Hey everyone! Sorry I didn't post yesterday as I was actually going to. But this website wasn't working properly so I was like screw it I'll wait for tomorrow. And now it's working right. Yay!

As a side note, I have planned out exactly what happens in the rest of this story. And because I have the habit of making unstatisfying last chapters, I've started planning a sequel. YES. A SEQUEL. And let me say in my most unhumble opinion it may end up being one of the most epic things I'll ever write.

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Chapter Fifteen

Gwen woke up slowly and she wasn't quite sure where she was. She kept her eyes closed with the uncertainty, wondering if she was still with Loki. The last thing she could remember was Steve. She could see everything that was going on, even when Loki's control was making her do things. She saw when she knocked Clint unconscious and she saw when she attacked Steve. She felt terribly guilty for it and wondered what became of him.

Then she realized that he could very well be dead. If she was with Loki, he probably destroyed the building. They were all dead.

Out of fear, Gwen's eyes flew open and she tried to sit up from her laying position, only to find herself incredibly dizzy.

"Gwen!"

Hearing Steve's voice calmed her down slightly as she took in her surroundings. It looked a lot like the helicarrier's medical ward. Maybe she wasn't with Loki after all.

"Gwen, lay down."

She obeyed and calmed her breathing down which she hadn't even realized was near hyperventilation. Her eyes flicked over to where the voice came from and she saw Steve sitting on the side of her bed, pushing her down. After taking a deep breath of relief, she closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them again.

"So you're not dead," she joked slightly. Her voice sounded slightly hoarse as though she hadn't spoken in a long time.

Steve smiled big at hearing her voice and Gwen couldn't help but smile back.

"How long have I been out?" she asked.

"A few days. Doctor Banner said that you didn't need to use a lot of energy, but you still needed rest."

Gwen's heart dropped as she heard this. She wondered for a moment if Bruce had told Steve about the accident. She didn't want Steve to know, at least not yet. She knew she'd have to tell him at some point.

"Did you catch Loki?"

Steve shook his head. "We wanted to get you out of there."

"So obviously you didn't listen to me when I said to leave me there."

"Obviously."

Despite slight irritation, Gwen couldn't help but smile again. But she frowned as she remembered something.

"How's Clint?" she asked worriedly.

"He's fine," answered Steve with a shrug. "Just a broken nose. He's gone through worse."

That was very true. Clint sure had gone through much worse. But Gwen still couldn't help but feel bad about attacking her friends.

"Did anyone else get hurt?"

"No. Apparently Natasha found some darts filled with some kind of poison, but that was it."

Gwen flinched at this, remembering seeing through her own eyes as she set up that trap, specifically for Natasha. She knew she'd be on the lower floors and had set things up in hidden areas. But it seemed she didn't do a very good job at it, which Gwen was thankful for.

"And you're not hurt?" asked Gwen.

"No," said Steve. "But enough about the rest of us. How do you feel?"

"Tired. My head hurts a bit, but that's about it."

"Do you want me to get Doctor Banner?" asked Steve, starting to get up. It was then that Gwen realized he was holding her hand. She felt butterflies again and didn't want him to let go.

"No!" she said quickly, blushing immediately. "I mean, I'm sure he already knows I'm awake."

Steve's face turned slightly red as well, but he did not let go of her hand.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm sure."

It was silent for a moment before Gwen finally got the courage to ask Steve something. Something she'd been thinking about.

"Was it you?" she asked. "Was it you who sent Tony with the flowers to give to me?"

Steve's face blushed even more as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously with his free hand.

"Yeah, uh, that was me," he answered a bit quietly. "I asked Tony if he'd fly out in his suit and grab some quick."

"Why?"

"Well, I, uh, I just wanted to because, well, Thor can be a charmer and I just-"

"Wait, were you jealous when Thor kissed my hand?" Gwen's smile got even bigger than what she thought it could. She had never felt this happy before.

"I...suppose...I'm sorry."

"No, don't be sorry," answered Gwen. "I think that was sweet."

Steve looked up and finally made eye contact with her. "Really?"

She gave his hand a squeeze. "Yes, very sweet. Thank you."

"You're, uh, welcome."

The two stared into each other's eyes for an awkward amount of time to anyone around them, but since they were alone, it felt right. And, seeing as neither of them could ever have lasting moments like this in their life, they were quickly interrupted.

"Gwedolyn, you're awake!"

They turned to look at Bruce who was walking in.

"How did you know?" asked Gwen.

"I have some monitors in the labs set up so that I could know when you'd be awake," he explained. He glanced over at Steve and gave a short sigh, as though he realized that Steve could've easily gone to get Bruce, but didn't anyway.

"When can I leave?"

Bruce laughed. "Gwendolyn, you were just rescued from Loki's control. And now you've just woken up. You're not leaving for a least another day."

"Another day?" exclaimed Gwen loudly. "I feel great!"

"You said you're tired and your head hurts," argued Steve.

Gwen shot him a glare to which he merely shrugged.

"Thanks for the help," she muttered.

Steve rolled his eyes at her sudden mood change. But he did not remove his hand from hers.

"Besides, this is probably the only privacy you'll get for a while," said Bruce. Gwen looked over at him confused.

"What d'you mean?"

Bruce explained everything he had explained to Steve several days before. However, this time he could go a bit more in depth, seeing as she was there when the accident happened and understood things easier. By the time he was done, Gwen was looking pale and deep in thought.

"And I had to tell Fury," added Bruce.

"You what?

"I had to, Gwendolyn. You have to understand. There's no way I could cover this up like Agent Thorn covered up the accident for you. You're lucky I convinced him not to arrest you."

Gwen looked anywhere but at the two men beside her.

"Once you're discharged from here, I'll be working with you an hour a day to work on your powers," explained Bruce. "And trust me, you're going to need all the control you can get. I'll come back later to check on you."

And with that, Bruce left.

"Did he tell you?" asked Gwen to Steve. "About the accident?"

"No," answered Steve. "But you don't need to tell me if you don't want to."

"I really should." Gwen sat herself up a bit higher so she was more comfortable.

And then she told him about the accident. A few times she was tempted to lie and "forget" to tell him a few details, but she realized that would be very wrong to do and decided on telling him the full truth. Steve's expression didn't change throughout the entire explaination, which worried Gwen. She had no idea what he was thinking.

"I didn't mean to hurt anyone," she said at the end. "But everyone in the facility was injured somehow. No one died, thanfully, but they could have."

"Gwen, you're beating yourself up about this," said Steve. "I see no reason too."

"Because I'm a monster!" she nearly shouted. Gwen didn't know what came over her. It was like everything that she was worried about, every little thing she was thinking about came out at once. And that's when the tears started to fall.

Gwen hated crying. She did it as much as the average person, probably, but she still hated it. Especially when it was in front of other people. She thought it made her look weak. She didn't want to look weak.

"I'm a freak!" she exclaimed. "I'm dangerous, I'm-"

"Gwen, stop," ordered Steve gently. He leaned forward and wrapped her in his arms. She buried her face in the crook of his neck as she let it all out. Steve didn't seem quite sure of what he should be doing, so he just held her. And that was all Gwen needed. She didn't realize at first how much she loved having his arms around her. It calmed her down very fast and she couldn't think of anyone she'd rather be with at that moment.

"You're not a monster," he whispered in her ear. "And you're insane to think so."

And that was when she realized all she needed was Steve.

After one more night in the medical ward, Gwen was finally released. She was more than just happy about this and nearly sprinted out the door once she was dressed in her regular clothes.

Steve did not mention anything about her talk with him and it slightly worried her. What if he had been thinking about it and he realized how dangerous she was? But Gwen pushed it aside. Steve didn't seem like someone who would turn his back on her. At least she thought so.

Unfortunately, Gwen was still being forced to stay on the helicarrier and she felt stupid for even thinking she'd get to leave. She had completely forgotten about how Bruce said he'd be working with her. However, he refused to start until the next day as she was still ever so slightly drained of energy.

