"Everyone remain calm. Help is on the way!" The Geneva Ambassador said over the microphone as people began to sit down, feeling weak and tired. Kayla looked around, feeling small and helpless. She wondered if she could help them, given the correct tools and time, but she had neither. All she had was her husband and friend, and a group of dying people, including her father.

"Steve. What are we going to do?" Kayla whimpered, finally gaining the courage to go to her husband and leave the act behind. "We have to get out of here."

"No. They are coming to us. We have to stay and fight."

"If we kill them, we'll never know how to help these people." Bucky snarled, walking up and shoving the rifle back at Steve. "We need an antidote."

"We were sent to eliminate the Hydra agents, not work with them. We'll find a way. As long as we keep it contained." Steve argued, but Bucky shook his head.

"It's not contained, Tessa has it, and so does Kayla's father. We have to save them. If we don't..." Bucky argued, cornering his best friend. Steve looked to Kayla, realizing Bucky was right. Her best friend and her father's lives were at stake. She'd lost too much, they couldn't risk losing any more family.

"Alright. How do you want to do this?" Steve asked, and Kayla and Bucky looked to each other, but all they could do was wait.

"Steven."

The trio looked toward the voice, seeing Kayla's father resting against the wall. Kayla stayed back, but Steve approached his father-in-law slowly. When Steve arrived at Matthew, the man reached up weakly and took the man's hand, gently tugging him down to his level. "Sir." Steve started, looking over his shoulder at Bucky, realizing Kayla was no longer with his friend.

Steve knelt beside the graying man, studying his frail form. Matthew forced a weak smile, "Hi, Steve. It's been too long."

"I'm sorry. I've been... busy." Steve stammered. He used all his strength to focus on his father-in-law, knowing his wife was lurking around somewhere.

Matthew nodded lightly, sucking in a sharp breath, "Steven, I'm not going to see the end of this. My wife has your children. I've turned off the password on my phone, you can call her when I'm gone to collect them."

"We're going to fix this. Barnes and I are working on it-" Steve explained, but Matthew just shook his head sadly in response.

"No. I'm old. I've lived through too much. I've lost my child twice. I've been a part of something too big for one man. I was President during some of the most perilous times in our nation's history. I'm too weak to fight this, but I know you will. I just need one thing from you, Steven."

Steve's lower lip quivered as he looked over his shoulder again, wishing his wife was there instead of him at her father's end. Kayla was in the room. She was there somewhere, and Steve knew she'd never forgive herself if she wasn't there in her father's last moments... but he couldn't find her. He swallowed and held Matthew's hand tightly, offering his best hopeful smile, "Anything."

"You let my wife spend time with those children. You tell them who she is, do you understand me? She deserves to have her grandchildren. She lost her only daughter. She's about to lose her husband. You let her have her grandkids." A single tear fell from Matthew's eyes as his shaking hands clung to Steve's firm ones, "You don't have to tell them who I was, but tell them I was their grandpa, won't you?"

Steve's head fell as his shoulders slumped, feeling the weight of the world pulling him down. "I promise."

More tears fell from Matthew's eyes as he nodded, choking a little as his head slumped back, "That's all I need to know."

Steve looked up in panic, knowing Matthew deserved to know the truth, even if it was of little consequence anymore, "Sir, there's one more thing-"

Matthew smiled knowingly as his chest began to slow. "I know she's alive, Steve. As long as you live, so will she. You two have this nasty habit of saving each other."

Steve felt like he'd been shot in the chest as Matthew closed his eyes and allowed himself to fall asleep. He dropped the former President's hands as Kayla emerged from the shadows only to fall to her knees and throw her arms around her father, sobbing into him as he drew his last breath. Kayla pressed her forehead to her father's temple and cried, holding him so tight Steve was sure she'd crush his old bones.

"I love you, Daddy." Kayla whimpered before pressing a soft kiss to her dad's cheek. "I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

Steve looked up at the sound of the door opening, seeing Izetta and Osvaldo enter in HAZMAT suits. He looked to Bucky, motioning for the Winter Soldier to hold his ground and not attack, but his attention was quickly pulled to his wife, who looked up with dark eyes filled with hatred. "Kay- we have to be smart about this-"

"They killed my father. I'm going to rip them apart with my bare hands."

