Bucky was coming back from the market when he felt it. He dropped his bag and groaned, ducking into an alley, leaning on the wall to keep himself upright. Lifting his shirt, he saw blood oozing out of his side. Panicking, he covered up the wound and ran as fast as he could back to his apartment.

He flung open the door and went into the kitchen for a towel, pressing it up against his side, keeping the wound from bleeding further.

"What is happening to me?" He knew he hadn't been shot. He knew he wasn't being followed by Hydra.

It's them. They're hurt.

Winter's voice echoed in his head and he stopped. That was it. Steve and Cassidy. They were hurt. He began to panic further, pacing through the apartment. He knew he couldn't go to them, it was too risky. Sure, Steve would heal in no time, but Cassidy was human, and that's what worried him the most.

"Please be okay doll, don't die on me." He whispered, leaning against the counter.

Cassidy did not want to go to Tony's party. Yes, everyone new that Tony Stark threw legendary parties, but they just got back from getting the scepter, and to be honest, Cassidy was still a little tired from getting injured. She was also still slightly upset with Steve, so she didn't particularly feel like being in the partying mood.

She pulled on the red dress Nat helped her pick out, which was way too short. She pulled her hair up in a sleek ponytail and touched up her makeup before sliding her heels on.

"Sweetheart, are you almost ready?" Steve's voice rang out through the apartment.

"Yeah, one sec." She called out. She was working on forgiving Steve, she just wasn't there yet. She was still angry that he didn't see her as an agent, only as his girlfriend. He needed to understand that she didn't need to be coddled.

Cassidy sighed and got up, grabbing her purse and phone before heading out into the living room. When Steve saw her, his mouth dropped open.

"Wow sweetheart, you look…" Steve trailed off, and Cassidy blushed slightly. He came over to her and ran his hands down her arms, sending shivers down her spine. He placed one hand on her cheek, sliding it into her hair, stopping at the back of her neck. His other hand slid around her waist, the thumb rubbing little circles on her lower back.

Steve leaned down to kiss her softly, and she melted into him, her hands digging into his waist, pulling him closer. He deepened the kiss and found the zipper on the back of her dress and started pulling it down slowly.

She stilled and pulled back from him, and he raised an eyebrow at her.

"I'm still mad at you Steve, and I'm not ready to forgive you like that." She told him. He let go of her, and stepped back, dropping his hands to his sides and hanging his head.

"You're right, I'm sorry." He told her.

"Let's just go to the party." She said, holding out her hand for him to take. Steve nodded and took her hand, stepping into the elevator. The ride to the common room floor was silent, and Steve was thankful that Cassidy was even speaking to him. He knew that he had messed up, but he couldn't help it.

He will always want to protect her. He had lost Bucky and now he wasn't the same, He didn't want to lose Cassidy too. He wouldn't make it without her. The elevator dinged and when they stepped out, Cassidy let her hand slip out of Steve's as she walked over to greet Nat at the bar and get a shot.

Cassidy downed the shot and asked the bartender for a shot.

"Hey that was mine." Nat said, earning a glare from Cassidy. She downed her second shot and slid the third to Nat.

"Okay, so I take it you're still mad at Steve?" She asked, Cassidy rolled her eyes and downed another shot, blowing out a huff of air when she set the empty glass down.

"Yeah, I just don't know how to forgive him Nat. I don't think he's ever gonna see me his as his equal when were on the field together. It's not fair Nat." She groaned. Nat patted her on the back, tossing back her own shot.

"He will. Maybe now that things are cooling down, you two can spend more time together, maybe train together, show him that you can handle your own. Clint and I know you can but show him." Nat told her. Cassidy let out a heavy sigh and nodded, taking a look around the room.

Maybe Nat was right. Maybe now that Thor was taking the scepter back to Asgard, things would calm down and they wouldn't feel like there was so much pressure on them. Steve caught her eye from the pool table, where he was watching Sam kick Clint's ass. He smiled at her and she returned it, a slight blush creeping on her cheeks.

Nat pulled her to the dance floor, spinning her out and back, both laughing. Cassidy loved when Nat let loose a little. She was always so hard on herself about everything and Cassidy liked to see her happy. She was aware of Steve's eyes on her the whole time, and that just made her dance around Nat even more.

Steve cut in for the next song and Nat found her way over to the bar, talking to Bruce. Steve smiled down at Cassidy, pulling her close to him.

"Are you having fun sweetheart?" He asked softly. She nodded, smiling up at him.

"I am, although, I'm pretty sure I'm feeling those shots I took." She told him, giggling just a little. He let out a little chuckle and began rubbing circles on her back.

"When are you going to forgive me Cass?" He asked her. She frowned and looked down, thinking for a second.

"I don't know Steve. I just want you to see me as more than your girlfriend, more than your soulmate." She said softly.

"I do see that Cass."

She scoffed. "It doesn't feel like it. It feels like you don't think I can handle myself out there."

"That's not it at all. I know you can handle yourself. I know that you don't need my help. And that scares me." He told her. She tilted her head, confused.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm scared that you'll realize you don't need me at all, and then you'll leave me."

Cassidy's jaw dropped. "What do you mean Steve? We're soulmates. Of course I need you. We just have to make work life and home life separate. You can't treat me like a girlfriend out there Steve, you have to treat me like a teammate, you have to trust me out there."

Steve nodded and pulled her close to him, kissing her on the top of the head. "I'm sorry." He whispered into her hair.

"I know."

The party soon died down and only the team was left, plus Maria, Rhodey and Helen. They lounged on the couches when Clint brought up Thor's hammer.

"Whatever man, it's a trick!" Clint yelled, twirling a drumstick in his hand. Thor laughed and held out his hand toward the hammer.

"Please, be my guest." Clint shrugged shoulders and stood, walking over to the hammer and pulling on it, obviously not being able to move it, he laughed and backed away.

"I still don't know how you do it!"

Tony tried next, and after failing, he recruited Rhodey to help him, both wearing gauntlets. Bruce went next, pretending to Hulk out when he couldn't lift it, and nobody found it funny. Cassidy nudged Steve's leg with her foot, so he got up to try. It may have been the alcohol messing with herm but she swore she saw the hammer lift off the table slightly.

The group looked to the ladies, gesturing to Nat first.

"Oh no, that's not a question I need answering." She told them. Cassidy shook her head, putting her hands up in front of her.

"Not doin it."

Thor stood, picking up the hammer, smirking at them. "You're all just not worthy."

A loud screech echoed throughout the room and Cassidy put down her beer, covering her ears.

"Worthy. No. How could you be worthy?" A voice called out. They all stood and looked toward the elevator, where a creepy legion bot was stalking toward them.