AN: I am so so sorry for the extremely late update. I could find an excuse but there isn't any. I have been a little busy this past month but Nothing that justifies an absence that long. Again, I am sorry. I hope this very long chapter can make you forgive me.
"So...Am I good to go?" Kara asked, panting, touching the ground for the first time in nearly two hours.
Hank shook his head with a smirk at the question while Alex and Hamilton were still focussed on the different screens in front of them. The last test was over and even if Kara was happy that she had passed them without fainting, she was still glad it was over. It was rare for her but right at this moment, she was sweating from all the physical efforts she had just made.
"You should be." Alex answered joining her sister next to Hank.
A second later, Doctor Hamilton was walking towards them. Alex had already an idea of what she was going to say but the other two were holding their breath.
"Your flight is good as is your strength." the doctor started making Kara smile. "However I would like you to go easy on the heat-vision and the freeze-breath."
"Thank you." Kara said finally relieved.
Hamilton nodded before heading inside, leaving the two aliens and the agent alone in the desert. Hank waited for her to be completely gone before stepping in front of Kara, wiping her smile off her face. A smirk of guilt settled instead. Alex was next to her sister hiding a smile, knowing what Hank was going to say.
"Tell me exactely what you were thinking when you said yes to a public statement." he said, fists on hips
"Miss Grant said it was a good idea and I actually think she's right." the young woman tried confidentely
"You do? Well that's not my case, Miss Danvers. Do I have to remind you the last time you spoke to the media you told everyone about your famous cousin?"
"But I won't answer any questions. Cat will handle that part. I'll be gone as soon as I finish my speech." Kara countered, convinced it was the right thing to do
"And you're going to let your secrets and this organization's to the Queen of all Media?" the director protested
"Sir, you know we can trust her. She's known for a while now and hadn't said a single thing." Alex interrupted, supporting her sister
"I know." the director admitted. "But I'm still not a fan of this." he added before leaving the two sisters in front of the DEO entrance
"Well, that went easier than I expected." Kara said a little surprised
"He was really worried you know. He didn't show it much but he truly was. I saw it." Alex stated putting a hand on the young kryptonian forearm
"I know. I saw it too." she confessed before changing the subject. "I suppose I'll see you tomorrow for the big speech."
"Of course. I wouldn't miss seeing you talk in front of hundreds of people." Alex chukled, making Kara fake a laught.
The young woman came closer to her sister until she could enveloppe her in a hug.
"I love you."
"I love you too." Alex said, letting her go.
Kara started to hover a few meters above the ground before going up.
"Fly safe!" Alex shouted looking at the floating hero
"Always!" Kara shouted back before finally flying away.
The next day, in CatCo's building, the employees working in the bullpen had a little trouble to focus. And there was a good reason to it. Their local hero was currently in their boss' office, sitting on one of the couches while the Queen of all Media was on the opposite one. The two were in a meeting, talking about what was about to happen. In a few hours, the building's entrance would be crowded with people.
An man, working for the financial department walked over Kara's desk. Surprised to see it was empty, he looked around hoping to see the one he was searching for. Not seeing her anywhere, he decided to ask Winn.
"Excuse me. Have you seen Kara?" he asked politely
"Um, yes. Miss Grant...um sent her downstairs to finish aranging the press conference." the young man answered with the cover he had agreed with the principal person involved
"I'll give her these then." the man said showing the documents in his hand
"Uh no! Just-Just give them to me. I'll give her the message." Winn said quickly
"You're sure?"
"Yeah, no problem. She's probably very busy with all the Supergirl stuff anyway." he chuckled
"Ok, thanks." the man smiled, putting the documents on the IT's desk.
Winn sighed with relief and glanced inside the big office before focussing back on work.
"You know there's going to be a lot of questions asked." Cat stated, sipping water
"Yes but you said you were going to take care of it, right?" Kara asked, a little stressed, hoping really hard the answer would be yes
"Of course I'll handle it." the woman assured, making the kryptonian sigh silently. "But I need to know what I'm allowed to say and what I have to hide."
"You can't say how Supergirl got sick." a familiar voice said from the coffee table between the couches
"I was suspicious this would be confidential." Cat chuckled. "Anything to add, Agent Danvers?"
For obvious reasons, Alex couldn't be in the office with Supergirl since she had already been seen with Kara and some of her collegues even knew they were sisters.
