A/N: Hello everyone,

just a fair warning in case there are a lot of typos or anything in this chapter. I'm suffering from a massive, and I mean MASSIVE, migraine at the moment and I literally had to push my limits to get up in the morning. Considering that it is almost 3.30 am now...well...it's been a long day.

I tried my best...if it's really awful let me know, then I'll re-work it on the weekend.

xo

BE YOUR OWN HERO

5 – You can trust me

Alex had thought about her conversation with Lena Luthor all afternoon. The CEO had tried really hard to seem unaffected by everything that had happened, but she wasn't a special agent for nothing. She had seen through the mask of professionalism with relative ease.

Lena Luthor was hurting. A lot.

She couldn't even imagine what it had to feel like to be so alone and isolated and hated by her own family.

She still didn't trust the woman and she had a feeling that Lena hid something, but Alex was well aware that she wasn't someone Lena trusted either, so it wasn't really a surprise that she hadn't told her a thing.

But recognising the same sadness in Lena Luthor's eyes as in Kara's had done something to her and it had given her the courage to speak on her sister's behalf although she wasn't sure if it had been a smart move now that she thought about it.

She had to tell Kara that she had went to see Lena and she really had wanted to avoid that, but she couldn't hide this from her.

Alex only hoped that Kara wouldn't get mad and that Lena would find it in her heart to forgive her sister, because it was the only way for them to get out of their misery.

She knocked on Kara's front door, cartons of pizza and a bag of potstickers in hand, trying to work out how to tell her sister when the door swung open.

"Alex, it's about damn time!" Kara basically ripped the bag from her hands, causing Alex to chuckle, "Hungry, are we?"

"Starving!"

Once the two sisters were settled on the couch with their food, the movie playing in the background, Alex cleared her throat, "I talked to Eliza earlier today...Christmas stuff."

"Oh!" Kara got all excited, "We still need to go gift shopping!"

"That we do", Alex agreed and took a bite of pizza, "She said I could invite Maggie."

Kara tilted her head to look at her sister for a moment, studying her tense posture, "You act like that's a bad thing."

"No! Yes...no. I mean...", Alex shrugged helplessly, "Don't get me wrong...it would be lovely to have her here...and I'm so glad that Eliza is so welcoming and everything, but...should I invite her? Isn't it like...too soon? What if she freaks out, feels pressured and thinks...I don't know...I don't want to scare Maggie off...you know?"

"Yeah, I guess I understand that...somehow", Kara mumbled while eating a potsticker, "Does she have any family in town?"

Alex shook her head, "No, I don't think so."

"Then you should invite her...come on...all our friends will be here and no one should be alone", Kara's voice grew silent then, the last words barely a whisper, "For Christmas. No one should be alone in the first place."

"Lena."

It wasn't a question, it was a statement and Alex watched Kara nod and drop her head. And she understood, because even though she wasn't Lena Luthor's biggest fan, she agreed with Kara. No one should be alone, especially not for Christmas.

She took Kara's hand and squeezed it encouragingly, "Talk to Eliza...explain the situation to her...I'm sure she won't mind if you invite Lena over."

"The others would be thrilled. You know that no one really likes her...or trusts her", Kara said in defeat, but Alex wouldn't have any of it, "What does it matter? You do. She is your friend...and you trust her. Christmas is for family...and friends. If you want her there...talk to Eliza. 'Cause I'm not sure if she would take it well if you would spring this on her without a warning...but I'm pretty sure she'll be okay if you invite Lena."

Kara looked at Alex, still unsure about the suggestion, "I can't ask Lena to come over and spend Christmas with us. Because...well, right now we aren't really friends and I'm not sure we'll be anytime soon."

"She'll come around", Alex reassured, "If she's as smart as you say she is...she'll come around."

When Kara didn't say anything Alex continued, "Besides...if there is one person in this town who really needs you...it's Lena Luthor. She needs someone who understands her and who can light up her world...and soon enough probably even someone capable of protecting her. And who would be better qualified for that job than you?"

"You think Lillian will find a way to get to her, don't you?" Kara sat up straight, the movie long forgotten.

"Well, I think it's a real possibility that Lillian Luthor will seek revenge. We both know what a horrible person she is...you even more so than me", Alex commented, her tone serious, "And with one alien and two metahumans missing...I hate to say it...but something isn't right."

"What? What do you mean one alien and two metahumans are missing? I thought it was just one?" Kara was highly alerted at the news.

"I know. I only heard when I was about to leave the DEO. I wanted to help, but J'onn sent me home...he said we should try to rest a bit for a change. Maggie is out with a team, looking for them...and J'onn is out with a team as well. And Clark was on his way when I left. They've got this", Alex tried to calm her agitated sister down.

"We need to be out there, looking for them...I'm Supergirl and..."

But Alex interrupted Kara before she could finish her sentence, "You're also Kara. And you need a break. We all know it. They'll call if they need us."

"Okay."

She had to distract Kara somehow and although Alex knew she would regret it, she confessed anyway, "I went to see Lena today."

Kara's eyes went wide, "What? When? Why?"

"After I stopped by at CatCo...I just had some questions regarding Cadmus", Alex continued and only recognized her mistake when Kara's expression darkened.

"Hey! I didn't do anything...I just wanted to know if she could help us...or if she knows anything that could be of use...thought it might be better than spying on her again..." Alex defended herself, "And I wanted to see...with my own eyes..."

Kara eyed her warily, "I'm not sure I understand."

