Chapter 2 - Ambush
After an irritatingly long drive back from the desert base, Alex tiredly pulled herself out of her SUV and shut the door. She readjusted the backpack over her shoulder before slowly ascending the stairs to her condominium. Sluggishly, she pulled out her keys, which slipped out of her fingers and tumbled to the ground.
"Fuck," she exhaled weakly and bent over to retrieve them with a soft groan. Managing to unlock her door, she weakly pushed it open with a long sigh.
As she entered, Alex let her backpack slip off her shoulder and drop carelessly to the floor as she tossed her keys to the entryway table. They smacked the side of the table and clattered to the floor, where they stayed as she stared at them with a heavy sigh, debating whether to pick them up.
Hearing she was not alone, adrenaline quickly pushed aside her fatigue as she swiftly withdrew her sidearm and pointed it at the intruder, who sat primly on her couch.
"I'd appreciate you listening to me before deciding to shoot," the intruder said, as if greatly put upon.
"What the hell are you doing in my apartment?!" Alex spat, still pointing her weapon at the petite blond, in spite of knowing her . . . or perhaps, because she did.
"Really? I would have thought an FBI agent would be able to figure it out," Cat sassed, standing up from the couch and placing her hands on her hips, like she would when intimidating one of her employees, instead of standing, uninvited, in a federal agent's home with a gun pointed at her.
Alex just glared murderously at the intruder. She could make it look like an accident; she'd get Vasquez to help.
Cat took stock of the agent. While clearly tense and on guard, she radiated incredible fatigue. Her eyes were hard, but with notably dark circles beneath them. It was clear her habitual adversarial approach was a mistake; Agent Danvers was too close to breaking. Her worry for Kara skyrocketed.
"Please," Cat said softly, raising her hands in appeasement. "While I am a journalist," she immediately acknowledged the elephant in the room, causing Alex to tense more. "I have no intention of exposing her," she firmly added. "I just need to know how Kara is. It's been five days and I have not heard anything," she growled, allowing her frustration to seep through.
Alex looked at the Queen of all Media warily, knowing she was not up to doing battle with her right now.
"As you can imagine, Winn and James' continued excuses are pathetic."
And unfortunately, the Queen of All Media was not going to relent, Alex concluded tiredly, silently staring at the irritating woman.
Cat knew she had to do something she loathed – explain herself. But desperate times called for desperate measures.
"Look, Alex, I need to know what happened to her. Something must have, or she would have contacted me by now."
Alex reluctantly put her gun away; it was getting too heavy in her hands anyway. She was certain she was not the first person that wanted to shoot Cat Grant . . . and she would bet a paycheck she wouldn't be the last. But just because she wasn't going to shoot her did not mean she had to talk with her . . . or confirm anything, damn it.
Not getting a response, Cat asked, "May I get you something to drink?" It looked like Alex needed one and she certainly did, Cat considered, having noticed a small bar and collection of tumblers. "I presume you partake in alcoholic beverages," she said breezily, looking around the condominium curiously, then noted the time. "Unless you have a problem drinking before noon?"
Alex looked at the woman incredulously. What gall she had! To break into her home then assume the role of the goddamn hostess!? She should throw her out!
Alex frowned, not sure she had the energy to physically make her leave. In spite of her petite stature, Alex could imagine Cat having a mean right hook, not to mention assorted painful and dirty tricks up her designer sleeves. And unfortunately, Alex knew Kara would frown upon her just shooting her . . . and covering it up, which she could totally do. But in all honesty, Vasquez would likely break and spill the beans to Kara and her goddamn Kryptonian pout!
Alex sighed heavily, hoping to see that pout again. A drink did sound pretty good right now, she considered, though she wasn't about to let that woman rummage through her home! Mustering up enough energy to glare at Cat, she marched to her kitchen.
Cat let out a relieved sigh, pleased that she had not been thrown out, or shot . . . yet. In addition to her uninvited and illegal presence, she was certain Kara shared with Alex all her job-related difficulties, which alone might warrant retaliation. She regrettably treated Kara poorly, especially after the Adam debacle. But now was not the time to dwell on her past mistakes; it was time to deal with the here and now. And now, she had to earn Alex's trust.
