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Chapter 8 - A Permanent Bullseye

"Answer me, Giselle." Steve demanded. "I have a daughter?"

"I'll, uh, meet you in the command room." Natasha said, before walking away.

Thank you, Tasha for always leaving me in awkward confrontations. This is not how I wanted this conversation to go. I slowly turned around and Steve had a mixture of anger, confusion, shock, and hurt written all over his face. I nodded. "Yes.. you - no, we have a daughter."

"Where is she? Why haven't you told me? Who's with her? How old is she?"

Steve was slamming me with all of these questions and I took a few deep breaths to calm myself down, before I end up exploding on him when I know that I shouldn't. "Look, I'll tell you anything you wanna know after I find out what's going on." I started walking away.

"We're not done talking about this."

"I know, Steve, but not now." I went into the command room and saw Tony, Natasha, Clint, and Fury waiting for me. "What happened?" I asked.

"We got a call." Fury paused, as Steve rushed in and he raised his eyebrow. "So, I take it.. he knows."

It wasn't a question. I just nodded. "Yeah, kinda.. tell me who called."

"Alright.. we got a call from Benny - he had a situation.. from what we gather and from his description, Crossbones went to kidnap your daughter, but ended up killing Raquel."

"Oh, no." My eyes widened. ".. and what about Lily?"

"Benny took a beating, but managed to get her out of there in time. He's on his way to take her to an undisclosed location as we speak."

"Take me to her." I demanded. "I want to see her."

Fury nodded. "A quinjet is being prepared - for all of us - so suit up.. you got 20 minutes."

"Thanks, Boss." I took a breath and rushed out passed Steve, but once I got to my room, he came barreling in. "You should go get your suit on." I said, not looking at him.

"No, first you need to explain.. everything that you've been keeping from me."

"I told you that I would, but not right now.. we gotta get ready to go."

Steve stood his ground, crossing his arms over his chest. "We have time.. now tell me."

I groaned out loud. "Fine, but I'm getting dressed first." I took off what I was wearing, leaving my bra and boy shorts on, not even caring that Steve was in the room. I just wanted to hurry up and change. I put on a black tank top underneath my suit, then I put on black socks and my boots before putting my hair up in a bun - seeing the look on his face. "Alright, what, Steve?"

"You know what.."

I heavily sighed. Here it goes. "A few days before you.. left me, I found out that I was 9 weeks pregnant. I kinda had a clue, but I went to the doctor to make sure. I was gonna plan a special dinner that weekend and tell you that you were going to be a father, but thanks to Bossman, that didn't happen. So, after you took off to who knows where, I left our place and moved to Los Angeles - where I had her."

"What's her name? Lily?"

"Yeah." I nodded. "I named her Lily Natalia Morgan.. and she's 5. After Fury found out, he had me take her to Rome - she was 2 at the time - so an agent and nanny could protect her and take care of her, because our line of work, she would be in danger."

"She's already been in danger, Giselle."

"I know that and I have no clue as to why Crossbones specifically went after her."

Steve scoffed, shaking his head. "I can't believe this.. all this time that we've been together reconnecting and getting things back to the way it used to be.. I even told you that I love you, but you couldn't even tell me that I have a daughter somewhere out there?" he paused. "Does she even know who I am?"

"Yes, she does." I nodded. "She knows that her daddy is Captain America and that he saves people. Lily is so proud of you."

There was a long pause, before he spoke. "Were you ever going to tell me?"

"I don't.. I don't know.. especially not while you have a permanent bullseye - literally - painted on your back."

"Being who I am.. you don't think I'd be able to protect her or even you? You know damn well I would."

"Steve." I heavily sighed. "I don't wanna fight with you right now. I just wanna see my little girl and see is she's okay."

"You didn't answer my question, Giselle."

"Just.. don't." I slightly shook my head. "I need some air." and I ran out of my room. I knew that we were leaving soon, so I stepped outside to get some air. Okay, deep breaths. Out of nowhere, I felt something hard hit me on the back of my head and everything turned black.

...

