Here it is. The last chapter of this story. Now, again, don't lose heart. There will be more in the future.
..More on that in the A/S/A/N. (After story author's note.)
3rd POV
Steve looks at the exit of the Ranch again as he sits on the steps to the porch. The mission took two days. It's been one since he got back. Nothing has come through the break in the trees.
Sam walks out of the house with two cups of coffee. He sits down next to Steve and hands him one. "Thanks.." Steve mumbles before taking a drink.
"I should be dragging your butt to bed," Sam states, "you've been up all day. Don't give yourself too much credit and stay out into the night too."
Steve looks back at the trees, sipping his coffee slowly.
"You're beating yourself up about this," Sam continues.
"I'm the one that caused it," Steve says calmly.
"She needed to know," Sam reasons, "you had to tell her."
"But why me?" Steve asks, staring at the trees as it turns darker. "Why did I have to tell her?"
"You are her mentor, her guardian-"
"We've all trained her," Steve argues.
"Who taught her to throw a shield?" Sam asks, "Who pushed her to her limits and brought out that stubborn girl who will give her life for the innocent?"
Steve sighs. Sam is right. Heather is his responsibility. "I really messed up." Steve can still hear Peggy in his head.
"We rather.. Mucked it up.."
"She should have been told sooner, that I'll agree with. But even Captain America makes mistakes," Sam says.
Steve turns from the trees and looks at the wooden steps he's sitting on. "What do I do now? She doesn't have her phone. There's no way to know where she is.. or if she's alright."
"Why don't you listen to what I told you before the mission and trust her," Sam urges, "She's a big girl Steve. She can take care of herself."
Steve takes another drink of the warm coffee. He's tired. He had put Heather out of mind for the mission, but only because he had expected her to be back at the Ranch when they returned. He thought her sudden departure was just a ride to cool off, not to actually leave.
He should have known better, and now he's worried beyond belief. 'Is this what having kids is like? Because I feel like a worried parent wondering if their child isn't doing something stupid,' he thinks looking up at the stars, 'the only difference is I'm not going to ground her for being late.'
"Cap, you need to come inside," Sam repeats.
"I'm waiting," Steve decides. Sam stares at his friend. When Steve decides something, there is little that can move him. So Sam stands up and walks back into the house. Natasha looks at him, but Sam shakes his head.
Steve looks back out at the trees. He doesn't hear the footsteps, but a small hand comes down onto his shoulder. He looks up suddenly at the intrusion. It's Natasha. She's waiting with her eyes saying, 'Don't fight me, you won't win.'
Steve tries to ignore her. So she walks down the steps a little and takes the cup out of his hand.
"Come on Grandpa, you'll get gray hairs," Natasha prods as she walks back to the house.
Steve exhales all the air out of his lungs before he stands up. He walks behind her and sits on the couch.
Natasha gives him the coffee back. "Do you know where she might have gone?" She asks.
Steve takes a drink of the coffee, which he's finding out pretty quickly is decaf. "My only guess is her grandparents' farm. It's the place she's always talked about," Steve answers.
"Didn't you go there once?" Sam asks.
"At the beginning of summer. She was very different there. She's loves that farm more than any other in the world."
"All the way in Minnesota?" Natasha asks. Steve nods. "That's a long way."
"I don't know for sure though. She could have gone anywhere her motorcycle could take her."
"Hey," Natasha says softly, "Don't do this. It isn't your fault."
"That's what I've been trying to tell him," Sam says from the kitchen opening. Natasha looks over at him.
"I've already lost one of my friends," Steve says, directing their attention back. Sam's expression softens at the mention of Bucky, but Natasha's change in mood goes unnoticed. He looks at each of them in turn, "I don't want to lose another to a wild goose chase where they don't want to be found."
"I understand that, Cap, but there's nothing we can do right now," Sam reasons.
Steve sets his now empty mug on the coffee table. "Natasha, can't you use your skills to find her?" He asks.
"I know a need for personal space when I see one. What makes you think she won't come back?" Natasha asks.
Steve looks at the floor, "..She may choose to stay at the farm. She may decide to quit and stay. That's where she was going to live after she was done being Country Lass."
"Would she do that without telling you?" Sam asks.
Steve shrugs, rubbing between his eyes, "I don't know, maybe she's still deciding?"
"Maybe she's waiting for a hug?"
All three heroes turn to the door. Heather is standing there, her backpack over her shoulder. She looks different. She's tired from her return journey, but she's.. refreshed in some way. She isn't angry.
"Heather!" Steve exclaims. He stands up and walks over to her.
"Turns out there's a stealth mode on the bike," Heather reveals, "silences the engine to the purr of a kitten."
Steve hugs her, holding her close. Heather returns the gesture.
"I went to the farm," she says, "There was no trouble along the way. I just needed to-"
"Don't ever disappear like that again," Steve says. He tries to be commanding, but it comes out pleading, vulnerable.
Heather realizes the impact her leaving had on him. She buries her face into his shoulder. "Steve, I'm so sorry. If-"
"It's okay, I should have told you sooner," Steve assures. He pulls out of the hug, "Just don't do it again."
Heather nods, "Okay."
"Were you thinking of staying there?" Steve asks.
"I.. Considered it," she admits, "but.. There is a time and place for everything and it's not time for me to do that yet."
Steve smiles.
"I'm where I need to be, Avenger or not," Heather decides.
"You may not be an Avenger, but technically, you're my partner," Steve says.
"So.. I'll go on missions with you?"
"Smaller ones, yes. And Sam will sometimes be there," Steve answers.
"Can't keep me out of the fun," Sam jokes.
"You know how dangerous this can be, Heather," Natasha reminds, "are you sure you're up for it?"
Heather holds her chin high, "Definitely."
"Well, I'm relieved to hear you say that," Steve says.
"Why?" Heather asks, looking back at him.
"Because.. We need you for something."
"What am I needed for?" Heather asks, irritated by the teasing suspense.
Sam walks over and ruffles her hair. Heather bats his hand away and punches his shoulder lightly. "The last rescue mission of the summer," he answers.
"What?"
"Yep, we obtained information from the Hydra base we went after. There is one more Hydra base for experimenting for Enhanced abilities in America," Natasha states, standing up.
Heather looks at Steve, "When do we leave?"
"As soon as Jarvis decodes the rest of the location, and the SHIELD agents are ready for depature," Steve answers.
"And," Natasha says, walking over, "you get some sleep, worry wart."
Heather looks at Steve, concerned, "Did you stay up waiting for me?"
"I'm fine-"
"Look me in the eyes and say you are at peak performance and a few hours of sleep won't change anything," Heather says, crossing her arms.
Sam 'oohs' at her quick response. "Man, I think she takes care of you just as much as you take care of her."
Steve gives Sam a look and his friend walks away, hands in the air. "Okay, I'll get some sleep. You should too if you drove from Minnesota."
"Yes sir," Heather says. She walks up the stairs and goes into her room. She places her backpack on her bed and opens it up. She slides her shield off her back and leans it against the nightstand.
She looks at her phone and hat on the covers, waiting for her. She picks up the hat and inspects the letters sewn on the side. She puts it on and unpacks her backpack. Only when she slides under the covers, does she take it off and put it over the Bible on her nightstand.
"Attention Avengers, the Quinjet will be leaving in fifteen minutes," Jarvis tells the whole house with the announcement system. Heather wakes up and goes to her closet. She opens it and finds her Country Lass uniform.
Now, for the last rescue mission of the summer, I'm going to leave that to you, the readers. (I haven't really been descriptive of those. They usually take all day, if not a couple..)
And the next story in Heather's life will not be written this month. Or the next. In fact, I'm not sure when I'll write it.
I don't even know if I should tell you the title.
Or should I?
Hmm... I think I will.
But first-
The reason I won't get it all done yet is because NaNo is coming up again and I want to get any and all projects not pertaining to it done. You may not hear from me in November for the same reason. Who knows?
All my other finished and not finished stories can be found under my profile and the complete list (along with some details and warnings of each) can be found in my profile. Please watch for other stories being finished as well, such as Astrid Part Three and Red Hood has a Heart.
And my final announcement, which I hinted I'd say a few announcements ago.
The title of Country Lass' next story. Is..
Return of the Skull.
I leave what that means for you to wonder until I start posting.
I hope you liked (loved.. no?) this story. I had fun writing it.
Until next time!