#i did an emergency one yesterday and i'm still bruised so this is surely gonna be interesting | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

what-is-your-plan-today · 5 years ago

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Stark Spangled Banner Ch17: I'm Not Going Anywhere

Summary: Katie keeps vigil at Steve’s bedside and in full protective ‘dad’ mode, Tony engages the Stark Industry lawyers when the UN Senate comes calling. But the Winter Soldier has gone back into the shadows, taking one of Steve’s only living ties to his past with him. And no one has a clue where he’s gone...

Pairing: Steve Rogers x OFC Katie Stark

Warnings:Violence, bad language words, angst and smut (NSFW) NO UNDER 18s thanks.

Tag list is open- ping me an Ask

Stark Spangled Banner Masterlist

“He’s panicking…let me talk to him.” her voice was soft but full of authority.

Then a familiar hand closed over the one that he held over the mask on his face and she gently spoke to him.

“Shhhh…” her other hand ran over his forehead. “ Baby, you’re in an ambulance. Try and stay calm, ok?”

And then his eyes focused, just for a second. The panic that had hit him dissipated as her face filled his vision and he gripped her hand, not wanting her to leave him.

“I’m not going anywhere…” she said gently, “I promise.”

And he believed her. He felt himself relax and fell back against the bed and his eyes closed again, the last thing he heard and felt was her…

Steve’s hand was still tight around Katie’s when they arrived in the emergency room. She went in with the paramedics taking Steve in charge and as they escorted Steve into the operating room, the realization that she finally had to let go of him crushed her. The same doctor who had taken care of Fury and her in the warehouse approached her with a nod, and she was suddenly extremely thankful that Nick Fury had as many fingers in as many pies as he did. It was an overwhelming relief to see a face she knew she could trust.

"Miss. Stark, I need you to leave the room, please. I'll take care of him from here." He put his hand on her shoulder to support his point and dropped his voice. “I promise. Fury’s orders”

Ignoring the urge to argue she let go and took a step back, her eyes still focused on the body of Steve lying on the stretcher.

"Heart's rate climbing, doctor!" Announced one of the nurses. Katie could still see her soldier’s face disfiguring and the slight raising of his eyebrow and clench of his hand if he were trying to hold on to something. She let out a sob as she realised he was looking for her because she had left him, after promising she wouldn’t, and then the double doors of the operating room closed. Finding herself now alone and completely helpless, her limbs began to clench and she was suddenly very aware she was trembling. Then, it was as if someone had tightened a band around her chest, leaving her panting for air as her vision became more and more obscured by tears of panic. She caught herself against the nearest wall before feeling her legs give way. She managed to lift them into a bent position, before bringing her arms around them so she could hide her head on her lap as her throat felt like it had completely closed. She concentrated on Steve's images floating around her brain, his touch, his kisses, how he held her, made love to her, the feeling of his laughter, his eyes, all their moments together.

We could get married if you want…

His face as he had spoken those words, the look she hadn’t been able to place suddenly registered in her brain. He had been hopeful. She closed her eyes trying to hold on to that memory. Eventually, she felt her throat begin to open again allowing her to take a deep breath, then the tightness in her chest and lungs eased and finally her brain. The hiss of silence in her ears was replaced by the usual murmur of a hospital and she could once again feel the sensations coming back along her limbs. She loosened her arms around her legs and lifted her head to lean against the wall.

She had no idea how long she sat there. Minutes, hours…it all blurred into one as she focussed her attention on the doors he had been taken through. Eventually, her little bubble was invaded by a familiar figure hovering over her before Natasha slid to the floor, legs lying in front of her.

“Any news on how he is?" she asked.

"They're still treating him, as far as I know." Katie said, sighing impatiently and anxiously.

Natasha nodded briefly in acknowledgment before turning to look at her friend. "And you? How are you holding up?"

Katie turned to face her, but didn’t answer as Sam's familiar voice cut across the corridor.

"Katie! Natasha!" Sam hastened to join them, letting Katie take in his civilian change of clothes. He was bruised too, but overall, he looked ok. "How is he doing? Any news?"

Natasha took it upon herself to answer Sam. Meanwhile, Katie finally decided to get up from her position against the wall. The sudden movement and the long time spent in an identical position made her stagger a little. Sam hastily raised his hands to catch her.

“I brought you a change of clothes.” Nat spoke gently as she too stood up. “…but I can’t stay…I’m already being summonsed for questioning, but Hill and I are going to do our best to keep your names out of it, both of you.”

“Frankly Nat, at this moment I couldn’t give a fuck about what my name is dragged into.” Katie said, a little more harshly than she had intended. She sighed “Sorry…”

“It’s ok.” Nat said, her green eyes catching Katie’s “Look, call me as soon as there’s news.”

She nodded “Can you call Tony for me? He’s already tried ringing but I can’t bring myself to try and explain.”

“Sure.” She nodded. In a rare sign of affection she pulled Katie into a hug, before she headed off up the corridor.

“Katie…” Sam said gently “There’s a waiting room down there...”

She shook her head “No, I’m staying here…”

“Look.” Sam reasoned “You need to get a proper rest. You got shot yourself yesterday, remember? Come on, you’re no good to Steve if you aint in top fighting form.”

Katie gave in and let Sam escort her to the waiting room where the two of them sat in silence. It was around four o'clock in the afternoon, some 4 hours after they had arrived when the SHIELD doctor made an appearance. Katie was currently half-lying with her head against Sam's shoulder as Sam was changing the annoying channels of the hospital TV every ten seconds.

"Miss. Stark?”

Sam turned off the television almost immediately while Katie was already on her feet in impatience.

"Yeah?"

"Sorry it’s taken so long but there was a few complications...”

“Complications?” Katie frowned “He’s got the damned serum coursing through his DNA, it’s supposed to help him heal...” “And it did, meaning the wounds had started to heal over which caused us a bit of an issue but he’s of theatre and the surgery was a success.”

“So he’s gonna be ok?” Sam asked and the Doctor nodded.

“He lost a lot of blood but he should be fine.”

Katie let out a sob and covered her face with her hands, relief flooding every cell in her body as Sam wrapped an arm round her.

“We’ve moved him into his own room and it will be a while before he regains consciousness, how long we can’t say.” the doctor continued gently, before looking round and then back to her, his voice lowering “We have an armed guard on his door, Fury’s orders, but you two can stay with him.”

He beckoned for them to follow him through the corridors of the hospital. "He's doing very well, all things considered." He said stopping in front of a door. “He is heavily sedated to ensure he rests as he was quite agitated but now it's just a case of letting the serum work its magic.”

“Thank you…” Katie said to him before she turned to the door and a hand gently touched her arm. She looked up and did a double take as she saw Evans stood there.

“Hey Nova…”

“Evans…” she said, her voice a whisper as he pulled her into a hug. “You…”

“No, I’m not HYDRA, probably the only one in STRIKE who wasn’t.” he said, and she stepped back to look at him noticing the shiny fresh bruise adorning his right cheek and the split in his upper lip. “I swear I had no idea…it all started smelling a bit funky when they told us Cap was public enemy number one, and then when I heard his voice on that PA…I’m sorry I didn’t try to find you, help sooner…”

Katie shook her head as the ginger Texan man wiped at his eyes with the heel of his palm.

“None of us knew Paul.” she said softly, and the use of his first name made him look at her, and she was swept back into his arms again.

“How is he?” he asked as she stepped back, nodding to the room.

“I don’t know yet.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to keep ya.” he smiled and she gently squeezed his am.

“I don’t want anyone in here without my say so.” she said. Evans jerked his head to show he understood and she gave him a tight smile as she pushed the door open and stepped into the room, Sam following.

The sight in front of her made fresh tears spring into her eyes and she swallowed as she silently took in Steve's condition. He was lying, asleep, in his bed with whilst IV's and monitors recorded his vitals. He had stitches in several places on his face, nasty bruises around his left eye and jawline, and a huge swelling along the same eye that was likely to prevent him from seeing properly for a while. Overall, he was a mess.

"Katie-"

"I'm fine." she interrupted Sam quickly in a hoarse voice, slightly tinged with her desire to cry. She took a shaky breath as she could hear Steve's steady heartbeat reaching her ears. "I just need a minute."

She slowly made her way to one of the chairs by the bed, settling down without looking away from Steve as she reached up to take one of his hands. It was colder than she could ever remember him being.

"Hey, Soldier." she breathed in a shaking voice before pressing her lips to his bruised knuckles as she held his large hand in both of hers. For a moment, she thought she felt his hand contract in recognition but when she looked down he showed no signs of being awake. "I don’t know if you can hear me but I’m here, like I promised."

The next few hours Sam and Katie stayed in the room with him and eventually Katie had to concede she really needed to clean up. She looked around for the bag which Nat had brought her some clothes in and stood up, grabbing it from where it sat by the door.

“I’m need the bathroom.” she said to Sam. He nodded “I won’t be long.”

She headed down the corridor and entered the ladies restroom, leaning over the sink. She glanced at the mirror, her eyes were red, face was dirty, hands still full of Steve’s blood and she looked all in all like a right mess. She set about washing her hands, her face and anything else that she could before she stepped into a cubicle and peeled off the SHIELD cat suit she had been wearing under her Nova Suit. Dressing in the jeans and top that Nat had packed, she was also touched to the point of more tears to see she’d packed her some deodorant, a set of face wipes, dry shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste and a hairbrush. By the time Katie had finished she looked almost normal.

Katie pinged Nat a message to thank her and fill her in on the news that Steve was going to be ok and one came back almost immediately

Thank God, and you’re welcome. I just spoke to Tony. He’s on his way back from Australia as we speak, he’d already set off after seeing the news. He told me to tell you to call him, ASAP.

So she did.

“Jesus Kiddo!” he exclaimed when he answered, “I’ve been so worried…how are you? How’s Cap?”

“He’s stable…still out of it but...” she said, tears at hearing her brother’s voice trickled down her cheek.

“I’ve had Pepper call the hospital, anything you or he needs…anything…” he said gently “and she’s working to keep the press off your back.”

“Thanks. Where abouts are you?” she asked

“Approaching Singapore airspace. I’ll be there as soon as I can, I promise sweetie .

“’kay…” she said gently

“Love you Kiddo, he’s strong…he’ll be fine.”

“So everyone keeps saying.” she said, the sob catching in her throat.

Tony sighed "Look, this is Rogers we’re talking about. He’s as stubborn as you are."

