"What's up?" Kara asked the following evening when she saw all three children looking glum.
"There." MJ said pointing at the TV where Alex and a squad of DEO agents were fighting an alien. "Mom was in danger again."
"Was?" Kara asked.
"It's not live. She's okay." The teenage Kara said.
"It wouldn't be so dangerous if you were there." The teenage Alex said quietly to her mother in Kryptonian, knowing that was a language her cousins didn't speak yet.
"Alex has the best team possible with her." Kara said, responding in Kryptonian. "She will be okay."
"Then why do you look worried?"
"Because she is my sister and I will always worry about her." Kara continued in Kryptonian.
"So you should be out there with her."
"No. It is better for you this way." Kara answered sagging in relief when the reported ended, showing Alex walking away unscathed.
"You really aren't going to be Supergirl?"
"Alex is safe now." Kara pointed out keeping talking in Kryptonese.
"Until next time."
"She has a good team." Kara repeated.
"Fine, but don't use me as an excuse." Alex retorted, again in Kryptonese.
"Are you two done?" The younger Kara asked.
"Sorry." The older Kara said.
"Can you argue in a language we all understand?" MJ pressed.
"We weren't arguing." The older Kara said.
"It looked like you were." Her namesake said.
"Shouldn't you three be doing homework?" Kara tried.
"No." All three said in unison.
-00-
"The kids were worried about you." Kara said later that evening as she and Alex sat on the couch.
"I was worried about me."
"I thought you were meant to be doing a desk job?"
"We both know there will always be field time required."
"Sure, but you should be hidden at the back, protected. Not leading the charge. And if you do insist on leading the charge you need more support."
"No." Alex said firmly.
"No what?"
"I don't want you to come back for me. You've got my favourite niece to worry about and I have already ruined her life enough."
"You are the only one who believes that." Kara said. "Besides she has made her feelings very clear. She wants me to be Supergirl."
"And what do you want?" Alex asked.
"It was kind of fun being Supergirl. And someone needs to keep you in line. Also weren't you the one inviting me back to the DEO?"
"Then I had time to think about it. I appreciate what you are offering. But think about it a little longer. You would be sacrificing a lot. And I've seen what being a hero long term does to people. Anyway it's late and I have an early start. I'm going to bed." Alex said before disappearing upstairs.
-00-
As Kara lay in bed in the early hours she heard someone come downstairs. Hearing them go into the kitchen she shut her eyes and tried to go back to sleep. But after a few minutes she realised they hadn't gone back upstairs. Getting worried she was about to turn on the light when she heard footsteps approach the study. Moments later her sister entered the room.
"Alex? What's wrong?" Kara asked immediately hearing how fast Alex's heart was racing.
"I can't do it."
"Do what?" Kara asked jumping out of bed and walking to her sister.
"Any of it." She said stumbling into Kara's arms.
"You're shaking." Kara said concerned as she wrapped her arms round Alex who immediately lost the ability to stand. "I've got you." Kara said practically carrying Alex over to the bed.
"Can't breathe." Alex said.
"It's okay. I've got you." Kara said. "Just focus on your breathing. In and out."
"Can't do it anymore." Alex wheezed.
"Yes you can. I've got you." Kara soothed. "Focus on your breathing. In and out. I've got you."
Hearing Alex's breathing slow Kara kept holding her sister whispering words of comfort and support. After several minutes Alex was breathing normally and no longer shaking. She became so still Kara wondered if she had fallen to sleep. But eventually Alex finally said.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?" Kara asked.
"That."
"You've helped me through my fair share of panic attacks." Kara reminded her. "But you know they aren't going to stop by themselves."
"I don't know what to do."
"When did they start?" Kara asked.
"The first one was just after Kelly died. Kara was in hospital in a coma. MJ withdrew so much he couldn't speak and I just didn't know what to do. I thought it was a one off, but they keep coming."
"Who have you talked to about them?"
"No one. Mom found out and told me she knew at Christmas, but that is as far as I've gone."
"You've been dealing with them for three years by yourself?" Kara asked. When Alex nodded Kara said.
"What about a DEO shrink?"
"I would probably be suspended. I can't afford that, I need to be there."
"What about one of Kelly's colleagues?"
"Didn't feel right." Alex said. "I thought I could deal with it by myself."
"Well that ends now. From now on we deal with this together okay." Kara said, her tone leaving no room for arguing.
When Alex nodded into the hug Kara asked.
"What triggered tonight's one?"
"I don't know." Alex said. But after a minute she confessed. "I had a nightmare."
"About?"
"Kelly, the kids, the end of the world. When I woke up I didn't know how to deal with any of any of it. I came down here, got some water, but then I saw a picture of Kel and I just felt so lost and overwhelmed and then I couldn't breathe."
"It's okay." Kara said. "I've got you. We'll get through this."