A/N: Thanks for the reviews.
Baratta jennifer - Thank you.
"Hello Alex." Lena greeted the teenager when she entered the office the next day.
"Hi." The teen replied before waiting.
"Something I can help with?" Lena asked confused.
"You asked me to meet you for lunch." The teen reminded her.
"I'm sorry, I'm so used to your mom forgetting I assumed you'd be the same."
"You want me to go?"
"Of course not." Lena smiled. "Take a seat, I'll get some food ordered." She said before noticing the bags in Alex's hands. "Or not. You come prepared."
"Actually Sally ordered it, I just carried it in." The teen said putting it on the table.
"So how is the placement going?" Lena said as she picked up a salad.
"Okay, I guess. Not sure I'm adding much value."
"This one is more about you learning." Lena said before looking at Alex and asked. "You okay?"
"Mom told you?"
"Told me what?" Lena asked confused.
"Last night."
"I have no idea what you are talking about. I just wanted to make sure you were okay, you went through a lot. And on top of that you are now in a different State to Matt, which can't be easy."
"We talk every day. Besides I want to figure some things out by myself."
"Well if you need any help feel free to ask." Lena said as Alex stared at her salad. "So what happened last night?"
"I went from making mom proud to disappointed in under two minutes." The teen said playing with her salad.
"What happened?"
"There was a kid. She was a meta and these guys in the park were surrounding her and giving her grief because she was a meta. So I used my necklace, but while waiting for mom went to help."
"Are you okay?" Lena asked.
"Not like they can hurt me."
"But after everything that happened to you, you were scared?" Lena guessed.
"Yes."
"So what happened?"
"Mom arrived, but she thought I was handling it fine so hung back until there was a knife, then swooped in. Then when she had calmed everything down she flew home. When I got there there was a huge feast and she was super excited and I just felt like a huge disappointment."
"Why?" Lena asked not fully following the story.
"I was scared the whole time, I can't do what mom does."
"No one can do what your mother does." Lena said before asking. "Do you want to be a hero?"
"Does it matter, it's not like I can do it anyway."
"What do you mean?"
"If I use my powers I kinda fall to sleep."
"Stamina will come with time." Lena smiled. "If that is what you actually want. Is it?"
"I don't know. But if I don't, that will upset mom."
"Your mother wants you safe and happy, she will sleep much better if you live a normal life."
"Then why was she so excited yesterday?"
"You helped someone, she was proud. Just like she was proud when you graduated high school and just like she will be when you graduate MIT. All you need to figure out is what you want." Lena said.
"What if it isn't what mom wants?"
"Your mother has raised you to be strong, stubborn and independent." Lena said. "As long as it is what you want your mother will be happy."
"I guess." The teen said.
"Out of interest, what's the real reason you believe you can't be a hero?"
"I'm scared."
"Of?"
"Getting stabbed or drowned. Getting hurt."
"Isn't overcoming fears what makes a hero?" Lena asked.
"I don't think I can." Alex said as Lena's office door opened and Kara and her sister walked in.
"Hi." Kara greeted before seeing her daughter. "Everything okay?"
"It's fine. But I should get back to work." The teen said standing. She then looked at Lena and said. "Thanks for lunch."
"Anytime." Lena smiled before the teen left.
"What's wrong?" Kara asked once her daughter had gone.
"Nothing, I was just having lunch with an employee." Lena assured her.
"Was it to do with last night?" Kara probed.
"It really was meant to be just lunch, but Alex did mention last night." Lena sighed.
"Did she talk to you about it?"
"Yes."
"Is she okay?"
"She just needs to figure some things out."
"Thank you for talking to her." Kara said.
"Of course." Lena smiled. "But I am guessing Alex is not the reason you two are here?"
"No. We found some L-Corp tech in the lab where the babies were being kept." Alex said.
"What tech?" Lena asked.
"Forcefield generators." Alex said passing Lena a tablet with the specs.
"This hasn't even been released yet." Lena said after reading the contents of the document. As she read the next document she stood and walked to the door.
"Where are you going?" Kara asked.
"The lab." Lena said. "You should come too."
"Why?" Kara asked hurrying after her friend, her sister by her side.
"That is the lab Alex is assigned to. If Indomitable managed to infiltrate it, Alex could be in danger." She explained, but as she walked past her assistant, Sally, she ordered. "Send me the employee files for everyone who has access to lab 12."
"I'll send them to your phone." The assistant said as trio entered the elevator.
"Remember if there is an infiltrator in there, we need them alive." The older Alex said as she realised she was the only one not flowing over with anger. As she spoke Kara was trying to call Alex.
"She isn't answering."
"No phones or smart tech is allowed in the lab." Lena explained as her phone beeped.
"Anything?" Alex asked as Lena scrolled through the personnel files.
"No, but I have sent them to Vasquez, maybe your team can find something." She said as the elevator doors opened and she led them through a long corridor that led to a locked door with several lockers outside.
Putting her phone on a locker, an action copied, albeit reluctantly, by Alex and Kara, Lena pressed her hand against a sensor and a door opened. As they entered the lab Lena scanned the room before approaching the nearest person and asking.
