The car ride back to Alex's apartment was painfully silent. Alex didn't know what to do with herself. This whole situation was her fault, and she couldn't even begin to imagine how Kara was okay with sitting in the same car as her.

Kara looked over and noticed the tension in Alex's shoulders and face.

"Lex, I know you're beating yourself over this. I can feel it. But you shouldn't, because it wasn't your fault. I don't blame you, I promise. You're forgiven. If anything, I'm the one to blame here."

Alex didn't even know how to respond. "This is not your fault. How would it even be your fault? You didn't do anything wrong. I shouldn't have gotten that drunk, and I shouldn't have said any of those things. They weren't even true..."

Kara sighed, knowing Alex would be in denial. "It's okay to admit that there was truth to what you said, Alex. I know there is. You don't have to be ashamed for thinking those things, it was completely justified. Growing up, it was always you checking in on me, and asking me what I needed. It was never about you, when it should have been.

If I had been a better sister to you, then none of this would have happened. I didn't create an environment where you felt safe talking about what you were feeling, and that's my fault. I should have let you tell me these things, but I made it all about me. It was my biggest mistake. I'm sorry I let you think all these things, I'm sorry I let all this pent up emotion build. I should have been there for you, and I'm sorry."

Kara refused to look at her big sister, overburdened by the weight of her guilt. She couldn't even bring herself to look at Alex when she responded.

"Kar, I don't know how many times I have to tell you, but this is not your fault. We focused on you growing up because we had to, and you needed it. I wouldn't have done anything different. I guess I just never opened up because I didn't realize I was feeling this way. I'm sorry I exploded at you."

Kara still shook her head. "I... I should have gone to you right after it happened. I should have done something. Instead, I just left you in the dark, distancing myself, letting you believe it was all your fault. When really, it was mine. I should have been there for you, but I left you alone when you needed me the most. I knew you were hurting, and I didn't do anything about it. What kind of sister does that?"

"I did, Kara. I did exactly that. When we needed each other after finding out about Dad..." She took a breath. "I got drunk instead of talking to you about it, like I should have. I pushed you away and said unforgivable things, when I should have been checking to see if you were okay. God, you had just been shot... And I just... left you."

"It's okay, Lex. I don't fault you for leaving, let alone anything else that happened. Don't worry about it. We'll talk more when we get home, okay? For now, just know that I love you. Nothing could change that. Ever."

Alex nodded, content to leave the serious discussion for another time. She just wanted to enjoy this time with her sister, and appreciate that Kara was still there with her, instead of at Cadmus right now.

"I love you too, Kar. And I always will."

Alex kept one hand on the wheel, while reaching over with the other to grab hold of Kara's. They gripped onto each other firmly, a show of support for the other.

And that's when Alex felt Kara start coughing.

Slowly at first.

But it got worse.

Kara doubled over in pain, and her coughing became increasingly severe until she was coughing blood onto the seats.

Alex glanced over at her sister, unable to make sure she was okay because she was driving. "Shit, Kara! What's wrong? Are you in any pain?! Damn it!"

She was having difficulty keeping her eyes on the road when Kara was quite literally dying in the seat next to her. Alex screamed out in frustration from being unable to help her sick little sister.

It was dark and rainy outside and everything was going wrong. Just as she found a spot to try and pull into, her headlights went out and she was completely blinded.

"God Damn it, I cannot believe this. Kar? Hang in there, okay? We'll figure this out, I promise."

Kara was still coughing, and it was only getting worse. She began panting, breathing uneven, and a cold sweat was breaking out on her forehead. She couldn't even say anything in between her coughing spasms.

Alex was trying to figure out what to do, eyes glued to the pitch black road, when she noticed something else was wrong. Her headlights had gone out, and it had been completely dark.

And was still supposed to be completely dark.

But she could still see. The light was coming from a faint glow to her right.

Kara.

No, no, no. This was not happening right now. Right when she had gotten her sister back, Kara was about to be torn away from her again.

Praying she was wrong, she slowly turned her head to the side. And was met with a sickly green glow emanating from her sister's veins.

The only difference between this and the other kryptonite she had seen in the past was that this glow became increasingly more intense as the seconds ticked by. And wasn't stopping.

That explains the reaction Kara's having. This must be at least five times more potent than anything we've ever seen before.

"Shit, Kara! Holy fuck, okay. We need to pull over."

Without regard for the law, she pulled over in the middle of the intersection she was at. Alex had to help her sister, and at this point, revocation of her drivers license was her last concern.

It was really late and dark out, so luckily there were no cars on the road.

Alex unbuckled quickly and reached across the seat to rub circles on Kara's back. Her little sister calmed slightly and her breathing evened out a bit.

She managed to choke out,"Where... it- coming... from?"

Alex looked around and couldn't see anything. She slammed her hands into the steering wheel in frustration, because she couldn't do anything to help. She had no medical supplies on her, and couldn't even find the source of her sister's pain.

Alex then took a couple deep breaths, remembering that it was probably best if both of them stayed calm.

"I don't know, Kar. But I'll find out. I swear, I'll fix this." With that, she started to get out of the car.

That's when everything became even worse.

Kara doubled over and violently threw up onto the floor. Alex immediately pulled away from the door and put her hand on Kara's arm, trying to support her weak sister.

Kara was in so much pain, it took all the self control she had to not scream. Tears streamed out of her tightly shut eyes, signaling to Alex how much pain she was in.

"Okay, shh. We're going to figure this out. Don't worry, I'm going to call J'onn right now. Everything is going to be fine, okay?"

Kara nodded. But as Alex pulled her phone out, a bright light illuminated the darkness of the car, and the sisters looked up to see where it was coming from.

They found themselves staring directly into a pair of headlights.

Before either of them could register what that meant, they felt the front of a truck slam into them.

The sisters locked eyes, knowing this could be the last time they'd ever see each other, and everything went black.