"Barry? What are you doing here?" Kara asked opening her front door the following morning.
"Did I wake you? It's five am, of course I woke you. I'm sorry. Should I go?"
"No. Come in." Kara said stepping away from the door.
"Actually, I need you to come with me. It's kind of an emergency."
"Okay. Give me thirty seconds." Kara said using her super speed to get dressed and write her daughter a note. When she returned to the door, as Supergirl. she said. "Let's go."
-00-
"What's happening?" Kara asked when she and Barry entered his house.
"A few weeks ago Iris was investigating a story about strange power consumption. To start with she thought it was due to a new drugs factory and kept investigating. Only suddenly the building that was drawing the excess power stopped using any power at all. Iris went in and found it empty. There was so much dust around she said it didn't look like it had been used recently, apart from one area. The walk in freezer. On closer look the freezer's motor had burnt out. But there was no sign of anything illegal going on. Then last night she called me to say that she had a lead linked to freaky temperatures. That's the last I heard from her. But I tried using the clue she left in the message and saw that the area round the old space rocket factory in the desert outside of town is really cold. So I went and looked and the whole site, all one million square feet is frozen. I tried to get in, but after fifty feet or so it is so cold I can barely move. One hundred feet in I get stuck."
"Okay, well that shouldn't be a problem for me. Plus I can use my heat vision to warm it up." Kara said.
"So you'll help?"
"Of course. Let's go."
"Wait." Barry said. "We don't know what we are facing or if Iris is even there."
"But she could be. So let's take a look. I can use my x-ray vision to see if there is anyone there."
-00-
"Hey Alex." The older Alex greeted as her niece entered the kitchen later that morning.
"Do you know where mom went?" The teenager asked.
"No. Probably a Supergirl thing. I'm sure she'll be back soon."
"Maybe." She said handing her aunt a piece of paper.
"What's this?" Alex asked.
"Mom left me a note, but some of it is for you." The teenager said as her aunt tried to read it.
"Her writing has got worse." The adult Alex complained squinting as she read the scrawl. She then looked at her niece. "She hasn't said anything to me, but I'll try to get hold of her. In the mean time try not worry." She added as her two kids entered the kitchen.
"Are we late?" MJ asked confused when he saw his cousin.
"No, I'm early." The teenage Alex said.
"You like school far too much." MJ commented as the phones of all three teenagers buzzed.
Seeing her son's frown Alex asked. "What's wrong?"
"Someone just sent this video round." He said passing his mother the phone.
"How did they get this?" The adult Alex asked as she watched the video of her daughter getting attacked by Holtz and Chris. As she spoke she looked at her niece who said.
"It wasn't me. It's the first time I saw it."
"From the comments everyone is team Kara." MJ said having taken his phone back.
"You okay going in?" Alex asked her daughter.
"Got to face them at some point." The teenager said.
-00-
"Well?" Barry asked when Supergirl landed next to him.
"I can't see anyone in there. But there is one area that has loads of lead so everyone is probably in there."
"I don't want to just charge in, but if Iris is in there she won't survive for long."
"Then let's go." Kara said.
"What if we trigger an alarm and they kill her?" Barry asked as he mind started racing through every bad outcome.
"It's your call." Kara said. "If you want me to go in I will."
"Okay, but you're not going in alone. Can you heat a path as you go?"
"Of course, but it will slow me down." Kara pointe doubt.
"That's better than you getting trapped in there as well." Barry said.
"Okay, let's do this. Meet on the west side, that will give the shortest path to the lead area." Kara said taking off and meeting up with Barry again at the west entrance to the huge abandoned factory.
Nodding at her friend she hovered a few feet off the ground and used her heat vision to heat a tunnel through the ice before she and Barry entered the building.
After the two had moved through three hundred feet Supergirl stopped heating the ice and landed next to the Flash.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Yeah, just need a moment." She said. "I'll be right back." With that she flew out of the building and allowed the sun to recharge her cells before rejoining Barry.
"Alex will kill me if I solar flare." She explained before she started to heat a way through the ice once more.
-00-
After several slow minutes of heating up ice Barry suddenly heard his phone ring. Answering the call he heard his wife's voice.
"Iris? We're here. What? I can't hear you."
"Go outside, I'll keep going." Kara said to Barry.
