Avengers The Captain's Secret Book 2: Waiting for Thor

Part 21: Cave of Present

LESEDI POV

"Steve?" I whispered in disbelief. He threw his shield and it hit the dragon in the eye, bounced off the rock walls and came back to him. "Steve!"

"We gotta get outta here!" he yelled, putting away his shield and spreading his arms. "Jump to me!"

I just stared at him. 

"Look behind you!" he called. "It's gone!"

I didn't need to. I knew he was right. The best of Dad was safe inside me. Engulfed behind him was 1940s New York, and Agent Carter. He had lost more than I ever had in so many ways. "Leap of faith." I whispered.

"Come on, honey!" He pleaded. "I'll catch you!"

Suddenly a glimmer caught my eye at the center of his chest. It was the iced fire dogtag I gave him. Flames started licking up the rocks he stood on, but he spread his legs in a stance that told me he wasn't leaving that rock without me.

"SEDI!"

I took a couple of steps back, ran and jumped, summoning wind to help me glide. I landed on the rock with him and he held me in his arms. Behind him to his right was a pool of water surrounded by ice. "You could have gone--"

Our eyes locked and he shook his head. "Not without you!" His arm around me tightened. "Ready!"

I nodded yes. I could feel the heat of the cavern increasing.

"A little ice to buy us time?!"

I turned in his arms, and was surprised he didn't let me go. I made a wall of ice so thick the dragon roared in outrage when the fireball hit and only dented it. 

"One, two, three!" We both leapt together, and Steve directed us head first toward the pool. Just before we submerged, I saw the dragon's fireball shoot out over us.  He held me tight and we became one body, each of us with one arm free, swimming and cutting through the water. I felt Steve change direction, starting to swim upward, and I followed suit. We sped to the surface, running out of air.

We gasped for air when we surfaced. Steve guided me with small touches as we paddled to shore. 

"Looks like Jotunheim!" I breathed as he pushed me onto the surface. He climbed up and pulled me up against him. 

"You okay?" He started rubbing my arms. 

"Yeah, yeah," I nodded. 

"We should move," he suggested.  "we need to find a way to dry out."

"Okay," I said softly. I would follow him anywhere. I'd missed him so much. 

"Wait a second--"

"Wha--" I was cut off by his kiss. I melted into his arms, I was pliable instantly. It had been five years since anyone held me, kissed me... "Steve."

"It's been...a long time, Sedi," he said softly, his voice almost a growl. "I needed that."

"What about that woman you kissed?"

He stiffened. "What?"

"I know you kissed someone-a blonde," I said, stepping back, and suddenly feeling so alone my throat tightened with sadness. 

"She stole my gear from SHIELD--"

"What does she get if she got your Harley back?"

"I stole that myself--" he closed his eyes. "I am out of SHIELD, Sedi, long story."

"You? A vigilante?"

"She risked her career to do it, and I didn't know if I'd--" he closed his eyes. "I'm sorry, Sedi."

"When Aries showed me--"

"Aries?!" he couldn't believe it. "The God of War, Aries?" He watched me nod. "Talk about enemies in high places."

"He is God of Conflict now and was trying--"

"Evidently, he succeeded," he murmured, his head bowed. His eyes lifted to mine. "I love you. Nothing has ever changed that. But I need you to know that, and forgive me. It is something I have been thinking about--"

"In your subconscious--?"

"Since it happened," he admitted. "I didn't know you knew, but I kept thinking how I wanted a chance to make that up to you. It was three seconds of bad judgment--"

"More like five, Steve."

"What?"

"More...like...five."

He took a deep breath. "Alright, five." He chuckled.

"I was afraid I'd lost you."

"You could never lose me."

"Steve--" I shook my head.

"I am a soldier," he grasped my shoulders. "A wife has to come to terms that her husband's clock could run out someday." His look was so soft, so full of love, I touched his cheek, caressed it. "What kept you from five seconds of bad judgment?"

Five years of motherhood, I wanted to say, but instead I said, "This and that. You're still one of the hottest men I've ever seen, Steve."

He laughed at that. "We will see each other soon."

"That's what I believe, and I will tell you everything then."

"Everything?"

Suddenly, the cavern lit up. I saw a river going to a beautifully lit tree, and a small boat for one.

"Time to go?" I chuckled sadly.

"Yeah, I think I have to wake up soon," Steve smiled. "I hope I remember this dream."

"You know you're dreaming, that this is happening in the subconscious?"

"All I know is this," he said, drawing me into his arms and caressing my face. "When it's bad, really bad, this is where I see you, feel you...and you're always here. I wasn't able till that five seconds, though. That's when I realized how much I hurt missing you."

"You're part of me, too," I whispered. "You are--" I put my hand over my heart. "Right here."

"We'll find our way to each other, I know it."

"I do, too." I reached up and kissed him, and he clung the way we did those years ago at the Bifrost Bridge.  "I love you."

"I know." he laughed softly.