A/N: Thanks for the comments. There will be another couple of angsty chapters.
Jennifer Baratta - Thanks! Elle will get help from various people.
"Are you trying to kill me?" Luke asked when Kate suddenly appeared before him with a screaming child he didn't recognise. "Why do you have a child and why is she screaming?"
"Because she is upset." Kate said before releasing Elle.
"Take me back." Elle demanded.
"I can't." Kate said. "I left the device with your mom so she could come here and get you when it is safe."
"But she's hurt." Elle cried. "She needed your help."
"She wanted me to help you first." Kate pointed out. "You heard her. I promise we'll do all we can."
"Which is nothing." Elle pointed out.
"I wouldn't say that." Kate said. "I promised your mom I'd keep you safe and that is what I am going to do."
"Who's helping her?" Elle asked.
"Barry." Kate said earning a glare from Elle. "And your aunt Alex, she's there right?" She added feeling way out of her depth.
"Yeah. She always looks after mom." Elle said looking slightly more hopeful.
"There you go then." Kate said before Elle looked round the room.
"Where are we?"
"Earth-1. More specifically the Bat Cave." Kate said.
"Do you have some sort of underlying condition that makes you literally tell everyone who you are?" Luke asked Kate.
"Luke, this is Elle. Kara's daughter."
"Kara as in Supergirl?" Luke asked.
"That's the one."
"So you're an alien?" Luke asked.
"Half alien. Dad is human." Elle said as she walked round the cave.
"Do you have powers?" Luke asked.
"Normally. But I lost them. They'll be back." Elle explained.
"Don't touch those." Luke said seeing Elle reach out towards one of the panels.
"Play nice." Kate warned Luke.
"They are not toys." Luke said. "They are weapons. Weapons that could hurt a child." He pointed out as Elle kept exploring, picking up a Batarang.
"I get that, but you don't need to yell." Kate pointed out as Elle suddenly screamed in pain.
"Elle? What's wrong?" Kate asked.
"It hurts." Elle said looking at her arm that was bleeding.
"Good time for I told you so?" Luke asked spotting the Batarang on the floor.
"No. Good time to get the first aid kit." Kate said as she looked at the wound which continued to bleed. A sight that Elle was transfixed on.
"I don't bleed." Elle said getting more upset.
"Today you do. But we'll get that fixed right up." Kate said before noticing it was a deep wound. "My sister is a doctor, almost. I'm going to call her and she can come and fix this up. In the mean time we are going to put a bandage on. Okay?"
"Okay." Elle nodded as Luke returned.
"Help her." Kate said. "I'm going to call Mary and get changed."
-00-
"Guys, the DEO automated systems have just found a whole new level of lockdown." Winn reported over the radio.
"Any idea why?" Alex asked.
"No, but I'm working on it. In the mean time your friend doesn't seem to be taking the bait. He is in the same area as Barry and Kara."
"Barry, Kara, can you bring him here?" Alex asked.
"Right now struggling to stay alive." Barry replied breathlessly.
"If he won't come to us we'll have to go to him." J'onn said realising the trap he set wouldn't be tripped.
"Will it work up there?" Alex asked.
"I think so. But it will take more time." J'onn said as he lifted the device they had built. "Let's go." He added.
"Baxter, Jenkins, cover the Director." Alex ordered as she jogged after J'onn. "Morrow, Bolt, you are with me, we'll distract the creature for as long as the Director needs."
"Yes Ma'am." They agreed.
As they reached the room where the creature was Alex immediately saw Kara lying unmoving on the ground. Not seeing Elle Alex reached for her radio.
"Winn, Vasquez, find Elle."
Having heard their confirmation Alex looked at Bolt and said. "Cover me." With that she sprinted to her sister's side and tried to stop the bleeding. Her treatment was temporarily stopped when Barry was flung into the wall by Kara. Looking round Alex suddenly found a hand on her shoulder before was lifted from the ground and thrown across the room. As she hit the wall the air rushed out of her lungs and she lay gasping on the floor, vaguely aware of J'onn issuing orders.
Despite knowing how it important it was to help J'onn Alex couldn't leave Kara defenceless and crawled back to Kara to attend her wounds. As she reached her she was grateful to see Barry unsteadily get to his feet and rejoin the fight.
"Kara?" Alex called hoping she would wake. Getting no response she tried to treat Kara's wounds as bullets and people flew round the room.
-00-
"What's the emergency?" Mary asked rushing into the office. On seeing Elle sitting on a chair she stopped in her tracks and said.
