"The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies. It comes from friends and loves ones." Unknow

The situation seemed to be getting worse for Steve. After searching for a good part of the night Dan without any luck, he had to return to the Triskelion. There, he had had a brief glimpse of Kate or rather Agent 13 and she seemed strangely out of character for him. Still, it was probably who she really was.

But that didn't even cover the beginning of the iceberg he had been facing in the old place where he thought he was safe.

After his conversation with Secretary Pierce, he was sure something was wrong. Hence the reason why he was suspicious of the man in a suit. He had never really met him before the incident in his apartment. And what he said during their conversation seemed suspicious. Especially when he mentioned Danae. It was a big no-no for Steve. Nevertheless, he had tried to tell him what he wanted to hear. And he thought he had been convincing enough.

Unfortunately, Dan was still right on this one. He really had to be bad at lying.

He had climbed into the elevator with his eyes turned to the panoramic view of the whole of DC when agents were riding after him. Actually, it was the members of Strike team. It was obvious to him that it was a trap. Rumlow had told him it was not personal, but the little jab about Dan was enough to prove otherwise. It seems that they were not only after him but after Dan too.

From what Rumlow had hinted, they had not found her yet, but the mere fact that they intended to go after Dan was enough to fulfill its role.

He had managed to get out of the situation by jumping off the elevator before finishing his fall through the glass roof of the main lobby. It was not his best idea, but it had served his purpose. He had managed to escape the compromised men of the Shield.

Flee had been the first step in his plan of action, but more urgent questions had come to resurface with the fall of adrenaline. He had little time and too many concerns to keep him in place. Not only did he have to find a plan of action but he also cared about Dan. Where was she? If she was somewhere safe? With the Shield's resources, it was only a matter of time before they got their hands on her.

Exchanging his uniform for a simple pair of sweatpants, a zip up hoodie, a white t-shirt and a pair of sneakers, Steve decided on a plan of action. He had first to recover the flash drive that Fury had entrusted to him in his apartment.

For security measures, Steve had hidden it in the vending machine of the hospital. He was pretty sure of himself for this hiding he had to find Dan no matter what it cost him. He still had outstanding questions. And he was pretty sure she could answer every one of them.

Unfortunately, he was definitely not expecting to find that his assumption was wrong once in the hospital. As he was standing in front of the vending machine, he realized with a deep frown that the flash drive was gone.

However, a smack sounded in his ear and soon forced him to look up just to see the reflection of Natasha in the glass of the machine. She made a bubble with her chewing gum, leaving Steve to check his jaw before grabbing her arm.

He pushed her into an empty room by snapping off his hood and locking her against the wall forcefully."Where is it? "

"Safe." Answered the redhead at once.

"Do better."

"Where did you get it?"

"Why would I tell you?"

Natasha seemed to realize something as she straightened her chin with frowning brow. "Fury gave it to you. Why?"

"What's on it?"

"I don't know."

Steve was seriously starting to get frustrated with the redhead's ways."Stop lying. "

"I only act like I know everything Roger's." Nat replies just as frustrated. "Ask your girlfriend, Danae."

Steve cocked his jaw at Dan's mention before narrowing his eyes at the redhead. "What do you know about Dan? Why the Shield's looking for her?"

"Because she worked with Fury." Answered Nat immediately. "I'm the one who approached her first. She wasn't particularly happy to see me."

The sound of an opening called out Steve letting him glance over his shoulder in suspicion before giving a glance at the redhead he kept against the wall."I bet you know Fury hired the Pirates, didn't you?"

"Well, makes sense." Nat nodded with an eyebrow raised in agreement before thinking about the logic of the former director of Shield."The ship was dirty. Fury needed a way in, so do you-"

Steve shook the redhead again at her sympathy attempt. "I'm not gonna ask you again."

