ALEX'S P. O. V

"Oh, God" she whispered when she saw the teenager that was being welled into the med bay, Mon-El and Val following her as she moved as fast as possible. "You two stay out" she told them before walking inside, everyone crowding around Halley. "Okay, on my count, one, two, three" she counted so they would transferred the teen from the stretcher to one of the beds.

She shook her head in complete horror. The family crest that the girl wore on her chest was completely ripped off as if the people that had done that was sending the clear message that none should took Supergirl's place.

Halley's skin was pale, a greenish color growing in her veins, being really strong in the left side of her neck, she had a needle stuck in there.

"Director Danvers, we need to cut the suit" one of the doctors told her, kind of waiting for her affirmation, so after looking one last time to the teen, she nodded, the suit was already destroyed.

She could already tell that the girl's ribs were at least bruised if not broken, the left arm was starting to get swollen as well as her lower lip, fresh blood covering a whole side of her face because of the cut on her head.

"She's not getting enough oxygen" she heard one of the doctors say, to what she looked at the screen to observe Halley's vitals, the teen wasn't breathing properly.

"I want an x-ray now!" she shouted, something wasn't right. "Stay with me, kiddo" she whispered into the girl's ear.

Her worst fears were confirmed the moment the results went back. The teenager had three ribs broken, but that wasn't what worried her the most, it was the air that was visible in the pleural cavity around the left lung, they needed to work fast.

She was handed a scalpel, so she didn't hesitate to find the perfect place in between the girl's ribs, where she would have to make the incision to place a chest tube, hoping that the air would be drained quickly.

"She's stable" someone said as she looked the teen's vitals, her blood pressure was normal and she seemed to be receiving more oxygen.

She didn't go out until she was sure that Halley was fine, covering the girl with a blanket before finally leaving that room, Astra, Val and Mon-El approaching her.

"How is she?" Mon-El asked.

"She's stable for now" she answered, she wouldn't be relaxed until the chest tube was out. "She has broken ribs, her left arm is fracture and right now we're trying to drain as much air as we can from around her left lung" she explained, being able to identify worry in all of their faces. "She's healing fast under the sun lamps, any small injury is gone, but we're still using a little bit of kryptonite so the incision on her side remains opened" she told them, wanting to calm them down. "Did you find anything?" she asked Astra, hoping for a clue that could tell them who had done that.

"There wasn't anything" Astra answered as she sighed.

"We tried so hard for them to believe that she was gone and now... They know, they're going to be ready for her" Mon-El commented and she knew that he was blaming himself.

"This has only made her stronger, she's going to have even more strength to fight them" she told him, seeing him nodded.

"I know" he whispered.

It wasn't until dawning when she was finally able to take the tube out of Halley's body, observing how the wound healed fast, even though the teenager was still unconscious.

Astra had stayed the whole night there by her daughter's side, just waiting for the girl to wake up, but she wasn't sure if it was going to be soon.

"Has it healed?" she heard Astra asked, which scared her, since she thought that the woman was asleep.

"I didn't mean to wake you up" she said, before nodding slightly.

"It's okay" Astra told her as she looked away, they had never talked about what happened.

"She's healing a lot faster now that there's no kryptonite in her system" she explained, focusing herself on the girl, Halley needed to keep resting.

"Why do I always have the feeling that you avoid me?" it was the question that made her closed her eyes, she was still feeling responsible for what happened that night. "It's in the past, Director Danvers" Astra told her as she finally turned to look at her.

"I took you away from her, she was left alone with him" she barely answered in a whisper.

"You did what you had to" the Kryptonian pointed out and, even though she knew that she would do it again, it hadn't been easy to live with. "I was going to ask Kara to take her in, that night I was going to tell her about Halley, but after what Non did... I wasn't sure if she was going to be safe" Astra explained, getting her to frown.

"But still... You kept her safe and when you were gone, he did horrible things to her, she was terrified" she pointed out. "We had to tell her that he was dead, she wouldn't stop asking us not to take her back to him" she added, still remembering how she had felt when the five year old would keep telling them that she didn't want to go back with him.

"Well, you kept her safe along with Kara and I'm thankful for that" Astra told her, to what she shook her head.

"It was the least I could do for her, I needed to keep her safe" she answered. "And I can assure you that I can't imagine my life without her, she's the best part of every single one of us" she commented, not being able to avoid a smile.

"Just thank you" Astra said as Halley groaned in pain.

The teenager was starting to wake up, her eyes were fighting to get opened, having to take her hand into hers when the girl tried to touch the wound over her left side, which was still healing.

