Timeless (Captain America x Reader)

Chapter Forty-Seven

After a while Y/N fell asleep in Steve's arms, he gently laid her back down before walking outside of her room. Steve was met by Tony in the hallway, he looked through the window and saw the state Y/N was in, he too regretted leaving her behind.

"How is she?" Tony asked, turning to face Steve, Tony could tell that he had been crying.

Steve shook his head, his eyes practically glued to the floor, "Broken," he answered. "I can't even imagine what they could've done to her."

Tony sighed, "We got her back. The whole team is here for her," he mentioned.

"I know, and she knows that too. It's just that we couldn't find her for four weeks, Tony. Four weeks that she spent in hell where we couldn't get to her. We left her alone," Steve explained, a saddened look in his eyes.

"And we won't let it happen again," Tony added. "How are you holding up?"

Steve shrugged, "As well as I can be, I'm happy to have her back, I just worry that maybe the Y/N we left behind isn't the one we brought home."

"What do you mean by that?" Tony asked.

"I mean when I look in her eyes I don't see that bright happy person that I saw before. She's scared, Tony, whatever Hydra did to her really had an effect on her," Steve explained. "I know she'll bounce back, she always does, I just fear about how long it'll take."

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A few days later Y/N was sitting up and talking with Natasha, she was filling Y/N in on events that happened during her absence. Steve walked into the room after his workout just as Natasha was leaving.

"How are you feeling?" Steve asked as he sat next to her on the bed.

Y/N shrugged, "A little sore," she answered. "But better now that you're here," she said holding his hand, his thumb brushing gently over her knuckles.

Steve smiled, though he still knew that Y/N wasn't being herself, and he didn't expect her to, at least not right away. He only hoped that she would open up to him up some point, Steve only wanted to help. Y/N knew that, but still, she was afraid that telling Steve what happened would only break his heart.

"I talked to the doctor out in the hall earlier, he said that you should be able to leave tomorrow," Steve explained. 

Y/N forced a smile, "That's good, I miss our bed and you," she admitted.

The next day Steve and Y/N were ready to head out of the infirmary floor in the tower. Steve offered Y/N his hand as she stood up for the first time in a few days. Y/N took her first step in a while but collapsed into Steve's arms as soon as she tried.

"Take it easy," Steve said softly as held Y/N up in his arms.

Y/N winced in pain slightly, "Yeah," she said regaining her balance. Steve continued to steady her with his hands as she started taking a few wobbly steps. Y/N appreciated the gesture, and she needed it, her knee was still sore and in a brace.

Y/N forced a smile as the team greeted her as she and Steve stepped out of the elevator, "Welcome home," Tony said hugging her, careful not to hurt her. Everyone else followed, each of them telling Y/N how happy they were to have her back again.

Tony led Y/N into the living room and showed her that he had a movie night planned for everyone, something that Y/N usually loved. "Thank you, guys, really. But I'm still pretty tired, I think I might just go lay down," she said heading off for her and Steve's room.

Steve thanked them before jogging after Y/N to catch up with her. He put his hand on her back as he joined her by her side, however, Y/N jumped when Steve touched her, she clearly hadn't expected it. Though Y/N didn't usually mind when Steve did something like that.

Steve had noticed how tense she was, how nervous she seemed, he just didn't think it was this bad, "I'm sorry," he apologized, "I didn't mean to, I shouldn't have-"

"It's okay," Y/N said forcing a half-hearted smile. But she knew that Steve was still worried about her, and he knew better than anyone that she wasn't being herself.

Y/N walked into their room and saw that Steve had laid out extra blankets and pillows on the bed for her. He helped her relax and settle in, making sure that she was comfortable.

"Are you comfy?" Steve asked, tucking a second pillow behind Y/N's head. She smiled as she put her hands on Steve's cheeks, stilling his movements.

"I'm fine," Y/N reassured, brushing his thumbs over his cheeks as she placed a gentle kiss on his lips. He flashed her a crooked grin before heading for the door, prepared to leave her to get some rest.

"Wait, Steve?" Y/N called after him. Steve turned on his heels, heading back towards her.

"Yeah?"

"Will you stay with me?" Y/N asked, sounding nervous. "I mean you don't have to, I know you're busy and-"

"Y/N," Steve interrupted. "Of course I'll stay," he said climbing into the bed beside her, opening his arms for Y/N to snuggle into his side. "I'm not going anywhere," he added, kissing the top of her head.

Y/N felt more at ease with Steve's around her, "I guess I'm just more afraid to be alone than I thought," she admitted, her arm draped over Steve's torso.

Steve was surprised, Y/N hadn't talked about the time that she was gone, or how she felt about it. "Shh," Steve cooed. "You don't have to be afraid. I'm not gonna let anything happen to you, I'm not going anywhere," he explained. He was going to everything in his power to protect her.

Minutes later Y/N fell asleep against Steve's chest, for the first time in a long time she felt safe, content. She didn't have to worry, she could finally relax...