Prologue... Two weeks after being brought out of the ice

The noise of New York was always the same, the noise of the cars and the constant movement in the streets. The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon, its light was staring to shine upon the city, the lights of the buildings were slowly fading away as the sun took over as the sustainer of light. The apartment that Steven Grant Rogers was staying in. It was nice, homey; that's how he could describe it, but none of it felt like home. The home he was used to was much different than now, Steve was lying in bed and he was still asleep. The sun was peering in through the window and was resting over his bed near his legs. He slightly stirred and he mumbled something under his breath. He shifted in his sleep and he mumbled something again. He could see the controls of the bomber again, his hands on the controls. The cold air blowing through the broken canopy.

He wasn't cold, but he could hear his heart beating in his ears. He remembered the feeling of his compass against his fingers as he placed it in front of him. He stared at the small picture of Peggy, her lovely brown hair, her red lips, her confident smile. He saw the ice getting closer "I got to put her in the water".

Steve opened his eyes and he stared up at the ceiling, he exhaled shakily as he felt his muscles tensing. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath and he opened his eyes, sitting up. He looked around his room and at its bizarreness. The style of the comforter, the carpet, the wood flooring in his hallway that led to his kitchen, which looked relatively the same, it was actually the only place he felt comfortable. He pulled the covers off of him and he felt his body leave the comfortableness and warmth of the blankets. He moved to the edge of the bed and he set his feet on the floor and he lightly moved them over the carpet. He stood up and he walked over to the bathroom and he stared at the glass box with a handle on it, he looked up and down at the new thing that he had to get accustomed to. He pulled it open and he turned the water on and it was instantly hot, he wasn't used to that either.

He glanced over at the mirror as he took his hand out of the path of the flowing hot water. He looked at himself and he recognized himself, but the setting that he was in, was off. He didn't really feel like he would fit in anywhere. He turned back to the shower box and he puled his boxers down, which was another new thing for him, he walked into the shower and closed the glass door behind him. The steam from the hot water was lightly lifting into the air and he put his head under the path of hot water and let it flow over his hair and down his face. It was refreshing, and he didn't mind it being a little different from how things used to be. He looked over at the shampoo bottle and he grabbed it. He held it in his hand and he popped the flap on the cap open, he squeezed out the shampoo onto his hand. He popped the flap back down and set the shampoo back where he grabbed it from. He ran his hands through his hair and began washing it.

He scrubbed his scalp and he rinsed the foam away and he grabbed a bar of soap and began to wash his body. it was a very normal ten minutes, but it was only ten minutes, he still had to make it through twenty-three more hours. He turned off the water and he opened the glass door and he stepped out and he grabbed his towel, which was hanging on a towel rack to his right. He dried his hair off and he dried his body, he hung the towel around his waist and he walked into the bedroom. He walked over to his closet and he opened the door. He saw his uniform neatly folded and he glanced over it as he grabbed a pair of blue jeans. He was soon almost fully dressed and he was looking through his drawers for a shirt. He pulled out a white t-shirt and he gave it a nod of confirmation and slipped it over him. He straightened it out and he grabbed a plaid over shirt and slipped it on and buttoned it. He tucked it into his pants and he buckled the belt. He walked out into his living area and he grabbed his brown leather jacket that was sitting on a chair, he put it on and he walked toward the door. He put his keys into his pocket and he walked out of the apartment and he locked the door. He turned around and he saw an elderly lady standing at a doors about twenty feet away. "Ma'am" he said to her and smiled.

She didn't pay him a second thought as she continued on with what she was doing and he sighed as he was used to getting an answer when he said hello to someone. he walked toward the elevator and he looked at it for a little bit and he hesitantly pressed the button for down. He waited for the elevator to come up and soon the doors opened and he walked in. He pressed the button for the main floor. He waited as he felt the usual lightness in his feet as he felt the elevator go down. He waited for the door to open and he walked out and passed the main desk. The woman sitting there didn't even look at him, Steve was still getting used to the lack of socialness. Well apparently they did have socialness, but it was with a phone, not with someone face to face. Steve exited the building and walked out into the sidewalk and he watched as the buzzing street passed by him, it was as if the world was in a hurry and he was standing still as time went one. He took a left and walked down the sidewalk and he heard people talking on a thing called a Bluetooth. He actually thought a couple of them were talking to him, and before he knew it he saw the familiar device in their ear. Steve just kept his head down and walked at a steady pace.

