Long Stretch of Love - Lady Antebellum.
"There's nothing I value more than the closeness of friends and family, a smile as I pass someone on the street." - Wille Stargell.
It only took Steve and Tony a few seconds to jump back up after the explosion took them out.
Steve had a dazed and confused look on his face for a moment, until he quickly snapped into Captain mode. Turning to Tony, Steve was met by the same dazed look that'd been one his face a moment ago.
"Put on the suit."
Tony nodded. "Yep."
Running out of the lab, Steve and Tony ran down the hall when they suddenly heard Fury over their earpieces.
"Hill!"
"It's a detonation," Hill's voice called. "Number three engine is down… Someone's gotta get outside and patch the engine."
"Stark, did you copy that?"
"I'm on it." Tony replied before he looked up at Steve, who nodded before the two men took off again.
Steve ran towards engine three as Tony went to get his Iron Man suit. When he got there, he was met by the open air and wind, and the sight of a side of the Helicarrier blown away, engine three not moving.
Steve stood there for a moment, trying to figure out how in the world they were going to get it to move again. He quickly remembered everything he read and see about Tony's Iron Man suit though, realizing Tony would have no problem getting it to work again.
Steve didn't think he himself would be much help with this project, all of this technically was still somewhat over his head.
As he was standing there a sudden thought hit him hard in the stomach.
Where was Katie?
She'd been standing away from him when the explosion happened, and she'd been pretty close to Natasha, so hopefully, she was with the red-head. Natasha would probably take care of her. They seemed like good friends.
"I can handle myself."
Katie's words suddenly came back to Steve and his chest suddenly hurt. Not as bad as it had felt when she'd first said those words, but still painful.
He knew Katie could take care of herself, she grew up with S.H.I.E.L.D., had Peggy as her mother and she had the serum in her DNA. Plus, though Steve didn't fully trust Nick Fury, he knew that the director wouldn't have asked Katie to join the team if she couldn't handle herself.
But still, the protective father side of him was worried like hell. A small part of Steve was somewhat glad he hadn't been around when Katie was growing up, cause he was sure his nerves would've been shot.
"I don't want to know you!"
This actually wasn't new information for Steve at all. He'd figured that much when he didn't hear anything from his daughter for three weeks. But, hearing the words actually leave her mouth, it stung.
In a way, he felt like he failed. He failed Peggy, and he failed Katie. Steve knew that he'd been frozen for seventy years and there was nothing he could've done about that. But, if he'd never put the plane in the water…
Steve shook his head. That was the past and there was nothing he could do about anything that had already happened.
"Ready, Cap?"
His eyes snapped up, only to see Tony floating a few feet away from him in his Iron Man suit.
Tony must have noticed the unfocused look on Steve's face, because he suddenly spoke up with an uncertain voice.
"Listen, Rogers. About earlier-"
"Later. We need to get this engine running again." Steve told him, and Tony nodded inside his suit before flying over to the engine.
"Okay. Let's see what we got," Tony said. "I gotta get this super conducting cooling system back online before I can access the rotors and work on dislodging the debris."
Steve nodded, slightly confused but following for the most part.
"I need you to get to that engine control panel," Tony turned to Steve, pointing to Steve's far left. "And tell me which relays are in overload position."
Steve nodded again, more sure of himself this time as he turned to his left, seeing that the only way for him to get to the control panel was to jump.
Stepping back a few steps, Steve pushed all thought of Katie out of his mind. He'd deal with her later.
Getting a running start, Steve jumped over to the other landing, grabbing onto the rail as he pulled himself over and ran over to the control panel.
"What's it look like in there?" Steve heard Tony's voice ask in his ear.
"It seems to run on some form of electricity." He dryly replied. Honestly, what did Tony expect?
"Well, you're not wrong.", Tony seemed to realize the same thing.
The first thing Katie felt was coldness. She was lying face down on something pretty chilly. The next thing she felt was pain in her right shoulder. Probably because I just freaking landed on it. She thought bitterly as she slowly opened her eyes, groaning.
Carefully, Katie pushed herself up off the floor, the pain in her shoulder becoming more intense because of the pressure she put on it. It wasn't broken, that was for sure. It was just given a really big smack when she'd landed on it. She knew that the pain would go away in a few minutes, she just had to stretch it.
She also knew, that somehow, someone just blew up the Helicarrier.
Looking around slowly, Katie saw a number of differently sized pipes. There were also a number of ladders around, all leading to different rails and landing. She was probably in one of the lower levels of the Helicarrier.
