We join Pepper, Tony, Steve, and Natasha in the living room. All of them smile and I see Steve's face light up. He is happy to see his old friend. We join them in chairs that have been pulled into the room. We are asked to sit and James looks at me with concern. He is still terribly distrusting.
"So we want to know if you will join our team?" Tony asks
I look at James excited for him. He has been asked to be a hero instead of the assassin. I grab his hand and smile. He looks at me struck by uncertainty.
"You'll do great." I say encouraging him.
There are a few shared laughs in the room. Steve is shaking his head smiling.
"What?" I ask
"Not just him dear. You too." Pepper says
Me? "What?" I am dumbfounded
"You attacked Captain America." Natasha says accusing
"I didn't attack him. I was trying to stop him from hurting James." I say defending myself
"You climbed on a car, jumped, and landed on him knocking him to the ground." Natasha says astounded
"Hey! You had given her the shot." Steve says trying to defend his strength.
"But…I…." The words don't come to me. I am no one.
"You'll do great." James says squeezing my hand.
I close my open astonished mouth. I start to shake my head.
"Please." Tony says and he rolls his eyes. "You get paid a salary from S.H.E.I.L.D. and any personal appearances you make are your own decision."
"But you have to train." Steve says. I meet his stern eyes.
They are all very serious.
"And we need to give you a big booster shot." Natasha adds. She finishes with her lovely half smile.
"I need to think about this." I say
"There's nothing to think about. You stole Hydra's Winter Soldier. You're deep in it darling with no boots." Tony says
The next day I am amazed how comfortable my new boots are. In no time they have fashioned a suit for me made of neoprene and some other scientific jargon that I can't even begin to understand. It hugs my curves and looking in the mirror next to the Black Widow I am amazed. I look just as hot and badass as her. I keep my hair back in a French braid to prevent tangles. The morning consisted of her teaching a few basic moves and repeating them a hundred times. I easily get bored with this and it shows in my performance. Natasha is not patient with me.
Lunch time comes and I find James with Tony. James is laid back in a chair with a black tank top on. Tony is fascinated with his arm and does everything to it but take it apart and put it back together again. James' clenched jaw lets me know he is not happy with Tony. His face changes when I walk in. His eyes grow bigger and his mouth parts slightly.
"Hi." I say giving a slight saunter and a smile.
He returns the look.
"You look amazing." He says.
I see Tony smile. I meet the soldier and give him a quick peck and then sit myself down on his right leg. There is door open to a compartment on James' arm.
"Is he still being mean to you?" I ask James. He knows I am mocking him slightly.
"He could slip up. Then what am I going to do? Go back to Pierce?" He asks
"I'm not going to slip up." Tony responds. "I have plenty of Iron Man suits to prove that I am a genius."
I roll my eyes and laugh. James finds no humor in this. I want to change the subject.
"Why don't you invite Steve over? You guys can catch up." I suggest
"What am I going to tell him? That I've been too busy murdering people to be his friend." James asks
"That's not fair to you." I say
He frowns. My look is stern.
"Yeah I guess that would be a good idea." He says
"It's okay with you right Tony?" I ask
"Like I said bleach the hot tub." He says
I make a disgusted face. On the inside I honestly can't think of much better than two hot men in a hot tub.
I kiss James and head back to find Natasha. She and I spend some time shopping for some necessary items and then I am taken to a facility run by S.H.E.I.L.D. We enter a small building that is stark and modern. I am nervous. Today is the day of the big shot. I am still unsure of doing this but I need a weapon even if it's my own body.
There are forms to initial, sign, initial, sign, and sign again. I don't read much, I'm too nervous to read. I already signed on the dotted line once what could go wrong this time?
We sit in a room with a few people buzzing around us. I remind myself this is for my sister. I need to do everything I can to get her back. I sit up and look Natasha directly in the eye.
"You have to promise me if anything happens you get my sister back!" I say
She ponders for a moment. I am sure she is going through a list of witty come backs in her head but her face is dead serious.
"We'll get her back together." She says
I relax in my chair. I am still worried. Natasha has assured me that nothing will go wrong but I still fret. Will I be the same person I was before? What if I'm allergic to it but the small dose didn't do anything? They don't leave me there to worry long. I am called back. Natasha goes with me. There is a short balding man with a doctor's coat. He smiles when we approach.
"Good Afternoon Dr. Miller." Natasha greets him
"Ms. Romanoff." He says
"This is Sadie Monroe." Natasha says
I don't know what makes me surprised she knows my real name. Nothing should surprise me about this woman by now.
"Sam." I say and shake his hand smiling.
"It's nice to meet you. I've only heard good things." The doctor says.
Good things? I think about the kinds of things you hear about a white trash whore and the list is not that long or great.
He sits me on an examining table and explains that he's going to give me a serum in the form of a needle or twenty.
"We've come a long way since they did it to Steve. Though he didn't reject it. Some people do." Natasha says and adds. "You would've rejected it the first time I gave it to you."
I nod. I just want to get it over with. No more questions. The doctor gathers a few things. I changed from the uniform to Jeans and a tank top and a jacket before we came. I pull the jacket off and my shoes and jeans are next. I sit back down and nervously swing my legs back and forth. Before I am ready the doctor asks.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes." I say nodding. My whole insides are screaming No!
He nods and smiles. He uses a pad and some orange liquid to sterilize my skin where the needle goes in. Each arm is covered with it.
"Cute." I mutter
I see Natasha smile.
"Here goes." The doctor says.
The needle goes in my right arm. I can't watch.
"Again." He says. It goes in again lower. "Again." He pushes the needle in my forearm. The pain is bearable but I can't find anything to focus on besides the pain. I feel the serum warm through my system.
"Just nine more." Natasha says
I roll my eyes and let out a breath as the needle is coming out. She smiles slyly. I need to learn to do that.
