Winter's Daughter

Chapter 11

"I hope you're joking when you say you want nothing for your sixteenth birthday." James shook his head at his daughter.

"Dad, I'm serious. I don't need anything for my birthday. All I want is to spend more time with you." She smiled at James.

"If you tell Steve that you want to go out and fight, we won't have any time."

"Of course we'll have time. It's just one little mission and then I'll be home." She told her father, smiling as she walked into the conference room.

James sat outside and watched his daughter become an agent for S.H.I.E.L.D. It was his worst fear for her. Now that she'd be on the field, it would be easier for things to happen. She could get killed, or captured, or anything else that could go wrong on a mission.

He watched sadly as the only light in his life took a badge and a uniform from Steve. He shook his head again as she smiled at the collection of directors and higher ranking agents.

'I wish Steve never told her about the program.'

Soon, everyone was called to a celebration for all of the new agents, and a small get together before the group of agents was shipped out. James put himself in a corner and watched as Vic socialized with the other agents. Steve didn't notice his friends behavior until later into the event.

"You don't need to worry. This is apart of growing up." Steve told his friend.

"Maybe I want to hold on as long as I can. Maybe I don't want her out there getting herself killed trying to help this cause. I love what you're doing Steve, but I want her out of it."

Steve rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "About that,"

"What?"

"She's leaving tonight. Fury wants all new personnel on this mission."

"Tonight? No, you can't do that. Not tonight. Tomorrow is a really important date."

Steve nodded. "I know. Her sixteenth. She'll be home before you know it."

Just as those words left his lips, the loudspeaker directed all new agents to the aircraft bay to leave for a test mission. Vic separated from the crowd and ran over to her father.

"everything will be alright. You and Steve have trained me how to react in any situation I may face."

"I know, but what if you-"

"I'm coming back. I promise." She kissed her fathers cheek and hugged Steve before she bid them farewell and boarded the aircraft leaving for her first mission on the field.

"Steve, I've got an awful feeling that this won't go in a good direction."

"Buck, you gotta let this go. She's going to be fine. She's the best trained agent in the bunch and she's already been elected as her battalions leader. You have nothing to worry about. I promise."

Later that night, the team sent out a distress call. Steve went to the main lobby and watched the footage from the group. Words blended together as he watched.

Injured, dead, in need of immediate medical attention. One word made him sick to his stomach.

Missing.

He clicked the status of every member and he closed his eyes as he saw the only agent that had gone M.I.A.

"James will never forgive me."