"Remember the DEO Agents are there for your protection." Kara said to the three teens the next morning.
"Who is protecting you?" The teenage Alex asked.
"I will be at the DEO." Kara assured her hugging her before saying. "Any sign of trouble use your beacons." When all three teens nodded she added. "Look after each other."
"We will." The teenage Kara said before the three teens left the house.
"They'll be okay." Eliza said coming over to Kara.
"I hope so."
"What about you?"
"What about me?" Kara asked rubbing her arm.
"Are you okay?"
"I need to find everyone connected to Tycho. Until they are stopped Alex isn't safe."
"I know, but don't make yourself a target."
"I already am." Kara pointed out as she put some food on the floor for Chewie who limped over to the bowl.
"Kara, listen to me for a minute." Eliza said nodding to the chair on the other side of the table. She then waited for Kara to sit down before saying.
"When you get scared you close yourself off, you tell yourself no one can ever understand you. And yes there are differences between humans and Kryptonians, but emotions transcend species. I know how scared you are. But remember we are here for you and Alex, you don't have to do this alone. Remember what your family crest means." Eliza said. "Right now you are rushing round trying to fill your time so don't have to face those emotions, but you can't put it off for ever." She let her words sink in and looked at her youngest until finally Kara said.
"I know. But whenever I think about what happened, I get so scared, so angry. I feel this darkness grow. It's overwhelming and if I give into those emotions I don't know what I will do. And right now Alex needs me to be strong. So that is what I will be."
"Okay." Eliza said squeezing her daughter's hand. "But when you are ready, I'm here."
-00-
"What are you doing?" Supergirl asked seeing her sister leave the infirmary.
"Going to work."
"Shouldn't you be in bed?"
"I was released."
"You were?" Kara asked doubtfully.
"I was." Alex said. "You can check with Dr Ash or you can come to the briefing."
"I'll go to the briefing, but I am checking with Ash later." Kara said following her sister.
"Good, because I am running more tests on you anyway."
"Why?"
"You stuck your hand in molten Kryptonite." Alex reminded her as they entered the briefing room. Looking round she asked. "What have you got?"
"The truck we were following dropped supplies at the shop as expected. It has had very few customers go in and no purchases so far. But the shop is under surveillance." Harris reported. Having completed his summary Alex looked to Vasquez who took over.
"We have a task force set up at L-Corp going through the Tycho … prison?" Vasquez said not sure what to call it. "They have uncovered emails ordering your kidnap. What he intended for Supergirl and a whole bunch of really unethical research."
"What about the drugs and the metas?" Alex asked.
"Still digging on that."
"So are we really saying Tycho didn't exist?"
"He did, just as a programme. Or that is what it looks like. Even if he is a real person, he isn't accessing any of his files."
"Why are you frowning?" Alex asked Supergirl.
"I don't know, it just feels a little easy."
"Don't worry, right now we aren't assuming anything especially about Tycho. We will follow every crumb until we get to the truth."
"So where do you want me?"
"Not on the front line." Alex said. "You need to fully recover."
"But-"
"For now get to CatCo." Alex suggested.
"Okay, but I'm talking to Ash first and I'm picking you up at four."
"What about your tests?" Alex started to ask but her sister had already disappeared.
-00-
"How are you feeling?" Kara asked as Alex sat on the couch that evening.
"The same as when you asked ten seconds ago." Alex said. "Will you stop stressing? Ash was happy for me to go home."
"I think that is because you frustrated him, rather than him thinking it was a medically sound idea." Kara countered.
"I'm fine." Alex said. "I'll rest and sleep better here." She went on as the door opened.
"Mom!" The teenage Kara exclaimed before rushing over and hugging her, followed in short order by her brother as Alex tried not wince when they nudged her arm.
"We'll give you some space." The older Kara said. "Eliza should be back around eight." She then turned to Alex's children. "If she gives you any trouble let me know." Kara said to her niece and nephew before leaving the house with her daughter and Chewie.
"So, seeing it is just us, what do you want to do?" Kara asked her daughter.
"I need to do my homework." The teen said.
"You are far too diligent." Kara commented before checking her watch. She then came to a stop and turned round.
