A/N - The end of the chapter has some inspiration from Grey's from when Cristina was in a similar state (see episode 9x02).
Alex fell to her knees, broken at what was happening before her eyes. It was worse than if Lillian killed either of them right then and there, or if they took her away to join the cause. It was one of the most painful sights Alex had ever seen, standing helpless as Maggie became another one of Cadmus's brainwashed humans. She saw her father in the corner of her eye, carrying the same emotionless expression Maggie now had.
"I'm surprised you found us so quickly without my daughter's help. We purposely drove away and cloaked ourselves so that it would confuse you. Anyway, you do see how this is going to go, right? Join our cause or we'll have to pick our next human. But if you do join us, once this is all over Maggie and Jeremiah here will be all yours, and you can have your whole life ahead of you. Come find me later. I don't think you'll regret it. Let's go."
Maggie, Lillian, Jeremiah and the guards seemed to vanish into thin air. Kara thought to herself that it was the same transmat technology Rhea used to get to Mon-El. It meant that they could be anywhere now.
She pulled her phone out to call Winn. "Winn, it's me. I need some analysts down at the bar. I'm coming back with Alex. I'll have Darla and M'gann meet the rest of the team here."
As soon as Kara hung up, she knelt down beside Alex, who looked like someone who had just lost her world. "Hey. We have to go. Come on, Alex. We're going to find Maggie and Jeremiah. I promise." There was tenderness in Kara's words, and soft, gentle eyes looked at her older sister.
"I can't move, Kara." Alex mumbled, barely audible even with Kara's super hearing. She was still staring at the place where Maggie was a few moments ago.
"I'll help you." Kara slowly lifted her sister up, carrying her bridal style. "Come on, let's go."
Once the pair arrived at the DEO, Alex stood solemnly, hair in her eyes, staring into space. She didn't care about the worried eyes on her or J'onn picking her up and bringing her to the medbay. She couldn't even think about her father, only Maggie, her expression, the way Lillian Luthor had changed it in an instant. No matter what the outcome was, Alex knew her life had changed.
She thought about what Lillian had said, but couldn't bring herself to leave Kara or J'onn. There was no guarantee that if she had joined that they would be safe. No, they probably wouldn't, Alex had thought to herself. Would anyone be safe now? They'll probably kill Dad, Maggie, J'onn and Kara all before they kill me. What am I going to do? Alex put her head in her hands.
Outside of the medbay, J'onn had everyone on duty meet around the center of HQ. Supergirl and Winn stayed in the back listening contently.
"Alright listen up, team. Some of you may know that a revived Cadmus has been confirmed. You all know that Director Danvers was attacked two months ago by Jeremiah Danvers, and less than a week ago we heard the news of what was behind it. Lillian Luthor is back and more dangerous than ever since she knows of our existence. She has powerful means of getting whatever it is that she wants." J'onn cleared his throat. "Just an hour ago, Cadmus has now taken Maggie Sawyer, an ally and more importantly the girlfriend of Director Danvers. They're after her for some reason and we must protect her at all costs so she doesn't lose any more people."
Kara stepped forward. "What we do know is that whatever technology they used to brainwash Jeremiah they used on Maggie and who knows how many other people. They were in something under the alien bar, almost like an operating room, and even the bartenders didn't know about it so we don't know how it got there. That location as well as above ground has to be guarded at all times, so if there's any sign of their return there they won't hurt anyone else. They're also using transmat portals like the ones the Daxamites used. Wi- Agent Schott is going to assemble a team to help see if we can locate anything. Please, help Alex. I know you might not all get along with me but I know you all look up to her. So help us get them home safely, for Alex."
There were murmurs and nods coming from all around the DEO. Everyone agreed that they wanted to help Alex, and that most of them would die for the director. They all knew it was going to be a tough fight, but that they'd get through it.
J'onn spoke again. "Alright, we've given you your assignments through your stations. Let's get to work. The sooner we find them, the sooner we'll know what's going on." He turned around and walked into the medbay to see Alex.
"I need to be out there helping." Alex was still mumbling. She was wrapped in Maggie's NCPD jacket and hadn't looked up from the ground.
"I can't let you do that. You're putting your personal feelings in the way and who knows what could happen then? I can't have you doing anything that will risk your life, Alex."
"What do I do? I can't sit around doing nothing. I should've just gone with them. I should have done whatever they wanted and then we could be home right now. Everything would have gone back to normal."
"There's no guarantee that would have happened. They could have killed us all, you included. I don't know why they're doing this to you but I do know that it's already taken a toll on your health. Kara's going to stay home with you and take care of you for now. You can do other ops work here but I can't let you go into the field for now. It's too risky, I'm sorry."
