Calm down, Vikki. Calm down! It's just Captain America, no need to freak out!

I stand on the side of the street, gaping like a fool at my teen-years' hero. Or, one of them, anyway. He quickly gives orders to a small group of cops who are firing at the Chitauri flying overhead. One of them crashes into the street not far from them, and several Chitauri aliens come running out of the billowing cloud of smoke and flame rising from the crash site. Captain immediately takes them on, killing multiple of them in under a minute. The cops' faces make me feel better about my own- they all look dumbfounded and amazed.

I shake myself out of my inner-fangirl-induced trance and return my attention to my surroundings. The cops begin to scatter, rushing off to wherever their leader just sent them, though some stay behind and begin to enter buildings or shoo people off the streets. The NYPD is gonna have their hands full today, I think, immediately turning to help them. "Sir, I can help. Where should I direct the citizens?" I ask the nearest police officer. He is one of the ones who had been watching the Captain with a look of astonishment. He raises his eyebrows in surprise, but doesn't question or hesitate. I suppose it's because he doesn't have time.

"Into the basements of buildings or into the subways. Get them off the streets!"

I nod, and rush off to do his bidding. Of course, the subways. Why didn't I think of that before? I begin to usher people off the streets, showing them into subways or basements- anywhere that is off of the street and away from the continuous attacks of the Chitauri. As often as I can, I use the dead Chitauri's weapons against them by firing at the flying crafts that zip overhead every few moments. I miss a lot, but many times the shots I fire are enough to distract the...pilots, I guess?...and cause them to crash. It fills me with satisfaction every time I see a craft go up in an explosion of orange and red flame.

A few minutes later, a blinding flash of lightning shocks me and the small family of five I'm trying to escort into a building. Shading my eyes, I catch a glimpse of a red cape falling from the sky. It lands pretty far down the street from my position, near Stark Tower. Yet again, a feeling of unreality washes over me. That's Thor...oh my heavens, THAT'S THOR!

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!"

I start and spin around at the little girl's scream behind me, instantly tensing for a fight. My eyes widen to about five times their normal size when I realize why the young girl is so frightened. Iron Man has just come around the corner of an already-beaten-up building, flying above the roadway right next to us. But that isn't what caused her scream. It was the giant Chitauri insect/alien/fish thing that had nearly killed me not too long ago. And once again, it is headed straight for me.

And a terrified family of five.

"RUN!" I scream, shoving the parents forward. We all turn and rush to the side, both parents carrying a child and me carrying their third- the little girl who had screeched. The huge creature is roaring in anger, chasing Stark low to the ground. So low, in fact, that its belly scrapes the road beneath it, throwing chunks of asphalt into the air. Its "fins" crash into everything in its path, sending concrete, trees, and cars flying every which way. And it is coming incredibly fast.

We aren't going to make it.

I instantly realize what's about to happen, and suddenly everything slows down. I can see the huge alien coming towards us, its "fins" rippling and sending debris into the air. The little family of five is covered in grime and dust, terrified looks on every face, desperation in the parent's actions as they try to shield their children with their own bodies. I see the mother's eyes turn towards me- or rather, towards her child that I hold in my arms. Her eyes convey her terror and despair, her desire to protect the child she gave life to. Then her eyes find mine, a silent, split-second plea to help, to shield, to protect. My eyes turn back to the leviathan raining destruction on the city, and I watch as one of its "fins" strikes a row of crashed cars, destroying several on impact, but sending the rest hurtling towards me and the terrified family.

In that moment, I know death is near. I have no time left. There is nothing I can do to stop the inevitable. All I can do is try to protect them from the worst of it. I take two steps forward, and turn my back to the oncoming vehicles, using my body to shield the little family. I look into their faces, seeing confusion and horror in the parent's eyes. But also admiration. A split-second spark of admiration in the father's eyes as he, too, turns his back to the oncoming destruction, shielding the child in his arms. I close my eyes, bracing myself. I didn't expect my life to end today. I wanted to continue living. But perhaps it's better this way. Now I won't have to live in hiding for the next six years of my life. And perhaps my body will be enough to protect this family, so that they can go on living. I hope so.

I hear the cars flipping end over end, and the roar of the beast in the background. Then I feel the impact. And my world goes silent.

### ### ###

My first sensation is sound. I hear roaring, crashing, explosions. Then I feel the vibrations of the turmoil around me in the asphalt beneath me. And that seems to awaken my nerves, which immediately begin an assault on my brain with constant waves of pain. Pain is everywhere. My whole body is aching, and on fire at the same. Especially my back. But that is not what bothers me the most as I slowly awaken.

It's the screams.

I hear a woman screaming, over and over and over. "Wake up! Wake up! Please, wake up!"

I groan, stirring slightly as life returns to my limbs. What happened? Where am I? I slowly and cautiously open my eyes, blinking multiple times to clear them of the dust that is lingering in the air. It takes a moment to register my surroundings. That's...a car...and...broken asphalt? And why is the world sideways..?

I place my hands on the ground on either side of my head, and lift my head and upper body off the ground. The world instantly starts spinning in circles, causing me to groan again. I hang my head, collapsing to my elbows on the ground again. The world slowly settles, and as it does, my senses return. How am I alive?

I look around, realizing I'm on the edge of a pile of rubble. A totaled taxi cab is lying partially on top of me, and partially in the pile of rubble to my left. And in front of me, there are several people. One is a grown woman, bending over a man who is lying on the ground, unmoving. The other three are children under the age of twelve. They are all dazed, bleeding, and blank-faced, watching their mother scream. Scream over their father's body.

My blood runs cold.

I failed.

I failed to protect them. I failed to save them. Now, instead of death, they face life. Life without a father, a husband.

And it's my fault.

A tear falls from my eye and trails down my cheek. Then I look up, seeing another explosion down the street. My eyes widen. The leviathan of a Chitauri just collapsed onto a side street, never to fly again. A moment later, Iron Man rockets off, and then Thor flies into the air as well. The Avengers are rallying.

I look back at my trapped legs. I have to get out. I strain against the weight of the car and rubble, and am surprised when I am able to move. Reaching back, I shove the car, and it goes flying back, much to my astonishment. My legs now free, I push to my feet. My eyes fall on the broken family. I stare at them for a moment, imprinting the image into my mind.

"I am so sorry," I whisper, another tear falling. I quickly wipe it away, and force myself to pull it together. I walk over to the woman, who is quieter now, sobbing on her husband's still chest. I kneel down next to her, placing my hands on her shoulders. "Ma'am, we-" My voice cracks, and I try again. "We have to get out of here." Another roar splits the air, and I look up, realizing it has suddenly gotten darker. Thor, standing atop a very tall building, is calling lightning and thunder to his hammer, using it to destroy another Chitauri leviathan. I thank him silently, then return my attention to the sobbing woman, gently tugging on her shoulders. "Come. We need to get your children off of the streets."

At the mention of her children, she seems to pull it together a bit. She stands shakily, and I lead her to where her children are sitting. "Come on," I say quietly to them. They look up at me, fear and confusion in their small eyes. But they obey, following me and their mother away from the streets, and away from their father.

Once they are safe, I force myself to return to the outside world. Stepping back into the street, I see the utter terror on the faces of the people running past. The battle is half over, but the people don't know that. They need someone to help them. I steel myself.

Let's finish this.

Author's Note: And part 2 of the battle is over...one more part to go. Tune in tomorrow for it!

Thank you for reading!

Signing off, AuthorsDream.