A/N: Thanks for the comments.
Jennifer Baratta - Thanks!
As the group arrived at Midvale Alex noticed that J'onn stayed by his car.
"You not staying?" Alex asked J'onn.
"No. I need to go and do something." J'onn replied.
"What?" Alex asked.
"Nothing for you to worry about." He smiled. "Focus on Kara. I'll be back if you need me."
"Thank you for everything." Eliza said hugging him goodbye.
"You're welcome." He said before Kara silently hugged him. As she did so J'onn whispered. "It's time to listen to all that good advice you have given me over the years and use it on yourself."
He then hugged Alex and said. "I'll make sure Kelly is okay." As he released her he looked at all three women before sighing and looking back at Alex.
"It's a tough call but you actually seem the best driver out of the three of you. Look after my car and use it if you need to." With that he tossed her the keys and turned into his Martian form before flying off.
"Are you hungry?" Eliza asked Kara. Once they had watched J'onn go.
"No. I'm going to go for a walk." Kara said.
"Do you want some company?" Alex asked.
"No, I just need some time to think." Kara replied.
"I get that, but maybe we could-" Alex trued to suggested only for Kara to snap.
"Alex, I said no. I need time by myself. I don't need you telling me what I should be feeling or how I should be acting." With that she stormed off.
"Give her time." Eliza said putting an arm round Alex.
"I feel so useless right now." Alex said.
"I know. But Kara knows you are here."
"Does she? I was so mean to her after that died."
"She knows you didn't mean it." Eliza replied.
"I'm not sure." Alex said pulling away from Eliza. "But maybe there is something I can do." With that she walked off.
-00-
"Have you found anything?" Kate asked entering Lena's room.
"Not really." Lena said. "Everything pre the merging of the universes shows that Lex is an all round good guy. Since the merging he became even more paranoid than before at hiding things. The good news is he is the same Lex as he was on my original world."
"How is that good news?" Kate asked.
"His weaknesses are the same. When Lex is in control he is almost unstoppable. But when he starts to loose control that is when it is easy to take him down. He'll loose his cool and fall back to his old tricks and as he does we can expose him." Lena said. "Why do you look doubtful?"
"There is a saying, the most dangerous opponent is the one who is almost defeated." Kate said.
"So you don't want to do this?"
"I do. I'm just worried he is going to fight back in ways we never expected."
"He will." Lena said before handing Kate a piece of paper.
"What's this?" Kate asked.
"You may be aware that I started coming to Gotham a lot over the last few months."
"I was." Kate agreed. "You were looking to open a new Luthor Corp Research Campus."
"In part. It was also a way for me to work without Lex looking over my shoulder. I have a lab that no one knows about. That is where it is."
"Why are you telling me now? Why not include this in the list you gave J'onn?"
"J'onn asked about Lex."
"And the truth?" Kate pressed.
"I didn't trust any of you. I still don't. But it is clear our interests are aligned."
-00-
As Eliza sat down next to Kara on the beach she ignored her daughter's words of being fine and just pulled her in for a hug. A hug which Kara at first resisted before finally giving in and relaxing against her foster mother.
"I remember when you first came to live with us you used to spend hours out here, looking at the stars, listening to the sea." Eliza eventually said. "Back then I always thought it was because it made you feel connected to your family. I never considered what being in that pod all by yourself for all that time was like. It never occurred to me that out here you had freedom and noise." She paused and squeezed Kara tighter before adding.
"I can't begin to imagine what you have been through or how you feel, but whatever you need I am here for you. So is Alex."
"I know."
"Do you?" Eliza asked. "Because it looks like you are trying to fight this alone."
"I'm not a little kid anymore." Kara pointed out. "I can't put my problems on you and Alex."
"We're family. That's what we are here for."
"Alex has done so much for me, too much. So have you."
"There is no such thing as too much when it comes to family." Eliza pointed out.
Instead of arguing Kara just relaxed in Eliza's embrace and drew silent comfort. As she did so though she noticed the scar on Eliza's wrist.
"What happened?" She asked pointing to the scar.
"They had to operate after the crash. It's fine now."
"What crash?" Kara asked pulling away.
"I crashed the car a few weeks ago." Eliza explained. "It wasn't serious and I'm fine."
"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you."
"You had bigger concerns." Eliza reminded her as she once again hugged Kara.
"You died first." Kara eventually said.
"Sorry?" Eliza asked confused.
"In the VR world. After William's article was published revealing my true identity, a former Fort Rozz prisoner killed you. He went after you because of my mother."
"Kara, that didn't happen. I am okay." Eliza said holding her tightly.
"But it could have happened. Anytime after you took me in it could have happened."
"Kara you have a choice. You can chose to live in fear and let Lex win or you can search for that light that defines you and let it shine."
"I think it has already gone. Whenever I think about Lex I get so angry and all I can think about is revenge. I'm meant to be better than that."
"Everyone has dark thoughts that would never normally see the light of day. Some people let them out gradually, some people have outbursts. But admitting that you have those dark thoughts doesn't make them define you. When you were on Red-K you said things to Alex that you would never normally have said. And yes those thoughts were real, but you still love Alex. And Alex loves you."
"Even when I snap at her?"
"Alex understands more than anyone that lashing out doesn't mean you don't love someone." Eliza assured her.
-00-
"Well?" Lex asked.
"The Crows pulled over the Martian's car, but found no sign of Lena. Then they removed the car from the 'of interest' database."
"Then send one of your team to tail them." Lex ordered.
"That might be hard. We don't know where they are. The Crows found them several hours ago. They just didn't tell us until just now. Do you want us to try to find him again?"
"No. If that fourth person is who I think it was, the fact they haven't gone public means they understand who holds the power." Lex commented. "They won't be a threat, for now anyway. But we need to find Lena. She is the key to this. Keep searching Gotham."
"Yes Sir." The man said before adding. "There is something else you need to see."
"What?" Lex asked.
"It looks like your popularity is decreasing. Stories about you are starting to show up on line."
"What type of stories?"
"The type that imply you are not a good guy. Some of them are the type of stories you would normally find on conspiracy theory websites, only they are going mainstream."
"Who is releasing them?" Lex asked.
"We don't know."
"Then find out." Lex said leaning forward, his eyes gleaming dangerously.
-00-
"Are you leaving?" Kara asked when she entered the room she and Alex had shared as kids and saw her sister packing a bag.
"Yes." Alex said looking up.
"Why?"
"I want so badly to fix things between us and make amends for what I said to you about dad and being family and every other crappy thing I have ever said to you. But right now you need to focus on getting over what you went through. So I am heading back to the city to give you space to recover. And I'm going to find Lex and the evidence we need."
"Don't." Kara said causing Alex to face her. "Alex, I'm broken and I don't know how to fix me. But that has nothing to do with you. What I do know is I can't fix me without you." Kara said. "After everything you have done for me, I don't want to put this on you. But I know I need you."
"You will always have me. No matter what you need. Even when I am a complete jerk, you are my sister and I will do anything for you."
"I know."
"But?"
"I have cost you so much. You lost your family because of me. You are in constant danger because of me. I've seen two realities now where you are killed because of me."
"Kara, I'm still here." Alex pointed out. "And I'm always going to be your sister. And I will always protect you."
"I know. But that's why you can't go after Lex."
"What do you mean?"
"He knows who I am. I've seen what happens when that knowledge gets out. If you go after him he may release it."
"You'd prefer that he wins?"
"No. But more than anything, I want you to live."
"Kara, I know you want to protect us. But Lex may choose to use that knowledge regardless of what you do. And worse than that he may try to use it against you, to make you do things that you would never normally do."
"I know. But at least then you'd be safe."
"Do you really think that any of us would be safe if Lex became more powerful?" Alex asked. "You don't need to decide anything now."
"Because you are staying?"
"If you want me here I'll stay." Alex assured her.
TBC...
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing.