Relentless

Zara fought to catch her breath as she ducked behind an overturned car, a fresh rifle in her hands that she'd pried from the fingers of a dead soldier. She looked it up and down, pulling the magazine out and checking how much ammo she had. It was at least half full. She nodded in approval to herself as she swallowed, her breath finally coming back to her as she found the safety, flicked it off and pumped the rifle, holding it up again.

Okay, here we go...

She'd lost count of how many soldiers she'd taken out, and hoped it wouldn't go unnoticed by the Shield crew that they had another ally out in the field. If there was one thing she was now certain of, it was that Hydra WERE in fact involved. What had started out as a terrorist scare had revealed itself as some sort of attempted takeover - ill fated as it were. Zara frowned, it still seemed very below Hydra, unless they had taken over some of the gifted's and were testing their loyalty by sending them out to war? Pointless exercise really - what good were they if they were dead or captured... Surely they would have realized that Shield would have been called in due to the nature of...

Oh crap...

They'd drawn them in intentionally. Zara wasn't sure whether it would have been to get their hands on her - it all seemed a bit elaborate, but then again if they could get their hands on Rogers or Barnes, maybe it would be worth it? Maybe they could take out a few key players while they were at it? She set her jaw and let out a breath as she readied herself for whatever was to come. She peered around the car she'd been crouched behind and surveyed the scene. It seemed that Stark and Coulson were out there trying to talk the fire-shooting guy down. She hadn't seen Coulson on the field before, but there he was, armed to the eyeballs, vest on, and talking the talk like an expert negotiator. She looked down at her lack of a vest and let out a nervous breath as she pushed her bangs back off her face.
"Don't get killed..." She murmured to herself. "Bucky would kill you."

Speak of the devil, Bucky was nowhere to be seen. Rachael said something about him being over near the bridge, so she decided that's where she'd head next. The perimeter had been clear of Shield agents, and the explosions and gunshots were getting less and less. She guessed things were starting to wind down. Knowing Coulson, he'd bring in any inhumans he could, and try to give them a second chance. They were people after all... Well, sort of.

The ting of bullets hitting the car she'd come to rest behind snapped her back into reality, and she found herself returning fire aggressively, another two soldiers dropping. She got up and ran again, systematically checking over her shoulders for enemies and keeping low. If the inhumans had been taken over, and the Avengers were in control again, then the only thing left in this war for them to take over was her. Zara knew she had to get to the bridge, if she was with Bucky, he'd fight with her. She'd be safe with him. She kept shooting as she ran, ducking behind a pile of rubble to slam another magazine she'd picked up into the rifle, pumping it again and glancing over her shoulder. Why the hell were there suddenly so many god-damned soldiers in this exact area. She heard the blood curdling scream of a woman in the distance and something about it made her stomach turn over. She hoped it was an enemy, surely Stark or Rogers would have heard it, they were over in that direction. She stopped and listened again. Silence. She said a silent prayer that it was nobody from her team and pressed on.

There was another spray of bullets, Zara dropped to the ground and shielded herself, firing back when she could. She looked up in time to see one of the soldiers aim at her and with a bang and a spray of blood, he dropped. Zara cocked a brow as she looked around to see who'd shot him. She raised her gun, the coast was clear again. A tall dark figure stepped out of the swirling dust, she let out a breath of relief, it was good to see a friendly face again.
"Ward..." She breathed. He jogged over and crouched beside her, lifting her chin with his hand as if inspecting her.
"You're okay," He said, relief in his voice. "What are you doing here?"
"You guys look like you needed a hand" She said with a half hearted grin. He let out a single sarcastic 'ha' before turning to look over his shoulder as more gunfire erupted behind him. He glanced at his watch and peered around the upturned car, checking out the scene before turning back to Zara.
"Have you heard from Bucky or the others? Are they okay?" She asked, worry in her eyes. He gave a nod and assured her that they were all fine.
"We gotta go" He said to her, gesturing for her to keep low and stay behind him. She nodded in agreement, following him as he led her away from the chaos.



He put his arm out to stop her, shielding her from the line of fire and for the first time in days she actually felt somewhat safe. The nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach persisted, and most likely would until she was reunited with Bucky. Right now true to his word, Ward had kept her out of harm's way and they were headed towards the bridge. She could see its iconic arches diagonally across from where they were.
"What's the plan?" She asked when they paused to take a breath.
"We get to the other side of that bridge, there's a car waiting for us" He said, glancing back over his shoulder.
"What about the others? I can't leave without knowing they're safe..." Zara argued, gesturing over to the gunfight near the memorial that was still raging on. "We have to help them"
"No, I was sent to find you, and get you out of danger. You're coming with me" He said, an exasperated expression on his face.
"No I'm not, I'm not leaving till this is over and I've found Barnes."
"Who do you think sent me to come get you?" He said, pursing his lips as the penny dropped. She bit her lip and exhaled, it was such Bucky thing to do to have her collected and removed from the danger. She grit her teeth in annoyance and begrudgingly followed him.

