"I bring food." The older Kara said entering Alex's kitchen the next morning with her daughter and Chewie.
"Why?" Her sister asked suspiciously.
"I'm nice." Kara said looking guilty.
"Something that doesn't normally end up with me getting food." Her sister countered as she took a pastry from the box. "So what have you done?"
"Nothing. But you remember how I am your favourite sister?" The older Kara asked as the kids raided the box for food.
"Why do I think I am not going to like what you are about to say?" The older Alex asked, putting down her breakfast and looking at Kara.
"Well you are paranoid." The older Kara said.
"Kara, just spit it out." Alex said.
"You may be about to take a bit of flak." Kara said to her sister.
"Why?"
"I just got a message from Cat. She is talking to Cale today, to give her a chance to put her side forward. But she will show her the article which highlights the similarities in the drugs. Something that I could only know if I had samples and well it is likely to be obvious that I got those samples from you."
"It's okay I already discussed that issue with the President." Alex said.
"And he was okay with it?"
"His response was something like, not even he could stop Cat Grant and shouldn't she have retired by now." Alex said. "So when does it get published?"
"Friday. And then the follow up in the new year."
"What follow up?"
"Cat is interviewing Supergirl."
"Is that a good idea?" Alex asked.
"Cat is on our side." Kara reminded her.
"I know. But she can only work with the material she has." Alex pointed out.
"What does that mean?" Kara asked.
"Do I need to remind you about your first interview?" Alex questioned.
"It wasn't that bad." Kara argued.
"It resulted in one of your cousin's enemies coming after you."
"On the bright side we discovered that J'onn had heard of the Kardashians." Kara countered.
"The what?" Diz asked.
"Be grateful you don't know." The older Alex said.
"Who is Cale?" MJ asked grabbing a second pastry.
"CEO who hates Supergirl and wants to give everyone powers." His mother summarised.
"And she is guilty?" MJ asked.
"Of some things, yes." Alex confirmed.
"You sure?" MJ asked.
"You have evidence to the contrary?" His mother questioned.
"No, not exactly, but it does seem a little convenient that Aunt Kara is pinning this on a leafy green vegetable." MJ argued.
"They do teach us all about unconscious bias." His sister agreed.
"Different spelling." His mother pointed out.
"Well if the next bad guy is call Bean we're onto you." MJ said looking at his aunt.
"On that note I need to get to work." Alex said before looking at Diz and asking. "Shouldn't you have left by now?"
"Damn it." He muttered looking at his watch.
"Want me to fly you over there?" Kara offered.
"Thanks, but no." He replied quickly.
"Why does no one like flying anymore?" Kara asked.
-00-
"You are back early." Eliza commented as Alex came into the house that afternoon.
"Well Kara is stuck at CatCo with the army of lawyers so I said I'd make sure Alex was okay." She explained.
"In which case you may have come home needlessly, she is out with MJ."
"On a school night?"
"It's a study group." Eliza said.
"MJ?" Alex asked suspiciously.
"Yes MJ, it probably helps there is an assignment due before the break." Eliza smiled.
"Where's Kara and Diz?"
"They've gone out. So it should be a quiet evening."
"Makes a change." Alex said sitting on one of the chairs.
"You okay?" Eliza asked.
"Just tired. It's been a long few weeks." Alex replied. "Thanks for everything you've done."
"Of course." Eliza smiled before looking at her daughter.
Feeling her mother's eyes on her Alex asked. "What?"
"Was Kara right to worry about your blood pressure?" Eliza asked.
"No. It's fine. It's always been a little high." Alex replied. Seeing her mother was frowning she added. "I promise you it is fine. And there are bigger things to worry about."
"You mean Tycho?" Eliza guessed.
"And Lobo. And Malaise and all the others." Alex listed wearily.
"How's Kara coping with all of it?"
"She's admitting she isn't okay, so that's progress I guess."
"And you?"
"I'm fine."
"I believe you less than I do your sister." Eliza said.
"I'm okay. Besides, ever since Kara saw my medical file she has been watching me like a hawk."
"I'm going to start dinner." Eliza said standing.
"You do know you don't need to do all the cooking?" Alex asked.
"I think it is safer if I do." Eliza pointed out.
"Maybe." Alex conceded. "But let me take you out."
-00-
"Hi Sweetie." Eliza said as she got out of the car and saw Kara walk up the driveway later that evening.
"Hi." Kara smiled before noticing it was just the adults and asked. "Where's Alex?"
"At a study group with MJ." Alex said. Seeing her sister's surprised expression she added. "I didn't believe it either, but apparently there is an assignment due. How were the lawyers?"
"Appeased, I think. Cat seem relaxed and said we are covered, so it should be okay. Have you had any fallout yet?"
"No. But I am sure it is just round the corner." Alex replied as they walked to the house where they were greeted by Chewie.
"We got you some takeout." Eliza said.
"Thanks, I'm starving."
"I'll go heat it up." Eliza said laving the sisters alone.
"How is the investigation going?" Kara asked her sister.
"Well we don't think we will be able to identify any more of the victims." Alex said.
"What about the cause?"
"We don't know. There is obvious cause of death. We are thinking some sort of nerve agent, but then there was no accidental exposure. And we have never come across something that deadly, but that geographically constrained. The good news is there is nothing in the air or water, bad news is we have no idea what we are dealing with. And that means we are sitting ducks. And we can not discuss with anyone" Alex sighed. "But I did discuss your request to search for identities of the other victims and he agreed. But you will have to stick with the cover story."
"Which is?"
"Being worked on. Apparently he wants to see what happens with your article first. But it should be ready by the middle of January." Alex said as Eliza came in carrying a plate for Kara.
"Thanks." Kara smiled taking it from her.
"So I was thinking." Kara said as she started eating. "We know whoever made the drugs used my DNA. But your simulations showed that I could be turned into a biological weapon right?"
"Yes." Eliza agreed.
"Did any of your simulations lead to very short lived but very dangerous weapons?"
"No they were all runaway successes, if you can call them that." Eliza said. "Why? Does this have something to do with you two working so hard."
"Yes." Kara said.
"But we can't talk about it." Alex said.
"But we could." Kara pointed out.
"Are you trying to get me sent to jail?" Alex asked.
"We could talk hypotheticals." Kara pointed out.
"Fine hypothetically can you think of anyway where you could almost instantaneously kill 100 people but leave no trace of how and not contaminate the local water or air?" Alex asked.
"No. And with the simulations I ran it would be a runaway contaminant." Eliza said. "But ..." She trailed off thinking.
"But what?" Alex asked.
"Were there any traces of nanites?"
"There are no traces of anything." Alex said. "But I see what what you are thinking. I just need to make a call, I'll be back in a minute." She added leaving the room.
"Are you two going to have any down time?" Eliza asked.
"Depends on the bad guys." Kara said.
"Please try to take it easy." Eliza responded as Kara's phone buzzed.
"It's Alex, they will be another hour." Kara said reading the message.
"An hour you can use to try and relax."
"I am relaxed." Kara said.
"And the nightmares?"
"How do you know about them?"
"I was here when Alex asked your sister to talk to you." Eliza said.
"Well Alex thinks I am stressed about the lack of progress and that is causing the nightmares. And she may not be entirely wrong. I mean I am frustrated, by, well everything." Kara sighed as she ate her dinner. "And Lobo is this constant cloud that hangs over me."
"You've always had a way to see the good in any situation." Eliza reminded her. "And you have faced far worse."
"I know. But then I could be selfish as I didn't have to worry about anyone."
"While true, that doesn't mean you didn't worry about me and about Alex." Eliza said. "Being a parent, you see the world differently, but it doesn't stop you being you."