Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Call Me Kara

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 39:

Oliver knew this place. It seemed as if he was born here and in a way he was. He knew every rock, every cave, every hiding spot. He knew where to find water, food, paths of animals he could feed on. He knew the exact number of rivets inside the wrecked plane he called home. After everything, fighting to escape this hell, he had come back after Russia, marooned himself, perhaps to atone for his sins the past few years, hide from the horrors he had witnessed, the acts he had done. Perhaps it was penance for Sara, dying once again, finally meeting her fate in the cold water. Oliver knew where every land mine on this island was. He knew the cold at night, no matter the time of year and how it would settle in his bones while he lay under a tattered blanket he had found in a burned out camp.

Maybe he was hiding from his mission, the one he promised his father he would complete. He would right his father’s wrongs but not now. Now he needed to rest, to try and remember what humanity he once had. He needed to suffer more, because when he returned he knew he wouldn’t really be there. He would hide who he was because Thea could never see. His mother could never know what had become of her son. The scars were deeper than the ones the outside world could see.

Maybe he felt the need to suffer. Shado never left this island, why should he get to leave? He had loved her, despite loving Laurel, betraying her with Sara, not just on the yacht but on the island itself, but before Sara he had loved Shado. She taught him to fight, to survive, to be more than he ever thought he could be, and he chose Sara. He fell on his knees in front of Ivo and heard the gun blast and knew, in an instant, another woman he loved was gone forever.

At night, Oliver dreamed, not one night went by when his mind was not racing. He dreamed of Ra’s and falling from that snowy cliff, knowing he would never see Thea again, never touch Felicity’s cheek, never do so many of the things he had hoped, in his more optimistic moments, that he could do.

Other times he dreamed of Vertigo, those three needles pressed against Felicity’s neck. This time he slipped, he didn’t pull the arrow fast enough and by the time he had grabbed another, it was too late, the needles buried in her throat.

The worst dreams though were of Shado. No matter when he came to the island, she was always here, waiting on him.

“Hi.” he greeted her.

“You are becoming less human. I thought Felicity was supposed to bring you into the light.” she told him with a soft smile, teasing as only she could. No matter what she said she was always smiling. It was just her. He had loved that about her.

“It should have been you. I should have chosen you.” he admitted.

“So you could leave me when you met Felicity?”

“So you could live, be with your sister. So Slade wouldn’t have gone insane”

“It wasn’t meant to be. This place is my hell, the same as it is yours. We will never leave Oliver. Slade is stuck here, you are stuck here, we are all stuck here. This isn’t Purgatory, it is Hell. The sad thing is, you miss it, don’t you?”

“It was simpler here.” Oliver admitted, sitting on the makeshift bench in the rotting hull of the plane. “Kill or be killed, nothing else mattered. There was no one to care. I was gone, but I went back and I failed. I failed and I came back here and Felicity pulled me back again. I should have stayed.”

“Maybe.” Shado admitted, kneeling in front of him. He saw a hole in her forehead now, with only a trickle of blood. “I won’t make you feel better. You have failed. Look.” Shado pointed behind Oliver and when he turned he saw the body of Laurel levitating in the air, a green arrow stuck in her abdomen, ripping her black suit. Her mask was on the floor but her eyes were wide open, dead but looking right at him.

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps you were born under an unlucky star. Perhaps you sinned so much before the island, Hell came for you sooner than death. Only you know why you fail. Maybe you just weren’t good enough. Maybe you are just a spoiled little rich boy, trying to play soldier. Waller didn’t turn you into a hero, she turned you into a killing machine. Why do you let Thea go out with you, night after night, knowing one errant bullet to her head and she is dead? Why do you bring John Diggle along, knowing if you make another mistake a little girl will have lost her father, the way Thea lost hers?”

“They would go out without me. I can protect them if I am there.”

“It was your arrow that killed Laurel. How many did you plan to send into Darhk, knowing they wouldn’t strike?”

“I don’t know. I was stupid.”

“Oliver, when will you ever learn? You are not fighting crime, not fighting to save the city, you are fighting because you don’t know any other way. You know why you are here now. What would have happened if Kara had lost her powers a split second sooner? She would have had three bullets buried in her chest. John saved her from another. Where were you?”

“I… I know.”

“How would Barry have looked at you then? Would he still see a hero, or see you for what you really are? What about Felicity? How would she see you? You know how quickly she turned on John, blamed him for Laurel’s death. Yes she apologized but she still blames him. You can see it in the way she glances at him, every time Laurel’s name is brought up. This is your dream, Oliver. Can’t you be honest, even in your dream?”

“Yes! Yes, Felicity would have hated me, I would have kept hating myself, Barry would have hated me, I get it! It’s all I can think about!”

“Kara is vunerable. You know this right? The most powerful woman in the universe, brought to her knees by a child, of all things. How easy could Prometheus have snapped her neck? He will escape. He will come after her just like Slade continues to come after you and your loved ones because you let him live. What if Slade knows you see Kara as another sister? Another person to fail? Prometheus will get her first though.”

“No… the Martian did something, Lyla told me…”

“It will go away when the Martian goes away. He will escape and what then?”

Oliver sighed. As usual, Shado was right. Of course she was, she wasn’t a ghost, just a ghost who lived in his head, the one who told him the truth even when he wanted to ignore it. She was the island he retreated to.

“I have to kill him, before it gets that far.”

“Yes you do. But what will you do about Kara? Barry can protect her… to an extent. But what if he and your new friends are off saving the world somewhere else? What if someone she has stopped before, finds out who she is? What if they attack her, thinking her weak? That is what will happen. Will the man with wings truly be able to protect her?”

Shado pointed behind him once again and though he didn’t want to turn, he had too. Floating next to Laurel’s body was Kara, dressed in the costume he had only seen on the wall of her room when she had showed him her paintings. The bright blue of her top, darkened, covered by blood and her blue eyes wide open.

“Not her. I can protect her. I have to protect her. The three of them, Barry, her and the child. They deserve this. I don’t, but they do. I have to do this, no matter what. There has to be some good from what I am.”

“You won’t absolve yourself. Nothing you could do will atone for your failures. Thousands, hundreds of thousands lives destroyed in an instant, because you weren’t good enough to stop Darhk. You should have killed him when you had the chance. Instead thousands and Laurel died. Tommy is dead, because you weren’t smart enough to stop Merlyn’s plan in time. You aren’t smart enough, you never have been. A spoiled trust fund baby who never took the world seriously. If it weren’t for Felicity many more would have died? How many deaths does she have on her conscience now? How many died in the Siege? As part of Slade’s plan for vengeance on you? All because you chose Sara.”

“I know. You aren’t real. Why do I do this? Why do I come back here? I was past this.”

