Wakanda had a temperate climate. The early mornings would only ever go as low as around 5 - 6°C / 42°F in the winter and temperatures would peak at around 20 - 21°C / 70 °F.
In summer, however, minimum temperatures would start around the 21°C mark and go as high as 45°C / 113°F.
This morning was a crisp 4°C and Steve joined Jane and Dog on the steps for breakfast.
"Did you take me to my bed last night?" she asked, knowing the answer.
"I did. I hope that's okay?" replied Steve.
"It is okay," she smiled, handing Dog a piece of bacon.
"I have to go for my session now with Hendrik," she curled her lip slightly.
"I thought you like your sessions?" said Steve.
I would rather spend time with you - she thought.
"I do..." She said.
"I'll wait for you for lunch, then we can go and get dog food." Said Steve.
"See you later," she said as she reluctantly got up to leave.
Steve stared into the distance for a moment before he left to see T'Challa. He'd received a message that he was back and wanted to see him at the palace.
The fighter sped across the sky over Birnin Zana, the palace complex nearing quickly. Steve stepped out, thanking the pilot. He was met by Okoye.
"Captain Rogers," she greeted him.
"Ma'am." he returned. She rolled her eyes.
He had a string of questions for her about Jane, why she wasn't training with the Dora Milaje anymore and what exactly happened on the day she got hurt, but he had a feeling that was part of the reason he was called to the palace.
They entered the throne room amidst a heated discussion between T'Challa, his advisors and Ayo. His fists clenched when he saw her.
He stood for a moment with Okoye, just outside the circle of people arguing in Wakandan before T'Challa silenced them and walked out to greet Steve.
"Come, we have a lot to talk about," said T'Challa.
Another chair was brought in for Steve and he sat down, nodding a greeting to rest of the group. Nakia and Shuri were sitting next to T'Challa.
"I have called Captain Rogers here, so we can discuss recent events with regard to our guest, Jane," T'Challa spoke with authority.
"Ayo feels that she should not be allowed refuge in Wakanda, even though we have opened ourselves to the world."
"She is not of this world." Spat Ayo.
T'Challa raised a hand to silence her. "We know only what we've observed thus far."
"Shuri, tell us what you've learned." T'Challa motioned for her to speak.
"I have learned that Jane possesses many qualities that qualifies her as an enhanced individual." Began Shuri.
"She has shown above average physical strength, stamina, speed and intellectual potential as well as accelerated healing ability and a complete immunity to our Vibranium treatment." Shuri rattled off her findings.
"She's not shown any aggression towards any of us, even when attacked." Her eyes shot to Ayo.
"Before we make any final decisions, I recommend that we consider the psychological evaluation that is scheduled for later this week."
"It will be of no use." Interjected Ayo. "As long as her memory remains absent, an accurate measure cannot be made, until such a time, she should be considered a threat."
"So guilty until proven innocent." Said Steve.
Okoye jumped in, "it's not that simple. She's faster, stronger and she figured out how to render Ayo ineffective after one encounter," she paused to emphasise, "Ayo - the most unpredictable of us all. We can not risk her rendering the Dora Milaje ineffective against her. That is why I decided that she can not train with us. I move to have her removed from the Design Institute where she could learn the secrets of our weapons."
Steve had seen this many times before. The fear of the unknown. The prejudgement of a situation. He thought of Tony's fear of another alien attack that could end the world and what followed with Ultron. How the same motivation led him to sign the Sokovia accords.
"She's going to be exactly what we make her." Said Steve.
T'Challa deliberated in silence for a moment.
"Okoye, you are the general of my Dora Milaje. I will respect your concerns and have Jane moved from the Design Institute, but I agree with Captain Rogers, she will be what we make her. I am placing her in your care, Steve, and will arrange for her the apartment across the hall from yours in the city. For the rest of us, we will work to support Steve until we know the intent her memory may reveal. She will be welcome here and treated like a guest, not an enemy." He turned his gaze on Ayo, who looked like she had several things to say.
