Chapter 14 - Super Friends
Superman landed gently on the CATCO balcony and smiled. Jimmy, the last one in the office for the evening, was at Cat's desk, immersed in paperwork.
"Hi, Jimmy," he said, entering the office.
"Clark!" James beamed and got up, giving the Man of Steel a hug. He looked at him with a frown. "What the hell is going on with Kara?" he asked clearly frustrated.
"She was severely injured and in a coma. But she's awake now and doing well," he said optimistically, but hesitated and added "for the most part."
"For the most part? You gotta catch me up, bro. Cat said she's on a special project for an undetermined time, put me in charge, and told me Kara was being taken care of by Eliza and Alex," James blurted with exasperation.
"They are taking care of her, especially Cat. It's been a bit chaotic for all of them."
"Tell me everything," James urged. "Cat said Supergirl saved us all from Myriad."
"She did," Clark said proudly.
"Where were you?" James asked curiously, expecting him to be in the midst of the danger impacting the planet.
Clark shifted with some embarrassment. "Uh . . . that signal significantly affected me and I was unconscious, for almost a week. If it wasn't for Kara, it might have killed me too," he admitted uncomfortably.
"That's . . . disturbing," James said, stunned by his nearly indestructible friend's vulnerability.
"Well, we don't have to worry about the Kryptonian criminals or Myriad anymore," he offered confidently. "They were on Fort Rozz, which Kara picked up and flew into space."
"But . . . " James blurted in shock, knowing the danger.
Clark nodded in understanding. "She was stuck in space for two hours before Alex managed to use her pod to rescue her," Clark said, amazed and humbled. "Kara was in a coma for several days and woke up during an attack at the DEO, with someone trying to kill her," he said somberly.
James shook his head as anger built up. "What the hell?"
"Cat saved her, knocking the assassin out with a fire extinguisher," Clark relayed with amusement, already knowing how formidable Cat Grant was, having worked with her over the years. He was confident she didn't think twice before jumping into the fray to do what was needed. Just like Lois, he considered fondly, though he'd never, ever, admit equating the two of them . . . to either of them. Or anyone else on Earth…. or possibly the universe.
James' eyes widened with surprise.
"Kara took Cat in her pod to the Fortress of Solitude."
Confusion clouded James' face.
"It was the only place she thought safe after the attack, and Cat was unconscious at the time after some debris hit her," Clark explained. "Kara doesn't remember arriving or living on Earth. But her brain is functioning normally," he stressed with optimism. "She remembers everything about Krypton . . . and being trapped in the Phantom Zone," he said uncomfortably. "And she remembers everything since waking up during an attack."
James shook his head with sympathy for Kara. "It must have been terrifying for her to wake up to all of that," he said with concern. "Will she get her memories back?"
"I'm . . . hopeful," Clark said cautiously.
"Is Cat all right?"
Clark smiled. "She told me to . . . and I quote, 'go make yourself useful and tell James and Warren what happened to Kara. Tell them to discuss it with no one, or baby Lane will send us all to jail. And I, for one, do not look good in penitentiary orange. Chop chop."
James looked at him incredulously.
"I'd say she's just fine," Clark offered with a confident smile.
SGSG
Kara found herself in the DEO cafeteria sitting with Cat and Eliza, looking around curiously. She saw several agents milling about, glancing at her with uneasy smiles and nods of acknowledgement, which she politely, if a bit uncomfortably, returned.
"Are you ok?" Cat asked. "We can leave, if you are uncomfortable here."
"I am fine, Catherine. Just . . . curious. These people seem to know me."
"These are people you've worked with and many consider you a friend. They're happy you're ok. But they are trying to respect your privacy and not overwhelm you," Eliza answered warmly.
"I am honored by their concern," Kara said softly, glancing around one more time before sipping her apple juice. "Mmm . . . I like this," she said, looking at her glass approvingly.
"Just wait," Alex said eagerly, joining them with several Chinese take-out bags on top of five pizza boxes.
"Dear God, that is a lot of food," Cat remarked, as Alex placed the pile of food on the next table with the plates and silverware and started to serve everyone.
"Kryptonians on Earth require more calories than humans," Eliza offered, receiving a container of Kung Pao Chicken. "Thank you, sweetie."
"Over 10,000 calories a day, when they are using their powers," Alex said to Cat, handing her a container of hot and sour soup and a small container of fried rice.
"That explains a lot," Cat said, glancing over Kara's attractive form, mildly envious.
"Here you go, Kara," Alex said happily, eagerly handing her a large container of pot stickers and a plate of meat-lovers pizza.
Kara's stomach growled, prompting amused looks and fond chuckles between the women.
Kara's slight frown at the confusing merriment was immediately erased when she tasted a potsticker. The moan of delight filled the cafeteria, causing more than a few agents to turn her way.
Alex laughed, happy to reintroduce a favorite food to her food-obsessed sister.
Eliza smiled fondly at Kara's clear joy.
Cat almost choked on her soup. She wasn't prepared to hear the pure sounds of ecstasy coming from Kara, which were doing things to her that were decidedly . . . unhelpful. She suspected if Kara was actually trying, she would become one giant puddle.
"Dear Rao, these are amazing!" Kara gushed, eating another one quickly with a similar, though softer moan of pleasure. "Catherine, you must try one," she said enthusiastically.
Focusing on the morsel eagerly thrust in front of her face, then the young woman, who was clueless about what what she was doing to her, Cat managed to find her voice and smiled gently. "It's quite all right, Kara. I wouldn't want to deprive you of even one. You clearly enjoy them."
