This is an Alternate Universe, you hear that an ALTERNATE UNIVERSE! That means that this takes places in a world where Carter doesn't know Donovan or Link or ever meet them. Enjoy!

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"Sarge."

Carter didn't look, didn't turn around, didn't acknowledge her father. Instead, she kept shoving clothes into her duffle bag with unnecessary force.

"Don't be mad, Sarge," her father said.

"Mad? Why on earth would I be mad?" Carter said, throwing a pair of tennis shoes into the bag. "It's not like you're making me go with you to Camp David, for an entire month. An entire month where I will have to be around Mason Douglas."

Gripping the duffle bag's zipper, Carter yanked it closed so hard she almost broke it.

"Did you really want to go a month without seeing me?" her father asked.

Carter let out a frustrated breathe and turned around, plopping onto the edge of her bed.

"No. But it's not really every fifteen-year-old girl's dream to have to spend a whole month at a Presidential compound with the most annoying First Son in the world."

"Yes, but it's a big compound with a theater, swimming pool, full gym, bowling alley, and gun range. You don't have to see Mason if you don't want to."

"Good because otherwise, I'm not sure either of us would survive this month."

Chuckling, her father planted a kiss on the top of her head.

"Let's head out."

Carter kept silent on the drive to the airport. Despite not wanting to miss seeing her father, she dreaded having to be around Mason. At their best, they ignored each other. At their worst, they left verbal scars on each other.

As Carter climbed out of the car at the hanger, she had to pause. Air Force One was bigger than she'd imagine and chaotic with people preparing for departure. Carter followed her father as he went through a security check.

"Are you carrying anything lethal?" the military man questioned Carter.

"Only what I have on me?" she said.

The man eyed her and she wiggled all ten fingers. He chuckled and looked to her father.

"I see you're training her right, Steve."

Carter grinned as she grabbed her bag and hooked it over her shoulder. Onboard, she barely had a chance to take in the magnitude of the plane before someone was bumping into her and someone else was asking her to step aside.

"Find a place to sit," her father said. "And stay there, it will make it less overwhelming."

Carter nodded but before she walked off, her father held out a folder to her.

"Read it, memorize it and give it back, this information doesn't leave the plane."

Carter saluted him with the folder and twisted her way through to the back of the plane. When she found a semi-empty area, she stowed her bag away and dropped into one of the leather seats. Voices calling out to each other bounced off the walls and footsteps made the floor thrum. Blocking it all out, Carter opened the folder, studying the map of Camp David and everything she would need to know for the month.

"Owens, what are you doing here?"

Carter inwardly sighed, hating that voice.

"Did you hear me, Owens?" Mason asked.

"Yes," Carter said, still staring at the folder. "But I'm trying to pretend you don't exist."

Mason fell into a seat across from her. "A little hard to do when you're on my plane."

At this, Carter raised her head and snorted. "Your plane? Mason the best thing you can say about your life is the fact that your father is someone. You've basically spent your entire life riding someone else's success."

"As opposed to you? You're no one."

"Yeah, but at least I'm not delusional. I'll become someone by my own skills, not my father's."

"I didn't ask for this life."

"Yet you live it and act like it makes you better than everyone."

"So I have an ego, who doesn't? You sure do."

"Mason even though we are on a plane filled with Secret Service agents, I'm still very tempted to hit you."

Mason rolled his eyes and slouched in his seat, completely unconcerned.

"Oh look at me," Mason mocked. "I'm Carter Owens and I have violence issues."

"Oh look at me, I'm Mason Douglas and I have daddy issues."

The two of them glared at each other, both wishing the other would burst into flames.

"Hey, Carter."

Carter broke away from wanting Mason to die by transmitted thoughts and glanced up at the smiley Secret Service agent crossing over to her.

"Hi, Curtis," she said.

Curtis rested an arm on the back of a nearby chair. "Steve tells me you're quick enough on your feet that you could join the service."

Carter grinned. "You nervous a younger more attractive person will replace you?" Curtis laughed. "Don't worry, I wouldn't. I don't like Mason enough to want to see him survive anything."

