Dani's POV
(Nightwing27th)

We ran up several flights of stairs before coming to a hallway. Elektra and I were following Daredevil. We knew he knew how to get out of here better than either of us. We ran halfway down the hallway before stopping. Daredevil opened a door on the right, then ushered us in. We both went in, with him following. I watched him close and lock the door.

I glanced around at the room. It was small and dark, but I could still see. A metal spiral stair case sat near the back. I'm assuming that leads to the roof. I had put my bow away a while ago to take some weight off my shoulder. He were exhausted, taking deep breaths.

"I'm not gonna lie to you," Daredevil said. "There's a lot more coming."

"One thing's for sure," Elektra was pacing, "we're gonna die."

"Loving the vote of confidence," I said as I played with my injured shoulder's movement. "But…wouldn't be the first time I died."

"No one's dying," Daredevil looked at me. He was standing close to Elektra and has been since she showed up. I sighed and tried to ignore the mass of emotions in me. As soon as I get to Clint's I'm crying for a week. Minimum. Maybe three. Four, if I'm dedicated enough, and I just might be.

"You don't know that," I said it sternly, with more confidence than I've spoken to him in a long time. Because it's true. As soon as we get on that roof, what happens happens. And nothing he can say will ever change that. He stared at me, slightly stunned. Then he looked away. So did I.

Without a word, he headed to the stairs. I sighed in annoyance and followed behind Elektra. We walked up a couple for more flights before coming to a landing. I could hear ninjas starting to beat on the door we'd come in through. It won't be long before they get through it.

"What's out there?" Elektra asked him.

"Too many to count," he replied. "Armed. Packing katanas, couple of long bows." He stopped and tilted his head. "More coming up from below, same weapons. I say we've got a couple of minutes before they break through that door." Elektra slid to the ground. She pulled her knees up, looking on the verge of a mental break down.

I opened my mouth to speak when a loud bang cut me off. I glanced back down the stairs. I can just barely see the door. It's still closed, but they're trying. I turned back. "Frank should be here any minute," I said. She looked up at me, not assured at all by that. I looked at Daredevil. "Clint's too far away. And the only other person near us able to help probably wouldn't come if I called her." He looked at me, his expression unreadable.

"But," I continued, "I can call in a favor, get an extraction team here." I already had my phone out and was dialing the number before Daredevil could nod his approval. But I was going to do it anyway. As soon as the phone started ring I put it on speaker. I held it out in front of me and then leaned into the wall. Elektra looked confused, yet curious.

"Coulson," he said, finally answering. The thing nearly went to voice mail.

"I need your help," I said. "We're trapped in an abandoned building, surrounded and drastically out numbered. We need and extraction team, along with as many agents as you have, ASAP."

"Roger that. Daisy and Mack are closest to your position. I'll arrive shortly with the rest," he said. "What have you gotten yourself into this time?"

"Uh…ninjas."

"Great. Not my favorite."

"Yeah. I'll explain the rest later," I looked at the others. Daredevil seemed more relieved than Elektra did that help was coming. But both were still very serious.

"Can't wait."

"Any chance on an ETA?"

"Mack and Daisy should be there in under twenty minutes. I'm about two hours out. Even at top speed it'll take forty five minutes."

"Understood." I sighed and then hung up. "See? We've got this under control," I said sarcastically. I slid my phone away. I exhaled, long and slow. I know we probably won't last, but a few extra hands couldn't hurt anything. I've never really thought about not dying before. But now that I've got Lizzie…now that she's my responsibility, I can't stop thinking about it.

I'm her family now. Yeah, she'd have Clint but it wouldn't be the same. If I die, she loses the last person she cares about. And all of this before she turns two. That can't happen. I won't let it. I sighed, the air coming out more unsteady than I wanted it too. I thought about what Coulson said. Twenty minutes till Mack and Daisy get here.

That's too long. I glanced up at Daredevil. He was taking off his mask. I could tell by the look on his face…he knew it too. He took a step closer to me. "Can I, uh," he said slowly, "talk to you, for a second?" He motioned off to the side. I was slightly shocked, having no idea what he wanted to say, but I nodded anyway. He turned and walked to the top of the stairs. I followed, standing next to him. I turned toward him with a questioning look.

"I'm sorry I got you in to this," he started. I half scoffed, leaning into the rail. I hung my head and shook it. "What?" I looked up at him. He was genuinely curious.

