After Cesar dramatically left to work on his mysterious invention most of the Reyes family dispersed through out their home. Not really knowing what else to do Gemma, Jenny and Javier remained seated at the table. Some part of Gemma questioned if she was even needed anymore, Jenny was the one who had the key to helping Jaime. 

But Gemma couldn't simply turn away, not anymore. She had to see this through. After all Victoria Kord still planned to build some kind of army with her father's ideas, that much was still her responsibility. But beyond all that she had to admit that the main reason as to why she couldn't just leave was Jaime. Gemma wanted to make sure that he was okay and that the Scarab would successfully be removed. 

"Gemma? Would you like to take a shower mija?" Mrs. Reyes questioned, her motherly tone was a shock to her. It was a tone that she was not used to and Gemma could not deny the warmth she felt at the woman's kindness. 

"I would love to shower." Gemma replied honestly, the fact that she was still covered in dirt and debris from going through the roof of the Reyes home had been in the back of her mind. She didn't even want to look at herself in the mirror afraid of how awful she probably looked. Not to mention how exhausted she felt after everything that had happened in the last couple of hours.

"You can borrow some of my clothes." Jaime offered, seeing as her clothes desperately needed to be washed at this point.

"I'm sure she doesn't want to wear your nasty clothes Jaime." Milagros stated, almost looking amused by the idea. Gemma couldn't help but feel a little relieved by her offer, for some reason wearing Jaime's clothes felt awkward. "I haven't seen you do laundry in like two weeks. I think I have something you can wear."

Jaime looked at his sister with obvious annoyance before he turned to Gemma. "I wash my clothes."

"Wait here and we'll get you everything you need." Mrs. Reyes assured her before Milagros and Jaime walked off following closely behind their mom. They were both arguing in hushed whispers before entering what Gemma assumed was Miliagros' room. 

"Kid this is crazy." Javier stated now that they were all finally alone. 

Gemma couldn't help but feel guilty that he had gotten involved. That had never been the plan. Then again neither her or Jenny could have ever predicted that things would turn out this way. "I know. I am so sorry."

"Su teléfono señorita." He continued ignoring her apology as he handed her the now broken cell phone. There was a large crack across the screen no doubt "Sorry I did answer Miss Kord's call."

Gemma was slightly stunned that after he had gone through trying to look for her that he was apologizing for answering her phone. It only made her feel more guilty for getting him involved. 

"We honestly didn't know what to think." Jenny continued and from the look on her facet was clear that she hadn't expected everything to go this far. She had to still be processing the fact that her aunt had just sent men after her and clearly killing her was an option if it meant getting the Scarab back. It made Gemma wonder if her own father would be capable of hurting her if it meant getting what he wanted. Unfortunately the answer was very clear to her. "It's all over the news that you got kidnapped by an alien."

Technically it was the truth, she had been kidnapped by an alien. The problem was that was this was all over she didn't know how she would possibly be able to explain what had happened. Not that the world wasn't already aware of the existence of aliens. There was Superman, Supergirl, Martian Manhunter and all the aliens that threatened Earth in the last couple of years.

"Thats a problem for later." Gemma said just needing to get all of this over with so that she could go back to Metropolis. Her life had always been complicated but nothing really compared to this. 

"Come on princesa I'll show you where you can shower." Jaime said from the other side of the room. Standing up Gemma followed him into a room across the hall, slowly she realized that the room they had entered was his. It still very much looked like a room that belonged to a teenage boy, which Gemma found slightly amusing even though she couldn't help but feel nervous being in his room. But he opened another door that revealed the bathroom. He handed her the clothes and towel that he had been carrying. There was also shampoo and body wash that Gemma had to assume also belonged to Milagros. "Here, do you need anything else?"

"No, I should be okay. Thank you." Gemma replied knowing that the Reyes family was being too kind considering what her and Jenny were putting them through. 

Jaime nodded and they awkwardly stood in the bathroom for what felt like forever but was realistically only a couple of seconds. His eyes widened in realization as he headed toward the door. "Right. Sorry."

Gemma locked the bathroom door once it closed behind him and she couldn't help but feel grateful not only for the shower but for finally having a moment to herself. Since Jaime and the Scarab had picked her up from the street it was like she hadn't had any time to breath and take it all in. If she was feeling this overwhelmed she didn't even want to think about how Jaime was handling it all. 

The clothes that Milagros had let her borrow was definitely different than the clothes that she normally wore. In many ways she was grateful for that as her clothes were a lot more comfortable. When she finally stepped out of the shower she found Jaime in front of the mirror in his room trying to get a glimpse of his back and clearly struggling. 

"Sorry I think I'm getting a little paranoid." Jaime admitted and he made no attempt to hide just how scared he really was. Sure his father had given a really nice speech about how they should all remain positive, but considering what was happening it was easier said than done. "Do you think you can check if it's like spread of something?"

Walking across the room Gemma met Jaime's eyes briefly through the mirror before turning her attention to his back. 

Gemma looked closely at the Scarab that was still glowing a bright blue. It didn't look any different than before but if its hold on him was increasing then she knew it was something that they wouldn't be able to see. She couldn't help but feel worried knowing that they probably didn't have a lot of time left to figure it out. The longer that thing stayed inside Jaime the harder it would be to get out.

"Thats normal considering everything that's happened to you." Gemma finally said knowing that there wasn't anything she could say that would make him feel better about his situation. "It looks the same."

Helping him pull his shirt back down Gemma instinctively took a couple steps back from him. It was still weird to her to even be talking to Jaime, let alone being alone in a room with him.

"Well, my mom says that everything happens for a reason." Jaime said a smile tugging on his lips. "Something good has to come out of all of this."

In Gemma's experience she hadn't found that to be true. All of the bad in her life never came with anything good. It normally tended to lead into more bad. But she wasn't going to tell Jaime that. She liked that he was being hopeful. That he believed that there was good coming. And she definitely didn't want to be the negative one to question him. Instead she remained silent not entirely sure what to say to him.

"I do wash my clothes by the way." He said and she didn't know if it was the sudden change of subject or the fact that he still felt the need to defend himself, but Gemma found herself laughing.

"I never said you didn't." Gemma finally replied not sure what else to say but knowing that she needed to say something before she made things weird.

"Mili just says the craziest things sometimes."

"It must be nice to have a sister." She found herself saying only to mentally scold herself the second those words came out of her mouth. She didn't know why she had said them even if they were the truth. Being an only child with no mother and father was lonely, maybe her childhood would have been less lonely if she had a sibling. But Jaime didn't need to know that, and the last thing she needed was to bore him with her life story. "Is your uncle almost done?"

Jaime almost seemed caught off guard by the change of subject, and Gemma found herself wanting to leave the room as quickly as possible. 

"Yeah, actually your bodyguard is helping Rudy load it onto the truck."

"He's not my bodyguard." Gemma quickly corrected the idea of ever needing a bodyguard felt a little ridiculous to her, even when many recommended it for her. Not only was she technically a public figure, but there were many who hated her because of who her father was. Not that she she could blame them for it, she hated that fact about herself just as much. "

Her clarification only seemed to confuse him more. "What do you need a driver for?"

"I don't know how to drive." She admitted knowing how embarrassing that fact was, cause everyone their age should know how to drive by now. Maybe it was even more ridiculous than needing a bodyguard.

Thankfully before Jaime could question her further there was a knock on the door before Milagros opened the door. Jaime jumped a little almost like they had been caught doing something that they weren't supposed to. 

"Come on Rudy is getting impatient." Milagros said as she looked between them curiously. Gemma wasn't entirely sure why, they hadn't done anything to gain her curiosity. Though Milagros did seem like the type of person that was naturally curious about everything. 

Gemma and Jaime didn't say anything else to each other as they stepped outside where Jenny, Javier and Cesar were already getting everything ready. Whatever Cesar had been working on was covered by a large tarp and Gemma found herself eager to know what was under it. 

"You can go home now Javier. Sorry that you had to get involved in this." Gemma told him knowing it was best for him to go now before he got any more involved. She didn't want anyone getting hurt, especially him considering he was the only person that was constant in her life. 

He immediately shook his head and Gemma realized that he was going to choose to be stubborn about this, He felt as if he had some kind of responsibility to her, but the truth was that he didn't. "No, I'm going with you."

"I can't let you come with us."

"Gemma is right too many of us will draw attention." Jenny argued, and Gemma couldn't help but feel grateful that she was agreeing with her. "Its probably better that you stay here. We shouldn't be long once we get that key." 

Knowing that there was no argument that he could make that would convince them to allow him to go Javier simply nodded in response. Gemma would have much preferred if he would go home, but she sensed that it wasn't going to be an option for him. Not until he was sure that she was safe. 

The problem was that although Jenny was making it seem as if what they were about to do was simple Gemma couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't going to be as easy as they were all hoping. Not when Victoria Kord had made it clear that she was willing to go to great lengths to get the Scarab back. 

They had parked across from the Kord Industries building as according to Cesar they needed to be close enough for his device to be in range to infiltrate the Kord security system. Even though Gemma knew that they had no other choice but to break into Kord Industries, she couldn't help but feel anxious. She had never done anything illegal and there was no knowing what would happen if they got caught.

"That's it?" Jaime questioned not looking entirely impressed and a little confused. Not they she could blame him at first glance Cesar's invention didn't look like much. But if it really did work then they all owed Cesar an apology for ever doubting him.

"I call it, El Chapulin." Cesar declared proudly as he climbed on top of the truck. Gemma couldn't help but wonder what Cesar loved more, his truck or the invention that he had clearly spent a long time putting together.

"Why?"

"You know, when you make something cool, you can call yours whatever you want, okay?" Cesar snapped as he began to put some of the larger pieces of his invention together. It seemed incredibly intricate and Gemma had to admit that she was impressed with his work.

The entire device was built from scraps and old electronics. Even some of the best at Ivo tech wouldn't have been able to put something together like it with such limited resources. She almost wanted to take a closer look and ask him more about how he had put it together but she didn't want to risk upsetting Cesar.

"You're sure that this one works?" Jaime questioned skeptically as he watched his uncle set up, and from his choice of words it was safe to assume that Cesar's previous inventions hadn't been successful.

"Yes. Unlike the junk that Kord makes, my tech delivers."

"Okay. You could have just said yes." Jaime replied as they all watched Cesar work all of them knowing better than to ask him if he needed any help.

"Okay, cupcake, you wanna hit that yellow switch there?" Cesar ordered and only a soft buzzing noise came from the machine once Jenny pushed down on the switch. "Hit the yellow switch."

"I just did." Jenny replied as she continued hitting the button repeatedly for him to get the point.

Rudy muttered something in Spanish as he continued to work, but it was clear that he was becoming annoyed with everyone's lack of faith in him.

"Okay. Well, at least I don't have to open that annoying tailgate. It's going on your tab." He continued to ramble and Gemma couldn't help but feel guilty about his truck all over again. "Just gotta give it a little..."

Suddenly he began to violently kick the machine causing Jenny, Jaime, and Gemma to instinctively take a step back. Gemma couldn't help but flinch at every kick surprised by how aggressive he was being and worried that he might break his own invention. They didn't have a back-up plan in case it didn't work.

As a surprise to everyone but Cesar his device came to life after a couple of kicks. Jenny, Jaime and Gemma all shared a stunned look before deciding that it was best not to comment on his unusual methods of solving the issue.

"Oh, that's sexy." Rudy said satisfied.

"Great. That's... that's great." Jenny said slowly trying to seem as optimistic about it as possible, the last thing that they all needed was for Cesar to get another outburst. "Uh, so it works?"

An irritated sigh left Cesars lips as he turned away from her. "Uh, yeah, it works. I'll keep the truck running."

"Let's go." Jenny urged Jaime knowing that they didn't have much time.

Although they didn't really have much of a plan they had discussed how it was best for Jaime and Jenny to go alone. It decreased the chances of one of them getting caught, they would be less noticed. Not that Gemma minded staying behind with Cesar, she had enough excitement to last her a lifetime after everything she had gone through with Jaime.

"So it works?" Cesar mocked under his breath once Jaime and Jenny were gone.

Suddenly Gemma questioned whether or not she should have gone with Jaime and Jenny. Cesar had already made it clear how much he disliked her and the last thing she needed was to do or say something that would cause him to dislike her more than he clearly already did. But the truth was that Gemma was exhausted and need a moment to just sit down and relax.

Though Gemma wasn't sure if it was going to be possible to relax while sitting in the truck with Cesar.

A/N: I know it's been a while since my last update but I do plan on now shifting my focus on completing this story. There's still so many great things coming for Gemma and I am so excited for you all to read what I have planned.