The search for Cyborg Superman and the Reckoning wasn't going as well as any of the heroes had hoped now, but none of them were ready to give up yet. Alex had the DEO focused on tracking Hank Henshaw and his Samaritans while she coordinated with Lena and Brainy who were looking into the paper trail for the Reckoning. Brainy was beginning his final inventory of the HQ to determine how much damage the assault left them with and what was taken, running an intensive diagnostic on the database and the terminal the Reckoning accessed it through. They all reconvened at J'onn's office while the base was still undergoing repairs, giving them a moment to talk in private.

"Still no sign of Hank or where he might've gone" J'onn confirmed after talking to his sources. "But the word on the street about this Blacksmith is becoming alarming."

"Captain Sawyer called it a hornet's nest" Alex nodded. "The FBI have an open investigation into him. Whoever he is has been selling dangerous weapons for years."

"Curious how the DEO hasn't been notified of this individual" Brainy mused while coordinating from his tablet.

"Domestic threats aren't DEO jurisdiction" Alex shrugged. "Until a few months ago his merchandise wasn't considered extra-terrestrial."

"And now they're using kryptonite" Lena shuddered. "It feels like all of my worst nightmares are coming true. Lex would love this man. Or probably assassinate him for the sake of his pride."

"Be thankful this man is only interested in selling weapons" J'onn said. "If he's as intelligent as everyone thinks he is he could prove just as dangerous as Lex Luthor."

"No, he's just selling technology to people who have their own motives and agendas" Lena scoffed. To her that made him just as dangerous. Advanced weapons in the hands of anyone who can afford it, carelessly distributed across the country…it was a disaster waiting to happen. "If it helps I think I've determined what it might take to house a large quantity of Kryptonite. I've been looking into Axis again. Maxwell had backroom deals with them to produce Metallo…"

"And their environmentally controlled facilities would be able to hold a large volume of the mineral" Brainy nodded in approval. "I'll pull up the records of all the properties they have that have the industrial capabilities."

"It'll be a worldwide ordeal though" Lena warned, having done her own research. "They might have hundreds of facilities."

"Maybe not, since their financial situation that led to investors like Kronos Limited" J'onn considered. "They may have been forced to sell some of their properties."

"I'll cross-reference their sales and acquisitions then" Brainy said, his fingers rapping the screen rapidly beginning his search.

Alex looked around the room and then at her mobile. "Anyone seen Dreamer lately?"

"She wanted to rest after the fight" Brainy reported without looking up. "She said she'll call later."

"How's Kara?" Lena asked.

Alex hesitated, recalling the last time they talked. "She's recovering" she replied, leaving it there not wanting to go into their fight. "Have you heard from her?" she asked cautiously.

"She emailed with some leads of her own" she told her. "She found three accounts on the payroll of TITAN who don't have their names attached, nothing but initials. She thinks either one of them is our engineer or Maxwell was embezzling from his company as well as…"

Their talk was interrupted when the door to J'onn's office swung open and Kara stormed inside dressed in her civilian clothes. Alex sat up when she saw her sister. "You're supposed to be resting" she said.

"I came to give you this back" she said sharply, holding up the USB drive before throwing it angrily at her sister. Everyone flinched at Kara's sudden hostility. "Thanks for your help Alex, but next stay out of my business!" she spat, turning on her heel to storm off again.

Lena wasn't going to let her run off however, grabbing her wrist asking "whoa, Kara! What's going on? Are you…have you been crying?" she asked, seeing the redness of her eyes as she reluctantly remained still not wanting to rip Lena's arm off. The woman looked back at Alex who was frozen to the spot, a hint of shame in her expression. J'onn's eyes looked between them suspiciously, like how a parent would look at his children, while Brainy was wilfully distracted by his tablet. "What happened?" Lena asked again, this time asking both the Danvers sisters.

"Ask her" Kara replied, almost childish in her response.

