The Ghost [Marvel | Steve Rogers]

Chapter 56

Russia

Spring 2016

Truthfully, Nadine didn't so much sleep as doze. But whatever the accurate term, it was restful and a long way toward revitalizing her enough to keep her going after everything that had happened in the last day or so.

Enough so that, as she found herself surfacing back to wakefulness a short while later, she felt far more optimistic—cautiously, of course—than she had in what felt like weeks, a renewed clarity to her outlook that she was immensely grateful for.

As she opened her eyes, inhaling a deep, cleansing breath as she did, it was quite easy to see what it was that had drawn her out of her dozing. Shifting carefully, conscious not to wake Nina where she was still curled up against Nadine's side, she watched Steve moving in near silence around the cabin. In the time since she'd fallen asleep, he'd clearly finished cleaning up, washing away the remaining grime and blood that had been left after her ministrations. He'd also shed the jacket portion of his uniform in doing so, leaving him in the plain—but no less flattering, an irritatingly distractible portion of her mind pointed out—athletic tee he often wore underneath. But, regardless of how pleasant the view was, it wasn't the only thing that held her attention.

It was nearly bewildering, just how much feeling was suddenly swelling in her chest as she watched him check on Barnes. Never would she have imagined that she could develop the sheer depth of feeling for someone new she was suddenly sure had taken up residence in her heart next to that which she already held for Nina and Natasha. Though, the feelings in question were far from the same.

That was for sure.

The feelings she held for her daughter and her sister were definitely far, far different than those she had come to realize she held for the man before her.

She really had hopelessly fallen for him, hadn't she...

And she couldn't bring herself to mind. Not in the slightest. She was strangely encouraged, bolstered even, by the rush of tenderness she felt as she watched the gentle way he checked his friend's nearly empty IV and the way her pulse thrummed happily as he turned to look to her and Nina, concern and a kindred affection of his own clear on his handsome features as he met her eye.

"I didn't wake you, did I?" She couldn't help but smile at the apologetic murmur. Slowly, she shook her head, the soothing, steadying warmth in her chest swelling further at the fondness in his eyes as he smiled crookedly back, his relief clear. She glanced down to Nina, absently brushing her hand over her daughter's pale hair as she studied her peaceful features, assuring herself that Nina was still sleeping comfortably.

Or at least, as comfortably as possible on the firm seats the Quinjet boasted.

"We're still secure?" she asked softly, looking up to Steve. Inhaling deeply, he nodded.

"For the moment. But we should think about moving soon," he answered. With an absent look to Barnes, he took a seat next to his friend's head, just across the narrow aisle from Nadine and Nina but just barely out of reach. "You said you had some ideas for where to go?" Glancing down to Nina again, gingerly adjusting her arm where it wrapped around Nina's shoulders to prevent the limb from falling asleep as it was threatening to do, Nadine nodded.

"Vienna," she offered after a moment of consideration. Steve straightened with a thoughtful frown. "It's a little further away than I'd ideally like to risk, but—" she hesitated, weighing how to explain, "but I think my Workshop is the best option. I have a few other places similar to my Dresden safehouse that are closer, but none of them are anywhere near as secure. Nor do they have the resources my Workshop has." It was fairly obvious that he'd understood what she hadn't said—it was a more secure and more comfortable place to rest and recover than the Quinjet was, but it would still be just as temporary—given the way he was watching her even if he hadn't quite made it as far as she had in considering their potential next steps.