My heart raced as I was put in the back of a truck that belonged to animal welfare.
"I hope his owner comes for him. He's too pretty to be put down." The round man said to the woman.
"He's so scared. I think his person will be searching for him." She reassured him.
They shut the door and began to drive. I tried to hold in my whimper but failed at the thought of the fight that I had run away from. Steve may not have made it, then it'd be a race between shield and hydra to get to me. Hydra would punish me severely for running away. Shield would think it was all a trap and lock me back up. Either way, if Steve didn't find me first I was screwed. When the truck came to a stop and the engine turned off I cringed. I heard them walk around and the lock click. The door opened and bright sunlight blinded me. I turned my face away as they grabbed the leash still attached to my collar. They gave a light tug and I followed.
The shelter smelled like piss and wet dogs. The two people led me to a holding cage and placed me led me in. The round man crouched down while the woman left. The man petted me giving me a sympathetic look. The woman came back with food and water, laying both bowls down in the corner.
"There we go. Hopefully, your owner comes soon." The woman said kindly.
She didn't look hopeful. They'd probably seen this hundreds of times. A dog comes in well fed and loved then the owners never care enough to come and get them. I laid in one corner curling around myself. I wanted steve to be there. I didn't want Hagstrom and I didn't want Fury. I whimpered quietly.
what felt like days later, the round man came back. He had a grin on his face and was unlocking my door in no time. I couldn't bring myself to be happy though, anyone could be in the lobby waiting for me. He took my leash and led me away from the safety of the cell and to whatever fate awaited me. The walk was over all too quickly before he was pushing open the door. My heart soared when Steve's scent surrounded me. I ran to him yanking the leash out of the man's hands. I jumped up and hit his chest with my nose. I couldn't contain my excitement.
"Jayson! I'm glad you're okay." He said petting me.
"he's such a beautiful and sweet dog. I'm glad you came for him. He was depressed when we picked him up." the woman said.
"yeah, we've never been separated like this," Steve said.
"Well sir, you have a wonderful evening." The man said.
Steve led me out and into a van he put me into the passenger seat and shut the door. Once driving I phased back and put my seatbelt on taking off the collar.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"I'm fine. What about you?" He questioned.
"I'm okay." I replied."We're in trouble, huh?"
"Big trouble. Fury is raging, but don't worry, I won't let him throw you in a cell." Steve smiled.
"Thank you," I said.
"For what?" He asked puzzled.
"Not just handing me over to hydra and sparing yourself the fight, for coming to get me, for having my back against Fury," I said feeling a blush creeping onto my cheeks. I'd never said thanks for actually being grateful, only because I knew I was supposed to.
"I would have never handed you over to hydra, or left you at the pound, and I'll always have your back if you're in the right." He swore.
I smiled lightly feeling warm and... Happy? I couldn't really place it but that's the only thing I could think of. When we got back Fury was waiting for us, Steve kept his body in front of mine to shield me. I couldn't fathom his protective behavior but it was unfolding before my eyes.
"Captain Rodgers, stand down we're taking him back to shield and locking him away." Fury said.
"No can do Director. Jayson is innocent." Steve said going full Captain mode.
"he set up a trap and tried to escape, Clint was shot," Fury Shouted.
"No, he didn't. He alerted me to the Hydra agents, I dropped the leash and told him to run. He was following my instructions." Steve defended.
"I don't believe that. I think you've found a friend and don't want to lose him. He can't replace Bucky!" Fury snapped.
Steve faltered," He can't replace Bucky and he's not trying to. Friend or not, he's innocent. I won't let you punish him for something he didn't do."
"Tell me, Mr. Moore, how'd you contact Hydra?" Fury asked.
"I didn't," I said furrowing my brow.
"you've already decided that he's guilty," Steve said accusingly.
"If you're so dead set on him being innocent that's fine. Agent Romanov will be here first thing in the morning. Obviously, you can't handle watching him alone." Fury said walking passed us. " And be warned, when he slips up again, and he will, I'll send in a squad and make sure he never sees the light of day again."
Fury left with a slam of the door and Steve turned toward me. he gave me a sympathetic look. he looked like he wanted to touch me and I wanted to be touched but I wouldn't have said so. if he'd decided that physical contact was the best form of comfort at that moment I would have taken it.
"Jayson, no matter what I won't let you become a prisoner again." He said seriously.
I gave him a sad smile," Captain, I've always been a prisoner, always will be. Despite me being able to move I still am."
