"What are you doing?" Kara asked when she saw her sister walking round upstairs the following morning.
"Going to work."
"No, you're not." Kara argued.
"Yes I am."
"Seeing you never win this argument, why don't you just go back to bed? Or I can take you."
"You wouldn't.
"I would. Just ask your niece."
"I've heard the stories." The adult Alex said.
"Then back to bed." Kara ordered.
"I need to go in." Alex said.
"No you don't."
"Yes I do. J'onn came round last night and I really need to go in."
"What did he say?"
"Not here." Alex said not wanting the kids to hear.
"Fine, when they go to school you can tell me." Kara said before using her super strength and speed to put Alex back in bed.
"I will make you pay for that." Alex threatened.
"Why are you threatening your sister?" Eliza asked walking past the room and hearing the threat.
"She's upset that I made her go back to bed." Kara said, earning a glare from Alex moments before Eliza asked.
"What were you doing out of bed? You know you have to rest. I thought we had got past the needless rebellion stage."
"I'll leave you to it." Kara said retreating from the room.
"Did you just throw mom under the bus?" The teenage Kara asked as her aunt came downstairs.
"No. Not exactly. Shouldn't you guys be at school?"
"That sounded like a yes." MJ pointed out as the teenage Alex asked her mother.
"Still on for tonight?"
"Absolutely." Kara said hugging her. "Have a good day."
-00-
"The kids are gone. What did J'onn say?" Kara said returning to Alex's room where Eliza was still lecturing her eldest.
"Conway's brother-in-law's accident was not an accident. The GNSS chip was hacked. Seeing it was the same chip that was in Kelly's car, it leads to it may not being an accident."
"That doesn't mean that chip was hacked." Kara reminded her. "Did J'onn find any evidence pointing to Kai or Sloane Syndicate?"
"No. Not yet."
"So it could be a coincidence?" Eliza argued.
"No such thing."
"You said the timeline didn't work for Kai to be involved in the accident." Kara reminded her.
"Well who knows how long Sloane Syndicate have been doing things in the background." Alex countered.
"If Sloane Syndicate or Kai were responsible wouldn't they have told you already? Else what is the point? Besides even if it was them, that doesn't mean it is linked to you. It could have been Kelly's connection with James. Or maybe someone holds a grudge over the VR contacts she was involved in." Kara argued.
"We may never know the truth, but that doesn't mean you should jump to conclusions." Eliza added. "For now, focus on recovering." She said leaving the room sensing Alex might open up more to Kara.
"You have the biggest guilt complex in the galaxy so you will always blame yourself." Kara said sitting down on the bed next to Alex. "But that doesn't mean you are to blame." She said wrapping an arm round her and gently hugging her. After a moment she asked.
"So what else is bothering you?" Kara asked. "And don't say nothing, you have been grumpy for days. So what's wrong?"
"Apart from having a super snitch as a sister?"
"It's for your own good." Kara shrugged.
"Have the kids said anything to you?" Alex asked.
"About what?"
"Nightmares? Not sleeping?"
"Not exactly. Kara mentioned she wasn't sleeping."
"I wish they'd talk to me."
"They are trying to protect you. They hate seeing you beat yourself up. Drop the guilt and they will open up." She said before adding. "I have to go to work. Are you going to be okay?"
"Sure." Alex said. But as Kara stood she asked. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, why?"
"You just seem a little different."
"I'm fine." Kara said leaving the room.
-00-
"He wants to talk." Vasquez said.
"He?" Supergirl asked confused.
"The alien who turned himself in."
"That's great." Supergirl said. "But you look worried."
"Based on past experience he'll just lie and waste our time."
"He might surprise you." Kara Supergirl said.
"True, but probably not in a good way."
"You are really channelling your inner Alex." Supergirl commented. "Is that one of the conditions of being in charge?"
"Funny. Let's go."
-00-
"What will you give me?" The alien asked as Supergirl and Vasquez sat down.
"What will we give you when?" Vasquez asked.
"If I give you information, what will you give me?"
"Depends on the information." Vasquez said. "And how much you mess us around. Seeing you tried to invade this planet, kill Supergirl and have been lying ever since we captured you, you are not getting anything until you have given us something worth while." Vasquez said. "If you want to die in that cell, still loyal to the man who is responsible for your current situation, that's your choice." She added as she stood. "But next time you waste my time will be the last."
"Wait, if I betray Mongul how do I know I will be safe?"
"You don't."
"If I betray Mongul I will be killed."
"How?" Vasquez asked. "I mean you are in your own cell. You are isolated from everyone."
"That won't stop him."
"If Mongul could escape he would have escaped."
"It won't be Mongul."
"Then who? You are isolated from everyone."
"Apart from your people." He said.
"If my people wanted to kill you, you'd be dead."
"They won't have a choice. If they have any desire it will be used."
"What do you mean?" Vasquez asked.
"Nothing. I must return to my cell."
-00-
"What was that about?" Supergirl asked Vasquez.
"I don't know, but I am pretty sure we won't like the answer." Vasquez said.
"Are we sure none of the prisoners are telepaths?" Kara asked.
