Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Call Me Kara

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 19:

“Oliver?”

“Yes Felicity?”Oliver responded, scanning the room while Barry and Kara had family time.

“We have a problem.”Felicity answered. Dig, Oliver and Thea looked at the blonde. As much as the team had been through over the past three years, all knew if Felicity said there was a problem, there was a definite problem. Oliver was the first to rush over and read the screen over Felicity’s shoulder.

/He is even hotter close up. I’m impressed./ Oracle messaged.

“Winn, is the PA system hooked up to the main system?” Felicity whispered.

“What PA system?” Winn asked. “Voices echo in this place. We usually just shout a name and it carries.”

Felicity let out a sigh of relief. “She can’t hear us. Cisco? I don’t like her seeing us.”

I don’t either.” Oliver agreed, looking for cameras. “How is she seeing us? Hidden cameras ?”

“I doubt it. Most likely the cameras on the computers and the security system.” she guessed.

“So we reboot. Cut power for thirty seconds. When we boot up we can catch the Trojan and kill it.” Cisco suggested.

“Whats going on?” Kara asked, zipping over with Barry and Kal El.

“We are being watched. Everything that has happened since this hangar’s systems were up and running has been monitored by a very skilled hacker who claims to know where your foster father is being kept, Kara.” Felicity explained.

“If we reboot we lose feed from outside right? I don’t like it. We would be blind. She could want us to do this so a strike team could enter.” Oliver thought out loud.

“You would rather her see us now? I am getting tired of her making comments about how hot you are. I wonder if Helena is a hacker on this Earth? If she is, I am so kicking her ass.”

“Probably Cupid.” Speedy muttered. “Seems like there are a couple crazy women in every universe obsessed with my brother.”

/Quite a conversation your friends and you are having. I thought we were becoming friends. It is rude to talk when I can’t hear./

/You can see us and we can’t see you. Hardly fair and eyes off my man./ Felicity responded.

“Kara, mask on. Its daylight outside, and you are going to be our camera.” Oliver ordered. Kal El took offense.

“You will not tell her what to do. If she is in danger I am getting her out of here.”

“She took out one of the most powerful and evil men in the history of our world. She should probably be protecting you. Back off, go somewhere, hide under a cape, I really don’t care. I don’t know you. I know her. She is team, not you, so unless you have something useful to say, shut up and do as you are told. Protect Eliza and Caitlin.” Oliver ordered. As always the gang from Earth 1 did what Oliver told them to in situations like this, even Barry. When it came to war, they all knew no one was better than Oliver and his sometimes over the top paranoia. Barry and Kara were heroes and had battled to near death but when it came to violence, neither were in the Arrow’s or Nyssa’s league. All of Team Arrow had been in situations like this before.

” Alex!” Dig called.

Alex ran up and Dig handed her a Glock 9mm.

“Reboot the system Felicity. Nyssa! We are bout to go blind.” Oliver instructed.

“I understand. So long as you understand if anyone comes in that door, I will kill them.”

“Do what you have to do.” Oliver told her. “Do it Felicity.”

/I’m going to have to put you on hold Oracle. Nothing personal. I will be right back./

Felicity hit the system reboot and the power dimmed, the computers shut off and the hangar plunged into darkness, only lit by the small bit of sunlight coming under the large bay door.

“Barry in the middle. Kara in the air, X Ray everything. Nyssa, South, Dig North, Thea West and I got East entrance. Alex could you clear the rooms on the second and lay down cover fire from above if we have visitors?’

“Yep.” Alex responded immediately, heading for the small stairs leading to the second floor where a break room and a couple of old offices resided. Kara shot to the middle of the hangar, halfway between the roof and the floor, spinning slowly in the air watching everything with her X ray vision. Being blind wasn’t so bad when you have a woman who can see through walls, Oliver thought, before he had bow in hand watching his entrance.

“Why am I in the middle of the Hangar?” Barry asked, mask on, lightning in his eyes.

“Stay under Kara. If she sees any hostile I want you through that wall and hitting them as hard as you can. Disarm them, do what you do Barry. Do whatever you have to do Barry. You understand?” Oliver glanced up at Kara hovering above them and Barry understood what he had to do if it came down to it.

“Don’t worry about me. I know what I have to do, Oliver.” The Arrow recognized the conviction in his tone. Barry wouldn’t let any green colored objects near Kara. While the Flash had confidence in Cisco’s radiation blocker, Kryptonite bullets could break through a layer of radiation and harm her in Oliver’s mind. It was possible anyway and no one wanted to test the theory.

Kal flew up next to Kara who was still turning, like a lighthouse, scanning all.

“I only see Lucy Lane outside by a car. No one else around.” Kara informed the group. “Kal move, I can’t see through you.”

“I’m not leaving your side.” he told her. J’onn walked up to Oliver from behind.

“Is there anything I can do?”

“Protect Eliza and Caitlin and get your friend away from Kara so she can do what she does best, mainly saving our asses. Barry and Kara are our most powerful and fastest offense if we are attacked in the next twenty seconds.” Oliver told him. J’onn walked back to the worried women and stood near them. Quietly he was impressed by how quickly all worked together, no hesitation in their interactions. They had fought together before. This Oliver Queen had a very tactical mind. He used Kara and Barry’s powers to their advantage but did not put them at unnecessary risk. J’onn didn’t bother trying to talk Kal down. It would have been pointless but he also recognized his friend was a wild card in what looked like a well oiled machine. He noted with pride, Alex on the second looking over the railing, gun in front, eyes checking all the entrances.

“Time Felicity.” Oliver requested in a tone that indicated he wasn’t requesting but was hoping she wouldn’t notice.

“Ten seconds and say please. Cisco, Winn, when the system reboots we have fifteen seconds to find the Trojan and destroy it. Winn, I am betting you have more viruses ready than Oliver has arrows. When we find it, shut down the link but keep everything else open. I’m not done with her, if what she says is true, this could be big.”

“Then why did we reboot the system?” Winn asked.

“Because I would rather fight off a possible attack in thirty seconds than be watched for the rest of the day by this Earth’s version of Felicity.” Oliver explained. “Kara? Anything?”

“We are clear besides Lucy. Barry you feel like taking a look around?”

“For the last thirty seconds.” Lightning flashed in Barry’s eyes and he took off, phasing through the wall and running in circles a mile, two, three miles out and back in. He was back in ten seconds and let out a sigh of relief. No hostiles in sight, besides the Lane woman who was leaned against a car, not seeming surprised anymore by the bolt of lightning that zipped in and out.

“We are clear.” he told Oliver.

“Second floor is clear.” Alex yelled from the top railing that wrapped around the hangar.

Kara looked up, as did Kal El, both scanning the skies and seeing nothing. Kal El noticed at some point she had indeed placed a mask over her face.

“We are back up. Let’s go Cisco.” As soon as the words left Felicity’s mouth the lights flickered back on and screens lit up.

“Ten seconds…”

“I know Felicity… Check the ports from the high bandwidth security…” Cisco told her, calm on the outside but mind working through hundreds of different scenarios.

“Got it! Sending virus now.” Winn told the group, nervous but having the time of his life, despite the possible danger.

Felicity relaxed, monitoring the virus and sending a similar stream back towards Oracle, catching the webcam feature in the monitor she was hiding behind. Unfortunately she saw nothing but darkness.

/Very nice. I can’t see you now. I figured it would be prudent to cover my cam. Any reason why you did that?/

/I don’t like my man being perved./

“We are clear, security monitors back on line.” Felicity told the group.

/I’m hurt. I told you I meant no harm/

/We have trust issues. If you knew what we have been through you would understand. We also do not like to play games. Watching us is playing a game you really don’t want to get involved in. If you really want to talk, come by anytime./ Felicity responded. /But if you don’t stop being cute, I will destroy your system with my tablet./

/No more games. Talk to Clark Kent. I know Kara would stay to save Jeremiah if Superman doesn’t want to play ball. All I want is for him to be who he is supposed to be./

Kara froze. “What does she want? Him to be who he is supposed to be?” she whispered. Barry wrapped his arms around her, and despite the tense situation, she relaxed just a bit. He was still warm from his run and she could feel the electricity still running through his body.

“Got her.” Felicity whispered. /We need to have a team meeting. I will contact you after we have all talked. Should I check this untraceable IM program or would you rather I use your email account in Gotham City?/

Oracle’s message window closed immediately.

“Boom! Thats what I’m talking about! Don’t like us knowing where you are, do you Oracle?” Felicity shouted, attempting a high five with Cisco and failing miserably.

“You know where she is?” Barry asked. “Because I can totally be there in ten minutes, twenty if she is overseas.”

“I found a defunct email address on her server. Doesn’t look like it has been used in a while but the URL trailed back to a Wayne Enterprises in a Gotham City.”

“I’m sorry, Barry did you say you could be overseas in twenty minutes?” Eliza asked.

“Yeah Mom, he can run on water.” Kara answered proudly.

“I understand that but how would you go all the way across the Atlantic, storms, high waves, salt water imbalances as you hit deeper and then shallow water? If you hit a wave you would probably phase through but at what point would you phase back and the change in your atomic structure must make you lose some momentum? I would imagine if you can run on water then you must have to maintain a constant velocity without any distractions and constant quick steps. Going across the Atlantic could be very dangerous. Do you really think you could make it that quickly, to say Italy?”

Barry stood speechless for a moment and then looked at Cisco who shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t look at me, man. She has some valid points and you have never really ran over any rough water, just the bay, and you know that is always calm. Odds are good you would drown on the way to Italy.”

“Caitlin?” Barry asked. The woman shrugged her shoulders. “She does have some valid concerns Barry. I’ve seen you do a lot of things I thought were impossible but getting to Europe in twenty minutes? Likely not going to happen.”

“Can we focus please?” Oliver asked, gruffly. “Dr. Danvers, this hacker has been spying on you since you started this venture. Any idea of who it might be, what her interest is and how she would have any information on your husband?”

“Jeremiah is dead. I’ve accepted that.”

“Mom he could have been moved, especially if they were using mine and Kara’s life to make him do whatever they had him do. If he found out Kara was dead, then he… they wouldn’t want him to find out.” Alex quietly suggested, like Eliza, not wanting to let hope in her heart after it had been dashed when Project Cadmus had been shut down and Jeremiah was not found but unable to ignore the flare of hope.

“Alex is right. What exactly did this Oracle want? Kal to work for her?” Kara asked.

“She wants your cousin to go back to being a hero. She said helping out heroes is what she does and he isn’t the only one on this Earth. Nothing was said about working for her.” Felicity told the group.

“Besides J’onn, I don’t know of any others left on this planet that have superpowers. Unless… did you say Gotham? She couldn’t be talking about that vigilante?” Kal scoffed.

“You mean the bat who hunts criminals?” Kara snorted. “Total urban legend. It doesn’t matter. Get her back on your computer thingy and tell her he is game.”

“I am not. After what happened to you, you expect me to defend this planet?” Kal asked. “Jeremiah wouldn’t want that. He loved you Kara. He wouldn’t want me to help anyone after what this world tried to do to you. If he is still alive I will find him but not according to some mystery hacker’s rules.”

Kara stepped up to Kal El, looking up at him inches away but seeming taller than him at the moment. Perhaps it was her suit, her mask, or her slightly glowing eyes that all had recognized as extreme irritation, but at that moment, Kal El looked small next to his shorter cousin.

“Felicity, please get your nemesis back online and tell her Kal will be back in his suit as soon as we have Jeremiah.” Kara told her again.

No one said a word as everyone, even Nyssa with some amusement, watched the two aliens in the room having a silent battle of wills.

“Kara, do you know what losing you did to me? Do…”

Kara shot into the air and moved in front of the wrap around walkway on the second level of the hangar. “Up here now. We need to talk.”

Kal sighed and drifted up, following Kara into the familiar break room/ kitchen.

Kara was kicked back in a chair, feet crossed on the table, arms crossed.

“Could you take that mask off? I have waited a long time to see your face and I would like to soak it in before you jump off again to another universe with Mr. Allen. Unless you want me to come with you? I will. Lois and I…”

“Shut up Clark.” Kara told him, her anger barely concealed. “Jeremiah is dead because of us . Or at least he is captured, being held prisoner, because of me and you.

Kal was so surprised by the statement he didn’t even correct her use of his human name.

“I decided to take Alex flying. She didn’t want to, she was afraid of getting caught but I convinced her to come. When we returned Eliza and Jeremiah caught us. Alex was told they were disappointed in her. Not me, but her. She took the brunt of the blame, she looked out for me as always. Later that night, there was a knock on the door. Jeremiah told the two of us to go upstairs and made it clear I was not to listen. I listened anyway. A man I now know was Hank Henshaw had come with DEO agents to take me. Jeremiah agreed to work for them, to give them whatever they want, provided they wouldn’t take me. A year later we thought he was dead.”

“I… I didn’t know that. Eliza never told me about you flying. She just said they found…”

“Because she was protecting you! She protected me! She didn’t want us to feel guilty. I did. I felt guilty as hell. Alex lost her father because of us! Eliza lost her husband because of us! Because you involved them!”

“Hank Henshaw…” Kal began to argue.

“Never should have had the chance to take me. You should have been there! I came to this planet at 13 to protect you, a baby. When I finally arrived instead of helping me, you left me so you could be a hero! You didn’t have time for a life outside of being Superman except the one you made with Lois. You should have taken me in and Hank Henshaw never would have had any reason to go after Jeremiah and no chance to come after me. You could have protected me, fought for me, so they didn’t have to! You could have taught me to defend myself instead of having to hide who I was to blend in!”

“You think I don’t know that I abandoned you? You think it doesn’t kill me inside?!”

“I think you didn’t give a damn until you thought I was dead. You left me to be a hero and when I was gone you decided you didn’t want to be a hero anymore. Make up your mind!”

“This world tried to kill you!”

“No it didn’t! The President and your father in law tried to kill me! The men who broke into my apartment tried to kill me! I have every reason to hide and I am not talking about the mask I wear. I was the one who was shot, I felt the bullets, I thought I was dead and I woke up weak, disoriented, and in a different universe! If anyone has any reason not to be a hero anymore it is me, but I am still out there! I am still fighting! Barry has been hurt, nearly killed, watched his mother die in front of him and knew he could do nothing about it and he still fights! Oliver, Dig, Felicity and Speedy have had every reason to give up before, walk away from it all, but they don’t. They fight, they battle not only criminals on the street but men who could dominate the world with their powers and they go out with a bows and arrows and swords and their bodies and they fight! They have had teammates die! Not super powered teammates but friends, family who have died fighting for what was right and they still keep going. The President is on trial because these people who you seem convinced tried to kill me, stood up for me and for you. The world protested against what happened to me because of humans like Cat Grant and Winn. Cat has two sons and both of them are good people. Lois is a good person. There are a lot of good people out there who need your help.”

“Maybe I am tired Kara. I have given my life to this planet, trying to be accepted and then they try to eradicate our people!”

“Our people? You killed Zod, I killed Non and I would have killed Astra as well if she had stayed her course! We both chose Earth. If you aren’t more human than Kryptonian why did Myriad take control of you? Oliver told me at the battle in front of the last breach you were in your suit. Why?”

“Because I was flying back with my pod and denim and cotton aren’t sturdy enough for quick flight. You know this.”

“Take our family crest from that suit.” Kara told him.

“Excuse me? I love you Kara but…”

“You now nothing of Krypton besides what you have seen in holograms. You don’t know the prayers, Alex speaks better Kryptonese than you do. You don’t remember the architecture, the art, the monuments, the red sun and how it felt on your face. You have no memories of this, of any of it. You were shot off in a pod and grew up in Kansas. You know nothing. I realize my growth was stopped for a couple of decades and I have taken a back seat to you. That is my fault. I never should have allowed myself to live in your shadow, but I did and that is on me. Now it is time to fulfill part of my duties I came here for. There are some things you should know about our house, our family, my family at least. We were one of the ruling noble families of the planet. As your elder, and yes I am, it is time you took your place or turned in the symbol of our house.”

“I will never take off the symbol of our family.” Kal told her, trying to bury the anger in his chest at being called out by his younger cousin.

“Then give it the respect it deserves. Our house dated back thousand of years from the time clans fought over continents, different dialects were spoken and our ancestors had only one name. We were scientists, politicians, judges, but all of us, everyone, were warriors. I wanted to quit. When I got to Barry’s Earth I was convinced I would never put my family crest on my chest again, but I couldn’t help it. We are warriors Kal El.”

Kal couldn’t look her in the eyes any longer and instead looked at the floor.

“I know you love me and I love you. Yes I am disappointed that you left me, you left your blood when I needed you the most, but now? Those people who protested, who literally toppled the most powerful woman in the world need a warrior, a hero, someone who gives them hope. I love the life I have now. I love my friends, I love having Alex with me and I love Barry and he is so good to me. Better than I ever dreamed I could have. I love eating ice-cream and watching silly TV shows with Cait and I love Alex kicking me at night and waking herself up. I love her being there when the nightmares wake me because she always has been and now Caitlin is as well. It’s good to have people like that to hold your hand and tell you it will be okay.”

Kal flinched at the unspoken meaning. He had not been the one to hold her hand, ever.

“Our family is made of warriors. I want to fight on a different Earth because I am in love and finally feel like I am where I belong. But you belong here. You and Lois have a life here. If you stop defending others, fighting for those who can’t fight for themselves then you are disgracing our family name, because that is what we do. You are going to tell this Oracle that you are going to get back to work as usual and you will mean it. If not I will stay and take up your mantle, no matter how many nightmares it gives me. This is what we do. So Kal, am I going to be wearing our family crest on this Earth or are you?”

Kal leaned back and looked at the ceiling. Kara had changed. She had always been his awkward little cousin, he saw her as more of a little sister. One who he was very proud of. One who always seemed so unsure of herself. Life had changed her. She still had that glow about her, even with the mask still on her face. It must have been so comfortable she hadn’t even noticed. She was still sweet and caring, her reunion with Eliza, Hank and him had shown him as much. She looked at Barry Allen as if he were her personal sun.

Kara though, was not the same. Astra’s death, Myriad, being forced to kill Non, almost dying in space and then almost being murdered in her own home, only alive because of a man capable of reaching near light speed and a thin, beautiful, dirty blonde haired miracle worker. The sunshine was still there but the doubt was gone. She was fierce and she was not afraid.

“I will do what is necessary to get Jeremiah back.” he told her.

“No, you will be the hero I expect you to be as a member of the House of El. Represent our family with honor, or stop using the name. You can be Clark Kent, born and raised in Kansas. But don’t call yourself one of the last survivors of Krypton unless you are going to act like it.”

“And how should I act, exactly?”

“The next time you hear someone call for help, help them. It doesn’t have to be harder than that. You are going to give your word as a member of the House of El to whoever that is on the other end of the computer that you will continue to protect the human race. Then we find where Jeremiah is and my friends and I will get him out. Hank I’m sure, will do whatever is necessary. He was willing to die for the human race and has nearly died many times. Whether you are there or not is completely up to you. I know you will be though. Its who you are, right little cousin?”

Kal El stood up from his seat and opened his arms. Kara took off her mask and walked around the table, hugging the much larger man.

“I’m so sorry Kara. For everything.” he whispered, tears rolling down his cheeks and falling on her hair.

“I’ve already forgiven you. I love you and I always will. Now you need to forgive yourself. You didn’t fail me. By deciding to let Barry take me, you saved my life. You and Alex have always been my heroes. Forgive yourself and act like a hero. It isn’t the human race’s fault that I was shot.”

“Okay. If that is all she wants, then I am game. I won’t take orders from her or whoever she works for but I will be Superman again.” Kara pushed back a bit and looked him in the eyes.

“Just be Kal El. Thats enough.”

While Kara and Kal El had their discussion upstairs, the rest of the people in the hangar debated letting Lucy Lane in. The woman was still standing outside, leaning against a car, perhaps her car, waiting. Waiting to be let in, or waiting for back up. Waiting for back up was Oliver’s suspicion. Barry suggested he lighten up.

“I’m sorry Barry, I seem to remember not long ago that you weren’t exactly lightening up. We both know what can happen in thirty seconds, especially when we are being spied on by a woman who is a better hacker…”

“You had better not finish that sentence.” the blonde warned.

“… almost as good a hacker as Felicity, who claims to have information on Kara’s deceased foster father and the fact that not only is he still alive she knows where. Lets not forget the fact that she has been spying for months but only made herself known when we arrived.”

“True but that was then. I have literally covered every inch of ground for a three mile radius and no one but the brooding, short girl outside is around. So relax? Maybe?” Barry suggested.

“He has a point Ollie. No one is going to try to take out a hangar with the six of us in it plus Super cousin and Giant Green guy inside.” Thea agreed.

“Thea… please don’t call me… that in front of other…”

“What? Ollie? I’ve been calling you that since I could talk. I don’t complain when you call me Speedy. C’mon its cute.”

“Yes Ollie, lighten up.” Nyssa told the man, standing behind his sister. Oliver looked at Thea and pointed his finger at her.

“You see what you started?”

“Hey guys, we have a visitor, but its cool. Its only, Miss Grant…”

Before Winn could finish the sentence, the front door opened and Nyssa let loose a throwing star, traveling with deadly accuracy towards the half way opened door. Barry caught it five feet from the door and hid it behind his back as a smiling Cat Grant, followed by her son and Lois Lane walked in.

“Hello Mr. Allen. A pleasure to see you again.” Cat greeted him with a smirk.

“Nice to see you too, Miss Grant.”

Lois offered her hand. Barry took it with his left. “Uh sorry, I cut my other hand a moment ago. Something dropped and it was incredibly sharp. Very, very sharp. One of those things that wherever you touch it, it just seems to be razor sharp everywhere.”

Barry held onto the throwing star that had cut into his hand behind his back and managed not to let the pain show in his face. He would definitely have Felicity talk to Oliver about having a talk with Nyssa about not throwing pointy and/or very sharp things at innocent people.

“As good as it is too see you again Mr. Allen I would really love to see your significant other.” Cat informed him in her usual bored tone.

“You’re the Blur.” Carter whispered. Barry managed to keep the irritation from his face and gave the kid a bright smile.

“I’m actually called the Flash.”

“The Blur is better but okay.” Carter agreed, star struck by the suit and the one time he had seen him fight by Supergirl’s side on the news.

“Kara is talking to her cousin…” Barry began, before Kara floated down.

“I’m right here.”

Lois and Cat’s breath was taken away by the woman descending down slowly towards them. She hadn’t been gone that long, months, however they felt like years, but both Lois and especially Cat could see the girl had changed more than her appearance. Her red cape and boots were still present along with the well known symbol of the House of El, as Supergirl had explained in her first interview and Lois had explained at greater length. Her skirt however, was gone, instead she wore a tight suit similar to Mr. Allen’s. Cat would bet there was a mask involved as well. It was good to know Kara was not relying on her old disguise if this was the case. She was always too beautiful to have to cover it up. Such light shouldn’t be forced to hide behind meekness.

Kara landed in front of Cat and the usually cool and composed woman, sniffed, casually wiped an eye and took her in.

“I have missed you, Kara.”

“I have missed you too, Miss Grant.” Kara responded wrapping her arms around the older woman, who grabbed onto her fiercely.

No one in the room said a word as the women hugged each other tightly. Alex had never understood the bond these two shared but she knew despite everything it was deep. Kara had always seen Cat Grant as a hero but she had never understood it until recently. Underneath the snippy attitude and arrogance was an intelligent, charming, loving mother. Cat Grant had a huge heart and like everyone else in Kara’s orbit, she was drawn to the hero.

Finally pulling back, Kara knelt on one knee and took Carter in.

“Can I hug you?” Kara asked, knowing Carter did not like sudden physical contact.

“Please?” the boy asked. Kara took him gently in her arms and he lay his head on her shoulder.

“It’s really you. I knew you couldn’t be dead. You just couldn’t. Nobody can beat you.” Kara’s skin warmed at his presence and his faith in her. He didn’t know that she could be beat, had very nearly been beat several times. He had his faith shattered when his mother explained to him what happened to Kara only for it to be restored when she had told him twenty eight minutes ago that Kara was back. His mother had called Lois, telling her the news and the three arrived at the same time.

“I like your suit. It’s really cool. Its like the Blur’s only cooler.” Carter mentioned, causing snickering in the audience and Barry to roll his eyes.

Cisco walked up to the young man and offered his hand. Carter looked at it, unsure. Kara noticed and tried to ease Carter’s anxiety without making Cisco feel awkward.

“Carter, this is Cisco but he goes by Vibe. He is a superhero too. He can open up breaches into other worlds. That is how we got here. He also makes all the superhero costumes and the really cool toys we use to fight bad guys.”

A grin broke out on the young man’s face and he took Cisco’s hand. “So you have been here quite a bit huh?” Vibe asked.

“Uh huh.”

“I bet you know a lot about those spaceships then, right?”

Carter nodded his head furiously.

“Think you can show me around them? I haven’t had a chance to look yet.” Carter ran towards the ships before turning and motioning to Cisco to follow.

“You look well Kara. I am so relieved.” Lois told her. Kara smiled at her cousin’s wife who had always been kind to her, though distance had kept them from being very close. “Lucy is still outside. I suppose all the guards left because they were a little freaked?”

Kara nodded affirmation. “We really didn’t want anyone to get hurt, my friends coming with me and all.”

“They wouldn’t have hurt your friends Kara.” Lois told the younger woman.

“I was talking about Max’s team being hurt.” Kara clarified. Lois raised an eyebrow and took in the group behind her. She knew what they were capable of from the last encounter Max’s idiots had. Lois was disappointed in Lucy becoming involved with the man but understood the need she felt to do something, and was grateful Kara kept them from being injured.

“She wanted to know if she could come in. She would really like to talk to you.”

“General Lane junior can wait. I have spent a lot of money to have a conversation with Kara and I plan to be first in line. Come with me Kara.”

Cat walked off, heels taping to the makeshift board room the project team used.

“Glad to see somethings never change.” Kara told Lois, rolling her eyes. Felicity stood up and walk to the Superheroine.

“Do I need to remind her you don’t work for her anymore?”

Kara laughed.

“Its just the way she is. She doesn’t mean anything by it.” Kara patted Felicity on the shoulder and followed Cat, glad to be able to catch up with the woman. She winked at Barry who returned the gesture and followed her former mentor and one of the women she had always looked towards as a role model.

While this was going on, Carter had taken in the rest of the newcomers while Cisco sat in the cockpit and Winn pointed out various features of Kara’s pod. Even Alex and Caitlin had joined, Alex unable to fully enjoy the moment, trying to be optimistic but unable to make herself fall for the possibility whoever this Oracle was, could be just playing with them. The idea that she could have her Mom, Dad and Kara in a universe safe from those out to get them was too much to hope for. Instead she maintained a smile and tried to divert Carter’s interest from Team Arrow who were whispering among themselves, at least Thea, Dig and Oliver were. Carter would not be deterred, and began walking towards the two hooded and masked individuals, the man who had a really cool helmet in his hand and the strange woman standing behind them silently, not moving at all.

Barry zipped in front of him. “Hey Carter… where you going?”

“Hey Blur… Flash, sorry. Who are they?”

The three stopped talking and noted Felicity and Caitlin were walking towards the young man rather quickly.

“Hi! My name is Caitlin. You are Carter?”

“Who are they? Are they superheroes?”

One affirmation and three denials were spoken at the same time. Nyssa, Dig and Oliver both looked at Thea with annoyance as she shrugged her shoulders.

“Screw you guys. Everything I have been through, I’m a superhero… ine? Felicity?”

“You can probably go with superhero, Thea.” Felicity agreed thinking if Speedy was the one to talk to the boy, things wouldn’t be bad.

“So what are you called?” Carter asked.

“I’m Speedy.”

“Speedy?”

“I know kid. I tired to change it but she is stuck on the name.” Cisco commented.

“And what about you?” he asked Oliver.

“I’m Oliver…”

“He’s the Green Arrow.” Cisco explained. “Even though the green part is totally lame.”

“I like Green Arrow. I mean he is green, or wearing green. What about you?” He asked Dig. Dig knelt his big frame down, and smiled at the boy.

“I’m this guy’s bodyguard. Or I guess his little sister’s since she pays me now. I pretty much just save them when they bite off more than they can chew, which happens quite a bit.”

“Cool. A superhero’s bodyguard. What about you?” he asked Nyssa. “Are you a ninja?”

Nyssa smiled, Oliver grimaced while Barry and Felicity simply groaned.

“I am Nyssa, the last Ra’s Al Ghul and leader of the League of Assassins. I disbanded the league after rising to the title of the Demon. My husband by League law, Al Sahim or Oliver Queen as he is known, defeated the former Ra’s Al Ghul, Speedy’s biological father Malcolm Merlyn and cut off his hand. He then passed the mantel of Ra’s Al Ghul to me and I disbanded the order but not before destroying the Lazarus Pit. I now wander the world, enjoying life and taking the occasional odd job should someone need to be dealt with in a more permanent fashion than a typical so called superhero could provide.”

Carter stared at the woman, speechless, as was Winn standing behind him.

“I’m… I’m gonna go back to the spaceship. When Kara comes out could you ask her to come stand by me? Closely?” the boy asked Alex, who nodded and glared at a grinning Nyssa.

“C’mon Carter.” Winn patted the boy lightly on the shoulder and they both turned walking far away from the group.

“Nice job Nyssa. Way to scare the kid.” Barry mentioned.

“He asked.”

“And stop throwing things at people!” Felicity hissed.

“It would have hit the door as it opened. Trust me, I never miss.”

“It hurt. My hand is still healing and sticky from the blood. My glove is torn. Not cool Nyssa, not cool.” Barry told her, trying to sound as intimidating as possible when faced with a woman he knew would only need to contact him once, to knock him out.

While introductions were ongoing outside Kara and Cat sat across from each other, saying nothing, still coming to grips that they were in each others presence.

“Thank you.” Kara started. “Alex told me what you did after you found out what happened. And this, all this just to get to me. I can’t even begin to tell you what that means to me.”

Thinking of a dismissive word, Cat found she didn’t have it in her. Not anymore. After thinking her sunny protege was dead for so long, the time for games had stopped.

“Of course. You have saved my life enough times that I think I may have owed you more than one debt. Honestly I am just glad to see you. To know you are okay. Carter is overjoyed. We all are. I suppose you won’t be staying?”

Kara shook her head. Cat felt both relief and disappointment. Relief that Kara would be away from this world with its dangers to her and disappointment that Kara would not be a permanent fixture in her and her son’s life.

“I understand. It is for the best. On your Earth nothing can harm you correct? No Kryptonite, no other alien prisoners out to get you?”

“No, none of that.” Kara didn’t mention sorcerers and magic, her new Kryptonite. No point in worrying the woman.

“So do you wear a mask with your new outfit?”

“Yes. Is this an interview? I don’t mind giving you one now.”

“No! No one can know you are alive. That woman murdered the life you had here and she will be tried and convicted for it.”

“I understand.” Kara told her and did. She truly didn’t care if the former president was convicted of murder. From what Alex had told her, Kara wasn’t the first murder she had ordered and succeeded at most. Cat and Lois had dug up everything about the woman’s life.

“So I see you are still wearing the big S. only smaller… Does this mean you go by…”

“No! I know you loved that name but it just had too many bad memories associated with it. You are right. Supergirl died that day.”

“So what do you call yourself?” Cat asked.

“My friends call me Superwoman.” she told her former boss, a touch of pride in her voice.

Cat smiled. “So you finally got the title you wanted. It fits. You have definitely grown into it. I wish I knew how you do it.”

“Do what?” Kara asked, a bit confused.

“Just be you. You have had your world destroyed so many times and yet you still have that light in your eyes. I suppose Mr. Allen has something to do with that, but it is more. You just have this brightness Kara. One that should never go away.”

“I don’t know. Everything has affected me.I still have nightmares and minor panic attacks and there were days before all this that I was so depressed I didn’t want to get out of bed. But I always had people around me who loved me. I had a job I enjoyed and gave me a reason to get out of bed every morning. I had a boss I looked up to as a role model, who had fought her way to the top and never admitted defeat. You have no idea how much of an inspiration you have always been to me.”

“Yes… well… you have had quite the affect on me as well, Kara. So since this friend of yours can open these breaches any time will we be seeing you again?”

“I’d like to. Cisco is getting very good, so it shouldn’t be a problem. Kal will still be here and you and Carter of course. I don’t want to disappear. Maybe it is selfish to keep the people I care about and risk traveling universes but, I don’t know, I just don’t want to lose any of the people I have. Not anymore.”

“I am glad to hear it. So what are you doing when you and the Blur aren’t zipping through the city?”

“I actually work for the blonde woman with glasses. Her name is Felicity and she is the CEO of this huge corporation that develops cutting edge technological breakthroughs. Her latest device is a chip that can repair spinal cord injuries. She was paralyzed not long ago and put the first chip in her own spine. As you can see she is walking just fine.”

Cat’s jaw dropped. “She has cured spinal cord injuries?”

“Not completely, but one day, yes along with other diseases. I believe in her. She is the owner and CEO of the company but not really into the business side of things. She prefers to be in R&D making the miracles happen. She hired me to be her executive assistant but my first day of work she was attacked by this really bad guy. He and I had a fight and we destroyed the building. Like all of it. All forty stories, 39 of which landed on me. But before I destroyed the building I had this really big office with a window so I could go quickly if I was needed. My office in the temporary offices is big as well. I don’t really do any executive assistant work. Instead I liaison with the contractors rebuilding our offices and I approve, or deny as the case has been lately, the PR teams press releases and marketing plans. I’m also the designated face of the company according to her. Kind of makes the mask necessary.”

“Amazing. You are the face and voice of a company curing the incurable, shaping its direction and making it run smoothly. I always knew you would change the world Kara, not just as a superhero. I wished it had been this world but I am glad it is somewhere, a place that deserves you. So tell me how is the love life going? I had to demote Mr. Olsen before he quit. I’m not sure where he is now.”

“Really? He quit? Why?”

“Easy. He couldn’t marry into Superman’s wife’s family and he couldn’t marry his cousin so he had nothing left to strive for. When Superman stopped taking his calls, Winn having told him of James constantly playing with your emotions while dating Lucy, Kal El basically cut him off. James started drinking quite a bit, his job performance suffered. I bumped him down to investigative photojournalist and he lasted about a month, not completing one single assignment,then just stopped showing up. I have heard rumors he is working freelance here and there but nothing concrete and to be honest I haven’t paid much attention. Enough about him. Is the solar powered sex bracelet working or have you broken Mr. Allen in half yet?”

Kara’s blush was as bright red as the symbol on her chest.

An hour later as Kara tried to avoid the subject of sex and Cat brought it up at every opportunity, her former boss decided to take her son home. It was only nearing 3 PM but he had enough excitement for the day and was promised a return visit tomorrow. Before he left, Kara gave the young man four action figures, The Flash, Superwoman, Speedy and the Green Arrow. Dig was secretly upset that he didn’t have one but acted as if it hadn’t bothered him.

Everyone unpacked, Winn doing his best not to gawk at Felicity’s equipment and Eliza trying not to pale at the number of swords, knives, guns, and arrows, in one of the cases. Everyday clothes were also packed in with the computer equipment and Eliza found Kara and apparently Alex’s friends were not as intimidating without there costumes. Actually Nyssa was and Oliver underneath his charming smile had a coldness to him, etched by years of heartache. Eliza recognized it in her mirror since Jeremiah died.

The idea of him really being alive was too much for her. So instead of thinking on it, she, Lois, Winn and Caitlin who Winn had invited, drove into the city and brought back food for everyone. All the scientists were called and told not to report for the next three days and Max Lord had called Eliza several times, demanding to be let in unmolested until Oliver took the phone from Eliza and asked Max exactly how many holes would he like in his body this time. Max did not call back.

Lucy was allowed in and had asked to speak to Kara. Kara however, now in jeans and her favorite Flash mid drift t shirt, told her they would talk later. It had been an emotional day for Superwoman and she had one more journey to make that would be emotional for her and Alex. As darkness fell, Barry, Thea, and Caitlin rode in back of the black SUV Alex was driving to Kara’s old apartment building while Kara sat in the front beside her sister. Barry and Thea stayed outside, Thea providing security in the event any reporters or other dangers were around and Barry preferring to walk around outside rather than enter the place he saw Kara close to death. She was not the only one who had nightmares about that day. Seeing the blood pouring thickly out of her wounds and spreading in a puddle underneath her burned in his soul and he would never forget that sight no matter how long he lived.

Alex and Kara walked in, hand in hand, followed by Cait who had come at Kara’s request and Kara took a deep breath. This was where she had spent her adult life. Her eyes went to her paintings, exactly where she left them. Alex hadn’t moved a thing. She took in her couch where she and Alex had spent many evenings eating ice cream and watching television.

Then her eyes were drawn to the floor. One spot on the floor. Kara remembered falling to her knees, the helplessness she felt when she saw the eyes of the man who put the gun to her head.

“Kara!”

Alex’s voice snapped her out of her memories and Caitlin was rubbing her back.

“Slow your breathing down, Kara. This is a bad idea. Caitlin would you mind taking her outside?”

“No! I’m good.” Kara told her sister. She would not be frightened out of the place she once called home. A place she belonged once, that was all hers, a place that had her old clothes, some clothes she really loved, her paintings a few of which she planned to take. Alex would grab her clothes and assorted favorite weapons and they would leave. This wasn’t a sight seeing trip. Tomorrow morning Felicity would contact this Oracle and they would find out what was known about Jeremiah’s secret location and take him home with Alex and Eliza, back to Kara’s new home. Her family would be together, no government out to get them.

Before they could walk out, the three women heard a scream, followed by the sound of a body hitting the floor. Running towards the door they stepped into the hallway, as Barry sped up to find Thea kneeling over a man she had in an arm bar, his arm twisted to the point it could snap and her knee on the back of his neck.

“I was checking the end of the hall when he walked out of the elevator. He had lock picking tools so I dealt with it. Violently.” the young thin woman who had looked every bit a college student and popular frat girl until she took the man down, explained.

“James?” Barry asked, kneeling down next to the man on the ground and smelling the alcohol on his breath. Despite the numbing beverage, James was obviously in a lot of pain, Thea’s knee buried in his neck and his arm twisted to the point of being detached from his body.

“James what are you doing here?” Kara asked. “It’s okay Thea, you can let him up. He is harmless.”

Thea slowly stood up, letting the drunk man’s arm loose but never taking her eyes off of him. With a little luck he may do something that would allow her to hurt him again.

James stumbled a bit to his knees while Barry took his other arm and helped him stand.

“Kara? Its really you?” he asked, eyes squinting in disbelief.

“Yeah, its really me. Why were you about to break into my… Alex’s apartment?” the blonde asked, standing in front of Caitlin, who tried to look around her. Alex had a deep scowl on her face as she took the man in, drunk and obviously having let himself go.

“I missed you.” he explained.

“So you were going to break in? If Alex had been home by herself she would have shot you and asked questions later. Much later after she buried your body in an unmarked grave.”

“You are not kidding sister.” Alex promised quietly, eyes never leaving the man.

“I just wanted to be near you and your apartment was the only place I really had left. It seemed like a good idea. I knew Alex lived here but figured she would be at the airfield.”

“You know about the airfield? How? Did Lucy tell you?” Alex asked immediately.

“No, Lucy and Clark don’t exactly take my calls anymore but I do have some skills. Contrary to popular belief, I didn’t become the journalist I am now by relying on Superman to give me leads. I just wanted to be near you Kara. Then Winn was gone and you, maybe, were dead or with Allen and not coming back. I just…’

“Were going to break into my old apartment? Rao, James what has happened to you?”

“I have nothing left! We could have been happy and the damn President, and then Lane… and Allen…”

“We never would have been happy, James.”

“Yes we would have!”

“You wanted someone who never existed. The female version of my cousin, the perfect superhero, at least in your mind. You never would have loved all of me. You could never have taken the sadness and anger that I have inside me. You would have put me on a pedestal I couldn’t possible remain on. And I would have tried. I would have lost myself in you because I didn’t want to be alone. We both would have been miserable eventually. It just wasn’t meant to be. You need to find someone who doesn’t have to live up to your lofty expectations and love her because of her imperfections, not in spite of them.”

“And you need a shower.” Alex added. Caitlin, Alex and Thea walked back into the apartment, so the packing could begin. Barry asked Kara if she would like him to go outside. Kara grabbed his hand.

