"What have we got?" Kara asked landing at the DEO.
"A meta was killed on fifth." Alex said. "Since then tempers have flared."
"Where do you want me?"
"Here. NCPD want to handle it. But have asked that you are on standby. My concern is it could be a distraction or worse." Alex said.
"Worse?"
"Something feels off." Alex said. "I just can't put my finger in what."
"Why was the meta killed?" Kara asked.
"All we have is social media, which seems to be making it up as it goes along. But we should have CCTV footage soon." Alex explained.
"We have a different problem." Vasquez said approaching the pair.
"What?"
"A group of metas have just attacked the New Foundations church."
"Is that the one that is anti-meta?" Kara asked.
"Yes, led by the Reverend Bryce who feels all metas are against nature and should be terminated."
"I'll go-" Kara started to stay, only for Alex to cut in.
"Wait. What if they want to make it look like you are picking sides?"
"Even if they are, people could get hurt. I have to save them." Kara said flying off.
"You okay?" Vasquez asked Alex.
"I don't know. I have a bad feeling." Alex said.
"Want us to send a squad over there?"
"Yes. One with metas and non-metas in." Alex ordered. "Let NCPD know they will have to handle the event on 5th themselves. Explain Supergirl is helping somewhere else and offer our assistance." Alex said.
00
As Kara flew towards the church she saw the flames rise up in the distance. Flying faster she approached the church while listening for heart beats. Hearing none she used her freeze breath to put out the flames before she landed in front of the church.
"Arrest them." The Reverend demanded.
"It wasn't us." A meta said.
"No? You turn up to attack us and church ignites, but you expect us to believe you are innocent?" The reverend asked before turning to Supergirl and demanding. "Arrest them."
"I don't actually work for the police. But they are on their way along with the arson investigation team. They will find out the truth." Supergirl said as a teenager ran towards the church shouting.
"Chad!"
Seeing the teen try to run into the church Supergirl stopped him and asked. "What's wrong?"
"Chad is in there."
"Chad?"
"My brother."
"There's no one in there." Supergirl said listening once more.
"He was there. I was picking him up. But I was late." The teen said.
"Murderers." The Reverend said pointing to the metas who ran off.
"Get them?" The Reverend demanded of Supergirl. "They must pay for their crimes." He added as several police cars screeched to a halt in front of the church.
"You have this?" Supergirl asked.
"Yes." The officer said.
Nodding Supergirl flew after the metas.
00
"It's crazy out there." Vasquez commented as she watched the video feeds a couple of hours later.
"We should check the water." Ruby said. "I mean that crazy is at a whole new level."
"Fortunately the police are keeping under control." Vasquez said before adding. "Just."
"Where's Supergirl?" Alex asked.
"Helping with another fire." Vasquez explained as Rose approached.
"Ma'am, you need to see this." Rose said to Alex.
"What is it?"
"A transcript from the arson squad, they have just entered the church." Rose said handing Alex an electronic tablet.
"This isn't good." Alex said reading it before asking. "Who else knows?"
"Anyone with a scanner."
"Get Supergirl back here." Alex ordered.
"Yes Ma'am." Rose said walking back to her station as Alex handed the tablet to Vasquez.
"This is not good." Vasquez said as Supergirl flew into the control room.
"What's going on?" Kara asked looking round the DEO control room.
"The arson squad just pulled a body, a child's body, from the church." Alex explained.
"Chad?" Kara guessed. "He was in there?"
"Someone was. They won't be able to identify the body for a while."
"I should have been quicker." Kara said sadly.
"We have no idea how they died. They could have died a while ago." Alex argued as a new headline flashed up on the screen.
"Not the way they see it." Kara said seeing she was getting the blame.
"They are idiots and they are wrong." Alex argued.
"We don't know that. I'm going to go." She said flying off, causing Alex to take out her phone.
-00-
As Kara flew into her apartment she saw Steve and Chewie on the couch.
"What are you still doing here?" Kara asked.
"Chewie suffers from bad separation anxiety." Steve reminded her before standing and moving next to her and explaining. "Alex told me what happened and then you disappeared, I've been worried."
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Okay, but you still need to eat." Steve said hugging her. "Go shower and I will heat up some lasagne."
"I don-"
"You are eating." Steve said.
"Bu-"
"No arguments." Steve said. "Go shower, food will be ready when you are out." He said kissing her head before watching her go before he started to prepare the food.
00
"Where is she?" Alex asked entering the apartment ten minutes later.
"Shower." Steve explained as he took another plate out.
"How was she?"
"Said she didn't want to talk." Steve explained.
"But she agreed to eat?" Alex asked seeing Steve take the lasagne out of the oven.
"Not exactly. I told her she was going to eat and she didn't argue."
"That's something." Alex said as Kara appeared, her hair still wet.
"Alex?" Kara said before saying. "I don't need an intervention. I'm okay."
"No one believes that." Steve said guiding Kara to the table.
"What happened wasn't your fault." Alex said.
"Wasn't it? I should have been quicker."
"You went as soon as we told you." Alex reminded her as she sat next to her sister.