"Owens, when we're in the air I have a door I want you to jump through," Mason said.

Still smiling, Curtis looked between the two of them.

"Should I be worried?" he asked.

"For his safety, yes," Carter said exactly as Mason said, "For her safety, yes."

Curtis waved Mason forward. "Come on, your father was looking for you. And it seems it's best if I separate the two of you. It will be good to have you around the compound Carter."

"No it won't," Mason said, walking off.

Carter let out a breath and sank deeper into her chair. It was going to be a long month.

*****

"I hope you don't mind sharing a space with your old man," Carter's father said, dumping his bag onto a bed.

As far as spaces went, it was nice like a suite in a fancy hotel. But still, Carter didn't want to be there. No matter how big Camp David was, it was still locked in by high, impenetrable fences and dozens of security teams. And of course, there was the chance she might glimpse Mason now and again.

"It's fine," she said, unzipping her bag.

"Okay, I have to go work, but I'll find you for dinner. Also, a lot of the guys are happy to have you here, see what you can do."

That teased a smile out of Carter. "I hope you haven't built me up too much. I am still fifteen, I can't rappel from a helicopter. Yet."

"Don't worry, I know you could handle anything they put you up against."

When he left, Carter sank onto the bed. She knew having her here meant a lot to Captain, but she knew he'd be working most of the time and that would leave her alone. The alternative of being alone would be Mason, the only other kid on the compound and that would be worse.

Annoyed at the whole situation, Carter changed into workout clothes and headed towards the building containing the gym. The air around her smelled fresh with the scent of pine. Up in the mountains, the sky looked cleaner and the landscape was filled with trees. The sun dipped in the sky, sliding behind the ridge.

Luckily, the gym was empty when she arrived. It figured everyone else was still settling in. Wrapping up her hands and tugging on a pair of boxing gloves, Carter headed to the punching bag. She bounced on the balls of her feet then slammed her fist into the leather. It felt good and relaxing.

Mason had this habit of getting under her skin and she hated to think what the damage of a month in close proximity would do. She spun around, kicking the bag.

"You seriously do have violence issues," Mason said.

Growling, Carter twisted around. "What are you doing here?"

Mason shrugged and walked further into the gym, taking a seat on the edge of the boxing ring.

"I saw you walking over here and got curious."

"Why? You literally could go bother someone else, but instead, you choose to bother me."

"Yeah, 'cause it's fun to bother you," Mason said. "You get this funny crease between your brows and your eyes get all angry."

"I'm going to kill you," she said.

Mason pointed at her face. "Yeah, that's the look."

"Seriously! I don't want to be here and you're the world's biggest pain! Go away!"

Mason waved his hands in mockingly. "Oh boohoo Owens doesn't want to be on the most ridiculous compound in the world. Guess what Owens, I didn't want to be here either. This place sucks and on top of that, I wasn't allowed to bring anyone with me this year. Instead, I'm stuck with you."

Carter glowered. "Oh, I'm spoiled Mason Douglas and my life is so hard because I have people around me to do my bidding. Quit whinnying. It's not attractive."

"So I would be attractive to you if I didn't whine?"

"Never."

Carter put her back to him and hit the punching bag with all her might.

"You know we should figure this out," Mason said. "Since we are stuck here."

"I already have."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, any place that you aren't, that's where I'll go. Problem solved."

"Then which one of us is going to leave the gym now."

"You, I was here first and I'm actually doing something."

"What if I want to do something here."

"I don't care!"

Before Mason could come back with a retort, the gym went dark and an alarm blared. Mason cringed and Carter spun around, looking for the cause. When none was apparent and no Secret Service agent came rushing for Mason, she let out a string of curses. Ripping off her gloves, she flung them aside and raced to Mason.

"Come on, you idiot," she said, grabbing his hand.

She pulled him after her. He tripped once but then found his footing. The door to the gym burst open and a masked man appeared and raised a gun. Carter shoved Mason to the ground behind a workout bench, landing on top of him.