Steve stopped at the crosswalk and he waited for the sign to give him and all the others around him the ok for walking. Steve noticed that there were three men in suits staying close to him, they had been following him for three blocks already. He glanced back and forth at them and he saw the signal for walking turn on and he crossed the street with the mass of New Yorkers. He walked down the sidewalk for a little and he turned into an alley. The three men following him followed, but as they entered the alley, there wasn't anyone in sight. They stood in a triangle formation and they looked around. The one in the middle, the farthest in the alley looked up and he saw Steve flying down toward him. Steve landed on him and he hit the ground and he was groaning in pain as Steve stood up and got off of him. He stood in front of the other two. "Why are you following me?" Steve asked

The two men looked at each other and one pulled out a badge and showed it to Steve. Steve looked at the letters S.H.I.E.L.D. Steve sighed "That man Fury had you follow me. Why?"

"Frankly sir, just to keep an eye on you" the one with the badge in his hand said

Steve nodded "Ok, well I would suggest that your buddy get to a hospital, I just broke his ribs and cracked his sternum"

"How do you know you broke all that?" the one standing farthest back asked

Steve looked down at the man on the ground and he saw his chest looked different than before and he remembered hearing things crack as he landed "I can see that his ribs are broken and I heard them break as I hit him"

The two S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents looked at each other and one knelt down over the agent on the ground and the other spoke into his wrist "Sir we have an agent down, um... the Captain saw us and he thought we were going to hurt him, so he kind of got the drop on us." he was silent then he nodded "Yes sir, I'll tell him"

Steve stood ready for what ever the man was going to tell him, the man lowered his wrist and looked at him "Director Fury wishes to speak with you"

"Where?"

"Your apartment"

Steve looked at them and nodded and he began walking away "Sorry for the mess"

Steve was almost to his apartment when he was bumped into by two men and he got out of their way, well it was more of being forced out of their way. They looked back at him "Watch were you're walking bitch"

Steve just watched them walk away and he shook his head and he kept walking toward his apartment building and he was actually grateful to get back inside, he felt like his puny pre-serum self again. He got to the main door of the building and he opened it and walked in, he pressed the up button for the elevator and he waited again for it to come get him. He didn't know if he could trust Fury, he didn't know if he could trust anyone. The elevator door opened and he walked in and hit the button for his floor. He waited for the doors to reopen. He took a deep breath and he closed his eyes and he could see Red Skull smiling at him. he opened his eyes at the same time that the door opened. he stepped out and he walked toward his door and he noticed that it was unlocked and he pushed the door open and Nick Fury was standing in his living room. He turned and waited for him to close the door.

"Take a seat Cap" Fury said as he walked over to a chair.

Steve watched as Fury took his seat, he took his and he looked at Fury, waiting to hear what he wanted to talk about. Fury scratched his nose and he leaned forward "I see that you found the detail I had protecting you"

"Protecting me?" Steve asked shocked "I don't need protection."

Fury smirked "Fine they are there to keep an eye on you"

Steve looked at him confused "am I some kind of threat?"

Fury leaned back in the chair "We're still seeing if you have ready?"

"Ready? Ready for what?"

"Active duty"

Steve's attitude instantly changed, "You mean you want me back in the field?"

"If it is necessary, yes"

Steve gave him a small smile "I'm a little behind on the knowledge sir"

Fury nodded "That is why I want you to study up, you will also have therapy sessions, to see if you are green for active duty"

Steve nodded "Ok, is that all you wanted sir?"

Fury stood "Yeah, enjoy the rest of your day Captain Rogers"

Steve watched him walk out of his apartment and he exhaled. Well at least he had something to work toward now.