"Everyone please line up against the wall, we are going to take blood samples to figure out the extent of the virus." Izetta said loudly as she looked around the room. When her eyes fell on Steve, a flicker of recognition showed in her eyes, and she took a moment to find her composure, realizing they were in trouble. "Please line up, and we'll begin."

Suddenly the door slammed shut and locked behind them, and Osvaldo turned to find Bucky blocking the door with his rifle aimed at the scientist. "Antidote. Now."

"I don't know what you're talking about-" Osvaldo stammered, taking a step back as the Geneva Ambassador coughed and stumbled forward a step.

"Sir, these are the only people in the country with the expertise to help, lower your weapon!"

Bucky shook his head, taking a step forward, "No. Izetta and Osvaldo Medrano are the people who designed the virus. They are the only people with the expertise to help because they are the ones who created it. They work for Hydra."

Mumbles erupted from the room, followed by gasps and choking. Steve stood, facing down Izetta fully. Kayla stayed on the ground, holding her father as she stared at Izetta with wicked eyes. Steve never looked away as he took a step forward, preparing to reason with the scientist against his better judgment. "People are dying. You can save them. You can walk away from this."

"No." Kayla snarled from the ground, catching her husband's attention. "No, you'll die for this. You'll never see outside of this room."

Izetta looked around, taking in the dying people around her before studying President Ellis's body on the ground. She looked from the man to the woman and suddenly it clicked, "You're Kayla Ellis." She looked from the redhead to the blonde man standing between them, "You're- you're Captain America. You're both supposed to be dead."

Kayla quickly produced a small gun from her suit and aimed it at the tall woman, baring her teeth like a wild animal, "Things aren't always what they seem. But as I said, you'll die today-"

Steve and Kayla were suddenly very aware of a buzzing sound coming from Matthew's pocket. Kayla's arm wavered and she lowered the gun, using her free hand to reach into her father's pocket and produce his phone. She narrowed her eyes and studied the text before slipping the phone into her pocket and rising to her feet, raising her gun once again to Izetta. "Antidote. Now."

"Please, we didn't want any of this. She's going to kill us." Izetta pleaded quietly, admitting her own fear through her big eyes. "We don't have an antidote."

"I'll put a bullet in your head and not think twice about it. How can we cure the virus?" Kayla screamed at the woman, standing eye to eye as she stalked her pray, holding the gun out confidently. She continued forward until the gun was pressed against Izetta's chest. Kayla shook from head to toe, using every inch of her super soldier body to keep calm. Finally, she breathed out, "My daughter is sick."

"I don't feel so good." Sarah groaned as she leaned her head against the soft hotel pillows. Sandra wiped the sweat from her brow, pressing her hand to her forehead to check her own temperature. She felt awful, but was more concerned about the frail child at the moment.

"It's okay darling. We'll figure something out."

"Is she going to be okay?" James asked nervously, showing no signs of illness as he sat on the other bed across from his sister. "What's wrong with her?"

"I think she has what your... what Tessa has." Sandra said cautiously, pushing back her long hair behind her ear, feeling woozy herself. "I texted my husband, he should be back soon."

"The doctor's didn't know what was wrong with Aunt Tess. How will they help Sarah?" James looked out the window, seeing several ambulances rush past. "What's going on?"

"I don't know James. I just hope..." Sandra stopped and smiled, looking up at the boy hopefully, "I know we'll figure something out. Matthew will reply soon."

"Antidote. Now." Kayla snarled again and Steve took a shaky step toward her, grabbing onto her arm holding the gun.

"What's wrong with Sarah?" Steve pressed, never taking his eyes off Izetta. "Kay-"

"She's sick. She's got the virus. She probably got it from Tessa. Tessa and Sarah are dying. My father is already dead, give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill her right now!" Kayla screamed as she shoved the small gun into Izetta's chest. The tall woman took a shaky breath, and tried to look over her shoulder, but her husband was currently being held at gunpoint by the Winter Soldier.

"Because we need an antidote! Tessa is sick, Sarah is sick, all these people are sick, Kay, we can't fuck this up!" Bucky yelled back and Kayla's demeanor began to simmer. She began to cry, but never lowered her gun, staring at the woman with terrified green eyes. Bucky studied her and Steve, noting that neither parent knew what to do or say. He looked to Osvaldo, then grabbed the man with his metal arm and pushed him toward his wife, "Please. We are asking you to help us. We can protect you from Hydra."

