The West Household, early that morning.
While Barry was hugging Nora tight outside the home, the light to the staircase turned on and a groggy Joe appeared at the top of the stairs with a baseball bat. The man, surprised to see Barry, slowly put the bat down and gave a small smile while he whispered towards Francine, who was in their bedroom, that it was Barry. Surprised to hear the young man's name since the report on the news said that the Blur was badly injured, Francine quickly got off the bed and rushed to stand by her husband. She looked on as Nora held on tight to Barry who was looking up at them and whispering that he was sorry for coming back so late.
"No, don't be, Barry," said Joe as he walked down the stairs after having put the baseball bat away.
"We thought you were injured?" asked Francine who walked down beside him, while Nora stepped back and put her hands on the speedster's cheeks. The both of them entered the house, so that the neighbours don't get nosy, with Barry closing the door behind them.
As they stood in the foyer, Barry told them that he had his leg broken. It was something that made Nora gasp, but then she furrowed her brows and asked how it was possible that he was in the house instead of the hospital.
"My speed, mom," replied Barry as he put his arm around Nora's shoulders, "the Speed Force that's coursing through my cells also helps me heal. I mean… the worst that's ever happened to me is that an enemy broke my back and… well… here I am."
"Damn, I want that," chuckled Joe as Francine frowned. She then slapped Joe on the arm with the back of her hand, something that made him rub his arm. Francine then asked if Supergirl was all right, and she breathed a sigh of relief when Barry said that she was injured more than him… but she was recovering.
"You're not leaving now? Are you?" asked Nora.
"Supergirl should be fully fit by tomorrow and… and I was wondering if I could stay the night here?" asked Barry sheepishly as he took off his mask, "and.. and.. there's something we need to talk about?"
"Yea," said Joe as he pointed up the stairs, "we have the guest room ready and… and what's the important thing we need to talk about?"
The DEO, 1000 hours.
Kara felt warmth hitting her entire body as she slowly opened her eyes. She found herself on a bed, with sun lamps shining on her as well as machines that were hook onto her forehead and her chest. Groaning as she moved her head to the right, she smiled upon seeing Superman, with his cape detached from his uniform and covering Alex who was sleeping on the couch to one side of the room she found herself in. She then turned to the left and saw Eliza fast asleep on a chair next to her.
Taking a deep breath, Kara groaned as she slowly sat up while remembering the intense battle with the creature that had Jeremiah's face the previous day. Upon hearing the sounds she was making, it was Superman who first got up, and then rushed to his cousin.
"I'm all right, Clark," whispered Kara after making sure that no DEO agent's were present.
"You had us a little worried, Kara," he replied while gently holding Kara's back, "I'm sorry I couldn't get here in time."
"But you came," smiled Kara remembering Superman taking Jeremiah off her before kicking him into deep space. Then, as if reading her mind, Superman told her that he'll be making sure that the creature gets as far out into the solar system as possible. He also told the young woman that he'll take her uniform to the Fortress of Solitude to get it repaired.
"It'll be like brand new," smiled Superman as he held Kara's hand. He then leaned forward and kissed the top of Kara's head before saying that her parents would have been proud of her for protecting National City, and her new family, "the President gives her apologies, it was meant to be a last ditch weapon in case we went rogue."
"A weapon without any failsafe," said Kara shaking her head, "Clark, it could have killed Alex, mom, J'onn, and speaking of J'onn… where is he?"
"He's talking to General Lane," said Superman, "something about a pardon? The entire world saw him helping you take down that… that thing. Lucy's pushing for Alex and J'onn to return to the DEO, and I have a feeling that's going to happen."
"Listen, Clark," whispered Kara as she leaned forward, "I need a favour."
"Name it."
"I'll tell Alex and mom when they wake up, but… but can you look after things in National City?"
Kara looked up at Superman's confused face before clarifying that she promised to help Barry in fighting an enemy on his own Earth. She said that Barry believed the breaches would be wide open once they run through the dimensional barrier to his Earth, allowing his enemy, Zoom, to come through.
"I'm sure Barry has a plan," whispered Kara as Superman frowned, "I'll be back, Clark. He's risked his life to help me… he saved my life. If it wasn't for him.. I'd be dead much.. much earlier."
