Vigilante

Kara had been feeling trepidatious since she walked into CatCo Worldwide Media that morning. She kept taking deep breathes. The discovery last evening had been jolting. Cat Grant was a masked vigilante, stalking through the night, taking down bad guys. Kara still couldn’t believe it.

Now she was waiting for Cat to come into work, wondering how she would react when she saw her.

She and Alex went over the video dozens of times. Alex kept asking if she was sure it was Cat. Every time she watched it, Kara became even more sure. She had been studying Cat’s movements and mannerisms for years. If she were looking at a crowd of silhouettes, she would pick Cat out in a second.

They tried to come up with a plan. Of course, Alex’s first reaction had been, “Let’s bring her in.”

“Why, Alex, she hasn’t done anything wrong,” Kara countered.

Alex’s eyes had gone wide. She lifted her hand toward the television screen. “She’s out there assaulting people. What if she gets the wrong person and hurts an innocent civilian?” Alex paused and looked pointedly at Kara, lowering her voice. “Or worse. What if she takes on someone she can’t handle and gets hurt herself.”

Kara nodded. Cat getting hurt was the last thing she wanted. From the outside, looking in, Cat’s actions seemed reckless. But Kara knew her better than that.

“She’s not reckless, Alex. She’s calculating. She would never do any of this if she wasn’t sure she was doing the right thing.”

Alex considered. She didn’t know Cat Grant. But she knew Kara did. “So, what,” Alex began, “she snapped one day and decided to clean the streets up herself? What the hell is she doing out there? And where did she learn to fight like that? And what are those weapons she’s using?” After a pause, Alex added, “I want some.”

Kara smiled at that. But all of Alex’s questions were valid. What was Cat thinking? How could Kara have not known about this? She pays such careful attention to the other woman. She knew something had been going on with Cat. She should have asked weeks ago. She should have pushed more, offered her help more forcefully. But, Kara knew Cat well enough to know that if Cat didn’t want her to know something, she wouldn’t know it.

“Let me try to talk to her,” Kara said. “We trust each other.”

“How are you going to ask her about this in such a way that it doesn’t compromise your identity?” Alex brought up a good point.

Kara sighed. “We’re supposed to have drinks tomorrow night. Maybe I can bring it up somehow then.” She hated even suggesting it. She had been waiting so long for an opportunity like this with Cat. Just the two of them. No work, no distractions. A chance to see what was between them. She didn’t want to waste such an opportunity on trying to get information.

Alex snapped her out of her thoughts. “I’m sorry, what was that? You’re supposed to have drinks with her? When was I going to hear about this?” Alex had raised her eye brows. She suddenly forgot about the case.

Kara smiled. “We just planned it today. Right before I left to come here. You know I would’ve told you.”

Alex couldn’t miss the goofy smile on her sister’s face. She smiled to and came to stand beside Kara. “So is this like a date?” She asked it with a slight teasing tone.

“It’s just drinks, Alex.” Kara didn’t want to get her hopes too far up.

“Who asked who,” Alex wanted to know.

“She asked me. Earlier in the day. She wasn’t feeling well today. She was exhausted and her defenses were down.” Kara gestured back at the screen. “She obviously had a late night.” Kara kicked herself and put a hand over her face. “I thought she was hung over this morning.”

“So you think she didn’t mean to ask?”

Kara shook her head. “She wouldn’t have if she didn’t want to. I know that much. But, no, I don’t think she would have asked, whether she wanted to or not, if she’d been feeling better.”

“Why not?” Alex had a way of asking the right questions to get Kara to talk about feelings that she never had any intention of bringing up.

She shrugged in response. “You know, things have been shifting between us. For a while now.” Kara paused and Alex waited. “I don’t know what’s happening, Alex. But I know that I want more with her.” Kara paused again. Alex waited again. “But she thinks too much. She can talk herself out of her own happiness if she thinks it’s not the best thing for everyone involved. She’s much more noble than people know.”

Alex took her hand with a sympathetic look. “You know what? We’ll look into these guys. Let it go for now. Let’s see what we can turn up. But,” Alex held up a finger for emphasis, “she can’t keep going around doing this. She’s going to get hurt. You need to keep an eye on her.”

Kara’s thoughts drifted back to the present. She heard the private elevator ding. The doors opened and Cat walked out with her usual pizzazz. She walked with purpose and Kara noticed the faintest smile on her lips. She looked almost like her old self. Almost.

She walked passed Kara, picking up her latte as usual. Kara followed her into the office, as usual. Cat pulled out her laptop and spread out her files on the desk. Kara thought that she looked rested. She looked good.

“Ms. Grant,” Kara smiled to her. “You seem happy.” It wasn’t a question, but Cat knew she was asking for the reason.

Cat smiled back. A real smile. “I am,” she started. “Carter wanted to see a movie last night so we spent the whole night out of the house just having fun. It was wonderful. He seemed so happy. Like he was getting back to himself.” Kara watched her sigh in relief.

She came back around to the front of the desk and sat lightly on the edge. She became serious. “I can’t tell you what it’s been like to watch him walk through this. He cried himself to sleep for weeks after Kari died,” she stopped for a second and shifted her eyes to Kara. “I just want him to be okay.”

This was how it used to be. Cat telling Kara all about the things she and Carter did together. How he was doing in school. How he was doing socially. Kara knew there was no one else that was privy to the details of Cat’s life like she was.

“Ms. Grant, that’s great that he had a good time. He deserves to be happy,” Kara said, genuinely happy to hear it. The nervousness she had been feeling earlier began to dissipate.

Cat nodded. “He really does.” She took a deep breath. “Time to get to work.”

Cat pushed a button on the wall and all the TV screens came to life. World news, entertainment news, national news, political news, and then there was the local news. When they glanced at the local news station, Kara did a double take, hoping Cat didn’t notice.

There it was on the screen. A still shot of the dark figure from the surveillance video. That was quick, Kara thought. She noticed that Cat didn’t seem fazed. She broached the topic carefully.

Pointing at the screen, she asked, “Isn’t that Danny's story?”

Cat nodded. “It is,” she responded. “He sent me a draft by end of day yesterday. I edited it myself and sent it to print. Of course, everything we print ends up in the news and on our own stations. And apparently other stations.”

Kara read the caption, ‘Who is the Vigilante?’ Then she said it out loud. “The Vigilante? Is that what they’re calling he-,” Kara stopped herself before Cat could catch it, “whoever this is?”

Cat rolled her eyes and said, irritated and under her breath, “Evidently.” She wasn’t pleased with the label. “Kiera, go down to Printing and get me a copy of the Trib. I want to see the printed article myself.”

She nodded. “Of course, Ms. Grant.” With that, Kara turned to leave and run the errand.

Cat called after her. “Kiera.” Kara stopped and turned around, waiting. Cat hesitated for only a second. “Are we still on for drinks tonight? We could just go when were done here.” Cat was smiling. It was a different smile than Kara was used to. It was ever so slightly unsure.

But Kara tried to reassure her with her own smile. “Absolutely. Though my condition is still in place,” she teased. Cat just nodded. Kara left to head for Printing.

Cat sat back, conflicted. She felt like she was leading a double life. Two sides of one coin. On one side, there was the Vigilante. Dark and brooding. Driven by a cause that she couldn’t control and unable to be at peace until the final task was accomplished. Then there was just her. Cat Grant. Happy for her son. Giddy and excited about drinks with the woman she secretly adored.

But she had already decided that after tonight, it would no longer be a secret. She was going to tell Kara how she felt and let the chips fall where they may. Kara was worth the risk. Something had changed between them. Cat wasn’t sure what it was or when it happened. But it was time to address it.

Part of her was scared to death that she was just being silly and misinterpreting. Another part was sure Kara felt the same way. Still, she felt more nervous about this one conversation than she had about anything in a very, very long time. Her mind had already gone over all the possible scenarios that could happen if Kara rebuffed her. They were awful and embarrassing, ranging from Kara outright quitting and never seeing her again to remaining her assistant and forever silently torturing Cat, because Cat could never really fire her.

