Hi guys! I know I've been gone for ages (and I know I've still got unfinished stories- please don't hate me!) so this is kind of an apology present.

Enjoy!

"Captain Rogers, I'd like you to come with me. There's something we need to show you."

Steve looked up to see Coulson stood in the door of the gym. "Sure. Just give me a sec to put all of this away." Steve gestured around him at the mess that littered the floor. "I got a bit carried away. Don't know my own strength you know." He gave a slight laugh. Sand and leather was scattered on the lino, the result of Steve's 'I'm so bored I wanna see how many punches these punch bags can take' experiment.

"Leave it. This is more important." Coulson glanced around the room. "How many did it take anyway?"

Steve looked embarrassed for a moment, then cleared his throat. "Uh, 315."

Coulson raised his eyebrows. "Really. That's disappointing. I'll send a memo to the supplier, tell them we want some stronger bags."

"Right…" Steve followed Coulson out of the room, not entirely sure if he was joking or not.

"Captain Rogers, nice to see you again." Steve stepped forward and shook Director Fury's hand.

"The same to you sir." He replied, nodding respectfully.

"It has come to my attention that you've been, for lack of a better word, bored these past few months here at headquarters." Fury signalled to someone behind Steve, who immediately left the room.

Steve cleared his throat. "I wouldn't say I was bored sir." He clarified. "It's been difficult for me, as I'm sure you're aware. Waking up from the ice, I don't know anybody here. It's been a little strange having no one to spend my days with."

Fury nodded. "That's what I suspected. Fortunately that's why we brought you here today." Fury motioned for Steve to take a seat. "Captain, how familiar are you with the research that took place before your transformation?" Steve merely shook his head. "I thought as much. Well, you weren't the first living being that the serum was tested on. Mice, monkeys and the occasional lab rat were all tested, none of which took particularly well to the serum. They were about to give up. Then someone brought in a stray Labrador they had found on the streets. The scientists put 2 and 2 together and it turned out that the dog took to it really well. I mean extremely well. After all of the necessary tests were completed on it, they tried to euthanize it. Well, you saw what happened when people tried to kill you." Steve heard the door open again, but didn't turn, sensing that Fury wasn't finished. "In the end they decided to freeze it in nitrogen, due to a lack of other ideas." Fury nodded behind him. "She's just been unfrozen."

Steve looked behind him and saw a black Labrador sat in front of him, wagging its tail. "Is she for me?" Steve asked, turning back to Fury.

"Sure is. It was Coulson's idea. Figured you'd want someone to accompany you when you go out for your morning runs. We haven't named her yet, we left that part to you."

"Thank you, sir. I really appreciate it." Fury nodded and Steve turned back to the dog. "Ya like the name Peggy?" The dog pricked up her ears and tilted her head. "I'm gonna take that as a yes. Come here, Peggy! Come here!" Peggy jumped up at Steve who was nearly bowled head over heels. "Woah! You sure are strong, aren't you Peg?" Peggy stood on her hind legs and licked Steve's face in response.

So, you know the drill. Review, tell me how much you loved it (please don't tell me how much you hated it, I'll let you keep that to yourselves :) )