Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Seeing Red

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 30: Sins of the Father

It had been four months since Kara’s trip to Central City. In that time she had not returned, though she had spoken to Iris on the phone often. She stayed away from the rest of team Flash, besides Barry of course. When medications adjustments were needed her parents worked with Shay while they continued to isolate and destroy the metahuman gene causing Caitlin’s powers. Kara did not hold what happened against Caitlin, she understood even. Still, she knew she couldn’t trust to be seen in the same room with her. If Killer Frost escaped again, Kara did not know if she could prevent herself from killing the woman and didn’t want to be in that position.

She had spoken to Dante once every couple weeks on the phone. Neither he nor Kara ever talked about Caitlin or what had happened by unspoken agreement.

It was also becoming clear that the two were no longer as close as they once were. The two year split had caused them to become different people and while the respect and friendship was still there, they were not what they used to be and both doubted their relationship would ever reach the level of comfort they once shared. Small talk was hard and the conversations increasingly brief. Kara wondered how long until they would stop completely.

Christmas was in a week, her first Christmas sober since she was 17 and other than her dying relationship with Dante, things were going well. Barry had finally returned to his Central City job, though he used the Fortress nearly every night to see her. Things had gotten stronger between them, she believed. The two had grown closer than Kara had ever grown towards someone, outside her family. He still accompanied her to open meetings at times and unbeknownst to her, attended Al Anon meetings himself in Central City on nights he stayed there.

The reason Barry returned to Central City was understandable. He had learned all he could from their DEO friends and needed to work with Bruce, Diana and J’onn. The Arthur Curry guy Kara had never met who Diana coerced into working with them could give Barry more training against metahuman aliens than the DEO could. Barry could return to his real job that he loved, and the League met in various cities to train, to discuss and to strategize. They were gelling into a team and would be much farther along were it not for Barry’s job and Kara, but no one would ask him to give up either of those.

Also Atrocitus had not made a move. He could be dead from the wound Diana gave him. According to Barry all the Lanterns besides Stewart were believed to have left the planet or were staying very low. There were no immediate threats that could be justified, and Kara insisted Barry go back to his job. He had stopped his life for her and had to go back.

Jessica also had told Barry in one of their sessions that if he did not, Kara would think she was holding him back once again to protect her.

In December, North Carolina winters were not fierce, but it was cold on the cliff top where Kara and Alex were on the outside, painting the exterior of her house a rich blue with a tone of green called Ocean Side. The house was near completion, with only touchups needed, paint in the rooms. Even the water pipes had been ran, along with a one-mile paved road that led to the nearest highway.

Kara had assured the contractors that she would have the solar panels for the house and the wiring done herself. It had taken her two weeks but at the end, she had an Omegahedron powering the house and the Rann transporter locked away in the secure basement. Having a basement built into a cliff had not been easy, but it was worth the effort.

The two sisters finally met around the front of the house, sprayers in hand and Alex having more paint on her white suit than she seemed to be putting on the exterior walls.

“It’s too cold to do this!” she shouted through her mask.

“No it isn’t. You just aren’t good at it. Stop being a baby. Another twenty minutes and the last coat is done.”

Twenty-eight minutes later the two sisters were inside the house. The hardwood floors had been lain but giant drop cloths covered the entire floor.

“I think after New Year, it should be ready to move in. Pretty cool, huh? We moved into the Fortress six years ago around the same time.”

Alex almost said something and hesitated. Kara of course caught it.

“What?”

“What? I didn’t say anything.” Alex weakly tried to deflect.

“Alex.”

Alex took off her white suit and began looking around the house. She reached the stairs and hesitated, then turned back to Kara.

“You have three bedrooms. You said they were for when guests want to stay, right?”

Kara grinned and shrugged her shoulders. “Yeah, mostly Clark though. It’s not like I have many friends that live anywhere near. The Justice League is out battling bad guys and I doubt Bruce would stay the night here. That would require sleeping, something we know he hates.”

Alex nodded her head, wondering how to approach this. She had been thinking about it for months but knew Kara would take it the wrong way.

“Yeah, see here is the thing. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t want to live with Mom and Dad. I know we came here after rehab and it’s been great having the whole family under one roof… for the most part. But Mom is kind of driving me crazy, just a bit, and Dad keeps talking about work when we are home. I guess I was so used to living in National City that I didn’t realize what a pain living with them full time would be. I love them, don’t get me wrong. I realize Mom keeps closer watch on you than even Clark, but it hasn’t been great for me either.”

Kara understood. She had wondered when this would happen. Since she returned to Midvale, she knew that she didn’t want to leave but had no intention of living with her parents forever. Her meds had been stabilized for the most part, she had her routines in stone, diet, exercise, meditation, AA meetings, reading and art time. She had her therapy time every week with Leslie over the computer and hour every two weeks with a substance abuse counselor in Raleigh. She knew when Barry would be near except for times he was held up by meta or Justice League matters.

She still hardly ever watched the news and turned off the television if she saw anything about a natural disaster.

She was beginning to see her life and except for a few unknowns, Barry Allen among them, things were looking positive for the first time in a long time.

“So you want to move out. I can understand that. Does Nyssa want you to move in with her? Which city this time? It seems she is a different place every time I talk to her.” Kara asked, trying to sound casual and wondering if she would have to talk Nyssa out of moving to Europe and taking her sister with her.

Alex didn’t respond to that right away, thinking that was an entirely different subject she wasn’t sure she wanted Kara to know about.

