Stealing Winter

Chapter Fourteen

"Reese, how would you like to come to the park with me?" Charlie smiled. Reese looked up excitedly and nodded. Charlie couldn't remember the last time she had taken Reese out with her - probably two and a half months ago, before everything went wrong. "Get your shoes on kid."

Reese rushed to throw his shoes on, bouncing on the bed with enough force to make Champion bounce off. Champion hissed harshly before running out of the room and between Hans' legs. Hans mumbled something about him being a stupid cat, and Charlie rolled her eyes.

Once ready, Charlie and Reese headed down stairs. Reese grabbed his coat from by the door.

"Mom, I'm headed out for a walk with Reese." The older-looking woman aniseed in reply from the living room. Charlie shrugged, and grabbed the jacket she had stolen from Clint. She opened the door, and Champion barreled out to hide inside the dumpster.

"Come on, come on!" Reese grabbed Charlie's hand and only gave her a moment to close the door before pulling her away, in the general direction of the park.

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Charlie watched from the grass as Reese played on the equipment with the other children, some who were much younger than himself. She smiled, wondering what his life would have been like if he wasn't left to die in the alleyway.

Seven years ago, about three years after she and Travis met Mom, they found Reese left in an alleyway, in a cardboard box with a blanket tightly wrapped around his head.

"Who would have ever left you." Charlie breathed out. She went to rest against a tree, when a energetic black and brown Dioxin began to paw at her leg, and punched at her chest.

"Sorry about her," the person said casually. "She can get a little over-excited when it comes to strangers." Charlie smiled weakly up at the person, hoping they would leave soon.

"Oh, it's fine." She said softly, scratching behind the dogs ear. Her owner lifted her up and smiled back down at Charlie.

"Have a nice day, ma'am." He said before walking off. Charlie finally let out the air she had been holding in and shifted her body. Something on her pants crinkled, so she reached down to grab it. A little pink post-it not had been stuck to her leg.

On the post-it note was a number, and a name. How could I have forgotten, Charlie thought to herself. This was the entire reason she came to the park - one of Agent Raae's non-agent friends was supposed to anonymously deliver a number to her, which belonged to a SHIELD Agent that Steve believed works for HYDRA so she could have Travis trace the recent calls. Steve thought it was a risk to try tracking it while at the tower, and Travis had recently purchased a pre-owned lap-top.

She was about to get Reese, but noticed how much fun he was having and resided that it could wait a bit longer.

A bright pink rubber ball bounced over and hit Charlie's arm. A young girl with long, Raven hair ran over and grabbed it. She elected to shyly hide behind her ball for a moment.

"Saw-rie." She attempted an apology. Charlie smiled softly and nodded.

"It's just fine doll." The little girl stares for a moment before running off again. Charlie watched Reese climd the rock-wall and go across the monkey bars while helping other kids do the same. Eventually he came back to Charlie and collapsed next to her, burying his sweaty fast into her shoulder.

"Can we go home, Charlie?" He mumbled, she nodded, and stood up. Reese held her hand as they walked home, and he got Champion before they got inside. When they got to their room, Travis was typing away on his new laptop.

"You know, this lap-top is not half as nice as my old one." He sighed when his siblings fell onto the bed beside him. Champion curled up on the end of the bed as Reese slowly feel asleep. Charlie took out the post-it note and quietly explained the situation to him.

"I have a friend. Who needs the recent calls from this phone traced." She said simply. Travis raised an eyebrow and took the paper. He tilted his head.

"And who is this friend?" He asked suspiciously.

"It's better if I don't answer that." Charlie ran her fingers through her youngest brothers hair. "Please, Travis. This will really help us in out current situation." Travis sighed, but nodded.

"Fine, fine. Give me a few minutes." Travis muttered to himself as he began to type, and click. Charlie hummed a small tune, still messing with Reese's hair.

Charlie closed her eyes, slowly drifting off with her fingers tangled in his hair. Travis noticed when he tune stopped and elbowed her lightly.

"Stay awake Char, I'm almost done with your number tracing." He murmured. Charlie let out a deep sigh and rubbed her eyes. Travis typed and clicked for a few more minutes before stretching out.

"Done." He yawned. "If you need to, you can email a screenshot to your friend." Travis pulled the laptop away from Charlie's grabby hands. "On one condition." Charlie groaned.

"No, Travis." She argued. "I cannot tell you what's going on, it is way to risky." Travis shook his head, holding the laptop out of his sisters reach.

"No, I want to know that you're going to be safe." He said. "That I'll be safe, and Reese will be safe. I want to know that we'll all be safe." Charlie have him a knowing look. Travis shut his eyes and shook his head. "Even if you're lying to me, please just say we're safe." He begged.

Charlie wiggled away from Reese, making sure he stayed asleep. Leaning over, she wrapped her arms around him tightly in hopes that it would comfort him. Travis hugged back, setting the laptop down.

"I promise you, Travis." Charlie lied. "We're safe."

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A/N: another sort of crappy ending to another sort of crummy chapter. Hope you all enjoyed!