Firstly, it could be described as adventurous. They had to switch places five times in two weeks. They had to put everything into their bags quickly and just disappear. But after the sixth disappearance, she noticed that it's getting harder and harder for Steve and Natasha. They bought more things for Peggy, which served for her exercising. There were many pills she was supposed to swallow every few hours, and then there was Peggy, who still couldn't walk and couldn't even stand up on her own to at least not be a burden. Steve had to move her several times every time they were packing, always mindful of her back pain, headache, or migraine.

Their last escape was so close that as they were leaving the motel, they could hear the agents breaking down the doors to their rooms.

And the guilt in Peggy's chest was growing with each situation.

She understood why Steve was helping her. Even though they did not have as intimate a conversation as on their very first run, since then, she knew (and she was sure that he knew too) that they were in love. She was sure that she would do the same and that she would not want the other to feel guilty. It would be her choice to risk her neck.

However, they were not alone in this. There was also Natasha. Natasha, who proved herself to be a great friend to Steve, always helping. But the fact that Peggy's presence meant danger for another person was also the reason why a small seed of guilt started to grow in Peggy's chest. Not being able to help them with anything, being the one slowing them down, was eating Peggy from the inside.

She started to worry. Not for herself and her fate. But for Natasha's, whom she put in danger. Natasha, meanwhile, looked perfectly fine, running errands, buying things that needed to be bought, and keeping Peggy company while Steve was going for a run to clear his head.

Peggy was surprised to learn that Natasha was from the Red Room. She heard that name for the first time, but she connected the pieces of the puzzle and asked her about Dottie. "Oh, yeah, I know about her. She was one of the best, but she failed to kill… well… you. That was when she fell from grace, but otherwise, she was something as a role model for us."

Natasha taught Peggy to use an MP3 player and downloaded audiobooks, which was one of a small number of things that Peggy was able to do herself. Otherwise, she was fully dependent. She could not even read on her own.

Every day, Steve was exercising with her, helping her to build her muscles and strength. However, after each workout, she would be incredibly exhausted, her legs and back would ache, and her hands would tremble to the point where she couldn't turn the pages of a book. And it hurt so much that she could not even sleep. So, each day, there were hours during which she was just looking at the ceiling, listening to Steve and Natasha, or, if they were somewhere fancy, watching TV.

She woke up once; it was already dark, and the only source of light was a tiny gap between the doors to the kitchen. She could hear Steve talking with Natasha.

"Steve, you are doing what you can, I know, but it's too dangerous."

"I am not gonna give up on this, Natasha."

"It's not about giving up. It's about the distribution of responsibility. This is the only solution."

"We should not be splitting up our…"

"Steve, It's for the best. Staying together is too dangerous. And it's something you cannot risk now."

"But…"

"Stop trying to talk me out of it and pour me the whiskey. Thanks. Well… cheers… to friends."

"To friends," he whispered.

When Peggy woke up the next day, Natasha was gone. Steve's smile didn't quite reach his eyes, and Peggy's worries were confirmed. That was all her mistake. He lost his friend, and now he was stuck with her.

The first day, Steve was mostly silent. He had much to think of (besides other things, the location they will move to the next day), and it scared her. The guilt inside of her was growing so wide that she felt that she could not breathe properly, her hands were shaking all the time now, and she could not take a deep breath. And all she could do was lying and waiting. For what? She did not know.

Steve knew that they must depart sooner or later. The sooner, the safer, if he would be honest with himself. However, he got used to having Natasha around. She helped him a lot. Not only with his morale but also with Peggy.

Not that he would say that Natasha is responsible for Peggy. No, he knew that Peggy is his responsibility. It was his call to thaw her out, his call to take her with him. He could have told Tony to take her, to take care of her, let her be with Helen Cho.

But he decided to be selfish for once. And now, when he saw how much pain she is in, it was killing him. He was not sure whether she would do better with Tony and Helen. He could not know whether she would be able to walk. Nobody could. But he was sure that Helen would have at least been able to give her better painkillers, provide better accommodation. She would not be dragging her across the country and back.

The first day when Natasha arrived, he was silent. Everything that happened since Peggy's thawing suddenly hit him all at once. He tried to smile as usual, he exercised with her, and he noticed that even though the progress is slow, Peggy is doing better. It calmed him down a little bit. He knew that it would be a fight, but they are able to handle it.

Steve calmed down during the night and started the next day as usual. But he also noticed that Peggy was being more reserved. She was answering, but without any desire for long talks.

Did she realize that it was all his mistake? That she could have been somewhere safe? Somewhere more comfortable?

The tension between them began to escalate.

During the next day, he realized that Peggy started scratching her skin. And he knew that state of mind very well. The state of mind during which you are in so much stress that your body is the only thing that is holding you together. It is the feeling that when you rip your body, you would be finally free. He wanted to talk about it, he really wanted. But he was afraid. Steve Rogers, who was always willing to help his friends even if it meant jeopardizing his own safety, found his weakness.

I hope you enjoy this story so far :)

Thanks soo much to Mellia Bee for her supportive comments! It means a lot! :)