"Kiera, my office." Cat bellowed as Kara walked across the ballpen.
Quickly changing direction Kara walked towards Cat's office. As she passed the PA she heard the assistant mutter.
"Good luck, you'll need it."
Frowning Kara entered the office and was greeted with. "Door."
Obediently Kara shut the door before approaching Cat's desk. As she reached the desk Cat looked up and asked. "Have you lost your mind?"
"I don't think -" Kara started only for Cat to cut in.
"Clearly."
"I'm not sure what this is about." Kara said.
"How about the clean cut inspirational hero of National City becoming a side kick to a sociopathic mass murderer. Who, if the rumours are true, is guilty of genocide."
"You are talking about Lobo?" Kara guessed.
"Have you formed partnerships with any other killers?" Cat asked.
"Well no."
"So?" Cat prompted.
"He took Alex and to get her back I told him I'd do anything. He's asking me to pay up by helping him catch someone who killed an alien. If I don't help him he will continue to slaughter everyone who gets in his way and I will still owe him. If I do help him, it goes against what I stand for, but more lives will be saved."
"So you haven't made a deal yet?"
"No. How do you even know about it?"
"Ignoring the news clip of Lobo taking you from the DEO, I was emailed an article about your alliance that is about to go live." Cat said. "It is a PR disaster. Fortunately I have dealt with worse." She said before her tone softened and she asked.
"How is Alex?"
"She is plagued by nightmares. And I don't know how to help her. And she is not liking the idea of me working with Lobo."
"That makes two of us." Cat said. "How are you doing?"
"I feel like I am being forced down the wrong path, but I don't see another option."
"That is because you are reacting. You need to be driving."
"How?" Kara said not seeing options.
"By playing smart. Start with telling me what exactly Lobo wants."
-00-
"Hey Supes." Lobo said as he lay in the desert sunning himself while smoking a cigar.
"You want to work together no killing, no maiming, no brutalising." Supergirl said.
"So no fun?" Lobo asked sitting up and looking at Supergirl. "You do remember my job is to kill?" He asked. "Or did I damage that pretty little head of yours?"
"What are the actual terms of your contract?" Supergirl asked.
"Terms?" He asked.
"Yes, what exactly did you agree to?" Supergirl asked.
"Maiming, slaughter, fragging …. "
"That's what you want to do. Not what you agreed to. What exactly did you say?"
"I'd get the person responsible."
"So you never explicitly said you'd kill those responsible? Just catch them." Supergirl probed.
"I'm a bounty hunter. That means killing."
"Dog the bounty hunter didn't kill." Supergirl said.
"Who?"
"He was a bounty hunter on Earth." Supergirl said.
"Never heard of him."
"Probably the most famous bounty hunter from Earth." Supergirl went on. "Everyone knew him but he never killed."
"Probably famous for being boring."
"Yet still famous. But seeing you didn't promise to kill all you need to do is catch him and I will help you do that, as per our agreement. But no killing." Supergirl said. "Everyone wins."
"So we are working together."
"Yes and no. I need you to fight me."
"You do?" He asked looking interested.
"Yes."
"Here? Now?" He asked standing.
"No. Out there, where people can see. And in the sun. So I'll have powers. And no one is to get hurt."
"Sounds boring."
"If we fight, no one thinks we are working together, it will give us an advantage." Supergirl said. "Or are you scared?"
"Of what?"
"Me handing you your ass?" Supergirl suggested.
"When's the fight?" He asked.
-00-
"Hi Alex." The older Alex called as her niece entered the house.
"Hi. Is mom over here?"
"No, sorry." Alex replied before asking. "Is everything okay?"
"Sure."
"Want to talk about it?" The older Alex asked.
"Nothing to talk about."
"Not even the nightmares?" The older Alex pressed.
"Mom told you?"
"The bags under your eyes are a give away. Not to mention your grouchy disposition."
"Sorry."
"It wasn't a criticism." Alex said. "Have you actually talked about what happened?"
"You and mom made me." She reminded her aunt.
"We both know you left out a lot." The adult Alex said. "And all of that is probably what your dreams are about." She added, seeing her niece looking agitated. "Don't worry, I'm not going to ask about them. But I do know that when you are ready talking about it will help. I also know you want to protect your mom and you don't want to be a burden, which you will never be to your mom, but as a result you'll keep quiet. But if you ever do want to talk I'm right here."
"I know." The teen said.
"Good." The older Alex said assuming the conversation was over, but then the younger Alex said.
"One of them was like Diz."
"What?" The adult Alex asked confused.
"When I was held, one of the people was like Diz. He had the same powers. The man in charge said he made him like that. Can they really do that?"
"We think so." Alex said.
"So mom is in danger?" The teen asked.
"Why do you say that?"
"I saw videos of her first time on Earth and there were two metas who hurt her, Livewire and Psi. So if they make new versions she'll be in danger."
"Your mom beat both Livewire and Psi." Alex reminded her. "No matter who they throw at your mother she will win. But more importantly she won't be fighting alone." She added as the front door opened again.
"Hi." Kara greeted as she entered the lounge.
"Hi mom." Her daughter replied.
"Everything okay?" Kara asked sensing she had interrupted something.
"It's fine." Her sister said. "What's up with you?"
"Nothing." Kara said looking guilty.
"And the truth?" Her sister pressed.
"I need you not to freak out."
"What have you done?" The teenage Alex asked before her namesake could.
"Nothing. Yet." Kara said.
"But?" The older Alex asked.
"But tomorrow, Lobo and I are going to fight."
"So you aren't partnering him?" The teen asked.
"No I am." Kara replied.
"Then why are you fighting?" The teen asked.
"So that it looks like we are not working together."
"That is uncharacteristically devious." Her sister said as her daughter asked.
"Was it Cat's idea?"
"I am capable of having devious ideas." Kara huffed. "But yes it was Cat's idea."
"And Lobo agreed?" Her sister asked.
"Yes."
"And you trust him?" Her daughter asked.
"Not exactly, but it will be fine. So no need to freak out."
"The more you say that the more freaked out you are making me." The teen said.
-00-
As Kara sifted through various files that night she heard her daughter's breathing didn't sound like it normally did when she slept. Stopping what she was doing she concentrated harder on her daughter's breathing before becoming convinced she was awake. Checking the time and seeing it was after midnight she stood and stretched before moving over to her daughter's room.
"Why aren't you asleep?" Kara asked sticking her head round the door.
"Couldn't sleep." The teen said as she stroked Chewie who was lying next to her on the bed.
"You had another nightmare?" Kara guessed moving over to the bed.
"Yes."
"Why didn't you come get me?" Kara asked.
"You said you were fighting Lobo tomorrow, well today, you need to sleep." The teenager argued.
"That's not happening if you aren't sleeping. Besides it's not actually a real fight." Kara pointed out.
"Does Lobo know that?" The teen asked.
"Yes. It will be fine." Kara said sitting on her daughter's bed. "Want to talk about the nightmares?"
"No. But seeing you are awake, can I have a hug?" She asked causing Kara to tightly hold her daughter.
"You're safe now." Kara tried to reassure her. When the teen seemed to finally relax Kara released her before standing and picking up Chewie.
"Sorry, that's my spot." She said putting him down on the far end of the bed, before sitting next to her daughter.
"I still don't want to talk about my nightmares." The teen said.
"That's fine." Kara said wrapping an arm round her shoulder. "I'm not going to make you talk. But I am not leaving you alone until you are asleep."
"What about your fight with Lobo?"
"It's not a real fight."
"But you could still get hurt."
"I'm not getting hurt." Kara promised her.
"You don't know that. I saw what Lobo did to you." The teen said.
"I'm not going to lie to you, Lobo is powerful and he is capable of hurting me. But he will never beat me. And he will never stop me coming home to you." Kara said. "So you don't need to worry. But you do need to sleep."
"I can't." The teen said. "Every time I close my eyes I see it."
"See what?"
"I don't want to talk about it." The teen said before adding. "It makes it seem more real."
"Okay." Kara agreed. "No talking. Just hugging."