"No fucking way." I said, as I watched Director Fury emerge from the helicopter and enter the building. He seemed shocked and slightly upset to see me there, which I assumed was because he had told me that I needed to skip town when this had all started.

Alexander was the first to speak as Fury entered the room. "Did you get my flowers?" He asked. Fury didn't look at all amused by his joke. "I'm glad you're here, Nick." He said. I rolled my eyes.

"Really?" He replied, "Cause I though you had me killed."

"You know how the game works." Alexander replied quietly. I could tell Fury was just becoming more frustrated.

"Then why make me the head of SHIELD?" He asked, real question on his features.

"Cause you're the best and the most ruthless person I ever met." He replied, seemingly at ease with the situation. Nick was quick to reply.

"I did what I did to protect people." He said, obvious unease at Alexander's suggestion. Pierce wasn't swayed.

"Our enemies are your enemies, Nick. Disorder, war. It's just a matter of time before a dirty bomb goes off in Moscow, or an EMP fries Chicago. Diplomacy? Holding action, a band-aid. And you know where I learned that; Bogota. You didn't ask, you just did what had to be done. I can bring order to the lives of seven billion people by sacrificing twenty million. It's the next step, Nick, if you have the courage to take it."

It hurt to listen to him as he spoke. He was so obviously disillusioned by what he thought was right. It was the same way Commander Mager had taught me during my training as Onyx. I couldn't believe all of the lies and deception they had put in my mind.

"No, I have the courage not to." Fury replied. He led Pierce to the retinal scanner as Natasha took her gun back, again pointing it at Pierce as I was.

He laughed under his breath as he approached the scanner. "You don't think we wiped your clearance from the system?" Nick nodded before he replied.

"I know you erased my password, probably deleted my retinal scan, but if you want to stay ahead of me, Mr. Secretary," He paused, lifting up his eyepatch and revealing his scarred eye, "You need to keep both eyes open." I could barely hold back a snort at his half-assed joke as he and Pierce stepped up to the scanner.

"Alpha Level confirmed. Encryption code accepted. Safeguards removed." The automated voice came over the speakers. The data had been released to the world. Anyone who wanted to know anything about us would be able to find it in an instant.

We watched the screen as the files were released, and Natasha pulled out her phone, opening her webpages to search for the information before she broke the silence. "Done." She said, scrolling down the page, "And it's trending."

Just then Pierce pulled out his phone, hitting a button. The pins on the jackets of the council members lit up, burning deeply into their sternum. I quickly pointed my gun back at him, as did Fury and Natasha.

"Unless you want a two-inch hole in your sternum," He said, addressing Natasha, "I'd put that gun down." She didn't back down, her grip on the gun just tightened. "That was armed the moment you pinned it on." He said. Both Natasha and Fury lowered their guns, and I followed their lead.

"Lieutenant, how much longer?" he asked. A voice came over the speakers in reply.

"Sixty-five seconds to satellite link. Target reengaged. Lowering weapons array." I watched out the window as the array was lowered from the helicarrier, hoping Steve was quick enough to get there and stop it.

I looked to Natasha when she nodded to Fury, and then me. Steve had been able to get there in time. We watched as the helicarriers weapon targets opened fire on each other.

"What a waste." Peirce said, a somber look on his face.

"Are you still on the fence about Roger's chances?" Natasha asked. Pierce gave her a dark look.

"It's time to go, councilwoman. Come on." He grabbed her by the arm, pulling her to the door, "You're gonna fly me out of here." He held his phone as though he was still threatening her.

"You know, there was a time when I would have taken a bullet for you." Fury said, unmoving.

"You already did!" Pierce replied. "You will again, when-," He was cut off as Natasha activated her own pin, distracting Pierce.

Fury grabbed a gun from an agent lying on the ground, aiming it and shooting at Pierce before turning to look at me. Shrugging, I aimed my gun as well, shooting him a second time. Fury gave a sad smile at that before walking to where Natasha laid on the ground, unconscious.

"Romanoff!" He said, scared to touch her in case she was injured. "Natasha! Natasha, come on!" Finally, she opened her eyes. I crouched next to her before she spoke.

"Ow. Those things really do sting." I actually let out a snort at her comment, helping her to her feet as we ran in the direction of Fury's chopper. I climbed in the back, strapping myself in next to Natasha and putting on the headset next to me. It took a few moments Fury to get it into the air, and then Sam spoke. Well, he yelled.

"Please tell me you got that chopper in the air!" He yelled into the headpiece. I looked down at the Triskelion, seeing one of the helicarriers had crashed into the side of the building. Panic ran through me.

"Sam! Where are you?" I yelled back, watching as the helicarrier fell further into the building.

"Forty first floor, north west corner!" He yelled back. It was obvious he was running from where the helicarrier had crashed.

"We're on it!" Natasha replied, steering the chopper in the direction Sam had told us. "Stay where you are!" She added.

"That's not an option!" He yelled back, still running. We had circled the building to get on the right side before we heard the sound of glass shattering through the headset as Sam jumped from the building.

Looking up, I saw his form falling, "He's above us!" I yelled. Fury tipped the plane sideways and Sam came crashing through my side, hitting the door on Natasha's end as she grabbed on to him and Fury righted the plane again. Sam was breathing heavily as he finally found his balance.

"Forty first floor!" He yelled. "Forty first!" I laughed lightly and helped him onto the seat between Natasha and I

"It's not like they put the floor numbers on the outside of the building!" Fury yelled from up front. Sam just rolled his eyes.