A/N: Thanks for the comments.
Jennifer Baratta - Thanks - This chapter will be hard on Kara.
As Alex watched the recordings of what had happened to Kara her temper grew until finally she picked up a stapler and hurled it across the room, smashing a monitor in the process.
"Problem?" Kate asked entering the office.
"Sorry." Alex half apologised for the destruction.
"I'm more worried about you." Kate said. "Want to talk about it?"
"I've been watching what they did to Kara."
"Nothing good." I'm guessing.
"He reminded her I am a complete jerk then he showed her me not turning up to her funeral. He killed her boyfriend in front of her and then hooked up to VR."
"Where you died?" Kate guessed.
"He had a reality where an article was published revealing her true identity. After that all her friends and family were picked off one by one until she had no one left. Then to put the icing on the cake he had her put in her pod and sent to space."
"A virtual pod?" Kate asked.
"All by herself." Alex added.
"In a pod, by herself. That doesn't sound so bad. I mean not compared to everything else." Kate said.
"Did she ever tell you how she got to Earth?" Alex asked.
"Put in a pod."
"A pod that she was trapped in by herself for twenty four years. A pod that she was trapped in as her planet exploded killing her family."
"I see why she may have issues." Kate said.
"She won't admit it, but confined spaces with no way out can still induce panic attacks. And she was stuck in what she thought was a real pod for weeks. And due to the way the room was completely soundproofed she would have been surrounded by complete silence. It was the most targeted torture he could have done."
"So what can we do?"
"I don't know. I have really screwed up." Alex said.
"How do you mean?" Kate asked.
"When Kara was on that island with Lena she said it would be better if she died on the island so she wouldn't mess up my life anymore."
"She thought that because Lex messed with her mind."
"Only by replaying things I had actually said to her."
"You're family, part of that is lashing out and saying things you shouldn't. But family forgives and accepts."
"Like Alice?" Alex said bitterly before quickly apologising. "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for."
"My dad just shot me so I guess I am not the right person to talk about family. But as messed up as Alice is she has still saved my life. Some connections can't ever be completely destroyed. If they could Mary would have stopped talking to me years ago."
"I hope you're right." Alex said.
"Not meaning to add to your troubles, but does Kara actually know her boyfriend is dead?"
"Lex shot him in front of her."
"Yeah, but we've spent the last couple of days telling her this is real and the last few weeks have been a VR simulation. She might think his death was too."
"Damn it. Why didn't I think of that?" Alex asked. "This could break her. I don't know how to fix this." She said running her hands through her hair looking defeated.
"Without meaning to state the obvious, isn't your girlfriend a shrink who specialises in trauma?" Kate asked.
"Yes."
"So isn't she best placed to answer that?"
"Kate?" Luke called running into the room. "Oh, sorry." He said sensing he was interrupting. "I need you."
"I'll be right there." Kate said before looking at Alex. "You don't have to take everything on yourself. We all want to help." With that she left the office and fell into step along side Luke seeing his expression she asked. "What?"
"I was just wondering when you became such a team player?"
-00-
"Kara? What are you doing here?" Lena asked as Kara entered her room.
"I wanted to check on you. Why are you cuffed to the bed?"
"Probably because everyone thinks I was involved in your kidnap and torture."
"But you weren't." Kara said ripping the cuff open.
"Thank you." Lena said. "But technically you don't know that."
"Yes I do. Because I know you. And I know we have disagreed plenty about methods, but you are still good."
"And you are still too trusting." Lena said rubbing her wrist.
"Maybe. How's your leg?"
"It will take awhile, but it should return to normal." Lena said. "Thank you for saving me."
"You saved me first." Kara pointed out. "Thank you."
"So how are you doing?" Lena asked.
"I'm okay."
"You're lying ability seems to have got worse."
"I just need time." Kara said. "You sure your leg will be okay?"
"Yes. For now I can't go anywhere, but seeing everyone wants to either kill or imprison me that is probably for the best."
"I can fix that."
"No you can't."
"They hate you as they think you killed me. I'll show them that you didn't."
"They hate me for killing Supergirl. Someone you were pretty keen to kill off yourself when you were on the island." Lena pointed out. "You can't save me without bringing Supergirl back. But that's fine. I have committed enough crimes to deserve their hatred. Besides, I don't want to be indebted to you."
"You wouldn't be."
"Kara, what happened doesn't change anything between us. I think it would be best if you left."
Before Kara could comment the door opened and J'onn walked in.
"Are you trying to upset Alex?" He asked. "She has been looking for you."
"I wanted to check on Lena. But I was leaving anyway." She said walking out of the room.
"Are you going to cuff me again?" Lena asked J'onn who had clearly noticed she was free.
"No. I mean it is not like you are going anywhere." He said pointing to the leg. "Besides Kara trusts you."
"But you were inside my head. You know I am not a good person."
"Apart from Kara no one is truly good. While you may have more grey than some, I also felt your guilt and remorse. Your guilt will be punishment enough."
-00-
"Kara? Where have you been?" Alex asked.
"I went to see Lena. I wanted to make sure she was okay and thank her for saving me."
"You need to rest." Alex said.
"I'm not tired. Besides apart from the island, the last few weeks has involved me being confined, maybe I wanted a change." Kara snapped.
"I'm sorry I'm just worried about you." Alex said.
"I know." Kara said before asking. "Can I borrow your phone?"
"Um, sure. Why?" Alex asked handing it over.
"I don't have one and I want to call William and Nia and-."
"Kara-" Alex started.
"Don't worry I won't say where I am I just need to-"
"Kara." Alex said more firmly putting her hands over her sister.
"What?" Kara asked immediately fearing the worse.
"Sit down. We need to talk."
"What's wrong?" Kara asked.
"I've been going over the recordings of what happened. Lex didn't put you in VR until after he killed William."
"No."
"I'm sorry Kara, Lex really did kill him." As she saw Kara break in front of her Alex wrapped her arms round her little sister and held her as she sobbed until she fell into a fitful sleep.
-00-
Kara opened her eyes to find herself engulfed by darkness and silence. Reaching out for anything she could use as a light she found what felt like a console, a familiar console. Hitting a button a light came on illuminating her and her surroundings. It was then that she realised she was in her pod. Looking out of the screen at the front all she saw was darkness and she realised she was in space. Typing at the console she tried to figure out where she was, but the more information she got the more she felt the panic build as she realised she was all alone.
As she succumbed to the panic attack a noise broke through to her. A noise that sounded like a voice, pleading her to concentrate on it.
As her eyes opened Alex immediately wrapped her arms round her. "It's okay. It was a nightmare. You are safe."
"Alex?" Kara asked her voice shaky.
"I'm right here. You're safe."
"I was in my pod. I thought you were all dead."
"I'm okay. And you are in Gotham, not your pod." Alex said.
"You're really alive?" Kara asked pulling away.
"I'm really alive." Alex said.
"But William isn't?"
"No. I'm sorry." Alex said hugging her again. When she felt Kara suddenly tense she was powerless form stopping the Kryptonian pull away.
"Where is he?" Kara asked.
"Who?"
"Lex." Kara said, her voice cold.
"We don't know yet. But we will find him." Alex said. "For now you worry about recovering, let us worry about justice."
TBC...
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing.