The day before . . .
When the President traveled, White House Press Secretary Cat Grant normally stayed in the same hotels as the rest of the presidential party. But when the President visited National City, Cat made an exception to the rule and stayed in her penthouse condo. She had just e-mailed her response to a recent Presidential decision from her favorite study chair when the phone rang. Preoccupied, she picked it up without looking at it.
"Cat Grant," she said. She nearly dropped the phone when a voice she'd never expected to hear again sounded in her ear.
"Hello Miss Grant, it's Eliza Danvers, Kara's mother, and I'm calling because she needs your help–urgently."
"I'm a little busy right now, what with resigning from the White House, "Cat began, but the other woman overrode her.
"Yes, and that's partly why I'm calling. I'll give you two hundred-to-one-odds that I know why you're resigning, and if I'm wrong, you need to be tipped off on a story that's about to break. How soon can I see you?"
"I need a little bit more than that, Dr. Danvers." Cat replied.
"Of course, but the story is best discussed in person. So how about this? I have my daughter's permission to call in some debts you owe her. And it's Eliza."
"What debts are we talking about?" Cat asked.
"First, your job at CatCo. Second, your life, which she has saved more than once. And third and most important your son's life, which she saved the night he slipped away from his minder."
Cat stared, stunned.
"Miss Grant?" the voice prompted.
"It's Cat. Are you in National City, Eliza?" Cat asked.
"Yes, if you're at your penthouse, I can be there in ten minutes."
"I am at my penthouse. I'll alert the doorman to send you straight up. And Eliza?"
"Yes?"
"You'd better not be joking."
"I'm not. See you in ten."
0000000000
Her hostess was waiting in her living room as the elevator door opened and Eliza Danvers stepped out.
"Hello, Eliza, it's been a long time."
"It has," the taller of the two women replied. "Since the night we helped take down Myriad. Should I tell you why I think you are resigning? And is this room secure?"
"Yes, and yes, the room is secure. You don't waste time, do you?"
"I don't have any to waste. And we'd better establish a ground-rule: our discussion needs to be a deep background conversation. Are you OK with that?"
Cat nodded.
"I think you're quitting because you found out that President Baker has forbidden Supergirl from volunteering with any federal agency unless she makes her earth identity public. Am I right?"
Cat nodded again. "Please sit down. Can I offer you coffee or tea?"
"No thanks," Eliza replied as she sat on the couch, "But you can tell me what you are going to do now."
"I'm going back to running CatCo."
"How can you do that? Didn't you sell your stock?"
"No," Cat replied, "I only sold the voting rights to my shares for the duration of my time as Press Secretary. I've just called Lena Luthor to tell her what I've done and what I'm going to do, and she's accepted my offer to stay on CatCo's board. But before you go any further, I'd better put on some music. I hope you don't mind murmuring in my ear to the accompaniment of Mussorgsky," Cat said, as she flicked a switch and an amazing recording of The Great Gate of Kiev began at full volume. She sat next to Eliza on the couch and murmured into her ear. "The night Carter slipped away from his minder, that minder was Kara and the only one I know who was involved in saving his life was Supergirl. Now when you say I owe Carter's life to Kara that night, I have a problem because I've seen Kara and Supergirl in the same room together. Can you explain that?"
"Why did President Marsden leave office?" Eliza replied quietly.
Cat had guessed this, but she only raised an eyebrow. Eliza saw it, and continued, "And no, she wasn't involved in deceiving you. But before I give you some other evidence for my claim, the fact that you are going back to CatCo may change what I want to do. When will your reinstatement take effect?"
"The board meeting is set for 9:30 am tomorrow. Is that soon enough?"
"Yes, thank you."
"Now, you said you had some additional evidence."
"Yes," Eliza said as she removed her cell phone from her purse, "But first, speaking for Kara, I'd like to apologize to you for deceiving you, and second, I'd like to have a less biased source provide you with the reasons why she felt it was necessary to do that."
Cat nodded a third time.
"I assume you have former President Donaldson's number in your contact list since you broadcast his show?"
"Yes," Cat replied.
"Please call him on my phone using your number."
