Zipping up the DEO hoodie, Alex felt so much more comfortable than she had in the hospital gown she'd found herself wearing when she'd woken up in the medical bay. Sweats and a tank top absolutely worked for her. Basically, Alex was good with anything that covered her and allowed her to actually get out of bed. She'd been forced to take it slow and Kara was still hovering close (just in case her legs gave way underneath her). Doctor Hamilton had recommended a lot of rest, which Alex was going to get to once they talked to her mother. J'onn was waiting outside, giving them time alone with her and Alex wondered if he was still also upset about what she'd done.
"Oh, Alex…" her mother breathed when she saw her walk in. She got up from the bench/bed that she'd been sitting on and moved towards the cell barrier that divided them. "Look at you… You're better… You're cured. You're cured, right?" Her mother was so overjoyed and didn't seem bothered in the least by being in the cell. "Jeremiah-"
"How could you bring him here?" Alex asked before her mother could finish her sentence. "How could you let him inject me with something manufactured at Cadmus? You didn't give me a choice in it…" her voice broke a bit at the end. All she could think of was that Cadmus had been responsible for the Norsoi Virus and Project Demigod and so many other things...Cadmus was not a good place in any version of a world. She drew in a breath and then pushed it out, trying to calm herself as she felt her emotions failing to stay under her control. "You had to have known that Kara and J'onn wouldn't have agreed-"
"I'm your mother, Alex," Eliza told her gently. "I told you...I'd do anything to save you." She paused for a moment. "And I know that your father works for Cadmus and that's not something that any of us should want to be aligned with after everything they've done...to Kara...tried to do to you and J'onn...done to your father...to our family...but Jeremiah is still your father."
"No," Alex said quickly. She was exhausted and she just wanted to go home, but she had to know that it was safe for her mother to be released. Right now, she wasn't going to put up with talking about her father, there were so many thoughts going through her head and she just couldn't. "The father that I loved and who would do anything for our family, he died in Peru saving J'onn." She shook her head and hadn't been able to keep her emotion out of her voice. It was too hard and Alex was certain that no matter the time that passed she would feel the same. "That man that looks like my dad, he's proven more than once that he'd do anything for Cadmus, that that twisted terrorist group is the priority in his life. He's not my father and he's not Jeremiah Danvers."
"Alex-"
"We need to know if you've aligned yourself with Cadmus," Kara spoke up now.
Alex was thankful that her sister was chiming in. She was so drained and she hated to feel like she wasn't in control of her emotions, but her family was the few handful of people that got to saw her that way. Alex was certain that she and Kara knew the truthful answer about her mother's allegiances, but it still had to be brought up. "We want to go home to Midvale...with you...and take Ayrdaen...but if you're with them, we can't let you out, Mom…"
"I'm not a Cadmus agent now...never...not after all they've done," Eliza told them. "I just...I just needed his help… We met at some abandoned remote lab. I took the samples to him and we worked on a solution. That was it. It was only to save you, Alex. I promise."
Alex crossed her arms over her chest as she looked over at Kara, waiting for some kind of response. There was a slight nod from Kara and Alex sighed before reaching out and pressing in the code to release her mother from the cell. Her mother stepped out and Alex didn't know how to react. She was glad to see her mother, but she was conflicted.
"Am I allowed a hug?" Eliza asked.
Nodding as she moved towards her mother, Alex wrapped her arms around her mother and blew out a breath as her mother held her tight. "I just-"
"Shh…"
Kara was joining in on the hug a moment later and they stayed there for a much needed nice length of time. They really didn't get together, just the three of them, enough. It either took something bad happening and then she and Kara would go to Midvale or her mom would come to National City.
"Let's go home," Eliza said quietly.
"Road trip?" Kara asked, her voice just as quiet.
They separated and Alex pushed away the tears that had fallen while they'd been hugging. She nodded. "But I do need to stop along the way. Ayrdaen is going to need actual clothes."
"She's been borrowing from Charlie Benanti," Kara informed. "And she hasn't seemed thrilled about it."
"Just wait until she sees her selection...it'll be like you all over again," Alex teased Kara with a smile.
"Hey...I was not a difficult child."
"You two were perfect children," Eliza said as they headed out.
"Just remember that for all the stories you'll no likely tell her while we're there," Kara put out there.
As they stepped out into the hallway, Alex looked over to J'onn who had been waiting out there. "Go on without me, I'll catch up," she told Kara and her mother.
"Oh yeah, make me break the news to Ayrdaen...she already hates me," Kara said and it was clearly purposely dramatic.
Once they were out of earshot, she turned back to J'onn. "Are you sure you're okay with this?"
"I'll be checking up on all of you," J'onn told her honestly and gently. "Just in case…"
"I appreciate it," Alex confessed. It was actually a little odd to be so far away from him. It always was when they went out to Midvale. She was quiet for a moment before looking up at him. "After Peru...when you promised my father that you'd make sure we were safe...did you check up on us?"
"All the time," he said. "I had to keep my promise. I had to keep you all safe."
