AN: Just to warn you that starting from tomorrow night, I won't have any acces to Internet until next week.
"Sir, we have to find out what happened to Kara." Alex started, entering the director's office. "She's clearly not her normal self."
"I know. I thought it was personnal at first but then she started to talk about humans being weak." Hank stated, sitting in his chair, elbows on the desk and hands jointed
"Yeah, she made me understand that too." the agent said before thinking. "What could possibly change her like that?" she asked, hoping the alien in front of her had more knowledge
"I have no idea. I've never seen anything like it." Hank admitted.
Both were interrupted in their reflexion by agent Vasquez who entered the office with a knock on the door.
"Sir, ma'am, Maxwell Lord is at the gates. He says he can help."
"Why I am not surprised?" Hank said to himself. "Bring him in." he ordered before leaving for the control room, followed by the two agents.
"Director Henshaw, Agent Danvers. What a pleasure to see you again." Max cheered once the two guards who had escorted him left. "How's the shoulder?" he asked to Alex
"You better speak fast because I am not in the mood." Hank said coldly, both agents ignoring the question
"I'm only here to help. I may know why Supergirl is acting so out of character." the scientist stated
"What have you done, Max?" Alex pushed, taking a step closer to the man
"The night my facility was attacked, they didn't only took communication devices, they took an experiment I was trying to perfect." the man said, fearing the moment of revelation
"What was it?" Alex asked with force, getting ready to punch him in the face
"Kryptonite."
"You son of a bitch!" was all Alex could form before hitting him square in the jaw.
Max fell under the force behind the punch and quickly put his arm in the way to protect his face but lowered it when nothing came. Hank had immediately grabbed Alex's arm with one hand, keeping her from doing something stupid.
"Ok, I may have earned this one." Max admitted, standing up
"You better explain yourself and fast before I order agent Danvers to put you in a cell." the director threatened
"After Bizarro, I learned about a green glowing rock that could destroy kryptonians so I tried to replicate it." the scientist started, earning deadly glares from all around him. "Turns out, I didn't quite get it. Instead of green, I got red."
"And you didn't think like mentioning it when it was stolen?" Hank said, angrier then ever
"Well, I didn't want to get punched in the face." Max smirked, looking at Alex who was already on the edge
"You better know how to fix this or else I will make sure you never see the light again." the agent threatened, pointing dangerously her finger to his head.
SSSSSSSSS
Max was working in one of the many DEO labs for a little less than an hour now when Alex stormed in with a hard mask of anger on her face.
"Have you found something?" she asked impatiently
"I'm on the right track but this is going slowly. You can't expect a miracle from me after barely an hour of work." Max shrugged, focussing back on his readings
"Well you better work faster because I just received a text from Cat Grant saying that Supergirl attacked her and threatened her life." Alex said bluntly, surprising Max. "And it's all your fault!"
"Alex, I am truly sorry. I know I made a mistake." he confessed in defense
"This is more than a mistake, Max!" the woman snapped. "My sister could do such great things on this planet. She could make this world better and you-" Alex started, putting a finger on Max's chest. "-are the only thing that's keeping her from it."
"I know your sister is usualy showing a good side but you know we have to protect ourselves form her." the scientist countered
"Kara is not a threat. And if you want to protect yourself, you could just stop being so selfish, stop working alone and actually do good in the world. You're only making things worse for everybody just because of some God complex." Alex accused. "What happens if she kills someone? How will she feel?" she paused, putting weight on her question. "Do you even understand how many things she's going to regret after we cure her? She has done so much already and it's all because of one man and his ego."
The two scientists locked eyes for a few seconds. Max saw the mix of anger, hope and sadness in Alex's eyes and Alex saw the regret and the determination on Max's face. Finally, the agent turned her back to the man and left, leaving him with his mind full of questions.
SSSSSSSSS
"You're sure it's a good idea?" Adam asked to Alex while the two were walking toward Kara's door. "I mean she physicaly hurt my mother. What if she's getting worse. She could kill us, Alex."
"I know but I believe our Kara is still in there somewhere. I can't believe it's possible to erase someone like that." Alex countered, determined to bring her sister back but also scared
"I hope you're right."
Alex didn't knock. She opened the door very carefully, noticing it wasn't locked, and took the initiative to look inside before entering fully.
