Hey Folks!
Sorry for the delay, it's been chaos! First I got writer's block, then my internet was down for a while so couldn't post!
Got there in the end though, and I hope I haven't driven you all crazy with the wait.
I'm still being blown away with your support. Candidate C42 is well on it's way to being one of the top Cap/OC stories! WOW!
Current tally is 156 followers and 94 favourites! Just incredible, thank you so much!

Well, without further delay, here is the (slightly late) installment for July!

Here we go...

CHAPTER 9 - Needles.

The steady electronic rhythm pinged close to Cora's head, marking the beats of her heart as her world slowly came into focus. The gently lit room was quiet and still, the air cool around the exposed skin of her forearms and face. She could feel that she was once again beneath the familiar crisp sheets of a hospital bed, the softness and curve of the mattress supporting her to sit up a little on the numerous pillows.

There was a rigid uncomfortable sting digging into the inside of her left elbow, and as she hazily looked to see the cause, she realised that it was a needle attached to a tube and a small sack of clear fluid on a metal stand beside her. It was then that she saw the large mirrored wall of her room, bouncing her groggy gaze back at her as she stared and blinked away the last of her sleep, revealing to her slow brain that she actually wasn't alone.

Cora smiled fondly at the reflection of her companion on the other side of the bed, just able to see his sleeping face that was cupped in his hand as he leant on the arm of his chair. Turning to look at him properly, she found him wearing his blue tactical uniform and slightly slumped in an uncomfortable looking chair, his elbow propped up to rest his head in his palm. She could almost imagine him sweetly nodding off against his will.

She lay quietly, just watching him sleep and cataloguing his features in hopes of triggering something of her past. Something of their past: He had a strong but kind face with a chiseled jaw and long eyelashes that rested on his cheekbones. His smooth skin was always cleanly shaven, promising to be soft if she were to touch, contrasting charmingly with the short spiky style of his sandy brown hair. Finally, he had full pink lips that would plump up his cheeks ever so slightly when he smiled, something that she found to be quite adorable, especially with his shy crooked smirk.

He was certainly handsome, there was no contest about that. Practically the ideal of an Adonis, though she was certain that compliment would more than likely make him blush. However, more important than his physical characteristics was his personality. He was a gentleman: Kind, brave, thoughtful and selfless. Since all of this had begun, he had stayed with her, comforting and helping her in whatever way possible without asking for anything in return. And in some cases, he protected her. Even from herself when she felt she could crumble at any moment. He had shown her the quality of his heart without any form of ego or arrogance, and she found it very endearing. Actually, if she was to be honest with herself, she found it.. him... to be very attractive. For all those reasons and more besides. Including something deep down in the recesses of her intuition and lost memories that strengthened her high opinion of him beyond what she had learnt over the last few days. There was something hiding, hinting at their past and his character.

She was certain after what had happened, how he had acted with her and the things he had said, that they had once been closer than he led her to believe. That their affections flowed more deeply that just friendship. But how deep exactly, she still didn't know yet. However, she found herself rather looking forward to finding that out.

Bracing her hands on the bed either side of her hips, she attempted to sit up a little better with the intention of getting to her feet to stretch her legs, but the moment she lifted her weight, the needle in her elbow viciously dug into her flesh, causing her to yelp and drop herself instantly.

She suddenly gasped, her eyes wide with shock as a terrible memory slapped her across the face with it's brutality: Strapped tightly to a cold metal table, her face contorted and flushed as she bit down hard on a gum shield in her mouth, she screamed against the agony as she was continually shocked through pads on her head, just enough to stop her from using her powers but keep her conscious. They were drilling deep into her leg, grinding through to the bone as the machine's screeching battled to out-do her cries of pain, whilst scientists watched and recorded the experiment.

"Cora!"

The memory stopped, releasing her from the nightmare as she panted heavily with distress. She could feel a cold sweat dampened her skin now, the heart monitor racing to echo inside the room as she stared blankly at her legs, trying to make sense of what she had just seen. She knew her captors had tested on her, but never had she imagined that kind of cruelty and torture. What was it for?

"Cora?"

She blinked, her attentions brought back to the present as she suddenly realised that Steve was standing beside her, his strong warm hands holding her shoulders with care as he looked at her with concern, patiently waiting for her to gather her wits.

The bed was still vibrating beneath her, the chair and monitors jittering on the floor in response to her unstable emotions, the beast inside her trying to test the barriers by prodding her chest and stomach.

Taking a deep breath as she closed her eyes, she recalled what Steve had told her about their first meeting, creating the scene as she imagined it inside her mind to focus on that instead. After a few moments, the shaking of the room ceased and the heart monitor slowed to a relatively normal beat.

