Once we were loaded up on the jet, we started discussing our next move.

"So where do we start looking?" Sam asked.

"Nat's going to meet us when we land." I glanced down as my phone buzzed. I ignored her name and leaned against Bucky. He put his arm around me instinctively. "I'm happy you're here."

"Even if I'm a potential threat?" He whispered back. I nudged him with my elbow.

"As if you could take me."

"We're here."

I jolted up. "Did I sleep the whole flight?"

Bucky smiled. "Yeah. At least one of us is well-rested. Nat's waiting."

She didn't waste much time once we greeted her.

"Tony was able to find another base not far from here. It seems to be an abandoned medical facility."

"No doubt they'll be waiting for us," Steve spoke up. "This needs to be fast, in and out."

"Barnes and Wilson, you will be back up. Steve and I will get in and find the doctor," Nat ordered.

"I'll go in with you," I said.

Everyone glanced at me. "We can't afford to make any mistakes, especially with your life on the line," Nat replied. I rolled my eyes.

"Then I won't mess up."

"Fine, but I'm pulling you out the moment you can't fight."

"Deal."

As we climbed into the van, I shoved myself in the back to avoid the stares of the others. Taking a deep breath, I pushed away the pain. The group wouldn't let me go if I showed even the smallest amount of weakness. I wanted to face whoever did this myself.

Something warm touched my lip and my hand flew to my mouth. I pulled it away and saw blood covering my fingers. "Shit," I growled.

"What?" Bucky asked. I turned away to try to cover up my bleeding nose, wiping quickly. Satisfied I wasn't covered in blood, I shrugged.

"I'm fine. Let's just go deal with these assholes."

"Okay, Aoife. This is your stop." Nat held out a tiny device. I picked it up and placed it in my ear. She did the same with the others.

"I'm going with you," Bucky stated. Although Nat glared, she didn't object. He followed as I climbed out and disappeared into the trees.

"Check, can you hear me?" I asked quietly as I made my way silently through the underbrush. I could see the maintenance road, but I couldn't be spotted.

"Loud and clear."

I listened for the echoing of the car door before making my way toward the building. "There are six guards at the entrance, four on the side. A dozen on the roof. No flying in."

"Damn it," Sam replied.

"Wait, Nat. They're doing something to the doors." I lay on my stomach and inched forward for a better view. My heart leaped into my throat as I realized what they were doing. "They're sealing the exits. They have to know we're here."

"We should fall back and regroup," Nat replied. "Who knows how many agents they have in there."

I inched sideways to get out of the view of the front guards. "We don't have time. I'm in position. Buck, you ready?"

He grunted in response. Before anyone could change my mind, I launched myself at the guards. They pulled out their guns, but I was ready. I twisted one's arm, forcing him to drop his gun. Then I whipped him around, knocking him into the other guard. I swept my wings out into their necks. They grabbed their throats, falling to the ground. Bucky had taken care of the other two and ripped the door open.

"I'm inside, Nat where are you?"

Scuffling and muted guns crackled through the earpiece. "We just got through the front door. I-" She cut off as more fighting sounds echoed through.

I sped around corridors and spotted her. Multiple guards lay still between her, Sam, and Steve. "We have to find the lab."

"Great idea," Sam answered sarcastically. "Did you bring a map?"

I rolled my eyes. "No, but I can hear some kind of equipment. A low humming sound could be refrigeration."

"Great, you found the kitchen."

I rolled my eyes and took off toward the noise. Up a flight of stairs, we found a room surrounded by glass windows. Through it was countertops full of beakers, test tubes, Bunsen burners, and computers.

"Barnes, you got the door?" Nat asked. He didn't reply as he grabbed the handle and twisted. The screech of bending metal grated against my ears before something popped and the door swung open.

"I guess you do know what you're talking about sometimes," Sam smirked at me.

I didn't reply as I walked around looking for anything that could be the serum. They may be worried about an antidote for me, but I wouldn't allow them to become lab rats.

"Here," I said simply looking into a glass door fridge. 3 vials labeled X were the only ones inside. I punched through the glass. An eerie sense of satisfaction washed over me as the liquid poured out of the fridge.

"Was that necessary?" Bucky whispered to me as he pulled out a cloth from his pocket and started wrapping my hand. I rolled my eyes and pulled away.

"I hope that's all of it," Nat stated as she inserted some kind of device into a computer.

"What are you doing?" Steve asked.

"Making sure they can't replicate it."

I walked over to other glass cases making sure they were empty.

"Aoife, you're bleeding," Bucky said concerned. I shrugged.

"Punching glass will do that."

"I mean your nose."

I reached up and growled. "Ugh, I hate nosebleeds."

"That's what happened in the van," he stated. I didn't reply as I grabbed some tissues from a nearby box and held them to my nose.

"We don't have much time," Steve said. "Nat?"

"Yeah, all done here. There's another lab on the next floor. I'm guessing that's where they created the poison."

"Good enough for me let's go," Sam said.

