"Hey!" Winn greeted when he saw Kara walk into the office. "How are you doing?"
"I'm okay."
"Really, because your eyes say different." Winn said. "You look tired."
"I'm okay, it has just been an eventful few days." Kara said.
"Kara." Lucy greeted not giving Winn a chance to interrogate further. "How's your sister doing?"
"She's okay. Hopefully she'll be released soon."
"Kira!" Cat called from her office.
"Sorry, I need to go." Kara said before heading into see her boss.
"Here's your latte." Kara greeted. "How was your trip?"
"Long, boring and pointless." Cat listed before looking straight at Kara and asking. "Are you ill?"
"Um, no."
"Are you sure?"
"I am."
"Hmmm." Cat said leaning back. "I ask as I understand you have not been in the office for the last few days. At first I thought it was because you were taking advantage of my absence and was going to fire you, but having seen you I am reconsidering. You look worse than normal. Need I remind you that as my assistant you represent both me and my company, as such you should be looking your best at all times. But you look like you haven't slept in days, so i repeat, are you sick?"
"No, I'm not sick. But my sister has been in hospital." The comment causing Cat to look closer at Kara.
"What happened?" Cat asked.
"Hiking accident." Kara half lied, then remembering Cat's phobia she quickly added. "So she's not contagious."
"Is she okay?"
"Well she is awake again and she is hoping to be released, but it will probably take a few weeks to heal." Kara explained as she nervously adjusted her glasses.
"How long was she not awake?" Cat asked.
"Um, about thirty hours."
"That must have been, distressing." Cat said knowing how much family meant to her assistant.
"Yes it was." Kara said awkwardly moving her notepad from one hand to another.
"Well, if you need some time I am sure I can find someone to fill in."
"Thank you." Kara said gratefully.
"Well, it is not like you are irreplaceable." Cat added before looking down at her tablet effectively dismissing Kara.
-00-
"So what's the plan for stopping her?" Supergirl questioned that evening as Hank briefed her on the information collected on Knox. "You want me to go in and draw her out?"
"You do remember that she rendered you powerless?" Hank asked.
"Well yes."
"And you have no way of stopping her doing the same again?" Hank pressed.
"But you know how to remove the device now." Supergirl argued.
"A process that takes over an hour. What exactly is your plan, get hit, lose your powers, ask her not to kill you for an hour and then repeat?"
"Not exactly." Supergirl replied.
"Until we have come up with a way to stop the device working you are not going anywhere near her." Alex joined in.
"What are you doing up? You should be resting." Kara asked.
"I'm stopping you doing something stupid." Alex said as she limped over leaning very heavily on a crutch whilst holding her side.
"If you are going to join in this conversation at least sit down." Hank said worried with how pale Alex was.
"So how do we stop her? You can't seriously be thinking about doing this without me." Supergirl went on.
"You do realise that the DEO has been operating for longer than you have been on Earth and has a pretty good track record of stopping aliens without you?"
"Except she is human."
"So?" Hank asked.
"So that falls outside the DEO remit so you have no experience of dealing with these type of events unlike me who took on and beat Reactron." Supergirl said wearing a smug grin.
"With a good deal of help as I recall." Hank said. "But if we come up with a way that guarantees your safety you can help in the field. Otherwise you are to stay here with Alex."
"What about my aunt?" Kara asked, seemingly changing direction.
"What about her?"
"She was after Knox's research. So although Knox maybe human, there could be others there who aren't."
"That still doesn't change the fact I refuse to place you in unnecessary danger." Hank said gaining an approving nod from Alex.
"Besides, say Astra does turn up are you really gone to be able to fight her?" Alex asked. The second Kara hesitated Alex continued. "Let Hank deal with this."
"Ultimately you will have a far more difficult task than us. You have to get your sister to go back to her room and ensure she rests." Hank said earning a glare from Alex. Ignoring her he looked at Kara and added. "I promise you if we need you I will call."
-00-
"Stop pacing." Alex said as she lay in her bed, not wanting to admit how drained she felt.
"I should be out there." Kara said.
"No you shouldn't." Alex said as Kara kept pacing. "Keep that up and I will start pacing too." When Kara didn't immediately stop Alex pulled away her sheet and started to get up. The movement was enough for Kara to stop pacing and sit heavily down on a chair by Alex's bed.
