Chapter Ten
Dressed in chinos and a blue dress shirt, he permeated the aura of a man from another time. Steve stood in his kitchen cooking up a steak in a cast iron skillet, while his baked potato and ear of corn sat on the plate waiting for the main part of the meal to join them. He turned the steak then waited a few minutes and placed it on the plate. Picking up his plate, he walked over to his rickety dining room table, which was located in his dining room/living room. Steve sat down, picked up his knife and fork and he began to eat.
Outside his door, Natasha hesitated knocking on the door. Love is for children. Who was she kidding? She was in love and it was with Steve Rogers, not Captain America, but the awkward, handsome man, who was from a different time. And, she had pushed him away and not in a nice way. Taking a deep breath, she slowly exhaled. You're the Black Widow. You fear no one or anything.
Natasha knocked on the door. Behind the door, she heard some motion then Steve's voice, "Hold on."
He opened the door to see Natasha, dressed in black jeans, a black halter top, black leather jacket, and black leather boots, standing at his door. Steve's stomach suddenly knotted.
"Captain, I'm here to interview about your mission," she said.
"You, Agent Romanov?" he asked.
"Yes, me," she answered.
His heart beat a little fast, so he closed his eyes for a moment and exhaled then he opened his eyes in a calmer state. He stepped aside.
"Please, come in," he said.
Avengers
The six Hydra agents stood outside the jazz club. The leader of the group was a tall man with a scar that ran from one to cheek across his nose to the other cheek. He had dead dark eyes and a shark smile.
"The Red Skull wants this Rogers dead. He said use only blasters because the energy from them will have the greatest effect on him. Remember, this fucker is Captain America," he told him.
He pointed to two of the men.
"Back fire escape," he said then he looked at the remaining men. "We'll go in the front."
He then smiled, "Hail Hydra, cut off one head and two more grow."
"Hail Hydra," the men mumbled.
Avengers
"I was just eating dinner," he said.
"Please, finish," she said.
Rather than look at him, she looked around the room. It was sparsely decorated and what decorations were there somehow they gave the room the feel of a bygone era. He sat down and began to eat again.
"Do you mind if I sit?" she asked.
"Go right ahead," Steve answered.
Natasha sat down on the armchair because it allowed her to look at Steve. If he was nervous, she couldn't tell from outward appearances. Outwardly, he appeared cool and calm. It actually bothered her that he appeared so cool and calm. She knew that she looked unfazed, ever the ice queen in difficult situations that didn't involve the Hulk.
Steve shoved a piece of cut steak in his mouth the finally made eye contact with Natasha. She had beautiful eyes, hazel eyes. Damn it, Rogers, don't lose your head for her again. She isn't Peggy. She is a trained assassin who used you for nothing more to blow off steam. It wasn't personal. Damn it, you don't have feelings for her.
Natasha looked at the distinctly old fashioned man. He had the body and face of a twenty-five year old Adonis, and he didn't even realize it. Okay, love is for children and he makes me feel like a child. I am fucked.
"I know my mission was far from successful," Steve said.
"We believe there was a mole who tipped the Red Skull," she said.
Steve dropped his knife and fork on his plate. Suddenly, his appetite was gone. A mole. Someone told the Red Skull that they were coming and he was waiting for them. He suspected this when it happened, but hearing that there truly was one sickened him.
"Agent Romanov, I'd like…," before he could finish his sentence both his sixth sense and hers went off.
Maybe it was the creak she heard outside the door, or maybe it was the shadow that passed through the waning sunlight in his window, but both of them knew that an attack was about to take place. Steve was up and out of his seat, while Natasha jumped up and pulled a Glock 23 out that was under her coat. He lifted the chair he was in, turned, and threw it at the widow behind him, as she pointed her weapon at the door. The chair crashed through the window then caught one of the Hydra agents by surprise and knocked him off the fire escape and down to the pavement below.
The front door crashed opened and Natasha cleanly took out the first two agents through the door. Steve spied his shield leaning in the corner. As the second agent came through firing the blaster, he did a forward roll to the shield, grabbed it for protection, redirected one of the blaster's energy stream, then he threw his shield sending the second agent down to the pavement with the first one.
"There weapons are highly dangerous," he barked to Natasha.
Just then she gracefully dove out of the way of a blast from the remaining two agents. The energy stream destroyed his coffee table and barely missed her. Steve heard Natasha curse in Russian, as her dive took her into a corner. He saw the two Hydra agents aim their weapons at her.
Steve had a choice to either go for his shield giving him cover against the weapons or protect Natasha. It wasn't really much of a choice. He screamed drawing their attention, as he dove for the men. They both quickly turned away from Natasha to aim their weapons at Steve. The leader fired his blaster. The sidearm sent a blue sizzling energy stream at Steve, who twisted in midair so that the steam passed through his life side opening up a horrific blood wound but not killing him. The force of the weapon threw him up against the wall.
As the Hydra agents prepared to fire on him again, she fired her sidearm efficiently ending their lives. She saw Steve bleeding profusely, his body crumpled up against the wall, and her heart sank. Rushing over to him, the first thing she did was check his wound. The energy stream appeared to put a clean golf ball size hole through his side. He groaned and opened his eyes to see a distraught Natasha looking at him.
"Don't you dare die on me, moya lee-oobov," she said.
She went and grabbed two small pillows from the sofa and started to rip them apart. Taking the material from the pillows, she used them to staunch the blood flow from his wound. She applied pressure on the wounds with her hands. Steve placed on of his strong hands over hers. She looked at him and a gentle smile was on his lips.