"We're about to be eating alive by sword wielding ninjas, and some how you manage to make it your fault," I said. Now he just looked confused. "I signed up for this, okay? I wanted to be here. Despite what you might think, I can make my own bad decisions. It's not always your fault." I looked down the stairs. "So, whatever happens…" I looked at him again. "Don't blame yourself."

"Dani-"

"Look, Matt, I'm not the super sentimental type. Okay? I know there's a good chance we'll die, and I'm not going to sugar coat it. That's not something I'm famous for either. But I don't want my last moments alive spent talking about where we went wrong or what could have been," I spoke with no emotion. "That's just not me."

"I know," he sighed.

"Maybe this is how it was always meant to be. Maybe we were just supposed to be heroes. Nothing more. That's how we met, as heroes, and fell in love. Now it looks like that's how we'll go out, too." I glanced back over at Elektra. She was still sitting in the same spot. I looked at Matt. His face kind of dropped at my words.

"I don't want that to happen."

"Yeah," I sighed and crossed my arms. "Me either." I felt a twinge in my shoulder and then put my hand on it. The wound was still bleeding, but not very much. I stared down at the floor, thinking. The ninjas were hitting the door harder and I knew our time was limited. "There is something, though," I looked at him. "Something I want to say…you know, just in case."

He stared at me blankly for a minute, then nodded. I exhaled and then looked at him. "I wanted to say…I'm sorry. For the things I said to you after Mary died, even though some of it was true. But mainly…I'm sorry I blamed you. That wasn't fair. Ward found me because I was cocky. He would've killed anyone who was close to me, Mary just happened to be the one he got his hands on." I shrugged. "While I know there are things we both wish, that night, we'd done differently…ultimately, I know it's not your fault and I don't blame you. That's it."

He looked relieved and confused at the same time. But I meant it. The only reason I'm telling him now is because I know if I died, Mary's death would probably haunt him. I know him better than he thinks. "Alright," I cleared my throat, walking toward the door to the roof. I've had enough feelings for a life time. "Ready?"

Elektra stood and Matt came forward. He slipped on his mask and then pulled out his sticks, joining them in the middle. I reached down to my leg holster and pulled out my bow. I pressed the button on the side and it expanded. I sighed, relishing in the sound it made. I looked at Daredevil. He nodded. I put my hand on the knob and then swung the door open. I stepped out, the others following me. They walked along side me.

"Why are you even doing this?" I looked at Elektra to my right. She sounded truly curious.

"Because the city needs saving," I said. "I came to this town a hero. That's how I plan to leave it." She nodded, seeing my point. We walked out into the middle of the roof, not getting far before we stopped. What looked to be about thirty ninjas, stood at the end of the roof about fifty yards away.

The others ran toward them. I followed a few feet behind, drawing an arrow. Three of the ninjas were archers, and started shooting when we got within thirty yards of them. I shot the first one center mass and he fell over. Daredevil and Elektra deflected the arrows from the other two. I fired a second arrow, hitting the next archer.

He fell over and I readied another arrow. A man's voice shouted something in Japanese behind us, and we all stopped. Both parties froze. I turned around and looked for the owner of the voice. So did Daredevil and Elektra. "No one…" the same voice said. Another ten or so ninjas stood yards away. Nobu stepped out from behind them. "…escapes destiny."

He held that stupid chain with the blade on the end. I mean, really. Doesn't he get tired of that thing? Oh, wait. Never mind. Why would he? Every time he whips it out, we lose. Instant game over. That thing is out Kryptonite. And he knows it. He started walking toward us, swinging the chain around next to him. The sound of the blade cutting through the air sent chills up my spin.

"You belong to us," he said, I'm assuming talking to Elektra. "And you two…you belong to the ground." He swung the blade at us. Daredevil blocked it with his Billy Club while Elektra swung at him. I raised my bow and fired. Somehow he dodged it and advanced on Daredevil.

I reached back for an arrow as Elektra tried for another swing with a sai. Before she had the chance, Nobu spun and kicked her in the stomach. She flew back and plowed into me. We both hit the ground, a mass of tangled bodies. I sighed in annoyance, pushing her off of me. I looked to my left and saw my bow a few feet away.

I looked to my right and saw the ninjas at the end of the roof advancing, moving our way with weapons drawn. I got up just enough to lunge for my bow. I grabbed it, rolling onto my back. I had rolled over just in time to shoot a ninja a foot away from me. Elektra was on her feet fighting. In a split second we were surrounded.

I brought my knees up, rolling over my head. I came out in the crouching position, loading another arrow. I shot the closest ninja and then stood. Another one came at me, sword drawn. I stepped to the side at the last second, grabbing his wrist with my right hand. I pushed the sword away while kicking him in the stomach with my right leg.