"When Supergirl spoke about Myriad's harmful control and the need for hope, Kara's optimism and earnestness shone through," Cat offered softly, making Alex pause a moment before silently pulling out two tumblers and a bottle of 18-year-old single malt. At least Kara's sister had good taste in scotch, Cat considered, eyeing the bottle with a small, appreciative smile.
"Just like when Kara spoke to me about my first son, Adam. She actually had the gall to finish writing one of my many unsent letters and mail it to him, so I could have a chance at reconnecting with him," she offered uncomfortably.
Alex looked up from the tumblers with surprise, never having heard that part of the Adam drama.
"Yes, a surprisingly bold move for my 'meek and mild mannered' assistant," Cat said with a smirk. "When I found out, I was furious at her for meddling in something she had no right to meddle in. I immediately fired her, of course. But she just plowed ahead and passionately spoke of losing her mother and not having a second chance with her," Cat said and sighed softly. "And for some unfathomable reason, it was tremendously important to her that I didn't waste mine with Adam," Cat added, profoundly grateful Kara intervened, even if the outcome was still far from certain.
"She was right, of course," Cat admitted, glancing around the nicely decorated apartment while surreptitiously watching Alex as she poured their drinks. "I don't usually listen to anyone when I am on my high horse, espousing righteous indignation," she said bluntly, making Alex reluctantly snort. "But Kara? Kara has a way of getting through," she admitted.
Alex nodded weakly and handed the drink to Cat, who softly said "thank you."
Cat took a slow, frustrated breath as the still-silent Alex took a sip of her drink. Cat needed to know what happened to Kara, missing her far more than she could have thought possible. Seeing the silent, beleaguered-looking sister only fueled her worry. She knew she had her work cut out for her to earn Alex's trust.
"I knew of Dr. Danvers well before she came to help Kara with Myriad," Cat offered, getting a surprised look. "Oh please, you must be aware I donate to many women's professional societies and know when women are making notable contributions, especially in male-dominated fields like biomedical engineering" Cat said, then frowned at Alex's continued confused look. "Dr. Eliza Danvers was the first woman to win the William J. Morlock award for her research," Cat explained, surprising Alex, who sported a blank look, not knowing her mother had won the William J. Morlock award . . . or that there was a William J. Morlock award.
"Really, Alex?" Cat scolded with exasperation, prompting Alex to wince slightly in guilt.
Cat sighed, not wanting to further burden the already stressed agent with guilt about her mother.
"The point is, Alex, I got further confirmation of what I already suspected when an Agent Danvers and Dr. Danvers happened to show up to help Supergirl during Myriad. And even if I could accept the tedious excuse of coincidence, I do have eyes. I could see how you all acted — like a deeply caring family," Cat said sincerely.
Alex's gaze dropped to her drink. She wasn't too tired to realize that trying to counter with the "circumstantial evidence" argument wouldn't fly anymore, if it ever did with Cat Grant. Any continued denial would only be met with other damning evidence from the tenacious woman, who made her career by gathering and assimilating information.
Thank. You. Kara! She silently bemoaned her sister's choice of careers and lack of subtlety. But as Cat unfortunately pointed out, the Danvers family was not exactly cautious either, damn it.
"And while I may not be family, I have grown to care for Kara a great deal too. I need to know - is she all right?" Cat asked, her frustration seeping through.
Even if she got J'onn to repeat his Supergirl performance with Kara, Alex knew Cat Grant would not be swayed from the truth. How fucking fantastic, she thought, taking a sip of her drink.
"Damn it, Alex! Is she even alive?!"
Startled by the passionate outburst, Alex closely studied the woman. She didn't see the ridiculously demanding boss or other caricatures she had envisioned from the many late-night discussions with her sister. She simply saw an honestly worried woman. For all the carefully worded assurances and stories that Cat offered, it was her genuine distress that made Alex believe that Cat was not here as a sly reporter trying to get a scoop about Supergirl; she was here as a friend.
