A/N: Thanks for the reviews.
Baratta jennifer - Thank you.
As the teenage Alex sat on the couch stroking Chewie the next morning she heard her mother's bedroom door open before hearing someone creeping towards the front door.
"Hi Steve." She called.
"Alex, hey." Steve said. "You're here and awake."
"Yes." The teen said. "Why are you sneaking around?"
"I … didn't want to wake … your mom."
"She has super hearing, even in her sleep." Alex said.
"Good point. Anyway, I should go." He said walking to the door.
"Don't you need these?" Alex asked.
"What?" He asked turning.
"Your shoes." She replied pointing to the footwear near the couch.
"Um, yeah." He said as Kara's bedroom door opened again.
"Why are you sneaking out?" She asked Steve before seeing her daughter.
"Alex, you're here? I thought you were staying over the road?"
"No. Was I meant to?"
"No." Kara said.
"I should go." Steve said picking up his shoes before kissing Kara goodbye and leaving.
"Why are you two sneaking round?" Alex asked her mother.
"We didn't want this to be weird."
"Not sure you succeeded." The teen said. "I'm going to walk Chewie. Want me to pick up breakfast?"
"I'll come with you." Kara said. "Just give me a minute." She said disappearing at superspeed before coming back.
"Who are you texting at this time?" Kara asked when she returned.
"Martin. I'm telling him to look out for the walk of shame."
"How do you know what the walk of shame is?" Kara asked.
"I'm a college student." Alex shrugged.
"So are you okay with this?" Kara asked.
"Steve sneaking round at six am? Sure, but he doesn't need to sneak."
"I meant me and Steve." Kara said.
"Why wouldn't I be? Besides you have kinda been dating him for ages even if you were both too blind."
"Okay good. More important question, why were you up at six?"
"Nightmare."
"Want to talk?"
"No." The teen said. "Actually yes. Why were you so freaked out yesterday?"
"When you weren't in the lab I thought you'd been kidnapped." Kara explained.
"I'm okay." The teen assured her.
"Yet you are having nightmares."
"They are getting better, kind of. I mean I didn't project last night."
"That is progress." Kara agreed. "But you know, if you wanted to talk to a professional, there is one at the DEO."
"I'd rather not. How are your nightmares?" The teen asked.
"Better having talked to Barry." Kara said before Alex asked.
"Do you still feel it?"
"Feel what?"
"The pain. I mean I know it isn't real, but … "
"In your dreams it feels real and you wake up in pain?" Kara guessed.
"Yeah."
"It gets better." Kara said hugging her. "But it will take time."
00
"Good night last night?" The older Alex asked when she saw her sister later that day.
"How … ?"
"Kara. Who heard from Alex. Just be grateful that MJ isn't back. There would be no stopping his teasing."
"Shouldn't I get a little more respect than this?"
"Probably, but you bring it on yourself." Her sister smiled. "If it makes you feel better, Martin is happy it all took place at your apartment."
"That doesn't really help." Kara said. "But yes it was a good night."
"Good, you deserve to be happy." Alex smiled.
"Do I? While I am having fun Alex is still struggling."
"It will take time, but the offer of the DEO shrink is still there."
"She didn't seem very keen on it." Kara said.
"And you?" Alex offered.
"Yeah, no."
"You may change your mind. The President wants to see us."
"About the babies?"
"I would guess so. He wants Cat there as well." Alex said. "You know what you are going to say?"
"Yes. Kind of. I mean I had hoped I'd have a solution to present him with."
"A solution?"
"Well yeah, if I go in and say they have to live he'll say, 'sure, but how?'. I had hoped if I had a solution he would listen to me and not his Generals."
"Well, solutions aren't your job. Let's see what he says."
00
"Welcome back." The President greeted. He then looked at Cat and said. "I assume you are up to date."
"I am. Although why I am here I am not sure."
"You have a way of seeing through the bull. I need a fresh set of eyes on this." The President said. "So far I have had several opinions. Most believe the babies should not live. The obvious exception to that being Supergirl who thinks they should live."
"I haven't told you that yet." Supergirl said.
"I know. But I also know how much you value life. I also assume that you haven't told me your answer yet as you have been trying to be objective. But you have not found anything that moves you away from keeping them alive." The President said.
"That's right. They deserve a chance at life. Nothing that has happened is their fault."
"Only, it's not just life, it is quality of life. Say we actively keep them alive. Is there any guarantee they will ever have anything like a normal life quality? Even if they do, will they actually have a good life or will they be subjected to test after test?" Cat asked.
"So you think we should kill them?" Supergirl asked appalled.
"No. But we have to think about what is best for them. Do we even know if they are in pain?" Cat asked.
"We don't know." Alex said as her phone buzzed.
"Problem?" The President asked as Alex read the message frowning.
"The latest test results are in. The results are a little weird. They don't actually have powers." Alex said reading the report.
"They don't? But you said they were created for Indomitable." The President said.
"They were." Alex said.
"I'm not following."
"We know that Indomitable absorbed his powers from others, killing the metas as he did so. We assumed the babies were grown to give him an unlimited supply of powers. But maybe that is only half right. They don't have powers, but their stem cells are special. I think Indomitable knew full well he was unstable and the stem cells were a way of keeping him stable."
