The next day Kara and Alex were sifting through the computer files and print outs from TITAN Industries, looking through the employment records of everyone who worked at the company for the past couple of years. "I really appreciate you helping out with this" Alex told her sister while she made them a cup of coffee.
"Of course" Kara replied, skimming through the printouts exercising her super speed. She wasn't as adept at speedreading as Barry was but she could still half the time they'd spend reviewing everything. "Maybe we should start with his R&D department. You know, where the Reckoning suit was developed?"
"Lena already did, but I think she was distracted after what happened yesterday" Alex said, bringing the coffee cups over to the sofa where her sister was waiting.
"How is she doing?" Kara asked.
"She's furious. I can't really blame her. Eleven Samaritan suits pulled out from under our nose in the hands of criminals.
"Which was the exact reason she said no to Maxwell in the first place" she noted. She exhaled deeply. "Rao, she must be hating herself for letting this happen. It's like everything she'd ever feared is coming true."
"We should've seen it coming" Alex agreed.
"I should've been there to help" she grumbled.
Alex shot her a stern look. "If you hadn't that underpass they blew up would've killed a dozen more people. You were where you were needed. And as Brainy pointed out, the Samaritan already had a countermeasure protocol for you." Kara nodded but she could see in her face she still didn't like leaving them to deal with it. "Speaking of which, how's Nia holding up?" she asked.
"Not well" Kara replied with another sigh.
"She's not still blaming herself is she? Without her we wouldn't have been able to prepare for it at all."
"I know, but she still feels like she failed. I know the feeling. She stayed up all night helping with the search. Brainy even said she's refusing to sleep. We don't know if it's because she can't or she'd afraid she might dream what they'll do with those suits."
"Wow, there a prospect I don't envy" Alex mumbled. They both sat down sipping their coffee glancing though the paperwork. It wasn't as urgent now, but until they find a new lead of the suits it was the only distraction they had available. "How are you doing?" she asked after a moment. "After everything with the Samaritan?"
"I'm not looking forward to the idea of fighting eleven more of them" she admitted. She put the files down and turned to her sister. "Do we know who stole them at least? Surly Captain Sawyer has something by now."
Alex hesitated before putting her cup down. "Actually, I might. We were able to identify most of the mercenaries we arrested. They all came from Hank Henshaw's militia."
Kara's eyes widened. "Henshaw's men? Why would they want those suits? How did they even know where to find them?"
"We don't know. The men in custody won't say anything."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I know what you're thinking" Alex explained.
"That Cyborg Superman is behind this?" Kara interrupted, leaping to her feet circling the room. "You should've told me."
"J'onn didn't want you to be distracted" she replied, apologising for keeping her in the dark. "And before you ask, he's still safely locked away and the prison even tripled their security. J'onn and I are going down to see Hank later today. Maybe we can get some answers to all our questions."
"I want to come with you."
"Absolutely not" she said shooting to her feet.
"Alex, you need me there."
"No, we need Supergirl out here watching the city. If Hank's militia have the Samaritan then they might want to fulfil his final goal, getting revenge on the city. They could attack anywhere. J'onn and I can handle Cyborg Superman." She stepped forward and took Kara's shoulders. "You trust us right?"
Kara reluctantly relented. "I'll be listening. Anything goes wrong…"
"I'll using the signal watch" she promised. The two sisters smiled, their trust running deep. "Maybe you should check on Dreamer and Lena while we're busy" she suggested.
"Might be a good idea" she admitted. She had meant to give Lena a call and touch base, but so far the woman has been avoiding her calls and locked herself in her office. "I'll call them later, once we're done here." Alex nodded, re-joining her on the sofa to continue investigating. They worked in silence, but Kara could feel the glances from her sister. There was something else she wanted to talk about. "What is it?" she asked.
She averted her gaze, claiming "Nothing." Kara narrowed her gaze until Alex gave away the curl of her smile. "So, you and Jake are getting serious" she remarked.
Kara supressed an exasperated sigh. She knew Alex wasn't going to let it go. "Maybe. What's your point?"
"No point. Its fine" she said, trying to make the conversation sound casual. "I'm just wondering if you're moving a little fast."
"We've been dating for a few months now" Kara pointed out. She narrowed her eyes again and asked "is this because we had sex? Was I supposed to stay celibate until we got married?"
"No, of course not" Alex said. "I was just hoping I'd get to meet him before you two went to third base."
Kara rolled her eyes. "Sorry mom, I didn't realise I needed permission to fuck my boyfriend" she replied.
"I didn't mean it like that" she backpedalled.
"Remind me how long you and Maggie waited before hooking up?" she shot back. Alex blushed. She didn't want this to turn into an argument. "By the way, I had hoped for you two to meet that night, just for the record" she added.
Alex sighed apologetically. "I'm sorry I had to cancel on you. But you should've told me what dinner was. Instead I had to learn you were dating someone from Lena, who told me Nia also met him. How do you think it feels being the last to know?"
"You're not the last" she objected.
"I wasn't the first" she pouted.
