"Not that I don't appreciate you coming to work, despite being recently kidnapped," Cat drawled out, watching her assistant fidget in front of her desk. "But you can take a day or two off. In fact, Lucy has told me that it would be best if I let you have a paid week off and I'm actually not against that idea."

"I know. And I guess the, um," Kara gestured to her own face awkwardly. She had tried to use makeup to cover up the bruises but there was really nothing to help with the swelling. One eye was swollen shut and she had had to explain to several well-meaning people that she was single, and no, nobody she loved had beat her and it had been an angry alien. Which usually only lead to more questions. "This makes people really uncomfortable."

Cat Grant let out a weary sigh. "Kiera, never ever repeat what I'm going to say to you-we can't have everyone thinking that just because they have a cough they can take time off-but I do not expect anyone to work when they are genuinely unwell. Such as yourself. You must have hit your head a bit harder than the doctors thought if you think you're fit to work."

"Well, it just hurts a bit. No big!" Kara tried to smile, but because of the swelling on one side of her face, she looked lopsided and dopey.

"You look like a sea otter that had unfortunately been hit by a truck." Cat didn't pull back punches with her words. "Unbearably, pathetically adorable."

Kara brightened. "You think I'm adorable?"

"And brain-damaged. You missed the part where I said, hit by a truck, and you definitely look like you've been hit by one. It's time for you to go to the doctor, Kiera, I didn't give you insurance coverage for nothing." Cat made shooing motions with her hands, hoping that the blonde would get the hint. "If you don't go, the little hobbit man in the cardigan will cry. I think he already did when he saw you this morning."

"Thank you, Ms. Grant, but I think what I have to tell you will be very important-"

"I doubt that, Kiera." Ms. Grant snapped impatiently. "Truth be told, I'm trying to avoid a lawsuit and Ms. Lane has kindly told me-"

"-but, Ms. Grant-"

"-that if I don't make you go home for at least a week-"

"Ms. Grant, if you'd just-"

"-SHE would sue me-"

"I arranged an exclusive with Shadow Agent for you!" Kara blurted out. That got Cat to stop whatever she was was saying and just look at Kara with a stunned expression.

"Kara. Do you want a raise?" Cat Grant clapped her hands together gleefully. "Because that's how you get a raise. When?"

"Today." Kara croaked out, coughing a bit. Cat immediately handed her a bottle of water which Kara sipped gratefully. "After lunch."

"You should have invited her for lunch!" Cat scoffed. "In fact… order food from, hm, the Thai place I like and get James Olsen to come to my office, NOW. And since I can't seem to get you to leave, you might as well make yourself useful. Go fetch me a… latte from that place you usually go to and a green smoothie. I haven't decided which one I want. And whatever for yourself, use the company card. After this meeting, I want you to go home and I don't want to see you until the end of next week."

Kara nodded and waited, but at another shooing motion from Cat, Kara hurried away, head down and focussed on her phone. Popping a quick message to James on her work phone, head still down, she almost ran straight into Winn.

"Go home!" Winn pleaded. "If you don't go, I'm going to have to do something drastic!"

"I'm usually 'something drastic', Schott. And I'm not going up against Ms. Grant, Winn. Kara's exes, fine. But I need this job." Kelly called out from her desk, then fixed Kara with a look. "Go home, Zorel!"

"No, no, this is fine." Kara smiled, making everyone wince as her injuries became even more apparent when she gave her lopsided smile. "Just, we have an important meeting and I have to prep for it. Just, I gotta-"

Kara ran away before they could try to stop her. She spent the next few hours running around arranging for food and really, most of her time was trying to explain to people who didn't know her that she was fine and no, nobody she was dating had hit her and yes, she'd already gone to the doctor and no, she didn't need the police. It was tedious, but Kara was touched that so many people cared.

At Noonan's where people knew her, the staff crowded around the beloved, perky girl offering hugs while her favourite barista was full-out sobbing with joy that she came back okay. The counter quickly lined up with her drink orders (she had decided maybe everyone at the office should get some coffee at least for being so nice to her today), and Kara looked at her takeout helplessly. There was NO way she was going to get this back to the office all by herself. Thank god she had decided to get the Thai place to deliver.

"Kara!" A familiar voice called out to her. "Hey!"

