For those who have already read this chapter, I only changed the scene with and Kara. The previous two incarnations drove me nuts.
For those who haven't read this, enjoy!

I watch Dr. McCoy play Doodle Jump on her Kindle for a few moments before clearing my throat. She swivels her chair around to face me. "Kara, what are you doing here?" I close her office door behind me and stand awkwardly in the middle of the room.

"I figured you be here. We need to talk."

She raises an eyebrow and puts her Kindle to sleep. "Does this have anything to do with last week?" I nod and sit down on the arm of an armchair. "Hm…Well, in that case," she pulls her notebook out and slips on her glasses, "tell me what's on your mind."

"A lot."

She smiles. "How about you start with how your week has been."

A week ago…

I stare blankly at my three guests. Jason is in the corner of my new apartment with his arms crossed, Cassie is standing in front of the balcony with her hands in her pockets, and Ailish McCoy is sitting comfortably on my couch with a smile. "Why do I feel like I stepped into an intervention?"

Ailish's smile wavers. She stands up and approaches me. "I know we've never spoken outside of you being Kara, but Cassandra found my number and called me."

"How did you get from Delaware to here in a couple hours?"

"She called me yesterday."

I look at Cassie who avoids me by staring at her shoes. "Oh." Ailish touches my right elbow and gently guides me to the couch she was sitting on. As soon as I sit, she sits on my coffee table across from me. "We need to talk."

I stand up abruptly and nearly cause Ailish to fall backwards off the table. "Okay, what's going on here?"

"Who's Kara In-Ze?"

I look at Jason. "How do you know about Kara?"

He pushes off the wall with his shoulder. "After the park, I started digging into your activities. After a little B-n-E and some computer savvy I found out about her. She's your cousin?"

I nod. "On my mother's side. But what does she have to do with anything?"

"She's your replacement, isn't she?" This question comes from Cassie.

"Why would she be my replacement?"

"Do you really need to ask that?"

I look down at Ailish who is still looking at me from the coffee table. "You told them?"

"I didn't have to," she replies as she adjusts her glasses. "Your friends are quite bright. You're blessed to have them."

I scowl and Cassie and Jason. "That's debatable."

"Kara," chided Ailish. "These two care about you. They just want to know what's going on. I haven't told them anything beyond what they already know."

I step away from them and start pacing in the middle of the room. "Okay…okay." I stop and focus on Cassie and Jason. "How much do you two know?"

"Not enough," answers Jason.

I catch Ailish's eye and silently ask her if this is the time to tell them. The small smile and slight nod gives me all the answer I need. "Okay. Where do you want to start?"

Now…

When I finish going over what happened that night she asks me how the rest of my week went. "Surprisingly calm. After Jason left for Bludhaven to work with Doctor Havens and Cassie left for Washington the following day, I called Lucy. She showed up the next day and we've been spending all week together," I say with a smile. "It's been nice."

"I saw on the news Supergirl stopped an armed robbery in Metropolis."

"Yeah, Lois wanted to do some dress shopping for the wedding. Could only spare a few hours though." Now that Ailish knows who I am outside of Supergirl, it's easier to speak with her about my life without being vague. "I've mostly been busy with Intergang. We got a lot of traction. We're planning a raid soon, I think."

"So you've been busy."

"Yeah, but a good busy."

Ailish smiles. "Good. Good. What else is going on?"

"Colonel Kane is hosting a gala tonight. Jimmy flew in from Metropolis yesterday. The three of us hung out all day yesterday."

"Sounds fun. What about after the gala?"

"More Intergang work I guess. I only have three weeks left in Gotham."

"What about Kate?" Her question catches me off-guard.

"What about her?" Ailish gives me an incredulous look before repeating her question. "I haven't spoken with her all week."

"Why not?"

I shrug. "Been busy I guess."

"Is that really it?"

"No." I sigh and run my hand through my hair. "Kate has a crush on me."

"I know."

"And I'm leaving soon."

"I know." Ailish adjusts her glasses. "We've discussed this over email not long ago. But let me ask you this, why have you put off speaking with Kate? With Veronica you were pretty upfront."

"That was different. Veronica was upfront about her feelings. Kate hasn't been. I guess like I've been putting off telling her I'm leaving, I've been putting off speaking with her about this. Maybe it's time that stops. It's just…"

"It's just what?"

