Chapter 90
March 29th 2014
"You can never go wrong with Disney World," I said.
"We're both grown adults Disney World is not the place for a honeymoon." Wren argued.
"But we need to celebrate, we got hitched, all charges against me have been dropped, you got your temporary work permit. Shit is looking up." I said. It had been a week since the wedding and I was cleared of all charges. The opposition tried arguing that everything was too conveniently fast but with all the pictures Jess complied of before we got engaged and of the wedding it was pretty cut and dry or at least it looked like it.
"Nora we are two grown adults, we need an actual honeymoon," Wren said.
"But look, bride and groom mickey ears." I said.
"Nora…" He said looking at me.
"Wren…" I said looking back.
A phone call interrupted our staring contest.
"Hello." I said.
"Doctor Martell, It's Dean Chambers from MIT."
"Oh hi Doctor Chambers how are you?" I said.
"I am well I just got the results of the beta trials for your app and they did amazingly well. We actually had a department meeting and we want to buy the app for the universities exclusive use."
"Really? That's amazing." I said.
"We're having a meeting with all the heads of the department and I know it's short notice we'd like to you to join us and do a short presentation." He said.
"When would I have to be in Boston?" I asked.
"On the first of the month." He said.
"I'd have to call into work and move things around but I think I could manage it." I said.
"Thank you my assistant will forward you your flight information. Would you like us to book you a hotel room?" He asked.
"Thank you but I own a condo near campus I would prefer to stay there." I said.
"Of course, see you in a few days." He said before hanging up.
"Who was it?" Wren said.
"Dean Chambers from Harvard, they liked my app and they want to buy it." I said.
"Seriously?" Wren said.
"Seriously, he wants me there on the first for a department head meeting to give a presentation but its looking good." I said.
"That's good just tell me when and I'll take you there." Wren said.
"Actually they're trying to wow me and they're booking me a flight." I said.
"First class or no deal." Wren said making me laugh.
"It's Harvard, for what they charge or tuition they can afford it." I said.
"Honeymoon." Wren said.
"Ok compromise, Disney World as a stop on the way to anywhere you want to go." I said.
"You really want to go?" Wren said.
"Yes, It's a part of your Disney education. I promised you when you moved in that we'd go and this is the perfect time." I said.
"Fine we have two weeks anyway." Wren finally relented.
"Thank you." I said.
March 31st 2014-
"Wren you don't have to wait with me." I said.
"Stop fussing, you really want to wait alone in a dingy lounge for your flight to be called?" Wren said.
"You really want to be at an airport Starbucks when you can be lounging at home in your underwear?" I said.
"I would never…" He said feigning innocent.
"Why not? I do it all the time." I said making him almost choke on his coffee. "Of course you're never around so you know have at it."
"Uh, thanks." He said awkwardly before my flight was called.
"That's me." I said.
"Okay. Call me if you need me. I fan be there in less than a second."
"I know." I said. "Don't have too much fun while I'm gone." I said.
"Wouldn't dare." He said he gave me a hug and kissed my forehead before letting go. "Call when you land."
"I know." I said.
April 1st, 2014- Boston, Massachusetts
I got dressed in a black relaxed fit button down that I tucked into a white pencil skirt. I put on my heels and my necklaces. I put my hair up in a bun. I grabbed my brown Burberry leather briefcase. I put in my laptop and my wallet before grabbing my keys and getting in the car.
I arrived and nailed my presentation. I shook hands with the Dean and a few department heads who asked if I could come back for some of their panels before I headed out. I stopped by my old stomping grounds and had a cup of coffee when I got a call from MIT. I stopped by the apartment and changed. If there's one thing dad taught me was that you never wear the same outfit to two business meetings on the same day. Something about it not showing the same amount of importance to each one.
I ran upstairs and changed into some black slacks and a white top. I topped it off with a tweed blazer and some nude heels. Then I was off again. Apparently MIT also wanted the app. When I told them Harvard had already made a bid it and our meeting turned into an auction. By the end of that meeting I had made my first million, five million to be exact from MIT.
I was now a millionaire by my own right. I picked up my phone and called Wren.
"Go for Spencer." Wren answered.
"Hey." I said.
'Hey, how'd the meeting go?" Wren asked.
"The meetings went well. Really well actually." I said.
"Meetings?" He said.
"Yeah apparently MIT found out I was meeting with Harvard and they also wanted the app so they started a bidding war which MIT won." I said.
"That's amazing Nora."
"Yeah, I just made my first million well first five million." I said.
"They bid five million on it!" Wren shouted.
"Yup, I have to stick around for a few days and work out some last details but it's a done deal."
"I can stop by tonight." Wren offered.
"You sure?" I said.
"Course we need to celebrate. I'll be there at eight your time. That work?" He said.
"Yeah I'll see you then."
I watched students pass by as I looked over dad's contact information on my phone. Should I call him? My finger hovers above the button until I decide I'll call him later. As I was walking to my car I couldn't help be feel like I was being watched. I looked around and didn't see anyone the really caught my attention. I shrugged it off, I was probably just being paranoid.
Third Person's POV- Boston
After New York, Steve Rogers joined SHIELD and became a part of Strike Team Delta along with Clint Barton and Natasha Romanoff. That didn't mean they didn't get separate missions on occasion which brings Clint Barton back to Boston to watch the girl he's been sent to watch three other times.
His orders came straight from Director Fury himself. He asked why the girl was being watch and he got the same answer as always. She was an asset that was being considered for recruitment. Why they couldn't send anyone else was beyond him?
He watched Nora, as he remembered her name was walk out of a building and call someone she seemed happy. Then after the call was over she walked to her car but stopped. She looked around. More than two years and her instinct were just as great if not better than before. She didn't spot anything so she turned around and got in her car.
She's an interesting kid. Clint thought. He packed up his binoculars and went to follow her. Just as he was driving out of the parking structure he got a call from a secure line.
"Barton." Clint greeted.
"Are you in a secure location?" His boss, Nick Fury asked.
"In the car tailing the asset." Clint answered.
"You need to go dark. Things are happening and there might be a fox in the henhouse. Go dark but stay with the asset. Trust no one. I'll be in touch." Fury said before hanging up.
This day just got a lot more interesting.
Third Person's POV- Washington DC
Steve walked into the retirement home and checked in with the receptionist before walking in to Peggy's room.
"Steve?" Peggy said.
"Yeah." He answered.
"You're alive. You… You came back." She said tearing up.
"Of course I did." He said giving her a sad smile. Steve had been visiting her every two weeks for the past year and each time she forgot more and more. It was heartbreaking for Steve to see one of the strongest women he had ever known slowly lose her mind.
"How long have you been back?" She asked.
"A while, I'm sorry it took so long to come and see you. Sharon told me you were here and I thought it was time I visited." Steve said.
"That niece of mine is quite the sleuth. I'd be careful with her if I were you." Peggy said.
"Sharon's great."
"You're dating my niece?" Peggy said giving him a look.
"Yeah it just kind of happened." Steve said awkwardly.
"You miss her? Nora?" Peggy said.
"Everyday." Steve said. "I tried those instant noodles she talked about. That was all I ate the first week on my own. She never mentioned how bad for you they are."
Peggy laughed at that. "Yes they were quite a hit when they first came out."
"You should be proud of yourself Peggy." Steve said looking around at the pictures Peggy had around her room.
"Mm. I have lived a life. My only regret is that you and Nora didn't get to live yours together." Peggy said.
"What happened to her… After I was gone?" Steve asked.
"She was a wreck, After you crashed the plane she disappeared and when she appeared a year later, she was… different. She didn't laugh, didn't smile, even Howard couldn't get her to laugh. She kept popping in and out of our lives throughout the years until she just didn't." Peggy said. "I'm sorry."
Steve looked sad and pensive. "Don't be, I just missed my chance." He said.
"What is it?"
"For as long as I can remember I just wanted to do what was right. I guess I'm not quite sure what that is anymore. And I thought I could throw myself back in and follow orders, serve. It's just not the same." Steve said making Peggy chuckle.
"You're always so dramatic. Look, you saved the world. We rather...mucked it up." Peggy answered. "We take the good with the bad and learn to live with it" She said repeating what Nora would tell him and Bucky when a mission didn't go as planned.
"You didn't. Knowing that you helped found SHIELD is half the reason I stay." Steve answered.
"The world has changed and none of us can go back. All we can do is our best, and sometimes the best that we can do is to start over." Peggy said trying to ease his worries before she started coughing. Steve got up and poured her a glass of water.
"Peggy." Steve said trying to see if she was okay.
"Steve?" Peggy said looking at him like she hadn't seen him in years.
"Yeah" Steve said
"You're alive! You...you came, you came back." Peggy said tearing up.
"Yeah, Peggy." Steve said sadly.
"It's been so long. So long." Peggy said crying.
"It has, I couldn't leave my best gal pal." He answered sadly barely holding back tears.
Nora's POV- Later that Day
I got ready and wore a blue lace up dress with black lace up heels and a leather jacket. I left my hair down in loose waves and kept my make up natural. I was putting on a bit of mascara when there was a knock at the door.
images/product/large/2664862_
"Just a second." I said. I walked over and opened the door to reveal Wren holding a flower bouquet and bottle of Champagne.
"Hey congratulations" he said handing me the flowers.
"Thanks," I said as he pulled me into a hug. "I'll go put these in a vase and we can go."
"You'll never guess who I got stuck in surgery with today?" Wren said.
"Who?" I asked.
"Kate." Wren said.
"Kate, Ouch that must've been awkward." I said.
"To say she was still upset was an understatement. She made a few snide comments about us getting married but one of the nurses shut her up. Remind me to get Carrie something nice." Wren said.
"I will from the both of us." I said. "She was already my favorite scrub nurse, now she's just plain awesome."
"I know, let's go. I got us reservations at a burger place called Wahlburgers. One of the interns suggested it." Wren said.
"Sounds good." I said. "Car's downstairs can you navigate?"
"Of course." He said.
I grabbed my purse and jacket and locked up.
Third Person's POV- Boston
Clint was on the roof of the apartment across the street from Nora's when he saw her come out of the building and she wasn't alone.
"What the…" Clint started. He spotted a very familiar Brit he was not expecting to see.
"Someone's been busy." Clint muttered. He saw Wren open her door before getting in the car himself. "So much for a night in."
He grabbed his bow and arrows and got down from the roof.
Third Person's POV- Washington DC
"That's so sweet. That is so nice. Hey. I gotta go, though. Okay, bye" Sharon said hanging up the phone as she saw Steve come up the stairs. "That was Aunt Peggy. She just loves having you visit."
'Don't know why you like visiting that forgetful bat' Sharon thought.
"Yeah, hadn't been in a while thought it was time to stop by." Steve said. "Let me help you with that" He said taking the laundry basket off her hands and going to open the door to his apartment.
"Did you leave the stereo on?" Sharon asked.
"Uh, wait here." Steve said putting the basket down. He went downstairs and climbed up to his window using the fire escape. He opened the window and climbed into his apartment. He grabbed his shield before seeing Nick Fury sitting in his living room in the dark.
"I don't remember giving you a key." Steve said.
"You really think I'd need one? My wife kicked me out." Fury answered.
"Didn't know you were married." Steve retorted.
"There are a lot of things you don't about me." Fury said
"I know, Nick. That's the problem." Steve said reaching over to turn on the light. He saw all of the injuries Fury had sustained earlier that day. Fury motioned for him to be quiet before turning off the lights and typing something into the call phone in his hands.
EARS EVERYWHERE
"I'm sorry to have do this, but I had no place else to crash." Fury told him typing out another message.
SHIELD COMPROMISED
"Who else knows about your wife?" Steve asked and Fury typed out another message.
YOU AND ME
"Just… my friends." Fury answered.
"Is that what we are?" Steve asked.
"That's up to you." Fury answered before he was shot three times and collapsed. Steve looked out the window to see where the gunshot was coming from before dragging Fury to the other room. He was about to leave when Fury handed him a flash drive. "Don't… trust anyone." He said before passing out.
At that moment Sharon broke into the apartment. "Steve?" She called out with her gun pointed.
"Over here." He said
"Damn it I was supposed to keep an eye on you." She said.
"On whose order?" Steve asked.
"His," She said looking down at Nick fury before pulling out her radio. "Foxtrot is down, he's unresponsive. I need EMTs."
"Do you have a twenty on the shooter?" the response came through the radio.
"Tell him I'm in pursuit." Steve said running through the window and running after the assassin. He ran through an office building smashing through walls when he finally caught up to him on the roof. He threw his shield at him but he caught it and threw it back at Steve. The assassin jumped off the roof and disappeared.
Nora's POV-
Dinner was great I had a giant burger Wren didn't think I could finish but I did. After that we took a walk and enjoyed the fresh air.
"So now that you're a millionaire what are you going to do?" Wren asked.
"First of all I already was a billionaire, my trust fund is huge. Secondly I don't know. I could invest or find another project to work on." I said.
"Well this one went pretty well. If you ever decide to quit medicine then I think you have a future in the tech industry." Wren said.
"I've gotten offers before." I said with a smirk. "I wanted to make my own path not follow my dad's footsteps."
"I don't think you have to worry about that. You've proven time and time again that you don't need the Stark name to open doors for you. Matthews was worried you were actually here for an interview with Mass Gen. Apparently they've been calling him to ask about you." Wren said.
"Seriously… Even with the lawsuit." I said.
"Any publicity is good publicity." He said with a shrug.
"Interesting offer but I'd rather stay in Dallas. That's where I grew up, that's where our family's at and that's where I'm staying. At least for now anyway." I said.
"What do you mean for now?" Wren said.
"I want to live in New York one day. Not just cause my dad's there its just there's so much to see and do. The city is huge, you could literally order take out in the middle of the night and there will be a place open that will deliver. It's literally small parts of different countries squished into one city." I said.
"Would you live in an apartment or commute from out of the city?" Wren asked.
"Neither, I'd buy a townhouse." I said. "I could picture myself living in one"
"Real estate in Manhattan is a good investment." Wren said.
"I already own the ranch and the condo here." I said. "I think that's enough for now. Actually scratch that, a beach front property for the summers, definitely used some of the money I make from the app for one."
"Sounds like a good plan. I own a flat in London, another in Paris and I put in a down payment for a place in Dallas. I think I'm going to sell it though."
"You own a place in Dallas?"
"Kate and I were considering finding a bigger place for both of us. I saw it and I wanted to get it before it was sold so I bought it." He said.
"Wow," I said.
"I slept there most nights the month we weren't speaking." Wren said.
"Good thing that'll never happen again. With that video Jess and Sam could black mail us into anything." I said.
"Probably why we're still friends." Wren said making me laugh.
"Come on it's getting late and I have an early shift." He said.
"We still have to open that bottle." I said.
"Of course." He said. We drove back to the apartment and opened up that bottle of Champagne.
"To the rich getting richer." Wren said.
"To the irrational competition between Harvard and MIT." I said clinking the glass.
"Blue is definitely your color." I told Wren "it brings out your eyes."
"Are you trying to flirt?" He said.
"It's not flirting if it's the truth." I said sitting on the couch. I started getting sleepy so I leaned over and rested my head on his shoulder. My eyelids felt heavy so I closed them to rest my eyes.
The next morning I woke up in bed wearing the same clothes as the night before. I got up and got dressed and went for a run. I came back and got changed before grabbing my laptop and purse and heading to the coffee shop down the block. That feeling I was being watched was back but this time it was worse. My stomach was in knots and I saw two guys walking across the street that kept looking my way.
Okay no freaking out. I was about to walk in to the coffee shop when someone put his arms around me and made me keep walking with them.
"Don't scream, there are two guys tailing you, probably since you left your apartment." He said. "Put your arm around me and keep your head down."
"Who the hell are you?" I whispered harshly
"I'm your SHIELD shadow, we met before a couple of years ago." He said.
"We did?' I said.
"I'm Clint, now pretend to laugh at something I said," He said. And I forced a laugh as a buy with a Bluetooth head set passed us.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"My boss assigned me to keep an eye on you, maybe even try to recruit you." He said.
"Like I told the other guy they sent a few years back, no thank you." I said.
"I told Phil you wouldn't sign up." He said pulling me into a parking garage. "I don't know what's going on but something happened and the people I work for are coming after you and my boss said I'm supposed to keep you safe."
"Then why are they coming after me?" I said.
"No clue kid. Get in the car."
"No." I said.
"Nora you either get in the car or they find you." Clint said.
"How do I know I can trust you?" I said.
"My code name's Hawkeye, I fought the Chitauri with Tony Stark who I know you're friends with that good enough?"
"It'll do Legolas." I said getting in.
"Of course he told you about that." Clint muttered. "I need to get back to my apartment. Find out what's going on in SHIELD."
"I have a better idea." I said pulling out my phone.
"What no they can track that?!" He said trying to reach for the phone but I pulled it out of his reach.
"I rigged it with a scrambler it's untraceable, also makes it easier to do things like say hack super secret intelligence agencies. And there we are." I said. I read through the feeds and there was an out going message to all agents.
'All agents to report to closest base, Code black, Director Fury is dead.'
"What's your boss' name?" I asked Clint.
"Nick Fury why?" He said.
"You may want to see this." I said handing him the phone.
"Fury's dead." Clint said. "We need to get out of town."
"And go where?" I asked.
"I have a safe house a couple of hours away, we should be safe there." Clint said.
"I think I'll pass, I'll call my husband he'll come get me…" I said.
"You're married? What aren't you like seventeen or something."
"I'm twenty one and I got married last week birdbrain. I'll just let him know…" but before I could dial Clint through my phone out the window.
"What the hell dude?" I said.
"The less people who know where we are the better." Clint said.
"That phone was untraceable and you just threw it out the window." I said.
"Trust me when I say it's probably not as untraceable as you think. It may not give them access to your exact location but they can turn on the camera." Clint said.
"That's only with apple products, that was a Stark Phone." I said giving him an annoyed look.
"Oh… we'll be okay with out it. I just need to make a quick stop." He said pulling up to a gas station. "Wait in the car."
"Don't really have a choice now do I?" I retorted.
"Not really, sit tight I'll be back." He said before heading inside.
This fucking sucks I could have called Wren and been safe at home right now. Clint was on the payphone when another car pulled up and I recognized the driver as one of the guys we avoided back in town.
"Shit." I said sliding down my seat to avoid being seen. I don't know how long I stayed like that but I suddenly heard gunshots.
I peeked up and saw that they were all inside the gas station. Could I make a run for it?
"Hey you, hands where I can see them?" One of them said.
"Shit." I said. "Okay I'm putting my hands up."
"Step out of the car." Another said pointing his gun at me.
'Nora time to put that training to use' Aya said.
'Give me a second.' I replied. I stepped out of the car with my hands where they could see them
"On your knees." They said. One of them was standing in front of me pointing their gun at me whale the other was pulling out handcuffs.
That was my cue. I stood up and pulled the gun out of the man behind me's holster and before shooting the guy in front of me and elbowing the other guy in the gut before turning around and kicking him in the groin.
"Ah, you bitch." He cried out.
"Screw you asshole." I said pointing the gun at him. "Why are you after me?"
"You're not going to shoot me." He said tauntingly.
I pointed the gun at his thigh and fired. "Ah,"
"I'm going to ask again, why are you after me?" I said.
"Nora," I heard Clint call out.
"Start talking I said kicking his injured thigh."
"Ugh, you are both targets that must be eliminated, you stand in the way of our new world free of struggle. Nothing can stop us. From the ashes of the past a phoenix shall rise, cut off one head… and two more shall take its place…"
No, it can't be…
"Hail Hydra." He said before his mouth started foaming.
"This can't be happening." I whispered.
"Nora, you need to get up, we gotta go." I heard Clint say. "Nora! You can freak out in the car, move." He said lifting me up. I snapped out of my daze and got in the car.
We drove off and we were quiet until finally Clint started talking. "What happened back there? You took down two trained SHIELD agents and then freaked out."
"We have bigger things to worry about. Did you contact whoever you were going to call?" I said.
He looked right at me probably trying to get a read on me but didn't say anything. "My… partner left me a message said to avoid any SHIELD bases, safe houses or agents said it wasn't safe to contact anyone."
"SO your boss is dead, your partners on the lamb, and all of your coworkers are out to kill us." I said.
"Pretty much." Clint said.
"And all I was going to do today was sell and app and make my first million. I miss normal." I said.
"I know the feeling." He said. "What do you know about Hydra?"
"They're Nazis. Read about them in a book. Isn't your friend Captain America the one that supposedly took them down before he became a Capsicle." I said. Of course I knew the answer but I couldn't exactly say everything I knew about them.
"We need to get off the grid," He said.
"What were you thinking?" I asked.
"I know a place, a safe house my partner and I kept off the grid." He said.
"Where is it?" I asked.
"Maryland." He said.
"Let's get to it then." I said.
"Are you sure your okay?" He asked.
"We're being hunted down by Nazis, I'm as okay as I could be." I answer sarcastically.
"Get some sleep it'll be a while before we get there." Clint said
"Doubt I'll actually get any sleep." I said.
"Try." Clint said.
"Fine wake me up if anything happens." I said moving my seat slightly back.
I closed my eyes and the sound of the car driving down the highway
Third Person's POV- Washington DC
Natasha and Steve had just evaded the SHIELD strike team sent to capture them. After Steve stole or as he like to think of it borrowed the car they started driving to Camp Leigh, New Jersey.
"Where did Captain America learn how to steal a car?" Natasha asked.
"Nazi Germany." He answered smiling a bit as he remembered Dum Dum shocking himself with the wires as he tried to start the car before Nora asked him to move aside and did it herself.
"Mm." Natasha hummed.
"And we're borrowing. Take your feet off the dash." He said swatting at her feet.
"Alright, I have a question for you, of which you do not have to answer. I feel like if you don't answer it though, you're kind of answering it, you know?" Natasha said.
"What?" Steve said.
"Was that your first kiss since 1945?" Natasha asked with a smirk.
"That bad, huh?" Steve answered.
"I didn't say that." Natasha said.
"Well, it kind of sounds like that's what you're saying." Steve said looking over at her.
"No, I didn't. I just wondered how much practice you've had." She said.
"You don't need practice." Steve answered.
"Everybody needs practice." Natasha retorted.
"It was not my first kiss since 1945. I'm ninety-five, I'm not dead." He said.
"Nobody special, though?" Natasha said.
"I had someone special and I lost them both. I've been seeing someone but it's not the same. I feel like no matter how great things get it doesn't fill the void. And I don't know what to say. Sharon's great but…"
"Wait, you're dating Sharon, as in Sharon Carter? Didn't you date her great aunt or something?" Natasha said.
"Peggy and I were just friends." Steve said.
"It's still a weird situation." Natasha said. "How are things going?"
"Things are… okay." Steve said.
"What happened?" She said
"Nothing happened." Steve quickly denied it.
"Something happened." She deadpanned.
"So there was something I may have done." Steve said making Natasha raise an eyebrow. "A few months ago we went out on a date and she stayed over for the first time and we were in bed…"
"You mean you had sex." Natasha said.
"uh, yes and when I climaxed I said someone else's name." Steve said embarrassed. Natasha was silent.
"How'd she react?" Natasha said.
"She asked me who Nora was and I told her. Nora was my soul mate and she's gone. Sharon was upset and kind of distant but a few days later she acted like it never happened." Steve said.
"And you've never brought it up again?" Natasha said.
"I try to stay away from the subject with her." Steve said.
"You could have just made something up." Natasha said.
"What, like you?" Steve said
"I don't know. The truth is a matter of circumstances; it's not all things to all people all the time. And neither am I." Natasha explained.
"That's a tough way to live." Steve answered.
"It's a good way not to die, though." Natasha retorted.
"You know, it's kind of hard to trust someone when you don't know who that someone really is." Steve said.
"Yeah. Who do you want me to be?" Natasha said looking attentively at him
"How about a friend?" He said making Natasha laugh.
"Well, there's a chance you might be in the wrong business, Rogers." She said just as they pulled up to the abandoned military base.
"This is it." Steve said getting out of the car.
"The file came from these coordinates." Natasha said.
"So did I." He said making Natasha give him a confused look. "This camp is where I was trained."
"Changed much?" She asked as she walked around trying to track the signal.
Steve stayed quiet for a moment. "A little."
"This is a dead end. Zero heat signature, zero waves, not even radio. Whoever wrote the file must have used a router to throw people off." She said. Steve noticed a building in front of them and he stopped. "What is it?"
"Army regulations forbid storing ammunition within five hundred yards from the barracks. This building is in the wrong place." He said before breaking the lock with his shield. They walked in and saw that the ammunitions storage was actually an office building.
"This is SHIELD." Natasha said.
"Maybe where it started." Steve said. They walked further in and saw framed Portraits of the founders of SHIELD including Colonel Chester Phillips, Howard Stark and Peggy Carter but there was one photo that stood out to him the most. It was a framed group photo of Howard, Peggy, Colonel Philips, Dum Dum Dugan and Nora. He couldn't take his eyes off of her.
"There's Stark's father." Natasha said.
"Howard." Steve told her.
"Who's the girl?" She says looking at the picture Steve was staring at. Steve didn't answer he just kept walking until he got to a bookshelf.
"If you already working in a secret office..." Steve said as he pushed the bookshelf to reveal and elevator. "Why do you need to hide the elevator?" They got in and took the elevator down to see what was down there.
"This can't be the data-point, this technology is ancient." Natasha said as they walked into a room filled with antique computers that probably belonged in a museum. Natasha noticed a small flash drive port and placed the flash drive in it.
Initiate System? The computer text read.
Natasha typed into the computer. "Y-E-S, spells yes." She smiled as the computer started "Shall we play a game?" She turned to Steve "It's from a movie that..."
"Yeah, I saw it." Steve said as and accented voice started speaking.
"Rogers, Steven Grant. Born, 1918. Romanoff, Natalia Alianovna. Born, 1984." The computer said as a camera was pointing toward them.
"It's some kind of a recording." Natasha said.
