"You're too close to this, Alex!"

"I can't just ignore-"

"You need to take a step back!"

Alex huffed. She didn't like this. The doctors had been checking her out every day since they'd locked Lucas up at the DEO. She was improving, but J'onn kept saying that her head wasn't in it and maybe he was right. She wanted to work on the project to help Lucas, R&D was working on some kind of device that would hamper his powers but J'onn wouldn't let her be a part of that. "Why?!"

"Because I don't want you blaming yourself if it doesn't work!"

She just stared at him, eyes wide with understanding, and then she finally sucked in a shaky breath and nodded slowly.

His phone suddenly buzzed to life on his desk indicating that someone was trying to use the intercom feature. Alex just gave a nod, catching her breath and forcing herself to calm as she turned away. A hand on her hip and a hand on her face, she just tried to remember that people were on her side.

"Go ahead, Vasquez," J'onn responded.

"Sir, Lucy Lane has arrived."

"Have Adler take her to the briefing room."

"Understood, Sir," Vasquez responded. "And she's not pleased...just FYI."

She turned around to him in surprise. "I had expected it to take…"

"I wasn't going to go through the proper channels," J'onn told her, obviously sensing what was coming. "She's not military anymore. She's just a lawyer that happens to have had clearance for the DEO and what we do here. Your sister is also on her way...I thought you should know-"

"It's the middle of the day-"

"Cat Grant is likely going to be pissed, but she'll get over it," J'onn told Alex. "This couldn't wait. I used the government card."

"And what did they tell Cat?"

J'onn shrugged. "It's Adler and Benanti...they thought of something."

"Of course they did…"

"Do you want to sit in on the meeting?"

Alex blinked for a moment. "Yeah," she finally blurted out.

"Just sitting, Alex. I'm the one who's going to do the talking, unless I signal otherwise," he told her seriously.

She just nodded.

Kara was there and it surprised Alex as they met outside of the briefing room that her sister wasn't dressed as Supergirl. Normally her sister was dressed in order to protect her identity, as far as Alex knew...Lucy Lane still thought they were two different people. "Kara-"

"I need to tell her," Kara said quickly.

"But-"

"We want her to help us with Lucas...so that they don't see him as such a threat," Kara defended. "I'm doing it, Alex."

"Not for me, Kara."

"I'm doing this for many reasons," her sister said gently. "You're one of them, but it's my choice."

J'onn waited for them, Alex had noticed that he'd sort of stayed back and let them talk it out. Alex hated this because otherwise, Kara might not have to reveal her identity to Lucy. Of course, they had to believe that Lucy would take it well, that she would help them, but it wasn't a given. Alex's impressions of Lucy had changed since first meeting her...but those memories of Major Lane stuck with her.

They entered the room and Lucy immediately seemed irritated and confused. "I don't understand-"

"Thank you for coming here, Ms. Lane," J'onn said.

"Kara-"

"We have a lot to talk about, Lucy…" Kara said gently. "We need your help."

"You're with them? You know about the DEO?"

This was clearly something that Lucy hadn't expected.

Alex stood next to her sister, across the table from Lucy, and noticed that J'onn was at the other end of the table. He was likely waiting to see how things would go. This was a big reveal and would either help or hinder them. He likely had the best idea at which way she would sway.

"I...assist...the DEO," Kara said slowly looking at both her and J'onn and then back to Lucy. She removed her glasses hesitantly, setting them down on the table in front of her. Her gaze downward, like she wasn't sure if she could look at Lucy. Alex reached out and brushed Kara's hand with her own. She wanted to grab it, to hold it, to be there with a physical connection for moral support, but she knew what was coming. When she finally looked up at Lucy, she pulled her shirt open to reveal her Supergirl outfit underneath, the House of El sigil clear as day. "I'm Supergirl…"

The room was silent.

Alex waited and hoped.

They needed good news.

"It all makes sense," Lucy blurted out rather calmly.

She was sort of disappointed and expecting more of an explosion of one kind or another from the other woman. J'onn moved to Lucy's side and sat down. She and Kara sat as well. Alex knew that she was supposed to stay silent, but she was having such a hard time doing so...and she immediately caught a look from J'onn. She bit her bottom lip for a moment and looked over to Kara.