Deciding keeping secrets from each other never worked well for either of them, she laid it out.

“When is the last time you spoke to Nyssa?” Alex asked.

Kara thought it over for a moment. It had been some days which was unusual.

“Two weeks, maybe? Wait, when is the last time you saw her?”

Alex shrugged her shoulders and began pacing, something Kara recognized she did when an uncomfortable topic came up.

“Alex?”

Alex stopped pacing and turned to Kara, deciding to lay it out.

“Nyssa and I have gone out, more than a few times. I have kind of held back. I just got out of a very long relationship that didn’t end well and I guess the two of us were looking for different things. I was getting to the point where I considered giving it a real shot with her, but then Laurel Lance came into the picture.”

Kara nearly growled in frustration. She had not thought of the Arrow and his team in a long time, nor did she care to. After the last time she saw them, when she had gone ballistic, assaulted all of them and burned their lair, the blonde later realized she may have lost her temper a bit. Since then, she left them alone. Nyssa and she had killed Malcolm Merlyn and while she had been damned if she would apologize to Oliver Queen for killing Merlyn, she admitted to herself that breaking his leg, nearly crushing Lance’s throat and burning John Diggle’s gun and the hand holding it, probably took it too far. Since that night, she ignored the Arrow and the goings on of Star City, despite her warning. Queen wouldn’t have stopped any more than she would have if she were in his position, so she let it go. Her business with him was done.

Now Laurel Lance had popped up in their lives.

“I know Laurel Lance isn’t gay. What did she do?” Kara asked calmly, thinking Laurel should thank every god known to mankind that she didn’t have her powers or a desire to travel to Star City.

“She resurrected Sara Lance.”

Kara stood speechless for a moment, not sure how to process that. There was only one way she knew of that could possibly do something like that and her and Nyssa had destroyed it.

They had destroyed theirs.

Talia had one.

“How?” Kara asked hesitantly, closing her eyes.

“She took her sister’s decayed body to Talia Al Ghul. She allowed her to place Sara’s body in the Lazarus Pit…”

“Oh shit.” Kara whispered. “Alex, that pit was to prolong life. If they brought her back from the dead…”

“She could be a possessed monster who would have no idea who she is or what she is doing. Yeah, it happened. Laurel took her to Star City in chains and Sara escaped. Now Laurel has a possessed, resurrected, missing sister and is in debt to the League of Shadows. Nyssa went to help. I… told her it was a good idea and she probably shouldn’t come back to see me. I wasn’t angry, and she understood I think.”

Kara waited a moment taking that in, then sat on the floor, drawing her knees up to her chest.

“Why? Why did you tell her that?”

“Why do you think Nyssa would help? She wants Sara back. She is angry Laurel did it, but it is done. She seems to think she knows someone who can restore her soul and wants to get Laurel out of debt with Talia.”

Kara thought about this and wondered why the hell Nyssa didn’t call her.

But the answer was obvious. There was no way she would drag Kara into this mess.

“You are jealous?”

Alex grinned and copied Kara’s position on the floor.

“Maybe a little but that’s not why I broke it off. I… I wasn’t ready for what she wanted, and I don’t want that world again. She is back in it now. Even if she comes away from it, comes back to what we now refer to as reality, it will always be a part of her. It’s not a part of me any longer. So I just thought it would be best to end it. I hope she does find Sara, find some way to restore her soul or whatever is going on. I really do. That kind of thing isn’t in me anymore though. I want someone… someone who didn’t know me when we were battling evil or knows that I can kill someone ten ways using my ring finger. I liked her, but it wouldn’t work out in the long term and I am not even thinking about long term right now.”

Kara nodded her head, suspecting as much. After the toxic relationship Alex had been in since she was 19, Kara could understand a certain fear of commitment. Cameron and Alex had many problems, and neither was innocent in the disastrous relationship but to Kara it boiled down to one thing. Chase had taken advantage of a 19-year-old girl who needed someone she wouldn’t need to keep secrets from. It was why Kara would always blame and hate Cameron Chase. In Kara’s mind, it was Chase’s fault, no matter what. She would always side with Alex regardless.

“So you don’t want to live with our parents and Nyssa and you are on different paths.” Kara summed up.

“And I don’t want to be alone.” Alex admitted quietly. “I’m not ready. I know you wanted this place to yourself and I was afraid if I asked, you would think it’s because I think you can’t take care of yourself but that’s not the reason. If Barry is going to stay in Central City, then I want to stay with you. I need you. I feel better when you are near.”

Kara moved over to Alex and took her in her arms. The short haired girl laid her head on Kara’s shoulder.

“There are two master’s upstairs. Both have their own bathrooms. Why do you think I had two built? I was going to ask you anyway. I feel better with you near too. But I made sure we had our own rooms and bathrooms this time.”

“You don’t mind?” Alex asked to be sure. She had thought the second large bedroom might be that size for Clark when he stayed and the smaller one for guests.

“Of course not. I hoped you would, but I didn’t want to press. We stick together. Always, remember?”

“Always.” Alex agreed, relief flooding her. She could be near Kara and get away from her loving parents who were close to suffocating her with attention.

“Can Streaky stay with Mom…”

“Streaky lives here.” Kara told her quickly. “Besides, you know you love her.”

“She does tend to grow on you.” Alex admitted. In truth they had the cat so long she couldn’t imagine being without her.

