SPOILERS FOR THE MOVIE!

Disclaimer: I don't make the characters, just the plot.

A short little story that takes place a few days after Steve wakes up. Enjoy!

"It's just going to take time." Nick Fury's voice sounded from the doorway. Steve Rogers glanced up from where he was sitting on the bed with a bit of a lost look on his face.

Nick took a couple steps into the room. "You'll adjust eventually. You've just got to give it time."

"I know." He was quick to answer, and looked back down at the floor.

"Then what's the problem?" Nick asked, a hint of concern entering his voice.

"I assume Peggy is gone?"

He gave a small nod. "She died in '82."

"Everyone I knew. Dum Dum, Gabe, Colonel Phillips, Peggy…they're all gone. Every single one of them."

Nick didn't respond immediately. "It's hard, I know. But you'll get through it. The world still needs their superheroes, including you."

"What could I possibly have to offer?" He replied, his arms lying across

"You're a superhero Captain. You have everything."

Steve shook his head a little. "I had a date you know."

Nick sighed. "You can't keep focusing on the past. Like it or not, you're stuck in this century. Why not focus on getting on with your life, and not what you've lost?"

Steve got up, and started pacing back and forth. "I don't even know the name of half these gadgets in this place, let alone how to use them! I have no idea what's gone on in the world for the past 70 years! It's moved on without me. Where could I possibly have a place in this…this modern world?"

"With us. With S.H.I.E.L.D. It's not going to be easy, adjusting to it, but you will. You have to."

Steve didn't respond, just went over to the window, and stared out at the city.

"Last year," Nick began. "we had a few visitors from another planet. Their Destroyer wiped a small town off the map. They cleaned up the mess, terminated the Destroyer, but the damage was done. We weren't prepared. We weren't ready. And if it hadn't been for those few from the other planet, a lot more damage would have been done. A lot more lives lost. That's why we need people like you. Because if we ever get more visitors, we're going to need someone there to stop them."

"And you think I can be one of the ones that can?"

"You defeated Red Skull. Arguably won the war. I certainly think you can."

He sighed. "So what do I do now?"

"Get adjusted." Nick walked back to the doorway, but stopped, and turned around to look at Steve.

"We found this with you. Thought you might want it." He tossed an old compass in Steve's direction, and he caught it with one hand. "Just don't dwell too much on it." He closed the door behind him, and Steve slowly flicked the lid of the compass open. Staring back at him was Peggy Carter's face.

He sighed, and clicked it shut. Nick was right. He couldn't dwell on the past. But he couldn't forget it either. He slipped the compass into his pocket, and went back to gazing out the window.

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