A/N: Thank you for the comments.

Guest - I thought Lena was probably the only one brave enough to look the gift horse in the mouth.


"How's it going?" J'onn asked as he joined Eliza in the waiting room the next day.

"They're into the third hour."

"It's a complicated surgery." J'onn reminded her.

"I know, and it's even more reason why Alex shouldn't be performing it."

"She wouldn't trust anyone else." J'onn reminded her. "And even if you had persuaded her to let someone else perform the surgery she would be in here pacing the entire time, rather than resting."

"I know, but I have only just got her back. I am so scared of losing her again."

"Alex knows her limits." J'onn said. Seeing the sceptical look Eliza was giving him he added. "Hamilton is in there watching her. She'll be okay." He assured her as he pulled her into a hug. "And she is not the only one pushing herself too hard. When was the last time you got a decent night's sleep?"

"It's been awhile." Eliza admitted. "When the surgery is over and they are both safe and resting, then I'll get some sleep."

-00-

"Okay, that's all the Kryptonite." Alex said as she dropped the last part in a lead box.

"That's it?" Lena asked looking at the green crumbs just before the lid was shut. "Hard to believe that small amount could do such damage."

"Perhaps you understand why she is so keen for it to be destroyed." Alex replied. Seeing the hurt, but angry look that crossed Lena's face she added. "That wasn't a criticism, just a statement of fact. She made us get rid of all the Kryptonite we have here too. Tactically it's the wrong choice, but I know why she wants us to. Especially with Cadmus being everywhere." Seeing Lena silently nod Alex added. "I'll irrigate, just to make sure, then we're ready for the screw."

"Ready when you are." Lena said before noticing that Alex was heavily sweating and asking. "Are you okay?"

"The red sun lamps are little hot for my liking." Alex said.

"Are you sure that's all it is?" Lena asked. "Because if you die saving her, she is lost anyway."

"I'm not dying." Alex assured her as she triple checked that Kara was free from Kryptonite.

"Even if you are not dying you look like you need to rest." Lena went on finding she was the only person in the room who was brave enough to be the voice of reason.

"I'll rest when we're done." Alex said putting down the tools and looking at Lena. "If you've done your job properly that will be soon."

"It's made to your specifications." Lena assured her as she handed her the screw.

Alex paused and looked at it before saying. "Nice work." With that she went back to Kara.

-00-

As Alex worked on Kara's leg, Lena watched Alex, expecting her to collapse at anytime.

When Alex stepped back from Kara, Lena thought it was because she was about to faint and jumped up, ready to help.

"What?" Alex asked noticing the movement.

"Nothing, just a spasm." Lena lied.

"The screw is in place." Alex said returning her focus to the operation. She then looked at one of the techs and said. "Turn off the red lamps and turn on the solar lamps."

"Yes ma'am." The tech said before doing as instructed. Once done Alex looked at Kara's leg wound and sighed.

"It's not healing. She still has no powers. I'll close her up the normal way."

-00-

"Lena?" Eliza asked when the youngest Luthor entered the room. "Has something happened?"

"I'm just here to let you know the operation is over. Kara is being moved back to the lamp room to recover. Alex is also fine, but needs to rest. She's with Kara now."

"Did it work?" J'onn asked.

"Alex's idea for a screw worked perfectly and the Kryptonite has been removed and the leg has been reset. However, she still doesn't have powers." Lena explained. "Anyway I should go. Hamilton will be in to get you when Kara is settled."

"Thank you, for everything." Eliza said before hugging the un-expecting Luthor.

"You're welcome." Lena replied before awkwardly extracting herself.

-00-

"Kara?" Eliza asked seeing Kara was starting to stir.

"Eliza?" Kara asked groggily as she started to open her eyes.

"Right here Sweetie. How are you feeling?" She asked squeezing Kara's hand.

Instead of answering Kara looked around for Alex. Starting to panic that she had dreamt her sister's return, she asked.

"Alex?"

"She's just over there sleeping." Eliza assured her.

"She's really back?" Kara asked straining to see her sleeping sister.

"She is." Eliza said squeezing her hand a little tighter. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired." Kara said.

"Are you in pain?"

"Are you sure Alex is okay?" Kara asked ignoring Eliza's question.

"I promise you she is okay." Eliza said before Kara drifted off again.

-00-

"How is she?" Alex asked when she woke a little later.

"Alex? You're awake? How are you?" Eliza asked looking over to her eldest. Seeing Alex wince and grab her side as she stood she asked. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. It's just my ribs. They got stiff during the surgery, then I slept awkwardly." Alex explained as she walked towards her sister and repeated her earlier question.

"How's Kara?"

"She woke awhile ago. Panicked that you weren't really back and then fell to sleep." Eliza said as Alex exposed Kara's leg and saw the incision was still there.

"Still no powers. What if they don't come back?"

"She'll survive. Her powers don't define her." Eliza said.

"They kind of do. She has lost so much, losing her powers forever, will she come back from that?" Alex asked as she checked Kara's temperature, relieved to find she wasn't feverish.

"The last few weeks have shown us there is only one thing Kara needs, that's you." Eliza said reaching over and taking Alex's hand. "We both do. Whatever happens with Kara we will help her together."

-TBC...


A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing.