Cat's body stiffens in her arms and she pulls away from the embrace and walks out onto the balcony.
"Cat?" Kara asks worried. "Cat, I'm sorry if that makes you uncomfortable."
"It doesn't actually," Cat replies turning around slowly to face her. "I was thinking it and you said it, it just caught me off guard. Kara this is all going rather fast, it's only been a few days that we came together and now we're practically living together and this next story is going to make everything even more chaotic between us," she exclaims.
"We'll get through it," Kara replies confidently. "It's not the ideal start to a relationship, but nothing about us has been ideal," she points out.
"I suppose that you are right, but I still worry that everything we do is being scrutinized. Kara, are you sure about this? About us?" Cat asks genuinely concerned.
"Cat, we've known each other for over two years and we've spent the last few months dancing around this. Now I know that you discount me as too young to know what I'm doing, but you need to get over that. I may be twenty-five on this planet, but I'm not of this planet. You don't need to protect me. I need to protect you. You have no idea what it's going to take to be in a relationship with me Cat," Kara replies going to her and lifting up her chin.
"We are the two most powerful people in National City, it will be complicated," Cat admits before leaning in to kiss her. "Mmm, I love you too," she says softly, resting her head on Kara's shoulder, just taking a moment to savor being in her arms.
Cat's phone rings and Kara darts in to answer it, "Ms Grant's office," she says quickly. Then looking over at Cat she smiles, "Just one moment," she replies before placing the call on hold. "It's your mother," she adds looking over at Cat.
"Perfect," Cat replies taking a breath and sitting down at her desk. "This might take awhile," she adds, which Kara knows is her way of telling her that she can leave the office.
Kara sits down at her own desk and Winn glances over at her.
"How are you doing?" Winn asks concerned about his friend.
"Good. I mean, I'm about to come out for the second time this week but it's good right? I mean all this hiding has been stressful," she admits nervously.
"Are you sure that there's no other way?" He questions.
"Winn, you've seen the photos. It's just a matter of time before someone puts it all together. My only chance to frame this is to let Cat break the story," Kara points out. "It will be better this way," she adds.
"I just hope that you're sure about being with Ms Grant, because once this breaks, the two of you will be under a microscope," he reminds her.
Looking in to see that Cat is still on the phone, Kara decides to go out on to the employee balcony and soak up some midday sun to try to clear her head, but her mind has other plans.
"If you would give me your number Supergirl, we could eliminate the need for an intermediary," Cat points out the night Kara went to check on her after saving Carter on the train.
"You don't need my number Ms Grant, I'll always be there when you need me," Kara had responded.
Then there was the first attempt at an interview one afternoon in Cat's office.
"Let me call my assistant, she should be in here to take notes," Cat replied quickly picking up her phone, but when she turned around, Supergirl was gone.
Supergirl had no choice but to fly away, Kara's phone was going to ring in her boot and that would have given everything away.
"Honestly Supergirl, how many times now have you rescued me and I still don't have a way to contact you?" Cat persisted months later.
Kara would just smile at Cat and remind her that the rescues were proof that she didn't need to contact Supergirl.
The last time it happened, Cat didn't say a word. She saw Supergirl on her balcony and she picked up her phone and called Kara as she walked outside.
Looking up at Cat and spotting the phone in her hand and noting the vibration in her boot, Kara smiled at Cat before reaching down to retrieve her phone. "You've had my number this whole time, Ms Grant."
"Yes, I have." Cat said crossing the balcony to stand before her.
"Kara?" Cat approaches carefully, noting the relaxed smile on her girlfriend's face, she doesn't want to startle her.
Opening her eyes, Kara slowly glances around and smiles when she sees Cat staring at her. "Everything okay?" She asks.
"It will be," Cat says softly and Kara goes to her and takes her in her arms.
"Is she upset about us and everything?" Kara asks.
"No. She's thrilled, impressed actually. It's rather disturbing," Cat remarks. "And God only knows what she'll think when she finds out that you're also Supergirl."
"Wait, your mother approves of us?" Kara asks confused.
"Yes, apparently. She feels that powerful women should have the equal opportunity to experience a midlife crisis and sleep with their hot young assistants," Cat explains. "After I assured her that it was mutual between us, of course."
"So your mother approves of us or just of you having a midlife crisis?" Kara teases.
"Who knows," Cat tosses out before sliding in close to Kara and asking, "Now, what were you thinking about just now that put such a breathtaking smile on your face?" Cat almost purrs as she enjoys the feel of Kara's strong arm around her shoulders.
"You. Us. You calling my phone when I was on your balcony as Supergirl, just to prove that you knew," Kara replies smiling down at her.
"It was time to stop the whole charade," Cat points out.
"But then I was exposed to the red kryptonite," Kara replies crossing her arms as if to protect herself from the memory.
Cat slips an arm around Kara, "Don't. Let's not go there today, Kara. We've worked past that and it's done," she reminds her. "Now let's go back to my office and work on this story. We need to get it out by the end of the day, I don't think it will wait until morning." Cat says pulling Kara by the hand back inside.
She hears him coming and quickly shoves Cat back into the building, shutting the door behind her and then swirling into her super suit in just a matter of seconds.
Cat's eyes go wide when she sees the man in the black suit hovering menacingly over Supergirl.
"Consorting with human lovers now?" Non taunts her. "The last daughter of the once great House of El, if only your parents could see you now," he roars from above her.
"Do not speak of my parents," Kara roars back at him. "And leave the humans out of this Non. This is between us," she adds pulling herself up and standing proudly against him.
Cat is mesmerized by the sight of Kara like this, standing before her like a warrior.
"Your parents were cowards, Kara Zor-El. They were afraid to make the tough decisions needed to save our planet. And you, little one are doomed to their same fate," he yells to her.
"We are not bound by blood Non. You have no right to call me Little One," Kara bellows, before flying right at him and knocking him through the next building. Supergirl glances back just long enough to make sure that Cat is okay before pursuing him and smashing into another building. Debris showers down on the street below and everyone scrambles to take cover. On top of CATCO Plaza the news team begins rolling their cameras to catch as much action as possible.
Cat rushes to her office, unsure of what to do. She stands at her window watching Kara continually pummel the man, until finally she is surrounded by 10 or 12 soldiers. Kara holds them off for a few minutes, but is finally forced to release her hold on a barely conscious Non in order to save herself. Two of Non's men grab him mid fall and fly off carrying him between them. Kara engages with three others, but abruptly they all fly away from her.
A few minutes later, Supergirl lands on Cat's balcony and takes a deep breath, trying to release the adrenaline that is coursing through her body. Her suit is torn on the shoulder and she's covered in debris from the fight.
Cat opens the door and stands there watching her. "Kara, come inside," she says softly.
"No Cat, I just need another minute," she replies her voice tight with emotion.
"Please come inside, there are cameras on you, darling," Cat points out the news helicopter hovering in the distance.
Supergirl looks over at them and glares before stalking into Cat's office. "I'm sorry Cat, it looks like our story just broke," she quips angrily.
"It's fine, Kara. So that was Non," Cat replies. "He seems formidable," she adds quietly.
"I had him this time. I should have been able to finish this," Kara says seething with anger.
"You were outnumbered, Kara." Cat answers carefully, unsure of how to approach this version of Kara. Nervously, Cat glances up at the tv, where the fight is playing on a loop.
Kara follows her eyes and watches it for a moment. I should go make sure no one was injured by the debris," she says moving back towards the balcony to fly off.
"Kara wait!" Cat calls out. "Please don't go just yet," she adds.
"Cat, I'll be back. I promise. I just need a little time and I'll be myself again, okay?" Kara says before stepping out the door and flying off.
"Ms Grant, is she okay?" Winn asks cautiously from the open doorway.
"I think so. Winn have you seen her like that before?" Cat asks.
"Uh, no. Not really, I've seen her fight to protect us. But that was the first time I've seen her in full on warrior mode," he remarks in awe watching the fight replay above her head.
"Can you get Lucy Lane on the phone?" Cat asks him.
"Uh, yeah. Should I transfer the call to your desk or your cell phone?" he questions.
"My desk please," she says returning to it. Now that her story just blew up, Cat needs to figure out what to do next.
Cat and Carter are at the penthouse watching the fight coverage again, when a special report breaks in showing Kara spinning into Supergirl. Cat grimaces. She released that footage before she left, along with a press release saying that a full story would be coming out tomorrow morning about Supergirl.
