"Everything okay?" Eliza asked the next morning when she saw her youngest sitting in the kitchen, the kids having departed.
"It's good. Alex actually slept straight through."
"And you?"
"Not so much." Kara confessed.
"Nightmares?"
"No, I was worried about Alex. I wanted to make sure I was there for her if she needed me."
"While I understand that, the last thing Alex needs is you collapsing. Why don't I stay with you tonight? I'll keep an eye on Alex and you can get some sleep."
"I can't ask you to do that."
"You aren't. I'm offering." Eliza said.
"Are you sure?" Kara asked.
"Of course." Eliza said as the older Alex hurried into the kitchen and grabbed some toast before disappearing again.
"Want some coffee?" Eliza called after her.
"Yes, but no time. I'm so late." She complained coming back into the kitchen again and picking up her keys before looking at her sister and asking. "You coming to the meeting at the DEO?"
"What meeting?" Kara asked.
"I'll take that as a no. Don't work too hard." She said walking out of the house.
"I better get to CatCo." Kara said standing.
"I'll see you tonight." Eliza smiled.
-00-
"What are you doing?" Kara asked when she entered the DEO briefing room later that day where a small team were playing with models.
"War Gaming. Trying to figure out the attack vector." Alex said.
"And?" Kara asked.
"Many threats not enough defences." Alex said.
"How come there isn't a Supergirl model?" Kara asked seeing a Superman model.
"Well as much as the DEO me wants you in this fight, as your sister I don't, I was kind of hoping you would leave it to your cousin."
"No I can't. When Worldkiller-1 was taking over he pointed out if he failed with me he'd go after Kal."
"Superman can take care of himself." Alex argued.
"I can't just slope my shoulders on this one."
"It may be the best option." Alex said. Seeing her sister was about to protest she when on. "Hear me out. He was inside your head, he knows how you think. He will use that against you." Alex said.
"I know, but that works both ways."
"It does, but you could guide our tactics from the sidelines."
"I know. But I can't sit this out." Kara said.
"I know." Alex sighed. "That is why Lena has been working on an updated suit. It should be ready to try out. It's at her lab."
"I'll pick it up. But before then, do I get a little Supergirl model now?" Kara asked.
"Put it on the table." Alex instructed Ruby who obediently took the model from a drawer and put it on the table.
-00-
"Hey Sweetie." Eliza said when her granddaughter entered the apartment.
"Hi." The teen said. "What are you doing here?"
"We are going to have a girls' night in. Movies and pizza."
"Is mom okay?" Alex asked.
"She's fine, why do ask?"
"You don't normally spend time here." The teen said.
"For that I'm sorry." Eliza said. "But tonight it is all about you and your mom."
"So she's not okay?" Alex asked.
"She is still feeling guilty and she is worried about you." Eliza said.
"Why me?"
"You have been through a very scary experience." Eliza pointed out. "So tonight rather than sitting round worrying about each other. All three of us are going to have some fun."
"Okay." The teen said as the front door opened.
"Hi." Kara said entering the apartment. "I bring ice cream and pizza, including one defiled by vegetables." She added as she put the pizza on the table before taking the ice cream to the freezer. "How was school?" She asked turning back to her daughter.
"Boring."
"And with that answer your conversion into a human teenager is complete." Kara said before asking. "Have you chosen the movies yet?"
"Why don't we all pick one?" Eliza asked.
"Sounds good." Kara agreed.
"We're watching three movies?" The teen asked.
"You're right we should all pick two." Kara said sitting on the couch next to Eliza.
-00-
Slowly waking up Kara became aware of another person. Opening her eyes she realised she was still on the couch leaning against Eliza, who slept upright, while Alex lay with her head on her lap, her legs folded into the end of the couch.
Carefully Kara tried to move only to see Eliza's eyes were open.
"Sorry, didn't mean to wake you." Kara said.
"It's time I got up anyway." Eliza said as Alex started to stir. Only instead of waking she pulled the blanket over her head and fell back to sleep. Carefully Kara got up and then moved Alex at superspeed into her bedroom, before returning to the couch where Eliza was working the stiffness out of her neck.
"How are you feeling?" Eliza asked.
"Like I slept well and I needed it."
"I'm not sure falling to sleep at one am counts as a goodnight's sleep. But I'm glad you managed to get some rest." Eliza said standing. "How about some breakfast?"
"Lack of food might hinder those plans." Kara said. Seeing a look of disapproval from Eliza said said. "What? I am always over at Alex's. In fact, I'll be right back." She said disappearing in a blur. Returning moments later with milk, butter, flour and sugar.
"Did you just raid your sister's kitchen?" Eliza asked.
"Yes." Kara confessed. "I'll replace it. It's not like the kids are going to be up this early on a Saturday."
"And your sister?" Eliza asked.
"Will blame MJ."
"You are incorrigible." Eliza pointed out as she started to make pancakes.
"What's mom done?" The teenage Alex asked sleepily walking to kitchen.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." Kara said walking over to hug her. But as she did so she had a flashback of the cave and saw herself strangling Alex. The memory causing her to pause momentarily. Something that went unnoticed by the sleepy teen, but not Eliza.
"Where did all the ingredients for pancakes come from?" The teen asked.
"Your mother stole them from your aunt." Eliza said.
