Title: Gold Rush
Pairing: CaptainAmerica-WinterSoldier-FemaleOC (poly)
First language isn't English, so please point out spelling or grammer mistakes.
Thank you for the reviews and the people who are following this story. Please review, feedback is always welcomed.
This chapter is shorter because I wanted it to end where I ended it. I tend to cut of my chapters because I hate editing super long ones and it gives me more motivation to actually continue on this story. The next chapter will probably be longer again.
Chapter 10 part 3
At 1:15am Happy and I found ourselves in a disserted parking lot eating a very disserved burger with fries. After making sure all the guests got home or hotel safely, I had to help with cleaning up and making sure all the gifts the Starks received were collected and dropped off at Stark towers. Mister Stark told Happy to drive and afterwards drop me of home, with a knowing look in my direction. I didn't protest and Happy was very pleased to get out of there. By the time we left, I had forgotten all about Berry and the nameless man.
"Flirted with any pretty girls tonight, Happy?" I asked and drank from my soda. We probably looked like two people hooking up in the backseat, but we were both so hungry. When we left the tower, the first thing we said to each other was that we needed food.
"Nah, I'm not interested in looking for anyone at the moment," he sighed but I knew he was lying. He'd been rather head over heels over May, but I always did wonder if she was on the same page as him. At least she was honest to him. He'll get over her, eventually: "What happened with May, if you don't mind me asking?"
"I guess we were on different pages about the relationship," he explained and I didn't push the subject. He didn't seem in the mood to talk about the woman and I respected that: "Sorry man."
"What about you and Captain Rogers? I saw the two of you disappear into the gardens. Thalia practically chocked on her cigarette when I pointed it out to her," he asked me and I choked on my soda. He eyed me with a knowing look: smooth.
"Why did you tell her?" I asked and wiped the spilled drink of my chin. Can't believe Happy would do that. I didn't expect to get away unnoticed but him deliberate pointing it out to them…bastered.
"I was bored and you were having way too much fun," the man shrugged it off and I handed him my left-over fries.
"You're an ass sometimes," I told the man, who simply grinned at me threw the rearview mirror. When he dropped me of at my building, he waited for me to reach my apartment. I thought it was a bit much, but I did text him when I was inside my home. My feet were killing me and I took of my heels as soon as I was inside my building. I was so tired and wanted to go to bed, but I took a hot shower to scrub Doppler's hand of my skin. I don't know what I would have done if that man hadn't showed up. Knowing that the security men had their eyes on us, felt reassuring though. And the fact that mister Stark knew about the incident only seconds after it happened, felt assuring as well. They really make sure that we are all looked after at these events. I was pulling on a t-shirt and shorts for bed, when I noticed my phone light up. I looked curiously at the text from an unknown number.
'Free tomorrow morning?'
I starred at the screen confused. Who would send me that? And without a name? I met so many people tonight and I wouldn't put it past some of them that they managed to get their hands on my number. It could be a guest or a co-worker. God, maybe it's that sleazeball Doppler! Or maybe the nameless man? I decided to text back. Normally I didn't answer when I didn't know the number, but I wanted to know who this was and how they got my number.
Alex: 'Maybe, depends on who's asking.'
I put my phone back on my nightstand and turned around to go back to sleep but I was surprised that I heard a ping a minute later. I graphed my phone to check the message.
'The Captain say's I owe you'
It took me a minute to realize what he was talking about. The Captain stayed by my side for an hour before he got called away by the Sergeant. It sounded like it was Avengers business, so I didn't ask what was going on. The man did assure me though it had nothing to do with Morgan. As he left, I told him the Sergeant owed me for stealing my arm candy away. The Captain left the event with stark red cheeks.
Alex: 'It's not very nice to steal a lady's escort.'
Sergeant: 'He did not use that word.'
Alex: 'Of course he did.'
Sergeant: 'Why am I not surprised. But I apologize. The Captain's assistance was needed.'
Alex: 'I hope you're both alright.'
Sergeant: 'Not even a scratch on us.'
Alex: 'Are you bragging?'
Sergeant: 'Does it impress you?'
Alex: 'What if it does?'
Sergeant: 'Then I'm not mentioning that we nearly got blown up.'
Alex: 'Had a blast, huh?'
Sergeant: 'You would have loved it.'
Alex: 'Somehow I doubt that.'
Sergeant: 'So are you free tomorrow morning?'
Alex: 'Are you asking me out on a breakfast date?'
Sergeant: 'Don't sound to surprised.'
Alex: 'Would you be surprised if I said yes?'
