*A/N - Truly, Truly, your reviews and your enthusiasm and kindness make me smile and excited to continue this story for you! Thanks for reading and commenting!

Steve walks back into his room, already tugging off his shirt to head to the shower when he stops. Someone's been in here, he can smell their aftershave. He takes a second to breathe it in, trying to guess who it belongs too and then his eyes roll. Tony.

He glances around, and sees a note on the bed.

Hey Cap.

Sorry about invading your privacy, just needed to snag your uniforms and shield for a quick update. They'll be back to you in a jiffy. Hope you had a good run.

T.S.

Steve looks at his closet where he can see all three uniforms and his shield are indeed missing, even his boots. He shrugs and heads to the shower. Whatever Tony wants with them, he's sure he'll find out eventually.

—-

After showering and dressing, Steve stands in the middle of his room. He stares at the door, knowing that if he steps out, there will be 5 people waiting to pounce on him, to make sure he's doing fine.

His eyes drift closed and the new memory he'd just watched yesterday fills his mind. He winces as he watches himself get shocked and stabbed and killed. He ghosts his hand over his temple and grits his teeth. He doesn't blame Bucky for showing it, but it still keeps him off center realizing there are gaps he never even knew about in his memory. He doesn't like the thought of not knowing his own actions.

He hears footsteps that pause outside his door, by the sound of it it's Natasha. He waits, he can feel her hesitation through the door.

A soft knock sounds and he sighs.

"Yes, Natasha?" He calls.

"Steve?" She responds, "I was just wondering if you'd like to come eat breakfast with us?"

His eyes drift close once more and he pictures his body, hanging from its wrists, pupils blown and the look of anguish on Bucky and Peggy's faces. He rubs his wrists as if phantom pain plagues him and he stays quiet. But she doesn't leave.

"Please, don't stay in there alone." Her voice is steady but there is an undertone of concern. "I can't imagine what you're going through specifically, but don't push us away. You hated when Barnes pushed you away after D.C. All you wanted to do was help him. Let us be there for you."

He drifts to the door and he has only just begun to open it when she manages to slide into the room and weave her arms around his waist, pulling him into a tight hug. He steps back in surprise, he hasn't been touched or hugged in… his mind blanks. He can't remember the last time he'd hugged someone. He looks down but she doesn't let go, just tightening her grasp and pressing the side of her face against his chest.

Emotion begins to constrict in his throat and he hesitantly wraps his own large arms around her, accepting her embrace. Something like relief floods through him at the physical touch and his body relaxes into the hug.

She makes a satisfied sigh and he feels one side of his mouth pull up.

"You don't hug people." He says in a mock accusatory tone.

"Well, after yesterday, I'm going to change that."

"I—" he pauses, unsure how to say it, "I can't remember the last time I was hugged."

Her head tips up and her eyes find his. Her own mouth quirks and her eyes go distant.

"You never wanted to be touched after that incident, and then… when you finally felt like you were able to accept physical affection, you went into the ice."

His eyes turn from hers and he tightens his jaw. She feels his arms start to loosen and she shakes her head, pressing it back against his chest and locking her arms around his torso.

"No. I'm not done." She states. "I had a somewhat similar experience. It took me a while to be able to accept physical touch or affection from Clint, or anyone really. I'd been taught to use my physicality as a knife, something to be used like a weapon to get whatever I needed or wanted. Never for my own emotional wellbeing. It wasn't till Clint tried to hug me after a bad mission and I almost gutted him that he tried talking to me about 'touch starvation'.

She feels him tense, but she doesn't let go and she doesn't stop.

"I'm sorry that I never thought about it before. We always thought you just preferred to be more stoic, to keep a sense of professionalism. I never realized that you would think you had to because of the persona of Captain America. But…" She spreads her hands out, reaching her fingers across his back and feeling his tense muscles. "You deserve to be touched and loved in whatever way you feel comfortable. I'm your friend. I never want to make you feel like those people in those memories made you feel." She doesn't look up but she feels his breathing change, she hears him swallow thickly and she squeezes her own eyes shut, trying to keep them from overflowing. Learning to be loved and accept that people could touch you physically without it having to be sexual had been one of the hardest lessons for her to learn after leaving the Red Room. She wasn't going to let that happen to Steve.

Steve takes a deep breath and relaxes, his chin resting on the top of her head.

—-

Steve lets Natasha drag him to the common room floor. After she'd stepped back from the hug, he had felt the tiniest sense of peace and she'd taken that as her cue.

They step off the elevator and walk towards the kitchen. A large bowl of eggs, and a plate of pancakes sit waiting.

"Clint!" Natasha calls, she turns to Steve, "stay here." Her voice is serious and he nods.

She disappears for a moment but comes back, dragging the aforementioned man behind her.

"What's up, Cap." Clint says calmly.

"Hey Clint."

"Clint." Natasha says, eyeing them both, "I need you to do the forehead thing." Clint's brow furrows, "to Steve." His eyes widen in surprise.

"Really?" An expression of joy crosses his face and he steps towards Steve, who involuntarily steps back. Clint snorts and turns to Natasha. "Did you even tell him what it was?"

"No. He needs it though." Clint rolls his eyes and turns back to Steve.

"I'm not going to kiss you, promise." He jokes. Steve scrunches his nose but Clint continues. "This is something I was taught, after I lost my parents. I was an angry kid, and I didn't want people touching me. Especially before I got my hearing aids and couldn't hear them approaching. But I started getting what they call 'touch starved' and it made me act out." His eyes go to the side, remembering something, but he draws himself back. "This small connection is something that has always really grounded me. I do it with Laura and my kids. I taught it to Natasha when I first met her and now we do it when we need to feel loved or safe." He takes a small step forward and Steve just stands there, looking unsure. "So many people confuse every physical touch as a sign of romantic love. But that's a garbage notion. If people were only ever touched by the person they loved romantically, some people would never receive physical love. So if it makes you uncomfortable, you can tell me to stop. But I promise, it's just me, showing you that I love you like a brother. Is that okay?"

Steve hesitates, but then nods, allowing Clint to step forward until they are face to face. Clint's a good half a foot shorter than him, but the guy just reaches up and tugs Steve's face downward until their foreheads are touching. Clint's hands reach down and grab Steve's, bringing them up and placing them on either side of Clint's face. Then he raises his own and places them on the side of Steve's.

Clint only looks at Steve's widened eyes for a moment before closing his own. He finds that most people are uncomfortable with this close of a physical touch, but it can be incredibly peaceful and grounding if you don't let it scare you. Clint takes a deep breath and forces his heart rate to slow. Now that he knows Steve can hear their heartbeats, he wants to exude a perfect sense of calm.

He doesn't open his eyes even though he's curious about what Steve is thinking or what his expressive eyes might be showing. He feels a small hand on his back and a finger taps him. He barely peeks out of one eye and sees Natasha smiling to the side of them. He opens his eyes just a touch more and looks at the face that is almost too close for him to focus on, but the blue eyes can't be seen. Steve has his eyes closed and Clint tries to remain calm, not letting his heart rate change as he notices the trail of tears sliding down out of the corner of Steve's closed eyes.

Clint smiles widely at Natasha whose eyes aren't exactly dry. Steve's hands radiate heat, and something about that makes him want to chuckle, but he stays quiet, not wanting to break the moment. He's never expected to be able to try this with any of his other teammates, especially Steve, but he stays still, holding onto Steve's face, as long as the super soldier needs.

—

Not too much later, Steve releases him and straightens up. He glances at them, expecting to be embarrassed at the tears he has shed, but when he notices that both of their eyes match his he just lets out a watery laugh and shakes his head.

His voice is a bit hoarse when he speaks, "Sorry."

"What are you apologizing for Steve?" Clint asks.

"I—" He wipes at his eyes and shrugs softly. "I don't know."

"There isn't anything to apologize for." Natasha says but Clint takes that a step further.

"Needing love and affection is not something to apologize for. Of course you didn't feel like you had a home. Ever since your mom died, you haven't had anyone around long enough to show you affection. From your memories, it seems like she was a really affectionate mom, always hugging on you, and kissing your forehead. It must have been quite the shock to go from having that every day to having nothing, and then to having every touch feel like a threat. In fact I'm sorry that you went through that. And, as maybe the two people—" he gestures to himself and Natasha, "who understand that the most in this tower, never apologize for needing it. We are always here for a hug or whatever you need."

The sincerity in Clint's words has him taking a deep breath and smiling softly. He allows himself to think that maybe, just maybe, he can take them up on their offer.

—-

They're eating breakfast, Steve feeling decidedly more calm than he had even an hour ago when Natasha nudges his shoulder. He glances at her and she smiles a little sheepishly before scrunching her nose at him.

"What is it, Natasha?"

"I'm just thinking…" she looks like she might not say it, that she might change her mind but then she sets her fork down and sighs, "I'm just thinking maybe Barnes might need some hugs too. If you know what I mean."

Steve's mouth gapes.

"I just mean that he's been kept as an attack dog for over 60 years, and then on the run for the last few. When was the last time he was hugged?"

Steve's eyes glaze over and he looks down at his plate. He stares silently for a few moments before whispering, "what if he doesn't want to be hugged?"

"Then make sure he knows he can tell you that."

—-

Steve stands outside Bucky's room and reaches to knock.

"Hey, Buck?"

"Steve?" He hears Bucky pad to the door and open it in surprise. "What's going on?"

Steve shifts from foot to foot, his shoulders tense.

"Steve?"

"Um…" Steve scrubs at the back of his neck and he sighs, pulling his hand forward. "Would you… come down to the memory room?"

Steve watches as Bucky's brow furrows. "You want to go back there… today?"

"I need to ask you something. But… I want to show you something first."

Thrums from the elevator moving is the only sound for a moment, before Bucky notices how anxious Steve looks. He can hear his heart beating faster than normal and he relents.

"Okay, Steve, I'll be down in a second." Steve nods and then opens his mouth again, causing Bucky to pause, eyebrow raising in question.

"Do you mind if I bring the others? This is a happy one."

"That's fine, I don't really see any point in keeping them out of anything anymore."

They each smile a rue smile at each other. Steve acknowledges that that's true. After everything they've been through, everything his teammates have seen, there's no point in keeping them away.

"Okay, I'll let them know they can come down if they want."

—-

Tony eyes the message that has popped up on his phone.

I know yesterday was a long session, but I just wanted to show something happy today. Anyone is welcome to join. We will be there in 10 minutes.

-Steve

He won't lie, he is surprised. After yesterday's grueling session, and Steve's quick exit, he had thought maybe the Captain would take a few days to himself, but the message reminds Tony of exactly who Steve is, someone who never lets anything keep him down for long.

He stretches and pushes his rolling stool backwards. He types in some instructions for the programming that is implementing the trackers into the lining of Steve's suit, boots, and onto the back side of his shield.

He hopes he's not overstepping, but he refuses to make the same mistake his father did. Steve had been lost once, he wasn't going to allow that to happen again.

—-

Bruce is the last one to shuffle in, looking a bit tired and unsure.

Steve hasn't sat down, he has nervous energy and he can't make himself sit still.

As they sit and look at him, waiting, he takes a deep breath, rubbing his palms against his forearms.

"I know that yesterday was rough, and I apologize for leaving when I did, and being so…" he eyes Bucky and his eyes scrunch in shame, "dramatic about it."

"Steve." Clint says, sharpness in his tone.

"I know, I know. But you and Natasha showed me something this morning and I realized that while we still have more unpleasant memories to go through," he winces, "I have some that are good. And I would like to share one of those today."

He waits for their response, but they just nod at him, and he closes his eyes.

—

"Captain!"

He looks over his shoulder, standing up on the crag of a mountain. He sees Morita waving at him and he takes one more look before heading down towards where they've managed to make camp.

"You see anything?" Jones asks as he approaches.

"No. I think if they've got a base in the mountains we aren't there yet. I bet we come across it either tomorrow or the next day."

A collective groan from his men makes him sigh. "I'm sorry, I know it's cold and rough terrain. I should have just done this reconnaissance mission on my own."

"Shut it, Cap." Dugan grumbles. "We wouldn't make you do this alone."

"Yeah, but it's cold up here and we can't risk a fire."

"Barnes had a good idea."

Steve looks to his best friend who is standing a ways back, checking their perimeter, out of ear shot.

"Oh yeah?"

Dugan's grin widens, "yeah."

Steve's eyes narrow in suspicion but the commandos refuse to say anything else until they're bedding down for the night.

Steve lays out his bedroll and pulls off his boots. He's about to slide into it when Morita lays his bedroll down, so close to Steve's he's practically on top of him. Before he can ask what's happening, Denier is on the other side, and the commandos are forming a close circle around him. Jones is at his feet and Monty's near his head. They're unbuckling their rolls and separating the top from the bottom.

"What is going on?" Steve finally asks. Bucky catches his eye and just smiles.

Suddenly his own bedroll is being separated and he watches in shock as the commandos create one giant bedroll, all 7 of them buckled together, with his in the center.

"Barnes told us, and we've noticed, that you now radiate like the sun. So, as our Captain it's your duty to keep the soldiers under your command warm."

They stare at him and he stares back. Suddenly he's laughing, bending forward and gasping for air as he tries to pull in oxygen, only to keep laughing. He feels himself being dragged and shoved under the top cover. He's still chuckling as he feels the commandos slip under the cover and slide as close to him as possible.

Morita and Denier, the smallest of the bunch, are pressed up against his sides, Dugan and Bucky sandwiching them in. He's still smiling as he feels the heat radiating out from him but staying trapped under the top cover. The commandos fall silent as they relax under the warmth and he hears their breathing even out as they fall asleep one by one. He hears one more person who isn't asleep and he turns his head. Bucky lays there, his eyes just barely visible over Denier's head, slightly sleepy, but Steve can see that his eyes are crinkled from a smile.

Steve laughs soundlessly and he watches as Bucky burrows deeper under the covers, and he listens as his friend falls asleep.

Steve lays awake for a few minutes longer, feeling six bodies pressed up against his, sharing his warmth and confident in his abilities as their Captain. He doesn't feel unsafe at their physical contact, in fact he feels safer because of their closeness, and he'd deny it if anyone said but he feels warm tears slide out unbidden down the sides of his face and into his hair at the relief he feels. To be surrounded by those he loves and trusts and the feeling reciprocated. He takes one last deep breath and closes his eyes, letting sleep take him under.

—-

Steve opens his eyes and looks out at the group. Clint has a huge smile lighting up his face, as does Bucky. Natasha is grinning but Tony and Bruce both look confused.

"Wait, wait, wait." Tony holds up his hands, in disbelief. "First of all, the great Captain America and the Howling Commandos had slumber parties?"

Then Bruce cuts in, "You don't mind being touched?"

Steve sits, finally feeling his energy level coming down. "As Clint reminded me this morning, my ma was a very affectionate lady. She always held my hand and kissed my forehead and loved on me. Then…" he grimaces, "I had my incident and I gave up on wanting to be touched at all, but something about the commandos… them being my team, and they just put their trust in me… It brought my guard down. I didn't even get a choice that day, they just dogpiled on me basically, but like you saw, I felt safe, there was no threat or creepiness. Just brothers in arms, keeping each other safe. Then…" Steve feels his throat tighten and he clears it, not letting himself chicken out, "when I woke up in 2012, no one I knew was around. I was just Captain America to everyone, not Steve Rogers. And Captain America didn't go around hugging people and being close to them, so I didn't try and no one tried to back." He watches as they stiffen at his accusation but he soldiers on. "It's not your fault. I could have said something but I didn't feel like I had the right. And what was I supposed to say? 'Hey guys, I'm lonely' I think Tony would have never let me forget that one."

Tony winces but doesn't argue, "You're probably right, Cap." Then he sets his eyes straight on Steve's, "But I wouldn't now, and I hope you know that."

"I do," he nods in Tony's direction. "That night I felt the safest and honestly, the most fulfilled as a Captain and a friend. I know we've been a team now for a couple years, but I'll be honest and say it hasn't felt like it. We haven't been cohesive and I'm sorry about that." Before any of them can protest his words or say anything he turns to Bucky. "I have something to ask you."

Bucky's facial expression morphs into something apprehensive.

'When was the last time someone gave you a hug?"

Bucky's mouth drops open slightly as he stares at Steve, and Clint chuckles.

"That means it's been awhile, am I right?" Clint asks. Bucky still doesn't respond so Steve steps closer. Then he pauses, turning towards the group.

"I guess now would be a good time to inform you that with the serum my sense of touch is enhanced too? Did Howard write about that?"

