Author's Note: Hello!? Is anyone still out there? I know it has been a hot minute but I'm trying to get this story back on track, starting with a monthly posting schedule. For those of you who are fans of the original, I promise to end this story as strongly and give our beloved Sanvers the happy ending they deserve but first... we gotta take care of Reign and save Sam!


There were times when Maggie missed the way their life was before; on days when the bureaucracy and xenophobia and homophobia all piled onto her small shoulders.

On days like that, she would long to rush home to Alex, pack a few day's worth of clothes and take their bikes up the coast for a weekend away.

No worries, no DEO, hopefully, no alien attacks.

But then she would stumble through her front door, to the warmth and giggles of her little family, and all such thoughts would fade away.

Because Alex, usually covered in watercolors or building blocks or whatever activity Rowan had decided upon, would greet her with a blinding smile.

And Rowan would beam up at Maggie with dimples identical to her own, before throwing herself into Maggie's arms like she hadn't just seen her a few hours ago.

In that moment, all thoughts of their previous life would fade away and Maggie would be filled with overwhelming gratitude that she hadn't let fear stand in the way of building this family.

And now, even when they were forced to take refuge in the home of their enemy, Maggie couldn't help but feel grateful that at the very least, they had each other. She pulled her daughter closer, taking in the smell that was undeniably HER as the giggling pair snuck to the kitchen to make Alex breakfast.

The agent needed all the sleep she could get these days, consumed by the desire to save Sam and protect her family. Maggie understood Alex's concerns, shared them even without the advanced medical background necessary to solve this particular set of problems.

Alex was determined to save the world and Maggie was determined to support her in any way she could.

Even if that only meant letting the agent sleep in while she wrangled their rambunctious toddler to make smiley face pancakes in the ridiculously lavish Luthor kitchen.

Maggie plopped Rowan down on the huge marble countertop as she set about gathering her supplies.

"What you doing, Mama?" Rowan asked sweetly, tiny socked feet kicking softly against the cabinets and warm, chocolate eyes tracking her mother's every move.

"I'm getting all the things we need to make Ieiu a yummy breakfast. Do you want to help?"

"Yeah!" Rowan exclaimed loudly, making Maggie glad the spacious kitchen was far from the room they were staying in.

"What shall we make?" Maggie made a big show of thinking the problem over even as she placed the box of pancake mix directly next to her daughter.

Rowan's eyes grew wide as she hugged the box to her little chest. "Dees Mama! Let's make dees!"

Maggie couldn't help but laugh as her daughter practically vibrated with excitement.

"Okay, okay," Maggie swooped her daughter and the box off the counter. "Let's make some pancakes!"


The feel of Reign's boot pressing into her chest was sickening in its familiarity but there was little Alex could do about it. Even with her new-and-improved Kryptonite suit, even with the combined efforts of the Super Friends, Reign continued to dominate.

Blood red eyes shone ever brighter as the murderous Kryptonian leaned in close. "This has been…amusing," Reign purred near her ear, a voice so similar to Sam's but so foreign. "You were never going to win. Samantha is gone and you and the false god you call a sibling will go to your graves knowing you failed her."

Alex continued to struggle even though Kara lay in a crumpled heap a few feet away and their only other backup was valiantly trying to help the innocent people who had been caught in the crossfire. She could feel the heat leaking from Reign's eyes and it reminded her of all the times Kara had half-heartedly threatened to laser her face off for the last potsticker.

With Reign hovering menacingly above her, the threat suddenly felt very real.

Reign was toying with her and there was little Alex could do but wait for the villain to tire of this game. The kryptonite sword pinned beneath her had been a long shot at best but had proved utterly useless against her former friend.

She had failed and now there was no one left to protect Maggie, Kara, her mom or most importantly…her little girl.


Alex bolted upright in the large bed, eyes wild and limbs flailing!

The sheets clung to the sweat still lingering on her skin and it took several moments for the agent to orient herself. An excited giggle from the hallway brought her back to the present.

She was safe, or relatively so, with her family, in The Luthor Family's heavily-concealed mansion. She hadn't failed, not yet, and after that horrific nightmare she was more determined than ever not to do so.

Another muffled giggle from the hall signaled her daughter just beyond the door, no doubt waiting to surprise her. Alex quickly pulled on a hoodie and prepared herself mentally to greet the little one.

She cleared her throat and spoke up loudly. "Gee, I wonder where Maggie and Rowan went? I woke up all alone!"