"First, the usual secret stuff. Secret identities and secret organizations. And make sure to tell that the virus has been eradicated." Alex added
"Is that true?" Cat asked, taking notes
"Yes." Alex said, making them both sigh with relief. "We treatted you know who and there is no trace of the Argo fever." the agent added, clearly speaking to Kara
"Are we finished here?" the Queen of all Media questionned
"For my part, yes." Alex said. "I'll see you both in front of CatCo." she concluded before ending the call
"What about you?" Cat said looking up at Kara and catching her attention at the same time. "Do you have something to tell me before we go?"
"I don't know... I'm pretty sure my speech resumes quite well what I wanted to say." the young woman said looking at the document in her hands. "And I trust you. I know you won't let slip anything like I did."
"Ok then. We just have to wait for this afternoon." Cat concluded putting her notes on the small table. "How are you feeling about going back into crime fighting?" she asked
"Will you tell people about this too?" Kara asked not sure how to respond, suddenly ill at ease
"Not if you don't want to. Kara, I'm asking you this as a friend. Not a journalist." Cat assured with all the sincerity possible. It took a second for Supergirl to say something. She looked at Cat in the eye to find a little strength.
"I'm really glad to be Supergirl again. When I flew for the first time yesterday, it was magical. I've been waiting for this moment since I left the DEO. But I still have aprehension." Kara confessed
"Of what?" the Queen of all Media wondered, supporting her friend
"Not being good enough." the young hero started. "I know I'm not at a hundred pourcent yet and I'm afraid of disappointing people."
"Listen, do you even realize what you've been through, what your body went through. It's absolutely normal to take time to recover. Even for you. And don't worry about people's opinion because they care for their hero. And even if some of them can be jerks, and trust me I've met a few, in the end... a large majority understands." Cat explained with a lot of confidence
"Hope you're right." Supergirl sighed
"Have I ever been wrong?" the woman said with a slight upset and obvious tone
"No, never Miss Grant." Kara chuckled
"Now, could you get out of this office and make my assistant come back." Cat said nonchalantly, getting back to her desk
"Of course."
And she took off from the balcony.
A few hours later, Cat, Supergirl and Alex were behind the stage that had been displayed in front of CatCo. They should have been preparing their speech or reviewing some details of the intervention but Kara was actually more hiding than anything. The young woman was pacing vigorously under the amused and somehow exasperated look of the two other women.
"Could you stop pacing. You're going to make a trench in front of my building." Cat complained as Kara didn't even look up
"She's freaking out." Alex smirked with her arms crossed
"I'm not freaking out!" Kara countered stopping, acusing her sister with a finger. "I'm just a little...panicked." she admitted basicaly confirming what Alex just said
"People are waiting." Alex teased. This situation was just too good to be true
"Yeah, I can hear that." Kara chuckled nervously as people were scanding her name
"We start in five." Cat said making the sisters step out of their world. Seeing the distress on Kara's face, the woman found the need to comfort her hero. "It's going to be fine, Kara. Just stick to the plan and everything will go perfectly."
"I don't know how my mother did it. Speaking in front of people like that. Do you know I was supposed to take her place as a judge?" the young woman said to Alex a little bit more calmly. "It would have been a disaster. A disgrace to the house of El."
"Kara, stop." Alex intervened, stopping her sister by blocking her wrists in her hands. "You are anything but a disgrace to your family." the agent reassured with a soft and relaxing voice. "Now, stop whining and stressing for nothing and go show them Supergirl is still alive and ready to kick ass."
Kara still had her wrists captured in Alex's hands. During her little pep talk, the young woman had made sure to grab her sister's wrists in return, getting as much contact as she could. Kara was now looking right in the brown eyes in front of her, looking for all the support Alex could provide. And she had a lot to give.
This scene took place in front of an amused Cat. She was glad Kara had someone like the agent to rely on. Of course, she knew her assistant could completely rely on her as well but having a bond so strong with her sister must be more intense than any connection. Cat sometimes wished she had someone like that, a sibling. Someone she could share her darkest secret with, share her pain, her joy. But also someone who could fully understand her relationship with her mother. During her childhood, Cat nerver missed of anything...except a mother's love. Or at least a proof of mother's love. And it had been hard. Sure, she had tought her a lot on managing a company. But still, all that Cat learned had been through observation and never through advises. Having a son herself, the woman couldn't even think of not showing her affection for Carter. It was just impossible.
