:-)
a short chapter
The next couple of weeks went by slowly, much to the annoyance of Marie.
The investigation had gone without a hint of a problem. It might have something to do with Fury she had thought, or it could have been because her blood test had actually tested positive for date-rape drugs. Jack had managed to pour it in her beer at some point. She hadn't been affected by it yet at the time of the alley.
It took Steve and Clint three weeks and a (rather violent) punch to their guts to get the hint and stop walking on eggshells around her - that she wasn't going to break. Natasha had only looked at the two shaking her head. Clint had updated her on the situation, when she came back from her mission.
She knew what the constant hovering from the two men would lead to, Marie was a lot like herself on that matter - strong and independent - and she would deal with it on her own terms.
After a while Marie had ordered Steve to join her in the lab. The day of testing her magnet had finally come.
"Okay," she said attaching the device to his right arm. She held out his arm in completely straight position pointing it toward his shield that was leaning against the wall on his right. Her own hand covered his has "...so you just clench your hand," she said and gripped his hand a bit tighter before letting go "and the shield should theoretically come flying and attach itself to the magnet."
"It's a bit bulky isn't it?" Steve said looking at the wires, velcro and metal plate.
"Yeah sugar, but it's still in testing phase," she agreed "If it works, we'll figure out a way to integrate it into your uniforms." She grinned before walking over to a computer
"You ready?" Steve nodded.
He clenched his fist waiting for the shield to fly back to him.
Nothing happened.
He looked at Marie and saw her glaring at the shield, before typing away on her computer.
"Okay, so I'm gonna raise the power a teeny tiny bit, lets try again." If Marie had been more attentive to her surroundings she would have noticed the E.M.P arrow she'd been working on for Clint dangling dangerously on the edge of her desk.
Steve clenched his fist. Now if Steve had expected that the shield would actually fly back to him, he might not have ended on his ass as the shield hit the desk before hitting the magnet on his arm.
A large crack sounded in the lab followed by a small pulse killing off the nearest electronics as the arrow hit the lab floor and shattered.
The shield was attached to the metal plate, but Marie could see something white and red protruding from Steve's right forearm.
She felt sick "Oh my god. Oh my god! ohmygod I broke your arm!" she started panicking and started hitting the dead computer until the shield fell of his arm.
The shield clattered to the floor. Steve got up cradling his now broken arm wincing slightly. "Marie." he said calmly looking at her panic while yelling out her Oh my God's - she didn't hear him.
"Marie…" Still nothing. Steve sighed before grabbing a hold of her with his good arm. He did the only thing he could think of to shut her up. He kissed her … Deeply. Marie closed her eyes and felt her knees go weak.
When he finally let her go, she stared at him green eyes wide while having been rendered speechless.
He chuckled at her expression "Let's head down to medical and get this cleared up, yeah." He said smiling at her.
She nodded and the two of them made their way down stairs. Along the way Marie couldn't stop apologizing to him, but Steve would only calmly reply that it was okay - she hadn't done it on purpose.
Steve was lying down on a bed talking with Marie when Doctor Attwood entered looking at his x-rays.
He reminded Marie a bit of santa with his big white beard, small glasses, red cheeks and beer belly.
He fixed his glasses and tutted at Steve. "Well mr. Rogers, looks like we have clean break. We'll have to cut your arm open and move the bone back in place," Marie and Steve both winced "in order for it to heal properly.
It's a small procedure, and we'll do it right away. The only problem is that we won't be able to put you down under." Steve nodded and Marie looked at him for an explanation "Super-soldier serum," he said to her "they haven't found anything that can sedate me yet."
She looked even guiltier than before.
"It's okay, I don't mind… Hell of a story we can tell people of our first kiss, you break my arm and I kiss you huh?" He joked at the end but he could see it didn't help. He grabbed Marie's hand with his free left hand and held her. They smiled at each other.
Dr. Attwood grabbed some supplies and and put on a pair of latex gloves, while muttering about today's young love.
