The Unknown Soldier (N.R)

Chapter 21

I knock on the door as Natasha and I stand outside waiting for it to be opened. After a couple seconds Sam walks out and looks at us surprised.

Sam: Hey, man.

Steve: I'm sorry about this. We need a place to lay low.

Natasha: Everyone we know is trying to kill us.

Sam: Not everyone.

He says as he steps aside to let us inside.

-

I wash my hands getting all of the dirt off my hands. I look through the mirror to see Natasha drying her hair.

Steve: You okay?

Natasha: Yeah.

I walk out of the bathroom and sit next to her on the bed.

Steve: What's going on?

She pauses for a moment.

Natasha: When I first joined S.H.I.E.L.D. I thought I was going straight. But I guess I just traded in the KGB for Hydra.

She says while looking down and releasing a shaky breath.

Natasha: I thought I knew who's lies I was telling, but I guess I can't tell the difference anymore.

Steve: There's a chance you might be in the wrong business.

She smiles for a moment.

Natasha: I owe you.

Steve: It's okay.

Natasha: If it was the other way around, and it was down to me to save your life, now you be honest with me, would you trust me to do it?

I pause for a second.

Steve: I would now. And I'm always honest.

She smiles.

Natasha: Well, you seem pretty chipper for someone who just found out they died for nothing.

Steve: Well, I guess I just like to know who I'm fighting.

I say while leaning back in my chair when Sam walks in.

Sam: I made breakfast. If you guys eat that sort of thing.

I nod my head.

-

Natasha: So, the question is, who at S.H.I.E.L.D could launch a domestic missile strike?

She says as she leans against the counter in the kitchen.

Steve: Pierce.

Natasha: Who happens to be sitting on top of the most secure building in the world.

Steve: But he's not working alone. Zola's algorithm was on the Lemurian Star.

Natasha: So was Jasper Sitwell.

She says turning to me.

Steve: So the real question is, how do the two most wanted people in Washington kidnap a S.H.I.E.L.D. officer in broad daylight.

Sam walks over to us.

Sam: The answer is, you don't.

He says as he puts a file on the table in front  of me.

Steve: What's this?

I ask grabbing the file.

Sam: Call it a resume.

Natasha takes one of the pictures, looking it over.

Natasha: Is this Bakhmala? The Khalid Khandil mission, that was you?