Cat Grant looked at the photos and video of the super girl that Clark Kent had sent her mere moments after the mysterious heroine's appearance. She recognized the name as that of the indie news blogger, who surprisingly was sending her the pictures instead of using them himself. He indicated that this story was too big for him to keep for his small site, and that he considered Cat Grant the only one whom he felt trustworthy enough to send the photos to.

"Smart man," she said with a smile, looking at the evening edition of the National City Tribune, of which one of Clark's pictures graced the front page. Cat herself wrote the article, something she had not done in years, but her eye went back to the photo. Kent was a brilliant photographer, easily as good as James. She had read his blog before, and had to admit that Kent's writing was excellent. "Perhaps," she said to herself, "I need to have this man on my staff."

But who was Clark Kent really? She pulled up his website and looked at his photo, and found herself immediately smitten by his visage. A handsome face smiling from behind a pair of stylish spectacles seemed to be looking right through her. At the same time, there was something familiar about him, but she could not place it.

"Clark Kent," she said. "I think you and I need to talk."

SG

Kara left the D.E.O. almost immediately after Kal had left, her mind still reeling from the events of the day. She needed to sort this out, and for the first time, she felt as though she needed to do so away from her cousin. His anger and rage were such that Kara did not think he could discuss the matter logically. Perhaps once he had calmed down, but not right now. She was certain that Kal would have killed Colonel Harper and the rest of the D.E.O. operatives if Kara had not come out when she did. Alex's betrayal hurt, but Kara needed to approach this logically, scientifically. She had only one other friend in whom she could confide: Lena.

Kara flew home, something she had never done before. It felt freeing, but at the same time, she felt as though she were misbehaving. So long had she kept her powers secret that doing something as simple as flying felt like hooliganism. She felt a twinge of anger at this, but she let it pass; Eliza and Alex had meant well, and Kara had to let go of the anger.

She deftly landed on her balcony unseen, and slipped into her apartment. Her heart was pounding just from flying home. Kara kept waiting for Eliza or Alex to come storming in, scolding her for flying home. She took a few deep breaths, and then grinned from ear to ear.

"I can fly. This is my new normal!"

With that, she picked up the phone and called Lena.

SG

Lena Luthor listened to her step mother gushing to her father about Lex, who sat at the table looking like the cat that ate the canary. It was sickening. Not that she faulted the woman for being proud of her son. Lilian Luthor had every right to be proud of Lex. He was smart enough, certainly, and craftier than anyone Lena had ever met, even her father. But with each compliment Lilian paid Lex, there was a demerit cast upon Lena.

"Lena is graduating M.I.T." Lionel looked at her proudly.

"Finally," Lillian remarked. "Lex graduated in half the time. And now, he's starting his own corporation."

"Our son is quite the entrepreneur," Lionel remarked, dropping any discussion of Lena's graduation.

Lena was adopted, and Lillian never considered her a true Luthor. Lex was welcoming enough, and Lionel tended to dote on her when Lillian was not around, but that was rare. Doctor Lillian Luthor seemed ever present, and reminded Lena at every turn that Lex was the smarter one.

It wasn't true, of course; Lena knew that she was actually smarter than Lex though her older brother was quite crafty.

As Lillian and Lionel discussed Lex's future company, Lexcorp, Lena stared at her food, wishing that someone would come and take her away, and relieved that tonight was her last night in National City.

As if in answer to her unspoken prayer, her phone rang. Kara's smiling image appeared on the screen, and Lena answered.

"Kara, hold on a moment …"

"I can't believe you took a phone call during dinner," Lillian scolded.

"It's her girlfriend," Lex remarked. "Let her be mom. Kara got her through high school, you know."

"So that's how you managed your grades," Lillian said smugly.

"No!" Lena stood open mouthed.

"That's not what I meant, Mom," Lex corrected. "I meant their friendship. Lena got those grades all on her own."

"Of course, she did," Lillian said sardonically. "Go talk to your girlfriend."

Lena stormed from the room, angry that her father had said nothing in her defense. At least Lex spoke up. As soon as she was out on the balcony, she held the phone to her ear.

"Oh, my god, Kara, you have no idea how glad I am that you called right now!"

"I heard it all," Kara said. "I am so sorry. Your mother has no right to even think that about you; you're brilliant, and … do they think we're dating? Or do they mean girlfriends in the social sense?"

"I don't know," Lena sighed. "She's not my mother—not my real mother, anyway. She hates me."

"Oh, Lena …"

"It's alright, Kara. What's up?"

"I … Lena, there's something I need to tell you. I need to see you as soon as possible."

"I'm on my way."

"Don't hurry on my account, Lena; I don't want to impose."

"Believe me, you're not imposing—not one bit."

