Just a short chapter from Brooke's POV. Let me know what you think in a review or PM. Enjoy!

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BROOKE POV

I sat nervously on the bed while I waited for Steve to come out of the bathroom. He had still looked like he was walking with pain as I had led him into my bedroom after Bucky and Eden left. I had directed him to the bathroom so he could wash up before...

Before what Brooke? Before you have sex with him?

In all honesty, I didn't think that would be happening tonight. Steve looked exhausted and whether I liked it or not, we would probably only be sleeping in my bed together tonight. I was surprisingly okay with that. I had missed him like crazy the last few days and cuddling up with him in my bed was a nice enough consolation prize.

I heard the water shut off in the sink and he flipped the light switch off as he exited the bathroom. He looked up to see me sitting there and smiled at me as he walked over. I stood up from the bed to wrap my arms around him gently and lay my head on his chest...I felt him stiffen up slightly as I did. When I pulled away from him to look him in the eye, I laid my hand on his cheek and scowled at the cut above his eye.

He stepped back and shook his head at me, "I'm fine Brooke"

I clamped my jaw shut and watched as he reached up to unbutton his shirt. He inhaled sharply and grimaced in pain as he raised his arms. He carefully lowered them and closed his eyes as he steadied his breathing.

I stepped forward and frowned at him, "Yeah, you seem fine" I said sarcastically. The moment my fingers reached for his chest and started unbuttoning his shirt, he looked up at me.

"Brooke..." he started to say just as I reached the last button and slid the shirt from his shoulders before throwing in on the bed.

I let out a small gasp of surprise when I saw the ugly bruises scattered across his abdomen. I let my fingers trail the muscles of his chest until it grazed one of the purple welts. He flinched away from my touch and I covered my mouth with my hand before standing back from him, staring in angry shock.

"Real fine indeed" I said angrily, turning away from him to pace around the room.

"I'm sorry. I should have warned you. I heal fast Brooke...this time tomorrow they'll almost be completely gone" he said quietly, resting a hand on my shoulder as I passed him.

I shrugged him off; still angry that he had spent the entire night pretending like he wasn't in pain when it was so completely obvious that he had been. By the looks of those bruises, this hadn't been a typical mission for him and although I knew he couldn't tell me what happened, I still felt entitled to ask.

"What happened on this mission Steve?" I asked heatedly. "Who did this to you?"

He reached up to rub the back of his head with his hand, cringing at the pain, "I can promise you, they won't be hurting anyone else"

"What happened?" I repeated. I kept pacing the room in frustration trying to not let my eyes settle on the contusions marring his otherwise amazing physique.

Taking a deep breath, he calmly started, "...Brooke...you know I can't..."

I stopped my angry pacing and got right in his face, "Dammit Steve! Don't give me that bullshit!"

Calm down Brooke! You know he can't tell you...why are you pushing?!

I saw that he was really trying to keep calm...he lowered his head as I started fidgeting around the room again and continued yelling at him, demanding answers I knew he couldn't give me. This went on for several moments before he finally looked up and I saw the annoyance in his eyes.

"Stop...that's enough!" he said loudly, catching my arm and pulling me to face him. He had never raised his voice to me and I immediately felt like a fool for pushing him to do it. When I tried to lower my face, his hand grabbed my chin and pulled it back up.

"You know damn well I can't tell you. No matter how much I want to...I can't!" he said in a sharp tone, his anger shooting small daggers into my heart. I put my hand to my chest and swallowed hard, frowning at his harsh words.

He must have seen how much those heated words had affected me because he sighed deeply before continuing, "I'm sorry...it's eating me up inside because I do want to tell you. I want to confide in you...I wish I could tell you what happened. I wish you could know how worried I was that I wouldn't make it home to you this time. I will never be able to tell you Brooke...not just because it's not allowed but also because it could put you in danger"

I don't care about the danger...I care about YOU!

I felt the lump in my throat forming and I covered my mouth with my hand but still I said nothing.

Don't you cry Brooke Donovan! Donovan women don't shed tears!

Steve's shoulders slumped, "I'm sorry. If you can't handle that then you need to end things with me right now"

When he saw the look of surprise on my face he said, "Yes Brooke. You heard me right. I said you will have to be the one to end things because I can't do it. More than anything else in this world, I want to be with you. But if you can't handle this...if you can't handle being with me...than I'm giving you an out...you can walk away right now and I wouldn't blame you"

I opened and closed my mouth several times, trying to say something...anything! But I was completely speechless...for once in my life, I had no words.

"Is that what you want?" he asked quietly.

Say something you idiot! SPEAK! Of course that isn't what you want!

I stood in front of him...head down, eyes glued to the floor, unable to utter a single syllable.

Steve finally stepped away from me and I glanced up to see the defeated look on his face. He stepped away from me and reached for his shirt on the bed. When he moved to slip it back on his shoulders, I quickly stepped up and snatched it from his hands before throwing it back down.

I was so close to him now...only inches separated us but I could only stare at his chest, watching the rise and fall on it.

"Brooke?" he whispered.

I shook my head, silently cursing when I felt the hot tears sliding down my cheeks, "It's not what I want" I said it so quietly that I wasn't sure he had even heard me though I knew he must have when he let out a deep sigh of relief.

"Good. I don't know what I would have done if you had said otherwise" he replied. He wiped the tears from my face before letting his hands rest on my waist...he leaned down to touch my forehead with his own.

I smiled at his words, "What would you have done if I had tried to end things with you?"

He chuckled, "Done everything in my power to make you change your mind"

I brushed my lips across his, "So, you gave me the choice but had no intention of following through with my decision"

He pulled away a bit and looked down at me, "Giving you the choice was the right thing to do"

I laughed softly, "...and Captain America always does the right thing"

"Captain America might always do the right thing but even Steve Rogers can be a little selfish at times...that's why I would have done everything I could to get you to stay with me" he said simply.

I stepped back and smiled at him, "Good answer Rogers" I took a good long look at him, noticing how exhausted he seemed, "I think it's time for bed. You look like you could use a good night's sleep"

He nodded his head and confessed, "I haven't slept in almost 36 hours. I'm sorry Brooke...I really did want to finish what we started the other night"

I held up my hand, "Don't worry about it...I want you completely healed up first."

"You're amazing...you know that right?" he said, pulling me close to him.

I feel the blush on my face and I try to lower my eyes but his fingers find my chin and he holds it in place, "I'm serious Brooke"

We stare at each other for a long time before I finally look away, "I'm going to go wash up and get ready for bed. I'll be right back" I finally pulled out of his grasp and headed to my dresser to dig for a pair of shorts and a tank top.

Once I had washed my face and brushed my teeth, I stared at myself nervously in the mirror for a long time. I was about to sleep in the same bed with Steve.

Stay calm Brooke! It's not the first time you've slept in a bed with a man...it's different this time...he's special.

I took a deep breath before turning off the light and heading out of the bathroom. Steve had already taken off his pants and is sitting on the edge of the bed looking down at his phone. He looked up at me and smiled as I walked out. I could see that he had folded his pants and shirt and placed them on my dresser. The bedside lamp was already on so as I left the bathroom I switched off the lights and walked over to the bed. Steve placed his phone on the nightstand and smiled at me as I sat next to him on the bed. It was hard not to stare at him as he sat that in just his boxers.

He turned to face me more and let one hand rest on my hip while the other rose to slip behind my neck, pulling me closer so he could lay a soft kiss on my lips. I let out a shaky breath as he pulled away...it wasn't enough and I needed more. I scooted closer to him and leaned in for another kiss, this one full of need. I moaned softly when his hand rose to my shoulder to slip my tank top strap down so he could lay feather light kisses against my collar bone. His other hand found its way under my shirt and slid up my stomach, his warm fingers dancing along the skin. My own hands found his their way to his chest and I traced the muscles, sliding down his abdomen and accidently touching one of the bruises...he flinched away and let out a deep breath.

"Oh God, I'm sorry Steve" I said quickly, pulling away and standing up from the bed.

He's hurt Brooke...exercise some fucking self-control woman!

He shook his head at me and reached out to grab my hand, pulling me closer to stand in front of him. He looked up at me with a small smile, "Not your fault. I started it and it's not like I wasn't enjoying myself. Come lay down"

I nodded before making my way around the bed to crawl in on my side. Steve laid back and pulled the blanket over both of us. I lay on my side facing him, watching him stare up at the ceiling with a smile on his face.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked him.

He glanced in my direction, "You"

I scooted closer and gave him a small kiss on the cheek, "Good answer. Go to sleep Rogers" I knew if I kept staring at him, the desire to kiss him again would be too much so I rolled over and faced the opposite direction, giving him my back.

It was only a moment before I felt him move closer to me and wrap his arm around my waist to pull me into his chest.

"Goodnight Brooke" he whispered in my ear before nuzzling his face into my neck. His hand slid under the hem of my tank top but he made no move to go further up...just let his warm hand rest there comfortably.

I lay very still, feeling the rise and fall of his chest behind me...the hot air against my neck was surprisingly comforting. For a long time, I lay there thinking about the day and how nice it was to spend it with my three favorite people. I was excited for Eden...Bucky was one of a kind and I knew he would love her and always keep her safe. It had been nice hanging out with him today while Eden had cooked. Bucky had a special way about him. I am not a person who is usually comfortable sitting in silence with someone but with Bucky, I found it strangely okay. I had felt a burst of happiness when he confided in me that he was planning to propose to Eden. Steve had told me that Bucky didn't trust many people...in fact, him and Eden were about it. But after today, I felt like maybe I was becoming a part of that very exclusive group of people that Bucky Barnes trusted.

A sudden thought popped into my head and before I could even think about whether or not Steve might still be awake I said, "Steve?"

He jumped a little and I felt him pull his face away from my neck, "Hmmm?"

"You know who SpongeBob Square Pants is right?" I asked.

It was several moments before he answered, "SpongeBob who?"

I let out an exasperated sigh and pushed myself back against his chest with a laugh, "Never mind babe, go back to sleep"

He face once again moved into my neck and I felt soft lips brush the skin, causing a shiver to run through me.

"Goodnight Steve" I said softly before closing my own eyes and drifting off to sleep wrapped in his strong arms.