As Kara flew back from the alien attack she suddenly heard her niece's necklace.
"Alex." She said over the radio. "Kara's in trouble." She added before flying as fast as she could to the source.
"Are you okay?" Supergirl asked landing in front of the three dazed teens who stood covered in dust outside the subway station.
"No. Alex. In there." The teenage Kara said pointing to the large hole they had come through. Not thinking twice Supergirl flew straight through the hole down to the depths below where she saw her daughter lying unmoving pinned under a beam, submerged in water.
Effortlessly she freed Alex from the beam and part swum, part flew her to safety. As they broke through the water and the rubble to the clear air Alex, to Kara's relief, started spluttering. As she flew to Lena's lab she looked down at her daughter and called.
"Alex?"
"Mom?" The teen asked spluttering.
"I've got you." Kara said.
"The others?"
"They're fine. You saved them." Kara smiled just as the teenager passed out.
-00-
"How's Alex?" The teenage Kara asked when her mother entered the DEO infirmary.
"Asleep. She should be fine." Her mother said. As she spoke the older Alex looked at the three teens and noticed that MJ was isolated on one side, while Diz stuck close to Kara. "How are you three doing?"
"Okay." The teenage Kara said.
"Well your scans came back fine, we just need to make sure there wasn't anything in the dust that could have harmed you, then you can go home." Alex said. "But you will have a DEO escort. And your grandmother will be at home to keep an eye on you."
"Grandma is here?" Kara asked.
"J'onn is flying her down." Alex said. "She'll be looking after you." She then looked from Kara to Diz and said. "I don't care that you are technically adults, do whatever she says." She added as a doctor came over and showed Alex some results. "Okay you are good to go." She said having read the results. "Agent Judd will drive you home."
"Are you going to be long?" The teenage Kara asked her mother.
"I don't know. I'll be back as soon as I can." Alex said before watching her daughter and Diz leave. Seeing MJ had remained seated she looked at her son and asked.
"You okay?"
"Alex could have died."
"But she didn't."
"But she could have, to save me, even though I have been a complete jerk."
"Jerk or not you are still family." His mother pointed out.
"I want to fix things, but I don't know how." MJ said.
"All you can do is go with the truth." Alex pointed out.
"I'm sorry." MJ said causing Alex to hug him.
-00-
"Alex? What are you doing here?" The older Kara asked her sister when she entered her apartment that evening.
"Checking up on Alex. And I brought food." She said waving a bag. "How is she?"
"She's still asleep." Kara said. "How are the kids?"
"Thanks to Alex, they're fine. They, including Diz, are at home with mom." The older Alex said.
"Why aren't you there?"
"I thought you'd like some company."
"I would." Kara said. "But what about your kids?"
"Mom is there spoiling them." The older Alex pointed out. "What do you need?"
"Alex to wake up."
"She will be okay. Lena sent me all the scans." Her sister said.
"I know. But seeing her down there, it freaked me out."
"I can imagine." Alex said. "But the important thing is she is okay."
"Is she though? She was prepared to sacrifice herself."
"Well she gets that from you." Alex pointed out as Chewie barked from the bedroom.
"Alex?" Kara asked moving to the door.
"Mom?" The teenage Alex croaked as she woke up.
"Hi." Kara said rushing to her side and hugging her. "How are you feeling?"
"Okay. How'd I get home?"
"I thought you'd be more comfortable here. Once Lena had made sure everything looked okay, I brought you back here."
"The others?" She asked.
"They're fine." Kara said pulling away. As she she did so Chewie took her place and started licking Alex.
"He's been worried about you. So have I." Kara said. "But I'm so proud of you and I'm sorry it took so long to get to you."
"It's okay. I knew you were coming." She said leaning against her mother as she stroked Chewie.
"You need to eat something." Kara said. "And after that I'm sure the others want to see you."
"Do I have to?"
"Do you mean eat or see people?"
"I assumed you weren't letting the first one go." The teen said.
"Good assumption." Kara smiled. "Eat first and after that if you need rest, you can rest."
"Okay."
"Do you want to eat in here or can you make it to the kitchen?" Kara asked.
"I can make it." The teen said moving to get out of bed only to collapse.
"Easy." Kara said catching her and putting her back on the bed.
"Stay here, I'll bring food." The older Alex said from the doorway.
Nodding Kara sat on the bed next to her daughter and said. "You'll feel better after you've eaten." She said hugging her.
"You sure the others are okay?"
"Yes. So are you. You just need to get your energy up." Kara said as the older Alex came back in with some food. As she entered Chewie looked up at her, his face full of hope and innocence.
"This is not for you." Kara said to Chewie as the older Alex passed a plate of muffins to the teenager.
"Try these, they should make you feel better."
"Thanks." The teen said as she started to eat the first muffin.
"Apart from tired, any other symptoms I should know about?" Kara asked.
"No. I'm okay." The teenager said as she started on the second muffin.