"Kara?" she called
"We're here to help." Adam added, looking around
"Came to win me back?" Kara started, surprising them by stepping out of her room. The two humans turned around only to discover the young woman in a dark blue jumpsuit with the house of El crest on the right of her chest. "You're wasting your time, Adam."
"Kara, why don't you come with us." Alex suggested with an open hand
"So Hank can join in your little group and give me a lesson...No thanks."
"Something happened to you. You were exposed to some kind of kryptonite. You need our help." Adam insisted
"I don't think so!" Kara snapped. "I don't need anybody's help. I am my true self now, free of any human influence."
"You don't understand-" Alex started, still hopeful
"No, you don't understand, Alex! All those years I had to hide my powers, myself from others. But now, now I understand my own force and my destiny and I can finally embrace who I truly am."
"No, this is not you." Adam said
"Oh this is me. You're seeing me like I should've been years ago. And soon, everyone will see and understand what true power looks like." she promised, walking toward one window and looking out
"Kara, listen to yourself and think." Alex started, taking one step closer to the kryptonian who was still looking through the window. "Why would you realize things so suddenly? After all these years. If you just think about it, then you'll see that you've been affected."
"Stop trying to big sister me!" Kara yelled, turning back brutaly to face them again. "It will never work because you are not my sister." she added, pointing a threatening finger. "You only pretend to be to make everyone feel better, including yourself. I know how much you resented me when I first came to your home, I saw it. And then I saw how much you tried to convice yourself that, in the end, you were ok with it but you're not, Alex. And deep down, you still resent me."
"No. No, you're wrong." Alex countered, her eyes getting more and more wet
"How annoying it must be for you. Having an all powerful alien living under your roof, knowing that you will never be as good as I am, as loved as I am. We both know who Eliza prefers after all." Kara shrugged.
The room went silent for a few seconds. Adam couldn't believe what was just said but he only could accept that his Kara was gone. Still, he couldn't give up. When he saw the single tear rolling down Alex's cheek, Adam had enough and stepped in front of the agent, between her and the kryptonian.
"You can't say this. Alex loves you and you know it." he said with all the force he had left
"And then there's you. The poor weak little boy who grew up without his mom." the young woman said, ignoring his comment
"Kara..." Adam whispered, closing his eyes for a brief moment trying to hide his hurt
"What? Does it still hurt?" she paused, hands extended to the side. "Well, welcome to the club because I didn't get to grow up with my family too. Oh, and when I think of it, I didn't get to grow up with my friends nor my planet either." Kara said calmly, taking the one step that was separating them before putting one finger on Adam's chest. "And that's where the difference between you and me start to show. You're weak and incapable of taking care of your little problems alone while I shine and thrive."
Kara retreated her finger and looked at the two humans in front of her. Alex was staring at the floor, doing her best to hide her tears, while Adam was staring at Kara, retaining himself from crying. The young kryptonian went to fly away but turned at the last moment.
"Tell your fellow humans of National City that their new ruler is coming soon."
And she took off.
As soon as she was out of sight, Adam faced Alex and took her in a strong hug. It wasn't only for the woman, he needed it too. Alex let a few tears and sobs escape voluntarily and Adam did the same.
"She's gone." Alex said between two sobs
"I know. But the DEO will find a way to bring her back, right?" Adam asked before the agent broke the hug
"Yes. Yes we will." she assured, wipping tears with her hands. "And speaking of which, I should get back there."
"I'll go with you." the young man said, already heading out
"No." Alex countered, stopping him with one hand, earning a small glare. "You go see your mother. With what Kara did to her, she'll need you."
Adam tried to hold the look Alex was giving him but it was too hard. He gave up with a sigh and let the agent leave the apartment he could once call home.
SSSSSSSSS
"Mom, are you sure you're ok?" Carter asked, sitting next to his mother on the couch.
He had sensed there was a problem just by the look on the woman's face when she had returned from work, and early to add to the mystery. He had asked her before but was told it was just work. The boy didn't believe one word of it.
"Carter, I told you I'm fine. There's nothing you should worry about." Cat replied with a smile that wasn't quite right.
The Queen of all Media could fool a lot of people. Everyone really, but not her son.