"Why not use my phone?" Cat asked
"You'll hear, and you'll get through faster," Eliza replied.
Cat punched the number and didn't hear a ring when it connected. Instead, she was surprised to hear the high-pitched whistle and the recorded "Secure the line, secure the line," that she knew marked the US government's most secure communications equipment. As the message changed to "The line is secure," Cat took a deep breath.
"Hello Dr. Danvers," came the familiar voice of the former President, "What can I do for you? Have you decided to take up my offer and join the Donaldson company, or has something gone wrong?"
"Hello Mr. President," Cat replied.
"Cat Grant, what are you doing on this line?"
"Dr. Eliza Danvers handed me her phone and told me to call you. How come a university biochemist has a US government secure phone?"
"Are you two alone? And has that room been swept for bugs recently?"
"Yes, and yes," Cat replied.
"Then you'd better put me on speaker."
"Done," said Cat as she turned down the recording's volume.
"Hello Dr. Danvers. Why is Cat Grant calling me on your phone?"
"Because my youngest daughter trusts her. And she also tells me that President Baker has just broken what you were pleased to call the Danvers-Donaldson treaty." Eliza replied.
For a second there was only the hum of the phone line and then the two women heard a heartfelt "Oh, shit." Then the former President continued, "Exactly what did he do?"
"I suspect the issue is that he forbade Supergirl from volunteering with any federal agency until and unless she revealed the name under which she is living on earth," Cat said
"Cat's correct," echoed Eliza, "Mr. President, please tell Cat how you and I became acquainted and the details of our agreement. And you should know that Cat has given me her word that this is a deep background conversation." Eliza replied.
"Before I do that, Dr. Danvers, I must know exactly what you are planning to do."
"That's no part of our agreement, Mr. President."
"No, it isn't. But I care enough for this country that I won't willingly see it hurt. If you want my cooperation, you have to tell me what you're up to."
"Fair enough." Eliza replied, then she paused before continuing, "The country's national security has already been weakened if not endangered by President Baker's decision, am I right?"
"You are," the former President replied.
"If you work with Cat and me, any additional damage to national security will cut to the absolute minimum. I admit that this option admits of a variety of potential outcomes: in the best case, there will be no additional long-term damage whatsoever and possibly only a little more short-term danger. And in any less-than-best-case outcomes, whatever national security damage does take place will arise not from what I am going to do, but from whatever President Baker does in reply. On the other hand, if you don't work with me, your decision will leave me with only one option. While I don't want to threaten either you or the country, I must tell you that my last resort is a full unveiling of everything I know to Cat who has just resigned and will be returning to CatCo immediately. And you know that if I do that, the damage to national security will be massive and the fallout will not only land on President Baker but on the whole Gang of Eight and the Intelligence and Justice committees of the House and the Senate. And that could paralyze the Congress until the next election. I think I've earned your trust in my goodwill and judgment over these last fifteen years, Mr. President. Will you trust me on this?"
"When you put it that way, I guess I have to," the former President replied.
"Then after you tell Cat how we became acquainted I'll tell you both what I want to do and where I'll need your help."
OK then, Cat," President Donaldson began, "It started with a phone call to the White House Signals Office, six months after I was elected. And the call came from Russia . . . "
0000000000
". . . So that's what happened, Cat. But the big question is this; what are you going to do now, Dr. Danvers?" the former President finished.
After a glance at her hostess who was looking as if she'd seen a ghost, Eliza replied, "As I mentioned, Cat has resigned over the President's actions, and I know that she will be back running CatCo as of about 10 am tomorrow. President Baker is scheduled to appear on CatCo's "This Evening" tomorrow night. If the host should come down with laryngitis, I suggest that Cat take the interview and introduce America to the second part of the Myriad incident which is when we all came down with those blinding headaches that came very close to killing every human on earth, courtesy of some Kryptonian terrorists. But very few people know that Supergirl is the reason those headaches went away. Even fewer know how she did it, and that her saving the world involved detailed cooperation with more than one arm of the federal government. Would you like to break that story, Cat?"
Cat nodded.
