~:~

Beep...Beep ...Beep….

I slowly opened my eyes, blinded by the light above. I shot up from the bed, gasping for air.

A pair of hands slightly pushed me to lay back down.

"Angie, slow down you're okay. You're safe."

My eyes watered at the sound of the voice. "Logan?"

He gave me a small smile. "Yeah, it's me…."

"How did I get here? I was just…."

"Some guy brought you here," Logan said. "He told us you spaced out and then just dropped. And when they couldn't get you up…you get the point."

I nodded in reply. "Has anyone called?"

"Congress wants to talk to you. They want to hear your side or something."

"Anybody else?" I asked with a gulp.

He shook his head. "Besides them, no. Sorry, Ange."

"I guess I need to say hi to Marcos and then high-tail it out of here." I sat up and threw my legs over the side of the bed. "Tell someone to call Congress back. Get them to use my HYDRA cover. I don't want the press getting a hold of me."

"You could have gotten yourself killed," he said, glaring at me. "World's went to hell since D.C. and you were a part of it." I stared at my lap.

You have no idea….

"How's Marcos?"

"Irritated. Annoyed." He huffed, "I mean every time everything's good, you leave and everything goes bad. You need to decide: keep fighting or retire. You can't do both."

"You have." I stood up and began to walk away. "You have for years. Granted it's been off and on but-"

"I don't have the responsibilities you have."

I scoffed. "That's a lie. You have the same responsibilities I have. But you ignore them." I shook my head. "Maybe that's why you and Scott butt heads so much. And that's why Laura resents you so much."

"First of all, me and Scott have always done that. And two, that's different," he replied. "She may be my kid. But I was never meant to be her father."

"And I was never meant to be his mother." I looked around. "When he got here, I was drawn to him. Drawn to his pain. But…I've realized that I can't help him."

"You have helped him." He walked up to me and placed his hands on my shoulders. "More than you realize."

"Maybe I have. But I'm still a kid. A scared little kid who doesn't know what to do."

He placed his hand on my cheek, wiping away a stray tear, and pulled me into a hug.

"You always know what to do." I tensed at his reply.

"Then why does everyone still get hurt?"

He pulled away and forced me to look at him. "What did you see?"

"Her. She ripped me a new one for almost dying." Again….

He smirked, turning towards the sound of running from down the hall. "And I think he would too."

"Mom! What the heck?" Marcos ran up to me and pulled me into a hug. "Stop almost dying!"

I squeezed him tighter. "I know, bud. I know."

~:~

Sometime later….

"Explain to the Council your involvement in the recent events," the committee general said.

"About a year or two ago, I was hired by the deceased Director Fury. He grew suspicious of a terrorist cell growing within the agency. My job was to infiltrate it and gain their trust."

"And how did you manage to do that?"

"I infiltrated a small group, who took me to the higher-ups. They couldn't believe that someone with my background could really be one of them," I replied. "Once I got to where I was at the time of the Triskelion, I had managed to become one of the highest officers in the organization."

"And what intel did you gather?"

I shook my head. "Nothing more than what Agent Romanoff released to the public."

"None at all?" he frowned. "What of the intel on your past? I'm sure you had something to gain in your time there."

"I'm not entirely sure what you mean, general."

"About your parentage, your past?"

"I know everything I need to know." I crossed my arms. "My mother was kidnapped by the terrorist cell and was experimented on. Somewhere along the line, she was impregnated and six months after she escaped, she had me. End of story."

"Your father?"

"He gave me life. I'll give you that. But other than that, I have no need to know."

~:~

After the hearing, I drove to the cemetery. I saw Steve and the others, but I kept my distance and sat on a park bench.

I knew I needed to go and talk to them, but…who would want to. I lied to them, betrayed their trust. If it was the other way around, I wouldn't want to talk to me either.

As I sat there swimming in my thoughts, I heard a car lock and a man called out for me.

"Ms. Jarvis?"

I turned around and peered over my sunglasses. "Can I help you?"

"Everett Ross. CIA." A look of recognition slowly crept over my face. "It's been a long time."

"Yes ...yes it has."

"Don't take this the wrong way, but…." He came to sit next to me. "You look like crap."

"Way to make a girl feel great," I said with a laugh. The smile dropped from my face, and I glanced over at the group.

"I know that face." He turned his head to look at me. "That's the scared nineteen year old girl I met eight years ago."

"And you're still the hotshot pilot."

He gave me a small smile. "Maybe I am." He turned his gaze to the others. "Talk to them."

"Like they'd want to talk to me," I scoffed. "I lied to them for a year, I betrayed them."

"It was all fake, wasn't it?"

"It was to me." I pointed at them. "To them…." I chuckled. "They may know the truth. But it still hurts."

"That year really took a toll on you, didn't it?" He asked, concern filling his eyes.

