Chapter 4 - DEO

"Oh God," Lucy moaned as she saw Alex rush into Kara's room with Cat Grant trailing behind. "Alex! What the hell?!" she sputtered, just imagining how her father was going to react to CAT GRANT of all people at the DEO!

"Ooh boy," Dr. Hamilton said under her breath, focusing on her patient.

"Nice to see you too, Lucy," Cat said breezily as Alex quickly flew to Kara's side. "Dr. Danvers," Cat acknowledged Kara's surprised foster mother, who smiled uncertainly as she also looked to Alex for answers.

"She was my ride," Alex answered absently, taking Kara's hand gently as she searched her sister's face.

Lucy and Eliza glanced at each other, wondering how Alex could possibly think bringing the Queen of All Media to the DEO was a good idea.

When Cat's gaze finally fell upon her assistant, she could not prevent a startled gasp at the disturbing sight. Kara was unconscious, looking frighteningly frail, covered by a flimsy hospital gown and connected to various sensors from head to toe, under extraordinarily bright lights. It was jarringly similar sight, sans the bright lights, to when her father fell ill and never recovered. But they had the time to say their goodbyes, she considered. A profound sadness welled up as she realized that Kara had tried, in her ridiculously obtuse way, to say goodbye.

If only she had understood what crisis the young woman was about to fly off to, Cat considered with intense regret, wishing she could have provided the support and encouragement Kara deserved. Blinking back tears, Cat schooled her features and buried her chaotic emotions, a skill she had to master for her career.

Eliza watched her curiously.

"I . . . I thought you said she was awake?" Alex asked worriedly, turning from Kara to look at her mother and Dr. Hamilton.

"I said she came out of her coma and was sedated to aid with her recovery and that you didn't need to rush in," Dr. Hamilton said mild irritation, suspecting the reason for the Agent's confusion from the strong whiff of Scotch she got as Alex moved past her to get to Kara's side. Shaking her head, Dr. Hamilton focused on checking Kara's vitals on the various bedside screens, intending on having a private conversation with Alex about her unhealthy coping mechanisms.

"Did she say anything?" Alex asked uncomfortably, which everyone knew meant 'did she ask for me.'

"No, Agent Danvers. She blinked a couple times but did not make eye contact with me. She was not awake long enough to comprehend anything. However, this is excellent news," Dr. Hamilton offered confidently with a small smile.

"Uh, excuse me," Cat interjected, raising her hand as if she were in school. "But how would you know it is excellent news, if you have never experienced this situation with a Kryptonian before?" Cat challenged pointedly, her steely gaze for the so-called doctor immediately softened when her gaze drifted back to Kara.

"Cat . . . ," Lucy warned with irritation, pinching the bridge of her nose, close to physically hauling the woman out of the DEO herself.

"Fair question," Dr. Hamilton offered reasonably. "I can only compare her to human coma patients, which have a similar brain structure. With that comparison, Kara is making remarkable progress, which I attribute to her Kryptonian DNA."

"Which means you don't know," Cat accused, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Cat!" Lucy growled and stepped towards her, but felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. She looked at Eliza with surprise, getting a soft smile and slight shake of her head. Lucy sighed heavily, considering she ought to just let Eliza handle her father when he hears of this intrusion. And he will. He has ears everywhere.

"The brain is amazingly complex. Even with human coma patients, we never can be 100% sure of what will happen. We deal in probabilities and likelihoods," the Doctor admitted frankly, making Cat frown. "But I was able to take her off the ventilator and she no longer needs the ventricular assist device for blood flow. So I'd say that is great progress," Dr. Hamilton said confidently, surprising Cat, who nodded absently as her gaze drifted back to the incredibly fragile-looking superhero, tying to reconcile that her current distressing condition was supposedly a great improvement.

Eliza caught the flicker of worry on Cat's face before it was replaced with annoyance.

"Oh for God's sake!" Cat suddenly blurted. "I know she's pale, but do you really need to worry about her tan right now?" She said tersely, motioning to the bright sunlamps, then glared at the Doctor.

