Everything hurt. Breathing was labored. Moving limited. Wrists confined. Panic started to rise as she struggled against what felt like handcuffs. A steady beeping made its way into her consciousness. Her eyes forced their way open. The light steaming in burned like when it was way past time for sleep. Heart racing. Throat dry. The room smelled of chemicals and death. All the clues aligned. It was obvious to her where she was and Maggie Sawyer hated hospitals.

It had been a tense forty-eight hours. The President had held a press conference announcing the creation of a multiple agency investigative task force to try and get to the bottom of what happened. The details she revealed were a similar narrative as the CatCo scoop Kara had written but with the additional identifying of the two mercenaries that were in custody as well as the very unique skill set they each had. Despite identifying them as Metas, the President was very mindful and reminded the public that two, hired, bad apples didn't represent an entire group of gifted people anymore than human fascists or murders represented an entire race of their people. She refused to consider the actions of some to be the ideals of all and urged the public to do the same. The press conference was met with the usual partisan reaction. Those who wanted a reason to be scared or angry were and those who believed all people were inherently good stuck to that belief. Debate was swirling and social media was erupting with opinions.

The one major detail that was kept top secret was the identities of those who had fallen victim to brainwashing. Thanks to Detective Sawyer's scans they had a way to identify legitimately harmed individuals and therefore those pretending. It was too important a tool to let anyone except a small group know about and by not revealing any of the individuals involved or to what degree they were involved it helped keep the new medical discovery under wraps. So far the President, select members of the DEO, and Doctor Snow were the only people aware of what they hoped would prove an upper hand.

The DEO was working overtime treating those altered while starting files on those the scans indicated had not been victims of A'Daire. It was surprising how many fell into the later category. The reporter and every attacking member of the President's direct detail were acting of their own free will and all were refusing to speak. Cat Grant had been right about what she had overheard. It stuck Kara as odd that someone could have made that assumption in the moments following the attack and had her wondering if more people wishing ill will weren't still lurking within the President's inner circle.

Perhaps that was why when orders came from above for J'onn to use his mind reading skills to gain intelligence Kara grew concerned. It was another slippery slope in the quest for the truth and one Kara wasn't happy about and neither was J'onn but he did as he was instructed. While reluctantly reading minds, he found that none of the guilty had direct contact with leadership and all were recruited online. They were an organized group of lone wolfs and the DEO were no closer to identifying those responsible for the attack than they were locating the source of the sonic signal that had nearly taken Supergirl out of the fight.

J'onn's interrogations of both Abbot and A'Daire were also coming up empty where it counted. He had learned that Kyle Abbot's blind loyalty to A'Daire was a result of romantic interest. This wasn't exactly news to them but the confirmation gave some leverage they thought they might be able to dangle over Abbot. The mission, as the werewolf considered it, was all arranged through Whisper and so he was merely following her orders. A'Daire, on the other hand, was a blank slate. J'onn had described her mind like a deep well that he couldn't reach the bottom of no matter how far he went.

Since Kara's powers were physical she had been kept away from both of them. J'onn's reasoning was he wanted to use her as a last resort. She suspect there was another reason and Kara was grateful. Her anger over what happened was substantial. Trusting she wouldn't go overboard and worrying there was still a tiny chance she might was making sleep difficult. It was likely J'onn had noticed how conflicted she was about the tiny of part of her that wished to beat the truth out of one or both of them.

When not at the DEO, J'onn was sharing shifts at the hospital with Kara. Alex hadn't left since Detective Sawyer had been admitted. The floor was still off limits to anyone but a select number of DEO personal and hospital staff. As of that morning there hadn't been enough of a change to pull the Detective from the induced sedation. After the successful surgery, she had been taken for another scan, which showed signs that the pressure on her brain was dropping, but not to safe enough levels. Until her scans came back clean it was safer for her to be sleeping.

Kara had spent the entire morning at CatCo trying to turn her breaking news story into a longer feature piece for the magazine. It wasn't going very well as her thoughts were focused elsewhere. She was getting the cold shoulder from Cat Grant and the growing hate rhetoric in the media over Metas and aliens was causing a building anger within Kara. She didn't understand people's inability to see the forest from the trees. If that wasn't enough, she worried about Alex's deep despair. It was no wonder Kara was finding it difficult to place words in the proper order.