I craned him in the back of the head with my bow while ripping the sword from his hands. I stepped around him and drove the sword into his back. I looked up at Elektra. A ninja was holding her from behind while another one came at her from the front. I shot him with an arrow, going through his temple.

I grabbed the handle of the sword in the guy's back, pulling it out as he fell. I moved straight from that to throwing it. It flew into the chest of a ninja twenty feet away while I drew back another arrow. Elektra stabbed a ninja in the chest with her sai, then kicked him away. She jogged the few feet between us, standing at my back.

I looked back at her, just long enough for our eyes to meet. Then I went back to the battle. I stepped forward and fired my arrow. I reached back for another arrow, feeling someone's hand grab my wrist. I looked my arm and spun around. I grabbed his wrist and then jammed my bow into his face. I quickly twisted his arm back like a lever on a windup toy. I heard and felt it pop.

He dropped to his knees as one of Elektra's sai flew into his chest. I drove it in farther. I yanked it out and then spun, driving it right into the next guy. I ducked, just missing a sword, and rolled forward. I came up on one knee and through the sai back to Elektra. She spun just in time to catch it before going back to her opponent.

I stood and turned, going straight into a cartwheel. Both my feet came down on the guy who'd swung at me. He hit the floor as I landed. I quickly brought up my bow, blocking a jab with a sword. Without looking, I kicked the guy on the ground in the face since I couldn't end his life. Either way, I didn't want him getting back up.

I swung my bow right, letting the blade slide off of it. I jumped and kicked him in the side. I pulled back an arrow and then shot him in the chest. He dropped to his knees. I took a second and looked around. There were still plenty of ninjas to go around. Daredevil, though, was locked in a one-on-one battle with Nobu. I really didn't like the sound of that.

I huffed, exhausted. I walked forward, to the next ninja. I wrapped my arm around the neck of the guy I just shoot. I got a good grip before jerking up and just the right way. I heard the crack and then let go, reaching back for an arrow. I walked forward, trying to bulldoze a path to get to Nobu. I shot an arrow to the left, hitting one of the ninjas Elektra was fighting.

I tossed my bow in my right hand and then swung it like a bat at an oncoming ninja. He flew back and off to the side. And then I was in the free and clear. I finally had my chance to go fight Nobu, to help Daredevil. And then someone kicked me from behind. I stumbled forward, transforming the energy into a roll. I came up on one knee, facing the wrong way from my opponent.

I twisted around to see him, just in time to catch his leg inches from my face. I pushed it away from me and then punched. He deflected it and then clocked me in the jaw. I turned back to him and grabbed two fists full of his outfit. I hefted him over my head and slammed him on the ground. I heaved for breath, my shoulder burning.

I pulled out a knife and then drove it into his heart. I stood and instantly felt arms around me, pinning mine to me. I got a good hold on his arms and then went limp, dropping to the ground. He was prepared to hold me, but not all of my weight. As soon as my butt hit the ground, I carried the motion forward, flipping him onto his back.

Once down, I quickly got into position. I laid back and wrapped my legs around his neck. Still holding his arms, I refused to let go, squeezing my thighs as much as I could. I turned my pelvis slightly and was met with the crack of his neck. He went limp and I quickly let go, righting myself.

I rolled over onto my stomach and saw my bow. I reached out and grabbed it, just as my eyes jutted up to see Elektra. She was about ten feet away, closer to Nobu and Daredevil than I was. I didn't see the whole thing, but I had looked up just in time to see the end result.

A ninja swung from behind, his blade slicing right through her neck. All the air left my lungs. I wasn't sure if I should jump for joy or be mad. But he carried out the move, her head falling off her shoulders and tumbling to the ground. Everyone froze, the battle froze. I very slowly pushed up to my knees and then sat back on my heels.

Elektra was dead. Decapitated. And I didn't even get to do it. My bow rested in my left hand. I tightened my grip on it. No way are they just going to leave us alive. They wanted her. She's the whole reason for all of this. Daredevil and Nobu were on the ground when it happened. Now they both were slowly getting to their feet.

Daredevil slowly walked over to her body. He wasn't wearing his mask anymore. He must've lost it during the fight. I glanced around me, counting ninjas, plotting my next move. Yes, I feel bad she's dead. And yes, I feel even worse for Matt. But…I don't have time for feelings. Right now, those feelings might get me killed. I ever so slowly rose to my feet.