"I don't like waiting."
"You? Really? Never noticed that." Alex said.
"Don't be mean. I hate feeling helpless."
"You think I don't?" Alex asked. "But sitting worrying about it isn't going to help. You need to think of something else."
"Like what?
"You could talk about your nightmares."
"I'm fine."
"That's not what I said." Alex pointed out.
"They're just my standard goto nightmares."
"Have they got worse since the spider bite?" Alex asked.
"No. After the bite I got different nightmares. But they are gone now."
"So you are back to your goto nightmares?"
"Yeah. Same ones I have had ever since I came to Earth."
"You don't have to face them alone." Alex said as Kara's phone rang.
"Supergirl, we need you here." Hank said.
"I'll be right there." She said glancing at Alex before rushing off.
-00-
As Supergirl approached Hank's location she had to alter her trajectory to avoid being hit by Astra's people. Finally managing to evade them she landed next to Hank and asked.
"What do you need?"
"Knox is secured but we need at least another three minutes to wipe the lab systems and ensure they don't get their hands on the information." Hank said.
"You've got it." Kara said flying off towards Non tackling him to the ground before he killed a DEO agent. Undeterred Non turned his focus on Supergirl unleashing several blows, each sending her stumbling backwards.
"You will always be weak, like your mother." Non said punching Supergirl again, this time sending her crashing into a rock.
"She put a stop to you." Kara pointed out as she launched her own attack, sending Non flying.
"I will enjoy killing you." Non said flying back towards Kara, managing to beat her defences and kick her into the ground. Once down he moved towards her and grabbed her neck and squeezed. "I have imagined so many ways of doing it. Strangling you almost seems too good, but nothing will give me more pleasure than watching you draw your last breath."
Despite struggling to breathe Kara managed to knee Non causing him to release her before he stumbled backwards. A second later Supergirl was on him unleashing punch after punch.
"You won't win." She said as she punched. "I will not let you harm these people."
As a large explosion rocked the area Supergirl momentarily loss focus and let her guard down. As she did so Non once again took the upper hand kicking her in the gut. Finding herself on the floor dazed, Supergirl looked up to see Non standing over her, his boot closing in on her head.
"You are still weak. You can't stop us." He said as the boot made contact and started to press down. As the pain started to build Kara wasn't sure how she would escape, but then the pressure ceased and Non stumbled away holding his neck. Moments later she saw Astra standing next to Non helping him to his feet.
"The battle is lost. We must go." Astra said to him.
"No. Kill her now."
"This is not the time. We must get that device out of you. You are defenceless. We must go now."
"Kill her." Non growled.
"I said no. We must go. That is an order." Astra said as she took hold of her husband and glanced briefly at Kara before flying off dragging Non with her.
"You okay?" Hank asked running to Supergirl's side as she slowly stood.
"I think so." Supergirl said. "You?"
"We're all fine. Plus we got what we needed and made sure they didn't get it." Hank said.
"Thanks for the save." Supergirl said.
"Save?"
"Shooting Non with Knox's Kryptonite weapon. Don't think I would have made it if you hadn't."
"That wasn't me." Hank said.
"Then who?" Kara asked confused.
"Your aunt." Hank shrugged. "Maybe you are getting through to her after all." The comment earning a weak smile from Kara before Hank said. "We should get back to base before your sister attempts to walk here. Oh and I would avoid mentioning the nearly dying."
-00-
"She is growing strong." Non commented. "You should have killed her."
"She is growing strong." Astra agreed. "Which is why we need her on our side. With her we will be unstoppable."
"You couldn't even persuade your sister to do what was needed, what makes you think you can with her?"
"Because she has been tainted by the humans. Her time on this planet has seen her grow attachments to them and their ways. We can use that to make her see the truth of our cause."
"I think you are desperate to hold onto your life on Krypton. I believe it is you who have been tainted by your time on this planet." Non said stepping towards Astra.
"I think you forget yourself Lieutenant." Astra said staring coldly at Non. "I am still your General."
"A General who has failed to take revenge on the house of El. And a general who has failed to obtain the technology that could help our cause."