"No." Vasquez said. "If one of them was that would explain the fact they are communicating. To be on the safe side I will have some blockers installed in the cell area and have all guards wear headsets. Of course it could be another piece of misdirection."
"Part of me wishes they would make their move so we can end this." Supergirl said.
"I know the feeling." Vasquez replied. "How are you and Lena getting on?"
"Technically it is just Lena. She is still working on it. I'll let you know when there is an update. In the mean time I need to get to CatCo. Call me if anything comes up."
"Will do." Vasquez confirmed.
-00-
"Alex? What are you doing here?" Kara asked looking up from her CatCo desk and seeing her daughter later that afternoon.
"We were meant to be going out." Her daughter reminded her. "Did you forget?"
"Shoot. I'm sorry. Just let me finish this."
"I can go home." The teenager said.
"No." Kara said. "Just give me a minute."
"Wait in my office." Cat said from behind Alex. "We'll talk there."
"There's no need. I'm almost done." Kara said.
"I've read the draft." Cat said, her tone indicating it was no where near done. "We'll be in my office. Follow me Kiera Junior."
-00-
"You have the look of someone who is shouldering more responsibility than they should." Cat pointed out as she handed Alex a pot of M&Ms before looking out over the city.
"I just hate feeling useless. I want to help people, but I don't know how. Mum is fighting so much at the moment including a shady corporation and-"
"What shady corporation?" Cat interrupted.
"Sloane Syndicate I think."
"And in what way are they shady?"
"They may have been behind the kidnapping."
"What kidnapping?"
"Alex, MJ and Kara's."
"Are they okay?"
"Kind of. Alex not so much, they hurt her pretty badly."
"And you want to take on this syndicate?"
"Yes. Kind of. But no. I mean I do, but there is nothing I can do. I mean I can't even sort small problems. And even if I did, if people find out who I am, what I am, it will make things difficult for MJ and Kara."
"Understanding your limitations is a useful skill." Cat said. "Perhaps a way to help your mother is to ensure you don't make her worry more."
"She'll always worry." Alex countered.
"True, but if you helped reduce that worry it would be of benefit."
"Easier said than done."
"In what way?"
"She wants me to fit in and have friends."
"And you oppose this philosophy."
"If I spend all my time hiding who I am then how can I be a real friend to anyone?"
"None of us ever reveal our true self." Cat said. "Doing so would make us vulnerable. So instead we hide who we are. Sometimes what we hide are small things, sometimes large things, objectively speaking. But what they all have in common, is to the person hiding them, they are very important." Cat said eating her own pot of M&Ms before adding. "With your other problem, there are many different ways to help people." Cat said. "The trick is to find something that works for you. In general there are three tools at your disposal, your fists, your heart and your head. Sometimes your mother seems to forget the last one. But that doesn't mean you have to." She finished as Kara walked onto the balcony. Turning she asked.
"You done?"
"I am, Jensen has approved it."
"Yet it is my name on the cover." Cat said holding out her hand. Expecting that response Kara handed Cat a copy of her article.
"Unlike the draft it isn't terrible." Cat said reading it.
"Does that mean I am back on stories permanently, rather than just research?" Kara asked.
"No. I think that might over tax you with everything else you have going on. Besides I heard there is a research project you want to pursue." Seeing Kara's confused look she added. "Sloane Syndicate."
"How did you know?"
"I have my sources." Cat said causing Kara to look at her daughter and ask.
"How did you know?"
"I pay attention." The teenager shrugged.
"An admirable quality and something you could learn." Cat said to Kara.
"Hi Mom, sorry I'm late." A man called from the office before stepping onto the balcony.
Immediately recognising him Kara asked. "Carter?"
"Kara?" He questioned in disbelief.
"How are you?" She asked hugging him.
"I'm good." He smiled, while looking awkward. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to interrupt." He added before seeing the teenager. Looking back at his mother he said. "Your employees are starting to look really young."
"This is my daughter Alex." Kara explained.
"Daughter? Wow. Congratulations." He said.
"Anyway we should be going. See you tomorrow." She said to Cat.
"See you tomorrow. We'll discuss the Syndicate then." Cat nodded before looking at Alex and saying. "Until next time Kiera Junior."
-00-
As Kara and Alex took the elevator down the teen asked.
"Did you used to date Carter or something? He was looking at you weirdly."
"No. I babysat him. Once. After I lost him Cat lost faith in my babysitting skills."
"You lost him?"
"Technically it was Winn, not me." Kara said. "And I saved him."
"Saved him?" Alex asked eyes wide. "You must have been a terrible babysitter."
"I didn't do a bad job with you." Kara argued.
"Were there any kids before me? Do I have a long lost sibling lost on a planet somewhere?"
"You need to spend less time with your cousins. They are teaching you bad habits."
"Speaking of which, I'm going to join a club."
"You are? That's great. What?"
"Chess."
"Do you know how to play?"
"Lena showed me. But it means I will be at school late on a Tuesday and Thursday. Are you okay with that?"
"Of course. Wait are you doing this so I don't feel guilty about not being home?" Kara asked.
"No."
"You really want to join the club for you?" Kara pressed.
"Yes."
"Okay then. That's great."