Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel Cinematic Universe, Charmed or anything else you may recognize

Thank you to everyone who has favorited, followed or reviewed this fic so far.

This one shall move it a bit more.

Also, Marcus S. Lazarus put this story under the 'Empty Shell' trope at TV Tropes due to Paige's mental condition so thank you to him.

Chapter 3- A spark

Paige once more woke up to the sound of the alarm, and put her slippers on, feeling some hunger pangs due to not having had dinner the last night.

Still, she brushed her teeth, then turned the shower on and stepped into it, letting the feel of water splashing on her face jolt her to complete alertness, and then she wore her uniform before cooking breakfast, and ate it all along with some coffee, now ending her hunger pangs at last, which made her sigh in relief for a bit.

With that done, she left for work like usual.

Paige served food at the restaurant and fortunately, the misogynistic assaulter from the previous day was not present this day, not that she cared either way.

As she walked off after serving one couple, she saw a young couple rocking a baby in their arms, and realized these were among the few lucky who hadn't lost much in what had happened 7 months ago.

Well, good for them, but seeing it did not do any favors for the poor woman as she remembered Wyatt and Chris, and staggered around a little, so one of her co-workers helped her, grasping her shoulder.

"You okay, Paige?" He asked her.

"Yeah, I'm fine", Paige assured, taking a long and deep breath to recover herself. "I'm good, thanks."

She walked back to the counter and made some notes for more orders before passing them off to the kitchen, then knew she had to wait again before she could serve all of the stuff that would be cooked inside there.

"Uhhh, Paige?" The co-worker from before then called out to her as she turned to him.

"Yeah?" Paige asked as she turned to him. "Harry, what is it?"

"Uhhh, well", Harry trailed off, looking shy and a bit nervous too. "I was wondering-"

"Yeah?" Paige asked again, looking at Harry emotionlessly."

"Well, we've both worked here for 3 months", Harry told her. "So I was thinking that well, maybe we should know each other a bit more, don't you think?"

"How exactly?" Paige asked now.

"Will you go out with me?" Harry asked her as Paige sighed. "I know its been hard for us all but-"

"Look, you're a nice guy and all, but sorry, not interested", Paige said, surprising Harry at how cold she sounded, as she then took the food that she was supposed to serve and walked off to serve it, putting all the plates on the right tables.

She looked at the young couple with the baby again, feeling a little envy that in spite of these dark times, they were still happy and fulfilled, while she had lost everything and everyone she cared about in one fell swoop.

There was nothing fair about this, was it?

For the first time since coming to New York, instead of going home at night, Paige ended going to Josie's Bar in Hell's Kitchen, and took down a drink in one large gulp.

This wasn't her first though, or second, or even the third one.

This was her seventh one actually, and it didn't look like she was going to stop.

"Hit me", Paige said, her words already slurring as she held her glass out.

Josie herself looked quite concerned and said. "You really want more there, young lady?"

"Hit me", Paige simply said as Josie sighed and did.

"Whatever you say."

In that moment, a blind and handsome man arrived and sat down there, looking a little grim. "Hey Josie."

"Hello Murdock", Josie greeted as she poured a drink for the 'Murdock' guy. It seemed Murdock and Josie were quite familiar with each other based on this little interaction between that Paige had been witness to.

Paige finished her next one and said again. "Hit me."

"You sure lady?" Josie asked her.

"Hit me."

"Fine."

"Are you all right, ma'am?" Murdock asked in concern as Paige scoffed.

"No, which you would know I think", Paige muttered as she took the next drink.

"You know, drinking like that isn't healthy", Murdock told her.

"Why are you here then?" Paige asked.

"Just for 2 small drinks to relax, not to get drunk", Murdock told her. "I imagine you'd have to get home, being drunk won't be beneficial to that. Please, try to understand."

Paige scoffed again and said. "Thanks, Samaritan."

She called out. "I'm closing my tab."

