1.7

'Grab the dang cable this time, Jamie!'

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"Incoming!"

I grabbed Steve's shoulder, turning him to face the door. Steve and the other soldier started to shoot at each other as I dropped back to the ground again. Then, Steve stepped on a loose piece of metal. My eyes narrowed in concentration as he began to slip. I stood without a word. I grabbed the front of his suit and spun him around, using his momentum to launch him back onto the platform.

"Jamie!" He cried out.

I was already falling. I immediately twisted my body around to face the dangling cable, reaching towards it. I grabbed it, holding on as tightly as possible. The force of my fall pulled on my arms, and I heard a crack in my shoulder.

"Aahh!" I cried in surprise, trying my hardest to hold on as tears rimmed my eyes.

"Sunshine, I heard gunshots down there. Everything okay?"

I grunted through the effort of holding on. "Yeah, we're good down here. But, uh..." I winced as my shoulder throbbed. "If you could hurry it up a little, that'd be awesome."

"I'm doing my best, here."

"No, I know, I know." I assured him, my eyes widening when my hands started to slide down the cable. "Things are just starting to get a little outta hand..."

"Alright, Jamie. Hit the lever."

I sighed in relief at the order, turning my head upwards. "Mr. Rogers, he's ready! Pull the lever!"

I heard more gunshots, not getting any response from him.

After a minute, Tony's voice echoed through my earpiece again. "Lever," His voice was beginning to sound desperate. "now!"

I squeaked as my hands slipped a bit further. "Hold on!" I told him, trying to hide the worry in my tone as I looked back up. "Come on, Rogers! Any time, now!"

Suddenly, I heard banging and grunts of pain come from Tony's end of the earpiece.

"Tony..." I whispered, turning my eyes to the opening one last time. "Steve! The lever!"

There was silence on both ends, both Steve's and Tony's, and I was seriously contemplating letting go. I felt my hands slip again, forcing one hand to let go as I had run out of cable room. I was left dangling by one arm, the other loosely trailing behind. Hearing nothing but more gunshots and radio silence, I sighed. I let go. I closed my eyes.

Then the air was knocked out of my chest as a hunk of metal slammed into my side.

I squeezed my eyes shut as I coughed, doubling over. "What the -- "

"Sorry 'bout that, Sunshine." I heard in my ear.

I realized that I was being held bridal style, and I opened my eyes.

"Hold on," Tony said, his eyes focused entirely on what was in front of him.

I blindly nodded, taking deep breaths and wrapping my arms around his neck. I looked ahead as Tony doubled back to the hole I fell out of. He readjusted his hold on me just like he did in Germany. I saw Steve still shooting at the last soldier, backed up next to the lever.

"You ready?" Tony asked me.

"Whenever you are," I answered him instantly.

Tony nodded from above me, shouting to Steve, "Heads up!"

I smirked as both Steve and the soldier turned to look at us. Steve didn't hesitate to drop to the floor. The soldier, however, aimed his gun in my direction. If anything, my smirk grew at the audacity. Tony and I let go of each other's hands, and I was launched through the opening feet first. One bullet skimmed my shoulder and another skimmed my hip, but not much damage was done to me before my feet hit him square in the chest. The soldier and I hit the floor, rolling a few times before coming to a stop at the end of the room. Then, as soon as I heard the man groaning, I scrambled to get on top of him. I easily straddled the man in his bewildered state. I grabbed his shirt, bringing my fist down on his face. Three times and the man was out cold.

I sat back, breathing heavily for a moment. I turned back to Steve and Tony; they sat side by side against the far wall, sweaty and out of breath, but alright. I felt a grin appear on my face once more - a genuine one. I did something right. I shook my head, a breathy laugh bubbling from my chest.

"Well," I dragged myself up, careful of my sore shoulder, and trudged towards the guys. "That was exciting!"

Steve glanced up at me, chuckling in disbelief as I plopped down in front of them. "That was exciting?"

"Oh, yeah!" Tony readily agreed, taking off his mask. "What's a fight withought a near-death experience to get your blood pumping?"

"That's not even a fight!" I pulled off my sweater, leaving a white tank-top underneath, and I pulled my hair into a messy ponytail with the spare hair tie from my pocket.