"I am not a recording, Fräulein. I may not be the man I was when the Captain took me prisoner in 1945, but I am." It said and Steve immediately recognized it.
"Do you know this thing?" Natasha asked.
"Arnim Zola was a German scientist who worked for the Red Skull. He's been dead for years." Steve explained.
"First correction, I am Swiss. Second, look around you. I have never been more alive. In 1972 I received a terminal diagnosis. Science could not save my body, my mind, however, that was worth saving on two hundred thousand feet of data banks. You are standing in my brain." It said.
"How did you get here?" Steve asked.
"Invited." The computer answered.
"It was Operation Paperclip after World War II. SHIELD recruited German scientists with strategic values." Natasha elaborated.
"They thought I could help their cause. I also helped my own." It said and Steve could just imagine Zola smiling when he said that.
"HYDRA died with the Red Skull." Steve said.
"Cut off one head, two more shall take its place." Zola repeated the Hydra mantra.
"Prove it." Steve said.
"Accessing archive." The computer showed footage of the Red Skull and the original founders of SHIELD, A Photo of Peggy, Howard and Nora. "HYDRA was founded on the belief that humanity could not be trusted with its own freedom. What we did not realize, was that if you try to take that freedom, they resist. The war taught us much. Humanity needed to surrender its freedom willingly. After the war, SHIELD was founded and I was recruited. The new HYDRA grew. A beautiful parasite inside SHIELD. For seventy years HYDRA has been secretly feeding crisis, reaping war. And when history did not cooperate, history was changed." The computer said.
"That's impossible, SHIELD would have stopped you." Natasha stated.
"Accidents will happen." The computer said. It showed images of Hydra killing Howard and Maria Stark followed by a news article from 1992 'Tony Stark Suffers tragic loss, Wife and Unborn Daughter Dead.'
"You killed Nora." Steve said as a tear slipped out of his eyes.
"HYDRA created a world so chaotic that humanity is finally ready to sacrifice its freedom to gain its security. Once the purification process is complete, HYDRA's new world order will arise. We won, Captain. Your death amounts to the same as your Life; a zero sum." Steve angrily smashed the computer screen.
"As I was saying... " The computer continued.
"What's on this drive?" Steve demanded.
"Project Insight requires insight. So I wrote an algorithm." It said.
"What kind of algorithm? What does it do?" Natasha asked.
"The answer to your question is fascinating. Unfortunately, you shall be too dead to hear it." It said and the doors started to close. Steve threw his shield to try to stop it but it was too late.
"Steve, we got a bogey. Short range ballistic. 30 seconds tops." Natasha shouted.
"Who fired it?" Steve asked.
"S.H.I.E.L.D." Natasha answered.
"I am afraid I have been stalling, Captain. Admit it, it's better this way. We're both of us...out of time." The computer taunted.
Steve looked around and saw a small opening on the ground. The throws the metal plate out of the way and just as the place exploded they both jumped in. After the building collapsed he got them out of there before the SHIELD search team found them.
Third Person's POV- Dallas, Texas
Wren had just gotten out of surgery and he checked his phone for the hundredth time that day. Nora hadn't called him that morning. He thought that maybe she was out or in a meeting but she hadn't called all day. He dialed her number but still nothing.
He picked up his phone and dialed her again but this time was sent directly to voicemail.
"Nora, can you call me when you get this. You haven't checked in." He said before hanging up. Wren couldn't shake the feeling of uneasiness he felt. He put his phone away and went to go check in with the residents.
Nora's POV-
"I'm going to go, Mr. Pierce. You need anything before I leave?" I heard someone say.
"No. Uh...it's fine, Renata, you can go home." A man answered.
I looked around and saw that I was standing in a kitchen. A man in his button up pajamas was serving himself a glass of milk when he suddenly stopped and looked at the dark corner of the room. I looked over and saw there was someone sitting at the table. I saw his steel blue eyes and his chin length brown hair but nothing else. He was wearing a mask and a black tactical suit. One thing that did stand out was the reflection of the light on his metal arm.
"Want some milk?" the man in pajamas asked him but he didn't reply.
"The timetable has moved. Our window is limited. Two targets, level six" He said joining him at the table. They already cost me Zola. I want confirmed death in ten hours." He ordered.
Zola? He couldn't be talking about…
"Sorry, Mr. Pierce, I...I forgot my phone." I hear the woman from before say.
"Oh, Renata. I wish you would have knocked." The man said picking up a gun and shooting right at me.
I woke up gasping still in the car.
"Nora, hey you're alright." I turned and saw Clint still driving.
"How long was I out?" I asked.
"A couple of hours we'll be at the house in five minutes." He said.
"Okay." I said.
We drove onto a dirt road into a forest. There were dried leaves all over the ground. We finally stopped in front of a giant house.
"The place is isolated, thirty minutes from the closest town, fifteen from the closest neighbor, we'll be safe." He said.
We walked in and I saw the giant staircase. The house must have at least three floors. I noticed all the construction gear.
"It's a great house." I said.
"Yeah, A bit of a fixer upper. I'm thinking of knocking down that wall getting more of an open floor plan." Clint said.
"I wouldn't do that, ruins the classic aesthetic of the house. Plus that's a load bearing wall, knock it down and everything comes down." I said.
He just looks at me like 'what the hell are you talking about?'
"I took a few architecture classes in college." I said
"Right, you hungry?" He said.
"Starving, I kind of skipped breakfast this morning." I said.
