Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Survivors

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 24: First crushes and facing her fear

“Why is everyone here?” Kara asked, abruptly standing up in the middle of a game of chess with Alex and moving down the stairs.

“So much for surprises.” the older sister mumbled, picking up the pieces and board since the game was definitely over. She was losing anyway, again.

Kara reached the door before Eliza and Jeremiah, opening it and seeing her personal special forces team and personal shrink as Alex called her.

“What is wrong? Are we under attack? Does Astra know where I am?” she asked in rapid succession.

“No,” Connolly answered, really wishing she wouldn’t always jump to that conclusion, “we have unfinished business from last weekend. We didn’t get to finish your birthday party. Hawk even baked a couple cakes.”

Kara stood still, not even moving when Jeremiah’s hand was placed on her shoulder.

“You didn’t think we would let you two go without a party, did you?” he asked. “We thought of a surprise party but since you have the whole super hearing thing and probably don’t need any surprises right now, we just decided to have everyone over. Surprise.”

“But, her… our birthday has already…”

“Nobody says parties have to be on the day of your birthday. I baked two big cakes. We are going to eat them no matter what so get into the spirit. Got some cool gifts too. If you don’t want them I will take them.” Hawk told her, picking up Clark who half ran and half stumbled over to his giant play partner.

“Awk! Awk play?”

“Your dam… dang right we are going to play kid. I have had a long week of kicking butt and taking names. I need some play time.”

Kara moved back into the living room, quietly watching everyone setting up for a party as if nothing happened the weekend before. Alex was greeting everyone, presents were laid out in the living room. Alex even put a paper party hat on her head.

“You okay?” Eliza asked the girl, noting that she had not moved.

“I don’t understand. I ruined everything. I… I…”

“You didn’t ruin anything, Kara. Sometimes things get broken and they can get fixed. This was one of those things we could fix. You both deserve a party after the year you both have had. We have a lot to celebrate. We have all gone through a lot and come out of it together. Everyone is here because they care about you. So lets have a party. Have a little fun? I bet Clark would love to help you both unwrap presents. He loves the paper more than the toys I think.”

The party this time was successful. Kara moved carefully towards her cake this time and looked once more at Dante who had spent at least a couple hours a day with her over the past three days. He gave her a wink and she blew very gently, the candles being extinguished without an arctic blast.

Gifts were passed out, iPads from the parents, Clark gave Alex a rock, and Ty gave the gift Kara and Alex loved but Kara was most excited about, large headphones called Beats that would make it easier to focus on music and drown out outside sounds. At least Kara thought it was her favorite gift until she received her gift from Dante.

“It actually isn’t a gift, since technically it belongs to you, but I think it is something you need.” he explained.

Kara pulled the top of the box off and saw one of Kal’s red blankets. Under it was the blue flight suit she often practiced in. The suit had buttons on the inside on each shoulder, large flat buttons that attached the bunched ends of the blanket inside securely.

“The buttons are very secure. It was not easy folding that blanket into a perfect end of a cape but it should hold. It won’t tear but if it is caught on something that will not give, it will snap off. I realize it is a bit long but I think you will grow into it. A few more inches in height and it will be off the ground.” Dante told her.

Kara moved quickly, in a blur to the restroom and emerged in her blue suit, the red cape dragging a few inches on the ground, trailing her.

“That looks awesome Sis. Dr. Strange has nothing on you.” Alex admitted.

Kara grabbed the sides, lifting them up like wings or a shield. The cape fit comfortably on her back and over her shoulders, snug but not too snug. She moved side to side and it felt natural.

“Thank you. But why a cape?”

“This will help you feel the wind heath beneath you and around you. You will be able to feel the way the wind reacts to you and turn more gracefully. This will help you with stops as well I think.”

“Thank you.” Kara told him.

The final gift was from Jeremiah and Eliza and both girls tried not to squeal, especially Alex who detested squealing. Dance Revolution and a new Playstation. The girls may forgo the beach this summer, learning to dance the newest techniques in the privacy of their own home.

While they played the game with everyone else, even Hawk giving it a try with Clark on his large shoulders laughing along, Jeremiah pulled Dante into the kitchen.

“You think this cape will actually work?” the man whispered as low as possible. Dante shrugged his shoulders.

“Does it matter if it really helps her with aerodynamics? Kara is driven by emotion, both good and bad. If she feels it will work, if she believes it, whether it does or not, it will give her the confidence she needs.”

“So it will be her security blanket?” the father asked, but already understanding. From a scientific standpoint he couldn’t see how a cape could make that much difference in a human body moving through the air at high speeds. Hang gliding would be the closest example he could think of but hang gliders did not travel over a hundred miles an hour or zip six feet off the ground in between trees and through winding tunnels. Kara was ruled by her emotions, whether they were happy, afraid, sad or angry, they were always strong. Unfortunately pure joy was not something she had much experience with, despite his family’s best efforts. Perhaps if this could be the mental and emotion security blanket she needed. It couldn’t hurt.

“Yes. If it doesn’t help her we can make adjustments. It is not just mental or emotional. I really think this could work. J’onn wears a cape when he flies. We will see and hope for the best. For now we should go back to the living room and watch you dance, right?”

Jeremiah smiled and patted the man on the shoulder, moving inside and being dragged by Alex and Kara to the pad on the floor where a nervous Eliza waited for him in a dance off.

The party was successful in the minds of both parents, which is why Jessica was confused about the session the next night with Jeremiah.

“You don’t look happy.” she told him, before he could say hi.

Jeremiah shrugged it off. “Of course I am happy. School is out, the girls seem happier, the weather is great. Clark’s speech is improving every day. The second birthday party was a success. I just had a long day at work.”

“You love your job. Long days excite you. Don’t pull a Kara. Tell me whats going on in that brilliant mind, Jeremiah.”

The man sighed, leaning back in the rocking chair he had placed in the corner of his bedroom for these sessions.

“I guess seeing them having so much fun yesterday, made me realize… I feel like a failure.”

The doctor was very surprised by this. “So things went well and you feel like a failure?”

“No, but it reminded me of last weekend. The pain… I have a hard time scratching myself over and over. Kara dug her nails into her forearm and ripped her skin open… I honestly thought she had done it. I never… we talked about her not being suicidal but hurting herself as a coping mechanism, but that felt like she… and I think she was. I know you can’t talk about it but I think she tried to kill herself. I also think the about pain she must have been feeling to do something like that, the blood… I thought I lost her.”

“I know. But you didn’t.” Jess reminded him.

“The first thing she told us when we saw her was that she needed to hide. She was dangerous and she needed to hide. We… Eliza and I told her we would keep them safe. We would take care of them. I made that promise to both my girls. When she had disappeared Alex was devastated. If Kara did something to herself Alex would… but thats not it. I said I would protect her.”

“And you have.”

“No, I haven’t! If not for Connolly she would have been taken by Henshaw, we all would have been. I stood there while my whole family was threatened and could do nothing. I couldn’t protect her, any of my children. Kara… what they could have made her do to herself, and Clark, they would have killed him, cut him…”

Jeremiah sat back and stared at the ceiling. Jess noted his eyes were reddening. She had never seen him as emotional in their sessions. Jeremiah, even when talking about difficult subjects, was usually very composed.

“I haven’t protected them. Alex is scared of Kara killing herself, I’m scared she is never going to be okay and to be honest I am scared of her killing herself as well. Sometimes I think the only reason she hasn’t is…”

“Yes?”

“I think she stays alive because she is determined to defeat Non and I don’t think she has even thought about what to do with her aunt. I think… we aren’t enough. I also wonder why I am letting the girls train like they are. Alex… and Kara learning to fly. We said that it was so they could feel secure, confident, but I wonder. Alex, when she fights, its like she is training for war. Kara is so focused she is depressed for days if she doesn’t do well. She puts tremendous amounts of pressure on herself. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. I won’t be able to stop them, will I? When they are older, Kara is going after those two and all of those prisoners. Alex won’t let her go alone. Thats what it is going to come down to. I am going to have to watch my daughters fight for their lives, fight to keep the world safe. I can’t stop them. I can’t protect Kara from herself and I can’t protect her from them.”

“You are right. Kara is going to go after them all one day. She thinks everything is her fault and the fault of her family. She won’t care if she dies in the attempt. Alex will be there and she will figure out some way to help Kara or at least try.”

Jeremiah snorted. “Thanks Jess. Aren’t you supposed to make me feel better?”

“You want me to lie to you? I promise you not one of those guys wants her in danger but they are training her like they are because they know in ten years, maybe five, she is going after them whether she is ready or not. Kara will never care about college or a career, never be able to move forward in her life until she makes peace with her past. Unfortunately peace in this case involves taking out a lot of bad people. She wants to atone for something that isn’t her fault. Not just Krypton either. She has never said but I don’t think that woman and baby who died in front of her have ever really left her mind. Have you ever thought about the fact that Kara went through storms, when on the run, she dealt with continuous stress and fear but not once on her trip here did she ever hurt herself or have a panic attack?”

Jeremiah shrugged his shoulders. “I guess I haven’t.”

“She had Clark. She needs to be needed. If she lost it, he would suffer so she made herself keep it together. Then she finds Alex and you and Eliza and suddenly realizes Clark will survive if she isn’t there any longer and falls apart. Kara needs to be a hero. She needs to feel needed. Telling her that you all need her because you would be upset if she were gone isn’t going to work with her.”

