The Captain's Assistant (Captain America Fanfic)

Chapter 21: Loyal

"I've come to relieve you."

My eyes drifted upward from where I had sat most night. I turned to look up at Griffin's door. Once again turning my gaze back to who spoke.

"Is everything alright?" Coulson questioned. His face showing concern. "You seem a little on edge lately."

"It's just everything that is happening." I turned to look at Griffin's door once more. "I feel like it's out of my control."

"Steve." Coulson spoke up some. "You have to stop blaming yourself for everything that happens. Bucky was out of your control, Peggy knew that you had to save lives, and Griffin understands the same. I also believe that is her reason for distancing herself from you."

"You know about-"

"I've known for some time now. I also think you care more for her than she does for you at the moment." Coulson paused. "After all S.H.I.E.L.D trained her to not show emotion. It's going against everything she knows. She's probably trying to still figure it all out."

I didn't reply. Maybe it was because he was right. I probably had stronger feelings for her. But that didn't change the situation. I hadn't forgotten what I had asked of her.

"So, you going to get up?" Coulson reached his arm out to lift me off the ground. "I think it's best you go and get some sleep as well. You've been out here all night."

"Thanks, Coulson." I replied as I walked slowly down the hallway. Leaving him to guard the door.

Walking for a few minutes more I came back to my door. My heavy eyes looking at the metal handle before opening it. The room was still quite dark. As I walked in I glanced down at my shield that lay next to the closet door. It's brilliant colors becoming scuffed up from every battle I had encountered.

I walked over to my bed. I felt like I had been apart from it for too long. I let out a sigh and put my hands on my face before looking at the ceiling.

I laid there for a moment before my eyes drifted off to darkness. Her face making its way into my thoughts.

I found my dreams blurred and tangled up from different events. It was pleasantly quite.

"Too bad it won't last."

I jolted up as I opened my eyes. It was Peggy. She was right there. I quickly rubbed my eyes. Was she really there?

"Poor thing. You seem a little on edge lately." She softly whispered.

I jumped up quickly to grab my shield. Turning my attention back to the form that loomed over my bed. "Stay back!"

"Ha! I knew I couldn't fool you for long." She began to laugh.

"You were dead." I paused. "How is it-"

"That I'm alive?" She came around the corner of the room. "Simple, I wasn't actually dead."

I watched as the form of Peggy transformed into Bucky. His metal arm coming into view as he took one step closer.

"I wanted to surprise you all." Zero replied. "But I thought it would be more fun to torture your thoughts a bit before I come for her."

"I won't let you touch her!" I held my shield even tighter.

"No need to be defensive, Steve." He laughed. "I simply came to say hello."

"Then goodbye!" I yelled out.

"What a sense of humor." Zero chuckled walking closer. The culprit that looked so much like Bucky was just a few inches away from my face. I watched as his metal arm came up to my head, placing his hand on my forehead, hitting me backward.

Everything went black for a moment before I opened my eyes. I jumped up and my eyes scanned the room. Suddenly looking down I could see I was still laying on my bed.

"Was I-" I looked around the room. "-dreaming?" Was Zero still alive? How could he be. I had seen the blow Griffin had given him. The lifeless body of Peggy still etched in my memory.

I quickly got up and ran for the door before realizing my shield was still in the exact same spot. Turning back to the door I quickly opened it. Running quickly down the hallway I made it back to Griffin's door. To my surprise she was up and talking to Coulson when I turned the corner.

"Steve." Coulson said with a surprised look. "Why are you back?" He questioned. "You were only gone for an hour."

"Well I..." I paused to collect my thoughts. "I wanted to make sure everything was ok."

Coulson turned around and gave Griffin a glance just behind him. Although I couldn't read her expression.

"Rogers, are you sure everything is alright?" She finally spoke up.

"You two didn't see anything did you?" I replied back.

"No." Coulson said slowly. "It's just been the two of us here. Well, until you ran up." He laughed.

I looked down at the floor. Maybe it had just been a dream after all.

"I'm beginning to think you need someone watching over you as well." Coulson interrupted my thoughts. "You don't look like you had any sleep either."

I slowly nodded my head in agreement. "I'll get going. I apologize for interrupting the conversation you two were having."

"It's alright." Griffin spoke up. "Since I'm up, why don't you sleep in my room, if that helps."

"Good idea." Coulson replied. "We'll be out here for a moment until you fall asleep. I think it's best since you seem to be having trouble."

"Thanks." I slowly stated. I looked over at Griffin. She was blank of any expression, but her eyes shown a combination of warmth and worry.

I turned back once more before interning her room. Somehow I felt better knowing they would be there. But at the same time I felt uncertain. How could I possibly know if that was just a dream or that I had actually seen him?

I turned over to her small bed that lay in the corner of the room. I could feel my body feel heavy as I collapsed on it. Hearing the soft voices of Griffin and Coulson just outside the door, it set my mind at ease. I looked up at the ceiling once more before my thoughts drifted off to sleep.

Somehow everything had to be ok. And if it wasn't, I had to make it that way.
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-RandomPanda
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