Alex looked down at the USB drive on the floor. "Did you read it?" she asked.

"No I didn't read it!" she retorted at her, loudly. "But Jake did" she said, bringing a new level of tension between them. "He came around for a surprise visit and he saw it on my laptop."

"So you opened it?" Alex muttered optimistically, but Kara cut her off. "I didn't read it! But I… yes, I thought about it, but I didn't. I trusted him. And now he doesn't trust me because he thinks I put you up to it!"

"Can someone tell me what this is about?" J'onn interjected, silencing both of them firmly looking at the pair. Alex didn't speak but he could sense the unease from her thoughts projecting from her. He supressed his own assumptions though their recent discussion made it seem pretty clear. "Alex?" he pressed gently. She hesitantly looked up guiltily.

"Go on" Kara permitted. "Tell them. Tell them how you went behind my back and ran a background check on my boyfriend."

Lena and J'onn looked at Alex stunned as she fixed her gaze on Kara. "If you opened that file, then you wanted to read it. I was right, wasn't I? Something about him didn't add up."

"No, this is not what this is! Don't you dare turn this on me!" she shouted, practically lunging for her until J'onn got between them to calm her down. "You had Brainy look into him for no reason! It was you who got in my head about…" she shrugged J'onn away breathing heavily, glaring angrily at her sister but forcing herself to stay calm. It was only now the others realised how much Kara was holding back at the moment, the heat building behind her lead rimmed glasses and her muscles tensing under her frame. "Linwood" she told her. "His fiancé? Her family name was Linwood. Sarah Linwood, that's the name on the death certificate. She died in the states. If you look it up, you'll find her buried in a cemetery. She's not missing. Jake didn't do anything to her. But thanks to you I all but accused him of it" she said, more tears threatening to drown her.

She took a second to compose herself, long enough for everyone to compress what she'd told them and look suspiciously at Alex. She glanced at each other, particularly J'onn who was giving her a familiar look of disapproval. "Kara, I'm sorry" she said, stepping toward the blonde woman reaching out for her. Only she pulled away, glaring at her with anger. "I'm sorry, but if he was on the level, why…"

"Wouldn't you act strongly if the love of your life had died and you weren't ready to talk about it?" she asked. To hammer the point home she asked "how long did it take you to talk about dad when he died?" Alex stepped back in shock, about to snap a retort about how low that was, but then fell silent seeing the point she was making. "We were just figuring things out, getting to point where our relationship might… now I don't know where we are. Thanks to you, any trust or faith he had in me is gone and I don't know how to fix it. So congratulations Alex, I hope you're happy!" she huffed, turning on her heel and storming back to the door. This time nobody stopped her.

"This isn't what I wanted" Alex tried to explain, but Kara ignored her and slammed the door behind her. "Kara!" she called, her voice falling on deaf ears. She stood there for a moment before moving to run after her, only Lena put her arm out and stopped her shaking her head. "I just need her to listen" she said, but Lena told her "the last thing she'll want to do is listen to you right now." she picked up her back, giving Alex an unwelcome look before following Kara out the door.

Fortunately for Lena Kara decided not to race off into the sky immediately. She found the blonde woman leaning against a lamppost heaving back sobs rubbing her eyes. She walked up cautiously and put her hand on her shoulder, waiting for her to look back and see her on her own. "I really don't want to talk right now" she said, choking on her own voice.

Lena nodded, hooking her arm under hers dragging her along the street saying "we're going to my place. If you don't want to talk then I should get you a strong drink." Kara wasn't fond of that idea either but she reluctantly allowed herself to be dragged away.

In J'onn's office Alex slowly paced the room while J'onn stood nearby leaning on a column, his arms crossed. Brainy finally pulled himself away from his tablet and picked up the USB, looking at Alex with no judgement or sympathy. "Shall I discontinue the request you made regarding Mr White?" he asked her quietly.

