Our Finest Hour (Steve Rogers)

Chapter 12: We've Been Tricked

Cara stared out the open rear hatch of the quinjet, the wind blowing her unrestricted hair wildly as she was lost in her thoughts. She was a bit shaken by the entire situation of this urgent mission, but after the news that Strange had given her, it took things to a whole new level. She had chosen not to share the news with Steve or Bucky, they both needed to be as focused as possible given the situation, and this news would have only shook them further. The look on Bucky's face as they went over all of the details was plaguing her even now. As everyone prepared and split up into mission teams Cara had gone straight to the nursery, held both of her boys in her arms and kissed them both telling them how much they were loved. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of world she had brought them into and for a second allowed herself to worry if they would ever truly be safe. But only for a second. After bringing herself back to her senses, she had carefully put each of them back in their cribs before telling them mommy needed to go save the world again.

Her weapons had been checked and restocked carefully, interchangeable arrow tips had been chosen, and her knives sharpened. From there she slipped back amongst everyone in the hanger before they all loaded up onto the three separate jets needed to execute the task at hand. It had somehow been decided that Steve, Cara and Bucky should all be split up onto separate teams, that way they couldn't all be confronted at once as it was most likely that the other Rumlow and other Winter Soldier were here for them. Perhaps that's why Cara's stomach felt like it was in a knot, despite knowing they were all perfectly capable of handling themselves and everyone watching each other's backs, she didn't like to be far from either of them. A hand on her shoulder shook her from her thoughts.

"I know that look, what's on your mind short stack?" Sam asked.

"Nothing, just this mission." Cara replied dryly.

"Yeah, I'm not buying that. You've been all out of sorts since the wizard pulled you aside." He persisted.

"First of all he's a sorcerer and second, no I haven't." Cara shot back.

"Oh sorry I forgot we haven't been friends for years and that I don't know you. Come on, what's going on, we all need to have our heads straight here." He pushed.

"I'm fine Sam, now let it go." She said glaring at him, walking back into the belly of the jet.

Rolling his eyes he eventually turned to follow her, joining the rest of their team. When Cara walked back into the main part of the jet, Sam close behind her, Wanda, Vision, and Loki all stood up, awaiting her direction. Upon looking at all of them she had questions about the team assignments but pushed them aside, clearing her throat quietly.

"Bravo team listen up, our job is quiet infiltration from below. Incapacitate, don't kill unless you absolutely have to." Cara started.

"Well there went all of the fun." Loki scoffed.

"Once we're inside, we need to begin searching for Rumlow and other Bucky. Alpha team and Charlie team will be meeting up with us once we are inside. The goal is to go in as quietly as possible. Once we apprehend the targets, get them to Strange. He will take them back to the Sanctum and get them back where they belong before the two realities merge and the world as we know it ends." Cara continued.

"Well there's no pressure then." Vision said sarcastically.

Wanda elbowed him before looking back at Cara.

"We've got this. This should be easy enough with all of us working together." Wanda said winking.

"Damn right." Sam added.

Loki rolled his eyes and Cara raised her eyebrows in his direction, staring at him sternly.

"Loki? We are working as a team right? You're working as part of this team, no tricks, no rogue endeavors, right." Cara asked him not breaking her stare at him.