“I know.”

“Chin up, see you soon. Call me if there’s any news, ok?”

But there wasn’t. Katie sent Sam home in the early hours of the morning but her vigil never wavered. Doctors and nurses bustled in throughout the night. Steve’s vitals were improving but he still didn’t wake up.

It was around 10 am when Sam returned. Steve had been moved into a bigger, nicer room courtesy of Pepper’s discussions with the hospital. The new guard who had relieved Evans for a shift stopped him immediately until Katie popped her head out of the door and told him it was ok. After he had frisked Sam he walked in, holding out a bag containing a sub.

“You’re an angel.” Katie said as she tore into it, unaware how long it was since she had eaten something.

The two of them ate as they watched the news reports on the TV in the corner of the bright room. They spoke of the Helicarriers, HYDRA's plot having integrated the governmental organization as well as the impending investigation. Katie watched the footage of her and Sam whizzing around the sky, and listened as they had even rebuffed Steve's message for more effect. The attack was all the world was talking about and all the news was focused on Steve’s recovery and the repercussions of his actions.

“The identity of the Avenger Supernova has until today remained a mystery but the rumours are beginning to amass than it is none other than Katie Stark…” one of the news readers was saying “the sister of Iron Man and girlfriend of Captain America…”

Katie didn’t even flinch. It wasn’t like they wouldn’t find out anyway, as soon as those files they had dumped on the internet became common knowledge it was going to blow up, plus, it was pretty obvious now anyway. What was annoying her however, was that it was as if they blamed them, in particular Steve, for doing what was right.

4 hours later just as Sam had left again, Katie heard a commotion outside the doors to the room and she stood up.

“You know me right? Tony Stark, my sister is in there…”

“Sir, I’m under instructions not to…”

“It’s ok Davies…” Katie stepped out of the room and spoke to the guard “he’s good…”

Davies sighed “Mr Stark…I’m gonna have to search you then…” he relented.

Tony shrugged and held his arms out, once he’d been patted down he shot Davies a contemptuous look and he entered the room. No sooner had he done that Katie was in his arms, sobbing.

“Shhhhh Kiddo…” Tony gently stroked her hair as she pressed her face into his chest, his familiar aftershave and touch reminding her of all the times he’d soothed her before when she was upset.

“I’m so glad you’re here…”

Tony stepped back to look at her “Nat said you got shot.”

“I did, but I’m ok, see.” she shifted her top to show him the patch that was over her wound, which was healing well.

“Sounds like you’ve been having a bit of fun without me.” Tony sniffed, “Its ok, I’m not really hurt. Well, maybe just a little. JARVIS is in a whole heap of trouble for not telling me by the way…”

“I told him not to, you were in Australia, Tones.” Katie said gently “Besides, this was all a bit crazy. There wasn’t really time, if we had waited for you to get back it would have been too late…and you could have been in danger and…” She looked over at Steve, his face was still a mess “look at him Tony…”

Her brother placed his arm around his sister and squeezed. “He’s gonna be fine.”

Katie lay her head on Tony’s shoulders as they sat down, his hand gently stroking over her hair, not once trying to get her to leave as he knew she wouldn’t. She’d burst randomly into tears again when she’d told him her car was now buried in the wreck of the Triskelion. It was a lump of metal, not something that mattered, but Tony understood. She was letting everything out, and he simply sat with her and soothed her, informing her that the car was ready for being changed anyway.

“But I like my car.” She sniffed.

“Kiddo, it’s almost 9 years old. I got you that for your 21st.”

“And that’s why I like it.” she said.

Tony had to chuckle, that’s what she was like. Sentimental. It was the gesture behind gifts that mattered to her, not the value. He’d brought her up that way to value money, even though they had it in abundance, and he was fiercely proud of the woman she had grown to be. Humble in many ways that he wasn’t.

“You know he asked me to move in with him.” Katie spoke again, breaking the silence after a minute or so.

“Before marriage?” he teased, “Well, well, well.”

She snorted a laugh “That’s what I said. And he turned round and told me we could get married if I wanted.”

Tony stiffened slightly before he looked down at her.

“And do you want?”

She nodded “Of course I do. Only I told him to ask me again with a big diamond.” she sniffed again before sobbing “We both laughed but why did I say that? I don’t need a fucking ring, or-”

“Hey, hey…” Tony gently took her face in both his hands “You just said it yourself. You both laughed. That’s what you two do. You know each other inside out, he won’t have taken it as anything but what it was, a joke...he knows you love him. Everyone does. Frankly it’s hard not to, it’s sickening”

She gave a wet laugh and Tony wiped at her cheeks with his thumbs.

“He’s gonna move into mine.” she said, smiling, as they both settled down again, her head on his shoulder. “His place is too small and full of bullet holes and…blood.”

“Sensible” he smiled, pulling her closer.

At one point during the night Pepper called, filling them both in on the fact that Natasha was to be summonsed to the UN for a hearing and that they wanted Katie there too, her secret identity as an Avenger was well and truly busted.