Izetta's face fell as she sobbed silently, hearing another person draw their last breath in the far corner of the room, "Hydra is the front. She is the one we are afraid of."

"Who?" Kayla pressed, shoving the gun painfully into Izetta's chest, feeling the woman's rib cage crack under the pressure, "Red Skull has been captured."

"But Amora is still free." Izetta whispered, allowing a single tear to fall down her cheek, "Amora came to us after the fall of Schmidt. She said if we wanted to live we'd create something to destroy her enemies. We succeeded. She said to bring you and your husband in dead or alive, but we didn't realize why..."

"She wishes to bait the Avengers." Osvaldo offered and Bucky lowered his gun. Osvaldo ran to his wife, grabbing her arm and pleading to Kayla, "You can't save us. But... we can save your friend."

"Osvaldo, she'll kill us-" Izetta countered but he shushed her, talking to the redhead once again.

"We have an antidote. A small shot will do the trick. It'll save those who are left. But you have to be quick." Osvaldo slowly opened his briefcase and pulled out a syringe before handing it to Steve as Kayla continued to quiver and stare at Izetta.

"Why should we trust you?" Kayla snarled, removing the gun from Izetta's chest. Steve looked down at the vial, studying its contents as Kayla continued, "My daughter's life is at stake. I just lost my father. If you betray us-"

"She'll kill us for this. There's nothing you can do that's worse than what the Enchantress has in store. She means to lure out the Avengers. She'll do whatever it takes." Izetta cried, falling to her knees as her husband grabbed her and sunk to the floor, looking up at the former Avengers sadly. Izetta wiped a tear from her eyes, never looking up again, "Save the child."

Steve took the vial and injected the closest woman, breathing a sigh of relief when she took a deep breath and gave a thumbs up. "It's working. Everyone line up."

"Steve-" Kayla said, looking up at her husband, but he ignored her as he went to work injecting all of the politicians in attendance with little thought about how much antidote he was using. Kayla continued trying to break through his focus to get him to listen, "Steve!"

"One thing at a time Kayla, we need to save these people, then we'll go to the kids." Steve ordered without looking, but Kayla and Bucky shared a knowing glance.

"What about Tessa?" Bucky snarled, but Kayla stayed silent, looking between her husband and his best friend. Steve didn't look up, but his fallen smile told Bucky he was listening. Bucky took a step closer to Steve as he continued on, looking at all the people who needed help compared to the little bit of antidote they had left, "Steve... what about Tessa? And Sarah?"

"We have to put the good of mankind over what we want Buck. I know how hard that is to hear."

Bucky snarled a bit as Kayla raised her head, turning to Izetta and Osvaldo curiously, "This is all the antidote you have?"

"We didn't work on an antidote. We didn't need to." Izetta mumbled, looking around at the people who's lived she'd ruined. "You don't understand what you're up against. She's too powerful, even for the likes of super soldiers."

Steve looked up at that, then at the line of people who needed the antidote, realizing there wouldn't be enough left to save his daughter and his wife's best friend. The Geneva Ambassador watched Steve cautiously as he slowed down, feeling a pull between his sense of duty and his heart.

I have to save Sarah.

Steve swallowed what felt like a brick and stood to his feet. "We have to go. Now."

"What?" Kayla and Bucky asked in unison as Steve darted between them and flung to door open.

Kayla tilted her head to the side, looking at the fifty people who still sat dying against the wall, "Steve, what are you-"

Steve clenched the doorframe tightly, denting the wood beneath his large palms. "I have to put my family first."

Kayla nodded and darted after him as Bucky looked around, realizing what they'd done. He pulled out his phone and called Sam Wilson, "We have a problem. We need backup. Now."

Kayla pulled up the address to the hotel her parents were staying at on her father's phone by going through his emails. She shouted directions at Steve as he darted full speed ahead in his security uniform, pushing his body to the edge of its limits. When he reached the lobby he slammed through the door, shattering the glass as Kayla skidded behind him, shouting the room number before sliding to a stop to catch her breath. "Steve!"

