Now that Cat Grant had taken care of the DA, she set her sights on the big prize…Maxwell Lord. Max was a genius, but sometimes he didn't think his evil plots through very careful and they rarely went as planned. Which was likely to happen because underneath that cold, hard exterior, Max was still a scared little boy, trying to control his world.
Cat picked up her phone, "Max, we need to meet. I've just had the most fascinating conversation with DA Saunders about Supergirl. Meet me at Noonan's in 30 minutes?"
Max Lord wasn't born yesterday, he wondered what Cat Grant was up to with this phone call. "Love to have a latte with you Cat. Not that I have any idea what you're talking about where the DA is concerned and Supergirl, but you have piqued my interest. See you in 30."
Cat hung up her phone, make sure you wear the glasses with the video camera in them, she reminded herself. You'll have to have the interview on camera or that snake will just slither out from underneath it all.
Entering James Olsen's office Cat couldn't help but notice how exhausted he looked. Plainly he was very concerned about Kara and it was taking a toll on his health, young love, she sighed to herself. "James, I need you to make sure that the video camera in these glasses is working properly before I meet with Max Lord."
James looked at Cat with a bit of surprise in his eyes, what could she possibly be up to where Max was concerned? "Certainly, Ms. Grant, let me see them." James made sure they were in perfect working order and when he handed them back to her he asked, "May I ask why you're meeting Max Lord and need to record it?"
Cat looked at him with an expression that told him he'd approached a boundary and was dangerously close to stepping over it, "Normally I'd tell you it's none of your business, but because I know how you feel about Kara, I'll answer your question. Max is behind the Red Kryptonite and her eventual arrest. He's behind the entire thing."
The anger in James' face was clearly evident when he heard the news, "Why am I not surprised! Please be careful, he's no fool and may see right through whatever it is you're planning to do."
"Yes Mr. Olsen," Cat replied, "I am familiar with the wiley ways of Max, and I will be careful. I do need you to go and see Kara today and make sure she's doing ok, and tell her my plan is moving along nicely, and that until it's done I can't come and visit her, got it?"
"Yes Ms. Grant," James replied. With that she turned on her heels and strode out of his office and headed for her private elevator. As she was riding down to the main floor Cat silently considered her approach with Max and how best to get him off his game so she could nail his sorry ass to the wall.
When the doors to Kara's cell opened, James stepped inside and saw Kara curled up in a ball on a cot, with her head on Alex's lap, sound asleep. He smiled at the love these two sisters had for each other, especially since they weren't blood related.
"James," Alex whispered, "Kara had a terrible time with nightmares last night. She's exhausted and has been sleeping peacefully for about an hour or so." "Don't wake her," James said softly, "I just wanted to see if she's ok." Alex smiled at him, "She'd melt my face off if she found out you were here and I didn't wake her up! Kara…Kara," Alex leaned into Kara's ear softly calling her name, "Kara wake up, someone's here to see you."
Taking a deep breath and opening her eyes her face lit up with joy at the sight of James standing in front of her. "James!" Kara yelled as she leapt from the cot and wrapped her arms around him with super speed. "I'm so glad to see you!"
James wrapped his arms around her and held her as closely and as tightly as he could. He could feel the tension slip from her body as he held onto her, he just never wanted to never let her go again. She was the first to let go of the embrace, and looking up into his face, she leaned in and kissed him; he kissed her right back, holding her head in his hand, the other gripping her tightly around her waist. The kiss lasted for several seconds before the sound of Alex clearing her throat broke them apart.
"I'll just step outside and leave you two alone for a bit," Alex smiled at Kara. "Thanks," Kara replied smiling at her amazing sister. "Behave you two," Alex said with a huge grin on her face as she exited the room.
Kara just stared into James' face for what seemed like an eternity, neither wanting to let go of the other, both just wanting the moment to last for an eternity.
"Cat's meeting with Max today," James finally broke the silence. "She wanted me to come and see how you're doing and to let you know what she's up to and to reassure you that she'll be careful."
Kara lowered her head and looked at his chest, "I hope she'll be ok, he's so dangerous." She turned away from James and invited him to sit with her on her cot. James sat with his back to the wall on the cot and Kara climbed up beside him, with is arm wrapped around her she snuggled into his neck and started to cry. "Hey," James asked, "what's this all about?"
"I'm so scared James," Kara replied, "You have no idea what they did to me and now I'm scared that my life as Supergirl and as Kara Danvers is over before it evens gets started."
With a deep breath James told Kara that he'd seen the video Cat took of what General Lane did to her with the kryptonite. "I'm sorry I wasn't here to protect you from that monster," James began, "it seems like everyone around you has failed you lately, Kara, me included."
"No, James," she said lifting her head to look at him, "no one has failed me, I've failed you and Alex and Ms. Grant, I've failed the entire city, I've failed the honourable house of El! Alex was right, it was a mistake for me to embrace my powers and come out as Supergirl. None of this would have happened if I'd just listened to her."
