It has been a looooooooooooooo- *deep breath* -oooooooong time since I've posted a chapter... anywhere, actually.

But! I have a reason. It has been a whirlwind writing for my 365 day challenge. But I am almost finished.
And with that, I am starting to fill in the gaps left from it. I can't promise a steady flow of chapters in the times to come (as I am also working on a novel), but I can promise it will be more fruitful than... last year.

Disclaimer: I only own my OCs, my settings, and my plot. Everything else is MARVEL.

Also, please read the A/N at the end. There's an important A/Nnouncement. (See what I did there?)

Josh can hear the Quinjet take off once he steps out of the elevator. He is flanked by Nikki and August as they walk into Steve's private level of the Tower. August breaks from the group and disappears around a corner to the left. Nikki follows Josh to the right, knocking on Heather's door.

"Heather? Are you awake?" Nikki asks.

The door is propped open, so Josh pushes it farther. Heather has her eyes open, with an expression that shows she forgot to answer verbally. "Top 'o the mornin' to ya, miss," he jokes, tipping a non-existent hat. Heather's mouth twitches.

She turns her head and looks at the mostly closed curtains, "They left, didn't they," she asks.

"…Yes, but we three are going to keep you company today," Nikki says.

"Three?" Heather asks. She looks at the two, and Josh thinks for a second that she questions her sight, or counting skills.

"August came with. …Not sure where he went off to…" Josh admits, looking back out the doorway.

"…There's a private gym," Heather admits, "he's probably there."

Josh nods, wondering how Heather knew where his brother would go, 'They hardly know each other.'

There's a small silence before Nikki asks, "So, Heather, what would you like to do today?"

Heather turns her head so she's looking at her legs. "…I want to not be in bed all day," she answers quietly, "I'm sick. Of it."

Josh starts to walk over, "Well, there's an easy remedy for that. Nikki, can you get her wheelchair?"

"You should probably wait until-" Heather's pleas go unheard as Nikki puts the wheelchair next to the bed. Josh reaches for her covers, but Heather flinches.

"…Ahh, Nikki, can-"

She responds without further question, helping Heather move the covers off her legs. Josh looks at Heather. She nods, "I… I just-" He gently puts a hand under her chin, lifting her eyes to match his.

"No offense taken," he says. Heather nods. Josh lifts her up, conscious of any little sound of discomfort she makes. He helps her sit in the wheelchair. Nikki covers her legs with a blanket.

"…You brought a backpack," Heather notes.

Nikki looks up after tucking the blanket around Heather's right leg, "Yeah.. I was hoping to get some homework done." Heather nods as Nikki stands up.

"Shall we, ladies?" Heather nods, so Josh pushes her out of the room and into the main area. "…Alright, you're out of bed, what's next, Heather..?"

Nikki turns around and looks at Heather when Josh falters in his words. Heather's eyes are blinking rapidly, almost flinching away. Josh looks at where she's flinching from. He then makes eye contact with Nikki. "I'll get it," she says softly. She walks over to the window between Heather and Steve's rooms. After pulling the blinds so they cover most of the bright sunlight, Heather slowly calms down.

'Must not have had a lot of sun,' Josh thinks as he wheels her farther into the room, 'or any at all.' He's often wondered what Heather had gone through during her capture. Even though he saw the doctor's report on her injuries, he still believes there is more to the story. But he can't bring himself to ask her.

"Hey, who wants to watch a movie?" Nikki asks.

Josh smiles, "I'd like that. …Heather?"

Heather nods slowly, "That's fine."

"…You should pick the movie, Heather," Nikki decides. They wheel Heather over to the couch. Josh assists her in sitting along the left armrest with the reclining feature up. Nikki finds a remote and turns on the tv. Heather flinches again, so she dims the brightness.

"Well, you two pick a movie. I'll go get August." He turns around, then looks back comically, "Uhh… where's this private gym?"

Heather points down the left hall, "It's on the right."

