Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Seeing Red

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 42: weekend plans

“You people cannot be this stupid, can you?”

The Danvers looked around the room at each other, not quite sure how to answer Leslie’s question. Kara had met her at her home for her usual appointment and asked about going to the ceremony on Saturday. Leslie had not answered her but instead told Kara to follow and walked the ten minute path to Jeremiah and Eliza’s home. She sat with Eliza and Clark in the living room, waiting for Jeremiah and Alex to make it back from the lab. Once the family had gathered in the living room, that was the first question she asked.

Kara cleared her throat and took a shot, used to Leslie’s straight forward questions and wanting to spare her family whatever wrath the woman had in mind.

“No?” she asked quietly.

“Whose idea was it for you all to consider going to this damn statue thing on Saturday?” she followed up.

“Jess… Jessica brought it up. I told you…”

“For once I was hoping you were lying.” Leslie interrupted the blonde. “Its becoming clear that I need to talk to Dr. Ryan about what is said in these family sessions. The idea was to open up communications between the family members, not to give out suggestions that could be emotionally catastrophic to all of you.”

Jeremiah slightly raised his hand, wanting to defend Jessica. “She suggested Kara talk to you first. There is no reason to be mean about it.”

“Mean? You think I have gotten her as far as I have because of my charming personality? Ryan should have known better. It has been less than a month since one of the most traumatic events that has ever affected this family occurred. Without talking to me about it, your two girls went into some sort of hell dimension and fought alien zombies in some exorcism to quiet that bomb on her finger. Its quiet now, she has come to accept living with this thing, is wearing a red bracelet constantly and is doing better over the last three days. You five now want to go to the one place that can cause her, Alex and Eliza to have a panic attack? Not only the place but surrounded by thousands of people, cheering a hero she is trying to move past. How can anyone think this is a good idea?”

Alex shook her head. “I wouldn’t have a panic attack.”

“So you don’t have nightmares about your little jet exploding?” Thompkins asked. “Seeing your sister beaten to death? Knowing that you are probably going to die, trying to guide that little escape pod for a crash landing in the middle of a war zone? Waking up, not sure where you were, but seeing Kara standing in front of you, unrecognizable, who had no idea where she was or what she was doing besides protecting you? You seriously have no problem with that? If you had another one of those jets you would be too nervous to fly. Stop acting invincible. You are a person and people who have that kind of trauma occur are affected by it, even you Alex.”

Hearing no denial, she continued. “Eliza? You had a panic attack watching the fight from a satellite. You just saw Kara bleed and you were unconscious by the time Alex crashed and Kara really got beaten to a pulp. That was a few weeks ago. Feel like checking the place out? Jeremiah, how did it feel to be stuck at the bottom of the world, watching your two daughters in a fight you knew they couldn’t win? Clark, how did it feel to see your two sisters who you look up to nearly die? Are you good with going there?”

Clark shook his head. “No, I’m not. I don’t want to go.” That surprised the family as Clark had said nothing about it before.

“Why didn’t you say anything Clark?” his mother asked.

The little boy shrugged his shoulders. “I was going to be there if everyone wanted to go but I don’t want to go.”

“You shouldn’t be afraid to speak up.” Kara told him gently, taking his hand. “Truthfully, the idea of being there terrorizes me. More and more memories have come back. I still jump around loud noises.” the blonde admitted, leaving out the times she sees something from the corner of her eye and thinks its Doomsday’s fist coming for her.

Leslie relaxed a bit, glad to see not everyone was sold on this idea.

“In the short time since this happened and Kara took that ring, turned into a rage monster and disintegrated that thing, lets look at what has occurred.” she suggested, calmer now. “Her and Alex visited a planet that resembled a biblical hell. She broke up with her boyfriend in a nearly violent manner, she has slaughtered White Martians, found the remains of her home planet, and underwent some voodoo ritual with an English warlock or witch who probably could have given her a contact high, to face the demons that live on her finger. If you all want to go, I won’t stop you. I couldn’t. I would get Bruce to stop you. If you want to see this statue unveiling watch it on TV but my recommendation is to ignore it completely. When I think she is ready and by extension all of you, I will let you know and maybe whoever wants to go can go one day, when it isn’t crowded and so fresh. But for now, relax. I am telling you not to. I am also going to be coordinating with Ryan on what is and is not discussed in these family counseling sessions. I may even sit in on them if I have time.”

Leslie took a look around the room and saw where Kara got it from.

“Would you please all look at me? I promise to do the same when you are speaking.”

All of them hesitantly looked her way.

“We all on the same page?”

The family agreed and Leslie stood up, motioning to Kara to follow her back to the cliff house.

Once they were back in the house, Kara followed the woman upstairs. Leslie had no problem acting as if Kara’s home and especially her fridge were her own.

“I have a chopper to catch in two hours in Raleigh. That little foray cost us time so let’s get started. Who is this guy who you met at AA?”

“Jake, an old classmate.” she spouted out. Kara had learned it was a waste of time lying to Leslie so answered quickly now.

“He is your friend? I thought you didn’t have friends in high school?”

“I didn’t.” the blonde admitted. “He was just a guy I was in choir with.”

Leslie was happy with that, at least Kara thought, reading the woman’s face.

“Good, you can be his friend… at meetings. You need to keep working on you. Meetings are for sharing experiences and supporting each other. There is a reason I don’t have you go to meetings every day now. You have more to work on. You have a family, good support structure, and need private time to process everything. You don’t need to share experiences with anyone outside of group yet. It would be too easy to focus on his problems instead of your own. Have you had any nightmares?”

“No. The band puts me into a deep sleep. If I have them, I don’t remember them.”

“Any symptoms of your PTSD?”

Kara nodded her head. “The other day, Streaky jumped down from the book case to the floor. I saw her out of the corner of my eye and nearly had a heart attack… or whatever I have for a heart now. I thought I was being attacked for a second. I even turned and went into a fighting stance, expecting an attack. Thankfully no one saw me. It would have been embarrassing.”

Leslie shook her head slightly. “Embarrassing? Nothing to be embarrassed about. If I had been hit as many times as you had, I doubt I would leave my house. Don’t be embarrassed, ever. You are going to be jumpy for a while. You have to stop thinking that you are above normal symptoms. You aren’t. Understand?”

