Kara was still looking at the monitor, watching Cat and Carter, when a loud annoying squeal pierced the silence.

"Supergirl. You have ten seconds before the hatch opens. Make yourself ready." The voice was filtered through a machine. It was devoid of inflection or accent.

Kara took a deep breath and looked at the monitor one last time before walking over to stand under the hatch. I can do this for Carter. Actually, it'll be good for me to just get out of here. Clear my head and make some plans. Figure out a way of letting Alex know what's going on. If anyone can find a way to cure Carter, she can.

"Supergirl. Hatch is open. Depart immediately." The voice ordered.

Kara looked up at the opening and frowned. It looked almost like a tunnel. Maybe four or five stories up? Lined with lead. Of course.

"Supergirl. Hatch is open. Depart immediately. Last Warning."

"Okay. I'm going," Kara muttered under her breath as she took off.

Flying over Lord Technologies she realized the entire exterior, with the exception of the atrium, was lined with lead. Rao, it feels so good to be free again!

"Supergirl. Tunnel collapse on the Veteran's Memorial highway. South side. Numerous cars trapped. Proceed immediately."

Listening to this going to be fun. Guess it's better than Max's voice.

Kara sped toward the tunnel taking in the damage to the entrance and parts of cars buried under the rubble. The events of the past few hours left her head as she worked feverishly to save those trapped and assist first responders. She was grateful no one appeared seriously injured.

The entrance to the right side of the tunnel was collapsed and A woman exited from a truck bearing the National City Highway Division logo on the side. She watched Kara assist the tow truck driver with a wrecked sedan then approached.

"Supergirl, glad you're here. Can you help us while we shore up the tunnel? Otherwise it may be weeks before we can get the roadway open again."

Before Kara could respond a voice in her ear intoned, "You may stay and assist."

Kara blinked in surprise. She was so focused helping at the scene she almost forgot about Max and her predicament. "Uh, sure. What do you need me to do?"

Nine hours later Kara was still holding a large steel beam against the top of the tunnel while crews worked feverishly to shore up the surrounding area. Her neck muscles protesting from the awkward position. Every few minutes one of the engineers would have her shift the beam a few degrees or one of the workers would request her heat vision to weld a section together. No one spoke or looked her way, otherwise.

"Thanks, Supergirl. You can lower the beam now. Just load it on the truck outside," one of the engineers instructed.

No sooner did Kara place the beam on the truck than her earpiece came to life, "Supergirl. Proceed to warehouse district. Police need assistance searching for an armed assailant. See Sergeant Biggs, patrol vehicle 27, for instructions. Proceed immediately.

Kara flew to the area and located the designated car.

"Supergirl. We've got a suspect armed with machine gun pistols. He robbed a liquor store a few blocks away. Pistol whipped the cashier. White male, dark pants, gym shoes, and black t-shirt. Tattoo on his left arm." Sgt. Biggs flipped his notepad shut, "We'd appreciate your help."

"I'll find him," Kara promised as she started scanning the buildings for the suspect. Within minutes the National City Police were handcuffing the disarmed suspect.

"Thanks Supergirl. Everyone wants to get home safely at the end of the shift." Sgt. Biggs squinted a bit then asked, "What's that around your neck? It looks like a damned dog collar. No offense," he quickly added.

Kara was taken aback. She hadn't forgotten the collar, it was too uncomfortable for that, but no one mentioned it at the tunnel collapse. How do I explain this?

"I take it you haven't watched the evening news." Kara asked.

"No. We're on 12's so my shift started at six. Don't usually have a chance to catch up on the news until the next day." The man sensed her hesitation, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want. Not my business."

Kara thought about how easy it would be just to fly away and leave the question unanswered. Might as well figure out what to say now. Have to be careful not to offend Max or his crew.

"It is a collar. I'm sure you remember a few months ago. When my brain chemistry was altered and I … I did some horrible things. I don't want that to ever happen again. Maxwell Lord offered to assist me. I'm wearing the collar so the people of National City know that I'm not under any influence – that I'm safe. Can be trusted."

The police sergeant nodded sagely. "Okay. Makes sense although I personally would have gone with changing the color of the outfit or something along those lines. Anyway, thanks for the help. I've gotta go. Have at least a ton of paperwork to review before my shift ends."

"Supergirl. Assist the fire department with a house fire. Possible people inside. McCall and Ormond Streets. Proceed Immediately."

Night turned into day. It seemed Supergirl's assistance was in demand everywhere. Kara was exhausted. And hungry.

/

A well-rested, well fed Maxwell Lord chuckled at the monitor. He then turned to the room's other occupant.

"Keep her out there until the rain subsides. Give her no more than two hours' recovery time then send her out again. A couple weeks of this ought to wear her down," Max briefly flipped through the binder Smith provided. "Let me know immediately if she fails to comply in the slightest."

"Yes, Mr. Lord," Prescott acknowledged.

"Oh, and alert me if Superman decides to visit his cousin."

"Yes sir."

"I must say, I am surprised Agent Danvers hasn't arrived to threaten me. I was looking forward to more press coverage," Max sighed. "I guess someone must have her on a tight leash too."

/

"Lucy, it has to be Kara out there. She hasn't been to her apartment or at work. Cat isn't there either. She sent a text to one of her senior editors about taking the reins for a few days. She didn't even call." Alex was pacing inside Lucy's office. The door was closed.

Lucy looked up from behind her desk. Alex looks like she had as much sleep as I did. In other words, we both look like shit.

"I agree. It's a very strong possibility that was Kara at the press conference. Especially since Vasquez ran facial recognition software from every possible angle. She finally crashed in the bunk room a few hours ago," Lucy didn't add she had to order Susan to get some sleep. "Brad checked all the kryptonite stores last night. Absolutely everything is accounted for. There's no way Max Lord is using any kryptonite against Kara. At least not kryptonite from the DEO."

Alex nodded.

"Good to know. Last time he was here, working on an antidote for the red kryptonite, I caught him trying to acquire some of our synthetic kryptonite. I wasn't pleased."

"Is there any way he could have gotten the formula and made his own?" Lucy asked.

"I asked Susan to check the computers. She discovered someone did try to access the molecular composition and formula to make the synthetic kryptonite. Luckily none of that information is kept on the DEO's mainframe. Alex added, "I highly doubt Max would try to formulate any more synthetic kryptonite after his last attempt."

Lucy remained quiet. Alex is so not going to like what I have to say next. There's a reason I had her shut the door. Bet she's going to ask me to spar with her after this.

"I talked to Hank last night," Lucy began.

Alex remained silent.

"He ordered me to order you to stay away from Maxwell Lord and Lord Technologies. Actually, he said, and I quote, 'Tell Agent Danvers she is assigned strictly to her lab until I get back. And no, she is not allowed vacation or sick time either.' Alex, he doesn't want you to leave the DEO for any reason until he's back. He sounded very serious."

"I know," Alex said looking down at Lucy's desk. "I called him last night, after you called him, and he read me the riot act. Remember when you said you thought there was more going on than Max Lord and Supergirl?"

"Yes."

"Hank thinks so too. Obviously Senator Crane is not in our corner, she feels betrayed by Hank – I think she had a crush on him when she thought he was human," Alex smiled at the memory. "It's not just her, though. Even senators who are normally our allies sound like they are ready to shut us down. Supergirl's behavior after the red kryptonite exposure is a major concern."

Lucy nodded. Here is the part where Alex is going to flip out.

"Alex," Lucy looked her in the eyes, "Hank is afraid they want to send Supergirl to Cadmus. They don't care she saved the whole planet. The only one holding them back is the President. It's an election year. If the President loses …"

"Send her to Cadmus?!" Alex stormed. "What the fuck? She almost dies for every one on this planet and they want to – what? Experiment on her? Torture her?"

Lucy let Alex rant a few minutes longer before interrupting.

"That's why Hank thinks its best we don't go after Kara right now. Max's press conference inferred she was under his control voluntarily and Max has a lot of pull with the anti-alien lobby. It could be the safest place for her in the long run until things settle down," Lucy surmised. "Hank said he was approached by one of the senators, one of our allies, after the press conference. She thinks Max's idea is brilliant."

Alex was speechless. Kara, my brilliant, adorable, selfless, funny, compassionate, happy, wonderful sister handed over to Max Lord or Cadmus? Silent tears fell from Alex's eyes. She didn't notice Lucy's eyes were also wet.

"I'm so sorry, Alex. Hank was supposed to finish his testifying this week but they've extended the hearing. Senator Crane is insisting Hank remain in Washington until the conclusion."

A soft rap on the door drew their attention. Lucy dabbed at her eyes. She looked at Alex who wiped her face and turned away from the door.

"Come in."

"Ma'am," Agent Stevenson said. "One of Supergirl's friends, a Winn Schott Jr., would like permission to enter the facility. Apparently Agent Vasquez contacted him sometime last night. I didn't –"

"Yes, I'm sorry. I was there when Agent Vasquez spoke with him on the phone. Bring him to my office when he arrives."

"Yes ma'am." Agent Stevenson closed the door as he left.

"I'll, uh, be in my lab," Alex said motioning to the door. "I've got to call mom. Let her know what's going on. Spar with me later?"

"Yes," Lucy sighed. I have a feeling we'll both be black and blue afterward.