“Felicity dragged you back. She brought you back to your nightmare but it was only a matter of time. You are going to die alone Oliver. Alone in some underground lair, filled with costumes and arrows. Do you really think you can save Kara?”

“Yes. I have too. I can’t fail. Not again.”

“I hope so. I really do, Oliver, because you don’t have the best track record of saving the ones you care about. Ask your mother. She is right behind you.”

Oliver turned back around, and saw his mother smiling at him, next to Kara and Laurel’s bodies. When Slade’s katana sliced through her he woke with a scream. Felicity, used to this, rolled away from him quickly. Seeing that he wasn’t fighting, she grabbed ahold of him and brought him close to her.

“Hey, hey it’s just me. Calm down. It wasn’t real.”

“Yes it was.” Oliver whispered, trying to control his breathing. Felicity didn’t argue, knowing he was probably right. Dream or not, they were always real to Oliver.

“I can’t go back. She is… she is vunerable. Barry could lose… if something happens, something almost did, I wasn’t there. I can’t leave. Not until her powers are back.”

“What about Star…”

“I don’t care. Not anymore. How much more do we have to give up? This… this damn Justice League is more important. If Star needs us we can all be there. I need to make sure they can fight, I have to make sure she is safe. I understand if…”

“I stay where you are. I’m your partner right? Thea likes it here, it’s a good place for the three of us. I’m betting Lyla can keep Digg out of trouble for a while. Give him a chance to be a full time Dad instead of a part time Dad and part time vigilante. I can work from anywhere. We can stay. I know you can’t leave her like this. I don’t want to either and neither does Thea.”

“You blame Dig, don’t you?” he asked, not needing to clarify what she blamed him for.

Felicity didn’t bother to lie, instead staying quiet.

“It was my arrow that killed her.” he reminded her.

“It was his brother, he was the reason she was killed. You warned him! He never listens to you! He thinks, ever since that League of Assassins mess, he thinks he is better, a better person than you and he can be so stupid…” Felicity stopped talking, forcing herself to calm down. She loved John. She did, but what happened, she had forgiven Oliver a lot because she loved him. Yes, she had left him but she knew she would never be able to stay away for long. The broken man was an addiction to her that she couldn’t shake, part of her own soul now. But John, John should have trusted him. Instead he trusted a man who had forsaken his wife and child, let them believe he was dead to work for HIVE.

“We stay. This group can’t operate out of a basement in Palmer Tech. We need something better, something more secure than S.T.A.R. and more accessible than Ray’s play pen. More importantly they need someone to teach them how to go to war. Nyssa can’t do it alone. Alex, Sara, Thea, half the team doesn’t have super powers. They are good but they aren’t leaders, yet. They aren’t prepared to do what is necessary without hesitation. Ray doesn’t really have powers. If his suit goes so does he. He can’t fight worth a damn as you certainly know. They need you and Kara needs you. She needs you to…”

“Turn her into me?”

“No, to protect and love her. She looks up to you. So does Barry. A lot of people do whether you think you deserve it or not. If we are going to do this, Barry and Kara can lead but you and Nyssa have to make them all ready. I know you can do it. If there is one thing I know in this life, it is that you always find a way. I believe in you, I will always believe in you.”

“Why?”

“Because. I don’t need a reason. What you see as failures I see as survival. You would die for any of us. That is one of the many things I love about you.”

“So you are good with staying?”

“Yep. We stay, you make them ready I figure out somewhere, someway this team can work out of, that gives us a technical advantage. Maybe S.T.A.R. can be fixed, maybe you and Ray can make it secure. I believe in you Oliver. You can do this and you can keep her safe.”

“You always believe in me.” he admitted.

“And I always will. Win or lose, we go together. After this, after Kara has her child and the League is secure, we leave. The two of us, just like before only this time I swear I won’t drag you back. This time we live the same dream we were living before. You were happy.”

“You weren’t.” he reminded her.

“I was happy, I just missed the action. I think I have gotten enough action over the past year that I won’t miss it anymore. I just want us. So we do this for now. We have 7 months to prepare this team for war, we protect Kara, and then we are done. Just the two of us.”

“Okay… Felicity, do you think when J’onn goes back to his Earth that whatever he did to Prometheus will stop? Could the man regain his mind?”

Felicity had thought of this as well. She suspected she knew the answer and J’onn most likely didn’t or thought it was over. He could be right but if he wasn’t… how much had she changed? What happened to the woman who wouldn’t let Oliver out of his lair to threaten a man with two children into giving stolen money back, because she was afraid the Hood would kill the man?

“If you had killed Darhk the first time he lost his magic instead of arresting him like I wanted… a city would probably still be alive instead of being quarantined because there is too much radiation for the Army to recover bodies. Thousands wouldn’t have been crushed in an underground whatever that was that turned into a sink hole. Slade killed two guards the last time he escaped. If you are asking me for permission or approval, you have it.”

Oliver was silently thankful. He knew what he would do regardless but having her support meant everything. He tried to ignore the fact that she had given it so easy. Thea was right. You can’t fight the darkness without it getting on you. Tommy may call him a murderer in his next dream but the dead didn’t get to judge. Considering what happened to Laurel he had a feeling Tommy would understand.

“I will handle it after the wedding. J’onn can keep him lobotomized until then I hope. I will talk to Lyla. She will understand.”

While Felicity and Oliver made plans to kill Prometheus after the wedding, to murder him in prison before he could escape, Barry, Joe and Alex dealt with another problem. A very dead problem.

“So the plants are dead in the room. It is unlikely he took the time to spray them, meaning whatever this organic material is around this meta dies after being in its presence.” Alex surmised.

“Yep, but there has to be a limit. The people in the surrounding apartments didn’t die. Maybe it can’t penetrate an inorganic barrier. Maybe touch is involved and the meta actually did touch the plants. We won’t know how this happened until the autopsy is done.” Barry pointed out.

The CSI began wandering the room, checking the sheets around the body, being sure not to touch anything. Grabbing his bag, he began running a blue light over the dresser where the roses were placed on top, and the window sill where the dead fern had withered away. Checking the drawers carefully he noted the underwear definitely did not belong to an elderly woman.

“Are you seriously going through her underwear drawer?” Alex asked, at this point having nothing to do but stand and watch her soon to be brother in law do his thing, waiting for the moment he popped a derby cap on and brought out his magnifying glass and pipe.

“Yep. I think she is beyond caring at this point, Alex.”

“Still it’s kind of… ugh. What do you hope to discover in there?”

“DNA if we are lucky, DNA that doesn’t belong to her. I have to check all these drawers, looking for anything from a single hair strand to small amounts of blood if we are lucky. She called 911 and the call was ended before she could talk. There may have been a fight and if the meta was even scratched then a trace may have been left. Maybe she had sex with him before tonight and her laundry wasn’t washed for some disturbing reason Maybe he wanted something and looked in the drawers. We check everything. I’m checking her sock drawer and the one underneath it that I hope holds tee shirt and shorts and nothing else. There could also be dried semen that didn’t wash out…”

“Okay! Okay I get it. Just do your… thing while I try not to vomit.”

