Chapter 2
Life after the snap had been different for Danielle. Beyond the typical life altering, world changing destruction that affected everyone, she had been dealing with life as a civilian. With no more government agencies trying to spy on one another, Danielle was out of a job.
As part of the community rebuilding programs Steve had started, Danielle worked at a farm raising animals and tending crops to sell to families in the area. It made her feel closer to James, especially when she cared for the goats on the farm. He had taught her many tricks about the goats and chickens that she in turn taught the other workers at the farm. Besides Jamie, it was one of the ways she kept his memory alive.
Danielle stood by the goat corral taking a water break, when a familiar SUV rolled up the driveway. The car parked near the barn and the driver stepped out and walked around the back of the car into view.
"You don't seem like the farming type," said Danielle.
Natasha cracked a smile. "I'm not. I came to see an old friend."
"Good to see you, Nat." Danielle led the way to a small picnic table under a shade screen. She took a seat on the bench, and was unfazed when Natasha took a seat on the table.
"This is really nice. You know, if you like animals and dirt," commented Natasha.
"What brings you out here then? You know where I live."
Natasha avoided eye contact for a moment too long and Danielle knew this wasn't just a friendly visit.
"What is it?"
Natasha sighed. "Something came up."
"Is Steve okay?" Danielle asked.
"Yeah, he's fine. It's not about him." Natasha looked Danille in the eye. "Scott Lang showed up at the compound."
"Okay, so he found you guys. He knew where the facility was."
"Yes, but he's been missing for five years."
Danielle's blood ran cold. "How?"
Natasha shrugged. "He said something about the quantum realm and a rat. I thought it was all bogus, but we talked to Bruce and he verified the information."
"What are you telling me, Natasha?" Danielle couldn't help the insistence in her voice.
"I'm telling you we might have a way to bring everyone back." Natasha held Danielle's gaze so she knew the information was true.
Danielle got up from the table and began to pace. She began to calculate the likelihood of bringing him back, bringing everyone back. Could they do it? What did Scott know that could help them?
Natasha watched Danielle move back and forth, waiting for a response.
She stopped and looked at her red-headed friend. "What does Steve think?"
"You know the super soldier. He's all for a science experiment," replied Natasha.
"Does Tony think it will work? I mean I trust Bruce, but Tony's intelligence is unparalleled."
Natasha's face grew dark. "Tony isn't helping."
"Why not?" Danielle questioned, her brows furrowing.
Natasha stood from the table. "He said he won't risk his family for a plan that could easily fail."
"Selfish bastard." Danielle cursed.
"I don't blame him. He finally got what he had been looking for in life. Who are we to take it from him?"
"Who was Thanos to take it from us?" She countered. "Tony may not have lost anything he cared about in that fight, but the rest of us did. If he has a chance to right the wrongs of the past, why wouldn't he take it?"
Natasha shook her head. "If he wants to bury his head in the sand, that's his choice. But we have a chance to bring our people back with or without his help."
She patted Danielle on the shoulder before starting back toward her car. At the end of the car she turned and looked once more at Danielle.
"If you can't trust my judgment, then talk to Steve. Otherwise, we start testing tomorrow at the compound." Natasha turned back around and stepped into the SUV.
As she drove off, Danielle contemplated what Natasha had told her. If they had the power to bring everyone back, should they? Would they restore what was lost, or destroy the universe in its entirety?
She had to talk to Steve.
—-
The Avengers all had a room in the facility, just like the days before the fight in Germany. Although he had been a fugitive for nearly three years, all of Steve's belongings had remained in his room untouched. It made it easier for him to return to the facility, but once again he felt like a man out of time. These days he split his time between staying at the facility and staying in a small cabin near the lake. It was the only building on that side of the lake and it brought Steve peace.
He didn't have many visitors, so he was surprised when he heard a car pulling up to the house. He got up from his chair on the back porch and walked down the steps and around the house to see Danielle's car.
She stepped out of the car and closed the door firmly behind her. She started marching up to the front door when she noticed him leaning against the side of the house.
"Hey, Dani," he said, casually.
She crossed her arms. "Steve, we need to talk."
"Is everything okay? Where's Jamie?" Steve stood up straight at the implication of a threat.
"He's fine. I'm here because Scott Lang showed up to the facility after he's been considered missing for five years." She watched his demeanor shift.
Steve's shoulders dropped. "Can we talk on the porch?"
Danielle walked toward him and followed him up to the back porch. Steve returned to the chair he had been occupying and she took the chair beside him. She kept her eyes on him, but Steve looked out at the lake.
"Scott showed up this morning saying he had been trapped in something called the quantum realm. For him it was a few hours, but out here it was five years. He thinks we can get the stones before Thanos destroyed them in the past." Steve explained.
Danielle cocked her head. "Time travel? Are you serious?"
Steve met her eyes. "I wouldn't be sitting here explaining it to you if I wasn't. I think this is our one chance at getting them back."
"But Tony won't help." She said matter of factly, her voice bitter.
Steve held her gaze and sighed. "He won't risk his family."
Danielle stood up abruptly, fueled once again by anger. "I understand, Steve. I do. I want him to be happy. And I want Pepper to be happy. And I love Morgan, but if there is a chance we could fix this screwed up world, we have to take it."
Steve stood up and grabbed her arms, forcing her to look at him. "We will. We will do it without Tony. Maybe it will take us longer to come up with an answer, but we will find an answer. I'm not giving up on Bucky, or Sam, or anyone else we lost."
Danielle nodded her understanding then reached out and wrapped her arms around Steve's torso. He wrapped his large arms around her shoulders and held her close as she started to cry. They held each for a long time, taking comfort in the presence of the other person, and knowing they had to try to save the world once more.
