Catherine's eyes shot open after Steve had carried her to the bed during their Jacuzzi festivities.
She was still naked under the covers and could tell by Steve's breathing that he was still fast asleep.
Her eyes wandered in shock as she thought about the previous nights and their final rekindling. "Oh my God" she let out as her mind was now aware of what had happened.
"Oh my God" she repeated, this time louder and more aware as she sat up and pulled the covers up, covering her breasts. She raised one hand and cupped her mouth, that was hanging wide open.
Steve motioned slightly as he felt her side of the mattress move, "you okay?" he mumble, as he reached a hand out to lightly touch her thigh, his eyes still closed.
Catherine moved at his touch and felt her hip twitch, quickly moving away from him to stand up right beside the bed.
"Oh my FREAKING GOD!" Catherine said once more, this time her voice almost yelling at him. "STEVE, WHAT THE HELL" she screamed at him, the bed sheets now covering her entire body in a dress, when Steve opened his eyes to look at her. Fear and anger in her eyes, shooting right at him. "What, Cath?" he asked, this time concerned, as he was slowly trying to put the pieces together, still sleep in his demeanor.
When she didn't answer, he decided to try his luck once more "Catherine? What is it? What's got you so worked up?" he sat up straighter, never losing the sight of her, reaching one hand over with his palm open, silently asking her to come back to the bed and sit right next to him.
Catherine didn't move an inch at his reaction but rather backed up, eyes still open wide at her sudden reaction, until her back reached the wall and she slowly slid down until she was seated on the carpet in the hotel room, covered in nothing but the bed covers, knees to her chest.
Steve got up from off the bed as he motioned towards her "Hey" he said quietly on his way over to her "You're starting to scare me, Cath. What's going on?" he continued as he sat right next to her, reaching one arm over her shoulders and pulling her close.
Catherine flinched at his touch and got up in an instant. She grabbed her clothes, got dressed in a time span that even Steve was impressed by and headed for the hotel room door. Steve was quick in his rise off the ground and barely got ahold of her, grabbing her by the wrist, trying to stop her. "Cath, what the hell?!" he said a little louder than intended, trying to get mad at her at not saying a damn thing about what was going on "I can't do this right now, Steve! Let go of me!" she yelled, snapping her wrists out of his hand, not waiting for his reply. Catherine stormed out of the hotel room and slammed the door behind her, leaving Steve in the middle of the room in nothing but his boxer briefs and a confused look on his face.
Steve and Catherine faced quite a few issues over the years and not talking about feelings surely had been one of them, so Catherine not wanting to discuss whatever was going on in her head was nothing new to him. However, this time he was sure that they were working towards a better outcome. That this was the time they were finally talking after all. At least that's what Steve was planning on. He tried to recall the last night and the entire time that they had been together since boarding the plane in Honolulu and tried to think of any reason that could possibly make her so upset, but could not come up with anything. He spend the better part of two hours alone in the hotel room, not daring to leave in case Catherine came back and he sure as hell wanted to be there and finally get the explanation for her outburst.
Catherine found herself in a park close to LAX, about a mile away from the hotel, wandering around with no place to go - she just wanted to get out of the hotel room and out of that situation she had just created. If she was being honest with herself, she didn't quite understand why she was acting the way she just had. After all, this was Steve. Her Steve. This was the boy she had a crush on from the day she first saw him in Naval Intelligence. This was the Lieutenant she spend every break with on the Enterprise just to see his face, and every R&R with in a different country just to feel his body. This was the high ranked SEAL that didn't waste any opportunity to call her while on deployment and made sure she wasn't worried. And this was the man that had told her he loved her and was ready to settle down with her.
Catherine could feel her heart pick up a beat at the sheer thought of him, and instantly started missing him and the comfort of his arms.
Catherine unintentionally turned around and walked back to the direction of where she left Steve. She braced herself for what she was about to tell him but figured now would be as good of a chance that she would ever get, giving the circumstances of their somewhat new relationship.
She walked up the stairs, and opened the door to the hotel room where she found Steve standing at the window, looking out at LA's skyline, not turning at her approach.
Catherine walked over to him and softly placed a hand on his shoulder when he finally turned to face her. He looked sad and she could see disappointment in his eyes. Catherine's heart broke at the sight of him and at knowing that her leaving him in the dark had caused this.
"Steve..I…" "What's happening, Cath?" he interrupted "I've been worried sick for the past two hours. You left your phone, you leave with not so much as an explanation…. I don't…" he stopped as he saw he lip quivering and her eyes filling up with tears that have not yet left eyelid. "I'm sorry" she whispered when she pulled him in for a hug, resting her head at his chest, not willing to continue. "I didn't mean to upset you, Steve" she mumbled against his T-Shirt "I just… I needed some time to… to think" "Think about what, Cath? Please stop leaving me in the dark here, how am I supposed to make you feel better when I don't even know what's going on?" he continued sincerely.
Author's note: Don't hate me for leaving it like that, guys! I promise the new chapter is coming VERY soon, just thought a little tension for Steve as well as for you guys would be a good cliff hanger! Lol
What do you think is Catherine's secret?
Also, thank you guys for your feedback! I LOVE reading the reviews, it's literally what keeps me going Stay safe!