Chapter 4

The weekend went by quickly as Zaria tried to forget about the ominous words that Jimmy had left her with. She had wrapped up her hand and quickly cleaned up the glass before anyone could ask what had happened. The bandage had made it more difficult to pour beer, but those who had noticed the confrontation had poured out their drunken hearts to "protect" her.

Two a.m. Monday morning had Zaria flopping heavily onto her couch with a long groan as she sunk into the old, ratty seat cushions. Although she worked hard what Jimmy had said was still with her. In her down times she found herself wondering if he could be right, if it were actually true. She didn't think it was possible until she had found out the truth.

"Could it really be..." She started as she leaned back against the armrest, but stopped and shook her head. She wasn't going to think about it. She wasn't doing anything wrong, she wasn't showing off or anything so there was nothing for her to worry about.

With a heavy sigh she flipped open the old fashioned pocket watch her grandmother gave her. "At least I don't work at the museum today." She mumbled as she closed the watch's lid, closed her eyes, and drifted off to sleep.

The buzzer for the building's front door jarred Zaria from her slumber and startled her to the point where she fell off the couch.

"Ow..." She groaned as she sat up carefully and rubbed her eyes. "Dear god what time is it?"

The buzzer echoed again through the small apartment as she grumbled incoherently, got up, and stumbled her way to the intercom.

"Yes?" She mumbled into the speaker.

"Zaria?" An unknown female voice answered back. "Zaria Barnes?"

"That's me." Zaria answered.

"My name's Maria, I'm a friend of Steve Rogers. Can I come up?"

Zaria blinked at the had friends? Well, it would make sense that a good looking guy like him would have friends but she kind hadn't really considered it with his weird hours and how much time they had spent together. What confused her the most was why this friend of Steve's would be over at her apartment asking to come inside.

"Is there a reason why?"

"I just wanted to meet the person he's always talking about."

"He's always talking about me...?" Zaria asked to no one in general. She stared uncertainly at the intercom. Should she trust this person that couldn't even see? Believe that they really are Steve's friend? Her father would tell her yes, but look where that got him. Her grandmother would be pragmatic about it; they know she's here, it's rude to send them away at this point. So, as she let out a resigned sigh, she pressed the button to unlock the door to the apartment building. The long hike up the stairs for her visitor gave Zaria time to try and make herself presentable. A quick comb through her hair, some scrubbing of what little makeup she had on to get rid of the smudges, and a fast brushing of her teeth made her feel more awake and ready to greet someone.

A knock on the door let her know her visitor had arrived so she checked herself in the mirror of the bathroom then hurried out to her front door, unlocked all of the locks on the door and swung it open to reveal a petite blonde.

"Hi! I'm Maria." She said brightly with a lilt to her voice that was vaguely familiar. "So nice to finally meet you. Can I come in?"

Zaria started and realized she was scrutinizing the girl. She smiled weakly and stepped aside. "Of course, come in."

Maria stepped in and looked around. "Nice place, very quaint."

"Thanks." Zaria answered slowly as she closed the door behind her. "So, was there something you wanted to talk about?"

Maria swiveled around with a bright smile plastered on her face. "Not really. I just wanted to meet the person Steve's always talking about. Do you have anything to drink?"

Zaria pursed her lips and stared at the girl. Something was off, the lilt in her voice was all too familiar and even parts of her features reminded her of something. "Sure..." She said slowly as she moved into the kitchen. "I just have water, if that's alright with you."

"That's just lovely." Maria called back.

Zaria pulled her water pitcher out of the refrigerator and filled a glass for the mysteriously familiar Maria before she put the pitcher away and closed the door to the refrigerator. "Here you are." She said as pleasantly as she could while setting the glass on the counter.

"Perfect thank you!" Maria chimed as she put something in her inner coat pocket and came over to the counter.

"What's that?"

"What's what?"

"What you just put into your pocket."

"Oh this?" Maria said as she pulled a tube out of the inner pocket. "It's lipstick." she opened the tube to reveal bright pink lipstick. "I was going to reapply it but I realized you don't have a mirror in your living room."

"No... It's in the bathroom down the hall." Zaria answered slowly. She was sure that the item she had seen had been square, but she wasn't sure enough to press the issue.