“Get the lawyers onto it.” Tony said simply, glancing at Katie who was now asleep, across a makeshift bed consisting of 4 plastic chairs from around the room, head laying on his lap As his hand gently smoothed her hair, his need to protect her boiled fiercely within him. “She’s not going anywhere…certainly not yet. Oh, and I need you to get hold of Happy. I have a couple of jobs for him…

The next morning Sam arrived back at 9 am, as did Evans. Tony headed off to Katie’s apartment to check no one had been there, and to take the opportunity to get changed, cleaned up and make a few business calls, promising to bring her another change of clothes back when she declined to go with him for fear of missing Steve waking up. She had noticed that morning the bruises were starting to fade from an angry red/purple to a bluey green purple already. The doctors checking his vitals told her that his recovery was progressing rapidly as expected, but still, she wouldn’t be happy until he was conscious. She’d long since turned off the TV, the reports pissing her off so, instead Sam produced a set of speakers and plugged his Iphone in, the pair of them listening to music. Katie felt her eyes going heavy again, due to the lack of sleep, and she apologised to Sam right before she drifted under...

*****

Every single inch of Steve’s body hurt. His mouth felt like sandpaper, his head was full of cotton wool, his eyes hurt as the colours flashed in front of them. He screwed his eyes further shut against the painful light that still assaulted him through his closed eyelids. as he took a moment to breathe, steadying himself as soft music flooded his ears. It wasn’t something he had heard before but it was pleasant, soulful, jazz-like. His head stopped spinning and he felt brave enough to crack an eye open. He glanced round the room, puzzled slightly. He was in a hospital. Then he remembered. The Hellicarriers, Bucky, and the last thing he had seen before blacking out, his girl. He rememberd being very cold, and wet, but she had been there. And she still was, at the side of his bed, head laying against Sam’s shoulder.

"On your left." he managed to croak out. Katie’s head jerked up from its resting place and they both glanced over at the bed where Steve was led. He smiled groggily before his head rolled to the side, flush back against the pillow and he closed his eyes once more.

Katie jumped up, and settled on the side of his bed, gently stroking his face.

“’M so tired sweetheart…” he managed to mumble as she dropped a kiss to his forehead. He managed a small smile, but his eyes stayed shut.

“Then sleep.” she said softly, the relief flooding her system that he was with them, albeit not totally, but he was with them. She gently smoothed his hair, and kept that up until she could tell he was back asleep.

She turned to Sam who gave her a smile. “Lazy bastard.”

A few minutes later a nurse popped her head round the door. Katie smiled and told her about him waking up briefly and she nodded, checking the readings. “That’s a good sign.” she beamed, “His body will be drained, serum or no serum so him resting is part of the natural recovery process. When he comes round fully, come find me and we’ll get the doctor back.”

An hour or so later, the mood in Steve’s room was considerably lighter given his waking up before. Katie, Sam and Evans, who was leaning in the open doorway, were mid a playful discussion as to whether or not Voldemort could take Darth Vader in a fight. (Katie had started this whole thing after calling Evans “Ron Weasley with a rifle” on her way back from the bathroom) and were just about to dive into the whole schematics on Magic vs The Force when a voice spoke from the bed.

“What the hell are you 3 talking about?” Steve grumbled playfully and Katie’s head jerked up to see his eyes watching her and she was beyond happy to see they were full of their usual warmth, the warmth he had whenever he looked at her.

"Hey!" Katie breathed in relief as she stood up and moved closer to him, settling on the edge of his bed.

“Hey Doll.” he smiled as she took his hand, her fingers snaking into his. His eyes flickered to Evans, taking in the man’s various bruises and he frowned.

“Got in a bit of a fight with Rollins.” Evans drawled with a nod, and Steve let out the breath he hadn’t realised he had been holding. He wasn’t HYDRA. “He didn’t take kindly to me threatening to test out the whole ‘cut one head off, two more shall take its place’ theory on him.”

Steve gave a small huff of a laugh before he winced slightly at the movement and Evans nodded to him once more, before allowing the door to shut, returning to his post. Steve’s eyes fell on Sam who raised an eyebrow at him.

“You know, having a building dropped on my head wasn’t part of the job description” he said drily.

Steve’s smile spread a bit further before he gently lifted his head up off the pillow, looking around before grimacing at the throbbing that filled each bone in his body "How long was I out?"

"43 hours and 37 minutes if you don’t count the last hour you’ve been resting." Katie said gently, glancing up at the clock on the wall as she settled on the side of the bed. Ah, yes, Steve’s brain vaguely registered he’d woken up before, made some quip of some sorts… “Not that I’ve been counting…” Katie finished and he smiled again, giving her hand a squeeze.

"Which isn't that bad considering how you looked when you got here." Sam added jokingly.

"Sam." Katie reprimanded gently, looking at him.

"Alright," He relented standing from his chair and holding his hands up, with a smirk. "I'll go get that hot nurse, give you guys a minute."

"Utter dog." she said, the pair of them watching as he left the room and she turned to face Steve, tears in her eyes.

“You scared me…” she said, gently.

“Sorry.” He said, looking at her, and he was. He hated seeing her upset. There was a moment’s pause before he decided he had to know. "What happened after… did we?"

"SHIELD’s gone, Alexander Pierce is dead. Fury shot him. And as far as Hydra, everyone major that was involved at the Treskellion is either captured or dead.” she paused, not sure if she should be telling him the full scale of what had gone down. Not whilst he was still recovering.

“What is it?” he frowned and she knew she wouldn’t be able to fob him off.

