Kara quickly got bored sitting at home waiting to be called. She was under orders to stay put and heal. But she checked the wound an hour ago and her body was healing quickly and efficiently now that the kryptonite was out of her system. She even made sure to stay near the windows where she could bathing in the yellow sunlight an charge her cells. She stood there and listened, listened to her city around her, the planet she called home. She listened to all the calls for help and troubles she was missing. It pained her to stay away but she listened anyway, relived whenever the emergency services or friends of hers intercepted those cries for help. It was comforting to know she could take a few hours, a day, without fear of the world falling apart.
But still, boredom beckoned as she grew agitated remaining at the apartment. So she asked Lena to send her the reports and computer files from TITAN Industries. If she can't find the Samaritans she can at least help find the guy who helped build them and their reconnaissance prototype. She skimmed over the names from the employee database in minutes, cross referencing their names with the payroll roster. If this guy was as incompetent at forgetting to sign his name on documents she figured the one place he'd make sure he signed was his payslip. She flagged a few outliers she found, seven names on the pay roll who only supplied a bank account number and signed in initials. She highlighted the names they potentially correspond with and found three sets of initials with no links. Curious she thought, sending them to Lena to check on. Three people being paid but no idea who they are or where they work. Unless Maxwell has being embezzling funds as well then one of them might be their missing engineer.
Kara sat back in her chair after sending the email. She sent a copy to Nia and reluctantly sent one to Alex. The DEO should be able to trace the bank account information but otherwise there was little else she could do from her apartment. She sat back rapping her nails on the table top, boredom threatening to smother her again. She contemplated changing into her costume and sneaking out the window. Alex would disapprove but it would be better than sitting here.
But then her eyes fell upon the USB drive across the table. The one Alex had left her. She quickly averted her gaze, focusing on anything else. She brought up solitaire, whipping through a couple of games at lightning speed. Her eyes kept glancing at the drive but she kept pulling away. "Don't do it" she whispered to herself. She couldn't keep her mind occupied, not while it's there. But she knew the moment she picked it up that compulsion would increase. Think like a journalist Alex had said. The journalist in her was curious, of course it was. But she couldn't she made a promise. She fought with her sister over it. She couldn't turn into a hypocrite. And yet she couldn't keep from glancing at the drive. She pushed herself out of her chair and walked to the bedroom where her costume was. She could leave, fly into the atmosphere, get some air, save some lives. She paused at the wardrobe. Her side still ached but she could fly. She could move. She was in good health again. But she didn't want to worry her friends, not with Hank, the Samaritans and the Reckoning somewhere out there waiting for her. She let out a begrudging sigh, deciding to stay. Which left her with the USB drive. She leaned against the wall staring at it, her head tapping the wall rhythmically. Boredom set in. that compulsion grew. "Don't do it" she whispered, closing her eyes fighting her impulses. "Don't be a journalist. Just once, don't be a journalist."
"damn you Alex!" she hissed under her breath as she found her feet carrying her back to the table, watched her take a seat and pick up the USB drive. Against her better judgement she pulled the drive into her laptop and waited for the folder to open. She found the file Brainy had compiled on Jake White, a single compressed document. Kara's finger hovered over the mouse, the cursor positioned above the document. Her hesitation gave way when the file opened before her, Jake's background check springing open across her screen.
She came to her senses and slammed the laptop closed, shutting her eyes before she gave herself a chance to read anything. What was she doing? She trusted Jake. She liked Jake. This was a mistake. She opened her eyes again and stared at the closed laptop. Her compulsion grew stronger. Its right there it whispered. Open it. Prove to your sister there's nothing to worry about. She felt her fingers edge the laptop open, the lid lifting ever so slowly. She stopped halfway and shook her head, ripping herself out of the chair. "I can't do this" she whispered, rushing to her wardrobe and changing into her costume. She wanted to be anywhere but at her apartment now.
