HUNTED ~ STEVE ROGERS [2]

Chapter One

Lying in a hospital bed gives you a lot of time to go over the events that put you there.

First of all, I should never have wrapped my arms around Steve Rogers ridiculously muscled chest and ridden that damned motorcycle. That was my first mistake.

My second mistake was agreeing to work with Natasha Romanoff. She was way too into my private life, which was virtually non-existent anyway, but that wasn't the point. She was my friend and partner, but I didn't need her setting me up I'm blind dates every other day.

And my third mistake?

Trusting SHIELD.

For two years, TWO YEARS, SHIELD was my life. I trained, I listened, and I learned. Sure, I pissed off a lot of people, and Fury even tried to get me to go to Anger Management Therapy, but no one seemed to understand that was just my personality.

I trusted SHIELD with everything, and it all came crashing down.

As I mulled over my mistakes in that hospital room, the door opened and in walked the red headed beauty herself. Natasha sat down next to my bed and smiled.

"How do you feel?" She asked, looking at the clipboard attached to the end of my bed.

"I feel like I got shot. Does that help?" I rolled my eyes. "Gosh, I can't wait to get out of here." Natasha's eyes scanned the clipboard before putting it back in it's place.

"You got shot three times Keight. You're not getting out anytime soon," Natasha patted my hand.

"That's not that many times. It could have been worse," I snarked. Natasha looked pointedly at me. I sighed.

"Can I at least call him? Something, please I'm dying here," I pleaded. Natasha opened her mouth, and then paused. She sighed.

"I'll talk to Sam," she turned to leave.

"Thank you. You're my bestest most awesome friend ever," I said gratefully. Natasha laughed.

"I'm one of your only friends," she said before closing my hospital door and leaving me alone.

I leaned back in my chair, my upper left arm stinging from the movement. A gunshot wound can do that to a person.
As I closed my eyes, my mind flicked back to the very start of it all.

* * *

"What do you want for dinner?" I asked Steve as we climbed the stairs to our apartment. Steve looked at me and chuckled.

"We're not having pasta again," he said. I laughed.

"Come on, you love my pasta," I said as we reached the top of the stairs.

"You're a terrible cook, you do know that right?" Steve shoved me gently sideways, and I swatted his arm.

"I am not!" I exclaimed. Steve grinned, but when he saw her at the end of the hall he stopped smiling.

So did I.
I stopped smiling and let my resting bitch face take over.

She had her clothes in a washing basket, and was just coming up from the wash room. She was golden blonde, blue eyed, and had a model worthy body.

She was 'The Other Kate.'

As soon as she saw me, her permanent grin twitched a little. The Other Kate was a nurse at the nearby hospital, and obviously didn't like me. I admit, I wasn't the best neighbor, but I wasn't that bad. Was I?