[b]IC: Captain America[/b]

The air around the Crossbones facility hung still and hot over Captain America like a forboding blanket. They had been scounting the location outside Boston for days now, and no one had gone in or out. Steph was sure the Skull's men had abandoned it after the attack. They would have been foolish not to. All the clues they had led back to this place, and to stay would have been playing into SHIELD's hands. But there was an uneasiness about the place that Steph couldn't shake. It was like the chill that ran down your spine when you walked through a graveyard at night during a full moon. There may not be anything there, but you sure feel like there is. Still, there was no point in waiting any longer. They needed to find out if there was anything in there.

"Is strike team ready to move?" she called out to the rest of the team.

"In position," Hill responded from the other side of the building.

"Circling now, Cap," Falcon checked in from the skies above.

"Ready and waiting," Mockingbird said beside her.

"Move in," Steph commanded as she sprang into a sprint, not worrying about whether Bobbi was keeping up. Stephanie wanted answers, and if they weren't in this building, she wanted to move onto the next place they could be. There was nothing else but the chase now. In her peripheral vision, she saw Falcon drop from the sky onto the roof of the installation moments before she made it to the door. She scanned the entrance for traps and explosives, and finding none, entered the base.

If it was possible to get more quite than the outside, the inside of Crossbones succeeded. The door creeked behind her as Mockingbird entered, "Well this is freaking spooky as hell isn't it?"

"I think that's an apt descriptopm," Steph said in a whisper, almost as if not to disturb the place. "Sam, Maria, you in?"

"Entered and getting nothing on my motion or heat detectors," Sam said from the top floor.

"Same," Hill agreed.

"Let's get to the bunker," Cap motioned for Mockingbird to lead the way.

The secure area below the main base had been sealed, so Mockingbird got to work with the charges that would open it while Steph stewed in her own uselessness. Sam and Maria were checking the offices above for anything that might help, but Cap knew there wasn't going to be anything. Skull was too smart for that. Hell, the bunker was probably a trap. But she didn't care. She needed something. She needed anything. Even the bastard trying to kill her would give her something to feed off of for another leg of the pursuit.

Bobbi motioned for them to take cover. Once they did, the ground and walls shook from the force of the explosion that jarred the door loose, allowing them access to the secure wing. Unfortunately, it also released the putrid smell of rotting flesh. Along the hall leading to the one main room were bodies, killed execution style by a bullet through the back of the head. The loyal SHIELD agents who had no idea everyone around them were traitors and murderers. This was their reward for doing their job. Steph would have figured this site would make her blood boil, but her anger was so high that it barely registered. This was the kind of man the Skull was. The only way to change that was to stop him.

Once the two came to the center of the bunker, they found another door, this one with a sophisticated panel on it. Bobbi examined it and turned back to Cap, "It's DNA coded. Dunno how I'm gonna get this one open."

Captain America took one of her gloves off, pressing her hand to the panel, which flashed green and unlocked the door.

"How'd you know it was for you?" Mockingbird asked in disbelief.

"A hunch," was Steph's simple answer. She entered the center core of the bunker carefully, with her teammate behind her, coming to a stop when she saw the only thing in the room was a projector and a screen. She flipped it on, and the face of the Red Skull appeared yet again. She cursed under her breath. This was the second time this week the maniac was speaking to her through a screen. His cheshire grin was mocking her no matter where she turned. It was another example of how far ahead he really was.

"Captain," his southern draw started, "I am sure you have found this recording and that I have infiltrated your precious SHIELD. Did you enjoy the presents I left for you in the hall? As you see, the pool of blood collecting at your feet grows by the day. Because this is all for you, my dear. I know so much about you. You think I don't but I do. I know who you are, and where you came from. I know what frightens you. And I am enjoying this chase. You may hope that it is coming to an end, but I'm afraid that isn't the case. We have just begun, Captain America. My next surprise is really going to grab your attention. I'll be seeing you soon, sugar."

Steph attempted to calm herself. The Skull was trying to get to her. She couldn't allow that. Turning to Bobbi, she said calmly, "I want that film analyzed. Anything we can get from it, get to me. I want wheels up in the next four hours. I don't want to stay anywhere for long."