"How long can you stay for?" Alura asked Alex.
"Not long." Alex said feeling guilty as she glanced at Kara. "Things are changing quickly back home and I'm needed there."
"Even though you are injured?" Clark asked.
"Not all of my job involves kicking things." Alex pointed out.
"You won't heal if you don't rest." Kara stated.
"Mom has lectured me on that already." Alex assured her before looking back to Alura. "I should return to Earth tonight."
"So soon?" Kara asked.
"I'm sorry. I have to." Alex said apologetically. "But now the portal is working, there's no reason I can't come back."
"Will you at least stay for dinner?" Alura asked.
"I mean it is the middle of the night in National City right now isn't it?" Lois asked glancing at Alex's watch.
"It is." Alex confirmed.
"So no one will miss you." Clark said trying to encourage her to stay.
"Wow, that's a little low." Lois commented.
"Low?" Clark asked. "Oh, I didn't mean to imply that you-"
"It's fine. I know what you meant." Alex assured him before looking back at Alura. "Lois is right, I have another 6 hours before I need to be back so I can stay for dinner."
"Excellent. I will prepare a traditional Kryptonian meal." Alura said causing Alex to frown. Seeing her expression Clark smiled and said.
"Don't worry, Kara's culinary skills aren't hereditary." Clark smiled.
"That's not entirely true, her father was a terrible cook." Alura said. "But before we eat the three of us need to attend a council meeting. I'm afraid you can't come."
"I understand." Alex said.
"You'll still be here when we get back?" Kara asked.
"Of course." Alex smiled.
-00-
"As open as they are there are somethings they don't want humans taking part in." Lois commented once the Kryptonian trio had gone. "Although from what Kara said I don't think we are missing much." She then looked at Alex and asked. "Why are you really here?"
"To see Kara." Alex said.
"Let me rephrase, why were you allowed to come?" Lois pressed.
For a moment Alex said nothing before confessing. "I was sent to bring Supergirl home."
"Sent by who?" Lois asked suspiciously.
"The President. The new one."
"Why? And why aren't you trying very hard to get her to return?" Lois pressed.
"Earth is under attack, or it will be. There is a new threat and the President recognised he needed help. He wasn't sure if Supergirl was alive, but if she was he assumed she wouldn't respond to his request. He sent me as he thought she'd listen to me."
"Why haven't you told Kara that?"
"She has sacrificed everything for Earth. We don't deserve her. If I tell her the planet needs her she'll go back and risk her life without a second thought." Alex said. "If she comes back to Earth I want it to be because she wants to not because she feels compelled to."
"If you don't tell her what is happening and she finds out later she might not forgive you." Lois warned, shifting in her seat trying to get comfortable.
"I don't deserve her forgiveness." Alex said.
"Why? You did nothing wrong."
"I failed her. I was meant to protect her."
"She was the one with powers." Lois reminded her. "There is only so much you can do. What I do know is if she finds out she could have done something it will hurt her."
"At least she would be alive. Even if she did come back I'm not sure we can win this fight." Alex confessed.
"It's really that bad?" Lois said.
"I don't know. After everything that happened the country, the world, is torn. Even with the threat of a strong alien armada coming for us I'm not sure the people will unite."
"Isn't that more reason to tell Kara?" Lois asked. "I mean, Clark is more than capable of punching the crap out of the bad guy, but Kara has this way of bringing people together."
"She does. That's why the President wants her back. But I'm not putting that on her. It's not fair." Alex said.
"Maybe, but Kara is miserable. Leaving her here may not be what she wants." Lois argued.
"I want Kara back more than anyone. But not to risk her life. If we beat this threat then I will come back but until then I'm not going to force it." Alex replied. "Besides when I told her she could come back she said she wasn't ready."
"She did?" Lois asked confused.
"She did." Alex confirmed making Lois frown.
-00-
"I wish you didn't have to go." Kara said, her eyes red.
"Me too. But I have to. But it is going to be easier being over there knowing you are okay." Alex said, although she was also fighting back tears.
"I'll miss you." Kara said as the tears started to flow.
"Me too." Alex said hugging her. "If you are ever ready to come back, you are always welcome. I will keep the portal active."
"I love you so much." Kara said into her shoulder.
"Love you too." Alex said trying not to cry. Finally releasing her sister she looked at Clark and asked. "Look after her."
"Of course." He nodded.
With that Alex turned and walked through the portal. As it shut down Kara silently left the room.
"Any idea why she didn't go?" Clark asked Alura confused.
"No." Alura said equally baffled.
-00-
"Director Danvers." Haley greeted. "Welcome back. Did you find her?"
"I did, but she's not coming. She's not ready." Alex said.
"Go home and get some rest. We'll work on new plans tomorrow." Haley said.
"Yes Ma'am." Alex said before departing. Once she had gone Haley went to Brainy. "I have to see someone about a new plan. Call me if there are developments."
TBC...
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing.