Chapter Two – Memories

The elevator doors closed on us as Steve suggested our destination for that afternoon.

"There's an old diner, I used to go every Saturday with…" he broke off and collected himself. "They made the best apple pie."

The elevator ride to the garage was silent, Steve finally broke it when the doors opened again.

"Do you want to talk about it."

"About what? I thought that went well. Better than I expected, really."

"You said 'they wouldn't be the first'."

"Oh, that… I think I'll need a slice of apple pie to tackle that one."

We made our way down to the garage and located a spare helmet before climbing onto the Harley Davidson and driving out into the bright afternoon light. I could tell Steve was being extra careful with me as a passenger, taking fewer risks, easing into the acceleration. The ride was exhilarating and I allowed myself to enjoy it, chuckling at the increased speed.

The Diner was cute, an old fashioned 70's style, with red booths and white tiles. Steve said it had changed quite a bit from his time. We sat in a booth at the back and ordered pie, a milkshake for Steve and tea for me. I took a sip and a long breath, before I began.

It was 3 weeks into my trip to New Orleans. I'd been sneaking into hospitals and shelters, following my senses to find people in pain, putting a hand on sleeping and unconscious people. Knitting together torn muscles, easing the pain. Healing in the shadows. I had found a young lady in an alley, bruised, looking rough. I felt the pain in her ankle, the injury was terrible, torn muscles, bones misaligned. I asked if I could help her, told her I could make it better. She had been too weak to object; her eyes were flat and hopeless. I had healed her ankle, I'd had to pull the bones into alignment around shredded muscle tissue, so I numbed her leg. She hadn't the energy to scream but when I'd healed the whole assembly, she pushed away from me with terror in her eyes. Had yelled at me not to touch her. She had been frantic with fear. I couldn't forget that face. There had been others, many others, but I didn't elaborate.

As I told the story I saw Steve's face, cycling from compassion to anger and back to concern.

"Your turn." I said as I took my last bite of pie. He raised an eyebrow in question. "I spilled my guts, now you tell me who you used to come here with."

And he did, told me about his best friend Bucky. The things they used to do together, how Bucky had been there for him when his mother passed, how he had found his friend in a hydra camp, strapped to a table. How he had found him, only to lose him again on that train. He paused then.

"There's more, but I'd rather not talk about it here, now. Let's go back." I nodded and ordered a whole pie to-go. We rode back, me with one arm on the pie and the other hanging on to Steve. Feeling like a burden had been lifted I let the drive wash away the drama and tension of the conversation.

When we arrived in the common room there was no sign of Sam, Natasha or Casper.

"The blue room?"

"Sure." I agreed, stashing the pie in a cupboard where I knew it would be safe from Tony.

I linked my phone to the Bluetooth speaker and a smooth 60's jazz and blues playlist flooded the room. Sending the playlist to Steve's device, I settled into my favorite beanbag chair with a book, Steve dropped onto an opposite couch and opened the second book in a series I had suggested to him last week. Daylight faded as the chapters flew by my fingers, punctuated by brief discussions of the music. The door swung open and Casper jumped into my lap as Natasha sashayed into view.

"This is cute."

Steve jumped at the sound of her voice. "You've got to stop sneaking around like that." He gathered the fallen book, he glanced at me, expecting to see fear on my face. He had seen my response to being startled a few times before, now however I was calm.

"I felt them from the other side of the door. Casper would never be that comfortable with anyone I couldn't trust." I smiled at Nat while petting the rumbling grey fur in my lap. "I see you've made a new friend."

Natasha walked forward purposefully, leaning in to pat Casper her eye's locked on mine. "I think I have. I came to ask if you two needed something to eat." Steve's stomach answered with a rumble.

"There's your answer Natasha." I grinned and rose to my feet, stretching out all the kinks as Casper leapt to the floor. I made my way to the kitchen, getting the feeling Nat wanted to speak to Steve privately.

"How was your date?" Nat smirked at Steve.

"What? That wasn't… we didn't… it wasn't a date!"

"Sure." Her tone was disbelieving. "I've been trying to set you up on a date for months!" her gestures were exasperated. "And then you don't even tell me about it? Come on. All you told us was that she had made a good impression on Tony and Bruce, that she might be an asset to the team."

"It wasn't a date! And I think she is an asset."

"You like her asset, don't you?" her tone was teasing and he blushed.

"It's definitely not like that!"

"Spill then, this clearly wasn't your first not-date."

"We've gone out, as friends, a few times a week…" his hand passed over his eyebrows, trying to shield his embarrassment. "Shay said I needed a proper introduction to the future, so… I take her to some of my old haunts, and she makes me eat food that I'd never heard of before."

"And the music? The cozy reading?"

"Something about experiencing the passage of time. Ask her. She's got a whole schedule planned."

"You're very comfortable with her." Nat's gaze was sharp.

"Oh, that… I'm not really sure. You've felt the glow around her. It just feels… feels like I've always known her… Let her connect with you and you'll see what I'm talking about." Steve placed a reassuring hand on Nat's shoulder, gently steering her towards the door.

I met Sam in the lounge.

"You sticking around for food?"

"If that's ok?"

"Yeah, sure" Sam looked thoughtful, "You seem to be good for him."

"Who, Steve? I think it's the other way around." Our friendship was relatively new, but already I had gained so much. I thought back to our afternoon chat at the diner. Talking about that would have seemed impossible a few weeks ago. Steve and I had been on several outings, exploring the world in time, new-to him foods and activities. I was saving poutine and ice skating for next week.

"Well, if you hurt him…" Sam made a fist.

"Ok, cool your jets. I won't be hurting anyone." *relax* "I'm a healer, not a fighter." The heavy atmosphere lifted and we chuckled.

"From what Cap has said, you're a bit of both. I just wish I'd been there to see it myself." Sam grinned.

Steve's voice preceded their entrance. "I don't doubt Shay would have put you down right next to me, had you been there." His tone was dry but the humor it conveyed was clear.

"That would have been fun to watch." Nat's voice was neutral but her expression too was openly amused.

"So… food?" I said, hoping to change the subject.

"I was thinking Chinese" Nat said.

We made a rather plentiful order and hung around waiting. Nat followed me into the kitchen, watching me put a kettle on and pull out a teapot.

"Green tea. I get this from a little market down the street from my place. So good." I passed the tin of leaves for her to sniff. She smiled with approval.

"So, where did you and Steve go this afternoon?"

"A diner Steve new back in the 40's, they still make a mean pie. We actually brought one back, so, dessert later?"

"Sounds great."

"Did I hear something about pie?" Sam's voice floated up from the couch.

"Yup. Figured it might help me persuade you to let me stick around." I grinned.

"Bribery. Can we keep her?" Natasha spoke to the others with a smile in her voice, Casper winding himself around Natasha's legs again.

"You just like having the cat around! Steve, you should have seen it, she was cuddling that thing the whole time you were gone." Sam was aghast at the memory.

The kettle whistled and I took it off the heat and set a timer.

"Steve, have you called Sharon yet?" Nat's voice was innocent but her eyes were scrutinizing my face for a reaction.

"No, and I'm not sure I will." Steve's response indicated a slight annoyance. I met Nat's gaze openly. I had nothing to hide. She nodded as if in confirmation of some private theory.

The food arrived just after I poured the tea. Sam looked uncertain but accepted his cup upon seeing Nat and Steve take theirs without hesitation. Bruce came in shortly after we had sat down and my sense tingled with the tension between him and Nat. Interesting, and of course, he's oblivious. No… not oblivious, his ignorance is intentional. I greeted him with a smile and listened to the conversation around the table. These people who been together through some desperate situations, the bond was undeniable. I felt that I had nothing to contribute, and yet… I was welcome. I sat in silent contemplation and smiled gently at the group chatting comfortably, feeling the glow around the table. Warmth, comfort, friendship.