Heyyyyy another update! And likely a one shot coming after I get some rest. I'd really like to shout out my bestie for making it through her last days of school. I know it was hard but I'm so very proud of you. Warning for smut ahead

Ash burns her lungs as she crawls through the building. She lists the things she knows in her head.

A rig holding a torch broke… The rig hit a gas tank… There was an explosion… It was her fault.

She hears a voice crying from the other side of the room. Quickly she moves forwards, her face heating up from the flames dancing around her.

Melinda was working with Eva and her daughter Katya on their new movie titled Bahrain. They were at the ends of production. She was playing a cop trying to help a superhero-ed mother and daughter to safety after they got caught in the middle of a terrorist group.

But Eva was stubborn. She didn't work well with anyone that wasn't her daughter. Not even her former boss and director Jiaying Johnson. Eva had gotten into a heated argument with Melinda over the scene causing Melinda to storm off in another direction. She had gotten angry and punched the first thing in sight… It was the rig.

To be fair it was rusted and the rope was giving but it would have held had she not… It was the last day of filming…

"Mommy!" Melinda's stomach sinks as she sees Katya curled up next to her crumpled mother. "Mommy please get up." She pleads. Eva was pinned beneath a board and she wasn't moving. There was enough room for Melinda to stand. She moves gently to the girl being gentle not to startle her.

"Katya?"

"You hurt her." The young girl seethes. So much anger from someone so small. Someone so hurt. She knew her mother wasn't getting up as much as Melinda did. "You killed mother."

"I didn't mean…" Melinda breathes stepping back. She hears the roof creak as cinders drop. It won't hold long. They need to go. "Katya come with me." Melinda heads to the door expecting the little girl to follow.

"You killed mother. Now there's so much pain…" Katya moves her hand away from her leg revealing what she feared. Her leg was pinned beneath the same wood trapping her mother.

"Oh god." She whispers freezing. She can hear the sirens but she knows they won't be fast enough.

"I need a new mother…" With an eerie smile the girl turns her head to Melinda. "Take my hand… I want to feel your pain." She can see tear tracks in the ashes staining her face. "Please… I'm scared."

Melinda is frozen in her spot when suddenly the ground shifts. The wood caves under the weight as she feels hands grip her shoulders pulling her backwards. Katya's scream pierces the room as she falls. Then deathly silence hangs in the air. It doesn't stay long before a new scream rips through the air.

It takes her a minute to discover that it's her own.

Melinda wakes with a start on her bed. Her clothes are drenched in sweat and her phone is buzzing like crazy. She picks it up and almost instantly regrets that choice. Six calls from Andrew, nine from Peggy, three from Stark, two from Phil, and too many from different television companies wanting to interview her.

She has a feeling it has nothing to do with the movie.

She opens twitter finding a barrage of tweets about the video. Nobody seems to know the source but it also seems everyone has seen the video. She marches right across the screen and attacks Stark. It looks incriminating, even to her. People bombard her on twitter now.

" TheCavalryBitch: Whoa. Can't believe MelindaMay would do that…"

" WardsWarrior: The ice queen lives on Melinda May"

" Skyeward4ever: Can't say I'm surprised… She's always been so cold. Waiting for the next outburst tho."

" TonyStank: Can't believe MelindaMay would attack my baby! Hope he's okay!"

If only that person happened to get the reason on tape. They wouldn't be saying much then… Or maybe they would. She's not sure.

"Are you serious?" A british voice speaks up causing her to spring up. Peggy is standing in her bedroom doorway with her arms crossed in front of her chest. "Do you realize what a ruckus you have caused?"

"You don't know the full story."

"I don't have to to know you attacked a millionaire director that could literally break you." Peggy frowns. "What on earth were you thinking?"

"I was thinking that he paid my ex husband to leave me in Hawaii." Melinda deadpans reaching for the scotch on her bedside table. Peggy snatched it quickly a frown etched on her face.

"Tony wouldn't do that."

"Well he did. So I beat his pretty boy face in. Good enough? Or do I need to regale you the death threats that I'm receiving on twitter that might just rival Bahrain's."

Peggy's face softens knowing Melinda wouldn't mention that event if she were lying. She tries to forget it as much as possible… "Oh my… Melinda I'm so sorry."

"Don't worry about it. I quit."

"You did what?"

"It was a mistake going back. I've made more than enough money to sustain me for the rest of my life so I quit."

"Quitting isn't the solution."

"And what is? Giving Stark what he wants? Crawling back there and begging for them to take me back?"

"There's more than that Andrew he…"

"He what?"

"He talked to the press about Bahrain." Melinda's heart sinks in her chest as she opens her phone quickly. Sure enough the latest article reads in bold

The Truth About Bahrain.

"He promised…" Melinda whispers. She gathers herself straightening her spine. "Can I be alone?"

"I'm not sure that's a good idea." Peggy frowns.

"Please." Melinda begs. Peggy reluctantly agrees leaving with a short nod. Melinda feels herself laughing. A bitter, angry laugh escaping her lips as she looks around the room. She has to contain herself. Her knuckles itch for her punching bag. She wants to hit something. God what she wouldn't give for someone to hit right now.

Her doorbell rings seeming to answer her prayers. She moves quickly swinging the door open. Phil stands there, his eyes bloodshot. He looks like he hasn't slept. She takes in her own disheveled appearance. She's wearing a pair of shorts that don't even hit mid thigh, the Captain America shirt hangs loosely off her frame extending past the shorts. It was the same shirt he had left after…

"I know you're angry Mel."

"Angry doesn't even describe it." Melinda frowns.

"Please come back." Phil pleads. "I need you with me on this. I know Stark fucked up."

"That's putting it lightly." She laughs.

"Melinda I need you." He sighs taking a step towards her. "I will do whatever it takes to make this right but I need you." His hands fall on her arms stroking down in comfort. The gesture leaves her throat feeling like cotton. "Use me if you need to. You're angry. Take it out on me."

Before she can think logically her fingers grip his collar pulling him to her. She pulls him inside pressing him against the door. Their lips crash together roughly. Their teeth hitting against each others. The kiss is biting, punishing. God it feels so good to kiss him. Suddenly regret fills her gut as she pulls away.

"I didn't expect that." He whispers before pulling her to him again. This time he's spinning her around pressing her against the door. His fingers dig into her arms. Hard and bruising…

It's perfect.

She jumps wrapping her legs around his waist. She can feel him hard and pressing against her thigh. God he feels so good… His lips burn a path down her throat sparking memories from beneath her eyes. When he pressed her against the desk… His hands venture to her ass squeezing harshly. He presses her back against her sofa falling on top of her. Her fingers work frantically on the buttons of his shirt. She pushes it off his shoulders as his hands explore her thighs. His tongue roams her mouth as he slowly inches the shirt up her frame. His fingers lightly brushing her abdomen threaten to burn her alive. His thumbs trace her ribs as his teeth dig into the side of her throat.

The pain feels so good… The pain helps her forget.

She bites back, her teeth nipping beneath his jaw. He pulls her shirt… well his… off of her throwing it somewhere across the room. His lips catch her nipple as his hands grip her hips. His tongue swirls around the hardened peak ripping a moan from her throat.

She pushes his pants and boxers down at the same time helping him to kick them onto the ground. She takes him in her hand stroking lightly. He hisses against her skin accidentally biting down on her nipple. A choked moan leaves her lips at the sensation. He tugs her shorts off reaching down to rub her through the thin fabric of her panties. She grinds against his hand as her grip tightens. He moans into neck as he pulls her panties off as well.

"God Lin…" He whispers.

"Fuck me." She growls wrapping her legs around his waist. He obeys her command thrusting inside of her roughly. Her breath escapes her lungs in a rush. Her nails dig into his back as he begins a punishing rhythm.

His fingers bruise her hips… His teeth bite at her throat… So much pain. God it feels wonderful.

Their rhythm picks up quickly as her nails claw down his back. He whispers in her ear but her blood is pounding too loudly for her to hear. She's so swept up in him. Then suddenly he pushes her over the edge sending her spiraling into her orgasm. He comes quickly after her spilling inside of her.

She listens in silence to the sounds of their hearts beating as he drifts off, his arms wrapped tightly around her.

Cotton fills her throat yet again as she feels his even breath against her throat. Guilt forms at the base of her stomach. She used him again. She's always using her and he's always taking it. Tears build behind her closed eyes.

It's enough.