"What happened out there?" Kelly yelled, directing her question to the lawyer who swore to them bail would've been assured.

The man shrugged. "Sometimes that how it goes" he told them apologetically. "The DA made a compelling argument and the Judge agreed. High profile case like this, given all the media attention, they are probably just being cautious."

"I don't care, my brother doesn't deserve to be in prison. He didn't do anything wrong!"

"Kelly, please just calm down" James begged, grabbing his sister and pulling her into a hug. She trembled with fury as she was pulled against his chest, clutching her brother supressing the anger she was feeling. "It's going to be alright. What's done is done" he whispered.

"We're not giving up" Kara said, standing behind Kelly with Nia and Lena. The guards allowed the four of the two join his lawyer for this final visit before they transferred him to Iron Heights. Kara had hoped Alex would be here but she seemed to have disappeared. They stood in the small room around a steel table, the guards outside giving them privacy though they could still listen through the door. Not that what they were hearing was anything out of the ordinary in such a situation. "We are going to get you out of here."

"I'm willing to call my legal team to take over if you want" Lena offered.

Kelly looked at her expressing her thanks, but Olsen shook his head. "That's kind but we'll be fine" he told her, appreciating the gesture. He doubted changing lawyers would help his circumstances right now. "Kelly, could you call the family and tell them what's going on? I don't want them to worry" he asked.

She nodded, promising to do so. She saw the glances between him and his colleagues and sensed they wanted some private moments before he was transferred. "I'll be back before they take you away" she promised, kissing his cheek. He nodded, telling her he loved her. That made her worry, but she replied "I love you too" before reluctantly exiting the room.

Kara flashed Lena a brief look, silently asking if they could have a moment. The woman didn't complain, telling her she'll be outside. Once Lena was gone it left Olsen, Nia and Kara able to have an honest and optimistic conversation. "So what's this big plan of yours?" Olsen asked them. They recounted their idea to write an article focusing on Jake and the suspicions around his involvement. Olsen listened and nodded. It had merit. "The editor at Cacto might be able to run that story if you keep it to the facts. Any accusations would open you both up to lawsuits. I wouldn't be surprised if Jake would be up for suing the network."

"We're prepared for that" Kara told him. "All that matters is telling the world that you are innocent, even if we can't objectively confirm it."

"Reasonable doubt will help you case, and there is reasonable doubt" Nia said. "Brainy's already running his own calculations into the trial and the probabilities of its outcome."

"I'd hate to hear those odds" Olsen muttered.

"The point is we have your back" Kara said.

Olsen nodded. That was never in doubt. "What about you two? If you start digging into Jake publicly he might push back."

"He had to come to me and warn us about Bloodsport because he wants you to go to prison for being the Reckoning" Nia stated. "I don't think he'll do anything as long as that is his plan."

"We'll be careful" Kara agreed. "And honestly, I'm hoping he makes a move. It'll give us a chance to catch him in the act."

"Using yourself as bait?" Olsen summarised.

Kara shrugged. "He's already after me. At least this time we'll be ready for it."

Olsen voiced his scepticism. "He's never gone after you directly before. I've been running through the last few months too, and each conflict only occurred because you intervened in a separate situation. When he was targeting someone else, the DEO, killing Maxwell Davies or Henry Irons."

"All the more reason to push him into coming after me" Kara said. "Force him to make a mistake, to act out of impulse, make him mad or desperate."

He shook his head. "That's too risky. Just…stick to the article. Try and find as much evidence as you can. I'm sure my defence attorney would appreciate It." he looked at his two friends, the two best reporters he had on staff, and smiled. "Be careful out there" he said.

"You too. Iron Heights is dangerous, especially for vigilantes" Nia said concerned. "If they find out you're Guardian…"

"They won't" he said. "If Kelly couldn't talk me into exposing my identity, then there's no way anyone on the inside will find out."

Unfortunately, someone else was having the opposite thought.

Alex Danvers returned to her apartment, which thankfully wasn't far from the courthouse, and was pacing the living room with a glass of alcohol in her hand. She kept pondering why Jake had visited the courthouse. To gloat? To mess with their heads? It got her thinking, what if he wanted Olsen to go to prison. She doubted he could've fixed things to make the judge deny bail, but it could play to his advantage. What if he doesn't want Olsen to get to trial? It's already been suggested Jake could get in and out of prison, or the police station, or the DEO without anyone noticing. What if his plan was for James to go to Iron Heights? He would be vulnerable there.

The idea festered until Alex determined it was the only possibility. Which meant she had to do something. She swallowed the rest of her drink and stormed over to her closet, opening the door and reaching in to pull out a duffel bag. She laid it on the bed and unzipped it, pulling out the various tools and weapons she kept stashed inside. There were Government Issue. She was meant to hand them back in. but given how things happened she forgot. And when she remembered she figured it'd be safer for her to keep them. She looked over her equipment and took a deep breath.

This is the only option she told herself.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she got a knock on the front door. "Not now" she called, predicting it to be J'onn or Kara looking for her.

