"Hi." Kara called as she entered her sister's house a few days later.

"Hi Sweetie." Eliza called from the lounge.

"How are you feeling?" Kara asked entering the lounge.

"I'm okay."

"Can I get you anything?"

"No, I'm fine. But you probably want to go to your apartment." Eliza said.

"Why?"

"The kids brought Martin back this afternoon." Eliza started to explain. "Only soon after they got back Alex said she was feeling really tired and left. Kara went and checked on her and said she was okay, but it is not like her to leave like that."

"I'll be back later." Kara said frowning before rushing over to her apartment. As she entered she saw her daughter on the couch, using her telekinesis to send Chewie chasing after his toys.

"Well if you can use your powers like that you can't be that tired." Kara commented shutting the door before sitting next to her daughter. "What happened? Did you have a fight with the others?"

"No."

"Then why are you hiding over here?"

"I'm not hiding, I just didn't want to be there." The teen said as Chewie jumped up on her lap.

"Why?" Kara asked.

"It didn't feel right."

"What's going on?" Kara asked.

"Martin has opened up a bit more since he spent time with us at the DEO." The teenager said.

"That's good isn't it?" Kara asked.

"He's sharing stories about his life." Alex went on. "But I can't do that. I'm just lying to him the whole time. It feels like I'm betraying him."

"I know." Kara said hugging her. "But you need to remember that you are more than just an alien with powers. Those traits aren't what makes you you."

"But it is still part of who I am." The teen argued.

"I know."

"Does it get easier? All the lying I mean."

"No." Kara said. "It will always be hard and I screwed that up plenty. What it comes down to is who is more important to you. The more people who know the more danger Kara, MJ, Alex and Eliza will be in." Kara explained. "I know telling anyone is the wrong thing to do. But I also know how much keeping secrets suck. But like Cat said no one is ever completely honest. Besides if Martin is a friend I think he'd prefer to spend time with you knowing there is stuff he doesn't know than not spending any time with you."

"Okay." The teen said pulling away from her mother. "I'll go back over."

"Before you do. Have you had any thoughts about what you want to do for your birthday?"

"Do you remember what we did on Zerith?"The teen asked.

"I remember all your birthdays." Kara stated. "Including Zerith. You want to do something like that?"

"Yes, but I don't really know where. I mean I have only seen two parts of this planet."

"Leave that to me." Kara said. "Are you going to be okay with that, seeing the nightmares you've been having."

"You'll be with me, so I'll be fine."

"Do you want to invite anyone else to come with us?"

"Is it okay of it is just us going and then maybe have dinner with the others?"

"Of course. Whatever you want." Kara replied hugging her.

-00-

"Any bank robberies? Escaped aliens? Muggings? I'll take anything." Kara said entering Alex's office the next day.

"Um, don't know. I think it is all pretty quiet." Alex said stopping her discussion with Vasquez. "Why?"

"I need something to do."

"CatCo not enough?"

"I meant I need a problem to take my mind off my other problem."

"Alex?" Her sister guessed.

"She is having problems lying to Martin."

"That's why she hid at your place yesterday?" Alex guessed.

"Yes. And we talked it through and she said she was okay. But I know it never gets any easier. I don't know what to say to her. Hence I was hoping to try another problem and while thinking about that problem be struck with inspiration." Kara said.

"Right now it is all quiet." Vasquez said.

"Yet you're still worried about something?" Kara said looking at the pair of them.

"It feels far too neat." Alex said. "They masterminded this for years and then it crumbles overnight. That seems too easy. Plus the evidence we found, it's like it just popped out of no where. Almost like it had been planted."

"Has anyone said anything?" Kara asked.

"According to Aptil they have all lawyered up. It could be awhile before any of them breaks. But to be honest the evidence they collected is so conclusive it doesn't matter if they confess or not."

"But why plant evidence? Do you think Joiner was deemed a failure and sacrificed?" Kara asked.

"Maybe, or maybe I am just being paranoid because Stagg and Tycho are involved."

"Who's Tycho?" Kara asked.

"Sorry, I forgot you wouldn't have heard of him. He is a business man, who became very big about fifteen years ago. A very very rich business man. He specialises in alien tech."

"But why are you worried about him?" Kara asked.

"Like Stagg he owns a five percent stake in Sloane Syndicate. But most importantly he wants to weaponise Kryptonians."

"Weaponise? How?"

"He said they could be controlled. We have no proof he has actually done anything, but we do know he has researched Kryptonite."

"What about Red-K?" Kara asked.

"Possible, but we have no proof of anything. But let's say Tait was working for Tycho." Alex said. "Not only did he supply the chemicals but intel as well. Tycho would have known we weren't letting go and how far we were with the investigation. In which case sacrificing Sloane Syndicate and Joiner would be a good option. Yes he'll lose 100 billion dollars but that only makes a small dent in his fortune."

"There is no link between Tait and Tycho though." Vasquez said.

"What about with Stagg?" Alex asked.

"Or Stagg." Vasquez confirmed. "Maybe we are not finding anything because there is nothing to find?"

"I hope so." Alex said.

"Or maybe they are meant as another distraction?" Kara suggested. "Maybe Joiner persuaded them to invest not just for the money but to take attention away from him."

"Maybe." Alex said. "But something is still bugging me." She then looked at Kara and said. "Seeing we are both after a distraction why don't we get some lunch?"

"I can never say no to food." Kara smiled. "But can we make a few stops on the way?"

"Sure."

-00-

"Hi mom." Alex said as she and Kara entered the house that evening.

"Hi." Eliza said looking up from her book as she lay on the couch.

"How are you feeling?" Alex asked.

"Much better. In fact I have been awake enough today to feel bored."

"That's good I guess." Alex said. "Where are the kids?"

"All four are across the road."

"Four?" Alex asked. "When did we gain one, or does Chewie count as one?"

"Martin is with them again." Eliza said. "How are you two doing?"

"We aren't the ones who got out of hospital two days ago." Alex pointed out.

"But we are fine." Kara said. "Although I am a little hungry."

"We've only just had lunch." Alex said.

"That was four hours and a car crash rescue ago. We should get takeaway." Kara said.

"Because Alex is in your apartment so can't criticise?" Her sister guessed.

"She'll learn to love Earth food." Kara shrugged.

"She does, just not the artery clogging food you like." Alex said.

"Seeing the kids are over there and out of ear shot, I need your help with something." Kara asked changing subjects.

"Sure, what?" Alex asked.

"Alex's birthday. I have the day planned and thanks to today's shopping I have a present. But I need your help with the evening."