She had just managed to put her blue top and red skirt on and about to pull up her red boots when there was a knock on the door. She froze, looking at the doorway7 using her x-ray vision. She was shocked to find Jake standing outside. "Kara? Are you in?" he called as she blinked in surprise. She wasn't expecting visitors. "Sorry for dropping in like this. I thought I'd surprise you. Kara?"
"Just a minute" she called back, throwing the boots back into the wardrobe. She found some civilian clothes she could pull over her costume and got dressed, tying her hair back and walking to the door. She paused to put on her glasses and took a deep breath, scanning the apartment for anything incriminating including herself. She found her top button undone showing the top of her costume, hurriedly hiding it before answering the door. "Hi" she greeted in her quirky nervous voice staring at the handsome young man waiting for her. "Sorry, I wasn't expecting...I wasn't expecting this."
"I know. I'm sorry, but I was in the neighbourhood and thought I'd surprise you" he said with a smile, holding up a bunch of roses. Kara looked at them with unexpected surprise and smiled. "I hope I wasn't interrupting anything" he said awkward, somehow sensing how awkward she was being.
"No, you're not" she said, accepting the flowers kissing him warmly. "Please come in" she said, welcoming him inside. He stepped in wearing his leather jacket, dark red top and grey trousers over hiking boots, his dark hair brushed back missing a few windswept strands. He casually scanned the apartment while she closed the door, checking he really wasn't disturbing her. "This was a nice surprise" she said fondly, taking a sniff of the roses. Her heightened senses detected a distinct aroma which she knew always disagreed with her, hiding her grimace from her kind visitor.
"It was a spontaneous thing" he told her with a shrug. "I was on a drive from another possible job interview, which before your ask went horribly, cruising through the streets until I found your block." He pointed at the flowers adding "I found them at the nearby newsagents." Kara nodded, recognising the unfortunate stench that drifted in from the nearby industrial cleaners a few doors down. They never store their chemicals correctly so the fumes drift through the grate by the basement and hover around the corner. Humans never noticed the smell but she could, so much so she started diverting her morning walk to work to avoid it. She kept meaning to use her cover as a way to have words with the owners so they'd fix it. Jake noticed her fake smile however. "I'll find something better for our next date" he promised.
She didn't want to be ungrateful, but she couldn't help but mutter "I'd appreciate it" in reply. He took no offence so she gave him another kiss. "And I appreciate the thought all the same."
"Any preferences?" he asked jokingly as she politely put the roses in a vase, scanning the apartment for somewhere downwind.
"I always liked tulips when I was younger" she suggested, her talks about Jerimiah bringing forth some old memories of her adjusting to earth.
Jake nodded. "Tulips. I'll remember that." He waited until she had put the vase somewhere as far away as she could without making it obvious before asking "how are you feeling?" she turned around with a look of curious surprise and confusion. "You were feeling tired, maybe ill for the last few weeks? I meant to ask last time, but your sister was here, so…"
"Oh, no I'm perfectly fine" she replied with relief. For a moment she was afraid she was skill looking green, even checking her reflection for glowing veins or pale skin. "No, I think it was just a stomach bug or something."
"Well you were certain okay that night when we… you know" he said coyly. Her cheeks blushed bright red as she broke into a big smile, that snorting laugh escaping her throat. "We didn't get a chance to talk about what happened" he said.
"I think we did" she replied, walking forward to put her arms around his neck. "I vividly remember you making me pancakes the next morning."
Jake jogged his memory and smiled. "Oh yeah, I did. That day was a bit of a blur to be honest. I couldn't concentrate. All I could think about was you."
Kara found that line corny, but she liked it anyway. "Me too" she admitted, leaning in to kiss him on the lips. They kissed for a long moment, enjoying the moment where she got to forget about the threats hanging over her. She found herself with a different compulsion all of a sudden. "I've got the rest of the afternoon off today" she told him.
"What a coincidence. I have nothing else on for the rest of the evening" he replied smoothly.
She smiled, picturing a repeat of that night already playing out. "Just give me a moment to freshen up" she said, reluctantly stepping out of his embrace heading to the bathroom. "I won't be long" she promised.
"I'll be here" he said, happy to wait as she sauntered off excitedly into the next room. He waited in the main area, taking a seat by the table where her laptop was crooked open before removing his jacket.
In the bathroom Kara changed out of her costume and stuffed it out of sight, redressing and washing her face. She even took a second to brush a teeth and fix her hair. She looked at herself in the mirror. This was unlike her at all. She'd become impulsive. The old Kara would never be so rash rushing into bed with a guy she'd started dating. She liked this new Kara. New Kara felt happy, free, without fear of what was out there. The world could take care of itself without her for a few hours she thought. She checked her reflection and made one last impulsive choice, unbuttoning the top of her shirt so a part of her cleavage was visage. She looked gorgeous. She felt gorgeous. She took a breath and stepped out of the bathroom ready to greet her boyfriend again.
"So, I think it'd be a good idea to start with…" she said playfully while walking out of the bathroom. But her voice caught in her throat when she found Jake leaning over the table looking at her laptop, the lip open revealing the screen. Her gut clenched when she realised what it was he'd stumbled upon, the look on his face detailing the confusion and the suspicion. When he looked up and saw her his face was unreadable, but his posture turned defensive. She could see the questions in his eyes as they met, along with her heartbeat as it sped up in panic. "It's not what it looks like" she squeaked, her mind racing trying to find an explanation.
Jake looked at the laptop again. "It looks like a computer file investigating my life" he replied quietly, fixating on whatever he was reading. "I didn't think journalist could get this much information off the internet, but…" he didn't ask the question, but she heard it hanging unspoken in the air.
"I can explain" she said, walking cautiously to the table where he took a step back. She sensed the beating of his heart quickening, the tension between them rising. "I didn't read it. It's not mine" she said, the excuse weak now she uttered it. It didn't help the suspicious look on his face. "It wasn't my idea" she said.
"Then whose was it?" he asked coldly. When she hesitated he figured it out himself. "When you said your sister was a civil servant, you meant government didn't you?"
"I didn't ask her too" she explained, circling the table as he kept it between them, his own mind racing with thoughts. "I didn't think she'd do this. She's not usually this…overprotective."
"Older sister doesn't trust new boyfriend. That I can accept" he replied slowly. "But background checks? That's one thing. But what I want to know is why you have this" he said pointedly, almost an accusation.
Kara's instinct was to get defensive about the accusation, but considering she was the one who opened it and left it on her laptop, but fact she considered reading it to begin with, seemed to negate any defence she could muster. "I didn't read it" she repeated.
He didn't believe her. "So you sister brought it here, opened it on your laptop and you just left it alone? A journalist with everything she'd want to know about… I guess I shouldn't have been surprised" he muttered.
That triggered Kara's defensive response. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means I should've known better than to expect better from…" he stopped himself, the tension reaching more hostile peaks.
"From what?" Kara asked angrily. "I didn't ask Alex to do this for me! She got suspicious when you acted cagey about Sarah."
"You know I don't like to talk about her or what happened" he reminded her.
"She didn't think you were being honest. And yes, a part of me thought…" she admitted, trailing off feeling her emotions getting the best of her. "I'm sorry" she said.
"For what? Sorry your sister dug into business that wasn't her concern? Or sorry you got caught with the evidence?" he snapped. Kara shook her head. This wasn't how she wanted this afternoon to go. "So did you find what you were looking for?" he asked her, crossing his arms staring at her. "Did you find my big secret?"
"I told you, I didn't read it!" she bellowed. She didn't know how to convince him of that so she stopped trying. If he wanted to truth, so be it. "Alex was concerned you might've harmed Sarah" she explained.
