeing Maggie. She looked amazing despite the look of pure disappointment on her face.
Maggie briskly walked up to Alex and yanked her bag off her shoulder, and wordlessly started searching it. Alex didn't bother saying anything. Despite her fuzzy brain, she knew what was happening. It was apparently time for mission save Alex the screw-up.
Alex went to the fridge surprised they hadn't removed the beers yet. She grabbed one and leaned against the counter, popped open the beer, drinking down half the bottle in one go, "Did you find what you were looking for?"
Maggie didn't find anything in the bag. She looked at Alex and demanded, "Empty your pockets."
Alex sighed, "I don't have anything on me." Maggie didn't seem to believe her. So, she stepped forward and spread her arms and legs wide. Alex takes slight pride in Maggie's irritated expression as she walks around the counter and pats Alex down, like some perp she was arresting. Finally, seemingly sure Alex wasn't hiding anything Maggie went and stood beside Kara. Both looking stern with their arms folded.
"How can we help you, Alex?" Kara asked finally after a brief standoff.
"I love you all," Alex started, speaking honestly. "But there's nothing you can do." She shrugged.
"I don't believe that," Maggie joined in.
"It's true. I am un-helpable," she was pretty sure that wasn't a word. "Go on with your lives and just let me be." She took another hearty swig of her beer and finished it off. She wanted to get another but figured that was probably a bad idea.
"We're not just going to set and watch you destroy yourself, Alex," Winn had decided to speak up.
"Seriously guys, I don't want your pity."
"We aren't pitying you, Alex," Kara stated. "We're worried. This isn't like you. I know it's been hard lately. But destroying your life isn't the answer."
Alex Briskly rubbed her hands over her face, she just wanted to go to bed, "I'm tired guys. I'm tired physically. I'm tired emotionally and I just want to not think about things sometimes. So, I drink or maybe do something stronger. But guess what?" She turned and grabbed another beer from the fridge and popped the top and took a drink, "I'm an adult," she continued.
Before she could say anymore Maggie marched around the counter and yanked the bottle out of Alex's hand and threw it into the sink, the bottle shattering. Alex did even flinch, she just met Maggie's gaze as they stood toe to toe, faces only inches apart.
"You have five people here who love you and want you to be happy."
Alex scoffed, "You left me," Alex shouted, her anger finally breaking free. "And they didn't even know anything was wrong until Kara decided to open her big mouth because she always needs someone to save." She went to the door and grabbed her bag and keys, "I don't want to be saved." With that she stormed out of her own apartment.
"Well, that went well," Winn said into the silent room.
"She's hurting," J'onn spoke from his spot on the sofa. "I was listening to her thoughts. I thought it was warranted in this case. She's blaming herself for everything." He stood and moved closer to the others, "She blames herself for the breakup and for Jeremiah. Even those prisoners we lost when she was injured."
"None of those were her fault though," James said from where he had been watching everything unfold. "I don't understand why she would think like that."
"She's never felt good enough," Maggie pointed out. "I think so many things happening at once has just been too much."
"What are we going to do?" Kara's voice is small. "We can't just give up."
"We're not going to," Maggie said with determination. She yanked open the refrigerator door and pulled out all the beers and started pouring them down the drain, "We're going to do this the old-fashioned way. Find all her hiding spots."
With those words, everyone set about searching and cleaning out. With Kara's x-ray vision, they had the job done in no time.
By the time Alex stumbled back through the door hours later they had worked out a plan.
"You're still here?" Alex's words were slurred and she was swaying on her feet.
Kara and Maggie had gotten the first shift, "We just wanted to make sure you got home OK," Kara soothed. "You look exhausted, how about I help you get ready for bed."
Alex simply nodded and headed toward the bed. Kara helped her remove her coat and boots and tucked her in after she climbed on the bed.
"You can't save me," Alex mumbled. "I don't deserve it. I'm broke," her voice trailed off as she faded into sleep.
"This isn't going to be pretty," Maggie warned as Kara dropped onto the couch beside her.
"I know. But I'm ready."