"I had to know that she cared...that she cares about you, Kara. I needed to know that she's serious about being a friend, an ally...", Alex stated softly, "And while I can't say that she's been helpful in any way...you do mean a lot to her...and that's why she is hurt. Well, it's part of the reason and I'm sure she has a lot on her plate right now...but she'll come around. She would be stupid not to."

It was way past midnight and Lena was aware that she should go home and get some sleep, but she couldn't get herself to leave Lex' old laboratory.

She hadn't found much as her bother had the premises cleaned out in a hurry before he had been arrested, but she had found an old notebook with sketches and tons of information on Superman and kryptonite under some shelf that had fallen over. It was nothing groundbreaking, at least not as far as she could tell, but it was something.

She had also found a box with a piece of Kryptonite and she had been fascinated not only by its color, but also its power.

She had witnessed Superman and Supergirl in action herself and it was truly astonishing that a small piece of it could bring them both to their knees.

She was so tempted to touch it, to take it with her, but she knew that it wouldn't be wise. If anyone would see her with it all hell would break loose.

She would need to have a new safe installed down there to keep her findings protected and away from everyone until she had something that would be worth sharing, but she wasn't even sure whom she should share potential knowledge or evidence with.

Kara? Supergirl? Agent Danvers? The police?

She had to be wise and careful about this whole mission of doing good or it would backfire, no doubt.

Putting the notebook into her purse and the box with the Kryptonite back where she had found it in a small hole in the wall Lena got ready to call it a night at last. When she left the abandoned laboratory she shut the door and activated the new security system, well aware that she had to talk to the head of security the next day as well. She couldn't be careful enough.

Supergirl landed at the DEO after an insanely busy day the next evening.

Snapper had given her an even harder time than usual since she was absent from work so much and when she finally had been done for the day a massive crash with a school bus and countless cars had called for a rescue mission of Supergirl proportions.

While she loved that she was capable of helping and saving people Kara really looked forward to go home and have a bit of time to herself as she hadn't felt quite right the last couple of days.

She wasn't good at handling people being disappointed or mad at her, even worse at dealing with the fact that she had caused someone pain.

Before Kara could have dwelled on it her phone vibrated and notified her of a new text message though.

She grabbed it and stared at her screen in disbelief when she realised that it was a message from Lena, who was asking if she could meet her at L-Corp.

Kara knew she should wait, because her immediate arrival would be suspicious, but she couldn't stop herself from rushing off into the night.

Lena wanted to see her.

Lena was studying her brother's notebook when Kara stumbled into her office, causing the CEO to jump in surprise.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you", Kara offered in apology, an awkward smile on her face.

Lena closed the notebook and put some file over it, "It's alright...I just didn't expect you here so soon...or not at all, really. Since you didn't answer my text."

"I...uh...I was in...the neighbourhood...so I thought I'd...I'm sorry if...", Kara rambled while her heart raced even faster than her mind.

Lena stood, "It's alright. I asked you to come over after all."

"Right."

Another awkward smile appeared on Kara's face, "So, uh...why did you want to see me, Lena?"

"Well..." Lena walked over to the couch and sat down, looking at the space next to her and Kara immediately followed and took a seat as well, all the while watching Lena curiously, not sure what to expect.

"Listen, Kara...I understand why you did what you did...and I probably would have done the same if our roles would have been reversed", Lena admitted, "It doesn't mean it didn't hurt that you tried to get information out of me like that. Because I do consider you a friend and I want you to know...I need you to understand that you can trust me...that's how friendship works...doesn't it?"

"Y-yeah. You are right", Kara agreed, realising that she did have to tell Lena, because trust went both ways.

"You came and asked for my help when your friend was in trouble and you needed that address for that fight club", Lena commented, her gaze intense, "You could have talked to me about this...about Cadmus and my...my mother's involvement too. I might have handled it better that way...instead of Supergirl barging in and dumping it on me...I want to trust you, Kara...I chose to trust you don't...don't make me regret it."

Yep, she really had to tell Lena.

And she had to tell her now.

"I'm...I'm sorry. Really. I am. I didn't handle the situation too well and I'm awful at being subtle...at least that's what Alex keeps telling me...and pretty much everyone else I know", Kara stated, feeling even more awkward than usual.

Lena chuckled at the comment and also at the sight of a completely flustered and embarassad Kara Danvers, cheeks pink, eyes closed and she was about to say something, something funny even, when Kara suddenly collected herself, straightened her spine and her piercing blue eyes flew open, looking straight into Lena's very soul.

There was determination written all over Kara's face, but Lena saw the fear in her eyes clear as day. She wanted to ask what was wrong, but Kara beat her to it.

"I need you to listen to me now, Lena...and I need you to hear what I'm saying."

"Okay."

Lena's voice was barely a whisper.

"There is something I need to tell you", Kara started her explanation, never breaking eye contact with Lena, "I should have probably told you a lot sooner...but I...it's not because you are a Luthor, okay? I need you to know that your name is not the reason I didn't tell you."

Lena nodded. It was all she could do in this moment, because she didn't trust her voice.

"Everyone who knows my secret becomes a target, is in a constant state of danger...for people to get to me...well, if they can't hurt me...they'll go after my friends. And I didn't want to put you into that position...but...with everything that is going on...I think it's safer if you know. So you can ask for my help straight away, without all the shenanigans...I need you to know that you can trust me. And that I trust you."

That said Kara removed the hair band that held her blonde mane together in a ponytail and her glasses.

Lena watched with a mix of disbelief and fascination as Kara unbuttoned her shirt with slightly trembling fingers, revealing her Supergirl chest emblem underneath.

"My birth name is Kara Zor-El and I'm Supergirl."