The Return Chapter 329, a supergirl fanfic

"Is having two teens that bad?" Ruby asked Alex the next morning.

"What?" Alex asked.

"You are looking a little stressed. Are the teenage duo getting to you?"

"Not really. I haven't really seen them. Alex had gone to school before breakfast and MJ was barely getting out of bed when I left."

"Alex is way too enthusiastic about school." Ruby commented. "Or your cooking is worse than I remember."

"Was that you volunteering for probationary recruit sitting?" Alex asked.

"I'm going to get back to my paperwork." Ruby said walking off. Shaking her head Alex walked to the briefing room where some of her team were waiting.

"This doesn't look good." Alex said. "You guys never turn up early."

"We have something." Vasquez said. "We have been looking into the recent spate of alien attacks. And all of them show signs of having taken some sort of drug. It looks like the same drug."

"There's one drug that works on everyone?" Alex asked confused.

"No exactly. What we think is the drug contains nanotech that turns on activators depending on species. It is almost as if the nanotech optimises the drug on the fly."

"Nano tech?" Alex asked looking surprised.

"Yes. Which may be traceable, although completely outside our area. Are you okay if we consult Lena?"

"Sure, she should have got back last night."

"Want me to handle it?" Harris asked.

"No I want to see her anyway. Give me what you have and I'll take it round."

"Welcome back." Alex said walking into Lena's office.

"Thanks. What brings you here?" Lena asked looking up from her desk.

"I need a favour. Well two actually." Alex said.

"What do you need?" Lena asked sitting back and looking at her friend.

"The first is there is a new drug on the street designed to give aliens powers. It uses nanotech, we were hoping you could help trace it."

"I will do my best." Lena said as Alex put a small case on the desk. "And the other?"

"Kara had to go to Argo to see her mother."

"Is she ill?"

"Yes. I don't know the details yet, but they didn't want to accept our help. While Kara is there Alex is staying with me and MJ, but maybe you could check in on her."

"Of course. She owes me a game of chess anyway." Lena said. "But first I will look at your nanotech."

"Thanks." Alex said. "I should get back to work."

"Are you doing okay?" Lena asked.

"Yes, just trying to work out how to communicate with MJ."

"He is still talking in grunts?" Lena guessed.

"Yes."

"Maybe James could help?"

"James tried calling, but MJ brushed him off." Alex said.

"Have you heard from mom?" The teenage Alex asked as soon as she saw her aunt that evening.

"Yes. She sent this through for you." The older Alex said passing her the holocube.

"Can I go to Argo?"

"I'm afraid not. What your grandmother has is possibly contagious."

"Doesn't that mean mom is in danger?"

"Yes. But it is something she had when she was a kid so she has some immunity. But you don't."

"Is Alura going to be okay?"

"I don't know." The older Alex answered honestly. "But just like you and your mom she's a fighter." She paused before saying. "I know it is hard, but you aren't alone. You can talk to me or MJ. And while you are here, this is your home." She paused and asked. "Where's MJ?"

"Out with Jess."

"So just us then?" The older Alex asked. "In which case why don't you watch the holocube and I'll sort dinner."

"Sure." The teen said unenthusiastically.

"My company isn't that bad." The older Alex pointed out.

"Sorry." The teenage Alex apologised. "I just miss mom."

"I know. So do I, but she'll be back soon demanding pizza and ice cream."

"Lena? Hi." The older Alex said looking up from her desk the next day.

"Hi." Lena said.

"Have you found something?" Alex asked.

"Yes and no. All legitimate nanotech is traceable. However this has no identifiers."

"So we don't know where it came from?" Alex asked.

"Yes and no." Lena said. "On the face of it nothing stands out, but that in itself stands out. I mean the tech that goes into this is unique there should be markers. To have removed all of them takes a lot of effort and energy, we may be able to trace that."

"That's something I guess." Alex said. "Any idea who could be behind it?"

"I've looked at HR records from L-Corp and no one stands out. But it is a booming industry, it could be anyone. It may not even be a US entity."

"Just what we need." Alex sighed.

"Any news from Kara?"

"Not really, just that Alura is in a bad way and she will be gone for a while."

"How did Alex take it?" Lena asked.

"Not well."

"I have something I can't get out of tonight, but I'll catch up with her tomorrow." Lena said.

