"We have managed to ID two of the group that attacked Diz and Kara." Vasquez said as Alex entered the control room.
"And?"
"They both had records for gang related crime." Vasquez explained.
"Why do you look like that?" Alex asked noticing an unusual hesitancy to her second in command.
"The thing is technically the group did nothing wrong, legally speaking. They approached Diz and Kara, but didn't attack them. Diz attacked first and took them out. So the police can't actually do anything. Obviously we kept what Diz did out of the reports so he doesn't get into trouble. But as far as the police are concerned the gang are the innocent party."
"Why do I get the feeling there is more bad news?"
"The police released the group. But by the time they had told us they have gone to ground."
"So we have no idea what they wanted?" Alex asked.
"No ma'am."
"Diz is pretty certain he was the target." Grant said walking towards Alex.
"Let's set him up with protection." Alex said.
"That's not going to work?" Wildcat said. "He doesn't trust the authorities. He won't accept a guard and if he spots one he'll do something stupid."
"We can't leave him unprotected." Alex argued.
"I tried everything. Including telling he couldn't see Kara without a guard and he said she was better off without him. Right now I'm not so worried, he's laying low and when he is not at home he is with me at the gym. But when he gets out of this funk, that's when there is danger."
"Perhaps Kara could persuade him." Supergirl suggested.
"Only he refuses to see her." Wildcat pointed out.
-00-
"Good news is you weren't the target." Alex said to her daughter that evening.
"So Diz was?" The teenager asked.
"We think so."
"Is he getting a guard?"
"No. He turned it down."
"And you let him?" The asked, her tone accusatory. "If it were us you wouldn't give him a choice."
"Grant know Diz better than I do and he said forcing the issue would back fire." Alex said. "Right now Diz is still feeling guilty and is laying low, that will help keep him safe. But when the guilt starts to wear off perhaps you can persuade him to have guard."
-00-
"Hi MJ." The adult Kara said walking into her sister's house and seeing her nephew playing computer games the next day.
"Hi." He said with looking away from the screen.
"Where is everyone?"
"Mom has taken Kara to see the shrink." MJ said. "And Alex is walking Chewie. Don't worry, the DEO agent is following her. She should be back soon."
"So how are you doing?" Kara asked.
"Has mom told you to talk to me?" He asked suspiciously.
"No." Kara said.
"Then why the question?"
"Am I not allowed to ask?"
"Sure, but you don't normally."
"I just thought we could catch up, I mean if you want to."
"Is there something you want to talk about?" MJ offered.
"No, not really. You?"
"Nope."
"Okay. Good talk." Kara said as the front door opened.
"Hey you." Kara smiled at her daughter before hugging her. "How was school?"
"Our history teacher was off sick so pretty good." The teenager said. "Are we still prisoners?"
"You aren't prisoners, but you need to be careful."
"So the DEO guard stays?"
"For now."
-00-
"Have you heard anything from Clark?" Alex asked her sister that evening.
"Not really. I few one line messages." Kara said sadly. "I guess he really did mean everything he said when he was on Red-K."
"More likely his pride is hurt." Alex said. "Besides working alone is what your cousin does. It used to drive J'onn insane."
"I know. But we're family. Or at least I thought we were. But I feel so isolated from him."
"Kara, a lot happened when you weren't here. Clark felt a lot of guilt and responsibility for what happened."
"Why?" Kara asked confused.
"Lex was his nemesis. If he dealt with him earlier he never would have targeted you. Then, just like the rest of us he gave up on you and then he gave up on Superman and himself. Right now he needs to figure out who he is and what he stands for. He may have been an ass about it, but it is something he needs to figure out by himself."
"And what he said when he was on Red K?"
"What about what you said when you were on Red-K?" Alex countered. "You more than anyone know you can't take those words to heart." Alex pointed out before adding. "Clark may have his pride, but he's not a complete idiot. At some point he recognise he needs help and come to you."
"I don't want him to come to me because he needs help. I want him to want me."
"I know." Alex said. "But he needs time. And you have plenty to worry about without his issues."
"MJ told you?" Kara asked.
"Told me what?" Alex asked confused.
"Alex's new power."
"What new power?" Alex questioned.
"Forcefield."
"Yeah?" Alex asked.
"Yes, but so far it is only good to repel nerf pellets thrown by MJ." Kara explained.
"A pretty neat power though." Alex said.
"If she can figure it out. I wish I could help her more."
"I know you don't want to subject her to tests, but there is plenty of equipment at Lena's lab that might be able to help her understand her powers a bit more." Alex reminded her.
"If she wants that will you help?" Kara asked.
"Of course I will." Alex said as the doorbell rang. "That will be dinner." She said standing. But hearing the teens stomp down stairs she sat back down and let them get it.
-00-
"Has anything turned up yet?" Supergirl asked as she stood in the DEO control room the next day.
"No ma'am. All we can say is based on power consumption those factories are in use. But there has been no traffic." Harris said. "We were thinking that maybe it was time for a routine safety inspection."
"That could put a lot of people in danger. And wouldn't lead us to the main operation." Alex said. "Instead let's leak that there is going to be safety inspections. If something illegal is happening there that should spark a lot of movement. Make sure those factories are monitored."
"Yes ma'am." Harris said.
As Alex turned she saw disapproval written over Supergirl's face.
"I know you want to go in, but say we go in and that factory is being used. Maybe we rescue twenty metas, maybe fifty. But the others? We will have lost our only lead."
"I know. I just hate doing nothing." Supergirl said.
"So do I. But we will have one shot to save as many as possible." Alex said.
"Anything from Max yet?" Supergirl asked.
"No. And that's another reason we need to be cautious. If he is working with them he will have tipped them off."
-00-
"What are you doing?" MJ asked when he noticed his sister putting on her shoes.
"Going out."
"Where?"
"To see Diz."
"Want me to come with you?" MJ offered knowing she wouldn't want to go alone.
"It's fine."
"Are you sure?" MJ pressed. "Chewie needs a walk anyway."
"You're right, I'll take Chewie."
"Did you just replace me with Chewie?" MJ asked.
"More like upgraded." Kara shot back as she put the lead on Chewie.
"Seriously, do you want me to come with you?" MJ offered.
"It's fine. Besides my DEO shadow will be there."
"If you want me to come and meet you let me know."
"I will." Kara said walking to the door. As she reached it she turned and said.
"MJ?"
"Yeah."
"Thanks." With that she left the house with the enthusiastic dog.
-00-
As the teenage Kara walked with Chewie towards the gym she did her best to suppress her growing sense of paranoia. Every so often she glance round to check on her escort, finding some comfort in seeing them.
When she turned the corner and saw the gym she began to relax, only to see Diz being pushed into a van that sped of. Turning she looked at her escort and shouted. "Stop the van." Confused the agents jogged up to her as she activated her necklace.
"Mom!" Kara shouted as Supergirl and her mother landed in front of her.
"What's wrong?" Alex asked looking for signs of trouble.
"It's Diz. Someone took him."
"Who?" Alex asked looking from her daughter to the agents.
"I don't know. There were a group of them and he got in a van."
"Got in or was pushed in?" Alex asked.
"What's the difference? He's gone." The teenager said. "Please tell me you were tracking him."
"Why would I track him?" Alex asked.
"He was wearing a tracker." Grant said approaching them from the gym. "It was one of the conditions of living with me."
"I have to ask this, do either of you think he joined up with his friends form Los Zetas?" Alex asked.
"No." Kara said firmly.
Feeling her daughter was biased Alex looked at Wildcat.
"Diz has changed since he got out. But I can't say he wouldn't voluntarily go back to gang life-" He said only for Kara to start protesting.
"He wouldn't-"
"Yes he would." Grant said. "If it was to protect someone. If they threatened you he would have gone back." He then looked at Alex. "But other than that no chance in hell that he would have gone back."
"So either way we need to get him out." Alex said.
"I want in on the rescue." Grant said.
"You don't do field work for a reason." Alex reminded him.
"I know, but Diz is family." Grant argues.
"Kara, we will get him. But you need to stay calm. I need you to go home so we can focus on Diz." Alex said to her daughter.
"I'll take you." Supergirl said picking up the teenager and the dog before there could be any argument.