"Stay down!" she said.

A gunshot rang out. Carter's heart beat violently against her chest as fear and adrenaline surged through her. Cursing again, Carter grabbed the closest weapon she could find, which was a workout ball, popped up, and hurled it at the attacker.

It nailed him in the chest and he staggered back. In a blink, Carter leapt over to him and ripped the gun from his hand. She aimed at his head, but horror kept her from pulling the trigger. Instead, she hit him in the head and he slumped to the ground.

"Mason! Come on!" she yelled.

Mason scrambled up and raced over to her.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

"Safe room," she said, mentally going over the map of the camp her father had given her and finding the closest one.

"You have to stay close to me," she said.

"Like I would leave you now," Mason said. "Who would protect you?"

Carter genuinely laughed and knew it was because her heart was beating so fast. Mason walked right behind her, his breathing erratic. They crossed the small courtyard, Carter keeping the gun raised and swiveling it towards every opening.

Inside the next building, Carter found the right closet, the false wall panel, and the secure room behind it. Once inside, she locked them in and slumped to the ground, burying her head in her hands.

"What the hell was that?" she said, still shaking from the intensity of the last three minutes. Mason let out an unsteady breath and slid down the wall. "And where was your security detail."

"Right here," a voice said.

Carter jerked her head up to see that the secure room door lay open and three members of the Secret Service plus Curtis and her father standing there.

"Fast reflexes, Sarge," her father said.

"Are you kidding me?!" she said, pushing herself to her feet. "That wasn't real."

"No," her father said. "It was a test. To see if you memorized the layout knew where the secure rooms were and whether you would leave Mason behind or not."

Despite being pissed it was a test, Carter felt relieved that she'd done the right thing. Mason stood up.

"How did my father sign off on that?" he demanded.

"Because he wanted to know how you would handle the pressure and if you would follow orders."

Mason muttered under his breath and ran a hand through his hair, clearly just as rattled as Carter from the whole thing.

Curtis held out his hand to Carter for the gun.

"It's also good to know that you weren't serious about leaving Mason behind. Steve was right about you, you have the heart for the job."

"I didn't fire," she said, still feeling traces of the horror that had come over her at the thought of killing a man.

"I'm glad," her father said. "Blindly pulling the trigger without thinking of the cost isn't how I raised you. But also it's filled with paintballs just in case."

Carter handed over the gun, glad she didn't have to make the decision yet. That was something she wasn't ready for.

"Good work, Sarge," her father said, kissing the top of her head.

The men left, all giving Carter nods of approval. With the reminder that they'd meet for dinner, her father head away with the group of agents. Carter stepped back into the courtyard, needing the cool air to help calm her down. For as short as the whole thing was, she felt exhausted.

"That was crazy," Mason said.

"Yeah," Carter said.

They stood there for a long silent moment.

"You actually cared enough to protect me," Mason said.

"Yeah, well you're still a complete pain," she said.

"So are you."

"What do we do now?"

"Want to go watch a movie in the theater?"

"Okay, but I'm not watching one of those stupid comedy movies where they think that degrading women is humor."

"Fine, but not one of those stupid romance movies where the men declare their love and all that crap."

"Avengers?"

"Sure, but not the first one, it's so cheesy," Mason said.

"It's terrible."

As they headed off, Mason slipped his hand into Carter's and she shook her head at him but didn't let go.

"You're an idiot."

"And you're annoying."

"I might still hate you."

"The feeling might still be mutual."

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Hello Noodle!
(I feel like I haven't said that in a long time)

From all the other one shots with Carter and Mason so many of you have mentioned how they could have been a thing, if not for Donovan, so I decided to write that universe. What did you think? 🗯💭💬

If you noticed Carter is fifteen in this chapter so in my mind the next chapter where she meets Donovan at the White House and when he's first signed up for the Secret Service still works!

Let's face it, Carter and Mason would fight too much to really make it as a couple.

Well that's my way of seeing it anyway.

Vote, comment, follow! Cause you know you love me and whatever!

Also this is Steve and Carter!