"I know who killed Fury." Admitted finally Nat with gravity. Steve quickly pulled his hands away from the redhead in shock and worry."Most of the intelligence community doesn't believe he exists. The ones that do call him the Winter Soldier. He's credited with two decades of assassinations in the last 50 years. And now, he's probably after Danae."

"So he's a ghost story."

"Five years ago, I was escorting a nuclear engineer out of Iran. Somebody shot out my tires near Odessa. We lost control and went straight over a cliff. I pulled us out but the Winter Soldier was there. I was covering my engineer so he shot him straight through me."Natasha reached for the end of her T-shirt before showing him her abdomen where a bullet scar was resting."Soviet slug. No rifling. Bye-bye bikinis."

Steve gave her a flat look at her comment. "Yeah, I bet you look terrible now."

"Going after him was a dead end. I know I've tried."Natasha pulled out the flash drive with a sharp look at the blond. "Like you said he's a ghost story."

He recovered the flash drive seriously before gauging her with determination. "Let's find out what the ghost want."

Natasha tilted her head as he took a step back, letting the redhead readjust her T-shirt giving him a knowing look."And Danae? What are you going to do about her? "

"Well, I guess you don't know where she is?" He replied sarcastically, leaving Natasha a little smirk.

"Trouble in paradise?" She asked, teasing before following him outside the room before walking beside him down the hall. She easily noticed his anxious look." She's intelligent. And stronger than you think. I know, most would back down to me but she stood up to me."

Steve pulled his hood over his head again to hide from the sight of everyone before thrusting his hands into the pockets of his hoodie, frustrated. "It's not really a comfort. Dan has no sense of self-preservation."

"She probably knows more than us about what's going on." Natasha said with a slight crease between her eyebrows. "After getting the info from this flash drive. We will have to find her."

"It was already the plan."

Natasha gave him a new smile in his robust tone before signing his outfit waving her index finger on him. "Not in these clothes, no."

Breaking into my own office may not have been the best idea of the century. It was probably one of the places Shield kept a guard posted waiting for my return. Only Natasha seemed to do it without any problem. Plus, I was in a desperate situation at this point.

I had nowhere to go and my only exit ticket was in one of the drawers in my office. It was just waiting to be recovered. That and the little armadas that was in the secret safe had decided on my next plan of action.

Hence the reason why I was carefully and silently climbing the fire escape at this moment. I kept both hands on my handgun as I regularly cast suspicious glances around me before finally stopping on the side of the window overlooking the hallway leading to my office. I stuck to the wall as I tightened my hold on my weapon before leaning slightly to scan the area. The way seemed deserted but that did not mean it was not a trap.

I narrowed my lips distrustfully before taking another look at the edge of the building. If I walked along the ledge, I could access the window directly inside my office.

Only problem : my death imminent to the slightest missteps.

I restrained myself from swearing as I hit the back of my head against the brick wall before looking up at the clear sky. I took a deep breath as I still weighed my decision.

"Damnit!" I hissed as I put my weapon on a whim in my pants before I walked past the window.

I stepped over the rusty iron guardrail before standing just above the ground. I could feel the wind and the vacuum push me slightly making me swallow as I glanced down. I let out a small grunt at the sight of the seemingly deadly floor before shaking my head as I looked back at the little rim protruding from the wall.

I kept a hand on the rail as I climbed on the edge barely containing my feet before glued me to the wall in a hurry. I could feel my heart beating like crazy in my ears as I tried not to fall while walking along the ledge. I kept my hands sticking to the wall taking deep breaths with each new step.

I had almost no hold and the moment of turning was getting closer and closer. I could feel the tears flowing behind my eyes as the tremors were quick to assail me.

A sudden yelp escaped me as I almost slip. I stopped instantly while pushing my nails into the stone as best as I could. I took several breaths, giving a new look over my shoulder in the void before squealing.

Remind me why I was doing this already?

I swallowed as I looked back at the corner that was supposed to lead to my inner window before climbing back with a slow, shaky step.

After turning the corner, the window seemed definitely closer. Unfortunately, there was also a huge hole in the ledge. I definitely did not foresee this slight mishap. The only way to get to the other side was to jump and I was not really in the best of situations to do that sort of thing. I weighed the pros and cons to return to the other side only the gravity of the situation chosen this moment to resurface in my mind.

I didn't really have a choice. I was already a target.

I jabbed my jaw in a deep sense of frustration and anxiety before closing my eyes as I helped myself from the wall to take my momentum.

With surprise and slight fascination, I soon felt the edge under my feet letting me react on instinct. I grasped the edge of my window with all my strength before thanking the heavens for leaving the lock open. I watched the inside of my office in anticipation before silently lifting the window, keeping my eyes on the closed door at the other end of the room.

I could already discern two silhouettes through the tinted window and I assumed there were many more waiting for me on each floor. I tried to be as discreet as possible as I climbed the edge before landing on the tip of my feet in my office. I kept my eyes on the door as I waited for a movement before releasing an inaudible sigh as they still seemed unaware of my presence.

Deciding not to dwell more than necessary, I immediately referred my eyes to my entire office.

Not surprisingly, they had already raided my stuff.

I could feel the anger along my veins at the sight of the mess now littering the floor of my office. I shook my head in disgust and frustration before taking action. I wasted no time silently opening my drawer containing my ticket and my passport. I stuck these two in the pockets of my jeans before going behind my desk to get to the other side.

I took a second look at the guards at the door as a sign of caution before stopping in front of my shelf containing the majority of records of my clients. Most drawers were still open. The files formerly contained inside lay on the ground now. No matter what they had hoped to find in my office, they had to leave empty-handed. All our research had been transferred to a hard drive that Arlene had personally hid.

I kneeled on one knee as I aimed at the very last drawer before giving a new look at the door as I grabbed the drawer. I removed it completely before silently placing it on the floor. I grimaced at the agreement of the metal emitting a background sound before biting the inside of my cheek waiting.

Realizing that they had made no movement, I resumed my little investigation with caution.

Unsurprisingly, they seemed to have passed completely by my safe letting me emit a small smile of satisfaction.

I quickly composed the combo consisting of a mix of Ben's birthday and the date of our wedding before opening the door with relief at the sight of the black sports bag. I pulled it toward me before half opening the closing just to sigh at the sight of my little artillery. I zipped the closure again before grabbing the strap of the bag while standing up. I put the latter across my back before giving a new look at the window ajar. There was absolutely no way I could get my way back there.

I had only one way out.

I immediately put my eyes on the closed door guarded by two large silhouettes before forming a plan in my head.

If they were only two, I could take them. At least, I hoped. I did not really have a choice.

I took my stress ball on the way before I stuck to the wall next to the door. Quickly analyzing the objects at my disposal, I set my sights on my diploma hanging on the wall. I weighed the ball in my hand before swinging it with all my might towards the frame containing my license. I restrained myself from uttering a victory scream as I watched the frame come down from the wall before landing abruptly on the ground. The sound of the glass sounded almost immediately, letting me straighten up again with the grip of the handle turning.

Unsurprisingly, the first thing that came into my vision was a gun brandished alertly. It was exactly what I needed as I quickly grabbed the owner's wrist before twisting it toward me to disarm him. He dropped the gun under the weight of my attack, letting me grab the butt of my own weapon. I swung my foot into his ankle to force him to his knees before quickly sticking my barrel against his skull as his teammate soon followed him.

The detonation of a security notch called me out letting me withdraw mine as I supported the look of the man in front of me. The latter seemed in his thirties with a deep, dark look. He was athletic and seemed barely shaken by the situation before him.

I could see a slight twitch in his jaw as he let his eyes travel between his teammate on the floor and me. "Let go of your weapon!"

"I have nothing to lose. I'll stick a bullet in him before you can touch me." I remember as I pulled my fingers on the trigger ignoring the tremors of the man under my grip.

