"Easy." Kara said as she watched her daughter blast various rocks in the desert a few days later. "You don't want to pass out."
"I'm in control." Alex argued.
"Are you?" Kara asked.
"Yes. Kind of." The teen replied as Kara's phone buzz. "Hi Alex." She answered. "When? Where?" She asked as she heard a roar. "It's too late. I think he is here." She said moving to shield her daughter from the approaching alien. Ending the call she watched as Lobo stopped his bike before standing and pulling Frax off the back.
"Your family is so dull. So need to be croaked." Lobo said as he tossed Frax to the ground in front of Alex. "The other one. The killer. Liked him, kind of. But the parents- I nearly killed them to beat the boredom."
"Did you?" Kara said as she crouched next to Frax, while ensuring she stayed between Lobo and Alex.
"No. I never kill my clients."
"What?" Kara asked.
"We're all one big happy family now." Lobo grinned. "We are going to have so much fun. Celebratory cigar?"
"No." Kara said.
"Drink?"
"No."
"Marriage?"
"No."
"Too bad. Well I'll see you soon." He smiled before walking off.
"Frax?" Alex called dropping down by her uncle as Kara released him from his bonds.
"It wasn't my idea. I didn't know until I was taken." Frax said as he sat up.
"Know what?" Kara asked confused.
"My family, they hired Lobo."
"Why?"
"To protect Alex."
"From what?"
"Everything." He said before explaining. "Since they left Earth they have been working on the contract. It is the longest contract I have seen. They have tried to think of every eventuality. But it will protect Alex and Lobo is not allowed to kill anyone."
"What about torture or mutilate?" Kara asked.
"Also banned. Apart from for specific exceptions." Frax said. Seeing Kara's expression he added. "I told them you would not approve. However, I agree with their actions."
-00-
"They are trying to protect me." The teenage Alex said to her mother an hour later.
"I know." Kara said pacing in the apartment.
"But you are mad?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"It's complicated."
"Then explain it."
"It ties you to Lobo." Kara said.
"I'm safe."
"And I want to make sure you stay that way."
"Aren't I safer this way?"
"For how long? Lobo will just get more obsessed." Kara said before forcing herself to be calm. "Sorry, I don't want to freak you out."
"Kara? You okay?" The older Alex asked walking into the apartment. Immediately sensing her sister's anger she asked. "What's wrong?"
"Alex's grandparents have made a contract with Lobo."
"For what?" Her sister asked.
"To protect Alex."
"Oh, okay." The older Alex said relaxing.
"Mom is angry about it." The teenage Alex added somewhat needlessly.
"Well this seems like a conversation for ice cream." The older Alex said looking at her sister. "Why don't we go buy some?"
"Because you aren't meant to be walking round." Kara pointed out.
"I'll go." The teenage Alex said hoping her aunt could calm her mother down. "And I will make sure I have my DEO escort."
Once the teenager had left Alex said. "This may not be a bad thing. I mean Alex will be safe. It sounds like they were trying to protect her."
"Then why not tell me?"
"They knew how'd you react?" Alex guessed.
"Lobo is bad news. And this is going to end badly." Kara said pacing.
"Maybe it won't. From everything we know about Lobo he keeps his word. Which means no matter the method Alex will be safe. That means it is one less thing for you to worry about."
00
"Maybe I should start paying you per word." Cat commented as she joined Kara on the balcony. "It would save me a fortune."
"Sorry, what?" Kara asked turning to face her mentor.
"What's wrong?" Cat asked. "You have been standing on this balcony for hours."
"Everything feels like it is spiralling out of control and now Lobo is in my life again. And no matter what anyone says it is not a good thing."
"Lobo?" Cat asked. "I thought he rode off."
"He did. But he came back and now he has been hired by Alex's grandparents to keep her safe."
"And you don't approve?"
"How can I? What if he does something bad to protect Alex. How will she live with that?"
"Better than you would live with something bad happening to Alex." Cat pointed out.
"So I should be okay with this?"
"No." Cat said. "But you could view it as an extra safety net for Alex."
"Maybe, but I just feel so powerless."
"Is this just about Lobo and Tycho?"
"No. Alex is still having nightmares and no matter what I do nothing helps."
"She is probably picking up on your stress." Cat said.
"I don't know, she has plenty of her own stress. I mean she is always studying and says school is hard."
"Does she say why?"
"No, but I remember how hard I found history not to mention English and all the rules that don't makes sense."
"I assume you have shared that insight?"
"Yes, but it's like Alex is convinced I am too busy to help her or she doesn't want to bother me."
"Or maybe there is a different reason behind it?" Cat suggested.
"Hi mom." Carter said walking onto the balcony. "Oh hey Kara. Sorry am I interrupting?"
"No it's fine." Kara said. "I need to get back to work anyway."
"While you are here, is Alex okay?" Carter asked.
"Yes. Why?"
