Chapter 3

"Captain Rogers?" Dr Wells said for the third time. Steve blinked a few times before finally registering that he was being addressed.

"Huh, oh, sorry." Steve smiled sheepishly.

"You've been spacing out this entire session, is there something on your mind?" Dr Wells leant forward slightly, eyes roaming over his face to study his reaction. It was Dr Wells job to listen to him and perhaps offer advice, yet Steve felt awkward talking to someone else. In the past it had been Bucky who had told him what's what and pointed him in the right direction. But now he was Captain America he always had to know the right direction because he always had people looking up to him.

And yet why did he feel so lost?

Steve sighed, his shoulders hunching forward with the motion. Dr Wells adjusted the glasses before scribbling something down in his notepad, which would probably be sent straight to Director Fury after this meeting.

"Okay, let's talk about something else." Dr Wells finally announced. "What happened to your hand?"

Steve glanced down at the neatly wrapped bandages around his knuckles.

"I uh, hurt my hand..." Steve began before trailing off for a few moments unsure if he should mention Emily or not, it's not like he wasn't suppose to interact with people outside of SHIELD but still, he was always cautious to not throw people into the fire when it could be avoided. Finally with a small sigh he continued, realizing now that he had started talking and he'd better finish.

"My neighbour had spotted I had injured my hand and offered to bandage it, even though it is probably healed by now, I thought it best to leave it on for a few days in case she spotted it."

Dr Wells nodded before writing something down in his notebook. Steve inwardly cringed slightly, hoping he hadn't said something that would put Emily on SHIELD's radar. The last thing that he wanted was to get her in trouble.

"I see." Dr Wells said before closing his notebook and setting it on the side. "That was nice of her."

Steve nodded, thinking back to the pie that she baked for him as well. It was as tasty as it smelled and he had to resist the urge to eat more than one slice after he had finished. Even with his fast metabolism it's not like he would put on weight for it, it was more he wanted to make it last a few more days.

Dr Wells watched Steve with interest, it was unlike Steve to space out, perhaps it had something to do with this new neighbour. He leafed through Steve's file, Agent Korbl had moved his sister into the opposite apartment from Steve. So she wasn't a member of SHIELD. Perhaps a little social interaction outside of the organization would do him good.

" What's she like, your neighbour?"

That brought Steve out of his daze, his eyes snapped to Dr Wells and suddenly he was defensive, closed off, even more so than usual. Was he protecting her? This was interesting.

"It is just general curiosity Captain Rogers," Dr Wells tried encouraging him lightly.

"She's... nice." Steve finally said after a few moments and narrowed his eyes. That's all he would say on the topic.

The rest of the session passed by without incident, Steve was more on his guard and kept his answers blunt and simple and Dr Wells soon realized that he wouldn't get anywhere with Steve for now.

"It appears your time is up Captain Rogers." Dr Wells announced, Steve shifted uncomfortably, perhaps that was a bad choice in words.

"I will see you on-" He paused to glance at his planner. "Wednesday?"

Steve nodded and bid the doctor goodbye before stepping out into the corridor of the SHIELD facility. While there was no missions Steve had the 'freedom' to come and go as he pleased. This suited him just fine, if SHIELD had need for him they would send for him.

Now it was time to get out of here and hit the gym for a little while. Steve did his best thinking when he was training, it allowed him to clear his head and just focus. He turned the corridor and suddenly a familiar face met his eyes.

Jeremy Korbl swore in what was most likely German and sighed.

"Captain Rogers, let me explain!"

Steve didn't give him another chance to speak because he barged past him, ignoring the call of his name.

He knew it. He knew he had seen that face before. He was a member of SHIELD. He was such a fool, even after all this time they still were keeping tabs on him. SHIELD Agents at his door, pretending to be his neighbours. Pretending to care. Steve growled and stormed out of the SHIELD building going straight to his bike.

He didn't know where he was going, he didn't care, as long as it was away from SHIELD away from Jeremy and away from her. Steve was unsure as to why it was winding him up so much. Perhaps because he thought finally he might have a chance at making some friends that were actually normal. Kate occasionally talked to him as they passed in the hallway, she was nice, but now he was beginning to question if she was true or another SHIELD agent.

Somehow he had found himself at the entrance of his gym. He parked his bike and stormed inside. He needed to blow off some steam. Luckily he always kept a spare set of training clothes in his locker, and thanks to SHIELD there was an endless supply of punching bags. He got changed and hooked one up, and in one swift punch the bag had already split and flew across the room, spraying sand everywhere. Steve growled and hooked another one up.

How could he be so stupid? SHIELD would never let him have a normal life or any semblance of normality. They gave him the illusion of freedom and choice, all while keeping tabs on him from a distance. He snarled and the second punching bag had joined the first across the room.

Steve continued this for another few hours, slowly just burning off steam, by the end of it there was a small pyramid of ruined sandbags in the corner of the room. Steve would clean it up another time. He ran a hand through his hair, the sweat slicked it back slightly and he stepped into the cool air of the outside world again.

