Lunch turns into a couple beverages with Sam, Steve and I wanting to know the guy a bit better, and we enjoy the company of someone not from SHIELD.

Sam just finished telling us some ridiculous story about his time in service, his wingman, and some prank they pulled on their officers when suddenly my phone buzzes.

Seeing Hill's name across my screen, sobers me up quickly. Giving a look to Steve, letting him know it's SHIELD, I quickly excuse myself and answer the call.

"Hill?"

"Clara, the line's secure."

"What's going on Maria?" I ask as I fully get outside the restaurant.

"I'm on my way to D.C. now. Fury's orders. He also told me to call you and make you aware of what's going on. We're going to need your help."

"Alright. What's going on? Why didn't Fury call me himself?"

"He said SHIELD's under deep shadow conditions." SHIELD's been compromised..? How...?

"How is that possible? Right under our noses?"

"I'm not sure. I'm hoping to be there in three hours, we'll learn more then. Let me know if you learn anything."

"Of course." And with that I hang up and head back to the table.

Making sure I'm composed, I sit back down smiling at the two laughing–quickly becoming good friends.

"Everything okay darling?" Steve asks with a bright smile, grabbing my hand.

"I'll fill you in later." I say with a small smile.

The phone call is quickly pushed to the back of my mind, knowing I can't do anything about it until we hear from Fury. I slip back into enjoying our time with a new friend, mentally pushing off a possible imploding of SHIELD.

Later that night we drop Sam off at his house, since he had a bit too much fun, and Steve and I head to our apartment. We are met by "Kate" aka Sharon in the hall. She gives us a smile and a nod, before hanging up her phone with a shake of her head.

"My aunt, she's kind of an insomniac..."

"I understand those phone calls." I say with a small laugh, speaking of... I need to call my brother.

She nods, turning to head downstairs to finish her laundry, but before she does she turns to us a smiles again.

"I think you guys left the stereo on."

I feel Steve tense beside me, knowing full well we couldn't have left a record player on. I quickly thank her and once she turns the corner, I ready myself for who or what might be inside.

Steve slowly opens the door, blocking myself with his body as we sneak in. He moves to grab his shield before we turn to look into the living room.

With my hands raised and the shield ready, Steve flips on the main light. To say I'm shocked at what I see would be an understatement. We both are frozen in shock while Nick shuts the light back off silencing any questions with his hand.

"I don't remember giving you a key." Steve says setting his shield back down.

"You really think I need one?" He says struggling a bit to sit up in the chair.

"My wife, kicked me out." He turns his phone toward us with a different message.

Ears everywhere.

"I didn't know you were married."

"There's a lot of things you don't know about me." This makes Steve sigh and run his hands through his hair.

"I know, Nick. That's the problem."

"I'm sorry to do this to you two, but I had nowhere else to crash."

SHIELD compromised.

"Who else knows about your wife?"

"Just..."

The three of us.

"..my friends."

"Is that what we are?" I can tell by Steve's tone he's having a hard time trusting any of this.

"That's up to you."

Suddenly four shots ring out in the tiny room, three of which hit Nick in critical spots. Falling to the floor, Steve and I are able to drag him into the kitchen. I begin to work and try to slow the bleeding until I can get a hold of HQ.

"Don't. Trust. Anyone." He grits out looking at the both of us, quickly handing Steve the flash drive, when sudden pounding breaks the door down.

"Captain Rogers?"

"In here 13!" I yell from my spot next to the director, Steve looking at me in shock and confusion.

"Captain, I'm Agent 13 of SHIELD Special Services." Sharon explains as she kneels across from me, lowering her gun.

"Wait. You knew?" I can feel Steve's glance burning into my head and I look up briefly, still focusing on his chest wound.

"Not the time sweetie." I mutter while Sharon finally pulls her walkie out of her scrubs.

"Foxtrot is down, he's unresponsive. Sierra has applied pressure to major wound. I need EMT's stat."

"Do we have a 20 on the shooter?" I look up to see Steve grab his shield and lock eyes with me.

"Tell them I'm in pursuit." And with that he runs out of the apartment.

"He's loosing too much blood, they need to get here faster." I mutter as she tries to focus on the other wounds.

"Can't you help it?"

"Unfortunately it doesn't work that way."

After what seems like forever SHIELD medics arrive as well as Steve–who is empty handed. I help to transfer Nick onto the stretcher and they quickly rush him out. The crash of my adrenaline leaves me exhausted and instantly worried for my lifelong friend.

"Hey, hey, hey." I feel Steve's arms around me before I notice that somehow I'm now on the ground.

"I've got you. It's going to be okay." He brushes my hair back, planting a kiss on my forehead before wiping unknown tears from my cheeks.

"I can't loose him too Steve... not after Phil..." he simply hugs me to him, knowing there's really nothing to be said.

Once I compose myself, we head to the hospital and are met by Nat and Maria outside the operating room, the tension palpable.

"Is he gonna make it?" Nat asks the question we all want to know.

"I don't know." Steve responds making the three girls all take a deep breath.

As Steve and Nat continue talking about the shooter, Maria brings me into a separate conversation.

"I'm going to need you to come with me Clara." I look at her questionably, but she's simply watching Nick.

"What do you mean?"

"When he's moved, we're going to need your help." She says giving me a look to know she can't say much more in the open.

I simply nod when suddenly Nick's heart monitor begins to flatline. Steve returns to my side, grabbing my hand in comfort while the doctors rush around.

"Don't do this to me Nick." Natasha mutters and I silently agree.

Pulse?

Negative.

Time of death, 1:03am.

They move him into a side room where the four of us can say our goodbyes. Myself standing against the wall with Hill and Steve, who has a comforting arm around my waist.

Poor Nat, simply sits by our old director and she'd probably sit there all day if it weren't for Hill's reminder.

"We have to take him now." My head drops as I release Steve's hand, not making eye contact with my fiancé.

Before I can leave with Hill, he gently grabs my arm asking a question through our link.

Hill needs my help. That was the phone call I was going to fill you in on. I give him a long, sweet kiss before placing my forehead against his.

I promise to contact you this way. Please be careful out there.

"I love you." I whisper.

"I love you." And with that, I'm out the door not sure when I'll see them again.