Taking a breath, Katie started to roll her shoulder to try to lessen the pain. Because of her peaked human healing, it wouldn't hurt for long, but that didn't mean it still didn't hurt like a bitch now.
Katie had just taken off her jacket because it restricted her from stretching her shoulder, leaving her in just her boots, tight pants, and a white flowing tank top, when she suddenly realized she had no idea where Steve was, or anybody else for that matter.
Steve'd been standing near Tony, a good few feet away from Katie, when the explosion went off. This probably meant Steve was with him. She just hoped he was okay.
But why would you care? A little voice said in the back of Katie's mind. You're the heartless daughter, right?
Katie shook her head, she couldn't think like that now. She didn't want to. She had to talk to Steve first thing when she got out of here. To explain how she felt without the power of the specter controlling her. Now was not the time to worry about it though.
The sound of a roar caused Katie to jump out of her thoughts as she spun around, when it suddenly hit her that, when the explosion went off, she'd been close to Natasha and…
Oh, God no.
As fast as she could, Katie took off running towards the source of the roar. Running around and under pipes, she suddenly heard the sound of something big hitting metal.
Turning around the corner, Katie froze. She saw the Hulk standing only a few feet away from her, his back turned to her with his fist touching a now bent piece of metal pipe.
"Get out of here."
Looking down, Katie saw Natasha lying on the ground, her foot stuck between the floor and a big, heavy piece of metal. Natasha was looking up at her with a slight glare, her teeth clenched together while she hissed at Katie.
"Go."
Shifting her glance back up at the Hulk, Katie watched as he slowly started to turn around. She knew that if she didn't help Natasha, the assassin was surely going to die. Katie wasn't about to let anyone else she cared about buy a one way ticket.
Running over to Natasha, ignoring the red-head's protests, Katie quickly lifted up the heavy chunk of metal, really thankful for her super-strength. Natasha quickly got to her feet as Katie dropped the metal pipe, just as the Hulk turned completely around. Katie made her way over to Natasha, standing next to her as they both faced the Hulk, who was watching them a few feet away.
"So," Katie spoke as she and Natasha started to back up slowly. "I think we should move our training date ahead."
"To when?" Natasha asked, never taking her eyes off the Hulk.
"I don't know. How about now?"
Katie and Natasha had just enough time to share a look before the Hulk's face turned to pure anger and let out a sudden roar, causing them to jump. The Hulk charged after them as Katie and Natasha took off as fast as their legs could carry them. Natasha leading the way, they ran up a metal set of stairs with the Hulk right on their tails.
"Jump!" Natasha yelled, looking behind Katie, who only had enough time to obey when the Hulk suddenly grabbed the stairs. The two girls jumped in sync, just as Hulk pulled the stairs out from under them. They both grabbed onto the rails above them, Natasha doing a flip over the bars as Katie pulled herself up, landing next to Natasha. Not stopping, Katie followed Natasha as she flipped over a large pipe behind them, Katie jumping over the pie after her.
The two ran down the metal landing, now a level higher than the Hulk, but that didn't stop him from smashing the floor out from under them, just as their feet left the metal grate.
Katie followed Natasha as they reached the end of the landing before turning left, jumping down a little opening to the floor below. They continued to ran a little ways before crawling under some pipes as fast as they could.
"Do you hear that?" Katie whispered as they continued moving through and under some pipes, Natasha still in the lead.
Natasha listened for a moment, coming to a stop. "No."
"Exactly." Katie nodded. "It's quiet."
Looking around, Natasha slowly took out her gun, holding it in front of her as she started to move again.
"Right," Katie rolled her eyes. "Like that's gonna stop him."
Natasha shot Katie a look before turning back around, silence falling around them as they made their way away the pipes. As they turned the corner, a roar sounded behind them, causing both girls to jump and spin around. Natasha didn't miss a beat as she shot her gun at the pipe above the Hulk, causing stream to hit him in the face.
"Never mind, I take it back." Katie said before they both took off running, this time Katie in the lead.
Katie knew she shouldn't lead. She was faster than Natasha, meaning the Hulk would catch the red-head in no time. Plus, though she would be slowed down with Natasha leading, Katie healed faster than Natasha did… If she wasn't killed first.
"Go," Katie came to a stop just as they reached a narrowed pathway. "You go first."
Natasha looked at Katie with slightly wide-eyes. "What?"
A roar was echoing behind them as Katie opened her mouth, causing both girls to look back.
"Don't argue with me." Katie turned back to Natasha. "Go!"
