Steve Rogers is a man out of time. The last thing he remembered was crashing the Valkyrie in the Arctic, saving the world, and paying the ultimate price in the process. Seventy years would pass him by as he slept. When he woke, he found himself in a world he didn't know. The war had ended, and now the hero known as Captain America had to find his place again. The second time he met Nick Fury, Steve was venting his frustrations on a heavy bag in a gymnasium in Brooklyn.

"Trouble sleeping?"

"I slept for seventy years Sir. I think I've had my fill."

The soldier knew that the Director of SHIELD had a more important reason for seeking him out. He knew that a mission was imminent. What he didn't know was that he would be facing aliens, meeting Gods, and becoming a leader for a team who on the surface couldn't possibly get along. The billionaire, son to his late friend Howard Stark, Tony had an ego the size of Central Park. Dr. Banner, a genius whose curse was a monster hiding within him; Thor: heir apparent to the throne of Asgard, and the one who caught the most of Steve's attention, Agent Natasha Romanoff: The Black Widow.

"If you want to get up there you're gonna need a ride."

"I've got a ride; I could use a boost though."

The Captain watched as the spy launched herself off of his shield, catching on to one of the alien craft as it soared over his head. In the end the Avengers defeated the invading force, and Thor took his brother Loki back to their home to face justice. After they all went their separate ways, Steve found himself more out place than before. He was adapting to his new time somewhat well, but at night he still had dreams of those he couldn't save, and the life he lost.

"Look Cap, you've seen a lot of things that you never thought you would have back in the forties. I told you the world was a lot stranger than you already knew."

"What's your point; Director? You know what I've lost, so get to it. Why are you here?"

"Believe it or not, I admire you. My Dad served in World War Two. I grew up hearing all about America's Super-Soldier. But all of this stuff you're holding in, it's not good for you. Modern vets call it PTSD."

"Yeah, I've heard the term. What does it have to do with me?"

"With you, everything, I can't tell you what you should do Cap, but I can at least suggest you talk to someone."

"Like who? A psychiatrist, no thanks. This is just something I need to work out on my own."

"It's only a suggestion, but I know one who can help. She'll be professional, and non-judgmental. Here's her card, think about it."

Steve takes the card and reads the name. She has an office not far from his apartment, and Fury does seem to be genuinely concerned. Maybe this Dr. Ashley Kafka can help. Steve found himself in her office early one Tuesday morning.

"So Captain Rogers, Director Fury was able to convince you to come see me after all."

"Not really, I was more curious than anything. For instance, your card says you're the founder of the Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane."

"I am, but don't let that fool you. Your next question is obviously why do I do it? Why have I devoted my life to trying to rehabilitate these criminals? Because everyone deserves a second chance Captain, that's why I do it."

"Then why would you want to help me?"

"Because I can't stand seeing people in pain, especially good people like yourself. If I was to venture a guess I would say you have great feelings of regret, loss, more importantly survivor's guilt. So tell me, why do you feel this way?"

"Where do I begin? I couldn't save my best friend Bucky. I tried, I really did. And I keep replaying that moment over and over again, what if I'd been a little bit faster, maybe if I'd reached just a little farther, I could have saved him."

"I've read what wasn't classified from that mission Captain. Bucky Barnes protected you on that train, he protected his best friend. He damn well must have thought you were worth it."

"You sound just like Peggy."

"Peggy…?"

"Agent Carter, she was SSR and my liaison with the military after Dr. Erskine died."

"Would you like to talk about her?"

"I'm not sure I should. At least not until I see her myself. Is that okay?"

"Fair enough. So what would you like to talk about?"

"I don't know."

"Then tell me about being back in the world, fighting again. What were you feeling in the battle against the aliens?"

"Disbelief, I'm a man from the past, where everything was cut and dried. You had your orders and you followed them. I guess that's what I was thinking about the most. I had a mission, and a team to work with. Maybe I didn't even see the aliens as aliens; I just saw them as a threat to the people, and for the duration I felt like me again, it was me doing what I'd been trained to do. I felt like I had a…"

"A purpose again."