“No, you stay where you belong, next to me. James it was never going to happen. Not in a way that was fair to both of us. Be happy, pull yourself together and stop wasting your life and talent on the memory of a woman who never really existed. The reason I love Barry is because he accepts all of me, the good and the bad and I do the same with him. Find someone like that, someone who you don’t expect to be perfect, and try to be happy. I have packing to do. Do you want us to call you a cab?”

“No. I walked, I can find my way back. Good luck Kara. I guess this it. The last time I see you? Ever?”

“Probably James.” Kara admitted, knowing she would risk traveling back with Barry to see Kal El and Cat and Carter Grant, Winn, even Lois, but not for him.

Kara walked inside to avoid anymore awkward goodbyes, leaving Barry and James alone.

“I guess I don’t have to tell you to not let anyone know Kara is alive, do I?” Barry asked.

“What if I do?”

“No one will believe you, you will lose any credibility you have left and I will put enough lightning into your body that you might come close to sobering up. Bye James.”

Barry walked into the apartment, leaving the broken man in the hallway. Inside he noted Caitlin siting on the couch, while Alex packed in the bedroom. Kara was standing in the middle of her living room, staring at the familiar spot on the floor.

“You okay?” he asked, holding her from behind.

“Yeah, a minor panic attack when I first walked in but I am good now.”

“That spot on the floor, I have nightmares about it too. But I also am amazed by it. What you did, staying alive despite what happened here is amazing and you should be proud of yourself.”

Kara laughed. “Proud of myself? If you and Kal hadn’t shown up, I would be dead.”

Barry held her tighter. “You don’t get it, do you? You should have died. You lost so much blood you should have died there, not survived long enough for me to carry you through a breach, to let Caitlin perform surgery. Your heart shouldn’t have restarted. Even with the blood transfusions it wasn’t enough for anyone, human or Kryptonian to survive. You are the one who held on, who refused to die, giving Caitlin a chance to save you. What she did was amazing but she never would have had the chance if you weren’t such a fighter. You refused to die. You weren’t just a victim that day, you were a survivor. This place was another crucible you had to undergo and you did it. You came out stronger.”

“You helped quite a bit with that. If not for you I doubt I would have ever flown again.” she admitted.

“Yeah maybe. We all need help sometimes, even if it is from a crazy guy in green leather prepared to kill anybody who walks into a door with the intention of harming you. Trust me, Oliver wouldn’t do that for just anybody, much less bring his sister, Felicity and Dig.”

“He’s a good friend to you.” Kara admitted.

“Yeah he is, and in a short time of knowing you, he is devoted to you. You saved Felicity. In his book he would die for you now. So would any of us, but it won’t come to that.”

‘You understand no matter what, I am getting Jeremiah back? Right?”

“So long as you understand I will be there helping you.”

“Of course. Partner’s right?” Kara told him, leaning back, her head resting on her chest. She stopped looking at the floor. That spot didn’t matter anymore. Nothing mattered anymore except the people in her life.

“Kara we haven’t begun to realize what the two of us can do together. The ones keeping your Dad prisoner are about to find out.” Barry promised.

When the group returned to the hangar, nearly everyone was preparing cots, with the exception of Diggle and Oliver who stood by like sentinels watching over them all. She supposed Oliver would trade off with him standing guard through out the night.

“I talked to Oracle while you were gone.” Felicity told Kara and Alex immediately.

“And?” Alex prompted.

“Your cousin gave her his word he would return doing what he does, or did. She is sending someone to see us tomorrow. He apparently is her benefactor and supports her work. This man is going to deliver the information we need. He will come alone.” Overwatch explained.

“And who is this mystery benefactor?” Barry asked.

“Some billionaire named Bruce Wayne. Everything I have read about him puts pre island Oliver to shame. Billionaire playboy, different woman every night, wastes money on yachts, private planes, but also big into charity works though his company’s foundation. Seems harmless enough. Spoiled rich brat that likes to play with everything. Probably gets his kicks involving himself in a world he has no business in. It would explain how this mystery hacker has the tech to do what she does, almost as well as I do.”

“I guess we should probably get some sleep then.” Barry told the ladies. Nothing to do now but wait and figure out a way he and Kara could fit onto the same single person cot. He supposed they could push two together.

Lucy began to walk towards Kara, hoping to finally talk to the woman, explain, apologize, make her believe she had nothing to do with her attack. Before she could get within fifty feet of the sunny blonde warrior, Oliver Queen stepped in front of her. Felicity was back at her workstation, next to Winn while Cisco played in Kara’s spaceship. Lucy immediately became nervous at the man’s proximity. He was dressed casually now, grey short sleeve t shirt form fitting which she greatly appreciated and loose faded blue jeans over combat boots. Despite his physical attractiveness she did not take him for granted, having seen his skills firsthand.

“Hi, I’m Oliver Queen.”

“Yes, I remember.” Lucy told him, hands on her hips and defiant look on her face.

“Right, you were with your boss when…”

“He isn’t my boss. We work together.” Lucy corrected.

“You need better coworkers. I hope there is no awkwardness between us. We were on a mission and you and your friends were in our way. I didn’t want to attack you or your team.”

Lucy let out a breath, knowing she should just let it go. The man and his friends had beaten them. No point in holding it against him now.

“No problem. If it is all the same to you I would like to talk to Kara.” Lucy tried to move around the man but was stopped by his hand on her shoulder.

“And you will talk to Kara but before you talk to her, I want you to tell me everything that happened at the DEO the day she was shot.”

“Why? I plan to tell her.” Lucy defiantly stated, hoping she could seem strong and not intimidated.

“How about you humor me?”

The younger Lane knew she would not talk to Kara until she had given this man the information he wanted.

“Fine, where would you like me to start?” she asked. Oliver grinned, glad she would not put up a fight. He glanced at his love who gave him a thumbs up from her seat.

“First I need you to answer a very important question. What color are your shoes?”