"You bluff! "

"Ward, don't be stupid!" Shouted the man on the ground in panic and frustration.

Ward or the agent in front of me barely gave a glance at the man as he narrowed his gaze at me at the sight of my finger hovering over the trigger. I raised an eyebrow in defiance before straightening up as he put the safety of his gun back on.

"Throw it to me." I ordered, shaking the guy in front of me."Now !"

I looked at him coldly as he leaned over to throw the weapon on the ground before pulling back with his hands raised in surrender."You will not be able to continue running away. They will find you."

"You want to bet?" I replied, acerbic.

I hastened to pick up his gun by removing the safety before kicking the man's back on the ground as a diversion. I quickly skirted the runway keeping a gun pointing at each of them as I walked back to the door.

Ward turned at the same time as my ascent to follow me with a look before holding my gaze coldly as I locked them in the office. I used my key before making sure to remove the magazine's bullets from their guns.

I immediately turned on my heels before accelerating the pace as I took the stairs at a running pace. I kept a grip on the strap of my gym bag containing my only survival insurance at this point before quickly stopping in the lobby of the building.

The sight of four Shield agents on the sidewalk had the gift of making me swear under my breath as I retreated my steps immediately to hide myself against the side of the elevator. I stuck to the wall pulling my gun out of my jeans belt before trying to catch my breath. I tried to ignore my heart pounding in my chest as I could suddenly hear their drumming step soon followed by a male voice shouting orders.

Well soon enough, I could hear their footsteps walking down the stairs letting me push myself out of the wall to watch the stairs before quickly making my way outside. I kept my gun hide in my jacket as I scanned the street quickly before making a sudden break as I suddenly caught the eye of a man close to the van Shield.

I felt my breath get stuck in my throat as the time seemed to slow down before accelerating in a moment.

One moment I was standing on the sidewalk and the second after, I was running as fast as possible to escape agents chasing me. I was using the slightest dams on my way to slow them down as I could feel a thin stream of sweat on my forehead as well as fatigue seeping down my body. I took a tight right turn in the hope of escaping them before almost failing like a truck suddenly barred my path.

I widened my eyes in panic before settling for a moment at the sight of Natasha.

"Get in!" The redhead exclaimed as she opened the back door letting me look over my shoulder at the approaching men before making my decision.

I jumped into the back of the truck before slamming the door as Steve pressed the accelerator. The agreement of the bullets ricocheting on the body made me lower myself in my seat to avoid taking a bullet. I allowed myself to relax when the bullets seemed to become a simple background noise.

However, it also allowed me to spot the big blond driving.

"Your office ? You're on the run and you come back to your freaking office?" Natasha asked in disbelief allowing me to forget Steve for a moment.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance as I removed my bag from my back before adjusting myself in my seat with a dark look on the redhead."The night was long, okay! I was shot more than I can count and needed a place to sit."

I let out a long sigh as I leaned against the back seat before I caught myself meeting Steve's icy blue gaze through the rearview mirror.

The latter seemed to dance between disappointment and sadness making me swallow in the realization.

Avoiding his disappointment look with a lump in my throat, I cast a new look on Natasha."How did you find me?"

"It was not really difficult." She replied, giving me a sharp look as I wrinkled my lips in frustration."I can't believe that Fury trusted you."

"Be careful, Nat. It looks like jealousy." I snapped, before turning my eyes away from Steve's heavy stare. "And he didn't really have a choice. I am the one who discovered that Shield was compromised."

It seemed to bring a heavy, tense silence to the whole car as I looked through the back window while Steve decided to speak for the first time."What does it mean ? What do you know about Shield?"

His tone was cold and detached again showing his mistrust letting me swallow as I could feel a slight sting along my chest. I moistened my lips keeping my eyes on the road before turning my attention to the inside rearview mirror to hold his gaze.

