"S.T.R.I.K.E. tried to what?" screamed Elise as they drove. "I am going to kill Rumlow," she cursed, and Steve was seriously worried about what she might do. He almost felt bad for Rumlow. Almost.

"There is something going on, with S.T.R.I.K.E," started Steve. "This isn't the way to the hospital," he started, quickly realising she had them on a different route.

"If S.T.R.I.K.E tried to take you down, Pierce was behind it. That means that there are likely dozens of agents trying to find us. You turn up in that outfit, someone notices us. We need a change of clothes," Elise replied, pulling them into a driveway. "Aren't you so lucky your fiancée has safe houses everywhere," she muttered. They rushed inside. "Change of clothes in the cupboard to your left," said Elise, rushing off to a different room. Steve opened it up, grabbing clothes that wouldn't grab attention. Hoodie, cap, plain trousers. He quickly changed, he needed to get back to that hospital. Elise knew he was in a rush too, holding a bag out to him. He glanced inside, spare passports, cash, water, change of clothes.

"You create go bags?" he asked. "And keep them here?" he asked, as they bundled back to the car.

"I keep them everywhere. I have trust issues," she replied, smiling slightly too much for a normal person to smile at that.

"Before we actually get married, I want to find out where you have safe houses," muttered Steve. "Might be a good honeymoon spot somewhere," he added, and she couldn't help but smile.

"Got a really nice one in Hawaii if you are keen," she replied, both of them smiling at each other. Even though S.H.I.E.L.D was probably trying to hunt them down right now, the fact that they could still make each other smile reminded them why they worked together. As she started to drive once more, Steve realised she had her Vibranium clothes on. Unlike him she could get away with them. He couldn't also help but be slightly worried. He knew she had houses across the world, but safe houses? Surely that was something that should have popped up. "You want to know why I didn't tell you about the safe houses?" Elise asked, and Steve should have been surprised. But she knew him so well that he didn't doubt for a second she could almost read his mind. "Steve, there is so much that neither of us have been able to tell each other. We both have our secrets. I kept them a secret because I will do anything it takes to keep us safe. If that includes having safe houses then I will do that," she continued, and Steve looked at her. The woman who wore the ring on her finger, who had agreed to marry her. She would always have secrets. But so would he.

"We are having a chat once this is done. I think we both need to talk to each other," he said.

"Agreed. But first, we deal with this," said Elise, and the strength in her eyes reminded Steve how brave she was. And he did truly love her.

They got the hospital quickly, Elise knew the routes through this city better than the back of her hand. Steve kept a cap on, and Elise a hood up. Steve tried to be careful to avoid cameras, knowing S.H.I.E.L.D could access them.

"Relax," whispered Elise. She pulled a small device out of her pocket. "Courtesy of Tony. Makes the cameras around us glitch out, repeat previous footage," she continued and Steve smiled. Tony really was a good friend to her, despite the fact that they both refused to call each other friends. He could match her intellect and her wit, and she appreciated that. Steve found it hilarious to watch. They both headed to the vending machine, and she saw Steve begin to freak out. "Steve," she muttered.

Pop!

They both quickly turned, Elise having a tight grip on a knife. Steve shoved Nat backwards into a room and Elise closed the door behind them.

"Where is it?" asked Steve, keeping his hand against her throat.

"Safe," replied Natasha, raising an eyebrow at Elise. The two had an understanding, they both understood the importance of secrets. However Elise knew something that Natasha did not. When Steve was like this, you answered his questions.

"Do better!" threatened Steve. It almost scared Elise to see her fiancée like this. She was the one who fell into darkness, she was the one who would threaten to get her way. Not him.

"Where did you get it?" asked Natasha.

"Why would I tell you?" responded Steve quickly.

"What are you two talking about?" interjected Elise, done with not knowing what they were here to collect.

"Fury gave it to you. Why?" continued Natasha, completely ignoring Elise. That was a new one.

"What's on it?" asked Steve back. This was going nowhere. But Elise now knew what they were talking about. The USB drive Natasha had taken from the ship.

"I don't know," replied Natasha, shrugging. Elise watched the master assassin. Everything she did, it was always so calculated, so thought through, so analysed. There were few people in this world that Elise Carter held a respect for, and Natasha was certainly one of them. But that did not mean she trusted her.

"Stop lying!" threatened Steve, shoving her slightly further up against the wall. It almost disturbed Elise to see him like this, the death of Fury must have been hitting him hard. As well as the thought that S.H.I.E.L.D most likely wanted him dead.

"I only act like I know everything, Rogers," replied Natasha and Elise couldn't help but smirk. That was another reason she liked Natasha, her wit.

"I bet you knew Fury hired the pirates, didn't you?" Steve questioned.

"He what?" interrupted Elise. Oh that man was lucky he was already dead, otherwise she would have killed him herself.