"I thought you might. And since you've agreed, I should also tell you that I've called former President Marsden to confirm that she's never classified this incident. I also know that Max Lord, who is one of the very few people who can tell your viewers exactly what went down, is also aware of the situation's non-classified status. I can reach Max and I have reason to think I can get him to accept your invitation to come on the show. And since I was also on the spot, I can be present to back him up when you interview him. This way, we can show America the value of having the government working with Supergirl."
"So far so good, but why are you calling me?" President Donaldson asked.
"Because I'd like you to be ready to call in on Skype and tell the audience exactly what you told Cat just now, without, of course, mentioning my name, or my daughter's name. But there will be someone else who will follow Max and then we'll put you on."
"Who's that?" Cat asked.
"As you likely know from Lois Lane's recent article, one Kryptonian city, Argo, their capital, survived the explosion and became an asteroid. Argo is now in this galaxy. Using the contacts Supergirl made during a visit there last year I have reached out to the former Chief Judicator of Krypton who will be arriving from Argo tomorrow morning. She can testify that two of the key Kryptonian terrorists were Supergirl's deeply loved aunt, and her husband: the former was also her mother's identical twin. While Max will tell us about the terrorist Supergirl had to kill in the key battle, our visitor can identify that terrorist as Supergirl's uncle, and she can also tell the story of how Supergirl was present at her aunt's death when the latter was killed in an earlier firefight with US special agents. Despite these facts, Supergirl remained loyal to her new government and people both at that moment and throughout the following years. Giving the audience those additional reasons to trust the Girl of Steel shows up the folly of President Baker's action in stark terms."
"I like it, Cat, how about you?" the former President commented.
"I'm in," Cat said, "But first we have to get Max Lord lined up."
"I don't think that will be a problem. He knows what he owes Supergirl," Eliza Danvers remarked, "But we don't need to take up any more of your time, Mr. President."
"Thank you, Dr. Danvers. Cat, what number should I call and when?"
"I'll call you back with those details once Max agrees. Goodbye, Mr. President."
"Goodbye, ladies," the former President said, and then he was gone.
Eliza punched a new number into her phone and put it on speaker.
"Well, hello Dr. Danvers, it's been a long time. My offer is still open and the deputy head of my biotech division will be ecstatic if you've reconsidered my offer."
"I'm afraid not Mr. Lord. I'm calling because I need your help. Or rather my youngest daughter needs your help."
"Help with what?" Max asked, "And why isn't she asking me herself?"
"I assume you have state of the art security and sweep your office for bugs regularly."
"Yes."
"Then Cat Grant and I will be over to see you in twenty minutes to explain matters. And the answer to the question I'm sure you want to ask is: "Yes, she does."
0000000000
As the two women drove to the Lord technologies building, Eliza Danvers answered her phone. This wasn't on speaker, so Cat heard only one side of the conversation.
"Hello Maggie."
"I'm fine, how are you. Thanks for calling back."
"That's great. Look, I need your help, or rather Kara does."
"I can be at Noonan's in about ninety minutes."
"Bye, Maggie, see you soon."
"What was that all about?" Cat asked as Eliza put her phone away.
"Just setting up a meeting with someone I hope will be your final guest tomorrow, a police detective sergeant who can speak to an additional attack our family endured because of Kara's special abilities." She looked her question at Cat who nodded:
"Yes. After hearing Tom Donaldson's story, I can understand why Kara lied to me. I don't see how anyone could have done anything else under the circumstances. And for what it's worth, you have my sympathy and my respect. Raising even one child singlehanded is no joke. I don't like to think about raising two. Not to mention dealing with Kara's unique challenges."
0000000000
When the women arrived at Lord Technologies, they were ushered straight to Max's office.
"Hello ladies, can I get you some refreshments?"
"Not now, Mr. Lord," Eliza replied, "but thank you for the offer. We have just learned that President Baker has forbidden Supergirl to volunteer with any federal agency unless she divulges the name under which she has been living here."
"You don't waste time do you, Dr. Danvers? He really did that?"
The women nodded.
"Then he's a monumentally stupid man, and he's putting national security at risk. How can I help?"
"By letting me interview you on This Evening tomorrow night about the second part of the Myriad incident and Supergirl's role in stopping those Kryptonian terrorists. I know that the incident has never been classified," Cat said. "And Dr. Danvers here will be on the show to back you up. Apparently, she was on the spot too."
