A/N: Bonus chapter! Enjoy :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel, Disney, or the Avengers. Just Mia.
After cooking enough for an army, I brought the four casserole dishes down to find Sam had joined the guys. He grinned at me, and got up to help me get dishes ready.
"How is Gwen?" He asked, after grabbing serving spoons.
"She's good. She's missed you, and I have to say, she may have blushed more with that phone call, than I've ever seen her do in the month and a half I've known her." I said, elbowing his ribs. He gave a slow smirk, and then smiled sadly.
"She was stationed in a field hospital 20 miles from the front, and I had to tell her. She knew the second I walked in without Riley." He said, pulling a dog tag out from underneath his shirt, with a black outline.
It read "Riley Edward Diaz", and a couple numbers I didn't understand. Sighing I handed it back to him. He tucked it back underneath his shirt and continued, "She was a wreck, and they sent her stateside. She was only volunteering, but she saw more over there than she should have. I've been looking for her. Her family has no clue where she is, and I'm worried for her. As more than her brother's partner."
"She'd appreciate knowing that." I said as Bucky and Steve came up to the kitchen island to dish up. Bucky gave me a nod in thanks, still not quite comfortable around me to talk without prompting. Steve gently grabbed my elbow to drag me in for a sweet kiss, and thanked me for cooking.
"Oh my god, what is this heavenly smell?" Clint asked, as Natasha and him strolled out of the elevator. Bucky instantly jumped up and went to reach for his gun that was no longer on his hip. Panicking, he grabbed the closest object and tried to jump in between the two assassins and myself. Natasha kept her cool, standing still and throat chopping Clint to stop him.
Oblivious blonde.
"Bucky, they are friends, they mean no harm." Steve said softly. Natasha was calm as Bucky studied her, and Clint was still trying to get over the throat chop by gasping on the floor.
"Could you be anymore of a wuss?" I laughed to Clint, who stood up and stared down Natasha.
"Bucky, come finish your dinner," I suggested when the standoff continued. Food was obviously the best distraction, because he backed away slowly, and retreated to where his plate was. Sam gave me a nod that I did well, and I said, "I aced my psych exams."
"Bucky this is Natasha and Clint, some of my other teammates." Steve explained as each gave a small wave in acknowledgement.
"Dish up guys," I said, handing bottles of beer to the guys and moving to start making myself a cocktail with a lot of vodka. Natasha took a straight glass of vodka before Clint took a plateful of casserole to himself. Rolling our eyes, Natasha and I dished up. We didn't need to talk to communicate. She noticed the way I was walking, and winked. Blushing I nodded, and said, "Partly a 20 hour surgery."
Chuckling, she glanced at Steve and he blushed, clearly understand we were talking about him screwing me so hard I was walking funny.
"Good job Cap," she said, to which all the men started laughing at Steve's red face. Bucky cracked a smile, catching on to what we were talking about. I really had no shame, so I just wore the love bites on my neck proudly. Sitting down beside him he kissed my cheek in thanks for the food.
"God, this is uh-mazing," Clint said through a mouthful of food. Natasha rolled her eyes again subtly, and I laughed, "Glad you like my cooking."
"Where on earth did you get this recipe?" Sam asked, still trying to figure out why there were small bits of ham with veggies in soup, topped with cheese and breadcrumbs.
"My friend Sarah, she worked at the bar across the street, from the hospital I did my residence at. She handed me the recipe when I complained about what to do with leftover ham from an Easter dinner I hosted. And voila, Sarah's Casserole," I said, as the guys went for seconds.
"Could you give it to me?" Clint asked, a weird look on his face.
"Yeah, its pretty straight forward." I said, as Athena laid her head on my lap. She had sandwiched herself between Steve and I before I started eating. I was feeding her bits of ham, while Steve gave her the occasional green bean. Petting her head with my free hand, I looked at everyone, smiling at the camaraderie coursing though the group already. Bucky was warming up to Clint, who just was basically an airhead blonde. He had the brain of a bird was more like it.
"Um, excuse me," I said as my cell phone went off. Picking it up off the counter, I answered, "Dr. Amelia Stark."
"Mia, it's Gabby."
"Thank you for finally calling me Mia," I laughed.
"I thought it was okay now since we've known each other longer."
"Alright, what's up?" I asked, as Athena sat by my feet.
"Dr. Diaz has told me to tell you that she's on her way over to bring you chocolate and wine. I've actually called to talk about the paperwork Dr. Fisher's assistant dropped off. It seems that Dr. Fisher isn't just retiring early. He's stepping down by order of the board."
"Wait, what?" I said, feeling enraged.
"I promise not to repeat this, but it seems as though he was diagnosed with anaplastic thyroid cancer."
"My god," I said, shaking my head.
"He has three months…" Gabby said, the emotion thick in her voice.
"I can't be here then. I need to be working with him, learning all I can," I said, shaking my head in disbelief.
"He will be in tomorrow for secret testing with the oncologist Dr. Bering."
"What time?" I said, thinking of losing the one person who had complete faith in me to entrust me with a hospital.
"9am. I've cleared your schedule regardless, Dr. Fisher's orders." She said, sniffling. She had worked with Dr. Fisher longer than I had, so I understood her emotions.
"I'll be in to speak to him." I said, as Steve came to hug me from behind. I realized I had been crying, but only he picked up on it.
