Chapter Fifteen: Steve Rogers
"Zoë is down," cried Sam. "Repeat! Zoë is down!"
"Hill, you got location on Rogers?" Natasha asked. Steve ignored their voices as he pulled Bucky out from underneath fallen rubble.
"You know me," he said.
Bucky sneered, "No! I don't!" He threw a punch at Steve that he could've easily dodged, but didn't move. "Your name… is James Buchanan Barnes."
"Shut up!" The Winter Solider punched Steve across the face.
"I'm not going to fight you." Steve pulled off his mask and dropped his shield off the edge of the Helicarrier. "You're my friend."
Bucky snarled, "You're my mission!"
The Winter Solider tackled Steve to the ground of the Helicarrier, punching in repeatedly across the face as he screamed.
"YOU'RE. MY. MISSION!"
"Then finish it," Steve whispered. Bucky hesitated slightly. "Cause I'm with you… to the end of the line." A flash of remembrance in Bucky's eyes made him pause. He opened his mouth… then the bottom of the Helicarrier fell, dropping Steve into the river below.
When Steve opened his eyes, an unfamiliar song was playing. He looked around to see himself in another hospital room. His eyes landed on Sam, who gave him a small smile.
"On your left." Steve chuckled quietly.
"You find him?" Sam asked.
"Yeah… I think I got something through to him."
"That's good." "How did I—"
"We found your body dragged onto shore."
"And Zoë?"
Sam pursed his lips, "Nothing yet."
A knock came on the hospital door and Steve turned his head as it was pushed open. On the other side was Maggie. Her hair was down, and she smiled at him.
"Afternoon solider," she greeted.
"Maggie, hey." Sam stood, offering his chair.
"Welcome back, Maggie."
"Thanks Sam." She gave him a quick hug as he left the room. She took his chair, peering at Steve.
"You look like hell," she remarked.
"Language," he jokingly chided. She laughed, shaking her head. "Steve Rogers, whatever am I to do with you?" He reached over, taking her hand.
"Stop looking at me like I'm a ghost?"
He watched her face fall.
"For a moment, Steve, it was Riley all over again and I… I couldn't—" He pressed her hand to his lips.
"Maggie, I'm not going to lie to you. It's going to be difficult."
"I know."
"But I will try my hardest to come back to you."
Sometimes pretty words helped. Sometimes, not always. But in this case, Steve felt that he was convincing her. If only he knew what was playing in her head.
"Dinner?" she asked.
He frowned, "Nasty hospital food? I don't think so." Maggie winked as the door opened again. Sam walked back inside, holding a pizza box.
"Want a slice, Cap?" Steve merely smiled in response.
A few days later, Steve and Sam stood with Fury beside his grave.
"So, you've experienced this sort of thing before?" Nick asked.
"You get used to it," Steve shrugged. He glanced at the gravestone, which bore the epitaph, "The path of a righteous man. Ezekiel 25:17".
"We've been data-mining HYDRA's files," Fury said. "Looks like a lot of rats don't go down with the ship. I'm headed to Europe tonight, wanted to ask if you'd come."
"There's something I gotta do first," Steve answered.
"How about you, Wilson?" Fury asked. "Could use a man with your abilities."
"I'm more of a solider than a spy."
"Alright then."
Fury shook their hands before sliding sunglasses over his face.
"Anybody asks for me; tell them they can find me right here." He looked meaningfully at the gravestone, then walked away. Steve watched him go as Natasha joined them. "You should be honored, that's about as close as he gets to saying thank you."
"Not going with him?" Steve asked.
"No."
"Not staying here?"
"I blew all my covers, I gotta go figure out a new one."
"That might take a while."
"I'm counting on it."
They shared a smile, then Natasha handed him a file.
"Here's that thing you asked for. I called in a few favors from Kiev."
"Thanks."
"Do me a favor?"
"What?"
"Marry that dancer."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
"Maybe."
"Sounds like a yes. Be careful, Steve."
"Will do."
"You going after him?" Sam asked, nodding at the file.
"You don't have to come with me."
"I know. I might have promised Maggie I'd look out for you. So, when do we start?"
"Actually, I, uh, have a date."
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We have concluded Zoë Aetos: The Winter's Storm. I hope you have all enjoyed! Be on the look out for the next installment!
-Amy Thorton