Hello fanfiction family!

Sorry I am later than desired; I had to leave the country for a funeral. I also don't have the right convertor for my laptop charger so my laptop is actually about to die so hopefully this chapter makes it up...

Thank you for the lovely support and reviews. I definitely agree with you all; I also love fanfiction for the depth and new possibilities.

I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own Supergirl, I just dabble.


"Hello?"

Kara took a deep breath, cradling the untraceable phone Alex had given her to her ear.

"Hi Winn." She bit her lip. "It's Kara."

"Oh my god, Kara!" Winn's familiar voice flooded over the phone. "Are you okay? Where have you been? What happened?" His words were frantic.

"I'm okay," Kara assured him. "I'm sorry I disappeared."

"I thought…" Winn's voice cracked. "I thought maybe something had happened to you, that maybe your old foster family had found you or…"

Even over the phone, Kara could tell that Winn was struggling not to cry. Touched, she hurried to try to comfort her friend.

"I'm alright, really. Alex last minute had to take me out of town and we didn't have signal."

"We've been so worried. Barbara has been going crazy."

Kara could imagine her friend pacing back and forth, blue eyes distressed.

"Can you tell them I'm okay?" she asked.

"I'll do it first thing after we're done talking," Winn promised. He paused. "Are you really okay?"

Was she?

"Yeah. I am."

Surprisingly, Kara really meant it "How are you doing? How is school?" She quickly changed the topic.

"I'm alright, things have calmed down a lot. My dad's trial is coming up…" Winn trailed off. "The lunch table isn't the same without you."

"I miss you guys," Kara ran her finger over the wooden windowsill of the cottage.

"When are you coming back?" Winn asked eagerly.

Kara sighed softly. "I don't know yet."

I don't know if we are even coming back.

The question had been the center of quite a bit of debate, along with what to do with Astra, who was still in DEO custody.

As J'onn had said, it was all a grand mess.

"Well, I hope it's soon." Winn's voice was hopeful.

"Tell me what else I've missed at school," Kara perched on the windowsill.

"Well, lots of pointless homework, two fire drills… Oh! Lena got transferred to some fancy boarding school in Europe," Winn added.

"She did?" Kara rubbed her forehead, feeling a wave of mixed emotions.

When she had first met Lena, the name Luthor hadn't meant anything to her.

Now she knew exactly who Lena's mother was. She had nightmares about that woman almost every night.

Kara didn't know whether to be scared of Lena or feel sorry for her. Ultimately, it was the latter emotion that won out. It wasn't Lena's fault her mom did those things and Kara dreaded to think about what it would be like to have Lillian Luthor as a mother.

"Yeah, but she left me a letter for you, when you get back," Winn said. "With strict instructions to only let you read it."

"Really?" Kara's brow furrowed.

"Yeah. She hung out with us even when you were gone; you were right to bring her into our friend group. We never should have shunned her to begin with." Winn's voice was heavy with regret.

The line was silent for a moment.

"Where are you now?" Winn asked finally.

"With Alex." Kara didn't feel like reciting the rehearsed lie regarding her location.

"I'm really glad you're okay."

"Me too."

"Kara, dinner!" Eliza called from the other room.

"I have to," Kara said reluctantly. "I'll try to call later. Tell everyone I say hi, okay?"

"I will." Winn paused. "Kara, are you coming back?"

He had obviously read through everything she had said. Kara wasn't surprised; Winn was possibly the smartest person she knew.

"I don't know." Kara swallowed hard. "I hope so."

"I do too."


(line)

Alex walked down the hall of the DEO for the first time since she and Kara had been taken. The agents hurrying through the halls parted to make way for her; many briefly expressing their happiness that she was back on her feet.

Alex nodded at them, her mind only on her mission.

She was recovering well and J'onn had wanted her there for a simple alien transport, just as back up.

The request had struck Alex as extremely uncharacteristic of the paternalistic director. Although unsure about leaving Kara, Alex had given in to J'onn's persistence, wanting to prove that she was on her way back into the field. The transport wouldn't take long and it was a good starting point for easing Kara into the inevitable separation that would take place when Alex was fully able to work.

One thing Alex had not predicted though was how much she herself felt the distance from Kara. Consistently her mind would wander back to the Kryptonian; she found herself worrying about everything from whether Kara ate breakfast to being afraid the girl would be kidnapped again.

"Agent Danvers." J'onn greeted her as she stepped into the transportation facility. For a second she was confused to find him in his human form; the last couple times she had seen him at the cottage, he had green skin and red eyes.

"Director Henshaw," she nodded.

"Let's get going. You drive, I'll be security in the back," J'onn advised her, motioning to the armored van that sat ready to go. "Military has requested the subject be transferred to their jurisdiction."

Alex slowly approached the van before turning abruptly.

"You have a kryptonite gun." Her gaze fell on the weapon the man was armed with. She had almost missed the faint green glow.

J'onn just nodded.

Alex's eyes widened with realization.

"Astra." She stepped forward. "You're giving her to Lane?" Alex's breath caught in her chest; she had her issues with Kara's aunt but if she was Kara's family then that made her Alex's family also.

Besides, nobody deserved what she knew General Lane would do to the woman.