"Miss Grant?" a voice said, snapping her out of her revery. Cat looked where the familiar voice came from and saw a technician standing behind her. The man was clearly trying to keep his professionalism in place with Supergirl just a few meters from him.
"What is it?" the Queen of all Media asked not too cold but still with a tough tone
"We're ready. For both of you." the man said glancing at the superhero
"Perfect. We're coming." Cat stated dismissing him. "It's time." she added walking in front of Kara
"Ok..." the young woman sighed to give herself courage. "Let's do this."
The kryptonian positionned herself in front of the few stairs leading to the stage, next to Cat. The woman was already in buisness mode. All she had to do was letting Cat introduce her, step on the stage, do her speech and then get out and let her boss handle questions. But this was easier to say than to do.
And suddenly, Cat started to go forward, leaving her alone with a look of worry on her face. She watched and learned from behind. All she could see was Cat's upperbody, her hands on the glass reading desk in front of her, standing tall and proud despite the actual small size of her body. Her speech pattern and her speech itself was perfect. Cat was simply introducing National City superhero but it sounded so amazing that Kara almost forgot she was speaking about her. And finally, finally, the Queen of all Media introduced her friend, prononced that one name that meant so much not only to people but also to Kara herself. She said Supergirl.
And in a fraction of second, the crowd became as exited as if their favorite rock star was stepping on stage. Kara, who, by the end of Cat's speech, felt ready to take the mic, fell instantly in fear. The sudden roar of the crowd made her close her eyes a second to adjust her super-hearing. By the time she looked up again, Alex had made her way behind her and was rubbing her back with one hand, and Cat was doing her best to show her back to the crowd in order to communicate with Kara just through eye contact. She had one hand extended towards the stairs, supposed to show where the hero was, ready to swoop in and light people with her smile.
And eventually, Kara regained her composure. She breathed out heavily before jumping on her feet, changing her fearfull face into a bright shiny smile, and running the few steps separating her from the reading desk. Kara thought it was impossible but she had barely made one step on stage that the crowd grew bigger. She tried to ignore the extand of the noise and focussed on Cat who was now smiling.
"Good luck." she whispered in her ear, only giving the young woman the time to nod with thankfullness, as she walked out of the stage.
Kara turned back to face the crowd who was just starting to calm down. And there she was. Completely alone in front of hundreds, maybe thousands of people. The kryptonian took her time to detail her audience without stopping smiling. And to be honest, her smile was now genuine and not forced anymore. Seeing all the enthusiasm around her just made her happy and proud to wear her coat of arms. Photographers and paparazzi were mixed in the front row, not stopping for one second their flashes. Journalists were occupying at least ten or eleven rows behind them, ready to take notes and quotes from whatever she was going to say. And then, there were simple people of National City, taking time to come just to catch sight of their hero, and celebrate her return to duty. And that was what brought such joy and emotion to Kara.
Suddenly, the young woman had eyes only for the people on the back, the ones that were only there to see her and not because of a job assignment. She focussed on them as if they were the only beings in front of her, as if they were the only ones that mattered. She focussed and gained the strength to start talking. Kara found a comfortable posture behind the reading desk, even if she had no paper to look at. Understanding her moves, the crowd silenced their amazement and waited for the young blond hero to talk.
"Hi." Kara started a bit awkwardly with a smile, before becoming a tad more serious. "You can't even imagine how happy I am to be standing there in front you. I was extremely touched by all the support you have been giving me and I'm very thankfull because, until a few days ago, right when Miss Grant told you I was fine, I knew how much I cared for you but I didn't know how much you cared for me." Kara paused to let the first reactions to stop. "I didn't have the chance to read your letters yet and admire the drawings some of you placed generously in front of this building. But I promise, I'll take all the time I need to see them all. I know those last few weeks have been rough for all of us. I've been told some of you were scared and to be honest, I was scared too. Scared not to be able to protect you like I did those past few months, scared not be up to the task. But starting from now, I am happy to announce that I'm finally fully recovered and I'm ready to fly again. I swear, doctor's words." she joked lifting her right hand. Kara waited for the crowd to be quiet again before returning to her speech with the confidence and the slightly threatening look of Supergirl. "During my recovery time, I also witnessed a behaviour none of us should be proud of. I know for a fact that crime has leveled up and I assure you, that I will do my best to work with the NCPD in order to dissuade criminals. Finally, I want to thank Miss Grant for making sure you wouldn't be kept in the dark as to why I was missing for so long. She handled the situation amazingly and also proposed and organized all of this today. She gave me the oportunity to explain myself to you. And for that, I am very grateful. I think it's now time for me to return where I always feel like I belong and where I know I can keep an eye on you." Kara said this with one finger pointing at the sky. "Thank you all for coming."