Kara agreed quickly. “Yes, I understand.”

“Its okay to be vulnerable. We talked about this. You don’t have to put on an act anymore, dress like someone you think is always supposed to be strong and never shows weakness. You told me you prayed for the remains of Krypton and its dead. How long had it been since you prayed?”

Kara nearly laughed, not even remembering. She had been very young, before she landed on Earth. She still wasn’t sure why she did it. The blonde just felt her people deserved it, even if she didn’t believe in the sun god any longer.

“I have no idea. It just seemed the right thing to do. I can’t tell you why or if it mattered. It was kind of a spur of the moment thing.”

Leslie could understand that. She even suspected Kara would do it when she realized she could go anywhere in the universe with a thought. The draw would have always been there. Perhaps now she had gotten over it.

“How did you feel about seeing Krypton in pieces? I want the truth so give it some thought.” the woman ordered.

Kara closed her eyes and did think, reflecting on the sights, her feelings, the silence of space, the cold. She was truly grateful she didn’t see any bodies or parts of bodies in space, frozen forever, floating and lost in orbit around Rao. It all felt… empty. It felt like the universe had forgotten the life that was once there.

“I felt sad. Very, very sad. I didn’t cry. I just felt… it was wrong. There was life there and now its just a large asteroid belt. Even with the problems Daxam and Krypton had, it broke my heart to see that planet scoured of all life. It was wrong. Everything there felt wrong. I thought I would be angry but instead I just felt sad. I don’t know another word to describe it.”

Leslie understood. She genuinely had no idea what Kara would have felt or what she would have felt if it was Earth.

Sad was a simple word but an honest and strong emotion, one that could be healthy but also one that could plunge someone into a deep depression, especially with Kara’s issues.

“Have you been thinking about it often?”

“Not often. I’ve been kind of busy. Going to meetings and having my brain waves manipulated, raiding the lair of the League of Shadows, little things like that…”

Leslie nodded, satisfied. Kara telling the truth was a win and she had been winning more and more…

“You raided what?” the woman asked quietly.

Kara had hoped to slip that past her. It hadn’t work. Thompkins mind was a steel trap.

“I can explain. It really wasn’t a big deal. Its how I found the name of the Warlock. I had to get my friend Nyssa out and… nobody died. I didn’t even fight anyone… I just sent Talia to a moon… but it was habitable! Kind of. I mean she could breathe and… this sucks for me, doesn’t it?”

Leslie reached into her blue jean pocket and pulled out a bottle of Ibuprofen. It was something she always carried when having a session with Kara. The doctor thought she knew about all of Kara’s recent actions. So of course that wasn’t the case.

“Tell me everything.”

Ten minutes later, she had been filled in on the holes that led to this Warlock being found. The woman had only been told by Jessica that an exorcism at the site of Kara’s former suicide attempt had been performed and it helped her control the ring. She assumed this guy was just someone Kara knew from her many adventures.

She was also furious at Veritas and her idiotic plan. Her, Bruce and the genius doctor would be having a talk. One good thing had come from this though.

“I’m glad you went with the black magic ritual instead of Veritas’s plan. I never thought I would say that to a patient.” the woman admitted. “So tell me, did you think of taking her offer?”

Kara shook her head quickly. Too quickly.

“Do I have to say it?” Leslie asked.

“The truth.” Kara told her, sounding a bit defeated. “Yes, I thought about it for about ten seconds before dismissing the idea.”

“Why? Why did you dismiss it?”

At least it was an easy question for Kara to answer.

“Because I don’t want to die. I ran the numbers in my head. It didn’t take long. Statistically speaking, there was practically a zero percent chance that it would have worked. There were too many unknowns and I really didn’t want to burn up and be rebuilt even in the best case scenario. That sounds like it could hurt and to be honest, I am tired of pain.”

Leslie actually smiled. The woman had been worried about these bands Alex had developed. Medications were enough of an unknown. Directly affecting someone’s brain waves was in her opinion, dangerous. She worried about Kara developing greater depression, hallucinations and in the worst case, suicidal thoughts and attempts. That didn’t appear to be the case.

At least for now. The Danvers were playing with alien technology, doing the best they could but testing on a live subject and hoping it worked. Leslie didn’t doubt them, agreed Kara needed the effects of her old meds, but she still worried. No matter how brilliant the Danvers and Kara herself may have been, it was always a risk.

“That’s good. I’m tired of you being in pain too. We meet next Monday.”

“Tuesday.” Kara quickly told her. “Clark has a game Monday out of town.”

Leslie let out a deep breath. “Fine. I’m retiring anyway so I have time.”

Kara picked up on that immediately and a huge grin graced her face. “You’re retiring? Does that mean I get a new therapist? Can I pick my own? Can I have a nice one? Wait, are you dying?”

The doctor shook her head. “You wish. You are my retirement plan from Wayne Enterprises. Bruce pays me an obscene amount of money to keep you sane. If I can make you as pleasant as your face, I will be the greatest shrink in history. You are my legacy, girl, my Everest. Don’t count on me dying either. I’m living to 102 then dying. Like the city of Detroit. See you Tuesday.”

Kara sat still and watched her leave in silence. A few moments later Alex came into the room.

“I see what you are talking about. She is a bitch.” Alex muttered. “You okay?”

Kara blinked and focused on Alex. “I am pretty sure she just quoted Deadpool.” the girl told her sister in disbelief.

Alex shrugged her shoulders. “That would explain it. Her Dad left before she was conceived. So, Mom and Dad are bringing the brat over for dinner. I have the oven preheating, pizzas in the fridge. Dad says we are spending the weekend in Cancun.”

Kara stood up, wondering if she could get away with eating corndogs as well. She had the weirdest cravings since her appetite had returned as the bands had been adjusted.

“Sounds good… did you say Cancun?”

Alex smiled. “Big time. He is arranging it now. We go to the airport tomorrow night after your meeting and don’t come back till Sunday night. If we are going to ignore this damn ceremony, we are doing it in style.”

Kara liked the idea. She had flown over Mexico many times but never Cancun and certainly never stopped. The idea of going to new places in the past made her nervous.

She wasn’t sure what she felt now. It would do her some good to get away. Perhaps breaking out of her shell and soaking up some sun naturally may be good for her. It wouldn’t make her forget her problems or the damn ring on her finger but it could be… fun.

Kara had not had fun that didn’t involve superhero business or superheroes in a very long time. The idea was appealing. Summer would end soon, Clark would be back in school and she would… what? Continue to work on herself she supposed. Continue the portrait she had started of Clark, maybe start playing her guitar again? It had been over a year since she even picked it up besides moving it to her new house.

“So… what do you think? You up for a trip? If not, I can tell him its a bad idea.” Alex said, hoping Kara would agree with this. She desperately needed to get away and suspected her little sister could use a break.

“Yeah, I am actually. I want to.” the girl admitted, sounding surprised at herself.

“Yes! Okay, time to get the pizzas in the oven. Come help me.”

“No, not yet.” Kara told her, placing a hand on her shoulder. Alex hesitantly turned back to her little sister, having an idea what this was about.

“What’s been going on, Alex? How bad is it? You don’t want me to ever lie to you. Tell me the truth.”

Alex moved around Kara and sat on the end of the girl’s bed. The nice thing about Kara’s deep sleep and sharing a different room was her little sister didn’t hear Alex at night or notice the times she couldn’t sleep. She didn’t know about the times Alex would jump at the lab whenever something was dropped. Her hands never shook at least and she was grateful for that. Alex desperately wanted to get back into the air, to prove to herself that she wasn’t afraid but a large part of her was. Leslie had seen through her. She held it together at Talia’s but the events of fight in Metropolis weighed on her mind.

Kara sat down next to her and tilted her older sister’s chin up, looking in her eyes. To her great surprise, Alex had tears streaking down her cheeks.

“It’s not great.” the brunette admitted. “I guess I need stronger sedatives. I can’t sleep without them and they won’t stop the dreams, the nightmares. I see that thing everywhere. I jump at everything, my reflexes… nothing feels right. I’m trying to be strong but everything… everything is getting to me, you know? Even at Talia’s fortress I kept expecting to see that thing jumping out of some secret dungeon.”

Kara pulled her into her arms and Alex lay her head on her shoulder.

“Are you taking any anxiety meds?”

“Not really. I don’t want my mind… no. Just sedatives at night. I know I am going to have to start soon. It isn’t getting better. I thought maybe if we faced it I could get over it but I’m scared. I’m scared to go back there and I am scared of anything else happening. I’m tired of seeing that thing everywhere. We have seen a lot of stuff, Kara, but…”

“Yeah.” she agreed. Out of all the enemies the two had ever faced together, nothing compared to Doomsday. Both girls knew it could exist from the archives at the Fortress but neither really believed it or thought there was a chance it would ever be brought to Earth. Neither of them wanted to think about it. “I know, Alex.”

“Then there are those other Worldkillers he made. The four of them are nightmares and we don’t even know what the first one Zor El made is. It could be anything, a living disease, a cloud of antimatter, who knows? What are we going to do if they show up? If Brainiac shows up?”

Kara began rubbing her back as Alex’s speech quickened.

“We have a plan for Brainiac and as far as the rest, others can handle it, I promise. Bruce has all the information we have on them, on all the threats we know of.”

Alex shook her head. “How did we miss an entire Corps of so called universal peacekeepers?”

Kara shrugged her shoulders. “No alien really talked about them. I suspect most didn’t know because they stayed hidden. Doesn’t matter. Its not our problem anymore. Mom is right, we have given enough. Its time for us to worry about each other, nothing else, okay? Until you can get on the right meds, I am going to sleep with you at night. If you see or hear something you don’t like wake me. Throw water on me if you have to. I’m going to be there.”

Alex grabbed her hand and leaned into her, nearly rolling them back onto the bed. She still had a difficult time remembering Kara was movable now, as her sister used to be like a large breathing boulder that could be leaned against and never gave.

“Let’s clean your face and start dinner.” Kara suggested. “I want to see this beach bungalow Dad wants us in. No doubt it will be secluded, which is just what we need.”

Metropolis

Barry stood next to Bruce and J’onn surrounded by thousands of people. The number probably topped twenty thousand easily. He had hoped in the back of his mind that he might run into Kara or one of the Danvers today.

Being here he understood that even if they were, he had no chance of bumping into them. He also hoped Kara wasn’t here. She hated large crowds and this was the largest he had ever been a part of.

Diana walked up to them, the crowd almost magically parting for her as usual. Even in civilian luxury clothes the woman had a royal aura around her.

“According to Jack Webb, the only snipers around are the Secret Service. The ground is clear and the President should be on her way to the stage any minute.” she informed them.

Barry wondered if the President planned to fly to the stage. The mass of people was starting to bother him. He looked around as best he could and wasn’t surprised by what he saw. The downtown area was barely recovering, debris still being cleared away, the occasional body still found. Construction couldn’t start for a few more months but the one project every government official in Metropolis and the United States placed a priority on was the one honoring Supergirl. The downtown would be rebuilt around the monument, a giant, two story tall sculpture of the symbol of the House of El and it stood in the exact spot Lex Corp’s headquarters had once been. Barry couldn’t help but think it was a fitting tombstone for Lex.

The man briefly thought of Lena. He had met her only once but Kara told stories of their adventures often. The two girls had been very close and he knew Lena was close to her brother and father and hated her mother. Since the time he had met her, she had lost her best friend and didn’t even remember it, her father had died or been murdered depending on who was asked and her brother was dead and villainized by the world. The only family she had left was her adopted mother who was number one on the FBI and Interpol’s most wanted list.

So where was Lena now? Nothing had been said about her, the focus on Lillian and Lex, but she had no doubt gone into hiding, for her own protection. Kara used to speak so fondly of her, it was obvious the girl was not like the rest of her family. Now she had no one.

Shaking those depressing thoughts from his head, he did his best to keep his eye on the President. Being a pro alien President at a dedication ceremony honoring an alien who defeated another alien, was enough to bring political radicals from everywhere. The Secret Service was not happy that she had decided to speak in the middle of an open area, surrounded by thousands and large buildings and destroyed remains that would provide cover for snipers. If he heard a shot, he would have less than a second to get her out of the bullet’s path. The four had moved as closely as they could, short of Diana and J’onn bowling people over. J’onn was looking quite intimidating today, taking the form of a very large Samoan man with long hair. It shouldn’t be a problem if a stampede broke out.