I looked at Daredevil. He just stood there above her body, looking down. He knows she's dead. But the worst part about it ending like this, is that she's dead. There's no 'trying to save her', no 'final words'. Nothing. Just dead. Instant dead. You know, that should be the name of a coffee. I sighed. I always think of these things at the worst times.

I looked to Nobu. He looked at the body, angry and confused at the same time. The ninja that died that…if he doesn't die here he'll probably die as soon as he gets back to Nobu Incorporated. Nobu marched past me. I turned, following him with my eyes. A new round of ninjas had just appeared on the roof. Probably another thirty.

He marched past them and pointed back at us, saying something in Japanese. And I knew what it meant. 'Kill them'. I sighed and then reached for an arrow. Really? More ninjas? I loaded the arrow and then backed up. I kept walking backwards until, the string pulled back, until I saw Daredevil out of the corner of my eye.

And then the ninjas advanced. They ran forward, weapons drawn. I looked at Daredevil. He was more than ready to kick more ninja butt. He charged forward, no mask and no plan. I fired my arrow and then reloaded. I pulled back the string as Daredevil made contact with the first ninja.

I released the arrow and then reloaded. A gunshot filled my ears and a ninja dropped. I fired my arrow and then spun around, hearing something hit metal. I looked just in time to see a metal hook wrapping itself around the leg of the water tower twenty feet away. That hook was attacked to a metal cable. A zip line. I had just enough time to think that before I was tackled.

Alison's POV
(bellamysgirl)

I can honestly say I've never used a zip line up until this point. Well, now I can say I did it. That thought whizzed through my mind just as my feet slid onto the pavement of the other rooftop. My hands dropped the handle and I was moving, pulling the shotgun off my back. It wasn't hard to spot Matt and Dani. Matt was going ape on a couple unfortunate ninjas a little farther across the rooftop, and Dani was wrestling with a ninja just a few feet from me.

I racked a bullet into the chamber and fired, sending a bullet into the ninja atop Dani. The poor sap tumbled off her, rolling a few feet to the side, and Dani's head snapped up. But there was no time for small talk. My right eye caught movement and I looked that way. A ninja was barreling toward me. I turned, aimed, and fired. Just as I did, more gun shots sounded not too far behind me, and I twisted to see.

Frank had already taken out three ninjas and was marching for a fourth. Dani was up and firing arrows at the unsuspecting ninjas about to pounce on Matt. Only then did I realize he wasn't wearing his mask. What did I miss? I didn't have time to dwell on it. A sword suddenly swung at me and I ducked, just barely missing it. I righted myself and slammed the butt of the shotgun into the side of the ninja's head, shoving his aside a foot.

I racked a bullet into the chamber and fired. The ninja shot back a few steps, getting too close to the edge, and he stumbled right off the side of the roof. I suddenly felt the urge to laugh, but I stifled it. I mean, I just blew the guy off the roof. It's like one of those stupid cartoons Chase watches—even though I tell him not to. I took a deep breath, turning to see the others. Dani was locked in a heated hand-to-hand with two ninjas.

Matt was struggling to get one down. And Frank was leaving a long trial of bodies across the roof. There wasn't much action over here on my side so I started for where it was. I blasted at least two ninjas off Matt's tail before they could clobber the poor guy. Dani just finished with her two ninjas as I arrived beside her. I couldn't quite read the expression on her face. But she was panting, out of breath, her eyes rounded.

"A shotgun? Who's idea was that?" she asked, exasperated.

I racked a bullet into the chamber. "Mine," I replied, like it was obvious. Just then, a ninja came running at Dani's backside. "Duck!" She dropped just as I raised the gun. I fired, and the ninja stopped, actually falling back a couple feet. Dani popped back up and loaded an arrow into her bow. "This is insane," she mumbled, aiming at a far off ninja to her left.

"You're telling me," I exhaled in a huff. She launched her arrow and immediately drew back again, this time with two arrows on the string. She let go of the arrows and lurched into a half-run toward two approaching ninjas. I only heard a sound a second before I turned around. A sword was coming at my face and I ducked with a sharp yelp. My face missed getting hit, but the blade sliced across my right upper arm.

I stifled a cry at the burning that spread across my skin, deep into the muscle, and raised my gun. It was awful timing. The ninja sent his foot into my wrist, sending the shotgun clattering to the floor, and he swung his blade lower. I hopped back a step just in time to miss it getting sliced across the stomach. It was nonstop. Once I'd dodged that, he swung again, this time at my head straight-on. So I tucked and rolled to the right.

