True to the colonel's word, Jake was escorted down to the street where an unmarked car was waiting. Unfortunately, so was a swarm of reporters and camera men and a small army of defence lawyers already looking to make a name with his case. The DEO headquarters was based in a building listed as part of the federal government so it wasn't hard to find him after the leaked footage got out, but nobody was expecting such a turn out so fast. It's almost as if this stunt had been orchestrated. Jake's unarmed escort became personal bodyguards as he was guided down the steps to the car now blocked by the crowd all rushing for his attention, barking questions at him all at once.
"Mr White, are you going to press charges against the United State government over your arrest?" "Is it true you were arrested for terrorism?" "Was this a personal grudge against you?" "Do you think the injustice in the FBI deserves to be investigated?" "What was it like speaking to Supergirl?" "Are you started a case action lawsuit?"
Jake had intended to simply climb into the car and leave the rabble behind. But as the man in dark sunglasses ushered him to the open car door he decided to stop and turn around instead, facing the onslaught of cameras and flashing lights and microphones shoved in his face. The noise and pressure was overwhelming. Luckily he knew a trick an old friend of his showed him back when they did public speaking. He inhaled deeply and brought his fingers to his lips, whistling sharply silencing the mob. Once they all stopped shouting he took a breath before answering their inquiries.
"Yes, it's true I was arrested following my departure from the airport. The officers who brought me in wanted to question me about the bombing that occurred at my apartment building here in the city. I explained I was out of town at the time and they've confirmed it to be the truth. Those officers were simply doing their job. What happened with…the unfortunate incident is inexcusable. But I've already been assured the individual responsible has been suspended and is being punished accordingly. I cannot hold an entire organisation responsible for the actions of one…misguided and angry young woman. So no, I'm not pressing charges against the FBI, or the DEO, or the federal government. I may very well press charges against the agent who did this to me, but until that decision has been made I'd very much just like to book into a hotel and finish what I came to do."
"Are you saying you've forgiven the unlawful arrest?" a reporter asked.
"As I said, they are only doing their job. All this was a misunderstanding, a miscommunication and misreading of evidence. I don't harbour any ill will to the investigation and hope they succeed in bringing the true culprit to justice" he said, turning away and climbing into the back of the car.
Upstairs, Alex watched the live broadcast from her office while she was packing up her stuff into a cardboard box. She had to listen to the news reporter repeat his statement and reiterate how he's not pressing charges at this time. She knew he had every right to, and worse he would easily win. She put her name tag into the box and slumped against the desk, her hands balled into fists. She listened to the reporter continue to detail how Jake White was found innocent and realised by the DEO, all charges against him dropped. She picked up the remote, switched the TV off before angrily throwing the remote across the room into the wall.
The remote shattered, causing the small trio to jump as Olsen dodged the projectile. He, Kara and Eliza all looked at her as she heaved furiously, rubbing her brow trying to hold it together as they entered. "If you're going to start throwing things, I'm leaving" Olsen said worried.
"Sorry" she replied, apologising to him for nearly knocking him out. Kara and Eliza approached her cautiously, asking her if she was alright. "Do I look alright?" she snapped, fury boiling her blood. She looked out of the window down to the lobby, the rest of the group all gathered with Brainy trying to figure out how he got the spyware into their interview room. "This I my fault" she grumbled.
"This isn't your fault" Kara told her. "He played us, from the start. We knew something had to be off when he let himself get arrested. He manipulated everything."
"Maybe. But he didn't make me go in there and assault a suspect" she said. She leaned against the glass feeling ashamed with herself. "I was so angry, I just wanted him to…I knew we had to let him go. I could see it happening. We didn't have enough. Worse still, I didn't trust my team. Brainy had this brilliant plan to keep him locked up where he couldn't hurt you, hurt us. We couldn't kept him locked up, keep him contained, built our case and made it work. But I…I played right into his hands, all by myself. He didn't make me go back in there."
"You're not the first person to let a creep like that get under your skin" Eliza told her, stepping forward stroking her daughter's arms. "And you're not the first person to make a…drastic decision to protect your family" she added quietly. Alex looked up at her silently, a tear falling down her cheek. "We'll work through this, as a family" she promised.
