The following morning after two hours of trekking with Astra walking a few feet ahead of Alex and Kara, the younger Danvers sister started to complain.
"I think I have those blister things you always complained about when you were a kid." Kara said. "I also think I'm learning why you take so long to find shoes that fit."
"You remember what you used to tell me when I had them?" Alex asked.
"That they looked gross and they couldn't hurt that much as they were just cushions on your feet?" Kara recalled.
"Yeah, so right back at ya." Alex threw back causing Kara to glare at her and comment.
"You know, I am getting the feeling you are enjoying this."
"Dragging you and your crazy aunt round? Not so much."
"It has been over a day since there were any attempts to kill anyone." Kara said positively.
"That probably has more to do with lack of super powers than a change of personality." Alex warned.
"Maybe, but I can still enjoy it can't I?"
"Just don't get too used to it."
"I know." Kara said sadly.
"Let's take a break." Alex said, noticing how Kara was limping.
"I was beginning to think you would never suggest it." Kara said leaning against a tree.
"Astra." Alex called to Kryptonian. "We're stopping for a few minutes."
"We will never make it out of here if we keep stopping." Astra said approaching Alex.
"You want to go it alone, feel free." Alex said before adding. "Right now we are resting."
Any response from Astra was cut off by Kara gasping.
"Ahhh."
"What happened?" Alex asked as Kara fell back gripping her hand.
"Something bit me." She said.
"Did you see what?" Alex questioned looking at her sister's hand.
"A spider. It's burning."
"Keep still." Alex instructed trying to decide what her sister's pain threshold was.
"Is this the culprit?" Astra asked holding a large, hairy but squished spider.
"Could be." Kara said forcing herself to look at the spider as she tried to control the pain.
"Looks like a Psalmopoeus." Alex said.
"A what?" Kara asked. "Don't say tarantula."
"That's why I gave you the Latin name. But yeah a tarantula. They're venomous, but normally just result in extreme pain. But I don't know how the toxin will effect you, especially as you are weakened from the device in your neck."
"Awesome." Kara said sarcastically.
"For now try to rest, if you start feeling strange let me know."
"Strange?"
"Not normal."
"I never feel normal."
"You know what I mean." Alex said.
"It hurts." Kara said.
"I know it does, but the pain will pass."
"How long?"
"The truth?" Alex asked. When Kara nodded she said. "In humans, minutes to days."
"Days? Next time lie." Kara said. "I am really missing my powers right now."
"They'll be back soon." Alex assured her before saying. "I'm going to clean the bite so it doesn't get infected."
-00-
"Will she be okay?" Astra asked quietly once Alex had moved away from Kara.
"Honestly? I don't know. In a healthy human the bite should just cause pain, but she's not human and that device in her neck has weakened her. I honestly don't know what effect the bite will have on her." Alex said, the worry evident in her expression.
"Is there anything we can do for her?" Astra questioned, her concern genuine.
"Hope. And get her out of here as soon as possible."
"Is it safe to move her?"
"Normally I'd suggest not moving her so the toxin didn't spread, but I think it is more important to get her out of here. The sooner we get back to the DEO the sooner we can remove the device. With it gone she should heal."
"Stay away from me." Kara suddenly cried confusing both Alex and Astra who turned to face the youngest member of the group.
"Kara?" Alex asked.
"Stay back."
As Alex approached Kara she tried to soothe.
"Hey, it's just me. You're safe."
"Safe?" Kara asked looking towards Alex.
"Nothing will hurt you." Alex said as she stepped towards Kara and placed a hand on her shoulder. However, on feeling something touch her Kara lashed out with the knife she was holding and slashed Alex moments before kicking her stunned sister over the edge.
Knowing her niece was not in control Astra punched her, knocking her out cold. With Kara lying unmoving Astra quickly picked up the knife that was lying by Kara's side. She then moved over to the tree and ripped some of the vines off it which she used to tie Kara up.
Having secured her unconscious niece Astra looked over the edge and saw that Alex had not fallen far, although she was lying at a strange angle. Glancing back at her niece Astra took off down the incline towards Alex.
-00-
"Come to finish me off?" Alex grimaced as Astra slid to a stop by her side.
"I've come to help you." Astra said as she tried to stem the blood loss.
