Steve left Nikita to rest with the remote to the TV in the room, while he went to debrief. Afterwards he contacted JARVIS, asking the AI to order some clothes in the same size and style as those Nikita had been wearing as well as whatever essentials he might deem necessary, and have them delivered to Steve's apartment in Stark's Tower. When he returned to Nikita's room, Steve met with her doctor for instructions on caring for her wounds and made arrangements to take her home. While Steve talked to the doctor, a nurse helped Nikita dress in a set of scrubs, since none of her clothes had survived. Steve had gathered up all of her weapons and tactical gear, packing it all in a bag, then he commandeered a black SUV from the facility garage and drove them to the Tower. When they arrived Steve guided Nikita into the elevator, taking it directly to his level. Introducing Nikita to the other residents of the Tower could wait. For now the Dominant in him was driven to pamper and care for his still wounded sub, there was no way his protective instincts would allow anyone else around her.
Once in his apartment Steve gently pulled Nikita into his arms, giving into the need for physical contact he had been suppressing since the bonding. He pressed her head to rest against his shoulder, planting a kiss to the top of her head, his arms wrapped tight around her careful not to put pressure on any of her injuries. Nikita was stiff in his arms and he could sense a spike of fear from her. Steve rubbed one hand soothingly up and down her back softly. "Good girl, just relax, so good for me," he whispered in her ear praising her for submitting to his touch despite her fear. Gradually her body relaxed and the fear lessened.
Nikita found herself wrapped in the Captain's arms, surrounded by his warmth. At first she had stiffened in fear, not knowing where this was going. With her head resting on his shoulder she took in deep breaths of his scent. The Captain (Her Captain?) smelled like clean sweat, leather, and something uniquely him. His scent and soothing touches kept her from panicking, helping her manage her fear and resist her initial urge to break free from his hold. His words of praise providing her with a warm sense reassurance that helped her work through the confusion of her conflicting impulses, allowing her to give in to her sub nature and begin to relax in his embrace.
Sensing Nikita's deepening submission Steve pulled back a bit, and tilted her head up to face him. "I'm going to take care of you now. Do you have a safeword?"
"No," she answered in a small voice around the lump in her throat.
"Then until you choose one we will use colors. Green means we can continue with what is happening. Yellow means you are uncomfortable enough that we need to take a step back or pause before either continuing or stopping. If you say Red everything stops immediately. You will never be punished for calling Red or Yellow. Now, what is your color?" Steve asked.
Nikita thought about that question for a moment. He hadn't said what 'taking care of her' would entail, instead he was asking her to trust him. Trust was not something that came easily to Nikita but the sub in her needed to give her Dom anything he wanted from her. She concentrated on the bond, sensing only protective concern from him, "Green."
"Good," Steve responded with a smile. "I don't want you to speak unless you need to call a color."
With that, Steve took her hand and led her into the bathroom. He lifted her to sit on the counter, then went to draw a bath. Steve filled a glass of water from the sink then he held one of the pain pills prescribed by her doctor up to her mouth. She looked at the pill warily. Steve knew that this was a huge test of her willingness to trust so he simply stood in front of her, waiting to see what she would do. After a long moment Nikita opened her mouth accepting the pill and swallowing it with water from the glass Steve held to her lips. "So good," Steve praised as he cupped her cheek, smiling when she unconsciously leaned into his touch.
Steve then inspected the basket of toiletries that JARVIS had had delivered, handing her a new toothbrush he directed Nikita to brush her teeth while he added some lavender bath salts to the tub. When she finished, he lifted her off the counter, setting her on her feet. Steve lifted the hem of her shirt and, careful of her injuries, pulled it off. Then he slowly slid her pants down, helping her to step out of them. His breath caught at his first sight of her naked. Underneath the dried blood and bandages, she was stunning.
Nikita was tempted to call Yellow when the Captain began to remove her clothes, instead she tried to calm her mind and listen to the bond. She could sense his approval, but no aggression, so instead she took a deep breath determined to continue. Steve gently removed all of the bandages covering the worst of her wounds, being careful not to pull any of her stitches. He then guided her over to the tub, steadying her as she stepped in and sank down into the water.
Steve gathered up what he needed from the basket and knelt down behind her. He directed her to scoot forward and then lean back. With one hand at the nape of her neck he kept her face above the water as he dampened her hair with his other hand before guiding her to sit back up. Steve then washed her hair, working the shampoo into her hair thoroughly, lightly scraping her scalp with his blunt fingernails. He then had her lean back down to rinse her hair, careful to make sure no suds got in her eyes. As he worked conditioner into her hair, massaging her scalp, Nikita felt the pain medication begin to take hold. She began to feel relaxed and drowsy, luxuriating in the feel of the Captain's strong yet gentle hands in her hair. Leaving the conditioner in her hair Steve wet a washcloth adding lavender scented body wash, working it up into a lather. Steve then carefully and tenderly washed away days worth of dried blood and sweat. He made sure to keep giving her words of encouragement and praise. When he was finished he rinsed the soap off her body and the conditioner from her hair, wringing the excess water out.
Steve pulled the plug to drain the tub, then directed Nikita to stand up, helping her step out of the tub. He took a large fluffy towel using it to gently dry off her body, paying extra attention to her injuries. Next he took a tube of Neosporin and applied it carefully to every scrape and cut, paying special attention to those requiring stitches which he then covered with clean sterile gauze pads, taping them securely in place. Finally he wrapped her up in a new towel before carrying her out of the room.
Steve carried her into the bedroom, setting her down on the bed. He then dressed her in one of his own button down shirts and a pair of white cotton underwear from the supplies provided by JARVIS. Steve led her into the living room, sitting down on the couch and directing her to kneel between his legs with her back to him. He then dried her hair further with the towel before carefully working a comb through it.
He continued to gently comb her hair long after all the tangles were gone. He eventually guided her head to rest against his thigh replacing the comb with his hand, petting her until her eyes started to flutter.
Nikita couldn't resist a sigh of pure pleasure as the Captain ran his fingers through her hair. There was something so incredibly satisfying about kneeling with her head resting on his muscled thigh. The knowledge that she was doing exactly what her Dom wanted and his whispered words of praise filled Nikita with such a deep sense of contentment she began to doze off. Steve carefully pulled her up into his lap, cuddling her until her eyes drifted shut and her breathing became deep and even as she fell asleep. At this point he carried her back into the bedroom, placing her under the covers, tucking her into his bed where she belonged.
Watching his sub sleeping peacefully in his bed filled Steve with a profound sense of rightness. Going over the evening in his mind he was deeply gratified by her beautiful submission, sensing how difficult it had been for her to trust him. Determined to get this right he turned away from the room, leaving the door cracked open in case she needed anything.