Chapter Text
The first glints of dawn made their way across the horizon. Kara took a deep breath as she hovered low over National City, taking in the view. Her cape fluttered softly in the wind as she waited on the new day to rise, for the sky to become awash in color. When National City woke, Supergirl would be back.
She’d missed this. Cat had teased her earlier about being eager to take to the skies, but Kara hadn’t been able to deny it. Considering she dropped Cat at CatCo before the sun was up, though, Kara didn’t think Cat had much to lord over her. They’d needed to get back to their lives, to making a difference. Even though they were excited to get back to work, they’d shared a quiet moment together on Cat’s balcony, kissing softly with a hint of heat and the promise of more later.
Alex’s ringtone sounded, jarring Kara out of her warm thoughts. She tapped the two-way in her ear. “Hey. You make it?”
The answer was a loud, sustained yawn, and Kara grinned.
“Yeah,” Alex grumbled in a voice still thick with sleep, and Kara made a mental note to thank Lucy later for ensuring her sister got some much-needed rest. “Had to jump through more hoops than we wanted, but we’re pulling in now. Where are you?”
“Hovering at about two thousand feet.”
Alex snorted.
“What better way to rub it in Lane’s face than to get back out here helping people? Cat gave Kara Danvers one more day off so Supergirl, and I quote, can ‘make a splash.’”
“Perks of sleeping with the boss.”
“Alex!”
Her sister chuckled, only to yawn again.
“I dropped Cat off ten minutes ago at work. So far no one has tried to melt me out of the sky,” Kara muttered.
“Try and keep it that way. Susan make it home okay?”
“She’s at the hangar.”
“The D.E.O. hangar?”
“Yep. I used the healing device on her as soon as we landed. She’s good to go so she wanted to get back to work.”
“God, we’re all insane.”
“Pretty much,” Kara said with a flash of a smile that quickly faded. “Give Lucy a hug for me, okay? And if you need me, I’m there.”
“That was never in doubt, Kara.” Alex was quiet a moment. “Still got that funny feeling about all this?”
Kara swallowed. She hadn’t shared those fears with Cat, but she suspected Cat knew. They were all still on edge, and Kara wondered how long it would take before that went away, if it ever would. “Yeah,” Kara said. “Trying to ignore it.”
“Me too. I’ll call when I can, okay?”
“I love you, Alex.” Kara felt compelled to say it, almost superstitious about it now. After everything they’d been through, she would never take having Alex in her life for granted again. They would heal from all of this, but there were scars that would linger. This was one of them.
“I love you, too,” Alex promised, her voice warm and full of understanding.
****
The desert was dark, cold, and oppressively quiet as Lucy and Alex climbed out of their rental car. They’d hopped a chopper as far as Vegas, but finding someone to fly them out to such a remote area at this unholy hour had been impossible. Lucy had finally given up, figuring they could drive to the prison in the time it would take to sort through the red tape.
“You sure you’re up for this?” Alex asked as she tucked her phone back in her pocket. She shivered faintly as the first hints of dawn began breaking across the sky behind her, tugging her leather jacket closer to her chin.
Lucy smirked as Alex yawned into her fist. Alex had wound up sleeping almost the whole ride, and this groggy version of her was adorable. She would have paid good money to be in a big bed with the other woman right about now, cuddled together, warm and safe.
“No.” Lucy crossed her arms over her chest as Alex came around the vehicle to stand next to her. Despite everything, she enjoyed the way the first glimmers of sunlight began to tease the red highlights in Alex’s hair. “But the sooner I do it and turn myself in for questioning, the faster I can get on with my life.”
Alex stepped closer, cupping Lucy’s shoulders before running her hands down Lucy’s biceps and squeezing gently. “I’d give anything to spare you this. You know that right?”
Managing a smile, Lucy dipped her head and stared at the ground for a moment. God, she was falling hard for this woman, and Lucy was tempted to chuck it all and simply run away with her. It was only her stubborn sense of duty and the need to sever ties with the man who used to be her father that forced her to hold her ground. “I know.”
Alex kissed her then, soft and full of promise. “For what it’s worth, I am insanely impressed by you, Major.”
Lucy rolled her eyes, but the compliment improved her mood and helped settle her nerves. She could do this. With Alex at her side, Lucy could do anything. “Come on, let’s get this over with. I have a date with a pretty girl on the beach to look forward to.”
Their boots crunched on rock and sand as they headed inside. Alex paused just outside the door and glanced around, her brow furrowing.
“What’s wrong?”
“Where’s our team?”
“Team?”
“Five agents went with your father to keep an eye on him. They checked in a few hours ago, but…”
Lucy’s gaze swept the police SUVs in the lot, noting a military Humvee that sat quiet and empty off to the side. Fresh tension coiled between her shoulder blades as she looked at Alex in concern. “Think something’s up?”
Alex frowned, her mouth twisting slightly. “I think I’m being paranoid. Not like the MPs won’t be here any minute now, and your dad is secured and surrounded by cops.”
“But something’s bothering you,” Lucy noted, her faith in Alex’s instincts unshakable.
“Probably nothing. Let’s just keep our eyes open.”
Hands on the butts of their weapons, they stepped inside the police station, nothing more than a cinder block square with minimal windows, but they relaxed marginally when an officer glanced up and smiled at them from behind the front desk.
“Directors Lane and Danvers?”
Lucy nodded.
“We’ve been expecting you. The president requested you have a moment to speak with the prisoner before you come in for questioning, Ma’am,” he said to Lucy.
“Where are the FBI agents?” Alex asked. They would have used their cover aliases for this.
The officer winced. “A few doors down grabbing breakfast to go. They’d hoped to be back before you arrived. We don’t got much open here as late as they rolled in last night. They were kinda starving.”
Lucy nodded but shot another glance at Alex. Were they being excessively paranoid, or was something actually off? She was losing the ability to tell after living in such a hyper-vigilant state as of late.
After badging through the front desk, they were led into the back where a few officers milled about a handful of desks across from three holding cells. Two of them were empty, but Lucy tensed when she spied her father in the last of them. He stood when he saw her, straightening in his BDUs, his eyes colder than she remembered when they met hers. Kara had done a number on him. His nose was broken and bandaged, both eyes blackened and swollen, and a fist-sized bruise was purpling on his jaw. Lucy thought she might feel sympathy for him, might even feel a twinge of love and loss, but staring into his eyes, she curiously felt nothing.
“You okay?” Alex asked, her hand warm on Lucy’s back as an officer came over to greet them, setting down a lock box for their weapons and handing them some paperwork to fill out. If looks could kill, Lucy suspected her father would have been incinerated on the spot the way Alex was glaring at him.
“No,” Lucy murmured. “But I will be.”
****
The first employees began to trickle in, a few nodding toward Cat in greeting when they found her working quietly as the sun began to filter into her office. It was amazing how many pieces of her empire fell apart without her there to hold them together for just a few damn days. Cat scowled at the reports she was reviewing, wondering if it was too early to start firing people.
Figuring she’d give them ten more minutes of false security, Cat picked up her phone and dialed Max’s number. No need to let him continue to sweat, even if the thought amused her.
“Up with the sun. I’m impressed,” Max answered, annoyingly chipper.
“Morning, Max,” Cat greeted silkily.
“You’re calling me from CatCo, and there are already reports your girl is back in the skies over National City. Can I assume my services are no longer required?”
Cat hesitated, reluctant to give him the all clear. “For the moment.”
“Saw the number Supergirl did on Lane’s little secret bunker on the news this morning. I’m surprised she didn’t fling it into space.”
“I’m sure the thought crossed her mind, but that’s not really her style.”
“You still sound so cross with me, Cat. Why aren’t you celebrating? Lane’s been captured. His merry little band of misfits are likely being tossed in a deep hole as we speak. You no longer need me to catch your man. We can go back to being the best of friends.”
“Hmmm. I doubt that. But you’re right. For the moment, you’re in the clear.”
“So I won’t be seeing any tell-alls on the evening news?” Max needled.
“Not today.” Cat sighed. “But so help me, Max. If you do anything to harm Kara…”
“Supergirl is off-limits. Message received.”
“She better be. Kara might not have the heart to toss men like you and Lane into orbit, but I won’t hesitate to throw you into the fire and watch you burn. Understood?”
He was quiet a moment, and Cat enjoyed the visceral thrill at having frightened him. She wasn’t proud of it, but if it kept Kara safe, that was all that mattered.
“Understood,” Max said simply. “See you when I see you, Cat.” He hung up.
So did Cat. She took a deep breath and glanced toward the National City skyline, hoping to catch a glimpse of red and blue.
****
Max tossed his cellphone onto his desk, a deep scowl on his rugged features. He hated being under anyone’s thumb, even if that thumb was as pretty as Cat Grant’s.
But there was little help for it. He knew better than to challenge Cat. While her mind might not be as technically brilliant as his own, Cat’s intelligence in other matters was unparalleled. She’d do what she promised, and she had the capacity and reach to do it ruthlessly. No doubt Cat had plans in place should anything befall her as well. He was stuck.
Still, it was nice to feel wanted. Knowing he was the backup option for Cat Grant and Alex Danvers soothed his ego a bit. Too bad he hadn’t had the chance to see the elusive agent again. He’d rather been looking forward to it.
Reaching for his coffee, Max hesitated when his cellphone rang again. “I’m a popular boy this morning,” he murmured. He picked it up, frowning a little at a number he didn’t recognize. After a moment’s hesitation, he answered. “This is Lord.”
“Max,” a familiar voice greeted. “I’m in need of your resources, and you owe me. Several times over, in fact. Time to pay the piper.”
Jaw clenching, Max took a deep breath. Cold, bitter anger curled in his stomach. “Sam. I was wondering when you were going to turn up.”
****
After handing over her weapon, Lucy began to fill out the appropriate paperwork. Alex reached to snap off her own holster when her phone rang. With a sigh, she slipped it out of her back pocket and answered it without checking the ID. “Danvers.”
“Alex,” Max greeted, his tone tight.
Resisting the urge to groan, Alex stepped away from the counter. “Called to gloat that you’re off the hook?”
“I would love nothing more, but I’m afraid I have some bad news.”
Alex hesitated, switching her phone to her other ear as she turned and eyed Lane in the jail cell on the other side of the precinct. “And what would that be?”
“Sam Lane just called and wants to meet.”
Shock skittered up Alex’s spine, setting off a rush of adrenaline through her veins. Her fight or flight response activated, Alex’s gaze swept the room, assessing threat levels, ready to shoot or punch her way out if she had to get Lucy to safety. Willing her features to remain neutral, Alex reached out, putting her hand on Lucy’s shoulder to keep her from walking toward the cell. “What game are you playing?” she demanded.
“Game? You tell me. This is your plan, Alexandra.”
Alex stared at Lane, and he gazed back placidly. She took a slow, deep breath as Lucy gave her a questioning look. “I’ll call you back. I’m about to talk to General Lane right now.”
Max was quiet a moment. “He’s there with you?”
“At the prison, yes,” Alex said, waiting for Max to catch on.
“Alex… that’s not Lane.” Max actually sounded concerned.
“That seems likely,” Alex agreed, keeping her tone casual as she glanced around the room, pretending to twist a kink out of her lower back. The cops that had been there when they’d arrived were gone. Only the one remained, conveniently securing their weapons. “I need you to do something for me.”
“I’ll warn Cat,” Max muttered, “whom I assume will warn your darling sister.”
“That would be helpful.”
“Assuming you make it out of whatever trap you just walked into,” Max drawled, amused. “Maybe I should play the odds and all the women causing me so many headaches might be out of the way by the end of the day.”
“And if you roll the dice and lose, you’ll have to deal with me,” Alex vowed.
“Hmm. Well… life is more interesting with you in it, Alex. Best of luck. I guess we’ll be in touch… or not, depending on how things go.”
Alex hung up tucked her phone into her back pocket, her heart thudding in her ears.
“That was Max?” Lucy asked as her pale green eyes searched Alex’s face, picking up on her change in mood. “What did he want?”
Sliding her gun out of her holster, Alex pretended like she was about to eject the clip. She smiled at the cop who looked a little too eager to accept her weapon. Studying him closely, Alex noted the outline of a thin Kevlar vest beneath his windbreaker.
“If I’m wrong about this, I apologize,” Alex said with a polite smile, “but I don’t think I’m wrong.” Alex put two in his chest, sending him tumbling backward to the floor.
Lucy looked up at Alex in shock.
“That’s not your dad.” Alex fished Lucy’s weapon out of the lock box and handed it back to her as the imposter came closer to the bars, wrapping his hands around them.
“What?” Lucy demanded, clearly confused. “Alex…”
“Do you trust me?” Alex gripped Lucy’s elbow, her gaze already searching for some place they could make a stand.
Lucy rapidly blinked a few times before nodding. “Now what?”
“We try to stay alive.”
****