With that, the young hero took off and shoot in the sky with a sonic boom. The crowd once again cheered at the young woman and followed her until she disapeared in the clouds. In reality, Kara went back down and sat on the edge of the building in front of the stage. She was high enough so no one could see her. But of course, she was close enough to watch Cat walking back on the stage and taking the mic to answer questions.
"What happened to Supergirl?" a journalist asked first
"Supergirl fell sick. She caught a disease that only affects kryptonians. I've been assured we're completely safe." Cat answered with a lot of confidence
"What so you know about this disease?"
"Only that it's a virus and that every sample of it has been destroyed."
"What is your connection to Supergirl?" a journalist asked, smirking
"Meaning?" Cat demanded, a threat hidden in her voice
"I mean how close are you?"
"Supergirl and I can be considered as friend. I help her with the public and she only do her job better without worrying about her image."she shrugged
"How did Supergirl end up sick? Isn't she supposed to be invincible?"
"I don't have that information but if you consider Supergirl like a perfect indestructible person... then you're wrong. She is nearly indestructible, yes, but she still has the right to be sick and have bad days."
"You looked pretty shaken up when you told on TV she was basicaly dying so I assume what she has been through must have been quite hard. Is Supergirl really ready to endorse her cape again?"
"From what Supergirl herself told me, yes, she went through tough times but I can assure you. If she says she's ready... Then she is." Cat answered hoping it was true
"Why are you doing this?" a journalist in the back asked suddenly
"What's your point?" Cat asked back, feeling this was going to be a rough question
"Why are you celebrating National City's biggest threat?" the woman explained already showing her position on the subject. "Cheering after the so called hero who brought destruction and even more alien threats to our city. Sure, she created a lot of jobs in the construction department. But at which cost? Millions of dollars and the risk of human casulties at each fight. So I repeat my question. Why are you doing this?" she finished determined to get to the bottom of it.
Cat took her time to respond and couldn't help but smirk at the anti-alien journalist. A lot of her collegues were staring at her in disbelief. Some because they couldn't understand how someone could be against Supergirl, others because they admired her guts. But as soon as the woman had began her explaining, people from behind, who initially wanted to celebrate, started to wistle their disagreement. Still, it didn't made the journalist flinch. She was intensely staring at the Queen of all Media, waiting eagerly for an answer.
"Supergirl not only saved my life but she also saved my son." Cat started with a firm voice, using her personnal life to convice. "And I agree with you on some points, the bill has increased since she's begun her activities but Supergirl is nothing of a threat. Her job is rescuing people and I don't know if you did your homeworks or just looked for the negative side of it but Supergirl has saved a countless number of lives those past few months. And I like to believe she helped avoiding spending thousands by putting out fires and other domestics accidents. As for Supergirl being a threat... Were you there five minutes ago when she confessed her fear in front of all of you? Supergirl isn't a threat. She's a hero. Nothing less, nothing more." Cat concluded, leaving the journalist grumbling, eating her pen in frustration.
Cat waited a few second to enjoy her little victory. She also took advantage of that little time to glance up, towards the building in front of her. There, she could only distinguish a vague human form but she knew Kara could see and hear her. So, in a natural way, like if the young woman was right in front of her, she smiled.
"One last question please." she finally said
"Who treated Supergirl? And where?"
"All I can say is that a great team of scientists and doctors from the government worked very hard to cure Supergirl. They accomplished their mission and that's all we need to know. Thank you." Cat stated to end the press conference.
The woman turned her back to her audience as the crowd of journalists shouted hopeless questions. She walked out of the stage and expected to see agent Danvers waiting for her down the steps. Instead, she only found an intern with a bottle of water in his hand. A little disappointed but also proud of herself, Cat assumed she had done right since no one was there to reprimend her. So, silently, she headed to her office and went back to work.