Carter sputters, "Mom, Kara is Supergirl?"
"Yes, honey. We were planning to tell you tonight, but then this happened," Cat says by way of an explanation.
"So where is Kara now?" He asks.
"I'm not sure, she left right after this fight," Cat explains.
"Who was that guy?" Carter asks.
"I really think we should wait for Kara to get here, it's her story Carter," Cat replies.
"Mom, how long have you known that Kara was Supergirl?" He asks curiously.
"I found out a few weeks ago, before she and I started seeing each other," Cat answers, her voice tight betraying her nervousness. Then hearing a thump in her bedroom, Cat looks up. "She's here, I hope."
A few minutes later Kara enters the room in her black Supersuit, her eyes glued to the tv as she watches the footage of her turning from Kara Danvers into Supergirl. "Why were there camera's on the employee balcony?" she asks Cat.
"There have always been cameras on that balcony, Kara. I hope that you don't mind that I released that footage, it was more flattering to you than the grainy footage from the newscopter," Cat explains nervously eyeing her in the black suit.
"It's fine," she replies tiredly. "Uh, my other suit is being repaired," she adds noticing Cat's concern.
"Kara, does it hurt when you hit someone that hard?" Carter asks nodding at the fight footage.
"Not exactly, I feel the impact, but it's more a transfer of power than actual pain," Kara says trying to explain.
"Have you ever felt physical pain?" He asks excitedly.
"Yes, Carter I do feel pain. The man that I'm fighting there," she nods at the screen, "is my Uncle Non from Krypton. He was married to my mother's twin sister Astra. He has caused me much pain, which is why I attacked him first. He has the ability to hurt me like no one else on this planet," Kara explains carefully to the boy.
"You were fierce. I thought you were going to kill him," Carter blurts out.
"Carter that's enough. Now go brush your teeth and get ready for bed. Kara and I need to talk." Cat says ruffling her son's hair and going to Kara's side.
Carter approaches them to say good night and he hugs Cat, then hesitates a moment before lightly hugging Kara too. She gasps at the contact and pulls him in a little tighter. He looks up at her and smiles, "Good night Supergirl," he says softly.
"Good night Carter," she replies.
"What is this?" Cat asks pointing to the shoulder harness with the glowing blue light.
"I took it from Non today. It protects against Kryptonite weapons, he invented it and now I have the same protection as his soldiers," she explains.
"You're dressed like his soldiers now too. I'm guessing that is part of your strategy," Cat questions.
"The cape and skirt are not very tactical," Kara admits with a small smile, then turning to Cat she wraps her arms around her, sighing into the embrace.
"I suppose not," Cat replies returning the smile and pulling her down to sit on the couch.
"Kara, I sent out a press release that we would release the interview tomorrow. I'm sorry, darling, I wasn't entirely sure what to do after everything that happened this afternoon," she explains.
As if a switch flips, Kara stands again staring down at the small blonde. "It's fine. Whatever you did is fine, Cat," she says dismissively, turning to pace the room.
"I'm not entirely comfortable making these decisions for you, Kara. This is your story now, you're coming out as Supergirl," Cat points out watching her carefully.
"Cat, I have more important things to deal with right now than what people think of Kara Danvers being Supergirl," Kara snaps. "I have spent the last several hours at the DEO tracking Non's soldiers and I think that I've found his hideout. Lucy has set up surveillance and as soon as we can confirm it, we will attack him."
Cat sits back alarmed, this dark and brooding girl pacing her penthouse is completely foreign to her.
Kara stops pacing a moment and looks right at Cat. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come here. Non's under surveillance, you and Carter are safe. I should go," she replies wearily.
"Kara, maybe you should try to settle down and rest before you have to fight him again," Cat says softly.
"I can't. Cat he won't stop. He's the most dangerous alien on the planet and it's not enough that I stop him. I have to destroy him because he won't stop until he destroys me. Do you understand what I'm saying?" Kara asks, her eyes pleading for Cat to understand the gravity of the situation.
"I understand," she says quietly, going over to Kara and caressing her face. "Kara, I know you and you'll do whatever is absolutely necessary. I believe that completely."
Kara nods her head, thankful for her understanding and melting into her touch, she asks softly, "Can I stay here tonight?"
"Of course," Cat replies taking her hand and leading her down the hall.