“So, we move after the first. Now we just have to get past Bruce’s party tomorrow night. Mom and Dad are coming, right?” Kara asked to be sure. She hadn’t been to Gotham or the Batcave in a very long time. Tomorrow night her, Alex and her parents would be entering the Batcave along with Clark who hated the idea of a grown-up Christmas party where he couldn’t use his powers.

The event would be held at Wayne Manor, and the guest list was short but exclusive. Only members of the Justice League and those who were friends in the know would be there.

And as Bruce warned Kara, Dick Grayson would be there.

Barry would be by her side and the blonde, or brunette now, knew he and Dick had met before.

It didn’t make it feel less awkward. It seemed a life time ago but was less than ten months when she beat the hell out Grayson, nearly killed him and told him she would kill him if she ever saw him again.

There would also be alcohol at the party. Alfred told her she was ready. Life wouldn’t stop because she had problems and she understood that. Kara could not stay in hiding forever.

There would also be people, Kara didn’t know, and she hated being around people she didn’t know. She wouldn’t be wearing her glasses, would not hide in Wayne Manor. She never had. But the idea of people she had never met without her mask against the world was frightening. It would only be a few, Arthur Curry and that member of what Kara considered a useless Corp, John Stewart. Who knew who would also be there.

Caitlin Snow and Cisco would be there.

Caitlin would most likely be with Dante, another potentially awkward moment. Kara wondered if she would see the Caitlin Snow from the Block or see Killer Frost every time she looked at the woman now.

Regardless, she had promised Bruce she would show, they all would, and Kara had never broken a promise to Bruce. He was still on his path, she was on a different one, but she would always consider him like an older brother, one who had been there many times during her darker moments. One who had watched her cry in the Batcave at times, for no reason and never offered anything other than the support of just being there.

The guy that built a medical research facility dedicated to helping her if she ever needed it.

This party would just be another step forward for her. Come what may, she would have to deal with it. She had no other choice. She had approached life slowly, still hiding often. That had to end eventually. One day, Kara would have to watch the news, watch hundreds or thousands injured and dead in a disaster and know that in the past, she could have saved many, but the past was gone and only Kara Danvers, human as far as powers went, was left.

So it was, the next night, Barry and Bruce were waiting for her family in the Batcave as they exited the transporter.

Eliza and Jeremiah were smiling, but nervous, never being in the famed underground lair of Batman but more concerned about how Kara would react tonight.

Alex didn’t bother hiding her concern for Kara.

Clark was upset that he had to wear a bow tie and tux and get a haircut, leading to a grumpy start to the evening.

Kara kissed Barry and tossed Bruce a blue sweatshirt.

“Merry Christmas, big guy. Something to wear while you work out.” she told her friend, who looked as dashing as Barry did, both in their tuxedos. Bruce unfurled the shirt and saw the Supergirl logo with girl power written on top of it. The symbol itself was autographed by Supergirl.

“Kara, I don’t know what to say, other than I am glad to see you are still as humble as ever.” The man teased.

“Hey, the longer I am gone, the higher the value of my autograph.” she told him, taking Barry’s hand while her parents greeted the billionaire warmly. The relationship between the elder Danvers and the Dark Knight had come a long way in the past six years. A turning point occurred four years ago when Jeremiah once again asked how he could trust the man around his daughter when he didn’t even know who he was. Bruce pulled back his cowl and asked if he could trust him now.

Touched by learning his secret, the two had formed a friendship of a sort that grew over time, culminating in their time together in the Block.

Barry walked over to a console, pulling Kara behind him. When he reached the console he handed her a box wrapped in red.

“I was going to give this to you on Christmas morning but couldn’t wait. I finally got the one I wanted.”

Kara had gotten Barry a Rolex and a key to her house but left it in Midvale for Christmas morning.

“It’s still a few days before Christmas. Are you going to be in Central City? I understand if you are. You had just mentioned that you would be in Midvale, so I didn’t bring your gift.”

Barry shook his head. “I’m going to be there. I just thought you might like to see it now. I can wait…”

Kara was already unwrapping the present.

What she found took her breath away.

“This is real? I mean like an original? But how?”

“There are still a few around.” Barry told her, not mentioning how many hours he spent on eBay.

Kara caressed the box, unopened, that was forty years old, but looked brand knew. Inside would be an untouched Star Wars X wing fighter.

“The decals haven’t been put on. Everything in there has never been opened. It’s all yours.”

“Barry, I don’t know what to say.” she told him, touched by how well he knew her. This effort and knowing her well enough meant everything to her. Jewelry didn’t matter to Kara but things like this did. It may have seemed silly, but they were tokens, little things that he knew her so well, like the first Christmas gift he gave her, the lightning bolt necklace she always wore. Not because it was gold, but because it reminded her of the two of them speeding along on her bike when they first met.

Kara left it safely on the console and took his hand to the elevator, followed by the rest. Once the elevator opened and they stepped out from behind the false fireplace, it was only a few short moments until she was faced with a room full of people.

Those moments were not long enough.

It seemed everything stopped, and all eyes were on her and her family, the second they walked in.

After a few uncomfortable seconds, the chatter started up again and Kara relaxed.

“That wasn’t awkward at all. I know I’m a big deal, but they didn’t have to stop talking and look at me.” Alex joked, causing Kara to grin a bit, despite the sweat forming on her brow.

“They are probably hoping you are unarmed.” Kara whispered to her sister, feeling a bit of humor at last. As always, like the first and every day after of school, Alex could help her relax.