Jake's expression went from suspicious to furious. "Why would you…you can't honestly believe I'd…"
"Apparently she doesn't have a death certificate" she explained. "There's no record of her death. And after she disappeared, you started traveling. You stopped using social media, there's almost no trace of you for the past five years." Kara stared at him, thinking like a journalist. "You have to admit, it does sound…"
"I NEVER HARMED SARAH!" he screamed in anger, punching his fists into her table as his voice shook the apartment. Kara leapt back, instinctively taking a defensive pose clenching his fists. Jake glared at her with furious contempt. "I would never hurt her. I loved her" he said, seething at the suggestion. Kara could see the betrayal as he looked at her, the idea she thought he would harm his ex-more painful than the background check. He clenched his fists and closed his eyes, taking a hollow breath asking "why were you looking into her?"
"Her name came up" she replied cautiously. "Like I said, she disappeared. But there's no record of her death."
"No record of Sarah Kelly?" he asked. She shook her head. "What about Sarah Linwood?" he asked, standing up more calmly watching Kara's eyes narrow. "Her family name, when she lived in the States. They were wealthy, control, had an annoying habit of running her life. She got sick of them so she moved to the UK, changed her name to Kelly to get away from it. After we started dating she started to reconcile, moved back to the US. but she couldn't transfer her medical license from the UK so she renewed her old one, the one still using her old name." he turned away from Kara fighting tears as her expression turned to shame and guilt. "That's why you couldn't find her death certificate. She was recorded under her family name. It took me a month to find out where she was buried. I never even got to visit the funeral." He exhaled slowly, his voice quivering from the sobs he was holding back. "I didn't disappear" he said. "But there was nothing left for me to stay for. So I travelled, looking for somewhere to stop. Or maybe I was just running from the pain of it all."
Kara listened and dropped her posture, the fight leaving her as shame replaced it. She could hear the truth in his voice as it broke, his erratic heartbeat indicating no deception. She stepped around the table and approached him slowly, drawn in by his obvious sadness and sorrow. She hesitantly reached out for his shoulder but wasn't surprised when he slapped her hand away, his eyes glaring at her. "I'm sorry" she apologised, guilt breaking her into tears as she tried to reach for him only for him to pull away.
"Why didn't you just ask?" he queried quietly, the betrayal clear in his face. "If you had asked, I would've told you. I would've told you everything in time" he said, grimacing in disappointment that cut Kara deep. "I thought we had promised to be patient with each other" he said.
"I know" she said ashamed.
"But you couldn't wait" he continued, trembling with fury. "I thought you would've trusted me. Let me figure out when to…" he sighed glumly, looking at her coldly. "I shouldn't have expected better from a journalist" he muttered.
"That's not fair" she said, tears running down her face because she could see how this was ending. She stepped forward to grab him, beg him to stay so she could explain. But he pulled away, taking his jacket from the chair. "Jake, where are you going?"
"I need some air" he replied. "And some space" he added, storming out the apartment slamming the door behind him.
Kara stumbled to the door breaking into tears. She wanted to run after him, apologise, explain, and convince him it wasn't her decision to look into him. She stopped at the door. Running after him wouldn't help. She had broken his trust. Even if she hadn't read the file she wanted too. She messed up. She should've thrown the drive back in Alex's face. She should've destroyed it. She turned and fell against the door sobbing, the look on his face haunting her behind her eyes. She looked back at the table and saw the laptop, rage filling her irises as she ran forward and grabbed the table throwing it against the wall. The table and contents smashed against the counter loudly, scaring the neighbours as she followed up with a bellow of pain and humiliation and shame. The anger was at herself, at her sister, at her stupid impulses and instincts. She collapsed to knees screaming in fury and pain. She reached for her glasses wanting to rip them off her face, but she felt the heat behind her eyes and knew if she did she might cut the whole building to pieces. So she left them on and punched the floor instead, the wood floor rippling from the violent impact splintering the panels showering the apartment below with plaster.
She slumped down in front of the sofa and spent the rest of the afternoon crying, wondering if she had messed things up with Jake beyond repair.