Nodding, Natasha took off running down the pathway, with Katie right behind her just as the Hulk caught up to them. They both ran as fast as they could - well, Natasha was running as fast as she could, Katie right behind her - but they both knew it was no good. The Hulk was faster, smashing everything on his path.
Just as they were about to reach the end of the pathway, the Hulk reached Katie. He grabbed her by her tank-top that was flowing behind her before throwing her through the glass on their left, causing her to slam into the wall.
Katie hit the wall hard, causing her to groan as she hit the floor, glass all around her. It hurt like a bitch, and she could feel her body ache with every movement. She felt her eyes start to fall, but she forced them open. She wasn't about to leave Natasha to fight the Hulk herself. Katie opened her eyes just in time to see the Hulk throw Natasha into a wall, before smashing into the wall on the opposite side.
Getting up as fast as she could- and groaning as she did so - Katie started to limp her way towards Natasha just as the Hulk did so too.
However, when Katie was only a few feet away and the Hulk was just about to bring his fist down on Natasha, something flew towards the green monster, causing both the hulk and the thing to go through the wall.
Thor. Katie thought, a small smile tugging at her lips as she stood there, catching her breath. Her eyes shifted towards Natasha, and her face fell.
"Tash." Katie ran over to the red-head, kneeling in front of her. "You okay?"
Natasha looked up at the blonde with a dazed look in her eyes and on her face, before slowly nodding her head.
"Yeah." Natasha took a breath. "You?"
"I'm fine, wish I could say the same for my top though ." Katie said, looking at her back to see a jagged rip in the middle of her tank-top, flopped open so you could see her bare back a bit. "And I liked this shirt."
Natasha let out a shaky laugh, causing Katie to smile slightly.
However, Natasha's laugh was cut of suddenly and her hand flew to her ear, Katie giving her a confused look.
"I copy."
The moment she said those words, Katie realized Natasha was wearing an earpiece.
"She's here." Natasha said, her eyes flicking up to Katie, confusion taking over the blondes face once more.
"Yes…. Okay."
Natasha moved her hand from her ear and reached into her suit, pulling out another earpiece before handing it over to Katie, who looked down at it before looking back up at Natasha.
"I was about to give it to you, back we all got… distracted in the lab." Natasha told Katie, who nodded before placing it in her ear.
"Katherine."
Katie almost jumped at the sound of Nick's voice in her ear, not expecting to hear someone over the earpiece so soon, before she replied.
"Nick."
"I need you to get to engine three," Nick told her, getting down to business. "Whoever set off the explosion, their men are onboard now. Stark and Rogers are out there trying to repair the engine before we go down."
"And why do I need to go there?" Katie asked before she could stop herself, flinching when Nick spoke up.
"Katherine." He basically yelled at her. "Now is not the time."
Katie sighed, rubbing her forehead. "I'm on my way."
Nick didn't reply as Katie looked up at Natasha, who had gone back to looking dazed, and Katie could tell she was still a bit shaken up.
However, Natasha came to enough to see the look on Katie's face.
"Go," She told the blonde woman in a slightly shaky voice. "I'm good here."
Through she was still a little unsure about leaving Natasha here by herself, Katie knew the red-head could take care of herself, so she nodded.
"I'll be back." Katie told her as she stood up causing Natasha to nod as Katie made her way to engine three.
Really, Katie had no idea where she was going. She just kept on running, making left and right turns, praying she was going in at least the right direction.
Seeing some agents running her way, Katie quickly pulled one aside and asked where engine three was. The agent pointed her in the right direction and Katie said a quick thanks before taking off again.
It didn't take her long before she arrived at a big hole in the side of the Helicarrier, the wind blowing her hair around her face the closer she got.
Katie stopped in her tracks however, as she reached the opening of the hole and saw Steve fighting a guy dressed in all black, while another was lying on the floor. The guy had no gun - it was lying a few feet away from the two - and it didn't take long for Steve to overtake the guy and throw him off the ship. However, while Steve had his back towards the other guy, the man slowly started to stand up.
Walking forward, Katie came to a stop just a few feet away from the guy just as he stood up completely.
"Hey," Katie tapped him on the shoulder, causing both him and Steve to turn around, both of them staring at her with wide eyes. "I wouldn't do that if I was you."
As the guy titled his head slightly, Katie lifted her foot and roundhouse kicked the guy right in the stomach, just as Steve stepped to the side, causing the guy to fly over the side of the Helicarrier like his partner just did.
"Thought so." Katie smirked slightly as she stood up straighter, before turning to Steve, who was watching her.
"Hi." She said softly, giving him a small smile. "Nick said you may need help."
Steve raised an eyebrow at her, and Katie could tell by the look in his eyes that he was still hurt over what she said to him earlier.
"Think I can't handle myself?"
The comment caused Katie to flinch and it stung too much for her to throw a snarky comment back.
Katie lowered her eyes as she spoke up. "Yeah, I guess I deserved that one."
Steve sighed, causing Kate to glance up at him as he ran a hand through his hair. "Look, I'm sorry if I came on to strong-"
"You didn't." Katie assured him, shaking her head. "It's just, I've been alone for so long-"
"But you aren't alone now."
Katie fell silent as she glanced up a Steve, a small smile tugging at her lips as one also formed on Steve's. Then, the metal they were standing on suddenly shifted, causing Steve and Katie to almost lose their balance.
Katie looked up to give Steve a questioning look, but his eyes were looking behind her. His face was serious, and before Katie could even open her mouth, Steve spoke up.
"Move." He pushed Katie out of the way and she turned around just in time to see Steve flick a piece of metal at a guy in the doorway that was just about to shoot at them. The guy moved to the side, out of the doorway as Steve turned and jumped, grabbing on the railing before pulling himself over, telling Katie to do the same thing.
And she was just about to, when she suddenly heard Nick's voice in her ear.
"It's Barton. He took out our system. He's headed for the detention lab. Does anyone copy?"
Katie heard nothing for a few seconds until Natasha's voice filled her ear.
"This is Agent Romanoff. I copy."
"Natasha." Katie whispered to herself, knowing how close Clint and Natasha were, and how shaken Natasha already was, this was going to be hard on her.
"Katie!"
Snapping out of her daze, Katie quickly jumped up, grabbing the rail and pulling herself over just as the guy started shooting at them again.
"Stark, we're losing altitude!" Katie heard Nick say over the earpiece as Steve quickly picked up the gun that he knocked out of the guy's hands early and started shooting at the guy in the doorway, missing pretty much every time as he moved backwards.
"I've noticed." Katie heard Stark say as she spun around to face Steve, who was a few feet behind her.
"Oh, give it here." She grabbed the gun out of Steve's hands as he gave her a look.
"You can shoot a gun?"
"Of course," Katie smiled even though she was facing away from Steve. "I'm Peggy Carter's daughter." Lifting the gun, Katie had it aimed right at the guys head and pulled the trigger, but nothing happened.
"Seriously!" Katie yelled, frustrated as she looked over her shoulder at Steve as she threw the gun over the railing. "Please tell me you didn't use all the bullets!"
Steve didn't have time to answer, however, because the guy down below started shooting at them again. Katie grabbed the railing with both hands as she ducked out of the way. Steve, however, had nothing to hold onto as he tried to duck out of the way of the flying bullets, moving backwards when he suddenly slipped on a lose piece of metal, falling over the side of the Helicarrier.
"Steve!" Katie yelled, her heart stopping for a moment before it started to beat faster in her chest than ever before. "Steve!"
Katie started to make her way to the side of the plane, bullets still flying at her, as she hoped and prayed that Steve, somehow, was still alive and there.
You do NOT get to die before I even get to know you! Katie thought when a sudden voice stopped her before she even got half way to the edge.
"I'm fine!"
Katie's eyes went wide as Steve's voice was heard from over the edge of the Helicarrier. She was about to yell back to him, ask him how the hell he was hanging on, when a bullet headed straight towards her head, and she only ducked out of the way just in time.
"Umm," Katie looked down at the guy dressed in black, before turning back around, yelling out to Steve. "Can you hang in there for a moment?"
It was silent for a few moments as Katie bit down on her bottom lip.
"I can… hang on."
Katie felt a bit of relief come over her before she quickly straightened up, turning around and walking over to the railing.
"Just," Katie shouted to Steve. "Give me a minute."
Jumping over the railing, Katie landed in a crouch just a few feet away from the man before standing up straight, staring at him as he lowered the gun a bit.
"Listen, I kind of need to rescue someone," Katie said. "So how about you drop the gun and we make it a fair fight."
He didn't gave Katie an answer, however. Instead, he just raised the gun in front of his face, pointing it at Katie's head, causing her to sigh.
"Okay then."
Katie ducked as he started firing the gun at her. Lying on the floor, Katie quickly lifted her foot and kicked the guy in the shin, causing him to take his finger off the trigger and bend down slightly. Katie quickly got to her feet and grabbed the barrel of the gun, punching the guy in the stomach, hopping he would let go.