"So they are harmless?" Supergirl asked.
"I can't answer that." Alex said.
"Not having powers doesn't make them harmless in the same way having powers doesn't make you harmful." Cat jumped in.
"It does make them less of a threat." The President said. "Which buys time. However, if they are in pain, buying time is cruel, so we need to figure out if they are ok."
"We are working on it." Alex said. "But we could really do with paediatricians."
"I know and there will be a list for you to vet by the end of today." He assured her before looking at Supergirl and asking.
"If we locked these babies away and let them grow isolated from society what would you say?"
However, before she could answer Cat jumped in.
"I may be better giving a human perspective." Cat said. "Human are social creatures, condemning them to isolation would be cruel."
"So would keeping them locked in a lab." The President said.
"Is that what is the most likely to happen to them?" Supergirl asked.
"There have been no decisions and there won't be for a while." The President said. "However, it is on the cards. In the interim we will do all we can for them. But there are difficult decisions ahead."
00
"How did it go?" Vasquez asked.
"No decision yet. But regardless of the results they are still seen as a threat." Alex sighed. "Have you found Dr Bell yet?"
"Yes, but that isn't who you are looking for."
"Pretty sure it is."
"Actually it's not." Vasquez said. "Dr Bell has been dead for months."
"What?" Alex asked.
"A body has been in the NCPD morgue for weeks, they only just got a positive ID. And it is definitely Bell and based on the autopsy he died months ago."
"But he has been working at L-Corp." Alex said. "He signed in three weeks ago."
"Probably not Bell."
"So a shapeshifter? But Lena has sensors."
"Except they don't seem to work the way they are meant to. Our guess is they have figured a way round it, possibly by having access to the specs."
"I need to call Lena-" Alex started only for Vasquez to jump in.
"Already done. As you can imagine she is beyond ticked. But she said she'd get back to you when she has something."
00
"We're back." MJ called as he and Mel entered the house late that afternoon.
"Here." His sister shouted from the lounge.
As MJ and Mel entered the room Kara asked. "How was camping?"
"Good. Although I missed my phone." MJ replied as Mel saw the ring on Kara's finger.
"Oh my god! Congratulations."
"On what?" MJ asked confused.
"We got engaged." His sister said.
"Congrats." MJ said before asking. "Does mom know?"
"Yeah."
"How was the freak out?"
"Not as bad as I thought it'd be." Kara said. "But I did remind her once I was gone she'd have more time to dote on you."
"Cute." MJ said. "Where is mom?"
"Where do you think?"
"Work?"
"Yep. She did say she'd be back for dinner."
"What about Alex?" Mel asked.
"At her place."
"I'm going to say hello." Mel said. "I'll see you later." She added kissing MJ and leaving.
"So you set a date yet?" MJ asked.
"We've only been engaged a few days." Kara pointed out. "And graduation is a long way off."
"So you are aiming for after graduation?" MJ asked.
"Yeah."
"So not shotgun then?" MJ asked, resulting in a cushion hitting his face.
"Hey!" He protested.
"Consider yourself lucky it wasn't something more solid." Kara said as they heard the front door.
"Hey mom." MJ said looking out into the hallway.
"Hi." Alex said hugging him. "How was the trip?"
"Good."
"Where's Mel?"
"Gone to see Alex." He said pulling away and asking. "You okay?"
"I'm fine, why?"
"Just checking."
00
"Mel? When did you get back?" Alex asked her friend when she opened the apartment door.
"About five minutes ago."
"How was the trip?"
"Good."
"You don't sound sure." Alex pointed out.
"No I mean it was, I loved spending time cut off from everything but MJ. But camping I don't get."
"You should talk to Lena, she hates camping." The teenage Alex said.
"More importantly, how are you doing?"
"Me? Okay. Why?"
"You were kidnapped, stabbed, poisoned, blew out your powers. Should I go on?" Mel asked.
"I'm fine."
"And the truth?"
"I'm getting better, less nightmares."
"Anything I can do?" Mel asked.
"It'll just take time."
"Okay." Mel said not entirely believing her friend. However, she chose to listen and changed the subject. "How's Matt?"
"He's fine."
"Fine? I think I deserve more details than that. Come on let's walk Chewie and you can fill me in."
00
As Kara noticed her sister was ignoring her she scrunched up some paper and threw it at Alex who jumped up and asked.
"What?"
"You okay?"
"Yes. Why?"
"You have been staring at your coffee table for the last five minutes and ignoring me."
"Sorry."
"What's wrong?" Kara asked.
"Honestly, I'm worried about what else we have missed." Alex said. "How many other infiltrators where there and what did they get? Lena and Vasquez are conducting full stock takes, but I am worried something bad was taken."
"Like what?"
"Like something that could hurt you." Alex said.
"I'll be careful." Kara promised.
"Make sure you are." Alex warned.
"Always."
"Want a pizza to help with that?"
"Yeah, but no. I am going to see Steve."
"Want me to give you a sock for your door?" Alex asked.
"You are so not funny." Kara replied.