"To show the commitment of the throne, I am inviting her to the celebration of Nakia's birthday this Saturday." There was an uproar in the circle, mostly in Wakandan.
T'Challa raised his hands to silence them. "Do not make me repeat myself." He waved his hand and the circle of advisors along with Ayo and Okoye got up and began to leave.
He approached Steve who was also on his feet. "I will arrange for a car for you and your friends. You may come an go as you please." A messenger ran up to the king and handed him two envelopes. "These are your invitations to Nakia's birthday celebration. You will need them to access the festivities. I will expect to see you and your friends there."
Steve was in no mood to attend a party, especially after what was just said, but if he wanted to keep Jane in Wakanda, where she was safest from outside threats, he would have to respect the decisions made and show up.
He nodded his agreement.
"Once you are confident that she is ready, I will arrange for you to go to South Africa." Said T'Challa.
"Thank you." Said Steve.
It was 13:35 and Steve had been waiting for Jane to finish her session with Hendrik for 35 minutes. He was pacing the hall in front of their rooms with an empty duffel bag when she came hurrying around the corner with Dog trotting next to her, annoyance on her face.
"I'm sorry I am late." She said as she came to a halt in front of him, her eyes darting to the duffel bag.
"Hendrik would not let me leave until I agreed to go to a party with him."
At the same time, Steve's heart sank at her having said yes and anger flared in his chest at Hendrik having forced her to.
She could see it on his face and felt helpless.
"Come on," he said, handing her the bag, "pack your things, we're leaving."
She looked at him a little stunned. "Where are we going?"
"The king has arranged an apartment for you in the city." He answered.
"Are you coming too?" she asked, concerned.
"Yes, I am."
Jane packed up all her things in no time, she didn't have much save a few sets of clothes, some books, her phone and her laptop.
A car was waiting for them at the bottom of the steps. Steve put her things in the trunk and opened the passenger door for her before he got in the drivers' side and started the ignition, happy to be rid of a driver.
Dog was sleeping in the back seat half an hour later as they drove into the city.
"We're going to stop at the Vet and then drop Dog at the apartment before we get something to eat," he said.
"Can he not come with us?" she asked.
"Dogs aren't allowed inside most shops unless they're guide dogs and Dog is definitely not a guide dog," he answered.
The Vet wasn't very busy as most people were still at work, and Dog had a thorough examination along with all his shots and a dewormer. The Vet took a card out for Dog and was busy filling out his information and adding his vaccinations to it when he asked:
"What's his name?" and Jane replied, "Dog."
He looked up at Steve and Jane. "Why Dog?"
"I haven't found anything that I think suits him yet," replied Jane.
The Vet looked at Dog and shrugged, writing the word 'Dog' in the allocated space for the pet's name. They left an hour after they arrived with dog shampoo, a bag of dog food, bowls, a collar, leash and a dog bed.
On the drive to the apartment building, Steve noticed that Jane seemed less excited that she probably should be to be out of the Design Institute, she'd practically begged him to come out with him today.
"What's going on?" he asked.
She tore her eyes from the far away place she was staring at through the window and glanced down at her hands. "I don't know how I am ever going to repay all of you." She said.
He knew the feeling.
"Hey, don't worry about it. Who knows what will happen, maybe someday, we need your help."
She looked at him, searching for a sign of a lie on his face, but she found nothing. She gave him a small smile.
It was just before 17:00 when they drove into the underground parking lot of the apartment building and Steve parked the car in the designated parking spot. They'd been stuck in city traffic.
Jane and Dog followed Steve into the elevator, he was carrying the dog bed filled with all the other paraphernalia and Jane was carrying the duffel bag. She was bouncing her leg next to him on the ride up, clearly excited and he smiled to himself as the doors opened on their floor.
He turned left down the hall, five doors down and handed Jane two of the same keys.
"Here, these are the keys to your new home."
She looked up into his eyes, a little bit shocked.
