Karry Universe
Diclaimer: I own nothing.
Turning Point
Alex was in the back of the police car, her head against the window, a nonchalant look on her face. She was looking out as a largely built African-American man came and talked to the police officers. A few minutes later one of the officers opened the door and grabbed her roughly by the arm to take her out. He undid her handcuffs and handed her off to the African-American man.
"All yours," the officer said as the other man took off his jacket and placed it around Alex and then lead Alex to his car. He opened the door to the passenger side for Alex and sat her in, closing the door behind her.
Alex passed out at this point and when she came through she was in a strange apartment she had never been to before. That wasn't unusual for her, but what was unusual was she was completely clothed and there was no naked guy, girl or both next to her.
"You're lucky," Alex heard a voice and sat up to see an African-American man by the door to the room. Faded memories came back to Alex. "You got me away from the cops?" her voice was still slurred.
"So you do remember. I was debating with myself on whether you would or not," the man said. "Good thing you crashed your car into a street light and no one but you got hurt. I was able to smooth things over."
"Didn't ask you to," Alex said getting up, instantly feeling the familiar migraine and dizziness that came hand-in-hand with her hangovers. She wondered if her body would ever get used to them. "Who are you anyway? And how did you get me off?"
"Director Hank Henshaw and there's a lot an FBI agent can do," the man said.
"FBI? You're with the FBI?" Alex asked, now ignoring her hangover as a hundred thoughts went through what they could of her aching mind – mainly about her dad and Kara.
"No," the man said. "I work for a different branch of the government. A secret one. One that deals with stranger people than humans. People like the little sister you've been sharing a bathroom with since you were 15."
Alex knew what Henshaw meant right away. She knew this guy tracked down aliens and she groaned. "I don't have a sister," she snapped, not having thought of Kara as anything other than 'Kara' since the incident during Memorial Day weekend. "All I have is a little pest my parents took in who is nothing strange at all." Why was she still protecting Kara? Not even telling this Henshaw what she really was. It wasn't like she cared for Kara still.
Hank looked at her. "Interesting. You refuse to call her your sister, but there is still something inside of you wanting to protect her," Hank said, verbalizing Alex's thoughts. "But let's get this out of the way. She is Kara Zor-El and her cousin Clark Kent is Kal-El and Superman. We've known that for a while and we have no interest in either one of them. Kara can live in peace. Marry that boy of hers and have kids if she wants. I'm not after her. That's not why you're here."
"Then what is?" Alex asked.
"You're a scientist, well not lately, but you have the brains somewhere in there. You are miraculously still in good physical condition. You can be trained for fieldwork and you know more about aliens than most. The agency can use someone like you. If you can get your life together."
Alex laughed. "Another one. This time someone I don't even know. I'll tell you what I told everyone else: It's my life. I'll live it how I want, thanks."
"Alex, you can protect not only your sister but the world," Hank reasoned calmly.
"I don't have a sister and unless you're arresting me I want to go," Alex said.
"You're free to go any time," Hank said watching as Alex stood up. "But…" Hank took a card out of his pocket. "My business card. When you're ready. Call me."
"Don't hold your breath," Alex snorted, but took the card regardless.
-Superflash-
Nearly a month later, Alex was walking to her apartment door. She had just gotten out of the hospital suffering an overdose – this one having left her at death's door, apparently. The alcohol drinking had turned into drug-use as well.
There was a note on her door with a warning of eviction if she didn't pay the rent soon. She wasn't surprised. She had been fired from her job a while back and cash was starting to run out.
She went inside and slumped down on her chair, still feeling weak. "What have I done?" Alex asked herself. Ever since she had woken in the ward she'd had a nagging sensation in her brain, she'd put it down to having no-one there for her when she woke; no friends, no 'Kara', not even her mother… She had no job, no-one who cared for her anymore. All she had was one-night stands and her drugs. She was starting to see what everyone else saw. She had a problem. On a whim, she took out her phone and dialed a familiar number she hadn't dialed in a long time.
"Hello, you reached Kara Danvers. I'm too busy right now…." Alex didn't listen to the rest of the message as she hung up the phone. There hadn't been enough rings for it to go to voice mail, but too many rings for the phone to be turned off. Kara had rejected her call.
Alex didn't know why she was surprised. She was the one who insisted they were no longer sisters. She's the one who threw Kara away and called her awful things. She was the one who destroyed the best relationship she had ever had with anyone simply because of a boy.
Alex stood up and took a carving knife from the kitchen; it was still clean from non-use. She stared at it, almost seeing through it as she thought. No one needed her any more, no one would care if she were gone. She held the knife over one of her wrists. How long did it take to bleed out? Before it was all over…?
Almost like it was calling to her in spite of her situation, her eyes caught sight of the card on the counter. She remembered putting it there the moment she had gotten back from seeing the man, planning on throwing it away but forgetting all about it since – no doubt due to her addictions. Dropping the knife on the counter, she picked up the card. It had collected dust which Alex had to blow away. The name 'Hank Henshaw' read clearly on it with a number. She remembered the man who had talked to her. He had offered her a purpose in life. Something she was seriously lacking right now.
Alex put her hand back in her pocket and extracted the phone she'd used to dial Kara, this time dialing the number on the card. "Director Henshaw," the same voice answered the phone.
"It's Alex," Alex said, her voice rough. "I think I'm ready."
"Where are you?" Hank asked and Alex told him. "I'll pick you up soon."
-Superflash-
Alex looked around the base, amazed at all the equipment as she listened to Hank speak about her training. She would be learning to take on anything, to fight, to negotiate, to survive. "There is one thing though." Hank seemed to pause in what he was informing her as he looked her directly in the eyes now, "You have to be sober. I know someone who runs a program. You'll enter it." Even though it was almost already an order, Alex nodded immediately. She wanted to get her life back together. "Good I'll give you her number."
"One question," Alex said and Hank nodded. "Is that my sisters' ship?" Alex pointed at the pod in the room, shocking herself as she called Kara something she hasn't called her in a while, but Hank smiled.
"Back to sister huh?" Hank asked, making Alex look down in thought. She was getting her life back on track, but was it enough for Kara? Would she ever want Alex back? "Yes. Yes, it is. We collected it after her cousin picked her up."
-Superflash-
A month later Alex was receiving her one-month sobriety chip. It had been the hardest month of her life. Not only did she have to deal with going through withdrawal, but she had also started her DEO training. That was difficult as it was. Put early sobriety on top of it and it was hell, but it was all worth it.
She was with the members of her AA group celebrating when Hank walked in. "Director, what are you doing here?" Alex asked Hank.
"Well, you're my best new trainee and this is an important moment," Hank said. "I'm proud of you."
"Hank," a blond said. Christie, her name was, had become a sort of friend and was also Alex's sponsor. She was also the person who knew Hank in the same way Alex did. The group Alex was in was made up of DEO members, ex members, or people who knew about the DEO in some other way. A safe place they could talk about anything including their jobs. "So you came to celebrate helping this one get through a month."
"Yes," Hank said with a smile.
"Where's your family?" someone else in the group asked Alex. "This is a big moment. They would want to be here."
"You know it's not a private event. We're not in the DEO, you could have invited anyone," another member of the group said.
"My family is far away. Besides they don't know," Alex said surprising the group and trying not to look disappointed at this, with herself. "I never told them I was getting sober. Didn't want to get their hopes up in case this went sideways."
"What's really going on?" Christie asked seeing the way Alex looked as she talked about her family. "What did you do to them?" Alex didn't answer. "Or maybe it's just one member. You mentioned a little sister a couple of times. Only member of your family you actually ever mentioned besides your deceased dad. What did you do to her?"
"I said things to her that can never be unsaid," Alex said, not wanting to talk about it but talking nonetheless.
"Sounds like you owe her an amends," the oldest women in the room said.
"I can't," Alex said. "She rejects my calls."
"So go to her in person," Christie suggested. "Make her listen to you."
"She lives in Metropolis. I'm still in training for my job," Alex said.
"You know you can take some time off," Hank said knowing this was important. "I'll even pay for your ticket. Make things right with Kara. I know it's killing you."
"I don't know where her apartment is," Alex said trying to get out of this, not ready yet to face this demon.
"I do," Hank said. "There are perks where we work."
"Alex, for as long as you keep denying this, you're closer to going back on the bottle," Christie said, ever the Sponsor. "Go make things right." Alex looked at everyone in her AA group and then at Hank. She finally nodded.
-Superflash-
Kara was smiling as Iris made her move. Kara and Barry had Iris and her new boyfriend over for a game night and they were playing scrabble. This boyfriend was nicer than some of the other ones Iris had had over the years but Kara could tell he was almost gone as well. She knew her friend too well for that. "Kara your turn," Iris said as she turned the board to her friend and former roommate. Iris had been a little upset when Kara had decided to live off-campus, but then she had become a dorm advisor and got her own single-person room anyway.
Kara looked at the board and then her letters as she put the word 'cat' on the board. "Five points times by three for a triple word so 15." Kara smiled even though she was a little behind.
That was when her cellphone rang. "It's Clark," Kara said. "I'll be right back." Kara got up and picked up the phone, walking into the bedroom for some privacy as she talked.
Before Barry could make his move there was a knock at the door. He got up and answered the door, surprised to see Alex there. "Hi," Barry said looking at his girlfriend sister, not sure what else to say. He knew the situation between her and Kara. They hadn't spoken for months. "You cut your hair." Every other time Barry had seen Alex she had long hair but now she had it short.
