Charlie looked around at the green park and exhaled deeply. It was a pleasant morning, not too hot or cold with just the slightest breeze. She wished she was as calm as her surroundings. Her legs bounced up and down, fingers rubbing against the rough texture of her jeans. It would be good to see Steve again, but she was scared this would be the last time she saw him. He wasn't going to like that she was here, that she'd been forced to move. A part of her still wanted to believe that it was paranoia and she was making a bigger deal out of nothing. The larger part of her knew that was a bold-faced lie.

Charlie sighed again, looking around and forcing her legs to be still. She'd asked Steve to meet her in this park – one she'd googled while texting him – but didn't tell him much else. He had asked if she was okay, if she needed help, and she'd answered as concisely as possible. She was fine. She didn't need help, just needed to talk. Charlie had hoped that would pacify him so he didn't knock on her door in the middle of the night. A tiny part of her wanted that too, though. But instead, here she was sitting on a lonely park bench, waiting for Steve. When was the last time she'd actually waited for someone? And, did he know how to find her? Charlie was suddenly too caught up in her panicked images of Steve running around the park trying to find her – how big was it? – that she didn't see the tall figure approaching her.

"Charlie?"

Swallowing back a yelp, Charlie whipped her head around to the voice. But the tall man in front of her was one of the few people she didn't fear in this world.

"Steve. Good lord, you nearly gave me a panic attack," Charlie huffed, placing a hand on her racing heart.

"Sorry. I did try to walk up to you in your line of vision," Steve said, stuffing his hands in his pocket. His eyes were looking at her, the trees, everywhere. Charlie could feel his anxiety spiking off of him, like an angry hiccup. Somehow, that settled her nerves and her fingers stopped scratching her pants.

"What are you doing here, Charlie?"

Rather than answer right away, Charlie patted the empty space beside her. Steve hesitated, but sat facing her. He looked at her pointedly and she sighed.

"So, I'm back in DC."

"I can see that."

"And that's because I moved here." Steve stared at her. "Yesterday."

"Yesterday? Why didn't you tell me you were moving? And here? Why did you move here? Charlie, I don't know if this was a good idea-"

Charlie put her hand up, stopping his string of questions.

"I thought about how to tell you all night, about what questions you might have. Let me talk first and see how far we get, okay?" Charlie asked softly. Steve's face was scrunched in confusion, his eyes looked to be battling something.

"I didn't tell you I was moving because I didn't know until yesterday. Bentley helped me move, and got me an apartment for at least three months. Nana and Nattie don't know the full details yet. But I did get a job, so maybe it'll be more of a permanent thing. I mean it's the city, you never now what'll happen or the opportunities-"

"Charlie," Steve interrupted, grabbing her fidgeting hands. "What's going on?"

Charlie took a shaky breath. Right. Short and to the point, rip it off like a band-aid.

"For a few weeks now, there have been some weird people where I live. At first it was just an oddball here, a scary looking fellow there – but then it got more constant. In my town, new people stick out like a sore thumb and these people didn't seem to care. They were always in the diner, down the road at the gas station, the grocery store. At first I brushed it off and tried to ignore them. People pass through all the time." Charlie took a breath and focused on a tree in front of her. Steve's mood was already falling, turning cold. Not from anger, but from fear.

He'd stopped holding her hand.

Charlie turned back to him, looking him in the eyes.

"They didn't pass through, they lingered. They lingered and watched and waited. Waited for what, I couldn't tell you. But it got to the point that I had to do something. I was ready to leave, run away and make a new home, but Bentley had already made plans…" Charlie relayed Bentley's plan and reasoning. She told Steve about Bentley's job in the CIA and everything he'd done when they'd gotten to DC. Steve was silent, unmoving. Charlie couldn't tell on the outside but she could feel him pulling away. It was making her breathe harder, her chest tighten sharply.

"I wanted to tell you in person."

Steve looked away from her. He looked at his hands, the ground, the trees – anywhere but at her. Charlie stayed resolute and watched him, hands still.

"Charlie, I'm sorry."

"No, Steve you don't have to-"

"No, I do. I put you in danger. I wasn't smart about this, about contacting you – hell, I put you in danger just by being close to you. I barely know you and they-" he cut off in a growl and rubbed his face. Steve started mumbling into his hands, and Charlie only caught "Bucky" and "time."

"What? Did something happen to Bucky?" Charlie asked.

"No, but-" Steve inhaled deeply and looked at her with blue, tortured eyes. "But HYDRA took someone close to Bucky and it nearly destroyed him. And they had only met for a few days, I've known you for months."

"Oh. That's where you've been? Rescuing Bucky's friend?"

Steve's silence was answer enough.

Charlie sighed and watched the breeze rustle the leaves. Steve's anxiety and hesitance made sense to her now. She had expected anger and fear, but more of a hypothetical fear. Now it was confirmed. HYDRA would go after anyone to – to what? Destroy the Avengers? But Bucky wasn't an Avenger, so why had they targeted someone close to him? To get him back? That seemed a little far-fetched. But – was this something she wanted to deal with? To know that she would continue to be targeted for being close to Steve? She glanced at him and bit her lip.

Steve wasn't looking at her but she could see the tension in his body. He was leaning forward, elbows on his knees and head resting on his hand. He looked so serious and…torn. This was the man that had given her confidence, peace. He'd given her a present on her worst day, listened to her trials. Accepted her. This man's torn expression was for her.

The words she'd been searching for all night finally came to the tip of her tongue. All her fear and worry dissipated and she felt like she could breathe normally for the first time in days.

"Steve, I want to keep texting you, to stay friends."

"Charlie-"

"That's what I want, Steve," Charlie interrupted. She stayed silent until he looked at her. "I want to be your friend, Steve. Is that what you want?"

"It doesn't matter what I want, Charlie. You are in danger because of me and I can't – we can't – I'm sorry-"

"Is that what you want?"

Steve's eyes touched on every angle of her face. Charlie stayed still, looking directly at him.

"You have a choice here in this, just like me. You don't have to do anything. I don't want you to feel obligated or responsible or anything like that. Do you want to keep talking?"

Steve gave an exasperated sigh that also sounded like a frustrated growl. It made Charlie's resolve even stronger.

"Steve, this is my choice-"

"But Charlie, you don't understand-"

"No, I don't think you understand." Charlie paused. She looked at Steve and gently placed her hand on his.

"This is my choice, my responsibility. I had the chance to run and I didn't. I chose-no, I choose to stay, which is monumental for me, just so you know – but it's my choice. My responsibility."

Steve shook his head.

"Charlie, you can't-"

"Don't take my choice away from me, Steve. Because as much as my choice affects you, it's also my freedom. This is me moving forward, moving past fear. Don't take it away."

Steve stared at her for a long time. Charlie held his gaze, her hand still clutching his.

"Okay," Steve finally said. Charlie blinked.

"Okay?"

"Okay, I accept your choice." Charlie couldn't help the smile the stretched across her face. Steve's mouth twitched, but he didn't smile.

"But you have to understand, things are going to change. If we're to remain friends, we'll have to set some boundaries and make sure we keep you safe, off their radar from now on. First things first, your phone." Steve held out his hand until Charlie put her phone into his hand.

"I'll see about getting you a new phone that resists tampering and tracking. Next, we'll have to come up with a code or some way to tell the other if we're in danger or in a situation we can't talk."

"Steve-"

"How safe is your apartment? Do you have more than a deadbolt?"

"Steven," Charlie said. Steve pulled up short and looked at her.

"You never answered my question. Do you want this? I mean, to stay friends? Because I know I said all those things about my choice, but I don't want to forget about yours. You have a choice, too, and I can understand if you don't want to be friends. It might be too much of a hassle…" Charlie trailed off and bit her lip.

"Charlie," Steve said, squeezing her hand. "Don't sell yourself short. I want you as my friend, I just don't want you to get hurt."

"Okay." Charlie smiled again, squeezing his hand back. "What else do we need to think about?"


Steve watched as Charlie walked away, trying desperately not to puke. He'd put Charlie in danger. The one person who had made his life brighter in the last few months and he'd jeopardized her safety. Charlie looked back at him, waving. It felt like she was trying to reassure him that it would be okay. But she couldn't know that. Steve held up a hand in return, hoping he couldn't see the panic on his face.

The entire walk back to his apartment, he focused on breathing properly and keeping the roiling of his gut to a minimum. How had he let her go this unprotected for so long? His paranoia had doubted Charlie's trust but it couldn't think to protect her? Why hadn't he contacted her sooner? Pushed harder to understand why something was off the other night when he'd called? Guilt, panic, and desperation were making it very difficult to walk normally.

After closing the door to his apartment, Steve leaned against the door, breathing deeply. His mind finally snapped.

Suddenly, there were tears running down his cheeks, his chest felt too tight, his clothes were too hot – it was too much. Everything was too much. Steve barely heard Sarge's alarmed hiss over the sound of his heavy breaths.

First Peggy died. Then SHIELD fell. Then Bucky and Amy and Sam was hurt and Charlie was in danger. His world was crumbling and he couldn't do anything. Nothing was in his control and he couldn't breathe, he couldn't think, couldn't –

"Ow!" Steve cried, finally opening his eyes. Sarge was giving him the fiercest glare he could while his jaw was clamped onto Steve's forearm. Once he noticed Steve watching him, the cat bit down harder. Steve hissed in pain and snatched Sarge away from his arm, making the bite worse. Steve glared at his cat, breaths heaving - Sarge was glaring and growling back.

The panic that had overwhelmed Steve broke and he took in a shuddering breath. Yes, Peggy was dead and SHIELD gone, but he still had Sam. He had Bucky now too, and maybe even Amy.

And Charlie. Steve's heart clenched at the thought of her in danger but he pushed through the fear. Yes, she was in danger but he did have an element of control here – he could act. Steve could call Charlie back and say it wouldn't work and he would no longer contact her. But that hurt. That hurt almost more than the panic of her being in danger. Steve couldn't lose Charlie, not when he'd lost everyone else.