A midday phone call turned things around. It had been Agent Vasquez with news that Doctor Snow seemed to the think the thrall had lifted and they were slowly pulling Detective Sawyer from sedation. Kara dropped what she was doing, Cat be damned, and headed to the hospital.

Upon arrival Kara, carrying a coffee for her sister, gave a quick wave to Doctor Snow who was conferring with a coworker. She then moved down the hallway to the small waiting area Alex had been living in since the incident. Opening the door to the room, Kara found Alex staring out the window. Her sister then turned and gave a weak smile. Alex looked better than she had the night before. Perhaps she had finally managed a little sleep.

"Hi," Kara said, as she moved to her sister, removed a cup of coffee from her hand, and replaced it with the fresh cup from the coffee shop next to CatCo. "How is she?"

"Caitlin says Detective Sawyer is out of the woods where the brainwashing is concerned. They pulled her out of sedation about two hours ago. They took her for more tests and a complete physical. We are waiting on the results. If everything comes back okay, I've asked Agent Vasquez to handle the interview to see what the Detective might remember about what happened."

"Her diagnosis is still the same?"

"They will continue to monitor the concussion. They've done what they can for her lung, broken ribs, arm, and shoulder. The lacerations from Abbot's claws are going to result in some deep scaring. The real worry with those injuries had been infection along with muscle and tissue damage. No infection developed but the rest won't be able to be assessed until she is more mobile. Doctor Snow wants to keep her for observation for at least another forty-eight hours."

"I'm glad they are being cautious."

"So am I." The relief on Alex's face was projecting more than a friendly concern.

"And the rehabilitation time?"

"It will depend on the extent of the tissue damage and her willingness to work on her rehabilitation but it is going to be a long road. As for the rest, they are optimistic. The damage to everything else will just require lots of rest, which the Detective will not like."

"Alex, I'm really sorry."

"It wasn't your fault, Kara. You did what you had to do."

Alex's words still felt hollow. "I know but I just wish I had been able to stay in control. She would be much further along if it was just the fight with those agents and the attack by Abbot."

"If you hadn't advanced on her when you did someone could have been killed and Maggie never would have forgiven herself." The way Alex said the Detective's name spoke volumes.

"So is she awake?"

"Yes."

"Are they allowing visitors?"

"Within reason."

Kara knew she needed to push. "So why are you out here instead of sitting in there with her?"

"Um, because she's okay and being monitored. Actually, I was about to head back to headquarters."

"Alex," Kara said in a scolding tone.

"What? She's better."

"But unless you see for yourself you won't be."

Alex was looking anywhere but at her sister and Kara knew it was time to put everything on the table.

"You blew things up once with Maggie. Don't do it again."

Alex's eyes went wide. "Kara?"

"Super hearing, remember."

"I don't understand."

"That night at Stanford. I wasn't trying to ease drop but I can't always help it."

Alex's face fell. "You never said anything."

"Which is something I have regretted ever since. Maybe if I had told you how happy you seemed or what I knew, maybe you wouldn't have run away."

"How do you know I ran away?"

"Besides hearing the conversation? You got pretty dark for a while, Alex."

"There had been a lot going on at the time. I couldn't take the pressure."

"That wasn't it, Alex. You were afraid that you couldn't take the happiness," Kara corrected. "Look, I get it. Being my sister isn't easy. You put aside everything in your life to look out for me but you never should have done so at the expense of your own happiness. She made you happy."

"She won't want me around after what just happened." The comment was all but a direct confession that Alex still had feelings for the Detective.

"You can't let her be the one to run away this time. She was brainwashed. What happened in the park wasn't her fault."

Alex stared at her sister.

Kara smiled back. "It took me until this happened to figure out what's been up with you since she walked back into your life. And I get it, you're scared but don't let your fear of things ending keep you from things beginning. Be there for her and when the time is right talk to her about how you feel."

Alex exhaled and it was as if Kara watched a weight lift from her sister's shoulders. There was suddenly a light in her eyes that had been gone the last couple of days.

"Alex, go."

"Thank you," Alex said, shyly before kissing Kara on the cheek and heading to Maggie's room.

