"What happened?" Alex asked limping towards Eliza, who was holding Chewie.
"The antidote didn't work the way we hoped. Or at least her organs reacted at different rates. Her heart being the slowest and it couldn't keep up with the extra strain."
"Is she-"
"She's stable again." Eliza said.
"We have a way to create a modified version we think it will work. But I suggest we try it on J'onn first." Vasquez said.
"Why?"
"He's taken less damage and is stronger. If it goes south and we give it to Kara she may not come back from it."
"Okay, do it." Alex said.
"I could do with your help." Vasquez said to Eliza.
"Of course." Eliza replied before kissing Kara's forehead and leaving.
Once they had gone Alex went up to her sister's side and squeezed her hand.
"Just hold on a little longer."
00
"How long do you plan to keep Alex here?" Frax asked his mother.
"Until we know Earth is safe."
"She may end up resenting you."
"Well she is Salkor's daughter, so that would be fitting." She reminded him. "But Alex's resentment is not my concern. Protecting her is."
"She is smart like Salkor, she may find a way back by herself." Frax said.
"That is why I am having her escorted at all times."
"You want her to associate Dakran with a prison?"
"Of course not. And that is why I am having her meet people her own age."
"She wants to go home." Frax said.
"I will not risk her life. When Earth is safe I have no doubt her mother will come."
"And if she can't?"
"Then Alex will be safer here." Frax's mother said.
00
"I can wait here if you want." Vasquez said a few hours later.
"It's okay." Eliza said from J'onn's bedside. "Perhaps you can persuade Alex to take a break though."
"Seems unlikely, but I can try." Vasquez said as J'onn started to move.
"Eliza?" J'onn asked confused as he opened his eyes.
"Hi, how are you feeling?" Eliza smiled down at him.
"Terrible. Did Kara make it?"
"Yes. She's in the next lab."
"Is she okay?"
"She hasn't woken up yet. But she's stable." Eliza said, sadness in her eyes.
"Have you found Alex yet?"
"No. But we think she is on Dakran." Eliza explained, her words causing J'onn to painfully sit up.
"Easy, you need to rest."
"I can go to Dakran." He said.
"You will do no good to anyone if you collapse." Eliza said. "And we don't know the long term effects of the chemicals on you. Besides you may still have traces that could harm Alex."
"If Kara wakes up and we don't have Alex she will do something reckless."
"I know." Eliza said. "But let us worry about that, for now you need to rest."
00
"Here." Vasquez said passing Alex a coffee.
"Thanks." Alex said taking it.
"But if your mom asks you didn't get it from me."
"How's J'onn?"
"Stable. In and out of consciousness, but his cells are almost back to normal and he has stopped phasing in and out."
"That's good." Alex said looking down at Kara.
"We have the modified version of the antidote ready. Your mom is just running final checks on J'onn and then we'll be ready." Vasquez said.
"Great. How is everything else?"
"Ruby and the team are doing great. National City is a less Gotham like, everything has calmed down. However, the holding cells are maxed. We have thirty seven aliens and fifty eight metas."
"Any metas I care about?"
"No. I'm afraid not." Vasquez said. "But there is something strange."
"What?"
"The nanites in their system seem a little different."
"How different?"
"According to Corbyn, it is like they had just activated."
"All of them?" Alex asked.
"Yes. But that isn't the really strange part. He said he is pretty sure they had been in their systems for a couple of weeks."
"Not that strange." Alex said. "This was clearly coordinated. We just don't know by who or why? Get our team to go through everything. There must be a connection. We need to find it."
00
"You're not eating?" MJ asked looking at his cousin's untouched plate.
"Not hungry." She said.
"You didn't eat last night either."
"Wasn't hungry then either."
"If you don't eat you'll collapse. And then your mom will really freak out."
"If she is even alive." The teenage Alex said as her cousin pushed his plate to one side. "What are you doing?"
"If you aren't eating, neither am I."
"That's dumb."
"That's a word often used to describe me." MJ shrugged.
"Why aren't you eating?"
"Because you aren't. Until you eat, I won't eat."
"Why?"
"Because as much of a jerk I was to you, you nearly died trying to save me. So as much as you may hate me you don't want me to get hurt. So in order to stop me getting hurt you will have to eat."
"You know I was saving Kara and Diz more than you?"
"You could have just saved them. You didn't have to save me then, but you did. So you'll save me this time too." MJ said.
"Or I make you starve for three days."
"You could, but with broken ribs I need to eat. So that would also harm me."
"Fine, I'll eat." Alex said. Noticing her cousin wasn't reaching for his plate she said. "Why aren't you eating?"
"I'm not stupid, well that stupid, I'll eat once you've finished." MJ said.
"I'm not hungry."
"I know you are worried about your mom, but you collapsing won't help anyone. And if you think you are going to face Lobo again don't you need all your strength?"
"You don't understand, I feel sick."
"That's because you are worried about your mom. Or you are actually sick. Should we get you to a doctor?" He asked causing Alex to pick up a long yellow thing from her plate and eat it.
"Happy?"
"I will be when you've finished." He said before silently watching his cousin eat. Eventually he said. "She'll be okay."
"You don't know that." Alex said.
"I know mom and grandma will do everything they can."
00
"How are you feeling?" The adult Alex asked when she saw her sister start to stir.