Then her mind wandered to the possible scenarios that could happen if Kara did feel the same way. She got lost in those scenarios. She had fantasized about Kara so many times. Kissing her, holding her, touching her. Their arms and legs tangled together. Feeling Kara’s breath on her neck. Then things like staying up all night talking. Coming into work together. Holding hands at the office. Cleaning the house together.

Cat hummed to herself. She pushed the thoughts aside. She would know either way in a few short hours. Now, she needed to focus.

The day went by quickly. Cat spent half of it fielding phone calls and emails regarding how CatCo came into possession of the surveillance footage, what her official stance was on the actions of the Vigilante, and whether she knew who the person was.

Kara couldn’t remember the last time she had used her super hearing so much in one day. She listened as Cat repeated the same line over and over. “Catco has no official stance on any of the persons in this story, nor do we care to comment. We simply report the facts as they come to us.”

The mayor called, the city manager called, then the Chief of Police called. Cat had refused to take the Chief's call. She told Kara to make up an excuse.

When people started filtering out of the office, Cat still had a pile of things to edit and proof. Kara came in at half passed six. Cat was looking intently over a layout, scribbling notes on the plastic cover. Kara could see that she was trying to work fast. “Ms. Grant.” Cat’s head shot up as if she were startled. “Sorry,” Kara said apologetically. She didn’t want to make the suggestion, but she felt like it was the polite thing to do. “Maybe we should take a rain check.”

Cat eye brows knit together and she checked the time and sighed. She looked back to Kara. “No.” Then she quickly added, “Unless you want to.”

Kara just smiled and shook her head. “I don’t want to.”

Cat smiled back. “Good,” she said. She looked back to the pile. “Um, order up something to eat then come help me with this. Whatever isn’t done by the time we finish eating will have to wait until tomorrow.”

“Okay, sounds good,” Kara responded, quietly.

They worked and ate for another hour or so. Finally Cat took a napkin and lightly wiped her lips. She looked at Kara, who was diligently rechecking an article she had just gone over.

“Hey,” Cat said, softly, to get her attention. Kara turned to face her, she brows up, ready to listen. “You ready to get out of here?” Kara’s features softened and she just nodded. They cleaned up and walked to the elevators. Kara stood in front of the public elevators and punched the down button.

Cat let out the smallest laugh and Kara looked at her, confused. Then Cat took her hand. Kara immediately looked down at their hands and then back up to Cat. It surprised her. Cat just smiled, tilting her head, she said, “Come on,” and pulled Kara toward her private elevator.

They stepped in and Cat pushed the down button. Then she leaned her back against the wall, still holding Kara’s hand. “There’s a little place just a couple blocks away. It’s small, but it’s nice.”

Kara just nodded, not taking her eyes off Cat. Then she just said, “I like this,” giving their joined hands a squeeze.

Cat just said, “Me too.”

They exited the elevator and walked the two blocks to the restaurant/bar. Cat was right. It was small and higher end. Not pretentious, but nice. The lighting was dim and the tables were small, making for an intimate setting. Cat asked for a corner table and they were seated quickly. She was a regular. When they sat down at the small, round corner booth, Kara instinctively scooted closer to the other woman.

Their waiter came quickly and asked what he could get them to drink. Cat answered quickly, “Yes, I’d love a penicillin.” Kara smiled. That was Cat. Old school with a modern twist.

He turned to Kara, “Um, can I get a martini, perfect, and stirred.” Then Cat smiled. Most people didn’t know the difference between dry, perfect, and wet. She appreciated that Kara did.

When the waiter walked away, they turned to face one another. Both were wearing small, goofy grins. Cat’s hand was resting on the table and Kara couldn’t help herself. She took Cat’s hand and gently cradled it in her own as if it were the most precious thing.

Still smiling, Kara breathed out, “What are we doing here, Ms. Grant?”

Also, still smiling, she responded, “Cat,” then she paused and completed her thought, “please, call me Cat.”

Kara just nodded and repeated her question. “What are we doing here,” and hesitating for just second, added, “Cat?”

Cat smiled a little wider and looked away, shyly. Kara was loving this side of the older, more confident woman. “Well,” Cat started, and then meeting her eyes, she continued, “I was hoping we could talk about this.” She glanced down at their hands and gave Kara’s hand a small squeeze.

The waiter came back with their drinks but their eyes stayed on one another as Cat said a quiet, “Thank you,” to him.

Kara watched as she took a deep breath and a sip of her drink. Cat’s eyes darted around a bit and then came back to Kara. “Things have been changing between us,” she said slowly. “I know you feel it, too.”

Kara looked at their hands again and then nodded slowly, confirming Cat’s thought. “Kara, I-,”

“Stop,” Kara said. Her mouth was open but she couldn’t speak. It was like her name on Cat’s lips broke her somehow. Kara wanted to just freeze the conversation right here. Like it was already enough.

Cat scooted closer. She barely touched the tips of her fingers to Kara’s cheek and Kara involuntarily closed her eyes at the flutter she felt in her stomach at the slight contact. She opened her eyes and looked at Cat. There was so much emotion on her face.

She said her name again, softly. “Kara,” she paused, like she knew the effect it was having, “you have managed to do what I thought was impossible. I’ve spent years building walls of iron, forcing everyone to stay away and cutting down anyone daring to get close.”

The tone of Cat’s voice was so sure and honest. Her fingers slipped up to Kara’s ear and she lightly ran them down the length of her half way pulled up hair. Then she took Kara’s other hand. “It’s like you found a secret door that I had tucked away and forgotten about.”

Kara couldn’t believe it. Cat was insanely close to her. She could feel her breath as she talked. Those green eyes pulled her in as Cat said, “Then when it started to rain, you became my serenity in the eye of the storm. You keep me grounded. I need that, Kara. I need you.”

Kara released one of Cat’s hands and reached up to place it on her jaw, running her thumb over Cat’s cheek. Cat’s eyes were so soft. Kara had never seen this expression. Of all the ones stored away in the database of ‘Cat’s looks' in her mind, this one wasn’t there. It was full of tenderness and kindness and caring.

Kara was frozen. Cat could tell that trying to process it all was overwhelming for the younger woman. So Cat leaned in. She wanted to show Kara exactly what she meant. She didn’t want Kara to have any reason to rationalize this moment as anything other than what it was.

It was them. Falling in love. Cat gently pressed her lips to the corner of Kara’s mouth. Kara leaned into her lips, trying to increase the light contact. Then Cat kissed her cheek bone. And then she dipped her head down and kissed a wonderfully sensitive spot on her neck and Kara took a quiet, sharp breath in.

She pulled back slowly and looked at Kara. Her eyes were closed and her head was still leaning in the direction where Cat’s lips had been. Cat smiled and waited. Two seconds later Kara’s eyes shot open and she righted herself. She saw the smirk on Cat’s face and knew she had been caught fantasizing. She felt a blush creep onto her cheeks and she adjusted her glasses.

Kara just looked at her and took a deep breath, thinking over Cat’s eloquent words. All she could say was, “Sometimes I forget you’re a writer.”

Cat laughed a little, glad the words had held meaning, because she had meant them, and Kara smiled. Kara took the hand she was holding and put her other hand over it, stroking the back of Cat’s smaller hand. She looked up and said, “Cat, you are the most remarkable person I have ever known. There is not one thing about you that I don’t love. Not one thing.”

Cat shook her head. “You don’t know me as well as you think you do. You would be disappointed.” Kara could hear the insecurity in her voice.

She reached both hands up and pushed Cat’s hair away from her face, then cupped her jaw with her hands. “I know everything that matters. Despite every time you’ve tried to push me away and every time you’ve gotten my name wrong on purpose, trying to distance yourself from me, I want to be with you. I want to have everything with you.”

Cat couldn’t help herself. She leaned back in quickly and pressed her lips to Kara’s. She put one hand on Kara’s thigh and grabbed a fistful of her shirt with the other, pulling her closer. Kara opened her mouth to kiss Cat fully. Her lips were impossibly soft. They fit so well together. It was two halves coming together into one whole.

The kiss was easy. Nothing rushed or passionate. They just needed to feel each other for a moment, and when they came apart, Kara leaned her forehead against Cat’s. She let out an airy laugh and said, “I want to do more of that.” They both laughed and leaned back, looking around to see if anyone had noticed. It was still early in the week and it was getting late. There were only a few other patrons. No one seemed to mind the two ladies in love at the corner booth.

They stayed there for a long time. Sitting and talking and laughing. They talked about everything from Cat’s days at the Daily Planet to Kara’s time in college and her hopes and dreams of the future. Kara wanted more than anything to tell her about her alter ego. She wanted to tell Cat everything. She somehow felt like she was being dishonest by keeping it from her now. It would make things so much easier.

They touched each other more and more as the conversation went on. Hands on legs, heads on shoulders, lips on hands. It was wonderful. It was the intimacy they had been longing for. Just the chance to get to know each other better, to touch each other freely and talk about life.

They were sitting beside each other, thighs touching. Cat had her head on Kara’s shoulder, leaning into her neck and Kara’s arm was around her. Cat was telling her about a time when she scooped Lois Lane on a story when CatCo had just been founded.

All the sudden, Cat stopped talking. Kara furrowed her brow. “Cat? What is it?”

Cat slowly picked her head up. She was staring at the TV above the bar. It was tuned to a news broadcast. Kara saw a vaguely familiar face on the screen. But to Cat, the face was incredibly familiar.

She leaned forward and called out, “Charlie, I’m sorry, but can you turn that up?” The bartender stopped drying glasses and walked over to the TV.

“Sure, Ms. Grant.” She really was a regular, Kara thought.

When the TV was turned up, they heard the newscaster saying, “The body of drug lord John Bossey was found earlier today, floating in the bay, close to the warehouse district. The police are looking into his death, which has been ruled a homicide.”

Kara watched the color drain from Cat’s face. She slowly lifted her fingers to her mouth. She was trying to hold it together. Kara put a hand on her arm. “Cat,” she said again. Kara suddenly recognized him as the man from two nights ago. Her lips parted with the realization.

Cat looked at her, the shock evident on her face. She couldn’t believe it. She kept thinking that she'd made the call to leave Bossey at large and now someone had murdered him. That certainly had never been her intention. “Kara, I’m so sorry. I have to go. This is an important piece of the story Danny brought. I should get to the office, we need to get this out on our network.”

Kara tried to stop her. “Cat, the network runs itself just fine. I’m sure they’re already running it. Stay here.” Her voice was almost pleading.

Cat met her eyes and Kara could see the back and forth conflict. She wanted to stay. “I’m sorry, I have to go.” Without allowing Kara another chance to speak, she slipped out of the booth. Walking quickly by the bar, Cat said, “Charlie, can you make me a tab?”

“Of course, Ms. Grant.” Then she was out the door. Charlie looked to Kara and said, “She’s always working, that one.”

Kara just nodded and whispered under her breath, “Tell me about it.”

She remembered Alex’s words, ‘You need to keep an eye on her.’

Kara rushed out of her seat and out the door. She found a discreet spot and, with a woosh of red and blue, she was in her super suit. She was in the air and on her way to CatCo.

When she flew by, Cat’s office was dark. She scanned it with her x-ray vision. No one was there. Cat lied about going to the office. Kara wasn’t entirely surprised. But where would she go? She turned and shot over the city toward Cat’s neighborhood.

The longer it took to get there, the more anxious she became. She was afraid of Cat getting into trouble before she could find her. Then she was over Cat’s neighborhood, over her street, then over her house. She got there just in time to see Cat duck into the carriage house behind her home. Kara lightly set down on the roof of Cat’s main house, waiting.

A few minutes later, she almost didn’t notice the black figure stealing out of the back side of the carriage house. Cat was moving in the shadows. Kara had to use her x-ray vision to keep her in sight. She lifted back into the air and watched Cat from high above. She followed her to the alley a few blocks away where the car was.

Then she followed the car. She followed it all the way to the warehouse district by the water. Cat parked in the shadows among some ramshackle buildings. Again Kara had to use her x-ray vision to see her. She’s good at this, Kara thought. Cat moved quickly and stealthy along the walls and alleys. She was light and fast and, even with her super hearing, Kara couldn’t hear a sound from her in the air.

She watched as Cat suddenly stopped. Kara looked around for why. One block over there was a light coming from a building. Outside two cars were parked and a small group of men were talking. Kara came down and landed on top of the building right next to where Cat was hiding in the alley. She listened and took a relieved breath when she heard Cat’s even breathing.

Kara slipped her comm out of the hidden pocket of her suit and tucked it in her ear. She tapped the button. Alex’s voice immediately came through.

“Go ahead, Supergirl.”

“Alex,” she whispered in her quietest voice, “I’m in the warehouse district. I followed Cat down here. There are some men down here talking. I haven’t listened in yet, but I think she’s going to try something.”

At the DEO, Alex waved to two other agents and said, “Gear up,” then to Kara, “We’re coming to you.”

With that, the comm went silent.

Kara heard Cat shift her position along the wall to get a look at the men. Then she heard a whispered, “Son of a bitch.” She knew Cat recognized someone.

Kara listened in. One man said, “He was a liability. Once that footage leaked, it was only a matter of time before he was identified. Who knows what he would have told the cops.”

Then another man, “But what about this Vigilante? Should we be worried?”

The first man again, “Of course not. The cops will figure out who it is and make sure they’re out of the way.”

They all mumbled their goodbyes and got into the two cars. Kara heard Cat’s breathing become heavy. As the cars pulled away into the shadows, she ran out after them, careful to stick to the dark.

Cat ran full out and she was fast. As she moved, she kept her eyes on the license plate of the car. When it passed under a street light, she flashed a mental picture and stopped running. Breathing hard, she shut her eyes and said it out loud, “SGF 982,” she repeated it to get it in her mind, “SGF 982,” and one more time, “SGF 982.” There it was. She opened her eyes.

As Cat turned to go back, her eyes went wide and she took a deep breath in. Blocking the path back to her car was Supergirl, arms crossed over her chest!

Cat stood up tall and dropped her hands to her sides. She lifted her chin defiantly.

Supergirl asked her with a firm voice, “What are you doing out here, Ms. Grant?”

Cat put her hands on her hips and quipped, “Taking out the trash. You?”

“I’m making sure you don’t do something you’ll regret. Now,” she repeated, “what are you doing out here?”

Cat turned back to the street the car had gone down. The tail lights were gone. She turned back to Supergirl. No sense in trying to hide now. Cat reached up and peeled off her mask, tucking it away. She tried to keep her timbre even and cool. “I need to get back to my car.”

Kara took her in, looking her up and down. “You’re not going anywhere, Ms. Grant. I can’t let you risk it. Besides, that car is long gone.”

“I can catch them.”

Kara huffed, sarcastically, “Your moves on that video were pretty good, but how are you going to catch them?”

Ah, Cat thought, Kara had seen the video and recognized her. She would address that later. Cat raised her voice impatiently. “Because I know where they’re going, but I don’t know how much time I have.” Cat was trying to keep her cool. She was so close. If she could just follow them.

Supergirl just shook her head and uncrossed her arms. Cat recognized the look on her face. It was the look she gave when she wanted to make Cat feel better about something.

Then something clicked in Cat’s mind. “Wait,” she said, “you knew it was me on the video?”

Kara nodded and confessed. “I saw it last night.”

Cat’s face became hard. Kara realized she’d given something away to Cat. Then Cat said, “Well, I guess we all have our secrets to keep. Don’t we,” to emphasis her point, she finished with, “Kara.”

Kara’s eyes went wide and her mouth dropped open. She was shocked. She knew she shouldn’t be. Cat was the smartest person on the planet. “So what was tonight, Kara,” Cat went on, “Recon. Gathering information on the Vigilante?”

Kara was stung by the implication. How could she think that? “You know me better than that, Cat. I would never deceive you like that.”

“You’re joking, right,” Cat shot back. “I remember something about Supergirl and Kara Danvers in my office at the same time, apparently not deceiving me.” Cat’s tone was cold.

Kara dropped her head, suddenly feeling guilty. “That’s fair. But Cat, would you have honestly admitted any of this if I just asked you?” Kara asked, gesturing toward Cat.

She watched as Cat’s shoulders slumped and she said quietly, “Yes.” She sounded defeated. “To you? Yes.” And Kara knew she was telling the truth. She closed her eyes. Kara was suddenly disappointed in herself. She should have told Cat a long time ago.

Cat squared her shoulders and set her jaw. “Now, I might still have time. I need you to step aside.”

Kara shook her head. “No. I’m not going to let you do something stupid.”

Cat unclipped her staves and spun them in her hands, gripping them tightly. “Move. Now.”

“Cat, stop. I’m not moving. Tell me why you’re out here.”

Cat was getting angry. “To get justice,” she said, raising her voice.

Kara shook her head, confused. “Justice for who?”

Still angry, Cat said, “Justice for Kari Warren.”

Kara was even more confused. “Carter,” she hesitated to say his name with Cat this angry, “Carter’s Kari?” She was still confused, but she said, “You need to leave that to the police.”

Cat laughed bitterly. “The police? I gave the police lead after lead and they have done nothing. Do you even know what happened to her?”

Kara shook her head. She could see Cat wasn’t backing down. And she was getting worked up. Kara took a tentative step to her right. Cat immediately noticed it and mirrored the action. They began circling as Cat went on, keeping each other at a safe distance.

“She was walking home from school and she witnessed a drug deal go down in an alley, near the school. Near Carter’s school.” Cat shook her head, her anger growing. “It was a drop off. In broad daylight. They pulled Kari into the alley and shot her. Once in the chest and once in the head. And they left her there.”

Kara’s heart sank. It was horrible. She couldn’t believe she didn’t know these details, that she hadn’t asked. She should have asked. “Cat, I’m sorry.”

“Carter walked her home over a dozen times. He could have been with her that day. And he could have been lying on the street next to her with a bullet in his head.” Cat took a breath and forced her rage down. Then she said, “And the man that pulled the trigger is in that car.” She pointed the stave down the street where the car had disappeared. “Now let me go.”

The two had continued circling. “No,” Kara responded. “You’re too emotional. You need to step back.”

They circled carefully until Cat had come around to where Kara had been blocking her path. With the alley at her back, she had access back to her car. She knew it was probably futile to try to out run Supergirl, but she went for it anyway.

She only made it a few steps when she felt strong arms wrap around her from behind!

Suddenly, Kara felt her powers draining from her. What the hell, she thought.

Cat jabbed her elbow into Kara's ribs, hard. She heard a muffled cry from Kara. Her grip loosened and Cat slipped out. Then with lightening fast speed, Cat dropped down, extending one leg and spinning it, sweeping Kara’s legs out from under her.

She fell to the ground with a thud and Cat's stomach sank with the sound of it. She hated doing it. But Cat was on her feet instantly, standing over Kara, staves at the ready. But when Kara looked up at her in shock, she recognized the concerned look on Cat's face.

Kara shuffled to her feet. Cat sank down in her knees, ready to strike if need be, she held the staves out in front of her. Kara backed off several feet and felt her strength slowly return.

“Kryptonite, Cat,” Kara breathed out hard. “Where the hell did you get kryptonite?” She was completely taken aback.

“Like I said,” Cat's voice was low, “we all have our secrets.” Cat held up her hand and tapped the thick, metal cuff bracelet on her wrist with her stave. “Hollow. Broken down and concentrated kryptonite inside. I was afraid Supergirl might try to intervene at some point. It was a precaution.” She paused. “Now let me go.” Cat spun the staves in her hands again, one time.

