The Soldat, The Captain and The Asset

2.8: The Spy

​Somewhere else in the city, Sam was currently returning to his 2 up-2 down house after going on his morning run. He is just minutes within the door when he hears knocking. He opens the door to see Steve and Natasha both standing there, soot and dust clinging to their skin, scratches littering their bodies and their minds on edge.

"Hey, man." Sam says slowly, trying to act calm at the sudden appearance of the two.

"I'm sorry about this. We need a place to lay low." Steve apologises and Sam's eyes drift over to Natasha in confusion.

"Everyone we know is trying to kill us." Natasha explains plainly and Sam pauses in shock, trying to process what she was saying for a moment.

Sam pauses a moment before replying. "Not everyone." He replies, breaking through the silence. He then moves to the side, opening his door fully and letting them both enter.

Steve and Natasha make their way towards the bathroom and bedroom, cleaning themselves up as best as they can. Steve exits out of the bathroom, watching as Natasha drys her vibrant red hair with a towel. Steve tilts his head, noticing that Natasha looks sad and thoughtful, her eyes drifting off slightly. "You okay?" Steve asks, Natasha's focus coming back to the present.

"Yeah." Natasha lies, placing the towel down.

"What's going on?" Steve asks.

"When I first joined SHIELD, I thought I was going straight." She answers, sitting back slightly, looking up at him. "But I guess I just traded in the KGB for HYDRA. I thought I knew whose lies I was telling, but...I guess I can't tell the difference anymore."

"There's a chance you might be in the wrong business." Steve replies and it makes Natasha smile faintly.

"I owe you." Natasha admits.

"It's okay." Steve tells her.

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

"I would now. And I'm always honest." Steve replies.

"Well, you seem pretty chipper for someone who just found out they died for nothing." Natasha forces a chuckle.

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

Suddenly, Sam's head pops around the door. "I made breakfast. If you guys...eat that sort of thing." He sounds hesitant, his hand on the door frame before disappearing, Steve and Natasha following the man into the kitchen, sitting down.

"So, the question is: who in SHIELD could launch a domestic missile strike?" Nastasha ponders.

"Pierce." Steve answers.

"Who happens to be sitting on top of the most secure building in the world." She says dryly, looking him in the eyes.

"But he's not working alone, Zola's algorithm was on the Lemurian Star." Steve reminds her.

"So was Jasper Sitwell." Her eyes widened slightly. "And his Russian, but not really Russian, assistant."

"So, the real question is: how do the two most wanted people in Washington kidnap a SHIELD officer in broad daylight?" He wonders, when suddenly Sam drops a file on the table.

"The answer is: you don't." Sam tells him, leaning against the back of one of the chairs, looking at the two of them.

"What's this?" Steve asks.

"Call it a resume." Sam gives a small smile as he watches Natasha pick up a photo of Sam with his pararescue team. The sky behind them is bright and the land barren and vast.