Unexpected guests

[notapilot]

It had been a good run, though Sam was disappointed not to have run into Steve. He was probably out saving the world or something. Still breathing heavily, Sam opened the fridge, grabbed his jug of OJ, and was just about to drink when the doorbell rang.

Sighing, Sam put the OJ back, closed the fridge, and answered to door to find Steve and that cute redhead who had picked him up the other after their run.

"We have no where else to go," Steve says tersely before Sam even has time to wonder how they knew where he lived.

"Everyone we know is trying to kill us." The redhead said.

When put like that, Sam didn't even have to think about it. "Not everyone..." He said, stepping aside to let them in. Once they passed him, he checked both ends of his street and then the skies above for bogies. All clear.

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[notapilot]

Sam took as much time to make breakfast (Denver omelets, sausage, and toast, as well as OJ and fruit salad) as he could to give Steve and Natasha time to get cleaned up and sorted out.

He watched calmly as they ate, waiting for them to tell him what the hell was going on. Who the hell would be hunting Captain America? But at the same time, he didn't push. They would tell him what they could when they we ready.

"So the question is, who at S.H.I.E.L.D. could launch a domestic missile strike?" Natasha asks, finally. Leaning against the wall, she seems perfectly calm despite the fact she's hasn't been able to sit.

"Pierce," Steve answered from his seat at the table. Sam kept buttering toast, listening in and gathering intel.

"Who happens to be sitting on top of the most secure building in the world." Natasha replies, shifting position again.

"He's not working alone. Zola's algorithm was on board the Lumarian Star."

"So was Jasper Sitwell."

Steve nodded in thought, nearly scowling. "So the real question is, how do two of the most wanted people in Washington kidnap a S.H.I.E.L.D. officer in broad daylight?"

Hearing enough, Sam drops the toast and butterknife onto the counter and walks to his desk to grab a folder. "The answer is, you don't" He says, stepping up to the table and dropping the folder in front of Steve.

"What's this?"

"Call it a resume," Sam answers while Natasha walks over and picks up the photo clipped to the top of the folder.

"Is this Bakhmala? The Khalid Khandil mission? That was you? You didn't say he was a Pararescue." She asks after studying the picture. She almost sounds impressed, but that couldn't be right?

"Is this Riley?" Steve asks, taking his own look at the picture. Sam nods.

"I heard they couldn't bring in choppers cause of the RPGs. What did you use? A Stealth chute?" Natasha asks.

"No. These," Sam answers, reaching forward to open the folder.

"I thought you said you were a pilot." Steve says once he sees what's inside.

"I never said pilot," Sam replies with a laugh.

Steve nods an acceptance but then shakes his head. "I can't ask you to do this, Sam. You got out for a good reason."

"Dude, Captain America needs my help. There's no better reason to get back in."

Steve nods again, relieved. As right as it would be for Sam to keep out this mess, it felt good to have another ally. "Where can we get our hands on one of these things?"

"The last one is at Fort Meade. Behind three guarded gates and a twelve inch steel wall."

Steve turns to Natasha, who shrugs. "Shouldn't be a problem," he says.