Chapter 16 – A New Beginning

Present Day. CatCo. Kara's office.

Cat paces back and forth in Kara's office. She hadn't told Kara that she would be back early, but she hoped Kara would welcome the surprise. Her time away had been both illuminating and excruciating. At times Cat had felt as if she were being ripped to pieces, so intense was the psychic and physical pain. She had put on the Coat one last time and discovered why she couldn't let go of her tension. The tension was a totally different person, a separate self that was trying to take over her new tranquil body. The tension was the part of her that the Coat wanted to feed on, yet somehow she had been able to change it's appetite. The Coat no longer fed off of greed, lust and violence. Now it was a means of transport and transformation as it was meant to be.

Cat had left Cynthia a voicemail stating her location, and requested that she come for the Coat - Cynthia appeared at her door the next day. They talked at great length about what Cat's vision of the doors meant. They had laughed at the truth behind Cat's conclusion, and Cynthia was there when Cat went through the other doors. When Cat came out on the other side she was stronger and more compassionate.

"I am always here" Cynthia had said, fighting back tears. Cat remembered letting a few of her own tears escape. "I am ready to truly share myself – to let Her be a witness to my changes..." she had said feeling the strange fullness of her new self...

Medieval Dream realm. The Kingdom of Mars.

James Olsen wakes up in leather pants, bare foot and shirtless. He is on his back with a brass sword across his chest, sitting up he takes in the scene before him. Large ancient trees surround him, the leaves glow blue and pink, for a moment he can remember why the colors are significant, but then the memory fades. In the distance he can hear fighting, reacting immediately he begins running as fast as his naked feet will carry him towards the fight.

When he arrives he finds Lucy Lane, brandishing two swords, and fighting off 5 men. The men taunt her with lewd comments. "Come on now girlie just give us a little kiss!" James tackles the man that made the comment, giving Lucy time to slit the other man's throat. James punches the man unconscious, then impales two other men as they try to escape. Lucy stabs the last man in the neck as he is about the hit James in the head with an ax.

"Thanks Luce!" he says with a tired lopsided grin. "Do I know you sir?" Lucy asks looking him up and down. James can only imagine how he must look covered in blood with no shoes on and bare chested. "Where are we?" he asks not answering her question. "Grant forest just outside of the Kingdom of Mars – are you not a Martian?" James looks around furtively.

"A Martian? Do I look like a Martian?" Lucy nods her head. "Honestly I have only met one, but the King looks just as you do. Sun dark, broad shouldered and good with a sword. Though his daughter is not as well loved by the sun as you clearly are..." Lucy's eyes roam over James's chiseled features and bulging lean muscles. She licks her lips - James turns away.

Were the heck am I, and why is Lucy looking at me like that? He looks around searching for a shirt and boots. A quarter mile away he sees laundry hanging on a line. "I'll be back in a moment." Lucy nods and watches as he walks towards the laundry line in the clearing. She follows him silently but makes sure to stay at a distance.

When James reaches the clearing he finds a large pirate style shirt, complete with billowy sleeves. James can't help but chuckle to himself as he remembers a certain Seinfeld episode. When he finds a bucket he fills it with well water, and hastily bathes himself with a rag. When he is finished he throws the bloody water onto the grass, and whispers to himself, "for my sins I beg forgiveness."

Now on his knees James basks in the warmth of the sun. I wonder if this is how Kara feels under the lamps he thinks to himself. He can feel a warm pulsing in his chest, what he can't see is that his bones are glowing beneath his ever darkening skin...

A week ago. Lena's secret Laboratory.

Kara is sleeping off a sedative Alex has hastily injected her with. Certain that Kara is sleeping Alex turns to Lena. Crossing her arms across her chest she glares at Lena. "So?" Lena runs a hand through her hair nervously. "Well after Kara was attacked I started researching, i.e. hacking the D.E.O database, and I found out where they were holding the kryptonite - " "So you're the one who stole it!? Kara thought I was crazy for being suspicious - " Lena unphased by Alex's anti-Luthor outburst, interjects firmly. "I destroyed it. No one on this planet should have anything that dangerous. It's not just dangerous to Kara. It can be used to power atomic bombs if modified correctly. So yes I confiscated it. But I assure you that what the needle is made of is synthetic, and definitely not lethal to Kara."