"It... hurts" it was barely a murmur, but loud enough to be heard.

"I know it does, but we cannot touch it" she told her, Halley's blue eyes finally meeting hers, she could find anger in them. "You okay?" she asked, concerned about why the teen may be feeling that way.

"Just tired" Halley answered, turning her head to look at her mom, who approached her.

"I'll leave you two alone, call me once she's a little more awake" she said after observing how the girl closed her eyes while clinging to her mom's hand. "Try to rest, Hal" she told her shortly before leaving.

HALLEY'S P. O. V

"So... What happened?" Mon-El asked, to what I bowed my head, to be honest, I didn't even know.

"I thought someone was on trouble, but instead I was walking into the trap" I answered, trying to remember as much as I could. "They shoot me a kryptonite dart" I looked at him, I had black out too many times. "I couldn't move, I fell to the ground without being able to avoid it" I explained while closing my eyes.

"Do you remember anything else?" my mom questioned me, getting me to sigh.

"I went back and forth from unconsciousness" I whispered. "They don't want anyone taking Kara's place, they told me that I wasn't going to be able to save her" I said as fresh tears were being contained in my eyes.

"That means she's alive" Alex pointed out, to what I nodded.

"Director Danvers, everyone is in the conference room" Brainy informed her.

"Who is here?" I asked kind of confused, they were looking at each other before Mon-El nodded.

"We have a lead on where they could be keeping everyone and we hope that Kara can be there too, so we're having a meeting to decide our next move" Alex explained.

"I want to go too" I told them.

"You have to rest, we'll talk later" Mon-El said, but that didn't stop me because I got up from the stretcher.

"I'll let you go if you promise me that you'll rest after it, you still need a few more hours under the sun lamps" Alex told me, to what I nodded.

I could still feel pain in my left side, but as Alex had said, my ribs were still bruised, so it was normal, even if it was hard for me to move.

I kind of forced a smiled when I walked inside that room, everyone staring at me for a few seconds, so after calming down I sat down next to J'onn.

"You okay?" Barry asked, getting me to look at him. "We kind of heard what happened last night, I'm sorry, kiddo" he said, to what I gave him a weak smile, not really liking the fact that I was getting so much attention.

"We're all here to find Kara and we'll get it, okay?" Kate assured me as I nodded.

J'onn didn't say anything, he just embraced me a little, a few tears being contained in my eyes. They were willing to help to save my cousin.

My gaze met Val's, which only made me to look away shortly after realizing how he was staring at me, I could tell that he was worried, but the truth is that I hated when people looked at me with so much pity.

I was barely listening to the whole plan, just hoping for them to be right, for Kara to be there, being a little afraid that we would not get in time to save her.

"Halley, Val, you two will go together" Mon-El said, getting me to look at him.

"But he's not..." I couldn't keep talking since he interrupted me.

"He is" he debated me. "He'll keep you from doing something stupid" he commented, to what I frowned angrily.

"I don't need a babysitter" I answered him, staring directly into Val's eyes, who didn't know how he should be reacting.

"He's not your babysitter" Alex tried to calm me down. "You will have each other's back, you two make a great team together" she pointed out as I sighed.

"We have never fought together" I told her. "In fact, he has never been out there" I added, I couldn't look for my cousin while being responsible of Val's life.

"Halley..." Mon-El sighed.

"No, I don't think is fair" I looked at him. "I spent years training and I wasn't even allowed to fight along with Kara" I complained.

"That had something to do with your safety, you know what Kara thinks about it" Alex said as I folded my arms over my chest.

"And what happen to his safety?" I asked her, raising my voice, almost panicking.

"Okay, calm down, we'll talk later, kiddo" she told me as everyone remained silent.

The idea of Val going with me was terrifying. I felt responsible for anything that could happen to him, if he... I would never forgive myself. However, it didn't seem like I had any other option, it was happening whether I liked it or not.

It wasn't until an hour later when I find myself alone with Alex, who was staring at me as if she was waiting for me to talk, but I wasn't sure of what I had to say.

"You're worried that something is going to happen to him, isn't that right?" she asked, getting me to nod. "But you've trained with him, you know he's ready" Alex said.

"I've only trained with him one day, I don't think that's enough" I commented, my cousin's sister shaking her head. "Alex... I know he wants to help, but... If something..." my voice cracked as I looked away. "I can't imagine my life without him, he's my best friend" I barely whispered shortly before she embraced me.