"There's a child in your office."
"I'm aware of that." Kate said.
"Why is there a child in your office?"
"She's the daughter of a friend of mine."
"You don't have friends. Especially friends with kids." Mary stated bluntly. "Wait, did you kidnap her?"
"Why would I kidnap her?" Kate asked. "Look, she cut her arm. Can you patch her up? Preferably without using stitches." She asked not knowing what effect the stitches would have on Elle if her powers came back.
"Why without stitches?" Mary asked.
"Um, allergies." Kate said sounding unsure.
When Mary just stared at Kate, Kate pointed out. "She's still bleeding."
"Let's have a look." Mary said sitting next to Elle. "Hey there. Can I see your arm?"
Nodding Elle held up her arm as Mary removed the makeshift dressing Luke had applied.
"Okay, this doesn't look too bad. But I need to clean it and it will sting. Then I will apply a magic dressing and you'll be as good as new. Okay?"
Again Elle nodded and braced herself for the pain.
"So what exactly happened?" Mary asked as she started to apply the dressing.
"I cut my arm."
"I can see that. What did you cut it on?"
"A letter opener. My fault. I had one lying round here." Kate jumped in.
"A letter opener? You know you are not meant to use tactical knives for that?" Mary asked.
"Funny." Kate said. "So is she going to be okay?"
"She'll be fine. But the dressing will need to be changed daily."
"Thank you." Kate said relieved as Mary turned her attention back to Elle and asked.
"Did she bring you here against your will?"
"Yes. But mom asked her too." Elle explained confusing Mary even more.
"Okay, well how long are you staying with Kate?"
"I don't know." Elle said, biting back vocalising her desire to not stay long.
"Where's your bag?" Mary asked.
"What bag?"
"With clothes and toys."
"I don't have one."
"We kinda left in a hurry." Kate said.
"In which case we should go shopping." Mary pointed out.
"I'm not sure." Kate replied clearly reluctant to expose Elle to the dangers of Gotham.
"She needs clothes and toys. And we should probably get food." Mary listed.
-00-
"How is she?" Barry asked as Alex emerged from the infirmary.
"I have removed all the Kryptonite, but she is still unconscious." Alex replied. "Have you found Elle?"
"No. And Kate is missing too."
"But I have an idea on that." Winn said approaching them with a tablet.
"What?" Alex asked.
"I think they jumped."
"Jumped?"
"To Earth 1 … probably. It could have been a different Earth, but I think Earth 1."
"So we can jump there and get her back." Alex said relaxing.
"No. We can't activate a portal in the DEO."
"You just said that is what Kate and Elle did." Alex reminded him.
"Yes. And that is why the defences went crazy. I think Kate jumped with Elle and that caused the lockdown to reach new levels. The new AI system adapted before we could stop it and now blocks all portals."
"But you think Elle made it to Earth-1?" Alex asked.
"Yeah."
"How sure are you?" Alex asked.
"I can't be certain, but it is a good bet."
"A bet?" Alex asked eyes wide. "This is Elle we're talking about."
"I know." Winn said. "I am almost certain. But you know nothing is one hundred percent certain."
"Figure out a way to get to Earth-1." Alex growled before walking off.
-00-
"How's your arm?" Kate asked as they watched Mary select several items of clothes from the rack.
"It's okay." Elle shrugged. "I'm sorry I touched your things."
"It's okay."
"Luke was mad at me."
"He gets mad with everyone. Especially me. I take it as a sign that he likes me." Kate smiled.
"So he really likes me?" Elle asked.
"Absolutely." Kate nodded before adding. "Almost as much as he likes me." The comment earning a small smile from Elle who looked over to where Mary was and asked.
"What is she doing?"
"Buying up the entire shop. She likes shopping." Looking down and seeing Elle was looking upset she asked. "What's the matter?"
"If mom is coming soon, why do I need so many clothes?"
"Mary just likes shopping. Your mom will be here soon." Kate assured her.
-00-
"I know." Adam said to Krypto who sat by the front door. "I miss them too. But you know Kara might not actually use the front door?"
"He's a dog. I doubt he understands." Cat pointed out as she joined Adam in the hallway.
"Elle and Kara are convinced that he does." Adam said looking down at the unmoving dog. He then turned and looked back at Cat and said. "Thanks for being here."
"Of course." Cat said. "I'm sure they will be okay. Alex and J'onn will protect Elle."