Three days had passed since Supergirl's public return. Kara had done a good job so far and her strength was fully back in her body. She could now use all of her powers without risking losing too much energy. So far she had dealt with robbers, car crashes, fires and even a boat rescue. Actually, her day life was getting back to normal.
As for her night life, Kara had still little trouble. Every single night, she would be reminded of her terrible nightmares by an object, a word on TV or during a conversation with someone. It could go from a simple shiver and sudden loss of Kara's natural light to full night terrors during her sleep. Hopefully the latter only happened once.
But today was a good day. It was five in the afternoon, Kara hadn't thought even once to the Argo fever and Supergirl was needed. There was a robbery taking place at a bank near CatCo. It didn't took long for her to get in her Supergirl costume and fly to the scene.
Kara arived in front of the bank before the police. Not two seconds after landing, a robber ran out of the building with a black sport bag on the shoulder. Supergirl didn't need x-ray vision to know what was inside. After four steps, the man saw the young hero and tried to run faster towards a car, probably waiting for him. But of course, Kara ran using super-speed and stopped in front of him in no time. The man, who had a gun in his hand, desperately waisted his bullets on Kara. She had to be honest with herself. The sound of gun shots reminded her of the ones she heard in her nightmare. Kara's body stiffened but she didn't stop her actions. Taking the trembling weapon out of the robber's hand, the young hero crushed it to be sure and then took the man by the collar. To this, the poor masked man couldn't even hide his fear behind his dark blue hood.
"Did you seriously think this would work?" Kara asked, smirking and showing the crushed gun.
Of course, the man didn't respond. The Kryptonian dropped the gun and used her now free hand to punch the robber with just enough strength to knock him out. Putting the man on the floor, Kara bent over and was about to pick up the sport bag to return it to the bank when someone stopped her.
"Don't even think about it!" a masculine voice shouted behind her.
It sounded angry and frustrated. Kara could tell by the man's heartbeat that he wasn't like the first robber. This man was tougher and more experienced. However, it didn't took the fear out of his heart. Kara had a little smirk on her lips. But this smirk wasn't just confidence. It was also annoyement and disgust for crime. They knew they couldn't do anything to harm her and they were still trying.
Kara slowly returned in a tall and standing position.
"Don't turn back!" the man commanded with a strong voice.
But Kara didn't listen. The young woman carefully turned around to face the man. But then, when she saw what was in front of her, her smirk disapeared. Her smirk disapeared and she froze for a second. Just fifteen meters in front of her was a masked man, holding a riffle gun in one hand, and restraining a terrified young man with the other. The hostage must have been nineteen maybe twenty. The second robber was strong and had his arm around his neck, making it impossible for the young man to escape.
Kara eventually regained her composure, stopping the nightmare before it even began. She had become quite good at doing it.
"Let him go!" she ordered with a strong voice
"Not a chance! Not before I'm sure you won't arrest me."
"Let him go and I won't need to do what I did to your friend here." Kara negociated, pointing with one hand the uncouncious robber.
The man seemed to think for a second. But Kara couldn't tell if he was considering her offer, or trying to find a plan to escape. Probably the latter.
"Come on. I don't want to hurt you." the young woman said taking two steps forward
"Don't come any closer or I shoot!" the robber yelled, putting his gun even closer to his hostage's head.
The young man was now panting with panic. He was staring at Supergirl with pleading eyes, begging to be saved, begging her to rescue him, begging for his life.
Finally, the police arrived on the scene as well as a few reporter and cameramen, much to the disaprouval of the robber. He became even more nervous. Seeing all the policemen pointing their gun at him made him react.
"Drop your weapons!" he started with a threatening finger on the trigger. "Drop your weapons or he's dead!"
The police had no reaction. Kara was also nervous. This whole situation was too close to her horrible false memories. Trying to slow her heartbeat, trying to stay calm, she looked at the superior officer. She nodded, asking him to lower his weapon. But before he could react, the robber yelled again.
"Do it!" he sceamed before forcing the young man on his knees, making him cry.
And it was enough. It was enough for the policemen to lower their weapons and it was enough for Kara to lose her perception of time, of her surroundings. Now, she was alone with the masked man threatening a defensless victim, kneeling on the ground, a gun pointed at his head. She couldn't hear the sirens behind her, the reporters, the policemen. Everything was a blur except for the two men in front of her. Kara was now alone and petrified.
Her face drastically changed. Her confidence flew away and panic settled. But she tried. She tried so hard to move her body, to react, to do something to save the poor man. But she couldn't. Frozen, staring alternately at the robber, the gun and the hostage. Going back and forth just like she did in her nightmare when Alex was about to die. A wind of panic suddenly lifted Kara's head to stare, terrified, right in the robber's eyes.
He noticed right away and a look of confusion settled behind his mask. Right then, not understanding why, he found his way out. With a quick move full of confidence, the robber pushed the young man and shot Supergirl in the chest before running away. The bullet came crashing against Kara's coat of arm, knocking her on the ground. She didn't fall because of the impact. She fell because of the sound, because of the sight of the young man lying on his stomach. He was safe and sound but also panicked. And that was this panic that was keeping him from moving. He was in shock and so was Kara. Everything was still a blur around her. She didn't hear the police shouting and shooting at the robber, missing him every time. She was just staring intensly, terrified, at the young man.
It seemed like hours but only seconds had passed since the robber shot her. A policeman kneeled next to Supergirl, wondering if she somehow got hurt. But she seemed fine at least physically. He put a hand on her shoulder, shaking her out of her thoughts. It made Kara snap her head towards the man in confusion.
"Are you alright?" he asked worried.
Kara didn't say anything. She looked around her and saw an other policeman helping the former hostage walking towards an ambulance. An then, she saw a car getting away, the one the first robber was trying to reach. At this precise moment, a sail of anger masked her face. Without a word and under the confusion of the policeman, Kara got on her feet and flew as fast as she could to stop the car.
The young woman was angry with herself, angry she froze like that, endangering an innocent life. She was angry at the robber for triggering this reaction. She was going to stop him. Supergirl landed on the roof of the car, hearing the scream of surprise of the driver. Seeing a pair of hands going through the roof, the robber hit the brakes as hard as he could, hoping to eject his unwanted passenger. But it didn't work. Instead, he just made it easier for Kara to rip the roof apart and grab the man by the arm. Without any effort, the young woman pulled the man out of the car and flew him back to the bank where the police was waiting.
"Please, don't hurt me!" he shouted
Kara didn't respond but her face changed. She realized how she must have looked like, full of anger. Her face softened a little, thinking it wasn't her role to scare and inspire fear in people. She finally landed in front of the policeman who wanted to help earlier and handed him her prisoner.
"Thank you, Supergirl." he said sincerely, cuffing the robber
"No problem." Kara assured with a nod
"Is everything ok?" the man asked seeing the perplex look on the hero's face
"Yeah... Just a little rusty I guess." she lied with a half smile.
After that, the young woman flew up and only stopped when she reached the top of the highest building in National City. Sitting on the edge, Kara took her phone out of her boot with shaky hands and called her sister.
"Hello Supergirl!" the agent greeted. "What's up?"
"Not so super right now." Kara chuckled nervously. "Alex, I need you to fix me."
"What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Alex asked suddenly anxious
"No, no I'm not but I froze. I froze in the middle of a robbery because of those stupid nightmares and I don't know what to do." Kara explained still feeling a little panicked
"Ok, don't move I'm sending a team to bring you in."
"No it's ok. I'll meet you there." the young woman stated already standing up
"Kara there's no way you're flying like this." Alex countered with force
"I'm fine, now. Let me fly, please. At least it will give me time to clear my head." Kara begged.
There was no response for a few seconds. Kara could picture Alex on the other side of the line thinking about how to disuade her little sister. Finally, she heard a sigh of defeat.
"Don't push yourself too hard." Alex eventually stated
"Thank you." Kara said sincerely ending the conversation.
"Are you sure it's what I need?" Kara asked to the two agents in front of her, one of whom was her sister, the other being agent Sully, chief of the training department
"That's what we do with every agents." the man stated with a rassuring smile
"Every once and a while, DEO agents pass this test to overcome their fears. We think it would be good for you to face what the nightmares forced you to experience." Alex added with her arms crossed
"If you say so." Kara shrugged, not very fond of the idea.
When the young woman had explained to her sister, Alex had guided her towards agent Sully's office. He was the head of the training department and a virtual reality specialist. Alex had her doubts on the methods, wondering if that's what Kara really needed. But she also knew that the situations her sister had experienced in her dreams were likely to happen in real life and that Kara would always be exposed to stressful events.
Kara, of course, didn't really want to do this but a consequent piece of her mind knew she had to. She had to or she wouldn't be a hundred pourcent on the field and she wouldn't be able to help people as much as she could. So, after discusing this with Hank and obtaining his aprouval, Kara had been guided in the VR room.
"Is this even going to work on me?" she wondered
"Hopefully, yes." agent Sully answered. "You're brain isn't really different from ours if I rely on your scans."
Kara sat in what looked like a dentist chair in the middle of the white room. There wasn't much else in it beside some closets and the VR helmet. A huge glass window was breaking the white wall monotony in front of the chair. Behind that window was the control room.
"Alright. I'll be in the control room with Sully, watching your every move." Alex assured
"Can't you stay here?" Kara asked not wanting to be alone
"I would but I can't. You can't have any exterior stimulites during the test." Alex explained, taking her sister's hand. "But remember one thing, Kara. What you're about to see isn't real. All of this is a simulation."
"Yes. Only a simulation." the young woman repeated to convince herself.
With that, the two agents left the room after Sully placed the helmet on Kara's head. Once she was alone, the kryptonian couldn't help herself getting more and more nervous. She looked up and waited for her sister to appear behind the glass of the control room. She didn't wait long.
"We're ready when you are, Supergirl." agent Sully said through his mic.
Kara sighed heavily to release stress and pressure.
"I'm ready."
In the control room, Alex was sitting next to Sully who was entering the programm he had prepared for Kara.
"What are you doing for her?" Alex asked wanting to know every details
"I'm recreating the robbery. See how she handles it and then we'll work from there." he explained, nerver letting his eyes leave his keyboard. "Ok the simulation starts...now." the agent said pushing a button.
Kara's body tensed to the activation, making her inhale loudly and suddenly. It was a perfectly normal reaction according to Sully. A screen in the control room allowed the two agents to see what the kryptonian was seeing, as if they were in her head.
Kara found herself standing in front of the bank again, a little confused. She looked around and wasn't really surprised to see everything around her was exactely like National City. A sudden sound made her turn back towards the bank. The first robber was getting out. She had no difficulty to bring him down. And, as soon as she bent to pick up his bag, just like the first time, she was interrupted by the second robber, holding someone hostage. Execpt this time it was a teenage girl. She must have been sixteen maybe seventeen. The slight change of senario was enough to destabelize her. But Kara quickly managed to regain her confidence and her fighting position. The next few minutes looked exactely like the real robbery, even the dialogues.
And eventually, the moment Kara was subcounsciously waiting for arrived. Except a part of her brain had forgotten all of this was just a simulation. So, Kara's body froze again but only for a split second. With all her might, Kara's face filled with determination and in a split second, she thought about her options. She could use her heat-vision to disarm the robber but the heat could trigger the gun or she could hit the girl if she wasn't precise enough. So Kara opted for a more direct way. Using her super-speed, she closed the ten meters between her and the robber and placed her hand in front of the gun before he could shoot. As a result, the robber pulled the trigger and the bullet came crashing without dammage against the hero's palm. At the same time, the girl took advantage of the situation and managed to get away from the man's grip and run towards the police, towards safety. Then, Kara took the gun off of the robber's hand and threw it away. Finally, she saw a policeman coming in her direction, ready to cuff the man.
Just as Kara sighed in relief, just as her mission was done, everything around her became immaculate. A white so bright the young woman had to cover her eyes with her arm for a moment. Kara didn't know what was happening. Knowing it was surely part of the similution, she managed to keep her nerves and waited. She waited until, curiously, a background started to appear around her. The kryptonian looked confused at her new location. It was dark, the daylight was suddenly gone. She was outside, standing between two warehouses. And in front of her, a shadow. Alex.
"What the hell are you doing?" the agent shouted to her collegue, seeing what had just poped up on the screen
"She needs to be prepared to confront this situation. It has to stop being a nightmare for her." Sully responded firmly
"But she isn't ready!" Alex shouted back
"And after that she will be!" he said elevating his voice.