"I'm alright." She said quietly, staring down at her legs, determined to not allow her power to overcome her again, "I just.. remembered something that was a little... disturbing."

"What was it?" He asked gently, perching beside her on the bed as he removed his hands respectfully, his brow drawn with sincere interest.

"I don't think you want to know that." She replied, nervously swallowing, her throat feeling dry as she tried to clear it politely.

Steve leant over to the bedside table and came back with a small glass of water that had been there, thoughtfully offering her the drink to make her smirk with gratitude as she accepted and took a sip.

"Yes I do." He reassured her, "If you remember anything at all about your captivity, I would like to know. Good or bad. It might help us understand what happened."

Cora rested the glass on her knee, cupping it in her palms, "I don't know what it could possibly tell you, other than confirming that they are bastards of the lowest order. Pardon my language."

Steve couldn't help the smirk that tweaked his lips in response to her British politeness when cussing. It had always amused him.

"No problem." He replied, standing from the bed to return to his chair and give her some space, "Tell me what you saw."

Taking a deep breath to reaffirm her calm and control, she looked up to speak to him directly rather than to her legs. His soft blue eyes were instantly comforting to her as he waited patiently, leaning forward on his knees.

"I was strapped to a table, screaming my lungs out whilst they continuously shocked me so I couldn't use my power. I remembered trying to. I could feel myself trying to make them stop, but the shocks... It was impossible for me to fend them off. I was bound to the table and I couldn't do a thing about it as they watched, shocking and drilling..."

"Drilling?" Steve suddenly queried with dread at the possibility.

Cora nodded, "Into my leg. I don't know why, I just... felt..."

She slowed her sentence to a stop as a thought eased her brow to crease with curiosity. Gently, she pushed the crisp sheet down her legs slightly, just enough for her to see the middle of her right leg where she remembered the drill piercing and grinding into the bone.

It was light, barely noticeable on her fair skin as she brushed her fingers over the small round scar left behind from the experiment.

"Is that normal?" She asked, looking up as he got to his feet to see the mark on her skin, his features creased with the same confusion.

The scar was at least an inch in diameter, almost like a gun shot, but such a wound from a drill that size should not have left such a light neat mark behind. Even on Steve, it would have been darker and raised with the contortion of it's healing. How had she healed so cleanly?

Steve subtly wiped away the concern so not to worry her, "I guess you're a quick healer."

"Did I used to be?" She asked boldly, pointing out the possibility that her captors had done something else to her during the experiments.

He didn't want to lie again. He had had enough of lying to the one woman he considered to be his world. In his eyes, this wasn't something he needed to keep from her.

"Perhaps." He replied with honesty, "If you were before you were taken, then I never knew about it. But try not to worry, Cora. Being able to heal so well is hardly a curse."

"I suppose so." She agreed softly, though he could see that it still bothered her, "But why would they do this? Drill into my leg. What would they gain?"

"I don't know." He replied slightly mournfully, "Sometimes evil men do things that we'll never truly understand."

She took a deep breath to cleanse away the horrors of her memory. It wasn't exactly what she had hoped for for her first recollection.

Smoothing the sheets back over her legs, she chose to change the subject, "What happened after I passed out? Is the woman alright?"

Steve smirked slightly, aware of her change of topic as he returned to his seat again, "Yes, she's fine. Thanks to you. That was a very brave thing you did. Though... extremely dangerous."

"I know, I'm sorry." She replied repentantly, "I thought I could control it, I didn't know I would put everyone in danger..."

"That's not what I meant." He interrupted gently, his words grabbing her attention to look at him with a silent question, "Shocking yourself, Cora... It's not to be taken lightly. The sheer power of that collar could cause you irrevocable damage."

"I had to do something." She replied quietly, though she clearly didn't regret her actions, "She has a child. I wasn't going to let that little girl's mother die when I could potentially save her. You would have done the same, and don't try to deny it."

"You're right, I would have." He said lightly, "But I'm bigger than you."

Cora looked at him incredulously, a smile playing on her lips at his light joke, enjoying how his crooked cheeky smirk plumped his face. She then remembered something about him that needed to be clarified, and now was the perfect time for it.

She sat up straighter, her smirk turning a little more confident, "Also strong. Stronger I think than a normal man who works out at the gym."

Steve's smile melted away, his face turning down to his clasped hands knowing that he couldn't explain away what she had witnessed. He wouldn't insult her intelligence like that, but he wasn't entirely sure what to say and what to leave out for now.

"I'm not the only one in this room with... unusual gifts." She looked at him gently, "Am I?"

The captain released a calming breath and looked up to answer, determined not to be flustered by her unexpected claim, "No. You're not."

Her smile in response was one of the brightest he had seen on her wonderful features. Clearly she was thrilled.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked, a hint of excitement brushing her words.