"There are more guards on their way," I warned the others at the approaching footsteps.

We took care of them easily enough. I rolled my eyes as Bucky kept himself between me and every person who tried to attack.

"I'm fine, I can handle myself," I told him sternly. He didn't reply.

Nat led us up two more flights before we slowly crept into a long hallway. Signs for the lab hung from the ceiling. I prayed silently to whoever was listening that we'd find the creator of the poison.

Blackness threatened to overtake my vision. I shook my head to clear it but ended up running into a wall.

"You good?" Nat asked. I avoided her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine."

Bucky slipped an arm around my waist then to keep me steady. I leaned against him. Concern crossed his features, but he still didn't say anything.

Nat leaned next to a door. She motioned to Steve. Holding his shield high, he reared back and kicked the door open. Nat and Steve both jumped into the room, Sam following closely. I pulled away from Bucky and froze as we walked in. It was smaller than the lab downstairs. Only a computer and glass-door fridge stood against the wall. The doc who'd changed my DNA was standing in the middle of the room. A syringe dangled from his fingers.

"Don't move or I break it."

We watched him silently. The man grinned.

"Now who wants to make a deal?"

"What kind of deal?" Steve demanded. The doctor tsked at him.

"Not for you." He glanced between Nat and Sam, "One of you."

Nat answered immediately. "What deal?"

"Well, I have here the antidote to the phoenix's poison," he gestured with his empty hand toward the fridge. One vial was sitting inside. "And there is the serum created with the phoenix's DNA."

I growled. My wings sprouted from my back, twitching with anger. "No."

He shrugged. "This deal isn't for you either. Now, I need the spy or the falcon to be injected and I'll hand over the antidote."

We glanced at each other. I spoke first. "No deal."

The doc started to reply, "I don't think-"

I jumped on him, knocking the syringe out of his hand. He fell backward and the glass shattered on the floor.

"NO!" at least two of the others yelled out. I allowed my eyes to glow red as hands grabbed me to pull me away. I let them drag me back, satisfied that the doctor's bargaining chip was gone.

"It is my decision to make. I will not trade my life for anyone else's," I spat out. The doctor stared at me for a few moments before getting up and brushing himself off. I staggered backward, dizzy again. Bucky caught me, his fingers winding around mine in a way that allowed me to lean on his arm.

The doctor sneered, "You wouldn't be feeling the way you do if you'd agreed to come when invited."

I narrowed my eyes. "I don't care."

"You do know what's in store for you? Can't imagine you want your final death to be like this." He raised an eyebrow.

I rolled my eyes. "I've had far more painful deaths. But it's too late. No antidote, no bargaining chip."

"Au contraire," he stated gleefully. "I have the recipe." He tapped on his temple. "With the right ingredients…"

"Screw you. Bucky, smash that serum, and let's go."

"No, wait," Nat spoke up. We all glanced at her. She took a single step toward the fridge.

"If anyone moves, I'll snap his neck," I growled. Bucky's metal arm wrapped around my upper arm, keeping me from advancing on the doctor again.

"Do you want to die this badly?" He asked as he inched backward.

"Do you?" I replied quickly, narrowing my eyes. More footsteps echoed from somewhere. Hydra agents were gathering. We couldn't stay any longer.

"That's enough," Steve spat, and I shut my mouth. He strode forward toward the doc. "No one is injecting themselves and you will recreate the antidote."

The old man started to open his mouth, but Steve knocked him out with a lightning-fast punch.

"More agents coming," I strained through gritted teeth. I pulled away from Bucky whose grip had lessened.

"You okay?" Sam asked.

I only walked out of the room. My job was done. The serum was gone, and my team was safe. When we got back down the stairs, I leaned on the wall. Or at least I tried to, but the wall wasn't there, and my face met the ground. I rolled to my side, clutching at my chest, trying to breathe.

"Aoife, are you okay? Can you look at me?" Bucky's hands were holding up my head. I tried to focus on his blurry face. He brushed hair behind my ear and pulled back sharply, looking down at his hand. I looked at the small bits of blood on his fingers. Gunshots echoed and he glanced around quickly. I tried to follow his gaze, but my head dipped low.

"Get her out of here. We'll deal with these guys," Nat ordered.

Bucky pulled my arm over his shoulder. He held onto my waist with one arm, shooting through the agents with the other. My head lolled to the side and he made a strangled noise. He couldn't carry me and shoot at the same time.

Sam jumped in front of him. "I got you, let's go."

Bucky swept his other arm under my legs to carry me. My body felt weightless for a few seconds before I felt paralyzed.

"Please, stay awake," Bucky begged. We followed Sam to the car and hopped in.

"Where are you guys?" Sam demanded through his earpiece.

Sam threw the car into reverse after Nat replied. We sped off as he whipped the car around.

"Aoife, open your eyes," Bucky said softly. I tried but I couldn't make my body respond. "C'mon doll, wake up. You promised me a date when this all blows over."

His voice faded as a bright light filled my vision. Curious, I stepped forward to see what it was.