Wade sat in a chair beside my bed, watching me get dressed. He was pouting, and not in the cute, playful way he usually did. He was upset, but so was everyone. I didn't have the patience to coddle him now. I was trying to focus on pulling on my jeans and running a brush through my hair. I stared at the brush, horrified; my hair was beginning to fall out.

The Prof had started me on chemo last week. I sighed in defeat, and put the brush down. I pulled what hair I did have left into a ponytail, and threw on the do-rag I wore when I went riding with Logan. It was black with red flames, and it didn't look too god-awful. I looked to Wade, he grimaced.

"It's the best I can do for now." I sighed, grabbing my bag.

"You are in no shape to go out."

"Try and stop me, and you'll see how good I feel." I smiled at him and opened my door to find Dena standing there with a blank expression. "Dena? What's wrong, dearie?"

"The Professor told me what's going on." She whispered, shifting her weight, making her black combat boots squeak.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to upset you." I sighed, bringing her into a hug. She jerked back, as if being touched would burn her.

"I know why Hydra wants Rebirth." She said calmly.

"What?" My eyes widened. "Why didn't you-"

"Tell Fury? Cuz he pissed me off." She snarled. I raised my eyebrows. Well, there was a different side of my little Dena.

"Why do they want it?" Wade asked from his chair.

"They don't actually want it. They're too afraid of having another mishap. They just want to make sure Rogers is dead. They don't want you to bring hi back, and they know you have him and are working on the cure." Dena jumped on the bed, smoothing down her lacy black skirt. She was so small and elegant, like she was raised by aristocrats…sadistic aristocrats. "They had two agents in your team, sis. One, you've already killed."

"Who's the second?"

"I'm not sure. I didn't get a name. All I know is, it's one of those people."

"I see." I nodded and slung my bag over my sholder. "Ok, wade, we're going to the lab. Dena, you stay here, and behave yourself.'

"Scott's giving me some kind of exam today. He wants to see what I know."

"Grade placement. You'll start school next fall, they need to know where to put you." I explained.

"He also said something about a simulation."

"Ahh." I rolled my eyes. "I bet he wants to make you run through the bases, see how skilled you are at fighting."

"Really?" She smiled, it scared me. Dena was defiantly a creepy kid.

"I like this kid," Wade pulled his mask back on.

"Why do you wear that mask, Wade?" Dena asked.

"So I don't scare creepy little kids like you." He laughed.

"That's retarded." She shook her head. "If a person isn't willing to accept you the way you actually are, why would you try and placate them? It's like a giant façade."

"You're too young to understand the world, kid.'

"I understand a lot more than you're giving me credit for." She hopped down from the bed, and left, heading towards her room.

"God save us from the honesty of children." Wade sighed.

"She's no child." I said. "There's something she's not telling us."

"You don't trust her?"

"I trust her, I just feel sorry for her. What could have possibly happened to her to make her so…cynical?"

"She'll tell us when she's ready."

"I hope so. I fell so very protective over her. I just want to make her feel loved again."

"Such a mother hen."

"I don't mind being a mother hen." I laughed and made my way downstairs.

"Are you sure everything's ready?" Tony asked, for the millionth time.

"Yes. You''ve got the machine perfect, and the serum has been ready for some time now." I turned my head to blow my nose. I had a never ending cold, these days. It'd only been two weeks since I was diagnosed, but it seemed like forever.

Today was the day. We were going to wake up Captain America. His body was hooker up to the machine. The serum was placed; ready to fill into his veins. Secruity was as tight as any one could make it. I, and everyone else who needed to be here, was wearing full body armor. Did you know that it's very uncomfortable? Well, it is.

"Give us the word, and we'll fall out," Fury said, coming to stand beside me.

"Fall out?"

"For security reasons. The only people left in here will be you and your team."

"Just me and my team. Fury, I told you-"

"Yes, I know. One of them is going to try and kill you."

"At least leave me a couple armed guards. I'm in no condition to fight for my life!" I whispered harshly.

"Don't worry, I've got this under control."

"None of this has been under control, Fury. It's been one major fuck up after another. I refuse to die with a bullet in my head because it eases your pride."

"Trust me, Annie."

"Look at me! Why the hell should I trust you? I trusted you and it's gotten me almost killed several times. Even now, I'm dying slowly, because you let something slip out of your grasp. Do not make promises to me that you cannot keep."

"I'm not letting her out of my sight." Deadpool said, coming up behind me."

"You don't have clearance."

"I don't give a shit. I'm staying with her. I will not let you get her killed, just so you can find your mole, you greasy sonuvabitch." Wade growled, putting his arm around my shoulder and pulling me in close to him."

"I swear if you screw this up-"

"Get out Fury." I said. "We're ready to start."

He frowned, but left, taking everyone with him.

I looked around the room. The only people left were me, Wade, Killebrew, Patrick, and Carla. One of the latter three were going to try and kill me. Oh, happy day.

"Ready to get started, everyone?" I rubbed my hands together, and plastered on a happy face.

"Let's get this over with." Carla laughed. "There's a Golden Girls marathon on TV tonight that I don't wanna miss!"

"This should only take about a minute, and then we hand Rogers over to the medical staff. Our part is about done." Patrick smiled and handed me a large remote control with two buttons. "it's all yours, boss."

"Thanks, Patty." I chuckled, and took the remote from him.

I looked to Rogers' body. He would be up and about in a matter of days, all because of us. I can't believe everything we had given up to make this happen; time, money, resources, even a couple lives. Was it worth it? You bet your sweet as it was! I pressed the first button, and the machine whirred to life. It was loud.

