Supergirl ~ Triggers ~ Part Two

***

"OK," Ruby's principal, Coburn, told Sam as she sat. "Well, then . . . there was some kind of argument between the girls that started before morning bell. It got very heated outside their lockers, and Ruby hit Stephanie."

"OK," Sam bit her lip, trying to process this. "When you say 'hit,' I mean . . . how did she hit her? Did she push her?"

"Oh, no," Coburn shook her head. "She punched her in the face."

"Oh, God," Sam covered her mouth in horror. "Is Stephanie all right?"

"She's OK," Coburn nodded. "It didn't go further than the one punch."

"I just," Sam shook her head. "This is not like Ruby!"

"Ruby is very well-behaved," Coburn frowned. "I was shocked when they told me she was involved in this. Is she acting OK at home? Sleeping normally?"

"Yes," Sam nodded. "Yes, nothing out of the ordinary."

"I know you're a single parent," Coburn told her, and Sam followed her hand motions, thinking. "Has there been some sort of shake-up with Ruby's father? You know, sometimes children can sense – "

"There is no father," Sam interrupted. "It's just us."

"I'm sorry," Coburn winced. "I don't mean to pry. We just want to find out what's going on with Ruby and make sure that this is an isolated incident for her."

"Well, I agree," Sam nodded.

***

It didn't take long to finish the meeting after that. Sam walked out of the principal's office and sighed in frustration when she saw Ruby sitting sheepishly outside. "Today of all days," she grumbled, gesturing for her to follow her. "Come on."

Ruby sighed, then took her backpack and followed.

***

Kara quickly ran out of the elevator, checking her watch. "Hey, how you doing?" James asked, walking up to her, a concerned look on his face.

"I'm OK," she answered. "I'm just running late."

"For what?" James frowned, confused.

"Uh, Lena called a meeting for the news room."

James blinked. "She did?"

"Yeah," Kara blinked back. "She didn't tell you?"

"No, she did not," he scowled.

" . . . huh."

"Kara!" Lena walked up, a relieved look on her face. "There you are!"

"I'm sorry," Kara smiled sheepishly at her. "I tried to make it work, but it just – "

"Good meeting?" James interrupted, and Kara closed her mouth with a click. "Was it good?"

"Yeah," Lena narrowed her eyes. "I was just going around to all the departments, giving them a little pep talk." She looked at Kara and gave her a smile. "I really missed you there."

Kara's phone went off again, and she closed her eyes. "Shoot," she growled, pulling it out and taking a look. "Lena, I am – "

"Go," Lena nodded, a sympathetic look on her face. "Go on."

"Thank you," she mouthed, hurrying off.

"Did you think that I didn't wanna be there?" James turned on Lena, folding his arms. "Is that why you didn't tell me?"

"Well, to be honest, I thought you would be too busy to act as my chaperone," Lena raised an eyebrow coldly.

"I don't want to chaperone you. I don't consider myself a chaperone. I consider myself the person who's been running this company for a year."

Lena stared him down, then smirked. "All right, Mr. Olsen. I have a meeting with the advertising department in twenty minutes. I'll see you there."

"See you in nineteen," James countered.

"Twenty will be fine," Lena retorted, turning on her heel and walking off.

James shook his head in disbelief, exhaling slowly. What was it about that woman that annoyed him so much?

***

"Dark Archer, on site," reports were coming in as Kara flew towards the next bank.

"Black Siren, on site."

"Supergirl, be careful," Oliver warned.

"I will be," Kara promised, flying into the parking garage.

Malcolm and Laurel were crouched behind a car nearby, and turned when they heard her. "She's coming this way," Malcolm told her.

Kara nodded, walking to the next row of cars. She saw the robber walking towards a car nearby, then start to slow. Kara hurriedly shot her heat vision at her, but the woman moved behind a pillar, avoiding the blast. "Trying to sneak up on a psychic?" she sneered, emerging and dropping the bag.

"Almost worked," Kara told her, Malcolm and Laurel walking out behind her.

The psychic took one look at them, then smirked and threw her head forward. An energy blast of some kind smacked Kara in the face and rippled to Malcolm and Laurel. The two vigilantes went flying, and Kara nearly lost her balance.

***

"Supergirl?" Alex called, not hearing anything. "Are you all right?"

"Is there anything you can do?" Slade asked J'onn.

"I can try and create a psychic shield to protect their minds from the attacks," J'onn answered, turning around and putting his fingers to his temple.

"Will it work?" Oliver asked.

"I don't know," he admitted, his eyes glowing red.

***

The psychic took a few steps forward, then stopped, tilting her head. "Someone else has come to play."

"J'onn," Kara whispered, watching Malcolm and Laurel roll back into crouches.

"Your friend should be careful," the psychic smirked, closing her eyes.

***

J'onn suddenly grunted, then groaned in pain, slumping to the floor. "J'onn?" Alex blanched, running over with Oliver to help the Martian.

***

The psychic opened her eyes and grinned. "Just you and me now."

Kara blew a blast of freezing wind at her, and the psychic went flying back into her car. Malcolm raised his bow, drawing a tranquilizer arrow, and shot, but the psychic rolled out of the way just before it hit her. Laurel let out a loud scream, but the psychic jumped back behind the pillar, avoiding it. She emerged a second later and aimed another energy blast at them, this one strong enough to throw Malcolm and Laurel far away from Kara.

The next energy blast she sent was directed at Kara, making the Kryptonian fall to her knees, the window of the Jeep behind her smashing. "Mind over matter," the psychic sneered, walking up.