When Kayla arrived at the security booth at the White House, everyone lost their damn minds. The President and First Lady were waiting out front when she parked the beat up van, and when she emerged from the vehicle, her tear streaked cheeks caused an uproar.
"What happened?" Sandra asked as she swept her daughter up in a tight hug. She rubbed Kayla's back as the woman sobbed into her mother's collarbone, "Honey, where have you been?"
"I- I-" Kayla realized if she told her parents where she'd been, it might interfere with Steve's plan. Just because she was angry at him didn't mean she didn't want him to succeed, "It's a long story. I found- I found Steve."
Her father's brows piqued at that and he led his wife and daughter into the Oval Office before she could say anything else. Travis followed them in, but the President shot him a dirty look that told his aid the First Family needed privacy. Travis begrudgingly closed the door, and Sandra sat Kayla down beside her on the couch.
"What happened with Steve?" Mathew asked slowly as he sat across, reaching out to stroke Kayla's hand, "You know they are looking for him?"
"I do. I know they are trying to hunt him down. I know everything, I know the truth, and I know the rumors, and I know what SHIELD told you about him, and it isn't true, except, except for the part where he put a tracker in my engagement ring." Kayla sobbed, wheezing as the words tumbled out one right after another, "He- he was going to propose, but he freaked out and put a tracker in the ring so he would always know where I am, be-because he's worried that I'll be in danger. But he doesn't want to accept that he's the reason I'm in danger. No, he says its because of my work with the super soldier serum, he says- he says..."
"Did he tell you that Secretary Pierce wanted to offer you a position working for SHIELD? As a chemist?" Mathew asked and Sandra sighed a little too loudly at her husband.
Kayla sniffled loudly and looked up at her dad, "They... what?"
"Remember dinner last week? Secretary Pierce wanted to get to know you. They'd heard about your work and wanted you to work with SHIELD to make sure that you, and your formula, would be safe. Travis spoke to him for an hour about it after you went missing yesterday. They were worried about you, because Steve was the one who told them not to offer you the position. They thought he'd keep you locked up to make sure you didn't come to work for them."
Kayla couldn't pull her jaw up if she tried, running through everything her father said in correlation with what Steve had said. If he could track her every move, he'd know if she went to work for SHIELD. He'd stopped her from getting the recourses to work on her serum, the thing he knew meant the world to her. She wanted a chance so badly, and he took it from her. Kayla's jaw began to quiver when she realized that she almost married a man who meant to lock her in a cage, "We broke up."
"You what?" Sandra asked quickly, leaning forward to catch Kayla's words, so she repeated them.
"Steve and I broke up. He doesn't like being in the public eye, and I don't like him keeping tabs on me. We decided to take a break."
Sandra wrapped her arms around Kayla, but her daughter didn't cry. She looked to her husband, and Matt kept his eyes trained on his daughter, "I'm sorry, Peanut. He just, isn't the man we thought he was."
"You knew he was going to propose?" Sandra pressed, trying to get a good look at her daughter, "How did you find out?"
"He left the ring in his stealth suit. They found it. Guess it wasn't that important if he couldn't even remember it." Kayla mumbled and Sandra leaned her head against Kayla's. Kayla squished her eyes shut, shaking her head a little, "No. No, that's not true. This is bigger than me. It's more important than me, and the stupid ring and us getting married, people are going to die. We have to shut down Project Insight."
"Honey, that's already launching first thing in the morning, I'll be there." Matt explained, but Kayla reached across and grabbed his hands. "It's going to save a lot of lives, Kayla."
"No, it's going to end a lot of lives. If that thing goes live, we're all dead. All of us." Kayla gestured around the room, finally looking at her mom, "Listen, Steve and I may be having issues, but I know he'll always do what he thinks is right."
"He's a fugitive, Kayla." Mathew argued and Kayla shook her head.
"He's Captain America. He'll do anything to set things right, it's what he does. I know him." Kayla closed her eyes, feeling a sudden rush of regret for her harsh words hours earlier, "Please, delay it if you can. Look into it. Have the FBI, or the CIA, have somebody check SHIELD's work, because I don't think we can trust it. They believe SHIELD has been compromised, that's what Nick Fury told Steve the night he was shot."
