The three hitchhiked their way back to D.C.
Avoiding the STRIKE agents hunting them down through the night, the sun was rising the next morning.
Making their way to Sam's top floor apartment, Steve knocked on the door.
After a few seconds, he opened it, looking like he just came back from his morning run.
"Hey, man, Laura." he greeted with a nod, noticing their disheveled look.
And dirt along with Sud on their faces from the missile strike.
"I'm sorry about this. We need a place to lay low." Steve asked.
"Everyone we know is trying to kill us." Nat added.
"SHIELD is after us." Laura explained.
Sam frowned, looking between them.
"Not everyone."
Sam let them in after Steve and Nat washed up, Laura let herself in and closed the door behind her.
Taking off her jacket and heading to the vanity.
She turned on the warm water, she took off her glasses and placed them on the sink.
She began urgently scrubbing off the dirt and grime off her cheeks, forehead, hair and arms.
Bad memories of the strike against Tony's house began to fill her mind.
Dipping her face into the warm pool of water before switching off the faucet she looked up into the mirror.
She gripped her necklace that her boyfriend gave her and sighed, wishing she was with him.
Putting her glasses back on and walking back out to join the others.
Seeing them sitting, getting their attention.
"You okay?" Steve asked with worry.
She nodded.
"Yeah, just. I wish I could say that was the first time I hade rockets struck towards me. And I don't think it'll be the last." she said while leaning against the wall.
"I'm sorry for dragging you into this." he apologized.
"It's not your fault. After all it was Fury who wanted me on the Lemurian Star. Knowing it was dirty. Now we know why. HYDRA is SHIELD. Who would've thought…" she shrugged but looked over to Nat apologetically.
"Sorry…" she said awkwardly.
"It is what it is. I thought I was going straight when I joined SHIELD. Turns out I traded the KGB for HYDRA." she said, Laura hearing the regret in the spy's voice.
"You're still straight, Natasha. You're still a good person. But that's the second time I've pulled you out now." she joked, gesturing her fingers and she smiled faintly.
"I believe Steve was also involved." Nat corrected.
"Fine, one and a half." she joked back and the two smiled at each other.
"I guess we better figure out how to stop the launch." she suggested.
"Yeah…" Steve began but Sam walked in behind her, interrupting them.
"I made breakfast. If you guys...eat that sort of thing."
They gathered around the kitchen table, herself putting her jacket back on and began forming a plan to stop the Project Insight launch.
"So, the question is: who in SHIELD could launch a domestic missile strike?" Nat asked them.
Laura and Steve shared a knowing look.
"Pierce." she answered.
Taking a sip of her coffee.
"Who happens to be sitting on top of the most secure building in the world." Nat stated.
"But he's not working alone, Zola's algorithm was on the Lemurian Star." Steve added.
"So was Jasper Sitwell." Nat realized.
"So, the real question is: how do the three most wanted people in Washington kidnap a SHIELD officer in broad daylight?" Steve asked.
Laura frowned at the daunting plan but Sam spoke up.
"The answer is, you don't." he said and dropped a file in the middle of them.
Nat reached over Laura to grab the vanilla folder and the two began going through it.
She went wide eyed.
Nat picked up a photo of him and his para rescue team.
"Is this Bakhmala? The Khalid Khandil mission, that was you?" she asked amazed.
He nodded.
Steve grabbed it and noticed his partner next to him, smiling.
"Is that Riley?" he asked.
"Yeah." Sam answered quietly.
"I heard they couldn't bring in the choppers because of the RPGs. What did you use, a stealth chute?" Nat asked curiously.
"No. These." he handed Steve another file.
Laura arched her head to read, amazing her.
"I thought you said you were a pilot?" Steve asked.
"I never said pilot." he corrected.
"I can't ask you to do this, Sam. You got out for a good reason." Steve argued.
"Dude, Captain America needs my help. There's no better reason to get back in." he said firmly.
Laura smiled faintly.
"Where can we get our hands on one of these things?" Steve asked him.
"The last one is at Fort Meade, behind three guarded gates and a twelve-inch steel wall. " he warned.
He and Laura glanced over to Nat who shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.
"Shouldn't be a problem." he said before closing the file labeled…
"EXO-7 FALCON"
Later that afternoon, Laura was parallel parked in her car by a courtyard in D.C.
The group tracked down Sitwell who was walking out of a restaurant with a particular Senator she previously clashed with.
Surrounded by agents, passersby were walking by them on the staircase.
Others were sitting down at tables at nearby cafes and restaurants in the crowded square.
She narrowed her eyes at them in the crowd, her HUD zooming in on them, her hearing their conversation from it.
"Listen, I gotta fly home tonight, cause uh...I got some constituency problem, and I gotta press the flesh." Stern told him.
"Any constituent in particular, Mr. Senator?" he asked back.
"Uh...no, not really. Twenty-three, kind of hot. Real hot. You know, wants to be a reporter, I think. I don't know, who listens at that point?" Stern joked.
"Doesn't sound much of a problem to me." Sitwell joked back.
"Really? Cause she's killing my back. Look, this isn't the place to talk about it…." he said but grabbed the pin on his jacket.
"This is a nice pin." he hinted.
"Thank you." Sitwell hinted back.
"Come here." they embraced so Stern could whisper in his hear.
"HAIL HYDRA!" they backed away and Stern began walking down the steps but turned around and grabbed his knee.
"See, it's right there..." he said wincing.
"I just saw that, yeah." Sitwell nodded.
"Should I get it checked?" he asked.
"I think you should…." Sitwell said.
Laura rolled her eyes but gave the cue to the person sitting at a nearby café with a baseball cap and sunglasses.
Sitwell's phone rang and reached to answer it from his jacket pocket.
Seeing Pierce on the caller ID.
"Yes, sir?" he greeted.
"Agent Sitwell, how was lunch? I hear the crab cakes here are delicious." Sam's voice was heard.
"Who is this?" he demanded.
"The good looking guy in the sunglasses, your ten o'clock." Sam said.
Sitwell turned his head around but didn't see him.
"Your other ten o clock." he said and Sitwell spotted him far ahead at his table.
"There you go…" he said, raising his cup of coffee.
"What do you what?" Sitwell asked angrily.
"You're gonna go around the corner, to your right. There's a black car, two spaces down. You and I are gonna take a ride." he ordered.
"And why would I do that?" Sitwell asked, almost amused but Laura raised her Glock.
Pressing the laser on it and aiming it at his chest.
Sitwell looking down at it.
"Because that tie looks really expensive, and I'd hate to mess it up."
Laura escorted him to a nearby building where Nat and Steve were waiting for her.
Grabbing him strongly by the collar to his protests, she shoved him inside and up the flights of stairs.
Meeting the partners at the top of the staircase, she tossed him roughly through the door and onto the roof, causing him to lose his footing.
"Tell me about Zola's algorithm!" she said threateningly.
"Never heard of it." he denied while they continued to back up towards the edge.
"What were you doing on the Lemurian Star?" Steve demanded.
"I was throwing up, I get seasick." he said but he backstepped to the edge.
He nearly lost his balance but Steve grabbed his collar.
Sitwell smiled with amusement.
"Is this little display meant to insinuate that you're gonna throw me off the roof? Because it's really not your style, Rogers." he smirked.
"You're right. It's not…" he said and backed up to Laura and Nat.
"It's hers…" he said and Nat kicked him hard in the chest, flinging him backwards off the roof.
Laura heard his scream disappear and yawned dramatically.
"Oh, wait. What about that girl from accounting…" Nat asked casually.
"Lillian. Lip piercing, right?" Steve asked back.
"Yeah, she's cute." she suggested.
"Yeah, I'm not ready for that." he denied but a roar of wings was heard flying.
Sam, aka Falcon, flew up in his suit and goggles, carrying Sitwell who was still screaming and tossed him at their feet.
He landed in front of them and his falcon wings retreated into his pack.
Sitwell put his hands up in surrender.
"Zola's algorithm is a program...for choosing Insight's targets!" he said while trying to catch his breath.
"What targets?" Laura demanded.
"You…. him…" he said while pointing at Steve.
She frowned and the two glanced to each other.
"A TV anchor in Cairo, the Undersecretary of Defense, a high school valedictorian in Iowa city. Bruce Banner, Stephen Strange, anyone who's a threat to HYDRA! Now, or in the future!" he revealed. Laura swallowed in fear.
"The future? How could it know?" Steve asked but Sitwell saw the realization on Laura's face and smiled knowingly.
"That's right, Watson. Zola taught HYDRA how to read it. Your bank records, medical histories, voting patterns, e-mails, phone calls, your damn SAT scores. Zola's algorithm evaluates people's past to predict their future." he explained.
"And then what?" Laura asked in horror, already fearing the answer.
"Oh, my God. Pierce is gonna kill me." Sitwell said fearfully.
"What then?" Steve repeated.