Kara groaned. "I'm sorry. Of course I wanted you two to meet first. Things between us are just…we're taking it one step at a time."
"And those steps led to your bedroom" she noted. Before Kara could force another apology Alex eased the tension by chuckling "I suppose that was to be expected given how quickly you invited him up here on your first meeting. Did you at least remember his name this time?"
"Oh my god, shut up!" she cringe, throwing a cushion at her giggling sister. "You are never going to let me forget that are you?"
"Nope" she laughed. The sisters released the tension letting the atmosphere return to normal before Alex cautiously told her "I just want to make sure you're okay. That this boy isn't taking advantage of you."
"Don't take this the wrong way" Kara warned, "but you're not mom. You don't have to worry."
"As you're older sister, it's my job to worry. Does he even know that you're Supergirl?"
"No" she confessed hesitantly.
"And that's not going to make things awkward?"
"I know I'll have to tell him eventually" she said. "But I've been putting it off. It's been nice just being Kara Danvers for a while. And Jake likes me, weird quirks and all. He indulged my love for karaoke."
"He's likes karaoke?"
"Actually he hates it with a passion."
"Oh, well that settles it" Alex proclaimed. "You can't marry him if he hates karaoke." Kara laughed, snorting a bit more than she intended. Alex sat forward putting a hand on her knee. "Seriously Kara, I love how happy he makes you. But you can't expect this relationship to go on for long keeping half of your life hidden from him."
"I know" she sighed sadly. "Just not yet. I like having someone to talk to where discuss anything but the fate of the world. Anyway, he's really patient" he told her. "I knows I'm keeping something back and has promised to wait until I'm ready to tell him, just like I'm willing to wait for him to open up to me."
Alex narrowed her eyebrows. "Open up about what?" she queried. Kara shrugged. "What's he hiding?"
"He's not hiding anything" Kara replied. "He just is ready to talk about everything. Just like everyone else." She saw the suspicious look in her sister's expression and assured her "there's nothing to worry about. It's mostly about his ex anyway. He'll tell me when he's ready, and I'll tell him everything when I'm ready."
They were interrupted by a knock on the door, which Kara took as an excuse to escape the conversation and answer. Alex didn't lose the suspicion on her face as she followed Kara to the door with her gaze. The blonde opened it and found the man himself standing in her hallway. "Jake!" Kara said in surprise, beaming into a smile upon seeing him.
"Hi, sorry about dropping by like this" he apologised, dressed in his usual leather biker gear. He caught sight of Alex in the apartment behind and said "sorry if I'm interrupting anything."
Kara looked behind her and said "no, not at all. Please come in." she stepped to the side wilfully encouraging him to join them as he entered the apartment. Alex stood up and approached the nervous young man analysing him curiously. "Alex, this is Jake. Jake, this is my sister Alex" Kara said, introducing the two of them at last.
Jake looked surprised as he looked at the redhead standing before her. "Miss Danvers. Jake White. It's a pleasure to finally meet you" he said, holding out his hand respectfully. Alex shook it, keeping her inquisitive gaze on him. "Kara's told me a lot about you" he said.
"That's good. We were just talking about you" she replied with a smile. She caught Kara standing next to them, her eyes darting between the two hoping they got along. She kept things light as she examined his outfit. "I hear you fix motorcycles."
"Occasionally" he nodded, deducing she'd spoken to Olsen. "James mentioned you too. Warned me you might be a little…"
"Intense?"
"Protective of your sister" he corrected, glancing at Kara.
Alex looked at her too, her expression giving away another hint of betrayal. She wasn't aware Jimmy Olsen knew about Jake. She guessed the motorcycle repair angle from what Lena told her about his background. Kara realised this and apologised silently. "Well, I'm glad we finally got to meet." She smiled.
"Likewise" he smiled back.
Kara cleared her throat interrupting a moment, asking Jake what brought him here. "Apart from an excuse to see you?" he quipped, which earned a look from Alex at his corny delivery. "Actually I was wondering if I'd left something here from the other night" he asked quietly.
She looked at him confused until he tapped his empty wrist, the answer clicking into place very quickly. "Oh, right, yes, I think you did" she whispered, hiding her blushing cheeks from Alex as she explained "yeah, I found it after you left yesterday. Wait here, I'll find it" she said, shuffling off to locate what he'd misplaced. She looked at Alex as she left telling them both "I won't be long."
"Okay" they both said as she disappeared into the bedroom. Jake kept his demeanour composed but Alex saw the tony blush of embarrassment in his cheeks. She crossed her arms regarding him silently, like a scientist observing an unusual specimen. After a moment of awkward silence Jake was the first to speak. "Kara tells me you're a civil servant, is that right?"
"Something like that" she answered cryptically. "What kind of work do you do?" she asked.
"I'm between jobs at the moment" he replied nervously. "Used to be a mechanic. Did some odd jobs in engineering."
"Interesting? What kind of odd jobs?"
"Just work" he shrugged.
Alex nodded, her curiosity becoming aroused. "Work anywhere important?"
"A few places" he answered vaguely. He caught the look she was giving him, clarifying "L-Corp for a while."