"She's alive," Alex offered numbly and took a healthy sip of Scotch before plopping down on the couch.
"Thank God," Cat said with a forceful breath of relief.
"God is not helping her!" Alex spat with annoyance, startling Cat. "Not even her beloved Rao," she added derisively.
After a deep breath to try and settle her nerves, Cat sat down next to Alex and sipped her drink, clinging to the fact that Kara was alive. From her many years in journalism learning to read people, she was confident Alex would become defensive and completely shut down if she started bombarding her with questions, which every fiber in her screamed to do. As Cat struggled to figure out the best approach, Alex rubbed her face and stared ahead for a long, frustratingly quiet moment. When Alex finally started to speak again, without any prompting, Cat briefly shut her eyes and, not that she was particularly religious, silently thanked God . . . and this Rao deity for good measure.
"We all thought she defeated their plan to use Myriad. And she did . . . with your help," Alex said, glancing to a surprised Cat, who never expected or needed any acknowledgement for her help.
Nodding in response, Cat knew she would always treasure the moment she encouraged Kara to find an alternative to Maxwell Lord's idiotic kryptonite bomb and received a surprising embrace — that comforting, yet dangerously addictive embrace. When Kara's eyes lit up with an idea on how to give the people of National City hope, it filled Cat with pride, exhilaration, and other . . . troublesome emotions.
"But then they changed their plan. Instead of mind control, they decided to increase the signal strength until all human brains ruptured."
"The headaches," Cat blurted, her suspicions confirmed.
Alex nodded and sipped her drink. "Yeah, we all felt it . . . well, all humans," she clarified. "It took us some time to isolate the signal's origin but we did, it was from Fort Rozz," Alex said, glancing at Cat, who was unable to place the name. "It's a Kryptonian prison ship that escaped the phantom zone with Kara's pod," she explained, noting the curious surprise, then slight frown from the Queen of All Media, who struggled not to bombard her with questions.
Alex laughed weakly. "You must really care for her to just sit there with so many unasked questions," she observed.
Cat was impressed that Alex actually recognized her struggle. She looked at the glass cupped between her hands. "I do."
Alex nodded, then yawned. "Damn, I'm tired," Alex admitted, her fatigue catching up with her as she rubbed her eyes with irritation.
"You . . . want me to go then?" Cat asked with concern.
"I'm not kicking you out, Miss Grant," Alex said tiredly to a grateful Cat. "I'm just warning you I could doze off," she said, then muttered, "Though, when I actually try to sleep, I don't seem to be able to these days."
"Yes, well, I have occasions where my mind will not shut off, no matter how tired I am. Especially whenever Carter is sick," Cat admitted.
"The son Kara was supposed to look after, then lost?" Alex asked with amusement.
Cat chuckled and sipped her drink. "Yes. I realize now that accepting a superhero's offer to babysit wasn't the best plan should some catastrophe arise, which unfortunately did. But Carter adores Kara. And I know Kara genuinely cares for Carter."
"Well she did choose Carter," Alex responded vaguely, finishing her drink.
"Choose Carter?"
"There were two bombs, at the airport and the train. She couldn't be in both places. She chose Carter and left the airport to us," Alex supplied, then lifted up her empty glass. "Looks like we're going to need more," she announced and got up with a small grunt and slight wobble.
Cat nodded silently, not having given any thought to what Kara had to deal with that day. She was too focused on her son being in grave danger while she was out of town.
Her knee-jerk response to fire Kara was quickly undermined by her shy son's surprising transformation. He joked with her about Supergirl — he never joked! He eagerly hugged Kara when he carefully avoided physical contact with anyone other than her! Then, her introverted son gushed with great enthusiasm about his time with Kara, who apparently knew how to expertly handle a nerf gun during what her son declared "an epic battle" and could play Settlers of Catan almost as good as her. Knowing her son would never forgive her if she fired Kara, she at least vowed that never again would Kara look after her son.
A vow she she failed miserably in keeping.