Kara was next approached by Alfred who hugged her and assured her that she would be fine, before walking off to check on the other guests. Kara had no doubt he would be keeping a discrete eye on her.

“Could I borrow Kara for a moment, Flash?” a new voice asked from behind, one that the girl was somehow simultaneously sick of and needed desperately. Leslie and Jessica had that in common.

Before getting a response, Kara found herself dragged away from Barry, Bruce and her family. To her distress they all began talking to others while she was stuck in the back with her therapist.

“Merry Christmas, Leslie.”

“I’m Jewish. Let’s get down to business. This is an opportunity. You took your meds this morning and afternoon, right?”

“Like always.” the girl confirmed, a bit irritated by that question being constantly asked of her.

“Good. Now your social skills still suck. What have we talked about? What do you need to do?”

Kara took a deep breath and fought the urge to roll her eyes.

“Smile and look people in the eyes.”

“And?” Leslie prodded.

“Dial back the arrogance. Its rude, apparently. Don’t remind anyone I’m an alien who is smarter than everyone here and that I have fought battles against enemies that would give them nightmares.”

“It’s a start.”

“Do not rely on Barry and Alex to answer questions for me.”

“Okay. Keep going.”

“Don’t be sarcastic, even if someone says something stupid.”

“Good girl. Keep those things in mind and you won’t be a total social outcast who everybody but Bruce hates being around. You can’t hide anymore. You must learn to get along with people. Don’t treat them like they are out to hurt your family or Barry. If someone asks about your life, they are trying to get to know you, not figuring out a way to capture and study you or Clark. Most of these people think you just quit the whole Supergirl thing for your own reasons, not that you are an addict. They are going to act normally around you, normally for them regarding drinking. If it becomes too much, Alfred and I will accompany you to Bruce’s big hole in the ground. See the tall guy, long hair, gorgeous blue eyes and a body to die for?”

Kara looked across the room, next to bar, and saw who must have been Arthur Curry wearing an incredibly tight t shirt, jeans and a bottle of tequila in his hand.

“God, a year ago I would have gotten drunk and wrecked him.” she whispered.

“You and me both, kid.” Leslie agreed. “You may be in love, but you aren’t blind. Guy doesn’t just swim like a fish, he drinks like one too. Keep away from him as much as possible. You can get a contact drunk just from being near him. Go to your boyfriend, say hi to his friends you have been avoiding, don’t threaten Caitlin Snow or make Cisco feel like an idiot and let’s work on socializing with people. Most importantly, just be nice. Got it?”

Kara nodded her head and made her way to Barry. She reached him at the same time as Dick Grayson.

“Oh… hi Kara. I was just coming to see Barry. I thought you would be with Leslie a bit longer.” the man said quietly. “I can go.”

Kara shook her head. “Don’t be ridiculous Dick. Its… not at all awkward to see you.” she lied.

“Absolutely.” Barry agreed, offering his hand. “How have you been, Dick?

The man shrugged his shoulders after shaking Barry’s hand. “The usual, trying to protect my home and getting my ass kicked quite a bit in the process. How are things going for you two?”

“Couldn’t be better.” Barry answered. “At least I hope so. Kara, what do you think?”

“That this isn’t awkward at all.” she repeated, smiling brightly, then shook her head. “I mean things are going great. I’m sorry the last time I saw you, I nearly beat you to death. I overreacted to the situation and may have gotten a bit out of control.” she admitted, painfully. She had to be nice though. It was part of therapy and Kara was committed.

Nightwing shook his head and grinned. “You had every right. I don’t think I have ever seen you this relaxed and happy. I’m glad for the two of you. I see Selena just walked in. I should probably make sure she doesn’t pick pocket anyone. I can’t believe Bruce invited her. He may as well have invited Talia and he could have all his bad decisions in one room. Have fun you two.”

Kara searched the room for a friendly face to socialize with and seeking out her family. Her father was speaking to who she believed was John Stewart, the man who was part of that worthless, in her mind, Green Lantern Corp. After learning about them and thinking more and more on it, she had come to hate them and hated that Jeremiah was talking to him. She had no doubt her father would be saying harsh things with a smile on his face and didn’t know how the Power Ranger would react. Eliza was talking to Caitlin which put her on edge, but at least Caitlin was wearing her dampener around her neck. Dante was avoiding looking in her direction. Clark was with Diana Prince, having puberty crashing down on him at once. The girl suspected his voice would begin cracking before the end of the night. Shay Veritas was here, speaking with J’onn, humorously in his Martian form but wearing a tux instead of armor.

Not sure who to approach first, the smell of alcohol nearly knocked her back and set her mouth watering.

“Twinkle Toes how is it hanging?” Curry asked Barry who was used to his rough sarcasm by this point and knew he meant no harm. He did not like Kara being around a guy who smelled like a bar after closing time, nor was he excited about Kara being around a guy who was six foot six and loaded with muscles, but he was secure in their relationship.

“Kara, this is Arthur Curry, the Aquaman. He talks to fish.” Barry offered, dryly.

“I don’t talk to fish.” Curry denied, fairly certain it was Allen who slipped that bit of falsehood to Lois Lane.” I just wanted to say hi to Supergirl.”

Curry offered his hand, which enveloped hers.

“Kara, it is an honor to meet you.”

“Oh. Thanks?” she responded.