“Yeah, I would definitely appreciate it if you would not vomit on my crime scene. How can this bother you? I know you saw some pretty disgusting things fighting aliens.”

“Yeah, but I never had to look through any of their panty drawers for dried semen. I’m going to go search the rest of the apartment, do detective stuff until you or Joe can give me a target.”

The medical examiner walked in at that moment and greeted them both, asking if the body was ready.

“Yeah, go ahead. I definitely want to see the sheets under her.”

“More dried semen?” Alex guessed, getting a strange look from the ME who then shrugged it off.

“Weren’t you going to do detective stuff?” Barry asked. “Look for clues, that sort of thing.”

“I got clue.” Joe told the two, walking in. “Talking to the neighbors, canvassing potential witnesses, things we have to do as cops instead of waiting for targets.” he said, looking at Alex with a grin.

“Yeah, I was just about to do that. So… what did you find? Because Barry has been checking panty drawers for dried semen and I would definitely prefer to follow you around.”

“Gayle was a professional psychic. She had clients visit her here. According to one neighbor who used her services, she wasn’t much for predicting the future but knew specific details about what was bothering her and the person she wanted to contact from beyond the grave. Almost like Gayle was reading her mind.”

“She was a mind reading meta.” Barry guessed. “Considering how most of them use their powers, conning people for phony psychic readings isn’t that bad. Anything else?”

“Yeah, she was seeing someone, rough looking Hispanic young man, short hair, covered in tattoos. One neighbor saw him come in and out at weird times. He was heard by the nosy woman across the hall, leaving the apartment around 7 last night.”

“The 911 call didn’t come in until early this morning. It couldn’t have been him.” Alex said with certainty.

“Unless he sneaked back in.” Joe reminded her.

“Oh crap.” the ME’s assistant muttered.

All three turned to the ME who along with her assistant had been trying to move the body into a bag. The body that had just turned into a human sized pile of dust when she touched it.

“You have to admit you don’t see that everyday.” Barry whispered.

Joe shrugged his shoulders, silently agreeing with his foster son but trying to play it cool.

“I need to get a sample. You mind?” Barry asked the ME who raised her hands.

“Not much I can do an autopsy on. She was… wow, you are right Allen. I’ve never seen that. Whatever or whoever did this did this has seriously bad mojo.”

Barry grabbed a large plastic bag and began carefully brushing the dusty remains inside, making sure to collect the dust that had been the head.

“That is so disgusting.” Alex muttered after the ME had left the room to grab an airtight collection of bags to gather the victim in.

“Seriously, Kara told me you fought an alien bug man. How can this bother you?”

“You are dusting her body into a zip lock bag! How can this not bother you?”

Barry shrugged. “I guess after a while, you just get used to certain things. This isn’t nearly the worst I have seen. Meta’s usually kill with their powers. Regular humans kill in some of the most vile ways you can imagine. After a while, it becomes a puzzle that needs to be solved. If you start thinking about it too much, thinking of them as people with lives and families, it is going to drive you crazy. So don’t think about it too much Alex. This is just something you have to get used to.”

He handed the bag to Alex.

“Now Dr. Zorel. We need to figure out why a 28 year old metahuman was turned to dust. Since biology isn’t my area of expertise, I leave it to you.”

Barry had been gone three hours by the time Kara made herself rise from the bed, deciding whatever happened, he wouldn’t be back with breakfast. It was just as well, because she made a quick trip to the toilet as soon as her feet hit the floor, Kid Flash making his or her presence known.

She finally made it to the kitchen, hoping for coffee and for Winn to have clothes on. Luckily Winn was not there and Caitlin was pouring a cup of fresh coffee.

“Good morning!” Caitlin greeted, way to happily.

“Winn left early this morning, I am guessing?”

“Yeah, he had some coding he wanted to finish. He thinks he has figured out a way to make a nanobot recognize potential tumors before they grow larger, maybe before Stage one. He is so brilliant.” she finished dreamily. “He’s pretty good at his job too.”

Kara blushed, wiping that image from her mind and unintentionally remembering Winn’s brilliance in the storage closet with Siobhan.

“Where did your boy toy go this morning?” Caitlin asked.

“Homicide. Probably involving a meta. I could have gone but nope, stay in bed naked, Kara, I’ll be right back with breakfast. Since I haven’t gotten breakfast, I decided to put clothes on. I wonder what is taking him so long?”

“Crime scenes take a while. You watch enough CSI and NCIS to know this.”

“Yeah, but it usually only takes until a commercial break. Then the lab results, another commercial break, interviews with at least two suspects who say they didn’t do it and of course they didn’t because there are three more commercial breaks left. Follow that up with figuring out who really did it, chasing him down and then getting him to admit to everything without a lawyer present in less than a minute and the case is closed, show is over. I really miss CSI Miami. I loved how Horatio would always say something cool and then take off his sunglasses, then boom, music starts and the chase is on. Alex bought me all the seasons on Blu Ray, two Christmases ago. I should get Barry to wear sunglasses more. He would look so adorable in them.”

“He kind of would, wouldn’t he?” Caitlin agreed. “Since it is the two of us, what do you want to do today? It’s actually a semi warm day for November and I want to be out on the town. Oh, lets go look at furniture so when you and Barry decide together you can manipulate him into getting exactly what you want.”

“Charlie could use a walk.” Kara admitted. “I need to feed him his morning breakfast taco could stop somewhere and get one for the both of us, since Barry thinks homicides are more important than my stomach.”

“Kara, dogs don’t eat breakfast tacos and I think Charlie might not want to be stuck in furniture stores all day. Why don’t we take him to your mother’s and the two of us could have a relaxing day? He could eat in peace and run around. Don’t you think he deserves a chance to bond with your mother?”

“Only if we stop and get him a breakfast taco on the way. He needs the protein and I saw a documentary once on how dog food is made. Not happening.”

“Human food isn’t good for a dog.” Cait told her.

“Human? Why do you have to bring species into this conversation? Human food is good for me, so it is good for him. End of discussion. Besides he loved the wings last night.”

“You fed him… of course you did. That was the red coloring mixed in the fur around his mouth. Lets get dressed and go furniture shopping.”

“No! I have a better idea. Lets go to the crime scene!”

“Kara, we can’t just stroll into a crime scene.”

“Of course we can. I’m Superwoman and I have a badge now. I bet we could help!”

Caitlin let out a breath, knowing she wouldn’t win. They could at least stay outside. An hour later, after Kara fed Charlie a breakfast taco in Caitlin’s car, the two had left the dog at Eliza’s who wasn’t as good at pretending to be excited as Kara seemed to think she was. Shortly after tracking Barry’s cell phone, thanks to Cisco’s help, the two arrived at an apartment building. The entire building was roped off with police tape.

“So what is going on here?” Carter asked, startling both women. They turned and saw Kendra and Carter both looking at the apartment building.

“What are you guys doing here? It’s Saturday, go have some fun.” Kara tried.

“My job is to be with you when Barry isn’t. Kendra had nothing better to do today and decided to come with. So what is going on?”

“Homicide. Alex’s car is across the street parked in front of mine. I’m going to see if we can help. I know the two officers by the rope.”

“From what I understand, every officer in this city knows who you are.” Carter reminded her, not happy about the development but recognizing it was too late to do anything about it.

“I can probably get Caitlin in, with her being a scientist but they are not going to let my bodyguard and his reincarnated soul mate inside. Stay here and act casual.”

Kara strolled confidently towards the yellow tape. She recognized Amy and Mike, both patrol officers. Amy had three children, the youngest being five and her husband worked at a steel mill just out of city limits.

“Good morning you two! Great weather, huh?”

They both crossed their arms and looked at her.

“So, whats the deal here? Just between us cops of course.”

“The deal is the Chief and Captain said you are to stay away from any and all crime scenes, especially dealing with metas.” Amy explained.

“And that you are also on inactive duty for the next seven months at least. He wouldn’t tell us why but the timing seems suspicious.” Mike added looking at her stomach. “So since you can’t enter active crime scenes, why don’t you relax, enjoy the day, take your puppy to the park? This is no big deal.”

“You have an apartment complex roped off. Barry has been gone for hours and didn’t bring me breakfast. I think I can tell when something is a big deal or not.” Kara reached into her purse and removed the shiny gold object inside. Showing the badge to the two officers she stood straight and proud.

“This says Central City PD. Can I be let in now?”

“I told you all, buying her that was going to cause problems. I said get her a really nice plaque but nope, you guys said a badge would be cooler.” Amy muttered.

“Kara, maybe you shouldn’t carry around a badge that says Superwoman on it.” Mike suggested quietly. “and no, you don’t get to come inside. The detectives and the CSI inside are very good at what they do. You know this.” Mike calmly explained. “Besides you don’t have experience moving around a crime scene. We don’t have experience. Why do you think we are out here?”

“But… but I’m Superwoman.” the blonde tried.

“Put on the cape and mask and then we can tell Superwoman no.” Amy told her. “By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask you, whats with the silver bracelet? It looks like a cuff or something. Can’t Barry buy you better jewelry? Want me to have a talk with him? Or is this something you two are into? I’m not judging but shouldn’t you have one on both wrists? I read Fifty Shades. Been tying my husband up ever since, so I get it.”

“I don’t need a man to buy me jewelry. And no… why would I need one on two wrists? One is enough. What is fifty shades anyway? It doesn’t matter, I will find out bracelet is very important for reasons I can’t discuss and… Amy, you are a genius.”

“Why am I going to regret being a genius?” Amy sighed, but didn’t have to find out. Kara walked quickly back to her three friends. Slipping off the bracelet, she handed the device to Carter.

“Kara…” Caitlin warned.

“Not doing anything risky, I just want to see and hear what is going on.”

Kara used her X ray vision, seeing Barry running some sort of light in the living room of a small apartment. Alex and Joe were searching drawers. To her great consternation none were speaking and there was no dead body that she could look at for clues.

Letting out a disappointed huff, she slipped her bracelet back on.

“Its pretty boring. Joe and Alex are rifling through drawers and Barry is running some blue weird flashlight over the surfaces for some reason.”

“Probably a UV light to try and pick up trace fingerprints.” Caitlin guessed.

“My vision is better but whatever, let him play with his toys. He will tell me everything that happens when he is done or else. Okay Cait, you win, let’s go furniture shopping. Or we can try to lose Carter and Kendra. Think you guys can keep up?”

“I think we are going to follow you around and you won’t escape us. As a matter of fact Kendra could use a girl’s day on the town. She should ride with you two. Doesn’t that sound like a good idea, Kendra?”

“Sounds like a great idea. Let’s go look at furniture. Oh, we haven’t looked for baby furniture for the office yet. Maybe we can find a dog house for Charlie to put in Ray’s office!”

“You are so smart, Kendra. Okay, enough of the boring crime scene. First, is anyone hungry? I am really hungry.”

“Have you tossed your food from last night yet?” Hawkman asked.

“Big time, first thing this morning, when I realized my bed warmer wasn’t coming back. I want hot dogs. Hot dogs with peanut butter. Isn’t that weird? I mean weird that no one has thought of it before. Peanut Butter and Jelly is delicious, and Hot Dogs are delicious.”

“Speaking of uneatable food, we also need to find a caterer who can work on short notice.” Caitlin remind her. “Zatanna volunteered but I’m not sure her frying a bunch of live chickens with a spell is the way to go. And remind her that we are cooking a turkey the old fashion way for Thanksgiving.”

“Yeah, and we need someone to marry us.” Kara remembered.

“Barry said Ray talked to him and they agreed he would marry you.” Caitlin told the trio.

All three froze. “No way is a guy we have recently defeated soundly in a prank war going to marry Kara and Barry. This is exactly the kind of opportunity he needs for a counterstrike and renewal of hostilities.” Carter pointed out.

“Don’t be ridiculous. He married Dig and Lyla and did great. Besides he is too scared of Oliver to pull any tricks.” Caitlin reminded the group. “Lets go, caterers aren’t going to book themselves.”

While the foursome left downstairs, Barry was nearly finished. He had found several sets of fingerprints, but due to the in and out nature of a psychic who worked at home, it was doubtful any of them would mean anything other than a visit. It could help identify the mystery boyfriend. Barry packed his bag, hoping Joe and Alex were having luck with the camera watching the door. It apparently was spotty according to the building manager, who obviously didn’t take security seriously. Maybe he would after this.

“What do you have?”

Barry turned quickly, in less than a blink of an eye, startled but not completely surprised to see Oliver, in full regalia. He apparently snuck in through a back window. Barry was certain that no police officers outside had been injured during his entrance.

He was 50% certain.

“You have got to stop doing that!” he whispered. “You didn’t knock any officers out, getting up here, did you?”

“No. They aren’t very observant. I came from the roof across the street. Again, what do you have?”

“Possible meta on meta violence. The lady who lived here was 28 years old and died of old age. When the ME tried to move her body it turned to dust.”

“Magic?” Oliver suggested, not wanting to think about someone like Damian Darhk walking around, stealing life forces again.

“Doubtful. The plants were dead too. I have samples of both. My guess is a meta who can accelerate aging quickly. It’s up to Alex to figure out how.”

“Kara still wearing her bracelet 90% of the time?”