"Alex!" Kara spotted her new neighbour sitting at a table with an older, honestly GORGEOUS bespectacled, dark-haired woman who looked… oddly familiar. "Hi!"

"Oh, geez, are you alright?" Alex was up out of her seat, striding towards Kara with quick, sure steps, stopping just inches away from Kara.

"How are you feeling? So that was you last night?" Alex reached out hesitantly, watching Kara to see if she'll object, then gently moved Kara's blonde hair away to look at Kara's face and neck. Kara sucked in a breath through her teeth. This felt… familiar.

"Kara?"

"Everything's hunky-dory!" Kara chirped cheerfully, but inside, she wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole. Hunky-dory? Why was she such a geek?

"If you say so." Alex sighed, cold hand briefly cupping the side of Kara's jaw gently. The blonde sighed and leaned into it.

"That's nice and cold." Kara closed her eyes in pleasure.

"Had my hands around a nice cold bottle of coke." Alex chuckled, still looking at her worriedly. She glanced over at the counter and the drinks orders. "Yow. You want me to help you carry some of that? Are you heading somewhere?"

Kara's eyes flew open. "Oh, would you? I'm just heading back to the office and-oh, but you're with someone-"

"Laurel? She's fine. We didn't order yet and I'll see her again soon-"

"After I came all the way from Metropolis to visit, too." Laurel was standing right behind them and Kara jumped away nervously at the almost predatory smile on this woman's face. The newcomer's hair was tied back and she was dressed in the latest fashions, all brand names. Laurel had one arm slinking around Alex's waist possessively, hugging the scientist tight.

"And who's this?" Laurel leaned in to ask Alex. Unnecessarily, really. She was practically glued front to back with Alex.

"Oh, this is my neighbour, Kara Zorel." Alex tried to shake Laurel off but the woman was holding on. "Kara, this is Laurel Lee."

"Charmed," Laurel purred, holding a hand out. She looked ready to eat Kara up. "I'm sure."

"Laurel Lee… oh, you're THE columnist for Runway!" Kara was suddenly excited as she shook the woman's hand. That's why she seemed familiar! "Kelly-we work together-she reads your column all the time! She's a huge fan!"

"Hm. And how about you?" Laurel asked. "Are you a fan, too?"

"Oh," Kara grinned nervously. "I'm not really, well, I'm-my job is really news-centered so I don't get to read much else for fun and when I do, I just want a good novel. I'm sorry."

"No, nothing to be sorry about. Not everyone is as interested in fashion as I am. And there's nothing wrong with a good book." The satisfied smirk on Laurel's face was really quite charming. "But now, Kara, I have to ask what happened to you?"

"Oh, you know," Kara cupped a hand over the injured side of her face and tried to laugh a bit. "Just got hit in the face by an alien! No big. I'm sorry, I was intruding on your lunch-"

"No, no. Alex would love to help, you poor darling. And I'm sure Alex will see me soon enough, I'm always flying around to meet new designers. Did you know that there are quite a few up and coming mavericks in your city?" Laurel asked brightly.

"No, can't say I do." Kara laughed again, suddenly very aware of how she was dressed and how frumpy she must look compared to the beautiful Ms. Lee. "But really, I don't want to intrude, Metropolis is quite far away-"

"I see Laurel all the time, anyways." Alex rolled her eyes, elbowing Laurel in the ribs none-too-gently. "Go catch your flight."

Laurel leaned in and planted a big, wet kiss on the side of Alex's face, which Alex again rolled her eyes at. Kara felt almost like the breath had been knocked out of her for some reason.

"It was very nice meeting you, Kara." Laurel smiled, and it was a truly genuine smile that had Kara's lips pulling up again in that lopsided smile. "Please do take care of yourself. I'll see you again, I'm sure."

"Sure." Kara waved goodbye and they both waited until Laurel had disappeared out the door of Noonan's.

"Sorry about Laurel. She's a bit… much."

"Wow." Kara still felt a bit dazed and unwell. Maybe a side-effect from the concussion? "She's… something else."

"Laurel is a bit much sometimes." Alex shook her head. "But more so today. I don't know what the hell is up."

"You guys seem close."