"That's just wonderful." Maria smiled as she picked up the glass and took a drink. "I'll put it on again just before I leave so I don't put too much lipstick on your cute glass. Where did you get this anyway?"

"From my grandmother, they were a gift."

"How lovely." Maria looked around the small apartment as if she were scrutinizing everything.

"Is there something you're looking for?" Zaria asked coolly.

"No, I just wanted to see if Steve really did describe your little place in detail; which he did. It's quite lovely. The kitchen looks almost brand new compared to the age of the apartment."

"Didn't Steve tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

Zaria narrowed her eyes. "It was redone."

"Oh that's right, I must have forgotten. How nice of your landlord to do that." Maria smiled.

"You know Maria, it was nice having you here but I think it's time for you to leave." Zaria stated smoothly as she came to the conclusion that this woman was no friend of Steve's.

"What? Why? I just got here." Maria asked sounding confused.

"I have to get ready for work." Zaria answered dryly.

Maria set the glass down and looked over at her. "But I wanted to learn more about you, can't I just stay while you get ready?"

"I would rather you not. I would be too distracted to get ready in time for work if you stayed." Zaria made her way to the door and held it open. "It was so nice of you to drop by."

Maria's overly pleasant appearance slipped for a moment as her eyes hardened. "I see." She started frostily. "Well then I guess I must leave."

"Yes, I guess you do."

Maria walked past her with a flippant attitude. "It was so nice to meet you." Her lilt was heavier this time, more pronounced and Zaria finally figured it out.

Russian. Maria was Russian. There was no doubt in Zaria's mind that the person who came into her house today was in fact Russian. Now that she realized that it was clear why her facial features were familiar; they were similar to her grandmother's.

"And same to you." Zaria said as she shut the door on her unwelcomed guest, nearly catching Maria's coat in the door. She listened intently to other woman's heels clacking across the dimpled wood floor and down the stairs. When she could no longer hear the shoes, she moved to the window in the kitchen, parted them just slightly, and waited.

Maria's blonde head was noticeable when it came around the corner of her building and walked up to a parked black vehicle. Leaning on the vehicle was a largely muscular bald man with very obvious Russian tattoos. They shared words, it was clear the man was unhappy she was back so quickly and Maria made gestures with her hand before pointing up to the building; Zaria moved away from the window.

All doubts about what Jimmy had told her just a few days ago vanished as she realized not only was it true, not only had they been looking for her, but they had found her and proved just how easy it was to get to her. This wasn't like how it was with Jimmy's old gang where they made threats at gunpoint, no this was cool and calculated. This was professional, and if she wasn't smart about it she would get caught unsuspecting.

Zaria's eyes narrowed as her hands balled into tight fists. In the morning she would find the money to change all the locks on her door. If she was really smart though she would move, and tonight, but as she looked around the room at all the stuff she had, all of the memories her grandmother had given her she realized she wouldn't, couldn't move away. So, she pulled in a deep breath and let it out slowly as she decided she would just have to be prepare when they finally came for her.

"I won't go without a fight..." She muttered darkly as she stared the the pink lipstick smudge on the glass on the counter.

O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O

The late afternoon sun was sinking quickly behind the buildings as Zaria pulled on her heavy leather jacket and matching boots as she got ready for a slow night at the bar. She had gotten a message from her landlord that Joe had called to say she would be working alone since the bar had been virtually empty at the time of the call. Clean up would be tough but she'd done it before and she had slept more than she thought she had before she was interrupted this morning so she was good for another long day at the bar and museum.

She looked around the apartment quickly before grabbing her purse and keys then opened the door and left. The smells of the city accosted her as soon as she hit the sidewalk, but they weren't as pungent as they would be in summer so she took in the smell of asphalt, grime, burnt rubber and sweat that seemed to permeate the city no matter where she was. With a sigh she quickly made her way to the bar for a long, slow night.

"You're late." Joe said without looking up from some paperwork.

"I'm sorry I- Wait no I'm not!" Zaria snapped as she came into his office to store her purse and jacket.

Joe smiled and shook his head. "You always apologize before figuring out whether or not you need to."

"Well you're always yelling at me whether you need to or not." Zaria answered as she stuck her tongue out.