He sighed deeply and nodded. I walked passed him and up to my room. I grabbed clothes that I could sleep in and went to the bathroom. I shut the door and started the shower. I didn't want to sulk but I couldn't stop myself. I didn't know the Russian well but I knew from her profile that she did whatever shield wanted. If they wanted her to find anything that could be distorted to make me look guilty, she would, without fail. I washed away the day's events and got dressed after drying off. I walked back to my room and crawled into bed.
I tossed and turned all night waking up every thirty minutes of so from the nightmares. In the morning I got up and got dressed. I went straight to the library even though Maria wouldn't send any more work for another few days I grabbed some random book and began reading. I was just a few chapters in when Natasha entered the room.
"Hey, how do you feel?" She questioned when I looked at her.
"Fine," I said guarded.
"Are you and Steve getting along again?" She asked.
"We get along fine," I said.
"Then having you fight Agent Sparkles worked? Good, I figured it'd help." She gave me a soft smile.
"That was your idea?" I questioned.
"Yeah, Steve was pretty upset about hitting you. He just wanted to make it right." She said sitting down.
"Why are you telling me this?" I couldn't help but be suspicious.
"I want you to know that I'm not your enemy. I was at central park. I know you're innocent." She said.
"Forgive me if I'm not quick to trust," I said.
"I didn't think you would be and I don't blame you." She said. " Steve did tell me you're a good cook though, so you'll cook for me at least once while I'm here right?"
"Dinner will be ready at six," I said reopening my book.
"Awesome." She said leaving.
I continued reading until I was finished. It only took me a couple of hours and sitting there any longer would drive me crazy. I got up to look for Steve. he was sitting in the living room, blank sketch pad on his lap, fingers twitching.
"What are you doing?" I asked, sitting next to him.
"I want to draw but I can't think of anything." He said sounding frustrated.
"I guess this one and only time you can draw me." I sighed sounding exasperated.
"Can if be in your other form, outside?" He asked.
"Sure." I agreed.
Natasha, Steve, and I walked to a spot in the middle of the woods. Natasha sat by a tree and I phased laying in the grass. Steve sat about twenty yards away and began drawing. I let the breeze calm me while Steve drew me carefully. I sat in the same position for a couple of hours until Steve paused and looked passed me. I slowly turned my head to see a pack of wolves staring at us curiously. I slowly stood and walked over to them. The two up front were the Alpha male and female. They approached me to keep a possible threat away from the pack. `I allowed them to finish crossing the distance until they were close enough to start sniffing at me. I help my head still and let them do their thing until they gave me the okay to do the same. These two were very unusual wolves, to come so close to two humans regardless of hour curious they were. The female butted her head against my side and I pushed back. The male nipped at my shoulder in warning when the sudden movement startled him. I snapped my teeth together to let him know that I wouldn't be intimidated.
Steve and Natasha continued to watch on in wonder. Both not quite sure what was going on. One of the other wolves approached, this one young, not even a year old. He sniffed at me while rubbing his body against mine to show that he meant no harm. The alpha rubbed his head against my neck before the tree of them went back to the others. The alpha looked at me with wise eyes before throwing his head back to release a howl. It was the saddest thing I'd ever heard as the others joined in. I couldn't figure out where all of the pain and sorrow was coming from but when the sound died down they gave me knowing looks before turning and leaving. I watched the woods previously occupied by them until Steve cleared his throat.
"I turned and looked at him. He stood and showed me the finished picture. I phased back walking toward him and Natasha.
"So you can communicate with wolves too?" Natasha said.
"Sort of. I communicate with them like they do their own. Body language and pitches of their howls." I explained.
"Does that mean you're related to wolves?" Steve asked.
"Sort of. It's a long story. Maybe you'll hear it sometime." I said giving him a smile.
"Sounds good." Steve agreed.
"So about that dinner you promised," Natasha said suggestively.
Steve and I both smiled and we headed back to the house. Once there I made dinner and we all sat at the table to eat. Natasha looked like she was in heaven, paying me compliments that I honestly had no idea how to respond to. Instead, Steve settled for talking about the good food and the cook like I wasn't there. I was thankful for not really having the attention on my physical presence. Once dinner was done Natasha said that she and Steve would do the dishes, explaining that the person that cooked should not be doing the dishes when they cooked for others. I didn't argue but ran upstairs to go to my bed. When I was dressed in shorts I laid on my stomach and went to sleep.