"Agent Romanov, I don't speak Russian," he said.
"I said don't you dare die on me, my love," she told him with fire in her eyes.
"I try never to let a lady down, Natasha," he said and his smile brightened.
She leaned down and kissed him hard on the lips then said, "We need to talk, Steve, maybe more than talk, but first I need to get you first aid."
She took out her SHIELD communicator and pressed the emergency signal.
"Agent Romanov," Agent Hill's voice came over the communicator.
"Code Red. We had an assassination attempt on Captain Rogers. He is badly hurt and in need of special medical assistance. Wound came from ED weapon of Red Skull's design. I also need a cleanup crew at his apartment. Six bad guys to scrape up and their weapons," Natasha told her.
"ETA medical assistance and evac ten minutes. Cleanup crew will be there in eight minutes," said Hill.
"We aren't going anywhere," Natasha said.
Avengers
In a quinjet Tony, Thor, Janet, and Hank were headed to the helicarrier. They had examined the equipment and it was obvious that the Red Skull had mastered alien technology. And, it was impressive technology.
When Tony heard that they Captain America was attacked and badly injured with new tech from Red Skull he immediately sent Bruce off to help with his wounds. Red Skull now had Destroyers and new energy directed weapons that were more powerful the ones Stark Industries came up with.
"I hope the Captain is alright," said Thor.
"According to Bruce, there is cellular damage around the wound which won't allow the wound to close properly. Even with the Capiscle's regenerative ability there is a problem closing the wound," said Tony.
Hank was reviewing a tablet full of information on the wound. He looked up from it and turned his head towards Stark.
"I can help Bruce with this," he said. "I believe a modification of Pym Particles used as catalyst will help the wound close and heal."
Janet smiled proudly. Tony looked at her and raised an eyebrow.
"Get a room," he smiled then he looked at Hank. "I'll Bruce know."
Avengers
Steve lay on the bed in the infirmary with an IV of meds and an IV of plasma in his left arm. His wound was covered by Celox bandaging, which kept the bleeding in check for now. Bruce was working at a computer terminal nearby, while Natasha stood by his bedside holding his right hand. Clint entered the infirmary, looked at the bedside scene, and smiled. He walked over to Natasha.
"How is he, Tasha?" he asked her.
"He is awake and fine, Clint," said Steve, who then opened his eyes.
"He's in pain and has a whole in his side. We don't need any macho bullshit here," Natasha said.
Bruce came walking over. He had a benign smile on his face.
"I just heard from Dr. Pym and he has an idea how to heal your wound," he said. "He'll be here in another three hours."
"Can't you get started on it now," growled a now overly protective Natasha.
"Sorry, Natasha, but it's using Pym Particles and I have no experience with them. We have to wait for Hank," he said.
"Tasha, he's going to be fine," said Clint.
He placed his left hand on her shoulder and gave it a light squeeze.
"Is anyone else hungry?" asked Steve.
"How the hell can you eat anything with a hole in your side?" she demanded.
"It's his metabolism, Natasha," said Bruce. "Steve's system tends to burn a lot of calories."
"I'm hungry," he smiled.
"Why I go wrestle up some food for you and Tasha?" said Clint then he looked at Bruce. "How about you?"
"Sure," he smiled.
"I'll be back in no time," said Clint.
Clint left the infirmary. Bruce looked at Natasha and Steve holding hands and his smile brightened.
"I'll get back to my research. We have to get you out of bed, Cap," he said.
Natasha watched Bruce remove himself to the farthest part of the infirmary giving them some privacy. She then looked down at Steve. Even though he was received painkillers his enhanced system burned through the painkillers so quickly they barely had an effect on him. She saw a grimace of pain on his face.
"Steve, how can I help you?" she asked him.
"Patience," he said, "just have patience."
"For what?" she asked him.
He stared into her hazel eyes and wanted to lose himself in her for a while.
"You're right," he said. "Why have patience."
He reached with his right hand grabbing her shirt and pulled her down so that he could catch her lips with his own. Natasha couldn't have stopped him, but she didn't. She allowed him to devour her mouth; she wanted him to do it.
They heard a man clear his throat, so they broke off their kiss. Staring at them was Director Fury. They stared back at him.
"Don't you have a mole to find, Agent Romanov?" he asked her.
"My place is right here, sir, until Captain Rogers is better," she said defiantly.
"Is that right?" Fury asked her then he looked at Captain Rogers and smiled. "Carry on, Captain."
Fury then turned and exited the infirmary. He came to check on Cap, but the man seemed to be doing fine. With Fury gone, Natasha turned her attention back to Steve.
"Where were we?" she said then leaned down and kissed him again.
The kiss quickly deepened and became a long, deep, passionate one. When they came up for air, Steve had a smile on his face.
"We have time to talk now, if you'd like, Nat," he said.
"No," she said. "That can wait until you are out of this bed and in my bed."
He blushed, which made Natasha smile.
"Is that okay with you, Captain?" she asked.
He smiled then looked over to see Bruce engrossed in his work.
"Bruce, you have to hurry to get me up and out of here. I have an appointment to keep with a lady," he called to him.
Bruce lifted his head. The grin on his face showed his amusement.
"Patience, Cap, and we'll have you out of here for R&R in now time," Bruce said.
"Thank you, Bruce," said Steve.
"Yeah, thanks, Bruce," added Natasha.