"Yeah, we've known each other since we were kids, lost track of her a bit but then found her again when I was in high school. Haven't been able to shake her since we hooked up again." Alex answered coolly and glanced at her watch. "Glad I caught you here, or else you'd be struggling to get all this back to work, huh?"

"You're a lifesaver." Kara nodded, swallowing the disappointment she felt lodged in her throat. Hooked up in high school, huh? She couldn't help frowning a bit when she noticed that Laurel had left a big, bright lipstick mark on Alex's cheek.

"What?"

"Um," Kara gestured to Alex's face awkwardly. "You have something…"

"Oh." Alex touched her cheek and grimaced when she saw the bright red of Laurel's lipstick on her fingertips. She grabbed a napkin and started scrubbing away.

"Is it gone yet?"

'Um. Yes. All gone." Kara nodded and Alex tossed the napkin.

"Alright, let's go." Alex picked up several trays, balancing them in her two hands. "You grab the two boxes of coffee?"

"Sure," Kara was relieved. The blended drinks for a few special people at work she probably would not have been able to manage, but the boxes of coffee were easy to carry.

"What are you doing downtown, anyways?" Kara asked curiously. "It's nowhere near the university."

"Just eating lunch with Laurel. And I had an errand to run so this was the closest place with the best reviews." Alex grinned, easily navigating the sidewalk with her arms full of drinks. "So… you were kidnapped."

"Yeah. Surprisingly, Ms. Grant says I don't have to give an interview." Kara laughed half-heartedly. It was better, definitely. Thinking about… everything that happened last night was a bit overwhelming and now she was really tired. "Shadow Agent saved me. She was awesome."

"She was too slow, though." Alex seemed almost angry about it. "You got hurt."

"It's not her fault." Kara was quick to defend the superhero. "And I wasn't really that hurt. She can't be everywhere at once, right? What if Shadow Agent had been busy? I mean, I'm sure she has tons of other important things to do-"

"Kara, you are important." Alex said seriously. "Don't let anybody else tell you differently. I'm sure you're important enough for her to do."

There was a long silence as they arrived at Catco and Kara signed in Alex at the front desk.

They entered the elevator, still in that awkward silence.

"Um."

"Yeah, I didn't think that through. I meant save. You're important enough to save. Not do, like, but I'm sure-" Alex stopped talking abruptly and her and Kara's face were both flushed red. Then they both burst out laughing at once.

"It just came out wrong." Alex said in between the laughter, which only made them laugh harder. They were still laughing when they arrived on their floor. Kara lead the way to the kitchen to put down the boxes of coffee and packets of sugar and creamer from Noonan's, then went to her desk so Alex could finally put down the individual drinks.

"Sorry I made you cancel your lunch plans." Kara apologized.

"It's fine. Laurel understands." Alex grinned at Kara and impulsively, reached out and pulled Kara into a one-armed hug. "I'm just glad you're okay."

"Thanks. A lot. I needed to laugh." Kara rested her chin on Alex's shoulder and let out a loud sigh, feeling warm and happy. Alex hesitantly circled her waist with her arms and tightened her hold briefly.

Kara was happy to stay in this embrace forever, but she could see Kelly over Alex's shoulder, looking at her with a shit-eating grin on her face. Kara narrowed her eyes at Kelly's smile and glared at Winn too when he paused to look at the two and waggled his eyebrows.

"Um, okay." Kara pushed away, heart hammering a bit. She had to remind herself that the beautiful Alex Danvers, well, was the beautiful DOCTOR Alex Danvers who had everything going for her and was super awesome. And she was Kara Zorel, assistant extraordinaire but nowhere in the same league as Laurel Lee. She can roll with that. She's okay. Friends. She could always do with more friends.

"Yeah, I gotta go." Alex tucked her hands into her front pockets and rocked back and forth on her heels. "I hope you're not going to be working all day-"

"No, I think I might have to go home and rest after this meeting. And Ms. Grant wants me to take the next week off."

Alex leaned in, speaking in a loud stage-whisper. "Glad she is. It makes me like her a bit more now."

"She's just a bit rough around the edges. Ms. Grant really has her heart in the right place." Kara defended her boss.

"Sure. But I think you might be one of the only ones that think so." Alex grinned.