Mathew looked to his wife and Sandra gave a small nod, urging her husband to listen to their daughter, "Alright. I'll see what I can do." Mathew stood and wandered to the door, opening it to address his aid, "Travis, do me a favor, have the CIA check over the targets SHIELD sent over for Project Insight will you?"
"Yes, of course Mr. President." Travis answered before turning and heading down the hallway to make the call. He stopped in his office and locked the door, dialing Secretary Pierce. "Mr. Secretary. The Mrs. is home..." Travis said as he adjusted his earpiece, still hearing the First Lady talk to Kayla about her breakup. "Apparently they broke up. She's a blubbering mess about it, not very Kayla Ellis like, but if you still want her, I'll make sure she accompanies her father to the launch tomorrow... Of course, you have a great evening as well. Hail Hydra."
Kayla practically drug her exhausted body to her bedroom as Tiffany greeted her at the entrance to the Residence, "Kay... what happened?"
"We broke up." Kayla said quietly and Tiffany's face twisted into a flurry of emotions in just a moment, ranging from shocked, to confused, to devastated. "It's okay. I'll be fine. I just need a little time alone, if that's okay?"
"Yeah. Yeah, whatever you need." Tiffany answered as Kayla closed the door. Tiffany stood outside, knowing Kayla normally liked to have her stay with her when she spent the night at the White House. Tiffany was worried about her best friend. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed Sam, wondering if maybe he'd answer after being radio silent since before the fight on the freeway. When she got his answering machine, she looked up at Kayla's door sadly, "Hey Sam, it's me, Tiffany. I'm sorry to bother you again, I know I'm starting to seem a little stalkerish, but I just wanted to check in. Make sure you're okay. If you weren't, I'd like to think Kayla would have said something, but then again, she's not really in a talkative mood right now." Tiffany took a deep breath and nodded to herself, "I hope you're doing okay. I've been thinking about-"
The line went dead, a clear sign that Tiffany had run out of message time. She dropped her phone from her cheek and rested her forehead against Kayla's door, wishing her best friend would let her in.
On the other side, Kayla sat on the ground with her back to the door, sobbing quietly as she held Steve's dog tags tightly in her hands. Her hair was a mess and her eyes were rimmed red. Her contacts were dry from not taking them out in two days, but all she could think about was how she wasn't going to marry Steve Rogers anymore. Kayla felt a little relieved that the commitment had been put off, but then she remembered that she'd never be Steve's wife, and she crumbled. "I don't want to be without you." She whispered as she ran her thumb along the indented words on the old metal. She allowed herself to tip over onto the floor and cry loudly into her arm, thankful for soundproof walls in the safest house in the world.
Tiffany knew Kayla would be sound asleep when she approached her boss's door at six-thirty the next morning. She'd been asleep herself, but Travis had slammed a cup of coffee and two Advil on the bedside table of the spare room Tiffany had found a bed. "Coffee for you, Advil for her. SHIELD has requested her presence at the Project Insight launch this morning to make amends for what happened the other day. I believe it could be a good olive branch after her behavior."
"They tried to shoot her." Tiffany droned, still barely awake and not nearly conscious enough to deal with the President's aid.
"They said he used her as a human shield so they wouldn't shoot at him. You ever seen him ride behind her on the bike? I think he's a snake, and SHIELD has assured me he won't be a problem. Secretary Pierce's assistant called me at five this morning."
"That's stupid. They should be in bed, like you." Tiffany yawned as she sat up before grabbing onto the coffee and picking up the packet of Advil, "Was she drinking?"
"Yeah. Staff said she snuck down late last night with a bottle of tequila."
Tiffany groaned, "Okay, fine, I'll see what I can do."
"Thank you. I'm sure the President will appreciate it as well. He's already up and reading over the paper."
Tiffany nodded to herself as she sipped the coffee, trying to wake herself up as she reached for her phone. When it lit up, she sucked in a quick breath, seeing a text from Sam.