It had been a terribly long day with back-to-back meetings with aggravating board members, underperforming department heads, and pompous lawyers, to be capped off with a tedious, but important, dinner with investors. Then, just before she had to leave for the dinner . . . .
"Miss Grant?" Kara said nervously, standing in the doorway after Cat had just returned from her last meeting of a very long day.
"Yes, Kiera?" she said tiredly, looking for her purse. Spotting it on the credenza, she marched over and grabbed it.
"Uh, I just got a call . . . ." Kara stammered, nervously pushing up her glasses as Cat pulled out her lipstick and compact to put finishing touches on her makeup.
Not hearing anymore from her assistant, Cat snapped, "Spit it out, Kiera, I don't have all night!" She puckered her lips as she applied the lipstick.
"Carter's nanny is in the hospital with an appendicitis," Kara informed her, causing her boss to freeze mid application. "She'll be ok though," Kara quickly noted with an uneasy smile. "And Carter is with your neighbor, Mrs. Wilson. I've started calling your back-up sitters but haven't found anyone available yet."
She shut her eyes a moment, convinced the universe was conspiring against her.
"Damnit! I really need to go to this," she said, shoving her makeup back in her bag with irritation. Shaking her head, she considered her options, then frowned. "Call my son and inform him he will need to dress up in his blue suit and endure the business dinner with me. I will make it up to him . . . somehow," she said, rolling her eyes. "Also, inform the organizers I will have a plus one and tell my driver . . . ."
"Miss Grant," Kara interjected forcefully, startling Cat, who glared at her. "Uh, I could look after Carter," she offered, then quickly rambled on. "I know last time wasn't exactly ideal, because, well, I did lose track of him and, well, he ended up on a train. With a bomb. But honestly, the chances of something like that happening again are astronomical," she emphatically declared, waving her hand in the air, then awkwardly retracted it and waited nervously.
Cat stared a long, silent moment at her assistant, whose words and fidgeting were not engendering confidence.
"Don't you have a sisters' night planned?" she finally asked, surprising Kara that she had actually remembered her earlier passing comment.
"I'll reschedule," Kara immediately and eagerly responded.
"Hmm." Cat's lips pursed unhappily as she dared to entertain the suggestion. "Now I don't have a sibling, but I can only imagine they can be very demanding of your time," she challenged pointedly.
"She'll understand that Carter is my priority tonight," she said with conviction and a confident smile.
"Well," Cat said, starting to slowly pace. "I would still be in town," she allowed, glancing at her assistant, whose smile started to grow with hope.
"You could definitely get to him quickly if there was an emergency!" Kara offered enthusiastically, then recognized her mistake and quickly added "not that there will be an emergency, in the few hours your are at dinner, across town, close by." She smiled weakly and sighed, knowing she wasn't helping her cause.
Cat sighed dramatically and shook her head. "So help me, Kara, if anything happens…." she said, trailing off.
Cat watched with fascination as Kara's bearing changed with a deep breath. Instead of uncertainty and awkwardness, Kara now stood tall, radiating solemn confidence.
"Miss Grant, I would love to promise you nothing will happen, but I can't. Nobody could, which is why you wouldn't leave your incredibly capable, but still young son home alone. What I can and will promise is that I will do everything within my power to keep Carter safe. Everything," Kara vowed, daring Cat to argue.
Cat was caught off guard by the sheer intensity of Kara's unwavering gaze. After a moment, she managed to look away. Clearing her throat, she attempted an air of nonchalance. "Well, Kiera, your sales pitch had an abysmal start, but you managed to salvage it, even if it was a bit melodramatic at the end."
Kara smiled. "Yes, Miss Grant."
Any residual misgivings Cat might have had with that last-minute decision evaporated when they arrived at Mrs. Wilson's door and Carter immediately brightened at the sight of Kara.
"Kara!" he called excitedly and barreled into her for a hug. She chuckled and happily hugged him back. "Are you going to watch me tonight?" he asked.
"That's the plan, buddy," Kara said with a big smile.
"Yes!" he cheered.
