Disclaimer: I don't own Supergirl or the characters. This is written purely for fun.

A/N: Originally this was just a missing scene from 6x02 and my take on how where Alex might have revealed the truth to Kelly. However, following the the actual resolution of Kara's situation I was prompted by raihanchia to write my own version of the rescue so I have extended the story to re-write how they rescued Kara.

"Alex?" Kelly called when she saw her girlfriend enter the apartment. "Where have you been?" But on seeing the lost, desperate look in Alex's eyes she asked. "What's happened? I thought you won?"

"No." Alex said shutting the front door and then leaning against it shutting her eyes as she tried to figure out how to say what she wanted to say.

"But Lex has been arrested." Kelly said confused.

"We stopped Lex." Alex said almost mechanically.

"Then what's the-" She started only to start guessing something bad had happened. "Who got hurt?"

"I was too late. I fired too late. It allowed him to do what he wanted and he sent Supergirl to the Phantom Zone." Alex said opening her eyes, allowing Kelly to she her inner turmoil.

"Phantom Zone?" Kelly asked lost.

"It's a place where time doesn't really pass. A place so bad Krypton sent their worst criminals there. A place Supergirl was stuck for twenty four years after Krypton was destroyed. Even though she was technically asleep in her pod during that time it still gave her nightmares and panic attacks when she came to Earth." Alex said causing Kelly to mentally question how she knew this. Before she could say anything though Alex went on. "We don't know how to get her back."

"But she escaped before right?" Kelly asked. "I mean that is how she came to Earth in the first place."

"By fluke." Alex countered.

"Supergirl is a survivor." Kelly pointed out.

"You don't understand." Alex said.

"Then explain it to me."

"Everyone sees Supergirl as the girl of steel, someone who can overcome anything, but she isn't made of steel. She has a heart and she suffers more than any of us, but she keeps going."

"That's why she will survive the Phantom Zone." Kelly pressed.

"No. It will break her. She hates being alone, and it's the Phantom Zone. It's like a timeless sensory deprivation tank. She can't die there, but she can be broken." Alex explained as her voice started to crack.

"That doesn't mean she will be broken by it. She survived it once and this time she knows you'll be looking for her." Kelly argued.

"Do you think you could survive the Phantom Zone?" Alex asked suddenly changing the direction of the conversation.

"I-" Kelly started not sure how to answer.

"I don't think I could." Alex said. "The stories I have heard about it terrify me."

"That doesn't mean Supergirl won't survive." Kelly said.

"Do you think someone like Kara could survive the Phantom Zone?" Alex went on.

"Alex, we're talking about Supergirl, no one else."

"No we're not." Alex said looking at Kelly and confessing. "Supergirl is Kara. Kara is Supergirl." She said sliding down the door and sitting on the floor.

For a moment Kelly wanted to argue against the statement, but as she started to think about it, the pieces fell into place and instead she sat in shock for a moment before snapping herself out of it, knowing Alex need her.

"Oh Alex." Kelly said hurrying to her side.

"I'm meant to protect her." Alex said as Kelly sat next to her and pulled her in for a hug. "But when she said she was going to take on Lex, who was basically immortal, I didn't even try to stop her."

"Would it have done any good?" Kelly asked.

"It doesn't matter. I should have tried. No I should have stopped her. But instead I just let her go. And then at the end I was right there when she was sent. If I had taken that shot faster I could have saved her. But I didn't. I failed her and now ... Now I don't know how to do this." Alex said. "I need my sister. Since she came to Earth she always had my back, no matter how badly I treated her. She's always had a light about her. A light that gave me strength, even in my darkest moments. But now ..." She trailed off as the tears started to run freely down her face.

"Alex, I know it seems hard right now, but Kara is alive and you will get her back." Kelly said before rephrasing and saying. "We'll get her back."

"I'm sorry." Alex said.

"For what?"

"Not telling you."

"Alex, right now the only thing that matters is getting Kara back. I have seen how fiercely you have protected Kara and I know you will have done everything you could to have saved her. What happened wasn't your fault and was out of your control. But that doesn't mean you don't have any control right now. You have a choice, you can let the darkness and pain you are feeling right now take over, or you focus on getting Kara back."

"I want her back." Alex sobbed as Kelly held her tightly.

"I know." Kelly said.

"How do I tell mom?"

"We'll tell her together." Kelly said hugging her. "No matter what happens, you are not in this alone."

- TBC...