till the end of the line

12 Training Memories

I leaned back as I looked out the window, humming to a song.

Natasha had taken her feet off the dash and then curiously peered Steve as a smirk began to grow.

"What?"

She smiled and then a smirk took place, "Okay you don't have to answer, but by you not answering, you're answering it, you know-"

"What?"

"Was that your first kiss since 1945?"

She looked back at me and I cracked a smile as I let out a laugh as Steve gave her a pointed look, "That bad, huh?"

Shaking her head, I only continued to laugh, "I never said that."

"Well, it kind of sounds like that's what you're saying."

"No, I didn't. I- I was just wondering how much practice you've had."

"You don't need practice."

She raised her brow and cocked her head as he kept driving, "Everyone needs practice."

"It was not my first kiss since 1945. I'm 95, I'm not dead."

"Nobody special, though?"

He sighed and looked back at me to which I gave a knowing look as my laughing had ceased.

"Believe it or not, it's kind of hard to find someone with shared life experience."

"Well, what about Katerina, here?"

I looked up at her and shook my head, "What? No, Steve and I are just friends."

She only shook her head, not believing me, "Mhm. I've seen the way you are around one another. Steve, you're constantly holding her hand, and Kat, you always have your eyes on him. There's no way you aren't together."

I looked down before meeting her eyes, "Nat, Steve holds onto my hand because we lost a friend. And all because he didn't make it in time to grab his hand. As for me watching him, it's because I don't want to be taken again, so he's like a safety net for me. If he's somewhere I can see, I feel safer than I did when I left for only a moment. We rely on each other but only as friends, even more so, as family."

Steve nodded and reached back as I leaned forward giving him a hug around the seat.

Natasha lowered her head before sighing, "I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"It's okay. You couldn't have known."

Letting out a deep breath she then turned to Steve as I leaned back into the seat, "Well, you can always make something up."

I chuckled before letting out a yawn as I laid down in the seat still aware of my surroundings. Although, I had learned to block it out with music. It was useful having the phone and earphones on me still. I could sleep peacefully, not needing to be aware all the time.

So I did, I slept as we continued our trip to New Jersey.

~

Soon being nudged, I sat up and we had arrived. I looked around and then I realized, we were at the camp. Steve, held onto my arms and tried to pull me out of the car as I shook my head, not wanting to return, "Steve, no. No, I'm not going back! Steve!"

"Kat, Kat, hey, it's okay. I'm right here. I won't leave your side. Come on." Calming down, I slowly got out and Natasha met my eye confused as Steve wrapped his arm around my shoulder, "Bad memories. It's fine, let's just go."

Sliding his hand down my arm, we interlocked our fingers as we walked into the deserted camp. "I can't believe that after all this time, we're back here."

He looked at me and shook his head smiling, "I can't believe that my best friend turned out to be the one and only Agent Carter's assistant."

"I believe I was not only just her assistant but a role model to all of you boys. Remember how I beat everyone in everything, and yet still somehow did it twice waiting for you to finish."

"Yeah, and I don't know if I've ever said it but thank you."

I nodded chuckling, "Anytime, Steve, anytime."

We stopped at the flag pole where Steve peered out to where the track used to be as if reliving memories. Shaking my head, I sighed and let go of his hand as I took a few steps back, "I'm going to head back to the car, just- I'll be waiting."

He sighed and placed his arms on my shoulders, "Are you sure?"

Nodding he gave me a hug before leaving with Natasha as I headed back to the truck. Once I got in, I simply sat waiting idly by as the sky was beginning to grow dark.

I smiled and climbed into the trunk as I laid down, watching the stars.

I thought back to when I would lay on the grass after training and watched the moon rise until it set as the sun would take its place.

Sighing, I then let out a sneeze, only it was louder than I thought when I snapped my head to see the buildings blow up behind me.

"No... NO! STEVE!"

I jumped from the truck and tried to run back in but the fence had locked and soon the building collapsed in on itself as I only tried to make my way there.

Finding the room where the blast was most harmful, I walked in once the debris had settled.

"Steve? Steve, don't you dare leave me... You hear me?! Steve!"

I let out a yell before noticing just a bit of blue, white, and a sprinkle of red under a pile of rubble. Jumping into action, I started pulling rocks and boulders away. Then I heard him, groaning under the debris.

"Steve! Steve, I'm here!"

I jumped down into the hole and I wrapped my arms around him before helping him with Natasha. Once we lifted the rock from her leg, Steve picked her up as I led us out another way.

Once we saw the sky again, I noticed headlights and sounds of nearing vehicles.

I shared a knowing glance with Steve and instantly we took off running.