"Here."

Carman turned from the coffee pot to see Bruce holding out a white pill to her. "What's this?"

"It will help with the soreness." He gave her a crooked smile.

"So it's a miracle pill." Carman teased, taking it. She would take anything and everything in that moment. She was up once again early. She wasn't going to give the Captain the satisfaction of quitting. Even though every single part of her body screamed in agony, she was determined to be ready when he was.

"I take it. When my muscle get stretched…." Bruce told her with a slight grin. "It will help."

"I hope so. Thank you Bruce." She tossed back the pill and chased it with a long drink of her black coffee. "Why are you up so early?"

"I had a meeting with a group of doctors from overseas. Haven't been to bed yet. Their several hours ahead of us." He explained, filling his cup.

"Oh. Sounds fun."

"Loads." Bruce chuckled as he slowly sipped his coffee. He eyed her. "I heard you did great yesterday."

"Mmm…if you count throwing up, and falling on my face, great." Carman smiled at him, realizing this was the most she had talked to Bruce one on one before.

"But you hung in there. It will get easier." Bruce pushed off the counter with a yawn. "I'm going to try to get some sleep. Good luck today."

"Thanks." She muttered. Finishing off her coffee, she dashed to the elevator. When she reached the bottom floor and saw Steve or Clint weren't there yet, she smiled. While she waited, she did the stretches Clint had taught her. Her muscles protested, but she gritted her teeth and did them. The pinging of the elevator made her smirk. When Steve and Clint stepped out and saw her, she grin. "Running late?"

Steve looked at his watch, then back at her. "Um. You're early."

"I'm ready."

"You sure?" Honestly, Steve was surprised she was there. He knew she had to be very sore. All night he had wrestled with guilt on how hard he had pushed her. He knew he should have taken it easier since it was the first day and she had no previous training. But he hadn't and he had felt like a jerk since.

"Yeah. Let's go." Carman led the way out of the doors, the morning sun giving them a little heat in the otherwise chilly fall morning. They walked to the park, like they had yesterday. When they reached the park they took off in a light jog. Carman noticed how Steve stayed with them, slowly his speed considerably compared to yesterday. After an hour, Clint stopped to check his phone.

"I have to head back."

"Anything up?" Steve asked, as they all stopped running.

"Nah, just a briefing with the director." Clint's eyes cut to Steve's. Fury was here and neither knew why. "I'm sure you'll be later." He took off in a jog back the way they came.

'Come on." Steve went back to jogging, making sure to keep pace with her. She was doing good today. "You're huffing less today."

"Ha! We just got started." Carman tossed back with a laugh. They ran for without talking for a mile or so. It was a tad easier than yesterday, but Carman was still struggling. She noticed Steve slowed his pace down even more as she started to slip. At least running was a distraction from her soreness.

"Let's walk for a while." Steve suggested, seeing the relief in her eyes. "When you need a break, you can tell me." When she made a noise, he frowned. "You can."

"Why? So you can rub it in my face that the princess can't run." Carman smarted off, trying to catch her breath.

"I wouldn't rub it in your face." Steve fired back, offended. When she rolled her eyes, he took a step to her. "I'm not like that."

"Well it's no secret that you don't want me to go with you all anymore."

"Because you have no business doing it!" Steve quietly hissed. "You have no experience."

"You didn't either. At first. Did you? Did Natasha? Clint? They all had to start somewhere." Carman retorted, her cheeks flushed with anger now. "I can do this."

"Why? Why would you want too? Any day you could go back to Asgard and then what?"

"I don't know. But I'm here now and I want to try this." Carman sputtered, hands on her hips. "You're setting me up to fail on purpose. Everyone sees it."

"I promised Thor I would protect you. Do you think he would like you doing this?" Steve questioned.

Carman paused. No, Thor would not like her doing this at all. "I can make my own decisions!"

"Oh yeah? Since when? Your mother still tells you what to do." Steve watched her eyes cloud as she stepped back. Without a word, she turned and walked away from him.

"Stay away." Carman hissed over her shoulder.

"You know I can't." Was his reply. He didn't try to catch her as they walked back to the Tower, he stayed a little distance away, but close enough if she needed him. Once they reached the elevator, she tried to push the button to shut the door before he could get on, but he just made it, shooting her a look. " Carman-"

"Don't talk to me." Carman wrapped her arms around her middle, as if to hold in her feelings that he had cut to pieces. Did he not see how desperately she wanted to have something of her own? To do something she wanted to do? To help and be needed? He saw none of that. They arrived at the main floor and Carman rushed to get off first. But as she turned the corner and saw Director Fury standing there, she froze. When the mans gaze fell on her, she stepped back grabbing Steve's arm.

Seeing her fear, Steve stepped in front of her, feeling her nails digging into his arm. "It's okay." He assured her.

"Rogers. Carman." Fury greeted with a stiff nod. "I was unaware Carman had returned to Earth."

