SHADOW [Avengers: AOU]

XXI. Getting Stronger

Jacqueline didn't know how much more she could take, or how much more time she had left. All she did know was The Source ready for her time to end and has been giving the teen everything it's got and more. It's been 13 hours. Her bones ached terribly along with her mind. Body uncomfortably hot, and the fact every time she closed her eyes she saw everyone she's ever know to care for around her all dead, soulless burnt corpses. She was outside and had been by the small pond for most of the day. Managing to dodge everyone in the facility. All except one that she was willing to see.

"Hey! I got your message!" Lena said, a pep in her step and a smile on her face as she made it closer to Jacqueline. Her smile faded when she took in her friends paler skin and disheveled appearance.

"Jacqui, are you okay?"

"Fine," Jacqueline dug her nails into the log she was sitting on. Trying to ignore the painful tugging on the back of her neck."Just tired that's all."

"What did you want to talk about?"

Lena sat next her, frowning when the enhanced scooted a few inches away from her. Jacqueline took the drive out of her pocket running her thumb over it. She held it out towards her and let it go the second the agents finger tips touched it.

"I want you to have this."

"A thumb drive?" Lena asked.

"It's super secret. And I'm trusting you with it. When the times comes I need you to give it to one of the Avengers."

"When the time comes? Jacqui--"

"It's getting stronger. The Source...I'm using all of my will to fight it, but I can't. There isn't much left." Jacqueline said tiredly.

Lena eyes widen as she jumped over a spot to her. Jacqueline jumped out off the log. Getting dizzy from moving to fast.

"No no, no! You've made such good progress! You were--you just found something to fight for again! You built up your strength!"

"It tricked me," The dark haired teen growled. "It was a part of it's plan. To get me to think that I had to upper hand; I never even did! It wanted me to get my hopes up. So it could bring it down and burn it to ash. I should've been worried why it was being so quite. But I was too busy having fun." Lena got up and pointed a stern finger at her.

"Don't! Don't blame yourself! You were living your life the way you're suppose too. Not worrying about that thing controlling you. This isn't your fault."

Jacqueline looks down at the brackets on her hands. Lena cradled the thumb drive in hers before putting it into her pocket. She looked over at the Avengers HQ.

"Everyone's been looking for you. I told them that you were hanging with me at my grandpa's place again for the day. And you'd be back for dinner. I'll keep the drive close, you can count on me."

"Thank you, Lena. You're a good person. A good friend." Jacqueline said looking back up.

Lena nods her head with a small smile. They both turn to the pond were a small duck was swimming around and sighed.

"Are you going to tell them?"

"I'll have too. If I keep it from them and they don't know the Source can use it as an advantage. Pretend to be me when I'm already gone."

Her veins burned and she could feel the sweat collecting on her face. She wiped it away with the back of her sleeve and took a step forward and stumbled put caught herself on a tree. Lena quickly came to her side.

"You sure you don't want me to go in with you, hold your arm and make sure you're steady?"

"No. I'll be alright. You should go to your grandpa, tell him I said hi."

"I will. You can fight it Jacqueline, I know you can."

=•=•=•=

Walking back to headquarters wasn't easy but Jacqueline made it in the elevator and to the floor which held the living area. When the doors opened she shuffled out. The tugging came back as she faced all the Avengers. Tony was still wearing his suit nursing a glass of scotch in his hand as he leaned against the kitchen counter talking to Rhodey. Clint was at the stove finishing up tonight's meal. Natasha was sitting on top of the island typing away on the laptop that rested on her legs in concentration. The Maximoff twins sat together on the couch. Steve and Sam sat in chairs talking to each other as well. Vision was no where to be seen, not even by the chessboard. She assumed that he had left to check on Ultron. None of them have noticed her presence yet.

"I'm dying."

She didn't even try to sugar coat it. All eyes turned to look at her and she was smiles all round. No body in the room taking what she said seriously. While some turned away the oldest twin and super solider kept their eyes on her.

"Hey kid, you aren't the only one starving." Clint says causing everyone to chuckle. Sweat dripped down her brow wiped it away again with a shaky breath. Her eyes dilated in and out.

"Shadow are you okay?" Pietro asked, getting up from the sofa.

Wanda eyes Jacqueline's swaying figure warily and grabs his arm. Stoping him from going over. She suddenly felt sick. Vision phases out through the wall next to her, dressed in a sweater. His eyes were on her as well and they held worry. As if he automatically knew something was wrong with her.

"Shadow."

"Vision--"

The synthetic humanoid caught her before she fell face first into the floor. She had a crowd surrounding her in seconds with the worried faces of her friends. Steve, Clint and Pietro where the ones closet to her. The harsh tugging on the back of her neck worsened.

"She's burning up. This is not good." Vision said.

"Again? This hasn't happened in months." Steve said.

"Give her to me." She heard Pietro say.

Vision started to pass her over to his awaiting hands but Jacqueline started to squirm away and pushing his hands away.

"It's no use! Pietro stop!"

"Shadow--"

"STOP! IT'S USELESS! YOU CAN'T HELP ME! THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ANYMORE!"

Her loud out burst caused everyone to take a step back. Pietro stared at her in shock and confusion.

"I am slowly slipping away...my brain aches and pulses, I feel like a can't breath and I can barley stand! I'm just...so tired. It's going to win." Jacqueline turned her body to face Vision who looked at her with sympathy.

"I've tried for so long. I'm trying, really, but I'm just not strong enough," Her head rest against his chest. He rubbed her back in comfort. "I can't win this. I'm sorry." She sobbed out into Visions sweater. Turing her head she looked at the others through blurry eyes.

"I'm sorry."