Chapter Two

The following Wednesday saw Steve arriving for his first appointment with Dr Banks. He'd spent the days since making this appointment working out what he could divulge without the man becoming suspicious if he were to accidentally mention outdated tactics or battles fought in the wrong place. Steve knew that the doctor's first thought wouldn't be that he had lived through the Second World War, but rather that he had something seriously wrong with him. Walking into the reception of the small office, he noticed the room was empty. It made sense, he supposed, Dr Banks was the only therapist that worked here and Steve was the next client, there was no need for anyone else to be there, save the receptionist, who was curiously missing. He decided to sit down until the person running the desk appeared, choosing the chair right next to the front desk so he was visible to anyone coming through the door. The nerves began getting to him as he contemplated the enormity of what he was about to do. He could possibly be about to start getting his life back on track, all he had to do was keep an open mind and listen to what the man had to say; a hard feat for the Captain.

He was so stuck in his thoughts that he almost missed the short woman walking through the door, struggling with a large pile of folders. Having been brought up to act gentlemanly towards women, Steve jumped up out of his seat and rushed over to help her, coughing before speaking so that he wouldn't startle her.

"Excuse me ma'am, would you like a hand with that?" At his polite question deep blue eyes flicked up to meet his gaze and a warm smile stretched across her face.

"I should be okay sir, but thanks for the offer. Sorry about making you wait, you haven't been waiting here too long, have you?" Her accent suggested she'd grown up in New York but her tone was soft and raspy, making her sound like one of those jazz singers Steve had grown up listening to. The memory made him smile.

"Not at all, I pretty much just got here. Am I meant to sign in with you miss?" Looking at the woman Steve was struck by just how short she was; he'd guess she hit 5'2" at a push, making her just over an entire foot smaller than him.

"Yeah, I'm the only office worker here, a favour for my uncle. He wanted someone he could trust running his schedule and he pays well. Let me just get the desk and I'll sign you in Mr…" She trailed off, giving Steve an inquisitive look as she pulled her long brown hair into a tight bun.

"Rogers, Steve Rogers, ma'am." Steve became rather awkward as he remembered why he was actually here. It wasn't about him making friends with the pretty yet tiny woman in front of him; he was here to move forward with his life.

"Well Mr Rogers, you've still got ten minutes before your session which should give us enough time to set up a file for you. I'll need your contact details should something crop up that'd cause a future session to be cancelled, is that okay?" She looked up at Steve with a look of such innocence, she looked almost childlike.

Answering in the affirmative, Steve proceeded to tentatively give the young woman his contact information, pausing occasionally to make sure he'd recalled everything correctly before giving her his most encouraging smile. He'd been pleased when she had picked up her pen to note down his information. He was unsure if he could explain away his confusion if she'd used some newly thought up technology to input his details and was pleased she was archaic in her methods.

"Okay, I think I've got everything I need here, why don't you go take a seat? The doctor should just be finishing up." She gestured to the small seating area Steve had previously been sat in before looking back down at the manila folder to pen his name across the top.

Now without a distraction, Steve began to feel his nerves set in again. Sitting down, it was almost impossible for him to stop his foot from tapping and his palms from sweating. His teeth worried at his bottom lip as he went through once again the list of topics he had to stop himself from mentioning. A couple of minutes later and a young girl was escorted out of a room by an older man with white hair and thick rimmed glasses. Steve guessed that this had to be Doctor Banks. Once the teenager had left the reception, the doctor turned to his niece and asked for his next patient's folder. She wordlessly gave it to him and he thanked her, calling her Grace as he did so. Ah, Steve thought, she that was her name.

Concentrating back on the older man he'd soon be spending an hour with, Steve noticed him read his name on the top of the file and then glance directly at him before gesturing for him to enter the room. Steve had no more time to worry or prepare. It was time to try to start again.