"Hi Diz." Alex greeted confused the following Saturday when she answered the front door and saw him standing there. "Is Kara coming?" She asked trying not to sound hopeful.
"No. Sorry. I was hoping to borrow MJ. I know he is grounded but I-"
"You sure you want to?" Alex asked worried her daughter was forcing Diz into it.
"Yes."
"Okay." Alex said before adding. "I'll get him."
"Want me to?" Diz offered, not sure stairs were good for Alex's leg.
"Sure." Alex said standing back from the door allowing Diz in.
Having jogged upstairs Diz knocked on MJ's door.
"Yeah." MJ called from inside.
"Hey man." Diz said entering, what turned out to be, the ultra tidy room.
"Diz?" MJ asked confused.
"How are you doing?" Diz asked.
"Okay. Why are you here?"
"A friend is entering a race in a few weeks and I'm part of his pit crew. We are trying to get everything ready, but the flu has taken out half the team. Want to fill in for them?"
"I'm grounded." MJ reminded him.
"Your mom said you could."
"Really?"
"Yes, so it's up to you." Diz said.
"I'll get my jacket." MJ replied jumping up.
00
Hi." Kara called as her sister walked into the apartment.
"Hi." Alex replied.
"Not that I don't want you here, but why are you here? I thought you were going to spend time with MJ."
"Diz took him out." Alex said.
"Diz?" Kara asked confused.
"Kara asked Diz to hang out with MJ." The teenage Alex explained.
"And he agreed?" Kara asked confused. "Must be love." She commented before asking. "So does that mean I get you this morning?" She asked her sister.
"I was going to catch up on work." Her sister said.
"But that is boring." Kara pointed out.
"Well I don't want to interrupt your plans." Alex said.
"Mom doesn't have any." The teenage Alex said.
"You two aren't doing something today?" Her aunt asked.
"No, I'm hanging out with Martin." The teenager replied.
"And I'll just be here all alone and bored." Kara said to her sister.
"Fine, what do you want to do?" The older Alex asked.
"Want to go see the new exhibition at the National?"
"No." Her sister said bluntly.
"But you will anyway." Kara said pouting.
"You are unbelievable." Her sister muttered.
"That's a yes?" Kara asked.
"It's a yes." Her sister agreed.
"Then let's go. But we'll need to stop for breakfast."
"You have just had cereal." The teen pointed out.
"That was my lounging round at home breakfast, if I am going out I need my going out breakfast." Kara pointed out.
"You mean a sticky bun?" The teen asked.
"See you're learning." Kara smiled
00
"One sugar laced vanilla latte and a sticky bun." Alex said putting the items in front of her sister.
"Thanks." Kara smiled.
"So how are you doing?"
"I'm okay."
"I doubt that." Alex countered.
"Has Alex said something?" Kara asked.
"Should she have done?" Her sister asked.
"I don't know, but something must be behind the question." Kara explained.
"Yes, my concern."
"I'm okay." Kara said.
"But?" Alex prompted.
"I keep trying to replay what happened, hoping there is some clue in my memories."
"And?"
"It's all jumbled and I don't know what is real and what isn't. But there may be something about his breakthrough. But I just can't remember it."
"Breakthrough?" Alex asked confused.
"With Cyberwalk. I think it is important but I don't know why."
"Maybe you are trying too hard?" Alex suggested.
"Maybe." Kara said.
"Perhaps having a complete break today will help."
"Maybe."
"How's Alex dealing with everything?"
"Well she slept through with no nightmares."
"So better than you?" Alex asked.
"I just keep seeing her in pain."
"I'm sorry." Alex said feeling guilty about it.
"It's not your fault."
"I approved the plan. I was so focused on getting you out I didn't even think about the long term implications."
"Thanks to you I am alive." Kara reminded her.
00
As MJ started cleaning the engine parts he asked.
"Did Kara ask you to do this?"
"You think your sister asked me to use you as free labour?" Diz asked.
"No. But hang out with me, yes."
"She's worried about you."
"So now I've ruined your Saturday?" MJ guessed.
"Whatever the reason I really do need help with this." Diz said.
"So I'm not meant to talk?"
"About?"
"Me. What I'm feeling."
"Do I look like someone who wants to discuss your feelings?" Diz countered.
"No."
"MJ, you don't have to stay, but I do need help."
