Again // The Winter Soldier

eight.

The morning went by what had felt way to quickly. The group had been able to get Sam's suit no problem and capture Sitwell for questioning. Carmen had realized she missed field work more than she expected. The adrenaline rush it gave you was like a drug. All those years going undercover and protecting the world was what kept her going. The power to fight for something bigger than your self. So when it came to kicking Sitwell through the door to the roof she felt that rush again. That was for all those times he lied straight to her face and acted as one of her own.

"Tell me about Zola's algorithm" she asked as all three stomped towards him. Sitwell stood up and put his glasses back on his face.

"Never heard of it" Carmen felt a new rush of anger flow through her but before she could speak again Steve did.

"What were you doing on the Lemurian Star?" he asked as they walked him towards the edge of the building. Carmen eyed him as they got closer to the wall.

"I was throwing up. I get seasick" his legs caught the edge and he stumbled for balance. Carmen almost wanted to let him fall but Steve grabbed him and pulled him back upright.

"Is this little display meant to insinuate you're gonna throw me off the roof? Because it's really not your style Rogers" Carmen crossed her arms as she glanced at Natasha who stood behind them.

"You're right, it's not" he said as he let go of Sitwell's coat and straightened it out. He glanced at Carmen before looking back at Sitwell. "It's hers"

Steve stepped to the side as Natasha leapt forward and kicked Sitwell off the roof. He immediately screamed and Carmen had to hold back from laughing. Nat glanced at the two beside her who just stood there. She had been trying to figure out the story between the two ever since Steve came back. Carmen had been one of her closest friends as with Clint. The only thing Carmen never opened up about was WW2. She'd tell you mission story after mission story but if it was before 1946 you had no luck. Carmen had only recently begun telling Julia because for some reason it felt easier to now that he wasn't dead. "Have you two gone on an official date yet?"

"What?" Carmen and Steve's heads both snapped to look at her and she chuckled at the sight.

"I'm just wondering?" Carmen tucked her hands into the navy blue jacket she wore as her ears burned red from embarrassment.

"We're not ready for that?" just as Carmen turned to look at Steve, Sam flew up with Sitwell in tow as he continued yelling. Sam dropped him on the roof and the three strutted towards him again.

"Zola's algorithm is a program, for choosing, insights targets" Sitwell held a hand up in surrender as he tried to catch his breath.

"What targets?" Steve asked and Sitwell glanced up at them as his breathing began to slow.

"You! A TV anchor in Cairo, the Under Secretary of Defense, a high school valedictorian in Iowa City, Bruce Banner, Steven Strange, anyone who's a threat to Hydra. Now, or in the future" Carmen's stomach filled with worry and she felt like she was gonna hurl. Maybe she shouldn't of ate breakfast.

"The future? How could it know?" she stepped forward and Sitwell glanced up at her. He liked Carmen and always had. Somewhere deep inside him he regretted being a traitor. H e knew he would never see Julia again or be invited to their Thanksgiving if he was stuck at work and couldn't fly home. Carmen was different than any other leader but empathy was weakness and that's what Carmen was.

"How could it not? The 21st century is a digital book. Zola taught Hydra how to read it" Sitwell slowly stood up and Sam stood forward to watch his back as he faced the three he had betrayed. "Your bank records, medical histories, voting patterns, emails, phone calls, your damn SAT scores! Zola's algorithm evaluates people's pasts to predict their future"