"I know, sweetie, I know" she whispered, keeping me close to her. "But with you by his side nothing is going to happen, okay?" she took my face in between her hands.

I smiled a little. Maybe she was right, maybe nothing was going to happen, instead we would be stronger together.

As I walked out of the conference room, two pair of arms wrapped around my torso, for a moment losing my balance as I stared at the two young girls that were hugging me.

"Hi, girls" I smiled while hugging them back.

"Mia is staying for the weekend" Willow explained with so much excitement. "I've missed you" she said while hugging herself at me with a little bit more of strength, which made flinch.

"Willow, you have to be careful" Kelly told her daughter, approaching us.

"Sorry" the girl whispered.

"It's okay, Lo" I ruffled her hair.

"Can we train with you today?" Mia asked as Willow pleaded for me to say yes, both of them staring directly into my eyes, there was no way I could say no.

"Um..., sure" I answered, seeing how they smiled.

"Are you sure?" Kelly asked me, to what I nodded.

"Come on, let's go to the training room" I told them.

I knew that I wasn't healed, that I should go back to the med bay, but it was just practicing a little bit of archery with them and after a whole month of not doing it... The sun lamps could wait.

I couldn't avoid smiling while watching them, Mia wasn't even looking when she shot the arrow, hitting the center of the bullseye perfectly, no doubt she was Oliver's daughter.

"How did you learn?" Willow asked after I helped her shot an arrow.

"I just took a bow and shot" I answered, I didn't have a learning process.

"I thought my dad taught you" Mia said, to what I shook my head a little.

"He encouraged me to develop my skill" I answered her, smiling while remembering the Mia I had met during the Crisis. "Your dad gave me the bow I use now, well, it's a replica, the real one is at my room" I commented, observing how she looked away a little upset. "Hey, come here" I embraced her. "I can tell you that he loved you so much and that he would be proud of you" I told her, seeing her smile a little. "Someday you'll be out there, being a hero like he was" I pulled her away a little, but Mia hugged herself at me, so I hugged her again. "Did you know the first time I met him I was afraid of him?" I asked her, smiling while remembering how I had hid behind my cousin's legs.

"Why?" Mia asked, pulling away from me, both of us sitting in the bench.

"Well, I was six and I didn't trust new people, he was intimidating" I answered. "But he was nice, he helped me to get back to my cousin, so he became a friend" I explained, because from that moment he was someone I could trust, like Barry.

"Mom told that you had a crush on Oliver, that you talked about him for weeks" Willow commented, to what I frowned.

"I didn't have a crush on him" I denied her words, I didn't quite remember that part, but I was just a child back then. "He was just... So cool" I said as both of them laughed. "Okay, let's go back to the archery" I told them, but neither of them moved.

I sighed, knowing that they wanted to keep hearing stories, so, being a little hesitant about it, I continued talking, happy of being back there with them, because I had truly missed them.

The pain on my side was unbearable, my left hand trembling as I held the bow, frowning in anger when I shot as the arrow didn't hit the center of the target.

However, that didn't stop me, my own frustration just made keep trying, fighting my own pain as I really tried to hit the center, but groaning while letting the bow fall to the floor.

"Halley? Hey, you okay?" I heard Val asking, turning to look at him while getting ready the best of my smiles.

"Yeah, I'm fine" I answered, seeing him nodded slightly.

"You sure?" he questioned me, he seemed worried, and even though my side hurt so badly, I nodded again. "You look tired, you should get some rest" he commented.

"I will, I'm almost finished with the training" I said while crouching to grab my bow.

However, I ended up losing my balance because of the pain, not being able to avoid screaming as tears started to fall down my cheeks. I couldn't move, it was as if I was paralized again, but this time because of that burning sensation that was going from my inside to the outside.

"What's happening?" Val's voice felt desperate as he tried to hold me, but everytime his hands touched my skin, it burned.

"Don't... Touch me" I asked him, crying because of the pain.

"Okay" he whispered. "But I need to take you to the med bay" he pointed out, to what I tried to get up by myself, only getting to fall to the ground again, being caught by him.

I tried for him to stop touching me, but he didn't, picking me up from the floor as I kept whimpering because of the pain.

"I'm sorry" he murmured, running as fast as possible to the med bay. "Alex" he called her while walking inside, carefully leaving me on one of the stretchers.

"What happened?" Alex asked, approaching us.

"I don't know, her left hand was trembling and the next thing I know is that she fall to the floor screaming in pain" Val explained as I closed my eyes, Alex grabbing my left arm.