The giggling outside the door intensified and she knew her daughter had heard her. The door swung open quickly, saving her from another subpar acting performance, as her daughter barreled into the room!

"Ieiu! We's here!" Rowan declared, tiny socked feet nearly slipping on the polished wood as she charged toward the bed.

Alex's quick reflexes had her leaning off the bed to scoop her daughter up just as the little one lost her balance. "Hey munchkin!" She greeted Rowan with a tight hug, quickly covering her tiny face with kisses!

Rowan giggled and squealed but made no real move to escape. Out of the corner of her eye, Alex saw Maggie slip in behind their daughter, a soft smile on her face as she watched the pair wrestle on the bed.

"Hey you." Maggie strolled toward the bed, leaning over Alex to place a gentle kiss on her lips.

Alex couldn't stop the dopey smile that spread across her face at the sight of her future wife. "Hi."

"Feeling better, baby? I haven't seen you that exhausted since we first started dating. You had me worried." Maggie's voice held more than a hint of concern.

"A good night's sleep was just what the detective ordered." Alex joked lightly, trying to set Maggie at ease. "Thanks for forcing me to sleep in a bit. My head feels much clearer though I am starving. Do I smell pancakes?"

"Yeah!" Rowan practically screeched in her mother's ear. "We makes them for you!"

"Well then I have to go eat ALL of them!" Alex exclaimed flinging back the covers at the same time as she hoisted her daughter onto one shoulder. "Pancakes just for me!"

"No, Ieiu, saves some for us!" Rowan squealed in delight, dangling from her ankles as Alex trundled towards the kitchen, Maggie hovering close behind even though she knew Alex would never drop their child.

Twenty minutes later, the trio were tucking into their breakfast plates when a sleep-rumpled Lena entered the room. She was wearing one of Maggie's battered NCPD sweatshirts over a pair of leggings with her bare feet shuffling along the floor. Her hair was piled haphazardly atop her head and her pout nearly rivaled Rowan's!

"Coffee, Little Luthor?" Maggie offered, even as she was already filling a large mug with the precious elixir.

"Please…" Lena all but moaned as she immediately took a sip from the oversized cup. Taking a moment to let the caffeine soak into her veins, the young woman immediately turned her attention to the toddler practically vibrating with excitement at the sight of one of her favorite people. "Good morning, moi chroi!"

"Leelee!" Rowan squealed as she reached for Lena with sticky, syrup-covered fingers.

Thankful to not have to risk her normal couture to a sugary fate, Lena quickly scooped the grinning child into her arms before setting her on her hip. "How are you this morning?"

"Me and mama makes pancakes!" Rowan declared, dragging a syrup filled plate towards Lena. "It's yummy!" the toddler declared as she brought a dripping fork to Lena's mouth, a fork quickly intercepted by Alex!

"Woah, munchkin! Let's let Leelee get her own pancake, okay?"

The toddler huffed a bit but allowed Lena to set her down on the counter as she was handed a dry pancake on a clean plate along with the half empty bottle of syrup. Lena took both gratefully, pausing to press a gentle kiss to the child's hairline before digging into her own breakfast.

"Where's Ruby?" She asked after a few bites, noting the older girl's absence.

Maggie laughed lightly before answering. "She ate hours ago! It's almost noon, Lena, if anything she should be about to take a lunch break from school soon."

Lena gaped at the small Latina as Alex snorted in the background. "Noon? I don't think I've ever slept that long! My mother would never allow us to stay in bed past seven am. Something about Luthors being great and how greatness never sleeps."

The mere mention of Lillian Luthor, even in passing, was like a bucket of ice water thrown on Alex, leeching all the warmth from the room; leaving behind the cold truth.

No matter how many smiley face pancakes or bedtime stories she shared with her little family, there was always some evil lurking in the wings.

And she would do what needed to be done. Throw herself into the fray and come back with more scars, more broken bones.

Except, Alex wasn't sure how much more abuse she could take.

She had yet to fully heal from her last run-in with Reign and despite the DEO's best efforts, was still nursing a limp.

Most days she could disguise it well enough but there were times when the pain broke through her vanity and someone would notice.

She'd be shooed off to the Med-bay for a shot or a pill and then sent back out to fight.

Like sticking your finger in a dam.

There were only so many patches to be made before she could no longer protect her family.