“Thank you. Diana told us what you and your sister did. I don’t know if Myriad would have worked on the Atlanteans but I’m half human and I kind of like some of the human race. Being 18… you are the reason I decided to come join this gang of misfits. While you were out saving the world, I was partying and trying to forget my problems. I get that you are tired of it all. Its time for us to step up. I know there was a monster stalking you that Diana may have killed. Don’t worry. If I see it, I got a trident ready to plant in its heart.” he promised. “Can I get you a drink?”

“Kara doesn’t drink.” Barry answered immediately. “Thanks for the offer though.” he finished, pulling Kara away as gently as he could with his arm around her waist. Kara allowed him with a final smile for Curry that was returned. He seemed sincere and a straight talker, reminding her a bit of Lobo in that way. Kara liked that about Lobo and Curry.

“Sorry about that.” Barry whispered.

“I liked him. The smell was tough, but he seemed nice enough besides calling you a name. Was he being mean or is he always like that?”

The Flash shrugged his shoulders. “He is an acquired taste but he means well and was sincere. He loves his sarcasm. You mind if we say hi to Cisco and Caitlin?”

Kara was surprised by the question. They were Barry’s friends and he was asking her for permission.

“You don’t have to ask me for permission, Barry.” she retorted.

“Would you mind coming with me, then?” the man clarified.

“Of course not. Part of my assignment is not threatening Caitlin Snow or being condescending and arrogant towards Ramon. I may as well do my best now. It will take my mind of tequila.”

Barry cringed at the though of Kara thinking about alcohol but shouldn’t have been surprised with Curry joining them. Alfred had warned him there would be alcohol here and those who didn’t know about Kara’s problems would not be told.

While Kara and Barry made their way over to Team Flash, Clark was indeed doing his best to impress. At almost twelve years old, he was certain he had never met a woman as beautiful as Diana Prince.

“So Bruce tells me you have a suit at Kara’s secret headquarters. Are you planning to take up her mantel one day, or perhaps follow in your parents and sister’s footprints and become a great scientist? Or perhaps another field?” she asked.

“What? Oh… oh yeah. I’m going to… one day… I’ve been practicing a lot, when I can I mean. I’m not allowed… I mean, I’m not really worried about fighting bad guys right now. I, uhm, I am playing baseball this Spring. Dad said he can rig a small crystal… I’m good, even without my powers. I had to give it up for a few years but… can you fly? Would you like to go flying sometime?”

“No,” Diana told him, hiding a grin. “I am afraid I can’t fly. I can jump very long distances but not fly.”

“Maybe you could come to Midvale. We can jump. If you wanted to, I mean. Or I could take you flying? Have you ever flown with J’onn? It’s pretty cool.”

Diana shook her head. “I should probably stick to jumping right now. Perhaps one day far in the future we will be teammates if you plan to follow in your sisters’ path. Oh look, your mother is coming over.”

Clark closed his eyes, wishing she wasn’t.

“Hi, Diana, right? Its a pleasure to finally meet you. I am Eliza. We didn’t get to speak at the Block, but I can’t tell you how relieved Kara is, knowing you are looking out for Barry. Clark, let me straighten your tie.”

Eliza reached down and adjusted the offending strap while Clark kept his eyes closed.

“Clark was just telling me he planned to follow in his big sisters’ formidable footsteps one day.”

Eliza reached down once again and brushed a strand of hair that had fallen on his forehead.

“Yes, he says he is, but we will see. He will have to go to college like Kara did. I am not crazy about the idea, but I don’t exactly discourage it. We let Clark fly on dark nights over the water before his bedtime, at least in the summers. During the school year his bed time is earlier so by the time he is done with his dinner and his bath, it is pushing it, especially when he plays around with his vegetables instead of eating them.”

Clark groaned, looking for any escape and finding none that could be considered graceful.

“Discipline is good.” Diana agreed. “My mother made sure I always was in bed at the same time, every night. Although I was annoyed often, there was a safety and warmth, in such a simple loving act.”

“I miss putting him to bed at night when he was a baby.” Eliza admitted. “I have a rocking chair that’s still in his room and held him for an hour even after he went to sleep. Kara usually sang to him while I rocked him. It wasn’t that long ago, but he has gotten to be such a big boy. Clark, why don’t you go to the buffet and eat? You haven’t had dinner yet. Do not just eat the lobster rolls. Make sure you have some green vegetables. I will be checking on you shortly. Who am I kidding? You won’t eat anything green unless I watch you. Even as a baby he used to spit out any baby food that contained carrots, or broccoli. It was a pleasure to meet you Diana.”

“And you Eliza. You have a fine son. He will no doubt be great at whatever path he chooses. Clark, it was a joy getting to know you. Good luck with baseball this coming season.”

Clark simply nodded and turned, walking away quickly, Eliza struggling to keep up.

“Clark? What’s wrong? You know you need to eat, or you will start to feel feint. Miss Prince will be here all night. You can talk to her more later.” Eliza assured him.

Clark’s face was still beet red.

“I think you said everything that needed to be said, Mom.” the boy admitted, grabbing a celery stick and seriously considering flying away.

“Are you upset? Did I say something to offend Miss Prince? Let’s go to find a mirror. I should have gotten your hair cut shorter, it keeps falling over your forehead. Maybe some hairspray might work on your super mane. C’mon, baby.”

While an oblivious Eliza took an embarrassed Clark to the hallway to find a mirror, and Jeremiah had finished telling John Stewart that his entire Corps were worthless cowards, Alex had made her way to Kara and Barry, Leslie in the background but within hearing distance while the couple talked to Barry’s friends and Dante.

