Hey everyone. I've decided that there's one more chapter left after this. Thanks to everyone who has read so valiantly and stuck with me this entire time. I hope you've enjoyed reading as much as I have writing. Songs for this chapter are... : 'I'm Just the Messenger' by Steve Jablonsky (Transformers: Dark of the Moon (The Score), 'One Way Trip' by Alan Silvestri (The Avengers) and Finally 'Born in Darkness' by Hans Zimmer (The Dark Knight Rises (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).

ENJOY!


Chapter Seventeen

"Call it Captain." Stark said as we all peered into the sky.

"Okay, listen up. Until we can close that portal, the priority is containment. Barton I want you on that roof call out patterns and strays. Stark you've got the perimeter, anything gets past three blocks out you turn it back or you turn it to ash."

"Give me a lift?" Clint asked turning to Stark.

"Sure, better clench up Legolas."

"Thor, you've gotta bottle neck that portal slow em' down. You've got the lightning, light the bastards up." Thor flew off with his hammer in front, "Panic, see if you can hijack another machine and get your way up to the tower. I don't know if you can use your abilities to shut it off. The two of us will stay on the ground. And Hulk... smash." the Hulk leapt off the ground and began to do his job, perfectly.

"You don't suppose you lure one over here for me?" I asked Stark.

"Sure, one stray coming your way." he replied and sure enough he chased a lone Chitauri my direction. I got grip of the machine and stopped it as it flew over my head, chucking the pilot over the front and straight into Widow's line of fire. I hovered it closer and gently placed it on the ground. Rushing onto it to make up for lost time I placed my hand on it and unscrambled it faster than before jumping to controls and preparing to fly off in it.

"Emily, wait." The Cap called to me, "Please be careful. If there's any sight of Loki, stay away from him. I don't want you to make yourself a target."

"When will you learn. We're all targets."

I shot off and blasted a few Chitauri in my disguise as I went, Barton was careful not to shoot me down. As I neared the tower there was a loud shooting noise behind me. I turned around to see Loki on his own machine firing straight for me.

"Barton a little help please. I can't shake him." I said, unable to take my focus off flying.

"I got him." he said taking the shot. It zoomed through the air, but Loki caught it at the last second. Smug he stared back at me, not realizing that it wasn't any ordinary arrow. Exploding, his machine and mine were destroyed and we fell to the landing on Stark's tower.

With a heavy groan I stood back up and Loki the same. He chuckled when our eyes met.

"Why do you side with such primitives?" he taunted.

"I could ask you the same."

"I hope you're not taking my recent actions too harshly. I send my regards."

"You don't get to talk about Phil." I whipped quickly, shutting him up.

"Emily. Stop. Leave Loki alone. Hulk's heading in your direction, he'll take care of it." Steve said in my earpiece.

"Still taking orders from the soldier I see. Maybe you're not as great as I thought you were."

"I don't take orders from anyone." I ripped the earpiece out and trod on it.

"Good choice."

"I understand why you did it. I worked out your entire plan, you did what you wish you were able to do. You took your anger out on someone else."

"What are you insinuating?"

"You know very well what. You killed my brother because no matter how much you convince yourself you hate yours, neither of us could take ours down on our own. You thought it would make me better, stronger. Am I right?" we circled.

"Captain Rogers doesn't give you enough credit. You live up to your powers. How did you work me out?" he tone changed, he was harsher.

"It wasn't hard. I hate you, but we are very much alike. I suppose it helps me work out your plan."

"I wouldn't be so sure you have me all worked out."

"Oh believe me I don't. I still can't wrap my head around the fact that you broke a promise. I thought you Gods were all about honor and sacrifice. Obviously not."

"What promise did I break?" he turned his head in fascination.

"We had a deal. That you would not hurt my brother, I think murdering someone counts as hurting them." I raised my voice ever so slightly.

"My dear, that was not your wording. You said not to lay a finger on him and I didn't. My fingers did not touch him, merely my scepter did the unspeakable task. You must be careful what you wish for." an maniacal smile formed in the corners of his lips and he began to plod inside. I tried to ignore him, he was attempting to anger me to the point of lashing out. If I was uncontrolled he would have the advantage. But it would have been so easy, to kill him right then and there, but reminding myself that there were larger things in store for him held me in my place.

"I used to think my abilities were controlled by panic and fear. I know a lot differently now. Anger. That's the key isn't it. Anger, hate, revenge. As much as it pains me to say so, with Phil gone I don't care about limits or boundaries. His opinion doesn't hold me down anymore." I started, in the distance I could hear Hulk nearing, I only had a few minutes left to talk to him before things got really nasty, "But it was never your choice to make. You never needed to make me stronger."

"You miss the fun in it all."