“So what will? Because I am clueless here.”

Jess thought for a moment.

“Teach her to be a hero. Let her be a hero. Let them both.”

“Thats what I’m doing.” Jeremiah pointed out, annoyed. “At least I am letting them become soldiers.”

“I didn’t say soldiers. I said heroes. There are many ways to be a hero without powers, or fighting. Kara needs to be needed. There is a retirement home in town. I saw a paper advertisement asking for kids to volunteer this summer, to visit some of the residents who don’t have family. There aren’t many I would imagine in a town this small but maybe while Alex is practicing soccer, Kara could have something to do. Something that would benefit others, let her feel needed and take her focus off herself all the time.”

“She doesn’t like interacting with new people outside the house.” he told the woman quickly.

“Exactly. She doesn’t like it but eventually she is going to have to really interact with someone. Older people like to talk but mostly about their memories. It could be good for her.”

“She wouldn’t go for it. Other people make her nervous. I’m still not certain she is comfortable at school. I don’t need her more nervous and putting her in a house with someone she doesn’t know could be very bad for her. Plus I couldn’t…” Jeremiah sighed and clenched his fists. “we couldn’t watch her. She would be more tempted to… hurt herself. I know we have to give her some trust but she could have killed herself last weekend and this freeze breath stuff, its just not a good time. I get what you are saying but being with other people, strangers, is not a good idea right now.”

“Maybe she could help at an animal shelter this summer. Maybe look for something her and Eliza can do together. Its just a suggestion. I think Kara feels better when she feels she has a purpose and can think of someone besides herself and her own problems. Focusing on herself all the time will just make her feel worse.”

Jeremiah nodded, thinking perhaps this wasn’t a bad idea. Kara did have a strong desire to feel needed. He decided to talk to Eliza about it.

“I’ll see what Eliza and Kara think. Alex’s first practice is in the morning and I promised to get her new cleats tonight. We are going to have to make a drive to the city before the Sporting Goods store closes. Kara doesn’t want to come, so Eliza is going to stay home, watching her carefully. I think Eliza was more shook than I was last week, if possible.”

“Don’t treat her like a prisoner and it will be okay. Not okay but better. So I guess that is your way of saying we need to cut it short. No other problems before you go?”

Jeremiah just shook his head grimly. Problems were all he had recently lately. Not having Kara and Clark but constantly feeling he was failing them, at least Kara and by extension Alex, if anything happened to Kara. Right now he would focus on what he could control.

“Nope, but I am sure I will have more next week. Thanks Jess.”

“Thats why I am here. Let me know if she writes in the book anymore, okay? Last weekend… it scared the hell out of me too. She isn’t just a project to me or some subject to study. I care about you all.”

“I know Jessica. If there are problems… more problems… more extreme problems, you will be the first to know.”

Two days later, Jeremiah and Eliza approached Kara, while she stared out her bedroom window, brush in hand and painting the sun setting over the ocean.

“Wow, that is beautiful.” Eliza told her, as always amazed at her artistic ability.

“Thank you. What is wrong?”

Both stopped short and looked at each other.

“Why would you think something is wrong?” Jeremiah asked.

“Because Alex is outside while Clark is playing with his electric tractor. Dinner hasn’t been started so I know you aren’t here to tell me to come downstairs. Normally one of you would check on me, if I have been alone longer than ten minutes. Sometimes I am called downstairs for a false reason, so I won’t feel awkward about being checked on. The both of you are here. It is a change in pattern, therefore I assume something must be wrong.”

“Nothing is wrong,” Eliza assured her, “we were just wondering what you wanted to do this summer? Alex is going to play soccer but you should be able to do more than watch her practice and play games.”

Both parents sat on the bed, eye level with a standing Kara who had put her brush down and was looking at them suspiciously.

“You want me to get a job? I can do this. I am confident I can make enough to feed myself and Clark if the expenses…”

“Kara! Never say that.” Jeremiah chided. “That is not an issue and never will be. We take care of feeding you and anything else you need, always. What we mean is, are there any activities you might be interested in?”

Kara shrugged her shoulders. “Dante is going to help me try out the cape this weekend and I have to get used to this freeze breath… thats what Alex is calling it… Other than that, I will continue to swim. I am hopeful Dante can teach me to scuba dive soon. I should be starting on a new fighting style called Jeet Kun Do. Did you know Bruce Lee developed the system? I am going to find Enter the Dragon on Netflix. Connolly said it was a great movie.”

Eliza and Jeremiah looked at each other quickly, communicating the same thoughts. As they suspected Kara would spend the whole summer focusing on training.

“What about other things? Things that you might like to try out for the first time that don’t involve fighting?” the mother suggested. “I know there is an organization looking for children to visit the elderly in the town…”

“I don’t want to be around new people. I am enjoying not having to listen to the sounds of hundreds of kids in a small building for the first time in six months.”

