Chapter One - Meetings

This story picks up where "The Hands of a Healer" leaves off. It can be read as a stand-alone, but will make more sense if you read that one first.

December 2014

2pm on a quiet Sunday afternoon. My tea is cold, the cat is sleeping and I'm battling in my head between going for a walk or starting a movie. When the phone on the table vibrates to life.

Steve: You busy? There are some people I'd like you to meet.

Me: Not at all, what should I be prepared for?

S: Well Sam is loud, and Nat is quiet.

Me: And they could both kill me, yeah?

S: I've got your back. Besides they will like you.

S: Common room. We can go out after, my treat.

Me: I'm on my way.

I grabbed a few things, tossed them in a backpack and patted the grey ball of fur on my couch. "We are going to visit Steve" I spoke a mixture of English and low German words into Casper's sleepy face. The eyes blinked once slowly and then the pupils dilated and he chirped, jumping to my shoulder. "Good kitty."

Keys, wallet, knife, shades…. I patted my pockets and confirmed the phone in my right thigh pocket. Good. Climbing into my little white car and listening as it seemed to chew on the key. I really needed to get an upgrade, but I'd miss her, she had carried me a long way.

The drive was uneventful, and I tried to quell my rising anxiety. Stark and Bruce I had met in a professional capacity, and I hadn't had time to worry about what impression I might have made on Steve at our first meeting. Now, however I was invested in the outcome of meeting Steve's friends.

We pulled in to the basement parking just as my car began to sputter with an ominous clunk as I wrestled it into a parking space. I tried the key again and heard only ticking. Oh dear.

Casper laid himself across the top of my backpack as we rode the elevators up to the apartments. I fired off a quick message to Happy, letting him know my car was going to be stuck for a few days before I could get it towed. Unclenching my jaw and forcing my facial muscles to relax, I tried a smile and panicked when it felt so fake. Did I just forget how to smile like a normal person? The doors opened to the grinning face of Steve Rogers and my worries dissipated as I stepped into an easy hug, clocking two figures in the lounge. As Steve released me, he led me towards the waiting pair.

"Shay, this is Sam." Sam raised a lazy hand in greeting from the couch. "And this is Natasha."

She was standing, relaxed and confident. I reached into my sense and read the room. Nat- Cautious, and protective of Steve. Sam- curious. Steve- a little anxious. He wants us to get along.

"Sam, Nat, this is Shay Wilder." Steve smiled a bit brighter as I felt the warmth of my sense fill the air between us.

"Hi." I tried to project more confidence than I felt.

Natasha spoke up first.

"We've heard so much about you. Pleasure to put a face to the name."

"Only good things I hope."

"Did you actually lay Steve out on the floor when you met?" Sam's voice was highly amused.

"Oh... yeah. An honest mistake." I grinned at him and his laugh boomed across the room.

Natasha stepped forward and extended a hand. I shook her hand, matching her strong grip. I saw a twinkle in her eye as she spoke. "Steve, why didn't you tell me she was pretty?"

Steve blushed a little and dropped his eyes to the floor.

"Lovely to meet you as well. So, tell me, was this a plot to embarrass him or is it just reflex?" I chuckled at Natasha's smirk and Sam's expression of feigned innocence. "A little of both, I see." Casper noticed my shift from anxious to calm and decided to make himself known, pushing through my hair to poke his face out of the crook in my neck.

"mierrr?"

"Is that a cat?"

"Natasha, Sam, meet Casper. Casper, this is Sam and Natasha." The green eyes half closed in contentment

"mir" he leapt gently from the backpack and stalked towards Natasha first, she crouched down and extended a hand. One careful inspection later and Casper rubbed her hand with his face, purring. She seemed frozen.

"He likes you." I spoke gently to avoid startling her.

"Really?" There was wonder in her gaze. "I've not been around animals much…"

I had read enough in the files that had been leaked when shield fell, to know not to press the subject. Casper trotted from her to Sam, who seemed a little apprehensive. A quick sniff and he turned tail to wrap around Steve's legs, purring.

"Not a cat person, eh Sam?"

"No, not really." His expression was enough for me to know that wasn't likely to change.

The silence stretched to a nearly uncomfortable tension. I pulled together enough resolve to answer the silent questions that hung in the air between them and me. Suspicion, caution, concern. The sense reminding me that, Natasha especially had reason to be distrusting, and both were protective of Steve.

"Yes, I do have a 'power'." I used air quotes, not entirely comfortable with the term. Steve's hand clasped my shoulder, suggesting without words that I didn't need to explain. "It'll be easier if they know, Steve" I reassured him with a glance. "Yes, I can heal. I can also paralyze or knock people out if I feel threatened. I will not touch you without consent, either to heal or otherwise… If you are uncomfortable with having me around… I understand… you wouldn't be the first." I sagged into Steve's grip and he pulled my face into his shoulder, Casper leapt to my unoccupied shoulder and glared imperiously at the other two. I breathed in the warmth for a moment, then bracing myself, turned back.

"Steve trusts you." Sam asked the question with his eyes,

"Yes, I do." The conviction in Steve's voice was unyielding, like the hand still on my shoulder.

"That's good enough for me." I let out a small breath at Sam's easy response. Turning to Natasha I waited, watching her eyes flick between me and Steve, stopping at his hand on my shoulder.

"It'll be nice having another girl around, there's more than enough testosterone around here already." Her smile was warm and I let go of the anxiety I'd been holding in with my breath. A warmth suffused the entire room and I noticed Sam's eyes widen and Natasha stiffened.

"Sorry, I can't control that. It just happens. Good for people I like, bad for people who I perceive as a threat." They both relaxed marginally. "Steve, I made that playlist I was telling you about the other day. I can download it to your phone now if you want."

"If you're trying to get him listening to good music, you should know, I tried that already. This old man only likes 40's music." Sam chuckled.

"He's not old!? in fact" I turned to Steve, "how old were you when you went into the ice?"

"27. But that was 70 years ago. And I liked that Troubleman album you told me about!" Steve directed that at Sam, indignant.

"And how long has it been since you thawed out?"

"Three and a half years?" The confusion on Steve's face at my bark of laughter was great.

"So, 30, maybe 31. You're younger than me!" I chortled. "Anyways Sam, you can't take a man from the 40's give him Marvin Gaye and then jump straight to the present day, time has to be experienced. "Steve, it's your turn to pick the place. Also, my car broke down, can I ride with you?"

Steve examined my face for any sign of hesitation. Last week I had mentioned how I felt less safe when I wasn't in control of the vehicle after he witnessed me having a flashback. *I trust you* he nodded.

I whispered a few words to Casper who jumped down and settled himself on a nearby cushion. There was a question on Nat's face but she didn't voice it, so I waved before turning to the door.

"See you around."