"Hi Kara." Steve said as he sat opposite her in the coffee shop.
"Hey. How are you?"
"I'm good."
"And Clare?"
"Should be released next week."
"That's great." Kara smiled.
"It is, although she has a long road to recovery." He commented. "So what can I do for you?"
"I have a question for you."
"Shoot."
"Out of interest do you ever treat aliens?"
"No." Steve said. "Well very rarely. Either they don't trust us or they have their own doctors. To be honest besides basic plumbing I'm not sure how much use I'd be. I mean the blood types are different, the physiology is different. We wouldn't be the right people without training. Why'd you ask?"
"I was just wondering if you had seen anything strange, like when you picked up on the drug use."
"No. Although we have had more people in complaining of being attacked by aliens and metas. Although in general they don't want to talk to the police."
"What about a reporter?" Kara asked.
"I wouldn't hold my breath. But I can ask."
"Thank you." Kara smiled.
"No problem. Anyway I have a proposition."
"Sounds ominous."
"It's not. I hope. Martin wanted to go to the Lunar Eclipse Event in a couple of weeks. And there's an observatory an hour out of the city where they are doing a big day and night of things."
"Things?"
"Well therein lies my problem. My knowledge of astronomy ends at that point. So I was wondering if Alex wanted to come with us. I mean you are more than welcome too. But if you wanted time off for good behaviour that is also fine."
"Sure you want an extra teen?" Kara asked.
"Well I'm sure Martin would." Steve said. "And it is not as if Alex is a hard core gang member."
"If Alex wants to that sounds great." Kara replied.
"Great." Steve smiled. "And not a deal breaker, but I was hoping for a favour."
"Sure."
"Tomorrow I have surgery scheduled and it is likely to be long. There's been a spate of muggings recently so I don't want Martin to go home alone-"
"He can come back with Alex." Kara assured him. "Pick him up when you are ready."
"Thank you."
"Of course. But seeing it is Friday we'll probably be at Alex's so you might want to try their first."
00
"So my normal sources are not admitting to seeing anything strange. But there is another group I will talk tomorrow. But Steve said there are more patients coming into hospitals that claim to have been attacked by metas or aliens. But he hasn't seen any more occurrences of that drug." Kara said entering her sister's office.
"Well that is more progress than we've made." Alex sighed.
"How's the Grot?"
"Still powered and aggressive. And before you ask we still can't figure out why."
"You okay?" Kara asked.
"Yeah, just tired. There's a lot going on." Alex replied. "What about you?"
"Pretty much the same. Want to do something tonight?"
"I can't. I want to clear everything before the weekend so I can spend time with Kara."
"Need any help?" Kara offered.
"No, I'll be fine." Alex smiled. "Besides aren't you meant to be training with Alex?"
"Yes."
"Then go. I'll see you tomorrow."
"You sure?" Kara pressed.
"Go."
00
"Hi mom." The teenage Alex said when she got home.
"Hey." Kara smiled. "Did you have a good day?"
"I guess."
"That didn't sound convincing." Kara pointed out hugging her. "You still up for training?"
"You have time?"
"Of course I do." Kara replied. "So why don't we go to the desert and then get dinner?"
"Okay." The teenager said looking a bit happier.
"And over dinner you can tell me what is bothering you."
"It's nothing." The teen said causing Kara to just stare at her until finally she said. "It's nothing major. I just hate not being able to do things."
"What things?"
"Like history and Spanish. It's just frustrating."
"I know." Kara said. "It'll get easier though."
"It seems to be getting harder." The teenager pointed out.
"Come on, let's go blow up some rocks." Kara smiled.
00
"What's with the crinkle?" Alex asked when her sister entered the DEO control room the next morning.
"What crinkle?" Kara asked.
"The one etched on your face."
"It's nothing."
"Not what the crinkle is telling me." Alex pressed.
"I'm just worried about Alex."
"Training didn't go well?"
"No it went really well. Too well."
"How can training go too well?"
"We were blowing up rocks and Alex obliterated, in a really controlled way, at least twenty."
"Did she pass out?"
"No."
"Then what's the problem?"
"Every time Alex has managed to obliterate a rock it is because she has channeled her anger."
"And it sounds like she is doing that well." Alex said.
"Yes and her level of control is good, but why is she carrying around so much anger?"
"She's a teenager." Alex reminded her.
"I know, but it's Alex."
"Has she said anything?"
"Just that she is frustrated at how hard she is finding school this year."
"Maybe that's it?" Alex said.
"I hope so, I just wish I could help."
"Sounds like the training did." Her sister pointed out as Vasquez entered the office.
"Sorry am I interrupting?" She asked.
"No." Supergirl replied.
"What have you got?" Alex asked.
"Our slug trackers have just discovered a large nest in a research lab."
"Whose lab?"
"Tendril Inc."
"Who are?" Supergirl asked.
"A small start up. Officially they are dealing with computer modelling."
"Could the nest be a coincidence?" Alex asked.
"They must be aware of it. I mean according to our sensors there are hundreds in the building. I am just assembling a team to go in if you want to join." Vasquez said looking at Supergirl.
"Sure."
"Wait." Alex said. "This could be a trap. For all we know that stolen chemical is in that building."
"Wouldn't that effect the Himlof?" Supergirl asked.
"No way to know for sure." Alex said before looking to Vasquez. "So make sure our team has no metas. Then send them in, with a full set of sensors." She then looked to Kara. "You stay back until we know it is safe. I'm not risking you getting exposed."
00
"You okay?" Alex asked as she glanced at her sister who was prowling the control room ten minutes later.
"Yes. I just don't like waiting." Kara reminded her.
"I know. But hopefully you won't be needed at all." Alex said. "But if you aren't we'll find someone who needs your help."
"They are about to breach." Vasquez said approaching the pair causing them to look at the various screens. They then silently watched as DEO agents crashed through the doors and then moments later saw the building rock with explosions.
"Fontaine report." Alex snapped over the radio.
"The place was rigged." He reported.
"Injuries?"
"We are all a little crispy but nothing major. But we aren't getting into that lab anytime soon."
"Any chemicals showing on the sensors?" Alex asked.
"Negative." Fontaine said before they heard shouting over the radio.
"What's going on?" Alex asked.
"The explosions started some fires and they are spreading."
"Fire crew are ten minutes out." Rose informed Alex.
"On it." Kara said taking off.
"Fontaine, Supergirl is on route. But keep an eye out for chemicals."
"Yes Ma'am." He confirmed before seeing a blur and feeling an icy breeze. "She's here. And the fire is almost under control."
"Keep an eye on those sensor readings." Alex ordered.
"Yes Ma'am."
-00-
As the adult Alex entered the house after work, carrying bags of takeout she saw MJ sitting on the couch playing video games, while Alex and Martin were silently doing homework.
"MJ, can you see the problem with this picture?"
"What?" He asked confused as Alex placed the bags on the kitchen table.
"Alex and Martin, as in the ones with good grades are doing homework, yet you, the one with bad grades are playing games." His mother said, the comparison making MJ tense.
"It's Friday." He pointed out as the door opened and his sister entered the house.
"Hi-" She started to say only to be hugged by her mother. "Hi mom." She said into the hug.
"I've missed you." The older Alex said before pulling away and asking. "Are you okay?"
"Sure." She smiled. Sensing something wasn't right Alex asked. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I'm just a little tired." She said as the front door opened again.
"You're back!" The older Kara said before hugging her niece.
"Hi" The teen replied into the hug.
"How are you?"
"Good." The teen smiled pulling out of the hug.
"So, is Diz coming?" Kara asked her niece looking round.
"No." The teen said.
"You going out to see him?"
"No."
"Have you dumped him?" MJ asked from the lounge doorway.
"No."
"Did he dump you?" MJ pressed.
"No." The teenage Kara said.
"You still dating?" MJ pressed.
"Can we not talk about this?" The teenage Kara asked.
"Sure." Her mother said before noticing MJ had grabbed his jacket. "Where are you going?"
"I'm no longer grounded so out."
"Your sister is here."
"I know. I'm not as dumb as you make out." He countered before leaving.
"What was that about?" The teenage Kara asked.
"I wish I knew." Her mother said. "But I'll worry about it later. Right now I'm worried about you."
"I'm fine." The teen said, saved from further interrogation by the doorbell ringing.
"Hi, sorry I'm late." Steve said as the older Kara opened the door. "I got stuck in surgery."
"It's fine. We were just about to eat? Want to join us?" The older Kara offered.
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely." Kara said letting him in. But when he saw the teenage Kara he said.
"Hi Kara. I didn't know you were back. We should go and let you guys catch up."
"It's fine. Besides there is way too much food." The older Alex said. "MJ ditched us."
"He did?" Steve asked confused.
"Girlfriend." Alex explained signalling that he should sit at the table.
"Don't worry it is takeout." The older Kara added.
"So no Diz tonight?" Steve asked looking round once they had sat at the table.
"No." The teenage Kara said looking frustrated.
"Sorry." Steve said sensing he had put his foot in it.
"So are you two still dating?" The adult Alex asked Steve and Kara, taking the attention away from her daughter. But the question, causing Steve to almost choke on his water.
"Sorry?" He asked.
"Is Kara still your fake girlfriend or have you dumped her?" Alex clarified.
"That's a good question, I mean everyone was really nice to me at the hospital so I assumed we were still dating but I didn't want to say the wrong thing." Kara said
"Um, well technically still dating, but you are about to be dumped."
"Why?"
"Well, we've been dating a long time and they don't know why we aren't getting married. And my commitment issues only go so far. So I am about to dump you."
"Why aren't I dumping you?" Kara asked.
"None of them would believe you would do that, on account of you being so nice. Something they tell me everyday. so I will have to be the bad guy."
"You guys are so weird." Martin commented.
"I'd say you'll get use to it." The older Alex said. "But in Kara's case at least I'd be lying."
"I'm not weird. Well that weird." Kara protested.