“Nat dumping the files on the internet means my identity as Nova is probably blown wide open. There goes our quiet life.”

“Nothing about our life is quiet.” he said a soft chuckle rising in his chest.

She grinned “True. Gonna be a lot of other shit to mop up though, The Treskellion was the tip of the iceberg. All the main SHIELD bases fell. America, Canada, Europe.”

Steve nodded along then asked the question he was almost afraid to hear the answer to. “Any news on Bucky?

"He's gone." Katie told him sadly. “I’m sorry Steve."

She looked down at the bedsheets and Steve frowned. What did she have to be sorry for? So he asked her.

“I know how much he meant to you.” she answered. “And I think he remembered you. He pulled you out of the river, told me to get help.” she continued to explain about their short exchange on the river bank and Steve listened, unable to stop the hopeful feeling spreading in his chest. Maybe there was a chance for Bucky after all, they just needed to find him. Katie watched him, and he smiled at her.

“I’m glad you spoke to him.” he said, and then a cheeky glint flashed in his eyes “Still think all the girls in Brooklyn were dumbasses for hanging off his arm and not mine?”

She gave a bark of a laugh and leaned down towards his face, rubbing her nose against his “Always.” she whispered, before giving him a soft quick peck on the lips.

******

Tony arrived back an hour or so later. He was genuinely pleased to see Steve awake and after gently grasping the soldier’s hand between both of his in a friendly, brotherly, gesture he sat down and delivered some interesting news.

“So Goth Pirate called me.” He said, leaning back in his seat “He sounded amazingly well for a dead guy.”

“Fury called you?” Steve frowned

“Yeah. He’s laying low, you know, on account of being dead and he wants to hand control of the Avengers over to us, Cap.”

Steve frowned, before he lay his head back on his pillow. He knew the Avengers would be needed again, especially now with SHIELD gone. He turned to Tony who nodded.

“I think that’s the right thing to do, for us to take control” The billionaire spoke and Steve nodded.

“I suppose, but there’s something I gotta do first.”

“Yeah, recover.” Sam said, drawing a faint smile from Steve but Katie knew full well he didn’t mean that. He was intending to go after Bucky.

They spent the rest of the afternoon making idle chit chat with Tony, who was already planning on further renovating the tower to house the Avengers full time in the wake of Fury’s news. Steve, Katie was pleased to see, was enthusiastic about the plans and listened, looking at the various ideas Tony showed him on the tablet. However, now that Steve was awake, the nurses seemed to be a little more reluctant to allow everyone to stay and at about 6pm one of them politely suggested that Sam and Tony should be making their way home.

“You do know I’m paying for this, right?” Tony quipped at her. She shot him a look which made him visibly recoil and he turned to Katie pulling a face as he stood up.

“I’ve gotta get back to New York anyway.” He said gently, pulling his sister into a hug “lawyers to speak to…new suits to build seeing as you blew yours up…”

“I needed to send up a signal.” she shrugged as he looked at her reproachfully.

“And I gotta tidy my flat.” Sam groaned “Someone trashed it.”

“You’re welcome to stay at mine if you want, for as long as you need “ Katie said, as Steve let out a sigh and began to mumble an apology which Sam waved away.

“It’s fine man, I was thinking of moving anyway.”

“Speaking of moving…” Tony said, looking at Steve then Katie as he fished in his pockets for something “I’ve had Happy organise to clear your apartment Cap, now you two are shacking up together. He’s gonna have it sent to yours Kiddo, save you a job. Oh and I figured you might need this.” he tossed Katie a set of keys. She glanced down at them, her eyebrow raised.

“Brought over from my personal collection.” he said, looking at her and she smiled at her brother “It’s the Q5. Try not to bury this one under a sky-scraper.”

“Thank you.” she whispered, giving him another hug, slipping the keys into her pocket. “I love you Tone.”

“Obviously, because I’m the best big brother in the world…” he said, hugging her tight, and Steve nodded to him, thanking him with a look which Tony acknowledged with a sharp incline of his head in the soldiers direction.

As the two men left, Steve raised his right arm to bid them goodbye and the pair of them headed off down the corridor, chatting away animatedly. Katie watched them go before turning to Steve, who was yawning like a lion.

“You ok?” she asked.

“I just don’t remember the last time I was this tired…or in as much pain”

"Do you want me to get the nurse, up your pain relief?"

"No." he yawned again, he hated how it made the room spin "Think I'm gonna sleep."

She teased gently. “Again?”

He smiled and looked at her, he didn’t want her to go. He needed her. “Will…will you stay?” he asked, tentatively “Until I fall asleep, that is?”

“I’m not leaving you.” she said, cutting him off and dropping a kiss to his forehead as she climbed onto the bed next to him “I’ll be here when you go to sleep, and here when you wake up.”

“You don’t need to stay all night. You must be exhausted, you should go home and get some sleep.”

“I’m fine…” she said, looking at him, before her body betrayed her and she too let out a huge yawn which she tried to stifle. He raised an eyebrow.

“Please honey, you need some rest too remember?” he looked at her

“No.” she said, simply “I’m not going anywhere.”

Steve shook his head. She really was obtuse at times.

“What?”