"Well it makes sense. The ship was dirty, Fury needed a way in, so do you," replied Natasha, and Elise quickly disappeared out the corridor. She could hear the conversation continue in hushed whispers, but Elise needed a moment. They needed a plan, a way to get out of this mess.

Step One. Get that flash drive opened and see what was inside. But it was a S.H.I.E.L.D device, and the moment they booted it up their location would be compromised. And if it was the only thing to track, they would have the full army coming after them. What they needed was a distraction. And Elise knew who that needed to be.

"Alright," said Elise stepping back into the room as the whispers of their conversation finally came to an end. "You two take the USB, find out what is hiding on there. I will cause a distraction to help buy you time," Elise said.

"No, I will not leave you," he said, grabbing a tight hold of her hand.

"Steve, I will be fine. There is a bigger picture that we cannot see, and you need to find out what it is. When you do, use the phone in the pack to call me, it is the only number in there," she gripped his hand back.

"I do not want to see you hurt," whispered Steve, pulling her close to him.

"Natasha watch his back," Elise said, placing her hand on Natasha's shoulder.

"And make sure you watch your own," she said, placing her hand on Elise's. Natasha stepped out of the room, knowing that the two needed time to talk. Steve pressed his lips against her quickly. Normally neither on them were that affectionate in public, but there were the exceptions.

"Listen to me Steve, I can protect myself and we both know it. We need to do this, we need to know why they killed Nick," she whispered, raising her hand to his cheek. "I will cause the distraction, you find out what is on that drive," she said, gently removing her hand.

"Promise me you will keep safe. Promise me you will not do anything stupid," he whispered, placing his lips lightly to her forehead.

"Please, who do you think I am? Stark?" she joked, and Steve could not hold back his smile. He loved her so much, and this was just one of the many reasons why. Her ability to make a joke like that, it was the levity they both needed to have in their lives. "I will leave first. They will be watching our addresses. I guess it is time for me to go home," she replied, opening the door.

"I love you," he quickly said, wanting to make sure she never let without hearing that. Elise stepped back across to him, pressing her lips up to his.

"And I love you. Now go kick butt Captain," she whispered, giving him a salute and a smile. He loved that woman, just as she loved him. Elise stepped out, driving straight towards their main house, knowing S.H.I.E.L.D would be watching. And though very few knew of her true power, if they were going to send a squad after her, it was going to have a look of people in it. Some of whom would just be doing their job. She drove through one of the secret back exits, quickly rushing into the house. First things first wipe the hard drives. Just in case things went wrong, Elise wanted to be on the safe side. Besides, she had all of them backed up to multiple secure locations around the world. She knew S.H.I.E.L.D would find her eventually, it was hardly a hard deduction to make that she would go home.

"Elise Carter!" a voice on a megaphone boomed. "Exit the house with your hands raised above your head. We have the house surrounded!" it continued, and she actually laughed. Like these guys knew all the secret exits to her house. If she wanted to disappear she could, and it would require no extra effort. Elise rubbed her hands together, this was going to be fun. "Elise Carter. Exit the house with your hands raised above your head. We have the house surrounded!" they repeated. She almost felt bad for the people outside.

"Alright, alright," she muttered, opening the front door. And as she stepped out, she kept her hands by her side. She could see agents grip tighter on their guns, hold weapons with more awareness.

"Raise your hands above your head!" a voice boomed through the megaphone, hiding behind a row of agents. Elise took a couple of steps forward, and the agents quickly withdrew their guns.

"On what grounds do you have the authority to enter onto my property!" she yelled back, and there was silence. Her voice held a darkness about it, and it terrified these agents. So much so, that a good thirty more emerged from vehicles and moved towards her. "Nice of you to try and make this a fair fight, but I fear you are still outnumbered," Elise added, a smile on her face.

"Alexander Pierce has requested your immediate return to S.H.I.E.L.D headquarters. We are authorised to use any means necessary," the voice boomed once more. She saw some of the members of the elite teams, friends of the S.T.R.I.K.E team who had tried to take Steve out. And it made her angry.

"I am going to give you all a chance to leave and face no consequences. You stay, and I will not be responsible for my actions," Elise continued. "And some of you tried to hurt a man I am in love with. That was a big mistake," she finished, the glare in her eyes making the agents falter. Then they all pulled the trigger. The stream of bullets halted in front of her, Elise wishing she had glasses to make this look like the Matrix. The agents froze. Sure, everyone knew Elise was good at something. But none knew exactly what she could do. "Nice try," she yelled at them, feeling her anger start to take over. These agents had just tried to kill her, in cold blood. They would do the same to Steve if they got the chance. And sure, some may have only be doing this on orders, but in that moment it didn't matter. Every single one of them had pulled the trigger, that was their decision. And so they had to pay the price.

It was a high price.