A/N: Thanks for the comments

Chloe: Thanks! There will be no direct reaction. I thought I had written a scene where one of the characters describes how it could happen, but I may have imagined that.

"You okay?" Alex asked looking down at Kara who was lying on the sand looking at the sky.

"I'm warm." Kara said.

"You want a drink?" Alex questioned.

"No." Kara said. "I mean I'm warm. I can't remember the last time I was warm."

"You felt that bone chilling coldness too?" Alex asked sitting down next to her sister who sat up.

"Yes. And every time phantoms got close to me it got worse."

"How many times did you meet them?"

"A few. They didn't like us trying to escape. I guess they didn't like me trying to escape. I felt so cold and then there were the visions. Only they weren't visions they were memories replaying over and over." Kara said hugging her knees before looking at Alex and saying. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"Trying to kill you."

"Brainy was surprised you'd waited so long." Alex said. "He thinks super patience is your true power. I said it was potsticker eating though." Seeing the strange look Kara was giving her she explained. "Kelly said one of the ways to help was humour."

"Doesn't she know you suck at jokes?" Kara asked. "Although so does Kelly so maybe she doesn't see it."

"My jokes are not bad." Alex said.

"Yeah they are." Kara said going back to staring at the ocean. Eventually she asked.

"Why am I so broken?"

"What do you mean?"

"When I was there all I could think about was getting home and seeing my family. But now I am here I am too scared to see anyone."

"It'll take time Kara. We are all ready to help whenever you want but we need to go at your pace. Just please ask for whatever you want."

"Okay." Kara said.

"I don't know if it will help, but Kelly suggested that Lena and Nia write to you so you could connect without seeing them. I have their first letters with me. Although I am pretty sure Lena just wrote out War and Peace." She said handing Kara one very think envelope and one thin one. As she did so she asked. "Want me to leave you alone to read those?"

"Can you stay?"

"Of course." Alex said as Kara opened the letter from Lena and used her super speed to read it before putting it back in the envelope before doing the same with Nia's letter.

"You okay?" Alex asked.

"I think so." Kara said before saying. "I know I just asked you to stay, but can you give me some space?"

"Um, sure." Alex said standing.

"Can you take these back to the house."

"Okay. I'll be out to check on you later." Alex said taking the envelopes.

-00-

"Where's your sister?" Eliza asked when Alex entered the kitchen.

"Thinking on the beach."

"How is she?"

"Withdrawn." Alex said.

"How bad was it in the Phantom Zone?"

"For ten minutes it was fine, then we were attacked. It was so much worse that I had imagined and my imagination can get pretty dark. I honestly don't know how Kara stayed sane."

"She knew you were coming. That's all she needed to cling to." Eliza said. "I'm proud of you. But you should get some rest."

"While I probably should, I can't see it happening."

"You still aren't sleeping?"

"No. Every time I do I find myself back in the Phantom Zone. I really don't know how Kara is coping with everything."

"That's easy. It's because she has you to help her through it." Eliza said. "And I know you want to help, but you need to look after yourself too."

"I will." Alex promised.

"Good, because I am not above calling Kelly."

"You are threatening to call my girlfriend?"

"I will do anything that I think will help." Eliza countered.

-00-

"Hi Sweetie." Eliza said coming out of the house that evening where Kara was sitting.

"Hi."

"Here." Eliza said passing Kara a mug of hot chocolate before sitting next to her.

"I'm not ready to talk." Kara said sounding apologetic.

"That's fine. I'd much rather you'd talk when ready rather then talk now and lie." Eliza said.

"You don't have to stay up with me." Kara said.

"Yes I do. It's in the mothers' rule book." Eliza smiled.

"Thanks." Kara said sipping the hot chocolate before the pair silently watched the stars.

"Alex and everyone went through so much to get me back and all I am doing is hiding here." Kara finally said.

"You aren't hiding, you are recovering." Eliza pointed out. "No one, except maybe you, is expecting you to be okay."

"But it still isn't fair on everyone, especially Alex."

"What do you mean?"

"Ignoring the fact I stabbed her, she is here looking after me. She should be in National City with Kelly."

"Alex wants to be here. If she didn't she wouldn't be." Eliza reminded her. "The best thing you can do for Alex is focus on your own recovery."

-00-

"I'm ready." Kara said to Alex a couple of days later.

"For?" Alex asked confused.

"To leave here."

"You don't need to rush this." Alex pointed out.

"I know. But I can't hide forever."

"So how do you want to do it? Meeting everyone individually or a big party?"

"I …" Kara started unable to find the right words.

"Then why don't we have a party at the Tower. If it gets too much you can go onto the balcony and take as much time as you need. No one, except me, will come out. It is your safe space."

"My safe space?" Kara asked.

"Yes."

"Is that Kelly's idea?"

"How'd you guess?"

"Your version of a safe space is a bar."

"That is … not completely wrong." Alex conceded. "But it's a good idea. And if that gets too much for you, you can just fly home. What do you think?"

"I can do that." Kara said. "But when I said leave I didn't mean to go back to National City."

"You didn't?"

"No. I think I need to go to Argo first. I need to deal with what happened with my father and I think Argo is the best place to do that."

"Okay." Alex said.

"You're okay with that?"

"This is about you. If you need to go to Argo, that's where we'll send you."

"Can you come with me? I don't mean stay with me, just get me there and make sure I'm okay." Kara asked sounding as unsure as she had the day day Alex had rescued her from a popcorn maker.

"I'll stay as long as you need." Alex said pulling Kara into her good side.

-00-

"You know you can come back here any time?" Eliza asked Kara.

"I know." Kara smiled before hugging her.

"Please stay out of trouble." Eliza said into the hug.

"It's Argo, there's not that much trouble to find." Kara said.

"That hasn't stopped you before." Eliza pointed out refusing to let Kara out of the hug.

"I'll be careful and I'll be back soon." Kara promised.

"You take as long as you need." Eliza said before finally releasing her. She then turned to Alex and said. "Remember what I said."

"I will." Alex said hugging her before Kara grabbed hold of her and flew her to National City.

-00-

"Kara!" Alura exclaimed as she ran towards her daughter.

"Mom!" Kara said hugging her.

"I was so worried." Alura said before pulling away and asking. "How are you?"

"Getting there. But can I stay here for a while?"

"You will always have a home here." Alura said before looking at Alex and asking. "Are you staying too?"

"That's up to Kara." Alex said.

"You should go." Kara said.

"But-"

"You've not seen Kelly for days. Go be with her."

"I tell you what, why don't I stay for a few hours then if you want me to go I will." Alex said.

"You sure?" Kara asked.

"I'm sure. Besides I have never been to Argo with you. You might as well give me the tour according to Kara."

-00-

"You sure you are going to be okay?" Alex asked that evening. "Because I can stay."

"I know. But you should go. What I have to do here I need to do alone."

"You're sure?"

"I am."

"I love you." Alex said hugging Kara as tightly as her wound would allow.

"Love you too." Kara said.

"You know how to reach me. Call if you need anything." Alex said finally releasing Kara and activating the portal.

Having watched her sister disappear Kara turned and found herself being hugged by her mother. "Let's get you to the house."