“Nothing…” he said, laying his head back on the pillow a grin flashing across his face. “Just remembering what a stubborn, pain in the-“

“If you wanna get out of here any time soon, then I wouldn’t finish that sentence…”she said, her eyebrow raised.

“Miss Stark is that a threat?” he looked at her, a smile curling further across his face

“It’s a promise…” she said, leaning over to kiss him gently. “Now go to sleep.”

*******

Steve was discharged from the hospital the next afternoon, the doctors having no reason to keep him any longer since he healed so quickly, though a cheeky nurse did warn that it wouldn't be wise for him to engage in any strenuous activity, with a pointed look in Katie’s direction who merely rolled her eyes, a small smirk playing on her face.

They arrived back to Katie’s, no theirs, a little after 4 in the afternoon. Steve was dying for a hot shower, and a shave, despite Katie’s protests that she liked the stubble he had sprouted, and whilst he was under the scalding hot waterfall, Katie headed into the kitchen to grab a drink. As she opened the fridge for a bottle of water she wasn’t surprised it was fully stocked including a few bottles of expensive pinot grigio and some beer. There was a note stuck to one of the bottles, in Tony’s handwriting.

Couldn’t have you both coming home to an empty fridge now, could I?

Whatever it is he’s ‘got to do’, I know you’ll follow. So keep safe, stay in touch, and if you need help…you know where to find a good team.

T xxx

She read the note over again and smiled to herself. It was times like this that her brother always came through for her. She fired him a quick text message to thank him before she headed up to the bedroom to see if Steve was hungry.

“Hey love, just wanted to know…” the words died in her mouth at the sight of him, his upper body was flecked with droplets of water from the shower. The knife wound on his shoulder had faded to nothing but a fresh, pink scar and the bruises he sported were all starting to turn yellow now apart from one stubborn one on the right side of his ribcage that was still a mass of purple. But it was the round circle of scar tissue that stood out, on the left side of his lower abdomen, angry and red, where the bullet that had done the most damage had exited that caught her attention. Her mouth went dry and suddenly her eyes were misting over as it hit her exactly how close she had come to losing him. Quite simply, she wasn’t sure she could cope without him now, which scared her as she’d always been fiercely independent.

“Hey…” he said, swiftly stepping forward, his hands cupping her face as he saw her face crumple “Sweetheart, I’m fine…”

“I know, I know but…” she said, sniffing. “I almost lost you and I couldn’t bear it if that happened…”

“Well you didn’t.” he said, gently, “Gonna take more than that to get rid of me.”

His lips brushed hers, the lightest of touches but it set every single nerve end she had into over drive with desire. As her breath hitched she felt him grin against her mouth before he kissed her, slightly harder this time, parting her lips with his tongue. He pulled her close, moving his hands up to the small of her back, pressing her into him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, running the fingers of one hand through his hair while the others lingered at the base of his skull, holding him to her. They stayed like that for what felt like forever, the kiss growing in intensity, hunger, until Katie felt him hard against her stomach and her face was raw from the stubble that he hadn’t shaved yet.

“The doctor said you had to take it easy…” she whispered into the space between them as they each worked to steady our breathing

“Yeah…” he said, slowly moving her backwards, "But, what do they know?”

“Ermm a lot.” she snorted.

“You need proof that I'm all healed?"

“Depends on what proof you’re talking about…” she grinned as he dropped his hands to her ass, reaching down as if to lift her but she stopped him, hands on his wrists.

“Steve, your ribs…”

“For once in your life will you shut up and just do as you’re told…” he said, looking down at her. She was about to argue, about to tell him no, but as he looked at her, his eyes alive with desire she knew it was pointless.

“Yes, Captain…” she murmured as his lips crashed onto hers, but he didn’t try and lift her again, instead he backed her up the short few strides, before the back of her knees hit the side of the bed and she dropped back onto it.

"I’ll take it easy…" he whispered as he crawled over the top of her, sliding his hand up her jersey dress and into the waistband of her leggings and knickers, slowly sinking two fingers into her warm, wet depth. She let out a soft moan, open mouth grazing his neck as he felt her clench around him. "Easy," he repeated before her mouth hungrily claimed his again. He moved his hands to reach down and they parted just long enough so he could pull her dress up over her head. His eyes automatically darted to the bullet wound on her left shoulder, that hadn’t healed half as fast as his, the stitches weren’t due out for another week

“I hate that you got hurt…” he muttered, slipping one bra strap down, then the other, before she arched her back allowing him to reach round and undo the clasp before he discarded it to the floor. His lips travelled across her collar bone and up her neck, drawing a soft groan from her lips as his stubble scraped her skin and once more his fingers claimed her. She writhed with pleasure at his strokes and he groaned gently, his lips working on the spot under her ear. He moved away for a second, to rid himself of the towel and crawled over her so that she was led flat, his hands pulling at the side of her black leggings, removing them along with her panties easily. He positioned himself over her, his tongue dipping into her mouth before he pushed into her, making her shudder slightly. His hands were on either side of her face, caressing her cheek and jaw as he kissed her again, rocking his hips as opposed to thrusting, the contact not breaking for a second. He dropped his head to her neck, his lips gently brushing her ear as he let out a groan, his hips grinding against hers.