Tony splutters and Steve chuckles, "guess not. Bucky, is yours?" He nods solemnly and Steve nods back. "I can feel the difference between fabrics and materials, types of paint or inks. I can tell you what type of wood the table is as long as I've felt it before, and a bunch of other random uses for heightened touch. But what this means is that human touch is enhanced too. That's why, the USO girls and—" he stills, "the other people who touched me had such a deep effect. It wasn't just them being overly comfortable with me, I felt their touches and advances so strongly, it was suffocating at first, getting used to it."

Steve steps closer and extends a hand to Bucky. Bucky only hesitates for a moment before, grasping it and allowing himself to be pulled up. Steve pulls him in and he feels Bucky's arms wrap around him tightly. Suddenly, a second and third pair of hands are wrapping around them and Steve glances down at Clint and Natasha weaving their way into the hug. Not more than a moment later he hears Bruce's hesitant approach and subsequent arms joining them.

Steve's about to say something but Natasha beats him to it.

"Stark, if you don't get over here right this instant I will kick you."

They hear a huff and Steve feels Tony's face press against his back. He laughs a deep chuckle and he can feel Bucky laughing too.

"What the hell has happened to us?" Tony mutters.

"We became a team." Bruce remarks.

"We became friends." Clint corrects.

Steve feels Bucky look at him and they lock eyes. Steve is brought back to that moment in the memory where Bucky looked at him about to fall asleep. The same crinkles appear around Bucky's eyes again and Steve tightens his grasp around his friends.

—-

They part ways soon after and Steve falls asleep in the early evening, tired from the emotional rollercoaster of the past few days.

He turns over in his sleep and his hand hits something solid. A groan has him sitting up. After rubbing his eyes, his enhanced eyesight shows him surrounded by 5 sleeping figures. Natasha is curled up against his back and Clint is on his other side. Bucky has his arm beneath Natasha's head and his face buried in her hair. Steve's eyebrows fly up, even as his sleep filled brain is trying to process what is going on. A soft snore has him eyeing Bruce at the end of the bed and Tony who is sitting in a chair, his feet propped up next to Clint's, mouth hanging open and dead asleep.

He can see now that he'd accidentally hit Clint who had groaned but not stirred.

Steve rubs at his eyes again, checking to make sure he's not seeing things. He hears 5 steady heartbeats, each unique in their own way. He smiles. He'd definitely fallen asleep alone, which means they'd snuck in here at some point.

He brain fills in the commandos, and where they would sleep, Dugan on the floor, sprawled out, Morita and Denier wherever it was warmest, Monty at the foot of the bed by Bruce and Jones sitting up like Tony, never liking to be caught unawares.

The thought of his two teams meeting has his throat constricting and he bites the inside of his cheek, emotion overwhelming him. A hand on his arm catches his attention and he looks over to see Bucky's groggy, but concerned stare.

"You okay?" Bucky rasps quietly. "Your heart rate went a bit wild there."

Steve nods, not trusting his voice. Bucky gives his forearm a quick squeeze before laying back, his eyes still trained on Steve.

"You sure you're okay?" He whispers again after Steve has settled back into his spot.

He hears Clint mumble something unintelligible and Natasha takes the moment to curl tighter around Bucky's extended arm. Steve grins and closes his eyes.

"I'm okay, Buck."

—-

Steve is the first to wake in the morning. He stretches as best he can without pushing anyone and he notices with a silent chuckle that half of Clint's body is hanging off the bed.

He sits up, and peels himself away from the group. He hears Bucky wake up to his movement but not move. Steve doesn't miss the fact that one of Natasha's arms is pulling Bucky closer to her and the smile he gives Bucky is met with an eye roll.

Bucky had once woken up to Denier wrapped around him like an octopus (now Steve realizes it was because Bucky had put off his own level of high heat) but the guys had had a good laugh about it, with Denier not embarrassed at all.

When he comes back from the bathroom, Bucky is gone and Tony is staring at his phone.

Something in Tony's heartbeat is weird.

"Tony?" Steve asks quietly, "what's wrong?"

Tony's eyes rise to meet his and a look of dread is written across his face.

"Steve…"

The tone of his voice has the hairs on Steve's arms rising. "Tony, what is it? Tell me." Natasha is stirring and he thinks Bruce is awake but he just waits, staring at the man whose eyes are filled with fear.

"They escaped."

"Who?"

"Zemo and Beck. They're gone."

—