Sergeant: 'Honestly…yes.'
Alex: 'And why is that?'
Sergeant: 'I wasn't sure I'd stand much of a change next the golden boy.'
Alex: 'Did you just make a Harry Potter reference to me?'
Sergeant: 'Is it turning you on?'
Alex: 'A little bit, I'm not going to lie.'
Sergeant: 'AJ sometimes refers to Steve as the Golden Boy. Steve's not a fan of that little nickname.'
Alex: 'He should only hear the nicknames Mister Stark gives him.'
Sergeant: 'I imagine he gets quite creative with that.'
Alex: 'He does, can I tell you a secret, but you have to swear you won't ever tell the Captain.'
Sergeant: 'I'm intrigued.'
Alex: 'Down boy, it's not that kind of secret.'
Sergeant: 'Too bad.'
Alex: 'Mister Stark has a Captain America action figure in one of his freezers, because he thinks it's better to have a spare on ice.'
Sergeant: 'He does not?'
Alex: 'He does. Say's it always good to have a backup in case shit goes crazy again.'
Sergeant: 'You haven't answered my question yet. Are you avoiding it to amuse yourself?'
Alex: 'Does it bug you?'
Sergeant: 'Your answering questions by asking questions? No, I find it intriguing. Makes me wonder what you are trying to hide. You didn't let some rich old man butter you up, did you?"
Alex: 'No, just some old guy."
Sergeant: 'And where is he now?"
Alex: 'I don't know, you tell me? You stole him away.'
Sergeant: 'Sadly he's asleep.'
Alex: 'Where is he?'
Sergeant: 'In his own bed.'
Alex: 'So no cuddles for you tonight, Sergeant?'
Sergeant: 'Are you offering?'
Alex: 'You should only be so lucky Sergeant. Now are you going to keep me up all night? I've had a rather exhausting day. Don't you need to sleep?'
Sergeant: 'Can't sleep. Why are you up?'
Alex: 'Some old man's keeping me awake.'
Sergeant: 'Is he better than your boyfriend?'
Alex: 'No.'
Sergeant: 'Tease.'
Alex: 'Flirt.'
Sergeant: 'You know one of these day's your flirting is going to get you into trouble ma'am.'
My flirting I thought with a grin on my face. He's one to talk. I typed my replay to call him out on it, but stopped before hitting the send button. I reread my text and then deleted it and typed one word instead.
Alex: 'Hopefully.'
It took him a couple of minutes to respond and my heart beat fast in my chest as I waited. He typed something, but then seemed to deleted it too. Did I take it too far?
Sergeant: 'Need some company for the night?'
Nope, apparently I didn't. He even wants to take it further. I blushed so hard, I stood up and grabbed myself a glass of wine to calm myself down. I wanted to say yes, but I knew that was way too quick.
Alex: 'Not tonight, Sergeant.'
Sergeant: 'Another night maybe?'
Alex: 'You know, I'm not the type of girl that sleeps with someone who hasn't even bought her dinner.'
Sergeant: 'Then what do you call last weekend? Or are you just a hypocrite?
Alex: 'I guess I'm a hypocrite, don't tell anyone.'
Sergeant: 'Don't worry, I won't hold it against you.'
Alex: 'Thank you.'
Sergeant: 'Besides who would say no to sleeping with the Captain.'
Alex: 'You know, he's only a bedroom away.'
Sergeant: 'I know, but I don't want to make you too jealous.'
Alex: 'Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. I have my wandering thoughts to keep me company.'
Sergeant: 'Reality beats fantasy, honey. You could always come over. I'm sure he could use some relaxation.'
Alex: 'I'm sure you could use some too.'
Sergeant: 'Correct me if I'm wrong, but you sound like you are offering?'
Alex: 'Afraid not Sergeant. You'll have to take care of that relaxation by yourself, I'm afraid.'
Oh dear God, what am I saying?
Sergeant: 'You're such a tease.'
Alex: 'I have to be one, to get back at you for making me blush with all your offerings. Although I didn't take you for the sharing type of guy.'
Sergeant: 'Only with certain people, you're just lucky you are one of them.'
Alex: 'You need to stop with your flirting, Sergeant.'
Sergeant: 'And why's that? I love making you blush.'
Alex: 'Because I might just end up inviting you over if you keep this up.'
Sergeant: 'And would that really be a bad thing?'
Alex: 'No, but I won't get much sleep if I invite you over.'
Sergeant: 'No, you wouldn't. I'd make sure of that.'
Alex: 'You need to stop.'