Sorry I've been MIA. Been busy. I'll call as soon as I can. Hope you're doing well. I've been thinking about you too. :)
"Oh my gosh he put a smiley face, I'm in love." Tiffany whispered, she shook herself alert when she realized that 'busy' was referring to participating in gunfights with Captain America. At least she knew he wasn't dead. He was probably in trouble, but, she'd cross that bridge when she came to it.
So Tiffany Jones found herself outside the door to the First Daughter's suite, smoothing down her pencil skirt and pushing her dark hair behind her ear before knocking loudly. As expected, there was no answer, so Tiffany carefully pried open the door. Before she could get it fully open though, it hit something on the other side, and Tiffany heard a tired yelp. She leaned around the door and found Kayla on the floor, hair all around her face and a bottle of tequila dripping onto the floor next to her hand.
"Kay. Get up. Have some self respect. There's a perfectly good bed right over there." Tiffany moaned as she slipped in and knelt down beside her best friend. Kayla shifted and grabbed for the bottle, but Tiffany swiped it quickly, setting it to the side, "So, good news. CIA found no issues with Project Insight, so everything is fine on that front. In fact, Secretary Pierce has requested that you join your father for the launch today. He wants to apologize for everything that happened the other day when you escaped. Travis thinks it'll be good, and I agree. You were kind of a loose cannon, and you have a reputation to uphold-"
"Fuck it. Fuck it all, my reputation, my image, my name. I'm a puppet, I'm not even a real person. Steve and I built a relationship based on what the American public wanted us to be, I don't even know if it was real. I thought it was... I love him." Kayla bashed the back of her head against the door and groaned, "I don't know what to believe! Steve wouldn't let them ask me to work for SHIELD, he put a tracker in my ring, he fucking lost the ring. He left it behind like trash!"
"Did you ever consider that Steve did those things because he thought he was protecting you? I know you think you can handle things on your own, but he faces bigger threats than you do. You'd be dead if it wasn't for Steve, he saved your life during the Mandarin debacle."
"I know." Kayla grumbled, pushing herself to her feet, "I know, he did what he thought was right, he always does. I just feel like- I feel like we're only real when we're alone, you know?"
"Then be alone. You don't have to have a big public relationship. You have the right to keep your private life private, and if that's what it takes to make things work, then I would do that, because I saw that ring, and trust me, you want it." Tiffany teased as she handed Kayla the Advil packet and a cup of water she'd brought up. "I know how much Steve means to you. Don't let this come between you."
"I just don't know if I can trust him." Kayla admitted as she swallowed the pills, then led Tiffany into her closet to pick out an outfit, "He had to have known how much working with the serum would have meant to me."
"You have no business working with it. You stole a book that wasn't meant for you, and if SHIELD is really compromised, you wanted to hand over a biological weapon to them?" Tiffany asked as Kayla pulled out a pair of tight black slacks and a blue blouse. She turned to scowl at Tiffany and she shrugged, "No, don't give me that look Kay, that's exactly what it is. Thank God Steve didn't let them ask you to work for them, because you could have made someone who could kill the man you love. Just because he has more foresight than you doesn't mean he's wrong."
Kayla whipped around to face her friend and Tiffany backed up a step, "No, Steve is never wrong. Never fucking wrong about anything, he's perfect. The perfect man, the perfect boyfriend, oh my gosh, how on Earth does he put up with Kayla Ellis? America's favorite whore. I get it. Steve's great. Why don't you marry him then?" Kayla snapped, grabbing her clothes and locking herself in the bathroom.
Tiffany just stood in a daze for a moment, reeling from Kayla's outburst until the blonde reappeared, more somber, "Sorry... That was a lot. I'm just really struggling. I feel like everyone's telling me one thing, and Steve's telling me another. I'm tired and I'm scared and I'm angry. You know what I'm most angry about? I'm angry that Steve barely acknowledged that I impersonated a Hydra agent just to save his life. I put my own life and well being in danger, and all he could talk about was Bucky. He literally didn't mention me, not once. He didn't even consider me or what had happened to me. And when I was there, he was just quiet. I'll never be enough to make up for what he lost."
