Chap 14

Kara felt like she had walked through the past eight months in a daze. Some days were better and some days were worse. Kara tried to remain positive and stay strong but she missed her sister with a physical ache that stayed in her heart from morning to night.

Kara awoke that morning full of hope and determination until she saw a sweater belonging to Alex and broke down. She held the sweater tight as she quietly sobbed. Kara heard movement from the kitchen and quickly composed herself before leaving her bedroom.

"Morning sweetie." Eliza said with a smile which quickly faded when she noticed tears in Kara's eyes. Kara was clearly trying to hide the fact she'd been crying from her but Eliza knew her daughter well. She closed the space between them and wrapped her arms around her. "It's ok Kara; you don't have to be strong all the time." Kara buried her head into Eliza's neck and held her tight. Eliza had returned to her own home four months ago but still spent almost every weekend at Kara's apartment. When she was at home she found it easier to pretend Alex was still living in the City; she would call Alex's cell and listen to her voice message. This felt normal to her as Alex rarely answered her phone when she called; it made it easier to pretend. She would give her own life just to spend a few minutes with her daughter and tell her how proud she was and how much she loved her. Eliza's eyes began to fill with tears but she blinked them away; it was her turn to be strong.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to upset you." Kara said

"I should be the one to apologise Kara. I haven't been there for you the way a mother should have been."

Kara took a seat at the kitchen table and Eliza followed. "I can't help but think you would have been better off if I hadn't come into your life." Kara said sadly.

"Don't you dare think like that Kara. I'm glad you came into our lives."

"But Alex and Jeremiah would still be here if I hadn't..."

"That's enough" Eliza said sternly as she held Kara's hand in hers "Your my daughter and I love you; none of this is your fault. Alex and Jeremiah wouldn't want you to blame yourself. What they did, they did out of love."

Kara nodded and dried her eyes on her sleeve. She stared out of the window as sirens echoed in the streets below "I should go check that out."

"Be careful" Eliza warned

"I will be; I'll meet you at the DEO." Kara replied before changing into her Supergirl costume and exiting her apartment.

Guilt rose inside of Eliza as she watched Kara fly out of the apartment window; she had been so wrapped up in finding Alex she never considered how much pain Kara was in. Kara had always been the sensitive one and had the habit of blaming herself for everything. Eliza couldn't help but feel they had been holding on to a reality that was gone forever. She may have been unable to save one daughter but she refused to lose another and in that moment she knew what she had to do.

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After assisting the police in a high speed car chase, Kara arrived at the DEO.

"Supergirl, Director Henshaw is waiting for you in his office."

Kara was slightly confused; she had never been summoned to Hank's office before. She thanked the agent before heading to his office. She knocked and entered; she was surprised to find Eliza, James, Winn and Professor Luzano all sitting there along with Hank.

She looked around the room; Winn played with his tie nervously, James was unable to maintain eye contact with her, Eliza stood beside Hank looking worried and Professor Luzano sat on the leather sofa and stared down at his feet.

"Why does this feel like an intervention?" Kara asked as she stepped further into the office, closing the door behind her.

"Kara, please have a seat" Eliza said

"I'm ok standing thank you." She stared back at Eliza. "What's going on?"

Eliza took a step towards Kara "It's been eight months..."

Kara shook her head "No, don't you dare say it. I'm not given up on her" Kara interrupted. "We can't give up, Alex would never..."

"Kara" Hank interrupted "This isn't the life Alex wanted for you; she gave her life so you could live."

"You're talking about her as if she's..." Kara was unable to finish her own sentence. "There has to be away."

"Miss Kara, I have tried everything but I'm afraid there is nothing more I can do. I'm truly sorry" Professor Luzano said sadly.

"But you and Lord have managed to build the gate with the technology recovered on Fort Rozz" Kara replied.

"Did someone say my name?" Max Lord asked as he entered the room. Kara looked at him over her shoulder before turning back to the others; she couldn't help but feel betrayed.

"We've built the gate way but don't have the technology to open a portal" Professor Luzano replied.

"He's right. I'm not one to admit defeat but even if we managed to open the portal we don't know the exact coordinates the Jailer used." Max added

"He was returning to his home planet" Kara said

"He planned on returning home with his ship, not via a portal. He opened the portal in order to banish Faora; god knows where he sent her." Hank said.

"Miss Kara" Professor Luzano began "Your sister has been missing for eight months. The chances of her surviving are slime"

"Slim" Winn corrected

"Enough" Eliza said "No one wants to believe Alex is alive more than me but it's time to accept that" Eliza swallowed hard "that...Alex isn't coming home." Tears ran down Eliza's face.

Kara felt like her world had been turned upside down and was overcome with emotion; she felt numb and dizzy as her world spun out of her control. Hank guided her into a nearby chair and knelt down in front of her; she felt Eliza wrap her arm around her shoulder. Lord and Professor Luzano left the office but Winn and James stayed. "We will get through this Kara, together." Eliza said softly.

"Whatever you need, we're here for you." James added and Winn nodded in agreement.

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Two weeks later

Kara watched as her sister's empty coffin was lowered into the recently dug grave. James held a black umbrella over them both and wrapped his free arm around Kara's shoulder. There are no tears; Kara had no more to shed. There aren't many guests, Eliza and Kara decided to keep the ceremony small. This was the second but most difficult human burial Kara had attended; she looked up at Jeremiahs headstone before stepping forward and dropping a white rose into Alex's grave. Eliza stepped forward and dropped her rose into the grave followed by Hank. Kara wasn't sure who followed Hank as her attention fell on the individual standing against a black car parked near the entrance.

"I'll just be a minute" Kara said to James before heading towards the parked car. The rain had cleared and rays of sunshine broke through the grey clouds.

"I'm surprised you showed up" Kara said as she approached Maxwell Lord.

"I wasn't sure I'd be welcome." Max replied. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry for your loss."

Kara stared at Max before moving to his side "We both know you're still trying to open the portal."

Max smiled and tilted his head "And what makes you think that."

"Because as much as I hate to admit it; I know you and you don't believe in failure."

"I assume you don't want the other's to know."

"They believe Alex is dead..."

"And you don't" Max interrupted.

"Alex is strong but most importantly she's stubborn; she won't give up without a fight and neither will I."

"So I guess this makes us partners"

Kara rolled her eyes "The others don't need to know what we're doing."

"Agreed." Max hated the thought of outsider's inside his lab.

Kara frowned before asking "How did you move the technology from the DEO to your lab."

"I had help" Max said as he nodded in Hank's direction. "Something tells me he doesn't want to give up on Alex either but you didn't hear that from me." Kara looked back at Hank as Max got into his car and drove away.