"Did I see you?"
"Never in this form," he admitted. "But those are stories for another time."
"There's something else, though, isn't there?"
He smiled at that. "Sometimes I wonder if you're slightly telepathic…"
"I just know you."
"I just…" He paused and seemed to be thinking of his words. "I was out here thinking about everything I saw in your head before you passed out before...and I just realized while I was standing out here...why he was so upset to lose his Alex...why it cut him so deep...why M'gann was probably upset over it…"
"Why?"
"Because in a way, you were my first love in 300 years," J'onn admitted. "I knew that you would be the one that I'd have to look out for even more so than Kara or your mother." He laughed it off for a brief moment. "I guess I basically semi-stalked you and your family after Peru in the most non-creepy way. I watched you closely, made sure you were kept safe, came in and helped put things back on track when needed...and then when you were old enough-"
"You recruited me…"
"When you most needed it."
"You were the first person in that time that accepted me and cared about me as Hank Henshaw, but also as J'onn J'onzz. You...and Kara considered me family. It had been so long since I had had that." He paused for a moment. "I'm beyond thankful and grateful to have you in my life...and the family we've built here."
"Our family of misfits?" Alex teased with a smile. She got what he was saying and she understood it. Saying it out loud likely made it sound far creepier than it was...but when you lived such a long span compared to someone else you were looking out for…
"Yes."
As she opened her arms and took a step towards him in order to hug him, she assured him, "No one's around to see." He laughed at that as he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. Alex was already missing him. As much as she didn't want to leave, she knew it was the best thing to do...for her, for Kara, for Ayrdaen, and for her mother. They needed Midvale...to center, if for nothing else. "If you're checking in on us, feel free to knock on the door...we won't mind the visit. Okay?"
As they separated, he gave a nod. "Okay."
"Plus Ayrdaen will probably be so over being with humans by that time, since you know...she thinks she's not even part human."
He shook his head.
She touched his arm. "Don't be irritated with her, she'll figure it out. She's been through a lot."
"She has you."
"She has both of us."
"You should go," he said. "I'll walk you."
"Are you going to telepathically tell her to behave?" Alex asked, half teasing and half serious.
"Not in so many words."
She laughed at that. "You don't need words."
He just smiled.
They walked together in silence until they made it to the garage. "I'll text you when we get to Midvale," she told him. "So you don't worry."
"I would appreciate that." A beat passed between them. "I have Adler driving you. No matter how many stops it takes. I would rather someone be driving, who can also look out for all of you."
"You know Kara's going to be with us."
"I've seen her drive."
A smile spread across her face before they joined the others. Alex stepped back and watched as Kara hugged him and said her goodbyes. There was an awkward exchange between him and her mother, she wasn't surprised...but eventually things had to get back on track. The truth was, they'd all go just as far for any of their family...but Cadmus...it was just terrifying more than too far. Finally, he crouched in front of Ayrdaen. Alex was certain that there was some kind of telepathy that was going on, but J'onn didn't just leave it like that.
"I expect you to behave and be respectful," J'onn told Ayrdaen.
Ayrdaen just sighed and crossed her arms over her chest.
"There will be chocolate chip cookies," Kara piped up sing-song, excitedly like she'd just thought about it and was excited herself over the idea.
"I haven't ever had a chocolate chip cookie before," Ayrdaen said slowly.
That seemed like that was far too much for Kara to hear and she grabbed Ayrdaen and placed her inside the SUV they'd be borrowing for the trip. "Okay, you've been neglected far too long. Time to treat you to the wonders of this world."
Alex rolled her eyes and watched as Kara climbed in besides Ayrdaen. Her mother moved around to the other side and Alex found herself being pulled away from J'onn. Looking to her right, the side her arm was being held onto at, she found Adler there. The other agent was obviously not pleased about this assignment, but she would have made the same choice as J'onn. Alice Adler was fierce, loyal, brilliant, and would be able to keep them all in line (even Kara and Ayrdaen). Adler had also been one of the other main people who trained her when she'd first started at the DEO, besides J'onn of course.
"Let's go, Danvers," Adler said. "Bad enough I have to escort you four to Midvale...and then you're going to add a Target run to the mix?" She sighed, clearly not pleased with her assignment (though Alex likely wouldn't in her place either). "You got to get that kid a stuffed unicorn or something… Kids are weird when they don't have stuff like that."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Glow in the dark stars, sneakers that sparkle and light up apparently are also a must if you ask my kid…"
"You'll have to give me all the notes in the car," Alex said. She was going to walk to the other side, when Adler brought her to a stop. The other doors were already closed and Adler yanked her a step closer. "Yes?"
"I know that's your kid, but are you really going to be okay with her up in Midvale?" Adler asked discreetly.
"How did you-"
Now Adler looked insulted as she took a step back and slid on her sunglasses. "Are you serious, Danvers? No matter how close you get, I will always be the master agent."
Alex wasn't going to argue that. "Just don't tell-"
"Master agent, remember?" Adler reminded. "Now get in the vehicle."
TBC…