"She is." Kelly sidled up to the two. "Hi, I'm Kelly."

"Hi, Kelly." Alex took Kelly's sudden appearance in stride and gave her a firm handshake. "I'm Alex, Kara's neighbour. Saw her struggling with drinks and decided to help her out."

"Well, aren't you the sweetest thang?" Kelly's voice took on a southern twang, which Kara always knew was an indicator of her attempting to meddle.

"Kelly, here!" Kara tried not to blush as she handed out a mocha frappucino that she had gotten for Kelly and a tray of drinks. "Can you please get these to the IT people, Kelly? They like you. And I'd really appreciate it."

Kelly narrowed her eyes at Kara but grinned sweetly, continuing to speak in her southern drawl. "Of course. Lovely meeting you, Alex. DO come by again."

"Pleasure's all mine." Alex copied the drawl, playing along. Kelly chuckled, pleased with this one, and hurried away.

"Do you still want to grab dinner tonight? I don't think you're up for cooking but I don't think you're good for going out, either." Alex asked, worried.

"Yeah, geez, I know I look bad." Kara laughed.

"You look great." Alex blurted out. "Uh. Well, you just had an alien kidnap you, Kara. And I think you've had a concussion to go with your bruises, you're looking a bit tired."

"How'd you know?" Kara asked.

"I wasn't joking, I am a medical doctor, too." Alex smirked. "Should we rain check the dinner?"

Kara shook her head, the little movement made her a little dizzy. "No. I'm good for dinner, I just need to nap after this meeting."

"Well, okay." Alex replied dubiously. "Let's do take-out? I'll come by at seven?"

"Sure, Dr. Danvers." Kara bumped a shoulder against Alex. "Come on, I'll walk you to the elevator."

They said their goodbyes and when Kara walked back to her desk, Winn, James, and Lucy were crowded around her space waiting for her.

"Who was that, Kara Zorel. You tell me now." Lucy had her arms crossed across her chest. "I only caught the back of her and that was some top-shelf-" James nudged the lawyer, "-and Kelly told me she was hot and polite. Two things I agree with."

"That was my new neighbour across the hall." Kara accepted her own drink from James and he carefully put aside the two drinks labelled 'Ms. Grant'.

"And?" Winn was grinning too. "You guys seem pretty chummy. All hugging and stuff."

"I hug my friends! We just," Kara shrugged shyly. "We get along really well."

"How well?" James joined in on the good-natured ribbing.

"Guys, stop!" Kara shoved James playfully. "I think she's dating someone already and I think I crashed their lunch date."

"Oh, awkward." Winn winced.

"Yeah, she was visiting from Metropolis."

"Long distance." Lucy perked up. "Long distance never works! Maybe you have a chance!"

"No!" Winn disagreed loudly. "Don't be the rebound!"

"Who is she dating? What's your neighbour's type?"

"High fashion." Kara groaned. "It's Laurel Lee from Runway."

"THE Laurel Lee, the one Kelly gushes about?" Winn gaped. "Oh my god, you saw her? Don't tell Kelly, she'll kill you for not telling her."

"I've heard about her!" Lucy squealed. "Lois HATES her. Apparently Laurel Lee tried to give my sister fashion advice… and when I say fashion advice, I mean she DESTROYED my sister in a very passive-aggressive but well-meaning way."

"Yikes, I think I was there for that." James said excitedly. "That's why Lois was so angry after talking to her!"

"She was murderous," Lucy revealed gleefully, "That was the first time I have ever seen her that angry at someone else besides dad."

"So this apparently impressive woman is dating your neighbour. Yeesh, Kara," Winn was sympathetic, "Good luck with that."

"Winn!" Lucy punched him in the arm.

"Ow! I mean, good luck, Kara! You totally don't need it! You got this! Yeah, high-five!" Winn held up a hand. "Come on, don't leave me hanging!"

"Dude." James looked at Winn pointedly.

"Oh, come on, guys. You know I'm in your corner, right, Kara?"

Kara smiled but could feel herself coming down from that high from spending time with Alex. Laurel Lee was smoking hot and had history with the hot doctor. That's not only hard to compete with, it was impossible. Kara was of the opinion that that kind of history shouldn't be messed with and it was great being with Alex, anyways. She could be friends. Being friends was awesome!