As the visitor's room door closed Kara set out to straightened things up. She folded a blanket Alex must have used, and tossed the old coffee cup into a trash bin along with a few other bits of trash that were strewn around the room. She then moved back into the hallway.

Sliding her glasses down the bridge of her nose, she glanced through the wall, happy to see her sister moving towards Maggie's bedside. As she did, almost as if on cue, Detective Sawyer's eyes opened. Maggie blinked and then smiled at Alex. It was a small smile that Alex returned. They both might be too stubborn to admit it but what Kara saw was a sign that there was hope for the pair.

Convinced they were in a good place and wanting to check in with Doctor Snow, Kara turned and headed towards the nurse's station.

Not exactly being careful where she was going she nearly knocked someone off their feet as she collided into them. Reaching out, Kara stopped the woman, who was at the receiving end of her bump, from falling. "I am so sorry."

"No, it's my fault," said a very fit redhead with short hair and deep green eyes. "I wasn't watching where I was going."

The stranger had a pained look on her face that seemed to be unrelated to the collision. Kara tried to push down the sympathy she started to feel as the realization the woman was on a restricted floor set it.

"Is everything okay?" Kara asked, taking notice of the vase of Zinnias in the woman's hand and wishing she would drop her glasses again to give a quick scan of the stranger.

"I'm fine. Just here checking on a friend. They were injured at the speech at the park the other day and I wanted to leave these before I left town."

There was something about the women's voice and her posture that caused Kara's suspicion to fall away as she realized the stranger's identity. Even without the bat suit the evidence lined up. "You're a friend of Maggie Sawyer."

"Yes. How did you know?"

"I'm Kara Danvers, a reporter with CatCo media. My sister was working with Detective Sawyer on the President's protection detail and since the Detective is the only patient on this floor..."

"You must be a very good reporter," the woman said with a curious mix of admiration and annoyance. "Pleasure to meet you, Kara. I'm Kate."

The redhead extended a free hand to shake, which Kara took. As their eyes locked, Kara wondered if the other woman knew whom she was really speaking with. "I'm happy to report Detective Sawyer is improving and is expected to make a full recovery."

Relief washed over the redhead's face as they dropped hands. "Good, that's good."

"Since you managed to find your way past security you might as well go in and say hello. Maggie's just down the hall on the right."

"Thank you but I can't stay. I've got to get back home. I'll just leave these at the nurse's station to have them delivered."

"I'm sure she would be happy to see you." Kara knew that wasn't true. From what little intelligence she had of the relationship the two had in the past, and how it ended, it was likely Maggie would be less than thrilled to see Kate Kane but it was the polite thing to say.

"I'm certain she wouldn't. It was nice meeting you, Kara."

"Nice meeting you, Kate." Kara said, as she moved down the hallway.

"Kara?"

She stopped and turned back to the redhead. "Yes?"

"Oracle said she will be in touch soon with what she could dig up from the footage," the redhead said with a smile and then leaned in just a little and dropped her voice just above a whisper. "And she might have a lead on the signal that brought you down."

Kara smile, nodded, and then continued on her way to find Doctor Snow. It seemed they both knew whom they had been talking.

Alex was sitting in the chair next to the bed. She was a sight for sore eyes. Everything still ached and her mouth was dry but the only thing Maggie wanted was answers. "What happened?"

Alex was smiling but her body language, and the stitches she saw along the other woman's hairline, made Maggie more nervous than waking up with tubes and wires connected to her and her hands cuffed to a bed. "There is plenty of time to talk about work later."

"I'm not exactly going anywhere, Alex. What happened? The hospital staff won't tell me anything. Is the President...?"

"She's fine," Alex interrupted.

Relief washed over Maggie. "Good." Before she could say anything else a coughing fit sent sharp pains through her chest. They were so intense her eyes started to water. Having broken a rib in high school Maggie was sure she was currently suffering from severe broken ribs.

Alex moved to the small side table and poured some water into a cup. Grabbing a straw, she went to the side of the bed and offered the water to Maggie who was grateful for the hydration but worried about the limp in Alex's gait. "What's wrong with your leg?"

"Minor sprain. I'll be fine."

"And the stitches?"

"Only five of them. Really, it's fine. I'm fine. All part of the job."

"How did I end up here?"

