FURY LOOKED at him angrily, and Pierce barely flinched, "Did you get my flowers?" Pierce asked, "I'm glad you're here Nick."

"Really?" Fury questioned, "Because I thought you had me killed." Lana went back to typing as they talked.

"You know how the game works."

"So why make me the head of S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

"Because you were the best," Pierce responded in a duh tone, "And the most ruthless person I ever met."

"I did what I did to protect people," Fury countered.

"Our enemies are your enemies Nick," Pierce said, "Disorder. War. It's just a matter of time before a dirty bomb goes off in Moscow or an EMP fries Chicago. Diplomacy? A holding action, Nick. A band-aid. And you know where I learned that. Bogota."

"You didn't ask. You just did what had to be done," Pierce continued," I can bring order to the lives of seven billion people by sacrificing 20 million. It's the next step, Nick. If you have the courage to take it."

Fury sighed, "No I have the courage not to." He gripped Pierce's arm and took him over to where Lana was standing. She typed and an automated voice said "Retinal scanner activated."

She pulled a gun from her waistband and put it towards him. He chuckled, "You don't think we've wiped your clearance from the system?" he asked Fury.

"I know you erased my password. Probably deleted my retinal scan. But if you want to stay ahead of me Mr Secretary," he pulled up his eye patch, "You need to keep both eyes open." He motioned towards the scan and put his own damaged eye against the other.

"Alpha Level confirmed. Encryption code accepted. Safeguards removed."

The screen started loading up with a bunch of files and Lana looked at her phone, "Done. And it's trending." Pierce looked irritated.

He picked up his phone and pressed it looking at Singh's pin that started burning through his clothes. He did the same to Rockwell and Yen and they dropped to the ground in pain. Lana pointed the gun she was holding at him.

"Unless you want a two-inch hole in your sternum, I'd put that gun down," he glanced between her and Fury, who also had a gun pointed at him, "That was armed the moment you pinned it on." His finger hovered over the button and both she and Fury lowered their guns.

Pierce went over to the stand, "Lieutenant how much longer?" Pierce asked.

"65 seconds to satellite link," he replied over the radio, "Targeting grid engaged. Lowering weapons array now." Pierce smirked at them. Booming came from outside and they turned to the window. Outside, the three helicarriers were firing at each other.

"What a waste," Pierce muttered.

"So you still on the fence about Steve's chances?" Lana asked smugly.

"Time to go, Councilwoman. This way, come on. You're gonna fly me out of here," Pierce said. He led Lana away from Fury.

"You know, there was a time I would've taken a bullet for you," Fury stated.

Pierce looked back at him, "You already did." Lana pulled an electric disc out of her pocket secretly, "You will again when it's useful," She activated the disc and groaned as it shocked her, simultaneously frying the badge and making her drop to the ground.

Fury picked up a gun and shot Pierce making him stumble into the glass. He knelt beside her and shook her, "Romanoff. Lana." Lana remained still, "Lana! Come on!" Lana's face scrunched in pain as her eyes fluttered open.

"Ow," she groaned, "Those really do hurt like a bitch." He helped her up and they walked out of the building, leaving Pierce to die.

As they walked out, they went over to the helicopter. Lana got in AS Fury powered it up. She put on her headphones and heard Sam through the comms. Rumbling echoed around the area as the helicopter took off.

"Please tell me you got that chopper in the air?" Sam asked over the comms.

"Sam where are you?" Lana asked.

"41st floor! Northwest corner!" Lana turned the chopper and flew in that direction.

"We're on it! Stay where you are!"

"Not an option!"

Lana looked up as they approached and saw the helicarrier crashing into the building. A window broke as Sam jumped through. Fury turned the chopper onto the side and he crashed in. Lana caught his hand before he could fall right back out.

"41st floor! 41st!" Sam yelled.

"It's not like they put the floor numbers on the outside of the building," Fury argued.

"Hill! Where's Steve? You got a location on him?" Lana asked.

"He's was still in the Helicarrier." Lana looked worriedly over at it as it exploded. The metal dropped into the lake below and Lana looked closely.

"Fury land next to the lake," she ordered. He directed the chopper and landed it next to the lake.

Lana hurried out, "What are you doing?" Sam asked.

"I saw him fall out and land in the lake. I just have to find him," Lana replied. She jogged to the edge and looked around. A little bit away from her Bucky was dragging Steve out of the water. She ran towards them and stopped as he looked up at her.

"I'm here for Steve," Lana said cautiously. He nodded and looked around her, "Go. I'll take care of him." He looked at her one last time before running off. She dropped into the mud next to the unconscious hero. "Steve?" She patted his cheek carefully.

He made a noise in acknowledgement, "Your alive. Thank God." He coughed up some water and sat up.

"Did we win?"

"Yeah," she laughed.

"Yay." She helped him stand and pulled him towards her in a hug.

"You scared me, asshole," she pushed him away causing him to wince, "I thought you died."

"One, ow. Two, you care about me," Steve smiled.

"Of course I do," Lana mumbled. She looked at his yellowish face and placed her hand over it. It glowed a green hue and when she pulled it away, the cut wasn't so angry and it looked like it was starting to heal.

"I really like you, Lana," he whispered. His gaze dropped to her lips then went back to her face. Lana swallowed harshly as she noticed the close proximity between the two.

"I really like you too." Lana was caught in the pools of his eyes, and his arms were about her before she could push him away or pull her mind from its far regions. She felt the rush of helplessness, the lowering yielding, and the rushing flood of warmth that rendered her limp. He leaned up close to her and kissed her on the lips causing her eyes to flutter close.

As she backed away from him, she was dazed. As she opened her eyes, he locked his gaze on her, "Wow," she muttered.

"Are you ok?"

"I'm fine. Let's get you to a hospital," She turned blankly before Steve grabbed her arm.

"Lana, would you like to go out with me sometime?"

"On a date?" Steve nodded, "Yeah." Steve smiled at her and followed her over to the helicopter.

Lana's face flushed as Fury and Sam smirked at her. Steve's gaze was on her the entire ride to the hospital. When they arrived the doctors immediately rushed to his side and ushered him to a room. Lana sat on a chair outside his room and waited.

Author's Note

Hello, lovelies. Please follow my Pinterest (which is in the banner 👇), to see all upcoming book covers and aesthetics. And also please read my other books if you like Klaus Mikaelson or Finnick Odair.

Anyway, thank you for reading.