"If you're all done jabbering away on company time," Cat Grant's voice sent Lucy and Winn scurrying away and Kara almost dropped her cup. James, to his credit, only flinched.

"She said she was coming around now, right?" Cat glanced at her wrist watch.

"Yes, Ms. Grant."

"Well?" Cat Grant looked around at her two employees. "Get ready!"

"Of course, Ms. Grant." Kara scurried to gather Cat's drink, using a drinks tray. James ran off to get his bag of lenses and his good camera. The CEO of Catco still stood at the entrance to her office, lips pursed as she looked around.

"All non-essential personnel-and that's all of you at the moment-take an extended lunch break." Cat's voice rang clear throughout the workspace. "DO NOT come back for at least two hours. Please take your laptops with you if you need to work remotely. That will be all."

Everybody exchanged confused looks. This was… much too strange.

"NOW, people!" Cat Grant clapped her hands and everyone scurried to follow her instructions, not looking back as they either crammed themselves into the elevators or went down the stairwell for a faster escape from Cat Grant's wrath.

Kara was rushing around Cat's office, making sure all the food was displayed perfectly and Ms. Grant's drinks were put on her desk on top of the placemats she liked. So absorbed was Kara that she didn't notice Shadow Agent landing quietly on the balcony and coming through the open doors into Cat Grant's office.

"Hi."

"Strudels!" Kara fumbled the bowl of mango and lychee salad in her hands, but Shadow Agent was fast enough to catch the bowl and everything in it.

"Life saver!" Kara took the bowl from Shadow Agent's hands. "Thank you!"

"Least I could do." Shadow Agent's familiar, distorted voice brought a smile to Kara's face.

"Did Superwoman leave?"

"She's alway around." Shadow Agent scoffed. "She never really leaves. She's like a bad fungal infection."

"You two have such a great relationship." Kara laughed.

"Oh god please no." Shadow Agent chuckled, then straightened up. "So, are we starting?"

"Ms. Grant is outside telling people to leave."

Shadow Agent sighed and walked to the door, watching Cat snap at Kelly who had come back to an empty office and was now turning tail to flee to the elevators.

"You didn't have to do that, Ms. Grant." Shadow Agent appeared at the entrance to Cat Grant's office, leaning against the frame casually, arms crossed.

"Oh please, I'd rather have you relaxed than fidgeting while everyone stared at you." Cat turned to look at Shadow Agent, an imperious look on her face. Kara was really impressed that Cat seemed almost bored with Shadow Agent, as if she hadn't been hounding after the hero for as long as she had been on the scene.

"I'm here, I'm here-Shadow Agent!" James skidded to a stop from his rush to Cat's office with all his equipment. He just stood there gaping at the superhero.

"Hello. You must be Jimmy, right?" Shadow Agent watched the photographer cautiously. "Superwoman had mentioned you."

"She's never introduced us." James Olsen quickly shook himself out of his stupor and held out a hand. "Nice to meet you. And it's, uh, James."

Shadow Agent nodded severely and turned back to Cat. "Should we get this over with?"

"You're making it seem as if I'm holding a gun to your back." Cat rolled her eyes. "Why don't we eat something first? Kiera went and ordered us all this food and I'd hate for it to go to waste."

"Thank you, KARA." Shadow Agent emphasized Kara's name which Ms. Grant seems to ignore. They all gathered around the food, Kara passing out plates and everyone getting whatever portion they wanted. The silence was a bit unnerving, so Kara jabbered on nervously about how she had met Laurel Lee this afternoon.

"That woman has impeccable taste," Cat sat down primly, spearing some salad. She had saffron rice and green chicken curry, along with some of the mango and lychee salad.

"She can be a bit mean, though." James turned to Shadow Agent, eager to engage her. "Superwoman was always saying how she didn't like Laurel after the article she wrote about Superwoman's costume being a fashion faux-pas."

"Well, she's dressed in red, yellow and blue. Those colours do tend to clash." Cat rolled her eyes.

"I guess that's one thing we can agree on." Shadow Agent's mouth was still a grim, determined line, but Kara could recognize the mirth in Shadow Agent's eyes. They all made polite chatter until the food was finished and cleared away and everyone was having a coffee, Kara having ran to the kitchen to fill up a cup for Shadow Agent.