“There is the animal shelter.” Jeremiah told her. “They are always looking for volunteers to walk the dogs or help feed them…”

“Puppies are adorable,” Kara admitted. “but I can’t be around one. I do not want to become attached and then watch as the animal is euthanized because no one will adopt the dog. I am not in a position to take care of another living being full time and I would not pass that responsibility to you.”

“Oh… okay.” Eliza said, disturbed that Kara had not only thought of this but came up with reasons why she could not do it.

“Besides, with me home for the next few months, you can go back to the lab, Eliza. I realize that taking care of Clark all these months must have put you behind on your work. You can visit the lab more often and I can resume my role as Clark’s caretaker during the day.”

Both parents froze, watching her carefully. They noted her face was tense as if trying this out and waiting for a reaction.

“Kara,” Jeremiah tried, “do you think that is a good idea? Of course Alex will be with you but she will be at practice some of the time…”

“We will watch her or perhaps stay in and watch television. I won’t take him to the beach without her. He will be safe.”

“Okay, but…”

“You don’t trust me alone with Clark? I will not have a panic attack. I know he would be counting on me to be okay. I can fight them off even in storms if he is relying on me for protection. I have before.”

“But… we had a plan… for you and to help… so you wouldn’t… hurt yourself.” Eliza tried.

“I would never hurt myself while taking care of Clark.”

Eliza looked at Jeremiah and he realized he would be the one on the spot.

“Kara, you have before.” he reminded her gently.

“You are saying you don’t trust me alone with the baby I swore to protect? That I have taken care of since birth until we arrived here?”

“No! We aren’t…” the mother looked toward Jeremiah for help but found none.

“You are. I understand. You are our parents. I agreed to this. I will follow your rules to the best of my ability. He is your son. If you do not trust me alone with him, then I accept that. Perhaps I can find a job. Maybe a paper route? I think I am old enough for that. But that would hamper someone else since I cannot be alone.”

“Kara please don’t think we don’t trust you.” the father told her.

“You don’t trust me. I don’t blame you. I would’t trust me in your position. I recognize I tried to kill myself two weeks ago. I know if I were human I would be taking medication or be in a hospital. I understand. I think, if it okay with you both, I would prefer to help around the house and paint. There are several historical events and novels we will be discussing next school year and I can spend the time researching them and becoming familiar before the start of the new school year.”

Eliza wiped a tear from her eye. This was the first time Kara had ever said she tried to kill herself.

“Kara, were you really… did you really try… you said you weren’t sure…”

“I had a moment of weakness. I did something to myself no human would be able to do to them self, unless they have a mental illness. I recognize what I did and I have had time… in that moment, yes, I did want to die. I no longer do. I can understand that you don’t trust me. You love me and I love you. I do not want to become involved with the world outside of the house this summer if that is okay. If you want me to I will, of course.”

Jeremiah shook his head and pulled her into his arms. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, ever. Scuba Diving sounds like fun. Maybe on the weekends I can try it out. It would be good for you to spend more time with Clark. He missed you while you were at school during the day. Eliza said he was always asking for you…”

“No, he wasn’t, but thank you for telling me that. I think I will go play with him and Alex, unless you need my help with dinner or any chores?”

“No,” Eliza told her, “but thank you.”

Kara smiled and hugged her then moved downstairs. Eliza clenched her teeth and tried her best to muffle the sobs that threatened to break free, knowing Kara would hear. Jeremiah pulled her into his arms and held her tightly.

“We made her feel worse.” Eliza finally whispered.

“No, we… we are feeling our way through this. She…”

“Probably wants to hurt herself right now. I need to make sure she is with Alex and Clark.” Eliza finished, wiping her eyes and hurrying out of the room, leaving Jeremiah with a heavy heart. He took in the painting that Kara had been working on. It was beautiful, like everything she did. So much light and sunshine mixed with so much darkness, anger and fear.

On Saturday, as the sun set behind Jason Connolly’s house, Alex, Kara and Dante stood amongst the tall trees in the dimming light.

“The area is clear?” the man asked into his com.

“All clear. A couple of deer and a stray dog she might scare the hell out of but other than that she will be alone.” the woman on the other end confirmed.

Kara took one last look around to make sure then swished her shoulders, trying to get used to the feel of the blanket, or cape now, on her back.

“It feels good. What do you think Alex?”

The older sister took her tiny charge in, standing in a blue spandex bodysuit covered in sensors and a red cape.

“We should probably find you better gear for your feet. Something tells me Nikes aren’t designed for a high speed landing. Other than the sneaks though you look great. We could put you in a comic book. You’ve come a long way from Kung Fu pajamas.” Alex admitted.