Tiffany sighed, sitting on Kayla's bed and massaging her temples, "Listen, we have to leave in an hour. Take a shower, get dressed, play nice and make up with the World Security Council. Whether you like it or not, you're a walking media circus, so put your chin up, put a smile on that pretty face, and pretend nothing is wrong. The press will ask how you feel about Steve being arrested, and you'll tell them you're sure it is a misunderstanding and you'll tell them more once you've had a chance to talk to Steve."
"So, lie?"
"Yeah." Tiffany answered, motioning for Kayla to go take a shower, "It's none of their business."
Kayla twisted her lips as she considered this, and closed the door to get ready for the day. A thought caught itself in her mind, and she snorted as she pulled off yesterday's clothes.
Sometimes over the past year and a half, Steve Rogers had rubbed off on her. She forgot she could lie and pretend. She didn't have to show the world who she really was, she could just show them who she wanted them to see. She'd just been so excited to share her world with Steve, she didn't even consider that the best part of their relationship was the secret little world they'd created. She missed that.
Kayla walked alongside her father and mother through the massive glass doors of the Triskellion an hour and a half later. She'd painted her lips Steve's favorite shade of red and pulled her hair back in a high ponytail with little pieces around her face, giving her a professional, yet youthful look. Her blue button up blouse flared at her hips over her tight black slacks, and matching blue stilettos clicked as she easily kept up with the President.
Secretary Pierce beamed as they approached with Secret Servicemen surrounding them, and Kayla noticed the rest of the World Security Council was already waiting there with Pierce.
"Mr. President, ladies, it's a pleasure to have you here today." Pierce said as he shook Matt's hand, then turned to Kayla, "I apologize for everything that happened the other day. I was quite impressed that you were able to sneak out from under the nose of one of our top agents.
"I'm very sorry for the whole misunderstanding. A lot has come to light since then." Kayla admitted, biting her lower lip quickly before taking the plunge, "I hadn't realized Steve had shut down your request to have me join the team. It was very hurtful to find out the man I had planned on marrying was keeping things from me." Kayla rocked back and forth a little, feeling guilt bubbling in her chest, "I apologize for my actions and my words that day. I was blinded by love, I guess you could say."
"I have been there myself, Miss Ellis, and to be honest, I'm as shocked about Captain Rogers as you. I knew he'd denied my request to have you join as a chemist, but I was under the impression he said that because he didn't think you'd be interested. I didn't realize that wasn't the case, otherwise I would have reached out anyway." Pierce explained as they walked. "Last I saw you, you were very determined to find him. If I may ask, did you succeed?"
Kayla paused, causing the whole group to stop, "I did. We didn't speak much though, we broke up." Kayla noticed the Councilwoman; Kayla believed Pierce had said her name was Hawley, she was from England; looked taken aback by her words. Kayla cleared her throat, forcing a smile onto her face, "Honestly, it might be for the best, he seems to be in a bit of trouble."
Pierce laughed, but Kayla stayed tight lipped, noticing the councilwoman relaxed again. "I don't really get it. Steve Rogers fought tooth and nail for this country, and now he's balking at the idea of saving it. We'll make sure he's not a problem, and we'll make sure he doesn't get anywhere near you."
"I appreciate that." Kayla said quietly, looking up at the ceiling in wonder as if she didn't really believe the words she was saying. Kayla finally looked to her mother, "Are we allowed to see the launch as well? Or should we wait for Dad after?"
"I wouldn't have invited you two here if I didn't intend for you to stay." Pierce gestured toward a tall man who opened up a large brown box, "Unfortunately, I only have enough pins for two secret service agents. I'll admit, it's my snafu, I invited you two too late to get more made." Pierce turned to Mathew and grinned a little, "Your wife and daughter are more than welcome to join, however your agents will have to stay here in the lobby. I can assure you though, the STRIKE team is the most elite undercover team in the world, and I plan to have their second in command with us at all times."
