At first it had been a month.
But once that month was over, the council agreed that she should stay six months for observation. It had angered AJ, but they were allowing her friends to visit her, so that she wasn't completely secluded. Steve, Natasha, and Clint had visited whenever they weren't on a mission. Natasha and Steve more than Clint. Fury and Hill had even come and visited her on multiple occasions. On that sixth month mark, Steve, Natasha, and Clint came to pick her up.
Jordan had been told to take another blood sample.
"I just took a blood sample yesterday – why would we need another when she's going home?" The female doctor asked.
Alexander Pierce told Dr. Jordan Connor that AJ would have to stay for the entire year, another six months stuck in the compound where they took her blood, monitored her, and made her work on her powers, testing the temperature of the ice that she would produce at her angriest state. Jordan didn't like it. It wasn't sitting well with her. And she really didn't like having to break the news to AJ's friends that she would not be released, that they were keeping her under monitoring for another six months.
Steve had been angry, Natasha didn't show emotion. It was rare Jordan ever saw any from her other than flirtation. But she wasn't sure if that was even an emotion to Natasha Romanoff, just second nature. But Jordan was able to give as good as she got and Natasha's face would flush, causing them all to laugh.
AJ and Jordan spoke about it whenever Steve and Natasha would leave, about how AJ had never once seen Natasha get as flustered as she did whenever Jordan said something suggestive to the redhead. The woman in time would urge Jordan to ask out Natasha, and the blonde had laughed.
"Natasha is like, ten times out of my league." She had told AJ who rolled her eyes in response.
"You do realize that you are a hot badass doctor, right? You're intelligent, you're funny, and you are able to do what no man or woman has ever been able to do to Natasha – fluster her. She likes you."
Jordan played confident, flirted with Natasha whenever she saw her, but never would she think that Natasha would ever be interested. Jordan, though she portrayed being overly confident, was just as insecure as the next person. Growing up in a small town in Kansas where the boys made fun of her for dressing like them and the girls laughed at her thick eyebrows and her skin covered in freckles wasn't exactly helpful for Jordan. Not to mention that in her teens, the only other gay person in town moved away. Which left her with the reputation of being the lesbian of the town.
That, she didn't mind. Because it was her, that's who she was, it was part of her identity. That's when she started to show confidence to others that she didn't exactly feel herself. It wasn't until she left Kansas and moved to Boston for college that Jordan was accepted by people. And it felt great, she felt free, she felt like she could take the world on. But her insecurities never went away.
Sex was a good way to forget her insecurities. But honestly, Jordan wanted more. She wanted someone she could come home to every night and wake up next to in the morning. But Natasha Romanoff? She didn't see the woman known as Black Widow ever wanting to settle down. Especially with someone like Jordan. It was just something the doctor never thought would be remotely possible.
On the year mark of AJ being kept in the compound, Alexander Pierce had showed up to the compound to see the progress that his Agent had made in the last year. She gave it her all but he had looked of at Jordan and told her, "Another six months and then she can go home."
"No!" Jordan had put her foot down. "We've done all the test we possibly can on her – why does she need to stay? Don't you want to use her as an asset? She belongs in the field, not trapped in this compound!" She had argued with Pierce.
"You do not have a say in how long Agent Frost will stay here – the counsel does. And unless you'd like to be replaced on this project, I'd suggest you follow order."
Project.
He had called AJ a project.
And then he told Jordan that for the last six months of AJ's stay, she would not be allowed visitors, that it was a distraction to Agent Frost to have her friends visit as much as they were.
That was when Jordan called both Natasha and Steve to meet up and come up with a plan to get AJ out. Jordan could see it in her eyes when she had to tell the agent that she'd be staying another six months, watching the light go out in her eyes, all hope lost. A week went by and AJ started to grow tired, not giving her full strength when training. She'd sleep whenever they weren't running tests on her or making her train. She didn't even ask about Steve, Clint, or Natasha.
She just slept.
It scared Jordan.
AJ had become a friend.
And Jordan was scared that if her friend was kept locked away any longer, she'd lose all her will to fight against it. Hell, she argued, but she was so tired that she'd give up and follow orders.
No, this had to stop. She had to get out.
A year and three months.
That was all Jordan would allow AJ to stay. And on the last week of the second month of AJ's extended stay, Jordan met up with Steve and Natasha and told them her concerns, all of her worries about Agent Frost. Steve was furious, his rocky relationship with Fury had become even worse. Steve was angry that Fury wasn't going against orders to get AJ out, that he was allowing all of this to happen. Natasha wasn't happy about it either. And the day Jordan had told Steve, Natasha, and Clint that they were keeping AJ another six months, and would be allowed no visitors, the woman had begun to curse loudly in Russian, that being the only way she could get her anger out.
But after nearly three months of watching AJ sleep her days away, Jordan had enough.
Natasha and Steve had looked to one another, seemingly having a conversation with no words, just a few nods to the other, they looked to Jordan. "We have a plan." Natasha told her.
"I want in."
Steve, and Natasha had called the other Avengers, minus Thor who was had returned to Asgard, and they all showed up to the compound with Nick Fury and Maria Hill, demanding to speak with the council. Alexander Pierce had showed up and asked them how he might be of assistance.
Tony had walked over to him, placing his hand on his shoulder, "Here's the deal. Frost is leaving this compound today with us."
Pierce had raised his brows in amusement, "Oh, is that so, Mr. Stark?" He chuckled.
Tony grinned, "It is."
"That's not up to you. It's up to the council." Pierce replied.
"Well, I suggest calling up the council right now because let's have a head count here," Tony said, pointing to himself, Banner, Romanoff, Rogers, and Barton. "You have, one, two, three, four, five – five of the avengers and I'm sure if Thor were here to, he would agree with what I'm about to say-" Tony moved closer to Piece, invading his space. "If you do not let Adelyn Frost out of this compound today, the Avengers...well, we'll be no more."
Pierce had glared at Tony who simply smiled in response. "And you all agreed to this?" He asked, looking at Steve, Dr. Banner, Natasha, and Clint who all nodded their head.
Pierce looked to Director Fury and Agent Hill who stood behind the Avengers, who were threatening to quit their jobs as the protectors of earth, "And you agree to this, Nick? You'd allow them to walk away?" He asked.
"Who am I to go over the council's head again?" Fury said sarcastically causing Agent Hill to smirk.
"You have a woman in there who has risked her life numerous times by working for SHIELD. Who walked into a war with an alien race with stunning grace and helped stop them. She's just as much of an Avenger as we all are." Tony said, motioning to them. "So, as long as she's locked up – I guess the Avengers are on strike, right guys?" He looked back to the group who all smiled as they nodded their head.
Pierce had left to speak with the council, relaying the message Tony had given them, and when he came back, he was not alone. AJ was with him. Jordan smiled in relief when she saw AJ and watched the look of happiness sweep over her face when she saw all her friends waiting for her. But Piece stopped AJ by grabbing her by her arm. He then looked to Jordan. "One more blood sample." He ordered.
Steve stepped forward, putting himself in-between AJ and Pierce, looking down at the man. "No more blood samples. She's given enough."
Jordan watched as AJ placed her hand on Steve's back, causing him to turn and face her. "As long as I walk out those doors after the blood is taken – I don't mind getting pricked one more time."
Jordan took one more blood sample from AJ and hugged her tightly before she left, AJ whispered to the doctor her thanks and Jordan had smiled, pressing her hand to the woman's face and nodded her head, letting her no that it wasn't a big deal. AJ hugged her one more time before Steve came and got her while Natasha and Clint helped back up her belongings while Dr. Banner and Stark questioned Pierce as to why they needed so many samples of AJ's blood.
But Jordan had never heard Alexander Pierce's answer. He had yet to even tell Jordan what they were testing AJ's blood for. She didn't have the clearance level to know that information.
As AJ walked out, her small frame between Tony and Steve's, as if they were still protecting her from being kept in the compound, Jordan watched as Clint and Natasha made their way over to her.
"Where'd Banner go?" Jordan asked, she hadn't seen him leave.
"He left after Piece blue-balled him and Stark when they wanted to know what they're testing AJ's blood for. Anger issues and all, Banner thought it might be better if he excused himself from the area." Natasha replied.
Jordan couldn't help but gulp.
"You wouldn't happen to know why they're testing AJ's blood, would you?" Natasha asked.
"Above my clearance level." Jordan spoke honestly. Clint didn't buy it. But Natasha believed her. "I want to know just as badly as you guys do. I'll work my hardest to find out." She promised.
Clint walked away but Natasha stayed. "The boys and I decided that we're throwing AJ a welcome back party slash late birthday celebration." The red head told Jordan. "You should come. AJ's a blast once she's had a few drinks."
Jordan laughed, "I'd like that."
Natasha smiled softly, pushing her hair behind her right ear. "I'll text you the information."
Jordan smirked, "I look forward to it."
Natasha looked away from Jordan as she shook her head and smiled.
As Jordan watched Natasha leave, she couldn't help but wonder if she should take AJ's advice – what harm could come of asking out a former KBG assassin?
_
NOVEMBER 1st, 2013 - Washington, D.C
It had been six days since AJ had left the compound.
Steve had taken her to her new apartment and when he told her he'd let her rest, she asked him to stay. "Seclusion isn't as charming as it might sound to some people." AJ had said, her voice small. Steve frowned, but agreed to stay. He'd been sleeping on her couch every night since she was brought back from the compound. He would hear her rolling around in her bed but never once felt the temperature drop. He would also wake up earlier than AJ and check the weather patterns while she slept, just in case she only dropped it slightly. Nothing. Even during the nightmares, AJ now had it under control.
It didn't mean Steve liked the fact that she was still even having nightmares. What all had they done in the compound to her? She wouldn't talk about it other than saying the tested her strength and the power of her wind gusts and just how cold she could make something when angry. Nothing like the experiments that Dr. Reinhardt performed on her, which Steve read about while she was gone. He was appalled, with each page he read he grew angrier. He would think about the white lines he would sometimes see on AJ's skin and look through the logging of each time they sliced her open.
Steve had known that Hydra had experimented on AJ. She just never told him the extent of it. He didn't ask her to talk to him about it – she kept it from him for a reason.
The only thing that truly mattered to Steve was that AJ was home. And she was smiling and laughing and having fun with the group of friends. Banner had gone back to NYC, but Tony stayed long enough to get AJ nice and drunk and then flew back to NYC in his Iron Man suit. Clint left early as well, saying it was past his bed time and Natasha and AJ began to 'boo' him, calling him a grandpa. Clint laughed, reminding AJ that they were celebrating her 96th birthday, to which AJ yelled back at him that she still looked better than him. Clint had laughed, kissing the top of her head and left the bar.
Dr. Jordan Connor came to celebrate AJ as well, talking to Natasha for most of the night. Steve, at first, had found it shocking that anyone could make Natasha crack a real smile. But now? He was used to the smile Natasha wore whenever she was in Dr. Connor's presence. It was the same smile AJ had back in the 40's whenever she was with Bucky.
There were times during the night where he'd see AJ lost in thought, the others did as well. Clint and Natasha would engage her in conversation while Tony did what he did best – serve up drinks. He tried, that's what mattered. Howard Starks son had become just as protective of AJ as his father had been. Tony had proven that when he went up against Pierce and the counsel to get AJ out of the compound. This past year had been difficult for Tony – Pepper kept them all updated. He had been out of the country on a mission with Barton and Romanoff when everything happened with Tony, but he did go and see him when he arrived, making sure he was okay. His Malibu home had been destroyed so he and Pepper had moved in to The Avengers Tower (no longer Stark). It was a home away from home whenever any of them were stationed in NYC.
Steve watched as Jordan and Natasha left together, the red head pressing a kiss to AJ's cheek before she left, wishing her a happy birthday. Jordan had waved goodbye to AJ and the two left together and AJ looked over to Steve with a smirk.
"I did that." She said proudly.
He chuckled, putting his hand down on her shoulder as she began to wobble on the bar stool, steadying her. "Did what?"
"Fall in love!" AJ laughed, her head falling back a bit causing her to lean backwards and Steve quickly got up from his seat and pulled her back to him so she wouldn't fall off the stool. It wasn't surprising that he had gotten selected as AJ's caretaker for the rest of the evening – he had been living at her apartment since she had gotten home. "I made them fall in love!"
Steve smiled down at AJ in amusement, pushing the hair that had fallen in her face back as AJ tried desperately to blow it away. "Maybe you should just retire from SHIELD and become a matchmaker." He teased and AJ moved forward, pressing her hands down on his shoulder heard.
"You're next!" She grinned cheekily.
Steve made a face, "I'm going to have to pass on that."
"Why?" AJ drew out in a whine. Steve laughed, he had seen her tipsy before from when they were back in the 40's. But he hadn't seen her full on drunk. "Steven, you let me now." She moved her hand to his cheek, slapping it lightly. Steve shook his head and gently pulled AJ's hand away from his cheek. "Be happy!" She pouted.
"I am happy." He told her but she let out a bark of a laugh at that.
"You're a liar."
Steve chuckled, "I am. You're home now, so I'm happy."
AJ's brows knit together and she frowned. "I want to be happy." She told him.
"You seem pretty happy to me." Steve teased and AJ laughed, covering her face with both of her hands.
"No!" She giggled. "I'm drunk." She moved her hands away from her face and was smiling at Steve. "I am incredibly drunk." AJ whispered. But then she let out a long sigh. "I wanna go home, Steve."
He smiled sadly at her, hearing the sadness in her voice. "Okay." He said, getting off the stool and helping her off her own only to have her legs buckle a bit. Steve was quick to grab her though, legs swooping behind her knees to lift her.
"No!" AJ complained. "No. I want to ride on your back."
She began to wiggle, trying to get out of his hold. "Jay, stop. Dammit, you're going to make me drop you." He huffed as he carried her out of the bar.
Steve set AJ down on the ground, having her lean up against him so she wouldn't fall and waved over a taxi to take them back to AJ's apartment.
"Why do you still take cabs?" AJ asked. "You should get a car –oh! You should get a motorcycle! Steve! Go get a motorcycle, I'm sure SHIELD will pay for it!" She said in excitement as he lifted her again, carefully placing in her in the back of the cab. He shut her door and walked over to his side and got in.
AJ was quiet the rest of the ride back to her apartment, just looking out her window at the city. And when they arrived, Steve helped her out of the cab and carried her up to her floor.
When they were inside, AJ laid down on the couch, kicking her legs up in the air and pointing to the boots she had worn tonight. Steve shook his head. "It's like caring for a toddler." He joked as he pulled off AJ's boots for her. When she started to unbutton her jeans Steve quickly stopped her. "-How about you sleep in your clothes tonight, Jay?"
She reached up for Steve with the most pathetic pout he had ever seen her give before. "Tired."
He chuckled and helped lift her off the couch and to her feet. AJ wobbled a bit but eventually became still. She looked up at Steve and blinked before her eyes went wide as tears filled them. He frowned, thumb brushing away a tear that had rolled down her cheek. "Hey, what's going on?" He asked.
But she smiled, "I missed you." She said in a cry.
Steve frowned. "I missed you too,"
He went to tell her that he needed to take her to her room but AJ had slowly moved up on her tip toes and pressed her lips to Steve's. He stood there, completely frozen until she pulled away. "I missed you so much." She said again, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and kissing him again. Steve was a gentleman, he would never take advantage of a woman while she was drunk. But her kisses were so needy and desperate that he couldn't help but kiss her back. And then suddenly the guilt went away and he pulled her to his body. "You came back to me," AJ said in a pant between kisses. "I knew you would. I missed you so much, Bucky."
Steve went stiff and pulled away.
"No, Bucky – don't go." AJ grabbed at Steve's shirt, trying to tug him back to her. No, she was trying to tug Bucky back to her. She wasn't seeing him, she was seeing Bucky. His dead best friend. And the love of AJ's life.
Steve licked at her lower lip and closed her eyes, inhaling deeply. He shouldn't have done that. He should have stopped it – why would AJ ever want to kiss him? He was sure she still saw him as the Steve she met at the recruitment center with Bucky. Small, fragile, weak.
"I'm tired." AJ whispered, moving forward to rest her head against Steve's chest. "I wanna go to bed." She mumbled, slumping a bit against him. Steve sighed but picked her up and brought her to her bedroom.
He placed her down on her bed and pulled the covers over her still fully clothed body and left to go get her a glass of water for when she woke up. He set the glass down on the nightstand next to her bed and looked down at AJ who was asleep, clutching onto Bucky's dog tags. Steve closed his eyes as he shook his head. "I'm sorry." He apologized.
To who?
AJ for kissing her while she was drunk and thought he was Bucky? Or to his dead best friend – who probably wouldn't like the idea of Steve kissing his girl.
Both.
He shouldn't have kissed her back.
Steve gathered his stuff he had brought over to AJ's house and left her a note telling her that he was heading back to his apartment. He hoped to God that AJ would wake up tomorrow and not remember what had happened. But he doubted that would happen.
Shouldn't have let her kiss you.
Shouldn't have kissed her back.
But somehow, to Steve, it had felt right.
_
January 8th, 2014 - Washington, D.C
In the last few months, AJ had barely seen Steve.
She wasn't angry at him – she completely understood. The problem with AJ being a powered person who that her body was always trying to heal her – even when she wasn't physically wounded. It helped since she never got hungover or sick, really. But what she did not like about her body quickly healing itself after a night of drinking was that she would always remembered what had happened during that time.
AJ remembered seeing Steve...but then it was Bucky. And she was drunk enough to not question it. So, she kissed him. Because she missed Bucky so much that it left a physical ache in her heart whenever she thought about him. But, in her drunken state, he was there standing right in front of her and how could she not kiss him? How could she not hold onto him and refuse to let go.
But it had been Steve.
And Steve had kissed her back.
Only stopping when she called him by Bucky's name and he realized that it wasn't him that she thought she was kissing – but Steve. She remembered the absolute guilt in his eyes and the way his brows had knitted together as he looked away from her.
That's when he went back to being Steve.
That was when Bucky faded away and AJ had realized that she had just been kissing her best friend. Bucky's best friend.
AJ had gone to Clint. If she had gone to Natasha she would have never heard the end of it – Natasha constantly teasing her about it, and probably Steve as well. Not to mention that she would want to play matchmaker and get AJ and Steve together.
"Do you like him?" Clint asked her.
"Of course, I like him. He's my best friend."
Clint had given her a look, "Adge, that's not what I meant. Do you have feelings for Steve?"
She had clutched Bucky's dog tags. "I don't know." It was honest. She cared about Steve so much but that night they kissed – she hadn't been kissing him. But Steve was kind, and funny, and polite. Not to mention he was handsome. But AJ had always seen him as handsome, even when she first met him. But it never been anything other than friendship between them. Because Bucky.
Because she was in love with Bucky and Steve was simply her friend.
"Adge..." Clint said softly, not wanting to upset her. AJ already knew where he was going. "Bucky's gone."
But there were days it didn't feel like he was gone.
Clint tried to help her as best as he could, offering her advice. But he told her that ultimately, it was up to her about how she was going to deal with the aftermath of the kiss. (kisses)
Steve stopped coming around, only talking to her at SHIELD briefings or when they went on a mission together. But it was never just the two of them. It was either Natasha or Clint with them, along with a whole team to help them. He tried to act normal around her, asking her how she'd been lately.
But it wasn't how they were.
And there were times AJ would be across the room from him and would feel his eyes on her, but when she looked over at him, he'd quickly look away. No soft smile that he usually reserved for her. He'd just avoid her eyes.
Natasha picked up on it. Asked what was going on and AJ finally told her what had happened. Surprisingly, Natasha didn't tease her. She just grabbed AJ's hand and gave it a squeeze.
AJ sat in the couch of her apartment, an old record playing softly in the background as she held the picture Tony had given her two years prior. It was of her, Howard, and Dr. Erskine, taken right after they had perfect Project Rebirth. He had framed it for her and had it sent to the compound she had been kept at.
That damn place.
They may not have sliced her open and tested her organs – but AJ was sure if Dr. Connor hadn't been the doctor assigned to her case; they would have found one that would. AJ was incredibly thankful for Jordan. If it hadn't been for her, she probably would still be in that damn place.
She had gone to Steve and Natasha, told them about how AJ was struggling, and that enough was enough. They needed to find a way to get her out of there before she turned into a shell of a person. AJ remembered her last few months at the compound, she only ever got out of bed when she was supposed to. They had taken everything out of her room that belonged to her other than her change of clothes. Jordan had been the one to gather her things, telling AJ that she would keep them safe and not let anyone touch them. That if she wanted, she'd take them out of the compound completely and give them to Steve to set up in her apartment.
AJ wouldn't have survived as long as she it hadn't been for Jordan.
And now she was out. Back to work under Fury (not Alexander Pierce and the counsel) and getting back into the swing of things. It had taken a few months, but AJ was back to her normal self (mission wise). But during her downtime, she stayed in her apartment, or went out with Nat and Jordan, or went and visited Clint. She missed Steve. AJ wondered if he missed her too – or had she screwed everything up so badly that he wouldn't ever miss her?
AJ got up from the couch and walked back over to the small table against the wall that she used as a desk (occasionally going over her old work and trying to rewrite the equations herself without the help of Erskine or Howard.)
She wondered what it might have been like if Howard were still alive – Tony spoke about him in distain, calling him an absent parent. And AJ just couldn't understand what had changed that made Howard so cold. Would he have gone back to the man she once knew? Or stay the hardened man he had become?
Her phone went off in her pocket and AJ took it out, seeing an incoming call from Brock Rumlow.
"Frost." She answered.
"Fury wants us in sooner. I'm near your place – do you need a lift?"
AJ rolled her eyes. Rumlow had been trying to get in her pants since she first met him back in 2011. "I think I can find my own way, Rumlow."
"I don't know, Frost. It's a different world now – women aren't safe by themselves. And you in that apartment of yours – I worry about ya."
"The world has never been safe for women because of men like you, Rumlow." She countered back, her words coming out cold and sharp, "-You know, men who can't take a hint that a woman is not interested or respect the word 'no', those kinds of men."
Rumlow laughed and it made AJ knit her brows together in frustration. "This back and forth thing we've got going on will have you falling for me in no time."
"I wouldn't hold your breath. Actually, please do. That way I won't have to deal with you ever again." She sassed him. "Tell Fury I'm on my way." AJ hung up and took in a deep breath to try and let the anger roll off of her. But there was something about Brock Rumlow that did not sit right with her.
AJ already had her bag set out next to her front door ready to go. She did one last sweep through of her apartment making sure that everything had been turned off, stopping at the record player that had been playing in the background. The song was the one that had been playing in the car when Howard took AJ and Bucky to the docks when he shipped out to England. She stopped the music, hand going to Bucky's dog tags around her neck, and then headed to the front door, grabbing her bag and locked up her apartment. The mission wouldn't be long.
The mission would take them to the Indian Ocean where one of SHIELD's ships, The Lemurian Star, had been hijacked by a known Algerian pirate; Georges Batroc. It would be AJ, Steve, Natasha, and Rumlow along with the other members of the Strike team. Jasper Sitwell was one of the agents taken hostage by Batroc. The Algerian pirate demanded a ransom for the people on board the ship, as well as the carrier. AJ hadn't understood why he would want to ransom the carrier as well, but it wasn't her job to question Nick. He was one of the few people she still trusted in SHIELD.
The point was; the mission would be simple and AJ would be home before the sunrise tomorrow morning.
Natasha and Steve were already one the quinjet when she arrived, and Steve, as he had been doing for the last few months, avoided her eyes. And again, AJ didn't blame him. So instead of sitting up front with Steve and Natasha, she stayed back with most of the Strike team while Rumlow, Steve, and Natasha went over plans.
But once they were flying over the Indian Ocean – Rumlow called for her to join them.
_
The Lemurian Star - INDIAN OCEAN
"The target is a mobile satellite launch platform: The Lemurian Star. They were sending their last payload when the pirates took them ninety-three minutes ago."
"Any demands?" Steve asked, and AJ's eyes automatically went to his.
"A billion?" She looked to Rumlow for confirmation.
"A billion and a half." Rumlow corrected. Apparently, it had gone up since AJ was last briefed.
"Why so steep?" Steve asked, his questioned directed at Rumlow, not AJ.
"Because it's SHIELD's." He answered.
Steve took in the information, realizing something. "So, it's not off-course, it's trespassing." He looked down at Natasha who kept her eyes trained on the screen in front of them.
"I'm sure they have a good reason."
"You know, I'm getting a little tired of being Fury's janitor." Steve complained and AJ had to smile when Natasha cut him off.
"Relax," she drew out the word, having enough of his dramatics. "It's not that complicated." She looked at him and smirked.
AJ frowned, feeling a twinge of jealousy in her stomach. That used to be her and Steve. The back and forth, the teasing – and now it was Natasha and Steve.
AJ began to tie up her hair and turned her attention to Rumlow. "How many pirates?" She asked.
He smirked at her but turned his attention back to the screen. "Twenty-five. Top mercs. Led by this guy." He swiped the screen and showed them the picture of the man holding SHIELD's ship hostage. "Georges Batroc." AJ looked at the mans picture as Rumlow continued on, "Ex-DGSE, Action Division. He's at the top of Interpol's Red Notice. Before the French demobilized him, he had thirty-six kill missions. The guy's got a rep for maximum casualties."
"Charming." AJ mumbled, her hair now pulled back and out of her face. AJ motioned for Natasha to help her with her vest and the red head moved away from Steve, helping AJ with the parts she couldn't reach. Steve looked over at them briefly, almost as if he were making sure that Natasha was doing everything correctly. But soon turned his attention back to Rumlow.
"Hostages?" He asked.
"Uh...mostly techs." Rumlow answered as he went through the list of people on board, "One office: Jasper Sitwell." He pulled up his photo. "They're in the gallery."
"What's Sitwell doing on a launch ship?" Steve said to himself, putting on his gloves. "Alright, I'm gonna sweep the deck and find Batroc. Nat, you'll kill the engines and wait for instructions." He gave his orders. "Rumlow, you sweep aft, find hostages, get them to the life-pods. Get 'em out." He looked to AJ, finally making eye contact. "I want you to be our eyes in the sky, Frost."
She opened her mouth to object when Rumlow butt-in, "STRIKE, you heard the Cap. Gear up."
Everyone went to gear up and AJ followed after Steve, calling out his name. But he didn't answer. So, she grabbed him harshly by the arm and forced him to turn around. "I am not a god damn pilot for SHIELD, Steve. I'm an Agent."
"And as an Agent of SHIELD, I need you up here as our eyes." AJ opened her mouth again to fight him but he stopped her. "I need someone up here that I trust – that won't miss anything and that will keep everyone alive."
Trust?
Steve didn't trust anyone? It looked like he trusted Natasha pretty well.
She shook her head at him and started to walk away but he grabbed her arm, stopping her. "Jay," He said her name causing her to look over her shoulder at him. He looked at her for a long moment before he let go of her arm and walked away. "Keep your eyes sharp." He ordered her.
AJ did as she was told.
Captains Orders.
Even if it pissed her off.
Steve had been making it a habit that each mission they were on together he would give her the simpleist task. One that a rookie could manage – and now he wasn't even allowing her to get on board the container.
AJ did do as Steve had told her to. She kept her eyes sharp. Those eyes just happened to be a camera on her arm that let her see the sky view of the container and once Steve had jumped, she geared up with the Strike team. "Disobeying direct orders from Cap. Pretty ballsy, Frost."
"That's why I'm aiming for the other side of the container." AJ said before walking to the back of the plane, looking down at the container so she would know the exact moment to jump.
"-Adge, you really think this is a good idea?" Natasha asked, joining her.
AJ simply shrugged before she stepped off the ledge and fell down to the container, releasing her chute and directed it to land where she knew Steve wouldn't be. She'd meet up with Rumlow and the rest of the Strike team to free the hostages – Steve would just have to deal with it. Once she was on the container, AJ headed in the direction of the Gallery, looking down at her wrist occasionally to see their view from above. She stopped, seeing on her screen that Steve was headed in the direction of three armed men.
"Steve, you got three pirates on your next turn." AJ let Steve know. He didn't reply, but she watched him take them out via the eye in the sky.
AJ was just about to warn him again when she felt someone yank her back by her hair, throwing her down onto the ground and pointing their gun at her. She moved her head, the bullet missing her while she swept her legs under the man who had tried to shoot her causing him to fall down. AJ snatched the gun, throwing it overboard while reaching for her own gun with the silencer and shot him in both of his kneecaps.
"AJ, who else is on the container? I heard gunfire." Steve said over comm.
She sighed, trying to come up with an excuse. Strike team was still in the sky, Steve would know that. But Rumlow came in through the comm, "One of us, Sir. Hit a gust of wind and some of us landed off course. One of the pirates started to shoot at us – we took him out. Headed your way now. " He lied, for some reason unknown to her, covering for AJ. Well, he probably did it in hopes that AJ may change her mind about him. She wouldn't.
AJ looked around to see where she was and then spoke over comms, "Rumlow, you have a clear path to the gallery on the east side – it'll lead you to a stairwell."
"Be right there, sugar."
AJ repressed a gag and waited for Rumlow and some of the Strike team to join her. They arrived and Rumlow looked down at the man who had past out when AJ shot his kneecaps. He looked back up at her, brows raised.
"That's cold, Frost. But you never cease to impress me." He smirked.
"He'll live." She said in annoyance. "He just can't handle pain, apparently." AJ said, stepping over the man and lead them down the stairwell. They split up, AJ going with Rumlow and Rollins while the others swept the floors.
"You could have blown this entire mission, ya know." Rumlow said quietly.
AJ ignored him, but Rumlow went on.
"If these pirated had heard the gunfire – you'd be dead."
"Well, I'm alive. So why don't you shut the hell up and follow me." AJ hissed at him. She could hear Rollins chuckling quietly but after that, it was quiet.
Rumlow and Rollins went ahead of her when they saw someone shouting through a closed door. Okay, I'll fine him, he had yelled and turned around only to see Rumlow standing behind him, pressing a stun gun stick to his forehead, grabbing him by his vest before he could hit the ground.
It was quiet on the other side of the door. And it wasn't until they heard someone say from the other side of the door as they walked away; two minutes, in French. Rumlow gently put him down on the ground, not making a sound and Rollins set down his weapon and went to get the bomb in his pack. AJ stood behind him, pistol pointed at the stairwell to shoot anyone who might come that way while Rumlow kept his gun pointed at the door where the other pirates were behind.
SHIELD wanted her to refrain from using her powers unless it was absolutely necessary. AJ figured with how hard they had trained her in combat while she used her powers, that they'd want her to use them while on the field.
Nope.
Weapons only.
And of course, she could physically take someone out.
Just not with her powers.
AJ heard the bomb latch onto the door while a strike agent spoke through comms, "Target acquired."
"Strike in position." Rumlow said quietly.
"How's it looking from above, Jay?" Steve asked and AJ quickly looked to her wrist, making sure they were clear.
"You're clear." She said, moving to hold her weapon with both of her hands again.
"Natasha, what's your status?" Steve said.
Silence.
"Status, Natasha?" He said again.
"Hang on!" AJ heard Natasha yelled. She was annoyed. It took a moment but soon she was back on comms. "Engine room secure."
"On my mark." Steve said over comms, "Three. Two. One."
Gunfire echoed through the room next to them and Rumlow shot at the bomb, causing it to go off and rip the door off its hinges, allowing them inside. There was only one man still standing and when he spun around upon hearing the explosion, Rumlow shot him in the chest.
They walked in, "I told you." Sitwell said to the dead man, sitting on the ground with his hands bound, "SHIELD doesn't negotiate."
AJ began to free all the hostages while Rollins and Rumlow watched her back, making sure she wouldn't get hit by any incoming fire from one of the pirates still on board the ship. Once each hostage was free, Rumlow, AJ, and Rollins lead them to safety.
"Where the hell is Nat?" She whispered to Rumlow. "She should have been here by now."
"Hostages en route to extraction." Rumlow said over comm. "Romanoff missed the rendezvous point, Cap. Hostiles are still in play."
"Natasha, Batroc's on the move. Circle back to Rumlow and protect the hostages." But Natasha didn't reply. "Jay – do you have eyes on Romanoff?"
Rollins chuckled from behind AJ and she glared at him. "Uh, no. I can't locate her." She told Steve. It wasn't a lie – she had check her wrist and Natasha was no longer on deck. "She must be inside."
"Natasha!" AJ heard Steve say in anger over comms only to hear the clang of something hitting his shield. She quickly looked down at her wrist, zooming in on Steve's location to see him now fighting against Batroc.
"Romanoff, Rogers is on the north side of the container fighting Batroc – are you near?" AJ asked.
And yet again, Natasha didn't reply. And when AJ checked her wrist again, Steve was still alone.
"We need to get the hostages off this container, Frost. Cap can handle Batroc himself." Rumlow said, probably seeing the look in AJ's eyes. The one that said she was about to go off on her own to help Steve. She looked back down to see Steve and Batroc standing a bit away from each other while Steve placed his shield on his back and took off his helmet.
Seriously?
"Frost. We're leaving now. Are you with us?" Rumlow asked. AJ nodded her head and went with them. Steve may be a complete and total moron for taking on Batroc without protection – but Steve had yet to lose a fight. She believed in him enough to trust that he'd be fine on his own.
They made it to where the life-pods were located. Rumlow and Rollins safely got the hostages on to them while AJ did one last sweep.
It was all clear. But on her way back, something hard and metal was swung at her knee, kicking her legs out from under her and AJ fell fast first onto the ground, turning her face to the side last moment causing her cheek to split open from the impact. Someone crawled on top of her, roughly rolling her so she was on her back.
It was the man she had shot in the kneecaps earlier. He reached for AJ's gun and she knocked it out of his hands, her weapon flying out of reach. AJ reached for her knife only to have the man rip it out of her holster, stabbing down at her but AJ moved and the knife missed her neck and instead plunged into her shoulder. She yelled out in pain, distracted by it and then felt hands wrap around her throat tightly. He had both of her hands now pinned under his legs and AJ struggled under him, trying to get them free as he continued to choke her, her head feeling light and her vision making her see double. She kneed him and was able to get one hand free and grabbed at his hands, trying to pulled them off of her neck, but he knocked his body down hard into her and her hand dropped.
"Rumlow!" She managed to shout, voice literally strangled. There was no way he would be been able to hear her and as black dots started to appear in her eyes and her lungs begin to feel a burning sensation, AJ knew there was only one way she'd survive this. She moved her hand to the mans face and watched as his body turned to ice.
"Frost!" AJ heard Rumlow shout, running in her direction. She was too weak to toss the rock of ice that was a man seconds earlier off her and shatter him, so she was thankful that Rumlow had showed up when he did. With his stun gun stick, Rumlow smashed the man, knocking him off AJ, the ice hands wrapped around her neck crumbling too.
AJ gasped, scratching at her neck out of instinct to help her breathe, thinking that she still needed to fight for air. Rumlow kneeled down so he was eye level.
"Hey, I got you." He told her, grabbing her face his hands and forcing her to look him in the eyes. "I got you. You can breathe now."
She did as she was told, taking in shallow breaths that eventually started to even out.
"I got you." He repeated until she was breathing normally.
AJ may not trust Brock Rumlow or like him that much – but he had just saved her life. So, she'd be nice to him until they reached D.C. Even went as far as to thank him when he helped her stand.
He smirked.
And AJ decided that being nice to him until they were back in D.C was far too long.
_
January 9th, 2014 - The Triskelion: SHIELD HEADQUARTERS
Fury had lied.
Natasha had lied.
And AJ had disobeyed his orders.
He asked her to stay because he trusted her more than anyone and she didn't listen to him. How could she not understand that he didn't trust SHIELD? That the only reason he was actively working with them was because of her. So, he would be there to watch her back when she was released. And after AJ not being released for a year and three months – his distrust of SHIELD grew. But she was back now and yes, things had been different between them for the last few months but he knew that he could still trust her.
Maybe he shouldn't have thought that.
Maybe he couldn't.
Steve stood across the room in the medical unit of one of SHIELD's headquarters while Dr. Connor patched up AJ and Natasha. He had come because even thought he didn't know if AJ was someone he could trust anymore, it didn't mean Steve stopped caring for her. And the fact that her wounds had yet to heal themselves troubled him.
"Why hasn't she healed yet? Why hasn't the cold helped her?" He asked Jordan. His eyes went to AJ briefly who wouldn't look at him. She was mad at him.
He had yelled at her in front of everyone, even vocalized that he couldn't count on her anymore. She didn't say anything, she just took it. When he was done yelled, she looked him dead in the eye and asked, May I be dismissed?
He didn't know what to say. Steve had never seen her look at him with such cold eyes. Not even after he called off the search and rescue for Bucky. Steve had thought back then that nothing could ever be as cold and cruel as they look AJ had given him when she told him that she would never forgive him for giving up on Bucky.
The look she gave him back in the quinjet? It was worse.
"Adelyn's healing isn't as enhanced as yours is, but...by now her wounds should have closed from her body trying healing itself with the cold." It had been five hours. And AJ was still not healed.
"Why aren't her powers working right now?" Steve asked Jordan but before she could answer Natasha cut in.
"Maybe it's the hostile environment?" She suggested, her eyes narrowing at Steve.
"It'll heal eventually, though?" AJ finally spoke up. "I've been hurt on missions before – you know, you've been there to assess them."
Jordan frowned. The blonde doctor walked over to her computer and went over every detail of what had happened on her previous missions that she had gotten injured on. Steve watched as her brows raised and there was a slight twitch of her jaw.
"What?" He said, walking over to her.
"Nothing." Jordan said, "There should be no reason why she hasn't healed yet." She walked over to AJ and Natasha, "You guys are all set. AJ, your wounds should heal by the end of the day, but for pain, here." She pulled a bottle of pills out of her lab coat. "One." She stressed. "No more."
AJ nodded, slowly getting off of the bench with the help of Natasha.
"You should go home and rest. I'll tell Fury that you are off duty for the next few days." Jordan said and AJ didn't even argue with her on that.
Steve watched AJ and Natasha walk out, Rumlow was on the other side of the door waiting to be examined next. "Had a care package sent to your apartment, Frost. I think it should be there by now."
"It's never gonna happen, Rumlow." AJ said, not bothering to look back at him as she and Natasha walked away.
Once they were out of ear shot, Steve walked over to Jordan who had pulled up AJ's records on the computer again, "Steve?" She said, "Do you mind going over your record of the event with me one more time? I'm just going to fill out AJ's new information," Steve was standing next to her now, confused as she began to ask him if he had suffered any injuries. She raised her hand and to anyone else, it would have looked like she had simply swiped out of AJ's records. But she didn't. In fact, she had highlighted only one thing.
It was the only difference from this mission compared to all the others she had been on in the last few months.
This mission, AJ had used her powers.
"Let's meet up for drinks tonight. I've been trying to find another excuse to ask out Natasha. You can bring AJ along, too. I'm positive she'll be healed by then."
He nodded, understanding what she was trying to get at.
She had a theory and wanted to talk about it with him later on outside of SHIELD.
"I'll see if I can convince them. They're both pretty pissed at me." He said in a light tone for anyone who might be listening.
"Good, we'll meet up at the bar we went to for AJ's birthday – I forget the name."
"It's uh," He groaned, pretending to be frustrated. "It's on the tip of my tongue."
"I hate when that happens!" Jordan laughed. "I'll see you tonight."
He nodded and told her goodbye and walked out of the medical unit. "-Hey Cap, is Frost gonna be okay?" He asked.
Steve smiled, "Her injuries? Yes. Her attitude? I don't see that changing." He said, still trying to put on a show for whoever was watching.
"Don't I know that!" Rumlow said and the men around them began to laugh.
Steve left and went to go debrief Fury. Hoping to maybe get some answers out of him as to why he had lied. He wouldn't bring up AJ unless Fury asked – because it seemed like only Jordan understood why AJ's powers weren't helping her heal.
_
Natasha had taken AJ home, first stopping by the market so AJ could grab a few things she needed, and then to grab a bite to eat since Natasha said AJ wasn't allowed to cook for herself until her injuries were healed. AJ didn't protest because the pain from being stabbed in the shoulder hurt too badly for her to pretend it didn't. So, they stopped for food and then Natasha helped AJ bring her things upstairs.
"Oh, would you look at that." Natasha said with a chuckle once they were upstairs, "Rumlow really did send a care package." She mocked, seeing the bouquet of flowers and a heart shaped candy box left by the door. "How sweet."
AJ rolled her eyes and walked over to her door and unlocked it before she carefully picked up the flowers and candy box without putting too much strain on her shoulder.
"Are you finally going to take him up on his date offer?" Natasha asked, following behind AJ, carrying her food and bag from the market.
AJ let out a bark of a laugh, "God, no!" She replied. "And Rumlow doesn't want a date – he wants sex."
Natasha snorted. "Maybe you should take him up on it – when's the last time you got laid?"
AJ set the flowers down on her kitchen counter and frowned for a second, "Theo." She answered.
She looked back over to Natasha who gave her a soft smile, but continued on with her suggestion, "So, it's been a while...maybe call Rumlow up? You deserve to get laid."
AJ rolled her eyes, "I do." She agreed. "I'm just not desperate enough to sleep with Rumlow."
Natasha smirked, "Stev-"
"-Don't." AJ cut Natasha off, pointing her finger at her. "Finish that sentence."
Natasha simply shrugged and walked over to AJ, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Stay in bed." She ordered her, now heading to AJ's front door. "-I mean it. And throw out those chocolates – Rumlow probably ruffied them and is going to sneak back in here later." She said in a dry tone.
AJ laughed, watching as Natasha left, the door shutting behind her. She walked over to the heart box that Rumlow had sent to her. She grabbed it and tossed it in the garbage.
The flowers? She would keep. It would be a nice touch to her apartment. AJ set them down on the coffee table and headed towards her bedroom, only to stop. She looked around...something felt off. Her phone started ringing from her bag and AJ went over to get it and saw that it was Rumlow calling.
She would love to send him to voicemail – but Rumlow only called for work related reasons. He left texting to harass AJ.
"Frost," She answered, bringing grabbing her purse and walked to her bedroom.
"You're supposed to be on bedrest." Rumlow said from the other line.
"Why did you call me than?" She fired back causing Rumlow to laugh.
"Just wanted to make sure you're in bed."
"I'm going to clean up and then I'll be on bedrest for the next few days – you happy?"
"Only if you think about me while you're in the shower."
"-Hanging up now." AJ said and powered off her phone. She was tired. And after she cleaned up – she had every intention to sleep for at least a full day and a half.
_
Steve had gone about like it was any other day.
He went to the museum, visited Peggy, and had even done something new and stopped by the VA building where the man he had met earlier, Sam Wilson, worked. He went on with his day like it was any other. He didn't call Natasha, didn't call AJ either.
Just went to the bar that AJ had had her birthday celebration and waited for Dr. Connor.
She came in, hurrying over to Steve, "-Hey, I'm sorry I'm late. I couldn't get a hold of you and I totally forgot that I a supposed to be downtown in fifteen minutes." She said, breathing hard as she pressed her hand down on the bar, lifting it a little to reveal to Steve that there was a folded-up piece of paper under her palm.
"Oh, it's no problem. Natasha and Jay bailed on me anyway." He smiled at Jordan. He patted her hand that was on the bar, "Go ahead and go – we can have drinks tomorrow night. Maybe you can convince Jay and Natasha this time."
Jordan smiled, slipping her hand out from under Steve's and laughed, "It's a date. Sorry again." The blonde said before leaving Steve at the bar, waving goodbye to him before she walked out the doors. Steve set his drink down where his hand had been and check moved a bit like he was checking his phone. He set the phone down on the bar and slid the drink back over to him, letting the paper fall out from under it onto his lap when he lifted it to take a drink.
He set some pulled money out of his pocket, counting it before he set a few bills down on the bar and moved to put his money back in his pocket, grabbing the note Jordan had given him in his pocket as well.
He'd wait until he was home to read it.
Steve left the bar, looking up at the nights sky.
He got on his motorcycle and drove back to his apartment where he knew he wouldn't be watched or disturbed. But Director Fury was there, chaos ensued, and Steve completely forgot about the note Jordan had written him.