Joe laughed heartily as he sat his paperwork down. "Thanks for working tonight, I know you won't get much tips but stuff's gotta be done."

"I know." Zaria answered as she signed in on the worksheet and went off to cover the bar.

Joe was right, the bar was slow. So slow in fact that most of the usuals weren't even in. Bob wasn't even in the kitchen anymore, he had come out and sat on one of the stools as he nursed a diet coke. His big arms covered in tattoos from his biker days, which had come after his army days; or was it airforce, she could never remember.

"Want another one Bob?" Zaria asked as she pulled over her own stool that was behind the bar and perched on it.

"Naw.." Bob muttered as he stared sucked down half the glass in one go. "Just wishin' it were rum in there too."

Zaria smirked. "Well, I don't think Joe would want you drinking on the job, although I'm not sure how much of "a job" it is tonight. Did the world end or something?"

Bob chuckled. "Naw, It's just too damn cold out. People are all bundled up at home."

"You're probably right." Zaria slid off the stool to pour a glass and slide it down to the regular at the other end of the bar before she sat back down on the stool next to Bob.

"If there were more people here I'd tell ya to get up on that bar and do that dancing stuff." Bob said as he finished his glass.

"I don't do the Bar Dancing." Zaria answered taking the glass and putting it in the sink.

"Not those silly dances the other girls do but that, whaddya-call-it, gymnastics."

Zaria smirked. "I haven't done that in a while and the bar is a lot wider than a balance beam."

"That sure never stopped you before."

"No, what stopped me was the fact that Howard complained to Joe about it saying 'this isn't a circus-"

" 'So we shouldn't be acting like one.' I remember, doesn't mean I agree with that Yankee."

Zaria laughed. "You're living with the Yankees, Bob. They have a baseball team and everything."

Bob made a disgruntled noise at that before he finished off his diet coke and leaned over the bar to put his glass in the little sink back behind it. A cold wind blustered through the bar front making the few customers grumble about it. The door shut just as quickly cutting up the cold and causing the heater to start up again.

"Welcome, have a -" Zaria stopped as she noticed who had come into the bar; it was Steve. She smirked as she crossed her arms. "Well, I didn't expect to see you at the bar GQ."

Bob straightened and looked over at the newcomer who was slowly making his way to a vacant stool. "So you're the guy that's put that look on our little Z, eh? GQ? What kind of name is that?" He asked gruffly, as he gave off his old biker vibe.

Steve stared at the older man confused, unsure how to respond.

Zaria snickered and finally came to his rescue. "I'm not sure what "look" you're talking about Bob, but his name is actually Steve and Joe wouldn't like you scaring away the customers. Steve, this is Bob, he's weekday evening chef here."

Steve held out a hand and, after a moment, Bob snatched it up and shook it hard. "You look like an army man. Are you an army man, Steve?"

"Oh for the love of- Bob don't harass him." Zaria butted in before Steve could answer.

"What is going on out here?" Joe's voice bellowed from the hallway. "I don't need anyone causing a racket up here. The regulars don't appreciate it. Who are you?" He asked as he came through the door and notice Steve sitting next to Bob at the bar.

Zaria groaned and bumped her head against the bar's counter. "Relax Joe," she muttered as she rocked her head back and forth on the bar. "This is my friend Steve and Bob was just trying to harass him. Speaking of which, shouldn't you back back in the kitchen Bob?"

Bob huffed and he got himself up from his stool and made way back to the kitchen. "Gotta make sure it doesn't burn down since I was away."

Zaria shook her head with a smile as she moved away from Steve for a moment to fill a pitcher to take to one of the lone tables with customers. As she came back she heard Joe talking to Steve.

"So, you're the boy that Z's told me about, eh? You also the one that ignored her for two weeks?"

"Joe!" Zaria snapped as she felt her cheeks burning. "Leave him alone."

Joe ignored her and continued on ahead. "You're also that boy that bought her those jackets right? Z never lets anyone buy things for her so you did a good job convincing her of letting someone get her some new clothing. A lot of the regulars, including Bob and I, have tried to get her to let us help her but she's too stubborn."

Steve looked embarrassed by Jim's forwardness. "Thanks. I pretty much ruined her trench coat so I replaced it and got her a few more in the process."