"Why?"
"You matter to Kara." Astra replied. "I know you do not trust me. But no matter what you think of me, I do not want to see my niece get hurt."
"Well that's something we have in common." Alex replied before gasping in pain as Astra pressed down too hard on the wound. "Where is Kara?"
"Back up there. I have secured her. She can't hurt anyone."
"Is she hurt?" Alex asked.
"Nothing permanent." Astra replied before commenting. "Your wound is deep, but should not be deadly, for a day or two anyway, if I can stop the bleeding."
"I have dressings in my vest." Alex said digging through a pocket and pulling out a field dressing.
Taking it from Alex Astra warned. "This will hurt."
"Guessed that." Alex said.
When she had finally finished dressing the wound Astra looked down at Alex who was pale and covered in sweat before asking.
"Are you hurt anywhere else?"
"My ankle." Alex replied.
"Can you walk?"
"I'll have to." Alex said through gritted teeth as Astra helped her to her feet.
-00-
Kara woke up alone, cold and bound and immediately started to panic. She tried to remember what had happened but was failing. That was until she felt the throbbing, burning sensation in her hand. She then started to remember being bitten and the odd feeling that took hold after the bite. She remembered how she had lost focus and then she'd had a dream, or a nightmare, only she wasn't asleep. She remembered Alex trying to help, only she wasn't sure it was Alex. She'd been in danger and had attacked the source of the danger, then she remembered nothing.
As realisation started to dawn she screamed. "Alex."
-00-
"Kara?" Alex called as she and Astra approached her sister panic stricken sister.
"Alex? Are you okay? Did I do that? I'm so sorry." Kara said noticing Alex's torn shirt, bloodied hands and pronounced limp, as tears rolled down her face.
"Hey, I'm okay." Alex said dropping down in front of her. "Are you okay?"
"I don't know. It was so real. I thought someone was attacking me. I'm sorry. I didn't know it was you."
"It's okay. Do you know where you are now? Who we are?" Alex asked as she squeezed Kara's shoulder.
"Yeah."
"That's good." Alex said. "How about we untie you and make sure you are okay?"
"Is that wise?" Astra asked.
"She'll be okay." Alex said before looking at Kara and adding. "But from now on you stay away from knives. Speaking of which where is it?"
"I have it." Astra said. "And I will be holding onto it." She added. Seeing Alex was about to argue she continued. "Currently I am the only one of us capable of fending off an attack."
In too much pain to argue Alex used her own knife to cut Kara free as she asked.
"You hurt?"
"No." Kara said, guessing Alex was in far more pain than she was.
"How's the hand?" Alex pressed.
"It still hurts." Kara confessed. "But not as bad as it did."
"So you want to tell me what had you freaking out?" Alex questioned.
"I … I, I was...I remembered when the DEO first took me in….waking powerless and helpless, I thought I was going to be experimented on or worse...for some reason I started seeing all these people in white coats coming at me with needles and knives and I thought it was real. I didn't know it was you."
"I know. It could be an affect of the bite." Alex said. "Spider bites don't normally cause hallucinations, but who knows how they will affect you."
"So it could happen again? You should tie me up."
"I tell you what, if you freak out again I'll send in your aunt." Alex said before leaning back against a tree and shutting her eyes.
"You sure you're okay?" Kara asked.
"I'll be fine."
"Can I do anything for you?" Kara asked as she sat by Alex's side.
"I'm okay." Alex said, trying to conceal her pain from Kara.
"You don't look okay." Kara pointed out.
"I could really use some water." Alex said trying to give her sister something to do.
Astra watched her niece move away from Alex and took the opportunity to kneel next to the agent and say. "We should move. The longer we stay here the more likely the wound will turn fatal and the greater the risk that Kara reacts to the bite again."
"I know." Alex said. "Just give me a minute?"
"Of course." Astra said as she watched Alex trying to compose herself. Finally she saw the DEO agent open her eyes and asked. "Are you ready?"
"As ready as I will ever be." Alex replied as she slowly tried to get to her feet.
"Lean on me." Astra instructed Alex. "You need assistance and Kara is too weak to help you. We will make more progress if you accept my help."
Reluctantly Alex nodded her agreement.
TBC...
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing.