"You are sitting at a desk." Kara said entering her sister's office a few days later.
"Yes."
"You have been sitting at your desk for two days. Not even a hint of you going out into the field. You okay?"
"Just focusing on my job." Alex said.
"So you're not sick?"
"What? No. I'm just trying to make sure I am there for MJ."
"Well if you want me to pick up any slack let me know." Kara smiled.
"Thanks. Has he said anything to you?"
"No. But I haven't really seen him much. In fact apart from in the morning I barely see him at all. And recently he has been getting up so late not at all. I really have lost my cool aunt title."
"Well don't take it the wrong way."
"If only Lobo would lose interest in me so quickly."
"Have you heard from him?" Alex asked frowning.
"No. But Lobo is out there somewhere, doing, well I really don't want to know. But he could be back at any point."
"Or maybe he will lose interest." Alex said.
"When do I ever get that lucky?" Kara asked.
"There's always a first time." Alex said. "That reminds me, the new training scenario has been set up. It is ready for you and Alex when you are."
"You sure it is safe?" Kara asked.
"Safety protocols are in place. The only people who can over ride them are you, me and J'onn. There's enough in there to serve as a warning for Alex, but not enough to do damage. Plus we will monitor her and make sure there are no unusual effects from Kryptonite."
"Thanks." Kara said.
"No problem. And speaking of training, don't forget you have another round with the new Meta squad."
"What do they have planned this time?"
"No idea, but it should be interesting. But there will be no children involved this time." Alex said. "You still okay to support it tomorrow?"
"Yes, I'm submitting my article this afternoon. So I should be free all day." She said as there was a knock on the door.
"Ma'am, you have a visitor." Rose said stepping to one side so they could see the visitor.
"Lucy. Hi." Kara smiled when her friend was shown into the office.
"Kara, Alex." Lucy said once Rose had gone.
"What brings you here?" Kara asked.
"I am leading the team looking at the legal issues of the meta pills."
"That's great?" Alex said not knowing if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
"It's not. It is a poisoned chalice. But the one good thing is I have to talk to you about your investigation. That's why I am here. Well that's partly why I am here."
"And the other part?" Alex asked.
"The stolen compound. I am leading that investigation as well. The President wants me to find out who knew what. I was hoping you could tell me what you know."
"Of course." Alex said.
"Thanks." Lucy smiled.
"That reminds me." Alex said walking out of the office.
"Should we follow?" Lucy asked.
"No idea. I don't think so. If she wants us she'll call." Kara said. "So how have you been?"
"Good. Busy, but good." Lucy replied. "Have you spoken to Lois recently?"
"No. Why has something happened?"
"I wouldn't know, we haven't spoken for a while, I thought if there was something worth knowing you might know."
"According to Kal it is all same old same old. Why haven't you spoken with Lois?"
"She started trying to organise my life and didn't appreciate it when I told her to take a running jump." Lucy explained as Alex came back into the office.
"Sorry, I had to get a file transferred." She explained before going over to her computer and looking at Kara and saying. "You were right."
"About what?"
"A possible link. The victims of the first batch of drugs gone wrong, all had family members who were metas."
"Does that help?" Lucy asked.
"Maybe." Alex said. "I don't know how exactly, but I am pretty sure it will lead to something."
"Sounds like we have a lot to catch up on." Lucy commented.
-00-
"Hi Alex." Lucy smiled when the teen came into the lounge that evening.
"Hi." She said surprised to see her as Chewie scampered over to her.
"Hey." The older Alex said walking back into the lounge. "MJ not with you?"
"No, I had a study group." The teenager said as she stroked Chewie. "Is mom here?"
"No a Supergirl thing came up. She should be back soon."
"Okay, well I'm going to walk Chewie then go home." The teen said.
"You can stay here." The older Alex offered. "I was about to order food."
"Thanks, but I have homework to do."
"Do you actually have food at your place?" Lucy asked.
"Probably, if not I can order in." The teen said leaving.
"She still doesn't like me?" Lucy guessed when she has gone.
"Don't take it personally, she's still shy round strangers." The older Alex said. "Plus she and MJ had a fight recently and since then she has been quieter and not round here very much."
"What was the fight about?"
"No idea, neither of them are telling us." Alex explained.
"Well fights are normal. Lois and I still fight." Lucy said as the door opened and Kara walked in. Noticing the lack of canine greeting she asked.
"Where's Chewie?"
"Alex took him for a walk." Her sister explained.
"She's back?"
"She was. She said she'd go home after the walk." Alex said. "And she said if there was no food she'd order in."
"Was she okay?"
"Seemed to be." Alex said as Kara fired off a message to her daughter. After the reply came in her sister asked.
"So you're staying?"
"Yeah, Alex said to stay and have fun."
"And I thought I had power over dad when I was a teen, but I have nothing on Alex." Lucy pointed out.
"Yeah they have a weird dynamic." The older Alex agreed.
"We do not." Kara protested. "I just wanted to make sure Alex is okay."
"I know, I'm just teasing." Lucy smiled. "So kids and chemicals aside how have things been?"
"Busy." Alex said. "It is like the world is conspiring against me. Every time I think I am going to stick to reasonable hours there is another alien attack." She complained before asking. "What about you?"
"I am maxed." Lucy said. "I think the President views me as trusted but neutral so every mess that is uncovered is thrown my way."
"The good news is if there is a connection you'll be best placed to see it." Kara said.
"That's what the President said." Lucy replied. "Just as he gave me the chemical investigation."
"Nice to be popular." Alex said dryly.
"Anyway the reason I wanted to meet tonight wasn't actually to complain about work." Lucy said. "I wanted to give you something. But unofficially. No one can know you have this." She said taking a thumb drive out of her bag.
"What is it?" Kara asked.
"It contains a data base of all the alien tech my father sold to Tycho. Most of it is catalogue numbers, but there are a few descriptions and photos. But my father can never know I have this or I gave it to you."
"Then Kara, why don't you take it." Alex said. "You may recognise some of the items."
"Okay." Kara said taking the disk off her friend as Alex's phone rang.
"Danvers … again? …. okay, I'll send her." Ending the call she looked at her sister and said.
"Sorry, they need you at the desert base."
"On it. I'll see you later." Kara said flying off.
00
"You okay?" Kara asked entering the apartment later that evening.
"Fine." The teenager said from where she was sitting at the kitchen table, nose deep in books.
"Still struggling with school?"
"Just history and Spanish."
"I hated history too." Kara said. "So many random names and dates that meant nothing to me, but everyone else already knew them."
"Plus it is boring." Alex complained.
"I know." Kara said. "But you still like math and science right?"
"That's boring too. I mean it is either easy or wrong, but I can't point out how wrong it is can I?"
"No." Kara agreed. "Maybe you need to spend less time worrying about school. Why don't you spend some more time at the aquarium?"
"Need to figure out some other activities first to add to my college essay."
"Your SAT scores will take you a long way."
"But not all the way." The teen said.
"Have you thought about what college you want to go to?"
"I thought you wanted me to stay local?"
"Yes, but that doesn't matter. What matters is what you want." Kara said.
"It's not like I have any strong feelings. I mean all I know is what Kara told me."
"Well why don't you think what you want to do and then we can figure out where to do it?"
"You'd be okay with me not being here?"
"Stop worrying about me." Kara said hugging her. "You need to stop stressing." When she pulled away she asked. "Are you tired?"
"Not really."
"Then why don't we go out?"
"It's after nine." The teenager pointed out. "On a school night."
"Only a little after nine." Kara argued.
"You that desperate for dessert?" The teen questioned.
"For your information I was going to suggest we do some more training."
"Really?" The teen asked.
"Yes, but it would be followed by dessert. So what do say?"
"You really have time?"
"Of course." Kara smiled.
"I'm too tired to try out Alex's new simulation, but we can work on your powers."
"If you are tired we don't have to."
"I want to, just not your aunt's house of horrors. So why don't we go to the desert?"
"You sure?" The teen asked.
"Absolutely. Let's go." Kara said.