NOTES:

Hey guys, this is my first fanfiction and I am a major fan of Marvel's Agents of SHIELD (if you haven't seen Captain America 2 I think you should totally watch it, it's awesome!)

I'm more of a reader, not a writer so constructive criticism is welcome, also, I would really appreciate it if you guys could review and follow too.

Thanks and ENJOY :D

DISCLAIMER- I don't own Marvel's Agents of SHIELD (that would be awesome if I did but sadly I don't) but I do own Callum (Max) and Mason. As other characters are introduced later on in the story, I will add a reminder of who or what I do and do not own...

Chapter One: Time Stood Still (Bring me the Horizon: Sleep walking)

My secrets are burning a hole through my heart and my bones catch a fever/ When it cuts you up this deep it's hard to find a way to breathe. Time stood still the way it did before/ It's like I'm sleepwalking/ Fell into another hole again/ It's like I'm sleepwalking. I'm at the edge of the world/ Where do I go from here? Do I disappear? Edge of the world- Should I sink or swim or simply disappear?

The glock 26 fits snugly in my hands- as if it was made for me and me alone. Knowing the person who supplied it to me, it probably was. I hold it loosely by the handle in one hand and weigh it. Perfect balance.

I focus on the task ahead, clear my mind of any doubts. Yes, I promised myself I wouldn't kill again but too much has happened to the people I care about. Too many have gone missing. Too many have been hurt. Too many are... gone. I can't honour my own promise.

"Callie" I whisper, my voice hoarse with pain, my mind far away with memories- the first time I felt utter desperation and despair.

I shake my head to clear it. No time to dwell on the past. I'm a professional; I should be able to keep my feelings under wrap. Mentally pushing all my memories into a deep, dark corner of my mind, I lean against the tree I'm hiding behind and load my pistol. 10 bullets are all I need. 1 shot for each guard. I'm not worrying about the M16 Assault Rifle each guard carries- it's not like they'll have the chance to use their machine guns.

I steady my breathing and sprint from the edge of the forest where I had been hiding for the past hour- staking the place out, till I reach the van I saw arrive earlier. I mentally check my objectives:

Scout the area. CHECK

Confirm the number of hostiles in the vicinity. CHECK

Eliminate the enemy without the Clairvoyant finding out.

Enter the warehouse and get my partner out.

Looking around I realise it's now or never, my time-window is slowly disappearing. I attach a silencer onto the end of the gun to quieten the shots. I spring from behind the van and shoot at the two guards patrolling the perimeter. They drop. I run forward and take out three snipers. This is too easy. Nobody has even come out of the warehouse to investigate. Five down, five to go. As I get walk towards the entrance, my instinct screams at me to duck. I duck just in time as a bullet whizzes millimetres above my head.

I am suddenly dragged to the floor and am able to register a weight on my back before my head is grabbed from the back and smashed into the ground. Again and again. And again. Only, the third time I'm ready. I roll over and feel the guard underneath me. He lets go of my head and I spring up. He is fast but I'm the best. As his arm reaches for my neck my hand smashes into the base of his nose and from the satisfying crack that follows I know his nasal bone is fractured.

He screams in pain but I am already there: covering his mouth with my hands to stop him from making any sounds which could alert the others to my position. I snake my hands around his neck and twist hard. He falls to the floor but I catch him and lower him quietly- no need to make any more noise than necessary. Killing with my bare hands- without the aid of a gun- should make me feel different. Any emotion- even disgust or interest, maybe, is more welcome to the emotionless depth of my heart. As I stare at the man I realise I don't care. He is collateral damage. Damage I was trained to contain.

And then there were four... I jog to the doorway of the building and enter. Mysteriously, there is no actual door, I suppose they must have made someone stand guard there, much more effective than a plank of wood- their own human shield. And then it hits me- OH SHIT! If there's no guard standing I must have killed him. How long till they realise...?

I run in the building, no thought for self preservation or safety. I can't let them take him. I can't lose him. Not again. The simple rectangular building it looked like outside was a lie. Mazes of corridors and hallways lead off here and there- probably made to confuse their prisoners had they ever managed to escape. I stand confused at the end of a corridor; left or right? In a movie the hero would choose a random direction, wish for the best and accomplish everything. But this isn't a movie is it? And I'm not a hero.

As a stand, unsure, I hear a blood curdling scream. My feet respond instantly and before I know it, I am standing at a door. Inside is the source of the pain. And then I hear it...

"Please", he whispers, "I can't take it anymore, just stop"

I'd recognise that voice anywhere. I run into the room and am horrified at what I see but don't let that stop me from shooting the man responsible. He is standing over Mason- who is handcuffed to a chair- with a knife in his hand. A knife with fresh blood on. My brain registers Mason's torn shirt and the blood seeping from deep cuts in his chest.

Anger courses through my veins at the thought of what this bastard has done and is doing to my best friend. I pull the trigger and hold it, emptying the clip into his body. He is blown to the other side of the room on impact and I make sure he isn't going to get up. Ever again. I walk towards Mason, making sure to go slowly so as not to scare him.

"Hey, it's me man" I say, soothingly, "I got you, I'll get you outta here"

"Max?" he asks, surprised, "No, you can't be here. Max go. You have to GO!"

"Listen Mace, I'm not going anywhere without you dude, we had a deal remember? 'Till the end', we watch each other's backs, yeah?" I say, firmly. "Okay, I'm gonna go and see if I can find the keys for the handcuffs. You... urm, carry on doing your... thing. Just don't... go anywhere" I finish, lamely.

He laughs quietly. It's music to my ears.

"You're saying it like I've got places to go, people to see." He looks at me amused. I'm not stupid, I can tell he is trying to keep his own mind off his injuries but I file that away for later. The task at hand is to... Suddenly, he gasps.

"Behind you!"

A shot is fired from behind me and red splatters over Mason. I stare at him. I whirl around and aim the gun but suddenly it flies from my hand. Surprise flickers across my face and I mentally curse myself. There were three more Hydra agents. How could I forget them? They fan out in front of me, and attack from all sides. Parrying and deflecting their blows, I realise that none of them have guns. Why? I don't dwell on that fact for too long. More pressing matters are demanding my time right now. Like how the fuck do I kill them?

I look around and spot a tray of sharp instruments covered in blood. Mason's blood. I look back at the agents but am too late. A foot catches me in the face and I am thrown across the floor.

Kicks are delivered with brutal force to my whole body but I zone the pain out. An agent grabs me around my neck and throws me across the cell. That was his biggest mistake. My hand reaches for the tray and I pick up a deadly looking scalpel. I feel sick holding it knowing the last time it was used was on Mason. I spring from my position on the floor and throw the scalpel at the closes agent to me. It embeds himself in his eye and the man drops dead as I knew he would. I never miss.

The something bizarre happens. The other two agents back away from the dead body as though it carries a contagious disease. I realise everything a split second before it happens and throw myself over Mason- his chair tips back and both of use hit the floor.

BANG!

The corpse explodes and the two men who tried to escape but never quite made it are obliterated. Heat blisters my back and I feel a second of flames licking my clothes but then it's gone as though nothing happened. The only people in the cell are me and Mason. Nothing is left of the three guards.

I get up and pick Mason's chair up. The handcuffs have broken so the swing open to free his chaffed and infected wrists. I pick him off the chair and lower him to the floor.

That's when Mason starts vomiting blood...