"You met Lucas," Kara started slowly and Alex looked down. "At game night…"

"Yes," Lucy said just as slowly.

"We need your legal assistance."

"I don't understand, there have to be-"

"Lucas Lewis isn't what he seems," J'onn spoke up now, firm and authoritative. "He's an alien...and now he's wanted by the army...your father." He paused for a moment. "He's thousands of years old...and in that time, he's killed people…"

"I still don't understand."

Alex looked up and she could see that J'onn could sense her frustration.

So, J'onn started to explain everything, which included sliding the file that was in the middle of the table to Lucy. "He takes life energy from those he's...intimate with…"

At one point, she'd gotten up and left the briefing room. She just hadn't been able to endure being silent any longer and it was emotionally draining. Alex had apologized before she'd bolted and found herself staring at Lucas as he read. He looked so peaceful and she felt like there was a storm of emotion swirling inside of her.

When he finally noticed her, he held up the book he was reading. She could read 'Solaris' on the cover. There was a small stack of other books sitting next to him. Alex thought that it had to pass the time at the very least, though she wondered if she'd read them before. "Any good?"

"I've read it before...and I've always liked it," Lucas said with a shrug.

Adler had glared at her when she'd entered, so she was pacing back and forth with her arms crossed over her chest. They were being watched by Vasquez and she thought that it would be pushing it if she opened his cell. The last thing she wanted was for the room to be swarmed by DEO agents and for J'onn to restrict her access. She couldn't have that. She couldn't bear to be kept from seeing him.

"I wish that I could keep you better company," she told him honestly as she came to a stop.

"You want to tell me what has you so upset?"

"I'm just frustrated that I can't do anything… They're trying and working on getting you out of here, I know that...but...I can't be a part of that...and that's hard for me."

At first, Lucas sighed in response, but then got to his feet and paced for a few steps before stopping and looking to her. He moved and pressed his hands against the glass, staring at her as he spoke so softly. "You have to realize that this might not end the way you wish it, my intended...and you have to know...whichever way it turns...that I'm at peace with it."

His words only pissed her off because she didn't feel the same. Alex fumed for a moment and then paced again, her arms flying up in the air. "Well, I'm not! I'm not at peace with it! With anything! All I do, Lucas...is think about you," she whispered as her voice broke and she turned back to him. "Dream about you...worry about you...want you...you are everywhere in my life and yet...you're locked up and might be forever taken away from me. How can I possibly be at peace with that?"

She wished that he had an answer.

An easy fix.

Something.

"Because I am…"

Her days spent at the DEO seemed harder and longer each day. J'onn still wasn't letting her out into the field. She blamed being stuck on base for how long it felt. At the same time, at least she was doing something. J'onn always told her she was in charge when he left to go out into the field, but she knew better. He must have talked with Adler and explained to her that she was really the one in charge, but needed to stay quiet and be subtle about it. Alex knew anyways.

Lucy Lane had agreed to help them, but it was going to take time. After all, she still worked at CatCo. Alex was still impressed that the woman had taken Kara's secret so well and her sister actually thought that she and Lucy were doing better than ever. Alex just hoped that Lucy would be helpful on the front of defending Lucas.

"There's a whole lot of nothing going on now that they've got that situation mopped up," Vasquez pointed out.

Alex sighed. "I don't know how you stay sane being in here all the time."

"I know how to pass the time," Vasquez told her. "I read a lot of books… There are a lot of 'Words With Friends' games I play. You'd be surprised at how much of that I can get through in just an hour of quiet."

"I don't know when the last time I read a book was," Alex muttered as she sat there, arms were crossed over her chest as she looked between the screens and Vasquez. "I mean, I've read articles and journals in regards to things I'm researching here-"

"That's not the same."

Alex just smiled. "No, it's really not."

"What do you do outside of the DEO?"

"Spend time with my sister."

"That's it?" Vasquez asked. She sounded extremely disapproving.

"Yes?" Alex said slowly.

"Work and your sister...that's it?"

"Well, that's pretty much my life all the time," Alex told her.

