CHAPTER 3...

Darcy stared out at the ocean before them. The once crisp blue sea was now nearly black. The truth about what had actually torn them apart was ebbing it's way into their beautiful paradise. Darkening it, making it so even as he stood beside her the entire place was less bright... less comforting... just less.

"How are we here?" she questioned.

"I'm not sure," he answered, "I guess you just really needed to see me"

"I guess," she told him, though she was sure that wasn't the case, at least not in the literal sense of seeing him, considering she couldn't bring herself to even glance his way. She just felt too guilty. Guilty that she hadn't even known what he had suffered through in his last days."I wish I had known."

"What would that have changed?" He asked his tone genuinely curious.

"I don't know," she admitted, "but if nothing else maybe you could have actually gotten justice for what was done to you."

"What kind of justice are we talking about here Darcy, the kind where you go to Tony Stark to have him help you get rid of them." He was upset with her, she didn't need to look at him to know that.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you it's rude to eavesdrop on private conversations?"

"Didn't anyone ever tell you it's rude to have a conversation with someone and not look at them?

Rolling her eyes she turned to him but before she could speak her hand flew to her mouth. His handsome face was battered and bruised.

"What's wrong?" He moved toward her and reached his bloody hand toward her face, but before he could touch her she stepped back. "Darcy?" Her name came out in a strangled gag as blood began to spill from between his lips.

He fell to his knees before her and bent forward bracing himself on his hands as he continued coughing up dark blood and saturating the white sand of the beach. She cried out his name as she fell to the ground beside him and placed her hand to his shoulder which only led to another violet round of coughing.

Finally he collapsed completely and the air around her became silent. She shook him over and over crying out his name...

She jerked awake and stared up into Jane's worried eyes. Darcy cleared her throat and sat up straight in her seat, "Are we there?"

"Seriously? You were crying in your sleep and you're shaking Darcy."

"It was just a bad dream," She brought her hand to a cheek and found that Jane was right it was damp with partially dried tears.

"You know the past couple of days would be a lot for anyone to handle, no one could blame you for having some trouble dealing with it all." She reached out and placed a hand to Darcy's knee, "just know I'm here if you decide that you wanna talk."

Darcy knew Jane was just trying to be there for her, so she ignored her first instinct to snap at her friend, to tell her that she was fine and didn't need to be babied and instead just gave her what she hoped would come across as a grateful smile and a nod. She turned from Jane and stared out the plane window silently hoping she wouldn't fall back asleep and back into that awful dream.

#*#*#*#*#*#*#

Steve stared blankly at his phone for a long moment after ending his call then placed it on the wooden bench beside him. He stood and slowly headed back to the punching bag in the middle of the room.

"You okay?" Bucky asked as he moved behind the bag and held onto it tightly and Steve began to punch it harder then before.

"I'm fine."

"Somehow I doubt that," Bucky lifted his hands from the bag stepped to the side. It was on Steve's very next swing that it went flying across the room, "oh yeah, you're fine." He rolled his eyes and folded his arm in front of him, "you wanna tell me what's going on?"

"That was Stark," he answered as he moved on to the double end bag and started pummeling that one as well.

"And?"

His movements didn't hesitate for a moment. "He says he needs my help. Well actually, he was calling for someone else who needs help."

"Who?"

"Not sure he's sending me a file he wants me to look at, says he needs to know if I'm in or not by tonight."

As if on cue his phone chimed and alerted him to a new message, he walked back over to the bench and snatched it up. With a quick swipe he opened the file he stared blankly at the picture of the young woman in front of him. He jerked his head suddenly at Bucky's low whistle, "Who's the dame?"

"Not sure, she looks familiar, but I just can't place..." He continued swiping through pages on the file as he skimmed over the details, "Damn."

"What?"

"I know her... Well sort of. Her name is Darcy Lewis. She used to work for Jane Foster."

Bucky stared st him blankly.

"Jane foster is... She's with Thor."