“Kara, Alex, how have you both been? We were hoping you would visit S.T.A.R more.” Caitlin started awkwardly. She knew what had happened, Dante had told her but didn’t provide details or let her hear the recording. She also knew she was probably the reason Kara stayed away from S.T.A.R.

“Alex and I have been busy. Our house is nearly complete, and it hasn’t been easy. I understand Mom and Dad figured out a way to dampen the metahuman gene for good, but you have refused. Still working on controlling your powers?” Kara asked, trying to not sound accusatory while keeping a large smile on her face.

“Yes.” Caitlin admitted. “Dante and Cisco, even Wally, have convinced me that I could do a lot of good with these powers. I’m getting better, remembering things I do while using them and having control over… her. At least Dante says I am.”

“Of course.” Kara told her. “Cisco, how is your laser rifle working? Killed any metas or aliens with it yet?” she asked pleasantly.

Cisco was surprised by that question right off the bat. A simple how have you been would have been a good conversation starter.

“I’m good. How have you been, Kara?” he decided instead of answering her question. He had no intention of killing anyone but suspected if he told her that, sarcasm was not far off.

“I have been great. Iris has kept me up to date with all the goings on. Sounds like you all have Central City safe. Crime is down to an all time low. Congratulations.”

“Thanks.” he told her, smiling genuinely. It was true, Wally had come a long way. Barry was around more, and he had gotten better at his own powers. If Caitlin could control hers, the team would be formidable.

“Of course. So big Christmas plans?” she asked.

Both planned to spend the holiday with the Wests and invited Kara, who politely turned them down, thinking of pointing out that Barry would be with her until Alex read her mind and kicked her in the calve muscle from behind, no doubt leaving a bruise. A quick look at Leslie told her it was time to move on. She had pressed her luck to far.

It was after her and Alex walked off, leaving Barry to chat a bit more, that she realized she and Dante had not spoken to each other.

Kara didn’t have the energy to care. The night was wearing her out and she wanted to be in her room, or on the sofa with Barry or even in the Fortress right now. A quick hello with Diana turned into small talk, since Kara for some reason, felt comfortable with the woman. Perhaps it was because she had lost her world as well, not being able to return home.

Before the family gathered to leave, Leslie was waiting for her.

“How did I do?”

“You didn’t threaten Caitlin or offend anyone else. Still cold and aloof, the social skills of a smart ass eighth grader, but you are getting there. A trip to visit Iris in Central City before the holiday would be good. You can see Joe West and have her for a conversationalist in emergencies. Leave Alex behind. If you want to be part of Barry’s life, getting to know Joe West is a must. Has the alcohol been bothering you?”

“J haven’t wanted a drink this badly since before I went into DTs.”

“Go home, do not linger at the Fortress, take your sedative and go to bed. Tomorrow morning go to a meeting, the lunch time one near Midvale. Have Eliza drive you and wait for you. You did better than I expected tonight. I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks.”

The rest of the week went by smoothly, Christmas a success. Barry loved his Rolex and Kara loved being in Midvale.

She never did make the trip to see Joe before the holiday but there would be plenty of time later. She felt good, more confident everyday and more at peace. She had a good feeling about the New Year. For once in her life, Kara Danvers felt that everything might be okay.

Metropolis, January 2

It had been months longer than Atrocitus had hoped. The surprise of meeting an old god of Olympus and a sword breaking through his energy shield and being planted in his gut had held up everything. It has taken him two months to recover, nearly dying but having no one he could trust to help him.

So he had waited under the pyramid in Mexico, used the power of his battery to sustain his life until he was strong again, strong enough to form an unseen window to watch Kara Danvers.

She was becoming better, the drugs taming her, the therapy helping her control her legendary temper.

That would not do. The time to act was now.

Now he was strong. he would take out the old god, the Lantern and the Martian. The Flash was a concern, but this close to his battery, Atrocitus knew he could not break his barrier. The Batman was no worry and the Martian could be taken with the fire he breathed. He would be ready, he would invite them. Even if he didn’t defeat them. he just had to distract them long enough for them to have a bigger problem, one that only he could lead away from Earth.

First a trip to Metropolis. Her mother had left Kara alone, taking Clark to UNC Raleigh with her father and sister to review tests. Eliza thought giving Kara the opportunity to be alone was a good idea.

She wouldn’t have been able to stop the girl regardless.

Atrocitus was now back in Lex Luthor’s secure vault. Scientists, including the billionaire, had given up on opening the tomb months back. Luthor was convinced some great power or secret lay in it but was searching for a new source of destructive energy that could possibly open it. He didn’t know that Atrocitus was the only source. It had been sealed by Lanterns and only a powerful ring could unleash the monster inside, the one the galaxy talked about in whispers. He had been known by many names since Zor El, rocketed him off Krypton. The Lanterns called him Doomsday. Four Lanterns had died restraining the creature. It was beyond them to kill it, but their will power would have never been enough. It takes a creature of rage to kill one of their own. Atrocitus was not sure he had that level of rage in him any longer, but he had no doubt Kara Zor El’s would surface. She would burn Doomsday, burn the Justice League and burn the Lanterns on Earth, Red and Green. Then she would follow him to Oa and burn those bastards too. Perhaps Atrocitus could then find peace, It didn’t matter to him what Kara Zor El did afterward.

He reached out and lit the tomb up in a red glow, breaking the energy seal placed on it by the Green Lanterns and bolstered by his own. Purposely letting his energy flow into the room, it would be a matter of time before Luthor’s scientist picked up the readings and began work.