I shook my head. "No, the past twenty-eight years have taken its toll on me." I stood up. "Everytime I think I'm out of the fight, something always brings me back in." I began pacing in front of the agent. "I'm supposed to be done. Supposed to be keeping my family away from…." I waved my hands around, "all this. But no." I sat back down. "I keep jumping right back in."

"First, it was the fiancee and the mission that went south. Then, Tony went missing, almost died, turned up fine, almost died again, and then was fine again. Only for him to get sick a few months later where he almost died again. Then…Aliens…and now this boatload of crap. Along with all the underlying family drama that's going on."

My hands were shaking, trembling in guilt. "All these years, I thought I had changed. But…I guess you're right. I'm still that scared nineteen year old girl." I sighed, tears brimming my eyes. "What happened to me?"

"Someone I met once said: Life happened. You just have to learn to take what it left you and move on." He smiled. "And she turned into one amazing person."

"Are you sure you're talking about me?" I questioned. "Because I was grief-stricken over my breakup and I don't know if you can tell but…." I gestured to myself. "I'm a mess."

"You are the most amazing mess I've ever known," he replied. "Now…."

I knew this wasn't a courtesy call…..

I groaned. "What are you really here for, Ross?"

"Never could distract you, could I?" He sighed and handed me a folder. "My bosses were impressed with your work with the terrorist cell. They hope you could replicate it."

I quickly flipped through the package, and shook my head. "I'm flattered but no." I handed it back to him. "There are too many lives at risk here." I glanced over at Sam. "I can't put them in any more danger than I already have."

"Understandable. So, you'll think about it?"

"No. But…" I handed him a business card. "I know someone who may be looking for a job. I'm sure she'll appreciate it."

He nodded, "It was great seeing you again," and waved goodbye. "And do me a favor," he pointed at Sam. "Don't screw that up. I know there's something there."

"I won't…." We nodded to each other and he walked off.

I heard another voice behind me. "Finally, the fed is gone."

I gasped, tears filling my eyes. "N-Nick?" I turned around and saw the former spy, arm in a sling. "Y-You're alive…."

"Of course I am. You'd think I'd let you go on that op without me covering your ass."

I wrapped my arms around his neck, minding the sling. "I'm glad you're okay."

"Me too." He held out his good arm for me. "Shall we?" he asked, nodding towards the two soldiers.

I let out a shaky breath and took his arm. "We shall." We slowly made our way to the gravestone of the now-alive Nicholas J. Fury.

"So," Fury called out. "You've experienced this sort of thing before?"

"You get used to it." Steve replied.

"The path of the righteous man. Ezekiel 25:17?" I quirked a brow at the man. "We both know that's not in the Bible."

"Maybe not, but it's an excellent movie quote." I nodded in agreement. He turned back to Steve. "We've been data-mining HYDRA's files. Looks like a lot of rats didn't go down with the ship. I'm headed to Europe tonight, wanted to ask if you'd come."

"There's something I gotta do first."

"How about you, Wilson? Could use a man with your abilities."

Sam glanced over to me and then back at Fury. "I'm more of a soldier than a spy."

Fury turned his head to me. "You?"

"I just turned down a job offer to the CIA," I replied, "so, no." My face paled. "I've had way too much HYDRA for my liking."

"Alright then." The two men shook hands with him. "Anybody asks for me, tell them they can find me right here." He said as he pointed at the gravestone. "Want to see me out, Jarvis?"

"Sure. It's the least I can do." We walked away towards the car. Before he got in, he looked over at Sam. "That CIA guy was right: don't screw that up."

I turned around to look at him too. "I think I already have, Nick."

"Try me." He nodded to the man. "Talk to him."

"Okay…."

After he got in, he rolled down the window, handing me a folder. "This belongs to you. Sorry I tried to bribe you with it."

"I thought I'd ever see the day," I replied with a smirk. "Nick Fury apologizing."

"Don't let it get to your head."

"And Fury?" He peered over his sunglasses. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." He nodded, rolling up the window as he sped off.

I turned around and my eyes locked with Sam's.

I guess it's now or never….

"We need to talk," I said as I slowly made my way to him.

"Save it." My heart dropped. Yeah, Fury. I think I totally screwed this up.

I reached out. "Sam…"

"No," he growled, taking a step back. "You don't just get to pull what you did and come back acting like it didn't have any consequences."

"And you don't think I realize that?" Over Sam's shoulder, I saw Steve walk up. "I didn't know what was going to happen."

"Is that so?" Steve drawled. "Then what was that at the bridge?" I motioned for them to follow me, and came to stop at a park bench.

"Both of you sit down." Both men followed suit. "Now, y'all are going to sit here and shut up. Let me tell you what happened. And there will be no interruptions. Got it?"

~:~