“I wish the suit didn’t have to be so tight. I don’t feel comfortable having my body…”

“The sensors have to be close to your body to measure your speed and aerodynamics. A teeshirt isn’t going to cover it. Besides Dante has seen you in a swimsuit, what do you care? Him and Connolly are the only ones who have seen you in this outside of the family.”

Kara’s cheeks turned red and she walked away, Alex quickly following.

“Hey, its almost dark and I can see the blush. What is wrong?” the girl whispered, Dante walked farther away casually, sensing the two may want some time.

“Do you think he minds… seeing me like this?” Kara asked quietly.

“Who, Dante? Why would he? Why would you care?”

Kara shrugged her shoulders. “No reason. I know he has seen me in a swimsuit but not for some time. I wasn’t sure if I had changed since the last time, physically I mean.”

Alex took her in, trying to catch her eyes and figure out what the hell Kara was talking about. The blush and quick look in Dante’s direction gave her a pretty good guess.

“Kara… do you like, are you attracted to…”

“I am not attracted to anyone. I am pretty certain you know my views on that. I just didn’t want him to be uncomfortable if I had… filled out from last summer. Wish me luck sis. Maybe no trees will have to die tonight.”

Kara moved quickly to Dante’s side and levitated a foot up so she could be even with his face and her cape wouldn’t be touching the ground.

“How does it feel?” he asked her.

“Reassuring I guess. I like the way it moves.”

“Can you feel the currents of air as they gently go by?”

“Yes, but I always can.”

“I know, but this time when you are flying, concentrate on how the wind feels going past your cape and how you can use that wind to move as you want. It is like sailing. If you want to turn a direction, angle your body and imagine the cape is a sail, catching the wind and letting you control it. When you want to stop, drop your feet and imagine the cape is catching the wind, slowing you quickly. Start slow, a leisurely flight a few feet off the ground. Twist in and out of trees under fallen logs, pay attention to what is in front of you and how the wind reacts to the fabric around you. As you feel more comfortable, pick up speed. Tonight, just have fun, play, enjoy the feeling of soaring in the air. You okay?”

“Yes.” the girl assured him. “I feel good tonight.”

Kara was not lying. The cape felt good and she had enjoyed the past two days. Alex was by far the best player on the team, the other girls were obviously jealous of her talent. But whatever Becky had said to her friends must have been convincing because not one took a cheap shot at her. Becky herself was not at practices and Kara did note that a few had even begun to talk to Alex in breaks. Perhaps without Becky’s influence that Kara may have broken, Alex would be more accepted as she should be. Clark and her had played for hours the past two days, playing soccer with Alex, making sandcastle on the beach and racing with him, as he became used to moving quicker on his chubby legs. Tonight, mentally and emotionally she was in the right frame of mind.

Of course she heard Jeremiah and Eliza standing with Connolly in his backyard, worried as usual. They hated when she flew at night. Kara found it endearing, the way Eliza always worried about her flying into a tree, knowing she couldn’t be hurt. Kara lay her arms out in front of her and moved her body horizontally. She slowly began moving only a few feet off the ground, then slightly higher. The cape felt strange but a good strange. She felt the reassuring weight on her back, it somehow made her feel more in control. Picking up speed, she wove around a few mid size trees and shot to the top of one, then straight back down. Her cape caught the wind and she knew it was time to swing a leg down. Rather than crashing straight into the ground head first, her feet landed, not softly but not causing a crater either.

“Nice landing Sis.” Alex told her through the blu tooth in her ear.

“Thank you flight control. How fast was I going?”

“Remember the old lady walking the fat Pug on the beach yesterday? You may be able to catch her if you put some effort into it. Take your time though. No hurry.”

“Thank you. No one likes a back seat flier.” the blonde reminded her sister.

“Not saying a word Super Nerd. Have fun while I fight to stay awake.”

Kara smiled, used to Alex’s good natured yet sarcastic encouragement. Deciding to keep her sister awake, Kara did go faster. This time she shot straight up, high into the air and flipped over a large tree. Before hitting the ground on the other side she leveled off at four feet and moved, zooming toward a patch of oaks that had given her trouble three weeks before as evidenced by one of them lying dead in the middle, its large trunk broken in half.

While Kara became more and more confident, her speed picking up quickly, Alex stood in the backyard of Connolly and Jess’s house now with everyone else watching an IPad showing the sensors on Kara’s suit zipping around. Eliza held Jeremiah’s hand tightly, praying Kara did not knock over a tree. Though the idea of her being hurt by something other than herself didn’t seem possible it still worried her. She was more worried about what happened when Kara didn’t do well. If Kara felt like she failed at something it could take the family days to get her out of a severe episode of depression.

“She is going really fast.” Alex whispered. “Whoa! Blondie!” the older girl called, pressing the talk button on her own blu tooth, “Why are you so high? Come down!”

