"I'm really sorry again, Sam. Steve wasn't picking up his device-" Bethany stammered, apologizing for the fifth time that evening.
Sam instantaneously rolled his teasing brown eyes, growing playfully annoyed with her constant pleas. They sat in his small kitchen, dressing her wounds with the medical aid kit he had managed to find in his apartment.
"You don't need to thank me, Beth. It's pretty common in this century for people to help other people who are in serious danger." he reminded her with a teasing smirk, but quickly diminished his sense of humor when she didn't respond.
"I don't understand-"
"I'm joking. It's a joke. Look, just don't worry about me. Worry about you. Do you know who took the shot?" he asked, frowning at her injury with concern.
A flash of silver glimmered before her open eyes, glaring at the memory with resentment.
"I don't know." she mumbled truthfully, averting her cold stare to the tiles beneath their feet.
His frown hardened at her confused response, quickly giving her a look of apprehension.
"You're already come this far, might as well tell me..."
"I'm being honest Sam. I have no idea who he is. All I know is that he already killed Fury... And i'm next." she muttered with frustration, rubbing her tired eyes wearily.
She quickly winced in pain, as she had completely disregarded her wound. Leaning against the back of her chair, she sighed heavily, overcome with exhaustion and trauma.
How long do I have to keep this up?
"Take it easy, okay? You can rest up while I figure out what the hell is going on." Sam suggested, hoisting Bethany to her feet.
She sluggishly nodded in agreement, allowing Sam to loop one arm over her shoulder and the other around her slim waist, gently directing her to his bedroom.
"Wake me up as soon as you hear anything from Rogers." she ordered softly, laying down on the bed in silent relief.
"Yes m'am." he teased lightly, flashing her a generous smile as he slowly closed the bedroom door.
Bethany was unable to conjure a simple thought, for as soon as her throbbing head hit the fluffy pillow she had fallen swiftly asleep.
For the first time in a long while, Bethany slept soundly. Aside from being in stasis for 70 years.
There were no nightmares, no troubles, and no Bucky. Nothing jolted her awake in horror, just the tranquility of silence flowed through her unconscious mind. Gradually opening her well-rested eyes, Bethany awoke in Sam's bed with a small smile, relieved to be safe for the time being. Gazing around the tidy room, she quickly realized it was light outside, as the sun escaped through the cracks in the curtains.
Where's Sam? she thought with sudden panic, scrambling from the bed.
Bursting through the bedroom door in alarm, she was met by Natasha, Sam and Steve. The trio were conversing in the kitchen, each with concerned looks on their worried faces.
"Steve...? Steve oh my god." Bethany breathed, impulsively walking up to him, embracing him with desperation.
"I couldn't reach you, I didn't know where you were I was so scared I-" she was cut off as he pulled her back, staring into her eyes with guilt.
"It's been a long day, for all of us." he said, glancing at Natasha with a certain look Bethany couldn't recognize.
She let go of him with sudden caution, peering at the faces around the room.
"Sam...why didn't you tell me Steve was back."
"I told him not to. You deserved the rest." Steve intervened, frowning in remorse.
"I deserved to know you were back Steve?!I was nearly fucking murdered yesterday-"
"You aren't the only one." Natasha snapped, avoiding Bethany's glare.
Driven deeper into confusement, Bethany huffed, sitting down on the chair next to Sam, frustration throbbing all over her body.
"S.H.I.E.L.D isn't S.H.I.E.L.D anymore. Hydra's taken over from the inside." Steve continued, his voice hard and stern against Bethany's ringing ears.
"How long...?"
"Long enough." Sam replied, leaning both hands on the table.
Bethany inhaled, slowly breathing out in disturbing calmness, as the denial hadn't completely disappeared from her system.
"The assassin with the arm-"
"He's known as The Winter Soldier. Hydra's personal hit-man." Natasha answered, the blandness in her sharp voice causing Bethany to tense.
"So? Now we know everything what are we gonna do about it?" Bethany snapped in annoyance, gazing up at Steve with fiery determination.
"The only thing we can do." he answered solemnly, staring back at her with equal resolve.
At that moment, Bethany quickly realized, the peaceful sleep she endured moments ago was just the calm before the storm.