Alex couldn't do anything but nod. She was still fighting back tears, squeezing her eyes shut and fighting too hard not to let everything out.
Kara came in and sat next to her. "Come on. Let's go home. We'll figure the rest out tomorrow."
"I'll keep you updated. I'm sorry this is happening to you, Alex."
Another two hours had passed and Alex wouldn't move off of Kara's couch. She was cuddling Maggie's jacket, praying that every gust of wind, every siren, anything was a sign that it was all some twisted dream.
Kara had brought Alex to her apartment, helped her shower, change into her pajamas and eat. She knew that Alex wouldn't be able to bear being in her own apartment, just like Maggie when Alex was still in her coma. She could barely do anything, not being able to cope with the new loss. Kara was upset too, losing her surrogate sister, the one she bonded with for so long.
Kara sat next to her sister, pulling her into her chest and cuddling her. They mindlessly watched TV as each of their minds wandered off into different places, thinking about Maggie and Jeremiah, where they might be at, what Cadmus wants with them. Kara had thought about the past couple of hours, how she had to pull Alex away from the sight of Maggie vanishing, how she had to tell James what happened again, how she made the call to Maggie's captain.
"Kara, is everything alright?"
"Um. Not really. We're fine physically but Lillian Luthor and Cadmus are back. They were the ones behind Jeremiah's brainwashing, which you probably heard. Tonight they took Maggie."
"Oh my god. She didn't-"
"No. I think they did the same thing they did to Jeremiah. I just need some more time off to take care of Alex and focus on Supergirl when they show up. I'm sorry."
"Take all the time that you need. Did you call Maggie's captain yet?"
"Not yet. I have to now. I'll call you if we need anything?"
"Yeah, definitely. Let me know. I'll bring Alex some food later."
"Thanks James."
Kara hung up the phone and sighed before dialing the captain of the NCPD Science Division.
"Captain Michaels. How can I help you?"
"Hi Captain. This is Kara Danvers. I uh have to call on behalf of Maggie Sawyer."
"Is she alright?"
"Um, no. Remember when Cadmus had appeared and taken all of the aliens? Well they're currently working to brainwash some humans. They're back again and brainwashed my father. Alex, her girlfriend, she's my sister and he actually was the one who attacked her."
"Oh my god, I'm sorry Kara."
"They're out to get her somehow. They took Maggie tonight. Supergirl is working to find her, but for now I need to know if you'll let her take a leave of absence again. I'm hoping that she'll find her before it's too late."
"Yeah, that's fine. If you can, please keep me updated, and let me know if you need anything."
"I'll try. Thank you, Captain."
Kara hung up the phone and turned to Alex. "Alright, I'm going to help you shower and get ready for bed." She slowly guided Alex into the bathroom and helped her take her clothes off. As she eased her into the tub, Kara thought to herself that Alex was worse now than when she first got home after she was attacked. She knew that Alex was in some kind of state, and hadn't talked to Kara since they got home.
Kara gently took the soapy water and slowly poured it across Alex's back, scarred from all of the times she was fighting aliens or protecting Kara. She started to talk to her sister, gently, quietly. "We're going to find Maggie and Jeremiah and bring them home. You'll help us, I know you will. You'll be stronger when we know what we're up against. I know J'onn's limiting you to ops but you'll be able to fight soon enough."
She slowly tilted Alex's head back, washing her hair. "I know you, Alex. You'll fight to protect everyone you love. You've done it for me, you've risked your life for J'onn, Maggie, Jeremiah, Eliza. You're so strong Alex. You can take all the time that you need. We'll find them soon, I promise. Once we do, you can propose and everything will be normal again hopefully. We all love you and want you to be happy."
Kara sighed deeply. It had been a half hour and she heard Alex's breathing regulate, sleeping. She decided that she would stay up, ready for any nightmares that would arise, not that she'd be able to sleep much herself. She stroked Alex's hair, something she always liked when she actually showed that she was in pain. It hurt Kara to see Alex in this state, not being able to talk, to move, to live.
"I'm here for you. I promise we'll find them soon. I love you and you'll be okay. We're going to stop Cadmus, stop Lillian, and we'll go back to normal DEO business."
For now, Kara had to cherish Alex sleeping peacefully. It wouldn't be easy for either of them in the next few weeks, but everything had to end one way or another. She could only hope that it would be soon, and that she'd be able to keep her promise. It wouldn't be easy, and she knew that there would be bloodshed, but she had to believe that Maggie and Jeremiah would come back alive.
A/N - I'm going to be working again for the next couple of days, so I may not update as fast. Again, thank you for all of your reviews! I promise it will get better with the next few chapters.