"Thanks, Heather," Josh starts down it. He could've sworn he saw the tiniest smile on her lips, but that was the point. 'Well placed comedy,' he comments to himself, 'laughter is the best medicine.'

He pushes the door open, which wasn't latched by anything. "Alright, August. You can't stay in here forever. We're watching a movie."

August is in the middle of the gym, practicing katas. He already has some sweat rolling down his face and arms. "How is she?"

"Terrified of sunlight," Josh says. August looks at him. "…What did they do to her?"

August walks over to a bench, where he sits down, shaking his head, "I don't know. I still remember what her cell looked like. No windows, dim lighting. Surrounded by the enemy at every turn-"

"She needs her friends," Josh points out.

"…After a quick shower, okay?"

"We found one," Nikki calls.

Josh sighs, looking at his brother, "Yeah… Not gonna happen." August starts backing up, but Josh catches him, grabbing a fistful of shirt. He hoists him up and carries him out of the room on his shoulder.

"JOSH!" August protests. Josh makes it to the living room before August truly fights back and dumps him on a rocking chair. Josh is looking at August with mock innocence and August is practically seething.

The trio freeze when they hear something. Josh turns to look at Heather. She has a small smile on her face, post-giggle. He breaks out into a grin, "Now that wasn't so hard, was it?" He asks. He sits down on the other side of the couch while Nikki takes the middle. She has her homework out, but tries to be quiet as the movie plays.

Josh figured it would take the girls a long time to find a good movie, one that Heather wouldn't panic about. The movie is a musical, and Heather doesn't seem to be having any problems with it. He checks over Nikki's bent head to see how Heather's eyes are glued to the screen.

He looks over at August, who is watching the movie as well, despite it not being his favorite genre. Josh sees how his brother's neck is tense, his body angled to the tv. 'And away from the rest of us,' Josh adds.

The credits roll and August promptly stands up. He looks at the others. Nikki has her head in a textbook, Josh is tapping his foot to the credit music with his computer is sitting on his lap. And Heather has her head on Nikki's shoulder, asleep.

August walks passed her, to the gym again. Before he can get into stance, Jarvis' voice asks, "What would you like for lunch, Mr. Evert?"

"Salad and a burger," August answers. He hears Jarvis ask the others the question, then Heather asking about her falling asleep. He kept his eyes on the movie, but he knows that she fell asleep right before the climax. And before that, she asked Nikki questions about her homework sporadically. 'Easily distracted,' August sums up, 'she must have trouble with focus.'

"Hey, where's Veronica?" Josh wonders. He looks around the room from his place at the couch.

"I wonder," Nikki says, sarcasm dripping.

"Ms. Veronica is currently talking to one of the newest additions to the guard," Jarvis answers, "a Mr. Bandlaff." There's a trill of beeps and Jarvis adds, "you're meals have been prepared. Will you take them in the cafeteria?"

Josh looks at Heather. She shakes her head, looking at her lap. Nikki almost puts a hand on Heather's shoulder, but thinks better, "…It's not embarrassing, Heather," she says, "we can eat up here."

"Your meals will be sent to Captain Rogers's dining room. I'm sure Mr. Evert has found it already."

"Which one?" Josh jokes. August looks at Heather with a sideway glance to check her reaction. A minimal curve appears at her mouth. But only for a second.

"The younger Evert. …If there is a better title to use, I'd be happy to accommodate," Jarvis states.

"Just Josh and August will work," August says, standing up. "Need help with-?"

"Yeah." Josh and August help Heather sit back in her wheelchair. Then the four move to the dining room, where they can already smell the individual meals. Josh moves one of the chairs away so Heather can sit in her wheelchair at the table. He sits next to her, with Nikki directly across from Heather. August is the last in the room, so he takes the chair next to Nikki, across from the empty seat to Heather's left.

Everyone removes the silver covers of the plates they had picked up once they entered the room. August takes a bite of his burger, listening to Josh exclaim in delight at his dish, "Spaghetti, just like-a Mama used to make." He twirls some noodles around his fork, then slurps them up.