"Yeah, when they found me, I guess I felt lost, it's not easy to wake up from…, seventy years passed me by, but for me it was like no time at all had passed. Then I had to acclimate to everything, cell phones, wi-fi, and New York being bigger and noisier than I was used to."

"And I'd guess you're still trying to acclimate yourself. Do you have anyone helping you?"

"The Avengers are trying. Tony makes his jokes, Thor; he's just as lost sometimes as I am. Dr. Banner, I don't see him all that often. Agent Barton is away, something SHIELD related. I'm sorry; I don't think I should be telling you all of this."

"It's quite all right, Captain. Everything you say in here will remain completely confidential; Director Fury wouldn't have recommended me to you if he didn't feel you needed someone to talk to."

"So he won't even know that I came here?"

"Not unless you want him to know."

"Okay, so I think they mean well, but I just don't feel like I can relate to any of them."

"Not one? What about Agent Romanoff? You didn't mention her at all."

"Agent Romanoff is an enigma. Of all of them, she's the one I have had the least amount of interaction with since we met. The most time we spent together was during the heat of the battle."

"And what was your impression of her?"

"She's fiercely loyal, an incredible fighter, and she's not afraid to do what's necessary to protect lives. But aside from Agent Barton, she doesn't seem to open up to anyone, it's almost as if she's closed off, doesn't trust people."

"Well, considering the nature of the work you do, not giving away your trust easily seems to be a good way to stay alive. Did you trust the rest of them when the team was formed?"

"I trusted them to do the job. But it's not like the Commandos and I, we forged a level of trust that was unbreakable. We had…,"

"You and the Howling Commandos had countless missions together. But I bet you all had to earn each-other's trust and that took time."

"Not as much as you'd think though. It all started when I rescued them from the HYDRA base. So I earned their respect first, the trust came with it."

"Looks like our time is up Captain, I must say you were very open with me. So, how about you come back in a month? I'd like to see how you've progressed since this first session."

"Is it necessary?"

"No, it's completely up to you. No one is going to force you to do anything you don't want to. I'm just asking you to think about it."

"I'll think about it."

As Steve leaves, Dr. Kafka's phone starts ringing. She's not expecting any more patients for the day, so she gave her secretary the afternoon off. The voice on the other end of the line is one she didn't expect to hear.

"Dr. Kafka, I'm guessing Captain Rogers came to see you after all."

"This is a serious breach of protocol, Director Fury. You know I'm unable to discuss what goes on in my office with anyone due to doctor-patient confidentiality."

"You can drop all attempts at pretense; Doctor. I had Captain Rogers followed. What did he say to you?"

"What Captain Rogers and I discussed is none of your concern. If you want to know, I suggest you ask him yourself."

Dr. Kafka hangs up the phone, cutting Fury off before he can interrogate her any further. Outside her office, Steve has just reached the street and after a short walk ducks around a corner to avoid the person he knew was following him.

"Sir, I think I lost him. Captain Rogers has…,"

A strong hand grabs the man by the collar before he can finish his sentence. The strength of the hand pulling him back is intense, and before he can fight back, he's thrown into the wall behind him.

"I'll take that if you don't mind."

Steve rips the radio out of his pursuers' hand and smashes it against the wall. Only then, with one arm pressed up against the other man's throat, does he begin his line of questioning.

"Who are you? Why are you following me? Who do you work for?"

"I-I'll tell you if you'll let me breathe," the man coughs out through his restricted airways.

Steve lowers his arm from the throat, but still keeps his opponent locked against the wall with his forearm against his chest.

"My name is Brock Rumlow. I'm an Agent of SHIELD, assigned to the STRIKE team."

"So you work for Fury. I should have known he'd want to check up on me. See if I went to see the Doctor he suggested. Was she in on it?"

"No, she wasn't. Fury's main concern is you."

"Well you can go back and tell Fury that I don't need his concern. Or his help. I know you were just following orders, so I'm going to let you walk away. But if I catch you following me again, I won't be so nice the next time."

Brock and Steve go their separate ways, but this won't be the last time the two of them see each other.