SG

Kara's doorbell rang, and she hurried to answer it, already knowing it was Lena. She flung it open and embraced her friend.

"I'm so sorry about what your mother said about you, Lena." Kara held her friend for a long moment before finally ushering her inside. "And thank you for coming so quickly. This … this is big."

"You know I'd do anything for you, Kara," Lena offered. "Just call, and I'll be there."

"Oh, Lena, I hope you don't think I'm a freak for what I'm about to tell you." She motioned for her friend to take a seat on the sofa, and then took a seat beside her.

"It can't be that bad," Lena remarked. Then her eyes widened. "Kara, are you telling me … I mean, do you …" She took Kara's hands, and added, "Because if you do, it's alright."

Kara's mind was whirling now. This was not what Kara was trying to tell her friend, and wondered if Lena felt that way about her. They could come back to that. She had to say it now, before she lost her nerve.

"Lena, I'm the super girl that everyone is talking about."

Her friend continued to hold her hands, looking into her eyes, perhaps searching for some indication that Kara was kidding or lying.

"That was you? Kara, you were awesome!"

This made Kara blush. Lately, only Kal had been so complimentary to her. "Thanks, Lena. I didn't know what else to do, and after what happened, I didn't know who else to talk to."

Lena seemed to sense that Kara was troubled, and squeezed her hands tightly, leaning closer. "You can always talk to me, Kara. You know that, right?"

Kara nodded. "I know. You and Kal are my rocks."

"So, does he know?"

"He does. He helped me." Kara did not want to give any details on that, as the D.E.O. was not public knowledge. "He's been great, too, but I needed a girlfriend to talk to, I guess. I don't know, Lena—I just wanted to see you."

Lena Luthor nodded, looking into Kara's eyes. She always knew that Kara was different, special. The fact that Kara chose to reveal this to her was significant. It showed a trust that she doubted Kara's sister would approve of. Lena knew that Alex and Eliza did not like her. She assumed that it was because she was a Luthor, but Kara had been a steadfast friend anyway.

"I'm glad you called me, Kara. And you can trust me; this stays between us."

"Thank you, Lena. I don't know what I'd do without you." Kara shook her head for a moment. "All my life … well, all my life with the Danvers, I've been taught to hide who I was. I never fit in anywhere except when I was with Kal and you."

"That's because we're a team, Kara. You and me, friends forever." She squeezed Kara's hand for emphasis, eliciting a giggle and a blush from her friend. "And I'll never let you down."

"You're the only one who knows his real name," Kara mused.

"Whose?"

"My cousin's." Kara looked away, as if she was deciding whether or not to elaborate on something. "I'm not sure I should say anything, but …"

"But you love me, so you will," Lena remarked with a grin. To her surprise, Kara nodded.

"You're right, Lena. I trust you implicitly. Kal and I … we're from another planet. Here on Earth, we have tremendous powers. He came here as an infant, and was raised by his Earth parents. My pod did not arrive until twelve years ago. I was twelve."

"Why are you here?" Lena asked. "I mean, you're clearly not the vanguard of an invasion or anything like that."

Kara sighed, then looked away, tears in her eyes. "They're all dead, Lena. Kal is all the family I have left … all of Krypton that I have left." She looked back at Lena. "You're the first person I've ever told this to outside of the Danvers family. I'm probably not supposed to tell you anything, and if Alex and Eliza knew …"

"Alex and Eliza? The ones who dressed you in gray? The ones who covered those lovely eyes of yours?"

Kara nodded. As Lena touched her cheek, emphasizing the point, Kara trembled. She could not believe that she had just spilled her and her cousin's secrets to Lena.

"Look at you, Kara; your hair is down, your eyes are not hidden behind those spectacles. And you're wearing bright, vibrant colors. Alex and Eliza want to hide you away, to keep you down. Me? I want you to soar."

Lena leaned in close, and Kara thought that the girl was going to kiss her, but instead, her friend hugged her tightly. "I know what it's like to be hidden away, Kara. I'll never hide you away, or ask you to be less than what you are."

Lena looked deeply into Kara's eyes once more. Kara searched for some indication of whatever it was that Alex and Eliza worried about. She was terrified that she had just made a terrible mistake, but her friend's eyes assured her that she had not. Then Lena sat back, a grin on her face.

"Now, Kara, you need to be able to operate without compromising your personal life. The red and blue hoodie … I think you're onto something there." Kara raised an eyebrow, and Lena just giggled. "Come on Kara; you're a superhero! And superheroes have a costume."

"Lena, I … I'm not a superhero; I just have super powers and …"

"And do heroic things," Lena finished. "See? Superhero." Lena stood, and motioned for Kara to stand with her. "Now, let's get to work … Supergirl."