Steve spent the rest of the day being poked, prodded, run, talked at, talked about, and observed by the scientists and doctors at SHIELD. Some of the tests were painful, like when they took some fluid from his spinal cord with a hypodermic needle. Others were just annoying, like the treadmill runs he'd endured almost daily since waking, with a technician constantly asking him whether or not he could go any faster until he maxed out the machine. They kept bringing in new machines. Steve didn't know what all these were actually for, but he remembered Doctor Erskine doing tests that were also painful and boring, so he trusted the doctors with what they were doing. When these were over and the technicians agreed they'd had enough for the day, Steve put on his street clothes and headed out of the changing room.
"… don't care what it's in the name of. You don't test people like this." A familiar, yet out-of-place voice was saying sternly. Steve stopped out of sight behind the door to the main lab.
"Miss, with all due respect, you do not have the authority to come in here and tell me how to do my job." The lead doctor sounded patronizing, "And frankly, I don't know how you got clearance to come into this facility."
"With no respect, because you aren't due any, doctor, I have the authority to tell Captain Rogers about these tests, and more importantly, that he has the right to refuse them."
"The Captain is old enough to fend for himself, young lady—"
"Don't 'young lady' me, you old android fusspot. Tell me, did anyone ever tell you how to do your job? Because I believe that the basic rights of any patient are to know what the procedures are before they are done, and to refuse them if they choose to. I know that no one told Captain Rogers this, or anything about the tests you've been running on him, and I think you've been letting it slide." A breath, and then, "Taking advantage of the scientific opportunity. Many men before you have made the same mistake. Nuremberg Trials ring a bell?"
"I've listened to quite enough of this from you." The doctor was actually shouting. Steve stepped closer and put his hand on the door. "Gentlemen, please escort this young lady out of the building, and put a general alert out that she may never be allowed into this laboratory again."
It sounded like they were turning away from him, and like Eleanore was in real trouble, so Steve soundlessly opened the door and stepped through. Eleanore was being manhandled by two surly-looking guards, and the doctor was leering down at her triumphantly. Steve didn't now if he'd get there before they threw her out the door. There were several counters and a lot of lab equipment whirring between himself and them. None of them were facing Steve, except the woman in question, and so he got to see what followed.
"Gentlemen," Eleanore said, sounding calm and angry at the same time. It was actually a bit threatening, until Steve saw the dog from earlier baring his teeth at the guards. Then it was alarming. "I believe you missed my identification badge," she gestured to her belt. "As well as my companion, who hates it when I'm treated this way, or any way I don't like. If you don't put me down, he'll bite the crotch out of one or both of your suits before you can react. Who knows what else he'll find?" She sounded like she'd done this before.
The guards did lower their arms and step away, leaving Eleanore staring at the spluttering doctor.
"You have tasers, you foo—"
"Now, Doctor Rouldkin." Eleanore pulled something from her belt, and reached to yank the identity card from the doctor's shirt. "Do you see these two cards? See how one has Clearance Level Black, along with my picture and name, while one only has, oh…" she laughed derisively, "Level Blue?"
I don't have an access card. I should see about that. Steve's logical thoughts were startling, cutting through the blurry buzz filling his mind. He wasn't feeling anything. Not yet.
The doctor swallowed, but didn't answer. The guards nodded at Eleanore and exited the nearby door.
"I said," Eleanore got closer, and her voice actually rose. "Do. You. See. These. Cards." Steve noticed the dog back around to bump the doctor's legs.
He jumped. "I see them." He still sounded angry, and also unbelieving now.
"Then you now understand how I got into this lab. You also understand that I have the authority to order you to do anything SHIELD deems productive. Do you follow this logic?"
"I do."
"I now limit Captain Rogers' tests to once per week, with a maximum of two tests done at a time. He cannot be ordered to complete the tests. The tests must work around his schedule. He must fully understand what is being done, and I will get a copy of each signed consent form. He will not ever be in contact with you, specifically, again, and I will find an outside professional to monitor his physical exams. I will be in close contact with anyone administering tests, and I will accompany the Captain if he wishes. I will be talking to your superiors about this. Consider this a warning for replacement. You're outdated, and we need to find someone who knows how to be a doctor instead of a butcher." She stood the doctor up straight and pinned his card neatly back in place, all anger gone from her bearing, though command remained. "I trust I made myself clear?"
