Chapter 3
I do not own Captain America in any way.
A/N - It seems that there's trouble brewing in paradise...
Madison and Steve didn't talk on the way back to Triskelion.
Natasha helped Madison clean up her face and inspected her hair. "You're going to need a haircut", Natasha said.
"I've been needing one anyway", Madison said as Natasha braided her hair.
Madison had no idea what had occurred on the boat and Natasha was debating whether to tell her or not.
When they arrived at Triskelion, Steve started heading for Fury's office, while Madison went to the medical bay to be inspected.
The medical team cleared her and she went to Natasha and her father's office.
Madison sat on her father's desk, while Natasha unloaded all her weapons.
"Why did you pull an arrow on Steve?" Natasha asked.
"Because given the choice between saving you or Steve, I would always choose you or my father. If this job has taught me anything is that love will come and go, but I'll always have you two", Madison told her. Madison went into the bathroom and changed into street clothes. She came out as Steve was entering the room. "Hey", Madison said.
"Hey, I…wanted to show you something", Steve said.
"Okay", Madison said.
Natasha took Madison's duffle bag from her and said, "I'll hold onto this for you".
"Thanks Tasha", Madison said and left with Steve.
Madison was confused when they arrived at the Smithsonian. "Why are we here?" she asked him.
He pulled on a baseball cap and pulled up Madison's hood. "Just come on", he told her.
They entered the building and made their way to the military section. They went down an escalator and Madison saw a banner with Steve's face on it.
"They gave you your own exhibit?" Madison whispered.
Steve watched Madison's face as they walked through the exhibit.
Walking through the exhibit made Madison see Steve through different eyes.
She learned of his childhood and Dr. Erskine and Howard Stark. She walked up to the section about Peggy Carter. Madison played with the end of her braid.
"I see a lot of her in you", Steve told her.
"How? I'm nothing like her", Madison said.
"You have a fire in you. And you're brave", he said slipping his arm around her waist.
Madison saw nothing of Peggy Carter in herself.
Peggy was curvy and busty and had fire red hair. She looked sure of herself and Madison wasn't.
Madison pulled away from Steve and made her way over to the section on the Howling Commando's.
One section caught her eye in particular.
It was about a man named Bucky Barnes.
She walked closer to the small computer screen.
It showed Bucky and Steve laughing.
"I watched him fall", Steve said, "And I couldn't do anything about it".
"Why do you come here?" Madison asked, "Why relive all this pain?"
"It's not about the pain. It's about the memories", he told her, "It reminds me why I'm like this".
To end the visit, they sat down and watched Peggy talk about Steve.
As they were watching, Steve pulled out a small compass with her picture in it.
Madison had had enough and got up. Steve sighed.
He found Madison later at the food court. He reached for her hand, but she pulled it away. "Madison…" he sighed.
"You still love her", Madison said.
It wasn't a question.
It was a statement.
They sat in silence for a few minutes.
"I'm going to go see her", Steve said.
"Maybe you should. Get some closure", Madison said, not meeting his eyes.
"If you want, you can meet me at the VA later. I…promised a friend I'd stop by", Steve said.
"Fine", Madison said.
Steve, not wanting Madison to be angry with him, leaned over and placed a kiss on her cheek.
Madison smiled and said, "I'll see you later, then".
Madison met Steve outside the VA. She slipped her hand in his and he led her inside. "I don't know if I can do this Steve", Madison said.
"Talking about it helps", Steve told her.
Madison was hesitant, because she still occasionally suffered from flashbacks and nightmares. Madison clutched onto her necklace as they walked.
They stood and watched the people talk and share stories.
When it was over, Sam approached them.
"Look who it is, the running man", Sam said.
"We caught the last few minutes. It's pretty intense", Steve said.
"Yeah, brother, we all got the same problems. Guilt, regret", Sam said.
"You lose someone?" Steve asked.
Madison's grip tightened on Steve's hand.
"My wingman, Riley. Flying a night mission. Standard PJ rescue op. Nothing we hadn't done 1000 times before. Until an RPG knocked Riley's dumb ass out of the sky. Nothing I could do. It's like I was up there just to watch", Sam explained.
"I'm sorry", Steve said.
"Anyway, who's this?" Sam asked.
"Madison Barton", Madison told him.
"She suffers from PTSD too", Steve said.
"How old are you?" Sam asked.
"19", she told him.
"There's no way. You're too young", Sam said.
"She's…been through a lot", Steve explained.
"I'm sorry", Sam said.
"No. It's fine", Madison told him.
"After what happened with Riley, I had a really hard time finding a reason for being over there, you know?" Sam said.
"But you're happy now, back in the world?" Steve asked him.
Those words reminded Madison of the first time she and Steve met.
"The number of people giving me orders is down to about zero. So, hell yeah", Sam said, "What? You thinking about getting out?"
Madison looked at Steve.
If he got out, they'd be able to be together, like a real couple.
"No", Steve said and Madison's heart broke.
She pulled her hand out of Steve's.
It moved up to play with the chain of her necklace.
"I don't know", Steve said, "To be honest, I don't know what I would do with myself if I did".
Madison felt the same way, but she still wanted what every little girl wanted. To get married, have a husband, a family.
Could she never have that as long as she was with Steve?
"Ultimate fighting?" Sam suggested.
Steve laughed.
"Just a great idea off the top of my head", Sam explained, "Seriously, you could do whatever you want to do. What makes you happy?"
Steve shook his head and said, "I don't know".
Madison's heart broke once again.
You can still submit your guesses as to what's going on with Madison. You'll all find out eventually. Not sure when I'm going to have it revealed to Madison herself. But I have a second question for you guys:
Where do you think she got it?