"Alex and J'onn told me what they knew about Barry after you lost consciousness last night," said Superman nodding his head, "but.. but you're going to another Earth, Kara. And do the others know about you going to Barry's Earth?"
"No, and I'm not leaving for good," said Kara, "if he's right, and Zoom comes straight through to his Central City? Then maybe we're looking at me coming back in under a day?"
"Are you sure?"
"Two days, tops," said Kara, "just two days to watch of National City, Clark?"
"Well," said Superman thoughtfully, "I could always tell Perry that I'm in National City to visit my cousin, and I could get the scoop on what happened, before Lois."
"Oh, boy… she'll be pissed," chuckled Kara as Superman shrugged his shoulders.
"It's my turn for the scoop anyway," smiled Superman, "so, how are you going to find Barry? He said he was going to visit his mother. You know where he lives? Or she lives?"
Kara just smiled at Superman and nodded her head. She knew with her uniform being repaired, she needed a new one temporarily. The only one she had that she could use as a stop-gap was her black costume with the 'S' shield over her right breast, the same one that she used when she was dosed with red kryptonite a few days ago. Shuddering at even thinking about that day, Kara told Superman her plan… the older Kryptonian surprised to hear that Kara was infected by something that could take away everything he knew her to be, something that could take away her control.
Kara told Superman not to worry, and assured him that Alex saved her life that day; however, it was also the day that J'onn had made his real self known to the DEO.
Superman nodded his head as Kara continued telling him what happened, while J'onn slipped into the room in disguise as Hank. He nodded at Kara and Superman before telling them that re had been reinstated to the DEO, along with Alex. Kara gave a wide smile at that news as she started to take off the leads that were connected to her body.
"Kara, you shouldn't take them off yet," barked Hank as Alex and Eliza jerked awake on the sound of the machine that measured her heartbeat giving off a long 'beep'. Hank rushed over to her side and insisted on knowing what was going on, as did the groggy Alex and Eliza.
"You need to let them know, Kara," said Superman.
"We need to know what?" asked Hank as he looked at Kara suspiciously, "Supergirl?"
Sighing, Kara repeated what she told Superman, to the others. Hank, Eliza, and Alex were stunned at what she had agreed to do to help Barry, leading Kara to point out that it was because of Barry that she didn't die at the bank. Instead, he saved her, and brought J'onn into the mix to give everyone a fighting chance against the creature. She continued by saying that his intervention also gave enough time for Superman to arrive and stop the creature permanently.
"I've thought about this," said Kara as Alex and Eliza sat on either side of her and held her hands, "I would have died and that.. thing… could have destroyed National City, it could have harmed Alex and mom, and it could have hurt those protecting me. That's what it said… those who protected me would be hurt. And it would have gone after Superman. Instead, of letting that happen, Barry risked everything to intervene by coming to our Earth, and he gave me a fighting chance. If I can help him, and I know I can, then I should. I trust him to bring me back home guys."
"What do you know about this Zoom?" asked Eliza.
"He's a speedster, like Barry," replied Kara, Zoom's after Barry's speed, and if he does get Barry's speed, then Barry will lose his powers.. and Zoom will have a way to conquer his Earth. Just like Zoom's conquered his own Earth, Earth-Two."
"Is there a plan? A way to take him down?" asked Hank, who Kara could see still did not approve of what she wanted to do. She knew that he was thankful for Barry's help, but having Supergirl go to another Earth was definitely not on the books.
"I'm sure that Barry already has a plan," said Kara as she looked at the people who surrounded her, "anyway, National City has Superman to protect it."
"Clark?" asked Eliza.
"I'll be here, Eliza," said Superman, "I heard on the news that your house was nearly destroyed. I'll help rebuild it."
"As will I," said Hank as Eliza thanked the two men.
"I guess it's time to go," said Kara with a small smile, "hah, another Earth… this is going to be so cool."
The West household, 1030 hours.
Barry was at the kitchen table with Nora and Francine as they drank coffee while he clarified his plan on stopping Zoom. He had already told Joe about it before he left for work, and he had already said his goodbyes to Iris and Wally before they had to leave for work and school respectively. However, Francine and Nora asked Barry to tell them everything again.
