Steve

The alarm goes off, but I'm already awake, staring at the ceiling. The big day finally arrives. Today I will know if a year of research, testing and sleepless nights were worth it. It's not every day that you are capable to create a drug that is able to help women with fertility problems, which forms a kind of barrier that protects the fetus, helping it develop and avoiding in almost 100% spontaneous abortions, common in the first quarter.

During all this time, tests were carried out on chimpanzees with constant abortion histories, obtaining a positive result in the efficiency of the drug. Now, I just need to know if the same will happen to humans. And that is what I intend to achieve today; approval of the Board of Medicine.

So for my day to start well, I get out of bed on the right foot. I go to the bathroom, pouring water on my face. I change my pajamas into my jogging clothes - a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt - I put on my sneakers, get my glasses on the bedside table – I'm totally blind without them - and I leave for my daily morning run.

I return exactly an hour later, sweaty, but well disposed. I always feel more refreshed after a race and I'm going to need a lot of energy today. I take a relaxing bath, choose my best suit, and as I put on my tie, I stare into the mirror.

"Today is your big day, Rogers.", I say to myself, with a closed smile.

In the kitchen, I make a quick breakfast; some slices of cake, an apple and juice. When I'm almost finishing it, I hear my cell phone vibrate on the counter. Looking at the display, I see the message icon. I click twice and see it's from Tony.

"Good morning, Rogers, ready for today?"

I type a "good morning", followed by a thumb up.

Seconds later, another message arrives.

"All right. See you there?"

I type "I'll see you there" and put the cell phone back on the counter.

I look at my watch. It's marked 07h15. I put the dirty dishes in the sink, washing them. I don't like mess. I run to the bathroom and brush my teeth.

I go into the living room and pick up the briefcases that I have to take. After checking one by one, I pick up my briefcase, wallet, cell phone and jacket - unfortunately, I didn't own a car. I need to go to the college before going to the hearing. I open the door and leave. Ah! But with the right foot.

Tony

"I'll see you there."

I read Steve's message while I'm getting to my clinic. I park the car and go up the stairs to the second floor. The reception is full. I give everyone a quick "good morning" and head to the reception desk.

"Good morning, Helen."

Helen is organizing some papers. "Good morning doctor Stark."

I look again at the front desk. "We're full today, huh?"

"Totally. But don't worry. It won't disturb your schedule with the audience. And by the way, the first patient is already in the office."

"Thank you."

I take my patient list and go into the hallway. Bruce was coming towards me. We split the clinic.

"Good morning, Tony!"

"Good morning, Banner.", we shake hands.

"Ready for today?"

"The audience? Piece of cake.", I make a gesture with my hand.

"Good luck, then.", he says, moving away.

"Thanks."

I reach the office and open the door, finding a woman sitting on the stretcher with a huge baby bump.

"Hello...", I greet with a smile.

"Good morning, doc. I'm ready to explode."

"Not here, please.", I say joyfully, closing the door.

Steve

As soon as I arrive at the laboratory where I teach, I am greeted with a warm "good morning" from my students. I open a smile and greet them back.

"Are you very excited today, huh? That's nice."

"Today is a special day.", one of my students says. "You're going to rock the Council. Isn't it, guys?"

The others soon follow, with positive phrases, whistles and clapping.

"Thank you all for the support. But now, let's start our class?"

They sit with their notebooks in their hands, while I change my jacket over my lab coat.

...

Two hours later, the class is finished. All my students left the lab. It was one hour before the hearing. I change my lab coat over my jacket, pick up my briefcases and leave the lab, going to a taxi stand.

Tony

Time passes by so quickly... It's time to go to the audience. I finish arranging my briefcase and leave the room, going to the reception, where I find Bruce and Helen talking.

"It's time."

"It's going to be all right, Tony.

"My fingers are crossed.", Helen shows me her crossed fingers.

"Thank you, guys. Today is the beginning of a new era.", I say while leaving the reception, hearing a "good luck" from them.

I take the stairs to the parking lot. I turn on my car and leave.

...

Steve

I'm sitting at the reception of the building where it's going to be made the audience for the last thirty minutes and no Tony. Despite being intelligent and dedicated, it was terrible to meet schedules. I just hope he's on his way.

I rub my hands to ease my nervousness when I hear someone call my name. I look in the direction of the voice, getting up next.

"Nick!", I reach my hand out for him, who squeezes it. "I'm glad you could come."

"No problem.", he looks around. "Where's Stark?"

"Late."

Tony

It's amazing that when you're in a hurry, everything seems to go wrong. I'm stuck in a terrible traffic jam now. Besides, my cell phone went dead and I can't tell Steve where I am. And he is probably thinking awful things about me. The good thing is that I'm two blocks away from the building, so I decide to walk.

I leave the car in a paid parking lot, pick up my things and practically run to there. After about ten minutes, I reach the building, sweaty and panting. I see Steve and Fury in the lobby talking and I go to them.

"Gentlemen,", I say, almost out of breath. "I'm here."

They turned to me. Steve looks me up and down.

"Where were you?"

"Traffic. Do you believe it?", I put my things in a chair. "Fury!", I reach out my hand for him, who squeezes.

"Stark."

"And why are you panting?", Steve asks me.

"I had to leave my car... well away from here and I had to come walking ... I mean, running. Did I arrive on time?"

When Steve was about to answer me, a young woman approached us.

"Good day gentlemen. Come with me, please."

"On the right time, I'm supposed.", I whisper.

We followed her to the elevator. She pushes the button of the seventh floor. Arriving there, we passed through another reception.

"This way.", she points the way, until we arrive in front of a huge double wooden door.

She opens the door, revealing the hall. The U-shaped table is surrounded by at least fifteen leather chairs and is right in the center. On one side, a wall with a huge mirror, similar to those in interrogation rooms and on the other, the huge windows that go from floor to ceiling.

"You can sit here.", she points to the three chairs by the side of the window. "If you like, there's coffee, juice and water on that table.", she points to a more distant table. "They'll be here soon."

"Thank you.", we respond in unison.

"Excuse me.", she says, leaving the place.

Steve pulls out the middle chair and sits down, followed by Nick, who pulls the chair from the left. I look at the mirror in front of me and straighten my hair. Then I turn to the window. I can see the whole avenue, which is still jammed with the traffic. In the background, I can see part of the Golden Gate bridge.

"They have a nice view from here."

"I think you'd better sit down, Tony.", I hear Steve speak.

"Relax. They won't..."

I hear voices approaching. Quickly, I sit down on Steve's right side.