The Man Behind the Shield

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Steve's POV

I feel a familiar chill through my body. I'm alone, in the dark, my own personal hell that reminds me of my sleep in the ocean. My eyes refuse to open and I struggle to move. The air is making me colder and I feel my body begin to shake.

"It's okay Steve. Just stay with me." I hear a voice pleading with me. A woman with a soft and worried pitch.

Sounds drift in and out and I feel myself drift into a dream.

I'm in a room that looks similar to my old house in Brooklyn.

I look around and everything I left is still in its place. Not like I had much to leave. I left once, I know I need to leave again.

" don't go...please." That soft voice begs me again. I know that voice. What's her name? Hannah? Holly?

I turn and I see a younger version of myself in the middle of the living room, sitting and listening to the record player. The song...I've heard it before...

" Steven, come help me with the dishes." I hear and the young boy got up. I follow him to the kitchen and find a woman.

She is dressed in a dress with her hair pinned to the side and red lipstick. A site of beauty. My heart races. One look and I know I love this woman.

" Hello sweetheart." She rushed to me and kissed me, quickly removing the lip stain that she left on my lips.

" Heylee?" Her name is rolling off my lips with ease.
" yes, it's me. Come on and help with these dishes. My father is coming over to help with Steven junior."

" Steven Junior? our...son?" I ask, shock rolling over my body.
She looks over me worried. " what's wrong? Are you sick? Let me get you something." She goes to run down the dark hallway and I feel instant fear I will lose her.

" wait- Dance with me."
I take her in my arms and sway her. She giggles and lays her head on my shoulder.

Betcha by golly, wow!
Your the one that I've been waiting for forever.
And ever will my love for you, keep growing strong.

" Steve, please...wake up." Heylee a voice echoed from far away. I look at the woman in my arms and smile.

She smiles back and me and then begins to tear from her eyes. " you need to come back to me."

I wipe a tear that trickled down her cheek. " I'm where I always wanted to be. Back in my time, and with you."

She sobs and runs down the hallway, leaving me sad and alone.

"This is not real, Steve."

When I turn to the voice that called for me and I am torn. It's Peggy. She is not the women I saw weeks ago, its the women I remember from my past.

"Peggy...What is the meaning of all this?"

She walks toward me and takes hold of my hands.

" You need to let all of this go. It's behind you. To face everything ahead of you...you must move forward. Not back." She explained.

Then my surroundings shifted from darkness into light and Peggy began to fade. "She will need you, just as you need her. It's time to go home." her voice whispered in my mind as my mind grew into consciousness.

I turn and hear a different sound coming from my ears.

Music. I believe it's Jazz.

I feel a twinge of pain in my side and my cheek. I slowly open my eyes and see that I'm in a hospital room. I look over and see Sam reading a magazine.