"I think Kate's crush has grown. I think she's in-love with me."

Ailish takes her glasses off and leans forward. "Does that change things?"

"It does."

"How?"

"Crushes come and go, they sting a little when you get hurt but they fade. Being in-love means you are so invested in this person. It means that they've found a place in your heart. If I tell Kate I don't love, she'll be in pieces."

"It's better to tell the truth than to live a lie, Kara. But let me ask you another question, are you sure you don't love her?" I open my mouth but then close it when I'm not sure how to answer her. "Let me rephrase the questions, are you sure that you're not in-love with her?"

"Yes, but now that you mention it," I smile and stand up, "I do love her. Like I love Cassie, and Barbara, and Lucy. They're my friends, they're my family."

"Good, good. So you know how she fits in your heart. Now what?"

My smile falls and I sit back down. "I guess I have to tell her the truth. If I don't, I'll just be dragging her along. But what if she doesn't want to see me anymore after that?"

"Then that's her problem, not yours. If she can't love you like she should, as a friend, then she has some underlying issues to deal with herself. And if she's interesting in dealing with them, I have a friend in Gotham who would like to speak with her."

"Is he a Christian therapist too?"

Ailish smiles and shifts in her seat. "Yes, she is a therapist, and yes she is a Christian. And she's been in Kate's shoes, just like I have."

"Really?"

Ailish stands up and places her notebook on her desk. "We all have issues Kara. People are broken in ways that only God can heal them. I'm just here to help them see that."

"So you've said."

"So you've let me."

I stand up and slip on the ball cap I wore into her building. "You know, it won't be easy telling her the truth."

Ailish crosses her arms and leans against her desk. "It never usually is."

X

Jimmy adjusts his bowtie for the umpteenth time in the bathroom mirror. Lucy and I look at each other before rolling our eyes. "Jimmy, it's perfect. Stop messing with it," I say.

"Yeah James, why mess with perfection?" He stops and gives Lucy a sly look.

"I do look good, don't I?"

Lucy laughs and grabs Jimmy by the wrist. "Then come on! We're going to be late." She lets go of him when they reach the front door.

Once I'm sure we have everything we need, I lock the apartment. "Does everyone have their ticket?" I ask.

"Yes mother." I smack Lucy in the arm before the three of us enter the elevator. "It's so cool the gala is on the top floor of your building."

"Makes travelling easy, doesn't it?" says Jimmy. I smile at him then press the button for the floor we need.

The three of us arrive an hour before the auction/gala begins. This gives us time to speak to any important people before they get lost in the crowd. The ballroom is not crowded like I expect it will be soon.

I'm speaking with the auctioneer running the silent auction when I see Oliver and Dinah enter the room. After I get all I need from him, I say hello to them.

Oliver gives me a kiss on the cheek and Dinah does the same. "How have you two been?" I say while wiping my cheek to see if any makeup got on it.

"Busy," answers Dinah. "Between that financial issue and the birds, we've barely had time to celebrate our engagement."

"Or each other," adds Oliver. Clark tried to accuse Oliver of stealing Lois's and his engagement thunder; all in jest of course. No one knows about it except a select few.

The financial situation Dinah mentioned is with Colonel Kane. His yearly gala is supposed to raise money for veterans' homes and women shelters in Gotham. For some reason, he's been neglecting the shelters and giving all the money to the homes. It doesn't make any sense.

"Sorry to hear that. What do you know of the finances?"

Dinah leads Oliver and me to an empty balcony. "It has to do with Intergang."

"Is he involved?"

"Yes and no. Intergang owns every shelter in Gotham and has for a while. They purchased the last shelter a year ago. Kane stopped giving to them because he found out. He didn't want his money to go to them."

"Then why not stop giving to the shelters publically?" I realize the answer before Oliver even opens his mouth.

"How do you think that would look PR-wise?"

"Badly. What does Bruce have to say about this?" I ask Dinah.

"A lot. His plan though involves more behind-the-scenes work." Aka. Batman.

"Got it." I look at Oliver. "When he arrives, you two need to talk about what your next steps are."

"You're not going to be with us?"

"I have work to do," I push my glasses up my nose, "you two are big boys, you can figure it out on your own."

