Always Mine (An MCU Fanfiction)

27. Catching Up

I felt a pair of cold hands stroking me. I opened my eyes and saw that I was alone. The guys were downstairs. Seeing no point in falling back to sleep, I pulled out a tank top, an oversized sweatshirt, and a pair of slippers and slid them all on.

Getting back downstairs, I noticed Gunner had the TV on while Brett was in the kitchen cooking.

"Hey there, Case!" Gunner's warm smile greeted me as I entered the living room. "How are you doin'?

"Good, I guess," I answered and sat on the couch, still feeling the effects of jetlag.

"Hope ya like steak!" Brett called out. "Unless you're vegan."

"I'd eat about anything."

"That's Jack's girl, alright!"

The steak sizzle and fried potatoes' aroma filled the air, a Montana dish. Brett, a master at the grill, had a knack for cooking over a fire pit or a wood stove. His wife, Diane, Gunner's mom, had been the primary cook before her tragic death in a traffic accident when I was twelve. Just after Diane died, Brett and Gunner ended up having to sell their home when they experienced financial issues. Mom and Dad had them move into the safe house, knowing that it was out of the way and that Brett preferred to live in rural areas. He didn't mind driving into Missoula, mainly for errands, appointments, and other activities.

My phone went off, notifying me that I had a video call. I replied to it, and Peyton's face appeared on the screen.

"Hey," I smiled at her.

"I got your text. Ya made it to the safe house," Peyton grinned. 

"Sure did. Managed to avoid getting my butt caught by the ex."

"At least he doesn't know about the place."

Craig did not know about the safe house. I felt it was better that he didn't show up trying to convince me to return to SHIELD with him or to try to get back together. Neither of those things would happen. I had made my choice. 

"Thank God he doesn't," I sighed. "If he did, the guys would just scare 'im off."

"I'd like to see that," Peyton laughed. "By the way, we gave your badge to Fury." Her facial expression turned serious. "He figured it would happen one day and stated that he'd have you brought in if you were needed for something."

"I'd be okay with that. Long as I'm not in the same room as you know who."

"I'm certain he'd be assigned to somewhere else."

Sean, Melanie, Vince, and Nicole joined the chat. During my time with Sylvia, I hadn't contacted my friends, though I only got texts and emails from them while in Patagonia and replied after returning to civilization. 

"It seems you're trying to hide from him," Gunner guessed after I ended the video chat.

"Yeah. Turned out he knew about Phil's resurrection when the rest of us thought he was dead and never informed my friends and me on account of there being certain levels, which, by the way, is screwy," I nodded with hints of anger.

"Some people hide the truth for various reasons," Brett said.

"I know. And Craig thinks he's entitled to a lot just because he has so much access to a lot of classified info. He assumes he knows so much about me and everyone when he really doesn't. I know he grew up in a horrible household, but he could use some major help with his mentality."

"That would only happen if he wants it that much," Gunner pointed out. "I know a few guys who have some mental issues. Couple of 'im sought therapy wanting to make their lives better since one of them had a kid. The others are still trying to find the courage to talk to someone. One guy I know had a dad who drank a lot and beat the crap outta 'im a lot. He refuses to touch any alcoholic drinks because of it."