"Where's Alex?"
"She went to pick up some supplies. She should be back in a minute." The researcher said.
"Okay, I need to see Project Salus." Lena replied.
"That's Dr Bell's project."
"I know. He isn't here, you are and I need to see it. Now." Lena said.
"Right, um okay. The prototypes are kept here." He said leading them to another locked door with a pad.
"Well?" Lena said.
"I don't have access." He explained causing Lena to place her palm on the pad and type a number before the door opened.
Seeing several objects the older Alex asked. "You thinking data breach?"
"Maybe." Lena said picking up one of the devices. "Or maybe not. These are fake."
"You sure?"
"Yes. There are the prototypes from an old project." Lena said before turning on her heels and walking into the main area before announcing.
"Everyone needs to leave now. This area is off limits until further notice. Go wait in room 103."
"Where's stores?" Kara asked Lena as everyone filed out.
"Basement." Lena said as Alex walked outside her lab and called in a DEO squad.
As Kara started to head down the corridor she saw her daughter and rushed towards her.
"Alex!" Kara said before hugging her. "Are you are okay?"
"Yes. Why? What's going on?" The teen asked confused.
"Have you seen Dr Bell?" Lena asked.
"No, he has been on leave since I started."
"The others are in room 103, you should probably join them." Lena said.
"Um, okay." The teen said still confused.
"I need to organise a complete stocktake." Lena said to the older Alex. "Let me know when your team arrives. I've have all security footage and access logs sent to Vasquez."
00
"Finally." The younger Kara said when her cousin entered the apartment.
"Were we meeting?" The teenage Alex asked confused.
"No, but I have been bored. You and Diz are working and MJ is off camping so I have had nothing to do apart from walk Chewie."
"He is looking tired." Alex said as she picked Chewie up, who half heartedly licked her face.
"You okay?" Kara asked her cousin.
"I guess. Work was weird and involved mom freaking out about something."
"Your mom was there?"
"So was your mom."
"Everyone okay?" Kara asked frowning.
"They seem to be." Alex said sitting down on the couch next to her cousin. She then looked over at Kara and said. "Still don't see why you are bored. Shouldn't you be wedding planning?"
"By myself?"
"I don't know. The whole engagement thing is new to me. My entire knowledge comes from movies." The teenage Alex replied as her phone rang.
"Matt?" Kara guessed.
"Yeah."
"Well I'll take Chewie over the road. Come get him when you are done."
"It's okay, I'll tell Matt I'll call back later. Give me a minute." Alex said disappearing to her room.
"You didn't have to do that." Kara said feeling guilty when her cousin reappeared.
"It's fine." Alex said. "I can talk to him later. He's got a family dinner anyway. So what's wrong?"
"I wanted to ask you something."
"What?"
"As my best friend will you be my maid of honour?" Kara asked.
"Sure, but I have no idea what that is. So sure you want me?"
"Absolutely." Kara said as the older Kara entered the apartment.
"Hey guys, what's going on?" The older Kara greeted.
"Alex just signed up to be my maid of honour." Her niece said.
"She did? That's brave." She said looking at her daughter.
"What? Why?" Alex asked.
"You have just signed up to looking after your cousin and doing her every command until she gets married."
"Pretty sure that is not the role of the maid of honour." The younger Kara said before asking. "Wait is that what mom made you do?"
"Yes. No. Maybe." Kara said. "But there was free food so I was happy." She added as her niece's phone buzzed. Seeing the message she stood and pulled Alex to her feet.
"Where are we going?" Alex asked.
"Out to dinner." Her cousin said.
"Have fun." The older Kara said to her daughter, hugging her tightly before she left.
00
"Kara." J'onn called as he joined her on a rooftop an hour later. Not getting a response he called again louder. "Kara."
"Sorry what?" She asked turning.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"Sure. Well no. I thought it was over and then Alex wasn't there and I convinced myself she had been taken. And I know she hadn't, but that doesn't change how I felt at the time. I hate feeling helpless." Kara said.
"I'm not following." J'onn said.
"Sorry. We found some L-Corp technology in the baby lab. When we went to L-Corp we found out the technology was from the same lab Alex was assigned to and when we got there Alex wasn't there and I really freaked out. And I know she is okay, but I keep seeing what Indomitable made me see and I am really freaking out."
"I know it is hard, but Alex is smart, unlike some people she knows when not to dive in head first." J'onn said.
"I don't always dive in head first." Kara protested.
"We'll agree to disagree." J'onn said. "So is that the only reason you are out here?"
"I've been thinking about the last few years, trying to figure out what I should have done differently."
"You'll drive yourself crazy if you do that." J'onn warned. "You should go home and spend some time with Alex or Steve."
"Alex has gone out."
"Then Steve."
"I don't think I would be good company right now."
"Which is exactly why you should be with him. Let him look after you."
"J'onn." Kara said turning. "I don't say this enough, but thank you."
"For what?" He asked confused.
"Everything."
"You have nothing to thank me for." J'onn said hugging her. He then pulled away and said. "Go to Steve."