However, instead of letting go, he swung his leg out and hooked it with Katie's, sweeping her off her feet, causing her to fly to the floor, landing flat on her back.
Now standing over Katie, the guy lifted his gun and pointed it down at her. However, just as he pulled the trigger, Katie lifted her arms, placing her hands palm down on the floor above her head and pushed herself so she slid under the guys legs, causing the bullet to hit the floor were her face was.
As Katie got to her feet and spun around, the man turned at the same time. He was a beat too late however, and the moment he faced her, Katie punched him square in the face, causing him the fly backwards and land hard on his back.
"I told you," Katie walked over to the now unconscious guy, taking the gun out of his hands and throwing it over the side of the Helicarrier. "Should of dropped the gun."
Suddenly, Katie heard Tony's voice in her ear, and it was then that it clicked in her mind. The Helicarrier was no longer falling, if fact, they had gained altitude.
"Cap pull the lever."
"I need a minute here!"
Katie could only guess by the sound of Steve's voice that he was struggling to get back onto the Helicarrier, so she quickly looked around for whatever lever Tony was talking about before her eyes landed on a red one on the landing above.
"Is the lever red?" Katie asked into her earpiece.
"Yes!" Tony said frantically. "Someone pull it."
Katie nodded, even though she knew Tony couldn't see her, and quickly made her way towards the lever. Before she could reach it though, she was suddenly pulled backwards with a great force. The sound of ripping fabric felled her ears as she slammed into the floor, the guy in black standing before her.
"Come on," Katie pushed herself up off the floor, felling the cold wind on the lower half of her back. "I haven't even fixed the rip."
The man just stepped toward Katie, ready to hit her. However, when he was only a short span away, Katie side kicked him in the stomach, just hard enough to send him flying back a bit. She then walked forward and grabbed him by the shoulders, kneeing him in the stomach a few times, causing him the bend over.
The guy, however, came to his senses a bit quicker then Katie thought he would. He quickly countered her by punching her hard in the lower stomach, causing Katie to let go of him and fall to her knees.
Suddenly, he turned around as she doubled over on the ground. And it was then that Katie saw Steve making his way to the lever.
The man started to make his way towards Steve when Katie glared at him, standing up and quickly wrapping her arms around his neck, holding him in a chock hold. But the guy then flipped Katie over his shoulder, causing her to be slammed on her back, hard. Again.
She laid there for a moment, groaning, before to guy lifted her up roughly and slammed her into the wall, holding her by the throat.
"Pretty girls like you shouldn't be fighting big guys like me."
It was the first and only thing Katie heard him say, and if her lungs weren't starting to hurt , she would have said something.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Steve pull the lever before looking over and starting to quickly come his way over to her. However, Katie then heard the sound of jets, and she knew Tony was on his way.
Instead of saying anything, Katie just gave him a smirk as she lifted her knee and kneed him where it hurt. He let go of Katie and she fell to her knees. Just as he backed away, Tony came flying through the side of the Helicarrier, slamming into the guy full force so both to land outside the doorway.
Silence filled the air around them as Katie stood there, on her hands and knees, catching her breath, when a hand suddenly appeared in front of her.
Looking up, Katie was met by Steve's eyes looking down at her. There was a small smile on his face, but his eyes were serious. He stretched his hand out towards her.
Katie gladly took it and he helped her to her feet.
"You okay?"
Katie nodded her head, giving him a small smile. "I'm fine, you?"
Steve shrugged. "I hung in there."
Katie let out a light laugh as Tony made his way in through the doorway, his suit all beat and banged up and his face mask and helmet off.
"Well," He panted as he walked up to Steve and Katie. "I think we make a good team."
Both father and daughter gave Tony a hard look, and he held up his hands in mock surrender.
"Don't do that," Tony said, referring to how much both Rogers's looked alike when they pulled that face, before he sighed. "Look, about what I said earlier. I'm-"
However, Tony's words were cut off as Nick's voice came over their earpieces, and Katie felt her whole body go cold. Everything around her seemed to move in slow motion as she felt her knees go weak. Steve and Tony froze next to her as Katie had to place her hand on the side of the Helicarrier, to keep her from falling over. Then only thing she could hear was Nick's words ringing in her ears.
"Agent Coulson is down."
I'd like to dedicate this chapter to my Poppy Power, who passed away this past Friday. RIP Poppy, you'll forever be loved and missed, xoxo.