Lucy sucked in an angry breath but felt Eliza's hand squeeze harder on her shoulder as she quickly interjected. "Why don't we talk about that over a cup of coffee, Ms. Grant. Dr. Hamilton? Join us?" Eliza asked with a small smile, gently patting Lucy's shoulder before dropping her hand.

Lucy looked at Eliza and nodded sharply; removing Cat Grant from her presence was an excellent idea.

"S . . . sure," Dr. Hamilton said, getting the feeling it was not really a request. She looked to the famous media mogul, who looked at Kara a long moment.

"I hope it's decent coffee," Cat grumbled.

"It's not," Eliza, Dr. Hamilton, and Lucy automatically answered.

"Wonderful," Cat said flatly.

SGSG

Cat glanced around curiously as she walked through the command center with the two doctors. She noted the impressive array of monitors against a rocky wall and the many work stations with large screens on the floor, facing the wall of information. The arrangement was not surprising. If she were responsible for efficient flow of information to support a secret government organization, she suspected it was likely close to what she would have designed. Though, she would have ensured a more aesthetically pleasing environment, she considered with a frown, glancing around the cavernous room that was far too dark and depressing.

Cat suddenly stopped in her tracks, her gaze drawn to the bright silver craft on the far side of the room.

"What is THAT?" Cat asked with great interest, strongly suspecting, but wanting confirmation.

"Kara's pod," Eliza answered with a warm smile. "The craft that brought her to Earth."

"May I…?" Cat absently asked, already heading towards the amazing craft.

"Uh," Dr. Hamilton grunted with worry, looking around the control room personnel, who thankfully did not seem concerned that their surprising guest was wandering about.

Eliza shrugged at Dr. Hamilton. "We'll catch up to you in the cafeteria," she said with a small smile.

"You get to deal with Lucy," Dr. Hamilton announced firmly, getting a small chuckle from Eliza.

"It'll be fine," Eliza said warmly, glancing back to Cat, who cautiously reached out and dared to touch the pod's surface, tracing over the Kryptonian lettering with gentle reverence.

SGSG

"Alex, I know you are under a lot of stress, but CAT GRANT?" Lucy blurted incredulously. "What the hell were you thinking?!"

"She's a friend, Lucy," Alex said simply, focusing on Kara as she held her hand.

"Dear God," Lucy moaned. "She's a 'friend' who owns a Media Empire!"

"Seriously, Luce. She won't expose Kara or . . . any of this," Alex said confidently, finally turning to look at her.

Lucy shook her head. "She has the biggest story of probably the century at her fingertips and you think she's not going to want to exploit it?"

Alex sighed tiredly, rubbing her eyes. "She did say she would like to write a story . . .."

"God Damnit!" Lucy blurted in frustration. "That can't hap . . . "

"About Supergirl!" Alex interjected. "Supergirl saving us all, not Kara," Alex emphasized, then tersely pointed out, "Lois has never exposed Superman."

"Well, Cat is not sleeping with Kara," Lucy snapped back then hesitated, looking curiously at Alex as she pondered that unexpected thought.

"I understand your concerns, Lucy. But I'm sure Cat will sign whatever non-disclosure agreements she needs to," Alex said and yawned, exhaustion catching up to her.

"Cat Grant has never signed an NDA in her life!" Lucy scoffed, looking at Alex like she was an idiot. "It's a point of pride for her!"

"She will now," Alex said confidently. "She wants people to know what Supergirl has done for them. And I agree with her," she repeated emphatically, glancing back at her unmoving sister.

Lucy exhaled heavily, running a hand through her hair, inclined to agree.

Supergirl did save humanity, risking her life, but her recovery was still uncertain. How would the criminals and rogue aliens react to that? Or the anti-alien human factions? And would her superiors agree with officially disclosing anything more about Myriad? Some, like her Dad, would not. But she was getting ahead of herself. She needed to get the NDAs signed before worrying about any possible story, Lucy considered.

"I'll talk with J'onn about the Cat situation," Lucy grumbled, not looking forward to that discussion.