So, what could he do? The first step was to make Charlie as safe as possible going forward, which meant getting her a better phone. Steve took Charlie's old phone out of his pocket, staring at it. The logical part of him knew he should let her go, but everything else in his brain refused to even entertain the thought.

Steve slowly got up, setting Sarge down on the ground and placing Charlie's phone on the table. He needed to contact Natasha next, but not when he was on the edge of his breakdown. Steve washed his face in his bathroom, running wet hands over the back of his neck for good measure. Stark might be better to contact for a better phone, but he didn't want to tell Tony about Charlie. Steve didn't want to tell anyone about Charlie, yet, but Natasha was the only other person he trusted right now that could handle this. He took a few more minutes to collect himself – got some water, fed Sarge – before sitting at his kitchen table and calling Natasha.

"Well, isn't this a surprise. Did you miss me?" Natasha answered the phone on the second ring.

"I need a favor," Steve said, getting straight to the point.

"Whoa, what happened? Did someone else get captured?"

"No – well, not yet – I'm trying to prevent someone else getting captured but they're already in danger and-"

"Cap, slow down. What's going on?" Natasha demanded. Steve took a deep breath, rubbing his hand over his face.

"Can you get me a phone that's resistant to tracking and getting hacked?" Steve asked.

"Yes, but why do you need another one? Is yours broken?"

"No, no this is for someone else. A friend of mine."

Natasha was silent, waiting for more. Steve didn't want to know more.

"Steve, are you telling me you have an Amy in your life too?" Natasha asked, confusion and amusement coloring her voice. Steve huffed out a laugh.

"No, but she's someone important to me. I met her when I did that cross country trip and she and her family took me in when my bike broke down."

"I remember that, Nick was pissed."

"Yeah," Steve sighed, remembering the irritation he felt when Fury had pulled him away from the little family in Wyoming. Natasha was silent again. Steve didn't know if she wanted more information or what, but he was suddenly too tired to care.

"You're really not going to tell me more?" Natasha finally asked.

"You going to tell me about your relationship with Bucky?" Steve fired back. He closed his eyes, biting his lip. That came out a lot harsher than he intended. Natasha was just curious.

He heard Natasha sigh on the other end of the line. "Alright. When do you want the phone?"

"As soon as possible."

"Got it. And what's her name? So I can set the phone up for her."

"Charlie. Her name is Charlotte but she going by Charlie."

"Okay, and?"

"And what?" Steve questioned. This time, Natasha's sigh sounded frustrated.

"Fine, Cap. I'll find the rest. You'll get the phone tomorrow."

"Wait, Nat-" Steve tried but Natasha had already hung up. Great. Now he'd put pressure on their relationship and newfound trust. Steve put his face in his hands, exhaustion making his entire body ache and his head start to pound. He didn't feel like getting up or doing anything. He just wanted everything to stop for a little, give him time to come to terms with how things had changed. There was so much going on – too much.

Steve stayed at his kitchen table for hours before getting up and taking a shower. It helped a little bit and the tea he made helped more. He was halfway through his cup of tea, staring off into space, when there was a knock on his door.

"Natasha?" Steve asked, blinking at the woman in front of him. Natasha scanned him from head to toe, raising an eyebrow.

"You look like sh**."

"I know – I – weren't you coming tomorrow?"

Natasha shrugged, holding out a phone. It looked normal, not like any of his previously issued phones that were supposed to be the latest technology.

"It looks plain, but it has the highest security we can give it. All of the security is hidden so she shouldn't stumble on it and mess anything up. Calls, texts, everything is encrypted," Natasha explained. Steve reached out to take it, but Natasha pulled it back. She hesitated before staring him dead in the eye.

"Are you sure about this, Steve?" Natasha asked quietly.

Steve shrugged, shook his head.

"I know I – I should – I can't lose anyone else, Nat," Steve stuttered. He met Natasha's gaze with a hard one of his one. "I can't do it right now. Not again."

An emotion flickered across Natasha's face before she schooled her face. She sighed, placing the phone in Steve's hand.

"Make sure she creates a good password." Natasha nodded and turned away. Steve stood in the doorway for another minute, thumb rubbing against the new phone's power button. He sighed, closing the door and sitting down to transfer Charlie's contacts to her new phone.


So, I should probably start by apologizing...it's been three years since I've updated I am so so sorry. All I can say is, life happens. I'm six years out of college and still trying to figure out my life, which means putting my fanfiction ideas to the side (or at least, just keeping them in my head). As it's been a while since I updated, this chapter was written years ago - except for the last part. If the first and last part sound different, it's because my writing style has changed - I hope for the better. Please let me know what you think or if anything seems super out of place! I still love Steve and Charlie and have never forgotten them, but they did get sidelined as I wrote my own story and explored new fandoms. They have been very patiently waiting for me to write more, as have you. So thank you, for anyone who has stuck with this story or just reading it for the first time. Thank you.

I hope to write more frequently but I make no promises. All I can say, is that I do plan on finishing this story. I'm not giving up on it. Let me know what you think! And again, thank you 😊