Red Hand Annie

Gone

Setting: Basically, it's what happened while Annie was at H. Q. so the setting is the diner...

(Told from Williams p.o.v.)

It's just a normal day, Annie left early; leaving me with Lucas-not that I mind-He's a good little squirt; almost always does what he's told, probably has to do with having seen his dad shot dead not that long ago. He's not as lively around the diner as Annie told me he once was, and it's kind of depressing to think that such a young kid isn't more lively. Annie and I never exactly had the kind of childhood most kids have-we saw death everyday, as well as torture-we didn't have much of a life then. My only reason for living became to protect Annie and get us both out or at least her...and now I still just want to protect her. It's the only thing I really know...

"Orders up!" I call to a waiter as I pass them the finished food

"New order," a waitress says handing me the paper as the phone rings

"Someone get that!" I shout as I start cooking the next breakfast order

"The usual Stark order," someone says hanging up the phone

"Time?" I call out

"Almost eleven," someone answers

"Start giving people the lunch menus," I say as I finish the last of the breakfast orders and pass it through the window

I wash the dirty pans from the breakfast food, dry them and quickly put them back to the stove for the lunch rush; I quick make a grilled cheese sandwich with smiley fries, a side of ketchup glass of milk-one of Lucas' favorites-I bring it out to the both specifically reserved for Starks and place the plate and glass in front of Lucas, whose coloring. He stops coloring, looks at the plate, then up at me and then pushes the plate away from him. I sigh looking at the clock-10:57 am-I can spare a minute, I think as I slide into the seat across from the three year old boy that's refusing to eat as he continues to color. He's been refusing to eat ever since Annie joined S. H. I. E. L. D.-he talks less too-I think he's under the impression that she doesn't want him anymore or is going to abandon too or something like that...

"Ya gotta eat buddy," I say quietly as I lean hunched forward and rest my head on the table and stare up at him

"..." he stops color for a moment, looks up at me, at the food, then at me again-no smile on his face or joy in his eyes-he shakes his head no

"Just the sandwich?" I ask quietly

"..." he looks at it, then at me

"Come on please," I ask picking up half and holding out to him

"..." he looks at it again and shakes his head no

"How bout just the fries then?" I ask as I bite into the sandwich half

"..." he glances at the fries and shakes his head no

"Huh," I sigh frustrated...he won't eat, won't talk, won't even crack a smile...or a frown for that matter, "come on buddy," I say, "your mommy will kill me if she finds out that you're not eating...please? Do it for mommy..."

"..." he shakes his head no again

"Ugh!" I groan, "huh," I sigh again defeated, "please drink the milk at least."

With that said, I ruffle the kid's hair as I take the plate of food back to the kitchen where I ate it; I look back to the booth where Lucas has gone back to his coloring. The milks all gone...well, at least he's getting his calcium...I guess...Annie's gonna have a hissy fit about him not eating, I look at the clock-11 am-lunch rush will be starting soon. That's when everything goes down hill fast; the front door slams open-more like kicked-next thing I hear is the clicking sound of a gun. Everything is quiet in the diner outside the kitchen and the air around me goes stiff; I slowly peek out of the kitchen order window, everyone is stock still. Then, suddenly; I see him: the Winter Witch-her metal arm carrying Lucas as she slowly backs towards the door not saying a word, but pointing one of her many hand guns from her belt of various weapons in every direction as she backs towards the door.

I feel my blood boiling in rage and then a thought occurs to me...if I go Winter Flames here and now, I wouldn't just be putting Lucas in danger, but all the staff and costumers as well. When I look back out the window to the diner outside the kitchen, Witch and Lucas...are gone. I feel panic over run me...Lucas is gone...gone...A-A-Annie's gonna kill me! Not thinking twice, I run out of the kitchen-race through the diner, glancing at the booth that is now lacking Lucas-I bolt out the door and look left then right, but there's no trace of Witch and Lucas anywhere...there just gone. Gripping my hair at either side of my head in aggravation, yanking at it. I groan-running a hand down my face-I look at my watch: 11:31 am. I walk solemnly back inside-all eyes are on me-my eyes how ever, do not leave the floor as I slowly trudge across the diner and stop in the center...

"Out..." I mumble under my breath, "OUT! GET OUT!"

In my anger and frustration I close the diner down; I send the staff home, I do the dishes in the silence and listen to the sound of the quiet as I do so. How could I let this happen? Have I really become so comfortable here that I allowed myself to let down my guard? How could I have been so reckless? So careless? Dam it! I think as I slam my fist against the sink as I think, breaking a plate. It happened on my watch...Witch busted in here out of no where on my watch...Lucas was taken on my watch. This entire thing is my fault; on my head...and my hands. I'm pulled away from my thoughts as pounding comes upon the diners front door. I slowly make my way to the door, only stopping to look at the clock-12 noon-I continue to the door and open it to find Annie standing there...how do I tell her?

"What's going on?" She asks me through her thoughts, her eyes going white with worry

"Don't freak out," I start aloud...only making her more worried

"Where's Lucas?" She thinks to me as her eyes dart around the empty diner for him

"..."I'm too shamed to look at her

"Will?" She thinks to me slowly, "Where. Is. Lucas?"

"Gone,"is all I can say in a quiet voice as I continue to avoid her eyes