It was farther away from the other, but I rolled less than a foot out of the way. As I turned on the ground to see the ninja, his sword was raised above his head, ready to end it. And then suddenly he was there no more. Blown back a few feet with the company of a gunshot. I quickly twisted to look up. Frank lowered his gun just as I did. A familiar sound came from not too far off and suddenly an arrow lodged itself in Frank's chest, right through the Kevlar.

The air in my lungs couldn't make it through my windpipe as he stumbled back a step, slightly disoriented by the hit. Then he dropped right along with my heart. I gasped. "Frank!" Shock was threatening to take over, and it took every ounce of strength I had to push myself up to my feet. I moved as fast as possible to close the distance between us and dropped to my knees beside him, sliding a bit. He looked to be struggling to breathe against the rod in his chest.

My hands were shaking, but I immediately checked for bleeding. "Frank? Hey- just hang in there, okay? We can fix this," I half-heartedly assured, nodding quickly.

He groaned as he readjusted his position slightly. His eyes shifted up, quickly finding mine. I couldn't read any fear in them. But they softened once they'd looked at mine. Probably because I was afraid. Everything in me knew what this meant. And everything in me was telling me it wasn't going to happen. My head was fighting desperately to get my heart to see reason. But it wasn't working in the slightest.

"Alison…stop- stop that. You can't fix this," he reasoned, gently grabbed my wrist. That's when my eyes started to sting, blurring. My stomach twisted. I quickly shook my head as a dreadful emptiness started to settle in. He was right. I knew that. "Frank, I can't-" I had to stop myself as a small, strangled sob escaped me. I blinked hard to be able to see and it only caused more tears my eyes had gathered to roll down my cheeks.

"I can't lose you," I finished, trying hard to keep my voice from shaking—and failing to do so. I sniffled back another sob. "I won't, okay? Not again. Just stay with me…please." I was practically begging, taking his hand in both of mine and holding it tightly. He made to exhale but it came out a sputtering wheeze. My heart ached. Everything ached. "Tell your boy I'm not a bad guy, alright?"

"He probably still thinks we're getting married," a small chuckle bubbled up, but it was quickly dampened by more tears.

"Yeah…" he coughed hoarsely then wiped his lower lip, his finger visibly coming away with blood. "…maybe someday. If you still want me."

I bit my lip, trying to breathe. "I didn't think you planned on sticking around that long."

"And miss- miss out on calling you mine? N-not a chance."

A wave of bittersweet washed over me, only turning sour the words in my mouth. "Don't you know? Frank…I'm already yours." His eyes softened at that, but then there was a flicker. His eyelids just barely closed for a fraction of a second. But it was enough to make my pulse skyrocket. "And…" he paused, his eyelids flickering again. Then he continued, "I'm yours?"

I nodded quickly, edging closer an inch, "Yes."

"Good…that's good…" His speak had slowed as his eyelids eased to a halfway position, threatening to fall completely—almost as if he was in a paused space between awake and asleep for a second. "Frank?" it came out sounding more like a whimper than anything else. I sat up more on my knees and slid my hands onto his cheeks, turning his face toward me. "Frank! Listen to me. What I was trying to say is the thing that matters to me the most…is you. I love you."

My eyes scanned his half closed eyelids. He seemed to be fighting it, only able to barely pull them up enough to be called fully open. My eyebrows furrowed in concentration. His lips were moving, but no sound was managing to come out. It took me a short second to figure out what he was trying to say. Kiss me.

I didn't hesitate to lean down and press my lips to his. For a second, I felt him kiss me back. And then his muscles fell relaxed. I held on an extra second before pulling back a few inches from his face. His eyes had fallen completely closed and my hands were the only thing keeping his head upright now. My fingers scrambled to his neck for a pulse. Nothing. He was gone. I stared partially agape for a moment as it sunk in. He was gone.

Really gone this time. There was no coming back from this.

Even if he'd wanted to, there was nothing that could have been done. I knew that. He knew that. There was no denying it. I tried to stifle it as much as possible, but a sob racked my body. I leaned my forehead against his, squeezing my eyes tightly closed, willing it to all go away. If this is some crazy dream I would really like to wake up now. But it was real. And it felt like I'd just been hit but a truck.

"No, no…no," I pulled back, a sob forcing itself out that caused my whole body to lurch, shaking my head. "No…please, God, no." Nothing I could say would change this. But I still pleaded, begged whoever was up there to turn it all around. Just make it some crazy prank. Any minute, Ashton Kootchar is going to jump out and tell me this was a lie. And I'll say I'll never forgive him, but eventually I do, and either way Frank would still be alive.

I sat back a little, letting him go.