"What about first in command?" Kayla asked, narrowing her eyes at Pierce.
He nodded a little, smiling at Kayla's inquiry, "We anticipate Captain Rogers to make an appearance. We want to be prepared should he try to interfere."
"What are the pins for?" Sandra Ellis asked as she handed Kayla one, and the young woman pinned it onto the pocket cover on her blouse.
"This facility is biometrically controlled, these will give you unrestricted access." Pierce explained, then turned to the council members, "Shall we?"
Kayla shifted uncomfortably as she followed behind everyone, looking up at the shattered hole in the roof that Steve had crashed through days earlier. She perked up when her mother grabbed her hand and led her into the large elevator. The secret service agents stopped at the elevator and stood guard as the doors closed, but Kayla felt anxious without them there. She should have rejected Pierce's invitation to watch the launch.
Although, Kayla didn't anticipate there'd be a launch, if Steve had his way, they'd stop Pierce. She just wanted to be there to watch the show, and save face. Maybe be an inside man. Or maybe Kayla just wanted to see Steve again.
The elevator dinged and opened up onto the top floor of the Triskellion, offering Kayla a gorgeous view of Washington D.C. She wandered over to the windows and placed her hand to the glass, looking down at the water below as Pierce began to entertain his foreign guests. Sandra appeared next to her daughter and thrust a champagne flute into her hand. "The good stuff, just like you like."
Kayla grunted, watching the waters of the Potomac sparkle beneath her, "There's not enough of it to dull the pain of losing the best thing that's ever happened to me."
"Your father thinks Steve played you to get to him."
"Which couldn't be farther from the truth. I know Steve better than anyone, his intentions were pure. But he shouldn't have kept things from me. I thought we told each other everything, but apparently he only told me what was convenient for him." Kayla grumbled, looking over her shoulder as Alexander Pierce addressed the World Security Council and her father. "He's going to show up here, I know it."
"And what will you do when he does? What is your plan?" Sandra asked before she took a long sip of her champagne.
Kayla smoothed down her blouse, fiddling with the pin on her pocket, "I have no idea. I'm not even sure why I'm here."
"Secretary Pierce wanted to clear the air after what happened the other day."
"Pierce isn't a good guy, Mom." Kayla hissed as she looked at her mother, seeing Sandra's expression tight. "You know it, too. Something is fishy. Why are you here?"
"Wanted to keep an eye on you and your father. Wanted to make sure the love of my life is safe, same as you."
Kayla dropped her head a little, swishing her champagne a little as Pierce raised his glass for a toast, but his moment was cut short when a voice cut over the intercom of the building.
"Attention all SHIELD agents. This is Steve Rogers."
Both Pierce and Matt turned to look at Kayla, who just drained her champagne flute casually, looking up at the ceiling, as Steve's voice continued to warn of Hydra's uprising, including the little detail that Alexander Pierce was their leader. Suddenly, the attention moved from her to the man at the head of the room as he shrugged casually, moving to the table to pour himself another drink. His eyes fell on Kayla and she instinctively took a step back behind her mother as Sandra shifted uneasily in her kitten heels.
"They almost have what they want. Absolute control."
Kayla watched as Pierce pulled out his phone and began typing feverishly, then looked to her mother to see Sandra's eyes were on it too.
"I know I'm asking a lot, but the price of freedom is high, it always has been, but it's a price I'm willing to pay. If I'm the only one, so be it, but I'm willing to be I'm not."
Mathew Ellis turned to see Pierce set his phone on the table as Councilman Rockwell sneered, "You smug son of a bitch." Several STRIKE agents appeared around the corner, but Pierce didn't seem too fazed.
"Arrest him." Councilman Singh ordered the agents who entered the room, but they raised their guns to the council members and First Family instead.
Mathew looked over to Sandra and Kayla in terror, then back to Pierce, who just shrugged, "I guess I've got the floor." Pierce smirked at Matt and pat him on the arm, "Your wife's a smart cookie. I saw her give her biometrics pin over to one of your secret service agents so they could sneak up here if things went south. She's a quick thinker, I'm sure the CIA misses her."
