"Compartmentalisation – if you don't know where I'm going, you're not going to be able to tell anyone."
Steve rolled his eyes, "I'm beginning not to like that word."
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My first thought was to phone Phil – I knew I couldn't really tell him anything, but as long as I knew he was safe I could get on with what I needed to do. I dialled his number, pressed call, and waited; the phone rang out again and again until it went onto voicemail, I sighed.
"Phil? It's Amanda" I gulped quietly, holding my phone between my ear and my shoulder as I began playing with my ring "Okay, you're clearly busy, so eh… wherever you are, whatever you're doing, you better be safe. Um, don't phone this number again, I'm getting rid of the sim card today, so uh... I don't know how much you know right now but stay away from any of the bases – especially the Triskillion. I don't know who to trust just now. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s been compromised by HYDRA. I've been with Natasha Romanoff and Steve Rogers but I'm heading out of the country. HYDRA has a hit list and I'm in the top ten so I'm getting out – not really my choice but I'm not holding up well and… and I know it. Phil… Phil, please be careful… please… I don't know how this is going to go down… I don't know who's going to get out of this… I don't know, I– I really don't know any more Phil… I need to go. I've got to make some arrangements as soon as possible so… Phil. Phil… just… for me, please… just… don't die." I hung up. My voice had begun to break at the last few words.
I took a few deep breaths to calm myself again before making the next call. I knew he'd let me stay with him, but if I phoned him right now I'd break down at the sound of his voice alone.
So I phoned Pepper Potts next. She answered the phone immediately when I rang, as was her habit. With a matter of short exchanges, we arranged for her to send me a personal jet over, no questions asked and Tony wouldn't know. She was concerned and I understood why. I'd suggested getting Tony out of the country as a precaution – on the condition that she didn't give away why they were going. She agreed and I asked her not to tell me anything further for safety sake. I'd told her "It might be nothing – it might be ended before it even begins, but I can't rely on that. If things don't go to plan… I don't want to know that I could have done something and didn't" Pepper had reluctantly begun to make arrangements from the limited knowledge I'd given her. "I don't like it, but I trust you; Tony trusts you" she'd said. The jet would pick me up in a field forty miles from the nearest town and hours away from the base where Fury was recuperating. I'd get a 'disposable' vehicle from the base to take to the field, whether it would be picked up later or not wasn't my concern.
Pepper hung up. I found myself staring at the home screen – I knew he'd answer, I knew he'd help me but I still didn't want to drag him into this. Just remember I'm always here when you need me. Damn it.
I tapped in his number; he was the safest place I could go. The phone rang once, twice, three times – he answered.
"Hi Amanda, wasn't expecting you to phone this early."
"Yeah, well…"
"Amanda, are you okay? What's wrong?"
I laughed a little, "You know me too well. I need to ask you a favour"
"Anything, what is it?"
"I need to stay with you for a while."
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I got my location and promised him I'd explain everything when I arrived. I gave him my thanks and hung up before finding the others again.
I stood in the door frame for a second, waiting until the three of them had stopped their conversation. Sam looked between me and Tasha and Steve before saying, "I think I'll just let you three have a chat" He walked over to me with a smile, put his hand on my shoulder for a moment and said, "All yours" before leaving the room. His smile was comforting, so reassuring for a man I barely knew.
There was a moment of silence after he left before I said, "That's me sorted."
They smiled and nodded. I could see Steve was still dubious about letting me go to an undisclosed location with an unknown person meeting me, but I knew Tasha trusted my judgement.
"When are you leaving?" asked Nat.
"I just need to ask Fury if I can borrow a car and I'll be off."
She nodded.
"Um, there isn't really an efficient method of contacting you once I get there, there's no secure network."
"It's alright," he said, "Is everything taken care of?"
"Yup – travel, accommodation, food and drink all accounted for." I nodded, more to myself than to my friends, before I gave I sigh, "You know I don't like leaving like this; knowing what's coming"
Steve glanced around, unable to find the words to reassure me, but Tasha did, "Don't worry about it. We've got to keep you safe, who'll avenge us if anything goes wrong?" she joked.
"Yeah, well just make sure it doesn't come to that"
Natasha gave me a nod and Steve managed a smile. I wondered how long it would be until I'd see either of them again – I didn't want to consider the alternative.
Tasha stepped forward and hugged me, whispering 'good luck' to me in Russian. We stepped back from each other and Natasha gave me a smile of encouragement. Steve took a step closer so he was standing next to us. I turned to him and returned the stretched hug on pointed feet as he leant down to me. I laughed quietly and Steve gave me a quick squeeze to reassure me before we parted.
"Well then, I'll see you two later" I said.
"Definitely" Tasha responded.
Steve smiled, "You bet"
