Previously on Country Lass: Return...
Heather was in an out-of-school fight and doesn't plan to tell Steve.
..Also Bryce is back.
'Heather's strangely quiet,' Steve notes, watching her from across the table. Heather had made tacos before he got home and they ate silently since. Steve looks up at each bite, hoping to catch something in Heather's movements to give away her thoughts.
Heather keeps her eyes on her plate, even if she can feel Steve's gaze from time to time. Finally, she asks, "How was the mission?"
Steve shakes out of his thoughts and swallows, "Another group of corrupt politicians that was in a hidden part of the Hydra files. We'll probably see it on tv tonight."
"Huh," Heather comments, then takes another bite. Steve had noted that Heather was using her right hand to move her fork, not her left. Steve thinks carefully about how to get her to talk about her first day at school.
"I thought you were wearing a blue tank top today," Steve cringes at what came out of his mouth. Heather looks up at him, confused. "..You don't usually change in the middle of the day," he covers.
Heather looks back at her tacos, "I took a shower when I got back. I had ran ho-" Heather stops herself and restates, "back to the apartment. I wanted to wear something different."
"..But it's a little hot for long sleeves," Steve notes.
Heather closes her eyes, 'Think Heather, think!'
"Heather?"
She looks at his plate, not at his eyes.
Steve says nothing, but then sighs, "Alright." He stands up.
"Where are you going?" Heather asks, immediately interested.
"To do the laundry. We need to start a load if it will get done before nightfall," Steve says casually, already at the hallway.
"I'll do it," Heather says. She starts to stand up, but pain spikes in her side. She doesn't stop though.
"No, I can do it," Steve says, "I know how to work the machine. Just finish your taco, okay?"
Heather sits down, knowing that arguing won't get her anywhere. 'Besides, my shirt is in my room-'
"Heather?"
Heather looks up. Steve walks back into the main room, holding the blue shirt.
He fingers the cut in the side, "Is this blood?"
Heather stares at it. She opens her mouth.
"Don't lie to me," Steve adds, knowing her 'well, actually' look all too well.
Heather sighs, "Yes."
"Is it your blood?"
"..Yes." Heather suddenly feels embarrassed that she didn't tell him sooner.
"You got into a fight at school."
Heather puts the same look back on her face and talks before Steve can, "It was on school property, but it was after the bell, so.. Technically, no."
"A fight is a fight, I don't care where it was." Steve sits across from her, neither of them hungry anymore. He puts his head on his hand, "Heather.." he sighs, sounding like he is older than he looks; it's as if he's said it a hundred times, "bullying is not something you hide. If someone hurts you, however the harm, you need to tell someone."
Now Heather feels even more stupid, 'Thanks conscience. Since when did you get a vacation during this stuff?'
"..Go to the bathroom, I want to take a look at it. And I want to hear what happened," Steve says. Heather slowly stands up and walks away.
She sits on the toilet again and Steve kneels next to her. She lifts up her shirt and he undoes the bandages. After replacing one of the stitches, because Heather's fast movement earlier made it rip, he wraps it back up and eyes the bruises on her stomach.
"Is there anything else?" He asks.
Heather sighs. "One bruise on my right arm, two on my left," she answers.
Steve leans back so he's balancing on the balls of his feet, "Explain."
"It was Bryce and some of his buddies," Heather says, "they blocked me off after school when I wouldn't give Bryce what he wanted."
"And what did he want?"
Heather gives him an incredulous look then gestures to herself, "What else?"
"They beat you up," Steve restates.
"Yes. I did fight back, but not as much as I wanted to. You told me not to show my abilities in public," Heather explains further.
"That doesn't mean you should let yourself get beat up," Steve says.
"You should see my opponents.." Heather mutters.
"What did you do?" Steve questions.
"Oh.. nothing major, a bloody nose.." Steve sighs. "a.. throbbing shin.. and a few bruises-"
Steve looks at Heather. "..Where are the bruises?"
"Chest area," Heather answers. Steve gives her the look one would receive if they haven't dropped all their weapons. "..Maybe one or two near the groin," Heather adds.
Steve groans, "Ohh, Heather.." falling back on his butt. He places both hands over his face, muttering something to himself. Then he sighs, "I'm.. I'm just glad you're safe. But you need to be careful."
"I was being careful!" Heather yells, standing, "Bryce started it! Bryce won't leave me alone! He.." Heather paces in the hall, "he should be in prison right now! Why is he free, back at school, and terrorizing my life again!"
Steve stands up and watches her from the doorway, "I don't know, Heather."
Heather sighs, "Neither does Jarvis.."
Steve looks up, "What?"
"..I had asked Jarvis to look up his records, but with the program of him on my phone, he couldn't find it. And my computer didn't have any answers because government documents are blocked."
"..I'll call Tony and ask him to look this up. We'll follow up at the Tower this weekend. Just.. try to get through this week, okay? I'll be sure to pick you up everyday. I'll even be there several minutes early."
Heather huffs, 'that will probably make it worse, but..' Heather looks up at him. He's just trying to protect her. He can tell her emotions are skyrocketing because of Bryce's presence. "Okay, goodnight Steve."
"Are you not hungry anymore?" Steve asks.
Heather yawns, "I just want to get some sleep, is that okay?"
"Of course. I'll put your plate in the fridge." Heather turns for her room, holding her side lightly. "..Heather?"
"Yeah?" She says, turning around. Steve places his hands on her shoulders. Leaning down, he gives her a small kiss on her forehead.
"Goodnight." He then turns around and goes to the table. Heather closes her door and carefully changes into her pjs. She crawls in bed and stares at the ceiling.
"Goodnight, little one."
"Goodnight Daddy!"
Heather feels a tear slip down her cheek. "Daddy.." she whispers, "please, please be okay.." She then slowly curls onto her right side, remembering a time when her dad would tuck her into bed, singing a little song about sailing to a safe place when she's afraid.
A kind gesture from Steve brings back memories from her past, about someone she loves.
'Sail Away' but Go Fish does not belong to me (but look it up. It's a good one.)
Of course Steve found out, right? It's not like Heather was really trying.
See you soon!
~CtW