"I didn't want to frighten you. You barely knew me and were trying to understand your own power, so I thought perhaps one thing at a time might be best."

"Thank you. That was very thoughtful." She smiled softly with gratitude, "So... are you just strong or are you capable of other feats?"

"Well... It's a long story but to cut it short... I'm kind of a super soldier. Fast, strong... Can eat a lot for breakfast."

She giggled lightly, "Is that why your metabolism runs so quickly? Because you're... different?"

Steve smirked at the fact she remembered that little detail about him, "Yeah. Unfortunately it also means I can't get drunk. That can be inconvenient."

"Although it could also be a blessing considering your strength. I can imagine things being broken rather easily."

"Good point." He chuckled, enjoying this small act of trust between them. It reminded him of old days, "And I'm glad that I don't ... unnerve you now that you know the truth about me."

Cora smiled fondly, "I know you to be too kind hearted to be intimidating. Besides, it's kind of nice to have that sort of common ground with you. Like a support."

"I always will support you, Cora, I've never done any different." He said, "But you have to promise me something. To ease my mind."

"If I can, then I will of course."

"Promise me that you won't purposely trigger the collar again." He asked softly.

"I..." She paused, her smile disappearing as she looked away for a moment.

"I felt those shocks, Cora." Steve said, "When you started convulsing, I held onto you."

"You did what?" She gasped, her mouth dropping open with surprise, "Why?"

"To try and share the pain. Halve the power of the shocks to lessen the chance of damage to you. So I know exactly how strong that collar is, and it's a wonder you can still talk after triggering it twice."

"I never meant for you to get hurt." She said mournfully.

"I know. But I'm not willing to stand by and let you suffer either." Steve replied, his eyes intense with his resolve, "I would do it again without a second thought."

Cora held his gaze, seeing his sincerity and the strength of his words. She knew without any doubt that he meant what he said, and she felt her stomach flutter slightly.

"And I can't let you do that." She replied, taking a deep breath, "I guess I have a good reason to stay out of trouble. I promise, but... it doesn't count if your life in danger."

"Cora..."

"That's my condition." She interrupted firmly, "No negotiation about it. If your life is at risk for whatever reason then I will do what I feel I must without hesitation."

Steve was slightly dumbstruck at hearing that confession from her lips. Her firm beautiful gaze slowly softened, her glistening earthy eyes blinking as she looked away with a streak of blush on her cheeks and a slight rise in her heart rate that the monitor so graciously announced to the room.

"What I mean is..." She added, her voice softer with a hint of embarrassment, "You've done so much for me. Helped me and been here with me, especially when it counted. And I think I'm beginning to recall our bond from years ago, feeling things... emotions and instincts, including... being a little protective over you. The idea of you being hurt is... unthinkable, so that is my condition to your promise. I won't be swayed."

Steve smirked fondly, watching the play of emotion on her face as she stared at her knees, a mixture of stubbornness, shyness, care and the perplexity of her feelings towards him, "Then I guess I have a good reason to stay out of trouble."

Cora didn't look at him at first, but her smile was immediate as she recognised his imitation of her words and the seal of their agreement, "So, you never did answer. What happened after I passed out?"

"Well..." Steve began with a comfortable sigh, looking away as he thought, "As you can see we got the power back on, but it took a while."

"How long have I been out for?" She asked, remembering that she still held a glass of water before she took another sip.

"Only since yesterday this time. You seem to be getting a handle on being unconscious."

"Practice makes perfect." She smiled, enjoying how he chuckled at her joke, a small waft of his scent floating passed her to risk speeding up the heart monitor again, "And the data?"

"Most of it was destroyed or corrupted. They might only be able to salvage a small fraction of it. I'm sorry."

"Not your fault." She replied, "I'll just have to remember the old fashioned way. Hopefully it will be something better next time."

A hi-tech beeping interrupted their conversation, making Steve stand up to fish out the sleek phone from one of his belt pouches. He quickly read the alert that was urgently requesting for him to attend Fury's office.

"Duty calls again?" She asked, slightly disappointed.

"Maybe. Hopefully I won't be long."

"No rush, Captain. It's not like I'm going anywhere." She smiled coyly, wiggling her finger with the heart monitor clamped on it for emphasis.

"You wanted to see me?" Steve asked as he strode into the bright office of Nick Fury who was sat in his chair behind a glass desk, Natasha standing patiently beside it.

"That I did, Cap'ain." He answered, casually getting up out of his chair, "We salvaged something you might wanna' see."

Steve's heart jumped at his words, his hopes climbing against his will at the thought of finding something to help Cora.

