"Worked?" Kara croaked as she came to and saw Lena.
"Alex is safe." Lena said.
"Good." Kara said her eyes shutting again.
"You are a different story though." Eliza said from her other side as she squeezed her hand.
"Figured." Kara sad.
"How are you feeling?" Eliza asked.
"Burns." Kara said before passing out.
"The good news is her brain functions look almost normal. However her cells are a different story. Even with all the antidotes we pumped into her, there is still so much Kryptonite in her and it is going to take a long time to remove it. For now all we can do is prioritise, like we have done from the start." Lena said before her tone softened. "We have been at this for hours. Why don't you have a break. The sedatives we gave Alex will be wearing off soon. Go sit with her. I'll stay with Kara."
-00-
"Alex? Alex, can you here me?" Eliza asked squeezing her daughter's non bandaged hand.
"Mom?" Alex asked opening her eyes.
"Hey Sweetie."
"Where am I?" She asked feeling disorientated.
"At Lena's lab. You are going to be okay. But you need to rest."
"Okay." Alex said as she continued to wake up before suddenly exclaiming. "Kara. She's in trouble. They-"
"Alex, it's okay. Kara is safe."
"No. They did something."
"I know. But she is going to be fine."
"Can I see her?" Alex asked.
"No. Right now we are running tests."
"Tests? What tests?" Alex asked sitting up, wincing as she did so.
"She was exposed to a whole bunch of chemicals. We need to make sure they didn't do any permanent damage." Eliza said.
"I should be doing those scans too." Alex said.
"Yes, but right now you are stuck in bed. Let Lena handle it and I will bring in all the results for you to look at." Eliza countered, trying to appease her.
"Okay." Alex said.
"How are you feeling?"
"A little sore. But pain killers are working. What's the damage?"
"Four broken ribs, a burn, a probable concussion and a lot of bruising."
"Doesn't sound so bad. Where are the kids?"
"Staying with Sam. They're fine."
-00-
"Hey guys." Ruby said before noticing they were missing two teens. "Where are Kara and Diz?"
"Backyard." MJ said.
"Can you get them?" Ruby asked.
"Sure." MJ said fearing the worse. As he left Alex asked.
"What's happened?"
"Let's wait for the others." Ruby said. Seeing the teenage Alex pale as her mind went straight to the worst case scenario she added. "It's okay."
"You promise?"
"I promise." Ruby said as Kara and MJ ran into the lunge.
"What is it?" Kara asked.
"Both of your mom's are okay. They are at Lena's lab and Eliza said I can take you guys back to National City."
"When?" MJ asked as Diz entered the lounge.
"As soon as you have packed." Ruby said but she had barely completed the sentence when all teens left the room to pack.
"Wow, they must hate my cooking." Sam commented before asking. "Sure you don't want me to come back with you?"
"No, we'll be fine. Besides here you should be safe." Ruby said as the four teens reappeared carrying their bags.
-00-
When the adult Alex woke later she found herself alone in the room. Concerned about her sister Alex managed to get out of the bed, and while clutching her side, that was protesting at the movement, she tried to find her sister.
Eventually she found her in one of the isolabs. Not sure why Kara was within a containment field she called.
"Kara?"
"Alex. You okay?" Kara asked weakly as she lay on the bed, her skin pale, with a strange tinge.
"I think so. You had me worried though."
"All part of the plan." Kara said.
"What?" Alex asked.
"They had to believe they were controlling me."
"They weren't?" Alex asked. "You were in control. How?"
"I had a whole lot of help. I am so sorry about the hand."
"You really have it in for this hand." Alex commented looking at the bandage.
"Better than breaking your arm." Kara said her eyes laced with guilt.
"How? I mean you can't act, but you looked so cold."
"Contact lenses." Kara said.
"What?" Alex asked as Lena came in and stood next to Alex.
"Adaptable contacts." Lena said. "I took the contact lenses that Kai were using and I combined it with some of Kelly's later work and I came up with a way to control Kara. That combined with a kind of Kryptonite scrubbing unit we implanted in Kara effectively allowed us to be in control of Kara so she didn't succumb to the effects of the Kryptonite cocktail they gave her."
"I am so confused right now." Alex said.
"Kryptonite works by altering blood chemistry. It can be through poisoning or stopping biological processes like absorbing sunlight, or by altering neural pathways." Lena said. "We knew we couldn't stop everything. But combining the mind control properties of the contacts with some Kryptonite antidotes we could control her."
"But isn't she too old for the contacts?"
"No. She is Kryptonian, so her brain behaves differently." Lena said.
"When you say in control?" Alex asked.
"Just that. Once she had been exposed to the Red-Gold Kryptonite we took control." Lena said. "We controlled every movement.
"So you blasted my hand?" Alex asked.
"I guess so. Sorry." Lena said as Eliza entered.
"Alex, what are doing up?"
"I needed to see Kara." Alex said.
"I know, but you need to rest." Eliza said. "In a couple of hours you are going to have some very worried teens in here."
Seeing Kara had fallen to sleep Alex reluctantly nodded and left the room.
As Alex's left her sister's room she felt her strength drain away and she started to wobble.
"Easy." J'onn said wrapping his arms round her.
"I'm okay." Alex said.
"Let's make sure of that." He said helping her back to her room.
-00-
"Could one of you tell me just how bad it is?" Kara asked, fed up of watching Lena and Eliza frown as they kept running tests.
"It's bad." Lena said.
"Your body is still laced with various versions of Kryptonite. We are managing to stop the effects being too bad for you, but it is going to take time to get all of the Kryptonite out of you. While it is inside it is too dangerous to get anywhere near Alex." Eliza said.
"How do we get it out?" Kara asked.
"We are trying to figure that one out." Lena said. "There is a way for you to see Alex though. The barrier round this room will keep Alex safe. You will be able to see Alex, but there will be a barrier between you. But Alex should be completely safe from the Kryptonite."
"Should?" Kara asked.
"I believe so."
"It's too risky. I don't want her near me if there is any chance I'll hurt her." Kara said.
"Are you sure?" Eliza asked.
"Even if it was safe, she'd be freaked out seeing me like this."
-00-
"Grandma!" The teenage Kara exclaimed before hurrying over to Eliza and hugging her before Eliza opened her arms again and the other two grandchildren joined the hug.
"Are you three okay?" Eliza asked.
"Can we see mom?" MJ asked instead of answering the question.
"Yes, but she needs rest." Eliza warned. "So it can only be a short visit." Seeing their nods she added. "This way."
As Alex's children rushed to her bedside, the teenage Alex hung back in the door way waiting for Eliza to take her to her mother.
Content that two of her grandchildren were happy and safe Eliza led the teenage Alex out of the room. But when Alex was taken to a small room to one side she felt like she was about to get some very bad news.
"Where's mom?" The teenage Alex asked,
"She's in a special room."
"Can I see her?"
"No. Not yet." Eliza said.
"Why?"
"She was exposed to Kryptonite, it could be dangerous for you to get too close. I know it is hard, but right now you have to stay away from her." Eliza explained.
"But she's going to be okay?" The teen asked.
"We are doing everything we can." Eliza said before Alex heard her say. "But it will be a miracle if she survives."
"What?" Alex asked, looking up.
"I said we are doing every thing we can." Eliza said. "It will be safer for you to wait at home. I'll get someone to drive you."
"It's fine. Chewie needs a walk any way." The teen said looking down at the dog.
"It may not be safe yet." Eliza warned. "So no leaving here without someone to look after you."
"I'll be fine." The teen replied as an alarm sounded. Looking down at her tablet Eliza frowned and said. "I have to go. I'll see you later. Don't leave without some one." She added before hugging her granddaughter and running off.
-00-
As the teenage Alex walked down the corridor she heard her cousins talking with her aunt. Hearing her name she came to a stop and started listening.
"Everything is always about Alex." MJ complained.
"It's no different than it was for mom with aunt Kara." His sister said.
"So we're stuck with her?" MJ asked.
"Yes."
"It's not fair."
"I know. Mom is only in here because of aunt Kara." The teenage Kara argued.
"Alex?" Lena asked when she saw the teen. "Everything okay?"
"Sure." The teen said looking over to the Luther.
"Okay." Lena said. "Why don't we get you and your cousins home?" Lena suggested before Alex heard her say. "I don't know how Eliza is going to tell her."
"Tell me what?" Alex asked.
"What?" Lena asked confused.
"Didn't you just say Eliza had something to tell me?" The teen asked.
"No" Lena said confused. "Can I get you anything?"
"No." Alex said before she heard Lena say.
"Not that anything is going to help when you hear the news."
"What?" Alex asked.
"What do you mean what?" Lena asked confused.
"You said something." Alex said.
"No I didn't." Lena said. "You sure you are okay?"
"Sure."
"Okay, I'll be back in a minute." Lena said walking off.
Alex waited a moment then followed Lena stopping outside a room, where Lena was talking to Eliza.
"Are you sure you don't want me to tell her?" Lena offered.
"I should do it. But I just need to pull myself together first." Eliza said. "I never thought … I mean Kara is, was, practically invincible and now she's gone."
"What are you going to do with Alex?" Lena asked.
"I don't know. I can't take her in. Alex is in no state to and it isn't fair on Kara and MJ. Especially with her powers, which are so dangerous." Eliza said.
Hearing enough the teenager turned and walked out of the facility.