"If something happens to her it is my fault. I'm the one who left her there." He said sounding guilty.
"Elle burnt out her own powers." Cat reminded him.
"Because neither Kara or I were there for her. I should have noticed."
"You don't know that." Cat pointed out. "And second guessing yourself isn't going to help anyone." She added as the door opened and Alura walked in.
"Any news?" Adam immediately asked.
"No. Lena thinks the DEO is in full lockdown. But we don't know why. I tried to get close but I triggered the defences. I can't get in. I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault. I'm going to try calling Alex and Winn again." Adam said walking off looking defeated.
-00-
"Is she asleep?" Mary asked that evening as she looked down at Elle who was sprawled on the couch.
"I think so." Kate said looking down at Elle. "Thanks for your help today."
"Of course." Mary said. "You know me, I never turn down a shopping trip."
"That is true." Kate agreed. "Are you doing anything tomorrow?"
"Not really. Why?"
"I need your help with something else."
"Okay." Mary agreed immediately.
"In which case I'll email you details." Kate said cryptically.
"You're being as weird as ever." Mary said standing. "I'll see you tomorrow or tonight."
"Are you going to the clinic?"
"No. The new club, my followers want a review."
"Have fun." Kate said as Mary started to walk towards the door. But as she reached it she stopped and asked.
"Are you going to be okay with her?"
"She's a sleeping kid." Kate pointed out.
"Okay, well call if you need help sooner." Mary added before leaving.
-00-
"Elle?" Kara said sitting up.
"Easy." Alex said rushing to her side.
"Where's Elle?" Kara asked looking around.
"First things first I need to check on you. You were skewered with a Kryptonite blade. If it had gone in a little differently you would be dead."
"I'm fine." Kara said. "All healed."
"On the outside. Let me run another scan. As I run it I will catch you up." Alex offered. "Lie down."
"Just tell me Elle is okay." Kara pleaded.
"The truth is we don't know. Kate took her to Earth-1. We think."
"You think?"
"Opening the gateway triggered the DEO defences to go into an even more severe lockdown. The AI in the defensive core recognised it as a threat and now won't allow any portals in or out. Winn is working on deactivating the lockdown but he needs more time."
"How long was I out for?"
"Twelve hours, give or take."
"Twelve hours? What about the crazed alien?" Kara asked before noticing Alex's bruised face and stitches.
"Contained." Alex said.
"You're hurt." Kara pointed out.
"It's not bad." Alex assured her. "Right now you need to focus on recovering."
"I'm fine." Kara said getting of the sun bed only to collapse to the ground.
"Kara!" Alex exclaimed as she helped her sister back onto the bed.
"Just dizzy."
"Well you lost a lot of blood. You need to drink and eat." Alex explained.
"Okay, but only if you go help Winn get Elle." Kara said.
"You got it." Alex nodded.
-00-
As Kate sat at her computer working she heard Elle start to whimper, before calling for her mom.
"Elle?" Kate called as she sat on the side of the couch and tried to wake her.
"Mom?" Elle called again as she started to thrash.
"Elle." Kate called again as she gently shook Elle's shoulders. This time Elle's eyes flew open and glowed red. Guessing what was coming next Kate ducked down moments before laser beams shot from Elle's eyes burning a hole in the ceiling.
"Elle." Kate called, keeping her head down. "Elle. You're safe."
Suddenly waking properly Elle's heat vision powered down and she asked. "Kate?"
"Right here." Kate said cautiously sitting up.
"What happened?" Elle asked.
"You had a nightmare." Kate explained. As she did so Elle looked up and saw the holes in the ceiling.
"I'm sorry." Elle cried.
"Hey, it's okay." Kate said feeling way out of her depth. "I guess this means your powers are back."
"Yeah, my arm doesn't hurt anymore."
"Let's have a look." Kate said removing the bandage and finding no mark. "That is still weird." Kate said. "But I wish I healed like that." She added as she put the bandage back on. "I'm afraid you'll have to keep wearing this."
"So Mary doesn't find out about me?" Elle guessed.
"Yes."
"Why don't you tell her who you are?" Elle asked.
"To protect her."
"She'll be hurt when she finds out."
"That's okay as long as she is safe." Kate said as the door opened.
"What's going on?" Mary asked.
"Insomnia." Kate explained hoping Mary didn't see the burn marks.
"Can we watch another movie?" Elle questioned.
"Sure." Mary said sitting down next to Elle.
-TBC...
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing.