Heartbreaking News

(Iris POV)

I wake up a few hours later still in a bit of pain but not nearly as much as before. I look around and don't see Steve, the last time I saw him he was sitting right by my bed. I slowly walk out of the room and see Sam and Natasha quietly talking, I couldn't tell what they were saying but they were holding something.

"Natasha? Sam?" I say still a little sleepy.

"Iris, how are you feeling?" She asked.

"Better...tired and still a little sore but better." I answer.

"Your lucky that the bullet just grazed you." Sam spoke up.

"Yeah...Steve mentioned that." I reply, "Where is Steve?"

"...We don't know..." Natasha could only say, I was confused.

"He just told us to stay here with you..."Sam finished saying.

"But why aren't you with him? You always go with him." I asked confused.

"I know..." Natasha said, I could tell she was keeping something from me.

"What? What are you leaving out?" I asked suspiciously.

"He left us a note..." Sam softly said, "We didn't even realize he wrote us one until about an hour ago."

"What does it say?" I ask.

"It says, "Sam, Natasha. I have to go do something, I have to do it alone and don't know when I will be back but once its done you all will be free. Please take Iris out of this place and take her home, she's going to be safe now, you all will be safe now. Just please look out for her, thank you for all you've done, -Steve." Natasha read.

"That doesn't make any sense." I responded worriedly.

"I couldn't agree with you more." Natasha said softly, I could tell they were as confused and worried as I was, none of this sounded good.

"I don't have a good feeling about this but...he told us to take you home so we're leaving in the morning." Sam replied.

I nod and go back into the room I had been staying in and sat on the side of the bed. I don't know what think, I look down and see a note on the nightstand, I immediately knew it was Steve's handwriting, he had wrote a note for me too. I read the note and it says, "Iris, by the time you read this I have left to go finish this. I can't put you in danger anymore, this has to end. I have already told Sam and Natasha to take you home, you don't have to hide anymore or be afraid, your going to be safe now. They will be there if you need anything. Until I get back please live your life no longer living in fear, you deserve to have the best life. Remember I will always come for you, I love you. -Love Steve."

After reading his note I had tears in my eyes but it also left me more confused then I already was before. What did he have to do? Why didn't he take the other two with him? When will he be back? He didn't tell me or them when he would. I had a terrible feeling about all of this, I'm worried he did something reckless like he always does when it comes to me or his friends. We did indeed leave the cabin the next day and I went home to my apartment that was still a wreck from it getting shot up.

It has been two weeks since Sam and Natasha brought me home, none of us have heard from Steve. Somehow the CIA found evidence proving that Ross was Hydra and there was a warrant out for his arrest, he had disappeared, we don't know what the evidence was but that just begged the question, if Ross was found guilty, where was Steve? Why wasn't he back yet? As for Sam and Natasha, all charges were dropped and they were offered positions with the CIA, they both didn't want to at first but if they didn't they couldn't help find Ross or Steve, so they agreed. But unfortunately because of their pasts with being on the run they didn't have clearance to see the evidence they had on Ross, they both had to work their way back and gain their trust again. Someone that I had shockingly gotten close to was Maria Hill, we officially met after we left the cabin, who was working with the CIA as well. Even though Natasha and I had become closer she still was a bit intimidating and it didn't help that we both could be rough around the edges, we were a bit too similar sometimes but Maria was a bit easier to talk to and it helped that we were very different people, plus she didn't constantly remind me of Steve like the other two did. It was difficult to see them and not think of him and couldn't keep myself from worrying and wondering where he was.

As for me? So far I have been safe with no one coming after me, I don't feel like I'm being followed. I fixed my apartment and I just started going back to school and work, my boss and Professors weren't happy that I had been gone for almost a month but I was able to make up an excuse. It was difficult trying to go back to a normal life when all I could think about was Steve. I knew he hadn't abandoned me but I was worried...really really worried.

I had just got home from work, collapse on my couch, it was a long day. I've been backed up with a lot of homework, went to school then work afterwards and of course as always I had to deal with a bunch of assholes, I'm glad that never changed! Ever since I came back they were like a moth to a flame to me, it was infuriating! My buzzer goes off, I sigh as I press the button.

"Who is it?" I say not happy I had to get up.

"It's me." Natasha says in the voice box.

"Can this wait til later? I'm exhausted." I groan.

"...No...it can't." Natasha says slowly, that didn't sound good so I buzzed her up.

When I heard her knock I open the door and both Sam and Natasha are here, I let them in and shut the door, they both don't look happy, their eyes were watery, this worries me.

"What? What's the matter" I ask them concerned.

"Iris..." Sam can't speak, I don't say anything, I just gets more worried.

"...Someone in Germany found Steve's body...he's dead." Natasha finishes with tears in her eyes.

I couldn't breathe, I didn't believe them, "That can't be true!" I breathe heavy.

"The CIA confirmed it..." Sam said softly.

I collapse to my knees and cry, they both lean down to comfort me but I push their arms away, I know they are just trying to be nice and also need comforting but I just can't be touched right now.

"He said he was coming back..." I cry.

"Iris...We think that's what he went to do that night...traded his life...for ours." Natasha whispers, that just makes me cry more.

"Please leave me alone...I need to be alone..." I softly say.

"Iris..." Sam can only say.

"Please..."

The both nod, they are trying to be as tough as they can but neither of them can hold back their tears as well. I close the door and slink back down to the floor and cry more, I hug my knees to my body. Luna comes up to me and is also whimpering, I hug her. I'm suddenly furious! How could he do that without talking to me? To make that kind of decision! He said he was coming back and that he would always come back for me! I quickly get up and go into my closet as I thrash my clothes, looking for the item. I see the one shirt I still have from Steve, I take it off the hanger, I want to rip it to shreds and get rid of it and I am almost about to but I just can't do it. Instead I smell his shirt and hug it to myself and cry again. I take off my shirt and put on his shirt. I lay on my bed and hug myself again. It was the only way I could be close to him! I realized I couldn't destroy the only thing I have and I just couldn't stay mad, he saved my life and gave up his for me! Luna laid beside me as I continued to hold myself and cry. I cried myself to sleep that night...actually more then just that night.

Yep two Chapters this week, I thought you deserved a treat! I know this is a very sad chapter! Just keep reading!