Alex looked at him and then glanced at J'onn, silently nodding her head. He nodded back, quietly excusing himself to return to work and give the two of them the room to talk. Alex stopped by the desk facing J'onn awkwardly, looking up at his disapproving expression. "Say it. I messed up."

"Somehow I don't think stating it will be necessary" he replied. There was no malice in his voice but Alex still felt the sting of disappointment within it. "You promised you wouldn't do anything drastic" he said.

She sighed sitting down in the nearby chair. "I know. It thought it would just be a precaution. But then Brainy found these gaps in his history and… Kara's not going to forgive me is she" she pouted.

J'onn didn't want to let Alex off the hook for this kind of behaviour, yet he pulled a chair over and sat beside her with sympathy. "She will, in time. But it was quite a betrayal, not just for Jake. You betrayed her too." She opened her mouth to argue but his expression made her realise it was pointless. "Going behind her back…using DEO resources for personal gain? Alex, do you have any idea how risky that is? And you dragged Brainy into it?"

"I know, okay! I messed up" she snapped, the shame and guilt finally getting to her as she let her vulnerable side out finally. Her face fell into her hands and she sniffled. "It feels like all I've been doing is mess up lately."

J'onn looked at her in surprise. "Hank getting away wasn't your fault" he told her.

"Not just Hank. Maggie knows we lost the kryptonite sword. She wasn't impressed. It was a key piece of evidence to help in their case against the Blacksmith."

"We've all made mistakes over the course of this investigation" he told her, resting his elbows on his knees clasping his hands together thoughtfully. "While you were gone, I initiated the linking of minds in Hank's cell" he confessed. "I violated one of our strictest laws in order to learn what he knew, because I knew he'd never tell us. The riots at the prison, it wasn't just Hank's hate that was amplifying everyone. My telepathy was the cause." Alex looked at him and listened, shocked by the admission he was giving her. "I got what I wanted, but he used our link to try and torment me. Showed me his memories, distorted fantasies, images of me losing my family. Of losing you, Kara…Jerimiah" he said slowly, sensing her response through her thoughts. "I lost control. If you hadn't pulled me out, I might've… I don't know what I might've done." He looked at her as she took his hand sympathetically. "We've all made mistakes" he repeated. "All we can do now is atone for them."

She nodded, understanding why he did what he did. The same reason why she did what she did. She shuffled her chair closer so she could put her head on his shoulder and he could wrap his arm around hers. "I'm sorry" she whispered, apologising for everything she needed to atone for. He nodded, knowing she'll do whatever it took to make it up to them.

Kara knew the alcohol would have no effect on her system, but she gulped it down anyway hoping for a hint of a buzz to counteract the shame and anger she was feeling. Lena sat beside hr on the sofa of her apartment, merely sipping her drink letting Kara cool down so they could talk. "So what happened between you and Jake?" she asked.

"I told you, I don't want to talk about it" she replied. Lena shrugged and continued sipping her drink, waiting for Kara to groan and change her mind. "It was awful. The look in his face when he thought… think like a journalist Alex said. I should've burnt that drive the moment she left."

"Why didn't you?" she asked.

Kara closed her eyes quelling another wave of anger. "Think like a journalist" was all she muttered. Lena understood. Kara was always more curious than was sometimes healthy for her. "I mean, you get it right?" Kara asked her desperately. "You don't think Alex deserved what I said?"

Lena took a moment to compose her answer before she said it. "speaking as someone who's overbearing mother would routinely look into everyone I associated with, including boyfriends, I understand how hurt must be right now" she said.

Kara groaned with even more despair as she fell back against the sofa. "And he thinks it was my idea. He's going to hate me" she whined.

"Maybe. Or maybe you dodged an even more heart-breaking bullet further down the line" Lena offered. When Kara turned her head inquisitively she asked "does he know about your secret?" she shook her head guiltily. "Do you plan on telling him?"

"I don't know" she admitted.

