Possessive - Book Two (Steve Rogers)

20. FALLOUT

Loving and fighting, accusing, denying
I can't imagine a world with you gone.
The joy and the chaos, the demons we're made of
I'd be so lost if you left me alone
-Hold On by Chord Overstreet

The team gathered a few days later to discuss how to handle the kidnapping, the bombing and what to announce.  Sophia knew that this was going to be an issue for the next few months.  Her mind turned to how they would get through it.  Who would lead? Who would keep the team on the right path? Her mind was not with the team right now. Her grief was still lingering never far. Bucky held her hand, knowing how hard she was taking everything, keeping the blame on herself.

"Ok, what do we want to announce?" asked Tony.

"We need to give a medical update.  Stark Industries needs to show that they still have its CEO in place to stave off a freefall in the stock market," Sophia commented, having been brought to speed while he was recovering. She just wanted to focus on the problems she could fix. "We also need to comment that the Stark Relief Foundation is taking care of the bombing survivors and that the Avengers were on a recovery operation at the time of the incident."

"Are we going to tell them it was a rescue mission?" Sam asked.  "Marie, they don't know that you're Amethyst."

"I know.  We can say that I was kidnapped at Tony's sister. It would make sense that Tony, and the Avengers would come and try to rescue me." Sophia sighed. "I know we wanted to keep me secret, but we need to have a valid excuse for being in another country. And I think we should keep James out of the announcement. That could lead to more problems."  The team nodded in agreement.

"And we have to announce who will be leading the team for now. I have a few ideas," Tony said.  "We can put Nat and Clint in charge."

"Nope, not gonna happen," said Clint.  "I promised Laura I would be home more.  I'll be available for the big things but I can't be the team leader."

"Kinda the same for me.  I am great at support, but I was meant to work solo or on a team.  I'm not a leader," said Nat.

"Who would you guys pick to be team leader then?" asked Sophia.  "We need to continue to present a united front and we can't do that without having a clear team structure in place."

"Honestly, Rosie, I would pick you." Nat looked at her best friend.  "You are a natural leader.  You could lead this team.  Bucky is your other partner.  It would work out great."

Sophia sat back stun as the rest of team agreed with Nat.  "Guys, I can't be a leader.  I almost always end up in med bay. And right now, I just don't think I am in the right frame of mind.  We need to have a someone else."  Sophia shakes her head, knowing that no one agreed with her.  "I can't do this."

Sam rose up and defended Sophia.  "Look, Marie is right. Also, no one knows that she is Amethyst yet.  Unless we announce that as well.  I think we need to have a different option."

Clint cleared his throat.  "While I think that Rosie is a great choice, I do have an alternative option. My suggestion would be Sam and..." he hesitated.

"Sam and who?" Sophia asked.

"I think it should be Sam and Bucky."

Silence filled the conference room.  Everyone looked at each other and then at Clint. "OK, I wasn't expecting that," commented Sam.

"Look, guys, Sam and Bucky may butt heads, but they have proven that they can lead.  Also, I wouldn't trust two guys more with the protection of this family," Clint explained.