Curry was nowhere to be found. Barry knew the man was near, probably near the stage in front of the monument or in the nearby harbor. Stewart was off somewhere with Lobo in deep space trying to find out information about wherever the sphere was from that now resided in the Hangar belonging to S.T.A.R. Labs.

“Excuse me, are you Wonder Woman?” an older female asked. Barry turned towards Diana with wide eyes. The woman never considered wearing a mask, telling him before that a secret identity was to protect loved ones and she had no loved ones that could be used against her. Despite her beauty, she was never bothered when she traveled into a city from Wayne Manor. It was simple. No one would believe that the Amazon who protected citizens from metas and aliens could be among them openly. It was crazy and Barry had no doubt that the more known she became the harder it would be to hide in plain sight but it worked for now. At least it had.

Diana simply smiled, not flustered in the least.

“No, I am definitely not Wonder Woman.” she told her, irritated by the name Cat Grant had bestowed on her in the press. “But thank you for asking. I am humbled. She is a beautiful woman.”

Diana seemed to find this amusing and winked at Barry.

“She is beautiful.,” the woman agreed. “Perhaps if she would stop dressing like a tramp and put on actual clothes like Supergirl she could be a hero my daughter could look up to.”

The lady pushed her way closer to the stage along with everyone else.

Barry couldn’t help but enjoy the look on Diana’s face.

“Shut up, Barry.” she told him before he said a word.

“I could ask Cisco to make you a suit…”

Barry stopped talking when her elbow contacted his ribs. Diana was smiling though, so it must have not bothered her too much.

“I can ask Kara if she has any old leggings.” Bruce commented, having heard the conversation. “Maybe a longer skirt? What about a cape?”

“Can we all focus and make sure no one is killed today, by me or anyone else?” the woman asked, the smile gone.

Thirty feet from the stage was as close as they were able to get.

Barry was pleasantly surprised by the outpouring of support for Kara. The blonde had told him often in the past when she still spoke to him that for every ten people thanking her there were at least a couple cursing her. One man had told her to go back to her planet after she had rescued his son from drowning. It was a wonder Kara helped humans as long as she had.

The President had arrived, people being pushed aside by a small army of Secret Service Agents. The Flash recognized Ty Gavin and Jack Webb among them. He had asked Dante if the man wanted to come with him and was turned down. Dante had hardly spoke or came S.T.A.R. Labs any longer except at times he worked with Caitlin on her powers.

Once Marsdin had reached the platform, the crowd quieted.

The President welcomed everyone, thanked them for coming, gave a typical politicians speech. She mentioned the aliens who had helped Supergirl take on the monster, and then spoke of the battle that had occurred and read the names of the dead.

It was nothing Barry hadn’t expected.

She talked about the countless lives Kara had saved since announcing herself to the world. She talked about the cost of heroism, the sacrifice and pain, including the lives of young soldiers protecting their home. Marsdin told them what an inspiration Supergirl was to the world, the sacrifice’s she had made and the effects. It made for a rousing campaign speech, ironic since the end of her second term was only two years away and the need for campaigning was done.

Barry didn’t find himself invested in the speech. Instead he looked around, trying to imagine the battle as he heard it unfolded. It was said when Kara and Doomsday hit each other, windows shattered for dozens of blocks. Richter Scales in the area picked up measurements similar to small quakes. Had the battle been fought on a fault line the Earth very well would have been moved.

After the President left and thousands walked around the rubble, except those areas blocked off by police, the foursome made their way to Bruce’s limo and traveled to the hotel Bruce had reserved and probably owned Barry realized.

Before they could watch news coverage, Dick Grayson walked in.

“Good evening everyone. Bruce on the balcony brooding yet?”

“Yes, I was just about to join him.” Diana told the man, offering her hand. “Without the brooding. Good to see you.”

Grayson patted Barry on the shoulder and motioned towards the kitchen. “Mind if I borrow you for a bit?”

The man followed Grayson into the kitchen, wondering what the hell this could be about and suspecting it wouldn’t be good. Once they were alone, Grayson’s good natured smile was gone and a look almost resembling pity covered his face.

“Well, your jaw and nose weren’t shattered and I heard you didn’t have any broken ribs, so you came out of it better than I did. How are you doing?”

Barry shouldn’t have been surprised. “How did you hear?”

“Seriously?” Grayson asked. “There are only so many of us in the world who dress in spandex and wear masks most of the time. We are a small community. Word gets around.”

Barry felt a bit of relief. “I thought she may have told you.” he admitted, leaving out the part that he suspected she may have asked him to go for a swim.

Nightwing shook his head. “I haven’t spoken to her since the Christmas party. I just wanted to make sure… okay, so I know you aren’t doing well. Loving her is hell. I told you it wouldn’t be easy.”

The man chuckled. “The problem is loving her is too easy. Keeping her is the hard part.”

“Yeah,” Dick admitted, “she is beautiful, brave, funny and sarcastic, cruel and brutal. A perfect storm, I guess you could say. Cards on the table, I heard from Wally what happened, what caused it…”

Barry stopped him. “You know Wally?”

Dick seemed confused. “You didn’t know? He has been working with me and some new friends… I guess kind of like… I thought you knew?”

The Flash shook his head, realizing outside of their work sessions the two hadn’t talked about much lately.

“I haven’t exactly been attentive to those around me recently.” he admitted.

Dick could understand that. Kara and her world were easy to get lost in. It wasn’t always a pleasant place but it was never boring. “Once I was ready to go against this metahuman who called herself Poison Ivy. She had murdered three people in one night and I had her tracked to an old printing building. I’m armed up, ready to go in, plan in place, then I blink. I feel a little wind and I’m on a rooftop six blocks away. Kara took her out then came back and told me Ivy was out of my league and to call her next time. It’s kind of what she does. I could have handled it but she… she worries. She may not have been in love with me but we were friends at least. She has done this with the DEO and there were times she made plans for Alex with the intention of getting her away and taking out the enemy quickly before big sis could become involved. Don’t let it get you down. You are good at what you do, but she is never going to believe that.”

