Project X

Part 16

Peter stood there paralyzed. Steve's face stayed blank, he ran over and grabbed his shield.

 "You know the walls are made for nothing to break their exterior." Peter told Steve. He ignored him. Using the shield he rammed into the metal blocking the door. 

 Steve persisted even though the shield wasn't even making a dent. "Steve, stop only making yourself tired," Peter yelled. Steve aggressively hurled the shield toward him. Peter blocked it by shooting a web and slinging the shield to the side.

 Steve slammed his hands against the door, he slid down until he was a crumpled mess on the floor then Peter knew he was crying. The metals doors had to be closed for a minimum of one hour. When shut down occurred it sent a warning to all avengers and agents. 

Peter felt nothing, just a hollow center inside his heart. Nick walked in. "Tony and Natasha are on their way," he said. Steve stood back up and quietly walked past ignoring Nick. Peter couldn't move. His feelings along with his heart were shot.

Tony and Natasha waited outside until the lockdown was over. Once the doors opened they hurried inside. They found about fifteen agents sitting on the floor holding ice packs to their head or legs. Tony and Natasha were stunned.

 They shuffled through the people to go see Nick. He was in the control room with Peter. Peter sat in the corner frozen not even blinking. Single tears were slowly rolling down his cheek. Natasha looked at Peter than Nick. 

"What happened?" she demanded. "We knew it was off that she came back like she did. We should have ran the test, but it's too late now," Nicks said, rubbing his bald head. "What happened to Sarah ,Nick?" Tony was getting unnerved. 

He moved over to Peter and placed a hand on his shoulder. He didn't even respond to the touch just stared straight ahead as if in a trance. "She was brainwashed into believing the avengers are evil. How I don't know all we know is her strength is off the charts along with fast as reflexis as Peter. Also when her mind switched of sorts her eyes turned to a fiery yellow color." Nick said, turning around to look through a glass computer.

 "That has to be why her heart stopped," Natasha said sadly "Ok Pete," Tony said to him gently, "do you know anything else." Peter kept staring. 

"Please Peter, we can help more if you tell me everything. Do it for Sarah," He pleaded to Peter. He slowly looked up at Mr. Stark. "She -she had all the-these headaches. That grew longer and more frequent," Peter slowly stuttered. He told them about the sleepover and how she attacked him at her house. 

"And it's my fault because I promised her I wouldn't tell anyone," he finished, and with that last line more tears silently fell down his cheek. Tony looked at his sympathetically ,"It is not your fault this would have happened anyway. Thank you for telling us." 

Peter's face turned back the blank expression as before. "Wait!" Natasha looked to Nick anxiously, "Where is Steve? As if on cue Steve silently walked behind them heading for the entrance. She ran up to hug him,"I'm so sorry." He pushed her away. 

"Not right now," Steve snapped. She obeyed him and stood back letting him walk out of the room. No one said anything but the feeling of loss and regret floated throughout the room. "It's getting late I'll drive you home Pete," Tony said reaching his hand out for him to grab on to. 

Peter didn't move. "Come on Peter. You have to take care of yourself. Sarah wouldn't want you to neglect yourself," Tony begged. "May isnt home," Nick said, informing Tony, "He would be alone." Tony nodded and said., "OK Peter lets go and you can stay at my house for as long as you need." Peter softly nodded and slowly tried to stand up. 

Tony realizing he couldn't, let Peter lean against him. When Tony and Peter left Natasha and Nick went to help some of the agents who got hurt. "What is going to happen?" Natasha asked.She helped a middle aged woman stand up. "She's probably out their freezing in the snow," Natasha added. "Nick sighed and said, "I don't think she is alone. If PLEA brainwashed her then I'm sure they have her right now." Natasha wiped her hands in a wrag.

 "Do you think they have been watching her this whole time?" She asked. "Most definitely," He answered. Natasha slammed her hands on the metal table infront of her. "Why would they want her specifically," she said infuriated. Nick began to walk out but stopped in the doorway. "I guess we will learn. I think sooner than later." He said, leaving the room.

Ms. Carter and Felix were racing around the area they tracked Sarah. "She is going to be dead in this cold. Then our plan would be worthless." Carter said over the wind blowing snow into her face. 

The snow this year was one of the worst storms since the 1900's. "I can't let that happen." Felix said back and wiped the snow out of his ginger hair. 

"Felix Stop!" Ms. Carter yelled and held out her arm to block him from moving forward. "Do you see that? She asked, pointing at something in the snow. Carter and Felix ran over to investigate what she spotted. 

They rolled over a young girl. "It's her," Ms. Carter said softly. "Yes I see that,," Felix snapped sarcastically. Carter gave him a cold glare. 

Sarah's skin was a ghostly white and her lips were an unnatural blue. Felix lifted her eyelids to check the corneas color. He smirked and said, "Project X is completely ours." Ms. Carter smiled and checked her pulse. "She won't be anyone's if we don't get her to warmth," she said. 

Felix cradled her against him to provide warmth and stood up. "Heart rate is slow but stable," Carter informed. They reached a black van with the inside like an ambulance. 

They laid Sarah down on the bed and nurses started to run around her connecting tubes and covering her with a thermal blanket. "It's started," Felix smirked.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Steve sat at the park bench at Sarah's favorite lake. He was numb by grief and pain. "How could he have let this happen?" he thought to himself, "I should have known she wasn't herself. I should have checked her after she came back!" 

Steve was growing more furious by the second. Bucky walked and sat down beside Steve. "Tony told me what happened," he said through water rimmed eyes. 

Steve didn't answer or react in any way. They sat in silence, the air thick with heartache. "Steve," Bucky started, "When your mother died. I knew you knew I was there for you. When Sarah was born I promised not to tell anybody even though I stayed with the avengers." 

Bucky put his hands to his eyes to wipe away the water. "She grew up and I loved her like she was mine. I just want you to know that I'm here. I'm here for Sarah, I'm with you till the end of line." Bucky stood up and walked away. Tears rolled down Steve's cheek.