"Yes, she was. You know, Dr. Danvers, doing this could present a significant risk to your family."
"I know, Mr. Lord. Thank you for your concern, but I've given some thought to minimizing the risk. But, in any case, it's worth it."
"I guess that means you want me to tell Cat what happened?"
"Yes."
"Then it started like this, Cat, . . . "
Cat Grant not was a woman who was easily surprised or awed, but by the time Max was a third of the way through his story, she was both.
00000000000
As Cat Grant enjoyed a late drink on her penthouse balcony, she reflected on what happened a few minutes earlier. Eliza had called and confirmed Maggie's participation and also told her that Maggie had not only agreed to help but that she had also taken the news of the President's action to her boss, National City's police chief who in turn had informed the Mayor. And both men had given statements for Maggie to read on air in praise of Supergirl. As she appreciated how Eliza's plan seemed to be coming together, her phone rang. It was Eve Tessmacher.
"Oh, Miss Grant, I'm sorry to call so late, but Mr. Olsen has told me that you are coming back to CatCo."
"Yes, Eve, I am. Is that a problem?"
"No, and yes, I'm afraid. No, because it will be great for CatCo, and yes, because I'm resigning. I've been working part-time with Dr. Luther on one of her L-Corp projects on my own time, and now she needs me in a full-time support role."
"I'm sorry to see you go. You're a good assistant."
"Maybe, but I'm a better biochemist, and that's what Dr. Luthor needs."
"When will you leave?" Cat asked.
"Immediately, I'm afraid. I gave formal notice to CatCo though Dr. Luthor two weeks ago."
"Then, best wishes for your time at L-Corp."
"Thank you, Miss Grant," and Eve was gone.
Cat frowned as she hung up the phone: finding a new assistant was never fun, but then she grinned as she dialed another number. At least she could make it easy for herself on her first day back.
"Hello, Miss Grant," said the surprised voice in her ear, "I heard you resigned from the White House today."
"Yes, Keira, I did, and I'm coming back to CatCo," she replied, "but Eve Tessmacher has resigned, effective immediately, so I'm afraid I'll need to take you off reporting duties tomorrow to help me get back up to speed. I'll come in as a visitor at 9 am and meet you at your office. The board meeting that will make it official will start at 9:30."
"That's fine, Miss Grant. I'll clear you with the security desk and get you your latte from Noonan's on the way in. And it will be good to have you back. Lena Luthor's done a great job improving the administrative side, but with Snapper having that heart attack just before he was due to return, we need you in editorial."
With that, Cat Grant's world returned to normal. Except that it hadn't, and she knew it.
The next day
At 8:45, Kara Danvers arrived in her office, put the piping hot Noonan's latte on her desk, sat down in her chair and fidgeted. She knew what her foster mother had told Cat the day before, and Eliza had told her what Cat had said in reply. But that was not the same thing as Cat talking to Kara directly. Kara knew that her mentor could use her tongue like a buzz saw. And Kara had lied to her. That, she knew, was unforgivable.
Fifteen minutes later, Kara froze as she heard a familiar heartbeat come towards her door. As she opened it, with the latte in her other hand, she found Cat Grant standing with arm upraised ready to knock.
"Good morning Miss Grant, here's your latte, come in." she said.
"Thank you, Keira," her mentor said. She took the latte, walked into the office, and shut the door. "We have to talk."
"Miss Grant, I'm so sorry . . ." Kara began.
Cat put up her hand. "Or rather, I have to talk, so stop talking right now, Kara Danvers. Don't say a word until I finish this."
Kara stopped mid-word..