"Then maybe it's for the best" she offered, thinking pragmatically. "If you two were to, heaven forbid, break up, you wouldn't have to tell him who you are. But if you did, there's a chance he might not take it as well as others have. I can attest to experience how learning someone close to you has been keeping secrets has a negative effect."

"That was different" Kara objected. "I never got the chance to tell you myself. Lex did it for me" she grumbled, recalling how hostile things between them became when Lena discovered she was Supergirl. "I always meant to tell him if things got serious. But now I don't know what we are."

Lena sighed, squeezing her friends arm comfortingly. "You two had a fight. I'm sure once you've both calmed down you can talk through it and figure things out."

"And what if we can't" she grumbled glumly.

"Then take it as a sign that it was never meant to be with you two" she suggested, pouring her another glass she couldn't get drunk from. They clinked glasses and gulped it down, lounging on the sofa relaxing. "For what it's worth, it'd be a shame if you two broke up. He really seems to make you happy."

"Yeah, he does" Kara sighed wistfully. After a moment of silence she groaned again. "I'm going to have to apologise to Alex eventually aren't I?

"Apologising to siblings is overrated" she scoffed, trying to recall the last time the Luthor children apologised for anything. She looked at Kara and they burst out laughing. "Give it some time. I'm sure you and Alex will work it out. Maybe in the training room" she added to get a chuckle.

Kara put down her glass and turned to face Lena, resting her elbow on the back of the sofa. "I never asked how you were coping after everything with Maxwell" she said.

Lena waved the concern away. "That was a simple mistake I won't be repeating" she said.

"But you liked him for a minute there" Kara noted, slipping between Lena's armour and getting a blush.

"I'll admit" she said quietly, even though there was only the two of them in the room, "it was a stimulating night. And the sex was exquisite" she admitted, seeing Kara' smile. "How about you. I'm still waiting on details of your liaison with this boyfriend. Is he as good looking downstairs as he is upstairs?"

"Rao, you are unbelievable" she gasped, squirming under the woman's probing gaze. Her grin cut through her resolve as she quietly answered "I had no complaints. It was romantic, and hot and…it was good enough I was ready to do it again today" she confessed, which got an excited laugh from Lena. But then Kara's face fell as she added "that's when the fight happened. It all got messed up so fast…"

"Yeah" Lena sighed, reminiscing at how good her fling was until she learned how much of a tool her lover was. At least Kara's man was simply grieving his ex and not a homicidal maniac. She held up her glass again. "Hears to aspiring astronauts and lovable mechanics" she offered. Kara laughed and toasted the drink, siting back again.

"Wait, where did the aspiring astronaut come from?" Kara suddenly asked curiously, looking at Lena intently. "Did you pick up another date I don't know about?"

"No, of course not" she snorted, realising she never told Kara what she found. "I was going back over TITAN's projected plans for the Samaritan and Maxwell had big projections for his suits. According to the five year plan he was looking into adapting them for space travel."

"Maxwell wanted to send himself into space?" Kara gasped.

Lena shrugged. "Considering he wanted his suits to protect Earth from aliens like you do, it makes sense. According to my research he began the process of retrofitting the suits with pressurised seals, oxygen tanks and the ability to navigate in orbit. I've been digging into the schematics more looking for a way to weaken them or disable their…" he thoughts were interrupted when her phone buzzed on the table. She apologised and reached for it to check the update. Her eyes narrowed. "Huh, that's odd" she said.

"What?" Kara asked.

"I was attempting to trace the computer virus for the Samaritans, not getting anywhere. But the beacons in the suits came online for a split second."

"You could track them?"

"For a split second. Not long enough to triangulate a position." she looked up thoughtfully. "But if the tracking beacons are available now, maybe I can switch them on remotely. They're still tied into the original code."

"But I thought the virus they were using prevented you from hacking them?" Kara asked.

Lena shrugged optimistically. "Something must've changed."