"The scans all looked fine, but you need to take it easy." The older Alex said. "I'll give you some space. Call if you need anything, I'll bring some proper food over later."
-00-
"Hi." Kara called as she walked into Alex's house the next morning.
"Sweetie." Eliza said hugging her daughter before pulling back and asking. "How's Alex?"
"Tired, but okay." Kara said smiling at her niece and Diz who were eating breakfast.
"She up for visitors?" The teenage Kara asked.
"Not the moment. Let her get some sleep." The older Kara said to her niece.
"You okay leaving her?" Her sister asked.
"I want to get these guys-"
"Does that mean yesterday wasn't an accident?" Her niece asked.
"Someone jammed the signal from your necklaces." Her mother said. "So we think it was deliberate. So be careful today."
"Is Alex okay alone?" The teenager asked.
"The alarm is set and she said she is just going to sleep." Her aunt said.
"I'll check on her later." Eliza offered.
"Thanks." The older Kara smiled.
"You ready then?" The older Alex asked her sister.
"Sure. See you guys later." The older Kara said leaving the house with her sister who went straight to the back door of a DEO SUV.
"You know I could fly us quicker?"
"It's raining." Alex pointed out getting into the car.
"So did Diz stay over?" Kara asked as she got in on the other side.
"Yes. It seemed safer that way." Alex said. "Until we have figured this out I want them all where we can keep them safe." She said before noticing her sister's expression. "What?" She asked.
"Nothing. It's just nice that you have finally accepted Diz."
-00-
As the teenage Alex lay on her bed reading a book she heard and saw the tree near her window sway. Seeing none of the other trees sway she stood up and went to the window where she saw her cousin clinging to a branch.
"MJ? What are you doing?" Alex asked opening her window and helping her cousin crawl in.
"Wanted to talk to you." He said panting.
"Why not use the door?"
"You took away my access and I didn't think you'd let me in." He said as he sat on the floor trying to get his breath back.
"So you scaled up a tree?"
"From down there it didn't look that high. Plus I was hoping that you wouldn't let me fall." He said.
"What do you want?" Alex asked.
"To thank you and apologise again." He said. "I know I have been a jerk and I know not all of that can be blamed on Malaise or the necklace. In fact most of it was me. I know that. And I'm sorry."
For a moment Alex said nothing, but eventually she said. "I thought we were friends. How can we have been when you resented me so much?"
"I didn't. I don't. It isn't you I resent, it's me. I just took it out on you. I'm sorry."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm always the one left doing nothing. After the accident I couldn't even go to the hospital. Every time we have got into trouble it has been you or Diz or even Kara that saved us. I just sit, helpless. It doesn't matter how much I train I will never be as good as you or Diz and I compete with intelligence either and I just felt more and more useless. Then the new school year started and I met Jess, or whoever she was, and I started to get popular and I felt important. I felt powerful and I liked it. And I was prepared to do whatever it took to keep it feeling like that. Every day that got easier. And you took the brunt of that. I'm sorry."
"It wasn't all you."
"A lot of it was. But I mean it, it wasn't that I resented you, it was that I resented me."
"I'm sorry I didn't see that." Alex said.
"I didn't want you to." MJ said. "I mean I didn't want to see it either. And Jess made me see it was easier to blame someone else." He explained before pausing, then asking. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"When you were finding things out about your dad, you were worried that if he'd been bad that'd make you bad right?" MJ asked.
"Yes."
"Do you believe that?"
"Yes. But Mom and Lena told me I was wrong."
"But you didn't believe them?"
"Not really."
"I keep thinking that maybe my dad is some sort of monster and that's why I acted like I did."
"Or you are using it as an excuse."
"Maybe." He said as they heard the front door open. Hearing his mother he said. "Damn it, she will kill me."
"Who?"
"Mom. I'm grounded." He said getting to his feet and looking out of the window.
"You can't climb down. You'll probably die." His cousin pointed out.
"That's the same outcome as is if I go out there." He pointed out looking at the door just as Kara walked in.
"Hi Sweetie, how are you- MJ?" She said confused moments before the older Alex appeared behind her.
"MJ, which part of grounded do you not understand?" His mother asked angrily.
"I'm sorry." Her niece said. "It was my fault. I was really hungry and asked MJ if he could bring me some food."
"And where is it?" Alex asked, noticing the lack of food. Seeing the confused look she added. "Teh food."
"At our place." MJ said. "I was going to help Alex over there."
"So the grounding was only temporarily broken." The teenage Alex said.
"And how exactly did you message MJ, seeing your phone didn't survive yesterday?" Kara asked.
"Email on the laptop." The teen said, although it sounded more like a question than an answer.
"To MJ's computer at the DEO?" Her aunt said.
"Well-" The teenage Alex said only for her mother to cut in.
"Seeing your grandmother has probably been baking all day, why don't you go over the road and get some food." Kara suggested to her daughter.
"We will finish this later." The older Alex warned her son as he left the room but as the teenage Alex passed her mother the Kryptonian stopped her and asked her in alien language.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine."