"What if I killed him? What if it was me putting the flames out-"
"Kara, I know you. The first thing you would have done was listen for heartbeats. If you heard one you would have flown straight in." Alex went on as Steve put the plates on the table. When Kara just played with her food Alex said. "You want to blame someone, blame me."
"What did you do?" Kara asked.
"I told you to slow down and wait." Alex reminded her. "But before you blame anyone, let's figure out what happened. I'm going back to the DEO, I'll let you know when I hear something. In the mean time, get some rest."
00
As Cat walked through the office the next day she saw Kara and demanded. "With me."
Standing Kara followed Cat who marched towards her office. On seeing her assistant she barked.
"Jo, don't disturb us."
"Actually that is Becky." Kara corrected, but the comment was ignored by Cat who entered her office and went straight to her desk.
"Sorry." Kara said to Becky before entering the office and shutting the door. Not giving Cat the chance to speak she said. "We need to change the narrative."
"What?" Cat asked surprised by the statement.
"Alex was saying Campus life is fractured because of all the groups that are forming. There has to be a way to unite everyone."
"Well unfortunately the quick way to do that involves hate. The good way to do that is a long journey." Cat said.
"I know." Kara sighed.
"Last night won't make things any easier." Cat went on, bringing the conversation back to the one she wanted, just as there was a knock on the office door.
"I thought I said do not disturb us." Cat said as her latest assistant came in.
"I know Ms Grant, but I thought you'd want to see this." She said passing Cat a tablet with some social media feeds. "It hasn't made the mainstream yet, but I guess it is only a matter of time." The assistant said.
"Let me know the second it does." Cat said.
"Yes Ms Grant." The assistant replied leaving.
"What's going on?" Kara asked as Cat looked at the tablet.
"Some are using yesterday as a way to attack Supergirl." Cat said.
"Blaming me for what happened. I know." Kara said.
"This goes a step further. Some are accusing you of murder."
"Murder?" Supergirl asked eyes wide.
"Of the boy, via asphyxiation." Cat said passing Kara the tablet. "They are saying it is retaliation for the meta who was killed." She went on before adding. "They are claiming the autopsy results point the finger at you. Has the autopsy actually been done yet?"
"Um, I don't know."
"Well, I very much doubt it will have done. But I suggest you go to the DEO and find out the truth."
"Right." Kara said.
"Kara." Cat said as she got to the door.
"Enough idiots will believe these stories or part of these stories to blame you. Don't become one of them. You are not responsible."
00
"You've seen?" Alex guessed when her sister entered the office.
"Did I kill him?" Kara asked.
"No." Alex said.
"The autopsy results are in?" Kara asked.
"No. It is being conducted right now."
"So I could have killed him?" Kara asked.
"No." Alex said without a trace of doubt as Vasquez walked into the office announcing.
"Autopsy results are here."
"And?" Kara asked.
"The kid did die of asphyxiation. But they died two hours before the fire."
"They were murdered?" Alex asked.
"That the pathologist couldn't confirm, he did mark it as suspicious though. But based on timings Supergirl definitely wasn't to blame."
"But is now being framed." Alex said.
"Maybe." Vasquez said. "We still don't know if this was connected to what happened on fifth. But we do know it isn't a result of what happened on fifth. I mean the kid was dead before the meta was killed."
"Could the same person have killed both of them?" Kara asked.
"Different MO, but can't rule anything out." Vasquez said.
"Come on, let's go." Alex said to her sister.
"Where?" Kara asked.
"We need to talk to Cat. Something tells me we are being played and there are many wrong moves." Alex said.
00
"No matter what you do it will be spun by the conspiracy theorists." Cat said as she sat her desk, opposite Alex and Kara. "Massive cover up to protect Supergirl. Supergirl flexes muscles to force authorities into cover up. Or maybe Super corruption."
"So what do we do?" Alex asked.
"Proceed as you would for any other case." Cat said. "Any differences will be picked up. But you are right there will be fall out." She then looked at Kara and said. "You need to continue like normal." She then turned to Alex and added. "But if you are right, this will be the first of many attempts to discredit Supergirl. You need to find out who is behind it."
"No." Kara said. "This could be meant to distract us. You need to focus on the babies and the chemicals."
"True, but J'onn is a good investigator. So is Agent Bell." Alex said. "They can run the investigation while we focus on the chemicals and the babies."
"Okay." Kara said, although there was a frown etched on her face. "Or, what if we give them what they want?"
"What?" Alex asked.
"What if Supergirl steps aside? If I don't it will escalate and-"
"If you step aside you look guilty." Alex pointed out.
"That's better than putting innocent people, innocent children, in danger." Kara said.
"What about the innocent people who die when you aren't there to save them?" Cat asked.
"There are other heroes." Kara said.
"Kara, what have I said about making decisions when scared?" Cat asked.
"Don't." Kara answered.
"Exactly." Cat said before her tone softened. "Didn't you say you are seeing Alex this weekend?" Cat asked changing tact.
"Yes." Kara confirmed.
"Try having a normal weekend and then we'll talk."