"Then the Insight Helicarriers scratch people off the list. A few million at a time."
Everyone, including Sitwell against his will, piled into Laura's car.
She was speeding down the highway towards The Triskelion.
The team desperate to stop the launch.
Herself dangerously weaving through the lanes of heavy traffic.
"HYDRA doesn't like leaks." Sitwell warned them, behind Laura.
"So why don't you try sticking a cork in it." Sam said annoyed in the back with Nat between them.
Steve in the passenger seat.
"Insight's launching in sixteen hours, we're cutting it a little bit close here." Nat warned them.
"Do you, not see how I'm driving?" Laura asked them dramatically.
"Yeah…" Sam muttered, grabbing a handle.
"I know. We'll use him to bypass the DNA scans and access the Helicarriers." Steve reassured them.
"What? Are you crazy?" Sitwell exclaimed.
Laura scowled at him in the mirror.
"That is a terrible, terrible idea…" suddenly footsteps were heard on the roof of the car and a medal arm punched through the back window.
Grabbing Sitwell and tossing him into the oncoming lanes.
Himself fatally hitting a truck.
"Shit…!" Laura said, looking back to see The Winter Soldier bringing out a pistol.
Nat climbed into the front to avoid the shots coming through but Laura slammed on the breaks.
Burning rubber but tossing the soldier off the roof.
He used his arm to stop himself, causing groves in the concrete pavement.
He unclenched it, getting up and staring directly ahead of them through his mask.
Laura was gripping the steering wheel until her knuckles turned white, quickly calculating her next move, traffic still moving past them.
Nat aimed her gun at him however an SUV slammed into the back of them.
Forcing them forwards to him, Laura was desperately holding the breaks.
Nat dropped her gun while the soldier got closer to them who jumped onto the roof.
Gripping it with his arm, Laura glanced up to him while trying to pry him off.
He got up while Nat was reaching for her gun but he used his arm to smash through the roof and rip the steering column out.
"Shit!" Laura shouted.
Nat began shooting them back as Laura pressed the glass.
Trying to get away without any steering but the SUV performed a Pit maneuver on them.
Causing them to crash into the barrier and tail spin.
"Hang on!" Laura warned right before the car began to flip.
Steve kicked the passenger door open, grabbing the three out.
Laura brought out her spear and used the tip to bring herself to a halt.
The others using the door.
She saw her car flip multiple times ahead of her before landing on the roof.
"Aw man…" she sighed, losing another one.
The STRIKE SUV stopped ahead of them and the other agents got out.
One giving the Soldier a grenade launcher.
Laura went wide eyed and ducked for cover with the others.
Hoping over the barrier but the grenade was launched at them.
Steve used his shield to deflect it but that sent him over the edge of the bridge and down below into a moving bus.
Causing it to crash into an intersection and into an oncoming cherry picker.
The bus flipping on its side with the passengers inside.
Agents were moving in on Laura and the others.
Shooting automatic gunfire at them.
Laura shot at them back, taking out their SUV and one, tossing his body back far.
Using the barrier for protection as the bullets flew dangerously over her head.
Another grenade was shot towards Nat who jumped over towards Laura.
Herself still firing towards the agents.
Nat looking at her spear with alarm but grabbed her collar.
She got up and ran with her across the lanes, avoiding oncoming traffic and gunfire and another grenade.
Nat brought out her propellers but Laura jumped ahead of her.
Bringing her spear out, she aimed it at the pavement ahead of her.
Using it to strike first, it breaking her fall.
She was breathing heavily, feeling the adrenaline as Nat propelled down.
Looking at her with shock as she pried her spear free and glanced back at her.
She ran back to her under the bridge and the soldier aimed his gun down.
Seeing his shadow and the two nodded.
They ran up and Laura blasted the bridge apart, ricocheting pieces of concrete off, striking his mask.
Himself ripping it off.
The Soldier returned fire and the three got into the fire fight.
They used the parked cars to flee, along with the civilians.
Nat grabbed Laura and they crouched behind a car.
She brought out a recorder and began to say.
"I make an LZ, twenty-three hundred block of Virginia Avenue. Rendezvous two minutes. Taking fire above and below expressway. Civilians threatened. Repeat, civilians threatened." Before sitting it down by the tire.
The two ran off, seeing the Soldier slowly approaching them.
Hiding out of site, he stopped, hearing Nat's voice and brought out a grenade.
Rolling it towards them.
The car blew up but Nat leapt from behind, wrapping her legs around his neck and brought out her Repeller.