"What are you doing?" Alex asked.
"I'm going to leave Chewie with your cousins." Kara explained.
"Why?"
"So we can go to the aquarium."
-00-
As the teenage Alex stood watching the fish Kara shifted her focus from the fish to her daughter and back again. Deciding her behaviour wouldn't help anyone she sat down on a bench and took out a sketchbook from her bag, she then started to draw.
"What are you doing?" The teen asked several minutes later.
"Just some sketching." Kara said. "Want to try?"
"You know you can take pictures right?"
"To sketch something properly, you really need to look it and take in all the details." Kara pointed out. "You can appreciate it in a whole different way." She added holding out a sketch pad.
"Fine." Alex said taking the pad and sitting next to her mother. "Now what?"
"Pick what you want to draw. You can either go for the big picture or focus on one thing."
"What have you done?"
"Big picture." Kara said showing her daughter the sketch.
"I'm going to move to one of the other exhibits." Alex said.
"I'll come with you."
"Won't that ruin your picture?"
"No, I'll do a new one." Kara said standing. "So where are we going?"
"The deep sea room."
"Lead on." Kara said.
-00-
As the ten minute until closing announcement was made Kara looked at her daughter and saw she was totally engrossed in sketching. Happy she was distracted she decided to wait five minutes to give Alex as much time as possible. Finally she new they couldn't wait longer so said.
"We need to move."
"But it's only-" Alex said before looking at her watch. "Wow, it's late."
"Yes it is." Kara said before asking. "How's your sketch."
"Okay."
"Want to show me?" Kara pressed causing the teen to hold out the pad.
"That's good." Kara said.
"You were always going to say that." Alex said.
"True, but I really mean it. And you know I can't lie." Kara said putting the pad in her bag and standing. "Ready?"
"Yes."
"Good, because I'm starving. Let's go get some food. But definitely not vegan." She said as they walked to the exit. As they got there the workers said goodbye to Alex and the pair left only to find Frax outside.
"Frax, what are you doing here?" Kara asked.
"Kara, Alex. How are you both?"
"We're okay." Kara said.
"Why are you nervous?" Alex asked.
"They'll be here tomorrow." Frax said.
"Your parents?" Alex asked.
"Your grandparents." Kara corrected.
"Yes." Frax confirmed. "I'm sorry I-"
"It's fine." Kara said. "And Alex said she wanted to meet them."
"You do?" He asked the teen surprised. "Thank you, they really do want to meet you."
"Let's meet in the park after school." Kara said.
"After school is a time unit?" Frax asked confused.
"Call it five." The teenage Alex said.
"Thank you." He said.
"Have you eaten yet?" Kara asked.
"Ever?" Frax asked.
"No. I mean tonight."
"No."
"We were about to get some food, do you want to join us?"
"I would. But I have no Earth jughr."
"What?" Kara asked.
"Umm, to pay."
"You mean dollars? That's fine, my treat." Kara said. "Let's get some burgers."
"Okay." He said not knowing what Kara was talking about.
"You'll love them." Kara smiled.
"Unless you like your heart." The teenage Alex muttered.
-00-
As Kara brought the tray of food over she passed out the burgers and fries before noticing Frax looking round.
"Problem?" She asked.
"I'm looking for utensils."
"Hands." Kara said.
"You use hands to eat?"
"For burgers and pizzas yes."
"This is a strange planet." He commented before following Kara's lead and biting into the burger. "But this is good." He added.
"Told you." Kara smiled. "So is there anything we should know about your parents?"
"They are very strict and like rules."
"This isn't going to go well." Alex quietly commented.
"I can do rules." Kara said looking at her daughter.
"As the youngest I was, I am, the least important member of my family. When my parents notice me it was normally to point out my shortcomings, so I could grow. However, Salkor never treated me that way. He was kind but clever." He said before looking at Alex and said. "You remind me of him a great deal."
"Were you close?" Kara asked.
"No, not really. But Salkor always protected me and I admired him greatly. So did my parents. He was their favourite. His leaving hurt them a lot. It still does. Even though you were not involved in his disappearance, the fact that you knew him them, may make them abrupt with you."