For now, it was enough. Atrocitus would return to Mexico and send an invitation to the Justice League that they could not refuse.

Taking to space, no longer in hiding, he landed in front of the Great Pyramid of Calakmul, deep in the jungle of the Yucatan, and walked inside a secret door in the back where his large power battery was stored along with a simple satellite phone. Human technology may have been primitive, but it had its uses. Now he simply had to bait the Justice League. With a little luck, even someone as inept as Luthor could pull this off.

Batcave 7 AM

The Justice League, not already present, had responded to Diana’s call immediately. J’onn, Diana and J’onn had already been present, Arthur was coming from the guest house he had been staying at, and Stewart took to space to arrive from Opal City within minutes. Barry had used the transporter in his closet to enter the Batcave, via the Fortress.

Diana waited until everyone was present.

“We have found Atrocitus. A sharp spike of red energy resembling Stewarts ring has appeared over the Great Pyramid in the Yucatan. He isn’t hiding.” she told the group.

“Its a trap.” Batman told them unnecessarily. After months of unsuccessful tracking, he was announcing his presence with a big red neon sign.

“I’ll call the Lanterns still on Earth.” Stewart suggested. Diana nixed that idea.

“If he gets past us, your Corp may be the only thing standing in his way. Have them on standby. I realize this is a trap, but the area is covered, and Brother Eye can pick nothing up, under the jungle canopy. We all take the transport. I want us to arrive together, a mile away at least. Bruce, J’onn and Stewart, you will approach from the rear. Find a back entrance or have J’onn phase you into one and search for that battery. Destroy it. Once it is gone, he has no chance of leading Kara anywhere.”

“Kara?” Stewart asked. “He is going after Supergirl?”

Everyone ignored him, remembering his last reaction and J’onn not having time to rip his memories from him.

“Load into the transport. We need to move. Barry, Arthur and I will engage from the front. Watch out for traps.”

“We just lost the main satellites, trying to pick up infrared under the canopy.” Alfred told the group. “Apparently red beams fired from the ground have disintegrated them. I don’t like this.”

“We have no choice. It is a trap, but we have beaten traps before. He has no real idea of how powerful we are.” Bruce pointed out, his gut not giving him a good feeling about this but like Diana and J’onn, feeling they have no choice. “Where are the Danvers?”

“At work. Kara is home alone, packing clothes in the Midvale house I believe.” Alfred told the team.

The four founding members of the League stared at each other. Curry was also surprised they were worried about Supergirl. It seemed without her powers she would be the last person Atrocitus worried about.

“J’onn.” Diana whispered. “A change of plans. You have to go to Raleigh. You are powerful enough to stop whatever he might send for them if he does. It must be his play.”

“I can go.” Barry immediately offered. He wanted Atrocitus but the idea of Kara or her family being in danger from an unknown terrified him.

Diana rejected the idea. “If Curry and I can’t do what needs to be done, you will be the only one fast enough to take him down. J’onn, protect the Danvers. We know Kara will not be harmed but they could be. Do not worry them and stay concealed. The rest of us, load up. We can suit up on the way. I want to be there in two hours or less and it is a long trip. Time to test that transporter on the carrier and hope we aren’t turned into dust.”

Lex Corp- 9:30 AM

Lex Luthor stood in front of the monitors watching the strongest room anyone on Earth possessed. The walls were four foot of steel, the door, the same, along with an unlocking device that could not be hacked. Only manual rolling on the hatch door could open this room.

No scientists were in the room. The work had stopped months ago, when every power source they had developed, failed to scratch the large crate of an unknown metal.

Now the crate, almost appearing as a large coffin, had begun to move on its own.

“We have done nothing different?” Luthor asked to be sure.

“No sir. The motion sensors went off this morning and we found it shaking. Something is alive in there, something large. We still can’t get a reading on it, but the sounds, the growls and what sounds like chains being broken are clear on sonar. Whatever it is, has awoken.”

Lex smiled, very happy with this development. Supergirl may have disappeared but he had no doubt she was still on Earth and up to something. There was no way someone with her power and popularity would give it all up and disappear. Waller had been murdered, Eiling disappeared, and Lord was an abject failure, but Lex still carried the torch that would set fire to the alien one day and save the world.

Supergirl had always been a fascination to him. For some reason, he associated her with the scar on his right hand though he had no idea why. He had been attacked on the street by some rival he could never identify, his security team a failure. Supergirl burned people, she didn’t stab them. Still the thought that she was somehow involved, that he knew more about her somewhere in his mind was always there. Perhaps whatever this was in the tomb would be the key to drawing her out and finally bringing her to her knees. Perhaps it was a carrier of some alien virus that could affect her. Whatever required this much security was not a typical alien.

His thoughts were cut off when the top of the tomb exploded, a monster the likes which he had never seen, stood up and roared, the sound hurting the ears of those listening through microphones.

“What are you?” Luthor whispered.

The creature was at least seven-foot-tall and had a monstrous appearance, white skin with a tinge of blue, incredibly muscled with long protruding spikes from his shoulders. The rest of him appeared covered in some scaly armor and his eyes showed madness of which Luthor had never seen. The creature’s fists had talons, very sharp talons no doubt.

Without hesitating, the creature began striking the walls, the steel cracking, at least two feet breaking without a second strike. He continued this until he saw the door and approached it.

Luthor and his scientists were in a control room right outside the massive door.