"You did." Doctor Rouldkin was clearly angry, and sounded like a sullen child being punished for skipping school. Steve realized he'd lost feeling in his fingers from clenching his fists too hard. Funny, he didn't feel the anger, only the physical reaction.
"I'm so glad to hear it. I'll leave you to your work." She turned to head out the door.
"Wait." The doctor looked up at her as the mounted the stairs, the dog trailing behind her.
She paused and looked down on his expectantly.
"Who will tell Captain Rogers about the… changes… to our lab time?" Rouldkin actually sounded nervous now.
"Well, he's just heard most of our lovely and informative conversation." Eleanore smiled back at Steve as though nothing were wrong in this world where doctors weren't to be trusted. He couldn't feel his face to know what his expression was in reply.
The doctor had turned, and was giving a look of genuine fear to Steve, which he registered as Not Important.
"If he wants the abridged version," Eleanore continued, "I imagine you've got documentation of your research and findings. I can wait while you give him copies of everything. If he wishes for a private consultation, I can leave him here with you."
Steve knew she was asking him. He also knew he wanted the private consultation more than he should. "The documents." He forced the words out, feeling them grate against his throat.
His voice sounded so much calmer than he felt, now. Don't show that much anger. You can actually hurt people with it.
Rouldkin leapt into action, bringing files up on a computer screen, and a nearby printer started spewing paper. Eleanore grabbed a folder and started organizing them inside it. Steve focused on walking to the stairs, and climbing them sedately. Don't look back, don't look back…
"Thank you, Doctor Rouldkin. We'll be meeting again soon." Steve heard another sort of threat in Eleanore's tone as the door shut. Steve stood in the hallway and noticed the dog had come out with him. She must be close behind.
Sure enough, the door opened to reveal a final protest. "I-I-I… I have tenure with SHIELD! I've been working here all my life." The man sounded absolutely panicked, and Steve tried not to feel too good about it.
"Then it sounds like it's time for you to consider retirement." Eleanore shut the door and came to stand in front of Steve. They were in a long hallway, connected to other labs with other scientists who did God-knew-what inside those doors.
"Captain Rogers?" Eleanore sounded cautious now. Steve breathed in and out through his nose before he looked down at her. She had pulled her long hair into a messy bun, and she smelled like some type of something — food— he couldn't identify. He noticed she wasn't wearing makeup, and she hadn't been earlier. He focused on these things because his thoughts were racing too far ahead for him to make sense of, and he was concerned about his reaction once he caught and tamed them.
"…Captain?" She was worried, now. The dog was rubbing against his leg, getting between the two of them. Her eyes centered on his fists, his shoulders, and then back to his own eyes, whose expression he still didn't know. "Would you like some pasta?" She asked in a calm voice. "I'll cook."
Steve considered the off-hand query, nodded, and followed her out the doors to the main lobby, where they took the elevator to the parking garage. It was mostly empty, only a few vehicles left on their level, including Eleanore's car and Steve's bike.
"Follow me to my place? It isn't far." Again, Steve nodded and mounted his bike, moving automatically to start the engine and change gears.
Eleanore backed out of her parking spot, and took the lead. Steve had no trouble keeping up, as he followed her across the intersections into new parts of town. New to him, anyway. And he wasn't really seeing them at the moment through the haze of shock and rage, so they'd be new to him still when he came back. His soldier's instincts still kept a general map of where he was in relation to the Triskelion, the barracks, and the walking paths he'd been on. Steve gripped his bike handles a bit harder, realizing that he'd probably know much more of D.C. by now, if not for the incessant testing, and why hadn't he questioned it?
He came back to himself when Eleanore's car started blinking on the left side, which he presumed meant she was turning. She did, and he turned too, into a small parking area, closed off from the general public by a tall hedge on three sides and an apartment building on one. Eleanore parked, and Steve took a spot labeled Guest: Un-permitted Overnight Parking Will Be Towed At Owner's Expense Monday-Friday.
He shut off his bike, and just sat there for a second before turning back to Eleanore, who was waiting for him, silhouetted against the light of the building's door.