Sergeant: 'Why? Am I making you uncomfortable?'
Alex: 'That's not the word I would use, but sure let's go with uncomfortable.'
Sergeant: 'Still don't want me to come over or do you want me to describe what I would do to you? I didn't take you for a sexting kind of woman.'
Oh God, this is getting way to dangerous Alex, you need to stop and go to sleep before you invite this guy over and…and…
A knock on my door startled me. What the hell? Who visits someone at this hour, uninvited? Could it be…? I eyed my phone curiously. No, he wouldn't…would he? I texted the Sergeant, asking if he was at my door and slowly got out of bed to creep closer and see if I could hear anything that might give me a clue. The person knocking on my door fell quiet. Whoever was at my door didn't call out to announce themselves and it unnerved me.
The Sergeant didn't text me but called immediately, asking who was at my door. I was startled again by the buzzing of my phone and I was happy that I had forgotten to turn the sound up when I got home. The Sergeant's voice sounded firm and serious. Nothing gave away that we had just been conversating in a very flirtatious manner. If it isn't him, then who is at my door? My friends would text me to let me know they were coming over. They would never show up unannounced and this person is also already at my front door, not at the door downstairs, but the actual front door to my apartment. And if it was one of my friends, they would have called out by now to let me know who it was. I remembered my boss and the nameless man's warning. Could Doppler have followed me? No, he wouldn't be that stupid, I think. How did he even get into the building? I doubt anyone is still up to this hour to let him in.
"I don't know. I don't have a peephole but I'm not expecting anyone," I said and tiptoed towards my front door to see if I could hear anything other than the knocking. Maybe if I heard the person's voice, I would recognize it.
"Don't open the door," the Sergeant said and I was already thinking the same thing: "No shit Sherlock. Now ssht…" I responded a bit harsher than I intended to. I held my breath as I listened. Someone was talking, a male. He was keeping his voice down, so it was difficult to hear what language he was speaking, but it wasn't English. It sounded a little bit like German, maybe an Eastern European language. I've been to Slovenia, but that was nine years ago, so I can't be sure if it sounds the same. The hair in my neck stood up and I noticed my heart speeding up as I realized there was a stranger at my door, in the middle of the night. This can't be good.
"What can you hear?"
"Ssht…" I said harsh again and ignored his comment about not being amused by my ssh'ing him. It was defiantly a man at my door. He started talking a bit louder and I think he sounded annoyed. Who is he talking to? Is there a second person? Maybe even a third? Or is he talking to someone on a phone? Oh, why don't I have a peephole! I held my breath as I tried to listen for more clues, the seconds that ticked away feeling like minutes. I could hear an ambulance siren outside and the wind was blowing the branches of the tree in front of my building against my window, but I tried to block that out and kept listening intently at my door. Then a second voice spoke in the same language and I looked up in fear. I sprinted away from my door and looked around to figure out what I should do. Do I need to grab a weapon? I have a baseball bat under my bed, but…
"Alex, what's going on?" the voice of the Sergeant pulled me from my panicking thoughts and I explained what I found out. I nearly tripped over my own feet as I ran back to my bedroom to graph the bat.
"Can you leave your place any other way?" the Sergeant asked me and I could hear him waking up the Captain.
"There's a fire escape at my bedroom window," I said and looked up. That's right, I can escape my apartment and they wouldn't even have to know I was here. I pulled a pair of sweatpants over my pajama shorts, while the Sergeant told me to get out: "We're on our way. Keep your phone on at all times."
I snuck back to my front door to grab a pair of shoes when I heard a strange clicking sound. I looked confused at my door and after five seconds I realized they were disassembling my lock. Shit! I ran back to my bedroom and fumbled with the lock to open my window. It made far too much noise as I pushed it open and crawled outside. My feet immediately protested as I stepped on the cold and hard metal fire escape. I closed my curtains again and pushed the window back. My heart was pounding in my chest as I made my way down the fire escape. With every crack the metal staircase made, my heart skipped a beat out of fear of discovery.
What the hell is going on? Who are those men? What do they want? Oh shit, I forgot the bat on my bed!
I was almost at the bottom of the staircase when I noticed a van parked in the street, with a running engine. A guy, wearing black clothes was casually leaning against it and looking at my building. He was talking to someone on the phone, and took a drag from a cigarette every now and then. I looked intently at him, trying to find any clues about who he was, but he was turned with his back to me. I looked around and saw there were no cars parked in front of me. If I run out, the man will notice me quickly. Even from a distance I could tell the man looked fit so I doubt I would be able to outrun him. And this is New York, no one will come to your aid if you scream at this hour. I need something I can hide behind. Why isn't it garbage day today? I felt the beginning of a panic attack and took a few deep breaths before calling the Sergeant back. He answered immediately, asking if I was alright.