"No way. I'm stopping this." Alex stated already walking outside
"Stand down, agent Danvers!" Sully yelled
"The hell I am!"
"You might be Henshaw's right hand but in this room I am the boss! Now get your ass back on that chair." he ordered, glaring at Alex.
Of course, the woman would dare to stand his stare and defy him. But Alex also knew he was right and she had no authorities here. So, with a heavy sigh, the agent sat back, barely touching the seat and ready to pull Kara out.
Alex was standing in front of Kara but she wasn't alone. No. She was held by the collar, hands tides in her back, by a man with no face. He was wearing a black mask and a dark brown leather jacket, pointing a gun to his prey's head. Alex was keeping a fierce appearance and wasn't showing any signs of fear. Kara's blood only made one turn. It was all coming back to her. The cold room, the pain, the kryptonite, the blood. Her heart started to panic, her brain seemed to only focussed on how Alex was going to die in front of her for the second time.
But she had to keep her calm, concentrate on how to stop the man, on how to save Alex. So Kara staightened and planted her feet in the ground. She had to face her fear. She had to do it for the people of National City, for the DEO and for her sister. And just as she was regaining her courage and her determination, the man tightenend his grip on Alex's shirt and lifted her. Her feet couldn't touch the ground anymore. The agent's face filled with fear even if she was trying to stay strong. Her head quickly became red as her own colar was starting to strangle her. And seeing her sister in such a weak and desperate state made Kara lose the control she had just regained. And she froze.
"Stop this right now." Alex commanded with a threatening voice, watching Kara through the window
"I won't. She can do this."
"But look at her!" she exclaimed pointing the glass with her hands.
Kara was squirming occasionly on the chair, frowning with all her might, clearly in pain. Her hands would rise and fall back down in a spasm and her boots would hit each other at the same time.
"It happens all the time, to everyone!" Sully snapped.
And with this, Alex kept mum. It was true though. But everyone wasn't Kara. She was her little sister and a powerful kryptonian who, with only one wrong move, could destroy the room.
"Kara..." Alex called hoarsly, asking for help but supporting the young woman at the same time.
The kryptonian snapped her head up and looked at her sister with only fear and worry in her eyes. But the stare Alex was giving her was comforting, encouraging. And that was all Kara needed to snap out of her nightmare and take back control over her body. In the next second, the young woman thought about all the ways she could free her sister safely and hurt this man at the same time. And when he dropped Alex to the ground with enough force to make her cry in pain, Kara got her window. Two beams shot the man's hand, making him drop the gun, screaming at his freshly burned palm. Then, Kara simply run at super-speed towards him and sent him flying a few meters away, making him lose consciousness as he touched the ground in a crack.
"I did it, Alex." Kara said with a small smile, keeling next her sister.
The agent didn't have the time to say anything that everything went white again, pulling Kara out of the simulation.
"Kara, can you hear me."
The young woman snapped her eyes open, sitting herself up in a hurry. She felt a hand grabbing her arm. There was Alex, looking at her with worry. Kara sighed heavily, taking her sister in her arms. She closed her eyes, enjoying the moment.
"Are you ok?" Alex asked a little surprised
"I did it. And you didn't die." Kara said relieved
"You were perfect." Alex assured, pulling back to face her sister
"I wasn't really expecting it though." the young woman confessed. "When you showed up... I knew it was only a simulation but it felt so real. I even panicked for a moment."
"Yeah, I know." Alex started, her voice hard, glancing at Agent Sully who was standing discreetly in one corner. "So... Potstickers?" she asked playfully
"Are you even asking?" Kara answered with the same tone.
As they walked outside the room, Kara couldn't hide the vestige of fear she had felt and Alex didn't need to look at her to know. So in a natural move, the woman wrapped a soothing arm around Kara's shoulders and continued walking. There still was work to do but today had been one step further to Kara's recovery. Maybe, one day, she would be able to forget.
FIN
AN: I really hope this end satisfies you. Truth is, I didn't really know how to end it and I blocked. Even if this is the end of this story, you still can review or send me a message and I will respond like I always did.
I really want to thank all off you: readers, reviewers, everyone for your support and your ideas. For those who are interested, I also post the first chapter of Part 2 of the Kadam serie. Hope you like it too and that this double post can make you forget this huge hiatus. See you soon ;)