Alex bolted from her chair, the reality of their situation crashing down on her with too much force to keep her still.

She rushed down the hallway unaware of the shocked faces she left behind, her daughters tiny voice crying out for her.

She needed air and this place was suffocating. Spotting a door at the end of the hall, Alex burst through it relieved to find only fresh air and a plush lawn on the other side.

There was no danger of anyone spotting her as she could hear the faint buzz of the force field concealing their location.

She clasped her hands behind her head and took as many cleansing breaths as she could manage. Alex had no idea how long she stood there before a gentle hand found its way to her lower back.

Alex sagged into the touch, knowing without looking that her fiancée had come to check on her and relishing the grounding effect.

"I don't want this for her." Alex whispered, chin dropping to her chest. "I don't want this for our daughter."

"What, Alex?" Maggie asked softly, rubbing gentle circles on the agent's back.

"This!" Alex exclaimed, startling Maggie as she gestured wildly. "ALL of this! The fighting and the world-ending and the loss… I don't want that for her."

The agent turned to face her future wife, framing the smaller woman's face with her hands.

"I don't want this life for her. Hell, I never even wanted it for Kara but she had to go put on that damn crest and every asshole from here to the Milky Way came running. We haven't stopped fighting since. I don't want that for Ro."

Maggie moved to respond but Alex wasn't done, seemingly needing to get it all out before she lost her nerve.

"And I know, I know she's an alien in a world where that isn't always accepted. But at least she can live a normal life, decide who she wants to be without our 'legacy' hanging over her head."

"Just once, I'd like to be like every other citizen. Have dinner with my family and have no idea the world was coming to an end. Let the proper authorities handle it."

"Alex," Maggie sighed taking Alex's hands in her own. "Babe we ARE the proper authorities."

The agent scoffed and pulled away; hands balled in frustration. "And what if I don't want to be that anymore?"

"Alex, what are you saying?"

"I don't know…"

"Babe, it sounds like you want to leave the DEO?" Maggie asked gently, surprised by her mate's admission.

Alex sighed, turning to face Maggie once more. "Let's just figure how to deal with Lillian for now. Then we can get Sam back and—"

"Babe," Maggie cut in. "Don't you think we should discuss this more?"

"Yes, yeah." Alex agreed. "But not now…I didn't want to dump all that on you… it just all came out and—"

"Hey! Hey!" Maggie grabbed Alex's face gently. "Ride or die, Danvers. You don't have to hide from me. We'll focus on the problem at hand but we WILL come back to this, okay?"

"Okay."

"I love you." Maggie vowed, pressing their foreheads gently together.

"I love you too…" Alex sighed, unable to fully let go of her worry.

Maggie could still feel the tension rolling off Alex, the redhead's muscles pulled tight beneath her hands. She drew Alex tighter against her chest, relishing in the way the taller woman sank into her, nose gently brushing her neck as Alex gradually relaxed.

Neither woman knew how long they stayed intertwined but a strong gust of wind from above signaled Kara's return and with it, the pressing need to get back to the problem at hand.

Sighing in resignation, Alex pulled away, gently intertwining her hand with Maggie's as she headed back indoors, ready to take the weight of the world once more.


Lena and J'onn were already in the lab with Kara when Alex and Maggie joined them. Lena had their latest simulations pulled up on the wall-sized monitor ready to compare their data to whatever Kara had managed to find in the archives at the fortress.

Ruby had taken Rowan after breakfast to watch Tangled, one of the few Disney films the toddler hadn't seen, with a promise to keep the little one occupied until the adults emerged from the lab.

"What did you find out at the fortress?" Alex asked her sister, eyes wide with anticipation.

"Not much and I don't know if any of it will be helpful" Kara began, frustration seeping into her tone. "There were a few vague prophecies about Reign and some references to a substance called Harun-el that may or may not be able to stop her."

"Kara," Lena asked timidly, scared to hope she might be on to something. "Did you happen to get a good look at the formula for this substance?"

The Kryptonian's answering smile told the young heiress all she needed to know before Kara even began digging in her blazer pocket.

"I downloaded everything that seemed relevant on a data crystal as well as some other formulas that might be useful. It's been ages since I've synthesized anything but I figured you two might be able to make something out of it." Kara rattled off the information casually as she plugged the crystal into Lena's CPU, reminding everyone present that science had once been her chosen path in life.

Lena hurriedly scribbled the formula across the labs smart board before stepping back with a gasp.