"Secure office." Fury commanded of the building's integrated security, commencing a full lock down of the spacious room, the large glass windows darkening to black. Removing a small data drive from his pocket, he plugged it into the reader on his desk, "Open file: Candidate C42 dash 1.7... Director authority: Fury, Nicholas .J."

"Access authorized." Confirmed the female voice of the security system.

Steve turned towards the extensive wide screen monitor mounted on the wall, his arms folding over his chest with keen interest as a video file opened. The playback fuzzed on occasion and there was no sound, but the imagery that suddenly flashed onto the screen made Steve immediately stand up straighter with horror, his arms slowly dropping to his sides and his mouth silently falling aghast.

Cora was strapped to a table that was tilted upright, her hair falling in damp tendrils and her skin shining with frightened sweat, her gaze scared and manic. She was wearing the same body suit as when he had found her, the collar glinting around her neck beneath the oxygen mask that covered her mouth and nose. There were so many needles piercing her skin that he felt the hair on his neck stand on end with rage.

Each needle was connected to a tube that began to pump an unknown yellow fluid into her hyperventilating and terrified body. The effect was almost instantaneous, her head slamming back against the table as her eyes and hands scrunched closed in agony, trying to writhe against her restraints. He could see the veins in her arms and neck rising with whatever they were injecting her with, before the video feed scrambled and cut out.

Steve was silently fuming, his fists balled so tightly that he thought his knuckles might split beneath his fingerless leather gloves, "What were they doing to her?"

"We have a fragment of the next file." Fury replied, avoiding answering the question directly, "It's time stamped about an hour after this one."

"What is it?"

"Take a look for yourself." He gestured to the screen before speaking to the security system again, "Open file: Candidate C42 dash 1.8... Director authority: Fury, Nicholas .J."

"Access authorized."

The video flashed onto screen, making Steve's stomach tense with apprehension and shock. The footage was from a camera mounted high up in the corner of a large metal room with various objects, both small and very large, surrounding Cora. She was kneeling and chained to the floor by her wrists, her body arcing back as she screamed intensely, the items surging around her at speed as if she was the eye of a storm. The chaos was building enough momentum to embed a scrapped truck into the solid titanium wall where it began to rip apart a bit at a time, still caught in the whirlwind of energy that was being released. Some of the smaller objects began to burn up and drift away into fiery embers. That was before the walls themselves began to balloon outwards, deep pits starting to cave the metal, not able to withstand her power.

Suddenly she went rigid, a blue shock exploding from the collar on her neck to cover her body. The objects and debris immediately stopped, seemingly floating on the air until she finally collapsed unconscious with the destruction clattering to the floor around her. The video ended.

"We pieced together what was left of the written data that was housed with these videos." Natasha explained, walking around from the side of the desk as Fury moved to sit down in his chair, disconnecting the data drive, "It looks like they were testing her, seeing what kind of power she was capable of raising. The fluid they pumped her with was a neural inhibitor and a hallucinogen to make sure she couldn't control her emotions. She would have had no chance to stop herself from using her gift."

"They thought that her power might be more than just telekinetic." Nick picked up, turning the data drive over in his fingers, "And after her impressive display outside the lab, I'm inclined to believe them."

"More than?" Queried Steve anxiously.

"Did you see how some of the objects burnt up?" He asked in return, gesturing to the screen that had shown the footage. Steve nodded slowly in reply, "Telekinetics don't do that."

"They thought that maybe the telekinesis was just the starting point for her power." Natasha explained, her arms crossing over her chest with the seriousness of the situation, "They thought it could be possible for her to manipulate energy. Transfer it for telekinesis, or even collect and release it for displays like you just saw: The energy was so great that it turned objects to cinders. She could be a living weapon if the right buttons were pushed correctly. Or even the mother of an army if they could isolate the genes."

"And did they?" Asked Steve, his arms crossed once again to hide the tight fists that wanted to get hold of the scientists.

"No way to be sure with the data we recovered."

"More importantly, Cap. The time stamp on that last video started 5 seconds in." Nick interrupted, getting to his feet to put the drive in his pocket and to address Steve with his hands calmly behind his back, standing in his black high collared uniform, "It ended at 12. Without any form of control, she managed to go from zero to chaos in 12 seconds before they had to pull the plug and shut her down by force."

Steve had a feeling where this conversation was heading, and he was certainly not in the mood for it after what he had just seen. He had just witnessed the woman he loves being tortured. Now was not the time to push him.

"You're not gonna' lock her up, Nick." He threatened with calm menace, "You know I wouldn't allow it."

"Did I suggest locking her up?" Fury retorted, leaning forward on the desk as if he had just been insulted, "Do you think I want to see that girl imprisoned for the rest of her life?"

"Yes." Steve's answer was quick and simple, and cut Fury deep.

