Winter's Daughter

Chapter 10

"Right this way sir." An agent said, guiding the soldier out of the helicopter and into the main building. James kept a firm grip on Vic's hand as they walked. From the things he heard from S.H.I.E.L.D. he was lucky not to be in cuffs.

"The Captain will be pleased to see you. Ever since we planted a few cameras in that old bunker of yours and saw you walking around, he's been anxious to see you again." The agent smiled.

James nodded a bit, scanning his memories for a man with that particular rank, but found nothing.

"The Captain, who is he exactly agent...?"

"Coulson. Surely you remember who Cap is. You served with him after all." The man smiled at James and led him to a conference room. He knocked on the door before opening it and nodded for James to enter.

At a large table sat a blonde man reading over a dusty file. His eyes were fixed on a picture of a man in uniform. A man that looked exactly like James.

"Excuse me, I was told that you wanted to see me?" James' voice broke through the silence and the blonde lifted his head too see who was talking.

"Oh my god..." His eyes went wide with shock and a smile grew on his lips. He stood quickly and embraced James tightly.

"I'm so glad to see you again!" The blonde laughed.

James hugged the blonde back awkwardly. "I'm afraid I don't know you." 

The blonde stepped back and scanned the soldiers face. "You don't know me?"

In a sudden burst of color, James' memories returned completely. Everything he used to know was now back and clear as day.

"S-Steve?"

Steve nodded and beamed. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you."

James smiled and hugged his friend tightly. "You think you're happy, try being in my shoes."

The two men laughed and let their arms fall.

"I'm sorry you fell, I tried to get to you but the rail broke before I could and I-"

"It's alright Steve. It's not a big deal. If anything, that fall changed my life for the better."

Steve looked at James sadly. His eyes were tearing and his arms were crossed.

"I know, but I could've done more to try and get you back into the car. It's all my fault. And to see you like this..."

James went rigid. 'Like this.' he thought. He knew what Steve meant by that statement. The fact that he lost an arm after the fall and having it replaced with metal. He felt the horrible memories creep back to the surface and he was blinded by images that he wished he would forget.

"It-It's not a big deal Steve. You didn't know I survived."

Steve nodded and hugged his friend again. "I know. But it was my fault."

James went silent and sighed. "You promised not to do anything stupid. This is pretty stupid."

Steve shrugged and sat back down. "I found an old file of yours from way back when. I-"

"You've been reading it ever since you found out I was still alive. I know you."

There was pain hidden in James' voice. He was hurt that Steve would torture himself over that fact that time was against them. He was hurt that Steve blamed himself for what had happened on that snowy ridge so long ago.

His thought were interrupted by Vic running in and grabbing James' hand tightly.

'Perfect. Separation anxiety. Just what she needs on top of everything else.'

"Who's this?" Steve asked, looking at Vic then back at James.

"This is Vic. She's my daughter."

Steve laughed and gave James a look. "I didn't think you settled down before the war."

"I didn't. Her parents were murdered and she was taken from her home and kept in the same bunker you found me in." James' tone was harsh and dripping with venom. His hate against his former organizational affiliation was clear.

Steve bent down and put his hands on the eleven year old's shoulders. "Of all the people to choose for a guardian, you chose the best."

Vic smiled at Steve and looked up at her father, who rubber her head, messing up her hair. 

"Yeah, she's stuck with me now." He laughed lightly.

Steve stood back up and sighed.

"Let's make you two at home."