Busy Busy Busy! I've been working hard at my new job (I sell shoes and Macy's) and have been super exhausted more often than not that I don't have the motivation to write. BUT I got this one done and Chapter 24 is already well on it's way (I am aiming to have it posted by tonight for you all to read).

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Kyla (PyroQueenOfFire) was hard at work yesterday while I was working at created a present for me... A website for Sharon and Angel! It's a site in which our stories will be posted along with Character profiles and bios as well as pictures she and I have been making for the stories. I will post the link later when the site is ready for the public! I gotta tell you it's pretty freakin awesome, Kyla was working all day yesterday on it and I was blown away by the whole thing when she showed it to me. (For those of you who don't know, Kyla is also writing an Avengers fic using Sharon and Angel as main characters. She and I have been working with these characters for a few weeks now and we have BIG plans for them in the future).

Dedicated to Kyla, who so graciously made an amazing website and made my evening awesome when she showed it to me.

CHAPTER TWENTYTHREE

It was another day before Sharon was released from the medical ward; even then she was still a bit weak and tired. Angel was always around to help her with anything and do things for her, and it frustrated her to no end. She was used to taking care of herself, having others do it for her was different and she didn't like it. She loved that Angel wanted to worry over her and keep her rested, but Sharon wasn't about to let her do everything for her

It was when she attempted to get her food for her the day after she'd been let out that she finally drew the line, "ENOUGH!" she cried as Angel had been talking to herself in front of Sharon about meal options as if Sharon wasn't even there. She looked at her startled.

"I am a grown-ass woman! I can take care of myself dammit! I don't need you choosing my food and getting it for me like I can't make decisions for myself. I'm not a baby, I'm a freaking woman!" She yelled at them. Angel had the decency to look chagrined and stared at the ground.

"I'm sorry hun, I haven't been taking into account how you would feel. I was just so worried when you were out that I want to do everything to get you healthy again," Angel said, looking sympathetically at her friend and feeling stupid for treating her like a helpless invalid."

Sharon sighed, "I understand, but I've been out of the place for a day and I'm already returning to my normal self!" Sharon went over and gave Angel a hug, "If I'm going to really get back on my feet, I need to be doing my normal routines so that I can get back to where I was before. That means no babying from you."

"Not even a little bit?" Angel asked with a pout, but Sharon knew that look and smirked.

"The face won't work. Now go find Steve, I'm sure he can handle some babying." Sharon said with a chuckle. Angel left to go find the Captain while Sharon contemplated stuff to do.

She decided to go and see how the ship was faring after the string of incidences that occurred during Loki's breakout. As she walked through the corridors she was impressed by the improvement she saw in all the damaged areas. The Tesseract lab was still a mess from the hulk smashing around, but it was already looking better.

Sharon went over to the makeshift lab Dr. Banner had set up for the tesseract so he could look over it to see if any changes or damages had been done to it while in Loki's possession. She entered the lab and saw that Tony was also present. He seemed to be trying to convince Banner to visit Stark Tower when it was remodeled so they could talk science. Sharon smirked at their off-kilter friendship, Tony was very enthusiastic and outgoing where Banner was very introverted and quiet.

"Am I interrupting your bromance moment?" Sharon said, the men turned and smiled.

"If it isn't my sister's charming friend, do come in." Tony said, walking over to bring Sharon further into the lab. He moved as if to put an arm around her shoulder but she shrugged away. He paused and looked at her, "Are you still recovering?" He asked.

"Nah I just heard stories about where those hands have been and I really don't want them touching me," Sharon said bluntly as she casually walked over to the Tesseract and looked at it.

"Yes… so charming…" Tony muttered to himself. Banner rolled his eyes and walked over to Sharon, careful about keeping his distance, as he knew she wasn't comfortable being near him.

"I was wondering if I could talk to you about your… ability." He asked tentatively, Sharon's eyebrows lifted in surprise. She hadn't expected him to want to talk about it.

"It's nothing bad I promise. I was just curious if you would be alright with me conducting a study? I'm interested in the energy surge you had when attacking Loki, both times in fact. I think my friend, Dr. Reed Richards, would be really interested to hear about it." Banner said.

Sharon felt a little unsure, "What would this study entail?"

"Just answering a few questions and running some tests for us," Banner said easily. Tony walked over with interest.

"I'm also interested in having a look at you, I'm trying to really break into the energy business with my arc reactor technology. My first go was with Stark Tower; now had a demigod with daddy issues not violated and vandalized the place it probably would have been more successful. But I think you present some interesting possibilities that would be fascinating to look at and test and experiment with." Tony said.

Sharon stiffened at the words 'experiment' and 'test', "I'm sorry but that's not possible." She said in a cold voice before turning and leaving the room abruptly.

Tony and Bruce turned and looked at each other, confused about her reaction and sudden change in demeanor, "What was that about?" Bruce asked.

"Banner, I've known many a woman in my day. And to this day I still can't answer that question," Tony said.

*.*.*.*.*.

Angel sighed heavily as she walked into Steve's quarters and flopped on his bed without knocking first. Steve looked up from his chair where he had been reading, "If I were a less decent man I would make a remark about you being in my bed."

"If you were a less decent man you'd be like my brother and I'd feel very incestuous right about now," Angel said, staring at the ceiling.

Steve shuddered at the thought and put his book down and stood up. He walked over and sat on the bed and looked down at Angel, "Is everything alright?"

Angel sighed heavily and rolled over on her stomach and propped herself up on her elbow, "I guess, I just feel bad for having gone all mother-hen on Sharon earlier. She called me out on it and now I feel silly."

"You like to take care of people Ange, she won't hold that against you. She knows and appreciates everything you've done for her, you just have to let her have some freedom." Steve said as he stroked Angel's hair.

Angel smiled and shifted so that she was sitting on her legs. She then put her arms around Steve's neck and smiled at him, "How is it you know exactly what to say to make me feel better?"

Steve smiled, "Call it intuition."

Angel's grin widened and she leaned in to kiss him. The kiss soon went from innocent to heated, both of them groaning as Steve pulled Angel into his lap and deepened the kiss. He tangled his fingers in her long hair as she did the same to his while pressing her body close. Angel shifted so that she straddled his lap while they continued to kiss long and deep.

Steve was the first to pull back, gasping for breath as he and Angel took a moment to settle down and breathe. They both opened their eyes and stared at each other for a long time without saying anything.

"We should probably leave the room, I don't want to take advantage of you," Steve said as it dawned on him that they were on his bed, alone in his room.

Angel bit her lip and blushed, "What if I want you to take advantage of me?"

Steve gave her a look, "I'm not going to assault you like an animal, you deserve so much more than that."

Angel's heart swelled when he said that, it was more than she had ever expected to hear from a man. It made her love him all the more, "You're right, I just got carried away."

"We both did," Steve said chuckling, "Trust me, I was just as much into it as you were, if not more."

Angel blushed and smiled shyly, "Steve, you know I love you and I love being with you and around you. I just want you to know I'm all in with us." She said, hoping she wasn't being too forward.

"I'm not sure what you call it in this time, but back in my day this would be the moment I would ask if you would go steady with me," Steve said, his ears growing red and faint blush tinting his face. Angel giggled and nodded her head.

"We just call it a relationship now," she said, kissing him lightly on the lips.

"Either way, I will do right by you Angela Stark, mark my words."

Angel bit her lip and felt a little anxious about the next topic she was bringing up, "So… what exactly are your thoughts on sex?"

Steve swallowed, "Well… I don't really know too much about it…"

Angel's eyes widened, "You mean you never…?"

Steve shook his head, "Bucky was always the ladies man, even if there was a girl interested in me I never really took notice, all I wanted was to go fight the Nazis."

"Wow," Angel said, "You really are a man of morals."

Steve's ears turned red, "I just… I always put love as second priority. I wanted to make something of myself before I considered making a commitment to someone. I wanted to be worthy…"

Angel smiled, "You're the greatest man I've ever met Steve."

Steve smiled and kissed her softly, "I love you Angela Stark."

"And I love you Steven Rogers," Angel said with another kiss, "so… does this mean you want to wait?"

Steve nodded, "Just for a while. The relationship is still new and I don't want to do anything you might regret later. I really want to make this work."

Angel smiled and nodded, "I can wait, I'll wait as long as you want. I'm not going anywhere."

*.*.*.*.*.

Sharon walked through the corridors; feelings of cold and hostility running through her veins as she aimlessly kept walking forwards. Memories were boiling in the back of her mind, waiting to resurface and take hold of her head and send her into the fetal position for a day, maybe even a week.

She walked into the weapons room and went into the boxing area. There weren't any punching bags strung up. There were a few lined up on the wall, but Sharon could already tell that it would take up all of her energy to string it up, she was still too weak and it would defeat the purpose.

So instead she stood there and stared at them, and that was how Clint found her fifteen minutes later. He stood in the doorway, remembering all too clear what had happened the last time they were in this room together.

Sharon felt eyes on her and turned, raising her eyebrows when she saw Clint in the doorway, "Making a habit of stalking me Barton?"

"They don't call me Hawkeye for nothing," He fired right back at her, the corner of his mouth turning up in the crooked smile, "I don't think your knuckles would appreciate another bare-knuckle fight with a punching bag."

Sharon stayed silent and straightened herself a bit, she wasn't in the mood to talk. All she really wanted was a moment to clear her head and get out of her own mind for a moment.

"Something on your mind Shar?" Clint asked. She shook her head and started for the door.

"Just needed a moment to clear my thoughts," She said, "I think I'm just going to go read a book or something."

"I got a better idea." He said as he gently grabbed her hand and led her out of the room.

Feedback is always appreciated! I'm always happy to hear what you think and ideas!

Alasiel