Okay, I know these past few chapters have been kind of slow, but for everyone who has stuck with me though them, thank you so much! I promise things are going to start picking up here soon, I just want to do this story justice, this second time around, and do Liz's character justice!

Chapter 5

Several days had passed since her conversation with Captain Rogers. The tower had been quiet- Captain Rogers, Natasha and Clint were on a clean up mission from the battle, and Tony and Bruce had been working on scanning any materials brought into SHIELD for different or unknown elements. The team being distracted had allowed Liz to get caught up on her own work.

"Mrs. Stark, Deputy Director Hill of SHIELD is on the line for you," Jarvis said, bringing Liz back to reality from her gaze out at the New York skyline.

"Bring her up J," Liz said, bringing her screen around "Agent Hill."

"Liz," The agent nodded at her from the screen. "I see you're adjusting to New York."

"Yes ma'am. What can I do for you Agent Hill?"

"As you know, for the past four years SHILED has been assigning you cases involving Tony, working with local police departments to help keep things- to help keep SHIELD off their radar." Liz gave the deputy director a nod, wondering where she was going with this. Hill continued, "You've done more than we could have asked for with Malibu Police Department, NYPD, as well as many other local police departments that have had a run in with Iron Man. SHIELD now has multiple people on their radar through the Avengers Protocol. We'd like to make you the official liaison of the Avengers."

Liz's lips parted slightly, taking a breath in. She felt taken aback- unprepared. "What would that entail?"

"Nothing too different, the same thing you've been doing with Tony, just with all the other Avengers. Our biggest concerns are Agent's Barton and Romanoff, and Captain Rogers. Doctor Banner operates too low, so unless we have an accident with the Hulk, or the Avengers as a whole, you shouldn't be expecting anything from him, and Thor operates off-world, so I wouldn't expect much from him either."

"Would it require much travel?" "

Hill raised her eyebrow, "Potentially. We'll inform you of any potential issues, as well as give you access to a quinjet when needed. We'll of course also provide you with an office in our New York SHIELD base. We'd also like you to relocate to New York to be closer to the Avengers headquarters."

Liz paused a moment, "Can I think about it?"

Hill gave an exasperated sigh, "Miss Stark, we don't have time for you to think about it. Captain Rogers, Agent Barton and Agent Romanoff have already been on missions, and we're going to need you to start fielding calls and looking through mission reports. This isn't a difficult question."

"I understand that Agent Hill, but you're asking me to uproot my life, and triple my workload. I need some time to think about this."

"You have 24 hours," Hill said, and ended the call.

Liz leaned back in her chair, huffing. The deputy director was asking a lot of her. She pushed her chair back, and walked out of her office. She changed into a pair of dusty pink leggings, and a matching sports bra, throwing her hair into a high ponytail so that it just traced the top of her sports bra as she waked, heading down into the lobby.

As she walked out of the elevator she saw Captain Rogers lacing up his shoe. He gave her a small smile and a nod.

"Going somewhere?" She asked him.

"Just for a run. You?"

"Had the same idea."

"Care to join me?" He asked.

"Sure," Liz gave a small smile and opened the door Captain Rogers followed behind her. "Where do you usually go?"

"There's a few places in Central Park I like to go." He said as they walked to a crosswalk.

"I'll follow you then."

"Let me know if I'm going too fast," He said as the light changed and they began walking within a group of people crossing.

Liz smiled, as they picked up a light jog heading into the park. The May air was warm, a hit of summer on it's breath. She hummed and smiled at the warm breeze. Captain Rogers looked down at her.

"You're keeping up pretty good," He said, "Wanna pick it up?"

Liz smirked, "You sure you're ready for that Rogers?"

"You're definitely a Stark," He whispered under his breath, "Twice around the pond, and back to the Tower?"

"Is that a challenge?" She asked.

"Not sure you'll make it a challenge." He smirked. Liz was slowly letting her guard down. Seeing Captain Rogers' sense of humor was breaking the ice more than she thought it was. It wasn't something he was very open about.

"Well let's find out" Liz picked up her pace, matching Captain Rogers. He looked at her in shock, going a bit faster, Liz matching him. She kept her breath calm, stretching her strides- her eyes looking at the curve of the pond. She felt Captain Rogers eyes on her as they rounded the final turn of the first lap.
Liz looked over at Captain Rogers, his pace began to slow as Liz continued to run. She looked back, and realized he was a good hundred yards behind her. She stopped and walked back to him, her eyebrow raised in curiosity.

"I thought you said the serum didn't have an effect on you?" He said to her, a slight twinge of anger in his voice.

"I wasn't ready to tell you it did," Liz shrugged her shoulders, as she eyed him.

Captain Rogers just stared at her, as she looked back, trying to count the flecks of green in his eyes. The only physical flaw he had and yet… somehow the most attractive thing about him. "Did the serum affect your mother?" He finally asked pulling Liz away from counting.

"I honestly don't know. I know she died of internal bleeding- it was caused from the way I kicked when she was pushing. I think it was from the serum.. The strength part of it at least." Liz dropped her eyes, her mind went blank and her heart went numb. Not even Tony knew, But now, Captain Rogers learned her secret.

"I'm sorry," He finally says, "Losing people is never easy."

She gave him a weak smile. "It's hard when you don't know what you lost."

"So did you take everything from the serum?"

"I honestly don't really know."

"Can you get drunk?"

Liz bust out laughing, "God I wish. The increased metabolism keeps me in great shape but at what cost?"

Captain Rogers laughed at her, "Yeah, I remember that feeling. So who else knows?"

"Just you. When Obidiah found out he told me to keep it a secret. By the time Pepper came into our lives I was old enough to keep quiet."

Captain Rogers nodded his head. "I'm sure that was a lot to grow up with."

Liz let a laugh out as the two rounded the fountain, "Sometimes. I just never played sports and kept to myself."

"Do you run a lot?"

"No, not really. Only when I'm stressed."

Captain Rogers gave her a small glance, "What were you stressed about?"

"Agent Hill wants to make me the official liaison for the Avengers."

"What did you tell her?"

Liz gave a huff, "I asked to think about it. Captain, this isn't just a simple decision. It would mean uprooting my entire life, moving to New York, changing my lifestyle. I have a degree in criminal justice and sociology- I honestly don't feel like I know what to do. I was trained to study and work with law enforcement, not super heroes."

"Sometimes we don't always get what we want I-" Captain Rogers was cut off as a gunshot rang through the park, "Everybody down!" He yelled, as he pulled a pistol from his waistband.

"What the hell is going on?" Liz yelled over the screams, looking at Captain Rogers.

"I don't know. Stay down and call 911!"

The two crouched behind the fountain wall. Captain Rogers arched his back turning to try and find the shooter. Another shot rang out hitting the edge of the concrete fountain wall between the two. Liz screamed, as Captain Rogers looked over at her, "Are you hit?"

"No, no I'm okay," Liz tried to steady her breath.

Captain Rogers gave a small nod and rolled onto his knees, as he fired in the direction of the previous shots. Captain Rogers ducked back down, "There's at least two snipers. We've gotta get out of here."

Liz looked at Captain Rogers, her breathing became short and shallow, "We're going to die here."

"Hey, Elizabeth, look at me," Captain Rogers grabbed her arm and looked at her. "When I tell you too, you need to run like hell back towards the Tower, understand?"

Liz inhaled and nodded. Captain Rogers rolled back on to his knee firing in the direction of the snipers.

"Now!" He yelled.

Liz scrambled to her feet beginning to run towards the tower, gunshots echoing all around her. Liz began running faster, not caring about people witnessing her enhanced speed. As she began approaching the street she felt a dull pain and burning sensation in her shoulder. She reached her hand up, grabbing her shoulder. Her vision tunneling as she saw the blood on her hand. Her breathing began getting heavier and heavier, panic sinking in.

Faster Liz, faster She told herself. Her body began to slow. The burning in her shoulder increased, and next thing she knew she felt the same pain in her leg.

Liz collapsed, and saw blood pooling. She tried to find Captain Rogers but her tunneled vision was getting smaller and smaller. She couldn't hear anything over the pounding of her heart. She felt hands grabbing her and beginning to carry her.

Sorry it took me so long to get this up. I know the chapter is long. Thanks to everyone who stuck it out. Feel free to leave a review and tell me what you want to see!