"So why wouldn't Bucky come and get me himself?" She asked, the question plaguing her enough to need to ask it aloud. Ward kept going for a few steps before saying something about Bucky and Steve being caught up with the inhumans.
"But last I heard he was at the mouth of the bridge, and Steve was over at the other end of the memorial backing Stark and Coulson up."

Ward stopped short, and looked over his shoulder at her as if trying to work out whether she was being truthful or not. She looked exhausted and genuinely confused, there was no reason for her to lie. Like him, all she wanted was to go home and all this to be over for good.
"Sit tight for a second..." He said as he pulled out a phone and crouched, gesturing for her to do the same. Zara lowered herself and winced as her knees complained. Three days of running, climbing, jumping, fighting and a car accident would do that... She peered over at Ward, watching his face go from the usual stern look he wore, to a more frustrated expression as his phone rang out. He redialled and waited again, Zara glancing over her shoulder periodically as the gunfire got closer and then seemed to back off again.
"Yeah, where's Barnes?" He asked into the phone as somebody picked up on the other end. Ward nodded as the muffled voice gave him an explanation, and obviously the answers he was hoping for.
"I have Jones with me, we're on our way" He said, glancing over at her for a second before he hung the phone up.

"So what's the story?" Zara asked.
"Barnes was there, he's gone over to help the others. We gotta hurry" He said urgently, pulling her to her feet by her arm. They jogged through the scrub, stopping short when their destination loomed up ahead of them. Ward patted his hip, turning around to Zara with urgency.
"Shit!" He cursed, thrusting his hand at her. "Give me your gun, now!"

Zara pulled it from the back of her jeans and handed it to him without question, crouching low again as instructed. The fear knotted in her gut again and her heart began to race. Ward's eyes scanned the scene, holding the pistol up to protect them both. He turned to face her, wordlessly pulling her to her feet by her arm again.
"Stay close" He said, smiling an unsettling smile.

She swallowed hard and nodded, doing as she was told. That feeling in the pit of her gut wouldn't leave her alone. 'Trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, it usually isn't' Bucky's words echoed in her mind.
"Where's your gun, Ward?" Zara asked, slowing to a stop under the statues at the mouth of the bridge.
"I must have lost it in the heat of the moment." He said, gesturing towards the still swirling dust and smoke over by them memorial.
"Since when does Grant Ward loose his only weapon?" She asked, watching the corner of his mouth curve into a half smile.
"What are you trying to say, Zara?" He asked, turning to face her with a cool confidence.
"Did you need my gun, or were you trying to disarm me?"

Ward bit his lip and chuckled, lifting his hands to point the pistol at her face as if answering her question. She shook her head at him, letting out a melancholy chuckle. She should have trusted her gut.
"Keep moving, sweetheart, we have a ride to catch." He said, shoving her in front of him, and giving her a nudge in the back with the barrel of the pistol.
"You must think you're so clever..." She said, her eyes already scanning for an exit point, the handle of the other pistol she had pressing into the front of her hip as a reminder of its presence. She suppressed a grin as her mind worked in overtime.
"So how long's it been, Ward? Weeks? Months? Years? Or maybe just today?" Zara asked, whirling around to face him, walking backwards now. Ward grinned, his gun still pointed at her. She'd slowed down and was clearly stalling him.
"Longer than Shield would appreciate, I'm sure..." He said, sounding very pleased with himself. They'd come to a stop somewhere around the middle of the bridge, right in clear view of anyone who cared to look.
"I can see what you're doing, Jones" he smirked as he gestured with the barrel of his gun that she should get moving. She put her hands on her hips, looking up at the sky.
"Lovely day for it..." She mused, the sound of a pistol hammer being pulled back catching her attention. She looked over at Ward who was now on high alert and had his 'I mean business' face on. Zara smiled at him.
"Aww, I'm sorry. Did you think I'd come quietly?" She asked, smiling and cocking a brow as she pulled the pistol from the front of her pants and held it up at him. Ward's amused smirk came back as tried unsuccessfully to suppress a chuckle.

"Oh Zara..." He sighed, shaking his head. "Zara, Zara Zara... I thought this may happen..." He said raising a hand in mock-retreat as he took a step backwards. Her eyes were locked onto him as she followed his every movement with the barrel of her gun. She thumbed the safety off so he knew she meant business.


