Disclaimer: I don't own anything by Marvel!

A/N: So here it is! A sequel/spin-off story to To Find a Cure! Not sure how long this will be but it takes place during The Winter Soldier. Anyway, I hope you guys like this!

Chapter One

The incessant chattering was enough to make Nora roll her eyes in annoyance. Usually she didn't mind eavesdropping on people's conversation, especially at S.H.I.E.L.D. where there were many interesting stories to listen to, but today's topic of conversation was definitely obnoxious. Kristen from the Stats department was gushing about how sexy and charming Captain America was and how she would love to date him if only he'd ask her.

Yes, Captain America was particularly beautiful; with his tall, strong body, rippling muscles, perfectly wavy hair, and gentlemanly charms- but Nora wasn't one to openly gush to her fellow coworkers about the guy. That would just be pathetic.

The other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents ignored her as she made her way through the offices and desks, collecting health forms. Nora was in charge of the medical department at headquarters and needed everyone's up-to-date medical records. It hadn't been a long time since she had been in charge, being only twenty-six years old, but the previous medical director had…regrettably expired in action. Thus, Nora was promoted.

"I need everyone's health forms!" she announced to the room. Only a few people actually paid her any mind but she didn't really care. She didn't actually like anyone there so if they didn't want to comply, then that wasn't her problem. "Health forms! Going once! Twice! And I'm outta here…" Nora really wasn't close to anyone she worked with and she was perfectly okay with that.

Nora entered the large, spacious elevator of the Triskelion and stated where she wanted to go. On a small screen, a picture of her face appeared with her name and her level standing in S.H.I.E.L.D.- level 5. She had to admit, her job lost all of its glamour once she was promoted, which was something that she never had thought would happen. How many people could say they worked for the company that handled issues side-by-side with superheroes? However, when she had become the medical director, so much more responsibility was added onto her plate. She sometimes felt like she couldn't handle everything.

The elevator came to a halt which stopped Nora's somber musings. She took a deep breath and looked up to see who would be joining her in the elevator. The last person she expected to see was Captain America.

He nodded upon seeing her and said, "Ma'am," as a greeting. He was dressed in his new modern uniform and his usually combed hair was now shorter and styled- probably to fit in with the 2014 style. She couldn't deny the slight disappointment she felt seeing him try to fit in so much. His 1940's style and attitude was what she liked the most about him.

"New look?" she asked.

He blinked, caught off guard, he seemed. He gave her a slightly confused expression and asked, "Ma'am?"

She motioned at his body with her hand, up and down. "You look a bit different. You know, with the hair and the new superhero suit. I just thought I'd…comment on it." He continued to watch her with an unreadable expression on his face. Nora looked away from him and whistled a random tune as if trying to distract from the uncomfortable position she had put them in. "Gotta love awkward conversations, huh?"

Without smiling, Steve Rogers said, "I don't think I've met anyone quite like you in this century."

Nora grinned. "I'm just gonna go ahead and take that as a compliment. I mean, who wants to be boring and like everyone else, right?" The elevator dinged and opened its doors, revealing Nora's floor. She waved goodbye to him and said," See ya, Captain. Have a good a day."

Once the doors closed behind her she exhaled a long sigh; her heart ramming itself against her rib cage. She didn't realize how hard it would be to have a conversation with the guy when he was actually in front of her. Nora knew she sounded like a complete idiot to him, but the words were coming out on their own and there was nothing she could do to stop them. He was better looking than she expected him to be, but that wasn't what had her so star struck. This guy was Captain America. He was a person who saved people's lives like it was nothing. He somehow managed to stay preserved for years and years. He was the kind of person that she read about in the newspapers, not the guy she shared an elevator with.

Nora was still feeling nervous and anxious by the time she made it back to the lab. She was internally annoyed with herself. What was she, a teenager with a crush now? "Get your shit together…" she mumbled to herself.

"Did you say something?" The only other occupant in the lab at the moment was a young woman, only a couple of years younger than Nora, who was new on the job. She was one of the people that Nora could actually stand to work with. Her name was Reyna and she was the exact opposite of her, in every sense of the word. While Nora was pale with bright copper hair, Reyna had this warm caramel skin and dark curls. Nora easily towered over Reyna. And Nora was known for her awkward outbursts. Reyna was definitely more sophisticated and…lack of better word, mature.

"Nah, I'm just talking to myself," Nora replied. She placed the small stack of papers on a nearby table and made her way over to the younger girl. She could see that she was having a video conversation with someone. He looked to be an older man, with gray-streaked dark hair and glasses sitting on the bridge of his nose. "You're technically not supposed to be having private conversations here…"

"Oh, I'm sorry," the man on the screen said. "I didn't mean to get you in trouble, Reyna."

Reyna brushed him off. "It's not a big deal. I'll call you later." She blew him a kiss before cutting off the connection. "Sorry about that Nora."

Nora pointed towards the screen. "Was that your, uh...?" She had to admit, the 'blowing a kiss' thing was slightly odd, especially since she originally thought the man was her father or professor or something to that extent. Nora couldn't seem to finish the sentence.

Reyna half-smiled. "It's complicated. But he is the reason why I got this job. That's Bruce Banner. The Incredible Hulk."

Nora gaped at this. "Wait a minute. You mean to tell me that you're hooking up with the Hulk?! Is that even safe? He doesn't go all "Hulk Smash" on you while you guys are getting it on?"

Reyna grimaced at the turn of conversation. Nora knew she was making the poor girl uncomfortable but she just couldn't find the off switch for her mouth. "Like I said, it's complicated. So, did you get the forms from everyone? I need to start getting all the specimen soon so I can begin testing."

Nora rolled her eyes. "I got some of them. Oh, but you will never guess who I shared an elevator with."

"Um…Justin Beiber?" Reyna joked.

The redhead ignored her and continued on with her story. "Captain America, of all people. I hear all those annoying chicks talking about how gorgeous he is and stuff, which gets old fast but then I actually met him today and he seems like a pretty cool guy. I mean, he is Captain America after all."

Reyna nodded. "Steve is a nice guy."

Nora blinked. And then blinked again. "You're on a first name basis? Since when?"

The brunette laughed at the other woman's expression. "I thought you hated when the other girls ogled at him! Why are you suddenly turning into one of them?"

"I am not," Nora scoffed. "I just happen to find him extremely attractive after my encounter in the elevator and I now see what all the fuss is about."

"Right…" Reyna said, obviously unconvinced. "Anyways, Steve is friends with Bruce which is how I met him. I'm actually having lunch with him today. Did you want to join?"

It was a tempting offer, it really was. But Nora knew herself well enough to know that if she went now, with her lack of suave composure, she'd probably end up accidently insulting America's hero. No, she'd be better off spending her time reviewing and organizing the dreaded papers while she ate her stale sandwich.

"No, thanks," Nora smiled. "I have a lot of work to do."

The younger woman nodded and collected her things before exiting the lab, leaving Nora by herself. Everyone was already gone for lunch, but now that she was in charge, she had too much work to just drop for food, unfortunately. Her stomach grumbled uncomfortably, but she had to ignore it as she reached for the first sheet of paper in front of her.

Once it was time for her to clock out, she could hardly contain the urge to party- and by party, she really meant, stop by the closest coffee shop for a caramel mocha and then sit on the couch with an ordered out pizza while watching reality television for the rest of the evening. The day had dragged incredibly and she was sad to admit that the highlight of her day was when she met Steve Rogers in the elevator- and that had been a disaster.

She made it to the closest coffee shop, too stressed to make it to Starbucks, and ordered her favorite caramel mocha in a grande size. It smelled heavenly and she was practically salivating by the time the coffee cup was in her hands. "Come to mama…"

The barista laughed and bid her a good evening.

She exited the shop but then stopped short when she saw who was sitting at one of the small tables outside. Nora scanned the area to see if someone was going to join Steve but there was no one in sight. He was sitting at the table with a half empty mug of coffee and was staring into a notebook forlornly. She was amazed that he could make angst look so good.

Before she could talk herself out of it, she marched over to him and said, "Good coffee, huh?" She knew it was the dumbest thing she could say but her mouth was working on its own again.

He looked up slowly and it seemed to take him a moment to recognize her but when he did, he gave her a stiff smile and nodded.

Nora offered a goofy kind of grin. "I'm really sorry for bothering you. I've got a bit of a reputation at the office for being awkward and quirky, so it can't be helped. I'm Nora, by the way."

She held out a hand to introduce herself and he reciprocated with a firm handshake. "Steve Rogers."

Nora waved him off. "Oh, I know. Actually that reminds me, you'll have to stop by the lab tomorrow. I need to update your medical records for you so you'll have to supply some specimen for me." At his raised eyebrow, she replied, "I'm the lab manager."

"You run the lab?" He looked impressed. "You look so young."

Nora's tongue was quicker than her brain. "So do you. What are you, like ninety-five?"

Steve chuckled. "Touché."

The redhead bit her lip anxiously. "I'm sorry. That came out way worse than in my head. I didn't mean anything by it." She took a step back, as if preparing to leave. "And here you were trying to be alone and I just intruded. I'll just let you go but make sure to stop by the lab tomorrow. I really do need your specimen." She had to refrain-with great struggle- to mention that he himself was an amazing specimen, since that would have been more than inappropriate. It was a proud moment when she was able to exit the conversation without another embarrassing mishap and just a simple wave to Steve. He told her to have a good night.

Nora was glad to have turned her day around and now all she had to look forward to was a delectable pizza.