"Maybe so. I hope you realize in time what a tremendous mistake it was." I said as the Hulk came smashing through the window and landed right behind me, "A tremendously, stupid, foolish, rookie mistake."

Hulk went to advance when Loki shouted, "Enough! You are, all of you, beneath me. I am a God you dull creature. And I will not be bullied by —," he demanded as he was grabbed by the ankle. Hulk smashed him side to side like a rag doll and I couldn't help but laugh, it was a truly ridiculous spectacle. Rubble flew everywhere and Loki screamed like a little girl. Finally with one large smash Hulk left him in his own deep imprint in the ground.

"Puny God." he scoffed and jumped from the building. I paced closer to Loki and his beady eyes followed me slowly.

"I'm not going to kill you. I've got something much better in store for you." I neared. Suddenly out of nowhere a masked man jumped from behind one of the buildings pillars and injected something into Loki's neck. Instantly Loki's eyes fluttered shut and I feel his heart rate drop, while simultaneously the mystery man's heightened.

"What did you do?" I screamed sending him into the wall behind him.

"I mean you no harm." he coughed out, "I'm here to help you."

"By what? Killing the man I have to capture alive." I said uneasy. I was unsure who this man wanted, but it couldn't be good, "Who are you?"

"An ally. I'm here to help you get your revenge on Loki Laufeyson for the murder of your brother, Phillip Coulson." he said, I dropped him and he stumbled nearer.

"Show me your face." I stared at his mask, a plain back mask that covered all but his eyes and mouth.

"My identity is not important. All you need to know is that we have to get this Loki out of here before the rest of your team comes."

"This Loki?" I questioned, "What do you mean, this Loki?"

"I am special like you. I have a plan. I have been watching for quite some time now. Looking out for you until I could show myself to you. I know your plan to murder his brother in front of him and I also know that that plan is doomed to fail."

"How do you know that!" I jumped at him, "I haven't even spoken my plans aloud."

"But you thought them. I told you, I'm special. But thats not the point, if you take Thor out the Avengers will turn on you. Even if you make away with Loki they will come looking for you. But if they think they have him, and if they think—," he paused and looked unsure, "I know you don't know who I am. But can you trust me to help you get your revenge?"

"That's what he said before killing my brother. To put my trust in a stranger."

"We've met before, a while ago. I'm not a complete stranger, but I understand it's a lot to ask. You're my only hope in finding someone though."

"Finding who?"

"...Your mother, Dakota Arbor." he had my attention now.

"Go on..."

"I have a better plan. We take Loki away from here and I can control him, stop him from going anywhere, from escaping. The Avengers will think that they have won and take him back to Asgard, but it will give us enough time to be long gone. You can not kill Thor, but working with me I can assure you, Loki's pain can be much worse. All you have to do is one thing."

"What's that?"

"You have to die." he stated, "Well fake your death at least."

"Why is that necessary?"

"Because, I have the ability to push thoughts into people's heads. If you go out in the open with Loki, kidnapping him and what-not, it'll only be a matter of time before they track you down and lock you away as well. Once Thor attempts to take him back to Asgard and reaches his destination, my powers will stop working on him and he will realize that it was a rouse. But if they all think you are dead, how can they possibly think that you are behind it?" he bent down over Loki, "I can teach you, how to control your mind and control your powers. And I need you to help me free your mother."

"What if I say no?" I asked cautiously.

"Then I'll make you."

"Nice to see you have high moral standards."

"So will you join me?" he stood again and raised his hand towards me.

"Only if I know who my masked friend is." I bargained. He nodded and reached behind, untying his mask. I stumbled backwards once I saw his face, he was correct, I had met him before. Actually I killed him before. In front of me stood someone I never could have possibly imagined was alive; it was Stanley Witmore!

"Stanley Witmore? I saw you die, I saw Hawkeye shoot you through the skull. I shot you too. How are you alive?" I stuttered in confusion.

"You saw what I wanted you to see. I've tried contacting you before, but you've been blocking me."

"How so?"

"Many times. Birds gotta learn to fall before they fly? That was me. I managed to pull you out of the security system that time before someone came around the corner and caught you. I made you believe you were in the gym with someone the first time you attempted to train yourself. I've even tried reaching you in your dreams, through formula's and through familiar faces like that Georgio fellow."

"Why am I so important?"

"I can't explain it all here now, but I promise you'll understand everything in time. I promise." his hand was still outstretched. I looked at it and back up at his face. He was stern and serious, but there was a glint in them that allowed me to trust him. I could see myself staring back at me. The determination, the loss, the uncertainty.

"We have a deal." I shook his hand, "So how do we do this?"