"There's a white van parked outside in front of my building, with a man leaning against it," I explained and tried to keep the panic, that was beginning to overtake my mind, at bay. Remember what the psychiatrist said when a panic attack shows its ugly head: slow deep breaths, it will pass and remember it will not hurt you. No, but the man at my door and at that van might. Think positive thoughts. The Sergeant and Captain are on their way. And I'm sure they are going as fast as they can.
"What does the van look like? Can you see a license plate," the Sergeant asked me and I described the vehicle as best as I could: white van, the trunk opened sideways, there's a dent on the right-side door. It's a rather long vehicle, can't be easy to drive with in the city. Part of the license plate was covered. I could only see the three numbers in the middle: 841.
"Where are you guys?" I asked wrapping my arms around my shivering frame. Damn it, why wasn't I able to grab shoes! My feet are killing me. The cold concrete digging into my feet did help with staying focused and calm. The Sergeant told me they would be there in five minutes: "Steve's breaking a few laws as we speak to get us there as fast as we can. Are you still on the fire escape?"
"Yes, they'll see me if I move."
"Stay there, we're almost there. Everything will be fine," he tried to reassure me, but I didn't hear it because a loud noise came from above me and then a flashlight found me. I cursed noticeable as a very mean looking man looked down at me. He had a scar running along his cheek. He saw my phone in my hand and yelled something in the foreign language, while I starred wide eyed at him. I didn't hear what the Sergeant said, but the man at the van heard his colleague yelling and I saw him start running towards me. My body didn't think and just bolted out of my hiding spot. I tried to run as fast as I could, the cold hard street digging painfully into my bare feet with every step I took. I ran as fast as I could, but without shoes or any great physical condition the man gained quickly on me. My heart pounded in my chest, as my ears picked up footsteps behind me. Think Alex, you need to lose this guy somehow. A loud bang cut through the silence of the night like a knife cutting butter. I ducked behind a car, prying I wasn't hurt by any bullets. My chest fell rapidly up and down and my lungs felt like they were being stabbed. I stayed low, starring in front of me wide eyed as I saw the bullet had hit the car parked in front of me. There's someone aiming a gun at me? Flashbacks to my wedding day threatened to overtake my mind, but the man who ran after me ran around the car. Oh shit! I wasn't fast enough to get away and he grabbed me by my hair and pushed me down so that I couldn't stand up. I tried to stop him from hurting my head, but it was no use. I looked around for anything that could help me and I noticed his crotch was very close and wide open. I baled my fist and rammed it into him and he let go quickly. He tried to stay on his feet and stop me, but he was in to much pain. He cursed in English, but it sounded very broken. A second man caught my attention as he aimed a gun at me and I ducked behind cars as I tried to distance myself between my assailants. Loud bangs were heard and every time my heart skipped a beat and my shoulder twitched ever so slightly. An alley up ahead caught my attention. There are a bunch of dumpsters there and if I climb those I can crawl over the fence between the buildings and distance myself maybe between most of these guy's and their van. It got quite again and I heard the man who I had hurt being told to pull himself together. They were talking to each other, seeming to have lost me. I would probably not be able to hide for long, so I did my best to catch my breath and bolted out of my hiding spot as I heard a car turn into my street with screeching tires. I prayed to whoever was listening that it was the Captain and Sergeant, but didn't stop running. The car sped up and sounded like it made contact with one of my assailants. I looked over my shoulder and was horrified one of the men had caught up to me. Terror floated threw my body as a rough hand grabbed my shoulder and yanked me back. I went down, but managed to make a fist and hit him right where it hurt. He let go of me as we both went down. He cursed at me, his English sounding very broken. I recognized his voice as the one who was at my door. How did he get down here so fast? He looked me dead in the eye and my breath got stuck in my throat. I crawled to my feet, but he grabbed my ancle and pulled me back down. We struggled for a minute, him easily overpowering me, when an arm snuck around my waist and pulled me back. The other man dug his nails into my skin, scratching it, but eventually letting me go. I looked up and saw the arm belonged to the Sergeant, who pushed me behind him and told me with a firm voice to get into the car. I looked next to me bewildered and saw the blue car belonging to the Captain standing on the street. The passenger door was open and the Captain called for me. I took a few steps, but more gunshots were fired. A metal hand covered my head and pushed me roughly into the car. I crawled over the seat to the back and the Sergeant got in behind me: "Step on it, Steve!"
