Twenty Five
I took the Audi out to get my errands done. I warned the handful of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents surrounding my house that if anything was wrong when I got back, I'd kill them with my bare hands. I called Capsicle to let him know Jarvis found something. I got his voicemail.
"Steve, think I found something. Call me so we can meet up. Oh, hey! I also owe you an ass kicking." I hung up the phone. I ran to the ATM. I had a funny feeling I was going to be relying on cash for awhile.
I hated grocery shopping, Pepper always did it for me. I grabbed some of the same things I'd seen in the kitchen. Pop tarts, hot pockets, fruit, simple microwavable things. And dried blueberries! I loved those things. I actually picked up a lot of dried fruit and trail mix. Something easy to snack on while I was working. I was packing it in the car when the phone rang.
"Steve, baby."
"Meet me where you and Pepper last went out for dinner." He hung up. Something was this wrong that he refused to speak on the phone. I drove to the Italian restaurant where Pepper and I had broke up. Steve met me inside at the small cantina bar.
"Steve, what the hell was that about sending Pepper?" I yelled.
"Fury's dead. Hydra has control of S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Hydra? I thought I recognized that emblem." I showed him the letter head I had saved on my phone. "I thought they fell apart after you defeated Red Skull?"
"I thought so too. I'm wanted for treason. I'm on the run. I'll contact you." I said quickly standing up. Natasha came up along side him laying a hand on the small of his back. I eyed both of them.
"She's with us. We need to go." They hurried out the door. I paid for our drinks and hurried home. My timeline was moved up. I had to get this house secured and start moving to my safe house. I really need to find Lana. And as much as I hated the thought, I needed to warn Pepper and Rhodey. They were still my friends despite what may or may not have occurred between them.
I pulled in the drive, mind set upon getting the groceries in the house and the long transfer of files to the safe house. I didn't notice anything wrong until I stepped over the dead body of a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Correction, most likely Hydra agent. There were severe burns to the Kevlar vest he was wearing. I looked around. I was surrounded by death, all with the same burns. I hurried to the door and pushed my way in. I dropped everything the moment I saw Lana lying on the floor in a pool of her own blood.
"Lana," I fell to my knees and gathered her up in my arms. "Oh, God. Lana!"
She opened her eyes slightly, one word fell from her mouth.
"Hydra."