Alex glares at Lena and moves toward her aggressively. Now backed against the wall, Lena closes her eyes, and waits for a blow that never comes. Opening one eye she finds Alex looking at her with a strange expression. "I would never hurt you" she says quietly, and backs away.

Alex has a flashback of killing Kara's aunt Astra, and of Kara's, at times robotic, acceptance of what she had done. Though Alex still stood by her decision, she couldn't deny the fact that her sister knowing she was a killer, sickened her.

Alex stands quietly watching Kara sleep. Lena, who is now behind Alex, reaches out her hand to comfort Alex, but lets her hand fall short of Alex's shoulder. Lena retracts her hand, deciding that it is best to give Alex some space.

Alex, catching the scent of Lena's perfume behind her, smiles at the thought of her sister's best friend willing to bear her wrath for Kara's sake. Though she prays she wont have to break the promise she had just made to her sister's best friend...

Present day. CatCo.

Lena Luthor steps nervously out of the elevator. She has a beautiful bouquet of lilies in one hand and an order of pot-stickers in the other. She is still somewhat jet lagged, but she is determined to have the conversation with Kara she has been putting off. Pausing outside of Kara's office she takes a big breath and opens the door with a flourish. Lena's eyes burn at the sight before her.

Cat Grant has Kara pushed up against her desk, and they are engaged in a passionate kiss. Kara seems to be emitting a sensual pulse, while Cat is growling as Kara presses herself against her. Lena closes the door silently, and walks quickly toward the elevator, her heart in a million pieces.

Lena doesn't see Alex leaning against Snapper's assistant's desk. As she walks by Alex catches her arm. "Lena - are you okay?" Something about Alex's firm grasp brings her back to reality. Looking into Alex's steady brown eyes Lena feels capable of breathing, but only for a moment.

Lena smiles sadly. "Not really, but it's nothing a trip to Berlin won't fix. Tell Kara I said goodbye." She hands Alex the flowers and the pot-stickers then continues towards the elevator. Pressing the down button, Lena says over her shoulder, "And Alex don't be a stranger." Getting in the elevator, she looks Alex up and down, and smiles at her shyly as the doors close.

Seconds later Kara comes out of her office, cheeks flushed and wearing a dopey smile. Seeing the flowers she asks "Was Lena here?" Alex nods still mesmerized by Lena's smile. "Uh Yeah. Looks like she'll be out of the country for a while." Alex says blushing, Kara is about to question her further when a text alert goes off on her phone. It's a text from Lena.

L: I'll be away for a few months. Let me know if you have any side effects from the treatment. I hope to have something better for you when I get back! Hugs - L

K: Were are you going Lee?

L: Berlin 😜

K: What!? For how long?

L: 3 months - what color is Alex's motorcycle again? 🏍🏍🏍

K: Black & that's too long! ? πŸ˜•πŸ˜’

L: You won't notice! πŸ˜‰πŸ˜Ί

K: I will too! ? πŸ˜’πŸ˜’πŸ˜‘?

L: If you really miss me you can come for a visit ✈✈✈

K: You're not allowed to be away for 3 months - BFF rules! ? 😑😑😑?

L: See you in a month then brat! ? ﾟ😺😜✌

Lena tosses her phone into her purse, and sobs violently as her driver steers the car in the direction of the airport.

Fin

A/N: So this is the end of this part of the story. I want to thank everyone who took the time to read this. Your attention is truly golden - thank you!

There is much more I could introduce in this story but I thought it best to split it into 3 parts. So now that part 1 is done we move onto:

Part 2) An Agent of Spring: Centering on Alex as the new director of the D.E.O and how they finally cure Kara of her

mysterious illness.

Part 3) On the Shores of Death: Centering on J'onn & James's escape from the dream realm.

**A special thanks to:

TeelanaFalcao & BarattaJennifer- your comments really helped to spur me on. Thanks a bunch - sending you warm hugs!