Ward let out an exasperated breath and put a thumb and finger into his mouth, letting out a loud whistle. She shifted on her feet nervously as he nodded over towards the car that was waiting. It was only about a hundred and fifty meters away from them, close enough to see a soldier climb out, pulling a pretty red-head out after him. Her wrists were bound and mouth taped shut. She looked over at Zara wide-eyed, a pleading, desperate expression on her face. She had been crying, her face wet with blood and tears.

"JESS!!!" Zara called out, frantic now. She went to run over to her, Ward stopping her by catching her around the arm. Zara swung at him, hitting him in the face with her pistol, cutting him above the eye. He shoved her away from him, hard, making her loose her balance. He pointed his gun at her aggressively as she advanced on him again, stopping her in her tracks.

"One more step and she DIES!" He snarled at her, a clear warning tone in his voice, making Zara stop in her tracks.
"What's the deal, Ward?" She asked, feeling somewhat defeated. There was no way she was going to let Jess get hurt, especially not on her account.
"The usual deal. You for her."
"Done" Zara said, eyes frantically darting back and forth. "Now let her go."

Ward chuckled and shook his head. No, this wasn't going to be a simple transaction. Things like this were never cut and dry, especially when he was considering shooting Jess anyway, just because Zara had been so difficult to capture.

"Hand me your gun. Safety on, handle first" He said, putting his hand out.

Zara chewed the inside of her cheek as her eyes darted around. Not one sign of help, not one jet or guy in a flying red and gold suit. Not that she would have been picky if anyone was to come and help them...

Fucking hell...

"No. I don't trust you. You've already proven you can't be trusted. so here's what's gonna happen-"
"Do I need to remind you who's in control of this situation, Miss Jones?" Ward cut her off, as if to put her back in her place. Zara laughed out loud, making him uncomfortable, and if there was one thing Grant Ward hated, that was it.
"It sure as shit isn't you, buddy" She chuckled. "You guys need me, dead or alive, but alive is better, I know that much for sure. I'm not only armed, but I have some pretty powerful friends, all of which either already know I'm here, or will know soon. You're not the only person I've run into today, and I know how to back myself up." She said, cocking her head. Ward clenched his jaw and exhaled, nodding for her to go on.
"I'm the only one who knows you've gone to the 'dark side', correct?" She asked.
"Correct"
"Okay. So you're gonna call Sam Wilson. He's going to fly on down here and collect Jess. We all stay cool, I hand you my gun, and we leave in that car."
"That's ridiculous" Ward chuckled. "He'll bring re-enforcement's."
"No he won't. Look up." She said, pointing. Sure enough, as if right on cue, there he was right where they could see him, hovering overhead near the memorial.
"Get him to meet you on the bridge urgently for an emergency extraction. Tell him the soldiers captured Jess, gagged her and they're going to take her. You and I are out-numbered, I'm injured and you can't protect me AND save her. No time for backup, you need him NOW. He loves the hero thing."
Ward shot her an uncertain look.
"Do I look like I'm in any condition to be fighting anyone off?" She asked, gesturing to the cut in her hairline from the car accident which had opened back up again. There was enough blood trickling down the side of her face to sell the injury as a bad one. Ward nodded, considering the feasibility of her idea as she spoke.
"Surely if it all goes pear-shaped, you can handle me on your own?" She asked, a condescending tone in her voice.
"Of course I can handle you. Make no mistake about that. Just know if you double cross me, I'll make sure your death is a slow, painful one."

What, like how YOU double crossed ME? Heh, no, shut your mouth Zara.

She had a million things she'd like to say to Ward, to wipe that smug look right off his face, make him pay for betraying all of Shield, for hurting Jess and for everything that was about to unfold right here on the bridge.

"Noted..." Is all she said, gritting her teeth and letting out a breath to calm herself. She looked back up to him, dropping her hands to her side submissively. She wasn't going to give her gun up until Jess was safe, not that she was 100% sure if she could out-shoot him if it came down to it.

Ward glared at her, sending a shiver up her spine which she did well to hide. He pulled out his phone, found the number and dialled it, putting the phone to his ear.
"Keep your mouth shut, or Jess won't be the only friend of yours we put an end to..." He warned with a sick smile still on his face. "It's a real shame... I've always been quite fond of you."

Zara pressed her lips shut, as her stomach turned over. She looked up in time to see Sam turn to face them in mid air on receiving the call. He shot into action heading towards them as fast as he could. Zara swallowed hard, she sure hoped he had his wits about him.

Here we go...