I looked over to Wade, who was now standing beside Killebrew with a sinister smile through his red mask. He made me feel safe, believe it or not. I had a thing for psychopaths, it would seem. Wade was the man I loved. Dena was the little girl I had to protect and care for. Logan was my ever-diligent father. Who was the bigger psycho; one of them or me?

I pressed the second button, and watched the green liquid slowly flow out of the vial and into Rogers' body. I looked to the monitors. His body functions were steadily rising, immediately upon impact or the serum. He breathing was faster. I could feel my face light up. I ran to Rogers' side, and looked at his face. It was slowly gaining a rosy glow, showing that there was clean, fresh blood all around. It was working!

I felt the barrel of a gun against my head. I sighed.

"Looks like you've done it, Ms. Howlett."

"So it does, Patrick." I turned slowly. He was smiling at me. Wade was behind him, a gun at his back. "Looks like we're all gonna die, huh?"

"Nope." Carla laughed, from Rogers' side. She held a gun to his head.

"Both of you?" I frowned. "So, did anyone on this team actually want to do this?"

"Only the asshole you fired that first day." Patrick laughed.

"Great." I rolled my eyes, and looked to Wade. "I'm such a good judge of character."

"Don't get any ideas, Annie. Don't try to be a hero." Patrick warned.

"I'm no hero, Pat. That's what Rogers is for." I laughed. "If I'm the hero, we're all screwed nine ways to Sunday.

"That's right. You're nothing more than a murderer." He pressed the gun harder into my head.

"You killed Cynthia." Carla growled.

"I've killed a lot of people in my lifetime. Why should I feel sorry about one blonde bimbo?" I chuckled dryly. He swung his gun, hitting me with the butt. Wade shot him in the leg, as I fell to the ground.

I grabbed Pat's gun, and swung up to point at Carla. Wade kept his aim on Pat.

"I'll shoot him, Annie. Just watch me."

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, tired and confused.

"For the good of Hydra!" The both yelled in unison.

"Ugh, Nazi drones." Wade groaned.

"We are so far beyond the simplicity of the Nazi party. We are not political. We are all-powerful!" Pat roared.

"And yet, this little man threatens everything, yes? All-powerful, and completely defenseless." I sneered. A trail of blood trickled down my cheek. My head was bleeding, grand.

"He is as good as dead."

"Then do it."

"What?" She looked confused.

"If you're here to kill him, do it." I spat. "Don't be a pussy, do you job. Kill him. Then, I kill you, and Wade kills Pat."

"You will kill me either way." She yelled.

"You think so?" I asked. "You've worked with me for a while now; I'm a giant softie."

"You would let us go?" She looked tired. I could see it in her eyes, her face, her body.

"Put down the gun, leave Rogers alone."

"She is lying, Carla! She will kill us either way!" Pat screamed.

"Shaddup." Wade kicked him in the stomach.

"Listen to me, Carla. Don't do this."

"But Rogers will destroy Hydra!"

"What do you care about Hydra? It doesn't seem your style."

"My husband-"

"Your husband is in Hydra. Right. Since when does Carla do something just because someone else is doing it?"

"You don't know anything about me."

"Untrue. I know a lot about you. You've been very personal these past few months. We've been a team, a family. I know you, Carla, and you know me."

"I-"

"Carla." I stared her in the face, not looking away. She shifted her weight, unsure of herself.

"You'll let us leave?"

"Yes."

She looked to Pat; boy, if looks could kill. Patty was not a happy boy. "Fine." She put down her gun. "I don't give a shit about Hydra."

"Good girl." I watched her walk towards me. She had an awkward smile on her face; it was an awkward situation. She handed me her gun. "Shoot him, Wade."

"What? No!" Karla gasped.

"Yes, ma'am." Wade shot Pat in the face.

"You said we could leave!" Carla screamed in terror.

I gave her a blank stare. "I lied." I lifted my gun and shot her in the head. She didn't even have time to scream. I looked at Wade; he just nodded. We didn't speak.

An alarm went off. My head snapped around to the monitors hooked up to Rogers. His pulse was slowing!

"No!" I screamed, as I ran up to him. I pulled on a stethoscope, and searched for a heartbeat. There it was; faint and slow. "I refuse to lose you!" I ran down to the medical cabinet near the door and pulled out an adrenaline needle.

I ran back up to him and braced myself.

"Annie, what's going on?" Wade yelled, worried.

"His heart is slowing. I have to speed it back up." I uncapped the needle and grasped it with both hands. "Straight into the heart." I whispered, then lifted the needle above my head, and drove it into his chest. I pushed in the plunger and jerked out the needle. I listed with the stethoscope again. No change.

I balled my hands together into fists and pushed on his chest. One. Two. Three. Four. Five.

I listened again. The pulse was stronger now. I pushed again.

One. Two. Three. Four Five.

I could audibly hear it now!

One. Two. Three. Four. Five.

The alarm on the monitors went off. His pulse was steady; he was stable, again.

I fell to the floor, gasping in fear, trying to get a grip on myself. Wade pulled me back up to my feet.

"Are you ok, kitten?" He asked, searching my face.

"Yes, I'm just a little tired." I turned my head to the side and tried not to cough up a lung. "Open the doors. Get medical staff in here."

"For you?"

"No, stupid." I laughed hard and long. "For him." I jerked my head towards Rogers.

"Right. I knew that."