Ella Lane entered her office at the hospital in Bethesda. She sat down at her desk and turned on the computer. As the operating system came up, her gaze was drawn to the image that stood next to the screen. Her Lois at the university graduation ceremony, smiling, waving her diploma in the air in front of the camera. Ella remembered that day as if it had only happened yesterday. The computer waited for a password, but Ella ignored it.
She should have kept her wild girl under lock and key, insisted Sam stay in one place for more than five months, or insisted on staying on her own. Maybe then Lois wouldn't have insisted on risking her life for her stories, maybe she wouldn't have disappeared in Africa.
Yes, she had seen the news reports and Sam had told her that Lois was alive, but he hadn't seen her himself and Ella refused to believe that until she saw her for herself because this fantasy that it was all just a terrible mistake, a nightmare that she would wake up from at any moment, had haunted her ever since the news came that Lois was missing in Africa. Then she was kidnapped, and it confirmed her fears that it was all a big cosmic joke at her expense.
The phone rang. Ella wiped her tears with a handkerchief, took a breath and picked up the phone.
"Hello?" It was quiet on the other end, so Ella tried again. "Hello?"
"Hi Mom." Ella felt her heart freeze. "It's me."
"Lo... Lois?"
"Yes, mother."
"Lois! Oh, my God, my sweetheart! Are you alive?! Are you really alive? Where are you?" Lois laughed. "Don't laugh at me, Lois Joanna Lane! Where are you? Are you okay? They didn't hurt you, did they? When are you coming home? Wait until I tell your father..."
"No! Mom, no!"
"Lois!"
"I'll answer all your questions, mom, but you can't tell dad."
"He may be tough, Lois, but he loves you, and he cares for you."
"Mom, I called because I couldn't imagine you worrying about me, but if you bring dad into this..."
"Okay, okay. Are you okay?"
"Yes, mother."
"Don't lie to me, young lady. I always know when you're lying!" Lois was silent for a moment.
"I miss Clark, and I'm mad at dad, and I'm ready to strangle Lex Luthor, but other than that? I'm fine."
"Your father said you were kidnapped."
"I wasn't kidnapped, mom, I ran away. You know me and the army never got along, and dad wouldn't let me see Clark."
"Lois..."
"Mom, you know how important Clark is to me! How could dad allow all these things to be done to him? How could dad allow torture in the military? And Clark didn't do anything wrong! He didn't commit any crime. He didn't even resist arrest."
"I know, sweetie, I know. I may be a bad person, but all I care about is you. I want you to come home, my girl."
"I love you, Mom. It's just, I can't go back yet. I missed you, Mom. I called because I wanted you to know I'm okay. I must do this, Mom. I can't let the situation continue as it is."
"Lois, what are you doing? What do you mean? Please, you just came back to us, don't put yourself in danger."
"I can't see people suffering and ignore them! I can't see all the injustices that Lex does, the way he distorted everything and be silent. I don't understand how everyone goes on with their lives as if nothing happened." Ella was silent. "They ruined Clark, Mom." Lois said very quietly. "He has terrible nightmares. You should have seen him limp and all the bruises and scars. How can that be right, Mom? Clark is the nicest, most decent man I know, he has such a good heart, and they treat him like a criminal. And he's not the only one, Mom. So many people are suffering and there is no one to speak for them."
"But why does it have to be you, Lois? Let all your heroes do that, that's what they're here for."
"It's something only I can do, and I can't turn my back." Ella took a breath.
"You always knew what was the right thing to do, and you always fought for truth and justice and whatever you plan to do now I'm sure it's the right thing. I'm proud of you, my girl."
"Thanks Mom." There was relief in Lois' voice.
"Just be careful out there, okay?"
"Always."
"Lois..." Ella said warning.
"Oh, and Mom? Clark proposed to me before I left for Africa..."
"And you tell me that this man has sense in his head." Lois giggled. She really missed her mother. "And what did you tell him?"
"I told him yes, mother."
"And here's the woman I raised. Knows a good thing when she sees it. I'm glad, Lois. Clark is a good man."
"Thanks Mom."
"I love you, Lois. Take care."
"I will. Bye, mom."
"Bye, Lois."
Kara Zor-El returns home. After a journey in space lasting more than four years, the Earth rotated peacefully beneath her. There were a lot more satellites than she remembered, but who cares. She flew straight to Metropolis and hovered high above the city. Something was strange, something was different, all her senses went on alert. Kal El was much more attentive to the humans, he would surely have noticed the danger ahead, but Kara had learned to trust her instincts and when they told her something was wrong, she listened. She searched the entire city for Clark, but she couldn't find him. She heard another name, one she didn't expect to hear, Lois Lane. When a pair of military jets questioned her about her intentions, Kara flew to Smallville.
The first thing she noticed was that Fort Ryan had doubled in size. She flew high above the farm and to her delight found Clark standing mending fences on the far border of the farm. She quickly flew and carried him in a hug to the sky.
"Kal!" Clark looked at her in shock for a moment, and then a huge smile spread across his face.
"Kara! You're back!" She hugged him tightly until Clark groaned in pain.
"What happened? Did I hurt you?"
"I'm fine, but I think it would be a good idea if we landed. Maybe in the old crater?"
"But why?"
"I'll explain everything." He looked pointedly at the ground. "Down." A confused Kara took them down.
"Okay, cousin, spill!" She crossed her arms over her chest and looked at him as he sat down on a rock.
Clark looked at her. He missed her, he didn't realize how much before she showed up. She was still wearing the Supergirl outfit, and it had been a long time since Clark had seen anyone wearing those colours and symbol. It had been a long time since he had flown, it felt so good, and Clark missed it. Kara stood in front of him, stamping her foot impatiently. He was so happy to see her, and a smile spread across his face.
"Kal!"
"Okay, okay. I'm just so happy to see you safe and sound."
"Why are we hiding? And how come I hurt you?"
"The world has changed since you left. I have." Kara looked at him and then examined him with x-ray vision.
"Your hand, it was broken not long ago! And why are you wearing a bracelet with blue kryptonite?"
"When you got here, did you notice the excess of satellites?" Kara looked at him crookedly.
"Yeah, so?"
"64 satellites, they all have Superman's energy signature, they all have the ability to shoot microwave beams. They are capable of more things than hunting me, but one of them was already used to kill almost 400 people a few months after you left just because they were a few feet away from me."
"Oh, God, Kal! Why? Who would do such a thing?"
"Lex Luthor. Back then there were only three satellites and as soon as I managed to escape them, I created the bracelet."
"You've been without powers for four years?! Where is everyone? Where is the league? Why didn't they do something?"
"I don't know. I guess they were shocked. Lex caught us all off guard."
"And Lois? The news reports are full of her name." Clark's smile lit up, and Kara couldn't help but smile back.
"A few months ago, Lois found her way back to the States. Turns out she was in Africa all that time. She lost her memory in the explosion and as soon as she remembered everything she came back. She avoided her father, came here, improved my life in a few short weeks and went out to cause trouble for Lex in every possible way. She revives the resistance movement almost entirely by herself. She took it personally that he was elected to a second term almost unopposed."
"And why aren't you with her?"
"It's a long story. I can't leave Smallville."
"And Aunt Martha and Uncle Jonathan?"
"They're fine. They'll be glad to see you." Kara pulled him in for another hug.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here to help."
"It's okay, Kara. What matters is that you're back."
"I want to help, now that I'm here."
"I'm sure the underground will be happy to hear about that."