She was surprised when she heard Kelly's voice call back. "Alex, I think we need to talk" she said.

Alex turned around and froze in surprise. She wasn't prepared for visitors, particularly her ex-girlfriend (sort of girlfriend). She looked at the equipment on her bed and hurried out of the room, closing the door before striding across the apartment. She hesitated at the door, nerves taking over. Just stay calm she told herself, inhaling a deep breath before unlocking the door. She opened it slowly to greet Kelly Olsen. "Hi" she said nervously.

"Hi" she replied, equally nervous. "Can I come in?" Alex hesitated momentarily before nodding, stepping aside waving the young woman into the apartment. She stepped inside, casting an eye around the apartment thinking about the last time she was here. Which got her thinking about the last time she and Alex were together and how abruptly things ended. "I wanted to apologise" she said, turning back to the red-haired woman who closed the front door and stood awkwardly in front of her.

"Its okay" she said, ignoring the butterflies in her stomach as she too thought about the last time the two of them were in this apartment together. "I'm sorry about how things went down" she said. "I swear, if I had known what was about to happen…"

"No, you were doing your job" Kelly interrupted, rubbing her arm feeling ashamed at how she had lashed out that night James was arrested. "I shouldn't have blamed you, or Supergirl. I was just frustrated and angry and confused."

"I get it. I'm sorry" she said.

Kelly nodded. There was a moment of silence before she reluctantly acknowledged "we never really got to have that talk before everything that happened." Alex sighed, acknowledging the same. "I'm sorry about how things ended. I'm sorry I just left and we never… I made a mess of everything."

"We both did" Alex sighed.

Kelly shook her head. "No we didn't" she admitted. "It was great and amazing. I shouldn't have taken that job."

"It was a great opportunity."

"So was what we had" she said sadly.

Alex shrugged. "It still can be" she said impulsively, optimism filling her voice. Kelly tilted her head when Alex suddenly blushed and averted her gaze. "I mean, if you wanted to. Not unless you're…I don't know, met somebody else?"

Kelly blushed. "There's no one else" she told her. Alex's eyes widened with hope, which she immediately squashed out of fear. "What about you? I thought you and that police captain…"

"Oh, no" she replied instantly. "No, we…we're just colleagues. Friends. What we had was a long time ago" she said.

The two women nodded, a familiar attraction sparking between them. They both felt it, a magnetic pull drawing them closer. Kelly was the first to pull away, her face turning red as she turned away. "I don't know why I'm here" she muttered.

"I'm glad you are" Alex whispered, a small smile rising on her lips.

Kelly glanced back and smiled. She felt it too. But she shook her head. "I'm worried about James" she said, absently circling the room drifting around the apartment. "I guess I came here because I wanted someone to talk to. Someone who understands what…" her voice trailed off as she caught a glimpse through the crack in the bedroom door. At first it was a recollection of a memory. But then she saw what was on the bed. Alex saw her step closer and snapped to alertness, rushing forward to intercept her as she opened the bedroom door. She stopped when Kelly saw the weapons on the mattress and turned back to look at her. "What's going on?" she asked.

"It's nothing" Alex deflected, stepping in front of her to close the bedroom door.

Kelly could tell it wasn't nothing. She's treated many patients and learnt the signs that they were hiding something. She recalled the look on her face when they both saw Jake in that courtroom. "Alex, I need you to be honest with me" she said worried. "Please tell me you're not considering going after that man."

Alex turned back to look at her. The thought had crossed her mind, but she was confident in saying "I'm not planning to go after Jake, however much he deserves it."

Kelly sensed the truth, and the hostility in the statement. She also sensed the woman was still holding back. "Then why all the guns?" she asked. Alex hesitated, her eyes darting around the room. Another familiar look Kelly had seen, especially with veterans. "Alex, I know about the suspension. I've seen the footage on the news" she told her. "You're already in trouble, I don't want you making things worse."

"I'm not…it's not like that" Alex told her, her heart racing. Kelly stared at her, wanting an explanation. Alex sighed, pacing the living area before explaining "I'm trying to help James. I think I know why Jake came to the courthouse. To make sure he didn't get bail."

"Why?"

"Because he doesn't want him to go to trial" Alex said. "Everything we've seen, the plan was last minute and impulsive. If it goes to court, it'll fall apart. I'm worried he'll try and kill James while he's in Iron Heights, before the trial. He'll get away with it, away with everything."

Kelly stared at the woman, then at the bedroom door. "So…what exactly are you planning to do?" she asked. Alex fell silent. Kelly read it in her expression. She was stunned, alarmed, and afraid. "Normally I'd be…I'd be on-board for this…but it's too dangerous. James wouldn't want you risking your life like this. You could go to prison!"

"I can do it. I can figure it out" Alex argued. "If I strike during his transfer to the prison…"

"Alex, listen to yourself! You don't even have a plan. This is an impulsive decision and you could get in so much trouble. It could get worse for both of you. He'll look guilty if he escapes."

"He could die if he is sent to prison" Alex countered.

Kelly understood that logic, but it was too big a risk. "I know, and I…I'm grateful you are willing to try and help, but there's got to be a better way."