"Thank you for telling me Gabby. Take the rest of the day to yourself," I said, knowing it was only a few hours, but she sounded like she needed it.
"I think I might. Bye Mia," She said before hanging up.
"Are you alright?" Steve whispered in my ear. My tears hadn't stopped, but I schooled my face into a blank expression.
"Dr. Fisher, my boss was diagnosed with Anaplastic thyroid cancer. He has three months," I said, not turning to face him. He moved to stand in front of me, and held me to his chest.
"Bubble bath and wine?" He asked. I nodded and he picked me up bridal style looking back at the group.
"I'll explain later. She needs some space," He said as Natasha came up to me and squeezed my hand.
"I'm here if you want to talk about it," She said, even though her voice was void of emotion. I nodded in thanks, feeling worse and worse.
"Sam," I said, lifting my head slightly.
"Come down in an hour." He nodded, and didn't push it.
"Athena," Steve said to which the puppy followed us into the elevator. When we go to my floor, I got into my swimsuit, which puzzled Steve. He filled the tub with soothing hot water, adding rose water, and bubble bath from my selection. Bringing a glass of red wine from the kitchen, and the rest of the bottle. The elevator opened and Steve went to go see whom it was. Gwen's soft voice floated down the halls, while Steve explained the state I was in. I had finished my glass and was drinking straight from the bottle. She borrowed on of my bathing suits and plopped down in the tub with me, handing me a box of chocolates. Crying silently, I took one and ate it slowly, washing it down with wine. Steve left us to our bonding time with the door-cracked open and him sitting on the couch in my room sketching. Gwen knew I didn't need words, but a big hug. I held her and she held me. To anyone else it would have been odd, but Gwen wasn't shy, and neither was I. Our friendship had blossomed and I didn't see myself at the hospital without her.
"His wife passed five years ago, and he doesn't have any children or siblings. He's all alone, and we need to show him that the hospital will always be his family."
"I agree." I whispered, as she laid her cheek against the top of my head.
"He's the only one that believed in me. He trusts me with a hospital, with nurses and doctors, patients and budgets. He barely knew me, and is ready to give me all this responsibility and I have no way to thank him for his faith in me." I sighed, grabbing more chocolate. We laughed slightly as it melted in our grasp, and continued to drink straight from the bottle.
"We have to be strong for him," She said, touching the dog tag around her neck. I stole a glance at it, and realized it was the second of Riley's dog tags.
"We have to," I said, siting up and getting out of the tub. Athena nearly bounded through the door, but I pushed her back as I made my way to get dressed. Gwen and I had been in there for over 45 minutes and the elevator dinged signaling Sam's arrival. Steve went to greet his friend as I handed Gwen a towel. She got dressed in the bathroom, while I dressed in my closet. We linked arms as we left my bedroom, each taking a swig from our respective bottles of wine. She giggled, feeling slightly tipsy, while I was only buzzed. I had a tolerance as high as Thor's some days.
"Gwen?" Sam asked, taking in her slightly sloshed form. She turned slowly, and smiled, "Sammy!"
"Sammy?" Steve teased under his breath. Gwen bounded over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Is this normal?" Sam said as Gwen held him tighter.
"She's an affectionate drunk," I giggled, as Steve wrapped an arm around my waist.
"Sam, I missed you and I'm sorry I took off," She said, looking up at him. She seemed to have sobered up realizing who she was hugging. Sam smiled sadly saying, "I missed my favorite girl too. Her smiles were my whole reason for fighting."
Her blush made him smile, as he led her towards the couches by the large windows. I looked up to Steve who knew what I was gonna ask. He walked me to my bedroom and we sat down on the couch to give them some privacy.
"I was thinking last night." He said, cuddling me close. I nodded for him to continue, and he said, "I hope I'm not overstepping, but I was wondering if we should move in together."
"Of course silly," I said, as Athena jumped up to lick my face.
"She's happy you decided too," He chuckled lightly. I laughed, and rubbed her ears affectionately.
"When do you want to move in?" I asked, smiling up at him.
"Well, I want to make sure Bucky is settled first on my floor. Guess it will be his floor now." He said, as I went to make sure for him in the closet.
"I don't use that tall dresser, so you can use it, and this half of the closet can be yours too," I said, moving some of my dresses and shoes.
"It might not be for another week Doll," he said, smiling at my eagerness. Giggling, I remembered the two guests in my living room, and went to peek out the door. Sam had Gwen in a tight embrace, holding her to his chest, while she was crying. Grabbing my notepad off of the kitchen counter, I quickly jotted down a couple ideas of what we could do for the Chief.
"Hate to interrupt, but Gwen and I need to brainstorm." I whispered, as Gwen sat up. She smiled at me softly, and kissed Sam's cheek, blushing fire engine red as she pulled away.
"Sam and I need to help Bucky anyway."
"Yeah, I left him with the Terror Twins," he chuckled, getting up.
"Terror twins?" I asked.
"Clint terrorizes people with his stupidity and Tasha just terrifies Sam." Steve chuckled, dodging a throw pillow Sam chucked at his head.
"We should hold a Charity ball in his honor, to raise money for research."
"You and I both know where that money goes," I said, pretending to put my hand in my back pocket.
"Maybe if we set up a foundation in his name? And we would control where the money goes then," I suggested. Gwen squealed, "That's perfect!"
Quickly scrolling through my contacts, picking one and letting it ring, I didn't give the other person a chance to speak, "Hey Pep, I need your help with something."