"Thanks. And that works out well, Alex has chess tonight." Alex smiled.

"Well I'll leave you to it. I'll let you know if I find anything."

"Didn't your shift finish an hour ago?" Alex asked when she saw Harris in the car park.

"Ma'am?" He asked turning. "And yes, but there is something bothering me about this nanotech so I wanted to follow up a lead."

"By yourself?"

"I was just going to drive pass. I mean it is kind of on the way home."

"I'll come with you."

"You don't have to, I really wasn't going to do anything."

"Better safe than sorry. Besides if you do see something and I'm there we can act."

"Don't you need to get home?"

"I doubt anyone will notice, both teens are out tonight." Alex said. "Besides if we are just looking we won't be long."

"Okay. But sorry if this is a waste of time."

"So where are we going?" Alex asked.

"The old meat packing district."

"Lead on, I'll follow." Alex said.

"Have you had mumps?" Vasquez asked Alex the next day.

"Sorry what?" Alex asked looking up.

"Mumps. Have you had them?"

"No, but I'm vaccinated. Why?"

"Harris just called in sick, with mumps. You were one of the people he listed seeing yesterday."

"I'm fine." Alex said.

"You may want to get Alex checked by Lena, just incase something was transmissible."

"Alex? Um, good thinking. Can you arrange it?"

"Sure." Vasquez said, confused she was being tasked with it. "You okay?"

"Yeah, just one of those days where my brain wants to forget all my passwords."

"We've all had those." Vasquez said. "I'll arrange for Lena to test Alex."

"Thanks."

"Is this to do with Alura?" The teenage Alex asked as Lena ran some scans.

"No. Some one at the DEO has gone down with mumps. They had contact with Alex, who had contact with you. You'll probably be immune, but it is best to check." Lena said.

"What's mumps?"

"It's an illness that can be nasty in humans. In you I don't know what it might do, so we just want to make sure you are safe." Lena said drawing some blood before turning off the red lamps. She then took the sample to the far side of the lab and started the testing process. Once it was started she looked over to the teenager and asked.

"How are you doing?"

"Okay."

"Very convincing." Lena said. "It has been ages since we hung out. Assuming this comes back negative, how about we do something tonight?"

"Like what?"

"There is a new exhibit at the science museum, we could go and see it and you can mock humans for being so backwards? Then afterwards we can go some some nice healthy dinner."

"Aren't you busy with work?"

"I'm the boss, no one can complain if I take time off." Lena smiled.

"Except the board." The teen argued.

"True, but I'll just lie to them. So what do you say?"

"Okay." Alex agreed.

"Do you want to invite MJ as well?"

"He'll be out with Jess."

"The infamous girlfriend." Lena recalled. "Your tone implies you don't like her."

"I don't. But MJ does." The teen shrugged. Before Lena could ask anything further there was a bleep. Turning back to the machine she read the results before saying.

"Good news is no mumps." Lena smiled. "So let's go out."

"Shouldn't you be at home?" Ruby asked as she stuck her head into Alex's office.

"What?" Alex asked looking up.

"Shouldn't you be at home with the kids? I mean it is after nine."

"They're out." Alex said. "So thought I'd catch up on the paperwork."

"Anything I can do?"

"No it's fine. Actually yes. If you have time tomorrow can you pull these files from the archive?" Alex said handing her a piece of paper.

"Sure." Ruby said taking the list. "I'll head down to desert site first thing tomorrow."

"Thanks, that will save me some time." Alex replied.

"No problem, let me know if you need anything else."

"I will." Alex said before going back to her computer.

Waking from a nightmare the teenage Alex went down to the kitchen to get a drink. Chewie following loyally behind. As she poured herself some water she heard the front door open and close and she looked down at her watch wondering who was getting back so late.

Turning she saw her aunt enter the kitchen.

"What are you doing up?" The older Alex said as Chewie ran towards her barking.

"Couldn't sleep." The teen said as Chewie kept barking. "Chewie stop." She called before picking him up. "Sssh, you'll wake MJ." She added. As he settled she asked. "Have you heard from mom?"

"No. Sorry. It's late. You should go to bed." The older Alex said leaving the kitchen and heading upstairs.

Looking down at her still agitated dog the teenage Alex said. "I know I miss her too." She then pulled a treat out of the cupboard and fed it to Chewie who seemed appeased.