Resilient

Chapter 4

Steve walked to the elevator to see Bucky still waiting. He noticed his friend hadn't moved more than an inch since he met Evelyn.

"How is she?" Bucky asked pressing the call button

"As good as expected in her situation. She wanted to meet me and thank me for carrying her out of the base." Steve said, looking at his friend still surprised.

"Depending on how long she was there Steve; you and Natasha could be Angels to her," Bucky said, turning towards his friend.

"Natasha had me walk them to her room to block anyone from seeing her - but she was so cryptic as to why," Steve said making a mental note to check with Natasha why the secrecy

"Well bud you failed because I saw her and she saw me," Bucky said grinning as they got off on their shared floor.

"Well if she needs help later that may help so she doesn't get startled by your ugly mug," Steve said laughing as he walked to his door

"Ugly mug?! I happen to know many a dame that have fallen for this mug after one look," Bucky said

"You didn't have that scraggly beard or the long hair then Buck," Steve said laughing

"I can't argue with you there," Bucky said, his hand going to rub his beard while walking to the couch, "Punk."

"Jerk," Steve laughed as he passed Bucky the debriefing packet they didn't get to finish after Evelyn had woken up and they sat in silence reviewing while periodically discussing the packet until they separated to go to their own rooms.

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The next morning Bucky woke up and went into the kitchen for breakfast. He grabbed a muffin and sat on the island looking out at the New York skyline while his coffee brewed. He had to admit that he loved this view. Steve walked in already wearing his workout gear ready to go on a run.

"You are being lazy this morning," Steve laughed while he grabbed a muffin, and started to stretch

"Nothing lazy about me bud; just not as excited to run as you," Bucky said as he grabbed the finished cup and felt it warm his hands.

Steve laughed as he continued stretching "Well me and Sam are leaving in 10 so better get dressed if you're joining."

"Yeah, Yeah," Bucky said heading to his bedroom

In exactly 10 minutes the three men were heading down the elevator out to their morning run. Sam hated these runs when it was just him and Steve now adding another Super Soldier running with him just made him look bad but training was training.

"Do you think the two of you could hold off on the showing off today? I'd like to impress one girl in Central Park," Sam said leaning onto the bench and stretching his legs

"I don't think you'd have much luck either way," Steve teased and Bucky laughed under his breath.

"Low blow man - but I'm pretty sure I've had more luck in this decade than either of you," Sam said as they took off.

The run went as usual; Steve and Bucky ran circles around Sam but neither one of them wanted the other to win. The same competitiveness from their early years never went away. While walking back to the Tower they started to discuss the visitor.

"So what's her name?" Sam asked taking a drink of water from the fountain

"Evelyn, but Tony kept calling her Princess Ariel?" Steve said looking at Sam for an explanation

"Evelyn? That's a name I haven't heard in a while," Bucky remarked to Steve. They both grew up with some Evelyn's but the name seemed to lose its popularity after the 40's. Steve nodded in agreement.

"Princess Ariel? Wow, Tony is messed up," Sam said laughing further explaining, "Princess Ariel is a Disney Princess who trades her voice with an evil sea witch to grow legs and meet her Prince Charming - she spends almost the whole movie mute." Sam finished

"She didn't seem to mind she smiled at him and rolled her eyes," Steve said thinking back "She laughed, well at least tried to laugh, after Tony told me to be a mule and help her to get in bed."

Bucky couldn't hold in his laugh, "She laughed because Tony pretty much called you an ass to your face and you didn't say anything." I think I'll like this dame.

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Evelyn woke up with the light streaming through the curtains. The nightmare being pushed from her head with the light of the day. Evelyn's prayers had been answered - she was safe.

She laid letting the sun warm her skin. She hadn't felt it in so long and looking down at her pale arms you could tell. She was healing well. She flexed her hand looking at the fading bruise from the restraints on her wrists. Tony's nanobots were incredible. Even with her quickened healing from the Hydra experiments she would've taken almost a week to start healing.

She pulled the blankets to take inventory of her body. She wasn't dressed in the same soiled scrubs she had lived in at the base. She wondered how someone had cleaned her and dressed her while she was unconscious in the lab. Her brain was immediately taken back to the base and could feel bile coming up her throat. She shook her head to get the memories to go away.

Just as the thoughts were fighting for more of a hold; she heard a knock on the door and the door slowly opened.

"Hey Evelyn, are you awake?" Natasha asked, leaning her head in and smiling seeing the young woman awake.

Evie Evelyn wrote on her board. This woman had literally saved her life and continued to be kind even though she didn't need to. Evelyn was sure Tony could have hired someone to help her but Natasha was here instead.

"Evie," Natasha nodded "You can call me Nat; well as soon as you can."

Evelyn smiled and her hand went to her throat. She wondered if the nanobots were working but Bruce had been clear to rest her voice and not try until she met with him today.

"I am here to help you get cleaned up and do some physical therapy", Natasha said holding up a bag. "Tony had some things picked up for you; I promise we will go shopping once Bruce releases you" she winked.

Evelyn took the bag from her and looked at the contents. She saw some leggings and some t-shirts. She rolled her eyes at the shirts and held them up to Natasha. There right in the middle of the shirt was Tony's face. She was thankful whoever he sent couldn't find an Ariel shirt otherwise she was sure there would be one in there.

"Yeah, I figured he would do some kind of prank. I bought a shirt of mine just in case." Natasha said laughing, helping Evelyn into the wheelchair and taking her to the bathroom off the room. "I will be right outside the door in case you need me."

Evelyn waited until Natasha was out of the room to take the gown off. Not wanting to explain the scars or why she flinched when Natasha barely touched her to help her out of the chair. Stepping under the hot water melted all the pain from her joints. She grabbed the body wash Natasha had pointed out to her and rubbed it on her skin. She then washed her long blonde hair. Really taking time to notice it was the longest it had been since she was a teenager; it was almost to the middle of her back. Tears stung her eyes as memories flooded back to her when she would have girl's days with her sister and they'd get their hair done and come home and model it for their parents; their Mom loved it every time but their Dad always told them how beautiful they were even though everyone knew he liked their long hair. She turned the water off and stepped into the chill of the bathroom. 

She dried herself off and looked into the mirror. Her blonde hair and sapphire eyes the only parts of herself she recognized. She was much thinner than she was before, her body speckled with mostly healed bruises and scars. She winced when she saw the reminders of the hell she went through. Don't you cry - then they think they won her mother's voice in her head spoke. Wiping her tears away she started getting dressed. Once done she looked back in the mirror NEVER again.