"Alex, just get into the van." J'onn's voice filled her head.

"They will torture her until she's half dead and then dissect what's left. You know that!" Alex pushed the thought right back at him.

"Trust me."

They stared at each other silently for a moment.

Then Alex nodded briskly and climbed into the van, adjusting the seat to her height, turning the key in the ignition. Chest heavy with uncertainty, she guided the vehicle toward the route.

"This is the postman, bringing a package your way," she transmitted over the radio, following normal protocol.

"We are ready to receive said package; is any assistance needed in getting it up here?" a tinny voice answered back.

"The roads look fine and I have someone to help carry it," Alex responded.

"Copy that. We will await your arrival."

The radio went silent and Alex eased them onto the restricted back road they used to get to the base.

For a while, she went into autopilot, letting the scenery wash over her.

"How are we looking, Alex?" J'onn's voice pushed its way between her thoughts.

"Road is clear, weather is nice... It's a perfect day to drive my kid's aunt to a fate worse than death..." Alex grimaced.

"Alex, listen to me carefully; do everything exactly as you are supposed to."

"What do you mean?"

Suddenly there was a loud bang in the back.

"Henshaw?!" Alex flipped on the video feed to the back of the van. Only static filled the screen. "Shit." Alex brought the van to a screeching stop. Do exactly what you are supposed to.

Mind racing, she reached for the radio.

"We are having difficulty with the package; contents might have shifted in transit. I'm going to take a look."

She jumped out of the car, leaving behind the frantic responses coming over the radio.

Before she could even make it around the back, Astra burst out, her eyes glowing.

For a moment the Krytonian just hovered in the air, dark curls falling limply around her face, her grey DEO jumpsuit sporting a blood splatter.

Alex raised her gun but did not fire.

The two women stared at each other, Astra's piercing pale eyes meeting Alex's gaze. Behind her, J'onn staggered out, blood running from a gash on his head.

"It's okay, Danvers, I instructed her to do it," J'onn told her quickly. The Martian glanced at Astra, nodding firmly.

Astra turned away from Alex and used her laser vision to destroy the wheels of the van and incinerate all the communication devices. Seemingly satisfied with the smoldering vehicle, she landed on the ground, her dark shadowed eyes once again finding Alex.

"Kara?"

"She's recovering," Alex holstered her gun, understanding rushing through her.

They were freeing Astra.

"Thank Rao." Astra closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, her gaze was filled with pain. "They found her because of me. They learned from one of my soldiers they captured that I was looking for them so they leaked information on their location. When I came, they used my actions to hail the DEO under the pretense of being innocent victims then followed the agents back to the center. They knew that Lane would make you bring Kara in if there was a Kryptonian attack." Astra shook her head. "I never…" A tear slipped down the general's face, agony clear in her expression.

Alex stood silently in the knowledge, the world rocking slightly beneath her feet.

If she hadn't told Astra about Cadmus…

"What's done is done," J'onn spoke up, voice firm. "On all sides. There was no way to know that any of what was done and said would lead to what happened. All we can do now is move forward in keeping Kara safe and loved." He turned to Astra, face serious. "You need to stop what you've started; surely now you can see how violence only leads to violence."

Astra set her jaw. "I can try," she said quietly. "But I am afraid what I have created now takes a life of its own and will not be easily stopped. However, even if it leads to my death, then so be it; I will do all I can." Her eyes shone with a fierce conviction.

"We will smooth things out with the general," J'onn promised. "But if we receive word that people are being killed under your command…" he let the unsaid statement hang in the air.

"Understood." Astra nodded briskly. "I hear the helicopters coming; I must leave."

Alex couldn't see a thing in the sky but she knew Astra's hearing range outstripped her vision.

Astra paused, turning to Alex. "Alexandra Danvers, you are a remarkable human. I thank you for your care of my niece in my inability to do so."

Alex dipped her head. "I'm going to adopt her."

Astra froze for a second before giving a small sad smile. "I give my blessings." She turned to leave before apparently changing her mind and facing Alex again. "You are the person who changed my mind on humanity; it is because of you I will try to halt our project. If there is a human like you, there must be others and I cannot justify their deaths."

Alex was speechless. "I…" she trailed off, not finding any words.

"I am ready." Astra lifted off the ground, hovering a couple feet in the air. "Shoot me, Alexandra Danvers."

"What?" Alex's brow furrowed with confusion.

"Do it, I am ready."

J'onn nodded at Alex. "We need it to look realistic."

Pulling out her gun, Alex aimed.

The Kryptonian tensed.

A gunshot went off.

Astra wavered in the air, her face gritted in pain as blood began to stream down from the hole in her shoulder.

"Will you be able to fly?" J'onn watched the blood drip to the ground.

"I do not have to go far; Non is near," Astra opened her eyes.

"May the sun ever be strong," Alex said the Kryptonian farewell Kara had taught her.

Astra paused and looked at Alex.

"Thank you."
Then the general unsteadily made her way across the sky, leaving a trail of blood in her wake.


(line)

I hope you enjoyed it and that everyone was decently in character!

We are nearing the end but there's a bit still to go :)

Question of the day: Jelly beans or M&Ms?

~silverlining