Using it to strangle him but he tossed her hard off him. Her being flung into a car.
He picked up his gun but Laura swept his legs with her spear.
Causing him to land hard on his back. She jumped over him desperately to grab her fallen friend.
Heaving her up, the two ran for their lives.
"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!" Nat screamed at the fleeing people.
"Get the hell out of…" Laura shouted but Nat was struck in the shoulder.
Laura tackled her behind a car for cover.
Applying pressure to it along with her.
Herself struggling to breath and the two shared a worried look.
Pinned down, Laura using herself to cover for her but the Soldier leapt towards them with his rifle aimed at them.
Laura closed her eyes, preparing for the end but Steve came charging with his shield.
Bringing it out but the Solider brought his arm out.
The two clashing together.
The Soldier kicked him off and shot at him but Steve deflected them.
Steve used it to repel the shot and engaged him.
Trying to punch and kick him down but the Soldier stood planted.
Himself grabbing the shield and kicking him back.
Steve charged for him but the Soldier tossed his shield at him.
Him dodging it and it striking a van.
The Soldier brought out a knife and tried slicing his opponent.
Steve using his arm and defensive moves to deflect each attempt to slice him.
With a rotating kick, Steve managed to fling him back into an SUV before smashing his head into the window.
The Soldier grabbed him by the neck with arm, choking him and tossing him away.
Alarming him the two engaged their fight, the Soldier using his knife but Steve grabbed his arm, cutting the van before prying his shield free.
Desperately blocking each relentless attempt at him before he finally was able to grab his mask and flipped him over.
His mask dropping off him.
The Soldier got up and stared at his opponent.
Steve glancing back at him in realization.
"Bucky…" he managed to ask.
"Who the hell is Bucky…" he asked back and aimed his gun at him.
Sam flew in at the last minute and kicked him down.
The Soldier aimed his gun at a shocked Steve again but Laura reached over the car and fired a blast at him. It going over Steve's head, and striking the van by the Solider.
Herself leaning against the SUV with her spear in her hands.
Exhausted.
Steve looked back to her with surprise but sirens were heard.
They saw multiple STRIKE swat units surrounding them.
Laura managed to blast two away but saw they were vastly outnumbered by dozens.
The units, and Rumlow came out, heavily armed and Laura dropped her spear.
Retreating it back into the handle.
Getting on her knees and putting her hands on the back of her head.
"On your knees! Get on your knees! Now! Get down!" she heard the shouts from him and the agents.
Multiple agents roughly forced her down onto the pavement.
One pressing a knee to her neck. Feeling a gun pressed against the back of her head.
She winced as she was cuffed but looked over to see a swat unit picking up her spear and sighed.
Fearing the consequences of it falling into HYRDA's hands.
She heard helicopters overhead and looked up, seeing they were press choppers.
Sighing, not wanting to know who was watching herself behind hauled up and tossed into a van along with the others.
All of them were placed into binders and were escorted away.
Two agents with swat body armor keeping guard inside.
Laura tried prying herself free, seeing Nat's wound continue to bleed.
Nat looking like she was about to pass out.
"Guys…" she warned, getting Steve and Sam's attention.
"We need to get a doctor here. We don't put pressure on that wound she's gonna bleed out here in the truck…" Sam said desperately but one brough out an electric rod and aimed it at him.
The agent suddenly struck it at the other and kicked him hard in the face, knocking him out.
Surprising the others as the agent pulled off their helmet, revealing to be Hill.
"Ah. That thing was squeezing my brain." she winced.
Laura smiled with relief.
"Oh thank God…" she said relieved.
"This is yours by the way…" Hill said while reaching for her belt.
Grabbing her hidden spear handle and placing it in her lap.
"You're a life saver Hill. Thank you." she thanked her seriously.
The agent nodded.
They heard the van stop and the team began and Hill brought out a laser cutter.
After crawling through multiple sewers, they made their way to Hill's hidden van.
Hill driving them to a disclosed location which happened to be a dam outside the city.
They all got out, Laura using herself to support Nat who had her good arm wrapped around her waist to steady herself.
They walked inside the darkened tunnels and saw the same doctor who performed Nick's fatal surgery rushing up to them.
"GSW. She's lost at least a pint." Hill warned him.
"Maybe two." Sam added.
"Let me take her." the doctor gestured.
"She'll want to see him first…" Hill said.
"See who?" Laura asked confused.
They walked up to a curtain and Hill pulled it back, revealing Fury on a hospital who glanced up to them.
"About damn time."