"Hmm" she nodded. She stepped closer, analysing him intently. It was a show of intimidation, something she'd always wanted to do to her younger sister's boyfriends. "Interesting accent" she remarked. "Where are you from?"
"The UK, originally."
"What brought you to National City?"
"You ask a lot of questions" he said, turning to address her with his hands in his pockets. "I suppose you don't approve?"
"I've yet to reserve judgement" she told him. "Kara's free to make up her own mind who her friends are. But I should warn you, what you heard about me being protective was being kind. And she has a lot of friends looking out for her. So if I find out if you've mistreated her in anyway, I will cut off your balls and crucify you."
Jake held her warning stare dispassionately, his equally cold demeanour mirroring hers. His nervousness appeared to have vanished as Alex stood before him. Instead she found something akin to a challenge staring back, an amused smirk growing on his face. She narrowed her eyes, seeing that amusement grow behind his. "Don't worry" he replied calmly. "I wouldn't dream of mistreating Kara Danvers. You have my word." Then he stepped away and turned his attention to the bedroom waiting for Kara to emerge.
Alex kept her gaze on him, curiosity overcome by something else as she watched him. Something about him started to niggle at her, like an itch she couldn't reach. Something was off. Not content to let the opportunity pass she made another inquiry before her sister got back. "She told me about your ex" she said, immediately noticing the flicker in his calm expression. "Perhaps you'd like to tell me about her?"
"I'd rather not" he suddenly replied in a deep growl, completely contradictory to the polite tone he'd previously spoke in.
Alex blinked, adjusting her approach sensing the tense shift. "Forgive me, but I was just asking…"
"I don't want to talk about it" he whispered coldly, his glare warning her to drop it. She froze when she made contact with those eyes, a focused and predatory glimmer behind them that made the agent hesitate. She held his gaze, attempting to show no weakness or fear, but something in his eyes made her concerned.
"Found it!" Kara said in triumph as she finally emerged from the bedroom.
Immediately whatever Alex had been battling in Jake disappeared as he turned back to her with a relieved smile on his face, the hostility gone. Alex stared at him, almost getting whiplash at how fast he snapped back to his polite and welcoming posture. He walked over to her and beamed when she presented the watch in her hands, taking it from her gratefully. "Thank heaven, I was afraid I'd lost it on the road somewhere."
"Must've rolled under the bed when we had our sleepover" Kara chuckled under her breath, her wide smile greeting his as he kissed her cheek. She walked past him and found Alex still rooted to the spot staring at him, seeing her unusual posture. "Everything okay?" she asked, looking between her sister and her boyfriend.
"Everything's fine" he replied, putting his watch back on his wrist before squeezing her shoulder. "You're sister was just giving me the third degree" he told her.
Kara rolled her eyes stepping up to Alex. "Tell me you weren't too embarrassing" she pleaded.
Alex's eyes remained on Jake until Kara managed to pull her attention away. "No, I got everything I need" she said, putting on a smile for her sister. She smiled back, relief on her face. Jake didn't seem to pay any attention as Alex glanced back cautiously.
"Anyway, thanks for find this for me" he said to his girlfriend, apologetically embracing her before saying "but I need to get going."
"Why don't you stay for a bit" she suggested optimistically. "We can have a drink and hang out, all three of us."
"No, I don't want to interrupt your sisterly bonding time" he said. He returned to Alex and held out his hand. "It was great meeting you. Maybe we could hang out another time?"
This time she hesitated before shaking his hand, coldly replying "I'd like that. Sometime soon." He nodded and Kara beamed, offering to walk him out. Alex watched them as Jake was led back to the door, giving Kara a kiss before disappearing down the hall.
Kara returned with a big smile on her face. "So? What do you think?"
"I think there's more to him than he's letting on" she muttered. Unfortunately Kara heard that which brought a downcast to her mood. "What? I've only just met the man" Alex said defensively.
"You don't like him?" she pouted.
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to, I could tell. And what was that with all the questions?" she asked. When Alex tried to play ignorant she pointed to her ears in reminder. "What is it? Come on?"
"I don't know, I just…there's something odd about him. I think you should be careful."
"He's not dangerous Alex" she assured her. "He's an ordinary human being, and he's kind and sweet and romantic."
"And very cryptic" she added. "And the way he dodged the question about his ex-girlfriend…"
"No different to how I reacted when I thought he was seeing someone else" she noted. "And besides, how comfortable would you be if the sister of your next girlfriend asked about your exes?"
"It's not that" she replied, but her argument fell short. She didn't have an answer, just a feeling she didn't like.
Kara groaned in disappointment, telling her "please don't. I don't need my overprotective, overbearing big sister right now. I want my supportive and loving adoptive sister. Could you please give him a chance? I promise, once you get to know him you'll love him."
Alex wasn't sure if she could be convinced so easily but she reluctantly nodded. "I'm not overbearing" she muttered, returning to the sofa with Kara. But as she sat down she couldn't shake the look in Jake's eyes during their conversation and how unsettled that made her feel.