"Just act like normal. At the right moment I'll contact you and then we'll have to disappear." he lifted Loki over his shoulder, "Help your team members close the portal and stop the Chitauri. Also I'm pretty sure that there's a missile coming your way." as he spoke I saw a fake Loki materialize in the dent that the real Loki had made in the ground. With a silent nod he was gone.

I ran up the top landing to find Natasha speaking to who I believed was Erik Selvig.

"Loki's scepter?" Natasha asked.

"It may be able to close the portal and I'm looking right at it." he replied.

"Actually..." I interrupted, flying the scepter from the landing up into my hand, "It's right over here."

"You, Emily are in deep trouble with the Cap!" Natasha pointed and shook her head at me. I suppose trainee's still got scolding, "Get your butt down there and tell him the situation up here." she pulled the scepter from my hands. Who did she think she was, my mother!

"Fine and you can all thank me later for stalling Loki. He's pretty much immobile thanks to the Hulk."

"Move it!" she sent me away.

I surveyed the air and saw Stark coming around the corner. I didn't have a flier anymore, but if caught his attention I could definitely hitch a ride back down to help out Steve. I timed it perfectly and jumped from the ledge of his building directly past his line of sight. He flipped underneath himself and grabbed me by the waist. I pulled out my gun and helped by shooting off two trailing Chitauri behind us.

"Are you insane?" he yelled through his mask.

"I needed a ride." I disregarded the fact I just jumped off a building on a whim, "Can you get me down to the Cap. Widow's found a way to shut off the machine."

"Why didn't you just page him?" he said dodging an on coming Leviathan.

"I sorta smashed my headset because he got annoying."

"Nice work..." he said sarcastically, obviously unimpressed, "Here's your stop. I'm going to drop you on your feet and take out that Leviathan." he let go and I landed side by side Steve. He stared at me in shock for a second as Thor electrocuted another bunch a Chitauri.

"Don't ever do that again!" Steve held my face and pulled me closer. Our lips met and I froze every Chitauri around us, in sheer shock. I could hear Thor smashing them, but it didn't matter. My hands reached up to Steve's face and I wrapped my fingers in his hair. It didn't matter that there was a war going on around us, nothing mattered. I could hear his heart beating and mine beating in time with his. With a gentle release, our eyes met so carefully. 'How could I ever do anything to wrong this man?' I thought. I could feel his passion, his love for me as he let his hands slide down my shoulders and reach back up to caress my face. How could I leave him, let him think that I was dead? How could I be so selfish? We pulled away and we returned back to the war, an unspoken bond between us. There were more and more Chitauri oncoming us every second. Like a tidal wave but made of aliens. Steve fought them off with his strength and shield, Thor bowled them down with heavy blows from his hammer and I reflected their shots back at them while attempting to hold the strays off with my stolen knife. Suddenly while back to back with Steve, a Chitauri fired two blows at his stomach, taking him down behind me. With a swift turn I ripped it's heart out it's neck and crouched down to see how Steve was. He coughed a little as Thor stepped over and held out a hand. He swayed to his feet but shook it off, more determined than ever.

"You ready for another round?" he asked.

"What? You getting sleepy?" Steve smartly replied, he was fine.

"I can close it. I can shut the portal down. Can anybody read me?" Widow came over Steve's headset.

"I read you, do it!" Steve commanded.

"No wait." Stark interrupted.

"Stark, these things are still coming!"

"I've got a nucke coming in, it's going to blow in less than a minute..." he paused as he caught up to it, "And I know just where to put it."

"Stark, you know that's a one way trip."

"Save the rest for the team, okay?" Stark said. He shot over the top of us with the missile above his head, just as Stanley predicted. Faster and faster he climbed through the air, until suddenly he was gone; disappeared through the portal.

"Emily!" I heard Stanley's voice through my head, "The Chitauri's mother ship will explode and they will all die, I can feel the fear the aliens have, they know it's going to wipe them all out. Just get out of their line of sight for a minute and I'll take care of the rest. I'll give you the signal in a minute or so."

Still glaring into the sky, we waited for Stark to emerge. There was an explosion and the Chitauri around us began to fall over and die. Waiting... Stark didn't come back out.

"Close it." Steve said forcefully, we couldn't wait any longer. The portal began to shut and I had a sinking feeling in my gut. All of a sudden, when our hope was almost gone, Stark slipped through a keyhole in the portal.

"Son of a guy!" Steve shook his head in disbelief. It was only when we realized that he wasn't flying away that there was danger still ahead.

"He's not stopping!" Thor declared, swinging his hammer ready to take off and catch Stark if he had too, but he wasn't the only one with the same plans. Out of nowhere the Hulk jumped through the air and caught Tony, fumbling down to where we were.