"So you can eat." Kara said to her daughter.
"Not sure I have time." The teen said.
"Why?"
"I have a chess match."
"You do?" Kara said. "Did you tell me?"
"No. I forgot about it until my calendar reminded me. I have to go."
"I can fly you there in two minutes." Kara reminded her. "Have some breakfast first."
-00-
As Eliza and Kara sat in the hall waiting for the matches to start Eliza asked.
"Want to talk about this morning?"
"I said I'd replace the ingredients." Kara protested.
"I didn't mean that." Eliza said. "I meant the way you froze when Alex came into the kitchen."
"I had a flashback of strangling her." Kara confessed. "But I'm okay."
"Hi Kara, Eliza." Steve said. "Do you mind if I sit here?"
"Of course not." Kara said.
"Thanks. And these are for you." He said holding out a tray with coffees on.
"Thank you. But you didn't have to."
"We are about to watch chess, I think coffee is needed." Steve said. "But obviously I didn't say that."
"So this isn't your way of buying another date with Kara?" Eliza asked.
"I am never going to live that down am I?" Steve asked.
"Not while Lena walks the Earth." Kara said.
"How's Alex doing?" Steve asked.
"Okay, I think. Better than me."
"Want to talk?" Steve offered.
"Thanks, but I'll be okay."
"You sure?"
"Yes."Kara said before noticing the bags under Steve's eyes. "You okay?"
"Just a little tired. I have been maxed at work." Steve explained as the players came out to the tables.
-00-
"We were going to get lunch, do you want to join us?" Eliza asked once the matches were over.
"I'm afraid I have to get to work." Steve said. "But thanks for the offer."
"So what are you doing this afternoon?" Eliza asked Martin.
"I don't know."
"You are welcome to come back home with us." Eliza offered.
"Can I?" Martin asked Steve.
"That may not be a good idea. I mean I am working a double, so I couldn't pick him up until late tomorrow."
"He can stay over." Eliza said.
"You sure?"
"Of course." Kara smiled.
"Thank you." Steve said.
-00-
"Everything okay?" Eliza asked when her youngest granddaughter came into the kitchen later that day.
"I was sent on a snack run." She explained.
"Here you go." Her aunt said putting a few bags of potato chips and cookies on the table.
"Thanks." The teen said. "Where's mom?"
"Hopefully getting some sleep." Eliza answered.
"Okay." The teen said, but noticing her frown Eliza said.
"Spill it."
"The food?" The teen asked confused.
"No, whatever it is that is worrying you." Eliza said.
"Mom is doing that thing again."
"What thing?" Her aunt asked.
"Her super fake happy over compensating thing." The teen explained.
"I noticed that too." Eliza said.
"You okay if I borrow your mom tonight?" Alex asked her niece.
"Sure."
"And can you make sure I have a house to return to?" Alex asked her mother.
"Of course." Eliza smiled.
"In which case I will go talk to your mom." The older Alex said.
"Thanks." The teenage Alex said.
"But you should get the snacks up to MJ before he gets cranky." Her aunt said.
-00-
"I thought you were meant to be sleeping." The older Alex said entering her sister's apartment.
"I will after I finish my article." Kara replied before asking. "Everything okay?"
"Yes. But Alex is going to hang out with MJ and Martin, so I thought we could have a long overdue sisters' night."
"I'd love to, but -"
"I only heard the first three words." Alex cut in. "And I have potstickers."
"What about my article?"
"You are Supergirl and can write it in two minutes." Alex pointed out. "Right now you are using it as a distraction. So get over here and let's eat."
"You are very bossy." Kara said joining her sister.
"Well I am on a mission."
"What mission?"
"You acting super happy has freaked Alex out."
"I was trying to make her stop worrying." Kara sighed as Alex passed her the potstickers.
"So what's going on?"
"I'm just scared."
"Of?"
"Everything. I mean what if Worldkiller-1 is still in me. Or what if the anger he enabled is now part of me. What if I can't control it any more? What if I lose control and kill someone?"
"Hasn't Cat answered this one before?" Alex asked. "Something about not being controlled by fear?"
"I know. But that is easier in theory than practice. I'm trying to get over it, but right now I am not and if Lobo comes what then?"
"We will do everything we can to protect Alex." Her sister reminded her. "But if you are this bad maybe you need to get away."
"I'm not running away."
"I'm not suggesting that. A few days a way to recharge."
"I can't. I need to be here." Kara said before confessing. "I did consider sending Alex away."
"But?"
"I promised I wouldn't."
"Being a mom means you can over rule that." Alex reminded her.
"I know. But after what I did to her, I can't send her away." Kara argued.
"Okay, well if you are not going, we'll work though this together. We'll start training properly and I'll make sure the training is designed to make you lose control." Seeing her sister was about to argue she went on. "If you want the room can be separated from the rest of the world through layers of Kryptonite and red lamps."
"Okay." Kara sad.
"Good. So what else is bothering you?"
"That's not enough?"
"For most people yes, but you do show off." Alex smiled.
"Flashbacks. Ones to what Duggin made me see, then what I did. Now they are kinda of merged so I see me killing Alex." She explained causing her sister to wrap her arms round her and pull her in for a hug. Not knowing how to help her she silently held her.