“He won’t break through.” Luthor assured them.

“He has nearly broken through the walls, sir.” one of the men in the room responded.

“That door is impossible to break though.” Luthor whispered. He was proven wrong a second after he said it, as Doomsday’s fist struck, sending the large, steel structure into the hallway.

The creature walked out and spotted the glass covered control room immediately.

Lex heard glass shattering, the screams of others and felt his arm ripped off. The last sight he saw in his life was the face of Doomsday’s hand covering his face before his skull was crushed.

Midvale

Kara Danvers was enjoying the silence. For once, Eliza had gone to the lab at UNC Raleigh and taken Clark, with a promise of an action movie afterward. She had left Kara alone and in the girl’s mind, that was definite progress. Moving into her own place in a few days, Kara had no doubt Eliza would be over there more than her own home.

The silence was broken by the sound of the house phone. She was surprised, because hardly anyone called that line anymore, preferring cell phones. It was most likely a salesman but, in the event, that her family was somewhere without a signal, they would call her and if she didn’t answer, a general alert would be sounded, all parties converging on Kara Danvers to make sure she hadn’t backslid on a number of issues.

“Danvers Residence.” she answered.

“Turn on the news, Kara Zor El.” a deep voice told her, one that she recognized from somewhere in the back of her mind. There was no doubt in her mind. This was Atrocitus. It had to be.

Kara walked towards the remote and clicked the television on with a feeling of dread. What she saw was breaking news.

A monster had escaped from the Lex Corp building and was in the middle of Metropolis, terrorizing citizens. Despite the camera crews running, she could see this creature, unlike any she had ever seen, was literally tearing citizens apart, blood everywhere, screams, panic.

“Do you know what that is? I am sure you have read your father’s files, his failed experiments on monsters who could not be controlled. This is one of them, the first of his abominations. A prehistoric monster from Krypton’s past, one with the power of regeneration, one that cannot be killed. It is mindless, only bent on destruction after the years of torture your father put it through. Another source of violence, death and destruction from the House of El. How does it feel to see your father’s work, killing another planet?”

“The… the Justice…”

“Your precious boyfriend and his friends? They cannot stop a Kryptonian monster. Only you are strong enough. How many are the news reporters saying are dead so far? He will continue to kill. It is all he knows. He cannot be reasoned with, cannot be stopped. Will you let Supergirl stand idly by while thousands, perhaps millions are killed by the House of El?”

The call ended, and Kara continued to watch, frozen in place. She had read Zor El’s files. She knew this was one of his creatures, one that not even General Zod wanted.

A little girl was just thrown by the creature. Kara briefly though of calling Alex but dismissed that quickly. She did not want her big sister anywhere near this creature. Kara had to get it out of the city, perhaps in space and fight it there.

But first she needed her powers.

Rushing to the basement, she activated the portal and stepped into the Fortress of Solitude.

Kelex was waiting for her.

“I must receive permission from Alex before I can remove the crystal. I am contacting her now.” he told her, anticipating her order.

“We don’t have time. She cannot defeat this creature and you know it. Take the crystal out, now!” Kara screamed.

“It is against protocol.” Kelex told her once again.

“So is letting me die.” Kara remembered, running towards a table near Justin and pulling a knowledge crystal out of his databank.

She took the crystal without hesitation and used the pointed end to cut her wrist, then stuck it deep in the inside of her thigh, cutting her femoral artery.

“I have one minute before I bleed out and you know the only way to save me is taking the crystal out.”

Had Kelex been human, he would have been shocked. Kara was bleeding profusely from her left wrist and her blue jean clad left leg was spurting blood. She fell to the floor of the Fortress.

Kelex did as he was programmed to do. He recognized what she had done and was left with no other choice. His primary purpose above all others, was to keep the Danvers alive.

The robot moved to her quickly and used the laser in his optical sensor to cut into her shoulder. The entire procedure took less than twenty seconds. Kara never screamed, even as her shoulder was ripped open and the crystal snapped off her collarbone.

Kelex, seeing that the bleeding had not stopped, ordered the Fortress of be bathed in yellow sunlight and pulled Kara’s bloodied clothes from her body.

He worried as he had learned to do, hearing her heart beat slowly but then picked up. Her bleeding stopped, her hair grew longer, blonde and wavy once again and her eyes glowed.

Kara stood up, enjoying the feeling of power coursing through her veins. She moved quickly to the mannequins holding her costumes and shattered the glass, taking the one suit she had never wore.

Within seconds she was dressed in blue and red armor. The shoulders and chest were armored along with the red House of El symbol. Her cape hung freely behind her, red gloves and red boots but the rest of the suit was blue, protected by an exoskeleton like Alex’s. Her long-sleeved top shined in the sunlight of the Fortress. This was the suit she had planned to battle Non in. Kara decided against it at the last moment, thinking she would rather beat him in a skirt, but this creature was different. She needed every advantage she could get.

Kara flew out of the Fortress and headed up until she broke atmosphere, then set her sights on Metropolis.

Five minutes later, Doomsday stopped his rampage downtown when a blue armored clad figured landed twenty foot away.

Somewhere deep in back of what was left of his mind, the monster recognized that symbol she wore. The man who had tortured it for so long wore that symbol as well.

No words were needed.

The two stood, for a moment taking each other in, then they charged, striking each other with enough force to shatter the remaining windows out the skyscrapers of downtown Metropolis.

The battle between Supergirl and Doomsday had begun.