CHAPTER 51

[Breaking News!]

[Vice Director of CIA, Claudius Alexander, a Criminal!!]

[Andrew Craig, Innocent!]

[Conspiracy leads to the death of an Innocent Family!]

[Tony Start Rescued!]

[Shooting Order for Claudius Alexander and Damon.]

[50,000 Dollars for any information regarding the whereabouts of Claudius Alexander and Damon.]

[Tony Stark hospitalized!]

[Justice for Andrew, Emma, and Isabelle.]

[Andrew, a true Patriot!]

[Man Hunt Issued for Claudius Alexander and Damon.]

[Tony Stark heavily injured!!]

One after another, breaking news spread worldwide, focusing more on the USA.

People were shell-shocked to see all this news early in the morning. They were afraid. They were scared of people in higher positions. They could not believe the crimes of the Vice Director of the CIA. It was not only him but all the others involved along with him.

The list named nearly 79 official government positions and many others involved in these crimes.

Protest to sentence them all began throughout the whole country. Everyone joined in these protests, and the entire country was in chaos. Cops could not handle the people and could only resort to blockades as it was people's right to voice their opinion. More than ever, people began seeing them in the worse possible way as the list contained Police Captains, Detectives, and more.

In Times Square, New York. Not a single piece of the cement floor could be seen as people rallying and their voices vibrating the whole area.

In San Jose, California. Plaza De Cesar Chavez Park. The same scene in Times Square could be seen here as well.

Like this, in many states in the USA, people could be seen protesting and rallying.

The government could not handle the pressure they were on. Many officials were involved in this, and some were in positions they could not expect.

"He has done it," Barton said as all the screens in the room showed protests, a news reporter talking, and a debate in some channels being presented.

Maria, Natasha, and Phil were also looking at the screens.

"Chaos… The Best word to describe this," Phil said, watching the protests and campaigns on the screens.

The door to their room opened, and Fury entered.

"I believe you all saw the contents that Andrew released…" To which they all acknowledged.

"One Conclusion from the contents he released is that Claudius was also in Hydra…" Fury continued.

"I need you all to find out who and all did Claudius Meet. We have five on the list that could potentially be Hydra's Head. Find if Claudius has met with any one of them."

"We are already on it," Maria said.

"We did a background check of multiple Agents and had close to 142 Agents who are Hydra. All 142 Agents have one thing in common: they appeared out of nowhere. We looked through their history, the schools and universities they joined, and nothing matched. Twenty-seven of them are now out of this world. We are continuing to check the other agents as well. We have created small teams of 4, who have a valid background and taken in a few of the Trainee Agents and have incorporated them into these tasks of background checks."

Fury nodded to Maria's Report.

"Continue doing it, and Natasha…"

"The meeting with Andrew, cancel it for now… He has already given us ample data and, only if required, schedule a meeting with him. I also don't know what he is going to do from now on. His skills will be useful and more importantly, helpful in our situation. I also know he is not going to help us voluntarily. But for now, let him be. I will figure out a way…"

"All right," Natasha replied. She did not plan to include Andrew in this mess in the first place. It was due to Andrew that they were first able to find out that there was another party in the Shadows. It was due to this that they began actively searching for them. And now, with what Andrew released, Fury should at least have the mentality to acknowledge him and let him on his own devices, but he doesn't want to. And the worse thing is, he thinks Andrew will listen to him and help him. She is clear about Andrew. He will not help Fury in any way. He will only help Barton and her because of what they have done for him. It will mostly be Barton because he put a roof on top of him and gave him space and, most importantly, a family that could divert Andrew from the worse possible thoughts he could have. And Fury being Fury, he will exploit this in all imaginable ways he can think of.

Barton was also having similar thoughts to Natasha. Fury thinks he owns Andrew even after repeated rejection and threats. Only if threatened truly, will Fury realize he stepped into something he shouldn't have.

"We are going to have a hectic schedule. The World Council wants to continue Project Insight, and now they have added a Task to minimize the damage happening around the US. Don't bother about the latter. Now, if you want to rest and meet someone, you can only do that after we have weeded out and destroyed every basta*ds who has attached as a leech and think they can do anything they want. Andrew helped us by getting some people of Hydra out in the open with Claudius, and there are more weeds that we need to squash to nothing. Do not worry about those out there now; focus only on SHIELD. Once we have cleared our end, we can begin the next. Continue what you are doing, and I will handle the backfire…"

Fury left the room and went to his own devices.

The rest inside the room began their work.

Meanwhile, in Barton's Home.

The kids could be seen playing and bickering. Laura was in the kitchen, making breakfast. She was still waiting patiently for Andrew's arrival. Andrew had yet to arrive, and she knew he would need some alone time.

The sun from one of the windows was blocked, and she turned to see what it was. She saw the jet landing on the ground, and a smile grew on her face knowing Andrew had returned.

"Kids… Uncle Andrew has retuned…"

The kids in the living room who were playing all stopped, and Scarlet rushed to the door and opened it.

She ran and saw Andrew coming out of the jet. Andrew had put back his outfit, weapons, and other stuff in his inventory.

He was now wearing a blue T-shirt and black pants. Andrew saw Scarlet rushing to him with a smile. There was still the smell of the Abandoned Factory he was in. There were no traces of blood anywhere in his body or his current outfit.

He kneeled and opened his arms as the little girl jumped and embraced him.

"Well… look who is up early," Andrew smiled and kissed the girl's head.

He carried her and went toward the house.

He saw Laura and her kids waiting for him. Unknowingly, Andrew smiled as he saw them.

Laura came down and hugged him.

"How are you?" she asked, concerned.

"Better…" Andrew replied. He looked at the kids and waved.

"I have to wash up don't want the kids to smell the stink. Just glad they have not yet…"

Laura chuckled and broke the hug. She could feel Andrew was different from yesterday. She knew what he had done and thought he would question what he would do next. She even thought he was going to end his life. But now, seeing him, she realized her thoughts were ridiculous. Andrew is becoming free. He has accepted that his wife and daughter won't be with him anymore. He has begun forgiving himself for what happened but knows it will not be easy. But she is glad to see him healing.

Scarlet could be the only one who can make him smile genuinely. Even if it's only been recent since she came into his life, she was able to put a smile on Andrew's face every time.

"The breakfast will be ready… come soon," she said as she carried Scarlet from Andrew.

"You are becoming heavy, girl…" Andrew chuckled as he saw Laura struggling to hold Scarlet in her arms.

Andrew went to the waterfall that he had found the first day when he came here.

He removed his t-shirt and pants. He jumped into the water and washed himself up.

He was floating as he saw the bright blue sky with a tinge of yellow in them.

"When should I start?"

Andrew closed his eyes.

"Where should I go?"

A/N: 1450 Words.

[Vader wants Powerstones and Reviews. Vader will share a clue. Andrew will not be in Iron Man 1 but....]