Cosmic [s.r.]

1:6

 I waited outside for Steve in a small wooden chair that had brown leather padding. I waited as I traced the stitching of my black jeans, a nervous habit I've developed over time. When the door opened I stood up to greet Steve.

"How'd it go?" I asked as he shut the door quietly, making our way down the hall. When he didn't respond I grew worried.

I looked over to see his head down, looking at the floor. I lead him over to the side of the hallway. "Steve, look at me," I said and when he did his eyes were misty and red. I didn't say anything, I just pulled him in for a hug, which he returned, holding me tight and close.

"It's like one minute I was talking to the Peggy from ages ago, and then the next she didn't know I was alive." He mumbled into my hair.

"I know Steve, I know." I rubbed his back reassuringly.

To distract Steve from Peggy we decided to go visit the friend he made a couple days ago, Sam Wilson. As he was in the middle of one of his sessions, Steve and I waited at the door and listened in.

"The thing is, I think it's getting worse." A seated young women spoke up. "A cop pulled me over last week. He thought I was drunk. I swerved to miss a plastic bag. I thought it was an IED."

"Some stuff you leave there." Sam nodded to the women, speaking up as he leaned over the podium. "Other stuff you bring back. It's our job to figure out how to carry it." I liked what he was doing, helping the people who needed it. "Is it gonna be in a big suitcase, or in a little man-purse." I smiled at the comment. "It's up to you."

After the session was over, Sam said his goodbyes to the regulars and met up with us in the hall.

"Look who it is, the running man and the girl who fell from the sky." I smiled at the comment.

"Caught the last few minutes," Steve mentioned. "It's pretty intense."

"Yeah, brother, we all got the same problems," Sam spoke as he fixed some pamphlets on a small table. "Guilt, regret."

"You lose someone?" Steve asked.

"My wingman, Riley." Sam nodded sadly. "Flying a night mission. Standard PJ rescue op. Nothing we hadn't done 1,000 times before. Until an RPG knocked Riley's dumb ass out of the sky. Nothing I could do. It's like I was up there just to watch."

"I'm sorry." Steve nodded sadly.

"After that, I had a really hard time finding a reason for being over there, you know?" Sam asked.

"Are you happy being back in the world, where you are?" I asked.

"The number of people giving me orders is down to about zero." He smirked. "So, hell yeah." He chuckled. "Are either of you thinking about getting out?"

"No." Steve shook his head.

"I don't know." The two of us answered in sync.

"To be honest, I don't know what I would do with myself if I did," Steve said.

"Ultimate fighting?" Sam suggested teasingly causing the both of us to laugh. "Just a great idea off the top of my head. How about you, Shorty?"

"Me?" I asked. "I have given it thought because here all I am good for is being a science experiment. I want to help people. But so far I haven't gotten the chance at S.H.I.E.L.D. I mean, I had just gone on my first mission after being here for two years." I ran a hand through my hair before tying it back into a quick ponytail.

"Seriously, the two of you could do whatever you want to do." Sam pointed out. "What makes you two happy?"

"I don't know," Steve answered as I gave the same one by shrugging.

That night after grabbing dinner we returned to Steve's apartment. When the motorbike came to a complete stop I hopped off and Steve and I made our way through the front door of the building. When we came up the stairs I noticed Kate with her load of laundry, hands full as she tried to lock her door. She was talking to someone on the phone as I stood in and helped by grabbing her laundry for her.

"Thanks" She mouthed to me graciously. She quickly said her goodbyes before hanging up and taking the basket back from me.

"My aunt, she's kind of an insomniac." She laughed, setting her phone on the pile of laundry.

"If you want I can help with the laundry, it seems like a big load this time." I chuckled as I motioned to a load of scrubs.

"Thank you, but its okay. I already have a load in downstairs and I just finished rotation in the infectious disease ward, so.." I nodded putting my hands up in mock defense.

"Have a good night, Kate." I smiled at her.
"You too, guys!" She smiled in return. "Oh, and I think you left your stereo on."

"Oh, right. Thank you." Steve nodded to the nurse who left down the stairs.

"You don't leave your stereo on, Steve."

"I know."