Kara slowly pulled back the offering, her eagerness evaporated. She tried, but failed, to hide her disappointment from the rejection, wanting to share something amazing with someone amazing.
Disturbed by Kara's disappointment, Cat made a show of curiously inspecting the tray of potstickers. "You know . . . they do look good," she said coyly, pleased when Kara perked right up.
"Oh they are, Catherine!" Kara gushed and put the morsel at Cat's lips, intending to feed her.
Oh. Dear. God. Cat thought as she awkwardly took a small bite, satisfying Kara, who placed the remainder on Cat's plate.
Alex chuckled, enjoying watching Cat squirm, earning a brief glare.
"Hmmm," Cat said with a smile, swallowing. "They are very good. Better than I expected," she said honestly with an approving nod. When she picked up the morsel and finished it, Kara smiled happily.
"If you want another, please help yourself," Kara offered, delighted to share with Cat as she slid the large container towards her.
"Don't mind if I do," Cat said, daintily picking up another one. Kara smiled brightly.
"You know, Kara, I'm surprised you are willing to share them. You once threatened to melt my face if I took one from you," Alex said innocently, earning another glare from Cat. Alex smiled unrepentantly.
Eliza felt a bit guilty for enjoying the teasing.
"Oh," Kara said, her bright smile fading. "I am sorry. Would you or Eliza want one?" She said, clearly reluctant to share with anyone else but tried to be polite.
"We can always get more," Cat quickly said, casting another glare at Alex, who wondered if that was the fourth or fifth glare, so far. She decided to call it the fifth, curious if she could get to a tenth before they finished up with Williams.
"It's fine, Cat. I was just making an observation," Alex said, squeezing Kara on the shoulder before sitting down and taking a bite of pizza, which she actually preferred.
Cat noticed the smug look on Alex's face. It slightly faded as Alex recognized the silent warning glare Cat gave, which only could be interpreted as "payback's a bitch." But Alex chuckled, deciding to count that as number six.
Agent Vasquez entered the cafeteria and smiled, seeing the group.
"Agent Vasquez, I'm relived to see you in one piece after the kerfuffle," Cat said as the agent joined them.
"Thank you, Ma'am. It's good to see you and Supergirl are okay," she said, looking at Cat, then Kara.
"Supergirl?" Kara asked, confused.
Vasquez quickly glanced questioningly to the group, wondering if she said something wrong.
"Honey, you go by that title when fighting crime or bad aliens," Eliza tried to explain.
"Of course I do," Kara laughed, finding that ridiculous. Her mirth sobered when she looked to Alex, then Cat, who both nodded. "Oh. Because of my . . . powers?"
"Yes. And your desire to help people," Cat said and offered, "you saw the video of you saving the day. Is fighting crime and bad aliens so hard to believe?"
"There is a lot that is hard to believe, Catherine," she said sadly, prompting Cat to instinctively reach out and squeeze her forearm. Kara glanced to Cat with a warm smile of thanks as she covered Cat's hand with her own.
"I didn't mean to upset you, ma'am," Susan said apologetically, briefly glancing at their hands, then Kara.
"I appreciate your concern, Agent Vasquez," Kara said kindly. "But it is clear I have much to learn and . . . accept."
Susan nodded with some relief. "I came to tell you the line-up is ready. Director J'onzz has already read his mind and he's guilty as sin. But mind-reading is inadmissible and we don't like to advertise his abilities, so your eyewitness testimony will go a long way, Miss Grant," Vasquez said, prompting Cat's nod of understanding.
"I am confident I could identify him too," Kara volunteered.
"I'm sorry ma'am, but we do not want to rely on an alien's testimony," Vasquez admitted with difficulty, shamed by the different standards. Ignoring Cat's glare, she continued. "But more importantly, we have never used Supergirl's testimony because it might encourage too many questions from the courts and politicians about you and your civilian life," she warned, hating the politics of it all. Cat's glare faded.
Kara looked at Vasquez, absorbing what she was told, but not fully understanding.
"But I want you by my side," Cat quickly said, grasping her hand. "And he should see his failure," Cat announced bitterly. Vasquez shared a look with Alex, both in complete agreement.
"Of course," Kara said.
SGSGSG
It didn't take long for the food to disappear, thanks to Kara's enthusiasm. After hugging Kara and Alex, Eliza left to continue her study of Kelex's scans as they exited the cafeteria. Cat and Kara headed to the interrogation room, with Agent Vasquez and Alex leading the way.
After a few moments, Agent Vasquez glanced back to Cat.
"Miss Grant, I understand you finally you got what you wanted," Susan said, a smile tugging at her lips.
"And what was that, Agent Vasquez?" Cat asked curiously.
"To learn more about that impressive Kryptonian spacecraft," she said with a pleasant smile, ignoring the look of disbelief at her gall then glare that followed.
"Should I apologize again for abducting you?" Kara asked.
Cat let out a belabored sigh. Kara took the liberty of holding her hand and squeezing.
Alex whispered to Vasquez. "Good one, Susan. How many glares did you get from her so far?"
Susan looked at her oddly. "Uh . . . that was my second, maybe third?"
"I'm up to six now," Alex boasted.
"I . . . see," she said to her strangely competitive friend. "Well, at least I can take consolation in being the best agent at the DEO," Susan said with a satisfied smile.
"You are not!" Alex objected.
"The mug says so."
"It does not!"