As she was exiting the medical bay, Lucy suddenly stopped, then stepped back from the doorway. Looking at the medicine cabinet, she sighed heavily and snagged the aspirin. She glanced to Alex, who was once again holding Kara's hand, and shook her head, leaving with the whole bottle.

SGSG

"This was also the craft that Alex piloted to save Kara?" Cat asked.

"Yes. Alex would stop at nothing to help Kara," Eliza said proudly.

Cat looked at her. "So you haven't talked with her about saving Kara?"

"I . . . ," Eliza hesitated, realizing she had not. There had been so much chaos when they had returned. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, your daughter is beating herself up for not getting to Kara sooner. She is feeling guilty for Kara's condition," Cat said, seeing the disbelieving look on Eliza's face.

"That's ridiculous."

"I agree, but the fact remains, that is what Alex is feeling," Cat said softly, causing Eliza to exhale heavily as she pondered the disturbing information.

"Agent Vasquez?" Eliza called out, turning to the woman who looked up from a computer screen.

"Ma'am?"

"Would you please escort Miss Grant to the cafeteria? Dr. Hamilton will take over from there. I need to speak with Alex," Eliza said, making Cat smile with satisfaction. There was nothing as soothing as a mother's words of encouragement and approval, or so Cat had heard. A small part of her still hoped to get that from her own mother one day.

"Yes, ma'am," Agent Vasquez said walking up to them.

"Thank you, Susan," Eliza said, then looked to Cat. "If you'll excuse me."

As Eliza left, Cat turned to her escort. "Soooo. Agent Susan Vasquez, is it?" Cat said with a charming smile.

"Yes, ma'am," Susan answered, slightly tensing at the suspiciously solicitous tone.

"What can you tell me about this impressive Kryptonian spacecraft?" Cat asked innocently, motioning to the object in question.

Susan blinked. This was to be an escort task, not a damn interview, she considered with irritation, noting Miss Grant looking at her expectantly with a wider smile.

"It's . . . not in the cafeteria, where I need to take you?" Susan cautiously answered, getting an eye-roll from the begrudgingly impressed woman.

"You do realize how frustrating you people and your secrets are?" Cat half-heartedly grumbled as she vaguely motioned to the room of agents and computer screens.

"Yes, ma'am," Susan said neutrally and politely motioned for Cat to walk with her.

"Hmmmm," Cat murmured as they left for the cafeteria. After a few silent moments of walking and looking about curiously, Cat glanced at her escort and offered "You seem like an experienced agent."

"Thank you, ma'am," Susan responded and sighed, knowing her famous charge was just getting started.

"So, you must have worked here for a while, then?" Cat asked innocently, as they walked into a long corridor.

"You could say that, ma'am," Susan said vaguely.

Cat rolled her eyes at the cagey agent, whose lips twitched with amusement. "And you've worked with Kara since she's been Supergirl?" Cat asked.

"I've worked with her since Supergirl came to the DEO," Susan said accurately, but offering no more. Cat's eyes narrowed at the lack of useful information.

"What do you think of Supergirl?" Cat ventured curiously, wondering if the agent would actually provide a deliberate answer to the deliberately broad question, or continue with her vague non-answers. Cat suspected the latter.

Agent Vasquez stopped walking.

Cat sighed heavily and turned towards her, expecting a reprimand, or at the very least, a complaint for her questions. Instead, Susan paused a long, thoughtful moment as a troubled look clouded her face. When she looked up and responded, her stoic mask had returned.

"She knows when my birthday is," Susan stated, surprising Cat with the personal disclosure, not the fact disclosed, since Kara seemed to know everyone and their important dates at CATCO.

"And she knows AD Lane is a good baker and persuaded her to bake me a cake, which was presented at a small surprise party she had arranged with the cafeteria staff," Susan said with a slight smile at the memory.

Again, it was not a surprising disclosure, Cat considered fondly; Kara was good at bringing people together.

"She got in trouble for violating the local fire regulations," Susan reported, which finally surprised and amused Cat, who would have loved to see someone trying to confront Supergirl about that. "But she managed to persuade the Director to change them, stressing that the government organization in charge of handling very dangerous aliens should be able to safely manage a few birthday candles."

