As it turned out the only reason, the giant space version of Donkey Kong had targeted the ship from Australia, was the convenience of a large ship near the direction it had approached the docks from. That and it's apparent desire to destroy pretty much anything in its general vicinity.

It would have been much easier to find a weakness to exploit if it had actually had a clear objective. Or a species designation.

Kara could have sworn she actually heard Vasquez curse under her breath at how long it was taking to comb through the database. She couldn't be sure though, since she found herself rocketing into the water a half second later. Whatever it was it was faster than it looked.

Without anything to go on, Kara spent the better part of an hour getting slammed into concrete and catching whatever heavy object her opponent found to throw at nearby civilians who stopped to watch the battle. While it was nice to be trusted by the city again, her life would be a lot easier if people actually got out of the way without prompting when she was fighting. Instead of stopping to spectate with the assumption she'd keep them safe regardless, like some dock workers. Or without drifting closer to the danger in the hopes of a better angle, as was the case twice with the traffic-copter.

If she was honest just having the thing near her as she fought made her nervous. Leslie might be locked up, and it might be a sunny day, but really, Kara did not have the greatest track record with helicopters in range of her conflicts.

Finally after what felt like forever the DEO set up an empty container for Kara to corral the hulking yellow beast into. Something easier than done when she had to keep out of the way of the tranquilizer darts the agents were trying to pepper the alien with. It didn't help that any time a dart hit it would try to charge at the agents instead of focusing on Kara as per the plan.

Eventually after approximately twelve tranquilizers and several bursts of heat vision to keep its attention firmly on Kara, they slammed the doors of the container shut. There were a few half hearted blows to the doors as the creature tried to escape but finally the sedatives seemed to take effect. A quick peek with x-ray vision confirmed as much. Kara offered a quick nod to one of the agents and then stood by as the DEO went about reinforcing the door and loading the container onto a truck for transport.

"Hey Supergirl, mind escorting that thing back to base?" Lucy asked over the comms, her tone all Major Lane. "I'm a little concerned it won't stay down for long. Plus you still need to tell me about your date."

The last statement switched from Major Lane to Regular Lucy so easily that it was actually kind of nice to hear. She was used to listening to Alex switching between Agent Mode and Sister Mode just as easily, she missed it.

"I'll be there Luce," she replied. The trucks brakes groaned as they released signalling that it was time to go. Kara flew a few feet above and behind the trailer so that she could keep an eye on the doors to the container. "But I want a shower in the barracks before you interrogate me, I feel like there is more salt in my hair than in the harbour right now."

Lucy laughed but didn't comment. Which was fine by Kara. She was actually a little exhausted after all of the fighting she had just done. Not many of her fights dragged out for so long. The oversized ape had speed, strength, and stamina, that while not quite on Kara's level, certainly beat out the average Fort Rozz escapee. It's toughness had been its most formidable attribute, absorbing the impact of her blows with little reaction beyond annoyance.

It was probably the kind of thing she should be worried about, but after getting chewed out by Cat, it had felt good to just punch something. Whatever had gotten Cat's panties in a twist, because it definitely hadn't been getting scooped on Kara's date, had Cat frustrated enough to take it out on Kara. Which in turn frustrated Kara, because how the hell was she supposed to fix the problem if she didn't know what the problem was?

That train of thought didn't end in a solution but in a reminder. Cat.

Kara had left Catco at least an hour ago. She was supposed to be fetching coffee and information from legal. Not to mention the first round of layouts were probably late, and with how angry Cat had seemed when she left, there was a good chance the woman would be too busy yelling at someone about the lack of coffee and layouts to pay attention to her Lexapro reminder.

She whipped out her phone and called Winn, almost dropping the device onto the freeway below her in her haste.

"Hey, Kara I just saw the footage of the fight, very cool. Toby Collier didn't sound too impressed when he explained the government had radioed the chopper saying not to follow the truck though."

"Winn," Kara said quickly, as he paused for breath. She has no doubt he'd continue if she didn't and she was already behind on time. "I need some help."

"That's what I'm here for, whataya need?" Kara let out a small sigh of relief at the instant reply.

"It's Miss Grant," she began.

"Oh, James already dropped off the morning layouts," Winn cut her off quickly. She could hear the discomfort in his voice at the idea he might have to interact directly with Cat.

"That's great, but I was supposed to bring her a latte and an update from legal about the lawsuit against that guy. You know, who went for a cash grab at Vanity Fair?" She could practically see Winn slumping in his chair at her words. "Also I need you to remind Miss Grant about her Lexapro."

She could hear Winn's office chair clatter in protest at how quickly he sat up straight.

"Whoa, whoa, coffee I can do. Telling her the stuff with legal is taking a while? Sure. But reminding her to take her medication?" His voice was high when he paused for breath. A combination of the semi-rhetorical question and his nerves. "That's like a personal thing, if I remind her she'll probably fire me on the spot!"

