Disclaimer: I do not own Supergirl or the characters.

A/N: This is set a few weeks after Season 1.

"You okay?" Alex asked when she noticed Kara was not devouring the ice cream with her usual enthusiasm.

"I guess."

"You want to try answering that again?" Alex said.

"I don't know. It just feels like I'm in a rut."

"A rut?" Alex asked confused.

"Yeah. It just feels like I'm not making the most out of life. I don't know how to move forward."

"You do remember you recently saved everyone on the planet, including your cousin, you lifted a prison into space, you got a boyfriend and a promotion?"

"I know, but since then everything seems to have stalled. I don't know, after all of that I guess I expected more of myself, but I haven't delivered."

"Kara don't be so hard on yourself." Alex said pulling her into a hug. "You are doing a great job."

"Am I? We still haven't found your dad."

"We're close. Sometimes you have to play the long game." Alex pointed out. "As soon as our operative reports a location you are going to be flying into the rescue. Is that the only thing that is bothering you?"

"No." Kara sighed. "Work is bad. Cat basically doesn't talk to me now. Well she kinda of does, but it is the yelling and criticism rather than the advice I used to get."

"I'm sure Cat is just being Cat." Alex said. "If you were doing something really wrong I am sure she is the first person who would tell you. Maybe she just doesn't have any advice to give at the moment."

"I guess."

"So why aren't you with James tonight? Apart from the fact I offered ice cream."

"He wanted to go clubbing. I didn't feel like it."

"Is everything okay between you two?"

"It's fine. I just needed some downtime." Kara said pulling away from Alex and asking. "So what did you want to tell me?"

"Hmmm?" Alex asked confused by the question.

"Earlier you said you had news."

"It doesn't matter." Alex said not wanting to make Kara feel even more downtrodden.

"Yes it does. Do I need to ask Vasquez?"

"Why would you ask Vasquez?"

"She knows everything and you don't have as much power over her as you do J'onn. So what's the news?"

"I was offered the chance to go to Geneva to work with the European equivalent of the DEO for a few weeks."

"That's great!" Kara smiled. "Why don't you look happy?"

"I don't want to leave you if you are feeling down."

"I'll be fine." Kara said. "Much more fine than I'll be having to live with the guilt of you not going."

"You sure?"

"Yes. But I will make sure I keep the evening of your flight free, just in case."

-00-

Having said her goodbyes to Alex a couple of days later Kara returned home and sat down at her easel and picked up a paint brush. But as she looked at the canvas she lost inspiration and put the brush down whilst sighing. Getting up again she walked to the TV and turned on the news. She was immediately greeted by an interview with Maxwell Lord criticising Supergirl. Turning over she saw a news report about a pile up she decided to fly off and help. But when she arrived on the scene rather than being greeted with the normal cheers one man demanded.

"What took you so long?"

Trying to ignore him Supergirl went to the bus and roughly moved the car that was blocking the exit before she pried open the bus doors and helped the people out. With all the passengers free she looked round for other hazards, happy the area was secure she turned and found herself looking at the man who had greeted her earlier, only this time he was red with rage.

"You ruined my car." He spat.

"I'm sorry." Supergirl said.

"Sorry? Is sorry going to pay for the damage to my car?" The man. "You ruined it. I hope you're insured." He said whilst taking photos of his damaged Porsche. Not knowing what to say Kara flew off to the one place she normally found refuge, the CatCo balcony.

"I should start charging rent." Cat said stepping out onto the balcony where Supergirl was starring out over the city.

"Do you want me to go?" Supergirl asked turning to face Cat.

"Go, stay, makes no difference to me." Cat said.

"I was hoping we could talk." Supergirl said.

"About?" Cat asked.

"Ever since Myriad I feel like I'm failing. I don't know what to do."

"Well, I'm sure you'll figure it out. You seem keen on working alone." Cat said, her tone cold and aloof.

"I was hoping you had some advice." Supergirl said wondering what had put Cat in a bad mood.

"Apparently you are beyond my advice." Cat said, the comment causing Supergirl to frown in confusion.

"I'm really not." Supergirl said.

"The thing is Supergirl, only so much advice can be given from the sidelines. Yes the advice will be objective, but right now you need help from your inner circle." Cat said confusing Kara even more. "Now, I have to get back to work." With that she turned and left, leaving Kara feeling lost and alone.

-00-

"Hey." Alex greeted over Skype.

"Hey, how's Geneva?"

"Not seen to much of it as I have been trapped inside for most of it. But the research is really good."

"That's great." Kara smiled.

"How are you?" Alex asked.

"Good."

"And the truth?" Alex probed.

"I'm fine."

"Still in a rut?"

"Maybe, a little. But I'm okay."

"You sure? I can come home."

"No, don't do that. I'm fine, really."

"Kara-" Alex started to argue.

"Seriously Alex, I'm okay. If I'm not I will let you know."

"Okay, but call anytime." Alex said.

"I will. I love you."

"Love you too. I'll call tomorrow." Alex said before the connection terminated. Closing her laptop Kara walked over to her easel and tried to work on her painting. After an hour of unproductiveness she took the canvas off the easel and threw it towards the bin. Sighing she reached for her phone and winced when she saw she had accidentally silenced it and had five missed calls. Recognising the number and thanking Rao it wasn't Ms Grant she quickly rang back.

-00-

"Nice of you to join us." J'onn said as Kara landed next to him ten minutes later.

"Sorry I mistakenly put my phone on silent." Kara said sheepishly.

"Perhaps in future you can concentrate a little more on being reachable." J'onn said. "I'm not sure most threats would stop their attacks on civilisation just because you failed to keep your phone on."

"Sorry." Kara repeated. "So what do we have?"

"We have a Tooley. Now safely captured by my Agents." J'onn said as Kara saw two Agents, faces bruised and bloodied leading an alien to the transport truck. When J'onn saw the guilt wash over Kara's face as she saw the injured Agents he softened his tone and said. "They'll be fine."

"I should have been here. I'm sorry."

"Kara." J'onn said. "Is everything alright?"

"Fine. Why?"

"You don't seem yourself."

"I'm okay." Kara said.

"Alex will be back soon and in the mean time I'm here if you want to talk."

"I know, but I'm okay."

"Okay then. Make sure you get some rest tonight."

"I will." Kara said flying off.

-00-

"Hey!" James smiled as he entered Kara's office the next day.

"Oh, hey." Kara said looking up.

"You okay? You are looking a bit down."

"I'm fine, just missing Alex." Kara replied.

"How about we take your mind off it and go out tonight?"

"Thanks, but I think I'd prefer to have a quiet night."

"I'll buy chicken wings." He offered.

"I'm kind of tired." Kara said.

"There'll be ice cream." James pressed. "And I'll have you home before midnight." Seeing Kara's expression he corrected. "By eleven."

"Okay." Kara agreed.

"Good. I'll just get my jacket." James smiled.

-00-

"So is it just Alex?" James asked as he watched Kara eat her chicken wings.

"Is what just Alex?" Kara questioned.

"The distraction, the lack of focus?"

"I'm not distracted."

"Kara, you are withdrawn, you have barely spoken to me in a week. If it isn't Alex being away is it me?"

"What? No." Kara said. "It really isn't you. It's just me."

"You know the it's not you, it's me is normally a bad sign." James said.

"I really didn't mean it like that. It is me. I just feel like I could do more. Sometimes it feels like I don't know who I am, what I am." Kara sighed.

"Clark gets like this too." James said reaching across and taking Kara's hand.

"Gets like what?" Kara asked eating some fries.

"Down. After a big world saving display. He said it was like having a huge adrenaline rush that depleted his body of everything."

"How does he get over it?" Kara asked.

"With time." James shrugged. "Perhaps you should call him."

"I'm okay." Kara said as her phone buzzed. Withdrawing her hand she read the text and sighed.

"I have to go."

"DEO?" James asked.

"No Cat." Kara said standing.

"Kara, you are not her assistant any more, you deserve a life. We deserve a life." He said concerned with how hard Kara seemed to be pushing herself.

"Working for Cat is part of my life." Kara shrugged.

"Don't go." James said reaching for Kara's hand. "Cat can survive without you."

"I have to. I'm sorry." Kara said leaving.

-TBC

A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. I'll try to get the next chapter up tomorrow.