Heather's mouth quirks, but doesn't break into a full smile.

"Josh, you aren't Italian," Nikki says, starting on her soup.

"Ah ah, August and I happen to be one fourth Italian," Josh corrects. He looks at Heather, who is only picking at her pasta covered in Alfredo sauce, with carrots on the side.

"...So, Heather," August says, his throat closing up slightly from the idea, "when do you think you'll come back to school?"

Heather flinches, not looking up from her plate. When she realizes that everyone is looking at her, she looks up a moment, then picks at her food. "Uh... never."

Josh was the only one not looking at Heather. Instead, he was looking at August, because he figured his brother would understand Heather's problem at least a little bit. He himself had been in a traumatic situation that took a long time to heal. Josh even suspects August still has healing to go through, whether he admits it to himself or not.

But now Josh turns to Heather, surprised at how she didn't add a 'maybe' or 'probably' to the sentence. "Never?" he asks.

"School... school isn't for me," Heather says, "I tried three times. The first was a horrible loneliness, the second I got myself kicked out when my attackers should have, and then..." she puts her fork down. "I'm not hungry."

No one questions it. Nikki looks around the room, finding the curiosity to ask, "Isn't Veronica supposed to help with... well, everything?"

"Ms. Veronica is still on a lower level. Shall I call her to your level?" Jarvis asks.

"Yes," August states, "though I'm not sure why she should even still be here."

Heather pushes her plate closer to the center of the table, truly unable to find it in her to eat.

"Well look who shows up," Nikki says as the rest of them finish their food. Veronica doesn't look at her very long, then starts for Heather.

"You really should eat more," she insists. Heather shakes her head, folding her arms over her stomach.

"I..." Heather hesitates. One thing she hates about being an 'invalid' as she considers it, is that she has to have help with everything. "I need to go to the bathroom."

Nikki instinctively moves forward, the boy's understanding as well, but not wanting to get involved. Veronica on the other hand, shoots a death glare at Nikki.

Nikki has seen worse death glares, but backs off. Heather doesn't speak up. The fact that she needs someone for this is humiliating on its own. She wants it over and done with.

Veronica wheels Heather away, triumph on her face. She closes the door behind her.

Josh and August are still tense about the subject, but Nikki is bristling calmly at the interaction between herself and the caretaker.

"...She doesn't even care about Heather," Nikki says, plopping back into her seat.

"Why were you ready to-" Josh stops and lets her piece it together.

"I learned from the nurse who takes care of my grandma," Nikki says, "I had to help some days when she couldn't, and then again when she was in a bike accident. Plus, I actually care about Heather, unlike Veronica."

"...We don't even know her," August says. He was trying to find something to rationalize to himself why he should stay distant from Heather, but he voices it as a whole to the situation.

His brother looks at him. "She's still a friend."

"A friend that is hurting, sure. But we don't know how to help her," August bites back.

Josh looks his brother in the eye. August can feel his shoulder and side burn slightly, though he knows it is all in his head. "We have a good idea. Tender loving care, Gus. That's what she needs. That's all we can do."

The trio are still there when Heather and Veronica come back. The plates had been cleared and Heather's leftovers were stored in the kitchenette for later.

"Why are you three still here?" Veronica asks. Her contempt weaves through the sugar coating her voice. "I can take care of her, off you go."

The corner of August's mouth curls up at her treating them like children, when he's sure she's only a few years older. "Captain Rogers request we stay with Heather."

"She's our friend," Josh adds.

"Well she's my patient, so…" Veronica pushes Heather back to her room.

"I don't want to go to my room," Heather says.

"You need to rest, Heather," Veronica states, not pausing.

"No, I don't. I'm sick of-"

"If you are sick, you need to sleep," Veronica states.

Josh steps in front of the wheelchair, staring Veronica down without coming off as threatening. "Heather isn't sick. She is sick of doing nothing. You aren't listening to her."

"You are not in charge here," Veronica states firmly. August can hear the desperate tone in her voice.