He carefully dubbed some iodine around the wound and started cleaning it. He grabbed a scalpel and quickly cut break further open.
'Steve reluctantly let go of her hand and grabbed a hold of the metal railing of the bed when Dr. Attwood told him he would start pushing the bone into its place.
At the first push from Dr. Attwood the metal railing broke under Steve's grip as he tried not to squirm in pain.
Marie felt bad "This is all my fault… I have to distract him some how... " she thought looking around. There was nothing around here she could use.
She placed her hand on his shoulder trying to calm him before leaning in and kissing him.
"Boy, this man sure knows how to kiss!" she thought a bit corny as he focused on the task of kissing her, instead of the pain.
Someone clearing their throat brought them back to reality and they separated while blushing embarrassingly.
Dr. Atwood shook his head at them. "I've finished the replacement of the bone, but I'm putting it in a cast. Come back in two days time and we'll xray it again and see how it is." He said to Steve while placing the needed materials for the cast on the small table next to him.
Coulson walked inside the med-room when they were halfway through placing the cast.
He looked at the two expectantly "Do I even want to know how you managed to break your arm." He directed at Steve looking at him in disbelief.
Marie raised her hand in the air a bit awkwardly "My fault, I got a bit overexcited at the weapons testing, sugar. The calibration was a bit off, and I raised it by a half percent… It was definitely half a percent too much, and the E.M.P arrow might have detonated in the lab by accident." She admitted embarrassedly.
Coulson sighed before clenching the bridge of his nose. "He'll be back in no time Phil," Dr. Atwood reassured him while finishing up. "Give him two days and he should be as good as new."
He nodded still annoyed.
"No weapons testing for you the next couple of days. I don't want to see you in or anywhere near the lab." He said pointing at Marie and left them while muttering about paperwork, new gear and clearing Steve for sick leave.
"I'm pretty sure I just ended up as number one on his enemy list." Marie half joked
"Nah, I'm pretty sure Phil adores you." Steve smiled back, Marie only shook her head as the two exited the medical wing.
"I just broke his favorite action-man, you don't walk away unscathed from that sugar." She said referring to Phil's not-so-secret fan crush on Captain America. Steve rolled his eyes.
Steve and Marie spent the rest of the day just walking around the helicarrier together, talking, joking and having a great time.
When the time for dinner came the two decided to eat together outside on the deck. The helicarrier was afloat while tech teams were doing their regular check ups on the machinery.
Steve had brought two blankets.
They sat on one leaning against the wall hidden in a small corner. The sky was filled with pink and orange as the sun slowly set in west, it was a beautiful sight. Marie and Steve snuggled together under the second blanket while enjoying a sandwich each. Steve rested his broken right arm over her shoulder and Marie leaned into his body happily.
"This definitely wasn't what I expected when I joined up. If only I'd known about S.H.I.E.L.D. earlier. " She said grinning at him. "Please," he interrupted "this is has nothing to do with S.H.I.E.L.D. This is the Steven Rogers experience." He wiggled his eyebrows at her and she giggled "I hope ya don't treat all the ladies like this mister... How am I supposed to feel special then?" she asked mockingly and he poked her with his good hand and she laughed.
Their eyes widened simultaneously, Steve laughed as he one handed attacked her ticklish spots and she helplessly tried pushing him away and failed.
After what felt like an eternity he stopped "Don't worry, you're the only lady privy to the Steven Grant Rogers experience." He reassured her and she realized how true that was. "He's never been in a relationship before, he didn't even get to experience it with Peggy Carter..." she thought sadly and at the same time happy.
"Wanna' know a secret sugar?" she asked him looking into those beautiful blue eyes and he nodded.
"You're the only man privy to the Anna-Marie D'Ancanto experience too… And if you tell anyone my first name is Anna I'll kick your butt." She admitted her eyes narrowing a bit.
His eyes widened a bit before he smiled happily. He leaned over and kissed her. The rest of the evening and part of the night was spent in companionable silence while enjoying the view and the company.
:-)