Hey guys so here's the next installment. It's basically a direct continuation. Again please R&R, I love to hear what you guys think and want to happen next. Thanks to all of you who did review and favorite or followed this story that made my day.
Operation Shield: Sealed on Director Nickolas J. Fury's orders. Clearance level 10.
Mission Statement: Regain Captain America/Steven Grant Rogers as a Shield Asset, and active operative.
First Report: 8/25/15-Captain Rogers was in fact alive. Discovered in Manhattan New York. Two months after his reported accident, and six weeks after being declared dead and his death ceremony. Active operatives on this mission only include Director Nickolas J. Fury.
Second Report: 8/31/15-First contact made with Captain Rogers. For the last week Captain Rogers had been on a bar crawl and working out in a gym after hours. He has yet to return to any stable home/base. Residence is unknown. State of Captain Rogers is unknown. Approached in a gym in Brooklyn.
Captain America-Steven Grant Rogers. That's what the file in his hand said. He didn't remember much about himself prior to waking up in the hospital. He knew some things that he liked and disliked. He knew he liked riding a motorcycle. But he was supposed to be this great hero: A Super Solider. It all seemed so real and so impossible at the same time. There were more and more flashbacks, they were coming more and more frequently. Moments of flips and punches and throwing a red white and blue disc. It seemed right and familiar. But there were things that didn't seem right: There were monsters and things that were definitely not natural. Then as he hit the bag he had another flash back. He was punching the bag and then someone in a black trench coat was walking in and talking to him. He learned more about himself. He was starting to believe that he was this guy. Then he heard the doors open.
"Captain I see you are back to your hold habits."
"And you are?"
"I friend of yours."
"Yeah, says who."
"You did when you walked away from me at the cemetery after we faked my death."
"Who are you?"
"Nick."
"How do you know all about that?"
"Because you used to work for me and a great intelligence agency. You laid it to waist and helped rebuild a pure one. That was before we thought we lost you."
"Lost me?"
"Your accident that put you in the hospital. We thought you were dead Captain Rogers."
"Well I'm not dead, but I don't believe that I'm this Captain/Super Soldier."
"What would it take to make you believe?"
"A lot of information."
"I have a lot of information as long as you agree to come with me we can go over all of it."
"And if I still don't believe, if I still want to walk away and be a normal guy?"
"You were never normal Captain, but you could still walk away if you don't remember."
"You are fairly certain that I'm him, how do you know?"
"I've known you for a long time and my granddad fought in world war two alongside the US army and their hero." Nick said while gesturing towards Steve.
"Okay show me the way." James was sure that this was more déjà vu then anyone could ever experience. His name was Steven Grant Rogers, Captain America. He shook his head and then he realized that is why Grant was so familiar.
He followed Nick and got into a dark car with an eagle on the side of it. They drove for hours and hours. When they finally stopped they were outside of a gate that enclosed a facility of some type. They were in D.C. from what he could gather. The gate rolled open and then they crossed onto the grounds. Nick parked the car and lead Steve upstairs to the top of the building. It looked like they were going into Nick's office.
"This is where I run Shield. And down the hall is your office. You are one of the top agents of this organization and you are an associate director. You helped rebuild this. You made this all possible again."
"I really did do great things?"
"Yes and this doesn't even begin to cover it. Here have a seat." Suddenly a holographic screen flashed up between Steve and Nick. Footage started playing and tiny little tabs with hundreds of different little names popped up on the side.
"So this is information about me?"
"Its everything we have on you Rogers."
"So what do I look through this and remember who I am? Trust you? And go what go back to being this hero?"
"If you want. Or we could take it slow. You could ask questions and we could begin to rebuild our relationship and rebuild all that is you."
"Fine start talking."
"Start asking questions."
"Okay. Why do I only look a day over 28 when the file shows date of birth as 1920?"
"Because of the super solider serum that runs through you, that's bound to your D.N.A." The questions went on like that for hours and hours until the early morning light came in through the windows of Nick's office. After several bottles of scotch and reminiscing, finally it all started coming back to Steve.
"So I'm not really James Grant huh? I'm Steven Grant Rogers/Captain America."
"Yeah you are."
"So what now?"
"Well I was hoping this would jog some of your memory, help you remember what happened, what your life was like."
"It did. I remember."
"What exactly?"
"Well I remember everything up until the D.C. fiasco. All of it every detail and every feeling I've felt. It's all there burned into my brain, being constantly replayed in my head."
"Well that's great news Rogers. It's a pleasure having you back aboard."
"There are a few gaps though."
"Like what?"