Dinah smiles and slides her around Oliver's arm. "Then we'll see you later." She pulls him into the ballroom just as several people step out to enjoy the night's air.

"You ready for tonight?" I jump at Bruce's voice. He laughs when I turn and hit him in the chest.

"How are you always able to sneak up on me?"

He smiles. "Practice."

"Of course." He hands me a glass of champagne. "How have you been?" I say before taking a sip.

"Good. Busy. You?"

I raise an eyebrow. "Don't you know?" Bruce looks past me at the people probably staring at us.

"I'll answer that question in a more private setting."

"I have one in mind. A setting that is." He locks eyes with me before giving me a smirk.

I resist the urge to turn around as he walks away. After taking a breath and regaining my composure, I turn to go in the crowded ballroom. Some of the people on the balcony are staring at me. "He wanted to confirm an interview with the Planet," I say to answer a question running through their brains. I try not to laugh when they whisper among themselves after I leave.

Oliver, Dinah, and Bruce are talking near the temporary stage erected on the other side of the ballroom. It seems serious. Jimmy is taking pictures of some pretty twins while Lucy is flirting with the string-quartet's cello player. What is it with her and musicians?

"Tonight things change." Standing behind me is a woman in a white and silver dress. It's pretty but not eye-catching; the same can be said about the woman.

"Athena?"

The woman smirks. "Aphrodite said you were good at seeing through our disguises. I wonder why?"

"Beats me. What are you doing here?"

Her smile disappears. "Warning you." Her eyes motion past me. Kate comes in with her cousin Bette in tow. "Keep your guard up tonight."

"Because of Katherine?"

"Yes and no. A lot will be asked of you tonight."

I frown. "Athena what's going on?" She notices the necklace Hephaestus made me. She runs her thumb over the mini sword and shield before looking me in the eyes.

"Be strong daughter. You will need it." I get distracted by Colonel Kane introducing Kate. When I go to speak with Athena again, I see she's gone.

"…and thanks go out to Wayne Enterprises and Queen Industries for their large donations to the auction tonight and also to the shelters themselves." I decide not to dwell on Athena's appearance/disappearance and focus on Kate's speech instead. Oliver and Dinah step on the stage followed by Bruce Wayne. Kate steps back from the microphone to let Oliver thank those who have arrived for the auction.

"…and of course Bruce I'm glad you're here. But it looks like this year I beat you in the amount of money I donated." The people laugh. Bruce shrugs his shoulders and smiles as if it's no big deal.

"Thank you Mister Queen," he says after Oliver hands him the microphone. "And thank you all for being here. This is our chance to help those in lower society the best way we can." He doesn't add onto that and hands Kate the microphone.

She wraps up by thanking the news teams for being here. "Thank you for joining us as well, Cat Grant of PGN news and her cameraman Dave Winters." Cat waves her perfectly manicured hand at the audience along with her camera man. "Vicki Vale of Gotham news and her cameraman Charlie Gray." Vicki ends her conversation with a senator I know and waves to the audience too. "And thanks also go out to the Daily Planet, who by the way, failed to tell us who they were sending." I inwardly groan. Jimmy was supposed to tell the colonel our names.

The audience laughs as they look around for us. I spot Jimmy waving his hand. "The name is James Olson, but you can call me Jimmy." The audience laughs again. "I would tell you where my partner is but she's seemed to have disappeared." I guess it's my turn to say hello.

"Relax Jimmy, I'm right here." My hands are full so I have to wave the hand that's holding my digital recorder. I end up locking eyes with Kate. She looks shell-shocked.

"Well," she jumps as soon as her father takes the microphone from her. "Now that the mystery has been solved, let's enjoy the night." The people clap and the string quartet plays their music. Bruce, Oliver, and Dinah walk off the stage with the colonel right behind them. Bette Kane passes them as she gets on stage and grabs Kate's arm. This causes her to break contact with me.

"Miss Danvers, are you ready for that interview?" I smile at the cheery face of Senator Mills. I emailed him earlier in the week about speaking with him tonight. I like some of his plans for the Gotham area.

"Of course. I owe you one. Why don't we speak on the balcony where it's quieter?"

He offers me his arm and I take it. "Sounds like a plan."

Again, if any of you are interested in read Gettin' By. The story that tells Kate's POV, I'm open to emailing it to you.