"Kara!" Alex hissed as her sister tried wrapping her bandaged knee in plastic wrap.
"Sorry, but you said to wrap it tight."
"Not tight enough to cut circulation." Alex complained as there was a knock on the door.
"It's Detective Sawyer." Kara said having used her x-ray vision. "How does she know you're here?"
"No idea. Perhaps she heard my screams? Maybe she is looking for you?" Alex suggested as Kara went to the door.
"Detective Sawyer." Kara greeted as she opened it.
"Kara right?" Maggie asked.
"Yes."
"I was wondering if I could speak to Alex?"
"Um sure." Kara said moving to one side and letting Maggie in.
"Danvers." Maggie greeted as she saw Alex on the couch. "Must be nice to have a job where you can sit on your ass all day."
"Sawyer. How did you know I was here?" Alex asked.
"You really don't get this detecting thing do you?" Maggie replied. "I'm kinda insulted you show such little respect to my profession." She added before looking round and asking. "Is everything okay? It sounded like someone was being murdered in here?"
"Alex was just being a difficult patient." Kara said. "I was trying to plastic wrap her knee so she could shower but she was being difficult."
"So you tortured her?"
"No I followed her advice, turned out to be bad advice." Kara said.
"I can't help that I'm in pain." Alex pointed out.
"You could try having your pain meds." Kara said.
"Don't like the way they make me feel."
"See that excuse would only work if you didn't drink." Kara said.
"You're getting as preachy as your cousin." Alex complained.
"You want me to get Eliza to come over early and get her opinion?" Kara shot back as she picked up her phone.
"You wouldn't." Alex said.
"Really?" Kara said holding the phone.
"Yes, you want me to keep my blood pressure down. Getting mom here early will only raise it."
"Only because you have this weird paranoia that a bomb will go off anytime." Kara countered.
"Um, Thanksgiving." Alex reminded her. "Besides thanks to someone," she said looking at Maggie who was trying not to laugh as she watched the exchange. "Mom is even more mad at me than normal."
"You were the one who lied about getting rid of the bike." Kara reminded Alex.
"I never lied. I said I would get rid of it. And one day I will."
"You will? Do I get first refusal?" Maggie asked as Kara's phone buzzed.
"Damn it." Kara muttered as she read the message.
"Snapper?" Alex asked.
"Yeah, he wants me at an editorial meeting."
"That's good isn't it?"
"No. I can't leave you and Eliza won't be here for an hour."
"You can leave me." Alex said.
"When I left you last night you ended up face down on the floor." Kara reminded her.
"If you need a babysitter I can volunteer." Maggie said.
"I don't." Alex said as Kara turned to her and asked.
"Really? That would be great. Thank you."
"No problem." Maggie said ignoring Alex's glare. "Before you run though, anything I should know? You know, no feeding after midnight, no bright light?"
"Yes to all the above." Kara smiled before looking at Alex. "Please be careful." She then kissed her sister on the head before rushing to the door, turning to Maggie just as she opened it and said. "Thank you again."
"You don't have to stay." Alex said as the door shut.
"I feel like I do. Sounds like you need supervision."
"I don't."
"Flat on your face?"
"I tripped." Alex shrugged. "And if Kara had come back ten minutes later she would never have known."
"If you say so." Maggie said before asking. "I thought you two were sisters?"
"Yeah."
"So why does she call your mom Eliza?"
"Perhaps your detecting skills are not as good as you think." Alex smiled before explaining. "Kara is my adoptive sister."
"What happened?" Maggie asked.
"She lost her family when she was thirteen. Her cousin was friends with my parents and asked them to take Kara in."
"That's rough. Can't have been easy on you either."
"We got through it and we're really close now." Alex shrugged before noticing Maggie pick up the plastic wrap and sit in front of her. "What are you doing?"
"Wrapping your leg. I promise I won't cut off circulation."
"You really don't have to."
"It's no problem. Besides from that exchange it sounded like you wanted a shower and for that you need the leg wrapped. Something you can't do one handed. And I have experience."
"Do I want to know?" Alex asked.
"Probably not." Maggie smiled as she wrapped the leg.
"So I assume you didn't come round to practice your bedside manner?" Alex asked as Maggie wrapped the leg.
"Umm no, I need a favour."
"What kind of a favour?"
"Info. Of the super secret shady variety."
-00-
"Detective?" Eliza asked surprised when Maggie answered the front door. "Has something happened? Are Kara and Alex okay?"
"They're fine." Maggie smiled. "Kara got called to work and didn't want Alex to be left alone."
"And you were just here?" Eliza asked confused.
"Yeah, I came by to get some information about a case I'm working."
"From Alex?"
"Yes."
"She's meant to be resting." Eliza said with a disapproving stare.
"It was a real quick question." Maggie assured Eliza. "But seeing you are here I'll leave you to it. She's just got out of the shower."
"Mom?" Alex asked limping back into the lounge. "Where's Maggie?"
"She left for work. Why are you walking round?"
"Because I don't have Kara's ability to fly."
"You are meant to be resting and keeping weight off your leg." Eliza reminded her.
"And I am. I even bypassed my morning jog." Alex joked.
"Please can you take this seriously?"
"I am. But none of my injuries are serious."
"You nearly died." Eliza exclaimed reaching the end of her patience. "Kara thought you were going to die. J'onn thought you were going to die. I have not seen Kara that upset since her first night with us. I can't lose you Alex."
"I'm not going anywhere." Alex said hugging her mother. "What happened was an accident. But I promise I will take extra care from now on."
-00-
"Why are you here?" Maggie asked when Supergirl landed next to her.
