A/N: Thanks for the reviews.
Baratta jennifer - Thanks!
"They're here." Vasquez said as Alex entered the DEO the next morning.
"You aren't frowning so I assume you aren't referring to auditors." Alex countered.
"The new suits." Vasquez said.
"Already? I thought they were weeks off."
"They assumed they would suffer more failures in testing. But they actually passed."
"Where are they?"
"Team Alpha are suiting and booting. When they have got used to them we will set Supergirl on them." Vasquez said. "Plus I have more good news."
"Really?" Alex asked.
"Yes really. We've had approval for the city wide monitoring."
"We have? I thought we were way off?"
"Lucy helped tweak the wording last night. After that it sailed through."
"Where is Lucy?"
"Your office."
"I'll go thank her. Let me know when they are ready for testing."
"Will do." Vasquez said as Alex jogged off to her office, but as she entered and saw Lucy she asked.
"Did you get any sleep?"
"Alex? Hey, did Vasquez tell you-"
"I've been briefed, but that doesn't answer my sleep question."
"I slept." Lucy said before confessing. "On your couch."
"You should go get some real sleep." Alex said.
"I've got used to not much sleep." Lucy replied.
"Want to talk?"
"It's nothing. It's just dad requires a lot of minding."
"I thought he was okay now?"
"He is, kind of. But I worry and he doesn't exactly follow medical advice. He is already drinking whiskey again. I'm sorry, you don't need to hear this. It's not as if you even like dad."
"You're still my friend." Alex said. "Besides I'm used to dealing with stubborn family."
"That's exactly what Kara says." Lucy smiled.
"How long are you in National City for?"
"Fly back tomorrow."
"Then tonight, let's do something. We could have a games' night and catch up."
"I'm not sure I'd be good company." Lucy said.
"If you don't come I will be spending it with a lonely Kara and a depressed dog."
"What?" Lucy asked.
"The point is, we all need a break." Alex argued.
"Fine. But I need to go give this brief."
"Okay, well I need to go oversee some new testing, I'll see you later."
00
"So what do you want me to do you?" Supergirl asked as she stood next to Alex at the desert proving ground.
"Take them down." Alex said looking at Team Alpha. "You can use whatever powers you want."
"Really?"
"Yes. And in fact it would be a better test if you released all your frustrations."
"Really?" Supergirl asked again.
"Perhaps not all of them." Hawkins said looking uncomfortable.
"All of them." Alex confirmed. "We need this to be a good test. But controlled. And seeing you just volunteered," Alex said turning to Hawkins. "You can go first." She then turned back to her sister. "Supergirl, give him a blast of heat vision. Let's see what these suits can do."
"Okay." Supergirl said blasting Hawkins who didn't even flinch.
"What the hell was that?" Alex asked.
"I didn't want to hurt him." Supergirl said.
"The suit will protect him." Alex pointed out. "Go again. And if you don't try no sticky buns."
"Fine." Supergirl said before releasing a stronger burst. This time Hawkins stumbled back a couple of steps, but was otherwise unharmed.
"You okay?" Supergirl asked him.
"I'm fine." He said looking down, expecting to see a hole.
"Is the suit holding?" Alex asked Ruby.
"Yes, core temp raised by a couple of degrees, but is now back to normal." Ruby reported as she looked at the readout.
"Try freezing him." Alex said to her sister.
"Okay." Kara said before using her freeze breath. A few seconds later Hawkins was incased in ice and frozen in place.
"Want me to defrost him?" Kara asked moments before the suit heated up and Hawkins started to move.
"All good." Hawkins said.
"Good, then let's start with the real testing."
"Which is?" Supergirl asked.
"You said you wanted a new punchbag." Alex said. "Have fun."
"Shouldn't we build up?" Hawkins asked as Alex walked away.
"No." Alex replied without turning.
00
"How's it going?" Alex asked as she returned to the DEO.
"Well I'm glad we had coffee." Vasquez said. "But Lucy is doing the final briefing now. How is the testing going?"
