stormbird. ( steve rogers, rewriting! )

twenty one.

Steve Rogers

I watch as Shay disappears into the portal, missile in her grasp.

We watch silently, hoping and praying that she'll come flying back through. But she knew. She knew she was going to die. I guess that's why she admitted all those things to us.

"Cap, we have to close it." Tony said softly. I didn't respond. I just watched the portal opening. "Close it Widow." Tony said when I didn't acknowledge him.

"Your ledger is clean Shay." Natasha whispered softly. The blue light funneling from Stark Towers disappeared, and the portal started to close.

The chitauri all fell around us a second after, and I knew she had done it. She blew up the mother ship and saved the Earth, saved us all.

But she couldn't save herself.

I looked down at the ground, feeling the tears in my eyes start to well up. "We'll all miss her Cap. But not as much as you." Tony said, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"Son of a Gun!" Clint yells. "Guys, look up!" I caught a glimpse of the portal closing, a single falling figure.

Shay.

"Its her!" Natasha yelled.

"She isn't slowing down." Thor said, starting to swing his hammer. "Shay!" I yelled. Tony powered up his suit and was getting ready to fly up when the Hulk came and caught her out of the air, smashing into a bridge a block or so from here.

I took off running, vaulting over cars and the fallen bodies of the chitauri. trying desperately to get to her.

I ran onto the bridge, and the Hulk was lying on his back, holding Shay across his broad chest like a rag doll.

I came and took her gently from the Hulk's arms and laid her down on the pavement.

Her short dark brown hair splayed out around her like a halo. Her skin was frightfully pale, and she had small spatters of blood on her face and uniform.

"Shay?" I whispered, hopefully.

"Captain Rogers, look at her abdomen." Thor said behind me. My eyes traveled down to her stomach, and that's when I saw it.

A blast injury in the center of her stomach, still smoking slightly and bleeding heavily. I struggled to keep my emotions in check as I felt for a pulse frantically. "There's a faint pulse!" I said after a moment.

"Lets go get Loki then bring her to the hellicarrier, fast." Tony said behind me. I nodded and picked her up gently, and holding her to my chest.

"Please be okay Shailene." I whispered into her ear. "Please."

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Fury and the doctor were talking, the doctor looking nervous. Fury nodded as he took in the doctor's words, hanging his head.

He dismissed the Shield doctor and Agent Simmons, who was standing beside him. Fury nodded to the lower clearance agent, who had tears swimming in her eyes. She turned and walked out of the room, silent tears slipping down her cheeks.

Fury stood in his empty office, taking in the news. He stared out the window blankly. It couldn't be true. He had already lost one of his closest friends recently. He couldn't loss her too.

But he had to tell the others.

He took in a shaky breath, and went to walk into the waiting room.

The sight he saw almost broke his emotionless resolve.