A.N – We are entering Winter Soldier here people! Please keep reviewing because I love feedback!

Disclaimer – I do not own anything you recognise. The Avengers and the characters therein, belong to Marvel.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Life had decided to speed up. Steve was working for SHIELD, sometimes having to leave for days or even weeks on end for missions and Nadia would work at the zoo five times a week, even leading school trips on tours to help educate young children on how important conservation is. Their time together was not as bountiful as it had been, but they were making sure to make every moment count. They would both go and see Peggy semi-regularly, either together or separately, but her Alzheimer's had worsened over the past months to the point where she would lose her memory in the middle of sentences. Seeing her in such a state pained Steve more than he could say, but he was thankful to have Nadia in those moments to provide support and comfort.

Steve had increasingly become frustrated with Director Fury. He continuously kept information from Steve regarding missions, and it was getting harder for Steve to continue to trust his commanding officer. Nadia kept reminding him that SHIELD was an intelligence agency, not an army and that there was a huge difference, but it didn't make Steve feel better – just more of an outsider.

Public interest in the Avengers in the last few months had died down and as a result, Nadia and Steve could leave their apartment without being ambushed by reporters, which made Steve's morning run all that much more enjoyable.

It was barely dawn when Steve left Nadia sleeping in their bed. He placed a kiss on her cheek before quietly tiptoeing out of the apartment, not wanting to disturb her. She didn't often get to sleep in, getting called into the sanctuary to tend to some animal or another, so Steve tried not to bother her when she got a chance to rest. Sometimes she would join him on a run, but he always had to slow down so she could keep up. He preferred going by himself, to really push his physical limits.

Steve was running a circuit around the Washington monument, around the lake and the park when he spotted another jogger. A man around his age, with dark skin and a stubbly beard, panting while he jogged.

Steve sprinted up to him, and as he passed, said, 'On your left.'

The man said nothing in return and Steve kept running, continuing his third lap of the circuit. Running was exhilarating for him, it got his adrenaline pumping and cleared his mind. It wasn't long until he was about to pass the man again.

He repeated the phrase, 'On your left,' as he sprinted past. This time the man had a reply.

'Uh huh. On my left. Got it.'

Steve couldn't help but grin to himself and he pushed himself harder, running even faster. Within maybe ten minutes, he was upon the man again. He must have heard Steve coming because he turned his head slightly.

'Don't say it. Don't.'

'On your left.' Steve said all the same as he overtook and left the man in the dust.

'Come on!' The man cried, trying to race after Steve and failing. Steve felt a little bad, but it was amusing. He completed another turn around the lake and monument before he came to a stop in the park. The sun was fully up now, and the park was teeming with people. Under one of the trees was the man from earlier, gasping and clutching his chest a little.

'Need a medic?' Steve called, walking over to him. The guy grinned a little as he sat on the ground.

'I need a new set of lungs.' He replied, not taking any offence to Steve's teasing. 'Dude, you just ran thirteen miles in like thirty minutes.'

Steve put his hands on his hips. 'Guess I got a late start.' He replied easily.

The man on the ground chuckled. 'Really? You should be ashamed of yourself. Should take another lap.' He looked away and saw Steve still standing there. 'Did you take it? I assume you just took it.'

Steve grinned and pointed at the logo on the man's jumper, recognising it as military. 'What unit you with?'

'58th para-rescue. But now I'm working down at the VA.' He held a hand out to Steve, wriggling his fingers a little to indicate he needed a hand to get up. 'Sam Wilson.'

Steve took his hand and hauled him to his feet. 'Steve Rogers.'

Sam got to his feet with a grunt, still hunched over. 'Kinda put that together.' He panted then straightened up, examining Steve with knowing eyes. The eyes of a soldier. 'Must have freaked you out coming home after the whole de-frosting thing.'

'Takes some getting used to.' Steve admitted before turning away. 'Good to meet you, Sam.'

He began to walk way, eager for breakfast when Sam called out, 'It's your bed right?'

Steve turned. 'What's that?'

'Your bed. It's too soft.' Sam said, standing in front of him. 'When I was over there, I would sleep on the ground and use rocks for pillows. Now I come home, lie in my bed and it's like…' Sam shook his head, the words escaping him, but Steve knew what he meant.

'Lying on a marshmallow. Feel like I'm going to sink right into the floor.' Steve said. He didn't feel that way often, sleeping in bed with Nadia now. But when he had lived alone, sleep had evaded him more nights than he could count. Even now, sharing a bed with Nadia, if she wasn't there it was hard for him to get to sleep, to relax.

Sam nodded, exhaling a small chuckle, looking at Steve with understanding and crossing his arms.

'How long?' Steve asked him.

'Two tours.' He said and Steve nodded. That was a long time to be away from home. 'You must miss the good old days, huh?'

It was a question Steve got often, so his answer was immediate. 'Well, things aren't so bad. Food's a lot better – we used to boil everything. No polio is good and….internet. So helpful. Been reading that a lot trying to catch up. My girlfriend has helped a lot too.'

Sam looked like he was contemplating something before he licked his lips and said, 'Marvin Gaye, 1972, Troubleman soundtrack. Everything you missed, jammed into one album.'

Steve nodded and got out a small notebook he kept in his back pocket. 'I'll put it on the list.' He said, scribbling it down and then tucking it in his pocket. His phone beeped and he took it out, seeing it was a message from Natasha about a mission.

