You are my home

The Winter Solider Ch.3



"Well, I guess that didn't go well," Nat and I change out of our uniforms in the women's locker room.

"No, not at all. That just proves my point of him not trusting me," Nat sighs against the locker.

"Hey, don't beat yourself up over it. If anything it's fury's fault for once again keeping too many secrets to himself. Steve will come to understand." I put on a black tank top and a red leather jacket with my dark jeans and boots. I decided to leave my hair out and top it off with a red baseball hat.

Steve and I are planning on going to the Smithsuem to debrief from the mission. I asked Nat to tag along but she wanted to head back to her apartment.

"See you later redhead," I gave her a hug before leaving.

"A symbol to the Nation. A hero to the world"

The museum looks crowded today as we walk over to Steve's exhibit. We watch kids try to stand tall next to the pictures of Steve. One kid looks over at Steve and Steve gives him a small hush face. I really admire the way Steve interacts with people. Then we walk over to the section of Bucky as Steve calls him.

"You would think by now I would find a way to know how to cope with it but it still doesn't work." Steve shakes his head a little.

"I don't think it's about the time it takes, it is when your heart is ready for it and that is a question I still haven't answered either," I look at Steve smiling softly.

"You should be proud of yourself Peggy,'' Visiting Peggy for Steve was harder than he imagined.

He knew seeing her wasn't gonna be easy but the pain was worse than he had expected.

"Well, I have lived a life, my only regret was that you didn't get to live yours." Peggy in her old age seeing Steve again is not easy for her.

I met her twice while my parents were still alive. She trained my Father. After they passed, Peggy made it her business to become a mentor to me when I needed it. I always admired the way she handled everything even after all these years.

"I'm gonna wait outside and let you two talk," I stood up from my seat.

"You don't have to darling," Peggy still is so kind with her words but I felt that this conversation needed to be with them.

"I know, but I am gonna let you guys catch up. I'll just grab some coffee," I smile leaving the room.

"Rose is a very nice woman. I see the way you look at her'' Peggy glances over at steve.

"We are just friends,'' Steve looks over at Peggy with a smile on his face knowing she knows that is not the case.

"Rogers, lying is not your specialty, even if you two are friends, you two will definitely become more," Peggy smirks a little.

"You know, that wittiness of yours has not seemed to change, '' Steve chuckles to himself.

Peggy holds his hand. "None of us can go back but the best that we can do is to start over-*cough cough*.

Steve grabs some water and holds it for Peggy to drink but she turns it away. "Oh, steve," She stares at him.

"Yeah peg," Steve can barely get his words straight.

Though she has gotten old. He still sees the women he met back in the war. "You're alive and that is all at this point I need. So please for me, live your life now. Whatever we had when we had it was enough for the moment. It's time for you to see the world."

Steve shed some tears knowing that he was slowly moving on. That part of him was ready to see what this world had to offer. He just felt so guilty that it could have been him with Peggy. But now that Peggy has made it truly clear to him. It was time for him to see this future out and now he might know someone that could possibly play a part in that. But it was gonna take more than a friendship to keep her at his side.

"You okay?" I looked at Steve who's eyes looked a little puffy.

"Yeah, I'm great actually," Steve must have had an emotional talk with Peggy.

There is a part of me that wants to explore more with Steve than just being friends but I know that it can't be rushed. Whatever is forming between us has to happen naturally. I am not sure though if I can really let my guard down yet knowing I could lose someone again.

I had Steve drop me off at my place early. I would've joined him to see Sam but I thought I'd come back for now. I just needed to really think about my options. Things aren't so bad at Shield. I am in a pretty good place right now. Maybe it was time for me to start branching out in the dating life. I don't know if it is just me thinking out loud but maybe I am ready than I think I am. The time now is 8:00 pm. I just have been reading for the time being.

*Loud noises* "What the hell?!" I grab my gun and make my way to Steve's apartment.

His door is partly opened. I kick the door open to see Nick on the floor and Steve with his shield.

"What the hell happened!" I race over to nick.

"I don't know, someone shot through the wall," Steve is breathing heavily. I pull out my phone and dial the emergency shield hotline.

"This is Agent Williams, Fox trout is down and he is unresponsive". I keep checking for a pulse and it is very faint.

"Do we have eyes on the shooter?" the operator asks.

"Tell them I'm in pursuit," Steve races and jumps out the window.

"Steve!" Why the hell did he do that?

***

"Is he gonna make it?" Nat rushes into the room while we watch the doctors operate on Nick.

It's been about an hour since everything went down. I think of the bruises and cuts I saw on Nick's face.

"I don't know,'' Steve has his hands near the glass.

"Tell me about the shooter" Nat's voice sounds so weak.

"Fast, strong, Had a metal arm," Nat and I looked at each other. There was someone who had a metal arm. I wonder if it is the same person.

"Ballistics?" I ask.

"Three slugs, no rifling. Completely untraceable." Maria comes up close to the window. "Soviet-made'' Nat and I know about that. I hear the doctor's voice raise as Fury becomes more critical.

"Don't do this to me Nick,'' Nat whispers to herself. I can't help but start to shed some tears. This is Nick we are talking about. Please lord, let him live. They try to get his heart going. Nothing. They try again. Nothing. After the final attempt, they call it. "No" I cover my hand over my mouth

He is gone. I feel Steve pull me into a hug. I just can't think or move. All I can do is cry. Steve gently rubs my back as he sheds a few tears. They eventually move him into a private room for us to get a few minutes before they take him. My head rests gently on Steve's shoulder. I watch Nat continue to stare at him. Fury was not perfect but for me and nat, he was family.

"We need to take him,'' Maria comes to us. I move my head off Steve and walk over to Nat.

"Nat" I put my hand on her shoulder. She takes her hand and gently places on Nick. She turns away and walks out of the room.

"Natasha'' Steve calls her in the hallway.

"Why was fury in your apartment?" I was gonna ask him but it didn't feel right to ask just yet.

"I don't know,'' He seems unsure of his answer.

"Cap and Williams. They want you back at shield," Rumlow interrupts over the conversation.

"Yeah just give us a second,'' I tell him.

"They want you back now," Rumlow seems so persistent but sometimes it is really uncalled for.

"Okay," Steve confirms. "You're a terrible liar," Nat walks away.

"C'mon we better get going," I turned towards the strike team. It takes Steve a minute to catch up behind me.