Steve Rogers didn't hear his wife over the sound of his beating heart in his ears. All he could think about was his daughter, his son, his wife, and the life he could give them if they just got past this day. If anything happened to Sarah... that would be on him. Because he didn't give her super soldier serum. Because he didn't put her health first. He never gave her the choice to be stronger, and if she died, that was on him.

Steve reached the door and pounded on it firmly, needing the door to be answered. He needed to know he was in the right place. He didn't have time for an explanation, he had to find his family.

Finally, Sandra opened the door with a weak smile and Steve sprinted past her, looking around for only a moment before hearing his son's voice down the hallway, "Dad?"

"Where's Sarah?" Steve yelped, skidding to a stop at the open door where James stood. He saw his little girl curled up in the bed, shaking as she wheezed. "Sarah."

"She's really sick Dad. Can you help her?" James asked nervously, looking from his father to the open door, "Where's Mom?"

"She's coming." Steve breathed, pushing back Sarah's sweaty hair before turning to his father, "Can you wait with your Grandma?"

"Grandma?" James stammered, looking from his father to the woman standing by the table, clenching the chair, "You're my... Grandma?"

Sandra's jaw quivered, realizing what Steve had just admitted. James approached her with a quivering jaw, something that looked so wrong on his strong young face. "Yes. I'm your mother's mother."

James sprinted to the older woman and wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug. Sandra pressed a kiss to James's blonde hair and stroked his back. The boy considered what this meant: he had a family beyond what he knew. He had grandparents? The man he met was his Grandpa? Did he have any idea who he really was?

James looked up toward the bedroom where his father and sister were, listening carefully to his father's calming words.

"Sarah. I'm gonna help you, okay? Daddy's here. I've got you." Steve cooed as he carefully injected the antidote into his daughter's arm. The little girl whimpered into her father, barely aware of what was happening as he kept shushing her, "I promise, I won't let anything happen to you ever again. I love you so much."

Sarah's breathing steadied and she fluttered open her eyes, swallowing away the pain, "Daddy?"

"I'm here baby. I'm here." Steve kissed his daughter's cheek and scooped her up, holding her close to his chest as he carried her out into the family room where Sandra and James were waiting. James stared at his father with wide green eyes, waiting for the explanation that Steve owed him.

Before Steve had the chance, Sandra interrupted, "Where's Matthew? He never answered my message, but here you are." Sandra studied her son-in-law, without letting go of her grandson.

Steve stared at Sandra for a moment, holding Sarah close to him as she whimpered in pain. He didn't want to tell Sandra the truth in front of the kids, but there was no way of shielding them from the reality of what had happened. "There was an accident at the convention. A virus-"

Sandra's knees buckled and she broke away from James to wander over to the couch. She collapsed into the cushions, holding her hands to her mouth as tears began to fall. "No. Tell me it's not true..."

"I'm so sorry ma'am. He didn't- he didn't make it." Steve admitted, setting down Sarah next to her brother to comfort the sobbing woman on the couch. As she cried, she wiped away the sweat on her forehead and Steve pulled away, getting a better look at her. "You're infected."

"I've been so focused on the kids. Sarah's been sick. James has been fine-" Sarah cried, pushing back her sweaty hair and leaning away from Steve. After a moment, she wiped the tears from her eyes to look at Steve curiously, "Does he-"

"They don't know. They don't know anything." Steve said quietly, throwing his children a glance, "It's a long story."

"One you'll tell me I hope." Sandra breathed, leaning her head back as her chest rose and fell rapidly. Steve pulled the syringe out of his pocket, finding it almost empty. He remembered all the people back at the United Nations Office who he hadn't saved. Who he abandoned just when they thought they had hope of survival.

But the woman in front of him was dying, and his wife would never forgive him if he let her die...

Steve gently plunged the syringe into Sandra's arm as a stray tear escaped her eye, realizing she was now a widow. "You're going to leave again."

"No. I made a promise that they'd be in your life from now on. I intend to keep that promise." Steve whispered as he pulled the syringe out of Sandra's arm, studying its contents. There wasn't enough to save everyone. Steve Rogers had left all those men and women to die.

Sarah and James ran to Sandra, hugging her from each side as Steve stood in front of them quietly, considering what he'd done. For the first time, he didn't feel like a good man. Captain America would have been ashamed of him.