Before the door was closed, the Captain stepped on the gas pedal and I felt my body being pushed into the car seat from the sudden motion. I turned to look back, but the Sergeant was suddenly beside me and pushed my head down. I wanted to protest but ducked down even more as a bullet went through the window and into the headrest of the passenger seat.
"Are you hurt?" the Sergeant asked me once we were out of my street and Steve stepped even more on the gas pedal to make sure they wouldn't be able to follow us. I barely heard the Sergeants question as I tried to catch my breath and my ears were ringing. A stinging sensation on my arm made me look down and I noticed a bunch of shallow scratches, blood slithering out of some of them. How sharp were that man's nails?
"No, eum…just…just some scratches," I said as the Sergeant inspected my arm. The wounds were nothing, just stingy. I wanted to check my feet to see if I stepped into something sharp, but I suddenly realized I didn't have my phone with me. I looked up panicked at the Sergeant, who seemed to read my thoughts and held up my phone: "You dropped it when he grabbed you. I don't think it's broken."
I didn't care if it's broken, I was just relieved they didn't have it. I didn't want them snooping threw my things. Who knows what they would look for? What do they even want from me?
"Did you see any of their faces?" the Captain asked and I tried to remember the face of the man who was looking at me from my window. He had a noticeable scar on his cheek, but I wasn't sure on which side. The man who grabbed me on the street had a thick white beard: "Yes, but I only saw them for a second and it was dark."
"You can't go home tonight," the Captain stated the obvious and met my eyes threw the rearview mirror. I can't go home? But where am I supposed to go then? Remembering I escaped my apartment threw my window, I realized I didn't even have a key to get back inside. I would need to get my spare key at Tessa's place. But it's the middle of the night, I can't wake her up and hope she wouldn't ask questions. But how could she not ask questions? I would show up on her doorstep without shoes for crying out loud. I started breathing heavier as my mind started wrapping its head around the fact I had been shot at. Someone had aimed a gun at me and shot, multiple times! Who would want to hurt me? The Sergeant noticed my distress growing and pulled me close against him. He whispered words of comfort into my ear and I felt his lips touch the top of my head: "We'll find out tomorrow who those guys were, forget it for now."
I closed my eyes for a second, focusing on the engine of the car speeding up as we reached the Brooklyn bridge. How am I supposed to forget about this? Who were those men? Why did they attack me? What do they want from me? I don't even know where I'm going to stay tonight.
"Without the risk of sounding to bold, but you can stay at my place for the night," the Captain offered me and I looked surprised as he referred to it as his place. I thought they lived together?
"Your place? I live there too," the Sergeant tried to sound casual and lift the mood, but it wasn't working. The Captain didn't smile as he told the man that he would call it their place when he started chipping in on the rent. He seemed to be just as riled up as I was. Even the Sergeant calling him a punk, didn't bring a small smile to his face, like it usually does.
"Are you sure? I don't want to intrude," I said weakly because I couldn't come up with any other solution. I don't want to wake up my friends and put them in potential harm's way. What if I endangered them because I slept over? And I can't go to a hotel because I didn't grab my wallet.
"You're not and it's a safe place," the Captain said and our eyes met in the rearview mirror. His calm and serious demeanor felt reassuring. I'm sure they would offer their protection, but that didn't make me feel any better about this situation. I shouldn't even need to ask for protection!
"You'll be safe, I promise," the Captain assured me and I nodded. The Sergeant slides his metal hand into mine and squeezed it. I wanted to smile my thanks to them, but the corners of my lips didn't move.
"And Bucky's right, we'll figure out who those guys are tomorrow," the Captain continued and I looked up at them. How are they planning on doing that? I didn't recognize any of them and…
"They left plenty of evidence behind," the Sergeant told me and sat up. He dug the bullet out of the head seat in front of him. He inspected it while telling me he also managed to grab one of the men's phones. How did he even get that? He explained that he had gotten out of the car earlier and while the Captain distracted everyone, he attacked the driver from the van and grabbed his phone: "If we are lucky, they also left some DNA on your arm, so don't touch it."
Would we be that lucky? The Sergeant gently touched my chin and made me luck up at him as his arm slide back around my still shaking frame. There was a hint of cologne lingering in his neck: "We'll get them. Don't worry about it. But Steve's right, you wouldn't be intruding at all."
I stayed focused on his cologne and the noise the engine made of the car to keep my thoughts from drifting back to the attack and what could have happened had I not been texting with the Sergeant.