"That son of a bitch." She whispered to no one in particular.

"Who's a son of a—" Alex began to ask before she finally recognized the formula as well. "Is that…?"

"Kryptonite." Lena confirmed quietly. "But a different strain with different properties."

"You've worked with this before?" Alex turned to Lena, trying to keep her judgmental tone at bay. She trusted Lena, they all did, even with something as precious and deadly as kryptonite.

Lena answered the question with a shaky nod. "I've done some research with it but I wasn't the one who discovered it."

"Lex." J'onn hissed moving from the corner he was brooding in. "Did he discover it for Cadmus?"

"No. My brother had his own designs, though I'm sure my mother has gotten her hands on at least some of his research since his incarceration."

"More reason for us to get to Sam first." Alex concluded with a grimace. "Kar, what exactly is this type of kryptonite supposed to do to Reign?"

"It was all really cryptic, part of an ancient sect, The Cult of Rao, who believed that Kryptonians are 'dual-souled'. They believed everyone has a good and evil side and the strongest side determines your nature."

She paused for a moment, swiping through the files to find as much information about the legend as she could.

"This sect believed that with Harun-el, the two sides could be separated."

"And then what?" Maggie finally spoke up, as transfixed by the legend as everyone else.

"Then the…undesirable side could be…destroyed."

"That's fantastic!" Maggie exclaimed before taking in the somber faces around her. "Why don't you guys look happy?"

Alex sighed before answering. "There just a lot we don't know, Mags. We don't even know how to synthesize the Harun-el or how much we would need? Or if this legend is based in fact at all?"

"I can."

Alex turned to Lena with a quizzical expression. "You can what, Lee?"

"Synthesize the Harun-el," she began before rambling on. "Its base formula is identical to green kryptonite and it's other off-color counterparts. It would be a simple matter to alter the formula to produce this particular strain. But there are other factors to consider…"

"Such as?" J'onn asked, arms crossed tightly across his chest.

"According to Lex's research…Harun-el or Black Kryptonite as he called it, possessed fantastical healing properties but," Lena paused gauging her audience. "There were some very interesting side effects. Mainly…superhuman abilities."

Lena let her statement hang in the air before Maggie spoke up.

"Let me get this straight…black kryptonite splits Kryptonians in two but makes humans super?"

"If you wanted to put it plainly…yes." Lena responded in exasperation. "But according to my research there's no way to know what intensity of abilities one would develop nor how long they would last."

"What about separating Sam from Reign?" Alex asked, worried the answer would be as expected.

"I've not had the chance to even begin to research it but from what we currently know, I believe we could successfully separate the two…"

"But?" Alex pushed when she noticed Lena holding back.

"But there's a good chance that Sam may not survive the separation either." Lena finished sadly.

"Then we need to figure out how to raise those odds." Alex declared with a tilt of her chin. "We promised Ruby we would do everything we could to bring Sam home so let's do it. Which also means," she turned to Lena with a grimace. "It's time to make that call."

"Before we ring up 'mommy dearest'," Kara began before turning to Lena. "No offense."

"None taken." Lena assured her with a small smile.

"Wouldn't it be easier to synthesize the Harun-El if you had a sample to compare it against?" Kara asked, taking in the stunned faces of those around her. "What? I was part of the Science Guild, remember?"

Alex was the first to break out of her stupor. "Kar! That's brilliant! Except for where the hell are we gonna find a sample on Earth?"

"You won't." Lena piped in as she pulled up her brother's research on the large monitor before them. "Lex found only a small sample and promptly burned it up on unethical experimentation. After that, all he had at his disposal was synthetic Kryptonite and he was never able to replicate the results."

"What about samples not on Earth?" Kara asked, sliding next to Lena to pull up the chemical makeup of the substance. "We could scan the surrounding galaxy for any traces of it and mine it with J'onn's ship."

The Martian cracked a small smile for the first time that day. "It's worth a shot. The DEO's interplanetary sensors should be able to pick up the chemical signature if it's out there and at maximum warp, we could get to most places and back in under three days."

"Then it's settled." Alex surmised, casting a glance at Maggie who nodded quickly. "We're headed back to the DEO. There's no sense in hiding here since Lillian already knows where we are. Which means Reign probably knows too."

"How would Reign know?" Lena was startled by the agent's statement.

