A/N: Thanks for the reviews.
Baratta jennifer - Thanks!
"He's not here." Rice said as the younger Kara approached him.
"Who?" Kara asked confused.
"Your boyfriend."
"I know, he is getting checked out next door. I wanted to see you."
"Your angry eyes imply this isn't to thank me."
"I am here to thank you, but that doesn't mean I don't think you are a jerk."
"Well I may not like your boyfriend, but no matter what you think I am not actually a bad human being."
"I know, and while you are still a jerk, thanks for looking out for him."
"Well it's what we are taught to do here, look out for each other."
"You okay?" Kara asked him.
"The good news is I get out of your mom's insane desert runs for awhile."
"That's a statement that implies you don't know my mom well." Kara smiled.
"I really hope you are messing with me." Rice said.
"I better go." Kara smiled turning.
"Hey Kara." He called.
"Yeah."
"They really messed with his head. Go easy on him."
-00-
Seeing her granddaughter enter the lounge Eliza immediately moved over and hugged her.
"Hello Sweetie, how are you feeling?"
"Okay I guess. Can I hang out here for a bit?"
"Of course you can. Is everything okay?"
"Steve came over, I wanted to give them some space." The teen said. Seeing her grandmother's smile she added. "Don't get too excited, they both deny dating." She said as they heard footsteps coming down the stairs moments before Alex was pulled into a hug by Mel.
"How are you feeling?" Mel asked.
"Okay." Alex said although her arm subconsciously covered her stomach.
"Liar." Mel replied. "I still can't believe how awesome you were." The comment which was meant to be kind causing Alex to look uncomfortable. Causing Eliza to jump in and ask her grand daughter.
"Have you eaten yet?"
"Yes, Alex and Steve brought real food round."
"Well remember you need to eat a lot more than normal." Eliza reminded her. "And you still need to rest."
"Why don't we watch some movies?" MJ suggested. "And when Kara and Diz get back we could a sedate game like Trivial Pursuit?"
"Okay." Alex said.
"Why don't you get things set up, I'll bring some popcorn up." Eliza smiled.
00
"Hi Sweetie." Eliza smiled when her youngest came into the lounge an hour later.
"Hi. Where's Alex?"
"Upstairs with MJ and Mel."
"Is she okay?"
"A little quiet and tired." Eliza said. "But MJ and Mel are looking after her. What about you?"
"What about me?"
"How are you doing?"
"Still a little tired."
"Not quite what I meant." Eliza said before asking. "Is Steve joining us?"
"No, he's hanging out with Martin." Kara said as the younger Kara returned with Diz.
"Everything okay?" The younger Kara asked.
"It's fine." Her aunt said. "How are you two doing?"
"Okay, I guess." The younger Kara said. "But it horrible seeing the city so smashed up and everyone looks so scared."
"It will get better." Her aunt said.
"Your mother not with you?" Eliza asked her granddaughter.
"No. She and Vasquez were having a big meeting." The younger Kara said before asking. "How's Alex?"
"I don't know." Her aunt said sadly.
"I'll talk to her." The younger Kara said. "Where is she?"
"Upstairs." Eliza said. "But can you take some food up to her?"
00
The next day, having not heard from her cousin, the younger Kara entered her cousin's apartment calling for Alex as she did so.
Not getting a response from her cousin but hearing Chewie bark, Kara approached the bedroom. "Alex? I'm coming in." She said opening the door and seeing her cousin lying on her bed with Chewie at her side.
"Hey, you okay?" Kara asked walking towards her cousin.
"Just tired."
"Should I get grandma or Lena?"
"I'm fine. Why are you here?" The teenage Alex asked.
"I thought we could hang out."
"Shouldn't you be with Diz?
"I'm seeing him later." Kara shrugged. "And seeing you have basically slept since I got back you owe me."
"I saw you yesterday."
"You sat quietly in the corner." Her cousin said. "And this morning you are hiding over here"
"I'm not."
"Yes you are. So what's wrong?" Her cousin pressed as she came and sat on the bed next to her cousin.
"I feel like a fraud and a hypocrite."
"Why?"
"Everyone is treating me like I did something brave. But I wasn't brave. I was scared."
"That doesn't mean you weren't brave." Her cousin said.
"I'm not sure I could do it again. But mom, I mean she has kinda been killed by Lobo twice. I was just stabbed, but I can't get over it. Every time I close- But it's not just that. I'm a bad person. It was my actions that led to mom getting stabbed the first time. I caused her so much pain, but she kept going. Whereas I just keep reliving it."
"Not being okay with what happened is normal and healthy. Plus your mom was affected, she just hid it from you so you didn't worry." Her cousin said before guessing. "You've not talked about this with your mom have you?"
"How can I? I'm a coward but everyone is treating me like a hero. Like I said I'm a fraud."
"I am pretty sure your mom knows exactly how you feel. You need to talk to her."
"She's working."
"She won't be tonight." Kara said. "What about Matt? Have you talked about it with him?"
