As Supergirl held the back of the minibus, which still tried to pull forward, a SUV skidded to a stop behind her. Turning to the DEO agents she shouted.
"Help get the kids out."
Nodding the Agents went to the front if the bus and helped get the high school kids free of the bus as the bus kept trying to drive forward and the back started to rip off.
"Where's Kar?" Diz asked running to the bus having parked up behind it.
"She's still inside." Supergirl said, still holding the back of the bus, whose engine was still revving highly, intent on crashing into the tree.
"I'll get her." Diz said running past the evacuating kids and DEO Agents onto the bus. Not immediately seeing Kara he thought he missed her. Then suddenly she saw a hand over the top of one of seats. Rushing over he saw his girlfriend, whose face looked blank, but her eyes were full of fear.
"Kar, we have to go." Diz said. But she didn't seem to notice him or hear his words. Deciding force was a better approach Diz grabbed hold of Kara and started to lift her out of the seat. But that only triggered more memories and she cried out.
"Mama."
"Diz hurry." Supergirl shouted into the bus as one of the DEO agents got back on board to help.
Nodding he ignored his girlfriend's protests, lifted her into his arms and ran from the bus. Once he was free the Agent did a sweep of the bus before getting out and heading to Supergirl.
"It's clear."
Hearing the words Supergirl let go of the bus and it crashed into the tree before exploding.
"That shouldn't have happened." Supergirl said looking at the burning wreck. She then turned to the Agent who had been knocked to the ground. "You okay?"
"I think so."
"Any injuries from amongst the bus occupants?"
"Just minor ones. Back up should be here soon." He said before noticing how much fog had descended and asking. "Where did the fog come from?"
"Don't know." Supergirl said. "Let's get the kids rounded up." She added as she looked round and realised she couldn't see anyone. Using her x-ray vision she saw various different groups milling around and one pair holding each other closely. Assuming that was her niece and Diz she hurried over to them.
"Kara you okay?" She asked when she got close enough that she could finally see them in the fog.
"Yes. Sorry."
"For what?" Supergirl asked confused.
"I kind of freaked out in there."
"That's understandable." Supergirl smiled before Diz asked.
"Why did it blow up?"
"I have no idea." Supergirl replied before they heard a scream.
Quickly she tried to use her x-ray vision again but found that the fog was absorbing too much of it.
"Look after Kara." Supergirl said to Diz before hurrying towards the scream. As she got there she hit her radio and said. "I need back up now."
-00-
"What's happening?" Alex asked over the radio.
"Kara is safe for now. But all those missing spiders have turned up and they seem really hungry." Supergirl said.
"We can't get a helicopter to you, due to the fog, but teams should be arriving soon. There is some extra back up on the way as well." Alex said her wavering voice betraying her fear.
"I'll protect Kara." Her sister said over the radio as she stared at the army of approaching spiders. Using her freeze breath she used the fog to create a wall of ice that she hoped the spiders couldn't get through. She then listened for the heartbeats and joined the rest of the group.
Checking Kara and Diz were safe she looked at the two DEO Agents and asked. "Is everyone here?"
"Yes ma'am. They are all accounted for."
"Good. Protect the kids. I'll stop the spiders."
"Yes Ma'am." They said as Supergirl used her hearing to work out where the closest danger was before going off to battle the spiders who were using webs to get round the rapidly melting ice walls.
Hearing the sheer number of spiders Supergirl decided the barrier was the best approach and created an ice dome round the kids before picking off the spiders one by one, but it only took a few minutes to find herself snared in a web.
"Need some help?" A man asked from her side.
"Um, yes." She said before watching his hand slice through the webs.
"Where do you need us?" He asked.
"Us?"
"The DEO sent us as back up." He said. "There are five us, all with different powers. But more are on the way." He added as more emerged from the fog.
"The priority it to protect the kids. Spread out and keep the spiders away from them. Currently brute force is the only way to stop them."
"Yes ma'am." He smiled heading off.
"He's wanted to work with you for months." A woman, who Kara vaguely remembered, said before she too headed towards the children just as Alex radioed.
"Have the metas got there yet?"
"Five have." Kara replied before seeing a spider and zapping it.
"More are on their way, along with a couple of DEO squads. Can you hold out?"
"Not much choice." Supergirl said punching a spider.
-00-
For the next twenty minutes Alex drove for what seemed the longest car ride of her life, regretting letting one of her Agents drive instead of her. When she thought they would never reach the scene a large dead spider seemingly dropped from the sky in front of the SUV. Swerving at speed the Agent managed to just about maintain control of the car as they entered a light fog that seemed to be clearing. Continuing down the road they saw the area littered with the corpses of spiders.
Seeing several DEO agents the driver of the SUV skidded to a stop and Alex asked one of the armed Agents. "What's going on?"
"All the kids are safe." He said. "The fog seems to be lifting and the spiders have more or less disappeared."
