Thank you to Harliquinn for beta reading and editing
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Happy pulled into the parking garage of the Civicmax building. He found a place to park, and he as well as Tony and Steve got out of the car and headed into the building.
They went up to the reception desk and said they were there to see the CEO.
"Do you have an appointment?" the receptionist asked.
"We don't, but we will wait until he has five minutes because that's all it will take," Tony said.
"And who should I say is waiting?" The receptionist asked.
"Tony Stark and Steve Rogers," Steve said.
The receptionist nodded. "All right, I'll let him know you are here. But he is very busy."
"As Mr. Stark said, we will wait," Steve said.
"Okay, have a seat," The receptionist said.
Tony and Steve sat down and Happy stayed nearby to keep an eye on things.
They sat there for over an hour before the receptionist told them that they could go up but to keep it short.
Tony and Steve went up and were let into his office.
"How can I help you?" Mr. Kramer asked from where he was sitting at his desk.
"We are going to keep this short, as we are all very busy," Tony started.
"We know what you are up to, what your aim is in recruiting the youth who have aged out of the foster care system, what you are training them for, and you are going to end it, now," Steve said.
Mr. Kramer tilted his head. "I have employed several youths out of foster care because I think they deserve a chance at a good life as much as people who didn't grow up in foster care. And training is a part of every job."
"Cut the bullshit," Tony said.
Steve moved closer, leaned over the desk to get in Mr. Kramer's face, and spoke in a very low and angry voice. "I know what you're planning. We know who you have working for you, and we have video evidence of you saying that you are planning to go after my daughter. And I am telling you doing so will end in your downfall."
Mr. Kramer pushed back and stood up. "This conversation is over." He walked over towards the door.
Tony stood in front of the door and crossed his arms.
Steve took out his phone and pressed play on the video that Skye had taken and let it play out for Mr. Kramer to hear.
Mr. Kramer took a breath.
"Steve was part of the group to bring down Hydra the first time, and the Avengers brought them down a second time. We know you have had ties to Hydra for many years and that several other members of this company also have ties to Hydra. Don't think for one second that you or any of the members of this organization have any chance of getting within a hundred feet of the girl without one of the Avengers bringing you down," Tony said.
"I don't have any intentions of going after any girl. That recording was obviously faked with some computer software," Mr. Kramer said.
"We all know that's not true. But you have been warned," Steve said.
Tony moved out of the way of the door and opened it. He and Steve left and headed downstairs.
"I have a feeling that did nothing," Steve said.
"Pretty sure you are right," Tony said.
They headed to the parking garage, where they got into the car, and Happy started the drive back to the compound.
"Did it go well?" Happy asked.
"Not really, he just denied everything," Tony said.
"I don't think I'm letting Skye go anywhere without one of us for a while," Steve said.
"Steve, you can't lock her up and throw away the key," Tony said.
"I won't. She will always be with one of us," Steve said.
Tony let out a breath and shook his head.
Happy pulled into the compound and parked. The three men went inside.
Skye looked up from the couch where she had been reading. "How did it go?"
"Not the way we wanted. I think for a while it's best if you're not outside the compound without one of us," Steve said.
Skye let out a breath, "why?"
"I need to make sure you are safe. And I know I said you could fight with us, but I'm thinking we need to hold off on that for now," Steve said.
"I can defend myself enough to get away from people who would try to hurt me, and going back on your word isn't fair," Skye said.
"Not if it's a group of people you can't, and things have changed," Steve said.
Skye got up from the couch. She was evidently upset, and she went to her room closing the door harder than necessary.
Steve sighed.
"You can't lock up a teenage girl and think it will go over well," Nat said. She had come into the room to hear the conversation.
"Am I that wrong for wanting to protect her?" Steve asked.
"No, but you will never be able to protect her from everything. I know you didn't get to know her as a small child, but she is a teenager. And, in just a few short years she will be an adult. If you shield her from everything that could ever hurt her, she won't ever be able to take care of herself," Nat said.
"But right now there are people who could hurt her and who are looking to get access to her," Steve said. He sat down and put his head in his hands.
"Anytime we were told no as teenagers what did we do?" Bucky asked, having come into the room to hear the tail end of the conversation.
Steve let out a soft chuckle. "The exact opposite."
"You were told no by the army, and you found a way in. Your daughter is just like you were, stubborn. Now you have enough knowledge to know how to be stubborn without being reckless. Skye doesn't know that yet. Meaning, if she has a way out of this place without being caught she will do it the second she gets the chance," Bucky said.
Steve nodded and let out a breath.
Just then Tony's phone rang.
Tony answered it.
"Yes?" he said. "She did what? How?"
Everyone looked at Tony.
"Okay. Thank you," Tony said before he hung up.
"Skye managed to get past security and get out," Tony said.
"What how?" Steve asked standing up.
"She used her abilities, and she had her suit," Tony said.
"Can you track her?" Steve asked.
Tony hit a few buttons on his phone. "She is on her way somewhere, and she is still moving." He hit a few more buttons to call everyone. "I think we can all guess where she is going."
"Warehouse," Nat said.
"Or directly to the Civicmax building," Steve said.
"We will split up," Tony said.
Everyone headed out, splitting up to head to the two locations she might be headed.
"If she ends up hurt, I will never be able to forgive myself," Steve said.
"She chose to do what she did, and she will be okay," Nat said.
Steve shook his head.
"Steve, she will be okay. She is strong and has been training and has gotten really good," Nat said.
"Yes, but she is going in alone," Steve said.
"We will get there. We're not far behind her, if we're even behind her at all," Nat said.
Steve nodded as they got to the Civicmax building and went inside.