Calm in the Chaos

by Semper Paratus

He was a man out of his time searching for a place that felt like home. She was a woman out to prove that she wasn't a weakness. Together they just might have the opportunity to give each other all that they've ever wanted. Steve Rogers/OC

2. Quite the Commute

Calm in the Chaos

Chapter 2: One Hell of a Commute

Rylie Walker considers herself to be a patient woman. After spending the entire twenty-seven years of her life in and around the military she had to be. But there was something about airport security that put her on edge. But between Regan International's long lines and the TSA's sloppy screening procedures who was to say what the true trigger was.

If the they were going to make me fly commercial they could have at least sprung for Business Class.

Rylie thought bitterly as she took a seat towards the rear of the aircraft. She was thankful that the spaces next to her remained empty as the plane began taxiing towards to runway for takeoff. All of her time for the better part of the last week had been so full of briefings and strategy meetings that she had been hard pressed to find time to eat and sleep, let alone time to sneak in an early morning jog. The forty-five-minute flight was her only time to decompress. She had been pulled for a special assignment and she should probably be taking that as a compliment, but she had been in long enough to know that wasn't always the case.

Despite what some of her counterparts and superiors had thought over the years, Rylie had worked extremely hard to get where she was. She had enlisted in the Air Force at seventeen, left for basic training three days after she graduated from high school and never looked back.

After graduating from the top of her Security Forces school, she was approached by Colonel James Grant. Little did she know that encounter would not only change the course of her career, but also her life.

9 Years Ago…

Airman 1st Class Rylie Walker let out a sigh of mixed emotion as she took one last look around the dorm room that had been her home for the last three months. The training wheels were officially off; she was headed out into the operational Air Force. She let that thought sink in for a moment as she collected the duffle bag that contained the majority of her possessions.

"Oh good you're still here." said a voice from the doorway behind her.

Rylie turned to see a middle aged man with salt and pepper hair leaning on the door frame. His dark blue t-shirt and jeans gave off a civilian look, but the black boots on his feet were definitely military issue.

"Can I help you sir?"

"Actually, I was kind of hoping we could help each other" he said as he stepped towards her and held out his hand "James Grant. Colonel James Grant, commander of the 26th Special Reaction Team."

It took every ounce of Rylie's self-control to stop her jaw from hitting the floor. In Air Force Security Forces the 26th SRT were as revered as the Army's Howling Commandos. They were an elite team, designed to handle the most challenging situations. They foiled super-secret terror attacks, pulled off seemingly impossible hostage rescues and negotiated the surrender of international war criminals.

"Airman Walker sir" she replied, shaking his outstretched hand "Not to be rude sir, but I'm fresh out of tech school, headed to babysit missile silos in North Dakota. I'm not sure what help I can offer you."

"It seems that one of your instructors is a former associate of mine. He called me a couple of weeks ago to tell me about a trainee he had." The colonel explained, his eyes studying her as he talked "He said not only did they exhibit a natural instinct for tactical work, but they also possessed a remarkable ability to stay composed and focused under every type of pressure he threw at them."

Rylie meet his gaze and focused on maintaining a neutral expression.

"But more amazing yet, was this trainee's ability to bring about that same reaction in the people around them. These are not skills that should be wasted in the barren waste land of North Dakota, Airman Walker."

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"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to New York City's LaGuardia International Airport. Local time is 7:55am and the temperature is 68°."

The airline pilot's cheery voice called over the intercom as the plane came to a stop at the gate, bringing Rylie back to the present.

After disembarking the plane, a case of the nerves began to set in as she collected her bag from the claims carousel. Nervousness was a rare feeling for Rylie and usually steamed from a lack of focus. She took a quick moment to center herself on her mission before confidently stepping outside to hail a cab to her hotel.

Economy seats and no driver? Those boys at the Pentagon sure do know how to make a girl feel special…

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The taxi ride from the airport to her midtown Manhattan hotel was almost as long as the flight itself, making the travel fatigue feel very real. Rylie quickly threw back a cup of mediocre complimentary hotel coffee, careful not to spill any, as she ironed out any wrinkles that her dress blues had developed during the trip. Typically, anytime she had to wear her more formal uniform she opted for the slacks, however for this trip she had packed the A-line skirt and black pumps.

Once she was satisfied with her appearance, she glanced at her watch.

09:26 Time to move out.

As the elevator doors closed Rylie examined the various ribbons and decorations that were pinned to her dark blue service dress coat in the reflection of the mirrored doors. Normally she preferred to stick to a much humbler appearance, but today was not a day present herself as humble. This meeting required her to present herself with the confidence and strong command presence that she had built her reputation upon.

Once outside on the sidewalk she grabbed a waiting taxi, she would have much rather walked the five blocks to her destination but the time and humidity didn't make it a viable option. She was not about to arrive both late and sweaty.

The time read 09:51 as she stepped out on to the curb and gazed up at the enormous structure of glass and steel before her. Rylie took once last moment to herself, before stepping towards the door.

Deep breath in, Deep breath out. You've completed way harder missions than this.

Immediately she felt her heartrate slow and the tension in her shoulders loosen.

Just another day at the office.

Her heels clicked across the polished marble floors of the open lobby as she approached the desk of the receptionist, who Rylie noted was flanked on either side by a security guard.

"Good morning, how may I help you?" she greeted with a smile.

"My name is Rylie Walker; I have a ten o'clock appointment."

"Oh yes!" the woman replied instantly before getting to her feet and stepping around her desk. "Right this way Lieutenant Walker, Mr. Stark is expecting you."

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A/N: I feel like I crammed a lot of stuff into this chapter, yet didn't tell a whole lot of the story. It's a complicated feeling…Anyway in the next chapter we'll definitely have some introductions with some familiar faces and get deeper into the story. I stay pretty busy, so I try not to post a chapter until I'm at least a good ways into the next one to try to keep the time gap down the best I can!

Thank you to everyone who has already followed this story, you're amazing! Reviews of all kinds are always appreciated.

P.S. If anyone is reading from North Dakota, please forgive me ;)

~Semper