As the door opened the younger Alex saw Lena walk in with J'onn.
"Is mom-" Alex started to ask.
"I didn't mean to scare you. Your mom isn't why I am here." Lena said moving to Alex. "I need your help with something."
"Sure." Alex said as J'onn looked at Alison and asked.
"Can we talk outside?"
"Of course." Alison said following him out of the room.
"First question, did you touch the knife he attacked you with?" Lena asked when it was just her and Alex.
"Um, no. Why?"
"It may have had a coating on it." Lena said.
"Am I dangerous?"
"Not if you didn't touch it." Lena smiled. "But I will double check." Lena said.
"How?"
"I need a blood sample. But I'll have to use a Kryptonite syringe."
"Okay." Alex said.
"I'll be as quick as I can." Lena said taking out the syringe before drawing a sample. After a minute she pulled the needle out and said. "All done." As she started to pack up she asked. "How are you doing?"
"Okay I guess."
Sensing she was hiding something Lena pressed. "What's wrong?"
"I know with everything that is happening that mom is busy, but I thought she'd have called."
"It is crazy back at National City, but when I am back I will do my best to get hold of her and tell her to ring you."
"No, don't disturb her." Alex said. "I just miss her."
"I'm sure your mom will be here soon."
"Was she exposed?"
"Possibly. We are doing lots of tests." Lena said hoping Alex would stop asking questions before she had to lie. "I should get back, but are you going to be okay here?"
"Yes. Alison has been looking after me."
"Good. Call if you need something." Lena said hugging Alex before leaving.
00
"Good news and bad news." Lena said approaching Lucy and J'onn.
"The bad?" Lucy asked.
"Kara's prints were on one of the handles so she has been exposed."
"Do we know what it does?" Lucy asked.
"Hard to say for sure, but based on some tests it looks like it will decrease serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine."
"So what, cause depression?" Lucy asked.
"Possibly." Lena said.
"That might explain why Kara has gone to ground." J'onn said. "I mean the guilt mixed with the chemical imbalance, she won't be in a good place right now."
"The good news is I can reverse it easily, if we can find her." Lena said.
"We sure this isn't linked to the online recipes to kill Supers?" Lucy asked.
"No, those powders were haphazard and seemed to just be a high school chemistry experiment gone wrong." Lena explained. "But the coating on the knives, there was nothing accidental about it. It required a lot of engineering."
"And what about Alex?" J'onn asked.
"Her blood work came back normal." Lena said as Rose called over.
"I think I have Supergirl. There was a spike, normally associated with heat vision."
"Where?" J'onn asked looking at the map. Seeing the location he said. "I'll go get her."
"J'onn, be careful. It could be a trap." Lucy warned.
00
"Kara?" J'onn asked approaching the Kryptonian who sat in the desert surrounded by rock fragments.
"J'onn? What are doing here?"
"We were worried about you." J'onn said.
"I was trying to figure out what to do." Kara replied.
"So not wallowing in guilt?"
"They are hurt because of me." Kara said.
"No one blames you except yourself. But they need to worry about healing, not about you."
"I know."
"Yet you are here, while Alex is looking after Eliza by herself."
"What?" Kara asked.
"As soon as she heard what happened she wanted to go to Eliza."
"She's in Midvale by herself? Is she safe?"
"She has some DEO guards. But she needs you. They all do."
"How can they? They nearly died because of me." Kara said looking lost.
"Kara, the people behind this want you out of the way. You are giving them what they want."
"I know, but what if there is another wave of attacks?"
"You can help more if you are there." J'onn pointed out.
"What if they hate me?"
"They don't hate you." J'onn said hugging her.
"They should. But even if they didn't. I hate myself."
"Kara, the handles of the knives were coated in a type of Kryptonite. It is making you see the worse in everything. Let's get it out of your system, you'll see more clearly after that."
"This isn't a chemical."
"It is in part." J'onn said. "Otherwise you would already be calling Alex who wants to hear from her mother."
00
"Matt? Jane? What are you doing here?" The younger Alex asked as they entered the hospital room.
"We thought you might like some moral support." Jane smiled.
"How did you even get here?"
"Your mom's cousin."
"What?" Alex asked confused.
"We kinda phoned Lois Lane, explained what was happening and she sent your, what first cousin once removed? to bring us here." Matt said. "And he's just outside, as Clark, if you want to talk to him."
When Alex didn't say anything in response Jane asked.
"How's your grandmother?"
"They say she'll be okay." Alex said, still holding Eliza's hand.
"And you?" Matt asked squeezing her shoulder.
"Feel kinda useless." Alex said.
"Have you managed to get any sleep?" Jane asked.
"Not really."
"What about food?" Matt asked.
"Not hungry." Alex said.
"She's very stubborn." Alison said from her chair.
"Sorry, did we wake you?" Matt asked.
"It's fine." Alison said looking at her watch. "I should be going anyway." She added standing. She then looked at Alex and asked. "Can I get you anything before I go?"
"No. I'm fine. Thank you for everything." Alex said hugging her.
"Anytime. And call if you need anything." She then looked at her son and added. "Look after her."
"I will." He said putting his arm round her shoulder.
"I'll see you soon." Alison said leaving.
"Have you seen my mom?" Alex asked when it was just Matt and Jane remaining.
"No. But we came straight from Boston." Matt said.
"I meant on the news." Alex said as the door opened and Clark walked in.
"Hi Alex." He greeted.
"Hi."
"How's Eliza?" He asked looking over at the bed.
"They say she'll be okay."
"Good." Clark smiled. "I don't suppose you want to leave and get some rest?"
"No."
"Okay, well in which case, I'm going to head to the house and help get it cleaned up." Clark said.
"Thanks." Alex replied.
"Shall I come with you?" Jane asked sensing she would be a third wheel if she stayed at the hospital.
00
"Hi." Diz said entering the older Alex's room.
"Hi." Alex said quietly so not to wake her children who were sleeping at the side of the bed.
"How are you feeling?" Diz whispered.
"Like I've been stabbed." Alex said. "Do you have the reports?"
"Reports?"
"On what is happening."
"No. I have been ordered to give you nothing."
"Well I'm ordering you to tell me everything. Or at least get Vasquez to call me."
"She can't." Diz said. "She was also attacked. So were several others." He explained. "But things are under control. Ruby did a great job-"
"Ruby?" Alex asked confused.
"Yeah, she stepped up."
"Ruby took charge?" Alex asked, unable to keep her voice down.
"For a few hours." Diz said.
"Then who took charge?"
"Lucy." Her daughter answered from her side.
"Okay, but there is something else isn't there?" Alex said sensing they were hiding something.
"It wasn't just DEO agents who were attacked." Kara explained.
"Who else? Alex?" The older Alex guessed from her niece's lack of presence.
"Yeah, but she stopped them." MJ said. "It was grandma and Steve."
"Are they okay?"
"Grandma needed surgery, she still hasn't come round." Kara said, guessing there was no point in hiding anything. "But Steve will be okay."
"How's your aunt?"
"Um, we've not seen her."