Barry shook his head and turned away from the man. “And you were okay with that?”

“Of course not. It pissed me off. What are you going to say though? You know the battles she has fought. Do you blame her for feeling everyone else is an amateur? She went through the rest of her kind. She has gone through the worst this world and any other world had to offer. We are human. Meta or not, we are human. Of course she isn’t going to trust us to handle big threats. Bruce has fought Bane three times, every time he nearly gets killed. Kara has met the man twice, hit him twice and he is very lucky she was holding back. She is powerful Barry, more than you realize. She doesn’t trust her friends to fight their own battles. She wants to win them all on her own.”

“She trusts Bruce and Alex.” Barry pointed out.

Dick couldn’t disagree with that. “Alex doesn’t give her a choice. She is the only one who can get away with that. Her and Bruce have this weird bond. I think they both have a death wish sometimes. Maybe not a death wish, they just are not scared to die in battle. They would prefer it, I think. If Bruce dies, she knew it wouldn’t be on her. If anyone else died, she would feel responsible. All I’m saying is don’t let it get you down. Wally has always looked up to her, hell most of the world has. His confidence took a shot when she told you he didn’t know what he was doing. I had this same talk with him. Don’t let her get in your head. We may not be indestructible fire laser beams from our eyes, lift mountains, or can fly but we know what we are doing. Keep it in mind. I’m hungry. Are you hungry? Room service time.”

Barry followed the man out of the kitchen and sat on the couch, watching news coverage of the earlier event, than changing the channel. The last thing he wanted to do was spend the night lost in thought about her, not with Diana and Bruce around, who he swore could read his mind. Instead he ate, smiled, laughed with J’onn and Dick. He didn’t wonder where the hell Arthur Curry was and certainly didn’t wonder where Kara Danvers was.

Mexico

Despite the sun having set, Kara and Alex remained in their bikinis their father hated, laid out on beach chairs gazing at the stars above. It was a clear night and though it was from a different vantage point, the stars seemed brighter.

“Not as clear as an Antarctic night sky but not bad either.” Kara admitted. “I may not need the sedative band tonight. I am exhausted.”

“That’s good.” Alex said, pleasantly surprised. “The new surroundings don’t seem to bother you. Are you getting better at hiding it, or are you really feeling okay? Don’t lie to me.”

Kara put her arms behind her head and stretched out. “I actually feel great. Like, really, really good. The sunburn doesn’t even bother me much. You are going to have to rub Aloe Vera on me when we go inside though.”

The older sister was pleasantly surprised. “I thought you might cheat for tonight and take the ankle bracelet off.”

Kara shook her head. “I’m living with this ring and this cuff and that’s it. I’m done. My blood may be acid but the rest of me is going to be normal. I haven’t felt like I need to use the ring to blow something up before I blow up. I have kept my cool, eaten what I need to eat and doing everything that has been asked of me. I’m not screwing this up. Besides, despite jumping at every loud noise and seeing monsters out of the corner of my eye, I feel great. Everything feels great.”

Alex tensed a bit but tried to sound casual. “How great?”

Kara thought that was a strange question but answered regardless. “Extremely happy the past couple days, energetic… I don’t know, I just feel really good. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“Did you ever feel this good on the meds?” the brunette asked carefully, suspecting she would be going over brainwave scans and chemical indicators tonight before she got to sleep. She also knew Kara would not be having her final session with the band until they returned to the Fortress.

Kara thought about it. Her life with a crystal inside her felt so long ago. Getting the right combinations of medications was a battle, one that involved multiple side effects. Until this point, the only side effect she had recently was nausea, but that was going away as well.

“I guess not. You are officially better than Veritas. Not that I didn’t know that before… you aren’t happy. Why aren’t you happy?”

Alex stared at the stars for the moment, wondering if she should be happy or not.

No, she shouldn’t be happy.

“Because the meds are supposed to level you out, not push you to the other extreme. I get the jumpiness and unfortunately that is good. It shows a normal reaction. But feeling really, really good, isn’t necessarily… good. We have had some wins since you took the ring but we have had some losses. You did just break up with your first real boyfriend and only the second guy you had sex with. You should be feeling a bit of sadness. Anyone would. What we are doing is delicate. You may jokingly refer to it as brainwashing but if I’m not careful it could easily become that.”

“So you want me to feel worse?” Kara asked, a bit disbelieving.

“I want you to feel level. Your emotions should be natural, not forced. Have you had any suicidal thoughts? Any dizziness you haven’t told me about? Hallucinations? Are you sure you are just jumpy or are you actually seeing things?”

“I’m fine.” Kara practically growled. “I like feeling like this, okay?”

“That doesn’t mean its healthy. Its fine, just let me know if you have any weird mood changes immediately. We aren’t having another session tonight. I’m going to review the past week and recheck serotonin levels and we can start in the morning.”

Kara frowned, not liking this idea at all. “I don’t want to feel worse.”

“And I don’t want you too either. You need to feel normal. If you are in an overly good mood it could be giving you the same sensation as being high. Trust me, okay? I’m not going to make you feel horrible, but if your mood isn’t stable, you could not care about some underlying issues which would undo the work in therapy and…”

“I get it.” Kara snapped. “No more fun for Kara.”

Alex reached over and tapped her on the forehead. “That isn’t what I am saying brat. I will slap your burnt shoulders if you get an attitude. You know what we are trying to accomplish, don’t you?”

“Yes.” the blonde mumbled.

“Intellectually, you realize there could be a concern, right?”

“Yes.” she grudgingly admitted. “But its a problem for tomorrow. Since I am in such a good mood tonight and see lights on the beach not far from us, hear music that desperately needs to be danced to, I suggest we throw on some shorts and have some fun. We haven’t danced together in so long. It’s not even late. Mom and Dad won’t have a problem, especially if we don’t ask them. You game or what?”

Alex shook her head. “It’s a bar.”

“No,” Kara argued, “it’s a beach bar in the open, with live music, not some hole in the wall, hidden alien bar. I just want to dance.”

“Yeah, but the desire to use is also there and since you know alcohol won’t have an effect on you, then you would be tempted to use the next best thing in your mind to being high.” Alex didn’t have to say it. Kara would know she was talking about the red ring. If her little sister used it for anything, even something as simple as flying, the demons could easily be set free.

