Everyone was pacing when Bruce finally finished his examination. The time seemed to drag as they waited, and no one was sure of just how long he'd been in there.
"Well?" Steve asked as Bruce walked out.
"She's fine. Just needs a few days off her feet. It's exhaustion and where she likes to think she's still going? She's not getting any younger". He smiled weakly. "Nothing to be concerned about though, other than that she's still in good health".
Steve sighed with relief. "Thank god...thanks Bruce".
"Not a problem. I'll come back and check on her in a couple of days, but until then she just needs bed rest and plenty of water".
"I'll make sure she gets what she needs" Steve replied as he saw him out, Bucky saying goodbye to Tess and following.
Once Steve came back in, he shot a look to his wife. "Go on, tell me that was my fault". She spoke after a moment or two of silence.
"You didn't help matters, but then again neither did I - Ma's right, no matter how much we hate once another we have to be civil for her sake. I can't lose her, she's the only family I got left".
"And what about me? Am I not part of your family now?"
They then heard Sarah's voice. "Are you two still at it?" Calling through from her room, both Steve and Tess now walking in to where the elder Rogers woman was sat propped up in bed and looking unimpressed.
"You need to rest". Tess crossed her arms.
"How can I with you two bickering".
Steve passed her the water that Tess has poured earlier. "We're gonna try. You just need to rest up and..."
"Like hell I'm doing that! I've got things to do!"
"I don't think so" Tess threw her a look. "Doc says you gotta stay in bed and that's where you're staying. I'll do the chores, launder the clothes, whatever we need from the store I think I'm more than capable of getting"
Steve glanced at her. "But are you capable of shutting up?"
Sarah shook her head, deciding to change the subject. "You have a job tonight?"
"I do, Sam caught wind that a group of merchants are making their way to the boarder - we're gonna go help ourselves".
"Take Tess with you" Sarah now said.
"No". Her son's reply was stubborn. "She stays here to look after you". His look to his wife was one that she knew she couldn't argue with.
Tess nodded. "I can go another time if my wonderful husband will let me, but until then? I'm keeping my eyes on you".
There was no way that Steve would allow her to go with the gang and help out. He didn't want her anywhere near him, let alone his side business. She was wanting to see how they did it in Coalstone though. Whether their looting methods and ways differed to the ones that she used.
"Well, I'm glad we agree on something. I'm gonna start work, but I'll come in and check on you this afternoon" He then told his mother, giving her a kiss on the head. "Just rest like Banner's ordered you too".
Once he'd gone out to the workshop, Sarah looked at Tess. "If you think I'm just gonna sit on my ass in this bed all day then you're wrong".
"And if you think that I'm gonna let you outta this bed then I may just have to shoot you".
Both women smirked at one another until Tess shook her head. "I'm gonna go and wash some clothes. Shout at me if you need anything".
Filling up the tub, she settled herself down to start scrubbing the clothes. Something that was probably going to become a normal routine for her to take the stress off of Sarah. Scrubbing at Steve's shirts on the board and with the soap, she thought about the direction her life had drastically turned.
Had she been at home in Red Skull Creek, she'd have been out getting drunk already, or still in bed recovering from the previous evening's activities.
Now here she was. Confined to being a wife and doing chores that she'd only ever done because she'd really been the only woman in the group - not because she'd wanted to.
Steve came out of the workshop with a customer who had brought his horse in to be shoed and then looked across at Tess, still scrubbing at the shirts. "Making yourself useful for once".
Tess looked up and said nothing, turning back to her work.
He scoffed now, "and for once you have nothing to say".
Dropping the shirt into the water, she looked back up again. "What is it that you want me to say you asshole? 'Yeah, sure I'll be a good little girl; I'll do everything you say'. Because I ain't doing shit for you - what I do is for me, and now your mother".
They were interrupted as another customer arrived with his horse, and thankfully by the time Tess had finished, Steve was still with him.
"You need me to run to the store for anything?" She asked Sarah, now needing to get out of the house and away from her husband.
"I'll make you a list".
"Thanks".
The elder woman noted her daughter in law's expression. "It gets better...I know I keep on 'atcha about it, but it does".
Tess nodded. "I just miss having the freedom to do whatever the hell I want".
"That's the price we pay for taking the name of our husbands. Not just us but all women. I missed my old life too y'know, but I struggled, as I've said, to adjust to this one in the way that I have".
"You had to make your adjustments, now I gotta make mine". Tess shrugged.
"They say what don't kill ya makes ya stronger - and you are Tess. That's why Steve is the way he is. He's certainly met his match with you".
Tess smirked. "So, you're saying that if I don't shoot your son then it'll make me a stronger person".
"If you do then you've lost the war. Our families ain't feuding anymore, so you two need to show everyone that".
"A bit hard given that he's the man who shot my daddy".
Sarah shrugged, "And here was me thinking that you weren't the type to hold grudges".
"I ain't".
"So, prove it"
YOU ARE READING
Tess (A Dark!SteveRogers AU)
Fanfiction"You can't seriously expect me to marry that man - he's just as bad as the rest of 'em, some say worse." "Well then you'll have no trouble taming him then". It's 1883 Tess Rumlow hails from a notorious gang feared by all throughout the old west. R...