Alex nodded. "Is Kara here?" Alex asked.
"Not so sure she wants to…." Barry couldn't finish his sentence as Kara came out of the room calling his name, but paused when she saw Alex.
Alex opened her mouth to say something, but Kara stopped her before she could. "No. I can't deal with you or your crap right now. I don't know what you're doing here, but not today," Kara said. "Barry, Lois went into labor."
"I thought there was still a week before her due date," Barry said, turning to her.
"She's early," Kara said. "We got to get to the hospital. I have to watch Jason and, well Lois wants you there."
"Of course," Barry said.
"Iris, mind cleaning up and locking up?" Kara asked her friend.
"I got it. Go," Iris said waving them off.
Kara and Barry pushed past Alex and out of the way before Alex could say anything else. Alex was left standing there for a second before she sighed to herself and left.
-Superflash-
Alex had walked aimlessly around the city for hours, not sure where she was going until she ended up at a bar. She sat at the bar looking down at her chip. She hadn't ordered anything yet. "Month sober," the bartender said, seeing the chip. Alex nodded. "Want to ruin it now?"
"I don't know," Alex said, the release of alcohol seeming so good after the way Kara had treated her, but knowing she would destroy her new job if she did.
"Call your Sponsor," the bartender said. "And after that if you really want I'll give you a drink."
Alex nodded, took out her phone and called Christie. "Hey Alex, how's it going?" Christie asked.
"Not so good," Alex said. "I'm at a bar."
"Did you drink?" Christie asked.
"No," Alex said. "But I want to."
"Tell me what happened," Christie said and Alex explained about her encounter with Kara. "She didn't reject you. She rejected drunk you. She doesn't know there is a difference yet. Don't go back to being the person she rejected. Find her and show her you're different."
"I don't know which hospital they brought Lois to," Alex said.
"Then find out," Christie said.
"Thank you," Alex said and hung up. "I won't be taking that drink."
"Well I thought there was something different about you," Alex heard a voice and turned around to see Iris. "You're sober now aren't you?"
"One month," Alex said. "Came here to make amends."
"Well Lois and Clark just had a baby girl I'm told. They're at St. Joseph's," Iris said. "Go see her."
"Thank you," Alex said getting up.
"Alex," Iris said. "Don't hurt her again though. You don't know how miserable you made her."
"I won't," Alex said. "And Iris, I owe you an amends too. I'm sorry about calling you a loser and what happened at that bar. You didn't deserve it. You were being a good friend to my sister."
"All forgiven," Iris said. "Nice to know she's your sister once more."
-Superflash-
Alex stood outside the hospital room. She had bought a little stuffed animal, figuring she shouldn't show up empty-handed. "There was something different this time," she heard Lois say through the open door. "You said it differently."
"I said the same thing as I did for Ja," Kara responded. "The only real difference was the end where I said 'Ella Kal-El daughter of Lois'."
"I can't believe Ella is a name both here and there," Clark commented. He was holding Jason and smiling at his cousin who was holding his daughter. "Lucky I guess."
The group didn't notice Alex. Barry was sitting on the bed besides Lois smiling and looking at his girlfriend. Kara was standing up and looking down in her arms at the little girl she was holding. Lois was in the bed smiling, looking to and then held out her arms to Clark.
"Give me my boy," Lois said and Clark putting Jason on the bed who crawled over into his mommy's lap. "There's your sister." Jason smiled and laughed even though the little boy couldn't possibly know what was going on.
"Ja and Ella," Kara said with a smile.
They looked like the perfect family to Alex. She almost didn't wanted to ruin the moment, but of course she did as Barry turned his head and saw her. He didn't even say anything as Kara looked up at him and he nodded his head. Kara turned around still holding the little girl and then Lois and Clark eyes turned to her. She noticed the looks she was getting from everyone and she knew she deserved them.
"I bought this," Alex said dumbly, holding the stuff animal up as a sign of peace. "I don't want to ruin anything. Kara I just need a word."
"You don't have to Kara," Barry said feeling Kara's emotions; angry, annoyance and a tinge of sadness mainly. She was hurt, it was all still raw to her.
"No, I do," Kara said. "And I think it's your turn to hold Ella." Kara passed her niece to Barry and then walked out, passed Alex and out of the room. Alex followed. "Your drama ruined Jason's birth and now you want to bring it into Ella's birth. I guess you don't care. Say whatever you want and then get out."
Alex tried not to be hurt by the words. She knew Kara was just trying to protect her family. Still, she took her one-month chip out of her pocket and showed it to Kara. "So what, you have a gambling problem now too?" Kara asked clearly not knowing what Alex was showing her. "Are you here for money? Because I'm not giving you any and you know Eliza cut you off."