"Don't worry about that now," Alex said as she put the now empty cup on the tray in front of Maggie.

"Alex, how did I end up here?"

Alex looked concerned "You really don't remember?"

"There was some kind of explosion? Fights broke out everywhere. I remember two guys in suits and a wolf man. I think I fired my gun," Maggie offered as she struggled to recall any of it. "I was on the ground, then nothing."

Alex's focus shifted and she picked the cup back up and moved it back to where it had been. "A'Daire got to you."

The words sunk in and panic came over Maggie. "I didn't..."

Alex turned back, her eyes going right to Maggie's. "No, you didn't hurt anyone. Supergirl stepped in."

Suddenly the fact her body felt like she had been in a car accident instead of a firefight made sense. "I wouldn't stop. She had to stop me, didn't she?"

Alex nodded her head, sadness written all over her face. "Good news is we got Abbot and A'Daire. They are under very high tech lock and key."

"But neither of them have alien DNA and neither are likely to say who paid them."

"But we caught them."

"Your optimism can be really tiresome, Danvers," Maggie snapped and then instantly regretted it.

The agent took a breath. "You love my optimism, Sawyer."

A deep sadness struck Maggie for having fallen victim to A'Daire, for letting the team down, and for taking her frustration out on Alex.

Apparently, the sadness was easy to see. "What just happened?" Alex asked.

Maggie shook her head. She didn't want to give voice to what she was feeling because she didn't want to lose it in front of Alex.

Despite not saying a word, Alex had figured it out. "What happened could have happened to any of us."

Taking a deep breath, Maggie looked away. Her fear and vulnerability found out. "If not for Supergirl, I might have…"

Alex took quick steps back towards the bed. "Hey, but you didn't. And I repeat, it could have happened to any of us."

"That doesn't make it better," Maggie answered honestly as she began to stare at the tiled ceiling. "Do they know what happened?"

"Supergirl said your ear piece was out. She saw A'Daire next to you in the field."

"I don't remember."

"That's normal. None of the agents affected have any memory of her either. Cat Grant had a run in with A'Daire years ago and she told Director Henshaw her experience was the same. I promise you we will figure it out. The team is combing through all the CTV and media footage."

"The ear piece was out."

"Yes."

Maggie's mind was blocking something but no matter how hard she tried to reach it she was coming up empty. "Damn it."

"What?"

"My gut is telling me there is something else."

"For what it is worth, whatever happened, it looked to me you were trying to fight her instructions."

"How so?"

"It just did," Alex said, her eyes looking away.

There was more Alex wasn't saying but Maggie didn't have the strength to push. "It's all a blur. The last thing I remember was being on the ground."

"Focus on getting better that's the most important thing right now."

"The people responsible aren't going to be happy about the arrests."

Alex's head cocked to the side and she shrugged.

"What else aren't you telling me?"

Alex was ignoring the question.

"Alex?"

"In the short time you've been unconscious, the tension within the general public has grown. Even with CatCo and other media outlets reporting the truth, people are drawing their own conclusions."

"While those responsible are seizing the opportunity with spikes in seemingly isolated violent attacks, hate crimes, and rhetoric."

Alex nodded.

It was everything Maggie feared but as much as she wanted to do something she knew it would be a long road before she could get back in the fight. There wasn't a part of her that didn't hurt; yawning was even painful.

"You need your rest."

"Stay. I just need to close my eyes for a second. We need to figure this out."

"The DEO is working on things," Alex said, as she moved to the door. "You sleep."

"Alexandra," Maggie pleaded.

Alex froze with her back still turned.

"Stay?"

Alex slowly turned back. "Doctor Snow said you need your rest."

Tears began to well in Maggie's eyes again only this time not from pain. "Stay."

"Are you sure?"

"I would rather not be alone right now."

A small, shy smile appeared on Alex's face and she returned to the chair at Maggie's bedside. "I'll be right here."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome," Alex said, as she reached out and took Maggie's uninjured hand.

The Detective's heart quickened but her eyes were too heavy to stay open. As they closed, Maggie reflected on the warmth of the touch and the deep bruising on Alex's knuckles.

As she drifted asleep, Maggie heard a few stifled sobs, felt a squeeze of her hand and then heard soft words that warmed her heart. "I'm really, really glad you are okay."