“Yeah, she is soaking up some rays occasionally but is afraid if the baby takes too much the growth will be accelerated.”

“Caitlin think that can happen?” Oliver continued what was feeling like an interrogation to Barry.

“No, but there is no harm in the bracelet being on. Kara feels better keeping it on. Unless she is fighting mad terrorists of course.”

“Talk to Caitlin. If it isn’t a problem, convince her not to wear it. Whoever this is could attack her, especially if you and Alex are the ones going after it. Let me know what else you find.”

“Uh, you realize this is a police matter, right?” Barry checked.

“If it is a metahuman killing others it becomes a Justice League matter, right?”

“Yeah, meaning we take him or her in if possible. Oliver, don’t slip back into old habits, okay? Thats not who you are anymore. I know why you and Nyssa did what you did at Jeremiah and Eliza’s home. I don’t disagree with it but we can’t fall into that. You can’t. I’m counting on you.”

“I know Barry, and you can always count on me to do what needs to be done, even taking this meta alive. Just keep me informed.”

That said, the Green Arrow walked to the back bedroom, fired a grappling arrow to the smaller building across the street and zip lined towards it, the cops below oblivious to what was above.

As soon as the scene was released and the officers went back on patrol, Barry walked to his Volvo, texting Kara to see if she wanted to meet for lunch at his lab, while Alex and Joe lingered, considering talking to nearby tenants of apartment buildings across the street. Alex noticed a Hispanic male walking towards them casually, until he noted the badges clipped on Joe and Alex’s belts.

“Boyfriend.” Alex guessed and began moving slowly towards the man, whose eyes widened and then turned, taking off at a run. Joe and Alex immediately pursued, Joe falling behind but Alex gaining on him. He turned into an alley, a high chained fence blocking off one end.

“Stop! DEO… FBI… Central City something! Stop now!”

Rather than responding to any of the agencies the woman just mentioned, he jumped onto the fence and began climbing. As he was midway to the top, Alex jumped, landing an elbow into the kid and rolling in midair, landing on top of him as his breath was knocked out by the pavement below.

“You have the right to shut the hell up. If you say anything I won’t forget it. You have the right to a lawyer. If you want a lawyer we will appoint the dumbest lawyer who graduated at the bottom of his class. You have some other rights we can go over later, I think, but right now all you need to know is if you so much as ball a fist I am snapping your arm.” she told the man, placing cuffs on him, then dragging him up. An out of breath Joe finally caught up.

“You read him his rights?”

“Yep.”

“Not the Ten Commandants right?”

“Bite me Joe. Lets have a talk with him and find out why his first reaction to police is to run.”

At the station, Joe and Alex sat with Jody Ortega, who admitted to being in a casual relationship with Gayle Marsh.

“Yeah they all start that way.” Alex told him. “When was the last time you saw her?”

“I’m not saying anything. What does she have to do with this anyway?”

“Do with what? Why do you think we brought you in?” Joe asked.

“I got papers on me. This isn’t about the warrants?”

“Gayle Marsh is dead.” Joe told him, grateful the man had some sort of warrants to hold him on if nothing else.

“What are you talking about? I saw her last night. Why the hell would someone… those bastards. They got her. I told her to stay away from them. Weird stuff going on there. I left at 7 and she was alive I swear. I was with some of my boys last night.”

“Doing what?” Alex asked, enjoying being part of the interrogation this time, rather than just threatening Linda Park.

“Uh…”

“Yeah, thats what I thought. What gang you run with?” Joe questioned, betting he could pin some robbery or burglary on him. Unfortunately gang violence and crimes were tougher to catch. Barry couldn’t just run up and arrest guys with gang tats.

“I’m gonna ask for a lawyer before I answer that.”

“You are going to answer right now or so help me…”

“Alex, don’t. You can’t do that.”

“Are you sure? Because I can have him talking in thirty seconds or less.” she reminded her partner.

“Look it don’t matter what I was doing last night. I got friends who can tell you. You better look at that freak show hospital in Keystone City. I told her not to get mixed up with them. Helping her, right. You can’t trust those types.”

“What types? What was she involved in?” Joe pressed.

“That center. She thought she was psychic or something. Not that con she was running either. She thought she was really psychic and had some scientists always running tests on her.”

“What scientist? What center? You want me to forget you for this I need some answers.” Joe told him, finally getting somewhere.

“You let the warrants go if I give you answers?”

“I leave you in here with my partner who still doesn’t understand a criminal’s rights if you don’t answer.”

“Aight, no reason to get all threatening. Girl got some serious temper issues. She seen Training Day one too many times. Warrants ain’t nothing anyway. Just a suspect in a robbery. Supposedly the owner hit the alarm and the perpetrators who I don’t know, had to leave quick before the Flash and his old lady showed up. Honestly I am scared of the blonde more. She can shoot lasers from her eyes. Did you know that? Course you did, she probably works for you guys.”

“What center?” Alex asked, a bit more forcefully than Joe.

“I don’t know the name! Some big research center in Keystone. Can’t be that many right? You are detectives, shouldn’t be hard to figure out.”

Ortega was sent to a cell while Joe did a bit of research. The only center that came close to dealing with possible mind reading psychic research was the Institute for Higher Psychokinetic Study. One hour later Joe had some bad news for Alex.

“DA says we can’t get a warrant on the word of a gangbanger who isn’t sure this is the right place. Especially considering it is a Government research lab with confidential records. Unless we can find proof that Gayle was involved with the work done there we got nothing. We can’t even interview the scientists because of the confidential work going on.” It smelled like A.R.G.U.S. or CIA but Joe doubted even Lyla Diggle would give up information on a top secret research laboratory.

“What sort of link do we need?” Alex asked.

“Something, some information from a friend, relative something that ties her to a particular researcher or project.”

“Like a file she may have had lying around her apartment that we somehow missed or may have been hidden under her bed that we recovered during a second search of the scene?”

“Alex whatever you are thinking about, just stop. Something else will come up.” Joe warned.

“What? Another decayed body?”

“Why don’t you and Barry work the evidence? Maybe we can figure out what caused this and tie it back to the Center. Maybe she wasn’t even involved in the Center. Lets just follow procedure, got it?”

“Got it.” Alex lied. She went home for the day, promising Barry she would look at the material tomorrow at S.T.A.R. where the equipment was more advanced. Nyssa wasn’t there so she left her a note, informing her that she would be having sister time tonight and left for S.T.A.R. Sneaking in and out wasn’t a problem, since Winn and Cisco were wrapped up in video games, Stein was writing some strange equations on a glass board and Ray was tinkering with his Iron Man suit, trying to reassemble it and the workers trying to repair the place were gone for the day, meaning the mannequins were back out.

An hour later she was parked a half mile from the center. The place was not what she expected. Alex had expected something resembling S.T.A.R. Instead it was a plain, five story office building with a large parking lot, surrounded by a high barb wire fence with guards posted at the gate.