"You're wrong about me, Cap." He replied calmly as he stood up straight, his face unamused, "She's dangerous, I've made no secret of my opinion, and this data only strengthens that. She has fierce and unstable capabilities that could do a lot of harm, but you continue to have faith in her control. And after the incident with the lab... Well, I'm inclined to start believing too."

Steve blinked at that admission, completely taken off guard with the unexpected direction his speech had taken. And it made him suspicious of the sudden change of heart.

"We've seen what she's capable of doing when she loses her focus, but I also know about her ability to step up to the plate and deal with it when it counts." He continued, his hands finding his pockets as he strolled to the side of the desk and perched there, "However, it still might just be one slip that could kill a whole lotta' people. Just one mistake. A bad memory, a nightmare, or maybe an unexpected shock. So... I've already called Dr Banner. He should be here tomorrow and will be advising her on how to remain in control of herself. I'm also arranging for one of our training halls to be adapted for her use. Somewhere that she can... practice."

"Practice?" Steve asked, the answer to his suspicion seemingly teetering on the edge of discovery.

"She has a lot of power. And I think it would be better to see it with a controlled purpose rather than being constrained from fear. That kind of thing leads to accidents."

"Get to the point." Steve said abruptly.

"We think her abilities could be a useful addition to SHIELD." Natasha answered honestly, "Should she learn to harness them, she could have a place here. Start fresh."

And there it was.

"No." He replied firmly.

"Steve, just let us explain..."

"I said no!" He yelled fiercely, "She's spent decades being someone's toy, do you think I'm going to let that happen again? Have her be used for your own gain?"

"You got it all wrong." Fury calmly interjected, standing from his perch on the desk, "She won't be an experiment here. No scientist is gonna' so much as put her on a treadmill, I guarantee that. No more experiments, needles or deep-freeze. We can be a real asset to her, as much as she can be to us."

"She doesn't want to be your asset, Nick. She just wants her life back!" Steve bellowed, turning to march for the door to avoid breaking the furniture with the anger he felt.

"And can you give that to her, Rogers?!" Fury called, making him stop in his tracks, "Can you give her back the last seventy years of her life and pretend nothing is different? Did you manage that?"

Steve's head bowed, his teeth gritted as his hands rested on his hips with annoyance. He knew the answer very clearly: No. No, he couldn't give her back the life she had lost. He couldn't even do that for himself when he had tried. He had had to create a new life as best as he could, and now she would eventually have the same struggle if... when she found out the truth. Nothing would be the same for either of them, no matter how hard he tried.

"Of course not. You're not a miracle worker." Nick continued, "But at least with us she can have a safe, positive start at a new life. The people that did all this to her did it with a lot of purpose and effort, and if I were them I wouldn't be giving up so easily when it comes to getting her back."

Steve slowly turned at that comment, the words registering with him. He hadn't really thought about them trying to find her yet, what with everything else happening he was more focused on helping Cora cope. Now that he thought about it, he realised without any doubt that they would come for her. She was too important.

"SHIELD can help keep her off the grid, we already got people looking into who did this so we can put them down." Nick said with conviction, "In the meantime, we can give her training and help her to control her power so that she can protect herself if need be, as well as using her skills to help others. Personally I don't want to see the day that they find her unprepared. Do you?!"

He didn't answer. He didn't know what to say. All he wanted for her was to have a new happy life, not one where she would always have to look over her shoulder or be imprisoned for national security. But Steve was slowly beginning to understand that everything had changed the moment she had been taken. The world had changed, and so had she. So had Steve. They would have to adjust as best they could in a world they barely knew anymore, with the abilities that separated them from everyone else.

"She would train under your authority, so what you say goes." Natasha added, trying to smooth the issue with her talent for persuasion, "She's most comfortable with you anyway, and Dr Banner will help with her control. She won't always be staying contained here, of course. Just until we're satisfied that she won't lose it in public, and that her trail for anyone looking has been lost. Then we can arrange an apartment for her if that's what she wants. She will have a fairly normal life, Steve. No less than you. And you'll be with her the whole way. "

"Talk it over with her, Cap'ain." Fury added, "It's a big decision. For both of you."

Leaning casually against the rail of the glass elevator, his arms crossed over his uniformed chest, Steve contemplated the happenings of the day before. Specifically his conversation with Cora after Fury's offer to join SHIELD, explaining everything that it entailed. Of course, he hadn't mentioned the footage or the possibility of her power being greater than she knew. One thing at a time.

