Tess (A Dark!SteveRogers AU)

Chapter 18

Sarah was waiting for the pair when they arrived back, looking relieved to see Tess as she walked in. "Tess...are you alright?" She now asked, coming over and embracing her daughter in law, then checking for any signs that she might have been hurt.

"Fine, just tired...sore..." She then saw Sarah's look. "No bed in the jail right? So sleeping on a damn bench was a little...hard..."

Steve now looked away and smirked to himself. "Why don't you go clean yourself up Tessie and get some sleep?"

Sarah now looked at her son, frowning at his new found concern for his wife and then back to Tess, then turning to the stove. Clearly there was some form of truce or at least a turning point within their marriage. "Guessing you ain't eaten. Go wash up and I'll bring you some breakfast". She now instructed. Steve watched his wife disappear into the bedroom and then turned to go start work. "Did you say thanks?" Sarah's voice stopped him as his hand was upon the handle.

"I think you know I did, Ma". Was all he said and walked out to start work.

Taking Tess some food, she knocked on the door and walked on, seeing that she was changing. Quickly she turned. "Sorry, just bringing your food".

"It's fine, I was just washing my hair, got all nice and dirty in that place".

"We still talking about the jail?" Sarah smirked and saw Tess tense up. "So...it seems you and Steve are getting along? You agreed a truce?"

"Kinda...he's not so bad..."

Sarah smiled lightly. "I did tell you the day would come..."

"It's not love". Tess quickly stated firmly. "We tolerate one another. That's it - we can both live with that".

"Well I'm glad". Sarah decided not to dwell upon it any longer. Tess may have said it wasn't love but version looks exchanged between the pair earlier told her otherwise. There was something, and that would build up and flourish in good time. "You did our boys a favour last night - it was reckless for sure, but you stopped any damage from being done".

Tess nodded. "Walker likes me, it's obvious, so I simply played on that. It's his Achilles heel".

Sarah nodded, "both a good and bad thing. You watch yourself around him from now on".

"I can handle John Walker, just like I can Steve". She said, drying her hair off with a towel and grabbing a clean dress from the drawers. Her mother in law turned as she changed, giving her some privacy. "I can't promise that Steve and I will always see eye to eye coz we won't, but as things stand now? We seem to have found some respect for one another".

"Well then, if it keeps the peace then I ain't complaining".

**

Steve and the others gathered around the table in the cellar of Nat's shop and shared out the loot they'd acquired the precious evening.

"And as promised, your share". He pushed what was left in the direction of the man who had stood quietly watching from across the table.

T'Challa, of the Wakandan tribe now looked and nodded his approval. "Thank you...another successful night".

"Well for the value of stuff it has been". Steve said as they walked away from the table to talk privately. "Do we have a deal that I help you out, then you'll help me?"

T'Challa nodded at this, "my tribe will be there should you ever need us, speaking of which, how is your wife? I heard that you had brought your feud to an end with the Rumlow family?"

Steve put his hands on his pockets. "She's a piece of work, but without her? We wouldn't be standing here now sharing out all that we got. Her brother may be as bastard, but Tessie? She's a far cry from that".

His friend smirked. "A Rogers and a Rumlow actually living in peace and harmony...no one would've ever thought it".

"Least of all me. Now Brock hasn't needed to come to us for back up yet, but it's only a matter of time. He fucked up and stole something from Schmidt that sounded valuable- makes me wonder how long it'll be before they come after him, protection or not".

T'Challa listened. "If he does then will you protect Rumlow and his men?"

"That was the deal. End to the feud and protection in exchange for Tessie".

"And was it worth it? A fair deal?"

Steve thought for a moment and then nodded. "If you'd have asked me that right after I'd agreed? I'd have said no, but now? I think it was worth far more to me than Rumlow had intended".

T'Challa smiled at this. "I'd like to meet her, bring her next time".

"I will, she's been wanting to but I haven't trusted her enough up until now".

"Perhaps she is more Rogers than Rumlow?"

Steve shrugged. "I don't know, but she's earned my trust in her so that's a start, and something I didn't feel was possible".

"She sounds like a woman of many surprises".

"Oh she'll surprise you alright - Tessie's one of a kind. Ain't nothing or no one who will ever change that".