After

Hank Henshaw was a closed-minded, merciless man. J'onn J'onzz was not. J'onn J'onzz was a man who, at this point in time, wandered the Earth aimlessly, having lost everything he had ever loved, feeling purposeless and alone. This is just how a young Kara felt now as she wandered along the perimeter of the Danvers' large backyard. Midvale was a coastal town, the air warm, ground rich, and sun bright. But Kara couldn't tell. Every new encounter – a bird flying overhead, a car zooming along a highway somewhere near by, a dog barking at a mailman in the general area – left her more and more disordered, terrified, and shell-shocked. How much longer until she could wake up and be at home once again, she wondered? It was taking an awfully long time. And the Earth, as far as she could tell, was huge – Krypton, though it's own planet, is only perhaps the size of a small city. But this Earth seemed boundless, as if the ground below her and sky above her went on until the end of time. For some strange reason, it filled Kara with something she did not recognize. It was the sun, she thought, that caused this strange new feeling – it made her feel…she didn't know what. Not so miserable anymore, as she had felt that night. It made her feel so…what words could she use to describe it? So tall. So proud. So full. Full of…what was it?

"Kara!" Jeremiah opened the sliding glass door and called for the girl from inside the house. "Could you come inside for a minute? There's a nice man here who wants to see you."

Come inside? How could he ask such a thing of her? No, certainly she would not come inside – she was just starting to feel something other than cold and alone. Kara was just starting to feel warm, to feel as if she were suddenly safe and…something she didn't yet understand and could not put into words. She didn't want to go back inside. Not now, not ever. No, she would stay outside, under the yellow sun, for the rest of her life, she decided. This was the only consolation she had. Despite her inward protests, however, Kara found herself padding back across the Danvers' backyard, heading for the house once again. Why was she doing this, she asked herself? Why should she listen to these humans, these creature who were foreign to her? Surely she out-ranked them – she was a Lady of the House of El after all. They should be listening to her, she thought, suddenly haughty inside with indignant pride. With confidence. Come to think of it, she had thought it was strange when Eliza did not offer to dress her or make her bed this morning. Perhaps humans did not have ranks, like Kryptonians did, and they did not understand whose presence they were in? Strange. But, regardless of these inner gripes, Kara happily obeyed.

"Yes, Jeremiah? I'm here," said the girl as she stepped back inside. Her newfound bright feelings were, almost instantly, gone without a trace.

"Kara, this is Director Henshaw." Jeremiah gestured towards the dining table, shrouded with shadow. A man stood up from his seated position, and, like a wolf, grinned broadly at Kara.

"Hello there, Kara," he snarled through his smile. "I've been waiting to meet you."

This was not J'onn J'onzz in disguise standing there before young Kara now. No. This was Hank Henshaw, the closed-minded, merciless man.

"You have, sir?"

"Yes," he hissed. "I have. I offer you my deepest condolences on your arrival."

"Oh…" Kara was taken aback. To think – someone had a reason to offer her condolences, as if this were not all just a dream. "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

"Do you know who I am, Kara?"

"No, sir. Jeremiah just said your name was – "

"Director Henshaw of the Department of Extra-Normal Operations. Do you know what that means?"

"No, sir." Suddenly Eliza realized what was happening and rushed to Kara's side.

"Director Henshaw – "

"Ah," he mused. "The other Dr. Danvers, I presume?" Eliza nodded an answer and wrapped her arms around Kara protectively.

"Kara has only spent one night with us. She's alone, and scared, and confused. She's just a little girl. And as Dr. Danvers and I have already assured you – your services will not be necessary here."

"Oh, no?" Hank questioned, stalking towards her. "Maybe not to you. But to the US government? To the entire planet?" With a fearsome look at the little girl in front of him, he concluded: "The serves of the DEO are more than necessary. You've personally seen what Superman is capable of – "

"Superman?" A pause, then:

"Your cousin, Kara," Eliza murmured into her ear. "Here on Earth, most people call him Superman."

"I don't understand," cried Kara, looking frantically from face to face, anxiety rising with each glance. "What do you want with me? What's going on?" Another long pause, followed by a deep sigh from the director. Then:

"I'm going to take you away, Kara Zor-El. To a place where my agents and I can keep you monitored. And keep the people of this Earth safe."

"Safe?"

So many thoughts and emotions clogged Kara's head. This man wanted to take her away – take her away from these simple, kind people who had done nothing but care for her thus far. No. If she was going to get away from here, it would be because she would finally wake up. He wanted to take her away from the feeling of the yellow sun on her face, that perfect feeling that lifted away her pain and hopelessness. No. She could control her nightmares – she had done so for years and years involuntarily – and now she would control this one too.

"I won't let you take me away."

"What?"

"I said, I won't let you take me away," Kara repeated proudly. "I have felt nothing but pain and confusion and sadness for so long. And these – these people, they are so good to me. So kind. And there's something in this Earth, Director Henshaw. Some kind of – of power. Of…" What word could she use? "Of hope. And I won't let you, or anyone, take that away from me."

And the director finally did leave, claiming that he would be watching them. But Kara didn't care. She felt this new, warm feeling surging through her. But not just in a comforting way. In a confident way – power.