"Break away from them now!" Stanley commanded as Steve and Thor took off ahead of me.

"Emily, come on." Steve beckoned.

"One sec, I just want to check these things are properly dead." I lied.

"Be quick. He might need your help, I've seen you read a few medical text books before." he panted lightly. Once Steve was out of sight, Stanley stepped from the shadows.

"Take my hand, I need to conceal us from them." I did as he asked and we walked hand in hand, near where the rest of the team was assembled. The Hulk roared loudly over Stark's face and Stark opened his eyes quick smart, almost jumping out of his suit.

"What the hell?" he panted, the rest of us smirked in amazement, "What just happened? Please tell me nobody kissed me."

Steve stood up an breathed heavily, "We won."

Stanley and I were almost in the middle of them and they didn't notice us. Then I saw myself, running through the clearing and a lone Chitauri weakly stand to his feet.

"He's alive!" my decoy shouted in happiness.

"Emily look out!" Steve yelled as the Chitauri raised his sword and ran my projection through the middle. She stood there staring out in disbelief. Hulk froze, Thor froze, Stark (who had sat up) was frozen and Steve's mouth opened wide in a scream.

"NOOOOOOoooooo!" his shout echoed so loudly, it resembled my own when I lost Phil. Thor threw his hammer to take out the fake Chitauri and it fell to the ground. The four of them ran, Steve ahead by miles as my fake body toppled over into the ground. Steve's arm's caught me moments before I landed and he brushed the stray hairs from my face. I could see his own from where I stood and I couldn't bare it.

"I can't let him think this. It's too cruel. I can't torture him like this."

"You can't break the hold. It'll be more damaging to their minds. If you break the illusion you could end up killing each and every one of them. You've made your decision." Stanley pulled me back. I silently cursed him, how did I skim over the detail where I left all the people I cared about. How did that major fact miss me. It was a simple answer, it was because I was blinded by hatred.

Everything was silent, as Steve had me cradled in his arms.

"Stark do something!" he demanded.

"I can't fix this..." Tony said softly, "There's nothing I can do."

"Is there anything you want to say to him. A goodbye?" Stanley asked me, I nodded grimly and walked over behind him.

"I'm so sorry Steve." I said, my copy said the same, "I never meant for it to be this way. To give you everything and take it way. I'm so sorry." I repeated.

"It's not your fault." his hands were shaky and bloody from the hole in my gut.

"I know you don't understand, but this is the only way. This is the only way I can leave you. So that you can remember me as a hero, rather than what I'll become."

"You'll always be a hero to me." his voice was like a dagger through my heart. My fake began to tear up and I realized so had I. I reached out to touch his hair, to touch his face one last time, as did my dummy.

"Steve I can't be the hero this time. But I want you to know that I will always care about you. That I will always... love you." I placed my hand on his face and felt him grasp it. So gentle and soft, so worn away. I had never told him that I loved him, I had never told anyone else besides Phil.

"Do me a favour." I placed my hands through his hair and kneeled down, wiping the tears from his eyes as I went.

"Anything."

"Give Phil a funeral. I don't want him to be forgotten."

"Of course." he whispered desperately. I began to walk away from him, I didn't want to see his face anymore, but I needed to tell him I loved him one more time.

"Goodbye." I kissed him on the forehead. Then I my projection's eyes went still, lifeless and I felt like the worst person in the world.

"Come now Emily, you don't want to stick around anymore, it's too painful. You weren't even supposed to see this." Stanley placed his free hand on my shoulder.

Steve wept so loudly and the rest of the team couldn't help but look on in grief and try to hide their own tears. Loki was not the bad guy today. I was and I could see it evidently across all of their faces. Even the Hulk looked saddened and I didn't even know the muscles in his face changed from his angry state.

"Panic is down..." Stark said into his mic.

"Will she be alright?" Barton said back.

"I don't think so, urh." he cleared his throat, "She's...she's... Emily's dead." Stark barely managed to say. There was silence on the other end of the earpiece.

"No..." Natasha whispered.

"Thor, Hulk and I will be up to take care of Loki. Roger's is going to need some time alone."

"Emily come on." Stanley pulled me away, "We need to go."

"Can you sustain the illusion without holding my hand now?" I asked.

"Yes, the emotions are intense, but there is nothing more deadly than hope. They know you're dead. There is no looking forward. You can let go and it won't hurt them."

"I want to go to the funeral." I cut him off.

"But you ca—," Stanley tried to protest.

"Trap Loki in his own mind. Make him believe he is in his childhood. I will find you, but I have to do this. I have to go to Phil's funeral. I can't miss it. I have to say goodbye."

"Be safe and be careful." Stanley warned me, not arguing because he could see how important it was to me.

"I will."