Alex fixed her with a knowing look before answering. The youngest Luthor looked more like a harried college student than a CEO at the moment, clearly dreading the confirmation of what she had already suspected.

"Lena, Sam is your CFO. Her job is to know where the money's going and why." Alex paused to let her words sink in. "A property this size must cost a fortune to maintain and I'm willing to bet no matter how you tried to hide it, Sam could follow that money trail. She may not know exactly what's here but she'd be suspicious. It wouldn't take much for her to put two and two together, especially after we left the city."

"So why hasn't she come here?" Maggie asked, fighting the urge to run to her daughter and hold her close.

"I don't know." Alex answered with a defeated shrug. "But our best bet is to start working with the Harun-El while we're off her radar. I have a feeling that wherever she is and whatever she's up to, it's not going to be good for us or the city."


In less than two hours, the Danvers-Sawyer clan, with Ruby and Lena in tow, had made their way back to DEO headquarters. Ruby had been more than willing to go with Vasquez when the agent promised her access to one of the private viewing rooms to watch her favorite soccer team in the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Rowan had a death grip on her mother's neck, still picking up on Alex's anxiety from earlier in the day and having not enjoyed the chopper ride back to the city in the least. Six months ago, it would have been unheard of for a child to be in the command center and no agent would have believed badass Assistant Director Danvers could ever be…soft.

Now, not a single agent even took a second look as Alex, clad in full uniform, prowled the main console, typing in calculations with one hand, pausing occasionally to adjust the sleepy toddler in her grip. Maggie stayed nearby, ready to whisk the little one away as soon as she succumbed to her drowsiness.

Kara, too, hung around the area even though she had little to offer at the moment besides anxious glances in Lena's direction and nervous tugging at her supersuit. The youngest Luthor, like Alex and Kara, had changed into something more DEO appropriate trading her soft PJs for a cashmere sweater and tailored slacks. Not her usual boardroom look, but one that still seemed to catch Kara's eye.

Bored with trying to follow the mountain of calculations Alex, Winn and Lena were currently running through the DEO's servers, Maggie decided to have a bit of fun with her future sister-in-law.

"You didn't recognize the formula for Kryptonite, Little D?" Maggie asked quietly, a hint of humor in her voice.

"Uh, no." Kara's voice held only annoyance. "I mean, of course, I recognized some of the elements as part of Krypton's atmosphere. But my relationship with Kryptonite is more avoidance than scientific exploration, Maggie."

The detective had to admit that made sense.

Growing up on her parent's farm, there had been an old barn cat that sent her into violent sneezing fits every time it crossed her path. 12-year-old Maggie hadn't been interested in the why, she'd simply given the surly animal a wide berth.

"Makes sense to me, Little D." Maggie assured the younger woman and was relieved when Kara's rigid posture instantly melted. "I wasn't trying to upset you; just lighten the mood I guess."

Kara melted a little further at Maggie's murmured explanation. "It's okay, Maggie. I'm sorry I'm so edgy. It's just…Lena and I were supposed to talk when I got back from the fortress but then we started researching the Harun-El. And now we're back at the DEO and Lena is working on tracking down the chemical signature…and she seems fine but we haven't…talked, you know?"

"So go talk to her now." Maggie bumped her shoulder playfully into her sister-in-law. "It's obviously bothering you, both of you, so just go talk to her. I know we're saving the world and all that but sometimes, Supergirl needs to make way for Kara. If you wanna fix things with Little Luthor, there's no time like the present."

"You're right. Thanks, Maggie!" The tall blonde pulled Maggie into a bone-crushing hug that lifted the tiny detective off her feet.

Kara was gone before Maggie even registered the movement, having made her way over to Lena with a shy smile.

"Can we, um, talk? I, mean if it's a good-"

"Yes!" Lena exclaimed before Kara could continue rambling. "I mean, now is good for me." The young woman finished in a less frantic tone.

Kara's blinding smile assured her that she didn't mind Lena's rambling at all as she gently led her from the Command Center. Lena caught Alex's eye as she passed but the elder woman just waved her on distractedly as she checked over Winn's calculations ready to transfer the droopy toddler on her hip to her fiancée at a moment's notice.

Neither Kara nor Lena noticed Alex watching them go with a soft smile on her face.


Kara led Lena over to the DEO's spacious balcony, the view of National City from so far up always of comfort to her. She leaned against the railing, gaze on the horizon as she gathered her thoughts, Lena's soft cardigan brushing against her as the younger woman took up a similar stance.