Author POV:

Steve was sitting in one of the chairs in the lobby - fully suited up - waiting and thinking about what Giselle said about a daughter that he never knew existed, though it seemed like everyone knew but him. Not only that, Crossbones going after her? How did he even find out about Lily? And why her exactly? He couldn't believe this was all happening and he couldn't believe that Giselle would keep this important information from him. Would he be able to forgive her?

"Time to go, Cap."

"Okay." he glanced up at Sam and nodded. "I'll get Giselle."

"Where is she?"

"Outside." he pointed.

Sam went to the window and looked out. "No." he shook his head. "It may be dark out there, but I don't see anyone."

"What?" Steve stood to his seat, then both of them bolted out the door. They searched the whole parking lot and perimeter, but couldn't find her.

"Hey, Steve?" Sam called out. "You might wanna see this."

"What?" he jogged up to him and saw a transmitter of some kind, a lead pipe, and a pool of blood by Sam's feet. "No.." he grabbed the pieces off the ground. "We need to check the security cameras, come on." then both of them ran back into the building.

"Hey, guys! We gotta go!" Natasha called out, but Steve and Sam ignored her, rushing into the command room.

"What's going on, Tasha?"

"Clint, something's wrong." she went in the same direction as the guys.

"Come on." he suggested, then both of them ran into the command room. They saw Sam and Steve looking at the security footage.

"What's.. going on?" Natasha asked, seeing what was in Steve's hand. "Who's blood is that?"

"It's Giselle's." he replied, then what they saw on the screen, he stood up and slammed the lead pipe on the table as hard as he could, breaking a piece off. "Crossbones took her!"

"How?" Clint questioned.

"With this.. he had a GPS tracker in her arm." Sam said, holding it up. "After hitting her with the pipe, he dug it out and left it behind."

Natasha went up to Steve. "We need to tell Fury and the team."

"What about my daughter?"

"I'm sure Fury will have another agent meet them."

"Meet them where exactly?" Steve crossed his arms over his chest. "Because it's not like Fury said anything about where that location's at."

"They're taking her to Laura." Clint chimed in. "Lily will be safe with her and my kids."

Steve took a breath. "Fine, but I don't want any agent to meet them.. as of right now, I only trust Coulson to be there with her."

Natasha nodded. "I'll get Fury." then she walked out of the room.

Right after Steve sat down, Sam put his hand on Steve's shoulder and lightly squeezed. "We'll find her, Man." he didn't respond back, he just nodded, then stared at the bloody lead pipe in his hands and waited.

...

Giselle POV:

Oh, my God! I have a slight pounding headache and I feel little pain and wetness on my arm. What the hell happened? I tried moving my arms and legs, but realized that I was tied to a chair with a bandana over my mouth. How did I manage to get myself into this? Suddenly, I heard a sadistic laugh and my eyes shot open, then widened, seeing Crossbones and the Winter Soldier, well, Bucky. What. The. Hell?

"Oh, you're awake." oh, no.. that voice sounds familiar, then Crossbones was inches from my face. "Good.. I'll need a picture of this." I saw that he had my phone and took off his mask. Shit, I was right. He got next to me, so he could take a selfie. Wow, really? "There, I sent it to your boyfriend." he removed the bandana from my mouth. "And see.. I told you I'd find you."

"Yeah, Frank, I noticed.. you gonna tell me why?"

"Unfinished business." he shrugged.

I raised my eyebrow. "With.. Steve?"

"Bingo."

I chuckled. "I bet your names not even Frank."

"Nope." he smirked. "It's Rumlow."

"Okay, so answer me this, Rumlow." I mocked him. "How did you get from Rome and back here so fast?"

"Oh, Darling, that was me." my eyes widened, seeing Loki magically appear in front of me. "It was merely a distraction."

I shook my head. "For putting my daughter in danger.. I'm going to kill you."

Loki laughed. "Not while you're tied up."

"Oh, don't worry.. I'll get rescued soon."

"By who? The Captain? Your precious Avengers?" he paused, smirking at me. "Or your brother?"

I furrowed my brows. "My brother? I don't have a brother."

Loki scoffed. "That you know of."

I was extremely confused. "What does that even mean?"

"I'll let you figure that out on your own."

"Wow.. if I don't kill you, I really hope Thor does."

"Thor would never."

"You're right." I slightly nodded. "Even though you do horrible things and you're the worst person or God in the whole universe.. and even after you tried killing him numerous times, he still loves you." Loki's face softened a little, like, he was regretting his life choices.

Suddenly, out of no where, he back handed me in the face. "Do not speak to me about Thor. You know nothing."

"Ohh." I chuckled, spitting blood out of my mouth. "Did I strike a nerve?" as he was about to hit me again, Bucky stepped in and grabbed his arm - which surprised me. Loki just glared at him, before he walked away from me.

"Alright, this is how it's gonna go." Rumlow grabbed a chair and sat in it backwards in front of me. "Before I kill you, I'm gonna kill your boyfriend."

I scoffed. "Yeah, I don't see that happening, but you're welcome to try."

Rumlow laughed, as he yanked my hair, putting a knife to my face. "Have you always been a smart ass?" I felt the tip of the blade digging into my cheek and I'm pretty sure there would be some blood. "I could just kill you right now."

"Then fucking do it!" I gritted through my teeth.

"Hey!" Bucky got our attention. "Let's stick to the plan."

"Fine." Rumlow let me go and put the bandana over my mouth. "No, I'd rather kill you in front of the Captain anyway." he got up and walked into another room.

I slightly shook my head. Great. How am I gonna get myself out of this? Right after I looked up, my eyes widened. Oh. My. God.

...

Author POV:

Natasha brought the whole team, Fury, Coulson, and Agent Hill into the command room and none of them had any clue what was going on, they were just trying to figure out why they haven't left yet when they were supposed to.

"What is the hold up?" Fury asked, but stopped in his tracks, seeing a broken piece of the table and Steve sitting with a bloody lead pipe in his hands. "What's going on?"

"This." Sam pressed a button and the footage from the security camera appeared on the big screen.

"Giselle was taken." Steve cleared his throat. "By Crossbones."

By the time the footage was finished, everyone in the room was speechless and a little confused, but Tony chuckled, then glared at Fury. "You told us - before she walked into this room and back into our lives - that she was our mission. Our mission to keep her safe, because - for whatever reason - Crossbones was after her. All that security to protect her and keeping her here was bullshit! That bastard figured out how to get to her anyway!"

"Stark, you need to calm yourself down." Fury sat in his chair.

"What I don't get." Bruce started. "How could he be in Rome and then take Giselle.. 10 to 20 minutes apart?" he shook his head. "There's no way."

Steve's phone rang with a text message. He quickly took it out of one of his pockets, then saw that it was from Giselle, and opened it. "That.. SON OF A BITCH!" he stood to his feet, making everyone look at him.

"What is it?" Natasha asked.

"Put this on the screen." Steve handed the phone to Sam. "I got a photo."

"Oh, man." Sam frowned, shaking his head, then the picture was up on the screen.

"Rumlow.. is Crossbones." Fury said, mostly to himself. "He ain't dead after all."

"No." Thor's eyes widened, seeing Loki standing behind Rumlow and Giselle, then he sighed, shaking his head. "That is how Rumlow was in 2 places at once.. because of Loki."

"Thor, I don't care if he's your brother.. he's dead too."

"I am so sorry, Steve.. I do not know why he is doing this."

After a moment, Sam realized where he saw him from. "Oh, shit.. Rumlow was at the club we were at.. talking to Giselle."

Steve's head snapped his head over to him. "What are you talking about?"

"I was headed to the bathroom and saw her talking to someone. He looked familiar, but thought nothing of it."

"And you're barely telling us now?!" Tony yelled.

"Hey." Sam put his hands up in defeat. "She seemed fine about it.. that it was some guy that she met at the bar a few weeks ago."

Steve shook his head. "She never told me anything."

"Had I known who he was then, I would have said something."

"I know, Sam." Steve slightly nodded. "I know.."


A/N: I'd like to give a big THANKS to Legolas' Girl 31.. you are awesome for reviewing. Thanks a bunch!