Natasha's POV

"Clint, don't forget the blanket!"

I watch as Clint nods and grabs the red and white checkered roll out of the back seat of the SUV. It was the Fourth of July, and Tony, Clint, Taylor, Bruce, Thor and I were coming out to Central Park to watch a fireworks display that was happening in about half an hour.

The problem was that everyone seemed really high energy as of right now, mainly Taylor. She was really embracing that magical energy bursts teenagers seem to get, running and jumping and climbing everyone, everywhere, and everything. And may I just say, that kid can run. Fast.

Clint and I walk over to the main group, and we all start making our way down the hill. Taylor runs up behind Tony and jumps, wrapping her legs around his waist and laughing like a maniac.

"Gah! Taylor, get…hey!" Tony protests as he stumbles forward a few steps under the added one hundred and twenty solid pounds.

I laugh as he shakes her off, causing her to land flat on her butt, glaring up at him. He just shrugs and offers her a hand. She rolls her eyes and grins as she pops back up and dashes away from her dad, giggling crazily.

I roll my eyes and watch her run and bounce like someone gave the Energizer Bunny two liters of Mountain Dew.

"Come on, guys, we're almost at our spot!" I call as we reach a clearing on a hill, giving us a decent view of both the sky and the ground below us. I help Bruce lay out the blanket while Clint hauls the cooler over, Steve sorts through the food, and Tony keeps an eye on his daughter.

"Come and eat, people!" Steve calls out in a voice that can carry across a battlefield, and the rest of the group runs over and grabs their designated sandwich. Except Taylor. I sigh and shoot Tony a pointed glance, who just raises his eyebrows and looks at Clint. Clint groans but sets his sandwich down and chases after his girlfriend, scooping her up bridal style and sets her down next to him and shoves a sandwich at her. Any malicious intent in his actions is erased by a kiss to the temple and a few whispered words that make her laugh.

Food is scarfed down, drinks are sipped, and Tony's minimal filter on dirty jokes seems to disappear.

"It's starting!" Taylor calls and we all look up to the sky to see the first sparks of blue and white burst in the sky.

I lay back on the blanket and watch as the sky lights up red, white, blue, green, purple, and every color in between. Nobody makes a sound, just letting the wonder light up their eyes.

About half an hour into the show, I glance to my left slightly to wish Steve a happy birthday and comment on the fireworks.

But then I notice that the super soldier has gone ramrod straight, his eyes staring unblinkingly at a point on the horizon.

"Steve?" I call as I prop myself up on my elbows. "Steve!"

I raise myself into a kneeling position and study the captain. 'Guys, come here for a sec."

They all look over and Taylor crawls to my side. "Natasha, what's – oh."

"Oh is right." I agree. "What do you think it is?"

"Do you think it's a Code Blue?"

I shake my head. "Not yet. Let me try again." I reach out for his shoulder, giving it a slight shake and calling his name again.

Then something snaps. He throws his weight into me, making me stumble back a few steps.

"What the-"

"The fireworks!" Bruce shouts as he backpedals. "Soldiers from WWII and Vietnam commonly have PTSD because the bombs sound like fireworks!"

"He's probably having flashbacks!" Taylor shouts just before Steve swings at her, there's a sickening crunch, and then she's on the ground and clutching her nose.

I duck and rush over, being the closest person to her. "You okay?" I ask as I help her sit up.

"Yeah." she pants, her voice a little muffled by her hand. "He got my nose. Think it's broken."

I help her tip her head up so she won't drown in her own blood then help her stand and lead her several feet away.

I shush all protests and jog back to where Steve is standing, shaking like a leaf. I am forced to duck and back away as a fist comes too close for comfort.

Suddenly we all glance at each other, knowing how to solve this.

"Thor!" we all shout, and the blonde god looks at us quizzically. I wave a hand towards the shivering soldier, and realization dawns on Thor's face and he nods.

Steve and Thor go down with an audible thud, in a whirlwind of muscle and growls (Steve).

They roll for a few feet before Thor finally gets Steve pinned, and we all rush over.

"How do we snap him out of it?" I ask as I cautiously approach Steve.

"How do you snap the rest of us out of it?" Clint asks.

"Using physical touch and something that can only be found in the present environment." I reply, glancing around for something to use. My eyes land on one of our phones lying on the blanket.

"Phones? No phones like these in the '40s." I reason.

Tony frowns. "He will crush them like tissue paper. Then they won't do much good, if not inflicting more pain from the shards."

"He can't smash my phone." Bruce points out. "Hulk proof, remember?"

Tony's eyes light up. "Brucie, you genius!"

He takes Bruce's phone and slowly edges towards Thor and Steve. At a nod from Thor, he places the slim device in one of Steve's hands before quickly jogging backwards.

It works. Steve's fingers curl around the cool, sleek metal and confusion takes over his face before recognition, sadness, and grief all flash through and he goes limp under Thor, who quickly lets him go.

Steve's eyes briefly close for a moment before he sits up and blink at his surroundings.

"Steve?" I call softly. "You with us?"

He jumps a little, but turns to me loosely, minus the tension he had beforehand. "What? Oh, yeah, I am. Thanks, guys. And…I'm really sorry."

"No need to apologize." I assure him as I help him up.

"What was that?" Tony cuts in, straight to the point.

Steve studies his shoes. "I…um…don't know. Just, one minute, I was here, and the next I was on an old battlefield with the Commandos, and we were…" he trails off and shudders slightly.

"No need to explain." Bruce interjects. "PTSD isn't a new thing. There are at least seven cases on this team alone." He waves a hand at the rest of us, and we all show our agreement.

Steve glances around the clearing, "Did I hurt anyone?"

I shift and squirm uncomfortably. "Um…well…"

Steve gives me a panicked, desperate look. "Natasha?! Did. I. Hurt. Anyone?"

"Not seriously." I backpedal. "Nothing major. Just…"

"My nose." a muffled voice finishes from behind me. "You kind of broke it." Taylor admits simply.

Steve instantly looks guilty and apologetic. "Oh my gosh, Taylor, I'm sorry. I didn't…I wasn't…"

"You're right." she agrees, "You weren't in control of you actions, because that was instinct doing the hitting. No blame is necessary, no blame is given."

He nods and goes over to help her up.

"I just have one question." Bruce admits. "Why didn't you tell us? We could've done something else."

Steve looks sheepish. "I didn't know."

Bruce nods, content.

"So!" Tony bounces. "The night is still young. Who wants to go for hot dogs?"

Two engineers raise their hands.

"No, Tony." I scold. "Hospital first." I nod towards Taylor, who still has a red-stained hand over her nose.

"But I want hot dogs!" she whines.

I sigh and give her a pointed look.

"Fine." she grumbles and allows herself to be lead over the car,

"Afterwards can we get hot dogs?" she asks hopefully.

I just shrug and look at Steve.

"Fine." he sighs with a smile. "Afterwards we can get hot dogs."

Cheers are heard all around.