A/N: Thank you for the comments.
Guest -Things will start to get better for Kara, but she has a long road ahead of her. In the mean time she and the younger Alex will discuss Red-K
"Anything?" Alex asked as she and Vasquez met in her office.
"Not yet, but I have narrowed it down to ten agents who could have orchestrated it. I have also set up a PEN test to see if it could have been set up from the outside. So far no vulnerabilities have been found, but they did say it could take another day to complete."
"I'm still trying to figure out motive." Alex said. "I mean if it was an anti alien thing, why only go for mixed species? If it was some elaborate plan to infect Kara, why? Unless ….. The yellows want fear right?" Alex asked.
"So the rumours go." Vasquez answered.
"The virus, uncontrollable Supergirl, the game, all of those led to fear, or should have led to fear." Alex argued. "So what if it is an audition? I mean I don't know how these rings work, but what of someone wants one and is trying to make a statement?"
"Plausible, but I am not sure that helps narrow down our suspect pool. In fact it probably increases it." Vasquez said.
"Probably. But I do have something." Alex said. "I have just emailed you some file names. They should be on the Sloane Syndicate server, can you see if you can find them?"
"Of course." Vasquez said.
"Plus anything you can find about a company called VLT."
"I'll let you know when we have something." Vasquez said.
-00-
"How are you feeling?" The teenage Alex asked as she returned home after school.
"Like I never want to drink again." Kara said. "But I'm okay." She added as she patted the couch next to her. Once Alex had sat down Kara said. "I'm sorry. I've not been a very good mom recently. I'm sorry I haven't been there for you."
"I don't care if you have to work all the time." The teenager said. "I care about you getting hurt or sick."
"I know." Kara said hugging her. "And I'm sorry that you thought I wasn't trying to get better. The truth is, I got so caught up in my own guilt that I forgot about what was really important. That's you. I don't know how long it will take to get over my guilt, but I promise you I will do all I can to get my powers back and go back to normal."
"Can I ask you something?" Alex asked pulling away from her mother so she could look at her.
"Anything."
"When you are on Red K, you are aware of what you are doing and why aren't you? You just can't control it?"
"That's a reasonable description."
"So why did to come to the lab?"
"What?" Kara asked.
"You came to the lab. Why? Did you have something you wanted to say to me?"
"Like what?"
"I don't know. That you were disappointed in me or you resented me?"
"No. Absolutely not." Kara said hugging her. "Why would you think that?"
"Because you wanted Alex to make sure you couldn't get to me. You'd only do that if you knew you had something bad to say."
"Last time I caused a lot of damage. Yes, I hurt people specifically like Cat, but in between I kinda went in a rampage and tried tearing up the city I got lucky that no one died. I was scared that I might you might get hurt in the crossfire. I know I have not been easy to live with this last few days and I know we have been fighting but I will never be disappointed in you and I will never resent you. I love you so much." Kara said tightening the hug.
-00-
"Still no powers?" Alex asked frowning the next morning when she saw her sister still wearing the bandage over her hand.
"No." Kara confirmed.
"We should run some tests."
"I'm okay."
"Clearly not. Besides you inhaled a lot of that gas and we have no idea of the effects of solar flaring while under the influence of Red K."
"I just need some time." Kara said. "If I still don't have my powers next week you can poke me as much as you want."
"If you don't have your powers tomorrow I will poke you as much as I want." Alex countered before noticing Kara was actually dressed. "Are you going somewhere?"
"Work. Assuming Cat hasn't fired me."
"Shouldn't you spend a bit longer recovering?" Alex asked.
"Apart from no powers, I'm okay. I need to get back to work. Besides if Alex sees me working she might not worry so much."
"Something tells me she will always worry about you." Alex said as she poured a couple of coffees.
"Shouldn't you be at work?" Kara asked.
"It can wait. I can see something is bothering you and if recent events have taught me anything, it is to not ignore it. So what's up?" Alex said directing Kara to the couch.
"Alex. She thinks I was going to L-Corp to tell her that I resented her and that she had ruined my life. I mean I put her straight, or at least I tried to. But she has ben carrying that around by herself, because I was too focused on my own misery to notice."
"I'm sorry." Alex said. "I should have noticed. I mean I knew she was worried, but I thought that was just because you were acting like well…"
"Eeyore." Kara chipped in.
"Not who I was going to go with, but sure." Alex said. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Why did you go to L-Corp?" Alex asked.
"To take Alex away."
"Where?"
"I don't know exactly, I wasn't exactly thinking straight." Kara reminded her.
"Do you still want to go?" Alex asked.
"No." Kara replied. "But I do need to get to work."
"Okay, but don't push yourself and call if you need anything."
-00-
"The files you asked me to search for no longer exist on the Sloane Syndicate servers. We, well the IRS are currently looking for them on the backup servers. And they are looking at VLT."
"They are?"
"Turns out they are keen to stop Sloane Syndicate and as those files were to do with a large deal they are interested. They also shared some more information about the company." Vasquez said. "Sloane Syndicate is mainly owned by funds, but there are two shareholders each with a five percent stake, which is very large for individuals. Simon Stagg, founder of Stagg Enterprises and Simon Tycho, of Tycho Industries. Both are psychopathic businessmen and have more wealth than most countries."
"Why does Simon Tycho sound familiar?" Alex asked.
"Apart from the more money than god thing?" Vasquez asked.
"Yes." Alex said. "I feel like I have actually come across him in some files."
"He has being buying up alien tech from us, The Russians, the Chinese and the French."
"Us?" Alex asked.
"He was in bed with Lane. Any tech Lane obtained was leased to Tycho Industries for further research. He is a recluse, but we do know he wants to weaponise Kryptonians." Vasquez said, as she spoke Alex and her shared a look as they both considered the Red K attack on Supergirl. "I'll look for information on what he has been up to recently."
"And Stagg?"
"One of the wealthiest men in the US. He also worked with Lane on creating super soldiers. The Government axed the contract on ethical grounds. But we believe Stagg kept the project going. We have never had any direct dealings with him."
"But we have." Aptil said approaching them. "We have been looking into Stagg for running a metahuman trafficking ring. Needless to say we can't find enough evidence to make an arrest."
"So two corrupt individuals are large stakeholders in Sloane Syndicate?" Alex asked. "That sounds like a recipe for disaster." She then looked at Aptil and said. "Both these two had dealings with Lane. Can you shed any light on that?"
"Lane's dealings with them was way above my pay grade. I do remember Tycho supplying several weapons for assessment. But I never met him and I don't know what the arrangement was."
"I think it is time we sent in J'onn as Brody." Alex said to Aptil. "Neither Rogers or McGuire are giving us anything so far. Let's see if we can change that."
"I thought you were under watch and wait orders?" Aptil said.
"The use of Red K changed that." Alex answered.
-00-
"Sit." Cat directed as Kara entered her office. Obediently Kara sat down before asking.
"Am I fired?"
"I knew when I took you back you would be less than focused on this job." Cat said before looking up at Kara. "But where have you been?"
"Alex was one of the ones effected by the virus."
"I guessed. Is she okay now?"
"Yes." Kara said.
"So where have you been since she recovered?"
"I, well Supergirl went on a DEO mission to find those responsible. It was a trap there was Red-Kryptonite and I inhaled it. Alex told me what was happening and I was in control enough to solar flare. Eventually Alex caught me and gave me the cure, but not before I said some really mean things to her."
"I'm sure she understands." Cat said looking at the fading bruises and Kara's bandaged hand and asking. "Still no powers?"
"No."
"How long?"
"Days. I don't know why they aren't coming back. Maybe it is because I was given the cure when I didn't have powers. Alex said I reacted badly to it."
"Have you considered that your lack of powers stem from you not wanting any?"
"What do you mean?"
"You solar flared to avoid hurting anyone yes?"
"Yes."
"And you are convinced that Lobo is trying to turn you evil by making you angry and getting you to unleash your powers?"
"Yes."
"Maybe you have convinced yourself powers are bad and you are stopping them come back. As they say the path to Hell is paved with good intentions and Generation Woke proved that." Cat said. "But you are wrong. I mean the previous time you were under the influence you did what? Went on a rampage?"
"I threw you off a building." Kara reminded her.
"True But the more important point to that story was you caught me. What you did wasn't because you wanted to kill me. If it was I'd be dead. You were trying to prove a point. You are not a killer, whether it is normal you or drug fuelled you, you are not a killer. Yes you may lose control, but you will still stay true to yourself. You have nothing to fear." Cat said. "Powers aside, you don't seem your normal sunny self. Normally I'd say that was an improvement, but why do I think there is something more to it."
"I failed."
"Failed what?"
"Everything. I'm not achieving anything and no matter what I do I seem to end up hurting Alex."
"You once asked if it was possible to have it all. Do you recall what I said?"
"Not all at once and not right away."
"Yet here you are, having returned to Earth, trying to raise a teen, defeat an invasion, take on a corporate conspiracy and try to work here. It wouldn't surprise me if you had volunteered for the PTA as well. It doesn't matter what powers you have no one can cope with that strain. You need to pick your battles. Well pick your priorities. You could throw yourself completely into Supergirl, but personally I think that would be a mistake. You saved me from a hostile take over and you reunited me with my son. I remember those events far more clearly than you catching me when I was falling from a plane."