"Do you want to go over the road?"
"Yes."
"Okay." Kara said hugging her before letting her follow her cousin.
"I'm assuming Alex didn't say she was taken hostage just now?" Alex asked her sister when the teens were gone.
"No. She was happy."
"Should I be happy about the fact that Alex is lying for MJ?"
"Don't know." Kara said.
-00-
"We're back." MJ called as he entered the house.
"Back from where? You are grounded." Eliza said confused before seeing her youngest grandchild. "Alex!" She greeted before pulling her in for a hug. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay." The teen said before she was finally released just as her other cousin came into the hallway.
"Alex, you're up." Kara said before hugging her. After she released her though her tone changed and she asked. "What was that crap you pulled yesterday? What were you thinking? You could have been killed."
"I-" The teenager started only for Kara to keep going.
"For a genius you can be really dumb. I mean-"
"Kar." Diz said.
"You just gave up? Why? There are always options?" Kara went on ignoring Diz. "Yet you went straight to the scorched earth approach."
"Kar." Diz repeated more forcibly.
"Seriously, what were you thinking?" The teenage Kara went on. "If you hadn't made it what do you think your mom would have done-"
"Kar!" Diz said grabbing hold over her.
"What?"
"I think she gets it." He said.
00
"Where are the kids?" Alex asked as she and Kara returned later that evening.
"Upstairs, playing computer games." Eliza said.
"Everything okay?" Kara asked.
"I think so. A lot less tension than at Christmas." Eliza explained. "At least between Alex and MJ."
"Does that mean there is tension between the others?"
"Yes, Kara and MJ are barely speaking." Eliza said.
"Why?" The older Kara asked.
"No idea." Eliza replied.
"They were acting weird at the DEO as well." Alex said sensing another migraine inducing conflict.
"How are you doing?" Eliza asked her youngest.
"I'm fine."
"One day you will answer that question truthfully." Eliza said hugging her.
"You sure Alex is okay?"
"She seemed fine despite Kara's not so gentle chastising for what happened yesterday." Eliza said pulling back and asking. "Did you get the people behind this?"
"Not yet." Alex said. "But we are closer." She added as they heard what sounded like an army coming down the stairs.
"Hi mom." The teenage Alex greeted her mother.
"Hi." Kara said hugging her. "You okay?"
"Fine." She said causing Kara to switch languages to one only her daughter understood before interrogating her further.
"I'm fine." Alex eventually said in English causing Kara to relax slightly.
"Are you two staying for dinner?" Eliza asked her youngest who immediately looked at her daughter, still not sure if she'd want to spend time with MJ. In response the teenager nodded.
"But I need to walk Chewie first."
"I'll come with you." The older Kara said.
00
"When do you want me to fly you back?" Kara asked her niece after dinner.
"It's okay. J'onn said he would." The teen said.
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"Okay, in which case let's head home." Kara said looking at her daughter.
"See you soon." The younger Kara said as she hugged her cousin goodbye. "Call me anytime."
"Okay." The teenage Alex said.
"Take care." The older Kara said hugging her niece before leaving with her daughter and Chewie.
"You sure you are feeling okay?" Kara asked as they walked back home.
"I'm fine. I spent most of the morning in bed and Eliza fed me all afternoon."
"And how were things with MJ?"
"Okay, I guess. I mean he was nice to me this afternoon."
"It's okay to not be okay with everything that happened. You don't have to force yourself to be okay with it."
"But it'd be easier if I forgave him."
"Easier for who?" Kara asked as they entered the apartment.
"You, Alex, MJ."
"Well you are the most important person in this discussion. Only you know how you feel and no one is going to make you do anything."
"But you'd forgive him. I mean you forgive everyone." The teen said as they entered the apartment.
"I haven't so far." Kara said. "And I won't until you have decided what you want."
"And if I can't?"
"I'll be with you every step of the way."
"Why do you forgive everyone? Is it that you think everyone can change?"
"In part. And that they deserve a second chance. But the thing is forgiving can't change the past. But it could change the future."
"Is that from TV?" The teen asked.
"You know I am a reporter, I can come up with my own quotes." Kara said.
"But that wasn't was it?" Alex pressed.
"Technically no. But the advice still stands. But whatever you choose, you have to go at your pace. And Alex, whatever you choose, choose what is right for you, no one else."
"Okay." The teen said.
"Go get some sleep." Kara said hugging her goodnight.
"Okay." The teen said walking to her bedroom only to stop before she got there.
"What's wrong?" Kara asked.
"I'm sorry." The teen said turning.
"For what?"
"Keeping things from you."
"That's the worst part of this." Kara said. "But you were trying to protect everyone so I'm not mad at you. But no more secrets."
"Okay."
"And when you are ready to talk about everything that happened in detail I'm here, I'll always be here."
"I know."
"Do you want to talk more about what happened?"
"Not really. I just want to forget it."
"Okay, then go to bed, you have school tomorrow."