Steve walked with her the entire way to her living quarters. Gwen felt perfectly capable of walking by herself, but she honestly didn't mind Steve being with her. She listened to him as he talked about different things that went on before and during World War II. It was a bit creepy how she felt like she was talking to her grandfather that served in the war, but she shook her head. Steve was techincally still young, even though he was probably close to his nineties.

Before they reached her living quarters, however, the two were approached by Natasha. She had her hands behind her back as she spoke.

"Director Fury would like to speak with us all in the conference room," she said.

"Thanks," answered Steve while Gwen nodded. Natasha nodded back and moved past them.

Gwen and Steve made their way to the conference room where they found Tony and Bruce sitting next to each other, using some sort of stick and trying to zap each other with it. Clint was sitting as far away as possible, looking at them in confusion.

"Hey, Clint," said Gwen. She stayed at the door while Steve moved inside.

Clint looked up at her and smiled. "I see you're doing well."

"Yeah, thanks. By the way, I just want to say I'm sorry for trying to blow you up and breaking your nose."

"And I'm sorry that I smashed your head on a table."

"So I guess we're even then?"

"I suppose so."

Gwen smiled and sat down while Steve sat down next to her. Tony finally looked up to see them.

"Hey, look at that, Barbie's up and walking around," he teased.

"It's good to see you too, Tony," she answered with an eye roll.

Natasha entered the room followed by Thor who immediately approached Gwen.

"How are you feeling, Lady Gwendolyn?" he asked.

Gwen kept her hands on her lap and out of sight from Thor just for the sake of Steve. "Much better, thank you."

"I am sorry that my brother has caused so much harm."

"It's not your fault, Thor."

"I am afraid that I am partially to blame."

Thor was unable to say more as Fury came striding in. He stood at the front of the table and put his hands down on the top.

"We have no idea where Loki has gone," he stated.

"Not even a hello?" asked Tony with a fake look of horror and hurt on his face."

Fury ignored him. "Agent Powers, did he mention where he was going?"

"No," answered Gwen. "I didn't need to know."

"It looks to me like we won't find him until he's done something destructive," sighed Fury. "We have absolutely no idea where he is or what he's up to. He must be hiding because we haven't got a hit on him yet. And it's been days."

"So you think he's planning something big?" asked Steve.

Gwen saw Bruce shift uncomfortably in his seat as though he had already predicted this.

"Most likely," answered Fury. "I can't see how he could. I highly doubt the Chitauri will follow him this time."

"Unless he's got a new army," suggested Tony. "Or is at least got a new partner in crime or something."

"My brother would never take orders from someone," said Thor grimly. "Nor would he partner with someone."

"Then we're at a loss," said Fury, putting his hands on his hips.

It was silent as everyone thought. What was Loki doing? Why was he taking so long?

"You're all dismissed," ordered Fury at last. Very slowly, people left.

Gwen didn't know what to think. She felt bad that she didn't have anything to tell. Even though she had been taken, she had no information in order to help. And now they were all in the dark. What Fury said was true. They probably wouldn't know what Loki was up to until it was too late.

So, she got up along with Steve, and they continued back to her living quarters.

"You alright?" asked Steve.

"Yeah," answered Gwen, though she wasn't quite sure.

Gwen noticed how close she was to Steve while they walked. She could easily grab his hand. But then she decided against it. What if he didn't like her like that? Wait, did she even like him like that?

She hadn't really come to accept the fact that she had a "crush" on Steve until that moment. Gwen was always getting butterflies by the things he did, but she wasn't so sure he felt the same way towards her. But then again, she had seen him blush around her many times. And he had Tony get her flowers. How could he not like her like that?

But, seeing as Gwen was completely awkward and oblivious when it came to this sort of thing, she wasn't quite sure what to do. She could remember a time in her junior year of high school and a boy had asked to a movie and she hadn't realized it was a date until the boy tried to kiss her and she freaked out. Needless to say they never spoke again. Gwen didn't want that to happen between her and Steve. She enjoyed his presence. She wasn't going to risk anything.

And so she simply said goodbye to him when they reached her living quarters, even though her heart told her to make a move.

And although she didn't know it, Steve was thinking the exact same thing.