"Mom... You know I don't like when you lie to me." he started, making Cat look at the ceiling, understanding that she had no chance
"All right..." she sighed, adjusting on the couch so she could face her son properly. "Carter, what I'm about to tell you...it will probably hurt and make you question a lot of things." Cat warned
"You're scaring me, mom." the boy said, suddenly worried
"It's Supergirl." Cat started, earning a look of confusion and concern. "Something happened to her and I can't tell you what because it's a precious information but...it changed her."
"Changed her how?" Carter asked, always curious to understand
"Supergirl became bad and mean." Cat finally admitted
"No, that's impossible." Carter denied. "She's like the coolest and kindest person in the whole world. You said it yourself on TV."
"And I still mean it but it was before. Carter, she's become dangerous and I have to warn everybody." she said, taking his hands
"No!" the boy snapped, jerking backward. "Supergirl is hero. She's not a bad guy."
"Carter, listen to me." Cat started gently. "The reason I know all of this is because Supergirl came to my office tonight. And she attacked me."
After this, Carter didn't say anything and lunched himslef in his mother's arms. Later that night, the young boy would cry alone in his bed, greiving for a person that was once a hero, his hero. He would cry until he would fall from exhaustion, hoping that the fallen hero would get up again.
Cat immediately hugged him, bringing him closer by stroking his hair gently. The woman closed her eyes for a moment and tried to sooth her son as well as slow down her own heartbeat. The fear of loosing Carter or Adam was equal to the fear of not being there for them anymore.
And that's how Adam found them when he entered the penthouse. The two broke the embrace at the same time when they heard the door open. To everyone's surprise, Carter stood up from the couch and ran toward his brother, claiming for an other hug. Taken aback, it took a second for Adam to put his arms around Carter. He looked at his mother, who was surprised but also relieved that Carter was demonstrating such affection for his brother, before looking down at the brown head hidden in his chest.
"Are you ok buddy?" the young man asked, pulling out
"Yes. I'm just glad you're ok." Carter said before walking away. "I should probably go to bed. It's late."
When the boy was gone, Adam walked to the couch, his thumb pointing to where his brother went in confusion.
"I told him what happened with Supergirl tonight. I guess he was relieved to see you." Cat quickly explained, still not wipping all the confusion on Adam's face. "Sometimes he makes me wonder if he knows something he shouldn't." she added just as her son sat down next to her
"How are you?" the young man asked, checking for any possible wounds
"I'm fine, nothing a session with my chiropractor won't repair." Cat assured. "Though I can't say the same for the screen in my office."
"Cat, don't joke with me. You don't need to." Adam said, taking one of her hands and looking at her right in the eyes
"I know but you know how I am. It helps."
"Wanna talk about it?"
"It was...She was so angry and power-hungry. She was so different." Cat started. "I thought I could handle her but when her fingers tightened around my neck... Adam, I thought she was going to kill me." Cat finally said, her eyes threatening to let tears escape
"Alex and the DEO are going to cure her. I still have hope." Adam promised
"You should because for one second in that office, I saw Kara. The real Kara." Cat stated, not ready to give up on her assistant
"What do you mean?" the young man asked suddenly intrigued
"When she was blocking me against the screens, I said something. It was about you and what happened on the roof with Non and she reacted. I saw the doubt in her eyes."
"So she isn't completely gone after all." Adam concluded
"Not yet." Cat rectified. "We both saw how she changed. Kara didn't become that evil power-hungry alien in one second. Things came slowly."
"You think we can still resonate with her? Because Alex and I tried and it did not go well."
"No I think it's too late for that but I do think that there's still enough of our Kara in her to stop her from killing someone." Cat said with conviction
"I hope you're right." Adam sighed.
AN: Chapter 6!
What did you think about Max at the DEO? For the scene with Alex in the lab, I got inspired by a deleted scene from "Falling" in the DVD. If you can I really recommend to buy the season 1 DVD. The deleted scènes are awesome.
And what about the conversation in Kara's apartment? Or Cat with Adam? Let me know what you think by reviewing, it's always nice and encourage me to write more. I hope I replied to everyone who sent a review so far. For the few guests: Thanks a lot for taking the time to leave a comment ;)
Next, Cat has to warn the city, Kara really start to have some fun and the DEO prepares for the fight.