"I'm not sure if Supergirl will recover by today, but if she does, then I need to run back to the CatCo building and retrieve a piece of technology," said Barry, "and then I'll take Kara over to my Earth by creating a breach. I.. I kinda have a plan that I'll go over with her and.. and it's going to be a bit weird. I know that Zoom wants my speed, and he'll do anything to get it… target anyone I care about to force me to give it to him. Anyway, that's why I can't take you with me now, mom."
"If I go with you two now, then he'll take me," said Nora as she held Barry's hand tight.
"Yeah," whispered Barry, "and I won't let that happen. I'll bring her home, and then.. then we go home."
"I.. I need to pack.. and…" said Nora with a smile on her face as she imagined seeing Henry once again, "and…"
"And mom?" said Barry, "umm.. I don't know how this is going to work but… but I'll have a friend of mine create a full backstopped identity for you and…"
"Because your Nora Allen died," nodded Nora as Barry put an arm around her shoulder, "so.."
"We could always use the traditional long lost twin approach," said Barry as Francine chuckled while Nora rested her head on her son's shoulder, "I mean… I can ask Felicity to come up with something…."
"Okay," whispered Nora just as they heard a thud on the outside porch, followed by a soft knock on t he door. Francine, Barry, and Nora got up and headed to the front door. Francine opened it, and then gasped.. as did Nora; while Barry simply stared at the blonde standing on the front porch in a completely black get-up with a red 'S' over her right breast. He then looked at the tachyon prototype in her hand.
"Hi," said Barry with a smile. Kara returned his smile before noticing the worried looks on the faces of Francine and Nora. She then waved her hands before telling them that she was the normal Supergirl, not the crazy Supergirl.
"Crazy?" asked Barry.
"I got affected by something that took away my control; all my desires, all the bad thoughts I have in my head, the.. the evil that I'm capable of? All of that came out a few days ago when I terrorized National City."
"And.. and, you wore that.. I mean.. we saw it on the news and…" said Francine.
"I understand people's reaction to this uniform," said Kara, "a lot of bad memories. And believe me, I don't like to wear it either. But my regular uniform's been torn up and… and well, there's Zoom to deal with… right? Barry?"
"Yeah," replied Barry, "and I have to say that I've been through what you have."
"You have?" asked a surprised Kara, while Francine and Nora looked at him stunned.
"A meta-human called Prism manipulated my emotions," said Barry, "I started to get angry at everything… I snapped at Joe, Iris, my friends.. and with my power?"
"It's dangerous," said Kara.
"I attacked a friend and… and it took another few friends to stop me, and return me to normal," said Barry, "in our line of work, things like that happen. It takes time to re-earn that trust that was lost."
"I know," said Kara.
"That costume just surprised us, Supergirl," said Nora managing a small smile, as did Francine.
"Ummm…" said Supergirl after thanking the two women for trusting her, "Barry, "you ready to go.. or.."
"Yeah," said Barry just before he sped off into his uniform and reappeared behind Nora and Francine, "I just need the tachyon prototype."
Kara handed the ring-shaped device to him, and watched as he opened a panel, and took out a chip which he placed inside a small pocket. He then closed the panel, and placed the device onto his uniform, just over his lightning bolt emblem. He then shook Francine's hand before hugging Nora, promising her that he'll be back for her.
"I swear, mom," said Barry once again before kissing her forehead. Nora held on to both sides of Barry's face before nodding her head. She then smiled at him, and stepped back. Barry smiled, and then turned to Supergirl and asked her if she knew where STAR Labs was on her Earth.
Kara nodded her head, after which Barry ran towards her at super speed and then carried her in his arms while running faster, and faster. In the meantime, he told Kara his plan… a plan that made the blonde grin at him just as a blue breach opened up.
"Here we go," yelled Barry as he ran into the breach.
Nora and Francine watched as Barry vanished into a pulsing blue light. She then sighed, and turned to Francine, her bottom lip quivering. The both of them then hugged each other with Francine whispering that Barry would be coming back.
"And then you're going home."
TBC.