Joe chuckled. "Good lad. You take good care of our Z." Jim suddenly sobered up and looked him square in the eyes as he clapped a hand on Steve's shoulder. "But if you hurt her you'll be answering to a lotta people. Do you understand?"

Steve looked bewildered and shot Zaria a pleading look, who huffed and shook her head.

"Enough Joe, I'm not a little girl I can handle myself. And you're scaring a customer, you always complain when someone else does it so I'm going to complain since you're doing it."

Joe laughed heartily as patted Steve on the shoulder. "You've got a lot to put up with." He said before he walked away.

Zaria made a face at Joe's retreating back. "Sorry about Bob and Joe."

"It's alright," Steve answered as he looked at Zaria thoughtfully. "They seem to think of you as family."

"Yeah, I was a pretty scrawny kid when I came here, but it's not like I haven't been here since I was ten or something, I've only been here for three years."

"Well it's nice to have people who are worried about you."

"Yeah, well they can be worried elsewhere." Zaria huffed.

Steve laughed softly. He took a moment to survey the whole bar, taking in it's pathetically few patrons, TV spouting out garbled sports and the small stage that was empty right now except for an old ratty jukebox off to one side.

"It's not the best of places, but the people are nice." Zaria said as she noticed him looking around the bar.

"It seems that way." Steve answered. "When do you get off?"

Zaria looked over at the clock on the wall. "Around one or two depending on when Joe decides to close up today."

"Well then I guess I better get a drink and some food while I wait. Anything you'd suggest?"

O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O

Zaria puffed out a cold breath as she huddled into her leather jacket. It was unseasonably cold tonight, probably the warnings of a storm front coming in somewhere but she wasn't sure.

"Cold?" Steve asked as he walked next to her.

"I'll be fine." Zaria answered. "The leather's worn done in some places I guess, but it's not too bad."

Steve regarded her for a moment before he shrugged. "If you say so."

"Well I do." Zaria said as she stuck her tongue out; Steve chuckled.

They stopped in front of her apartment build in silence as they looked at each other. Steve appeared to want to say something but was having trouble coming up with the words. Zaria pursed her lips as she waited for Steve to say whatever it was he wanted to say and looked around the area. He seemed to be at war with himself with whatever words he want to get out; maybe he couldn't or didn't know if he even should. Finally it appeared he had given up on whatever it was he wanted to say so she sighed lightly and smiled.

"Well thank you for coming into the bar. I think the regulars liked you. I know Joe did."

"He did? That's nice to know."

Yeah... Well... Goodnight." Zaria leaned forward and brushed her lips softly against Steve's before she turned and disappeared into her building without giving him a chance to respond.

Steve stood there, stunned, for a long moment. He debated with himself about either pushing the call button for her apartment to go after her or just leaving. After a long internal debate he finally decided he would let her be for the night, as she had work in the morning, or so that's how he convinced himself to leave, and walked away.

Zaria took a deep breath and let it out in a long sigh before she trudged up the stairs to her apartment. Opening the locks and pushing the door open she quickly shucked her jacket and boots, letting her sore feet rest on the cold tile floor of her apartment as she let her head fall back against the door with a thump.

"That was stupid..." She muttered to the empty apartment as she smacked her head into the door. "Really, really, stupid."

Groaning at herself she peeled herself off the door and stripped her top and pants off, leaving her in a tank top and her underwear, as she made her way to the bathroom. Flicking on the light, she rested her palms on the sink bowl and looked into the mirror.

"It can't work, I know it can't work so why..." She asked her reflection.

"Why indeed." A male voice answered as a needle bit into her skin.

Zaria's eyes widened as she looked caught his face in the mirror. "You!" She cried but all thought was quickly lost as the sting of the liquid in the syringe made the world go dark.

Steve made his way up the street near his apartment when a blonde woman stepped out into his path.

"Steve? Steve Rogers?" She asked, a lilt to her voice making her sound foreign.

"Who's asking?"

"I have something for you. Something from a friend." She held out a clean envelope with his name printed on it.

Steve took it cautiously and opened it. Inside was a picture of a familiar brunette laying in an awkward position in what he could only assume was the trunk of a car with a note.

You've been warned.