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꧁꧂
THE BLAST HAD knocked Charlie a floor down.
She pants as she tried to stand back up. Glass was all over the ground underneath her, some pieces stuck inside her.
Everything was blurry. A high pitched noise ringing in her ears.
It cleared only seconds later, her speeded healing helping out greatly.
"Put on the suit." Steve commanded Charlie heard through the intercoms everyone now had.
"Yeah."
Charlie looked around her, finding herself in a dark hallway. She had to find Steve. People were shouting through the comms continuously, giving Charlie a bigger headache.
"Hill!" Fury calls.
"External detonation," she informs. "Number three engine is down. Can they get it running? Talk to me... Somebody's got to get outside and patch that engine."
"Stark, you copy that?"
"I'm on it," Tony responds.
"Coulson, initiate defensive lockdown in the detention section, then get to the armory. Romanoff?" Fury orders.
"We're okay," she replies weakly.
"Charlie-girl? Does anyone have eyes on Charlie?"
"Who?" Tony asks from beside him. They were both running to go get Tony's suit and repair Engine 3.
"S-Sam. Abbot. Charlie." Steve stutters, accidentally giving away her identity. Thankfully, not the one she could get in trouble for.
Charlie herself, listened to the conversation before replying. "Yeah, I'm here. I'll meet you two at Engine three."
She looks at the signs on the wall, guiding herself to where she needs to be.
Charlie enters the damaged engine area, the wind whistling in her eyes, her hair blowing uncontrollably.
"Guys, I'm here! I'm at engine three!"
She looks down a level, spotting the familiar red, white and blue suit. Jumping down effortlessly, she joins him.
Steve pulls her into a hug immediately. "You okay?" He brushes pieces of glass from her knotted hair.
"Yes, yeah, I'm fine. Focus on the task." She repeated the same sentence she had to tell the Winter Soldier time and time again.
"Stark! Stark, we're here!" Steve shouts in the sky, waiting for an answer.
"Good," Iron Man flies into view. "Let's see what we've got. I got to get this superconducting coolant system back online before I can access the rotors, work on disclosing the debris." Tony mutters to himself.
"Steve, we need to get that engine control panel and tell Stark which relays are in overload position." Charlie explains before Tony can.
"Yes! Thanks, Abbot."
Charlie nods, throwing herself up to where she needs to be, Steve following close behind.
Steve opens the door, pulling out the panel.
"What does it look like in there?" Stark questions.
"It seems to run on some form of electricity," Steve replies sarcastically.
"Well, you're not wrong." Charlie mutters.
Charlie gets to work, intacting the relays. "Okay, the relays are intact."
"What's our next move?" Steve questions Stark.
"Even if I clear the rotors, this thing won't re-engage without a jump. I'm going to have to get in there and push."
"If that thing gets up to speed, you'll get shredded." Steve points out.
"That stator control unit can reverse the polarity long enough to disengage maglev and that coul-"
"Speak English!" Steve shouts, needing to know what to do without all of the science.
"You see that red lever? It will slow down the rotors down long enough for me to get out. Stand by it. Wait for my word."
"Steve, make sure you pull it on time. Tony will become chopped onions if you don't."
"Thanks, Abbot." Tony sarcastically replies. "Really reassuring."
It take a few minutes before they have company. Two mind-controlled agents come through the door, one throwing a bomb.
Steve jumps in the air, smacking the grenade down into midair.
Steve fights the two agents, while Charlie waits by the lever. Steve throws a dropped machine gun at Charlie for her to use.
Steve takes on two agents. Charlie has her gun pointed at the doorway, shooting anyone that comes through.
"Engine one is shutting down!" Someone over the PA announces.
"Let's go, Stark!" Charlie shouts.
"Stark, we're loosing altitude." Fury speaks to him.
"Yeah, noticed."
The tilt of the Helicarrier made Steve slide, falling off of it. He only was held by a rope.
"Rogers!" Charlie abandons her post by the lever, leaving themselves unguarded.
Flashbacks of herself in that position on a train traumatizes her mind. She shakes out of it. Steve's in trouble.
"Grab my hand!" Charlie reaches out, missing him by a few inches.
"Guys. Hit the lever." Tony calls, strain in his voice.
"We need a minute here!" She shouts, reaching further for Steve.
"Lever, now!"
"Char, go. I got this." She obeys him, running to pull the lever.
Gun shots are fired at her as she moves to the lever. Rolling her eyes, Charlie picks up the gun and shoots the man dead easily.
"Help!" Tony shouts. Charlie nods, pushing the lever down to free Stark from the deadly turbine.
"Thanks!" Tony says as he flies past the two, ramming straight into an agent that was about to shoot at them.
"Yeah, you too!" Charlie huffs as the adrenaline fades her body.