Bucky snatched his phone and moved his finger over the screen repeatedly until he was back at Darcy's picture, "How is it possible that you met this girl and didn't remember her right away."

"That's the thing, I never actually met her. By the time I met Jane she didn't work for her anymore. She'd moved to DC and was working for some politician."

"Well, I say go lend a hand. She's a beaut, and hey maybe she'll be grateful to the good old Cap for coming to her rescue." He wiggled his eyes suggestively and as nice as it was for Steve to see pieces of his old friend's playfulness shining through now wasn't the time.

Steve snatched his phone back and glared at him. "I'm not sure about all the details. All these records Tony sent me are superficial. I can tell it has that it has something to do with her..." He swiped again, "the death of someone named Andrew Miller and how Hydra may be connected..." He blacked out his screen and clutched it tightly.

Bucky's grin instantly fell away, "shit."

"Exactly."

"Well when do we leave?"

Steve looked at him pointedly, "you know you can't come." he said plainly.

"I do," he admitted with a solemn nod, "I do wish I could help though... If for no other reason then..." he pointed at Steve's phone and wiggled his brows again, "well did you see the lips on that girl?"

Steve rolled his eyes and shoved his friend away, "cut it out." He turned toward the door then back again, "you'll be okay with me gone, right?"

"I'm good, man."

Steve nodded once then moved back toward the door.

"Hey Punk?"

"Yeah?"

"If you end up needing me... I'll be there."

"Thanks Buck."

#*#*#*#*#*#*#

Since heading back to the states was impossible and staying under the radar was mandatory for Captain America Steve found himself forced to crisscross across the globe before heading to his final destination. When he had finally landed and stepped off the plane he was glad to finally be there.

Wakanda.

It was decided by the Black Panther that since the team had been divided by the accords his country would be neutral territory, He'd even gone so far as to allow a much smaller version of the Avenger's tower to be built here.

"Captain?"

He turned and smiled when he saw his welcoming committee, "Your Majesty," he greeted extending his hand.

"T'Challa," he corrected shaking Steve's hand.

"T'Challa." Steve reached down and picked up his bag, "has anyone else arrived yet?"

"Yes, The Quinjet jet arrived a few hours ago. I had Tony and the young ladies taken to the compound."

"Ladies?"

"Yes, a Miss Lewis and Dr. Foster."

"Right, I wasn't really expecting them to be here, but I guess since Miss Lewis is the one in need of our help it makes sense."

"Well based on what I've seen there was no way Miss Lewis was staying away while Mr. Stark and the others are handling this, and Dr. Foster seems hesitant to leave her side." He glanced around them and then back at the Captains one small bag, "Is that all you've brought?"

"I travel light."

"I can see that," he agreed with a quick nod, "come, the transport is this way."

#*#*#*#*#*#*#

"Darcy, maybe it would be best if you left for this part?" Tony suggested as he prepared to start the video.

"I'm not going anywhere."

"Darce..."

"Jane stop! This is important."

"Tony's going to need to show the Captain the whole video."

"I know."

"Then why would you..."

"Jane!" she took a deep breath and calmed herself, "Look I appreciate that you're worried about me but this is something I need to be involved in. I have to help," She looked into her friend's eyes begging for her to understand. "What if it was Thor?"

"Okay, you're right. I just want to make sure you're able to handle what you're about to see."

"I've seen in twice already Jane!" She snapped as she finally lost control, "I'll be fine!"

"Excuse me..." A hesitant voice called from the doorway.

Both women stopped staring each other down and turned his way.

"I'm Steve... Rogers. Tony sent for me?"

"Is that a question stars and stripes?" Tony asked, his voice showing less play fullness then bitterness as he appeared behind him.

"Tony. It's good to see you."

"Welcome," he offered ignoring Steve's attempts at pleasantries. "If you come on in we can get started."

Steve walked into the room and found his way into the far end seat. "So why did you send for me Tony because, and correct me if I'm wrong, but you hardly seem thrilled to have me here."

"How right you are, and if it were up to me I wouldn't have bothered you, but the lady," he motioned to Darcy, "thinks that the two of us working together is ideal for handling this situation."

