HERE WE GO! lol I am diving into the WS so be ready! I had originally wanted this chapter to go longer but it's late and I'm impatient so I'm updating what I have lol Just fair warning, I am stretching the timeline a little bit to incorporate some of my own story plot. Don't worry! It won't interfere with the plot of the movie, it just adds a little bit of character development for Steve and Charlie :) If anything changes, I'll let you guys know in the next update! Please enjoy and let me know what you think! I introduce to you...Sam Wilson! :D

Steve pulled his laces tighter and tied a sound knot. He flexed his feet, stretched his arms, and took a deep breath. He started running. Steve shut out the conflicting emotions and focused on the basics. Breathe in and out. One foot in front of the other. He could feel the muscles in his legs and arms and he wanted to go faster. And he could. Steve pushed his legs to go faster and they responded positively. He was still amazed at what he could, even after all these years. The serum had made his dreams come true. As a kid, Steve had dreamt and wished that he could run with the other kids, to wrestle and play, to be like them. Now he could. But, it wasn't the same. Now, people didn't even try to keep up with him, there was no competition, nothing to inspire him to be better. He had a super soldier body, why would he want more. But something was missing and Steve knew it. He wasn't the soldier anymore, ready to obey any order. He was something else, something new that he hadn't expected. Steve wanted to be better, for the world to be better. It only seemed to be getting worse. Steve had a sinking feeling that S.H.I.E.L.D. was falling behind, losing the vision they stood for.

Steve pushed harder, pushing the thoughts away and refocusing on his task. Running. What are you running from? Charlie's voice whispered. When had she gotten into his head? Steve shook away the thought and focused on his feet. The pounding of his feet against cement felt good, made him feel like he was working towards something. There was a destination at the end of his feet. He liked that. Steve lifted his head and noticed that the first rays of dawn were peeking from the clouds. He had gotten up earlier than usual, unable to sleep because of the thoughts that plagued him. The STRIKE team still didn't feel right. Natasha always had a different agenda. Fury never told him the truth. Everything felt wrong and Steve was scrambling to find the right somewhere. He had eaten a protein bar for breakfast, Charlie would be horrified, and headed out the door to run. Usually he was alone but this time, he saw a figure in the distance. As he approached him, Steve could tell he was a soldier or had been. His posture was straight, his focus in front of him.

"On your left," Steve said as he passed him. The man's focus was momentarily diverted to Steve and he nodded in acknowledgement. Steve kept running. Whether he was running towards something or away, he couldn't tell. He didn't care at the moment either. He was enjoying the burning feeling in his legs, the ache in his throat as he gulped in air. Sure, he was sprinting to most people but this was a jog. A nice, blood pumping run. Before he knew it, Steve was approaching the man again.

"On your left," Steve repeated.

"Uh-huh on my left. Got it," the man replied. Steve smirked at the dismissive reply. He shouldn't be happy that he was lapping this guy again but he kind of was. It wasn't too often that someone responded to him and didn't look at him in annoyance. Some people thought he showed off a lot but honestly, the only way he could even get a work out by running was to sprint. And the small boy from Brooklyn who had never outrun anyone in his life was jumping for joy. That was another reason why Steve rubbed it in the third time he approached the man.

"Don't say it. Don't you say it-"

"On your left."

"Come on!" the man yelled, picking up his speed. He barely shortened the distance between him and Steve. He groaned and Steve could hear him slow down. He couldn't help the satisfied grin that spread across his face. Yes, maybe it wasn't fair because he was running against a normal human being but it still felt good. Steve was competitive, whether he admitted it or not. He finished his lap and then circled back to check up on the guy. Steve found the man leaning against a tree, breathing heavily.

"Need a medic?" Steve asked. The man laughed, looking up at Steve.

"I need a new set of lungs," the man panted, "Dud, you just ran like thirteen miles in thirty minutes." Really? Steve thought. I usually get in fifteen…

"I guess I got a late start," Steve said out loud. He had meant to say it to himself but his mind had other plans. Or he was still rubbing it in.

"Oh really? You should be ashamed of yourself. You should take another lap," the man responded sarcastically. He looked away for a moment, still trying to catch his breath. He looked back at Steve with eyebrows raised.

"Did you just take it? I assume you just took it." Steve smiled, glad that the man was pushing back. Not many people bantered with Steve anymore. They saw him as the Captain, not a person.

"What unit are you with?" Steve asked.

"Fifty-eighth, Para-rescue. But now I'm working down at the VA," the man reached his hand up, "Sam Wilson." Steve grabbed his hand and helped him up.

"Steve Rogers."

"I kind of put that together," Sam straightened from his crouch, "Must have freaked you out coming home after the whole defrosting thing." And there was the million dollar question, Steve thought. Almost everybody wanted to know the answer although Sam was blunt like Peggy's grandkids had been. Steve appreciated that but wasn't in the mood to answer the question.

"It takes some getting used to. It was good to meet you Sam," Steve answered vaguely. He turned away, ready to go home.

"It's your bed, right?"

"What's that?" Steve asked, surprised by the question.

"Your bed, it's too soft," Sam continued, "When I was over there, I slept on the ground and used rocks for pillows, like a caveman. Now I'm home, lying in my bed, and it's like…" Steve could hear Charlie talking to him about this, the first of their morning talks.

"Lying on a marshmallow. I feel like I'm gonna sink right into the floor," Steve finished Sam's sentence. Sam smiled, nodding his head.

"How long?"

"Two tours. You must miss the good old day, huh?" The second million dollar question, Steve thought. But this time, he wasn't annoyed. He liked Sam's demeanor. It wasn't pressing or nosy, just good natured curiosity and conversation.

"Well, things aren't so bad. Food's a lot better, we used to boil everything. No polio is good. Internet, so helpful. I've been reading that a lot trying to catch up," Steve said. In fact, Charlie had helped him a lot with directing him to which sites to look at to catch up. Sam smiled and looked up thinking.

"Marvin Gaye, 1972, "Trouble Man" soundtrack. Everything you've missed jammed into one album," Sam suggested. Steve nodded his head and pulled out the journal Charlie had given to him.

"I'll put it on the list." Steve scratched the name down under Rocky and Rocky II. His phone beeped from his pocket and he pulled it out. Fury had another mission for him. There went his idea of a peaceful shower.

"Alright Sam, duty calls," Steve stuck out his hand which Sam shook.

"Thanks for the run…if that's what you wanna call running."

"Oh that's how it is?"

"Oh, that's how it is," Steve chuckled, glad that at least someone received his competitiveness well. Sam laughed, completely at ease with the jibe.

"Okay. Any time you wanna stop by the VA, make me look awesome in front of the girl at the front desk, just let me know," Sam called to him.

"I'll keep it in mind," Steve grinned.

"Okay." The roar of an engine made Steve turn and Sam's eyebrows rise. Natasha pulled up to the curb in a sleek black car. She rolled down her window, wearing an amused expression.

"Hey, fellas. Either one of you know where the Smithsonian is? I'm here to pick up a fossil," Natasha smirked from the car.

"That's hilarious," Steve replied sarcastically, not in the mood for Natasha's remarks. He climbed into the car and shut the door, noticing Sam's appreciative glance.

"How you doing?" Sam asked.

"Hey," Natasha replied. Steve looked between Natasha and Sam and couldn't help himself.

"You can't run everywhere," Steve smirked.

"No, you can't," Sam smiled as Natasha gunned the engine. They sped away and Steve held on to the name. Sam Wilson. He might just visit him at the VA, make good on that suggestion of impressing the girl at the front desk.