"…Why are you so insistent you handle responsibility when you were avoiding it earlier?" He asks.

Nikki and Josh notice his point.

"I… I was getting lunch. I have needs, you know," Veronica stutters.

"A rock, does not care if the water wants to pass it, but the wood feeds the fire and worries about where the wind carries its ashes at a later time," Josh says.

The only person that understands the saying is August, because he's heard Mikio say it a time or two before.

"The true caretakers are those that put the needs of others above their own," August translates.

"Tell me, how's Mr. Bandlaff?" Nikki asks, catching on.

Veronica realizes she's been caught, "I was only chatting with him."

"Jarvis, do you record everything said in the Tower?" Josh asks.

"That I do, Mr. Josh," Jarvis answers.

"Would you mind playing back Veronica and Mr. Bandlaff's conversation?"

"Certainly."

"Wait a second-"

"Playing recording-"

"I can't believe I was assigned to that invalid," Veronica's voice comes from the speakers. August notes Heather tenses at the word, "the only thing that makes this better is that you were transferred as well."

"Well I couldn't leave you lonely, Miss," a deeper voice comments after.

"After that," Jarvis says, pausing the recording, "there was less talking and more-"

"Thank you-" Josh interrupts, "-Jarvis. I think that speaks for itself."

Veronica takes her hands off the wheelchair and walks backwards.

"It's your word against Jarvis," Nikki says, crossing her arms, "Captain Rogers will hear of this when he returns."

"You don't know how to take care of Heather," Veronica states, "I only can't believe I was assigned because it is so hard. She refuses to open up. It's the only way she'll heal."

August takes a turn to step forward, "A flower forced to bloom crumbles. But a flower encouraged to take it's time will open when it is ready and show its splendor to the heavens."

Veronica huffs, confused by the saying. She then turns and leaves the floor, muttering about the impossibility of her job.

There's silence for a moment, then Nikki states, "And so the witch is defeated."

August looks at her, unamused.

"…Thank you."

The three look at Heather. She has tears in her eyes.

"I couldn't stand up to her… And no one would listen to me."

Nikki and Josh squat in front of her wheelchair. August stands just behind her shoulder, then hesitantly places a hand on her shoulder for support. Heather tenses, so he drops his hand.

"Heather, you are not alone," Nikki says, "we are here for you. We won't force you to do anything you aren't ready for."

Heather nods slowly. She then looks at Nikki, "Can I see your gloves? I heard about them on… on the way here."

Nikki cringes, then answers, "I didn't bring them with. Next time, I promise."

"August has some tech he could show you," Josh suggests when Heather's face falls farther than it already was.

Heather shakes her head, "Maybe later…"

"We can have a tech show off sometime," Nikki says, trying to get Heather to smile. She doesn't.

"So, Heather, what would you like to do?" Josh asks.

Josh waits at the hanger bay. The quinjet lands and Steve walks off with the other Avengers, minor wounds few and far between. "Josh, is there a problem?" Steve asks.

"Yes sir," Josh states. Steve's brow furrows in concern. "Heather's fine," Josh states quickly, "she isn't in danger or anything. But, I want to talk about Veronica."

"Her caretaker," Steve says. He heads for the elevator, Josh falling into step next to him.

"Yes. She's been shirking her duties, and I firmly believe she doesn't have Heather's best interest at heart," Josh explains.

"Shall I play the recording?" Jarvis asks as the door closes.

"Yes."

Jarvis plays the same amount as before, apologizing again for the lack of speech in the part he didn't reveal. Steve huffs slowly. "Where is Veronica now?"

Jarvis takes a minute to find her, "She's on the barracks level."

Josh sighs, "Let me guess, she's with Mr. Bandlaff?"

"Yes. Shall I tap into the audio?"

"No," Steve says quickly, "that won't be necessary. But please contact Director Fury for me. I'd like to speak with him."

"Of course."

"I'll take the call in the conference room," Steve says. The elevator pauses a second, then starts moving to the correct floor. Josh goes with him. "…How is Heather doing?" Steve asks, "how is she really?"

