When Cassidy woke up she was back at the tower and Dr. Cho had her under a small machine. She groaned and opened her eyes, seeing Steve and Tony standing above her.

"Hey guys." She said weakly and tried to move. Steve stilled her, pushing her arms back down on the table.

"You need to lie down sweetheart. Dr. Cho's machine is almost done okay?" Steve told her. She nodded and smiled at him.

"How are you feelin kiddo?" Tony asked. She shrugged. "Like I got shot."

Dr. Cho came around to the table where Cassidy could see her. "if we were back at my medical center in Hong Kong, you would be healed in minutes, with this, it take a little longer, but you should be good as new, Steve probably won't even be able to tell it's not your skin." She smiled at Cassidy and patter on the shoulder, before walking back to her office. Tony said goodbye and left her and Steve alone.

"What happened out there sweetheart?" He asked, concern written all over his face.

"Clint and I were running through the woods after the enhanced boy took us down and I saw the gun raise and I tried to get us out of the way, pushing Clint, but I wasn't fast enough." She told him. His look grew into a frustrated one as he let out a heavy sigh.

"You need to be more careful sweetheart. This is why I didn't want you out in the field with us."

Cassidy started getting angry. "Steve, I would have pushed anyone out of the way. I didn't intend on getting shot. Believe me, it's not fun. You have to stop treating me like I need supervision all the time." She told him.

The words left Steve's mouth before he could stop himself. "Do I need to remind you that in the last six months, this is the second time you've needed medical attention?

Cassidy leaned up on her elbows, glaring at him. She was seething with anger now. "Do I need to remind YOU that one of those was your fault!"

She regretted the words as soon as she said them, because she never blamed Steve or Bucky for that matter, for what happened in DC. She watched as Steve's face fell, and she lied back on the table sighing.

"Just go Steve. I'm tired, I'll see you later." She closed her eyes and several seconds later she heard Steve get up and make his way to the door. She groaned in frustration and put a hand over her face. Dating Captain America shouldn't be this hard.

She was released from medical later that day and promised Dr. Cho that she would take it easy. Tony was having a party in three days and with any luck, Thor would take the scepter back to Asgard after that and everything would be fine.

Nat came and walked her back to her floor, she hadn't even told Steve she had been released. On the way back, because of course Nat asked why Steve didn't know, Cassidy told her what happened.

"I think you should cut him some slack Cass. It's different, having your soulmate on the field with you, trust me. I now Bruce is indestructible when he's in Hulk form, but I'm not, so he worries more than he should." Nat told her.

"But he also knows you know how to take care of yourself." Cassidy countered. Nat nodded and helped her inside when they got to her floor, getting her to the couch and going to get her some water.

"That may be true, but it doesn't mean we don't worry about each other more when were out there. Just give him some grace. He loves you a lot Cass and he would be devastated if anything were to happen to you." Nat kissed her forehead and left her to relax, telling her that she would bring food up later.

Cassidy turned the tv on and found the Hallmark Channel was already playing Christmas movies.

"Score."

She ended up falling asleep, the music from the movie credits playing in the background, Jarvis pulling her out of her peaceful nap.

"Cassidy, sorry to wake you, but Captain Rogers is requesting entrance to your floor."

Cassidy sighed, pulling herself into an upright position. "Yes Jarvis, let him in." The elevator dinged open and Steve slowly walked in, stopping just short of the couch, just out of her vision.

"You can come over here Steve." She said softly. He shuffled around to the armchair next to the couch and sat down.

"You didn't tell me you got released." He said, and she could hear the hurt in his voice.

"I just needed some time to think Steve, I was mad and tired."

"I'm sorry." He told her. "I shouldn't have scolded you. I just worry about you so much. It would kill me if something happened to you out there."

"Speaking of, did you get hurt where I did?" She asked. He lifted his shirt and she saw the red line across his side identical to the one she had.

"I'm sorry too Steve, I know that you're just trying to protect me. But you have to understand that I've been doing this a lot longer than I've known you. Like I said earlier, I would have done that for anyone, including you. You have to trust me and trust that I can handle missions, okay?"

Steve nodded and smiled at her. "I'll try okay?" He said. She patted the seat next to her and Steve got up and came over, sliding one leg behind her so she could lay back on him. He wrapped his arms around her middle and kissed her on the top of her head.

"I love you Cassidy." He whispered, holding just a little too tight. He was terrified of losing her, they hadn't found Bucky yet and he knew that she was itching to find him just as much as he was. Steve felt like everything depended on him, because he was the Captain. It was his job to find Bucky and protect both he and Cassidy. He made a promise the day they left DC that he would put their family back together again.

There was another Christmas movie playing in the background, but Steve wasn't paying attention. He was watching Cassidy watch the movie, running his fingers through her hair. After a little while she drifted off to sleep and he started humming a tune that his mom always used to sing to him when he was scared or nervous.

Steve was never allowed to be scared, He had to be this beacon of hope and do what was right, but sometimes doing what was right was the scariest thing in the world. All he wanted to do was find Bucky and run away with his lovers and live out the rest of his days with the two people he loved most in the world.

But he was Captain America, And the world needed him.