"Just tell her that I asked you to remind her," Kara said patiently. "It'll be fine, she already knows you're trustworthy after the whole Dirk Armstrong takeover thing."

How much Cat might trust Winn Kara wasn't actually sure. At the very least she probably thought he was too terrified of her to try and make a move against her. It helped that she was more confident in Cat's trust in her. So long as Winn mentioned the message came from her that trust would hopefully extend far enough to keep Winn employed.

"Look I have to go make sure this alien gets put in containment without causing trouble, just take her a latte and remind her about the Lexapro and I'll pick you up some Red Vines on my way back to the office," she said as below her the truck took the turn from the main road into the desert. "Thanks Winn."

She hung up before he could respond.

Processing of the yellow space ape went quickly. Everyone worked at maximum efficiency to make sure the creature was secured before it woke up. Soon enough Kara was in the otherwise deserted locker room, under the hot spray of the shower.

She had been elated to find that Alex's locker still held her sister's belongings, and most importantly her shampoo. When she was getting Winn's Red Vines she would have to get some gummy bears for Vasquez as a thank you. She was reasonably sure it was Vasquez's doing that her sister's locker had remained untouched.

The artificial scent of apples tickled Kara's nose as she massaged the shampoo into her scalp, bringing Alex to the forefront of her mind. The scent of apples and machine oil, blended with something uniquely Alex, that Kara would breath in whenever she hugged her. Warm reassuring hugs. Hugs where Alex would squeeze harder than she would for a normal person just to be sure Kara would feel it. Making her feel safe, giving her a place where she could be scared, and insecure, instead of the invincible girl of steel. By Rao she could use one of those hugs today. She'd settle for the tone of fond exasperation and concern she would receive upon telling Alex about Cat's sudden mood swing.

Shutting off the water, eyes still closed against the excess running down her face, Kara reached for her towel. She could have sworn she left it hanging from the curtainless curtain rail behind her. When her hand only connects with air she frowns. Quickly wiping at the water in her eyes she reaches again. This time her hand meets with slightly coarse fabric of DEO standard towels but something isn't quite right.

"Damn Supergirl, you really should consider wearing less cardigans at Catco. Cat would be so busy staring at you she'd forget to yell."

Lucy handed Kara her towel, and dipped her a wink. Kara felt a blush blossom over her whole body. A burst of super speed later and she stood by Alex's locker fully suited up, her cape wrapped around her protectively.

"Well, forget to yell as much," Lucy amended, as she turned to face Kara. A slight smirk her only other reaction to Kara's fluster. "Now speaking of Cat yelling. How bad did she react to finding out about your date with the movie producer?"

Kara stared for a few moments, silently mouthing Lucy's own words to try and process them, as she recovered from her shock. Modesty, respect, and a touch of elitism had resulted in Kryptonian fashion and attitudes towards nudity being rather conservative. The comfort the human race seemed to have with being naked or almost naked around one another was one of the few cultural differences that could still trip Kara up after twelve years.

"Ka-ra," Lucy sing-songed. "You tell me about Cat and I'll tell you about the big yellow guy."

"You'd tell me that anyway," Kara said, finally shaking herself into the present.

Lucy tilted her head to the side and folded her arms, prepared to wait Kara out for the information. Kara heaved a sigh in return.

"It was awful Luce, when she got to work she was so happy and then I came back from arranging her schedule it was like I'd dumped Adam all over again." Kara ran a hand through her hair. "I don't even know what she's angry about."

"She didn't tell you?" Lucy asked. "Normally she's pretty direct about telling people what she thinks they've done wrong, in painful detail."

"Oh she gave me a reason," Kara said, dropping herself onto the bench between the lockers. "She said she was angry about getting scooped on a story featuring one of her employees."

Lucy rolled her eyes.

"Like hell that's the reason," she said, walking over to join Kara on the bench. "It's really not fair that she's taking her jealousy out on you."

Kara felt her breath stutter in her chest, her shoulders tensed. Kara had thought about the idea that Cat might care for her, that Cat might be protective of her. She hadn't actually allowed herself to think of Cat's behaviour as jealousy. Acknowledging that possibility Cat liked her enough to be jealous was dangerous. Kara was all about hope, but she understood, better than most people realised, how painful it could be to get your hopes up and then have them dashed. Noticing the reaction Lucy rolled her eyes again.

"Why else would she be that angry Kar?" There was a hint of teasing exasperation in Lucy's voice as she asked her question. As if she knew Kara wouldn't be able to come up with another answer, and it amused her.

Lucy was right. She couldn't. At least not one that explained the sheer amount of anger Kara had faced. She could list off dozens of reasons why her date might have in some way annoyed Cat, but none of them, even when combined, totalled up to the reaction she had received when she had walked back into Cat's office. The dangerous spark of hope Kara had been ignoring, started to burn a little brighter in her chest.

She immediately tried to dim it again. Even if Cat did like her she couldn't have a relationship with her. It wouldn't be fair to Cat. She'd either ruin it by keeping her secret, or she'd endanger Cat by telling her. Just telling Cat she's been Supergirl this whole time would probably be enough to end a possible relationship before it began. Kara had lied repeatedly about not being Supergirl. Cat didn't tolerate liars.

However badly Cat's jealousy might have made her lash out it would be nothing compared to the anger Kara would face if she turned around and revealed herself as Supergirl after all this time. Just imagining it made her shoulders curl in on themselves.

"I swear you two are hopeless," Lucy said, with a shake of her head. "I saw the way you dance around one another while I was at Catco. You both swing between lovestruck teenagers and old married couple so quickly I thought I'd get whiplash if I hung around your floor too long."

Kara felt her cheeks go hot. She had never really considered what her dynamic with Cat might look like to an outsider before. Even she knew she could be a little, well, imperceptive when it came to how others behaved around her. Alex pointed it out whenever she managed to drag Kara to a bar. But even she knew that her relationship with Cat wasn't quite a normal boss/assistant relationship, or a normal mentor/mentee relationship.

Normally it was something she'd ignore. Or brush off by talking about how inspirational Cat can be. Normally didn't really apply any more. Not after last night's realization, or Cat's ire, or Lucy's knowing smirk.

"Enough about Cat's feelings for a minute," Lucy said, shifting to fully face Kara. "What about you?"

Kara opened her mouth, the denial she had trained herself to give racing to the tip of her tongue. Then the image of Cat gliding out of her elevator that morning crossed her mind, and a smile came unbidden to her lips.

"I love her Lucy."

Lucy's jaw dropped almost imperceptibly. Kara got the feeling that she had expected to need to drag it out of her. Surprise quickly gave way to a broad, and playful grin.

"Then fly off and tell her that Supergirl," Lucy said, grabbing Kara's hands excitedly. "What are you waiting on?"

"I- She- That is- She's my boss, Lucy," Kara said.

She stood up, because Lucy was tugging at her hands, and looked more than ready to throw her whole body weight into it if Kara didn't comply. Not that Lucy's full body weight could have moved her, but she didn't want her friend to hurt herself trying.

"And as your boss's former General Counsel I am qualified to tell you that all you two would need to do is report your dating status to human resources, and allow the board to make final decisions about any raises or promotions you might earn while working at Catco," Lucy said, practically bouncing.

"Dating status? No way would Cat Grant date Kara Danvers. I'm in love with her sure, that doesn't mean she loves me back."

Lucy groaned theatrically.

"Yeah, she just unlocked your tragic orphan backstory on a whim, memorized your coffee order, bought you that coffee order, and remembered to add an extra sprinkle of cinnamon after it had been made. Oh and remember that thing where she was totally jealous about you having a date last night?"

Kara had to admit it did all sound very compelling when Lucy put it like that. She bit her lip uncertainly.

"If I tell you how many times I caught her checking you out, will you finally put on your big girl cape and go tell her how you feel?" Lucy asked, with a cheeky grin and a head tilt.

"No. Maybe? Give me a ballpark answer."

Kara could feel her resolve teetering on the edge. It was entirely absurd, but Lucy sounded so confident, and she wanted so badly to believe that Cat might like her. She might know how dangerous hope could be, but it was still one of her guiding forces in life.

"Well into the double digits Kar, like every time I was on your floor I would catch her at least twice." Lucy started digging into the pockets of her cargo pants, and pulled out her phone with a flourish. "Here I even have photographic evidence."

With a few quick swipes Lucy opened photo album of candid shots, most of which were taken in Cat's office. They were clearly taken in secret if the corners of manilla folders, and folds of fabric cutting into some of the pictures meant anything. Lucy tapped on one of the clearer ones, and yes, it very much looked like Cat was watching Kara's ass as she left the office. Kara could feel her cheeks growing hot, yet again.

She needed to go talk to Cat. Immediately.

"So, convinced yet?" Lucy asked, slipping her phone back into her pocket.

Kara nodded. Lucy looked delighted.

"Then why are you still here, get going Supergirl!"

"Oh I'm going," Kara said, using a bit of superspeed to move over to the door. She stopped and waited for Lucy to turn and look after her. When she did Kara continued. "And when I get back you're deleting those pictures."

Lucy pouted and stuck out her tongue but nodded a moment later. Kara nodded again in return, to say she'd seen the agreement, and then she was off.

Kara was pretty sure she'd have to listen to Lucy gleefully recount the sonic boom she left in her wake sometime in her future, but for now, all that mattered was that she got to Cat as soon as possible.

They had a lot to talk about.