“What are we doing?” a whisper asked behind her. She nearly jumped out of her suit, until she realized it was Kara. Wait, what was Kara doing here?

“What are you doing here?”

“Uh, I could ask you the same thing. Are we going to break into that building?”

“I am. You are going home. Where is Barry?”

“Running around town, looking for somebody that can turn people to dust. Its kind of annoying. I get that its important but I have been extremely horny lately when I’m not vomiting. Is that a normal part of pregnancy?”

“It’s a normal part of a being 26 and discovering sex for the first time with a man who can vibrate his whole body and really liking it. If Nyssa could vibrate her entire body at super speed I wouldn’t be able to walk much less go to work. Its hard enough as is. What I am doing here is my business. Your business is in Central City, luring your boyfriend home with promises of sex. Now go.”

“I left my bracelet in my room. I figured you were doing something covert when you left your chest plate at the lab, but your suit was gone from the mannequin. How do you like my outfit?”

Alex took her in for the first time and realized she was wearing a black, tight body suit.

“Please tell me that isn’t the Red K outfit?”

“Of course not. I’m pretty sure Lucy or Vasquez burned it at the DEO. I picked up a new one. You have to admit despite being evil, I looked pretty good in it. I think Barry will approve.”

“Kara, there are armed guards inside.”

“I know, I can see them. I don’t even need a fancy helmet. Face it, I am going in or I am calling Nyssa and telling her what you are about to do. I might even call Joe.”

“You wouldn’t rat me out.” Alex told her confidently. “Besides I could call Barry. He could be here in under a minute.”

“And he wouldn’t approve of either of us doing this. What are we doing again?”

“Gayle Marsh was likely involved in a research project in this place. We can’t get a warrant because we have no evidence linking the Center to the crime or her for that matter. I need to find out what she was involved in and with who.”

“So you just plan to search the whole place, all five stories, dodging guards, until you find something with her name? I could check those files really fast, faster than you could move.”

“You promised Barry you wouldn’t do anything risky!”

“And that involved metahuman and super terrorists. This isn’t that risky. If they catch us we can just badge them. We can both do that now.”

“You are not going in there.”

“We go through the roof. After archery practice, Oliver gave me a small crossbow gun. I’m pretty sure I can shoot a grappling wire up to the roof and pull us up.”

“No! I doubt you even know how to shoot that thing!”

“I shoot it in the air and it lands on the roof. Hard to miss a roof Alex. Come on, we haven’t had any bonding moments in a while. No alien escapees, no end of the world scenarios. It will be like old times, only those times aren’t really that long ago so yeah, it will be like not so recent times.”

“Kara, I swear to Rao, God, Buddha, Gaia, whoever, there is no way I am letting you go in there. I will call Barry. Go back to your Volvo, and go home to your puppy. I bet he is missing you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Charlie is right here.” Kara slid off her backpack Alex had not noticed and unzipped the top, a fuzzy head wearing a black mask popping up.

“Are you kidding me? Wear did you get him a mask?”

“Halloween clearance sale at Petco. The two of us are going to have so much fun next year.”

“He is going to bark.”

“No he won’t. He was a born secret agent.” Kara argued. Charlie barked in agreement. Alex tried to ignore the massive headache quickly coming on.

“I’m calling Barry.”

“I’m calling Nyssa.”

The two sisters stared at each other, reminiscent of their times in high school when Alex would sneak out and Kara would follow or threaten to tell Eliza.

“You stay here and watch out for me. We use the coms. Watch for guards and let me know how much time I have and when someone is near. If it looks like I am cornered cause a distraction.”

“What kind of distraction? Like blowing your Porsche up?”

“You better keep your heat vision from my car or some terrible accident may befall McGruff the crime dog.”

“Alex! Don’t threaten him! He can hear you. Besides sacrifices have to be made. I slightly hit a pole backing out of the parking garage. No big deal, I can pop the small dent out but I made that sacrifice for you.”

“You drove your Volvo here?”

“Duh. How do you think I got here? Flying is too risky.”

“You driving is riskier! You can’t drive! If Felicity hadn’t gotten you a fake license you would never have gotten one! Why didn’t you take a cab?”

“Yeah, I’m going to take a cab to help my sister break into a base.”

“How did you even find me?”

“I placed a tracker on you that Cisco made when you weren’t looking. It’s on one of the weapons you are carrying but I’m not saying which.”

“Do you know what an invasion of privacy that is?!”

“Do you really think I didn’t know about the one you had sewn into my skirt?!” Kara countered.

Alex stopped cold.

“Good point. Okay, I’m going in. Watch me and let me know what the guards are doing.”

Charlie barked in agreement.

“And keep that damn dog quiet!”

Alex activated her helmet, night vision showing immediately. With Kara, hopefully on top of her game, she wouldn’t need infrared.

Cutting the metal fence was easy enough with the knife she had stolen from Oliver, that he usually used to cut steel cables off people. Considering he shot her once with said cables she felt like he owed her.

“I’m in the compound Kara.” Alex whispered.

“Call me Predator, Valkyrie.”

Behind her black visor, Alex rolled her eyes.

“Fine, I’m in the compound Predator. What do I have?”

“Two guards are making a circle on the right side of the building. Lay on the ground. They shouldn’t notice you. Its pretty dark where you are. Once they pass, move to the right side. There is a staircase leading down. Looks like it opens into a basement. Cut the lock or I can come break it real quick. There are no wires on the door so I doubt it has an alarm. If it does. I can send Charlie to help you take out the guards and the two of you can escape. He is pretty fierce for his size. We were playing today and he likes to stand on his back legs and box, then chew on my forearm. It is so cute.”

“Kara!”

“Sorry, focusing now. And it’s Predator, please. Okay the guards are circling in front of you, forty yards away, not looking in your direction. Don’t move.”

“No really?”

“Shhh! No room for sarcasm on secret spy missions. You should know this, agent.”

Alex lay still, not moving while the two guards moved on, continuing their vigilant patrol of the building.

“Move!” Kara hissed. Alex stood up, still hunched over and ran quietly, making her way to the building and splitting to the right. She found the staircase that did appear as if it was going into some sort of storage room or basement. The knife did not work.

“This lock is too thick for my knife to cut through!” she whispered.

“You expected to cut through a lock with a knife?”

“Yeah, its a strong knife. Worked on the fence.”

“You stole Ollie’s knife?”

“I borrowed it. Can you find a good angle and zap it?”

Alex felt a rush of wind and her sister was by her side. Reaching the lock, she snapped it.

“Well since we are here, we may as go in with you.” Kara suggested. Alex noted Charlie’s head was still sticking out of the backpack and trying to lick Kara’s neck, but his mask had slipped and resembled a bandana now.