Josh looks at the soldier, then turns away, "She's still closed off. I can tell she hates getting help. But she's… she's okay."

"It's hard to tell."

"Yeah…"

"Is someone with her?"

"Nikki's with her. August too, but he's probably in your gym."

Steve nods, walking out of the elevator. He walks into the big room with many chairs and a large monitor on the far wall. Josh remembers when his friends helped the Avengers with finding Heather.

"Director Fury, coming on screen," Jarvis states.

The monitor comes alive and Josh steps out to give Steve privacy. Steve strides up to the front. "Rogers, what a delight," Fury states, sarcasm apparent, "What do I owe this honor?"

"How about the staff member you selected to care for Heather?" Steve asks.

"It is not my job to select jobs like that, Captain," Fury says, moving things around his desk, "I handle higher officials."

"Well make it your job," Steve seethes, pointing at the screen, "because Heather is not getting the care she deserves."

Fury looks at Steve for the first time in the call, "What do you suggest I do? She's in your building."

"But I can't fire or reassign Veronica," Steve points out, "that's on you."

"On what charge?" Fury asks, looking away to focus on something outside the camera's vision.

"Negligence," Steve says without a beat, "If anything, she should have a different job. Perhaps janitorial work or something of the sort. A life couldn't function under her care."

"Do you have a replacement?" Fury asks.

"Her friends seem to handle the situation better than any of your staff," Steve says, "I say let them."

"Captain-"

"Heather thrives around people she knows. That's what she needs right now," Steve interrupts, "and I need people I can trust around Heather."

"You trust a group of children with your daughter more than trained professionals?"

"She's not my kid, and your professionals treat her like a mission, not a person," Steve enunciates.

Fury looks at him again, his eyebrow raised, "…Let's go back to that first statement, shall we?" He sits at the edge of his desk, "You said she isn't your kid."

"That's right."

"I find that hard to believe. You worked your butt off and found her by the skin of your own teeth, even going as far as ignoring self care and not telling your teammates when you knew they'd insist you stay behind." Fury shrugs, "That's what I heard."

"Your point?" Steve asks.

"One doesn't just do that, for one person, because they are a selfless reckless patriot," Fury explains. He leans forward, his elbows on his knees as he looks straight at Steve, "They do it because they are family."

"…Will you handle the situation, Director?" Steve asks.

Fury sighs, leaning away, "Yes, I will. Heather jumped on board this ship and it spit her into the deep. …I can tell she's a good kid," Fury looks down, "not everyone's built for this life."

Steve finds it a good time to make a funny, "Keep talking like that, and she'll start calling you a pirate."

Fury sighs, "And if she does, be sure to record it for me. If she can crack jokes, then she's well on her way."

"Fury, thank you," Steve says.

Fury is about to say something, but then changes his mind and instead says, "Just do one thing for me, Steve."

Steve sits at attention at the use of his first name.

"Help her get the life she deserves. Friends are the first of many steps."

Who's happy to see her out of the picture?

Also... I did not mean to give her the same name as the Hulk prevention invention. ...That was an accident.

Nick sure knows what he's talking about, right? (he referenced the last story, CL: Return)
Side note: Does that sound like Nick Fury? Because... I'm not entirely sure...

Okay, for the important A/Nnouncement...

As of January, I will be deleting Country Lass: Origin from this website. *crowd gasps*
Yes, you heard right. I am doing so.

But why, do you ask? Well, I shall tell you. It is because I am revising it. And I am a little uh... embarrassed, that the first draft is still up, where anyone really can read it. *shuddering* plot holes... *shakes it off* So yes, I am taking Country Lass: Origin off this website as of January 1st. But, I will put up a note in its stead telling readers that have NOT read it yet that Adventures is not the first of the series. And... I may not get the revision up for a while.

I have other projects.
...Maybe the summer. Or whenever I get this one finished? ...TBD, apparently.

Until next update!

Created to Write