"And what exactly is the situation?"

"This is about the murder of one Andrew Miller..."

#*#*#*#*#*#*#

Steve made his way down the long corridor to his room. He knew now that even if he hadn't already decided to help Miss Lewis then thirty seconds of that video would have made the decision for him. It wasn't just the video though, it was also the woman herself. It was impossible to not want to help her when he watched heartbreaking sadness in Darcy's eyes as she watched the man she loved being tortured on screen.

Tony had stopped the video before the end but Steve had no doubt how it ended. For some reason some sick bastard had decided to send some kind of snuff video to the fiancee of the man in the film. The question was why and just as importantly why now?

When he dropped his bag in his room he heard a small sniffle coming from the room on the other side of the wall and while a huge part of him thought it might be best to leave her be he felt an inexplicable draw to her and to giving her some kind of comfort.

He exited his room and moved to her door, he knocked gently so he didn't startle her. It took her a moment to answer and when she did he knew that he had heard what he thought he had. Her eyes were red and puffy and there were light smudges of black all around her eyes.

"Captain Rogers?" Her hands went to her cheeks and she quickly wiped any stray tears away, " I am so sorry, I didn't disturb you did I?"

"No... You didn't... I mean I heard you but it didn't bother... Not that I liked hearing you..." he couldn't believe he was reacting to her this way. He steeled himself and started again. "No you didn't disturb me, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I know that had to have been difficult to watch."

"You'd think after having to sit through it twice already I'd be able to handle it better, but honestly it gets worse each time."

"Is there anything I can do for you?"

"You're already doing it." She pulled her arms around herself and gave him a forced and hollow smile, "I can't thank you enough for being here. I know it wasn't exactly ideal for you and Tony to work together again, but you are the most knowledgeable about the way this organization works."

"I hope I'm as much of I help as you think I'll be."

"I have no doubt you will be Captain."

"Steve."

"What?"

"You can call me Steve... Darcy."

She smiled at him and given the way she strained against it he got the feeling that it might be the closest to a real one she'd given someone in awhile. He hated that what he was about to say might take that smile away from her but he needed her to know, "I know what it feels like you know... The loss and anger... the desire to get revenge for everything that's been taken from you." Her smile did fade, but she didn't look sad again she actually looked curious about what he would say next. "Just know that if you ever need someone who understands, someone you can just sit and talk to. I'm here, literally," he told her pointing to the door beside hers.

The curious look on her face turned slightly confused before she gave him a weak smile and a nod, "thank you Steve."

#*#*#*#*#*#*#

Somehow she was with him again. The second time in just as many days and there wasn't a drop of alcohol in her system to lubricate her dreams.

They were on their beach again and the water was back to it's clear blue, the sand back in it's pristine condition. With everything back to the way it should be and the two of them together again she could almost forget the terror of her last time with him. They were laid out side by side on huge beach blanket their hand clasped together.

"He seems nice," Andrew told her suddenly as he drew the tips of his fingers up and down the length of hers.

"Who?" She asked turning her face toward his.

He locked eyes with her in a silent dare to continue pretending she didn't know. "It's okay you know. You're allowed to start moving on."

"What the hell are you talking about?" She demanded as she shot up into a sitting position and stared down at him horrified.

"Don't get mad."

"Oh, if you're trying to imply what I think you are then you can bet your ass I'm mad."

"I'm not implying anything. I'm just saying that if you want to get to know someone else you can. It's not wrong to start living your life again."

"I don't... Okay, I can't even begin to understand what your trying to do right now., but believe me I have absolutely no interest in him I mean I've met the guy once, so please just stop already."

"Yet you knew exactly who and what I was talking about," he pointed out his eyes slightly sad.

Darcy suddenly jerked awake and stared around the empty room. "What the hell just happened?" She muttered Where was he? Why did he say all those things? Why would he think that after one meeting she would even want... Growling in frustration she threw herself back against her pillows and willed herself to go back to sleep.