"Do you remember that case where I was shot?" I asked, ignoring his outraged gaze again as he realized the length of my lies."Jay came to me for help with a witness with information about the corruption of a government organization. The Shield. Zingler was one of their disciple."

Natasha frowned as she gave me another look over her shoulder."How long was it?"

"Three months." Steve answered in my place coldly.

I could see his grip on the steering wheel tightening, letting me swallow again before supporting Natasha's glance dancing between the super soldier and me. "It turns out the shooter was a weapon designed by the Shield. He has been modified and lobotomized to obey their order. They call him the-"

"Winter Soldier." Natasha finished for me, sharing a serious look with Steve before giving me a new look on alert. "What do you know about him? "

"Except that he tried to kill me twice already?" I said sarcastically, receiving dubious glances from the duo."Many things. But that's not what's important. Once I started getting into the Shield files, Fury finally found us."

"Us?" Steve asked with a deep frown before leaving a hard laugh."Wait ... that's why Detective Khallahan was at your house this time. You worked with him."

I tried to ignore his angry look through the rearview mirror as I looked back at Natasha to explain myself. "He had important resources. And I needed someone I could trust." I glanced in spite of myself at the blond in the realization before turning my eyes to Natasha."Anyway, Fury ended up sending you before meeting me in person. He asked me to find out more about the Shield. It was like that we learned that they were planning to kill him."

"Wait, wait, you know they were going to kill him?" Natasha snapped, answering my question about Fury's fate.

I swallowed in the realization before squinting my lips. "He knew it too. I met Agent Hill a few weeks ago. I passed her a USB key containing files on the Lemurian Star."

"You knew everything." Steve finally whispered in too much emotion.

"Steve-"

"No! What wasn't a lie with you?" He yelled out in anger."You've been lying to me so many times! You played a game all along! Hell, you've tried to set me up with Kate. You want me to ask her out!"

I jabbed my jaw ignoring our audience as I pointed sharply at him."Hey, I was as ignorant as you about Kate or whatever the hell is her real name! Fury had secrets stacked in secrets. He was a freaking Russian doll!"

"And you expect me to believe you now?" He replied dryly with disdain making me almost flinch in his tone of emotion except anger, disappointment and betrayal.

I tried to ignore his look as I could feel anger in my turn. "What was I supposed to do? It was your landmark! You trusted them-"

"I trusted you !" He yelled out, making me flinch in guilt. I bit my lower lip under his assault before turning my eyes to the window as I could feel Natasha silently gauging us.

I took a deep breath before sighing in a whisper. "I know. I'm sorry." I played distractedly with my hands as I could feel his hard look on me. "Clearly I wasn't thinking. But I just wanted to protect you but then Fury appeared and asked me not to tell you anything and I couldn't dig myself out."I was taking a breath, exhausted."I never meant to hurt you, Steve."

I let my head fall back against the back seat as I could feel my bottled emotions catching up to me. Spending a sleepless night watching over and over for a sniper was not healthy.

"What else did you lied about?" He asked seriously, voice even as I lifted my eyes to cross his bluish look through the internal rearview mirror."Was there anything real about all that you said to me?"

I gave him an exaggerated look this time before turning away my eyes as I realized there was something else that I deliberately hid from him."You remember what you asked me the other night? Before all this starts." God, it seemed like years now. "About dinner ..." Steve frowned as he looked at Natasha, who seemed to be gauging us with a new smirk in the realization. "Well ... I didn't really intend to come. I was going to take a plane in the night."

Steve paused in the realization before tightening his grip on the steering wheel as he could feel his heart cracked in his chest. He had spent all night being frustrated and angry at her that he almost forgot about their date. And now, it seems that she did not even intend to go there.

A heavy silence fell over our group, letting me avoid Steve's gaze again in shame and guilt before closing my eyelids as I could feel fatigue catching up with me.

No matter where we went from now on, I was not sure that my relationship with Steve could be fixed.