"Where's Kara?" Maggie asked looking at her watch.
"She said she'd meet you there." Alex said. "Something about you feeling stressed around her."
"That's not true."
"You are squeezing that stress ball pretty hard." Alex pointed out.
"Well I am just thinking of everything that could go wrong today." Maggie said. "And what your sister is going to do to show me up."
"Kara wouldn't do that."
"She does it every class."
"No she doesn't. I think you might be being a little sensitive. Kara is really trying on the course to prove to you that she can do what you want her to do."
"What I want is for her to not contaminate crime scenes resulting in the bad guys getting off. Negotiating doesn't help with that." Maggie argued. "Listening to me once in a while does. And by listen I don't mean take half the words and change them into something she wants to do." She added as she stood. "I better go before I'm late. I'll see you later." She said kissing Alex goodbye.
"Maggie." Alex called after her.
"Yeah?"
"Stress ball." Alex said holding out her hand.
Reluctantly Maggie gave her the stress ball and left.
-00-
"Welcome everyone to our final session. I think we have already broke the record for how many times Emily has been shot during a course. Hell I think Sawyer beat that record single handedly." He paused and looked round before going on. "Today is about control. I mentioned previously we want our hostage taker to believe they are in control. Today's final lesson is about how to that. First, don't try to force your opponent to admit you're right. Remember for last week 'you're right' is bad, 'that's right' is good. Secondly, avoid yes/no questions that can be answered in no time. We want them to think. A simple yes or no won't do that. But remember the power of no. Thirdly, ask calibrated questions starting with 'how' or 'what' that point the other guy to solving your problem. When you do this, make sure you avoid words like 'can, is, are, do, does' as these lead to closed answers. Keep it open, keep them thinking, keep them talking. Next, never ask 'WHY' questions, unless you want the other person to defend a goal that serves you. Finally, and I am looking at you here Sawyer, avoid getting emotional. You must stay calm. If you are frustrated they will hear it in your voice and become frustrated. Same for anger." He then paused and looked round the room. "Okay first question, give me an example of how to ask for proof of life." Without looking round the room again he guessed Supergirl would have her hand up and asked.
"Yes Cape?"
"How do I know they are alive?"
"Excellent." He said. "And Sawyer give me an example of what you shouldn't say."
"Can I speak to them?" Maggie said.
"Correct. Sawyer's example is a yes/no question that is likely to result in the hostage dying. Cape's question allows the hostage taker to provide proof of life in a way they feel comfortable with." He paused again before saying. "Okay, seeing I am going to miss my weekly entertainment next week, let's have the Sawyer Cape crazy train up here." He said before waiting for them to come to the front.
"Ok Sawyer, you clearly have an issue with Supergirl, which is a little harsh, but each to their own. So Cape, I want you to get her to tell you what you need to do to make her like you."
"What behaviours do I need to demonstrate to make you like me?" Supergirl started.
"I don't dislike you." Maggie said.
"But it feels like I do things that upset you."
"I feel you could do things differently." Maggie said.
"What would you like to see me do differently?"
"Not fly in head first. Not recklessly endanger your life. Not ruin a crime scene and fly off." Maggie listed.
"How might I demonstrate I am doing that?"
"Listening to the professionals."
"Listening?" Supergirl asked.
"Yes, listening. The guys out there have been keeping the streets safe for a lot longer than you have."
"So what would you like to see to believe I'm listening?"
"Obey the chain of command."
"So it is better to wait and let people die, but follow procedure, than ignore procedure and save people? Was following procedure why you became a cop?"
"No of course not."
"So why did you become a cop?"
"To keep people safe."
"Who are the people who are allowed to keep people safe?" Supergirl asked.
"Everyone."
"Except?"
"No exceptions."
"How can they do that if they have to follow your terms."
"They aren't my terms, it's the law." Maggie said trying to stay calm.
"Is- How is the law that prevents saving people written?"
"There is no law that stops people saving people. But there are laws about damaging property."
"Which is more important property or life?" Supergirl asked.
"Life obviously."
"But you would like me more if I saved properties not life."
"No."
"Okay, let's end it there. That's a long period without Emily getting shot." He then looked at Supergirl and Maggie and pointed out. "You two might want to consider couple's therapy when this is over." Cruz said. "But nicely done Cape, good use of 'why'. Okay, then who is next?"
-00-
"What's going on?" Alex asked when she entered her sister's apartment and saw Kara and Maggie sitting in the lounge. Maggie drinking a beer.
"Celebrating no more training." Maggie said. "No more wasting a day every week."
"It wasn't a waste. Didn't you learn anything?" Kara asked as Alex approached the pair and sat down next to Maggie.
"So, so much. Just nothing I wanted to learn." Maggie said.
"Well, I'm looking forward to trying these skills out." Kara replied. "And if I am busy negotiating then I won't be flying through walls so you should be happy."
"It's not just the wall thing." Maggie said before deciding not to get drawn in. "Let's just celebrate the fact it is over." She said as the door opened again and Lena walked in carrying a bag of food.
"When's the graduation ceremony?" Lena asked entering Kara's apartment.
"No ceremony, but I am getting a certificate." Kara said taking the bag from her friend.
"Is Maggie getting one?" Lena asked.
"Yes." Kara confirmed.
"So everyone gets one?" Lena asked. "It's more of a participation thing rather than an achievement thing."
"What's that meant to mean?" Maggie asked.
"It was just an observation." Lena said.
"We did get a ranking. I was one." Kara said.
"And you?" Lena asked looking at Maggie before noticing Kara was shaking her head, trying to end the conversation.
"Maggie got a kind of commendation." Kara jumped in when she saw Lena wasn't going to be deterred, trying to save Maggie from admitting she was last.
"For what? Getting the dummy shot?" Alex joked.
"How did you know?" Kara asked.
"That was the commendation?" Lena asked laughing.
"It was not a commendation." Maggie said.
"Just a statement of fact then?" Lena asked.
"Do you ever let up?" Maggie asked.
"Do you? I mean Kara got on a course. Learnt about how the police negotiate, did really well at it and you are still complaining."
"I'm not complaining, I am celebrating the end of training." Maggie repeated.
"What I find interesting is Kara, who never follows the rules can now save people through normal Supergirl activities and negotiating, whereas the rule follower in the room isn't so good at negotiating. So maybe following the rules isn't the best way to save lives."
"Being able to negotiate has nothing to do with following rules." Alex jumped in trying to defend Maggie. "I mean Kara is super nice, who wouldn't want to talk to her? Plus when she wants to be she is really smart."
"Are you calling Maggie mean and dumb?" Lena asked.
"You know what I am looking forward to?" Kara interrupted. "I am looking forward to using these skills tomorrow."
"Just because you have passed the course doesn't mean you are going to get enlisted." Maggie warned. "And even if for some insane reason they did, things in the real word will go very differently to how they went in class."
"I know, but I didn't mean for police work. I meant therapy." Kara said.
"What?" Maggie questioned. "Actually, I don't want to know."