"Okay." MJ replied.
"Good." Diz replied. "But if you do want to talk, I'm here."
00
"How was whatever today was?" Alex asked when MJ got home.
"Good."
"Are your ribs okay?"
"They're fine. I didn't do any lifting or anything." MJ shrugged.
"Is Diz with you?" Kara asked.
"No, he dropped me off and went home."
"We're having a movie and game night, want to join us?" Kara asked.
"Sure, but I need to shower first."
"Okay, we'll get dinner sorted." His mother said. "You and Alex can pick the movie."
"Where is she?" The teen asked suddenly noticing she was missing.
"Just out walking Chewie, she'll be back soon." His aunt replied.
"Okay, I'll be down soon." MJ said before jogging upstairs.
"You okay?" Kara asked her sister when she saw her frown.
"I just wish I had a way to fix all this." Alex replied. "He's really suffering."
"Has he said anything?"
"Not since the talk we had after Lena found his father. I hoped after that talk he'd open up more, but he hasn't. And you saw him just now he was lacking, something."
"He doesn't want to burden you. He thinks he has caused you enough trouble." Kara said.
"He's talked to you?"
"No, but I've been where he is." Kara reminded her just as the front door opened moments before Chewie scampered into the room and sat on Kara's lap.
"Good walk?" Kara asked as her daughter entered the room.
"Yes."
"We're about to order some food, any preference?" Her aunt asked.
"Do I actually get a say?" She asked looking at her mother.
"As long as you suggest something starting with p, is on my list of favourite foods and can meet my energy requirements." Kara answered.
"So no?" Her daughter asked.
"Why don't you pick the toppings on one pizza." Her aunt suggested passing her tablet she was using to order.
"Okay, is MJ back?"
"He's just in the shower, he'll be down soon." The older Alex said.
"Pepperoni it is then." The teen said tapping the screen a few times before passing the tablet back to her aunt as her mother's phone rang.
"Hi … where … okay." Kara said into the phone before ending the call.
"Save me some." She said jumping up and disappearing.
"Have you found Malaise yet?" The teenager asked her aunt when it was just them.
"No. Not yet." The older Alex said. "Why ask now?"
"Mom is having nightmares every night."
"You are worried Malaise is the cause?" Alex guessed.
"Yeah."
"Your mom has been through a lot." The older Alex said. "When Tycho had her, in order to find her we had to get J'onn pretend to be you. And it worked, they kidnapped J'onn and took him straight to your mom. When when he got there, he got hurt badly, but your mom thought it was you. It will take a while to get over that."
"So I shouldn't worry?"
"You actually going to listen to my answer?" Her aunt countered.
"Probably not."
"Try not to worry, I'm looking after her."
"Okay." The teen said as her aunt just had a realisation. Suddenly she stood and said.
"I have to go to the DEO, I'll be back soon."
"Okay." The teen said confused as her aunt limped from the room.
00
"I'm back." Kara called. "Did I beat the pizza?"
"Yes." Her daughter said.
"What did you do to your aunt?" Kara asked noticing her daughter sitting alone.
"She went to the DEO."
"Why?"
"I don't know. We were talking and then she suddenly said she had to go." The teen said.
"I'll be back." Kara said leaving for the DEO.
When she arrived a minute later she saw Alex grilling Keane.
"What's going on?" Kara asked.
"I missed something, well forgot, because I got distracted."
"Actually you didn't." Keane said. "I mean we already investigated and found nothing."
"Want to fill me in?" Kara asked her sister.
"When J'onn was pretending to be Alex, he was kidnapped. They had some drug that sedated him."
"Except we found no trace of it at all." Keane said.
"Well something sedated J'onn." Alex pointed out.
"Yes ma'am. But what ever it was left no trace in the SUV. And after we rescued J'onn we couldn't collect physical evidence as he kept phasing in and out."
"Wait, you are saying there is drug out there that could sedate Alex?" Kara asked.
"We can't rule it out. But we have found no evidence of it's existence. All we know is they managed to sedate J'onn with something designed for your daughter." Keane said. "But Lena is continuing to investigate."
"She is?" Alex asked.
"Yes ma'am. When you went off world she offered a helping hand."
"Is Alex in danger?" Kara asked her sister.
"I don't know." Her sister replied. "But there are a lot of unknowns that are making me feel uneasy."