"Thank you, Kara." Shadow Agent said politely, then leaned back on the couch. Cat sat primly opposite of Shadow Agent.

"Shadow Agent, we're going to move to interview room two afterwards, the video cameras are set up-"

"No videos." Shadow Agent cut her off.

"Well, that's very inconvenient."

"Inconvenient is me having to save twice as many people since you put up the reward for an exclusive with me." Shadow Agent replied calmly, but the anger in her words was felt. "You can have some pictures and this interview, but that's it."

Cat seemed halfway between annoyed and impressed, but continued on. "Very well. James."

"Yes, Ms. Grant."

"Well?" She raised an eyebrow at him. "Do your job."

James nearly dropped his own drink, putting it down on the table and fumbling for his camera bag. He quickly attached an appropriate lens and moved back to take pictures as Cat Grant started the interview. It went as well as could be expected, in Kara's opinion. Kara knew her boss well and had anticipated most of the simple questions. There were of course, questions that Cat asked that took Shadow Agent by surprise.

"So for some of our readers out there, they would like to know if you're dating anyone at the moment." Cat eyed Shadow Agent like the proverbial cat eyeing the canary, a cheshire grin on her face. Shadow Agent took the bait, bristling.

"I thought this was a news exposé, not a gossip column I'm interviewing for."

"Well, so you ARE dating someone?"

"No."

"So rumours that you and Superwoman were romantically connected-"

"Are lies. If this is your idea of news-"

"Well, it wouldn't be fair to dear Keira here."

That gave Shadow Agent pause and sent a feeling of dread crawling through Kara's stomach.

"What do you mean?" Shadow Agent glanced over at Kara worriedly.

"I mean, if we take Superwoman as an example, she seems to always be around when Lois Lane is in trouble and spends a lot of time with Ms. Lane," Cat grinned, slow and smug. "I'm wondering, since this is the first time you've spent so much time with one of the people you've rescued, if that means you've developed a relationship like the one Superwoman has with Ms. Lane-"

"I respect Ms. Zorel-"

"So it's Ms. Zorel now?"

"Kara-it's-she's…" Shadow Agent abruptly snapped her mouth close, what was visible of her face flushed a rosy scarlet, matching Kara's face quite well.

"Well?" Cat now looked like the proverbial cat that had CAUGHT the canary.

"Superwoman and Lois Lane are just good friends." The superhero ground out. "And Ms. Zorel-Kara, is a wonderful person."

"Wonderful person." Cat purred, raising an eyebrow.

"Ms. Grant." Kara choked out.

"Oh, I'm sorry. This line of conversation might be entirely inappropriate." Cat Grant looked anything but contrite and James really wanted to take a picture of that look on Cat's face.

"So just gal pals, then?" Cat queried.

"Just gal pals." Shadow Agent narrowed her eyes at Cat, feeling like this might be a double entendre.

"Alright, well, let's just get some more photos and then you can be on your way." Cat said innocently enough.

"Right, Shadow Agent, look this way, please." James asked Shadow Agent to pose several times and move around, all of which she did quite reluctantly while casting glances at Kara, as if looking for reassurance. Kara would always try to nod and smile and convey that she was doing alright.

"Alright, well, this is done." Cat clapped her hands together. "And, as you have brought to my attention that the reward might put some of the good people of National City in harm's way, I will officially put out a notice that the reward has been claimed and take down the notice."

"The reward would go to Kara, of course?" Shadow Agent asked sharply. Cat raised an eyebrow.

"No, it's alright, I-"

"Keira, do grow a backbone." Cat rolled her eyes at her assistant's stammering. "It won't be every day that Shadow Agent comes in here to negotiate rewards for you."

Cat turned back to Shadow Agent, nodding. "I guess the reward would go to Keira here, since she was the one who arranged this interview. Now Kara, you should head home. We have what we need."

The blonde was still a bit stunned by the talk of reward money. It was quite substantial. But she managed to squeal out a reply.

"Yes, Ms. Grant. I just need to clean up first."

"I actually do need you to rest." Cat looked over at Shadow Agent. "I'm sure your 'gal pal' would be happy to take you home. And someone else in the office can come and clean this."