"But he's out there now" she said. "He's free. He knows who we are."
"And we'll get him" Kara agreed, hugging Alex showing her she was still with her. Alex hugged her back. She was glad to have her family with her. She looked up at Olsen, who stood by the door nodding in agreement. Her friends wouldn't abandon her either.
She pulled away from Kara and looked down at the lobby. Her eyes found J'onn standing by himself, monitoring the screens stoically. "I need to talk to J'onn" she said.
"Actually, you might want to give him some time to cool down" Olsen advised.
Alex looked at them, her mother and sister nodding sadly in agreement. The guilt in the pit of her stomach grew heavier as she looked down at her old mentor, her father figure. All she could see was the look of sheer disappointment in his eyes when he turned his back on her in that store room. "I really messed up" she whispered, her lip trembling as more tears fell. Eliza took her daughter and hugged her, promising she will help her fix this.
They escorted Alex downstairs with her box of belongings, her locker room next on the agenda. But before they went them she wanted to check in with Brainy at the war table. The agent looked up at her and stood to attention. "I'm suspended Brainy, you don't have to do that" she told him glumly, putting her box on the table.
He lowered her head just as glumly, relaxing his shoulders as Lena and Nia joined them. "This is so outrageous" Lena muttered, talking about her suspension and Jake's appearance on the big screens as more news outlets detailed his release. They had started using the caption "Jake White released following police brutality".
"They're not wrong though" Alex muttered. She looked across the table to J'onn, who kept his gaze fixed on the room monitoring the activity, refusing to even look at her. That feeling in the pit of her stomach grew heavier. "Is Colonel Haley still here?" she asked.
"No, she left ten minutes ago" Brainy reported. "She mentioned damage control on her way out."
Alex nodded. She saw Brainy's agitation as he stood before her, his eyes uncomfortable skirting hers. "Who did she put in charge in my absence?" she asked. Brainy hesitated, but she caught the looks of everyone else nodding to him. She smiled. She was glad someone she trusted and respected was taking her place. And Brainy would do a great job. "The Colonel made an excellent choice" she said, put a confident hand on his shoulder.
Brainy nodded, looking at her more confidently. "Promise I'll use everything in my power to ensure he doesn't get away with his crimes" he told her. Of that she had no doubt.
"What are you going to do?" Nia asked her.
She shrugged, picking up her box of stuff. "Get the rest of my things and probably eat three tubs of ice cream" she laughed.
"If you do, could you save me a tub" Kara asked. Alex chuckled, nodding an affirmative.
"Well then, let get to your locker and then I can take you home" Eliza said as Alex began walking. Alex tried to explain she didn't need her but the elder Danvers interrupted. "If you think I'm letting you return to that apartment of yours so you can wallow in self-pity, you can think again. You're coming home with me Alexandra and that's the end of it."
Alex opened her mouth to argue but one look from her mother told her resistance was futile. So instead she sighed and trudged along after her like the good little girl she was forced to be.
As the Danvers left, Kara stayed behind to talk to J'onn. "Alex really needs you" she whispered.
"What she did goes against everything I taught her" he growled.
Kara bristled at his tone, but managed to stay strong enough to stand in front of him and remind him "we've all made mistakes. Alex knows what she did was wrong. But what hurts her more in knowing she disappointed you. I don't think she'll be able to forgive herself unless you talk to her."
J'onn looked at Kara, a slow exhale escaping his taunt mouth. "I'm not ready to forgive her this abuse of power" he said.
"I get that" she nodded. "but she still needs you." she walked away, leaving him to contemplate how long he was willing to punish his surrogate daughter for before he found it in his heart to help her learn from her mistake. He sighed heavily, forgetting how much having a family to care for was hard work.
But it wasn't just his disappointment in Alex that had his teeth on edge. It was the smug look on Jake's face as he left the DEO. They all knew that he had intentions towards Kara going forward, and now he was free to pursue them. So J'onn was standing here trying to figure out the best way he could protect both the Danvers sisters from this murderer.