This was ridiculous, SHIELD still didn't trust him after all this time. He grumbled and got on his bike, intending to just shut himself in until SHIELD needed him again. He was tired of just being a tool for whoever just had the power. He was meant for more than that. He winced, a memory coming to mind.

The rain was pouring down heavily,it was cold, windy and miserable. The crowds back home were normally more noisy and engaging but out here they jeered and booed him and demanded for him to bring the girls back out. Steve had taken shelter around the side of the stadge and was kneeling down doodling in his sketchbook. A small cough drew his attention. It was Peggy.

"What are you doing here?" Steve asked with a small tilt of his head. Peggy smiled down at him before glancing around.

"Officially I'm not here at all." She paused for a few moments before adding, "That was quite a performance."

Steve cringed slightly and averted his eyes for a few moments. "Yeah. Uh...I had to improvise a little bit. Crowds I'm used to are usually more uh..." he trailed off, glancing back down at his feet. Peggy smiled reassuringly.

"But I understand you Americans knew hope?" It was more of a question than a statement but Steve smiled and puffed out his chest with pride.

"Bond sales take a ten percent bump in every state I visit." He announced with a smile. Peggy frowned for a moment.

"Is that Senator Brandt I hear?" Steve could've sworn he picked up a bit of venom in her voice. No he was sure he was imagining it.

He shrugged and with a small sigh added. "At least he's got me doing this. Phillips would have had be stuck in lab." Now it was his turn to be bitter.

Peggy's look softened and she reached out to place a hand on his shoulder. "And these are your only two options? A lab rat or a dancing monkey? You were meant for more than this, you know?"

Steve glanced up at her, words were on the tip of his tongue, yet he didn't know if he wanted to speak them.

"What?" Peggy asked, encouraging him gently.

"You know for the longest time I dreamed about coming overseas and be on the front lines. Serving my country. I finally get everything I wanted, and I'm wearing tights."

If it wasn't for Peggy he would have never rescued those people. He would've probably still been a dancing monkey for Brandt until the war had ended. He parked his bike and climbed the stairs to his apartment. He had finally calmed down slightly, the memory of Peggy damping the flames of his anger.

"Hey Steve."

The voice of Emily reached his ears as he passed her on the stairs, he side glanced her. She smiled warmly at him.

"I hope you liked the pie."

Steve clenched his fists tightly before turning to her.

"Why don't you just cut the act already!"

She furrowed her brows in confusion. "I don't know wha-"

"Yes you DO!" Steve cut across her, she took a small step away from him. "I know you work for SHIELD, so you can tell Fury that I don't need a babysitter." He couldn't stop the stream of words. "I'm tired of you people treating me like I'm a dancing monkey! I work for SHIELD but that does not mean you control my life!" He narrowed his eyes at her.

"I don't need your fake friendship, so stay out of my life, go back to Fury."

Steve almost regretted shouting at her when he saw the look on her face. She almost looked like she was going to burst out crying.

"I-I don't know what you are talking about S-Steve." Emily whimpered before rushing up the stairs. "But if you are going to be an asshole then I don't even want to be your friend anyway!" She turned her back and rushed inside, the slamming of the door echoing down the hall. Steve marched up and slammed his own door in turn as he entered his apartment.

A few hours later there was a knock at his door. Steve growled and crossed the room. Who would be bothering him now? He opened the door and was met with a punch square in the jaw.

"You dick!" Jeremy Korbl shouted. Steve recovered quickly enough and grabbed Jeremy by the collar of his shirt, slamming him up against the wall.

"What is your problem!" He hissed. He doubted SHIELD had put out a call on him. And even if they did they would need a lot more than one lone man to take him down.

"She's not SHIELD!" Jeremy snarled, trying to take another swing at him.

"Don't lie to me." Steve growled. Jeremy grabbed Steve's wrist and tried to pry it off his shirt.

"I'm not lying! She's a civi. SHIELD moved her here at my request to keep her safe. She has nothing to do with SHIELD, she doesn't even know they exist."

Steve dropped Jeremy, who scrambled to his feet, wiping the dust off his suit. Was he telling the truth? Or was this just another one of SHIELD's ploys? He studied Jeremy carefully. He was obviously furious, all he wanted to do was sucker punch him again.

"She's been crying her eyes out for the past hour, just so you know." Jeremy spat venomously. Either he was a good liar or.. he was telling the truth.

Steve ran a hand through his hair. What had he done? He had never felt so bad in his life. He made her cry, for no reason at all. He was an ass.

"I have to apologize to her."

"No," Jeremy snapped before his glare softened. He reached across and placed a hand on Steve's shoulder. "You've done enough for one night. Just give her a few days.."

With that Jeremy turned on his heel and crossed the hall, letting himself in Emily's apartment. Steve remained standing in the hallway for several long moments wishing the floor would just swallow him whole.

A big thank you to Rurrlock-God of Power, kcollins720 and adrianne for reviewing. Until next time Hope you are enjoying it so far! Let me know!