"I remember the Avengers Initiative and the faces of the people, I remember working with them in New York, I know who they are by their hero names, but I don't remember who they are outside of that."
"It will continue to come back to you cap, just give it time. And here read over their files, maybe that will help jog your memories."
"Yeah thanks." Steve said while grabbing the files from Nick. They sat there in comfortable silence for a while.
"So what do I do now Nick?"
"Well I could bring you back to the Avengers facility and I could let rejoin them as their captain and leader if you're ready. Or I could bring you in as an agent again running solo ops for Shield."
"Can I come back to my old office and work in secret Nick? I don't know if I'm ready to face the world as Captain America just yet, especially with this spotty memory?"
"If that is what you really want Captain."
"Your office is still there down the hall untouched."
"Thank you Nick."
"You can still have an apartment here in D.C., we fixed up your old one for you, or you can live here on base we have living quarters in another wing."
"I think I will drive out to the apartment and grab some things before moving in here, if that's alright."
"Its up to you Captain. But one word of advice as a friend: The Avengers, the people that you have fought with, your friends, they would really feel better knowing you are alive, and you should tell them."
"Not yet Nick, I have so many gaps in my memory, that I can't just yet."
"As you wish Captain. Oh by the way you may want to drive up to New York sometime and fix up your Brooklyn apartment." Nick tossed him a set of keys. Steve turned them over in his hands and he saw small labels clearly showing where they belonged.
"Thanks Nick." He picked up his file along with the rest of the Avengers files and then he walked down the hall to his old/new office.
"Open up Operation: SHEILD."
"Yes Director." The AI said.
"I would like to log a third report."
"Right away Director."
"Third Report: Captain Rogers had regained most of his memory. He remembers almost everything up through D.C., which is a good start. He claims that he remembers the Avengers but he cannot remember the bonds and the people behind the masks, behind the heroes that he fought with. He appears to want to throw himself right back into work here at Shield, and I have let him. At his request he is working covertly within Shield, until he is ready to face his old friends and teammates. No one will have knowledge of his return for now. I advised him to return and visit his friends but he had not yet done so. It appears that he is starting familiarize himself with his life and what he owns and does. I have yet to give him the file on Ultron and the Winter Solider."
"Notes have been recorded Director."
"Thank you, now seal the file."
"Done Director."
Nick continued to log reports as Steve went on missions and helped rebuild shield. After a year of being 'dead' it seemed that Steve was regaining more and more of his memories. He remembered Tony Stark and Thor and Banner and Barton. He started to recall events of Ultron and the Winter Solider. Finally Nick gave him the files to help him fill in the gaps. He remembered John/War machine, he recalled Sam and all of their time together from D.C. and beyond. The Twins and how Wanda joined the Avengers. Vision and his powers. Everything was filled in now. He finally put a name to that Red Head: Black Widow. He still couldn't figure out who she was, just that he fought with her for so long as partners with the old Shield, as Avengers. He clearly understood why she was so attractive to him. She was stunning and deadly, and competent, and intriguing, a mystery and he wanted to know more about her. It was weird he had these flashes about her from when he first got out of the hospital, but he couldn't recall anything about her. All he knew was that they fought together. He remembered everything about everyone except her.
Natasha had tried her best to move on and continue to run the Avengers and be the best she could be but it seemed as if it was all for naught. She missed Steve terribly. She couldn't visit his grave because it was all the way in D.C. and she had to spend all of her time with the Avengers in Upstate NY or in New York City at the Stark Tower with Bruce. Her relationship to Banner was strained to put it nicely. She was trying so desperately to be a dutiful wife to Banner, but it was so hard when all she really wanted was her friend back and no else seemed to care. Banner was becoming slightly cold towards her the more that she kept bringing up Steve. She had this gut feeling that he wasn't gone; that he was out there somewhere, that her best friend was out there somewhere.
Every month on his death anniversary she never took missions and never left her room. She didn't talk to anyone; she just sat there and wallowed in her misery. As the months continued to roll by she lost more and more hope that he was out there somewhere, surely he would have come back to the team to shield to her if was alive and knew who he was. The Avengers and Bruce and Tony and Pepper left her alone on those days fully accepting that there was nothing they could do to help her. As her one-year marriage to Bruce passed she went away with Bruce on vacation. They were desperately grasping at what was left, dying for conversation. Then came Steve's one-year death anniversary a few weeks later. She was devastated and decided to go on a break for week. She took leave and took her corvette to D.C., to visit him. As she got to her apartment she dropped her bags and flopped down on to the couch. She didn't even have the energy to go to her room.
