Lieutenant - Daughter of the Captain

Chapter 50.0 - Candles

Her scream echoed, and the surge of power she emitted shattered windows and toppled trucks.

"Carter? Carter, you need to breathe! I can't- I can't help you through this one, kiddo, but you're gonna be okay, I promise..." Steve tried, but the farther they got the quieter his com became.

"No," She whimpered, falling forward on her knees again as her vision began to black out.

"Shit- can anyone get to her?" Tony started, sounding panicked, "Her powers are going nuts, we need to calm her down or this could get bad for all of us," He finished.

Carter couldn't breathe. Her lungs were locked tight, and she could feel her energy draining, uncontrollably rushing out of her. It was so much like that day out on Clint's farm. She was lost, drowning in her power, completely out of control.

And he was leaving.

"Wait, Mr. Stark what's happening to her?" The other kid, Spiderman, spoke up.

"She's having a panic attack, kid, she's losing control..." Tony spoke but his voice faded out as the ringing filled her ears.

She tried to blink back into reality, and the clear spots she spotted were flooded with an Amber light. Her amber light.

"No, no, no, no..." She muttered, gasping tiny bits of breath in, trying desperately to pull the waves back as a new fear set in, adding to her panic.

These people were her friends.

They were her family.

She didn't want to hurt them.

Carter's fear pressed down on her like a weight. It was crushing her.

"Carter, please be okay..." She heard Steve's voice again, getting further away.

"Dad, please," She whimpered, "Please,"

She was met with silence.

He was gone.

Sobs wracked her body, and her power rushed out of her harder.

"She's created a field around herself, I can't break through!" Wanda cried out, fear and worry in her voice. "She's blocking us out! Carter, hey, Cecmpa please you need to let me in I can't help you from out here..." Wanda urged.

"Hey!"

Carter heard the boy's sharp voice and she jumped. She blinked through the tears and through the spots in her vision, looking up to see him just twenty feet away.

"Uh...hi, Carter, right?" He said, sitting cross-legged on the tarmac. That's when Carter noticed the shield. He sat just outside the dome her powers created around her.

"Listen, so uh- I know a lot is going on right now, and I um...I know you're upset, and I'm not gonna tell you not to be. That's silly, right?" He started, slightly stumbling over his words. Carter's arms grew weak, and she lowered herself further onto the ground, her lungs still tight and her head swimming.

"Hey! Stay with me, okay, Carter? I'm just gonna ask you one quick question, okay? Can- can I do that?" He asked.

Carter worked up the energy to nod even as she began to close her eyes.

"When is your birthday?"

The question surprised her, and her eyes opened wide again.

"What?" She breathed, looking up at him again.

"Kid, we don't have time for-"

"I got it, Mr. Stark." He interrupted Tony harshly, and it seemed to take the billionaire by surprise, "Now, when is your birthday?" He asked her again.