Nodding Barry turned and left the building, racing a few miles away to get good reception before finally saying.
"Iris? Where are you?
"I am safe. I am in the city.
"The city?" Barry asked confused.
"Yes and I am safe. But I need you to listen to me, you need to stop Supergirl warming the building."
"Why?"
"It is being kept cold to keep some eggs stable."
"So what happens if they get warm?" Barry asked.
"They explode." Iris said causing Barry to switch calls and phone Kara.
"Supergirl, we have a problem." Barry said over the phone.
"What?" Supergirl asked.
"That building is being used to house eggs."
"Yeah, I've just found them." Supergirl said standing in the large lead room with several huge eggs that were pulsing.
"They need to be kept frozen, if they aren't they'll expl-" He started only to hear several bangs, some squelching and then his friend saying.
"Awww, gross."
"What's wrong?" Barry asked fearing he knew the answer.
"They exploded. There is so much slime." Supergirl complained as she tried to remove the slime that was dripping off her.
"Sorry." Barry said.
-00-
"How was school?" Alex asked as she heard teenagers enter the lounge. Looking up she saw the extra teen and said. "Hi Martin."
"Hi." He said avoiding eye contact.
"School was fine." Her eldest said, not giving any details. Before the adult Alex could ask a follow up her niece asked.
"Have you heard from mom?"
"Not yet, I'm sure she'll be back soon though." The adult Alex said. "Why don't you go get started on your homework." As the three younger teens left the room Alex looked at her eldest and asked.
"How was it really?"
"Okay." The teen shrugged, frustrating her mother with the lack of detail. "Turns out Chris posted the video. Thought it would earn him sympathy. It didn't."
"Where did he get?" Alex asked.
"His parents didn't believe the accusations so the police sent them a copy and he took it from there." The teen explained.
"And how are you doing?" Alex asked.
"Okay I guess. Anyway I am going to do my homework." The teen said leaving.
-00-
"You sure you are okay?" Barry asked when Kara emerged from the shower.
"I'm fine. I'm just glad you are okay." She said looking at Iris.
"I'm sorry you got pulled into this." Iris said.
"It's fine. I'm always happy to help." Kara said. "But why were there giant exploding eggs in a frozen factory?"
"It was an experiment on sustainable food sources." Iris said. "Dr Wilkins came up with the idea of plants that lay eggs. The only problem was the eggs were unstable if they got warm. So they used a building with a walk in freezer. Only the eggs grew and the temperature required burnt out the motor. But Wilkins came across a meta who could freeze things so they transported the eggs out to the old rocket factory thinking they could run the experiment without interruption. But then they saw me and took me to their city lab to explain what was happening and we kind of lost track of time. But when you guys went in you triggered an alarm and they remembered I had a connection to the Flash so they asked me to get a warning out. Only we were too late."
"Why not do it at the university?" Kara asked.
"Turns out the ethics committee banned the work. Wilkins was hoping he showed results they would change their minds."
-00-
"Where have you been?" Alex demanded when her sister entered the house.
"With Barry. Did Alex not give you the note?"
"She gave me a piece of paper that looked like a spider with broken legs had dragged itself across the page." Alex countered.
"Well I was in a hurry. Barry needed help and after all he's done for me, it was the least I could do."
"I get that, but next time try to make the note legible and give some useful details." Alex said just as her namesake hurried into the room and headed straight for her mother.
"Mom!" The teen said before hugging her mother.
"Hi." Kara said returning the hug. "I'm sorry that I worried you. But there was no need. I was fine. I am fine." She said kissing her head just before three other teenagers entered the room.
"Hi guys." Kara smiled before seeing Martin. "Hi Martin."
"Hi." He said briefly making eye contact.
-00-
"Why do I get the feeling that Martin is scared of me?" The adult Alex asked as she and Kara moved to the couch once the teens had disappeared upstairs again.
"Because he is." Kara shrugged. "He remembers you on the warpath."
"So what happened with Barry?" Alex asked.
"There was so much slime." Kara complained.
"Slime?" Alex asked.
"A Meta and a scientist combined for an experiment, where they created this weird plant thing that laid eggs, like the ones in Alien."
"But it was a plant?" Alex asked.