"The suits are holding and it is good stress relief for Kara." Alex replied.
"So she isn't holding back?" Vasquez asked.
"She is, well was, probably still is. A threat of with holding sticky buns got her to try harder."
"Maybe we should have got the suits to come with Indomitable masks, that may have made her bring her super A game?"
"That's a good idea, but let's make sure the suits work properly first." Alex said.
"I thought the testing was going well?"
"It is. But when is our luck ever that good?" Alex asked.
"Then how come you are back? I thought you were going to be watching the testing all day?"
"I can do that from here. I feel guilty about abandoning Lucy. And I have to submit the new budget proposal."
"A draft is in your inbox." Vasquez said.
"You are a life saver." Alex smiled.
"Remember that when it comes to the pay round." Vasquez said.
"Unfortunately the inflated food bill is taking up all the surplus budget." Alex reminded her.
"Any sign we may reduce the number of guests?"
"Only if Kara adopts Gizmo." Alex shrugged.
"Still don't see her attraction to him."
"He's soft and fluffy and Kara can look past the killer teeth." Alex pointed out.
"I'm glad someone can." Vasquez said.
"The quickest way to get rid of him, barring Kara breaking him out, is to find out where he came from."
"Right now that is like finding a needle in a haystack. A galactic size haystack." Vasquez reminded her.
"Better buy some more chew toys then." Alex countered.
00
"Hi J'onn." Alex called when the Martian entered her lounge that evening.
"Alex, Lucy." He smiled. "Where's Kara?"
"Trying to coax a depressed dog over here." Alex explained.
"What's wrong with Chewie?" J'onn asked.
"I assume he misses Alex." The older Alex said as they heard the front door open moments before Kara came in carrying Chewie.
"Is dog depression actually a thing?" Lucy asked Alex.
"Kara thinks it is. And Chewie is happy to play the role regardless."
"Hey, he can hear you." Kara said looking over to her sister and friend.
"Is he eating?" J'onn asked.
"Yes, but not as much as normal." Kara said sitting down and keeping Chewie on her lap.
"Perhaps he needs a support animal." Lucy said.
"Don't. She'll suggest bringing Gizmo over." Alex warned.
"Gizmo?"
"Vicious little alien who's sharp teeth have no effect on Kara, but would on Chewie." Alex explained. "Besides Chewie will be fine with some dog treats." She added as she went to the kitchen, returning a moment later which she gave to Chewie, who happily ate it. "See, cured."
"When you finally get fired from the DEO you can become a pet shrink." Lucy commented.
00
Noticing Kara wasn't paying attention Alex threw a piece of popcorn at her, only for Chewie to intercept it and eat it.
"Wow, you really did fix him." Lucy said.
"If only Kara was as easy." Alex said as she threw another piece of popcorn at her sister, this time with a steeper trajectory. Not to be deterred Chewie jumped up and caught the popcorn before landing back on Kara's lap. The movement pulling Kara from her thoughts.
"What's wrong?" She asked Chewie.
"I think you are the one who needs to answer that." J'onn said.
"What do you mean?"
"You spaced out." Her sister said.
"Sorry." Kara said stroking Chewie.
"Worried about Alex?" Her sister questioned.
"Yes, but no. I mean she sounded fine earlier. I just – it's nothing."
"So not nothing." Lucy said.
"It is. I just … today in the desert, I couldn't do anything."
"What are you talking about?" Her sister asked. "You really put them through their paces."
"And they held their own, which is great, but what do I bring anymore?"
"Hope and love." J'onn said. "You are the one thing stopping despair and hatred taking over. And to do that it is your heart that matters."
"What if it isn't enough?" Kara asked. "What if I am not enough?"
"Kara, we may not have figured out all the details, but we will beat Indomitable." Alex said.
"Besides you have something that Indomitable doesn't." Lucy said.
"What?"
"Family." Lucy stated. "That has always been your source of strength."