"I can go home by myself-"

"You've had a bit of an ordeal." Shadow Agent stood up and approached Kara. " I could fly you home much faster than public transit. And it'll be more comfortable, too."

Kara thought about it and nodded grudgingly. "I guess. I just don't want to put you out."

"It's fine." Shadow's Agent's mouth softened into a tiny smile.

"I'll grab my stuff, then." Kara smiled, then turned back to her employer who dismissed her with a careless wave. As soon as Kara had scurried off to gather her stuff, Cat Grant asked James to leave the room for a second. Once alone, she turned to Shadow Agent with a grim look.

"Do not make Kara into another Lois Lane." Cat warned.

"Ms. Grant-"

"I'm serious," Cat continued. "I do not need my assistant being kidnapped every other day and I don't want her put into life-and-death situations. There might be some liability on my part and I would hate to pay the premiums, do you understand?"

Shadow Agent tilted her head to one side, regarding Cat Grant with new eyes. "Yes. Yes, I understand."

"Good. This was a random target. Kara was just grabbed because she, unfortunately in this case, worked for a high-profile news corporation. That's officially what we're going to say and put on the news. She'll barely get a second on air and I would appreciate if you did not mention her, personally, if asked."

Shadow Agent finally truly smiled at Cat, just a slight upward tilt of a corner of her mouth.

"Kara was right about you. You are a good person."

"Please." Cat scoffed. "My assistant is a very naive woman who puts too much faith in people and I expect you, the Hero of National City, to protect people like her and not let her down."

"I'll do my best." Shadow Agent promised solemnly.

"I have everything!" Kara was back in, with James behind her trying to slow her down in case Cat wasn't done.

"Alright. May I?" Shadow Agent took Kara's bag and hung it on the crook of her arm, then gently pushed Kara towards the open balcony with a hand on her lower back. They were almost outside when the hero turned and looked back at Kara's boss thoughtfully.

"Ms. Grant." Shadow Agent nodded. "It was nice meeting you. Should you need to find me, please do not put another ad in the papers. Go through James, he'll tell Superwoman and I'll come find you, as long as I deem it important."

"Well, you have to define important because I'll tell you right now that what's important to me is readership numbers." Cat pursed her lips.

"Let's meet somewhere in between." Shadow Agent raised an eyebrow, apparent even behind her mask. "I'm not going to come for every cat-out-of-a-tree story you want to write, but you convince me, I'll come."

"Deal." Cat grinned.

"Fair warning: It takes a lot to convince me." warned Shadow Agent.

"And I'm very good at convincing people." Cat shrugged. "Please close the door behind you on the way out. And don't drop my assistant."

"Alright. Bye, then." Shadow Agent frowned at the anti-climatic dismissal, then tried to soften her face a bit, turning to James. "It was nice meeting you, James."

"Yeah, anytime!" James waved.

"Alright, excuse me…" Once out on the balcony, Shadow Agent scooped Kara up from behind the knees and around her back, encouraging Kara to wrap her arms around the hero's neck.

"We'll go nice and easy." The lift-off was almost unnoticeable as they flew above the buildings and off to Kara's place.

"You can fly a bit faster," The blonde circled her arms tighter around Shadow Agent's neck, exhilaration racing through her. "Just, I know you don't like having pictures taken."

"It's a bit too late for that," Shadow Agent chuckled. "But you don't have to worry, Batman gave me a little device. Attach it to me, it sends out a little field that distorts the light around me and any object I'm touching. You can't really see it with the naked eye, but cameras don't quite catch a clear shot of me."

"That's why you're never caught on camera!" Kara was astonished. The flight back home was filled with chatter, and Kara was more than a bit unhappy that it had seemed so short.

"Here you go." Shadow Agent set Kara down gently and handed her bag back to her. "You should rest up."

"I will." Kara gripped the handles of her bag, biting her lower lip. "Um. I guess… I'll see you around?"

"Yeah." Shadow Agent smiled. "Take care of yourself, alright?"

"Um," Kara shifted from one foot to the other. Then, throwing caution to the wind, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Shadow Agent's neck. "Thank you. Really."

Shadow Agent hesitated just a second, then circled her arms around Kara gently.

"You're very welcome, Kara."