Tentatively, she unlocked the door and let it swing open, walking in slowly.
"What do you think?" he asked.
"All of this, is for me?" disbelief thick in her voice.
"You get to live here until you figure out your place in the world," he replied.
She turned to him, suddenly worried. "Where will you live?"
It made him smile. He turned and pointed to the door on the other side of the hall. "Right there."
Jane walked into the enormous bedroom, eyeing the king-sized bed. She dropped the duffel bag on the floor and kicked off her shoes. She broke into a run and leapt onto the bed, turning in mid-air before landing on her back, arms spread out to the side. She blew a lock of hair out of her face, smiling.
Steve had a lopsided grin on his face as he stood, watching her from the doorway.
"I did not know they made beds this big," she was beaming as she sat up, running her hands over the fabric of the duvet.
Steve couldn't get the smile off his face. Her way of appreciating even the smallest things most people took for granted endeared her to him. She had the same kind of innocence to things that people had back in the day, deprived of all luxury during the war.
She flipped herself over backwards in a rolling summersault, ending up on her knees. Dog had been sniffing around the apartment and arrived in the doorway, sniffing the air in the room. Jane beamed at him, tapping both her hands in front of her on the bed and Dog went bolting to her. He cleared the bed entirely with a mightly bound and hit her square in the chest, sending her tumbling to the mattress. Giggling, she tried to evade him as he tried to lick her face, succeeding every so often.
Steve couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him. "Before he gets too comfortable over there, I think he should have a bath. He's, well, less than sanitary."
Jane sat up, gasping for air through the giggles, her hair a mess. "I think you mean to say he's stinky."
"Well, yeah." Grinned Steve.
She hopped off the bed and looked down at her blouse covered in dog hair. "I guess I'll have to get cleaned up as well."
She crossed the room and picked up the duffel bag just to the left of Steve.
"I'll wait out here." He said.
Steve sat down on the couch in the lounge area and Dog sat down on the carpet next to him, sending him the odd glance from under his expressive brow. Steve got up and put some food in one of the bowls before he filled the other with water and placed them on the ground. Dog sniffed at the pellets, licked his lips and looked up Steve.
"You're going to have to get used to that buddy." Said Steve, chuckling at the offended look on Dog's face.
Jane emerged from the bedroom having washed her face and put on a fresh set of clothes.
She took in the scene and a small frown sprouted between her brows.
"He doesn't like it." She said with concern.
Steve turned to face her, a grin still playing on his features and he was lost. Her eyes locked with his and his heart started up again. He could find some new galaxy there every time he looked into them.
"I guess he's just gonna have to learn to accept what's good for him." He said.
Her eyes stayed locked with his, not looking away as she often did. A thought entered his mind. With his hands tingling, and his heart thundering, he took a step closer to her, then hesitated, clenching his jaw.
Jane's chest began rising and falling a little faster as Steve took a step closer, she didn't know what he was doing, but his sudden closeness did something to her. Her eyes drank in every detail of his face. His clear blue eyes burning with something she hadn't seen there before.
The moment seemed to stretch on in time, and Steve took one more step to bring them a few inches apart.
"Jane..." he began.
A knock on the door snapped them back to reality.
In walked Natasha, followed by Sam. "They told us you might be in here," Natasha said, looking from Steve to Jane.
Steve cleared his throat, taking a step away while putting his hands in his pockets. "Who is this?" asked Jane.
"Uh..." he stumbled over the words, "this is Natasha and Sam. Guys, this is Jane."
They each shook her hand in turn.
Natasha's eyes were shining as she looked Jane over. "I've heard so much about you." She said with a charming smile.
"You have?" asked Jane, a little confused.
"Yeah, he wouldn't shut up about you." Teased Sam. "It's nice to put a face to the name."
Steve looked mortified.
"Have you guys eaten?" Asked Natasha.
"I'm starving," said Jane.
"Well then, what are we waiting for?" smiled Natasha, tilting her head to the right, not taking her eyes off Jane.