“You will be there with me. We can stay away from the main crowd, dance on our own. Please?” she begged, clutching her hands together with a pleading smile.

Alex groaned inside. Yes, it would be good for Kara to have fun, yes it could be catastrophic if some drunk guy did something as stupid as grabbing Kara inappropriately and finding out he pissed off the wrong girl. Her little sister had looked so happy today, swimming in the bright blue clear water with Clark and her parents. Alex hadn’t seen Kara this carefree in a very long time.

That in itself should have been a clue something was wrong. Kryptonian technology had always been hard to control much less perfect. Alex knew more than anyone short of Kara about the crystals and how they worked. If one didn’t know the inner workings, they would think the crystals were magic. They were far from magic though. They were extremely powerful, and extremely sensitive.

If she asked her parents their opinion, they would shoot it down.

“I want to enjoy the stars for a bit longer. Then we can take a short walk, to hear the music better and you can dance like no one is watching, because no one will be. Do you really want to put on glasses and dive into a crowd of intoxicated people?”

Kara had kept her hair in a ponytail and shades on all day. They also had a secluded part of the beach to themselves in front of their bungalow. The blonde was blonde all day and didn’t feel the need for a disguise, probably another clue that her paranoid little sister was becoming slightly off balance, but at the time she had taken it as a good sign.

“Nobody is going to expect Supergirl at a beach party in Cancun, much less dressed in a bikini top and cut off shorts. I won’t be noticed.”

Alex laughed. “Your face has been all over the news today I am sure. You also probably haven’t noticed but you have an abdomen carved out of diamond, long legs, bright blue eyes and long blonde hair. You are going to be noticed by every guy and probably every girl around that hut. We can walk closer but we are not becoming involved. I make the rules, remember?”

“Always.” Kara conceded, knowing it wasn’t true.

The two put on shorts and told their parents they were taking a walk. Hand in hand they made their way down the beach slowly, enjoying the sea breeze and in no hurry.

“Nyssa texted me earlier this morning about coming by. I told her we were in Mexico and I would call her when I got back. I… this is probably none of my business but you didn’t seem jealous or… I mean when Sara was around and we got her out with Nyssa…”

Alex shrugged her shoulders noncommittedly. “We went out a few times. I wasn’t sleeping with her. I wasn’t in love. I liked her, but… I don’t know. I kind of jumped into the thing with Cameron and held on for so long because she knew about me, my life, what we did. Nyssa did also but that isn’t the life I want anymore. As strange as this sounds, I want someone who has never fought any bad guy, alien, meta or otherwise. I want someone who is… uncomplicated, at least compared to us. I’m not jumping into anything. You aren’t the only one who has to get her life in order. We have lived this crazy life for so long and I am sick of it. I don’t want it. Cameron used to say I was obsessed with it, and maybe I was, but I’m free now. We are free. I thought I would be bored working at the lab, but I actually enjoy it. The work is too easy, but it’s also a relief. Its fun to eat lunch with Dad in the cafeteria and not have to conduct combat training classes afterward or spar, or check and clean weapons. As crazy as it sounds, I like it. Maybe that will change but for now, I am good. I’m having fun just being me.”

Kara was surprised to hear her sister admit that.

“So before Doomsday, you were happy? I always kind of figured you were… bored.”

“Sometimes boring can be good. I think we have earned boring, don’t you? What about you? Do you miss it? I mean before the ring, when you were just being you, working on your bike, building the house, exercising, were you bored?”

Kara thought about it. The simple answer should have been that she was. She had thought this many times. But she had also been at peace somewhat. She had a fight, her own sobriety, her own emotions, her self-loathing, her depression. It wasn’t as glorious as saving the world but it was hers.

“I guess you are right. Boredom isn’t the worst thing that one could be. I think I’m going to do it. I mean I am going to take the classes at least. If I decide against it next year, then Miss Evans would understand. I need something. I need a goal, I can’t just sit around all day, playing with my hobbies.”

Alex was happy about that. Although convinced for most of her life that the world could do without anymore art teachers, the idea of Kara having something as normal as that despite the circumstances of her altered physical state pleased her. Eventually Eliza would have to give Kara space and her little sister may have disagreed but Kara did not do well alone with no goals.

“I think that’s great. Besides, the house may be paid off and the electricity is free but I am not paying the water bill and groceries by myself.”

Kara laughed lightly, deciding not to mention to Alex that completely normal would include not getting free cell, internet and Satellite TV feeds from Kelex. Neither of them would give that up or their alien Fortress and newly formed terminator.

They reached the party but stopped quite a way from it, still covered in the dark of the beach.

“Do you think she is okay?” Kara asked quietly.

“Who?” Alex asked but suspected the answer.

“Lena? She has to be going through hell right now. That family never deserved her but she loved him. He is gone, everything she had is gone and she did nothing wrong.” Kara told her, the joy that had graced her face now gone.

Alex wasn’t sure what to say. The thought of Lena Luthor didn’t cross her mind often. She knew enough over the years from Dante to ensure her that Lena was never part of Lex’s plans and therefore wasn’t a threat to her sister. Not being a threat meant Alex didn’t give it much thought.

“No, she probably isn’t. But there isn’t anything we can do about it Kara. We can’t save everyone. She has her demons, just like we have ours.”

Kara agreed. “We have seen enough to know there are things outside the physical realm we cannot understand. I believe there is a higher power but I think I hate it. I think it hates me. I feel like I am some pawn, we all are, in a sick game being played for its own amusement. I think about Astra sometimes. Why did it have to be me? I would do it again, no doubt, but why did it have to be me? We always knew it was. I always knew it would come down to me to take her out. The DEO couldn’t have gotten one lucky shot since they discovered Kryptonite? I know it isn’t their fault. It was always going to have to be me. A pawn in some sick game. Lena never had a choice either. None of us did.”

Alex noted that the sound of earlier joy was gone from her voice. Perhaps the bands weren’t so out of balance. Of course the mood swing could be another indicator that something wasn’t right. Either way though, she had to pull her sister out of this funk she was talking herself into.

“You want to move a little closer and we can have a dance off?” Alex suggested.