Lena surprised them both by speaking first, the topic seemingly pulled from thin air.

"Why didn't you pursue a scientific career? You clearly have an aptitude for it." She kept her voice soft, free of judgment.

Kara fidgeted for a moment, hands moving to adjust her glasses before realizing she wasn't wearing them. Taking a deep breath, she tried to think of a way to answer the question.

"My dad," she began quietly, unable to meet Lena's eyes. "My dad, Zor-El was a brilliant scientist. He was my hero and I wanted so badly to be just like him. And then, one day, he was gone and I was…so lost."

Kara paused for a moment as she finally met Lena's eyes, so soft and caring.

"When I met Jeremiah, he was so much like my dad. Kind and understanding and so passionate about science. It felt like having my dad back in a way. And then, he was gone too."

Kara shrugged, wrapping her arms tightly around herself as she turned to face Lena fully, eyes shining with unshed tears.

"After I found out all the terrible things they both ended up doing, science never felt…right. I think that's why Alex threw herself into field work instead of staying in the lab. I think it reminds her too much of Jeremiah."

Lena nodded lightly, more than familiar with the complicated emotions that accompanied the loss of a parent. The silence stretched long and Kara rushed to fill it.

"When you told me about the kryptonite, I felt that same sense of dread. That someone I loved was letting their scientific ambitions take them down a dark path. And I let those feelings cloud my judgment, let doubt creep in."

Lena was slightly startled by the other woman's confession.

Kara had said she loved her more times than the youngest Luthor could even count, but she always took the statement with a grain of salt. After all, Kara loved potstickers and rom-com's and pretty much anything small and furry. There was clearly genuine love between the Danvers sisters, a love that now extended to the precious child that was a near mirror image of her mothers.

But even when Kara showed up for Lena time and again, she had trouble believing the depth of Kara's emotion. And this latest disagreement had reopened emotional wounds Lena had long thought healed; wounds she couldn't just ignore no matter how badly she wished to be close to Kara again.

Kara took a deep breath as she gently pulled Lena's hands into her own. "I'm sorry about, well everything, really. But mostly about not trusting you. I want us to get back to where we were before."

Kara had expected an instant answer, that Lena would throw her arms around her neck and all would be right in the world. Instead, Lena worried her bottom lip and looked everywhere but at Kara.

"I appreciate the apology, Kara but…someone I…respect," Lena swallowed harshly, hazarding a glance at Alex across the command center she considered her next words and the consequences that might follow. "Told me recently that my feelings were valid and that I needn't offer forgiveness out of obligation." She paused, letting her words sink in. "You hurt me Kara, deeply, and while I have strong feelings for you too…we can't simply pick up where we left off. I can't."

"You need time." The superhero surmised, disappointed but not surprised. "Because I broke your trust in me and that will take time to earn back. I'm willing to do whatever it takes Lena, even if that means taking…a step back…"

The last few words physically hurt Kara to say. More distance from Lena was the absolute last thing she wanted but if it was what the other woman needed, Kara would simply have to suck it up.

"I'm glad you recognize that this is my decision Kara, just as it was yours to behave the way you have." Lena tilted her chin forward, steeling herself to express to Kara exactly how she was feeling. "I have been hurt, time and again by people who claim to love me. I never thought you would be one of them. And, if we are to move forward at some point, it will be on my timetable."

"Lee…" Kara's tone was contrite, just edging on whiny but the youngest Luthor would not be swayed.

"Those are my terms." Lena concluded arms crossed, chin out. "If you truly want us to build something together, then you will respect my boundaries."

"Well, well. Perhaps there is a Luthor in there after all." Both young women were startled to find Lillian Luthor ascending the steps to the balcony, with J'onn and several DEO agents trailing cautiously behind.

"What are you doing here, mother?" Lena faced down the elder Luthor with rage in her eyes, posture rigid as she stood between Kara and the older woman.

"Your window expired." Lillian explained simply, brushing invisible lint off her pristinely tailored suit jacket. "When you were no longer at the compound, it didn't take a leap of logic to guess where you'd scurried off to."

"And you just walked into the DEO?" Alex demanded, coming around to flank Lillian, weapon drawn. Maggie and Rowan were noticeably absent as the agent positioned herself directly in front of Lena and Kara.

Lillian met Alex's cold stare with cool determination. "You know why I've come. So, Alexandra…do we have a deal?"