Chapter Ten

Up before the sun with Steve, Sharon took a moment to appreciate the stillness of the nation's capital as she rolled up the exercise mat and tossed it in the backseat of her car.

Steve, of course, was already off and running and probably miles into his workout while she'd opted for an abbreviated yoga routine to warm up. Ready to get her heart rate up, she took off at a light jog, knowing that their circular path around the Tidal Basin would have Steve catching up with her eventually.

She'd barely gone just over half of a mile before she heard him coming up behind her, slowing down to match her speed.

"Beautiful morning," he said. "I'm glad you suggested it."

"I'm glad, too, even though you missed the sarcasm when I made the suggestion."

"You're the one who said you regretted eating Mexican two nights this week and wanted to work off the tacos we had last night."

"Going for a run wasn't what I'd had in mind, Rogers."

He gave her a grin. "I guess you'll have to be more specific next time."

"Still," she said, ignoring the bait. "This is nice. It's kind of hard to believe how quiet the city can be, even this early on a Saturday morning. Give it another hour and you won't be able to hear yourself think over the crowds."

"Then you should speed it up if you want to be done with three miles in an hour."

She gave him a look. "Sam's right. You are insufferable when you workout."

"Sam's just an easy target," Steve said and planted a kiss on the top of her ponytailed head. "I'll see you in six minutes."

She watched as he ran ahead, gaining speed. By the time he reached the Jefferson Memorial he was a blur rounding the bank and then out of sight. She couldn't help the thrill she felt watching him in action. You'd think living with him every day, knowing the stories, she'd have gotten used to how amazing he was by now. But she hadn't. He was just as much her hero right now as he'd been most of her life.

It was times like these it was no wonder she was so ridiculously in love with him.

Less than six minutes later, when he caught up to her again in the latter half of her second mile, she couldn't help the wide smile she greeted him with.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing," she said with a shake of her head. "Just happy and thinking that you're good for my health."

"Your parents are doctors, they wouldn't approve if I was bad for your health." He gave her another kiss. "See you in another six." And he was off again, much to the surprise of the young group of runners who'd just begun their lap.

"Did you see that?"

"Was that Captain America?"

"Holy crap!"

Sharon played it cool as she ran past them, their pace having slowed in their awe.

She finished her loop of the Basin, reaching the Floral Library where they'd left her car. Steve wasn't there yet and she assumed he'd gotten held up signing autographs or posing for pictures with the tourists and athletes who had begun to fill the area. She was glad that somehow, even in the Congressional witch hunt and media frenzy that followed the fall of SHIELD, Captain America remained the nation's most beloved Avenger.

Since she had time, she took the opportunity to stretch. Reaching her arms skyward, she bent sideways at the waist as she slowly moved her arms to the left, circling down, and back up again. As she was about to do the same to the right, a familiar head of dark hair run past her toward the path she'd just finished.

She didn't freeze like she had when she saw Rumlow near the Maryland campus but Sharon didn't think, either, as she took off after him, sprinting to catch up. She kept her eyes focused on him, dodging moms with jogging strollers, speed walkers and sightseeing tourists. She was gaining on him, not entirely sure what she'd do when she caught up, when she felt a hand wrap around her upper arm.

On pure instinct, born more of panic than any training, she turned and struck out blindly - only to have it caught in the steel grip of a concerned Steve.

He'd nearly been to the car when he'd watched Sharon suddenly bolt back down the route they'd just finished. He'd called for her but she hadn't seemed to hear in her single-minded focus on whatever target she pursued.

Still holding her fisted hand, Steve grabbed Sharon around the waist and moved them both out of the flow of pedestrian traffic.

"Did you see him?" she asked, looking behind her frantically.

"Who?" he asked, his concern mounting. Steve crouched so they were eye level and used his hand to guide her chin gently toward him, drawing her attention back to him. "Who, Sharon?"

"Rumlow."

Steve straightened, drawing her closer to him to shield her body with his own as he scanned the crowd himself.

"Where?"

