"Martin? Are you okay?" Steve asked as Kara let him into her apartment.

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" He asked looking at his nephew.

"Yes."

"What happened? The school's message said there was a fight." He said looking from his nephew to Kara.

"We are still trying to figure that out." Kara said.

"MJ, what were you thinking?" Alex asked as she stormed into the apartment. But when she saw Steve she stopped. "Hi."

"Hi." Steve smiled. "I'm Steve."

"Alex. Wait was Martin involved?" Alex asked confused.

"All three of them were apparently." Kara said.

"Thank you for looking after Martin, but I get a feeling we probably don't want to be here for the interrogation." Steve said to Kara, while glancing at Alex.

"Of course."

"If I discover anything I'll let you know." He added ushering Martin out of the apartment. Once the door had shut Alex looked at her son and said.

"Speak."

"It wasn't my fault. Not exactly. Chris was being a jerk."

"Chris? As in Kara's Chris?" Alex asked confused.

"I wouldn't call him that, especially in front of Kara. He doesn't deserve to be linked to her." MJ said. "But yes. I told him to stop and he punched me. I went down and Alex came to help me. Only he punched her, which did not work out so well for his hand. But then his football team mates saw him clutching his hand and thought I was responsible so started to attack us. Only then my team mates saw and joined in. And then Martin appeared from no where and pulled Alex and I out of it."

"Are you hurt?" Alex asked.

"Just some bruises." He said.

"There are no breaks." Kara confirmed.

"Can you look after MJ tonight?" Alex asked her sister.

"Um, sure." Kara agreed surprised at the request.

"So I'm not grounded?" MJ asked confused.

"I'll deal with you tomorrow." Alex said leaving.

"That did not go as I expected." MJ said.

"Unless she wants you to eat mom's cooking as punishment." He cousin said.

"You don't get to be involved in fights and make comments like that." Kara said looking at her daughter.

-00-

"Hi." Alex said entering her daughter's bedroom, where she was still lying on the bed.

"Hi." Kara said looking round.

"It will just be us tonight." Alex said.

"I know. MJ just messaged me." The teen said. "He was a little confused about why you left him over there."

"I wanted to talk to you." Alex said. "Without MJ around."

"Okay." Kara said sitting up.

"What really happened last night?" Alex asked. "And don't tell me you told me. MJ is starting fights to defend you."

"I never asked him to." The teenager said.

"I didn't say you did. But you know MJ will always stick up for you. What worries me is why he thinks he needs to stick up for you. Especially as he is refusing to tell me." Alex said. "So what really happened last night?"

"It's not about last night, not exactly anyway." Kara said.

"What's going on?" Alex asked sitting on the bed next to her.

"It doesn't matter."

"You don't get to come home in the state you were last night and say it doesn't matter." Alex said. "Something is happening at school isn't it?"

"After I started High School, rumours about the accident spread and there was lots of talk about about me. Never to my face, but I still knew. I ignored it. Then MJ started and when he was harassed I lost it and broke that guy's nose."

"I remember." Alex said, unsure if the story was relevant, but she let har daughter go on.

"After that no one dared say anything bad anywhere near where I was. And MJ and I were kind of left in peace. But the last few months or so things have started to build again and it wasn't just about me this time. It spread to my friends as well. Some of them decided it wasn't worth the trouble to be my friend but others put up with it or just ignored it. Only then the whole game thing happened and Kai, and I was basically grounded for life and we kind of drifted apart. And I don't know if it was because of that or not but the stories about me got worse."

"What kind of stories?" Alex asked.

"Does it matter?"

"If it is bothering you, it matters." Alex argued. But when her daughter remained silent she sighed and added. "I can't force you to tell me. But why didn't you say anything?"

"It wouldn't have done any good. Besides you've had enough on."

"No matter what is going on, you and your brother are more important." Alex said hugging her. "I assume MJ knew?"

"He started hearing things. And Alex figured it out, but I told her to leave it as doing anything would make it worse. I just wanted to be normal, but I didn't feel that way. There was a guy I really liked and I thought maybe if we dated I'd feel normal."

"Chris?"

"Yes."

"But they assume because you're gay, I'll be gay. Jen tried telling me, but I thought she was jealous so I ignored her. But at the party I heard Chris talking to his friends about how he was going fix me."

"Fix you?" Alex asked, starting to loose the battle to stay calm.

"Turn me straight." Kara clarified thinking her mother had missed the meaning.

"I got that. What were they doing to do?"

"Don't know. I left as soon as I heard him say it."

"Then what happened?"

"I got lost and aunt Kara got me … but when I got home, when you thought I was in the shower, I may have sent an anonymous tip off to the police about underage drinking at the party."

"He deserved much more than that." Alex said squeezing her tightly. "I know how cruel teenagers can be and how tough high school is. But you don't have to face any of it alone. No matter what happens the important thing is you stay true to yourself. And remember I will always love you."

-00-

"Director, it's 5am and you are destroying my punchbag." Wildcat said as he entered the gym.

"It was that or teenagers so a punchbag seemed safer." Alex said.

"What have the Three Amigos done?" He asked.

"They haven't. It was what was done to them that has made me mad."

"What happened?" He asked frowning. "Is this a Kai thing or a High School thing?"

"High School." Alex said. "Which unfortunately means I can't beat the crap out of those responsible."

"But they can." Ted pointed out. "Let me know if you want me to give more training to the kids, even if it is just self defence."

"Thanks." Alex said before glancing at her watch. "I need to get home or I will miss breakfast."

"Alex." He called. "Next time you want to beat the crap out of something, give me a call and we can spar. I might even be able to improve that dodgy left hook of yours."

"Thanks." Alex said leaving. As she walked through the corridors she ran into one of the DEO doctors.

"Director, it's a little early isn't it?" He asked.

"Just getting in some early morning training. What are you doing here?"

"Well I was going to save it for the staff meeting. But I made a break through last night, which I have been testing all night."

"What?" Alex asked.

"I think I can safely remove the contact lenses."

"You can?"

"Obviously I haven't tested it on an actual person, but in theory yes." He said. "However, depending on how long they have been wearing them for caution should be used."

"Let's hope we don't need to, but brief our containment teams, just in case."

"Of course." He said.

"Any news from Dr Thornton?"

"Yes. She said to tell you the meeting went well, she has come up with a list of supplies they need and the alien Lisa said she will come here once they have been delivered."

"Get them delivered ASAP." Alex said.

"You don't want to see the list?" He asked.

"I assume you read it?"

"Yes."

"Any reason I shouldn't sign off on it?"

"No. It is just standard medicine."

"Then get it delivered."

"Yes Director." He said. "Oh don't forget you are due a check up."

"I'm fine."

"You don't look it."

"That has nothing to do with my injuries." Alex said walking out.