"I'll go check what we have. If you want to wash up use any room on the second floor, I'm still fixing up the third floor." He said
"Okay then." I said heading up stairs. I went into the first bedroom I found that had a window that let out to the roof. Easier escape route if I needed to get out quick or if I decided to sneak out and call Wren to come and get me. Clint was nice and all but he worked for an intelligence agency that is apparently being taken over by Nazis. It's a possibility.
I took off my jacket and washed my hands and face before going back downstairs.
"Hey so I made us some Chili and we don't have anything but coffee and water so I made us a pot." He said.
"That's good, I'll grab the cups." I said.
"Cabinet on your right." He said. I pulled out two mugs and poured us some coffee before we sat down for dinner.
"Why does SHIELD keep trying to recruit me?" I asked.
"Don't know." He said. "Why did you panic when that agent said Hail Hydra?"
"Adrenaline was wearing off." I said. "Have you been watching me the past few days?"
"Can we cut the bullshit and just be honest for a minute? You're deflecting and you know a lot more than you say you do. I can help you but only if you let me."
"I never asked for your help. All you've done since I met you is lie. Is your name really Clint? Was that really your dog? How do I know this house isn't wired or that Hydra's going to come crashing in here any minute?" I said.
"How can a twenty one year old surgeon take down two fully trained SHIELD agents without breaking a sweat or getting hurt?" Clint asked. We just sat there staring at each other until both of our stomachs started growling. Clint grabbed the spoon and started eating while I just sat there staring at him.
"I didn't poison your food if that's what your thinking." He said I hesitated for a minute before finally grabbing the spoon and eating a bit of the chili.
"You didn't used to be this paranoid." He said.
"A lot can happen in four years." I answered.
We ate in silence before we both finished and went back to staring at each other.
"How do you know Wren Spencer?" He said.
What the hell? How did he know Wren? "So you have been watching me." I said.
"I'm your SHIELD Shadow, it's my job." He said.
"Not at all creepy." I said.
"Still deflecting." He said.
"He's a friend." I said.
"Looked like more than friends." Clint said
"I get that a lot." I said.
"How'd you meet?" He asked.
"Online dating website." I said rolling my eyes. "Why do you care?"
"Because you're a good kid and he's dangerous." Clint said.
"You're joking right? We're talking about the guy who when I'm having a shitty day will go to my favorite restaurant and watch Star Wars with me just to make me feel better. The guy that gives my nephew piggy back rides and busts him out of day care so they could spend quality time together and give my sister the day off." I said.
"Are you sure you're just friends?" He said.
"Why does everyone keep asking?" I said.
"Fine, but if we're going to get through this we need to trust each other. Is there anything you can think of as to why they'd want to come after you?" he said.
Let's see reason's why HYDRA would want to come after me:
My Dad's Tony Stark/ Iron Man
One of my soul mates is Captain America
I'm a Time Traveler/ Host of the Time Stone
I contributed to Hydra's downfall the first time.
"Uh no idea, probably the same reason your boss wanted to recruit me." I said. "Which is why?"
"They never told me. The orders always came from Nick Fury himself. Never gave a reason." He said.
"And you never asked?"
"They gave me your file, it didn't even have your name on it just a photo and your resume. My job was to keep an eye on you because you were being considered for recruitment. That's all I knew." He said and he was telling the truth. No fidgeting, no pupillary response so no changed in heart rate.
"Okay," I said and I was quiet for a minute. "I met Wren in Afghanistan. I did six months over there as part of my surgical residency. I worked under him. We became friends. That's all."
"Are you really just friends because it looked like a lot more than that?" He said.
"Seriously, what about the two of us screams relationship?" I said.
"You two hold hands when you walk. He opens the door for you. You defend him very well and the way you two acted on your date…"
"We just went out for dinner."
"You shared a shake."
"I couldn't finish it on my own." I said.
"Face it kid, you're in a relationship." He said.
"My life is a shit storm." I said.
"I know the feeling." He said. "You do know I'm not going to try and kill you right?"
"I kinda figured, it's a little creepy that you've been following me around for years though." I said.
"Not the entire time, I was only assigned to you a few months at a time and only in Boston. I was never actually supposed to talk to you. That was an accident." Clint said.
"Where is pizza dog?" I said.
"New York, neighbor's looking after him for me." He said.
"That's good." I said.
"Axl?" Clint asked.
"Texas, housemate's looking after him." I said. "Speaking of, I should probably check in,"
"Can't do that here, I have a jamming device, makes it impossible to get a signal out of here." He said.
"Never mind then." I said getting up and clearing the table.
"Get some sleep. It's been a long day." He said.
"I'll try." I said heading upstairs.
The Next Day-
I woke up early, before the sun rose and I started looking around the house. Staying put was not an option. I knew Clint was trying to keep me safe but I couldn't use my powers if he was around. Even worse it had been a while since my last time jump and I knew it was only a matter of time before Aya decided I needed to go. I took my laptop with me and went to take pictures of the outside of the house. Then I started looking for the jamming device. For a property this size he was probably using a lot more than just one but if I could find at least one then I could use it to send a message to Wren.
It took a while but I found one in the back porch. I used a bobby pin to open it and rewire it into a transmitted. I connected it to my laptop and waited for the signal to charge. I created a VPN before emailing Wren the pictures and told him that's where I was. I could only hope he actually got it and actually checked his email. I quickly put the jamming device back together and back where it belonged before going back inside. I heard footsteps coming down do I put my laptop in front of me and played a movie.