"Alex?" Kara asked confused.
"I'm right here." Alex smiled, although her weariness was clear in her eyes.
"What happened?" Kara asked, gasping in pain as she did so.
"Easy, it'll take time." Alex said. "But in answer to your question, we won. Just. But you took quite the beating. It will take a while to recover."
"Alex?" She asked trying to sit up, only to be over come by pain and lie back down.
"Easy." Her sister said. "She's safe-"
"But she-"
"She's safe." Alex promised her. "Just rest." She added as Kara drifted off.
"Did she wake up?" Eliza asked entering the room.
"Briefly."
"How was she?"
"Concerned about Alex."
"What did you say?"
"That she was safe." Alex replied. "I just hope that wasn't a lie."
00
"Will you?" Alex asked her uncle.
"No." Frax said sounding tired.
"Please?"
"No."
"Please?" Alex pressed.
"No."
"But-"
"No."
"Pl-"
"Alex, I am not taking you back until it's safe. But we have sent a scout ship to Earth, we will know soon." Frax said. "For now you need to be patient."
"Pretty sure that isn't going to happen." MJ chipped in.
"Even if I took you back, Lobo would just bring you straight back." Frax argued. "I promise that as soon as I hear anything I will tell you. In the mean time why not take the opportunity to explore. My mother said she has arranged for you to meet more people of your own age. I know it is hard, but please try to enjoy your time here."
00
"Sweetie." Eliza smiled taking her daughter's hand.
"Eliza?" Kara croaked.
"Right here. How are you feeling?"
"Hurts." Kara said before looking round and seeing her sister.
"You should feel better soon." Her sister said.
"Alex? Where's Alex? She was in so much pain."
"That wasn't Alex, it was J'onn." Eliza said.
"No, it was Alex. I saw-"
"No Sweetie, J'onn was pretending to be Alex."
"Than Alex is- wait Lobo he -" Kara said trying to work out what was real and what wasn't.
"We think he took her to Dakran. So she'll be okay."
"She's by herself?" Kara asked trying to move.
"No. Frax went after her. So did MJ." Alex said pushing her back down.
"MJ?" Kara asked confused.
"He figured out what had happened and then stowed away." Alex explained.
"We have to go." Kara said trying to sit up again, wincing in pain as she did so.
"No, you need to heal." Eliza said.
"I'll do that better if I see Alex."
"Kara, you have to-" Alex started to say.
"Alex, I'm going to Dakran."
"Kara, we have to make sure you don't pose a danger to Alex. We have to make sure you are completely free of the chemical."
"Then test me." Kara demanded.
00
"You don't have to stay." Alex reminded her cousin.
"Well it is kinda cool here. Plus mom will kill me when she sees me, so I may as well enjoy my freedom and my life. Besides it's not like there is much for me on Earth right now, it might be better for everyone if I don't go back."
"What are you talking about?"
"I messed everything up. And the things I said to mom and Kara – I just don't think they want me around."
"That's stupid. Of course they do."
"I know I said bad things to you, but compared to what I said to mom, they weren't that bad." MJ said before adding. "I'm sorry for what a jerk I was."
"It's okay." Alex said. "And your mom understands."
"No she doesn't. I can see it in her eyes." He said as there was a knock on the door.
"What?" Alex called, still not happy at being kept prisoner.
"Your guests will be here soon." A man said as he entered the room. "Should I send them to the main lounge?"
"Can't you send them away?" Alex asked.
"No." The man said confused by the request.
"Fine. Send them to the lounge."
"What's going on?" MJ asked when the man left.
"My grandmother wants me to meet people of my own age so I can learn more about the customs here."
"But you don't want to? MJ guessed.
"I'm fine with the customs, it is Shiff I have an issue with."
"Shiff?"
"He keeps hitting on me. He's more annoying than Tom."
"Wait, you know Tom is hitting on you?"
"Of course I do. How would I not?" Alex asked.
"Well you are related to your mom." MJ pointed out. "Plus you looked really confused when I mentioned it."
"That was years ago and because I didn't understand the english."
"Being hit on on two planets. Your mom is going to freak out." MJ mused.
"Well at least Tom likes me for me, Shiff likes me for my money. Actually he doesn't even pretend to like me, he just stalks and tries to get me to sign the contract."
"What contract?"
"No idea."
"Tell your mom that when she gets here. I'm sure she'll sort it."
"Do you think she is okay? I thought she'd be here by now."
"You think mom will let her leave the lab if she isn't fully healed?"
"I guess not."
"If it was bad news mom or J'onn or grandma would come." MJ pointed out.
"If she was fine she would have come." Alex pointed out. "I'm going to ask Frax to take me home."
"Hasn't he already said no, at least twenty times."
"Everyone has a limit." The teen pointed out.
00
"This is a bad idea." Eliza said to Alex as they stood outside the lab.
"I know. But I know Kara and she is going to go regardless. It is better if I am with her."
"I'm not sure you are the best choice, your leg still isn't healed and you are exhausted, you haven't slept for days."
"I know. But I have to go after MJ."
"Please be careful." Eliza said knowing she wouldn't deter either daughter.
"We will." Kara said walking out of the infirmary.
"Kara you should still be under the lamps." Eliza said walking towards her.
"I'm okay." Kara said, looking anything but. "We need to go."