It was soft, it was gentle, it was intimate, not rushed and she cried out his name loudly when her orgasm took her, her thighs closing around him. He was consumed completely by her, and he followed her over the edge, a loud moan rumbling in his throat. God he loved this woman with every single inch of his body.

“One day…” he mumbled, his lips brushing her ear. “I’m going to ask you properly.”

She understood what he meant. Smiling she looked at him, not a shred of hesitation on her face as her lips met his and she whispered into the kiss, “One day, I’m going to say yes.”

He couldn’t help the huge grin that spread across his face as he kissed her again, noses sliding carefully against one another to avoid aggravating any bruises before he rolled over pulling her to him, her words reverberating around his head.

I’m going to say yes.

His hand gently carded through her hair as he felt her relax into him and he dropped a kiss to the top of her head.

I’m going to say yes.

*****

The flashes of the photographers and the hustle and bustle of the audience were invasive. 4 days had passed since they had taken down SHIELD/Hydra and despite the best attempts of the lawyers that Tony had instructed on both hers and Natasha’s behalf, they had been summonsed to Capitol Hill.

What pissed Katie off the most wasn’t the attention (that she hated) it was the fact they were being held accountable when they had done the right thing. Natasha felt the same, but the pair of them remained professional and unaffected by the staging of the conference before them. They both moved to the fingerprint reader before returning to their appointed places to answer their questions. Nat’s hair was as usual smoothed and perfectly capped on her shoulders, Katie’s was twisted back in a bun. Katie's face still bore the bruises she had gotten from Rumlow, which were turning and fading and she probably could have covered them better but she’d chosen not to, simply to make a point.

“Miss Stark, you know Captain Rogers the best out of anyone in this room. Why do you believe he felt the need to take down our intelligence service?"

Katie wanted to laugh; it was such a stupid question to open with. But the serious look on his face told her he was serious.

"Taking down SHIELD was the morally right thing to do. If we hadn't stopped that launch over twenty million people would be dead." she said seriously. The congressman eyed her before jotting down something on his notepad.

The questioning continued from there. Not many people in the room were sympathetic to all that they had been through. In fact, Katie would go as far as to suggest that most were trying to find a weak spot or a way for them to trip them up. An hour in and it felt like they were going round in circles. Katie was getting pissed off. Besides her Nat shifted slightly, crossing her arms over her chest, the two women resisting the urge to look at one another.

"Why is there no news from Captain Rogers?" asked one of the men of the congress.

That was when Katie lost it. She turned to the front taking a deep breath as she looked up at the ceiling with annoyance, the eye roll she had been fighting came fully as she glanced back at the moron who had been speaking “I don't know what else to say.” she spoke, her tone laced with sarcasm. “Maybe the fact he almost died might have something to do with it. That said, I think the new rock in the middle of the Potomac speaks for him in this case."

"Perhaps he can explain to us how he hopes this country will ensure its national security because you have dismantled our intelligence services." The Congressman insisted reproachfully.

This time it was Natasha that spoke, her attitude ringing across the room, she was pissed as well.

"What information?" She asked angrily. "Hydra sold you lies."

"Lies that you took care to spread." The Congressman reminded, pointing at her with a knowing look. Natasha narrowed her lips to his allusion but it was Katie that answered, the final threads of her self-control finally snapping.

“Ste- Captain Rogers, sacrificed everything to save the lives of millions of people when he took that airship down into the ice over 70 years ago.” she leant forward “Not to mention the fact that my dad, Howard Stark, the co-founder of SHIELD also worked against Hydra in the war.” she took a breath and looked at Natasha “Agent Romanoff was almost killed by Hydra’s most deadly assassin on a mission 5 years ago. And more to the fact, 2 years ago we fought, side by side as part of the Avengers to keep the world and its people safe. And you’re seriously suggesting now that we would knowingly put those same people in danger?”

“Passionate speech Miss Stark, or should we call you Nova…” he said, making her snort and look away “And perhaps you’re right, maybe you didn’t know…but Agent Romanoff…” he turned to Natasha “It happens that a few in the commission have the feeling that, given your state of service for our country and against it, your place is more in a penitentiary than in a senatorial commission."

Katie looked at Nat who took a deep breath, clearly collecting her thoughts before answering with confidence. "You’re not gonna put me in jail." She paused for the dramatic effect before letting a small smirk curl the corner of her pink lips as she glanced at a Katie before looking at the front again "You’re not gonna put any of us in jail." She arched a mocking eyebrow as she kept eye contact with the congressman. "You know why?"

"Please enlighten us." He replied snidely.

"Because you need us." Katie answered for her. “With SHIELD gone, the world needs the Avengers more than ever.”

Natasha smiled gently and continued “Miss Stark is right. Yes, the world is vulnerable. And we're partly responsible, but we're also the most qualified to defend it. So you want to throw us in prison? Go ahead” she shrugged “You know where to find us."

With that she gently touched Katie’s shoulder and she rose gracefully from her seat, Katie following her. The pair of them turned to face the hordes of press, all of them were shoving microphones and cameras into their faces whilst they moved to the doors and pushed their way through the throng of people.

“Move aside please…” Happy was in his element, arm round Katie as he cleared a path to the SUV, where he opened the door to allow them to slide in. He pulled away from the kerb and sped off.

“We’ll head to Miss Romanoff’s first… then I’ll drop you home Kiddo.”