“Don’t worry about Charlie. He is really good with super speed. We took it easy at first but I think he enjoys it.” Kara opened the door and motioned for Alex to enter. “After you Valkyrie.”

“There are armed guards in there. Do you realize what happens if you take a shot in the gut and your powers dim? No more Kid Flash and no more Kara. Who is going to take care of Charlie and Barry? What about your baby? I can take care of myself but you have so many others to take care of. You think Barry would hook up with Iris if you were gone? I bet she would take advantage of his grief and make her move.”

Kara cringed at the effective guilt trip Alex had just executed. “I’ll be back in those trees watching you.”

Another rush of wind and Alex relaxed.

Entering the basement, she found a number of data processors and truly wished she had included Winn in this operation. Checking infrared, Alex noted only a few people on the floor above. One resembled a guard at the front sitting, probably near a desk, and three people scattered in three offices.

“There is a guard sitting at a desk. Sounds like he is watching football on the TV in front of him. Central City U just kicked a field goal.”

Alex shook her head. No matter how high tech, nothing beat Kara’s vision and hearing.

Climbing the stairs, to the first, she decided priority number one was finding a computer in one of the empty offices. She was happy to see the lock was a simple push button locked from the outside and turned easily for her.

“I think the guard just noticed the door opening. He is standing up… never mind. Going to the bathroom. Mission is a go, Valkyrie.”

“Thank you Predator.” Alex whispered, moving to the left and taking the corner. The first office she reached was locked. The next had one of the stragglers in it. She briefly thought of taking him and forcing him to find the info she needed but it would be better if she could be in and out undetected.

“Try the third office down. Looks like the door is unlocked and a computer screen is lit up. Somebody didn’t lock their computer before leaving.”

Kara was definitely better than a spy satellite.

Checking the door, she was happy to see that it was unlocked.

“Where is the guard?” she whispered.

“He is still in the bathroom with a newspaper… oh thats disturbing. I’m glad I didn’t come with you. Something tells me I would have smelled that wherever I was in the building.”

Alex held back a laugh and silently entered the office, locking the door behind her. Checking the computer she was disappointed. There was a screen lock on it.

“You were wrong little sis. This is password protected. I wish we had Winn here.”

“I can call him.”

“No! No one can know we are doing this.”

“Alex you know I suck at keeping secrets. Besides its just Winn. He will keep it to himself.”

“Yeah but the last thing we need is for someone to notice one of ours hacking into a government database. I’m going through his files.”

“Steal the hard drive!”

“No! Someone is going to notice and I want this to be in and out.”

“Like no one is going to notice the security fence cut open.” Kara reminded her.

“Not when you use your heat vision to weld it back together.” Alex reasoned.

“Oh, now you need me. Check his files but be quiet. The guard is finishing up and… okay I’m not going to watch him anymore until he is completely out of there. Disgusting. Using two sheets for what you just did? I would hate to see his laundry.”

Alex moved quietly through the file cabinets. Quite a few files had project names on them, not really mentioning many details and most of them looking harmless, studies involving people guessing which cards a researcher was holding up, identifying potential psychics and dismissing most of them.

One had redacted information, torn pages and Project Blue Skye.

“Some files are labeled Project Blue Skye with a lot of redacted information. I wonder what that is?”

“If it is anything like Clean Sweep lets burn the building now and launch a war against A.R.G.U.S.” her sister suggested immediately. “Touch the computer terminal with one of your fingers.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Cisco always keeps surprises in the suits. See what it does. If this guy has a small office on the first floor he probably doesn’t know anything important, but you can break into his security system. Maybe a small shock will reboot the system and allow you to jump onscreen. I realize you are no Overwatch but you do know how to hack data that you have a direct port to right? If not I can walk you through it.”

“You? What do you know about hacking?”

“Photographic memory and hang out with computer nerds all day. I picked up a thing or two. Touch the monitor with your glove. Shock it.”

Alex uncertainly reached out, firing the electrical impulses in her suit. The terminal made a whirring noise, filling her with hope until a small shower of sparks erupted and smoke indicated the death of the computer.

“I killed it.”

“Wow, I really thought that would work. Thats what you get for listening to me. Looks like all the guards are on lunch or at least heading to a lunch room on the second, except the one up front who is still watching football.”

Alex took a look around and exited the office. Running quickly to the staircase, she silently made her way up to the fourth floor, using infrared to determine no hostiles were in her way. On the fourth she had found what she was looking for. A series of rooms, guarded by steel doors.

“This is getting ridiculous. Should I shock these too?”

“Nah, it will probably set off an alarm. Hold on.” Kara mumbled.

“Are you eating?”

“Yeah, I packed some sandwiches for me and Charlie. You wouldn’t believe how hungry pregnancy makes us. Listen, the window to your right, no your other right, yeah open it. I’m going to burn a hole into one of the rooms. As long as you catch the concrete we should be quiet.”

“No! I cannot catch concrete!” Alex whispered harshly.

“This is a lot easier with one of our nerd hackers. If you would have let me come in through the roof like I wanted we would already be in one of those rooms. Hey looks like an office at the end. Pick the lock and see what is in there. I bet it belongs to whoever is in charge of these creepy cells.”

Not having any better idea Alex, did as suggested and pulled to pins from her inside boot pocket, next to where she kept a small blade. Picking the lock was disturbingly easy, easy enough that she doubted she would find anything of value. What she did find was an appointment book in the desk. The desk belonged to one Daniel Pendergast PhD. The appointment book had exactly what she was looking for. Gayle Marsh, November 2nd, 2 PM three weeks ago.

Taking an appointment card from inside his drawer, Alex scribbled Gayle’s name and Pendergast’s name as best she could imitating his handwriting in the notebook.

“I got what I need. How am I looking down below?”

“Not good. Guards are walking all around. I’ll be right back.”

Alex heard a whoosh and then Kara was back.

“What did you just do?” Alex groaned.

“Took advantage of the guards outside being on the other end and welded the lock back together on the basement door.”

“Then how the hell am I supposed to get out?” her sister hissed.

“Go to the roof. I’m going to use my crossbow pistol thing I stole from Oliver’s locker to fire a bolt into the rooftop. Zip line down.”

“No!”

“Better hurry. You are thirty seconds from having to fight your way out and I can’t fly up to get you. Too risky. Zip line down or blow your clandestine entrance and have to beat up security guards?”

“You could have left he basement unlocked until I came out. You’ve been wanting to use that damn gun! Damn Oliver Queen. I knew he wouldn’t give that to you. Why does he make it so easy for you to steal things?!”

“Twenty seconds.”

“Fine, shoot. I’ll be on the roof in ten seconds. Don’t hit me.”

“I’m the Predator. I never miss big sister.”