Vasquez shook her head. "We need a game night or bowling or something…"

"Kara does a game night with her friends from CatCo," Alex pointed out. "I'd prefer something with drinking…"

"Yes…"

"Did I hear drinking?" Benanti asked as she made herself comfortable in the chair near her. Alex just smiled at the other woman. Lara Benanti was always so bright and bubbly and if you didn't know her...you would never believe how deadly she could be.

"And possibly something else," Vasquez put out there.

"Karaoke?"

"I was thinking more...bowling…"

"With karaoke?!"

Alex just smiled and watched the two of them. Even if they didn't do something outside of work, she was glad that she had these people in her life. "Kara won't admit it...but she can sing…"

"I don't doubt it," Benanti said excitedly. "How about you?"

Her mouth dropped open for a moment and then she shook her head slowly. "Uh...no…"

"Come on, Danvers!"

"No…"

"You can't tell me that you sing! Everyone sings!"

"Not me," Vasquez said with a shake of her head.

"Maybe in the shower...or along with Kara...fooling around...and poorly…" Alex told her. This was definitely not going in a direction that she wanted.

"Danvers!"

Alex's eyes widened and then relief set in. The boss was calling. "Got to go!" Saved by J'onn. She'd have to thank him. She hurried off and left Benanti and Vasquez behind.

Staring down at the tech in her hands, Alex wondered how Lucas would take it. So much had been going on and she couldn't help but feel guilty every time she saw him. Alex couldn't help but feel responsible for him being there. "It's lightweight," she said as she focused on the weight of it.

"I'm not sure how it would be for him to be able to use it at the court," J'onn told her. "But that's something that can be discussed later and arranged."

"But he wouldn't have to wear it at court."

If she was understanding the silence behind it, it was just for the times he was intimate. So, technically he could just wear it at home. The device was to keep her safe when they were together. Alex didn't understand why else he'd need to wear it otherwise. Of course, she could have missed something.

"From what Torres said, it should really be worn all the time because of how it regulates the hormones and chemicals in his system," J'onn explained. "It keeps them a steady level. She believes that there's an imbalance that occurs when he feeds."

"But that's all theory…"

"You're right," J'onn told her.

She looked at him and sucked in a heavy breath. "Does that mean you need to test it?"

"Before allowing him even the possibility of Mr. Lewis being free," J'onn replied.

"But not here," Alex told him. She knew that normally this would be something that would need to be tested in a lab and under observation, but with Lucas' abilities...the feeding that his body did...that was an intimate thing and Alex didn't think she could even attempt for them to be in that state at the DEO."

J'onn gave a nod. "I understand and I had a feeling that would be an issue."

A thought came to mind and she squeezed her eyes shut at the thought. "And you and Kara cannot be like hovering outside of my apartment...listening…"

"I was going to suggest that he wear one of the trackers we use on our superpowered alien residents," J'onn said slowly and that seemed like the farthest thing from his mind. "I don't think that he would take off...but...we should be doing this as smartly as we can, that means being prepared for anything."

"You're right."

"Do you want to tell Lucas alone or-"

"Come with me?" she requested before he could supply the full question.

They stood in front of the open cell and Lucas was walking towards them, it was clear that he was unsure about what they'd told him. "You don't have to do it," J'onn informed Lucas.

Alex was dying inside at the idea of Lucas not wanting to give it a try. That meant that it was less likely that the DEO and/or the army would allow for his release no matter what the legal side said. She couldn't help but be bias. She wanted him to go home with her. Alex had found herself missing him in a distressing way. Her gaze moved away and she found a spot on the wall to focus on, she didn't want to sway his decision. This was important and it needed to be his decision.

"When can we do it?" Lucas asked.

Looking over to him, she felt optimistic all of the sudden. "Tonight," Alex replied quickly.

"So, I have to wear the device...and the tracker?" Lucas asked to make sure that he was on the right page.

"That's it," J'onn told him. "I will also expect you to go with Alex and stay with her tonight and then return to the DEO with her in the morning."

She really hated the fact that Lucas wasn't able to help the people he was used to helping with his normal job, but this was important too...it wasn't just important for her...but for any future he might have. With Lucas' extended lifespan, she kept thinking that he'd already lost so much in life, she didn't want him to lose anything more.

"You're sure?" she asked Lucas.

Lucas seemed to soften with concern at that. "Are you?"

TBC…