"Thank you. I owe you my job, I owe you my life twice over, and most important, Kara, I also owe you Carter's life. So, we forget that you lied to me to keep your family out of the spotlight since, as I told Eliza, I don't see how anyone in your position could have possibly done anything else. And I have also learned that, aside from losing your home, you have also your earth father because you made a perfectly understandable and innocent mistake when you were a young girl and were unfamiliar with your new surroundings. Not to mention the fact that you had to kill your uncle, and you had to endure your aunt dying in your presence. I don't know anyone to whom life has been crueler than it has been to you. What amazes me is that despite all these disasters, none of which were your fault, you have remained kind, loyal and the unstinting help of earth's people. Someday, my dear, you'll have to tell me how you do it. And Kara," she smiled as she saw the girl give an ineffective swipe at her eyes, "since I'm not officially back yet, this may be the one time you'll ever be allowed to cry at CatCo during working hours. Feel free to make the most of it."
Kara managed a goofy half-grin before turning away, grabbing a Kleenex, and wiping her eyes. The two women sat in silence for a few moments until another knock sounded at the door.
"I'd better get that Miss Grant," Kara said. When she opened the door, a dark-haired woman in an elegant blue outfit stood in the doorway.
"Ieiu, I'm so glad you're here. Thank you for coming. Come in." As the woman entered the room, Kara hugged her. The way she folded into the visitor's body and the look of deep peace that flowed over her face, told Cat everything she needed to know before Kara could utter a word.
"Miss Grant," Kara said as she broke from the hug, "may I introduce Alura Zor-El, formerly the Chief Judicator of Krypton and now Chief Judicator of Argo?" Cat nodded, and Kara continued, "She is also my mother. Ieiu this is Cat Grant, my employer, a most valued mentor, and my friend."
Cat had never felt so humble in her life. She had to swallow twice before she could find her voice. "I'm pleased to meet you, Chief Judicator, but I'm afraid I must ask you to wait here for a few minutes since Kara and I have a meeting we mustn't be late for. We'll talk when we get back. But I must say this right now: your daughter is a great credit to Krypton and Argo, and she has been a tremendous beacon of hope for a great many people all around the world, not to mention the person who singlehandedly saved the lives of everyone on this planet. Thank you for raising her as you did."
"Thank you, Miss Grant. My husband and I may have given her a good start, but it was Dr. Eliza Danvers, who did the hardest part of the job. And I don't mind waiting alone for a few of your minutes. I'm still adjusting to being back on this planet."
As she filed the Kryptonian's remark for later reference, Cat gestured to Kara to lead the way out of the room.
0000000000
With the board meeting successfully adjourned, Cat motioned to Kara, and they left the boardroom and returned to Kara's office where her mother was waiting. Then the three women moved to the executive floor and walked toward the CEO's office.
As they arrived, Cat stopped by Kara's old desk.
"Kara, please call the White House Press Office and tell them that Walt Robertson is down with laryngitis, that I'm hosting This Evening tonight, and that I'm changing the guest list. I'll be substituting Maxwell Lord and Dr. Elizabeth Danvers for Senator Feinberg and Congressman Shifton. Then call the Senator and the Congressman and let them know they won't be needed. And while you're doing all that, I'll call Walt myself and tell him about that nasty laryngitis that will be keeping him at home. After that, I need to talk to you and your mother about tonight."
0000000000
With her calls completed a few minutes later, Kara walked into her mentor's office. Since Cat had only one call to make, she was already done and waiting for her. Planning her mother's contribution to the upcoming interview took only a few minutes. Introducing Cat and her mother to the new Cisco Ramon broaches Kara had for them and showing them how to use them took only a few minutes more. As they finished the final details, Cat turned to Kara.
"Kara, please make a lunch reservation for 12:30 today for two at L'Auberge. I'd like to introduce your mother to some good French cooking. And that will give you some time to meet your friend Lena Luther. Yes, I know about your lunch dates with your favorite source."
Kara had opened her mouth at her boss' second sentence to object. At her third, she shut it again. Which prompted an amused Alura to raise a pointed eyebrow in Kara's direction.
"And, in the meantime, Chief Judicator," Cat continued, "I'll need your daughter's help for the next couple of hours. You can wait on my balcony if you like, or you can wait in Kara's office."
"Thank you, Miss Grant," Alura replied, "but I think I would like to walk around the area and look around. The last time I was here, I was too busy for sightseeing. Should I be back by 12:00 or 12:15?"