"Alex said you might need some backup."
"I'm good." Maggie said. "I've been doing this for a long time."
"Doing what? Being stubborn?" Supergirl countered.
"Cute. If I need help I'll ask. You can go." Seeing Supergirl wasn't moving she added. "My work is about relationships and subtlety. Blonde alien with a cape doesn't fit into the latter."
"Fine, just don't get hurt." Supergirl said flying off muttering about stubbornness.
Content that she was alone Maggie approached the warehouse and stepped inside.
"Can I help you?" A large muscular man asked.
"Yeah, I'm Detective Sawyer, NCPD, I'm looking for an employee."
"Don't have any." The man said.
"Okay, mind if I come in?"
"Yes."
"Oh, well, unfortunately for you I have a warrant." Maggie said pulling some papers from her jacket and handing them to the man before barging past him into the warehouse where several other armed men were standing round.
"This isn't a warrant." The man said reading the random print out Maggie had given him. Before Maggie could respond one of the other men raised his gun and aimed it at her.
Not needing any more of a warning Maggie dived for cover behind a crate moments before several bullets ricocheted off the floor and crate.
As she tried to think of an escape plan she heard a metallic thud and several clinking noises from her side. Looking down she saw grenade roll to a stop next to her. Before she could react she felt arms around her before she found herself flying skywards.
"That was different." Maggie commented as Supergirl landed and released her.
"Are you hurt?" Kara asked.
"No, I'm fine." Maggie said. "Not that I don't appreciate the save but didn't I kinda tell you to get lost?"
"No kinda about it." Supergirl said. "But Alex asked me to look out for you." She said. "I'll go detain your friends."
"Thank you."
"Anytime."
-00-
"How was your day?" Eliza asked as Kara entered the apartment.
"I didn't kill my boss so good I think." Kara said immediately picking up on the lack of tension in the room. "How are things here?"
"Good." Alex said from where she was sitting on the couch reading a paper.
"What have you been up to?" Kara asked.
"We watched some TV, discussed some papers then played chess." Eliza listed.
"Sounds nice." Kara smiled.
"It was." Alex agreed.
"So no escape attempts?" Kara asked.
"Why would I escape. We were having a good time." Alex said.
"Okay." Kara said feeling confused.
"Now you are back I'm just going to run to the shops to get some ingredients. You really need to learn to stock your fridge Kara." Eliza said, the slight criticism drawing a raised eyebrow from both Alex and Kara.
"You want me to go?" Kara offered.
"No, that's okay. I know what I'm looking for."
"Okay, what are we having?"
"Tuna Noodle Casserole followed by spiced apple crumble."
"They are Alex's favourites." Kara commented.
"Yes they are." Eliza smiled. "I will be back soon." She added before leaving the apartment.
"Okay, what's going on?" Kara asked.
"What do you mean?" Alex asked.
"I mean you two are acting strangely."
"In what way?"
"Calm, supportive, not arguing." Kara listed carefully.
"Is that a bad thing?"
"No, it's a good thing. But a little disconcerting." Kara confessed. "So what happened?"
"Nothing."
"Oh my god, did you drug Eliza?" Kara asked.
"No." Alex said.
"Did she drug you?"
"No."
"Then why the calmness?"
"Mom explained how you all thought I was going to die and she made me realise the effect it had on you and her and I'm trying to make an effort."
"That's great." Kara smiled.
"Besides she goes tomorrow, so even if there are any insults I can ignore them." Alex said as there was a knock on the door.
"What is she stalking you?" Kara asked as she looked through the door.
"Who?" Alex questioned confused.
"Detective Sawyer." Kara said walking to the door.
"Detective." Kara greeted.
"Kara. Can I see Alex?"
"Sure." Kara replied as she tried to figure out why Maggie was there.
"How did the lead work out?" Alex asked as Maggie walked towards her, while Kara went to the kitchen.
"Your running mate didn't tell you?" Maggie asked as Kara picked up a bottle of water.
"Who?" Alex asked.
"Supergirl."
"No, I've not spoken to her. Why what happened?" Alex asked glancing at Kara who just shrugged.
"I may have been a little rude." Maggie said causing Kara to swallow the wrong way.
"Sorry." Kara coughed as she put the bottle down.
"Anyway, despite my attitude she saved my life." Maggie said.
"It's kinda what she does." Alex said as Kara returned. As she did so the detective turned to her.
"So Kara, I have something for you." Maggie said.
"Really? What?"
"Alex mentioned that you are trying to get started in journalism and need some contacts who are prepared to go on the record."
"And you're prepared to?"
"No. I like my job. However, I have a friend on the force who sometimes feels frustrated with how things works and would like to talk to someone who can bring the issues to the public. If you want he'd like to meet you tomorrow."
"Are we meeting in a dark alley?" Kara asked excitedly.
"You could, but Simmons normally prefers Noonan's with a doughnut, as cliched as that sounds."
"Thank you!" Kara said hugging Maggie, surprising the detective.
"Sure." Maggie said looking embarrassed as Kara released her.
"You want to stay for dinner? Eliza is cooking Alex's favourite." Kara offered.
"Thanks, but I don't think Eliza would appreciate that, I don't think I'm her favourite person. Besides my date probably wouldn't appreciate me turning up late. I'll catch you two later."
As the door shut behind Maggie Kara turned to Alex and asked. "What's wrong? Do you need some pain meds?"
"Should I?" Alex asked.
"You're frowning." Kara said.
"Am I? I think I'm just tired." Alex lied.
"Why don't you get some rest until dinner?" Kara said placing a blanket over Alex.
-TBC...
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. Final chapter up on Sunday.