Chapter 15

By: MysticFantasy

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A/N: I'm aware that Natasha was trained by Winter Soldier when she was young and they were lovers at one point but in this version she never met him and therefore does not know he is James Barnes. Just to clear things up a bit.

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"The only reason I cleared you is for you to take the extra day to rest at home where you can and will relax." Bruce said. "I've told the others about it already so don't try to sneak around it."

"You're one of few people I've met in this time who think ahead that far." Steve said with a smirk.

"A habit that formed and I like it." Bruce replied with his own smirk.

"Please Bruce. Can I just go to the gym for a few hours?" Steve lightly pleaded.

"No. Doctor's orders to stay in bed and rest."

"Not even the tread?"

"I admire your determination but no. Steve, I understand that you're active and have been since you were able to after getting the serum but you should know that rest is just as important for your body."

"I know." Steve agreed. "Heard it after I went three days of non stop fighting during a raid. Phillips was surprised that I was able to stay awake that long during a fight."

"I'm impressed too." Bruce admitted. "I didn't know you could stay wake that long."

"Longest I've ever gone was four days." Steve said.

"Well, here, you are not going to miss a single night of sleep." Bruce stated.

"I won't miss any sleep and rest." Steve said.

"Promise?"

"I promise." Steve vowed. He knew he was stuck. When he made a promise, he kept it. It was really the only way that someone could make him take a vacation or relax.

"Good. Just remember that I have everyone on alert and Jarvis will let me know if you step a foot out of your floor." Bruce declared.

"I won't forget." Steve replied.

"Good. Give a call if you need anything."

Steve laid back in his bed and stared at the ceiling. Everything was so quiet and calm and it made him a little jumpy. The tower was never this quiet and calm.

Tony was almost always blowing something up in the lab, Clint was crawling around in the vents or Thor's voice echoed throughout at least ten floors.

"It's eerie. Isn't it?"

Steve sat up and lightly smiled when he saw Natasha standing in the doorway.

"It's never this quiet here." she added as she walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. "Guess that means something is going to happen."

"Knowing us, I agree." Steve said with a smirk.

Almost as if fate agreed with them, there was a loud booming noise and a small tremble felt by the two.

"Sounds like Tony is having fun." Natasha said.

"Guess so."

"Steve, we need to really talk." Natasha said. "I need to know what you plan to do if you come face to face with Winter Soldier."

"I don't know what I'm going to do, Natasha." Steve confessed. "I want to try to talk to him about what happened and why he's doing this but at the same time I know I have to stop him. I have to stop him before he hurts someone else."

"Steve, we know that he's after you and no one else." Natasha said. "Whatever he wants, he wants it from you."

"I just understand it." Steve said. "How did he survive to begin with?"

"We'll find out." Natasha said. "Maybe we can try to talk to him first. See if we can't get him to explain a few things."

"It's worth a try." Steve said. "I would like to know why my best friend is trying to kill me."

Natasha wanted to say something to comfort him but she couldn't think of anything. She never went through anything like what he's going through.

She never had friends to stab her in the back, let alone try to kill her.

The Avengers were the first real friends she's actually had in her life and she couldn't imagine being hurt by them like the way Steve was feeling.

She only hoped that he didn't get more injuries or killed from trying to talk to James Barnes when they finally come face to face.