A/N: Thanks for the reviews.
Baratta jennifer - Thanks!
"Mom? What are you doing here?" The teenage Alex asked when she saw her mother the next day.
"You sounded a little down on the message last night." Kara said hugging her.
"You didn't have to come over here."
"I wanted to." Kara said. "Besides I was missing you too."
"Is everything okay at home?" The teen asked.
"It's fine. It's you I'm worried about." Kara smiled. "So what's wrong?"
"It's nothing. I had a run in with Jeff yesterday. It's fine, just made me feel stupid."
"Why don't we go for brunch?" Kara asked.
"Actually, I can't. I have kinda joined a club. And we are meeting at twelve." The teen said apologetically.
"You have? That's great." Kara smiled.
"But you came all this way."
"Worth it just for the hug." Kara said.
"I can can-"
"No. Go to your club." Kara said.
"You sure?"
"Absolutely." Kara smiled again. "But before I go I need another hug."
"How about a coffee and a hug?" The teen asked.
"You have time?" Kara asked not wanting to get in the way.
"Of course."
00
"How's Alex?" The older Alex asked her sister that evening.
"Okay I think. She's joined a club."
"That's good." Alex replied before asking. "Did you see MJ?"
"No. He was off doing stuff. But Alex said he was fine. She also said he probably won't appreciate me cramping his social life." Kara said.
"Did she mention his non-social life?" Alex asked hopefully.
"Didn't come up. But, I'm sure he is studying, occasionally." Kara replied before asking. "How were things here?"
"Same old." Alex said.
"No more attacks on aliens?"
"Not that we know of." Alex said.
"I sense a but."
"It's just all the aliens we have rounded up recently aren't in our database and we can't communicate with them. Doesn't that seem a little strange?" Alex asked.
"A little, but even if it was deliberate you can't just mail order an alien." Kara said.
"Maybe you can. Think about Slavers' moon." Alex countered.
"That's a scary thought." Kara commented. "But say you are right. Why? And why now?"
"I don't know. But if Indomitable is behind it, we won't like the answer."
"So what do we do?"
"You think you can get some of the local aliens to open up?"
"I can try, but there is a lot of mis trust." Kara said.
00
"This disk has a picture of every alien we have captured and a sound bite of them talking." Alex said to her sister the next day.
"I'll see if it gets any response."
"You going as Kara or Supergirl?"
"Supergirl I guess."
"You don't sound sure?"
"Not sure who is trusted less." Kara said.
"Why isn't Supergirl trusted?"
"They see me as the DEO enforcer."
"Anything I can do to help?" Alex asked.
"No. It is what it is." Kara said sadly.
"Guys, I have bad news." Vasquez said entering Alex's office.
"What now?" Alex asked.
"The old established metas who have kept their distance from Indomitable are now being bought up." Vasquez said.
"What do you mean bought up?" Alex asked.
"Offered lucrative contracts."
"Which we know how?"
"One of them likes us, well Supergirl, and told us." Vasquez said. "They don't want to sell themselves. But a six figure cheque is persuasive."
"Six figure?" Kara asked.
"That is just the sign on bonus." Vasquez said.
"Sign on bonus?" Kara questioned. "I never got that."
"How is he funding that?" Alex questioned.
"There is the sponsorship deals, but they don't generate nearly enough."
"Okay, that money has to be traceable." Alex said.
"You'd think so, but so far we are struggling. Indomitable set up a charitable foundation and gets many anonymous donations. We are working with our friends at IRS to see if we can figure anything out."
"What about Indomitable's activities?"
"Still legal as far as we can see."
"I don't buy it." Alex commented.
"Neither do I." Kara said. "But we have no proof he is doing anything wrong. Apart from being a jerk. Which isn't a crime. It should be, but it isn't. I better go, I'll call if I find something."
"Be careful." Alex warned.
"Is she okay?" Vasquez asked once Kara had gone.
"No. We need to get to the bottom of this." Alex said.
00
"Kara, Ms Grant wants to see you." The latest assistant said approaching Kara's desk that afternoon.
"Okay, thanks." Kara smiled looking up before locking her computer and walking to Cat's office. As she entered she saw Cat and was about to speak before noticing she was on the phone so instead she waited silently until Cat directed her to the balcony.
Nodding Kara went outside and waited in the cold winter's air.
"You seem torn." Cat said when she eventually joined her.
"I-" Kara started. "It's been a bad day."
"What happened?"
"I, well Supergirl, hit the streets to talk to aliens, to ask for their help. But they didn't trust me. It's like I am too human for the aliens and too alien for the humans." Kara said before facing Cat and asking. "What if I was wrong, what if Indomitable isn't actually a bad person. What if they just use different methods? What if Indomitable is what the city wants?"
"He may have become what the city wants, but he is not what it needs. The city, the county, needs you, they just can't see it."
"I just feel like I am playing his game."
"You are. He wants to do the headline saves, that's fine. There are many people in the city who needs help, but Indomitable will never bother. They need you. And you may not get the press, but you are making a difference." Cat said.
"It doesn't feel like it. I mean everything I do right now feels like the wrong choice."
"I take it that comment is based on both sides of your life?" Cat asked.
"Yes." Kara said. "I tried so hard to give Alex a good life, despite always being on the run. And I convinced myself that if I gave her love and support that would make up for not having a home. But maybe I was just kidding myself."
"There is no such thing as a normal childhood or life. Life is what you make of it and Alex is smart and balanced and happy."
"Is she?"
"According to Carter, who saw her the other day. He also said she was joining a club."
"She did." Kara smiled. "But this year has been hard on her. Maybe I sheltered her too much. Or didn't prepare her enough."
"Kara, no matter what you do, children will always have bad patches. All you can do is make sure they have a loving home to come to."
"What if Indomitable makes that not possible?" Kara asked.
"Kara, no matter what Indomitable does, Alex knows she can always depend on you. I think the bigger problem is she takes after you and will try to protect you, or at least doesn't want to distract you." Cat said. "On that note, you should read the email I just sent you."