"Sure this is the right place?" Steve asked as the driver pulled into a Boston driveway a couple of days later.
"Quite." Lena said.
"Do you think you may have over done it?" Kara questioned as the car came to a stop in front of a large house. "I mean this is a really nice house in a really nice area. It much have cost a fortune."
"If they are in a safe area and have a good work environment they can concentrate more on their studies." Lena said as they got out of the car and joined the teens on the drive way. "I say they, really it is Alex's and her choice over who the they are."
"Alex wouldn't say no to me." MJ said following his cousin into the house.
As the four teens disappeared upstairs the older Kara turned to Lena and said. "Thank you."
"You can stop thanking me." Lena said as Martin jogged back down the stairs moments before the doorbell rang.
"Tell me you haven't ordered takeout already." The older Alex said to her sister.
"No, but it is a good idea." Kara said looking through the door. "Although we'll need a big order." She added as Steve opened the front door.
"Hi Matt." Steve greeted.
"Hi." Matt replied.
"Upstairs third door on the right." Martin called.
"Thanks." Matt said taking the words as an invitation to head upstairs laving Jane standing by the front door.
"Hi Jane." Kara called.
"Hey." Jane replied before commenting. "This place is awesome."
"Technically it is Alex's we are just freelaoding." Martin shrugged.
"You okay?" Steve asked Kara noticing her expression had changed.
"Yeah, just wish I didn't have Superhearing." Kara replied. "Or a good way to shut it off."
"Want to go for a walk?" He offered.
"No, I'll be okay." Kara said before seeing her sister and asking. "Why are you laughing?"
"I'm not, but after the lack of sympathy you have given me, it is kinda funny." The older Alex smiled as the younger Alex and Matt came back downstairs.
"What's going on?" The younger Alex asked.
"Nothing." Kara said as Jane chipped in.
"Superhearing."
"Oh." Matt said reddening.
"Seeing this place is as well stocked as your two kitchens I'm going to buy in some food." Steve said looking from the older Alex to Kara.
"We'll come with you." The older Alex said.
"Whereas I need to get to my local branch of L-Corp and the new labs." Lena said before looking at Jane and asking. "Want to come?"
"Yes."
"Let's go then."
00
"Why have you really brought me here?" Jane asked Lena as they entered one of Lena's private labs.
"You strike me as some one who likes to problem solve." Lena said.
"Yeah."
"And you have some problems with your robot for the challenge?"
"You know we do."
"Well I have some problems as well. Well Alex has some problems."
"The drug?"
"Precisely." Lena said. "Now we are working on an antidote. In the mean time we need to stop exposure. That's where you come in."
"Me?"
"We we are doing everything we can. But we are coming at it from a certain direction. Maybe you, without any bias in your thinking, can come up with a good solution." Lena said. "You'll have the full use of this lab and all my novel materials and you can use it for your robot as well."
"You could have just asked me to work on this. You don't have to bribe me with help on the robot challenge."
"I know. If I thought I did we wouldn't be having this conversation. But if I can help you I would like to."
"Does Alex know?"
"No. She'd feel guilty." Lena said before asking. "So are you in?"
"Yes."
00
"You know that food was for the kids?" The older Alex asked her sister who was eating on a bun as they walked back to the house.
"I need comfort food." Kara said. "Besides Alex doesn't approve of junk food."
"MJ does." Her sister countered.
"Yeah, but he's back in training."
"Doesn't that require lots of calories?" Steve asked before realising he had said the wrong thing and added. "But Kara's comfort is more important."
"Thank you." Kara said finishing the bun before asking her sister. "Have you put any security on the house?"
"Like cameras?" Steve asked frowning.
"Well not inside obviously." Kara said.
"There are sensors." Alex said. "And they will continue to have DEO protection."
"Thank you." Kara replied as they walked up the drive.
"We're back." The older Alex called as she opened the front door.
"Hey mom." MJ said moving towards her and grabbing the bags off her.
"Lena not back yet?" Kara asked.
"No, she is giving Jane the extended tour so we won't see either of them again tonight." Matt said as he started to unpack the groceries before realising he had no idea where to put anything.
"You can pick." The younger Alex said. "It's not like MJ will follow any convention anyway."
"That's not entirely true." MJ said as Kara approached her daughter and asked.
"All unpacked?"
"Yes."
"Want to go for a walk before I go?"
"Sure." Alex smiled following her mother out of the house.
"Anything else you need to get before I go?" Kara asked.
"No, I am all sorted. Including with food. You didn't need to buy all of that."
"Most of it was Steve." Kara smiled.
"You going to be okay back in National City?"
"I am capable of looking after myself." Kara reminded her. "But I will miss you."
"You know you can visit?"
"I don't want to cramp your style. But if you need me for anything, I'll be here." Kara said.
"I know." Alex said.
"But there is something you can do to make me feel better." Kara said.
"What?" Her daughter asked.
"Don't train too hard." Kara warned.
"Be careful." Alex said.
"Always." Kara smiled.
00
"You okay?" Steve asked when he noticed Kara staring into space the next evening.
"Sorry what?" Kara asked looking at him.
"Missing Alex?" He guessed.
"Yes, but it's not that. She is so far away. What if something happens? I mean I could do nothing to stop her being taken last time."
"You did have other things going on." Steve said.
"So I am neglectful as well." Kara said miserably as Alex came into the apartment.
"That's not what I meant." Steve said.
"What did you do?" Alex asked.
"Helped me see all my flaws." Kara sighed.
"That's not what happened." Steve said when he saw Alex's glare. "But I will go get some more ice cream. I'll be back soon." He added leaving the apartment.
"What did he do?" Alex asked as she sat next to her sister.
"Nothing."
"Then what's wrong?" Alex asked.
"I'm scared." Kara said leaning against her sister. "If they go after Alex, I can't protect her."
"We will do everything we can to keep Alex safe. But remember she is pretty good at looking after herself."
"I guess."
"And if we ask Alex, she'll say she is more concerned about you getting into trouble."
"I know, but I have you to look after me. Alex is in Boston."
"She isn't by herself and she knows when to ask for help."
"I'm sorry." Kara said.
"For what?"
"I'm going on about Alex, but you are in the same boat with Kara and MJ."
"It makes me appreciate everything we put mom through." Alex said.
"You're right. But Eliza didn't sit around moping. At least I hope she didn't. I'd feel really bad if she did. Do you think she did?" Kara asked frowning.
"Mom?" Alex asked. "If she did, she'd never tell us."
"Right, so no more moping." Kara said. "Tomorrow I will fully concentrate at the DEO, I'll see the babies and Gizmo and- why are you looking at me like that?"
"There is something I didn't tell you. While you were in Midvale, four of the babies died." Alex confessed.
"Four?" Kara asked. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"You needed to focus on Alex." Her sister said.
"I appreciate that, but who looked after you?"
"Kara and MJ. Diz told Kara who took it upon herself to look take on the responsibility."
"You have good kids." Kara said.
"Yeah, I do." Alex smiled as her phone buzzed.
"Am I needed?"
"No." Alex said. "It was an auto alert. One of my simulations has just finished."
"That kinda sounds dull. I'm guessing it is about the chemicals?"
"Yeah. But it was another failed run." Alex said. "Sorry."
"It's not your fault, you are doing everything you can." Kara replied.
"It feels like I should be doing more. I am missing something and it is driving me crazy." Alex sighed.