"I don't understand," she repeated to the Danvers'. "Why I am I here? What's going on – what's happening to me? Something's happening to me! You haven't told me everything! Someone tell me everything!"

In present day, an alarm from Cat's cellphone went off, interrupting Kara's story.

"Oh, it's time to pick up Carter from school," said Cat, checking her phone. "I wonder where that assistant of mine is?" The CEO shot a look at the superhero, who, with a sigh walked out of the office, rounded the corner, and changed into Kara Danvers' clothes in a whirl of speed.

"I'm here, Ms. Grant," said Kara as she reappeared, quickly finishing the buttons on her shirt.

"Oh, Keera, you're here after all," remarked Cat sarcastically. "Where have you been for the past few hours? Not slacking off, I hope." She smiled sardonically at her own fun.

"Never, Ms. Grant."

"Good to hear it. Go pick Carter up from school, please, and do take the fastest route to get there, you're already running late," Cat gestured to the digital clock on the screen of her cellphone.

"I'll leave right now, Ms. Grant," and as Kara turned on her heels to exit towards the elevators, Cat cleared her throat. "Yes? Is there something else?"

"Oh, no – not for you, Keera. I just thought I'd remind Supergirl that, as an official property of CatCo, she does have to get her picture taken every now and again. And with the chance of a clear shot in the middle of the day…" she gestured towards the window and Kara sighed again.

"I'm sure Supergirl would be happy to oblige."

"Oh, she better be."

Another change of clothes in another flash of super speed, and Kara lingered in midair by the window once again.

"You wanted to get some pictures?" She asked through the open window.

"Oh, and you expect me to take them?" Cat raised an eyebrow. "Go knock on Mr. Olsen's window. I'm sure he'd love that. Then, if you happen to see my assistant, make sure to remind her that my son is waiting to be picked up." With a salute toward her boss, Kara flew around the perimeter of the building until she reached James's window, and knocked.

"Ka – Supergirl!" He covered himself upon remembering that the greater majority of CatCo employees did not know Kara's secret. "What are you doing here?"

"Cat wants you to get some pictures of me," she explained. "Sorry to bother you. I know you're probably pretty busy, with the news coming in of the fight last night and everything."

"Not a problem," said James, getting up and grabbing his camera. "But the next time you fight your crazy uncle, maybe get into frame if you can?" Kara laughed.

"I'll try. Where do you want me for these?"

"Just there is fine – in the air. Yeah, try to make your cape billow in the wind. Perfect. Try to look heroic."

After the posed pictures were met with Cat's approval, Kara took off into the sky, heading for Carter's school. It was an especially sunny day in National City, making her restless and antsy – and J'onn being kidnapped didn't help matters either. Alex had stepped in as temporary director of the DEO, but there was nothing that Kara could do but wait until the clandestine agency had located Non, and deduced where he had taken J'onn off to. Kara wondered if a hostage negotiation was on the table. Astra's trustworthiness was questionable at best – it could all be one big trap, for all she and the DEO knew now. But they had to go with the little information that did have – they had to save J'onn. And Kara had to save Astra from herself. She knew that, deep inside, despite every punch and sharp word. She could get her aunt back – she had to. The sound of children playing interrupted her thoughts, and Kara slowed down for landing. Upon taking a sharp turn, however, she heard something not so innocent. Bullies on the playground.

"Get away from us, loser."

"You actually think we'd hang out with you?"

"Go cry to your mommy, weirdo."

Kara swooped down and landed in front of the scene without a second thought. Carter would understand if she were a little late to pick him up once she explained. Three pre-teen mean girls and one shy, shaking girl stood before her, now all four of them in shock.

"S-S-Supergirl?" The bullies' victim squeaked out. Kara used her x-ray vision on the girl's backpack. There had to be something with her name on it. Finally, she happened upon a math test – Lily.

"Hey, Lily!" Kara said, as if this girl were her best friend and embraced her. "Congrats on that A on your math test!"

"You're friends with Lily, Supergirl? Really?" One of the bullies demanded, with an attitude. Kara raised an eyebrow and gave this girl a heavy glare until she backed down.

"Of course," said the hero. "I'm friends with all of the nice kids."

"Hey, Supergirl!" Carter came bounding over from the front of the school. Innocently, he asked: "are you picking me up today?" Oh no – how would Kara get out of this one? But luckily she didn't have to, as one of the three of the pack of mean girls talked over her justifying stammers.

"You're friends with Carter Grant?" Another of the bullies sneered. "He's a nerd."

"I told you," said Kara. "I'm friends with all the nice kids. Maybe you three should try it sometime." She gave each of them another hard stare. "C'mon, Carter, lets get out of here." Kara bent down so Carter could climb onto her back, as if she were giving him a piggyback ride; he got the message and gleeful complied. "Bye, Lily! See you soon!" Kara called to the girl with a wave, who was now beaming. The three bullies looked as if they each had been given something to think about – good, Kara thought. They took off at full speed, and before Carter could realize it, they were in the air. The boy screamed.

"Kara!" He yelled over the wind. "What do I do?"

"Hold on tight! And whatever you do – don't look down!"