Alex sighed. Sometimes it was hard having a sister who did not know everything about human life. "I don't have a gambling problem and I'm not here for money. This is my one month chip," Alex said and knew Kara was still confused. "Look at the words. One month sober. I'm in a program Kara." She could see the shock on Kara's face. Kara didn't move or say anything, now holding the chip; Alex was thankful for her silence. "And part of my program is making amends to people I've wronged. I can't think of anyone I wronged more than you."
Kara went to say something but Alex held up a hand. "Please let me finish and after that you can tell me to go to hell if you want. I deserve it," Alex said. "Kara, when I started drinking, and I'm not blaming you for my problem here, this was my entire fault, but when I started most of the reason was I believed you didn't need me anymore. I felt so lost and there was a release in drinking and those feeling of you not needing me switched into feelings of anger at you. Anger for no real reason. Anger you didn't deserve. Everything I said to you was simply horrible, I won't even try to justify them, and there is no way I could possibly make it up to you. I wouldn't blame you if you never wanted to see me again, but just know I am sorry. If you want me to leave right now and never come back I will, but I really hope you can forgive because I…." Alex stopped. There were tears running down her face now, tears she hadn't tried to stop as she looked, almost longingly, into her sister's blank face, "I really want my little sister back."
Alex was really crying now, blinded by the tears, and was shocked when she felt two arms wrap their way around her. Kara was hugging her. "I will always be your little sister," Kara whispered in her ear. Alex put her own arms around Kara now and cried into her sister.
"I thought you hated me," Alex sobbed.
"I don't hate you. I could never hate you. Angry with you, yes. Hurt by you yes," Kara said.
"You rejected my calls," Alex interjected.
"Not because I hated you. I rejected them so I wouldn't get hurt by you," Kara said. "I didn't know you were getting better. Eliza never told me."
"She didn't know," Alex confessed. "I couldn't face her or you for the longest time. I have a new job at a different lab. I'm putting my life together."
"I'm glad," Kara said, realizing Alex from the hug, "and I want to be there for you, but there is one thing Alex. We clearly have issues we need to clear up. Most of them can wait until another time but you got to know. Barry is around to stay."
Alex nodded. "I get that," Alex said. "I do actually like him. I never had a real problem with him but I have to make things right with him too – and Clark and Lois. Can I come back into the room?"
Kara nodded, after wiping away a few stray tears herself, lead Alex back into the room. The people in the room had changed position. Lois was now holding Ella. Barry was sitting on a chair with Jason on his lap. Clark was besides his wife. "I'm sure Clark spied on us and told you all everything" Kara stated aloofly. They all made faces and tried to deny before they admitted it. Kara laughed as she took the seat next to Barry. Jason giggled and jumped from Barry to Kara, making Kara catch him and Barry scream in momentary pain.
Alex stood by the doorway watching the scene, feeling she didn't belong. "Barry, I got to apologize for everything I said and did to you. I'm sorry about the black eye you got trying to protect me and I'm very glad Kara found someone she clearly loves so much." She said this in one breath, focusing on Barry who smiled and nodded.
"It's fine," he said. "I'm glad your getting better."
"Clark, I'm sorry I called you a super freak a couple of times and your son an imp and said a lot of nasty things about you. Some to your face and some not," Alex said, the words coming to her from she didn't know where, but glad they were. "I'm glad you were there for Kara when I couldn't be." Clark nodded but said nothing.
"Lois I'm sorry I was very vocal to people that you were a b- well, someone who doesn't deserve the fame she has. You didn't deserve anything I said or did either. I had no right to say it. Also thank you, too for always being there for Kara when I messed up. I know its everyone in this room who got her over what I did and I'll go now." She turned around to leave.
"Alex," Lois said. "Stay. Come meet the new member of the family."
"Seriously?" Alex asked, turning to look at Lois in shock.
"Yes," Lois said. "You messed up, but you're trying to make it right. You're family too. Come here and say hello."
Alex walked up to the bed, a little shaky, and looked down at the little baby. "Ella, right?" she asked.
"Yes, Ella Martha Kent," Lois said. "Or what was her Kryptonian name Kara? Ella what?"
"Ella Kal-El," Kara said.
"Wait, Kal-El is his Kryptonian name," Alex asked, nodding to Clark.
"Girls take their father entire name," Kara said. "Zor was my father's name."
"Krypton has weird tradition," Clark said smiling solemnly.
"Which you should make an effort to know," Lois said. 'The only way our kids will know half of themselves is through Kara."
"I'm trying to learn Kryptonese," Clark pointed out.
"I'll learn it before you," Lois mumbled.
"I think I'll learn it first," Barry said with a smile.
"Can I take bets on Ja learning it first?" Kara asked and the group laughed. Alex smiled and chuckled, finally feeling like she belonged here.
AN: Aaaaaaand good Alex is back. Hope you enjoyed.