Hello all! Sorry about the wait, I didn't expect to have trouble with this chapter but I did. I've been looking forward to this scene for a long time but I had trouble with it. But, it's here now so, I hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think, I love the feedback! All of you are awesome and I love you! Thank you for reading my story, it makes me super happy to know that you guys like it :D Thank you and Enjoy!

Charlie blinked, groaning groggily. What had woken her up? A loud ringing answered her question and she scrambled to answer the phone. She ended up sprawled across her bed on her stomach putting the phone to her ear.

"Hello?" For a moment, she hoped her voice didn't sound too groggy but it was – she looked at the clock – two in the morning. Whoever was calling her better expect her to be sleepy. The phone was silent against her ear. Weird.

"Hello?" Charlie asked again, annoyance creeping into her voice. If this was some solicitor or butt-dialed number –

"How do I know I can trust you?" a man's voice crackled over the phone. Charlie gasped, sitting up and waking up in an instant. Steve. That was Steve's voice.

"Ohmygosh St-" she caught herself before she said his name, covering her mouth with her hand. He wouldn't want his name to be said if he didn't even tell her it was him.

"Oh, oh my I was so worried. Are you okay? Are you hurt? What's going on? Why is SH-your employer-um-going after you? But wait-what did you ask me?" Charlie rambled, words and questions tumbling from her mouth. Her brain was not cooperating with her and kept repeating Steve's name over and over in her head. He was okay. He wasn't dead. He had called her. Steve was okay. There was a slight pause on the other side.

"How do I know I can trust you?" Steve asked again. Charlie's heart dropped. That's why he had called? Not to check-in with a friend but to ask if he could trust her? Charlie tried not to feel too hurt and instead thought of his position. SHIELD had labeled him a fugitive, effectively destroying his trust in them. Who else had betrayed him?

"Wh-why wouldn't you be able to trust me?" Charlie stuttered.

"Because everyone around me has broken my trust and I-I just need to make sure I can trust you too." That made sense, complete sense. So why did it cut right through her heart?

"I-I'm your friend. I wouldn't betray you or stab you in the back! You are…you are the first friend I've ever had," Charlie said quietly. There was a pause and then a puff as Steve exhaled.

"Are you hurt? Have you gotten help? Can you get help?"

"Look, I don't-"

"Please, just tell me if you're hurt. It's killing me," Charlie pleaded. And the fact that Steve didn't know if he could trust her. That was twisting her heart harder than it should have. There was a long pause and then a sigh.

"I'm alright."

"Alright? That's not-I mean it's kind of but not the answer I was looking for-"

"You haven't given me the answer I was looking for either."

"What do you want me to stay?" Charlie asked. She squeezed her eyes shut, desperately racking her brain for a substantial answer. She could tell him to look at her background, that would prove she was clean. But that would bring up a host of truths she had never wanted to reveal to anyone either. Would Steve even have the resources to do a background check?

"Just…give me some proof that you're not affiliated with some organization out to get me-"

"I'd never-"

"-or have some dark secret that you're hiding from me. Can you give me that?" Charlie gulped, her heart beating fast. Could she give him that? She had some dark secrets that she'd never even shared with Nana and Nattie. Fear, desperation, and indecision were creating a toxic mix in her stomach.

"You…Are you hiding something from me?" Charlie's lip began to wobble.

"I'm always hiding," she breathed, voice wavering. The silence was unbearable. Charlie felt like she could hear Steve's disappointment or was that hers? A tear fell down her cheek, coldly splashing against the back of her hand.

"But I'll give it to you. I can give you my name, my real name," Charlie said, voice choked.

"What-"

"That's my deep dark secret. I've never told anyone my full name because-because of what they'll find out about me. But I'll give it to you." Charlie waited, hands trembling for Steve to reply. It was as if he was holding his breath. Charlie couldn't believe she'd said that but she knew it was the right thing to do. She couldn't hide forever and she'd already told Steve so much. It terrified her to give her full name because it made her past real. And it brought back the nightmares.

"Please…please just tell me I can trust you. I-I need to be able to trust you." Charlie's heart seemed to shatter with Steve's plea. She wanted to give that to him, wanted to assure him that she would never, ever hurt him. But he needed proof and she didn't have that. Because it made sense why he doubted her. She had conveniently befriended him before he went back to work, came to comfort him when Peggy died and then conveniently left right before his world tipped upside down. It made sense and Charlie didn't have any proof to say it was false.

"I can't," Charlie said, voice breaking. "I can't give you proof that I won't hurt you except my word. I have never been associated with-with your employer or done the stuff you do. I'm just-just a small town, nobody. I've never-" Charlie had to stop for fear of her voice cracking more than it already was. She looked to the ceiling of her bedroom, trying to regain control.

"I can tell you this but I have no proof to back it up except my name. Well, my two names but that's all. Is-is that enough? Because…" I can't lose you. Charlie couldn't seem to get the last part out, the lump in her throat was too constricting. She waited breathlessly for Steve to answer. There was a shuddering breath and what sounded like a car in the background.

"That's enough." His voice was soft and comforting, the Steve that Charlie was used to.

"Okay, m-my name is-"

"Stop, that's not what I meant."

"Wh-what do you mean?" Charlie asked, confused. She had asked if her name was enough so why-?

"Don't give me your name. What you've said has been enough." Charlie's mouth opened and closed, her mind jumping to the worst possible scenario and panic gripped her heart.

"Enough? Does-does that mean you trust me or you don't trust me? What else can I say? I can't-"

"No! You're fine, it's okay. I-" there was a beeping on the other side. "No, wait, I don't have any more money! I'm sor-" There was a buzz and Steve was gone. Charlie hit the end call button and let the phone drop from her hand. Did that mean Steve trusted her? It sounded like it did but the phone call had been cut too short. Charlie tried taking deep breaths but she just ended up hiccupping. She covered her eyes, giving up the fight of battling her tears. Silent sobs shook her shoulders as she let the tears fall. All of her fears from the previous day, the panic she'd felt at Steve's question, the heartbreak she felt when she realized she couldn't give him what he needed, it all came rushing up like a tidal wave. Charlie didn't want to lose Steve as a friend. He had been the first person she'd truly connected with and he had been helping her heal. She hadn't realized at the time but it was so clear to her now. Just by telling Steve about her family, Charlie's battered heart was healing. But now…it felt like the Band-Aids had just been ripped off.

It terrified Charlie that she would be willing to give her name, her full name to a man she had only known for a couple weeks. She had never wanted, no needed someone in her life so terribly. She felt like a lost puppy, scrambling to find her way. Why had she gotten so close to Steve? What was so different about him? Why did she need Steve as her friend? He was a calming, steady presence. He was kind and gentle, yet he didn't back down. Steve was the first person to push her to talk about herself, the first to tell her she was strong, and the first to go out of his way just to talk to her. He was her friend and that was more than she'd ever had.

Charlie took a deep breath and wiped her eyes. Even if Steve had doubted her, she wouldn't doubt Steve. He was a good man, a great man and he needed all the support he could get. Although she had no abilities or resources to help him, the least she could do was stand behind him. Charlie wouldn't believe what SHIELD said about him, no matter how horrible they made him sound. She would stand up for her friend and be there if he ever needed her. Charlie walked to the bathroom, washed her face, and went to the kitchen. She was never going to go back to sleep, so might as well go to work. Charlie took out a cookie sheet and started baking.

Steve adjusted his sweatshirt and sighed. He was waiting with Natasha in the building they'd agreed upon. For their plan to work they needed a tall building that preferably wasn't controlled by SHIELD. They had found a building that had been leased to several different privately owned companies, none of them connected to SHIELD. Steve and Natasha had ditched the disguises this time but kept out of the public eye. Everyone in the building was focused on their business and never came out of their rooms so they weren't in any danger of being discovered. Natasha popped her gum looking at her nails. Steve was lost in his own thoughts.

He had called Charlie that morning from a payphone. He knew it was risky, knew it was dangerous for both of them, but he had to call her. He needed to know he could trust her. But now he wondered if he'd been unreasonable. How could Steve expect her to provide proof? In the middle of the night no less. She had sounded hurt by his question and that in turn had hurt him. Charlie had never done anything to him except help and support him. And he had turned around questioning her about her intentions. But his paranoia drove him to ask her, to demand proof and she had been honest with him. She couldn't give any more proof except her word. And her name. Steve had been shocked by that part of the conversation and he realized, he'd never heard Charlie's full name. What was in her past that she didn't want the world to see? And yet, she'd been willing to give it to him. She had offered to give him her past, her darkest secret. Steve didn't understand why she gave that to him. He hadn't taken it, not wanting her to say her name over the phone, but it was sitting there, waiting for him, weighing on him. She trusted him. That felt like an honor to Steve. People had always seemed to trust him but with Charlie it felt different somehow. Charlie sounded so earnest on the phone, like she wanted him to trust her. She wanted to stay friends, to keep talking, and-

"I can hear your mind, Steve."

"What?"

"Your mind is going a million miles an hour. The plan will work so stop worrying about it," Natasha said. Steve shook his head, pushing his thoughts for Charlie away. He'd have to think about it later, after the mission.

"I wasn't thinking about the mission," Steve mumbled. Natasha tilted her head, scrutinizing him.

"Have you thought anymore about the girl from public relations?" Natasha asked.

"Excuse me?" Steve retorted, confused. Then he remembered the text message he'd received the day Charlie had left and Fury had died.

"Um, no."

"Why not?"

"Well, for one, I don't know her name. Two, I've been kind of busy."

"Really? I hadn't noticed." Steve scoffed and cracked a smile. Natasha smirked and looked out the window.

"Here comes our little present. But I think you should ask her out."

"No."

"Okay, fine. What about the red head from communications, Brianna?"

"I don't know who that is," Steve sighed, amused.

"Too bad," Natasha said as Sam and Sitwell came in. Sitwell's eyes widened as he took in Steve and Natasha. Steve walked towards him, eyes narrowed and all amusement gone.

"Sitwell. I think we need to talk." Sitwell gulped and tried glaring at him. Steve merely grabbed him roughly by the arm and shoved him towards the stairs. Sam slipped out the door and Natasha followed behind Steve.

"So, HYDRA. It's good to know I died for nothing," Steve said. Sitwell twitched ever so slightly and stared straight ahead.

"How much of SHIELD is compromised?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Why did you join HYDRA?"

"Didn't that die with you Rogers?" Sitwell asked, attempting a smirk. Either Steve was getting better at seeing through lies or he was making Sitwell nervous enough to blow his cover. He hoped it was both.

"Wouldn't that be nice," Steve sighed. Finally, they reached the top floor and Steve kicked the door to the roof open, shoving Sitwell through. Enough with the small talk.

"Tell me about Zola's algorithm," Steve demanded, advancing on the smaller man.

"Never heard of it," Sitwell replied, licking his lips. Okay, next question.

"What were you doing on the Lemurian Star?"

"I was throwing up, I get seasick," Sitwell said, attempting humor. Steve wasn't in the mood for bantering, unless it was coming from someone he trusted. He picked Sitwell up by the front of his jacket, pushing him against the ledge of the roof. Sitwell laughed nervously and looked at Steve through his glasses.

"Is this little display meant to insinuate that you can throw me off the roof? Cause it's really not your style, Rogers." Oh this'll be fun, Steve thought. He set the smaller man down, smoothing out his jacket.

"You're right. It's not." Steve smiled. "It's hers." He stepped to the side as Natasha kicked Sitwell over the ledge. His screams were loud for about a second and then started to fade into the background as he fell from the tall building. Steve and Natasha looked casually over the edge, waiting for the screams to stop. Should he be enjoying this so much? Steve didn't care at the moment.

"Oh, wait. What about that girl from accounting, Laura...?"

"Lillian. Lip piercing, right?"

"Yeah, she's cute," Natasha said, smiling. Steve shook his head.

"Yeah, I'm not ready for that," he sighed. At that moment, Sam shot up with his wings holding a terrified Sitwell in his grip. He dropped him a foot above the roof and then landed himself. Steve had to admit, the wings were awesome. They functioned like a bird's wings without having to restrict Sam's arms. He still had full mobility of his arms to shoot and rescue flying hostages. Steve and Natasha started walking up to Sitwell who had his arms up, façade dropped completely.

"Zola's algorithm is a program...for choosing Insight's targets!" Sitwell shouted, without any prompting.

"What targets?" Steve demanded.

"You! A TV anchor in Cairo, the Undersecretary of Defense, a high school valedictorian in Iowa city. Bruce Banner, Stephen Strange, anyone who's a threat to HYDRA! Now, or in the future." Sitwell was gasping, trying to regain control but failing miserably.

"The future? How could it know?" Sitwell laughed. Steve wondered if the fall had knocked a few screws loose.

"How could it not? The 21st century is a digital book. Zola taught HYDRA how to read it." Steve looked to Natasha for explanation but she looked just as confused as he was. Sitwell rolled his eyes and gestured with his hands.

"Your bank records, medical histories, voting patterns, e-mails, phone calls, your d*** SAT scores. Zola's algorithm evaluates peoples' past to predict their future." That didn't sound good. Steve knew of most of the things Sitwell had listed and it was unsettling to know that HYDRA had access to it. More than that, HYDRA could predict someone's future with that information. That wasn't right. It wasn't possible to predict someone's future. The future was God's domain.

"And what then?" Steve asked. Sitwell blanched and his eyes widened.

"Oh, my God. Pierce is gonna kill me," he breathed.

"What then?!" Steve demanded, ignoring how Sitwell had just confirmed Pierce's involvement.

"Then the Insight Helicarriers scratch people off the list. A few millions at a time."

Those Helicarriers. Steve had known they were wrong from the beginning. Granted he'd only learned about them recently but the intention for building them had been wrong. And it was all fueled by HYDRA. At least, Steve hoped it had been. The ideology that you could predict someone's crime and punish them before they even committed was against everything Steve believed in. If Fury had believed that, how many more agreed with him? That terrified Steve more than the present problem.

"HYDRA doesn't like leaks," Sitwell said from the backseat. He was jumpy and twitching, looking over his shoulder. Ever since they'd gotten into the car, he'd gotten worse. His betrayal to HYDRA was finally sinking in.

"So why don't you try sticking a cork in it," Sam ordered, glancing back. He'd agreed to drive them to the Triskelion and help them disable the Helicarriers. Sam gripped the wheel tightly, determination on his face.

"Insight's launching in sixteen hours, we're cutting it a little bit close here," Natasha commented, grabbing Steve's seat and leaning forward.

"I know. We'll use him to bypass the DNA scans and access the Helicarriers directly," Steve said, nodding to Sitwell. He reacted immediately.

"What?! Are you crazy? That is a terrible, terrible idea-" Sitwell never finished his sentence as he was grabbed from the car and thrown into the pathway of an oncoming semi-truck. It had been a metal arm.