He wasn't going to deny that the idea felt a little raw on his conscience, and neither did it sit well with the part of him that wanted her out of harm's way and be able to live the normal life she deserved. However, he had to keep reminding himself that she wasn't ordinary, she wasn't an average person you may pass in the street anymore. In fact, she was extraordinary, and that meant her life would be too. He couldn't keep her wrapped in cotton wool for the rest of her life, she needed to spread her wings and rediscover herself. Which is why he accepted her answer when she wholeheartedly agreed to Fury's offer.

She had been excited, even relieved to have a hope to work towards: The bright glow of control, understanding, allies... Memories. As part of her acceptance, she had made him promise to help her remember everything of her past life, whether it was painful or not. It was her history, and she needed to know it if she would ever be able to grow and learn from it. He knew it would be hurtful for her to hear when he eventually revealed the truth of her disappearance, but he had come to terms with the fact that it was necessary. She so wanted to know what had happened, to reclaim what had been taken. And he knew now that he had been wrong to keep it from her for so long, even if it was to protect her. He had no right to keep her life from her or to decide what was best for her. He just had to believe in her strength and resilience to be able to cope with what was to come, and hope that it was the right course. And pray that she wouldn't hate him in return.

The elevator pinged it's arrival, the doors sliding open to the busy tower floor. Striding out of the lift, he made his way along the corridors, dodging the passing staff as he drew closer to Natasha's private quarters. She did have her own apartment in the city, but she also had a small self-contained residence in the tower for her own convenience between missions. It was here that she had spent the first few hours of the morning with Cora, fulfilling her promise of a new wardrobe and haircut. It was nice to see Cora beginning to trust others.

Steve stopped outside Natasha's quarters and rapped on the door. A few seconds later, he could hear someone directly moving on the other side, "It's just me, Natasha. Can I come in?"

"One second." She called back, followed by some whispering and hurried walking, "Door's open."

With a crooked smirk and a small deep breath, Steve opened the door and stepped in, immediately looking for Cora in the room. He found her in under a second, freezing to the spot only a few steps into the doorway and still holding onto the doorknob. She stood in the middle of the floor with a sweet bashful look on her radiant blushing features, the dark circles and pallid skin of her ordeal a thing of the past. Her newly cut hair draped in long waves over her shoulders and around her face in almost the same style she had always worn before she had been taken from him, and her slim curvaceous figure was wrapped in a flattering linen shirt, with tight jeans that tucked into brown calf boots. The style was different yet still her own somehow, and his slightly dumbstruck reaction showed his admiration.

"What do you think?" Cora asked with a slight edge of sweet uncertainty.

Steve straightened up, letting go of the door finally as he cleared his throat and tried to recover from his slightly embarrassing reaction, "You look... fantastic."

"I will admit that it feels... odd somehow. Like I'm not used to this sort of thing." She smiled, fiddling with her rolled up sleeves.

"Well we can always experiment, see what suits you best." Said Natasha as she stood by the Captain having enjoyed his shocked awe when he entered. It was exactly what she had hoped for.

"Thank you." Said Cora genuinely, "I really appreciate it."

"Anytime." Natasha replied, "I'll see you both later. They're arranging for some new quarters for you, Cora, and I'll let you know when they're ready. Steve, Dr Banner is already in the lab."

"Thanks." Steve smiled gratefully, "We'll be heading up there in a minute."

"I'm on coms if you need me." She added, turning for the door, "Play nice."

Cora smiled brightly at her joke, watching as she closed the door behind her to leave them with some quiet privacy.

"So... Dr Banner." Cora began, trying to raise a conversation amidst the almost palpable affection in the air, his gentle eyes and smirk doing nothing to calm her pulse when she needed to be calm and focused for what was to come, "What's he like?"

"Probably the nicest, and smartest, guy you'll meet." Steve answered, his thumbs comfortably tucking into the front of his belt as he tried not to allow himself to be overwhelmed by his emotions. She really did look beautiful.

"That's a relief." She chuckled lightly.

"Nothing to be nervous about." He said, though the one very large green exception tried to warn him against that statement, "Bruce is quite possibly the foremost expert on controlling emotions. You're in safe hands."

"Thank you. Shall we? Wouldn't like to keep him waiting."

"Oh, of course." Steve replied quickly, knocking his thoughts back to the task at hand as he opened the door for Cora, enjoying her grateful smile as she walked passed, trailing a fresh alluring scent behind her. Almost exactly the same to what she used to wear. Interesting.

The metal door of the private lab slid open to reveal a large bright room with floor to ceiling windows and various lab desks, counters, equipment, and transparent computer screens. It seemed to be the epitome of modern technology to Cora, the environment trying to unnerve her against her will for some reason, but she refused to allow it. She was safe here, with Steve. Science labs no longer meant experiments to her.

"Cora, this is Dr Bruce Banner." Steve introduced as he led the way to meet him across the lab, "He's a scientist. Mainly. Dr Banner, this is Cora."

