Planning the gala wouldn't have been so stressful if Reactron had chose any other time to go after Kara. That interview she had given Cat when she had first appeared was coming back to bite her in the ass since he was only after her because Superman was family.

Between worrying about him, her new family drama with Non, and the seating arrangements for Cat's after party dinner Kara was exhausted. It of course didn't help her mood any that her friends and family seemed to think she needed to call in Kal and let him handle the man.

Their protests ranged from the fact that he and Kal never bested each other to Kara was just new at the superhero gig and not ready. It all basically translated to they didn't believe in her. And that burned her up more than anything.

When Tuesday came around and Max Lord was taken from his labs for God knows what Kara couldn't handle it anymore. Cat had given her a speech about how she couldn't make her own way if she called for a man's help every time things got hard without even asking if that was Kara's intentions, when the D.E.O found a hit on Reactron's possible where about she took off without a word.

She didn't wait for backup like Alex asked, she didn't call Superman like Winn and James suggested and she honestly didn't act smart like Cat had hinted. Which was how she managed to save Max but end up pinned to the asphalt by Reactron's power.

She had put up a good fight but she hadn't been ready for the strength he possessed, or the pain that accompanied getting hit by that suit. With her back to the ground and him standing above her she wasn't sure she was going to make it. She tried to use her vision but she couldn't make it work. If it was the end it was a shitty one.

Her sight was blurring and she could hardly make out his figure even as he continued his attack on her. She could hear him laughing and her ear piece was buzzing in her ear but the sounds were like she was under water. She couldn't make out the words.

She was thinking about everyone she loved, wondering if they would feel responsible and hoping they didn't when something flew out of the sky and slammed into Reactron with an enraged cry even she could make out.

She tried to sit up. Tried to see what was going on. To help even if it was her cousin because no matter what her friends had said they had been right. Superman had never beat Reactron. But it was futile. Her body was spent, both physically and emotionally. She did notice that Reactron got away because the figure was making it's way back toward her.

It wasn't Kal. But she couldn't see anything but the light behind the woman leaning over her and she couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. They drifted close of their own accord and she slipped into unconsciousness as she was lifted gently, and effortlessly, off the ground.

~A~

Alex was freaking out. She couldn't get hold of Kara and reports were that she was down. That Supergirl was down and no one could get to her. She heard Superman was on his way but Reactron was so powerful she didn't know if even he would get there in time.

She blamed herself. They had pushed her into this. Into feeling like she wasn't worth what Superman was, that she needed to prove herself. Kara had already done that a hundred times over. And she had proved to them that they were stronger together. She had no idea why Kara had seemed to forget that.

~A~

Astra hadn't been spying….not really. She had heard about Reactron. How Kal hadn't been able to best him and she had been worried. She had no intention of interfering. Saving people, fighting bad guys was Kara's stick not hers. But with every hit she cringed. When he attacked Kara with the damn orange light and Kara didn't get back up she had had it.

She charged him. He hadn't been expecting her so it was easy enough to launch him away from the girl. If she hadn't been so worried about Kara she might have pushed the attack but he was retreating. Obviously he knew she was far more powerful than Superman and he wasn't willing to risk capture or death as she was more likely to give him.

Instead she turned back toward the blonde girl struggling to see her. It physically hurt to see Kara in so much pain. She tried to whisper soothing words as Kara's eyes slipped closed but she wasn't sure the girl heard her.

Astra wasn't really sure what she was going to do with her but she bent and cradled her gently in her arms. "Kara baby your going to be okay." She held her tight to her chest and bent her head over Kara's.

The sound of helicopter blades in the distance jolted her. She remembered Non's plan of being anonymous and supported Kara with one hand while fumbling for the mask she had hidden in the neck of her suit. She slipped it on and lifted Kara against her again just as it hovered over head. Guns were instantly trained on her and she felt her stomach roll at the green bullets she knew they held inside.

She wished she had listened to Non when he was speaking of the weapon the humans possessed to use against them. She knew he had developed something to protect them but she had been in too much of a hurry to grab one. And she didn't want him to know she was going to keep an eye on Kara.

"Put Supergirl down." The helicopter had lowered a few of the black clad agents down. They all had their weapons trained on them but she knew they wouldn't shoot with Kara in her arms. They would be afraid of hitting her.

"I suggest you hold your fire. If you hit her I will not leave one of you alive." She growled, just in case one of them had a hair trigger.

A brunette lowered her weapon, Astra recognized her. She had been at Kara's apartment the night she first found her. "We won't shoot." She made a hand gesture and the others hesitantly lowered their weapons as well. Alex wasn't sure what condition Kara was in, she had no intention of making it worse. "What do you want?"

"World peace." Astra drawled sarcastically. She didn't bother to hide the grin, they couldn't see it behind the mask anyways.

"Give her to me?" Alex didn't even crack a smile at the joke. She was too worried.

"Can you carry her?" It was rhetorical, Astra knew the woman was strong but she couldn't carry Kara for long.

"I want to take her somewhere safe. You...you just saved her right?" Alex wasn't sure it wasn't just a kidnapping attempt. Although why the woman hadn't flown away yet Alex couldn't say.

Superman suddenly dropped down from the sky beside the agent. "Kara-" he took a step in their direction but Astra pulled back turning Kara slightly away from them. She hadn't meant to but she just got Kara, even though she was an adult Astra was having a hard time relinquishing her hold. "Give me my cousin."

Astra had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing. She once watched him play in cow feces, yet here he was making demands of her.

She watched the agent place a hand on his forearm and shake her head. Astra heard the news helicopters now. If she didn't make an exit she was going to have to listen to Non's nagging about their plans again. The question was did she make the exit with or without Kara.

"Please she might need medical attention. Please give her to me."

Astra glanced down at Kara. She looked fine. She was breathing peacefully and easily there was no broken bones or bruising so her powers were still intact. "She's fine, brave one." Alex jerked in surprise at the name. At the genuine affection that was put into it.

Kara stirred in her arms and Astra pulled her closer. "Please." Alex breathed out pleadingly.

Astra stared at her for a moment. "Do not shoot me." Alex nodded and Astra moved forward to hand Kara over to Kal-El. "Your parents. I didn't know them that well, but they would be proud of you." He stared at her in shock before he reached for Kara.

The girl mumbled something in Kryptonian and grasped at Astra's suit. Superman couldn't free her grip he looked up at Astra for help. She sighed and leaned down to whisper words into Kara's ear. Her grip immediately loosened and Kal lifted her easily out of Astra's arms.

She was surprised that the agents kept their word. No one tried to shoot her as she flew away. The only pain she felt was having Kara taken away once again, of giving her up once again.

~A~

"Kal….what did she say?" The man turned to look at Alex in shock as he held Kara against his chest.

"She told Kara she loved her. That was it."