"Disappeared where?"
"No idea yet. But there are still a few out there."
"Where are the kids?"
"A quarter of a mile down the road."
"Don't let any spiders escape." Alex said before pressing a button to raise the window before the SUV headed down the road. When they had gone as far as they could the Agent brought the car to a stop and Alex got out.
"What are you doing here?" Supergirl asked when she saw her sister.
"No way I was not going to be here for Kara." Alex pointed out. "Where is she?"
"Over there with Diz." Supergirl said. Seeing her sister about to head over she added. "Alex, the crash triggered a lot of memories."
Nodding, Alex walked off to her daughter who was leaning against Diz, wearing his hoodie.
"Kara?" Alex called as she approached the pair. Seeing her mother the teen hurried to her and hugged her. "It's over. You're safe." Alex said into the hug trying to soothe her daughter. Not knowing what else to say she silently held her until finally her daughter pulled away.
"Are you hurt?" Alex asked looking at her.
"No. But Diz is." She said looking round at her boyfriend.
"Diz?" Alex asked turning to face him.
"It's nothing. Kar's hands are just as bad."
"They're fine." The teenage Kara said.
"What happened?" Alex asked.
"We were clubbing spiders and the branches dug in." The teen explained as Alex looked at her hands.
"Let's get you two home." Alex said before looking at Diz and saying. "I arrange for your car to get back, for now get in the SUV."
Nodding the teens got into the back of the SUV where Diz pulled Kara towards him, trying to keep her warm. A couple of minutes later Alex got into the front with another Agent who passed back a couple of blankets.
-00-
As they entered the house the teenage Kara found herself being pulled into a hug by her grandmother who asked. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." She said.
"You're freezing." Eliza said cupping her face.
"Go have a shower and warm up." Alex said.
Nodding the teen disappeared upstairs before Alex turned to Diz who was down to a T-shirt, his hoodie still on Kara, and asked. "Are you warm enough?"
"Sure." He said, although he looked like he was freezing.
"Here." MJ said coming down the stairs holding one of his sweaters. "It should fit."
"Thanks." Diz said taking the sweater.
"Let's look at those hands." Alex said leading him into the kitchen so he could rinse them.
"I'll make some hot drinks." Eliza said heading to the kitchen.
"Can you get the first aid box?" Alex asked her son.
"Sure." He said disappearing.
As Diz sat at the kitchen table, his hands washed, Alex started to examine them.
"There's no major damage." Alex said. "But I think there are a couple of splinters. I'll take them out and bandage them up." She explained as MJ returned with the medical supplies.
"Should you be doing that?" MJ asked his mother. "I mean you still don't have two fully working arms."
"I'm fine." Alex said.
"Why don't I take over." Eliza said. "MJ can you finish the drinks?"
"Sure." The teen said.
"I could have done it." Alex muttered before noticing they were a teen down and asking. "Where's Alex?"
"With Frax and J'onn. She's fine." Eliza said as she extracted the splinters before applying antiseptic and bandaging Diz's hands.
"All done." She smiled at him.
"Thanks." He said standing. "I should go."
"You don't want to stay?" Alex asked confused.
"I think Kar needs to talk to you." He said. "About the crash. It really freaked her out."
"I'll get Andrews to drive you home." Alex said walking him to the door.
"Why don't we go up to the den?" Eliza said to MJ.
"Sure." He replied, raiding the cupboard for snacks first.
-00-
"Where's Diz?" The teenage Kara asked when she came down stairs ten minutes later.
"He went home. He said you needed to talk to me." When the teenager didn't say anything Alex added. "But let's sort your hands first."
"They're fine." Kara said. "I had them wrapped in sleeves." She said showing her mother her raw hands. Happy the skin was intact Alex hugged her once more and asked. "How are you doing?"
"Okay. I guess." The teen said. "Still a bit cold."
"MJ made you hot chocolate." Alex said passing her a mug.
"He did?"
"He did."
"Where is he?"
"Up stairs with your grandmother. It's just us down here and you can take as long as you want." For a few minutes Kara silently sipped her hot chocolate before putting her mug down and asking.
"Can I have a hug first."
"Of course." Alex said pulling her into her arms.
"When the bus went out of control and was about to hit the tree, all I could think about was the crash. And it kept replaying in my mind, only I saw things I hadn't before. It was like I was remembering more about before the crash, or as we were about to crash and then I remembered."
"Remembered what?" Alex asked.
"She saved me. I mean she tried to shield me. She took off her belt and covered me. If she hadn't, maybe she would still be alive."
"When you are a parent you always put your kids first." Alex said.
"I don't want to let her down. I keep thinking I am only alive because of her and that if I screw up she wasted her-" Kara started only for Alex to cut in.
"She wouldn't have wanted you carrying that burden round with you." Alex said squeezing her tighter. "And there is one thing I know more than anything."
"What's that?"
"She'd be so proud of you. And so am I."