“Happy, what would I do without you?” Katie smiled at him. She turned to Nat who was looking out of the window.

“You ok?”

She shrugged “Could be worse.”

“So, what’s next for you?” she asked.

“Gonna take a bit of time out.” she said vaguely, shrugging “You?”

“Steve wants to track Bucky down.” Katie sighed “Although I’m not so sure it’s a good idea.”

She didn’t reply. They rode in silence until they reached her condo and Katie turned to her.

“Nat.”

She looked at Katie, her green eyes locking onto her friend’s.

“Don’t be a stranger. Come over this week, we can get takeout and make fun out of Steve, just like normal.”

She smiled and reached across the seats, giving her a hug. “I’d like that.”

****

The days following the hearing were peaceful as Steve and Katie mostly lounged at home, unpacking some of his things that Happy had sent over. They binge watched shows, cooked, went for walks and then one night Sam and Natasha dropped in for take-out and a few beers. Sam made sure he congratulated Katie and Natasha on them both basically telling the Government to kiss their asses.

“It was the best thing I’ve seen on TV in years!” he gleefully said, as Steve dropped a kiss to the side of Katie's head. In contrast, Steve had hated seeing both her and Nat getting grilled. He’d offered to go himself but both girls had insisted they could handle it, and he should keep his head down for the foreseeable. It was the one thing that Katie knew she could do to protect him.

It was as Natasha was leaving that Steve pulled her to one side and asked her if she could get any of her old contacts to dig up any information on Bucky. Katie pretended she wasn’t listening to the conversation, but she heard every word as Natasha tried to warn him that it wasn’t a good idea, but, stubborn as ever, Steve insisted so she nodded, and promised to do what she could.

And now, almost 2 weeks later, they were stood in a graveyard. Katie supposed there were stranger places to meet up with your dead-not-dead ex-boss…

“Funny, most people need a Medium or a Ouija board to speak to dead people.” Sam quipped as Fury approached them.

“I see dead people…” Katie replied in an almost perfect impression of the Kid from The Sixth Sense, causing Sam to snort and Steve to chastise the pair of them for acting like a pair of school children in a graveyard.

“Sorry Dad…” Katie rolled her eyes and he shot her a disapproving look which she met with an equally sassy one of her own, and Steve looked away before he laughed at her.

"So, you've experienced this sort of thing before." said Fury, drawing up behind the 3.

"You get used to it," said Steve, looking down at the grave stone with Fury's name on it, placed over an empty, buried coffin.

Katie slipped her hand into his, gently squeezing it.

"We've been data mining Hydra's files. Looks like a lot of rats didn't go down with the ship," said Fury, He was standing by Katie’s side, staring down at his own tombstone, with sunglasses on and a hoodie over his head and he looked up at Steve "I'm headed to Europe tonight. Wanted to ask if you'd come."

"There's something I gotta do first," Steve responded, simply.

“I assume you gotta do it too?” Fury looked at Katie. She shrugged.

"How about you, Wilson? Could use a man with your ability," said Fury, turning his gaze to Sam.

"I'm more of a soldier than a spy," responded Sam.

"Alright then," he said instead, shaking Sam's hand before going over to shake Steve's. "If anybody asks for me, tell them they can find me right here." He said shaking Katie’s hand last.

"You should be honoured," said Natasha's voice from behind the three of them, making them turn around to see her walking up to them while Fury himself was already walking away in the opposite direction. "That's about as close as he gets to saying 'thank you'."

"Not going with him?" Katie asked.

"No," she sang coming to a stop, keeping her hands behind her back.

"Not staying here," Steve concluded.

"Nah…" she drew out the reply. "I blew all my covers, I gotta go figure out a new one."

"That could take some time," Katie raised an eyebrow.

"I'm counting on it.” She smirked, turning to Steve. “That thing you asked for; called in a few favours from Kiev."

As she removed her hands from behind her back, she revealed a brown folder, which Steve took staring down at it with a contemplative expression.

"Be careful Steve," she added, repeating her warning and he looked at her, nodding. "You may not want to pull on that thread."

"Take care of yourself." Katie said, looking at her, before giving her a quick hug. "I think I'm going to miss you, just a little bit."

"Only a little?" Natasha teased right back. "I'll miss you too."

She turned to leave and Katie gently reached over to tilt the file down so she could see it, wincing at the photo of Bucky in some kind of cryo-stasis. Steve looked at her, his eyes giving away his sadness and she gently ran her hand up his arm.

“I’m not sure I want you involved in this.” he looked down at her and she rolled her eyes.

“We live together you ass.” she said sternly “And we’re in this now, the both of us. I’m not going anywhere.”

She felt like she had been saying that a lot recently, and she had. But she wanted him to understand, nothing that happened could and would ever tear them apart.

As Sam approached Steve closed the folder, but the man had already seen it. He shot a look up to the sky, his eyes locking on Katie’s and she gave him a quick look which was almost sympathetic as she registered Sam’s frustration. It didn’t go unnoticed by Steve either, he knew this could be opening a whole can of worms, or a ‘bucket of vipers’ as Katie had said the other night, but he had to try. He owed it to Bucky.

"You're going after him aren’t you?" Sam asked.

"You don't have to come with us." Steve responded

“I know.” Sam said, before a smirk crossed his face. "When do we start?"