"Was starting to wonder", Josie commented as Paige took out some money and put it on the table, before getting up and staggering away.

She opened the door and staggered outside, and in her drunkenness, stumbled onto the road just as a bike sped, and Paige was hit, being sent to the ground as she gasped, feeling her bones break and blood pour out.

"Oh my God! I'm so sorry!" The biker exclaimed as he leapt down and knelt down to her, while she heard rushed footsteps and next moment, the Murdock guy was kneeling down to her to next to the biker.

"Call 911!" Murdock said to the biker who got up to do so as some more people were gathered. "Don't worry, you'll be fine."

Paige's vision blurred and then she saw no more.

Few days later, Paige sat on her hospital bed, now needing crutches to walk for at least a month.

"These are your discharge papers, you can sign them if you want to get out", the doctor said, and Paige did without a word.

"You know, Miss Paige", the doctor kindly told Paige. "Just some friendly advise from a doctor, please take good care of your health."

No response as he said. "Have a great day."

Paige gave the slightest of nods as the doctor walked off, and Paige stood up on her crutches.

A nurse walked to her and kindly said. "You know, he does have a point. You should take care of your health."

"I'll try", Paige muttered without any sincerity in her voice as she started leaving.

"Not just physical", the nurse added as Paige turned around to look at her.

"You know what I mean", the nurse said as she tapped her head and walked off, while Paige sighed and went outside the hospital.

That was when a flyer flew at her and she grasped it, looking at it out of curiosity.

'Brooklyn Support Group', it read.

Paige wondered if it was coincidence or fate that she found this flyer right after the nurse implied she needed to take care of her mental health.

No, there was no fate, it had to be coincidence.

Still, perhaps it wouldn't hurt to try, the monotonous routine, while she deserved it according to herself, did get boring, something could come of this.

A month later, her body fully healed, Paige now walked into the building for the Brooklyn Support Group, looking around at the people who were seated, and pulling a chair, she took her own, while noticing the leader who was called 'Jimmy', his name had been on the flyer too.

Then she noticed who else was there- a young blonde handsome man. But it wasn't his looks that attracted her attention, it was who he was! And everyone's attention was attracted.

Steve Rogers noticed the looks he was getting and humbly said. "I'm not special, please. I'm just like you guys here, I am here for support, and it goes both ways. Do not give me any VIP treatment, treat me how you'd treat anyone else who is part of this group."

Paige was reminded of Leo for a bit on hearing the way in which Steve spoke.

"All right then", Jimmy said as he asked the group. "Anyone wants to say something? Say it freely, we're all here to help each other, and just be there for our fellow humans in general."

One man spoke up. "Hi, my name is Jake Brocks."

"Yes Jake?" Jimmy urged him gently.

"Well, uhhh, I was in the force", Jake told the group. "I, uhh, I used to have a partner, then…that happened."

All knew what he was speaking of as Jake continued. "Then I saw him last night, from behind, I put my hand on his shoulder, it wasn't him. And then it happened to me all over again."

Paige could relate to that, she thought to herself sadly.

Steve remembered something Sam had said and realized it fit this situation perfectly, so he repeated. "Some stuff you leave there. Other stuff you bring back. It's our job to figure out how to carry it. Is it gonna be in a big suitcase, or in a little man-purse? It's up to you."

Jake nodded as Paige felt a little spark in her on hearing his words. It was just, the way he spoke, what he spoke, like he just knew what the person needed.

The spark died the very next moment, but she had felt it.

Eventually, the session was over as Jimmy said. "See you all next time."

"Sure", Paige muttered, and realized what she'd said.

Yep, she'd be here next time too.

There ya go, hope Matt's and Josie's cameos were enjoyed.

The nurse was originally supposed to be Claire but I remembered she wouldn't work here anymore so just imagine a random good Samaritan.

So Steve's here now, and already made an impression on Paige, though there will be a short while before they connect deeper.

Hope all enjoyed and see you all next time with another chapter.