The JackDaw's Nest (Captain America, Avengers & Spiderman Fan Fiction)

Chapter 11 - Wounds

Jez was ridiculously bored. She couldn’t take doing nothing anymore. Harry was due to visit in any second but Jez had been sent home hours ago. She just wanted to get up and go shopping or go see a show on Broadway or stop crime with Peter. She didn’t want to be home alone anymore. Without Steve it wasn’t really a home. Jez felt that right then she belonged at S.H.I.E.L.D.

Jez tried to ring MJ again. She was still ignoring her. Jez felt terrible about missing the audition but something more important did come up. She felt like she had to come up with a great excuse. She wanted to tell the truth but her identity was a secret for a reason. At the end of the day she’d rather keep Peter and the others safe than have them be her friends.

Jez tried the call again. She needed the number of the mystery investor so that they could meet. He could have something to do with JackDaw. Jez giggled a little. She was strangely honoured that all of these villains were naming themselves after her. The some of the names were lame but Jez was interested in the JackDaw. Even the name seemed vaguely familiar.

She tried to think back to anyone with a similar name that she actually knew but she was interrupted by the doorbell. Jez pushed herself off the couch yelping quietly. There would be no crime fighting for her for another day or two. She thought about the hole in her side that was a lot bigger than she had expected it to be. Jez pulled the door open and put on her most convincing smile.

Harry smiled as he held out Jez a Styrofoam container of soup. He gave her a gentle hug with his free hand. Jez held in her scream as he squeezed her sides. Harry kissed her head.

“It’s chicken and sweetcorn soup,” Harry said leading Jez back inside. He rested her hand on the small of her back and Jez instantly felt like she was with Steve again. He always did that.

Jez sat back down on the couch where she had previously been and Harry brought her a spoon from the kitchen. He sat beside her and stared at the TV screen. It was the news again.

“The mother gives infinite thanks to BlueJay for saving her children,” the reporter said. “New speculations have sprung up due to BlueJay’s choice of clothing and many people are pointing fingers but as of now no one knows who BlueJay or Spiderman are. Back to the studio.”

Harry had a look of love on his face and Jez couldn’t help but laugh. Harry laughed lightly too and sat back beside Jez.

“If you drool anymore we may just drown,” Jez joked and ate her soup. Harry scratched the back of his neck and shrugged.

“There’s something about her,” Harry said. “It’s kind of the same thing I feel from you.” Jez shovelled the soup into her mouth so that she didn’t have to talk.

Harry wrapped his arm around Jezebel’s shoulders and pulled her in close so that her head was resting on his shoulder.

“Would you ever hurt us Harry?” Jez asked thinking of the Bird Watcher’s bombs. Harry shook his head.

“I would never hurt you deliberately in any way Jez,” Harry answered. He leaned in to kiss her and Jez panicked.

Before Jez could pull away Harry’s lips were squashed against hers. She could feel his hands wrapping around her waist. Automatically Jez ran her fingers through Harry’s hair. He pulled her onto his lap and Jez let him. When they finally pulled apart they sat in silence cuddled up together. Jez couldn’t help one tear from escaping and running down her cheek as she thought of Steve.

Jez didn’t remember falling asleep but when she woke up Harry was gone. She prayed for a moment that it had all been a dream but a note from Harry banished those wishes. The note was written on a sticky note that was attached to the pile of letters that Fury had written her. For a moment Jezebel’s heart stopped. What if Harry had read the letters and was now on his way to every New York newspaper to spread the word that Jezebel Fury, who he knew as Jez Fitzpatrick, was BlueJay?

The note calmed Jez back down. She read it carefully as she finished waking up. It said:

Hey sleepy. MJ called and wants my advice on some dress. I didn’t want to disturb you so I’m leaving you a letter. I’m romantic like that. Call me when you wake up and get well soon. Peter text you by the way. I didn’t read it though. Harry x

Jez picked up her phone then. She knew Harry wouldn’t have been able to read the message because her phone was locked. The message from Peter read:

Jez you should come to S.H.I.E.L.D. They’re waiting for you to shut off the life support x

Jez felt truly sick now. Steve hadn’t gotten any better. He was going to die and there was nothing she could do. Jez got up as quickly as she could and suited up afraid that they’d shut it off without her. As Jez was heading to the door something caught her eye. Steve’s compass with the photo of Peggy was on a shelf. Jez grabbed it on her way out and took off into the sky as fast as her wounded body would allow her.

Jez didn’t believe in God or in heaven but as she put the compass in Steve’s hand she prayed that somehow he would find Peggy Carter and forget about Jez and rest happily. All of the Avengers had gathered along with Peter, Jez and Fury. No one spoke as the last bit of life drained out of Steve. Jez tried hard to gulp back her tears but this time she couldn’t.

It seemed like the only noises in the helicarrier were the engines and Jezebel’s screams and cries. No one went to her or said anything comforting. They knew that right then Jez needed to be left alone to cry. Nothing they said or did would make it any better. One by one the other Avengers left the room and gave Jez the privacy she needed. Peter was the last to leave and gave Jez a quick rub on the shoulder before he vanished.

Jez felt everything that she ever wanted to tell Steve pour out of her mouth in a blurred whisper. She got in the words between sobs as she told Steve’s body all about her life without his and apologised for the kiss with Harry. Eventually the muddle of words began to slow down and Jez was only talking about how much she loved Steve. By now Steve’s Captain America suit was stained with Jezebel’s tears.

“Steve I’ll never love anyone in the whole world as much as I love you and I’ll never stop loving you. You are the love of my life and I don’t care if you called me Peggy. I need you Steve and I don’t know what I’m going to do without you. I don’t know what the world will do without you. You were the first and best superhero and you will always be my knight in shining armour. No knight in armour will ever be as shiny as you! I love you Steve Rogers. I love you. I love you. I love you.”

Jez cried herself to sleep that night. No one went to her yet everyone cared. No one said anything though there was so much to say. A hero had died and another had fallen but Jez didn’t know if she’d be able to rise again.

So I know a lot of you will be upset that Steve is dead but please don't stop reading. Even though he's dead there's more to come so please read on and give it a chance. We still have to raid the JackDaw's nest xoxo