"I've not seen her since just before Christmas." He said as Kara's phone rang.
"Sorry." She said answering the call. After a moment she said. "I'll be right there." Ending the call she looked at Cat and Carter and said. "Sorry I have to go."
-00-
"One day and you are already breaking the agreement." Supergirl said as she landed in front of Lobo.
"What?"
"No harm." Kara reminded him.
"Different contract." He shrugged.
"Why are you here?" Kara asked.
"I'm fulfilling my contract." He said pointing to the corpse at his feet. "Don't worry, now he's croaked it, Mini Supes is my sole focus." He grinned.
"Just go." Supergirl said.
"Can't do that." Lobo said pulling a cigar from his jacket.
"Why?"
"Mini Supes is in trouble."
"What?" Kara asked eyes wide.
"She's a target." He said lighting the cigar.
"Whose target?"
"Dunno."
"Then how can you protect her?"
"So yer do want my help?" He grinned
"No. Are you drunk?"
"Always. Want some?" He asked offering her a flask.
"Is Alex in danger?" Kara asked.
"Yes."
"From who?"
"No idea. But anyone linked to you is in danger." He smiled. "Don't worry, I'll be there when she needs me."
-00-
"What's wrong?" The teenage Alex asked her mother when she entered the apartment and found her immediately drawn into a hug.
"What do you mean?" Kara asked.
"You look worried."
"I'm okay." Kara said hugging her.
"Is this about me? Have I done something?"
"I just needed a hug." Kara said releasing her. "How was school?"
"Boring."
"I thought it was a careers day?"
"It was. Still boring."
"Nothing inspired you?"
"No."
"Well there's no rush."
"How did you decide?"
"I didn't for years." Kara said. "And you don't need to decide now. If there is nothing you really want to do, just focus on what you enjoy."
"I guess." The teen said not sounding convinced.
"How's Martin doing?" Kara asked.
"Okay. In a way it was a good thing what happened with Steve."
"How so?"
"Before, he was convinced Steve was just tolerating him. But after what happened they actually talked about everything and now he feels wanted."
"And how are you doing with everything?"
"Don't you already know?"
"About the nightmares? Yes. But I'd like to hear it from you."
"Nothing to say. I just keep dreaming about drowning."
"Is that why you haven't been to the aquarium recently?"
"How do you know that?"
"I saw Carter. He was worried about you." Kara said. "So what's wrong? Are you worried you'll be attacked again there?"
"No, well kind of, but I know I have the DEO escort and they'd stop it."
"So what's wrong?"
"I really like the aquarium and sitting in front of the large tank watching the fish."
"I know." Kara said.
"But you saw me at Midvale I had a panic attack in the water. What if seeing all that water triggers one. I don't want to ruin it."
"I get that, but maybe you are looking at this wrong. Maybe it is the aquarium that will help you?"
"If I go and have a panic attack I won't want to go back." The teen argued.
"Or it may help. Why don't we go out?" Kara asked.
"Where?"
"You choose."
00
"I thought you didn't want to go to aquarium." Kara said as they stood outside the building.
"I kind of miss it." The teen said, although she didn't go towards the entrance.
"What if we skip the big tank room and water tunnels?" Kara asked. "If we go to the smaller tanks that's like being in your bedroom right?"
"Okay." The teen said.
"I'll be with you every step." Kara smiled before her phone rang.
"Hi Rose." Kara answered. "Yeah, now's not a good time. Can you ask J'onn to step in? Thanks."
"You should go." The teen said.
"No, I should stay here and make sure you are okay. J'onn can handle it." Kara said wrapping an arm round her daughter.
"But-" Alex started.
"No buts, lets go." Kara said guiding her daughter to the entrance.
"Hey Alex." The young woman on the ticket counter said.
"Hi." The teen greeted.
"Long time no see, we were getting worried." The woman went on.
"Sorry, that's my fault." Kara said. "I've been keeping her pretty busy."
"I get that, but good to have you back. Go straight in."
"What about my ticket?" Kara said.
"It's fine. Go on through." The woman smiled.
"Thanks." Kara replied before looking at her daughter. "Ready?"
"Sure."
00
"You doing okay?" Kara asked when they entered the reef room.
"I guess. But shouldn't you have gone to that emergency."
"You are my priority." Kara said.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want to get in the way of work." The teenager said.
"You've got it the wrong way round." Kara said. Seeing her daughter's confused expression she said. "It is work that gets in the way, not the other way round."
Before Alex could say anything one of the backroom doors opened and they heard someone bellow.
"Danvers."
"Yes." They both said turning.
"Not you, the smart one." The Professor said.
"Professor Ramsey." Alex said.
"You owe me an essay." He said.
"She does?" Kara asked confused.
"You were meant to give it to me after Christmas."
"Sorry."
"Well, you can make it up to me. I expect you in my office on Saturday. Make sure you are prepared."