Stay – Safetysuit

Chapter Four

Steve

Four months earlier…

"Let's get out for the day, Steve. I'm so bored just sitting here all day." I looked up from the book I was reading, Sun Tzu's Art of War, and met the eyes of Shiloh. She was already dressed as though she expected me to say yes. A long blue skirt and matching blouse, her hair pulled up into a messy bun. She tugged at my shoulders, willing me to get up from where I sat.

"And where exactly would we go?" I teased, obliging her by placing my book down and standing up. She began to babble about wanting to go to the countryside since it was beautiful outside while we walked towards the elevator. I was sure Tony wouldn't mind if we borrowed a car.

And if he did, well we'd just tell him we were on important SHIELD business.

Settling behind the wheel, I watched in amusement as Shiloh's hands immediately flew to the radio. Since we began dating she had made it a point to catch me up on modern pop culture as far as movies and music were concerned. Of course, Clint, Tony, and Natasha also shared the same goal. Tony argued that Shiloh was biased, as we only listened to and watched things she liked. I wasn't complaining too much, as I found myself genuinely liking everything she liked.

"Oh! I love this song!" She turned the volume up as a song about neon lights began to pour through the speakers. Bobbing her head and singing along, I smiled at the sound of her voice. She wasn't a great singer by any means, but she still managed to make beautiful music.

Maybe I was just as biased.

"So what are we doing once we reach this fantastic countryside you've been talking about all morning?" I asked her and she grinned.

"We just enjoy each other's company. It shouldn't be that hard, should it?" I shook my head, enjoying her company was probably the easiest thing I could ever do.

After two long hours, I pulled over near a large pasture. It was pleasantly warm, and there was nothing but tall grass as far as the eye could see. Leaning against the car, I waiting for Shiloh to get out the car, wondering why she was taking longer than normal. What I didn't expect was for to have changed into sweat pants and tennis shoes. I also didn't her to run up to me and exclaim, "Tag, you're it!" before jumping the fence and running into the pasture.

Not wanting to be outdone, I took off after her. Jumping the fence, I was hot on her trail as she ran through the tall grass and flowers. Her hair had long since fallen out of its bun. It cascaded and blew in the wind. It was a sight to behold and found myself slightly winded by it.

I loved this girl. I really did.

Finally catching up to her, I wrapped my arms around her and we both stumbled onto the ground. She squirmed as she tried to get away, but I kept a firm hold on her. Finally, she resigned herself to be caught and rested easily on top of me.

"Clearly, you don't understand the rules of tag. They didn't play that in the 40s?" I laughed and I leaned up slightly and placed a chaste kiss on her lips.

"Truthfully, I couldn't ever play tag with the other kids. I was always sick and in bed," Her eyes soften at my words but there was no pity in them, only understanding, "I didn't get to do a lot of things."

"Well lucky for you, I'm a kid at heart. I'm always down for a good game of hide and seek…OH! I so know what we're doing for our next team building exercise. I can see it now. Natasha would so win." She began to ramble on about what other games the team could play and I just listened. She could talk for hours, if I let her, but I never really minded. She had spent most of her life alone, with only Fury, Coulson, and Maria for company.

"Shiloh, sweetheart, you're rambling again." Her eyes meet mine as a small blush creeps onto her face.

"Sorry," She whispers, "I do that a lot."

"It's okay, it's cute. And I want you to be able to talk to me, about anything." This time when I kiss her, she meets me halfway. Every time we kiss, it's like the first time. Fire erupts in my veins and it's as though the rest of the world falls away. There's only me and her. I wrap my arms tightly around her and hold her close. When we finally pull apart, due to a need to breath, we're both flushed and grinning like idiots.

She looks as though she's about to say something when someone clear their throat. Looking past her, I see a man standing several feet away, a shotgun in his hands. Immediately, my protective instincts kick in but a steady hand on my forearm keeps me from going on the offensive.

"Tag, you're it?" Shiloh whispers before getting up and sprinting in the direction of the car, I follow quickly after her. She shouts an apology to the man, as do I as we jump the fence and scramble into the car. Once inside, we're shaking with laughter, tears brimming my eyes as I try to calm myself.

