"No way!" Castiel gasped out and Salem poked her head out from under the desk where she was collecting medical forums that had fallen to the ground.

Castiel was hanging out of the doorway with his mouth gaping open and the small blonde snorted out a laugh at his expression.

After having lunch with the man, which was filled with her fighting back laughter as he recalled rather embarrassing stories, she came to the conclusion that she made a new friend.

As the day came and went she stayed in her new office getting everything ready so she could actually start giving exams as soon as possible, she was surprised to see him strolling into the room with his suit jacket slung over his shoulder and whistling as he took in her large office.

He then plopped himself on her chair and grinned, stating that he would keep her company.

Sure enough he did, never complaining about how late she was staying, and although she tried to tell him to go home, he just shrugged and settled more comfortably in the chair.

He began talking again, falling into easy chatter that he seemed so comfortable with for a while before he poked his head out the hall when footsteps echoed down the deserted halls.

"Quick! Sing the National Anthem with me!" he whispered to her as he ducked back in the room, his hazel eyes bright and a giddy grin decorating his boyish features.

Salem was about to ask what he was talking about before Captain America appeared tall, broad, and gorgeous in the doorway dressed in plain clothes, with a blond brow quirked up and a smile on his face.

She hurriedly got to her feet, knocking her head against the desk as she stood, and pushed up her glasses while smiling softly in greeting.

Steve Rogers smiled softly at her and nodded in greeting to Castiel who had stars in his eyes, before leaning against the doorframe and looking curiously around the room.

"I heard laughter down here and decided to investigate," he explained and Salem smiled shyly at his words.

"I tried to drag her away, but she almost attacked me," Castiel said solemnly to the tall Avenger and Salem gasped in indignation at his words.

Steve quirked an eyebrow again as his sapphire gaze flicked in her direction and his full lips twitched at the corners.

"Shame on you," he teased lightly which made her face heat up.

Castiel gave her a thumbs up and an exaggerated wink.

"Natasha sent me to find you," he said while rocking back on his heels.

"Salem, you do know your shift is over right?" he asked lightly, eyes twinkling and Sterling's cheeks flushed pink, secretly delighted at his teasing.

Pointedly ignoring her new friend's snicker, she hurriedly finished what she was doing and made a show of getting ready to leave as they walked out of the office.

A small grin blossoming on her face when Steve chuckled.

"Oh, this is my friend Castiel! Castiel this is Steve," Salem said suddenly blushing at her forgotten manners when the man pointedly nudged her with his elbow as he joined them out in the hall.

They shook hands and the woman bit back her snort at the shorter man's wide eyed look of awe.

"I'll, uh, see you tomorrow for lunch?" Salem said before smiling when Castiel winked in confirmation before trotting off, grinning ear to ear.

"Glad to see you are settling in," Cap said when the young man disappeared.

The woman felt herself smile lightly as she waved off her friend.

She mumbled shyly in response and began to walk in the direction that would lead her to her floor.

Her brown loafers clicked softly against the tiled floor as thoughts that plagued her nearly all day came trickling to the forefront of her mind and she sneaked a look up at Rogers's towering frame.

Even dressed in light wash jeans and a simple white t-shirt he was handsome.

His golden blond hair was slightly ruffled and bright against the gray backdrop of the winding halls, his eyes a beautiful shade of blue and shined with knowledge that contradicted his youthful appearance.

His strong jaw was smooth and his broad shoulders rolled with his every step as he strolled beside Salem.

Despite his all-American looks, the dark and solemn face of her Soul Mate flashed through her mind causing the questions that now simmered in her mind to become unbearable to hold in.

Once they were in the elevator and the doors slid shut, Salem couldn't stand the silence that enveloped them.

"Am I doing something wrong?" she suddenly asked spinning to stare at the Captain with wide amber eyes.

At his startled expression she blushed hotly and spun back around and shoved up her glasses with a now shaky hand.

"N-nevermind, forget I said anything," she said quickly.

She silently cursed herself for not biting her tongue.

With a small sigh Steve reached over and stopped the ascent of the elevator and turned to face her.

The petite blonde was reluctant to meet his gaze.

Even in the large space, with Rogers' broad shoulders, muscular build and too sharp gaze, she felt like she was trapped in a shoebox.

"You are doing nothing wrong," he replied gently and shame burned her in freckled cheeks.

"I-I didn't mean…I just…," she stuttered out staring at her slender hands twisting in the soft material of her cardigan, the oppressed feeling she has had since finding her Soul Mate bubbling up till she was staring at the national hero with confused brown eyes.

"He walked away from me twice already," she said and in the quiet space with just them two and his earnest blue eyes, she let her shoulders slump in defeat.

"I never imagined that this was how it would go…," she admitted softly hating that she sounded so weak in front of the Avenger.

She looked away as platinum strands of hair that escaped her bun slipped and hid her burning face.

He was quiet for a few seconds before he reached out and gingerly brushed the blonde curls away from her face before resting a large strong hand on her delicate shoulder.

"He's been waiting on you for a long time, Salem. Don't doubt that," he said softly with his sapphire eyes blazing with honestly.

He held her gaze for a while before squeezing her shoulder ever so gently and reached over to restart the elevator.

They rode the rest of the way in silence with her mind reeling and a new soft spot for the man.

Once the doors opened to her floor, however, angry shouts were heard from her room.

There was a split second where both Salem and Steve froze before the soldier darted towards the sound with Salem stumbling after him.

Steve swung her door open to reveal Natasha and Bucky standing toe-to-toe with fierce snarls on their face.

The Black Widow's lovely face was fierce, bright green eyes blazing, her full lips curled back, her lithe body posed aggressively.

Barnes was scowling darkly at the redhead, dark eyebrows furrowed over cold winter blue eyes, his broad body tensed as if ready for a fight and they were growling at each other in rapid fire Russian.

Once she was spotted however, shocked at seeing them in her room and just about ready to fight, Natasha's face went creepily blank as she stepped away from the former Sergeant.

Her Soul Mate's eyes flicked to her before staring back at the redhead and taking a step back as well.

Echo shot up from his position near Barnes and bolted to Salem's side.

The tension in the air was thick and the hairs on the back of Salem's neck stood on end as her brown eyes shifted between them.

"Everything good?" Steve asked tightly, his big body tense and Salem didn't miss the way he angled himself to make sure the petite woman was shielded by his body.

"Everything is fine," Natasha replied smoothly and Echo licked Sterling's hand in greeting, oblivious to the suffocating aggression still hanging in the air.

"May I ask what the problem is?" She asked in a gentle tone and she didn't miss the way Natasha and Barnes eyed each other warily.

"Just a misunderstanding, doll. No need to worry yourself," Barnes said stiffly after the silence in the room grew to be too much and it took Salem a few moments to realize that he was talking to her.

Her face flushed brightly at his raspy voice and at the endearment, Steve's eyebrows shot to his hairline and Natasha had a flair of victory in her green eyes.

"O-oh, um, okay," was Salem's intelligent response, at loss for words as bright blue eyes drifted to her.

The young woman fought against the impulse to hide her blushing face behind Steve.

Instead Salem stood gaping at the dark-haired man, face pink and amber eyes wide.

A sharp nip to her hand had her jumping and blinking at Echo who wagged his tail as his steely gray eyes flickered from her to the kitchen where his food bowl was.

The tense atmosphere dissipated, Steve and Natasha's bodies relaxed and they began to discuss something but Salem was too busy staring at Barnes to pay attention.

Dressed in jeans and a maroon colored button up with his hands shoved deep into his pockets, the former Howling Commando looked comfortable and at ease.

Yet she saw how his eyes shifted to every corner and door, how his shoulders were lined with tension and his left arm was shifting almost unnoticeably as he flexed his arms still shoved in his pockets.

His hair was loose and hung around his face and her fingers itched to run through the dark locks, maybe to even trace the curve of his jaw and the light dip of his cleft chin, to feel the scratch of his light beard stubble.

A sharp yip broke her trance, making her jump and glare at her pet.

She sighed at her now displeased animal who huffed in annoyance at her.

"He's been antsy all day, tomorrow Steve should walk him while you're working," Natasha suggested and the blonde noticed Rogers's eyes light up before glancing at her eagerly.

She nodded in agreement before quietly excusing herself and making her way into the large kitchen with her PitBull trotting at her heels.

She scrubbed a hand over her face, trying to clear her jumbled thoughts and her still pink cheeks.

Shaking herself she began searching for the dog food as Echo sat patiently by his bright silver dish, panting happily with his tongue sticking out.

It took Salem a minute to find the food, a minute more to haul it out of its cupboard and fill up the bowl, and while she was shoving it back in its place someone cleared their throat softly behind her.

She nearly shrieked as she spun around with her hand clasped to her chest, only to stare wide-eyed as Barnes stood stiffly in the kitchen doorway.

Salem tried to steady her racing heart and offered an awkward smile.

She noticed he still stood rigid, but let his eyes roam curiously across her kitchen and the few knickknacks she had.

They stared at each other in silence, the only sound was Echo munching happily on his food, oblivious to his owner having a mental breakdown.

"Sorry about…that," he eventually said jutting his chin in the direction of the now quiet living room.

Salem blinked and flapped her hands awkwardly in front of her.

"Oh! Um, no problem," she said lamely as silence once again stretched between them.

He seemed to debate something, blue eyes shifting all over her face, always coming back to stare her right in the eyes.

Suddenly he stuck out his right hand and Salem blinked owlishly at him before her instinct reaction kicked in.

She reached out and let his large hand enclose around her small one and she suppressed a shiver at the feel of rough callouses against her sensitive palm.

He stared at their hands, face focused as if concentrating on what to say and when he glanced up she gave him another nervous, yet encouraging, smile.

Barnes stared at her intently before she saw his shoulders relax just a fraction.

Salem could feel his fingers brush against her wrist lightly before a sudden and devilishly handsome smirk played at the corners of his full lips.

Salem nearly swooned at the sight.

"Bucky Barnes," he said and she could just nod dumbly at him.

"It's a pleasure," she replied automatically.

He let his eyes roam over her frame, in a slow lingering pace that had her burning hotly.

He flashed her another small smile, a gentle look softening his sharp features, before letting his fingers brush against her hand as he withdrew his own.

With that he retreated, walking out as quickly and quietly as he arrived, leaving her blinking in her quiet kitchen with Echo staring at her with his tail wagging excitedly.