The Savior

Chapter 6

Peyton didn't dream again that night, and she was thankful. She woke facing the window and she was warm. She felt an arm latched around her waist. Glancing down she saw the arm that belonged to Steve and she could hear deep breathing behind her. He was still asleep. So she laid there for a while, soaking in his warmth.
  After a while she stretched her legs out first. Peeking out the corner of her eye she saw Steve was still asleep. As slowly and as quietly as she could she slipped out from under his arm and headed to the kitchen.
  Her stomach rumbled as she reached the fridge. After rummaging around she pulled out some eggs and cheeses to make omelettes. She found bacon in a drawer and decided bacon and eggs would be on this mornings menu. Trying to be quiet she wanted to surprise Steve with breakfast in bed as thanks for being there for her.
  As the bacon was cooking in a cast iron skillet she heard Steve walk into the kitchen. So much for breakfast in bed, she frowned.
  "I was going to surprise you with breakfast," she shrugged.
  "It smells good," he smiles "that's actually what woke me."
  He crosses the kitchen to the fridge and pulls out a bottle of water, disposing the cap on the island as he perches on one of the barstools. She could feel his eyes on her as she moved about the kitchen finishing up breakfast.
  The two of them ate in silence. After breakfast was gone Steve rose to clear the plates.
  "Thanks, for last night." She said finally. "I didn't dream again after you came in. I guess I just feel safe with you, but then I guess who wouldn't?"
  "Well I'm glad to hear it." He smiled "I don't want you to be uncomfortable here and I really don't know what to do to make you feel better when you have nightmares like that. It's actually pretty scary stuff."
  "You're not kidding."
  There's a moment of awkward silence. Checking the clock on the wall it's 7:45 and Peyton decided to get dressed to head into the office.
  "What are your plans for today?" He asks as she heads towards her room.
  "I was going to get dressed to head into the office for a bit. I don't think I can sit around here all day."
  He bobs his head as if contemplating her decision.
  "Okay, I'll walk you. I have to head in the direction anyway."
  She imagined he was heading to Stark Tower which was just down the block from her office. She couldn't say she didn't feel some weight come off her shoulders when he offered to walk her. She was thinking about taking a taxi the six blocks to the office for fear of walking again.
  She dressed in a black pant suit with white silk shirt and black heels. She pulled her hair back in a low bun and did as best she could to cover the bruises on her face with make up. You could still see the dark purple near the eye socket that had been fractured but the bruises near her lips were more easily covered. She grabbed her purse and briefcase and headed out to the living room to meet Steve. She couldn't help her eyes travel up his body as she entered the living room. He wore a nice dark blue light weight jacket with a white v-neck shirt and dark wash jeans.
He opened the door to his apartment for her and pulled it shut behind them when they entered the hallway. They had time to stop for coffee on the way to her office and Peyton insisted on paying as thanks for all that Steve has done for her.
  As they arrived at the entrance of her building she turned to thank Steve for walking her.
  "Thanks for walking me Steve, I appreciate it."
  "It's no problem I was headed this way anyway," he smiles. "Let me know what time you will be leaving later on, and I'll meet you outside to walk you home."
  She could feel a weight come off her shoulders again. She was happy to hear she wouldn't be alone on her walk home, the thought of walking home alone terrified her.
  "I'll call you?" She asked
  "That works." He smiled and reached out to give her hand a reassuring squeeze.
  Once she was upstairs she was greeted by Andrea, and her boss Daniel Thatcher. Upon hearing about her attack they were shocked to see her back in the office so soon. She explained that she was still sore, but she would have gone crazy sitting at home alone with nothing productive to do.
  Andrea brought paperwork for her to get caught up on and stayed in the office with her to help with anything she needed. Scot came down to her office too, and brought her lunch from their favorite bistro a few blocks over when he heard she was back to work.
  Thursday afternoons she usually attended a board meeting, but the IT department came down to her office and set up a video conference so she could stay in her own office.
  Part of her felt bad that she was being coddled, but she knew she couldn't over do it, as she'd be worse off if she pushed herself too much. It was 4:00 after the meeting and Andrea handed her her phone which had a text from Steve, asking how her day was going. She figured that was his polite way of asking if she was okay. He was sweet.
  She sent him a reply telling him her day was good and going better than she had expected. She also told him she would be ready to head home around six and he told her he would meet her out front.
  A few minutes after six Peyton made her way down to the lobby to meet Steve. He was leaning against the building when she walked out side and fell into step beside her as they headed toward his apartment.
  "How was your day?" She asked him trying to make conversation.
  "It was good. Got a few leads on some things today so it was a productive day."
  "That's good." Peyton assumed he was referring to finding his friend Bucky and really hoped it worked out.
  "I hope you find him soon." She continued.
He looked at her and smiled. She had seen right through that.
  "Me too. I don't think he's the Bucky I used to know anymore, but even when I had nothing I still had Bucky, so I have to try and help him if I can." He didn't look at her as he spoke of his friend and his voice was filled with regret and sorrow.
   "You can't blame yourself for what's happened to him, Steve."
   "Can't I?" He looked at her pointedly.
   "No, you can't," she pushed "There was no way you could have known that he was still alive, even after coming out of the ice."
   "He was my best friend Peyton. I should have jumped after him, after he fell from the train."
   "And what good would that have done? You saved the world, Steve. Both before and after the ice. The world could have turned out completely different if you hadn't done what you did."
   "I don't know."
"You're far too hard on yourself." She gave his arm a playful nudge.
"Yeah, I get that a lot." He smiled.
  She smiled as an idea suddenly popped into her head. She grabbed him by the sleeve of his jacket and yanked him over towards the curb.
  "Taxi!" She yelled flagging down a passing cab.
  "Where are we going?" Steve asked as she shoved him into the back seat of the cab.
  "You'll see." She smiled as she pulled the door shut.