"No. Besides I'm pretty sure that is over."
"Why?"
"I haven't heard from him."
"You tried calling?"
"Straight to voice mail and none of my emails are answered."
"Maybe his phone broke?" Kara suggested.
"And his laptop?"
"Maybe there is a huge network outage?" Kara suggested.
"Would have been on the news." Alex said.
"Except, doesn't he live in the middle of nowhere?" Kara pointed out. "Couldn't you try calling Jane?"
"Wouldn't that be a bit stalkerish? Besides she left the day before this started for a camping trip in the wilderness with her dad. She doesn't have a phone." Alex said before adding. "It's okay, it's easier this way."
"For who?"
"Matt. He didn't sign up for any of this. And he's a nice guy, he deserves to be happy."
"You deserve to be happy." Her cousin corrected.
"I am."
"Who knew you could get worse at lying as time went on? You have almost descended to your mom's levels." Kara said. "But if you are okay we'll go out."
"I'm still tired."
"Then I'll take you to mom and tell her she needs to run tests."
"Fine. Let's go out."
"I'd ask if you want me to get MJ, but I assume going out with MJ and Mel would a little tactless?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, just us then." Her cousin smiled.
-00-
As Kara sat with her sister in the DEO going through reports Vasquez approached them and said.
"Cat is about to do a news conference."
"Why?" Alex asked.
"To calm the city down?" Kara guessed as Cat appeared on the screen.
"People of National City, we have endured something terrible. And while it could be argued it was of our own making, to get through this we must work together and fallback onto our hearts to guide us. It won't be easy. This city, this county has suffered a terrible loss. But we must rebuild and move on. It will be hard, but we can achieve it. But we can not forget our past." She paused and looked directly into the camera.
"You may have all forgotten, but Supergirl had to earn respect and trust. Yet Indomitable turned up and you all fell over yourself to welcome him. You took him at his word and when he turned out to be a homicidal megalomaniac, it was the hero you spurned who came to save you again." Cat said. "May this be a lesson in the future."
"Is Supergirl dead?" A reporter asked.
"This city has been acting like Supergirl is dead to them for months." Cat replied.
"That didn't answer the question."
"What matters is what Supergirl stood for. She was the beacon of hope. She was that beacon for everyone. Regardless of Supergirl's status it is important we all nurture the flame of hope." She said before walking off.
"Did you have any Cat was going to do that?" The older Alex asked her sister.
"No. But I haven't seen her since, well everything. I should probably go see her."
"Probably. But you don't have to rush." Her sister reminded her. "You've done more than enough."
"You think it is really over?"
"You mean Indomitable?"
"Or Tycho? What if they weren't the same person? What if there was someone else behind the scenes."
"We'll keep digging?"
"Have you found Lobo?"
"No. The team didn't find his body. But they were more focused on you." Alex said. "They are still searching and they'll let you know when they find something."
"If they find something." Kara corrected as Alex's phone buzzed. Having read the message Alex asked.
"Why are you here?"
"As in on Earth? National City? The DEO?"
"The DEO. Shouldn't you be on a date?"
"Date?"
"With Steve." Alex prompted.
"We aren't really dating."
"The only person in the galaxy who believes that is you."
"Until Alex is okay I'm not worrying about relationships."
"Okay, but you could still hang out with Steve."
"Why are you pushing this?"
"Because he makes you happy. Also I am getting annoyed by all the messages."
"What messages?"
"From Steve, making sure you are okay. If you were with him he wouldn't need to message me."
00
"I'm back." The teenage Alex said as she entered the apartment. On seeing Steve on the couch she said. "Hey."
"Hi Alex."
"You not hanging with the others?" Kara asked.
"No, but I can I can go if you have plans."
"No, I was just going anyway." Steve said. "I'll see you tomorrow." He smiled leaving the apartment.
"Sorry." Alex said pulling a face. "I didn't mean to ruin your evening."
"You aren't. I love hanging out with you. And you will always be my priority. So what's wrong?" Kara asked her daughter.
"What do you mean?"
"You are wearing your I have something to say expression." Kara said tapping the couch next to her. "So what's up?" Kara asked as her daughter sat next to her. For a minute Alex didn't say anything, but eventually she said.
"I'm having nightmares."
"About what happened to you?" Kara guessed.
"Yes."
"Why didn't you say anything? How did I not know?"
"You've been sleeping pretty heavily. And you need the rest."
"So do you. You should have woken me." Kara said.
"It wouldn't have done any good, just made us both miserable." The teen pointed out as Kara pulled her into her arms.
00
"How's Kara?" Eliza asked when her eldest got home.
"Kind of recognising she isn't okay." The older Alex said. "How are things here?"
"Quiet. MJ and Mel have gone out for the evening. And Kara and Diz are upstairs." Eliza said before asking. "How are you?"
"Me? Fine. Why?"
"You are having to hold everyone together."
"I'm okay." Alex said.
"But?"
"I just have a bad feeling."