"Sir, secret service has been neutralized." Rollins informed Pierce and Kayla swallowed hard as the man's eyes fell to her. "Rumlow is activating the launch sequence from Operations Control."
"Oh my gosh..." Kayla hissed as she looked out the window, pointing as water began to drain from the Potomac to release the helicarriers to the surface world.
Pierce turned to smile at the council members as Kayla's knees began to shake. She grabbed onto her mother's arms to keep her from falling, and Mathew took a step toward his family, but the sound of a gun cocking stopped him in his place. "Mr. President, don't make this any worse than it already is. I have your family backed into a corner over a six hundred foot drop, I'd hate to see them die."
Mathew turned and raised his hands, showing Pierce he meant no harm. "I'll do anything, just leave them alone."
"That's more like it." Pierce snatched Mathew's champagne glass and refilled it before handing it back, and the President reluctantly took it as Pierce turned his attention to Councilman Singh, "Let me ask you a question. What if Pakistan marched into Mumbai tomorrow, and you knew that they were going to drag your daughters into a soccer stadium for execution? And you could just stop it with the flip of a switch, wouldn't you? Wouldn't you all?" Pierce turned from Singh to look at Mathew Ellis, taking in how pale and tired he looked, "If you knew a foreign spy was going to kidnap your daughter and force her to create a super-soldier serum to enhance their own military efforts against your country, and you could stop them before they stepped foot on US soil, wouldn't you?"
"Dad-" Kayla started, taking a brave step around her mother, but Rollins shot her a sharp look and she stopped, but stood her ground.
Mathew looked from Kayla back to Pierce, then threw the glass to the ground and shattered it, "I let you sway my judgment and my opinions because of your service to this country. I see now we've made a grave mistake in giving you the power you have. Hydra will never govern my country."
Pierce shrugged as Rollins handed him a gun, aiming it at the President, "We already do."
"He'll stop you."
Matt turned to look at his daughter with a resigned expression as Sandra tried to pull Kayla back, but she strode toward Pierce with untamed confidence. "You underestimate Steve Rogers. He won't let you launch those helicarriers."
"I think we can handle Captain America and his little friends." Pierce gestured out the window, and Kayla realized the helicarriers were shooting at Sam as he soared through the air, avoiding their fire skillfully, but he wasn't stopping them by any means. Kayla leaned against the window until one of the agents grabbed her mother from behind and held her tightly as she dug her heel into his foot. He let go of Sandra and she grabbed his shoulders and pulled his face down to her knee, bashing his head in and dropping him to the ground as a gunshot rang through the room.
Sandra gasped as she backed against the window, realizing the bullet had pierced her calf. Mathew ran to his wife, helping her down to the floor as she breathed slowly, turning her leg as blood began to drip onto the floor. Councilwoman Hawley knelt beside Sandra and ripped off a piece of fabric from the bottom of her skirt and tied it around the First Lady's leg as she winced.
Kayla grabbed Sandra's hand, but quickly realized she was being hoisted up from behind and pulled away from her family.
"Kay!" Mathew yelled, but Pierce surged forward and aimed the gun down at the President's head. "I said I'd do what you asked, you've shot my wife. Leave my daughter."
Pierce ignored Matt's pleas, and addressed Rollins instead as he tried to subdue the squirming woman, eventually wrapping his arm around her neck so she struggled to breath, "Give her to the asset." Pierce told Rollins as Kayla kicked against the man's legs, but he didn't move. Pierce smirked, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the black leather box she'd seen days earlier. He popped it open to reveal a massive sapphire in a vintage setting that caused Kayla's lip to wobble, "Here." He pushed the ring up her finger slowly, "If you end up somewhere you don't belong, the next bullet will be in your mother's skull."
Kayla sobbed as Rollins shoved her forward toward the doors, picking up his pace when he realized there was a skirmish inside the room. Kayla tried to turn around as he looked over his shoulder, whispering 'shit' as he pushed Kayla forward into the elevator. She stood frozen against the glass windows, watching the helicarriers rising into the air.