CHAPTER 7

*Please note that Elliot Dawes is an OC of mine and that this happens after Avengers Assembled and before Captain America 2, carrying on into that timeline*

The firing paused for a moment and that's when he made his move. The shield went flying, curving gracefully through the air taking down two armed guards. More advanced. We were definitely outnumbered. I began calculating our chances of survival. I had a better chance of winning the lottery than escaping here unharmed. I had to do something. I couldn't spend my life hiding from bullies. I stood up and turned and ran. My plan worked! Several of the guards chased after me, leaving less for Cap to deal with. Now all I have to do was outrun them. That was a genius move, Dawes, I thought, realising the vital flaw. You spend the majority of your life in a room and you forget to eat half the time. I was quickly out of breath. My lungs screamed for air as my legs protested in agony. A guard tackled me to the ground, wrapping himself round my legs. I wriggled and began whacking him over the head. I hit him with enough force that he loosened his grip on my legs. A leg broke free and I smashed my foot into his face. He let out with a cry of pain and I began scrambling backwards. I smacked my head against a metal chair. I used it to push myself up. I was breathing heavily. I had at least half a dozen men advancing towards me. I glanced over to see Cap in combat with three men at once. In my distraction one of them smacked me over the head with the butt of his gun. I collapsed under the pressure as pain exploded through my mind. Everything grew fuzzy and a blackness clouded over my vision. The last thing I saw before I fainted was Cap racing towards me.

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

It was a rhythmic sound. It struck fear into my heart. Where was I and why was there constant beeping? My mind was foggy and it felt like something was pushing against it. Through the throbbing pain I heard a groan. It took me a moment to realise it was me. I felt groggy. I could hear hushed tones and people moving about. I was too afraid off what I would wake to. I lay perfectly still, keeping my eyes shut. I could hear people move around, talking in hushed whispers. I listened intently. My ears rang slightly but I could still make out part of the conversation.

"…. Has he ever left her side?" came a deep, strict tone.

"Only once a day to go home and shower and eat," a female voice replied.

The voices trailed off, clearly moving away. I frowned, trying to recall where I had heard those voices before. From my left somebody groaned. My eyes flew open. I couldn't put it off any longer. I found myself gazing up at a white ceiling. I turned to my right and saw a heart monitor with cables attached to me. So that explains the beeping sound. I was surrounded by a horrible green colour curtain. My head rolled to my left. Steve was sitting curled up in a chair. His hair flopped down, unusually untidy. It wasn't a half bad look actually. He was wearing his usual too tight t-shirt and jeans. He looked uncomfortable but fast asleep. His eyes twitched as he groaned in his sleep. I went to sit up but found myself stuck. Something was wrapped around my wrists stopping me from moving. I rose myself as high as they would allow me and bent my neck. It was not the comfiest position but I could see I was restrained. What happened to me? I asked. Last thing I could remember was the rear end of a gun butt smacking into my head. It must had knocked me out. Somehow he had done it- he had gotten us both out. Help must have came to help him. There was no logical way he could have gotten out alive with so many people shooting at him. Then again, he is THE Captain America and has survived worse conditions than that. Fear gripped me as I wondered about what happened to Red Skull. He's either still out there or captured. Either way, its not a good thing. Maybe trying to flee was a bad idea. I mean it was perfect, of course it was perfect, it came from me, but unfortunately I didn't count on the Red Skull and HYDRA turning up to ruin my plans. I was certain I had been so cautious. I felt humiliated at my fatal error. I turned back to gaze at Steve. He turned his head to reveal a healing cut. It must have been deep if it hadn't already healed. It was merely a feint, bright red line by now but it was still there. I felt guilty at putting his life in danger. I should never have given him the stupid formula. I found myself trying to decide what he would do with it. Probably destroy it. Hopefully destroy it. a young lady poked her head through the curtain to check on me. She grinned when she saw I was awake. She stepped in, revealing she was wearing nurses scrubs.

"Oh good you're awake," she said a little too loudly.

Steve jerked awake, his head snapping around. It landed on the nurse first. She smiled and batted her eyelids at him. His head slowly turned to look at me. A look of relief washed over his face. I gave him a small smile- I felt even guiltier now that he was awake.

"Look I-," I began, about to babble.

He held up his hand, silencing me at once.

"Forget it," he said. "Whatever you were trying to do leaving the country, I know you meant well. You were lucky I was tracking one of the agents that attacked you,"

He was lying. His eye twitches ever so slightly when he's lying and he clenches his fists. I pretended to buy it for his sake. I wanted to ask him several questions but I didn't trust the nurse. She left to fetch a doctor.

"What happened?" I asked in a hurried, hushed tone. "After I was knocked out?"

"Back up arrived," Steve explained. "But… Red Skull got away. Agent Romanoff tried to follow him but she lost him when several HYDCRA jets attacked her plane. She got out alive though."

Fear filled me like no other. The heart rate monitor began beeping more rapidly. Doctors and nurses came rushing in and ushered Steve out whilst the checked me. I sat there perfectly still, determining my next move.