A/N: Thanks for the reviews.
Baratta jennifer - Kara is in for a rough ride.
A week later ...
"Is it a missing Alex thing or and Indomitable thing?" Cat asked joining Kara on the balcony.
"Cat?" Kara asked turning. "I thought you were in Europe?"
"I was. I find it best to mix up my itineraries and keep everyone on their toes." Cat said. "So is the dark cloud hanging over you an Alex thing or and Indomitable thing?"
"A bit of both. Just trying to figure out where I fit in."
"You mean apart from being the one thing that stops Indomitable?" Cat asked.
"Actually that is the DEO."
"I saw they have new toys. But it isn't their ability to stop alien threats that will stop Indomitable. What stops Indomitable is your heart."
"I think people prefer his teeth to my heart." Kara countered. "What gets me is he isn't completely wrong. I do make mistakes."
"As does he." Cat reminded her. "You have faced criticism before, a lot of it from me. So what is different now?"
"I don't know. Perhaps I am clinging to the past. Maybe I need to move on."
"Kara, many think I should have left years ago. The reason I didn't isn't because I get a satisfaction out of terrorising my staff, although that is a perk. The reason I stay is because I feel I have more to give. But the truth is before you returned to Earth, I had been planning on retiring. I'd grown tired. If I am honest I had coasted over the previous years, adding nothing. You're part of the reason I didn't. You reminded me why I do this. You help, even when you don't plan to." Cat said. "I don't know what Indomitable is planning. What I do know is I have always been able to sniff out a story and I know there is one behind him. And I know it is a dark story. And only one person can help overturn that darkness. That's you."
00
"Alex? What's going on?" MJ asked walking towards his cousin who nervously paced her dorm room.
"I think it's happening again." Alex said.
"What is?"
"The hormone thing."
"What's happened?" MJ asked closing the door behind him.
"Today, I got back and I felt different."
"Different how?"
"Heart racing, stomach feels weird, hands are clammy. Can't think straight." The teen Alex listed.
"Any flying objects?"
"No."
"So you are in control of your powers?"
"Maybe. But I activated my necklace just in case."
"What happened just before this started?" MJ asked.
"I'd got back to the dorm and I bumped into Jeff and we talked and then I started feeling weird."
"Weird how?"
"Heart racing, stomach is weird. I don't know, just weird." Alex said repeating her list from earlier.
"Did the meta alarm trigger?"
"No."
"Well what exactly did Jeff do?" MJ asked.
"Said hi, talked about a club, asked me out maybe."
"Whoa, stop. Asked you out? You think that maybe you are just happy or have a crush?" MJ suggested.
"What?" Alex asked.
"You like him?"
"Yes, no, I don't know."
"Okay, I'm calling Kara." MJ said dialling his sister.
"Hey MJ what's up?" Kara answered after a couple of rings.
"Alex has a crush and is freaking out. This is so girl talk territory, so over to you." He said passing the phone to his cousin.
"Alex? You okay?" Kara asked.
"No. I'm loosing control. One minute I was normal then I was buzzing. My stomach feels weird, I feel weird."
"It started after she bumped into a guy." MJ called.
"It does sound like a crush." Kara said.
"Even if you are right, that is a hormone thing. Hormones and me don't mix well." Alex pointed out.
"You could use your necklace." Kara reminded her.
"I am. What if that isn't enough?"
"It'll be okay. Why don't you tell me about this guy?" Her cousin suggested.
"That's my cue to leave. I'll be back soon." MJ said leaving the room.
As he walked down the corridor a teenage girl he vaguely recognised, approached him and said.
"MJ?"
"Umm, yeah." MJ said not recognising her.
"I'm Mel, Alex's friend. We met the other week."
"Oh right, yes. Sorry."
"It's fine. Is Alex okay?"
"I think so." MJ said.
"I wanted to do more, but she kinda locked herself away."
"She does that sometimes." MJ said. "We are going to watch some movies and stuff, want to join us?"
"Yes." Mel said quickly. "I mean if that is okay."
"It is. Martin, should be here soon as well."
"Martin?"
"Alex's best friend." MJ explained.
"Harvard guy?"
"Yeah."
"I remember him." Mel said before asking "Want me to bring anything?"
"It's fine, I'm just running out to pick up some snacks. If anything happens can you let me know?"
"Sure. But can I have your number?"
"Oh right. Sure." MJ said reaching into his pocket. "Or not, Alex has my phone. But I can give you my number in case this happens again."
"Put it straight in." Mel said handing him her phone.
"Seeing I can't call you, want me to come with you and help carry?" Mel asked once MJ had handed his phone back.
"Sure." MJ smiled.
00
"Alex, look at this." Vasquez said passing her boss a tablet.
"What is it?"
"Latest crime reports." Vasquez said.
"Metas are going missing again?" Alex asked looking at the numbers.
"Yes. There has been a 23% increase since last month." Vasquez confirmed.
"Have any of them turned up?"
"Yes six, but they were all innocent disappearances."
"Any bodies yet?"
"That's not a good question to come into." Kara said entering the office. "What's happened?"
"Metas are going missing again." Vasquez explained.
"Any links?"
"Not so far, but we have only just got the info. I'll send the reports over when we have them."
"Thanks." Kara said.
"I take it you haven't heard anything at CatCo?" Alex asked.
"No. My articles have been getting no responses." Kara said miserably. "I'm going to try to make contact with Cory."
"Be careful." Alex called. "And don't forget you have a training session later."
"I won't." Kara said leaving. Once she was going Alex turned to Vasquez.
"What about Diz?" Alex asked. "Any sign he is being targeted?"
"Not so far, but we are keeping an eye out for issues." Vasquez said.
00
"So you have a crush on someone? And freaked out?" Mel asked as she sat with Alex, MJ and Martin that evening.
"No, maybe, I don't know." The teenage Alex said avoiding eye contact with everyone.
"Who is it?" Mel asked.
"Jeff."
"Need more to go on." Mel probed.
"Tall, polo shirt, brown hair, well Clove colour with a bit of a floppy fringe and the blonde tips. Cute smile, dimples, small scar above his left eye."
"This is so a crush." Martin whispered to MJ as Mel suddenly exclaimed.
"Wait, HGI234."
"HGI234?" Martin asked.
"MIT assigns serial numbers?" MJ asked equally confused.
"Hot Guy In 234." Mel said.
"You know his room number but not his name?" MJ asked.
"People share names which make it ambiguous." Mel shrugged before looking at Alex and saying. "He is cute."
"Please tell me this isn't going to descend into a girl talk." MJ said.
"So you going to go out with him?" Mel asked.
"No."
"Why? You like him don't you?" MJ asked.
"You of all people are encouraging me to date?" Alex asked her cousin.
"Yes, and if I am it is clear you should do it."
00
"Hi Cory, how are you getting on?" Kara asked approaching him.
"Okay, I guess."
"Has anyone approached you?"
"How do you mean?"
"Strangers."
"I keep my distance."
"Anyone ask you anything weird?"
"No. Why?"
"Metas are going missing again. There is a chance you are more in danger now than before." Kara said. "I know you are independent, but I worry about you."
"I appreciate that. But you don't need to." Cory said before offering. "Maybe I can check in more regularly."
"That sounds good." Kara said. "And Cory, please be careful."
"I will." He said. "But, um, do you want me to do more? Like, I don't know, look out for stuff or something?"
"You are in enough danger as it is." Kara said.
"But that won't change will it? So what difference does it make."
"Just keep your eyes open and let me know if anything happens." Kara smiled.