"Like I said it was an experiment and those things were more egg like than seed or fruit." Kara said. "And so full of slime." She added pulling a face. "Anyway Iris found out about it and investigated, only she was kidnapped, although that turned out to be more of a consensual meeting rather than a kidnapping. Anyway the Meta froze everything so Barry couldn't use his speed, hence he needed my help."
"Is everyone okay?"
"They're fine." Kara said. "But there was so much slime. Have I mentioned the slime?"
"Just a few times." Alex said before frowning. "Did anyone test the slime?"
"For what?"
"Anything."
"Umm, don't know. There's probably still some on my boots if you want it."
"Yes and let's do some tests on you too."
"Now?" Kara asked sounding unenthusiastic.
"Yes now. Let's get you to the DEO."
"But the kids." Kara pointed out causing Alex to go to the stairs and shout up to her daughter.
"What's wrong?" The teen asked coming down stairs.
"We need to go to the DEO. We shouldn't be long, but until we're back you're in charge. If you get hungry order take out." Alex said.
"Is everything okay?" The teen asked.
"It's fine." Alex said kissing her daughter goodbye.
-00-
"Well?" Kara asked when Alex came into the infirmary.
"You are all clear."
"Told you." Kara smiled. "So what was in the slime? Actually don't tell me, I really don't want to know."
"That's probably for the best." Alex agreed.
"Should I have another shower?" Kara asked.
"Couldn't hurt." Alex said as Kara pulled a face.
-00-
When Kara and Alex returned home they were surprised with how quiet the house was. Quickly using her super hearing Kara confirmed. "Three of them are upstairs."
"And the forth?"
"I'll ask." Kara said heading upstairs.
"Hi guys." She said from the door.
"Is everything okay?" Her daughter asked as MJ paused the movie.
"It's fine. Where's Martin?"
"Steve picked him up an hour ago." The teenage Kara said.
"Have you eaten?" Kara asked.
"We had pizza." MJ said.
"What are you watching?"
"The Sorcerer Saga, parts 1 to 5." MJ said. Seeing her aunt's confused face the teenage Kara said.
"Don't worry it's not horror."
"Okay." Kara said before looking at her daughter and asking. "Do you want to go home?"
"Can I stay here and watch the end of the pentalogy?"
"No one says pentalogy." MJ commented as Kara asked.
"It's a school night." The older Kara pointed out.
"Please."
"What part are you on?"
"The third."
"No. It's a school night." Kara repeated.
"What about the end of this one." Alex asked. "I can sleep here to maximise my sleep."
"Okay." Kara said. "But bed as soon as this movie ends." She added leaving them to it.
"Everything okay up there?" Alex asked.
"They're fine." Kara said. "But they are doing a movie marathon. They've already eaten. Is it okay if Alex stays here tonight."
"Sure." Her sister said before suggesting. "So sisters' night?"
"Sister's night." Kara confirmed.
"So what do you want to watch?" Alex asked.
"Anything that doesn't have slime."
"So not ghostbusters?"
-00-
"What's wrong?" Alex asked noticing her sister was lost in thought ratehr than watching the movie.
"Huh?" Kara asked looking over to her.
"Where's your head?" Alex asked.
"I was justing thinking back to that pocket dimension thing."
"And?" Alex asked turning off the tv.
"It doesn't matter." Kara said.
"Yes it does." Alex said. "How bad was it?"
"Mongul knew what my fears were and he tried to use that knowledge against me and I let him." Kara said. "There was one point where I let him get to me so much I actually felt on the verge of a panic attack." She confessed causing Alex to hug her.
"I meant it when I said I will never give up on you again. No matter what it takes or how long it takes I will find you no matter where you are." Alex promised her.
"Some events are outside of your control." Kara pointed out.
"Doesn't mean I can't fight it." Alex countered. "Besides do you really think Alex would let me give up?"
Instead of answering Kara fell silent before eventually asking.
"Do you believe in fate?"
"Do you?" Alex countered.
"Right now I am feeling like the universe wants me stranded somewhere away from my family. First there was Krypton exploding and the Phantom Zone, then there was Lex sending me to the other side of the Galaxy and then the ring prison. It's just starting to feel like the universe wants me locked away somewhere." Kara said.
"I don't believe in fate." Alex said. "But if it exists and regardless of if the universe has plans for you, I say screw it. Together we are stronger than anything, including the universe and fate. So no matter what the universe tries I will always be there for you and I will always bring you home."