Bruce looked up from his laptop and smiled a little cautiously as he walked out from behind the lab desk to offer his hand courteously in greeting, "Pleased to meet you."

Cora graciously accepted his gentle handshake, "Pleasure."

"You didn't mention she was English, Steve." Banner said slightly cheerfully, delighting in her crisp civilised pronunciation compared to the local accents.

"Must have slipped my mind, Bruce." He replied with a coy smirk as he crossed his hands in front of him casually, "It's easy to miss, I barely notice myself."

Cora laughed lightly at his teasing, feeling more relaxed with the lightened atmosphere.

Dr Banner seemed to be quite a sweet man with a steady but gentle voice, and a head of dark waves which currently cushioned his steel rimmed glasses that were positioned on top. He was smartly dressed in a grey suit but without a tie, the jacket resting on the back of his stool so he could roll up the sleeves of his purple shirt, which suggested to her that he wasn't afraid of getting stuck into physical work or he had been labouring for a while now. Either way, it was an endearing trait to her.

"So..." Dr Banner began, stretching out the word a little as he tried to think of how to bring up the reason he was here without being insensitive, "I hear you're quite... talented."

"That's one way of putting it, I suppose." She smiled, amused at his tactful ways, "I appreciate your kindness, Doctor, but there's no need to tip toe around it. I've accepted what I can do. I just need a little help with it."

"And that's where I come in, I take it?" Bruce asked gently, "Nick was a little vague."

"Cora doesn't remember anything of what happened to her before she woke up in the hospital. Including how to control her telekinetic power."

"Okay..." Bruce sighed lightly, resting his hands on his hips in thought, "And you think I can somehow... coach her? To control herself? Really think I should be your first choice for this?"

"No one better for the job in my eyes." Steve replied with a crooked smile.

"Steve said that you're rather good at controlling your emotions, Doctor." Cora said slightly hopefully, "I'm... struggling. The only thing keeping me in check is this collar and I'd rather not live the rest of my life under the threat of electrocution."

Bruce blinked, his brow furrowing slightly with concern, "So it shocks you... If you lose control?"

"If I use my power above a certain level, I think."

"Did SHIELD..." Banner began to ask with slight irritation.

"No, Bruce." Steve interrupted before the good doctor could get too annoyed, "It was her captors that put it on her as a way of keeping her compliant. But Fury won't allow it to be removed until she has full control of her gift."

"And to be honest, I won't allow it either." Cora added, making both of the gentlemen look at her with surprise, "I won't be responsible for hurting anymore people. I've done my share. So, if you could perhaps teach me, Dr Banner...?"

"Bruce, please." He interjected with a small smile, "And I'll do what I can, but I'm not fool proof. Even I have my moments of weakness."

"What exactly... is your weakness, if you don't mind me asking?" She inquired gently, making Steve look at the scientist cautiously, "Why do you need control?"

"Well... erm..."

"Because he's a big green rage monster if he doesn't." A new voice suddenly said, making everyone whirl around to look at the entrance. Who stood there immediately made Steve's jaw tense.

Stood in the doorway in jeans and a tight fitted black shirt was a man that seemed to ooze style, sarcasm, confidence and wit. He was leant on the table by the door, his hands in his pockets and one foot crossed behind the other in a relaxed stance as he smiled casually at them.

The first thing Cora noticed was the strange glowing shapes that emanated from his chest beneath his shirt, unlike anything she had seen before. She then directed her gaze back up to his face before she could be caught staring.

He had dark short spiky hair with a perfectly trimmed goatee framing his strong jaw. He wasn't overly muscular, nothing compared to the Captain, but he was athletic and gave off an air that there was more to him than meets the eye. Cora wasn't entirely sure what to make of him.

He released a short whistle as he stood up straight and walked over to them, "Didn't tell me she was a looker, Cap."

"Why are you here, Stark?" Said Steve with instant irritation as he ignored his question.

"Oh Fury asked me to come by and check this beautiful lady out." He replied with a hint of sarcasm as he held out his hand to her, "Tony Stark."

"Cora Elizabeth Pritcher." She replied, tentatively accepting his hand for a shake as she tried to gauge the kind of man that he was. He was certainly the playful sort that liked to toy with the Captain, and it was obvious that Steve disliked Tony. She just didn't quite know the reason yet. "Pleased to meet you, Mr Stark."

"Oh and she's English too." He said, shaking his head from a playful daze, "Be still my beating heart. And call me Tony. Only the Cap here calls me Mr Stark, though he seems adamant to leave out the title part."

"I'm not gonna' ask you again..." Steve pressed, getting more agitated by his flirting with Cora.