"I didn't know we had to notify you when we had guests." Steve fired back, seeing Clint and Tony step into the room.

"I was also unaware she accompanied the team on their last mission, playing a significant role in that." Fury added with a look. "Want to tell me about that?"

"I already did, sir." Clint chimed in.

"I want to here her account." Fury's eye swung back to Carman. He motioned to the chair at the table. "Let's sit."

Carman's eyes flew to Steve's. Taking her hand, he tangled their fingers together and walked her to the table. Sitting down, Carman was grateful that he didn't let her hand go. She needed a little support as she stared the man across from her. Memories of the last time she had saw Director Fury played in her head. With a encouraging squeeze from Steve, she told Fury about her part in their mission. He listened without interrupting, merely raising an eye brow here or there. "And now…Steve and Clint are helping me with training."

"I see. So that means you plan to go on future missions?" Fury asked.

"Hopefully."

Fury looked to Tony then Steve. "You two feel like she could hold a significant role to the team?"

"I do." Tony quickly told him, then turned to look at Steve.

Steve was aware everyone was looking at him, but Carman. He had heard her suck in a breath when Fury asked him the question. "Having Carman was a big asset for us."

"Yes. But what about future missions?" Fury asked, again. "Do you see her having a role with the team?"

Pushing his personal feelings and opinion's aside, Steve looked at the woman beside him. "I do. Especially after more experience and training." The smile he got from her made his heart jump.

"Okay then. Glad that's settled." Fury got to his feet, reaching over to offer Carman his hand. "Welcome to the team, rookie."

"Thank you." Carman didn't want to, but she shook his hand. He still made her extremely wary and nervous.

"Stark, Rogers. I expect you to supervise our new rookie at all times on the field. I want updates regularly." Fury threw over his shoulder as he stepped on the elevator. Then he was gone.

"Well…that was very Fury like." Clint muttered, going over to Steve to slap him on the back. "Why do I always need a drink when he leaves?"

"It's not even seven in the morning." Steve reminded him with a chuckle.

"Gin and juice it is!" Clint yelled back as he disappeared behind Tony's bar in the living room.

"Fix me one." Tony joined him with a quick nod to the two sitting at the table.

"Did you mean it?"

Steve felt Carman tug her head away, so he let her. He nodded. "As a member of the team…yes I do believe you can be a huge asset to us. But I still don't think it's a good idea."

"Let's stick to the first thing you said." Carman moved, heading to the fridge. She pulled out the orange juice, fixing them both a glass.

"I don't want to see you get hurt."

Carman's eyes cut to his and held for a moment. "You all get hurt. Frequently."

Steve rubbed his eyes, sighing. "I'm not going to win this, am I?"

"No."

"Then we have work to do." Steve checked his watch. "You'll have to work with Barton. I have to help at base today."

"Oh." Did that sound as disappointed as she felt? She hoped not.

"But I expect you to work hard."

"Yes sir." She saluted him with a smirk, making him grin. She watched him go as she sipped her orange juice.

"We working out or you standing here making eyes at Captain's backside?"

Carman jumped, startled to find Clint next to her with a smart ass grin on his face. Her cheeks instantly heated up. "I was not making eyes!"

"Whatever you need to tell yourself." Clint called over his shoulder.

"You are hitting the mat hard today, buddy." Carman warned as she followed him.

Xxxxxxx

Carman quickly fell into a routine. In the mornings her, Clint and Steve would run. After a quick and light breakfast they would head to the training room for a few hours. There were some days Steve wasn't there, but instead at the compound. Some days Natasha would join her and Clint. The first time that happened Carman had felt extremely intimidated by the woman. Carman was also sure that Natasha took pleasure in putting her flat on the mat each time. Each time she would get back up, determined to take the Black Widow down. So far it hadn't happened.

"She has to have a weak spot." Carman complained as she worked on her kicks with Clint. "Everyone does. Right?"

"Sure. You just haven't found hers." Clint smirked, swiping her leg out from under her. "You're not focusing."

"I am."

"No. You are too worried about taking Nat down. You need to worry about your technique first." Clint advised, swatting at her again. "Get your leg up. The higher up, the least expected."

Carman sighed, working on a spin kick move Clint had showed her. She had the spin and the execution down, it was the kick causing her fits. She never seemed to get it up high enough for him. She was getting him in the shoulder each time. He wanted at his chin or higher. "Ugh."

"Okay. Stop." Clint threw up his hands. "I don't know what is wrong, but your head isn't here today."

"Pretty sure it's right here." Carman sassed, pointing at her head.

"Geez, you've been around me to long." Clint muttered, rolling his eyes to the ceiling. "Is it because Cap isn't here?"

"No." Carman quickly replied. Steve had been gone for two days. No one had told her where, just that he had went out of town. Sure, she didn't need an explanation she guessed, but it sure would've been nice.

"Let's call it a day." Clint was done with her, waving her ot the door.

Carman didn't have to be told again. She escaped out of the room and headed to her own.