The Soldier and the Spy.

Chapter 15

***Captain America***

I lean against the wall, trying not to put weight on my leg, a little woozy from blood loss. I am stunned, replaying the last few seconds in my mind. I hear Variel's voice in my head.

"I have lost so many people that I love! I don't want to lose you, too."

Does she love me? Do I love her back? My thoughts are in a jumble. I was in love with Peggy, but can a person fall in love more than once? I am still contemplating this when the rest of the Avengers came back again, Thor carrying Loki's unconscious body.

"Lets go before this base blows." Tony said hurrying us towards the entrance. Once we get to the doorway, he reminds us to zip up the bodysuits that protect us from the cold.

"I don't need one," Variel says. I look at her in surprise.

"Didn't you need one before?"

"I thought I did, but I don't. Sometimes Loki can provide very useful information about a person."

"What did he tell you?"

"I'll tell you later," she says, with a funny sort of smile. I know it's not a real smile though, because it doesn't reach her eyes. I wonder what Loki said to her. If he hurt a single hair on her head, I will kill him. We step out of the base, and walk to the transport, which miraculously made it through the snow. A few seconds later we hear an explosion and look back at the base just in time to see it explode in an amazing ball of red fire. The transport takes off, headed for the helicarrier.

Variel helps me into a seat, and then she walks away to curl up in a corner separate from all the Avengers. I want to ask what the matter is, but I can't make my eyes focus. Then my head starts spinning, and I slowly fall into the dark blanket of unconsciousness.

****Clint Barton****

I am standing with the other Avengers when suddenly Steve slumps over in his seat. I run over along with Natasha and check his vital signs.

"His heartbeat and breathing are okay, he just passed out from blood loss and exhaustion," Natasha says as we lay him out across one of the folding beds attached to the wall.

"Thank goodness. I don't think anyone would want to deal with Variel if he were in serious danger," Tony quips.

Speaking of which, I look around for Variel. I find her curled up in a corner of the transport far away from anyone, staring at the wall. I walk over to her.

"How are you doing?"

She didn't answer.

"You OK, Variel?" I persist, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder.

Still no answer.

"Well, then I'll just leave you alone."

Variel still won't even look at me.

I turn and rejoin the Avengers, hurt that she didn't respond to me. "What's wrong with Variel?" I say to Natasha.

"What is she doing?" Natasha asks.

"She is curled up in the corner over there, staring at the wall. She won't talk to me, won't even look at me," I reply.

"Oh no, that's not good. She only does that when something is really bothering her."

"Like what?"

"Last time she did that was when S.T.O.W. said they were going to kill me. That was the reason I escaped, by the way."

"I wonder what's bothering her this time. Do you think it's something Loki said?"

"If that's the case, then he's going to be dead," Tony says, a grim look on his face. We had all come to love her like a younger sister, granted one that could probably beat us all to a pulp.