Through The Night

        No matter how close they seemed, he never looked back. Helicopters swept the area on the search for Hydra's fugitives. Footsteps closed in on him as he rushed through the blackened forest. His hold of his friend, whom he held in his arms, tightened. Natasha teetered on the edge of consciousness, struggling to come to. She recognized Steve's familiar scent, the smell of a cologne she had bought him for his birthday. Her fingers grasped down hard on his shoulders, fearing that she would lose him, and be left alone. Gunfire rang off in the distance, prompting Steve to run faster and Natasha to strengthen her grasp. A stray bullet bounced off the edge of his shield and he began running in a new direction. His ears remained alert to how close the enemies were. He paused for a second and listened in on the personnel's movements. They were far, but not far enough.

        The moonlight ahead of them revealed the road they have driven on several hours ago. Using it posed too much of a risk, but it was the only guarantee back into the city. He decided he would travel alongside the road, concealed by the trees in hopes of finding someone who could give them a ride. He spotted flashlights out the corner of his eye, signaling that some agents had gained up on them. Steve darted across the road, desperate to not be seen. He looked back across and watched as the agents continued down the grassy path he had originally followed. A sigh of relief escaped his lips.

        The avenger walked next to the road for nearly an hour before coming across a local gas station. Steve surveyed the area in search of a car to "borrow". He settled on an old Jaguar parked out back, assuming it was a worker's car, and headed towards it. The lot was mostly empty except for one car and when that person left, he began working on his heist. He placed Natasha on the ground and began looking for ways to quietly break into the car. Figuring that an older car would not sound an alarm, he busted through the window as quietly he could and glanced back at the gas station to make sure the worker didn't notice. The man behind the register continued to look down at his phone unbeknownst to what was happening outside. Steve unlocked the door to the back of the car and carefully laid his partner onto the backseat. As he wiped the glass out of the car and climbed into the driver seat, he thought about where they would go and whether or not there was a safe place left in the city for them.

        The pair traveled on the road for nearly two hours, before the spy peaked her eyes open. Everything hurt like hell. She attempted to sit up, but found that impossible when she collapsed back down.

        "Steve..." she coughed. "Steve."

        "Everything's alright, Nat. We're safe," he reassured her.

        "Steve," she groaned. "Please... don't leave me."

         "I'm right here. I'm not going any- "
The captain was interrupted by his friend's coughing fit. He watched through his adjusted mirror as her coughs subsided and were replaced by wheezes.

        "Steve," she whined.

        A motel approached them on the right and Steve quickly pulled into its lot and parked. He opened the door, pushed himself off the seat, and stumbled out of the car. The man leaned against the car for support and made his way to the back of it. His limbs felt weak and heavy on his short venture. With whatever strength he could muster, He opened the back door.

        "Nat I'm here." He climbed into the back seat and sat down on the floor next to her.

        "I need you to hang on for a little while longer. I'm looking for somewhere that's safe for us." He muttered. "I'm sorry I dragged you into this."

        "Steve, I could never let you do this alone," she whispered.

        "Even after you almost died?"