"Kara," James had her chin in his hand, "never ever apologize for being who you really are. Everyone needs you and if you hadn't saved that plane Alex would be dead. You'd never have been able to live with yourself if you'd let that happen. In fact, Ms. Grant gave me a special message for you: 'Kara, be strong, be brave, be true to who you are. You are the inspiration to many, me not the least. You will get through this and be a better superhero for it. So…Be STRONG, be BRAVE and be TRUE!'"
Hope began to flood through Kara's mind as she heard the words from Ms. Grant, it reminded her of a similar message she'd heard from a hologram of her mom when she came out as Supergirl. She still believed not only in Kara, but in Supergirl too!
Max Lord found Cat sitting in a booth at the rear of the local bar. The place was strangely quiet, with very few customers on this sunny day. He made his way over to where she sat, sipping her favourite latte and took a seat without waiting for an invitation. Cat eyed his brazen rudeness, "Please, make yourself comfortable Max."
"Thanks Cat," he replied, "don't mind if I do." He turned and motioned for a server to come and take his order, "Scotch, neat." Turning back to Cat he began, "So, why am I meeting with the Queen herself over something the DA did?
"Nice try Max," Cat retorted, "I know all about you and your plans against Supergirl, I know you got the DA to press charges, I know you're behind the whole thing, so let's cut the crap, shall we?"
Max sat dead still while the server placed his scotch before him, waiting for her to be out of earshot before he replied to Cat's comments. "Why am I not surprised? How did you get that little weasel to spill the beans on us? How much did you have to pay him?"
Cat grinned, "I didn't give him one cent. Let's just say he knew he had no choice but to fill me in on the details and leave it at that, shall we?"
Max sipped his scotch as he eyed Cat up. What was she up to, he wondered, what did she really know? "I know you went and saw her yesterday." Max slyly added, "I can't imagine why or what you had to talk about with her, especially after she nearly killed you?" Max was fishing.
"Max," Cat began, "I wasn't going to press any charges against Supergirl for what she did to me, but when I realized that she nearly took my sons mother away from them, I knew I had to do it. She's dangerous, even if I didn't want to admit it and I experienced just how much first hand. When I went to see her, it wasn't a friendly visit I told her that I would be supporting the charges against her. I also told her that she was a disgrace to that symbol on her chest and that no one would ever trust her, ever again."
"So what about that interview you did where she was being tortured by General Lane," Max queried, "it looks like you're still in her corner to me."
"Max, don't be an idiot," Cat shook her head, "I don't want the poor thing tortured like that, that was just wrong, but I do think that she needs to be held accountable for what she did to me and to the rest of the people of National City. What happened in that cell was disgusting and General Lane needed to be exposed for the monster he really is, that's why I released the video on the internet."
Max looked at her for a few moments, trying to decide if she was bluffing or was really in on the plans against Supergirl. "Ok then," he leaned forward to look at Cat, "you want it, you're in. I created the Red Kryptonite, it was a failed attempt at creating the real thing but when I learned that it had a drug like effect on her and was screwing up her head, I decided to go with the flow and see what happened. I followed her with a video drone, looking to catch video of her breaking the law or hurting people, and then I was going to use it to blackmail her into leaving National City and never using her powers again."
Max let that sink in with Cat, "When she went after you and nearly took your life, I knew I had her. We could get her locked up for attempted murder and I also knew that they'd put her in that cell with the kryptonite emitters to keep her under control. So I'd get what I wanted, her off the streets and no longer able to use her powers. Win - Win for me."
"So you essentially drugged her, knew it would have a harmful effect on her, didn't say anything to anyone, she nearly kills me and you did it all so you could blackmail her and ruin her life?" Cat said with a slight hint of disbelief in her voice. "And then you bribed the DA into charging and arresting her? Did I miss anything in all of that? Cat had an eyebrow raised at the end of her question.
Max rolled his eyes, "You can look at it that way if you want to, but I did what I did for the good of the people of National City, so I had to break a few laws to do it, big deal."
As if on cue, one of the televisions at Noonan's began to broadcast a press conference being held by DA Saunders, "Cat Grant has decided to press charges against Supergirl for attempted murder. The DA's office will continue the proceedings already undertaken against Supergirl by calling a Grand Jury and seeking an indictment. Once she is indicted, we will proceed to trial with all swiftness and due diligence. Thank you." At that, the DA turned and walked away from the press, not answering any questions.
"Well, well, well," Max smiled at Cat, "it seems you were telling me the truth about your desire to be in on our plans for her future…or lack thereof…sorry I doubted you in the first place."
Cat grinned at him, "We can't all be perfect." With that Cat got up and left Max sitting there with the remainder of his scotch. It was time to download the video and let the world know the truth. Supergirl had been in prison way too long, it was time the tables were turned on Max.