"There isn't" Alex cried. She'd spent the last half hour thinking about it. "Jakes knows how to get into places. He knows…he knows about Olsen" she said, implicating the statement.

Kelly guessed as much, nodding. "He could tell the inmates James is Guardian" she confirmed. "Or he could do the job himself. But is breaking him out going to help him? Or stop Jake?"

"I don't know" she said, tears in her eyes. "But I need to do something. I can't let him keep winning."

"Then don't play his game" Kelly told her, stepping up and grabbing her face. "Have you considered this is what he wants? You to make a choice that'll make things worse, get you in trouble?"

"I don't know what he wants, or what he's planning" Alex stammered, her emotions getting the better of her. "I don't know what he's up to and it's driving me crazy. All I know is this is the one thing I can do for James, and for you."

Kelly appreciated it, feeling grateful she wants to try and make things right. But this was too much. "James wouldn't want this" she told her, almost hearing his voice when she said it. "And I don't either. I don't want anything to happen to you too. I still care about you" she admitted, her eyes meeting hers.

They stood there for a long moment, emotions sparking between them like lightning until Kelly looked down at her watch. "I have to go, say goodbye to James" she said sadly. Alex nodded. "You should come with me. He'll want to see you" she suggested.

Alex shook her head. "I can't" she whispered, pulling away and walking to the bedroom door.

Kelly looked at her with worry and affection. She wanted to stay with her, but her brother needed her. She knew Alex needed her too, needed her to stay. But she couldn't. "Please…please don't do this for me" she said, turning away and walking out of the apartment.

Alex turned back when she heard the door slam shut, tears in her eyes as she wished she had stayed. She wiped her eyes and entered her bedroom, looking down at the small arsenal awaiting her. "It's the only way" she told herself, her lower lip trembling as she tried to figure out what the right thing to do was.

Olsen made the most of his last few moments of visitation before the guards returned to prepare his transfer. He wrapped up his talk with Kara and Nia and managed to get one last hug from Kelly who arrived just in time. She paused next to Kara, whispering that she should check in with her sister as soon as possible. Kara nodded, leaving her with her brother exiting to the lobby. "Are you okay?" Nia asked after Kara tried to call Alex.

Kara nodded, but her sister wasn't picking up. "I'll be okay" she sighed, deciding to fly over to Alex's apartment. But then her hearing picked out screams from a continent away and she groaned. "Not now" she muttered.

"So you have to go?" Nia asked, reading her expression. When she nodded she told her "we can hold fort here, make sure Olsen is alright before he leaves."

"Are you sure?" she asked.

Nia nodded, much more confident about being on her own now. "You go save the world."

Kara smiled proudly at her. "I'll be back as soon as possible. Signal me if anything happens" she said. Nia promised, watching the woman dart out of the courthouse and fly out to deal with whatever calamity she overheard.

As she waited in the lobby J'onn and Brainy approached her to ask how Olsen was. "He's worried, but he's hopeful" she said. She turned to J'onn, informing him "Kelly paid Alex a visit, but she wasn't…she said she might need someone with her."

J'onn nodded. "I'm worried too. I'll check in with her" he said.

Brainy examined his girlfriend and deduced there was something else on her mind. "Anything I can help with?" he asked, taking her arm comfortingly.

She smiled, squeezing his hand and kissing him. "You being here is enough" she said.

Brainy smiled, but he also saw the deflection. "Nia, I can't help you if you won't tell me what's wrong."

She sighed, hating that he'd gotten so good at reading her. She glanced around the lobby before nodding to a bench telling him "I had another dream last night. I guess it got me spooked." Brainy nodded, listening to her patiently as she recounted her vision.

Olsen was escorted out of the courthouse five minutes before noon. He got one last goodbye before he was put in handcuffs and lead through the dark hallways. Kelly followed him as far as she was allowed before he was taken away. They left through the back entrance, away from any potential paparazzi or media attention.

Unfortunately, there was still a crowd in the parking lot waiting to get a photo of him as he was lead out of the door. A police barricade kept the reporters back, but it meant they were pushing through a crowd of officers to get to the transport van. Olsen kept his head down as he heard the shouts and the questions and the orders barked from the officers.

In all the confusion, nobody saw a figure blending into the crowd as they circled the transport van. They crouched by the front wheel to slip an object against the inside of the wheel, their eyes glancing around at the distracted officers focused on the media. Once the device was in place they continued walking, reaching to the back of the van opening the doors for them. Their palm brushed the inside of the locking mechanism, a tiny disc planted and primed unseen and ready to detonate. They kept walking, their head low but eyes forward. They weaved through the crowd of police officers and bumped into the prisoner they were escorting before ducking back into the crowd out of sight.

Olsen grunted as someone collided with him, turning his head to look at the mass of officers in uniforms and helmets. But as he was taken into the back of the transport he thought he saw a glimpse of red hair before it disappeared into the crowd. The thought was forgotten when he was led into the back of the van, handcuffed to the bench, looking out to the blue sky before the doors slammed shut and the engine started.