“I can't. I swore a long time ago that I would keep you safe, and I will. Even if it's from yourself.”

With that, Kara charged back in. She would have to rely strictly on her fighting skills. She lunged at Cat, intending to take her down, but Cat leaned to the side quickly and Kara went slightly passed her. It was enough space for Cat to bring one stave down on her back.

Kara stood up straight and turned toward Cat, fists flying. She was fast, but with the kryptonite, Cat was faster. Cat intercepted every blow with a stave, bruising Kara’s knuckles. Then she spun around and landed a flying back kick right in Kara's chest, sending her to the ground, coughing.

“Stay down,” Cat said. Kara obeyed for a moment, needing to breath. Cat had lowered her staves to her side and loosened her grip. Kara watched her. The dim, orange glow of one of the street lights illuminated her. The collar of her leather jacket was zipped all the way up to her neck, diagonally. Her hair was disheveled. There was sweat on her forehead, but she was barely breathing hard. She was gorgeous.

Kara slowly got back to her feet and Cat shook her head, resetting, staves up. “Kara, I don't want to do this with you. Please.”

But Kara just lifted her fists. Cat flicked her wrists, extending the staves, then in one smooth motion, attached them together. The staff was almost as long as she was tall, but she manipulated it with ease. She twirled it to come around her head and she held it, pointed at Kara.

Kara took one step. That was all she had time for. Cat turned into a black tornado, spinning the staff at every angle. Kara tried to back up. Cat came on Kara quickly and twirled the staff into Kara's shoulder, she brought it back around like lightening, down on Kara's hip, then she slammed it into her shin and Kara cried out. It took two seconds. She was still standing but she was holding her side and couldn't put weight on the leg that Cat had slammed. She did her best to stand tall and reset.

“I might still have time,” Cat said. “Let me go.”

“What are you going to do when you find them?”

“Surveillance. I still need more proof.”

Kara coughed. Wait. She closed her eyes, “You mean, you were just going to follow them?”

Cat just nodded and pulled a small video camera from her belt. Kara shook her head. All the sudden she felt stupid. What had she thought Cat would do?

“I’m not an idiot,” Cat said, dryly. “I wasn’t going to fight five men with guns. Not yet anyway,” she shrugged. “I need more practice.”

They looked at each other. The pace slowed down. “Cat-,” Kara began, but Cat cut her off.

“Please tell me that earlier tonight wasn’t about this,” Cat said, holding out her hands, indicating herself.

Kara shook her head, her body still hurting. “It wasn’t. That was about us.” Cat just nodded. Kara glanced away and rolled her eyes, then her voice became stern again. “Cat, you need to go. Now.”

Just then a large, black SUV pulled up into the space. Cat make a quick move to place herself between Supergirl and the SUV. She raised her staff, ready to defend them both.

Alex and the two agents got out of the car. Cat couldn’t see because of the headlights, but she heard a woman say, “Drop your weapon or we'll drop you.”

“They’re with me,” Kara said apologetically, from behind her.

Cat turned and looked at Kara, raised one eye brow, and lifted one side of her mouth. Then as fast as she could, she bolted for the alley behind her.

“Damn it,” Alex said. “You two, go after her.” Alex ran to Kara’s side. She looked her over and saw her injured stance. “What happened?”

Kara grimaced. “She has kryptonite somehow.”

They heard the two other agents scuffling in the alley. Alex ran in their direction, gun drawn. When she reached the alley, she found them both on the ground, groaning. No sign of the Vigilante.

She called out to Kara, “Can you see her?”

Kara’s strength was returning and she scanned the area with her x-ray vision. “No. Nothing.”

Alex helped the other men up and they all walked back to the car. Kara said to Alex, “I think I’ll ride back with you.”

“She did a number on you, huh?” Alex asked, concerned.

“I’ll be fine,” Kara shot back, firmly.

After they got back in the car, Kara looked back to the alley. Her x-ray vision caught Cat’s form slipping out of her hiding spot on the roof, looking after the SUV.