Sometimes I just want to start over, 'cause everything looks like a wreck, and I need the courage to carry on, 'cause I can't see what's ahead, and there are places, I've wished I could be, battles I've wanted to win, dreams that have slipped through my hands, I may never get back again - Redeemer, Sanctus Real

Chapter Nineteen

Long, Boring Recovery

"It hasn't always been this way, I remember brighter days, before the dark ones came, stole my mind, wrapped my soul in chains. Now I live among the dead, fighting voices in my head, hoping someone hears me crying in the night, and carries me away. Set me free of the chains holding me, is anybody out there hearing me? Set me free..."

The music blared in Mira's room as she set the file on full blast. Casting Crowns. Great group with great, emotionally powerful music. She had a feeling anyone that heard this song would understand the meaning behind it.

Clint had thankfully found an iPad she could borrow while she was waiting for the all clear. And she found the music that she enjoyed listening to the most. Of course, now he probably regretted it from the music blasting through the supposedly soundproof walls.

She tapped on a different song, one she hadn't heard before.

"The Light of the world was shining; the Light of the world was shining, He came just like He promised; His love would not be silent..."

"Could that music be any louder?" She almost dropped the iPad when someone tapped her shoulder.

"Music tends to calm me down," she replied after looking up to see Beck grinning down at her.

"I can see that." Mira smirked before she placed the iPad on the stand beside her bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Better, but my sides still hurt a little," she admitted.

She had been stuck in this blasted room for only a day, and she was already tired of it. Now that she was finally awake from the 'coma', as Bruce and Tony had called it, she wanted to explore the hellicarrier. Maybe she could find out why SHIELD needed such a large aircraft.

"They told me that you refused to leave," she added when an awkward silence hung in the air.

She didn't miss the embarrassment written all over Beck's face. "Yeah well... I just..." Mira rolled her eyes when he began to stammer. Eventually he just gave up and looked at her as if to apologize.

"Bitbrain," she murmured with the slightest of smirks. Beck ruffled the back of his hair. "You know, when I was out cold I remember hearing your voice," she admitted after looking away. When she was out cold. How many times had that happened throughout her life? Being knocked out by an enemy? She wasn't exactly keeping track.

"Mira, I'm glad to see you're awake." Mira flinched when she heard Beck sigh in relief. A woman with long dirty blonde hair stepped into the room, holding a syringe. "Dr. Banner asked me to take another blood sample, to make sure that you're body is cooperating with the anti-virus," she explained when Mira glared at the needle. "I'm Jemma Simmons by the way," she added.

"I'm assuming he doesn't want me to leave yet?" Jemma frowned as she took the blood sample.

"I'm sorry," she replied. "He's rather strict about keeping you here until we know for sure the virus is cleared."

She rolled her eyes at the response. This woman seemed friendly enough, but she was like any other SHIELD agent. Secretive as always.

Once Jemma left the room, looking rather proud of herself, Mira grabbed the iPad again. Might as well pass the time since she couldn't leave the room. Obviously Beck wasn't about to admit what he had said the other day.

"The perfect words never crossed my mind, cause there was nothin' in there but you. I felt every ounce of me screaming out, but the sound was trapped deep in me. All I wanted just sped right past me, while I was rooted fast to the earth, I could be stuck here for a thousand years, without your arms to drag me out..."

Mira frowned when she realized just how difficult this could get. Leaving Beck back on the Grid had been painful. She didn't want to admit that she had done it for his protection. Maybe it was more because she was afraid to admit her feelings.

Why does this have to be so difficult? she wondered.

She stared up at the dark ceiling, hoping that something or someone would give her an answer.

. . .

"You're free to go." Bruce was fumbling around with a wash clothe in his hands, smirking when Mira just stared at him in surprise.

"Seriously?" She almost wished she could leap with joy. Being stuck in a hospital bed was one thing, but this was worse. SHIELD agents watching your every move, making sure you didn't fumble around or make a mistake. She was getting tired of it. "Thank you!" Bruce looked at her in surprise when she gave him a hug.

"Just make sure you take it easy," he replied when she backed away. "Don't want any of those injuries coming back."

Duh, I'm not about to spend more time in here, she thought with a roll of her eyes. Now that she was free to go, she could finally explore this place.

Once Bruce left the room, she made her way down the many winding halls. A few agents were returning from their posts. Mira made a point to avoid their curious looks. She had no doubts they were wondering why someone her age was allowed on the hellicarrier in the first place.

After wandering down several flights of stairs, she finally reached what she guessed was the bridge. Large windows overlooked the outside world. She stared at the windows in shock when she realized that they were still up in the air.

"Hey kid, glad to see you're able to walk again." Mira resisted the urge to roll her eyes when Tony approached her.

"I thought we'd be heading back to the tower," she admitted warily.

"Yeah well, SHIELD needs to make sure your buddy Cyrus is sent to a secure prison," he replied.

A secure prison wasn't going to cut it. Mira hated admitting that he needed to be sent back to the Grid. There were no laws about derezzing a program. But she couldn't bring herself to saying that out loud. Derezzing, or killing for that matter, wasn't something she planned on doing anytime soon.

"Do you know where Beck is?" she asked after an awkward silence followed.

"Thought that might come up." Tony's smirk made her wish she could slap him. "He's in the meeting room with Widow and Hawkeye. And the Capsicle of course."

She rolled her eyes once again as she followed him to the room. Apparently Captain America, AKA Steve Rodgers, had been frozen in ice for over seventy years. The jokes that followed were mostly from Tony. But every now and than Clint or Bruce would make some kind of remark. She wondered how Steve could stand it.

Sure enough Tony was right. Clint and Natasha were sitting next to each other, while Beck and Steve sat on the other side of the table. Mira didn't miss the fact that Beck was avoiding her gaze, and she suddenly wish she could take back everything she had said.

I wish there was an easier way to tell him, she thought guiltily.

"So what's the story on Flynn?" Mira raised an eyebrow when she sat beside Natasha. Tony had asked the question as he sat near the end of the table, hands clasped together while he looked at the files that were spread across the table.

"He suddenly decided to take over Encom this morning," Natasha explained. "Sam Flynn," she added when she noticed Mira and Beck's confused expressions.

No wonder that name sounded so familiar. Mira remembered seeing him a few times at the arcade. He was Kevin Flynn's son. But at that time he had been younger. She imagined by now he was closer to Steve's age.

"So why is that such a big deal?" Mira asked.

"It happened out of the blue," Clint replied. "From the reports we've gotten, he didn't want anything to do with his father's company."

She could understand why Sam was so reluctant. She knew what it was like growing up without a family.

"That's not even the best part," Tony said with a smirk. "From what it looks like, Bradley was placed on top. And he has a girlfriend." Before Mira could ask what he meant by that, Natasha passed her the file that he'd been reading.

If she hadn't been sitting she might have fallen over in shock. "Quorra?" The ISO had finally found her way to freedom. "So this all happened overnight?"

"Pretty much," Steve muttered. "I have no idea what this is all about. This is way out of my league."

"Quorra is an old friend of mine," she explained. "She... saved me from the games."

Mira leaned against the back of her seat. Memories of the Grid came rushing back. Quorra had taken care of her when no one else would. She was the one that had taught her how to defend herself.

"We'll be seeing them soon," Natasha sighed. "Fury wants a full detailed report on them, and Flynn's experience on the Grid."

Wonderful. Mira had a feeling their encounter wasn't going to be a happy one. Alan had been less than happy to see Maria the day they had first arrived. But Mira couldn't help but smile at the thought of seeing Quorra again. And this time her life wouldn't be in danger. For once, she was looking forward to spending time with her parents.

AN: Thought I'd run a double update since I'll be busy all day tomorrow. And have I mentioned how much I love the National Treasure? Got so many awesome quotes from that movie XD Thanks PrincessKai317 for reviewing! Please let me know what you thought of this chapter :D

Lyrics are from Set Me Free, Casting Crowns, Shining from Sanctus Real and Signal Fire by Snow Patrol

End of Line