"It was you who failed to secure the technology. You had ample opportunity when I was stranded, powerless, with my niece." Astra argued. "With only humans to contend with you still failed to complete the task. You have set our cause back months."
"I spent my time searching for you." Non said. "Perhaps that was a mistake."
"Perhaps it was." Astra said staring at her husband. "I suggest you start making amends and find a new source of the technology."
"Yes General." Non said, his voice as cold as Astra's gaze. "But I warn you if your niece gets in my way I will not hesitate in killing her Next time I will ensure her side does not have an opportunity to save her." Not giving his wife a chance to respond he stormed off.
-00-
A few days later
"We should probably get a move on." Winn said reading the text message.
"Let me guess, Kara is hungry." James smiled.
"Probably, but that was from Alex who sounds kinda homicidal. She said if we are not there in five minutes she can't guarantee Kara's safety."
"I thought they were really close?" Lucy said confused.
"They are." Winn replied. "But Alex does not have much patience, but I didn't just say that."
"From what Kara said yesterday cabin fever has set in and Alex is really not enjoying her lack of independence. I am guessing that seeing it is Saturday and Kara didn't have to work she has been pretty smothering all day." James added as they reached Kara's door.
"I warn you we are about to enter a cave with a very grumpy wounded bear." Winn said.
"But you didn't just say that?" Lucy guessed.
"Absolutely not, I really want to live." He said before taking a deep breath and knocking.
"Hey." Winn said as Kara opened the door. "Everything okay here?"
"Hey guys. And yeah, why wouldn't it be?" Kara questioned.
"Oh no reason." Winn said nervously glancing over Kara's shoulder looking for Alex.
"You coming in?" Kara asked noticing the trio seemed to be loitering on her doorstep.
Shaking her head at James and Winn's reluctance, Lucy smiled at Kara and entered the apartment, eventually followed by the guys.
"Oh hey Alex, how are you?" James asked seeing Alex sitting by the TV.
"Great." Alex replied without looking up from her laptop, her voice dripping in sarcasm.
"Ignore her, she is being crabby." Kara said.
"You joining in tonight?" Winn asked.
As Kara answered in the positive on behalf of her sister, Alex said.
"Nope. Just pretend I'm not here. Or you could all go out, go for a meal or take in a movie?" Alex practically begged wanting some peace.
"You know, if you want to get some rest we can always host this at our place." Lucy suggested diplomatically causing Alex to turn to Lucy and mouth.
"Thank you."
"I can't leave Alex alone." Kara said oblivious to the exchange.
"Yes you can. You do it every day for work." Alex pointed out. "It is not as if I can go anywhere."
"That didn't stop you trying this morning." Kara said. "Wait, are you trying to get rid of me? You do blame me don't you?" Kara asked hurt.
"Kara, I don't blame you." Alex said, wondering how her sister was so good at making her feel guilty. "But you need to go out and have some fun. You have been cooped up all day, fresh air would do you good."
"I'm not a dog." Kara countered. "Besides, if I stay in we can all have fun here." She added smiling. "And I can keep an eye on you. I mean if I left you I'd just worry about you and not have any fun."
"Face it you aren't going to win the battle?" Winn said sitting opposite Alex. "She may look all innocent, but she has proven time and again she can play dirty."
"Hey." Kara protested.
"He's kinda right." James agreed as he and Lucy sat down.
"Why are you all ganging up on me?" Kara asked as Alex shut her laptop. On seeing the movement Kara turned her focus back to her sister and excitedly asked. "Does this mean you are joining in?"
"Apparently." Alex said too tired to argue.
"Awesome. So what do you want to play?"
"Scene it?" Alex suggested.
"Absolutely not." Winn said. "There is no way the rest of us can compete with you two."
"That's half the fun." Alex pointed out.
"For you may be." Winn muttered as Alex loaded the app on her phone.
"I'm sure this will help." James said pulling a bottle of tequila from his bag.
"I'll get the food." Kara beamed happy to have her family reunited.
-The End
A/N: Thank you for reading and reviewing - for those I couldn't reply to thank you, I did appreciate them. The spider was a bit of a red herring, but I am sure I can come up with a spider focused story sometime!