"We totally almost got shot!" She says between giggles, "Oh my gosh, that was fun."

"You have a rather strange definition of fun, darling." I tease as I start the car and we head back to the city.

The radio is turned back on and we spend the rest of the car ride singing horribly off-key and laughing until our ribs hurt.


Present day…

I don't trust Loki as far as I can throw him. When I voice this Tony, he shares the same sentiment and for once we're in agreement with something.

"But he does know more about this guy than we do, Steve. Whether we like it or not, we need his help." His jaw is tight as he says this. In the last eight months, he had become somewhat of a big brother figure to Shiloh. If she wasn't with me, she was in the lab with him and Bruce. They had come a long way since Tony had first assumed she was dating Fury. Knowing that she was in the hands of the enemy was driving just as crazy as it was me.

"The moment he turns on us, if he does, blast him Tony. Please."

"Got it, Cap. We'll find her, don't worry."

"Are you saying that for me? Or for you?"

Tony didn't reply, but I could see the strain in his features. He had already lost his moth and his father. Now he was faced with losing Shiloh, the closest thing besides Pepper he now had to call family. No matter how much I wanted to fall apart, I had to keep it together for him and for the rest of the team.

JARVIS announced the arrival of Bruce as the lab door slid open the doctor stepped inside. He offered us both a small sad smile.

"Loki has begun that tracking spell on Shiloh. He said we should have an idea of where she is in the next 48 hours." And so the waiting game begins, "Captain, what happens when we find her?"

My eyes locked with his for a few moments before he gave a heavy sigh. I had no answer to that question, at least, not one that I liked. Pain throbbed in me as I knew of the only orders I could give. If Thanos was as powerful as Loki said he was, it would be extremely difficult to free her.

"JARVIS, alert the others and tell them to meet in the common room. We're having a team meeting."

Tony, Bruce, and I filed up the stairs and into the common room. Natasha and Clint were already waiting, both looking as though they hadn't slept in days. We had all been putting in our efforts on finding our missing team member. Even Fury had put finding his daughter at the top of SHIELD's priority list. National threats be damned, he was going to find his little girl.

Loki and Thor walked in a few minutes later. The god of mischief looked just as tired as the rest of us.

"The tracking spell is a very tiring one, as it spans across worlds and dimensions. But rest assured, our friend shall be found." Thor announced, with exhaustion evident in his slightly slurred words.

"We'll find her," I said quietly before looking at the rest of the group, "I wanted you all here because in 48 hours, we'll know where Shiloh is. When that happens, we're going to beat Thanos to the punch and come to him…which means we will have to face her."

"The only one that could possibly break the spell is Loki," Natasha interjected, "Which means he'll be the one Thanos goes after first."

"Tony and Thor will protect Loki, while he looks for Shiloh. The rest of us will serve as a distraction and fight Thanos, but that's not the only reason I've called you all here," A lump began to form in my throat as I spoke these next words, "Earlier, it was asked what we would do if we cannot break Thanos' control over Shiloh..."

Tears stung in the back of my eyes but I couldn't give in, not yet. No matter how much I loved her.

"If this happens, Clint and Natasha…you are under orders to put her down. Fury will be made aware of this and will come to understand that Shiloh is too powerful to remain under Thanos' control. If we cannot free her, we will have no other choice but to kill her. Any questions?"

The silence was deafening, but no one objected. It was the most logical thing to do but the emotions I could feel off of everyone was overwhelming. This was our teammate, our friend, our Shiloh. And here we were, faced with the possibility that we might have to end her life.

Without another word, I turned and walked out of the common room. My eyes stung as tears began to freely flow from them, but I continued to walk blindly, with no destination in mind.

Collapsing against a wall, I finally let out a bitter and broken sob. My body shook as I tried to bite back the cries, but to no avail.

How had I not seen it? I knew she had been having nightmares but how had I not seen the hold Thanos had been placing on her? I should have known. I should have done something. I could have done something…anything. I would give my life to have her back with me, safe and sound.

"Steve…" It almost sounds like her, but I know it's just wishful thinking. I glance over at Natasha and Bruce as they come to kneel at my side. I let them lift me up and walk me to my room.

"We'll find her Steve, we promise. We'll find her and we'll save her."