'Alright Sam. Duty calls,' Steve said, holding out a hand to shake Sam's hand. 'Thanks for the run…if that's what you wanna call running.'

Sam's draw jaw dropped open. 'That's how it is?' he asked, a grin twitching at the edge of his lips, knowing that Steve meant no harm by it.

'Oh, that's how it is.'

Sam laughed this time. 'Okay.' He replied as Steve backed towards the curb, not turning away. 'Hey if you ever wanna stop by the VA, make me look awesome in front of the girl at the front desk, just let me know.'

A loud rumbling car engine approached and Steve grinned, 'I'll keep that in mind.'

A tinted black sports car pulled up at the curb just near them and Natasha rolled down the window. 'Hey fellas,' she greeted, 'Any one of you know where the Smithsonian is? I'm here to pick up a fossil.'

Steve rolled his eyes, accustomed to the team's teasing of his age now, even though Thor was technically older than all of them put together. 'Hilarious.' He said, climbing into the car.

'How you doin'?' Sam said, crouching to look at Natasha.

'Hey.' She replied. Steve turned back to Sam and shrugged a shoulder.

'You can't run everywhere.' He said. Sam shook his head, smiling.

'No, you can't.' he replied. Natasha revved the powerful engine and pulled out into traffic. Steve wondered where the hell they were going this time and sighed. He pulled out his phone and hit the first speed dial.

'Hello?' Nadia answered after four rings. She sounded out of breath.

'Hey doll. Nat and I have a mission.' He said, wincing a little. He could practically see her shoulders slump in his mind's eye.

'Oh, okay. How long will you be gone?' She asked, and he noticed her voice was lower.

'I'll probably be back tomorrow but I'll let you know if it will be longer.'

'Alright. Well, I won't be home until late all this week. We're all working overtime to get the sanctuary ready for those new arrivals in two weeks.'

'Don't work too hard.'

'And you don't take any unnecessary risks.' She replied, 'Both of you stay safe. I love you.'

Steve smiled gently. 'Love you too.' He said and then hung up.

Natasha shifted into a higher gear. 'How'd she take it?' she asked.

'Same as always.' Steve replied. 'She'll worry about us until we come back.'

Natasha smiled, fondness in her voice when she said, 'She'd worry even if she was coming with us.'

'True.'

Nadia knew Steve was home even before she set foot in the apartment. She could hear the record player from the other side of the door, and she sensed him moving around the kitchen. She put her keys in the lock and turned, letting herself in and smiling despite herself. She'd expected Steve to be gone on a mission for at least three days, but here he was, home within twenty-four hours.

'Honey! I'm home!' she called with a grin. She toed off her shoes and dropped her bag on the counter. Steve turned, handing her a plate with a grilled cheese on it.

'Hey.' He greeted, pecking her on the lips and Nadia immediately noticed the frown on his face.

'What's wrong?' she asked. 'Are you hurt?'

He blinked in surprise. 'What? No, I'm fine.'

'Then why do you look like you're constipated?' Nadia asked, taking a bite of her sandwich and leaning against the counter. Steve rubbed his face, looking annoyed.

'It's this mission.'

'What happened?' she asked. Steve recounted the mission in detail, even thanking her for teaching him some parkour, as it had saved his life. He came to the part about Natasha gathering SHIELD intel when they were supposed to be recuing hostages and Nadia frowned, brushing her hands together to get rid of crumbs.

'Well, that's her job, Steve. She's a spy.'

Steve gave her a frustrated look. 'I know that. The point it that Fury didn't tell me that would be part of the mission. Called it compartmentalisation.'

'You were in charge of the mission, right?' Nadia asked. Steve nodded and she continued, 'Then you should know all aspects of the mission. Fury had no right to keep that from you.'

'That's what I told him.'

Nadia held up a hand. 'You told him this?'

'Yes. This isn't the first time he's sent me on a mission under false pretences.' He reminded her, and Nadia conceded his point. 'I'm getting really sick of being used to pick up the pieces.'

Nadia sighed. 'I know.'

'Then there's that new project he's working on.' Steve grumbled and Nadia's ears perked up. This was new information.

'What project?' she asked. If possible, Steve's expression grew even darker. He knew it was supposed to be confidential, but Fury had made no mention of keeping it from Nadia.

'He calls it Project Insight. Three helicarriers designed to target and eliminate global threats.'

'What?' Nadia cried. 'Who picks the targets?'

'I have no idea. Fury didn't share that information.'

'That is…' Nadia slumped against the counter, feeling drained from the sheer wrongness of this. 'Horrible. And Fury claims it's for global safety?'

Steve started pacing. 'With that thinking he could pull the trigger on Thor, or Banner, or Tony…or you.'

'Me?' She gasped.

'Since New York you've moved into the top ten on SHIELD's watchlist.' Steve said, eyes wary. 'I thought you knew.'

'Does it look like I was aware of this?' Nadia cried and then sobered when she realised. 'It's because I'm an enhanced, isn't it?'

'I daresay so. That and the fact you've been pretty vocal about your hatred of governments…' Steve looked at her for a long moment before grasping her arms and holding her close to him. 'You know I won't let anything happen to you right?'

Nadia smiled gently. 'I know.'

Steve kissed her forehead and hugged her. Nadia rested her head against his chest and sighed. She could hear his heart beating steadily.

'When did the world get so complicated?' She wondered.

'I know what you mean. Before, I always knew who the bad guys were. Now…now I'm not so sure.'