When daylight broke she got up and got ready. She wasn't purposely dressing to impress anyone, but she had in some ways. She grabbed the bottle of vodka from her fridge and then got her keys and purse and went to the graveyard. She parked her car and walked towards Steve's grave. His grave, no body.
"Hey Steve." She laid the flowers at his grave and brushed away the leaves and weeds. She knelt down and leaned against the tree that was near the grave. She popped open the vodka bottle taking a swig.
"Oh god I miss you so much Steve. I hope that you're listening." She sipped the vodka again.
"I…I blame myself Steve, I'm so sorry Steve. It's all my fault."
"Its my fault my asking you to leave, it my fault for not realizing that you felt that way for so long. I should have just pushed you away and allowed you to stay. I should have had you brought to your room for the night." She chugged a large portion of the bottle.
"I'm sorry I haven't been here since they buried you, I have been busy at work and Banner, we're not doing to well." She ran her hands over the gravestone.
"You know I've been thinking about leaving the Avengers. I hadn't had the guts yet because I know that they will fall apart and that would be like dishonoring you and what's left of you." She sat there in silence for a while and just thinking over the accident, reliving all of her memories with Steve.
"She married my friend."
"Please leave, just leave Steve. I don't want you here."
"He's gone Natasha. He's been presumed dead Romanoff."
Everything seemed to start slipping away. It was like time no longer existed. Nothing was the same and everything hurt and everything she knew was different. The next time she looked at her watch it was six o'clock and her bottle of vodka has long since been drained. She needed a mission something to help her escape everything. So she picked herself up and headed to the Triskelion. She crossed the bridge and entered the garage. She walked into the elevator and rode up to Director Fury's office.
The knock was subtle at first. He didn't really hear it. Then when they spoke he knew. "Director Fury it's me Romanoff, permission to enter." Steve's super hearing allowed him to hear people all the way down the hallway. The memories started flooding his mind. They washed over him taking him by surprise and some violently shook him.
"Steve I thought you said you didn't know how to dance."
"I learned, but never got to use the new skills. I waited to long to ask her out."
"Steve it's never too late to take a chance."
"Yeah it is, especially now."
"Oh come on, any girl would say yes, and swoon over you if you just put your self out there."
"Even if it were you?"
"Yes."
"Natasha, I'm happy for you."
"Thank you Steve, but my job is not yet done, I still have to find you someone."
"You know I thought I found her for a while."
"That's perfect Steve, and what happened?"
"She got married to my friend."
"Please leave Steve."
"I…I didn't mean to hurt you, I just, I just finally needed to say it."
"And you choose today, the day of my marriage to tell me?"
"I'm sorry Nat."
"Steve I want you to leave, please go."
The way her face was overcome in angst and pain. What had he done to her? Oh god how his heart ached. He remembered everything about her know. She was his best friend and he wanted her so much and she was married to his co-worker and friend. God this was a mess. The wedding. The crash. It all came back to him. She wasn't a lover, she wasn't a fiancé, and thank god she wasn't a sister. He wanted her so bad. He had to keep his distance though. But shouldn't he tell her that he's alive? No after everything he had done to her, he didn't even deserve a hello or eye contact. He had to tell Fury that everything came back to him completely.
"Enter Romanoff." Natasha entered and carefully approached Nick's desk. Decked out in her standards black leather jack black jeans and red tee shirt and black healed boots, Natasha Romanoff was definitely the Black Widow at the moment.
"What can I do for you Romanoff?"
"I need a mission Director."
"Well we have few short term missions if you would like one. Or there are a few monthly missions, but seeing as you are to lead the Avengers we cannot allow you to do to many long ones."
"Anything sir."
"How about this daily mission in London, England. Mark is a small arms dealer, we want him alive to turn him, and we need a way into the ring. Ties to the middle east."
"Sounds easy, when do I leave?"
"Tomorrow 0600. 48 hour mission, deal takes place at 2100 tomorrow, no extraction planned."
"Perfect."
"Dismissed Romanoff." Natasha was about to leave when her mask half cracked. "As a friend Romanoff, you should let him go."
"Any word on him Director?"
"None Romanoff." It was so easy to just lie to just brush it off and hide the truth from her. She needed to move on and he didn't want to break the captain's sole request. She looked hard and long at him and gave him a small nod before taking the file and walking out of the office. She turned her head as she left the office trying to bit back the tears, then she saw something that unnerved her. A small light in his office, she drew her gun. She walked towards the office and turned the knob slightly before bursting open the door.
"Freeze don't move or I shoot you." She screamed as she entered.
"Black Widow it's me don't shoot." She was frozen to her spot her gun still pointed at him. She was internally shaking.
Please R&R. Suggestions for next chapter please. Hitting writer's block.