Kara snorted. “To Jimmy Buffet? Not likely. I think I want to head back. We can go over the trends from the last week, see if there are any changes since our adventure with John Constantine. The flight is at four, meaning if we can get up at 7 we have five hours at least to enjoy in the water. Besides my back is starting to itch and I need that lotion.”

Satisfied, the two girls made their way back, stepping in the water and enjoying the soothing coolness mixed with wet sand.

They reached the Bungalow and Kara asked for a moment which Alex hesitantly gave her.

Once she was alone she walked a bit farther away and took out her phone.

“What’s wrong?” Jack Webb answered, causing Kara to smile.

“That used to be my greeting when you called Director Webb.” she told him.

“Old habit, I guess. Seriously, what’s wrong? You get in a bar fight and need to be sprung from a Mexican prison?”

“I think we both know that no prison can hold me. I need a favor.”

“Name it.” the man told her immediately.

“This won’t be easy. You know and I know that Lena had nothing to do with her mother and Lex’s plans. She doesn’t deserve to lose everything.”

“Kara…”

“Stop Jack. She doesn’t. The Government has seized all the Luthor assets. Its enough that her only remaining relative is public enemy number 1. She doesn’t deserve that. Get back her father’s company for her. Make it clear to the public that she wasn’t involved. Clear her Jack. I realize she may never get over this in public but give her a chance to right his wrongs.”

“Its not that simple.” he told her.

“Make it simple. I know you can. She was my best friend, Jack. Please. I’ll never bother you for anything again. Just make it as right as you can for her, okay?”

Kara heard nothing for a moment, not even Jack breathing. She wasn’t sure if he could pull this off but she had to try. Not even Bruce had access to the kind of people in high offices that would be needed to get this done.

“I can handle getting the assets and company back to her, though I don’t know who would support that company any longer. The stock is nothing, but the buildings, machinery, land will be hers. Any weapons will be destroyed of course and any R&D that comes out will have to be open to public review for a while. I’ll do what I can financially for her. Public relations wise…”

“Talk to Cat or Lois. Tell them I asked for this. Give her some kind of life back, Jack. Don’t let her be another victim of something that isn’t her fault.” Kara told him, trying to keep the pleading out of her voice.

Jack sighed on the other end of the phone. “I’ll make it happen, for you. Just leave it alone after this. You don’t need this world anymore. Promise?”

“Promise. Thank you.”

“Yeah, yeah, Next time ask me for a pony or something. It would be easier to get. Get some sleep, its past your bedtime.” he told her jokingly and hung up.

Kara had one more call to make. She knew her family was probably getting nervous and she had a short amount of time to make it.

“Kelex, find Lena Luthor and connect me to her cell.”

Kara waited for a moment, and the phone rang on the other end.

“Hello?” a very tired voice answered, one that Kara knew well but hadn’t heard in a long time. She had also never heard Lena sound anything less than energetic and happy. No matter what mood Kara was in, Lena’s had always been slightly contagious.

“I’m sorry.” she told her.

“Supergirl?” Lena asked quietly.

“Guess you recognize my voice, huh?” Kara asked, shaking her head. Lena was always sharp.

“How did you get this number… never mind, silly question. What do you want?”

Kara didn’t detect any bitterness in her voice, just genuine surprise and curiosity that she tried to cover.

“I wanted to tell you I am sorry. For everything.”

Kara heard nothing for a moment.

“He… he tried to kill you. Why are you apologizing?”

“I’m not.” Kara told her. “I am sorry for your loss. I know you had nothing to do with what happened. I know you are afraid and sad. I know those feelings well. I just wanted you to know that I Know you are a good person. I know you are and someday soon the world is going to know that. I wish things hadn’t turned out like this for you. It will get better. You may not believe it now, but it will.”

“Why?” Lena asked. “Why do you care?”

“Because we are the same. Neither of us had a choice. Goodnight. I won’t bother you again. Please, take care of yourself.”

Kara ended the call.

“I miss you, Lena.”

Washington DC- The Oval Office

The President took in the man before her, a man she could not stand. Had she been in office before his appointment he would never have made the rank he held now.

“General Lane, do you know where General Eiling is?” she asked.

“Excuse me Madame President, but did you bring me in to brief you on a missing person’s case?”

“No, I brought you in to remind you that we aren’t looking for him because he has been dishonorably discharged and is probably dead. Do you know why? He had an unhealthy obsession with metahumans and aliens that most likely got him killed. He ran operations off the books, contrary to the policies and orders of his Commander in Chief. I have heard rumors about you in the past that concern me as well. I cannot prove yet, what projects, if any, you have been running in the dark. I am here to warn you, that if I find out you are hiding or in coercion with Lillian Luthor, you will be disgraced and tried for treason. I am giving you one chance, right now, to give her up. If you have any information, right now is the time to give it up. You not only have your career to think of but your daughter’s as well, right?”

Marsdin watched him carefully but the man gave away nothing, besides his face reddening in anger. He remained silent but it didn’t matter. The point of bringing him in was not to intimidate him into giving Luthor up. She knew he was hiding her and knew he wouldn’t. The point was to shake him, cause him to make a mistake. The President wanted Luthor’s head on a stick, paraded in downtown Metropolis.

“I assure you my loyalty is to the United States Government and this office, Madame President.”

The President grinned, enjoying how difficult it was for the man to say that.

“I am glad to hear it General. The Vice President is doing well and from all indications I have been given, she has an excellent chance of election in two years, meaning the policies in regard to aliens and metahumans will remain the same. General, this is an informal conversation. The CIA is aware of your relationship to Lex and Lillian Luthor in the past. She has disappeared and I am sparing nothing in the mission to arrest her and stand trial for the legal violations of Lex Corp and the deaths harboring that monster caused. Walk the line or your next conversation will be with a Military Tribunal.”

Lane stood and walked out, not bothering to say another word. As soon as he had left the building, the President called in her next guest.

Jason Connolly walked in, garbed in a suit he had bought the night before. He did not appear comfortable. The idea of talking to a politician didn’t bother him. The tie did.

“Have a seat, Commander.” she offered. “You look dashing if I may say so. I don’t believe I have ever seen you in a suit.”

“Not great for combat, Madame President.”