"Oh calm down before you blow an icicle." Stark responded, letting go of Cora's hand to walk over to the other lab desk as he spoke, "I'm here to figure out how to take the collar off our guest here."

"She isn't ready yet..."

"And when she is, we will be too." Stark retorted as he hopped onto a stool and twirled in his seat for a moment.

"Wait wait wait, go back for a second." Cora interrupted thoughtfully, "What did you mean by 'big green rage monster'?"

"Exactly what I said, sweetheart." Stark answered, getting up out of his chair to move to a holographic computer screen where he began to sift through files.

"I had... a bit of an accident." Bruce piped in to the conversation a little meekly, "Involving gamma radiation. Now if I get angry, I turn into..."

"The Hulk." Stark interrupted, clicking a video feed and swinging the screen around to show her the footage of the Hulk in action. Cora's eyes bulged in response. "Our resident green rage monster that can level a small town with one belch."

"That's hardly fair, Stark." Steve said defensively.

"It's kinda' true though." Bruce responded shyly, his hands slipping into his pockets as he saw Cora's reaction, "And now you know why I have such good control."

"But you're so... calm." She pointed out with disbelief.

"I have to be."

"Unlike Cap here." Stark pointed out sarcastically, "Really, did you get a chunk of ice lodged somewhere? You'd think seventy years as a capsicle would chill you out a bit."

"Tony..." Bruce tried to interject.

"No no, it's sweet that you try and defend him, Doc, it really is, but he could learn a lot from our lady here. She's been frozen even longer and you don't see her acting like a pompous..."

"Stark!" Steve barked suddenly, his authority and threat echoing in the lab to finally grab Tony's attention. More importantly, it directed his attention towards Cora.

She stood wide eyed, breathless and staring at the floor as she grasped the lab desk with one hand tightly. Her breathing was deepening, her free hand beginning to shake as she tried to fathom what Tony had just inadvertently admitted.

"Seventy years?" She said quietly, her voice trembling, "I was gone for seventy years?"

"Cora you need to keep calm..." Steve began, trying to ease her back down before she set off the collar.

"You're lying." She accused Stark with a firm jaw, physically struggling against herself as pens and books on the desk began to lightly vibrate on the polished surface, "It's not possible, you have to be lying."

"You hadn't told her?" Tony asked, his brow furrowed with aggression and disgust that they had kept it from her.

Steve looked at him with wrath burning in his glare, his fists curling with the need to punch out all his lights, but Cora needed him more right now.

"Cora..." He began, stepping forward to try and soothe her, but she wrenched away from him, stepping backwards towards the door as her eyes began to tear up with a chaotic mixture of grief, disbelief and anger.

"You said you knew me... That I was just gone for seven years." She stated with accusation, looking straight at Steve, "You lied to me."

"I do know you, Cora." He replied gently, standing in front of her as more objects within the lab began to jitter in response to her emotions, "I said seven because I had to tell you something to put you at ease."

"Why didn't you just tell me?!" She yelled fiercely, small objects in her near vicinity skidding away from her outburst as the orange lights triggered on the collar and the disk on her temple. Stools and chairs began to join in with the clatter, dancing across the floor with the energy she was unintentionally releasing.

"Because I know what it's like to wake up having lost everything you've ever known." He said gently, stepping forward a bit at a time, fully aware of the small alert light on her collar and silently praying for it not to change to something worse. The doctors had told him in confidence that her brain could only take so many more electrocutions before irreversible damage set in. She couldn't take anymore punishment.

"When you woke up you didn't know me." He explained softly, "You didn't remember anything. I wanted you to have a chance at a new life, Cora. One where you get to start over without mourning the old one. I didn't want you to suffer the shock and depression that I did, knowing that you had lost seventy years. I just wanted to protect you."

Tears were running down her face, her breathing beginning to speed up even faster as papers began to fly about the lab. Suddenly she started to stumble, her lungs seemingly not getting enough air as she struggled to draw breath. Steve rushed in quickly to catch her as her legs gave way, holding her steadily, kneeling on the floor as she succumb to a panic attack.

Steve briefly heard Bruce requesting a med team over the radio, but his attention was more on the woman who was struggling to not fall apart in his arms. The lab was still vibrating with her power, unable to reign it in but not powerful enough to trigger the collar yet, though the small orange light still threatened a punishment if she pushed too far.

"It's alright, Cora." He tried to soothe her, cradling her cheek in one of his hands to make her look him in the eye, "Just try to breathe evenly. Just... Cora!"

Her eyes slipped closed as her body limply fell into Steve's prepared embrace, cradling her in his arm as he checked her pulse. It was beginning to ease, as well as the energy in the room.

The papers settled and the objects finally lay still until the lab was completely silent. The orange light on the collar disappeared.