I leaned back against the only railing still standing. I took a minute to sit with my teammates, closing my eyes in pure relief. Four loops, and everyone was still standing. I took solace in the sound of the boys' breathing, and I let myself relax.

And then I heard it...

"Agent Coulson is down."

My eyes shot open. I sat up straight, as did Tony, catching Steve totally off guard.

"What......?" I asked weakly, stumbling to my feet.

"A medical team is on its way to your location." An agent replied to Fury's report.

Tony stood up as well, telling his AI, "Jarvis, put it on speaker."

Steve was quick to follow our footsteps, rising to his feet.

"They're here." Fury said. "They called it."

I shook my head softly, climbing down the ladder. I ignored the boy's glances, lost in my thoughts.

'No.... I'm not losing anyone. I'm not. I refuse. I never leave anyone behind, and I'm not starting now. As many times as it takes.'

I repeated the mantra in my head: the mantra that I'd memorized by heart. Then I muttered aloud, "I'm not leaving him..."

"What was that?"

I turned around, realizing that my eyes had been trained on the floor. The men were staring at me. I didn't bother to read their expressions. I didn't want to. Worry, confusion, anger, grief; it didn't matter what it was, because I didn't care. I was going back.

I glanced at the gun hanging limply in Steve's hand.

'I can't jump. Tony would catch me if Steve didn't stop me first. Then I'd be on a constant watch. The gun's the best chance I've got.'

I met his eye. "Could I have that?" I pointed at the firearm.

Their eyes were locked on mine. Neither man moved.

"Please?" I asked.

Their faces hardened in resolve. Steve looked back towards the opening, throwing the gun out of the helecarrier. Tony took some steps towards me. I didn't hesitate, casually turning to the soldier on the ground at my feet. Just as my fingers brushed against the man's weapon, I felt metal arms snake around my waist to pull me away.

"I'm sorry, Tony." I said softly.

"Jamie, what -- "

I reared my head back, slamming into Tony's nose with a resounding crack. He instantly released me, staggering back as blood dripped down his face. In the moment of freedom, I dove towards the firearm and grasped it tightly. I aimed it towards my head.

Steve was the next to intervene. He grabbed the weapon and yanked it away from me. I had pulled the trigger, my hands still on the weapon when he pulled it away, and I had fired a round or two at the ceiling.

"Steve," I met his eye. "Let go."

"I can't in right conscience do that, Jamie." He lifted an arm, and I knew he was going to try to disarm me.

I pushed the weapon, and myself, into his chest with my full weight. He staggered back, but his remaining hand still had a firm grip on the weapon. Knowing that I wasn't pulling a weapon out of America's grip, I twisted it instead. I spun the weapon while it was still in his grip, twisting his wrist and leaving the weapon facing my chest.

"Oh, no, you don't!"

I felt Tony grab me by my arms, utilizing the soreness in my shoulder by squeezing it. I winced, but I didn't let the pain get the better of me. I readjusted my grip on the weapon. I leaned into the muzzle, pushing the weapon into Steve's chest once more.

I pulled the trigger, lodging about ten bullets into my stomach. I squeezed my eyes shut at the impact, instantly letting go and falling back into Tony's arms. Tony froze, his only movement being to wrap his arms around me and lower me to the ground. I cracked my eyes open, tears falling without my permission as blood leaked from my midsection.

I met his gaze, giving him a cheeky smile. "It would have been a whole lot easier if you'd let me hit the right target." I lifted a shaky hand and tapped my forehead.

This knocked Tony out of his stupor, and he shook his head. I was vaguely aware of his suit falling off of him and his bare hands pressing firmly against my wound.

Steve grabbed my earpiece from my ear and put it in his own. "Jamie is down. I repeat: Jamie is down. We need a medical team in engine three."

"Goddamn it, Sunshine." Tony met my eye for only a second before looking back at his hands. "What the hell were you thinking? Why would you -- "

"I'm going to save him..." I whispered.

"What?"

I subtly reached for the discarded weapon, weakly smiling at the ceiling.

"I'm going to fix everything... I promise..."

With whatever strength I could muster, I dragged the gun to myself as quickly as possible. With both men currently engaged in other things, they couldn't stop me. Tony's eyes grew wide one last time as I put the muzzle under my chin.

I pulled the trigger.

Then everything went dark.