Kara shook her head, trying to calm down after the exhilarating effect of finally weaving in and out of trees faster than she ever thought possible. Something, some barrier in her mind broke and it all became so clear. She knew she could move faster and turn quicker, the girl still had work to do but she could do it! Before she ruined her moment by becoming overexcited and crushing a tree, Kara had shot straight up into the dark sky. She knew the air space was clear as was the ocean miles away. She wouldn’t be seen at night this high regardless but the team took no chances when she practiced. If any plane was near or boat, or a vehicle driving by that could see over the trees they stopped and she waited. Tonight was clear as her own vision told her. Their was no moon, no stars, just darkness.

“I’m okay, Alex. Just taking a break.”

“We don’t take breaks 500 feet above sea level. Please come down? Please?”

Kara was surprised by the pleading in Alex’s voice. She sounded scared but Alex was normally so excited when Kara did something cool.

“What is wrong Alex? I can see you all in the yard. No one is around anywhere. I…”

“Kara, I don’t like you that high. Please don’t go higher. Just come down. Don’t fly into space. I need you. You are doing good, right?”

Kara couldn’t understand the fear in Alex’s voice but in the back of her mind she remembered. It was a fuzzy memory, she was lying on a bed, her arm ravaged and felt feverish. She remembered asking Alex if she thought she could fly into space and…

“I’m coming down, Alex. Everything is alright. I won’t take myself from you, I swear.”

“ You wanted to. You tried.”

Kara was surprised. The two had sessions with Jessica everyday last week, together. But despite Kara’s reluctant admittance on day three that yes, at that moment she had truly wanted to die, Alex and her had not talked about it outside of therapy. Now with one in the sky and one on the ground, Alex would mention it.

“ I know. I am sorry. I won’t fly higher. I won’t leave you, ever.”

Those in the yard, especially Jessica, were watching Alex talk to Kara intently and with barely concealed annoyance that they couldn’t understand half of what was being said. Jeremiah and Eliza had thought it neat that their two daughters had that bond of a language spoken only by them, but at times like this were not as excited. Everyone’s annoyance ended when a boom of thunder was heard.

“Vivian!” Connolly yelled into his com. “Aren’t you watching the weather?”

“I was watching the kid. I’m not a god. I am just getting a report now. A damn storm is forming right over Midvale. Its a flash thunderstorm. Should be over in a few minutes, ten tops. Get her in.”

Before Connolly could respond, heavy rain came down, and lightning danced across the sky.

“Kara, get down here now!” Alex yelled, not bothering with the blu tooth. To her relief, Kara did land, quickly, the ground shaking but she was on her feet. Her eyes were wide and it was obvious the sudden storm had shaken her. Alex was just relieved she held it together enough to land and not crash.

“Inside now Kara.” Dante told her, trying to push her and failing miserably. Instead Kara met Alex’s eyes and stood her ground.

“Kara…”

Alex was able to say no more because she found herself inside the house, then Dante did as well.

“Did she seriously just pick you up and deposit you inside?” Connolly asked his friend.

“No, I teleported here. Yes, she did!”

“I’ll get her inside. Alex get her headphones, Jessica what was that calming music you said she might be able to focus on best? We have about thirty seconds before a panic attack hits her.” Jeremiah told the group.

“Don’t try to talk her inside, Jeremiah.” Ryan told him quickly.

“Why? Do you want her to have an attack?”

“That cape is going to do more than just help her fly. She needs an anchor, a physical anchor and security blanket and she has one now. Look. Go be with her but don’t try and talk her inside.”

Jeremiah, Eliza and Alex noted what Jess was talking about. Kara had her cape wrapped around her, nearly covering her front as well. Eliza handed Clark to Dante and the parents and sister, walked out into the yard, into the pouring rain to where she stood, blonde hair soaked, wrapped in red cape that dwarfed her small thin frame. The lightning lit up the dark night and all of them could see her eyes staring at the sky and her lower lip trembling. Alex put her arm around Kara and Jeremiah and Eliza stood behind her, a hand on each of her red covered shoulders.

“I am not going to lose. I’m scared but I won’t lose this time.” she said quietly. The girl flinched every time thunder struck, they all did. Standing in the middle of an open yard while a thunderstorm raged around you was not something a necessarily smart person would do. But the four did so, not saying a word, just being there for the youngest daughter.

Kara shook, she jumped with every thunder clap, she closed her eyes when lightning would dance across the sky. She knew a bolt had struck a tree sixteen miles away.

Still though, Kara controlled her breathing. She thought of every exercise Dante had ever given her to improve her focus, every calming technique Connolly had told her about to keep her head when panic attacks were imminent.

After twelve minutes, as Vivian had predicted, the storm moved away. The world was quiet once again. The Danvers were soaked but that was nothing. Kara was no longer shaking. She was not on the ground, passed out, nor had she tried to claw her eyes out. She never screamed.

“You did it.” Alex told her, tears mixed with rain drops running from her face.

“Yeah, I did.” Kara agreed, having trouble believing it herself. “I’m still here. Thank you all for being with me.”

“We always will be with you.” Eliza told her. “I am so proud of you. Next time we can face the storm inside though, okay? Won’t that be fun? We need to dry off and go home. I am hungry, how about you? Does flying like a daredevil make you hungry?”

“Yes.” the girl told her with a smile. “I am very hungry.”

“Good, lets go eat Supergirl. I need to get into some dry clothes.” Alex ordered.

“Do not call me Supergirl! That is so lame.”

As the family accepted the towels from Jessica and prepared to leave, Jessica pulled Jeremiah and Eliza closely and slipped the mother a note.

“It isn’t over, not by a long shot. Don’t become complacent. But it is a very good start, something to build on. I’m proud of you all.” the note said. Eliza showed it to Jeremiah who handed it back to Jessica with a smile and followed his girls out. Pizza would be picked up tonight, not enough food could be cooked to keep up with Kara’s appetite when things in her life were succesful.

The remaining week went well, the family even making plans to visit a water park. Vivian gave them a list of parks she could easily hack and kill the cameras or erase Kara from so the girl wouldn’t have to wear her glasses which Kara reluctantly accepted.

On a Saturday morning, Dante had arrived with three scuba tanks on the beach. Jeremiah, Alex and Kara waded out into the water with him, after he explained the basics. The family would learn in shallow water and as the summer progressed, perhaps do an actual dive at a ship wreck he knew about nearby. The lesson went well and Alex couldn’t remember the last time she had this much fun. Scuba diving must be what Kara felt like when flying. Even in the shallow water, the feeling of being immersed while still breathing fascinated her. Kara seemed to enjoy it, smiling around her mouth piece while the two girls played underwater.

It was when Dante exited the water that Alex knew there was a potential problem. Kara’s eyes were not glowing but they may as well have been when she looked at Dante, the top of his wetsuit pulled down to his hips as he walked and chatted with Jeremiah.

“Kara? What has your attention? Because unless Dante is growing horns from his back, I don’t see why you are staring that hard at him.”

Kara instantly blushed and looked away from the man quickly.

“Are you kidding me? You like… Kara, do you have a crush on him?”

“No! I… I have told you how I feel time and time again about relationships of any kind outside the family. But if I did seek a relationship… someone who I would not have to lie to, who could fight and take care of himself… mother promised me that I would be able to choose my mate. My mother and father would have started accepting interviews this year. I was just thinking… I mean I probably would have chosen someone with tan skin, incredible lean muscles and long black hair… if that type of person existed on Krypton. I guess I have been thinking about it lately. It is stupid.”

“Kara…”

“He knows I am broken. Why would anyone want to mate with a girl who harms herself? Who has anxiety, depression and anger and…”

“Whoa! Calm down and stop saying you are broken. Any guy would love to be with you, when we are older. But Dante is kind of like an uncle or something to you and that sort of stuff only happens in isolated pockets of the US that people do not drive through unless they have to. Kara, he is kind of old.”

“He is 27 in two weeks! My father was six solar years older than my mother. The application process was lengthy. Do you think Jeremiah would consider interviewing…” Kara stopped talking when she saw Alex’s face… “nevermind. We should probably keep this to ourselves. It was a dumb idea.”

“No it isn’t that it is a dumb idea… okay yeah, Dad interviewing men in their late twenties to marry his 14 year old daughter is kind of out there, possibly a little dumb, but I just don’t want to see you get hurt. Its obvious he thinks of you like a…”

“Child?”

“No, like a niece or little sister.”

Kara shook her head and looked at the sandy beach. “I know. I don’t need an older brother or an uncle. I haven’t had great luck in the uncle department when you consider Non and Jor El. Don’t say anything, please?”

“Not a problem.” Alex agreed quickly. The two girls made it to the house and quickly changed clothes, moving towards the backyard with Clark to begin practicing soccer. Kara began working with Alex on her defense, moving the ball with her feet, Clark at her side, laughing and trying to keep up. Alex moved in, attempting to take the ball.

While this had happened Kara had heard the car pull up, recognized Jack Webb’s voice but paid no mind. They stopped by occasionally when picking up Connolly or Dante for a mission, to say hello. Had she paid attention to what was being said, Kara may not have been so surprised when her foot tangled up with Alex’s and she fell face first to the ground, cracking her nose.

Alex looked down at her little sister in horror, taking in the blood pouring from her nose and the paleness of her complexion.

“Kara?”

Kara was nearly blinded, caught off guard by a pain she had not expected or inflicted on herself, unable to talk and having difficulty breathing due to the blood from her nose. Instead she looked at Alex in confusion and then turned over and vomited on the ground.

“Mom! Dad! Get out here fast!” Alex screamed.

Jeremiah and Eliza did run quickly, knowing very few things would make Alex sound that terrified and the chief one being Kara hurting herself badly. Seeing their blonde daughter on the ground, with blood pouring from her obviously broken nose, dirt on her face and vomit underneath her, it became obvious that something was very wrong.

Jack Webb ran outside and saw the girl, panicked, forgetting for a moment that he still had the green crystal in his hand with the feint signature resembling Kara’s pod. The man had brought it to Kara, hoping to find out if it was a knowledge crystal like the one she already had.

Eliza bent over Kara, who was very weak, even unable to hold herself up with her hands from the ground. Jeremiah lifted her in his arms and fought panic away, trying to think clearly. It was obvious Kara had not done this to herself and even when falling and vomiting from panic attacks, none of her bones ever broke.

“Clark?” Alex’s scared voice said, then she swooped down and picked the child up who was now sitting flat on the ground with eyes that were glossing over. Jeremiah looked towards Webb and the crystal in his hand.

“Get that thing the hell away from then now!” the man screamed, breaking Webb out of his trance. He ran around the house and drove off, tires squealing.

After a few moments Kara began to feel better and the family watched her nose incredibly begin to heal, the bones actually realigning themselves. Clark was crying now that his energy was back and clinging to Alex’s neck.

The family sat in the living room after Eliza had cleaned Kara up and Clark had calmed down. Thirty minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Eliza moved to open it, Jeremiah standing in front of his children.

Connolly slowly walked inside with his hands in the air.

“Jack had no idea, I swear. We picked up similar radiation signatures from Kara’s pod. We thought is might be a knowledge crystal or some tech. I swear we never thought it would hurt her or Clark.”

Jeremiah and Eliza were fuming, the anger in their eyes almost making the Seal flinch.

“Jack said it was found from meteors in the ocean. Meteors, not space ships. Why the hell would you assume it was safe? You could have killed them!” the father shouted.

“I realize that. We made a mistake. I am sorry. I promise you those meteors are going to stay on the bottom of the ocean. We will get rid of the samples, drop them in the deepest part of the ocean.”

“No.” Kara told him, the first words she had spoken since she fell. “You have to leave the samples here, find a safe way to store them so Clark isn’t hurt. You can test it on me.”

“The hell you will. That stuff is never coming near this house again.” Jeremiah told her quickly.

“Don’t you see? With it I wouldn’t worry about Non and Astra as much. You could use it to weaken them if they were to find us.”

“And you would use it to hurt yourself…” Alex started.

“No I won’t! Don’t you see? How much was there?” she asked Connolly.

Connolly looked at Jeremiah and knew without a doubt there would be no tests or any green crystals or metal around the house.

“A lot. The meteors were huge. They are huge.” Jason admitted.

“Can you fashion weapons from them? Are they only crystals? How strong are they?”

“There is metal as well, rock at least. I think it is soft enough that we could fashion weapons.”

“We need weapons here.” Kara argued, looking straight at Jeremiah and Eliza.

Jeremiah knelt in front of her.

“There is no way that stuff will ever be around you again.”

Kara listened, knowing she would not win this war.

“Fine, but they cannot let it stay on the ocean floor. They can make weapons…”

“That could kill you.” Eliza argued.

“They can be killed as well! How are they supposed to fight if they have nothing to hurt Kryptonians with? You can all be killed! With this substance they have a chance to defeat Astra and Non! I won’t have to!”

Alex, Jeremiah and Eliza froze, not having thought of this. Could Kara feel better, less anxious, if she didn’t feel the weight of defeating her aunt and uncle alone? What if this could be ended before Kara was old enough and felt she needed to do it?

“Fine,” Eliza spoke, “they can make their weapons but there is to be none around you, ever. I am about to spend the next week running every test I can think of to make sure you and Clark are okay, maybe longer. We will agree to let them make their weapons and fight these others but you are to never ask for any to be around here. They haven’t found us and they won’t.”

“Besides they are going to have other problems on their hands now.” Jeremiah admitted, sounding defeated. “We need to check the kids out now. I guess do what you have to but do not ever bring that around Kara again. Understand?”

“I give you my word.” Connolly swore.

Kara stood and walked towards the man confidently, no longer weak but determined.

“If you can, please take Astra alive, but if you can’t I will not hold it against any of you. Kill Non. If you don’t, one day I will.”

Connolly nodded and hugged the girl then walked out. He had plans to make and Kryptonians to track down. He had a new mission. Kill the Fort Rozz escapees before Kara was old enough to try it herself.