"It burns" I complained, trying to get rid of her grip while feeling that I was about to pass out.

"Stay awake, kiddo" she asked, but with every second that passed it was getting harder. "Hey, Hal, open your eyes, sweetie" she barely touched my face.

I cried, only wanting for that pain to stop, slowly being carry away by unconsciousness.

I woke up to someone caressing my right hand, squeezing it from time to time, so I squeezed it back while slowly opening my eyes.

"Halley?" Val asked, turning my head to find him sitting by the side of the bed. "Thanks Rao you're okay" he whispered as I kept staring at him, feeling really light-headed.

"What happened?" I asked him as Alex walked inside of the med bay.

"You were supposed to rest for today, but since you didn't listen we were able to stop the serum that was slowly killing you" she explained, getting me to frown. "They must have injected it to you along with the kryptonite, it might be the reason why you weren't able to move when they attack you" Alex told me shortly before checked my vitals. "You're stuck here for tonight, I need to keep an eye on you just in case, okay?" she said, to what I nodded. "Rest, sweetie" she kissed my hair before leaving.

"I was really dying?" I was a little bit confused, Val trying not to laugh, but giggling anyway, which made me smile as well.

"You were, Hal" he answered, slowly brushing my hair away from my face. "You scared me" he admitted in barely a whispered.

"You need a lot more than a serum to get rid of me" I told him while giggling, observing how he shook his head while laughing. "We're going to make a great team, but you have to listen to me" I looked directly into his eyes.

"Does that mean that I'm going with you?" he asked, getting me to nod. "I will listen to you" he added.

I just smiled at him, missing those little moments with him, asking myself when had been the last we had laughed together being ourselves, but not really wanting to that moment to end.

"You better do, I don't want to have to explain to your family what happened to you" I told him being serious about it.

"I will, I promise" he assured me. "I should be going back to Argo, I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" he said, to what I frowned, reaching for his hand to stop him.

"No, stay, I don't want to be alone" I whispered, getting him to stare back at me.

"You're not alone, Mon-El and Alex are here, even your mom" he pointed out, but I shook my head.

"Right now I need my best friend, so stay, please" I looked directly into his eyes, pouting.

"Okay, fine, but stop looking at me like that" he finally gave up, which made me smile. "You should try to sleep, you really need to rest" he commented.

"Not tired" I mumbled.

"What do you want to do then?" Val asked as I shrugged.

"I can ask for a movie" I told him. "Do you remember our first sleepover?" I questioned him, seeing how he smiled while nodding. "It was my ninth birthday and I made you watch a marathon of Disney movies" I said between giggles.

"Yeah, you did, I was a little concerned about animals being able to talk" he said not being able to avoid laughing.

"It was so hard to convince your mom to let you stay and when she finally said yes... Kara was so close to cancel it" I told him.

"Well, you punched Jon" Val pointed out.

"He deserved it" I rolled my eyes, remembering being so tired of whatever he was saying, it was the only way to get him to stop.

For a few seconds we just stared at each other, both of us smiling, my hand still gripping his as if I was afraid that at some point he was going to disappear, which at that moment scared me since I didn't want to lose him.

Both of us turned our heads kind of startled when we heard a knock on the door, Mon-El standing there while observing us, holding something in her arms.

"I'm glad you're fine, kiddo" he smiled, getting closer to us. "But next time don't scare me this way, okay?" he asked while ruffling my hair, which made me smile. "We have everything we need to rescue Kara" Mon-El told us.

"When are we leaving?" I asked him while trying to get up from the stretcher, but he gently pushed me to lay down. "Mon-El, I want to go" I looked at him, having the feeling that he wasn't going to let me.

"I know, you will" he answered. "We're getting the team ready, Kal and Jon are already here, but we're waiting for Barry and Kate, once everything is ready I'll come looking for both of you, okay?" he explained. "For now rest and get ready to suit up, Flamebird" Mon-El smiled while giving me my suit, getting me to hugged myself at him. "I believe in you" he whispered in my ear.

"I love you" I whispered as he increased the strength of the hug.

"I love you, too, kiddo" Mon-El kissed my forehead shortly before leaving the room.

I closed my eyes. We were hours away from having Kara back with us and I already could assure that the first thing that I was going to do would be hugging her, knowing that I only would be able to calm down once she was there with me.

Hi!

It was a little bit of a challenge to write this chapter because there were scenes that I loved, others that not that much, so I wrote and rewrote it, but I think it turn out better than I thought.

Thanks so much for reading, let me know what you think,

Ayrin