"12:15 will be fine, Ieiu," Kara said, as she caught Cat's signal and walked her mother out of Cat's office, took her to the elevator, hugged her again, and returned to her old desk. While she was waiting for Cat to call for assistance, she placed a quick call to Lena to confirm that she would be free for lunch.
0000000000
"Hello, Kara," Lena Luthor said as her favorite reporter walked into her office, "How are you this fine day?"
"I'm very worried about something."
"What's wrong?"
"Can you keep this a deep background conversation for the next few days? After that, you can shout it to the world if you want to."
That took Lena aback. James had told her what the term deep background meant: information given to a reporter that could never be repeated. She looked into her friend's eyes, saw the fear in them, and nodded.
"And can you answer one question; where will you be tonight at 7:45?"
"Here, working. As you know, my paper chase never stops. Why?"
"Because someone will call or email you around that time and you'll need to do what they ask you to do. Don't worry; it won't be anything illegal, immoral, or fattening." Kara tried to grin. Her attempt was not successful.
"Kara, you're starting to get me worried; what's going on?"
"I made a bad mistake a couple of years ago, and I didn't tell you something then that I should have. Telling you then would have meant a change in our friendship, telling you now risks blowing it up entirely, but you are going to learn it very soon, and I can't let you learn it from anyone but me. It's something Eliza, Alex, and some other people know because they were told by others or found out in various ways, but I, personally, have told this to only one other person ever."
"Did you do something wrong?" Lena said.
"Not in a general sense. But you may think that keeping this information from you counts as wrong. But before I tell you what this information is, I want to tell you why I've kept it to myself. What I'm going to say next is something you will hear confirmed later from other, unbiased sources, but to make a long story short, this information I want to tell you has proved to be very dangerous to the people who know it. It triggered the twelve-year disappearance of my adoptive father, Jeremiah Danvers who we believed dead for almost all of that time. And if he is now really dead, as he very well could be, this information will have played a key role in killing him. And last year somebody who shouldn't have had this information but had it anyway, came within ten seconds of killing Alex as a direct result. So if I had ever told anybody what I am about to tell you, my action would have increased the potential risk of harm to Alex and Eliza and I have had to take that risk very seriously. Now, I know you wouldn't tell anyone deliberately. But when the number of people who know something increases, the likelihood of that information getting to people who shouldn't have it also increases."
"After all the times' industrial espionage types have targeted L-Corp, I can't disagree with you there. But are you sure you want to tell me even now?" Lena asked, "If it risks putting Alex and your Mom into more of that kind of danger, I don't mind not knowing."
"That's generous of you. But you need to know this. And you also need to know the other reason I've kept my mouth shut."
"And that is?" Lena asked.
"I'm selfish,"
Lena chuckled and raised her eyebrows. "You're kidding."
"No, I mean it. Here's why," Kara replied, "As I said, this is something that is not to my discredit in general, but knowing it does make a big change in how people relate to me. And while it is something that is a part of me, it wasn't always a part of me. So, even though I've had it for some years now, I still think of this thing as you might think of a coat: something you put on and you take off."
"What does this have to do with me?" Lena asked.
"Because you've been the one person who knows me without the coat and who likes me as I am without the coat. Everybody else in my private life knows about the coat and I see how knowing about the coat changes how they deal with me because I knew a few of them before they knew about the coat and after they knew about it. And I'm weak enough that I can't wear the coat all the time. I need a place where I can just be me–without the coat. And you, Lena Luthor, have been that place for me, and for that, no matter what happens next, I can't thank you enough. Because you've been the friend the real me has desperately needed in these last few years. And because I needed you not to know about it, I was selfish and didn't tell you about my coat. But as I said before, it will soon be public knowledge and I can't let you hear it from anyone else."
"Then you'd better tell me, hadn't you?"
"Yes," Kara said, "It's best to start with my original name. It was Kara Zor-El before the Danvers' adopted me."
"Zorel? Is that Swiss or German?" Lena asked.
"Neither," Kara replied as she took a deep breath and visibly forced herself to look her friend in the eye, "It's Kryptonian."
The word hung in the room.
Until Kara reached up, let down her hair, and took off her glasses.
And Lena Luthor found herself staring into the terrified eyes of Supergirl.
"Oh, my god . . . "