“Yes, that is your specialty. Not much for the red tape or politics, I presume? I’m sure Jack Webb appreciates you passing on that challenging work to him. Any idea why you have been called in to see me?”

Connolly grinned and leaned back in the plush chair. “It probably can’t be good. Operations are my responsibility, so I can’t imagine you are happy with the DEO’s non response in Metropolis.”

“That situation has been taken care of. The Deputy Director of the field office was moved to Alaska and the main operating base is now in Metropolis?”

“Yes Ma’am.”

“Good enough. I doubt the DEO could have done anything regardless. A bit harsh towards Agent Chase but I have no doubt she will climb back up the ladder. That isn’t why I called you. Want to take another guess?”

“The raid on Lord Industries?”

“Oh right. The coroner’s report on Mr. Lord was enlightening. He resisted arrest and was stabbed 17 times? 16 in non-fatal areas before his throat was cut.”

Connolly nodded his head. “I regret that he attacked me and I was forced to defend myself but I felt deadly force was warranted at the time.”

“He also had a broken hand and his eye socket was shattered.”

The man shrugged his shoulders.

“These things happen I guess.”

The President smiled and shook her head. “You are everything I expected you to be. That isn’t the reason I called you in either. I couldn’t care less about the death of a man who experimented on brain dead girls. I have concerns the DEO needs to address. Since everyone knows you are the one who handles the more… physical operations of the department, I wanted to speak directly to you. You can brief your team when you return. By that, I mean your real team, not the chain of command at the DEO. I want this kept quiet, even in your own organization. I realize your men have had a close working relationship with Supergirl in the past.”

“She has been a valuable asset that assisted us at times.” Connolly agreed carefully.

The President was not fooled. “I think it is more than that. Our blonde superhero has fought many times in front of live cameras, street cams, satellite cams. I’m a fan, you could say. No one has ever gotten close to discovering her identity. We both know why that is. Earth technology cannot compete with alien technology. But what my highly paid analysts have never noticed is that she fights like you do. You would almost believe you had trained her, but that’s impossible of course. You did have a protege in the DEO that recently left the organization, correct? An Alex Danvers? Short haired brunette, similar hair, height and weight of a certain partner to Supergirl. Her parents Jeremiah and Eliza Danvers also recently left. I know this because I have kept a close eye on your department for years. Imagine my surprise when all records of the Danvers were erased from the DEO server. If I had not been so interested in the past I might never have known they did such important work in service of our nation.”

Connolly’s face showed no emotion while his mind went over multiple scenarios, some of which included assassination and moving the Danvers to a foreign country.

The President was impressed.

“You have a much better poker face than Lane. He is hiding Lillian Luthor and is foolish enough to think he can lie to me.” she told him. “Those surrounding me may be idiots but I am not. I know you and your friends, probably your old teammate Dante Youngblood as well, have had something to do with Kara Danvers, her training, her fighting ability, before she ever became Supergirl. I would guess you had something to do with getting Kara and her brother identities when they first arrived. I don’t really care. Stop thinking of assassination plots. No one else in the Government knows to my knowledge. If Waller, Lane, or Luthor had caught wind of it in the past,no doubt an attempt on her loved ones lives would have happened. I have no plans to say anything. I never have and I never will.”

Connolly could no longer keep his face calm. Since she knew so much he figured he had nothing to lose.

“Can we get to the damn point, Madame President? You know who she is, you know we were involved with her, you haven’t said anything to anyone. I’m still not hearing the reason I had to buy a damn suit.”

Marsdin smiled widely. “There is the Connolly I have heard so much about. Supergirl indirectly helped me win my first election, by simply not speaking of or being seen with my predecessor. She posed for candid photos with me during my second campaign, though she never outwardly spoke in my support, it was obvious to the public. Kara Danvers is very dear to me. I want us to be on the same page. I need to trust you and now you know you can trust me. What do you know about this so called Justice League?”

Connolly said nothing for a moment, wishing he would have called in sick so Jack would have had to handle this.

“Enough. I’m not telling you their identities if that is what you want.”

“Diana Prince and Arthur Curry don’t seem to worry about secret identities. Do you trust them?”

The man shook his head slightly. “They aren’t a danger if that’s what you asking. I trust my men, I trust Alex and Kara. I don’t rely on anyone else. There mission and our mission may cross paths but we aren’t sharing hideouts or costumes.”

“Good.” the President told him. “I don’t see them as a threat either but we will not rely on them. I want to make sure we are never in a position where Supergirl has to come out of retirement to fight our battles again and I don’t want to trust a team I do not know everything about. They are keeping a secret, one I want to know.”

“I don’t follow Ma’am. You are talking about their identities?”

“No. If they aren’t a threat I could care less. Not long ago a sharp spike of energy was picked up by one of our LA Class attack subs near the Greenland Icecap. It went away quickly, less than a minute, according to the Captain but he reported the incident to his Admiral, due to concerns that the Russians or Chinese may be developing a subaquatic power station or weapon. It was brought to the attention of my National Security Advisor when all readings and satellite footage of the area were gone. Every camera we had was down instantly. I know it wasn’t Supergirl who did it and I know one man who shared tech with her who could have the ability to pull that off easily, our friend with the bat ears. Something alien landed and was taken by the Justice League. Have they talked to you about any of this?”

“No Ma’am.” he grudgingly admitted, a bit upset by this news. In the past this was something one of the Danvers would have told him about immediately. Of course Bruce Wayne didn’t have the relationship with the DEO that the Danvers did so he shouldn’t have been surprised.

“I am not willing to rely on them. I want you and your men to find whatever it is that landed. Find it, identify it and report to me. Neither of us wants to be unprepared again, correct? You know I can be trusted, I know you can be trusted. We need to be unified in this. Agreed?”

Connolly thought of this and his anger intensified. Any doubt where Dante’s loyalties were now were gone. If the Justice League knew about this, so did he and said nothing to Jack. The two of them’s relationship may have been gone but he should have let Ty or Jack know at least. It was time to take matters into his own hands.

“I think I can handle that Ma’am.”

“Silently, no bodies. I don’t want them to know that we know. Understood?”

“Yes Ma’am. I have a pretty good idea on where to start looking. I’m also going to need some funds. I know an alien bounty hunter I would like to keep on retainer.”