Of course she did, Cat though with a soft chuckle.

"She also gave me a mug. It says "The Best Agent in the DEO" but Agent Danvers disagrees," Susan said, getting a confused look.

"She . . . disagrees?"

"We can read 'The best' and 'in the," but the other words were redacted," she explained, prompting a bark of laughter from Cat, who asked, "You didn't ask what it said?"

"No need. As I said, I am confident it says "The Best Agent in the DEO."

Cat smiled with amusement.

"So what do I think of Supergirl?" Susan repeated the original question, sobering Cat's mirth.

"Like most people, I think she's a hero. But for many of the agents here, including me, she's also a friend," she added, briefly glancing around before focusing on Cat. "This situation with Supergirl isn't just difficult for the Danvers. I recommend you remember that, when asking your questions," Susan cautioned.

Even more impressed with this agent, Cat nodded thoughtfully, taking a deep breath. "People tend to seek comfort in the familiar and routine when faced with uncertainty. My go-to is asking a lot of questions, with a large side of snark," she offered.

Susan nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

"Thank you, Agent Vasquez. I appreciate your insight and . . . counsel," Cat said sincerely.

"You're welcome, ma'am," she said and once again, politely motioned for Cat to walk with her.

After walking a moment in companionable silence, Cat asked innocently, "Soooo. Nothing else on that impressive Kryptonian spacecraft?"

"Still not in the cafeteria, ma'am."

"You people and your secrets."

"Yes, ma'am."

SGSG

Eliza stood in the doorway of the medical bay, seeing a disturbingly familiar sight — Alex sitting in that horrible plastic chair, holding Kara's hand and staring at her as if she could will her better.

"Alex, honey?" she called softly.

Alex sluggishly lifted her head towards her mother.

"Let's take a little walk?" Eliza said, holding out her hand.

Alex looked torn. "I . . . ," she started to decline but Eliza stepped toward her with her hand still held out.

"Come on, I want to walk with you," she said. "Please?"

Alex sighed as she stood up and took her mother's hand, gaining a pleased smile. Eliza navigated them away from the medical bay and towards a quiet corridor where they continued to stroll in silence until Alex spoke.

"This really sucks," Alex said softly.

"It does, sweetie," Eliza said, wrapping her arm around her daughter, who burrowed into her side. "But this is still better than the alternative. If you hadn't gone to get her, we'd be having a memorial."

"She could still die," Alex said morosely, wiping a tear away. Getting a squeeze around her shoulders.

"She could," Eliza reluctantly acknowledged. "But you brought her home. YOU gave her a fighting chance," Eliza said, kissing Alex's temple.

"If I had only gotten to her sooner," Alex said dejectedly as she stopped, pulling away from her mother. She felt completely unworthy of the praise.

"Oh, Alex," Eliza said sadly. "Don't you know how amazing it is that you were able to get to her as quickly as you did?" Eliza tried to look her daughter in the eye, but Alex's gaze seemed fixed to the floor.

"It took me two hours, Mom. If only I had gotten to her sooner," Alex said as her eyes welled up. "I let her down. I let you down," Alex whispered raggedly, still looking to the floor guiltily.

"No, Alex. NO!" Eliza said firmly, placing her hands on Alex's shoulders, getting her undivided attention. "You did not let anyone down, not Kara, not me! But . . . I think you let yourself down. And that's only because I put a tremendous burden on you . . . starting at such a young age. That wasn't fair to you. And for that, I am so sorry," Eliza said guiltily.

"I . . . " Alex started to counter, but shook her head. None of that mattered now. "She could die, mom," she said again, tears freely falling.

"I know, honey," Eliza said, pulling Alex into a hug. "But you gave her a fighting chance. And you know she would yell at you for feeling guilty you weren't faster," she said with a small smile.

"Cat beat her to it," Alex mumbled, surprising Eliza.

"Good," Eliza said awkwardly. "Now," she said firmly and took a deep breath. "You need to rest, young lady."