The little girl doesn't like her.

That was the first thing that went through her mind the evening she put Carol to sleep. The girl didn't want to eat with her, watch TV with her or to have a bedtime story read. She took a long shower, and, in the end, Alex found out that the hot water was turned off since they had to repair something during the day.

And this whole time Carol said nothing. She shrugged her shoulders if anything. But that was her response. Alex felt defeated. The kid she wanted so much didn't speak to her and isolated herself.

She prepared a breakfast for her and put a note on the fridge door.

Good morning,
There's yogurt with strawberries and oatmeal in the fridge, or you can try to make something yourself if you like.

Love you

Alex

If only Kelly was home, but she left for a few weeks for a work trip around Europe. Alex should receive a call from her in a few minutes.

"Kelly!" she smiled at the camera while going to sit in the bed,

"Alex," her fiancée replied, "I'm so glad to see you, these two days in Paris were pure hell!"

"Tell me all about it!" it was really nice to hear her voice, even though Kelly was not in the best mood, but it was the most calming sound Alex knew, Kelly went on telling her about the last 48 hours and most of it Alex just laughed.

"OK, but now we can stop the small talk," Kelly said suddenly, Alex felt her heart drop. They are going to talk about Carol, "How is our little girl?" Alex could feel the lump in her throat.

"She-" Tears came into her eyes,

"Alex, what's going on? Is Carol alright?"

"Yes, I mean, nothing bad happened to her, she just…" Alex took a little pause, "Doesn't communicate, she doesn't speak, doesn't spend time with me, eats her food in her room and leaves nothing but traces of her existence," it all came out like a flood, "I don't know how to get her to speak with me, you're so much better at this, I'm-" a bad mother, "I'm-" defeated, "I'm-"

"Al, honey, Carol needs time, she is introvert that was abused by her mother physically, if she ever trusts anyone, it's just because that person went through a code in her brain. She's testing you."

"What?" Alex didn't understand a thing Kelly was saying,

"She is going through your actions, the things you do, the things you say, the way you act, and she is trying to put you into a slot,"

"A slot,"

"There are basically two slots for people she wants to divide, those that would never hurt her and those that will abuse her."

"Of course, I would never hurt her! She's my little angel!" Alex said a bit confused as why would Carol think Alex could possibly do anything bad to her.

"Well, then just let her find out. It's no help if you push things."

"How did you get her to love you so quick? How come she still doesn't talk to me and you have such a strong bond?" Why did you leave me here with her?

"Alex, questions like these are only going to hurt you and benefit no one. And honestly, I'm not sure, I think we bonded over laser game I took her to." Oh yes, the laser game with parents, her class did this. Kelly and Carol won. Alex had a real shoot out in the meantime with this alien, that could literally shoot lasers like Kara, "Alex? Please, just give her some time. You know she's a bit… special." Meaning her childhood from two to six years was one big beating from her mother that also did drugs. And then the next two years were spent in children's Home, where the idea of having parents ever again is laughable. If the kid doesn't grow up to be a villain, it's going to be a miracle.

"Yeah, that I should probably do,"

"Alex?" Carol was standing in the door, Alex turned to her and almost cried out, she addressed her!

"Yes, honey?"

"Is that mommy Kelly?" of course the first addressing would be because of Kelly…

"Yes, it's me!" Kelly said from the monitor, "Come here!"

"Where are you, I miss you, mommy," suddenly Carol climbed onto the bed and Alex moved a bit, but Carol didn't mind being so close to her. They were talking with Kelly and Alex just listened to everything Carol didn't tell her, like her day at school, the thing she prepared for her mini-project, then Carol somehow started this five minutes monologue about how she would love to have a rabbit…

"Carol, love, please, you need to go to sleep now, it's a bit late. Let mommy Alex tuck you in. Good night, angel,"

"Good night, mommy," said Carol,

"Give me five minutes," Alex said to the camera, took Carol and went to put her in bed.

"When is mommy coming home?"

"In four weeks, darling,"

"And will she call again?"

"Of course, I will tell you when, OK?"

"Yes."

"Good night, Carol,"

"Good night."

Alex was so happy she jumped in the air, she came back and Kelly was still waiting for her.

"We should go to sleep as well,"

"Yeah, I will call in three days?"

"That would be perfect."

"Good night, hun, I love you,"

"I love you too, good night," she blew a kiss and turned off the camera.

The subject went to bed at 22.18.