"Homework?" Kara grilled him.
"Done," he reported.
"Even your science project? I understand it's due next month," Kara challenged, happily surprising him.
"Almost done. Ahead of schedule," he said proudly.
"Excellent! So after dinner . . . ?" Kara asked expectantly.
"Settlers?" Carter suggested.
"Yes!" Kara cheered, causing Carter to laugh. Cat shook her head at their easy, shorthand communication and turned to her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Wilson, who had also been watching Carter's interaction with the young woman with interest.
"Thank you so much, Gladys," Cat said, with a grateful smile.
"Ah, he's a good kid that one," she said warmly. "Looks like he's found a kindred spirit," she said as both woman looked at Carter and Kara, who were happily chatting about the latest Marvel movie. When Carter asked Kara if she thought any of them could win in a fight against Supergirl, Cat found herself very interested in Kara's answer.
"W . . .Why would Supergirl want to fight any of the Avengers?" She asked with a frown, nonplussed.
"It's a hypothetical matchup," Carter explained, rolling his eyes.
"Oh. Well, I think this hypothetical is forgetting one of her powers," Kara said, gaining a few curious looks.
"Huh?" Carter asked, pretty sure he knew all her powers. . . .
"Persuasion. I'm sure Supergirl would try to use her power of persuasion to avoid a conflict," Kara said with a small grin, prompting Carter to groan "Kaaaarrrraaa…."
"Carter?" Cat interjected, gaining their attention. "Never underestimate the power of persuasion," she sagely advised and looked at Kara accusingly before shaking her head with feigned irritation.
Kara chuckled self-consciously and glanced to her feet with mild embarrassment, though immensely pleased.
Cat turned back at Mrs. Wilson, who grinned. "Looks like you both have a found a kindred spirit."
Not sure what to say to that, Cat just smiled. "Thank you again, Gladys. Take care," she said before the trio left for the penthouse.
Thankfully, there were no misplaced children, runaway trains, or bombs that evening or the few other times Kara had looked after Carter since.
Alex retrieved the bottle of Scotch from kitchen and looked questioningly at Cat. "Top-off?"
Cat shook her head no; her glass was still half-full. Alex nodded, took her seat on the couch and refilled her own glass.
"So . . . what hurt Kara?" Cat finally asked, as Alex placed the bottle on the coffee table and picked up her drink.
"She flew Fort Rozz into space," Alex said. "Saving us all."
"Why did that hurt her?" Cat asked, confused, having seen all sorts of extraordinary things from Kara.
"Believe or not, Kryptonians ultimately need air like us mere humans. And she wasn't exactly at her best," Alex said with frustration, taking a healthy sip.
"Wh . . . what h . . . happened?" Cat blurted uneasily, immediately annoyed with herself. She was proving to be a stuttering fool instead of the savvy interviewer she claimed to be.
"Well, first, she fought that bastard Non, which took a lot of energy," Alex spat his name.
Cat recalled that self-important Kryptonian who put Maxwell Lord's pomposity to shame. The man that cruelly devastated Kara, when she was unable to save Kelly after Non made three CATCO employees jump off the balconies using Myriad; Kara could only save James and Winn.
"That last time we spoke, she acted . . . oddly. She actually thought she could die, didn't she?" Cat asked, recalling their last conversation.
Alex paused thoughtfully and shrugged, just recalling her sister's can-do attitude. "Well . . . we all knew how serious the situation was and that she had to get through Non and his army to get to Myriad without our . . . well, human help," she said distastefully, still angry she couldn't be in the thick of things and help her sister.
"She fought his army?" Cat asked, startled.
"Thankfully no. We got some lucky breaks — Non's arrogance, for one. He was so confident of success, he had already put his army in stasis for deep space travel. They were going to leave after everyone on Earth was killed. Thank God for his arrogance," Alex said, lifting her glass in salute, before taking another sip.
Cat blinked, having never imagined that she would actually be happy for male arrogance. But if it had helped Kara . . . cheers, she considered, half-heartedly lifted her glass up and took a sip.