Alex ran quietly, finding the emergency exit and climbing up into an escape shaft, opening onto the roof. She ducked her head, just before a small arrow implanted itself into her helmet, instead hitting the concrete guard for an AC vent behind her.

“My bad. That was close. You have to be more careful and not get in the way of my shots. Check if it is secure. I got the other end. Use your belt and glide.”

Alex checked, impressed with his strongly the arrow was buried and disturbed by how near the small projectile had come to being planted in her shiny black helmet. Slipping off her belt, she wrapped it over the line, took a deep breath and jumped. She admitted the line was tight and in seconds she let go, feet from her sister.

“Back up I need to bring this back in. Here hold this.” Kara instructed, handing her a half eaten cheeseburger.

“You were holding the line with one hand? What if you lost your powers?”

“Then you would have definitely fallen hard but Kid Flash had your back. I would have grabbed you in a few seconds when they came back on.”

“Let’s go. Drive in front of me so you don’t rear end my Porsche.”

Kara made it back to S.T.A.R. without incident other than few swerves, Alex following in her Porsche going thirty miles an hour to keep pace with Kara. She still couldn’t believe that they made safety seats for dogs, and she hoped Barry saw the dent in the fender before Kara fixed it. He would realize the importance of keeping keys away from her.

The lab was quiet, still mostly empty today as workers worked all day to dig bullets out of walls and equipment. Even Cisco had left, newly bought video game systems silent. Ray had probably gone to wherever he called home when he wasn’t here. Smooth sailing. Alex had expected trouble if anyone noticed her uniform gone, but a check of her phone in her car showed Nyssa had not tried to call her tonight, which in and of itself was weird but the woman could be like that. She was probably going through her intense training routine that made Alex too tired to think about.

“I’m surprised no one noticed your chest plate here and your uniform missing. Looks like we made a clean getaway. If Barry runs till midnight I should be in bed waiting for him, ready to go. This kind of got my adrenalin pumping you know. I won’t even be nervous about sneaking Charlie in the building. Piece of cake. Cake sounds really good.”

“Lets get in, get out and please change out of that black thing… Barry might like it but it is freaking me out.” Alex told her.

“It was this or my Predator uniform. It’s not nearly as sexy as this. Guess what I have planned to wear on our wedding night?”

“You seriously think I want to know? I don’t!”

The two walks along a bit more before Alex stopped.

“Okay you have me curious. What are you going to wear?”

“Winn is making me another Supergirl costume.” Kara told her with an excited squeal.

“I thought you didn’t want anything to do with that… period of your superheroing life.”

“I don’t, but Barry met me in that outfit and I saw how his eyes roamed. I doubt it will be on for long.”

“And that is what I get for asking.” Alex sighed. The two walked into the control room where most of the mannequins were amazingly standing. The Hawks mannequins were destroyed but everything else had been left unharmed.

Before they could reach the mannequins the lights switched on. In front of them were a very irritated Nyssa, Barry and Oliver.

“Sup guys? Doing a little late night vigilantism? Or maybe some superheroing? We should probably figure out the differences and put it in our membership handbook. We are going to have one of those, right Alex?” Kara tried.

“What? Yeah a cookbook seems like a great idea.” she agreed to something involving a book.

“My knife?” Oliver asked, reaching out his hand towards Alex, who reluctantly gave it back.

“My crossbow pistol?” he asked, extending his hand towards Kara, who rolled her eyes and brought her back pack to her front and unzipped it. Charlie’s head popped up and she reached around him pulling out two more uneaten sandwiches and the weapon in question, handing it over but keeping the sandwiches.

“Where were you at Alex? Your chest plate you are so proud of was here.” Nyssa asked.

“Didn’t need it tonight. I left you a note. Kara and I were having sister time. Bonding and stuff.”

“Yep, bonding. Hey baby, have a nice run?” she asked Barry who hadn’t taken his eyes off of her.

“He did until we were notified by Cisco that Alex had gone rogue and Caitlin checked your room and discovered you had gone MIA.” Oliver told her. “Teamwork, right Kara? Stronger together or something that sounds Spanish? Why are the two of you sneaking off on your own missions with my stolen gear?”

“It wasn’t team business, it was police business. Business that was better kept off the books, and I only technically borrowed your knife. I had no idea about the bow gun thing. You can talk to your protege about that.” Alex argued.

“And Kara?” Oliver prompted.

“I have a badge now. Besides I did nothing risky. I was not at risk at all. Charlie was with me and we mostly just looked out for Alex, broke a lock and used X ray vision to watch a guard with some serious digestion issues. I nearly shot her in the head but she really should have been watching where she was going. I’m pretty sure her helmet would have protected her. Given her one hell of a headache but protected her.”

“You didn’t feel like including me Alex?” Nyssa asked.

“I had it. You weren’t home.I needed to move. Time was of the essence.”

“You couldn’t have called?”

“I had it. I’ve been breaking into places since college. Walk in the park.”

“Barry didn’t you have something to say to Kara?” Oliver prompted. Barry had not taken his eyes off of her since she walked in though his eyes did take her all in, several times over. He stepped up closely to her, placing his hands on her waist.

“No risk huh?”

“Nope.”

“Good enough for me. Didn’t you tell me you wore an outfit like this during that whole Red K disaster?”

“Yeah, but while I was totally evil I kind of dug the outfit. You like it, don’t you?” she asked, recognizing the look in his eyes.

“God yes. Where is your bracelet?”

“My room here.”

Barry grabbed the backpack, ignoring Charlie’s yelp as it was shoved into Oliver’s arms.

“Need you to watch the dog tonight Oliver. We are spending the night in your room baby.”

“But…” Oliver tried.

“Take him for a walk before bedtime to do his business and he likes breakfast tacos for breakfast, Chorizo or bacon in fine, but no cheese. It gives him gas. At least it did this morning. That could have been the wings last night. Later everybody.”

Barry picked her black clad body up and the two were gone. Charlie licked Oliver’s face.

“Wow, I hope he isn’t too hard on her.” Alex laughed, seeing the annoyed look on Oliver’s face as Charlie continued to lick his face. “I guess I should peel out of this uniform. I am pretty sweat underneath. Then we can go home and you may punish me for leaving you out of our fun tonight Nyssa. I just hope you won’t be too hard on me. I deserve it though. I was a bad, bad girl.”

“No! I mean, I… you should just wear the uniform home. We can talk about… punishments later.”

“Uh huh. Fine, I’ll wear it for you. You can peel me out. Lets go home baby. Bye Ollie.”

Oliver stood alone, furry mutt in one hand and crossbow pistol in the other. His phone buzzed so he dropped the pistol.

/Thea and I R watching movies and pigging out on ice cream. Staying here tonight. See u in morning. Love u. F/

Oliver sighed.

“How in the hell am I the only one not getting laid tonight? You ever had beer Charlie? Congratulations, because tonight is the night.”