"Hey." Clint said looking a bit concerned.
"Morning." I said.
"Didn't expect you to be up so early." He said.
"Couldn't really sleep and I slept in the car."
"Right." Clint said. "Don't have internet here."
"I noticed, I'm watching some movies I downloaded before."
"Which one?"
"Jurassic Park." I said. "Our day may be crappy but at least we haven't gotten eaten by a T-Rex."
"Not yet anyway." Clint answered. "I'll make breakfast."
We ate and watched a few movies before we started playing cards.
"You got any sixes?" I asked.
"Go fish." He said. "You know what I just realized?"
"What?"
"The deck is missing cards."
"That explains a lot." I said laughing. All of a sudden Clint got serious. He looked towards the broom closet he got the glass of water and dropped it on the floor.
"Shit, sorry." He said "Hold on, I'll get a broom."
What the hell?
He opened a broom closet and pulled out a bow and a quiver of arrows and a gun. He came over and loaded a clip before handing me the gun.
"Stay close." He said.
As we stepped out of the kitchen, something smashed through the window and the room started filling up with smoke.
"Upstairs go." Clint said as people started coming in.
I ran upstairs but someone intercepted me in the hallway.
"Payback's a bitch ain't it?" The guy from the gas station who I shot said. He threw a punch, which knocked me into the wall. He pushed me onto the floor and started choking me. I was done caring who saw me. I put my hand against his chest and used an energy blast to push him off of me and ended up throwing him down to the first floor. More of them started making their way upstairs and I started shooting at them. I hit two of them, which made them stumble down the stairs.
Then a stray bullet hit a propane tank and the explosion threw Clint and a few of the goons knocking them out.
I few of them were still after me. I fired at them until I ran out of bullets. I shielded myself before getting to the closest goon and searching him for weapons. No ammo but one of them had throwing knives. Jackpot.
I waiting until one of them tried to get close to grab me and threw a knife into their throat. The other guy fired at me until they were out of bullets and I took that as my cue to fight back.
I threw two knives but he managed to avoid them or deflect them with his rifle.
"What's the matter, out of knives?" He taunted. I really hate these guys.
"Yeah, but I don't need them." I said before shooting an energy blast at him throwing him against the wall and he landed on his knees. I took advantage of the confusion and punched him knocking him out. Thank you accelerated regeneration; bloody knuckles are not good for surgeons.
I ran over and checked on Clint.
"Hey, Clint wakey wakey."
"Uhm." He groaned. I looked down and saw a piece of metal jabbed into his thigh. He also had a nasty scrap on his stomach.
"We got to go, can you stand?" I said as I started coughing.
He coughed but nodded. I helped him and he leaned on me as he hopped outside. Just as we were at the porch there was another explosion and we were pushed off the porch onto the lawn.
"Aww," I heard Clint hiss.
My ears were ringing but I could still hear for the most part. I hand landed on my stomach just as Clint had. I quickly rolled him over to make sure he didn't aggravate his injuries.
"Don't move." I heard a voice say. I turned and saw a man with slicked back hair aiming his rifle at me. I stopped moving.
"You've given us a lot of trouble brat." He said.
"She really hates it when people call her that." I heard a familiar voice say. "Make a move and I'll blow your head off."
The agent slowly put his hands down and Wren him with the butt of his gun, knocking him out.
"I have never been so happy to see you." I said hugging Wren.
"I got your message, would have missed it if it weren't for Friday pulling it up for me." Wren said.
"We need to go, Clint's injured." I said.
"We'll drop him off at the nearest hospital." Wren said.
"We can't they're after him too." I said.
"He'll be fine." Wren said.
"Wren he's coming with us, he saved my life, I owe him." I said.
"Are you sure you want to bring him to the house?"
"He needs some place safe and medical attention. The lab's set up for stuff like this, it's our only option"
"Fine." Wren said. He helped me lift Clint up before teleporting us to the house.
Put him on the table." I said. I quickly put my hair up into a mess bun and washed my hands before putting on gloves.
"Kit's next to you." Wren said.
"We need an IV. He's lost a lot of blood." I said.
"I'll get blood." Wren said before teleporting away.
"Clint I need you to listen to me, Are you allergic to anything?" I said.
"No." he said but from all the blood loss he was probably delirious.
"Okay good, I'm going to fix your leg, I'm giving you a sedative, don't fight it." I said.
Wren came back and started hooking up the blood bag.
"I'll take the leg can you take the stomach?" I asked.
"Yeah, meanwhile you're going to tell me what the hell is going on." Wren said.
"My worst nightmare came true." I said.
"Aya zapped you to the Salem Witch trials?" he said.
"Worse, HYDRA's back." I said
"Well that explains why Captain America and Black Widow are fugitives from the law." Wren said.
"Come again?" I said.
"Save Birdbrain talk later." Wren said.
"Fine." I said. "What's with you two anyway?"
"There are some things about me you don't need to know." Wren answered.
"Why does that make me nervous?"
"You've had a bad couple of days, we'll talk if and when a time comes that you need to know. Until then get that shrapnel out." Wren said cleaning out the stomach wound and stitching Clint up.
"If you say so." I said opening the wound out a bit more to get a better view. I had my work cut out for me.