"On the path." She closed her eyes briefly, squeezing them together as she confessed, "And in Dupont Circle. And in College Park." She looked up at Steve. "Either I'm losing my mind or he's been following me."

Not taking chances in either case, Steve ignored the look of onlookers and swept Sharon into his arms. He didn't give her time to protest before he took off at a run and by the time she got over the shock and any potential outrage, they were back to the car.

He opened the passenger door and set her inside. He moved around to the driver's side and adjusted the seat back as far as it would go before he got in.

"Tell me," he said shortly, his gaze focused straight ahead.

Sharon looked at him, knew despite the calm exterior that anger was brewing just below the surface; anger fueled by fear for her.

"The first time was Monday," she explained. "I thought I saw him out of the corner of my eye when I was buying art supplies but by the time I got outside, he was gone. Then on Wednesday, after I met my contact. He was at a newsstand, reading the paper."

"Why didn't you tell me?" he said, starting the car and pulling out of the parking lot.

"Because I couldn't be sure. And because..." She licked her suddenly dry lips. "Because I was scared."

He glanced at her. "And you didn't tell me."

"I wasn't scared for my safety. At the school, I...I froze, Steve. I panicked. Years of training, gone. By the time I got in the car and looked to see if it was really him, he'd disappeared again and I thought maybe I was just seeing things."

She turned in her seat, the seatbelt he'd clipped too tightly biting into her bare shoulder. She ignored the discomfort, her concern more for finishing her confession. "I knew if I told you, Bucky and Sam that you'd worry. Worry about me and worry for me. I didn't know if I could go through it again, having my boyfriend and over protective big brothers watching my every move, treating me I couldn't take care of myself."

"We can't help that we worry," he said defensively.

"I know," she said, briefly putting her hand over his. "I know. You wouldn't be the men you are if you didn't want to protect me, if you didn't worry about me. But I also wouldn't be me if I didn't hate it a little bit. I've been taking care of myself for a long time, Steve. It's hard to relinquish control."

Steve was quiet, taking his time to answer as he navigated the still relatively empty streets toward home.

"We're not trying to control you, Sharon," he said as he turned down their block. "I don't think we could. Your independence is one of the things I love about you."

It was her turn to be quiet, staring at him in surprise. Finally, she said, "Telling me how much you love my independence doesn't make it any less obvious that you'd like to rein it in right now, especially concerning Rumlow."

He pulled into the garage and parked the car next to his truck, then turned to look at her. "What if I'm just telling you that I love you?"

Despite everything, Sharon felt a not unpleasant ache in her heart at his words.

She didn't speak, was afraid to as she watched Steve pocket her keys and unlock his seatbelt. He leaned over, somehow manipulating his bulk in the cramped confines of the compact, and kissed her gently. "I love you, Sharon."

"I love you, Steve," she whispered back, smiling against his lips.

They finally pulled apart when Sharon's phone beeped about an upcoming appointment, reminding them that the Stark techs would be there soon for the final step in their system upgrade.

"I guess we should get upstairs before Oscar and Rudy arrive," Sharon said, disappointed that she couldn't enjoy this milestone of their relationship just a little bit longer.

"I guess we better," he agreed, just as reluctant. "And, at some point, we should discuss what to do about your Rumlow sightings."

She closed the car door, nearly forgetting that pending conversation. She nodded, taking Steve's offered hand, and they moved to the elevator together.

"Can we hold off telling the boys? At least for today? Sam's got his date with Maria tonight."

Steve frowned, not loving the idea, but he agreed and pulled her to him for the ride up to the top floor.

They parted ways, heading to their respective apartments to shower and change. She'd thought about suggesting they save time by sharing the shower but assumed he wouldn't go for it.

Unlocking his door, Steve paused and called her name.

Sharon turned back, wondering briefly if he was going to suggest a shared shower.

He wasn't. Instead, he said, "Just remember, the next time you think you're being stalked by an obsessed Hydra agent, I really want you to tell me."

She smiled in spite of herself.

"You'll be the first," she said and walked inside her apartment.