When the car that Steve has called pulls up, Happy gets out and looks at them curiously. "I thought it was ending at midnight."

"I punched someone." Peggy says crisply.

"It was awesome." Steve adds.

Happy laughs, "climb aboard."

—

Sam has the same question. And receives the same answer. He asks a few more questions but once Peggy gets to the part about what he said about Steve paying Peggy or being her pity date, he waves them off, "go have fun."

They change, Peggy heading to the Barnes' where her other clothes are.

Steve puts his jeans on and then a hoodie. He grabs his keys and phone and takes a step towards the door.

And his knee joints buckle.

His fall makes a soft thud when he lands. And an "oof" escapes his lips.

Pain lances through his legs and he sucks in a sharp breath. This isn't the first time this has happened. His body just betraying him. But it does seem to be happening more often.

But like every time before, he pushes himself up and gets back on his wobbly legs. He rubs at his knees and then steps cautiously. When his legs hold his weight he sighs and walks slowly to the stairs. Ignoring the dread.

—-

Climbing the fire escape isn't fun, but he manages and then they're up on the Barnes' roof. Peggy has the radio playing and she's talking about the summer and what she wants to do with him.

He's smiling and nodding.

"You're quiet tonight." She says, catching him off guard.

"Hmm?" He looks up at her and then smiles, "I'm still picturing you punch that idiot. It's keeping me distracted."

She laughs and snags his hoodie, pulling him closer. She kisses him soundly and then lays flat on her back, her own hoodie blocking the dust from getting in her still prom ready hair. "I'd punch any idiot who would dare say such things to you."

He huffs a laugh, "somehow I think I'm the only 18 year old with a protection squad."

She eyes him, "and?"

"Nothing. Just saying."

"With your luck you warrant one. I'll not hear you complain."

He thinks back to his little tirade at MIT. Whoops.

"Well," she says, cutting into his thoughts, "I have to head back soon, but I can't wait to see you walk for graduation. What do you want as a graduation gift?"

He wrinkles his nose. "I just want you there. That's enough of a gift."

She glares at him and then huffs, "no. Boring. I'll think of something."

He lays back next to her and they watch the night sky in silence.

"Peggy?"

"Hmm?"

"When I—"

And she sits up, not letting him finish, glaring at him, "If." She snaps.

Their eyes are locked for minutes. Neither giving an inch.

"When—"

"If—"

"Peggy—"

"Steve, so help me—"

"It's just a fact—"

"A possibility—"

"No." He snaps, "a reality."

"Steve, I won't talk about this—" she goes to stand but Steve snags her wrist, keeping her in place.

"Peggy, I—"

She rips her hand but he holds tightly. "Stop—" she demands, her face getting pinched.

"We need to talk about this—"

"No. We don't."

"We do!"

She tries to stand again. "Steve—"

He uses whatever strength he has to pull her back down. She thuds against his chest and he wraps his arms around her. She doesn't fight. Immediately melting into his embrace and shoving her face into the crook of his neck.

They're quiet for a few minutes until he takes a deep breath and closes his eyes, just feeling her warmth against him. "When I die, I need—"

"Shut the hell up, Steve." Peggy says against his neck. "Shut it."

There's no anger or heat in her voice. Just desperate sadness. "Pegs." He kisses the top of her hair and then rests his chin there. "I'm going to. I can feel it. My body is so tired. And I'm not stupid enough to think you won't get over me. But I wanted to make sure you knew that I want you to move on. To find someone else and—"

A hand snakes out and claps over his mouth.

"We just had a magnificent prom and you're already trying to pawn me off on some other guy?"

He rolls his eyes. "That's not what I meant and you know it." His voice is muffled behind her palm. "You tend to be stubborn. So I wanted to make my position clear."

"I'm the stubborn one?"

"Yes."

"You're not dying. I won't allow it."

"I don't think you have a say—"

"Howard and Erksine—"

"Are trying. And I appreciate it. But I'm not going to hang my hat on that hope. I don't want to wait to live my life just in case I don't die. But I do want to be prepared—"

"I'm done talking about this—"

"I'm not—"

She pulls away and glares at him. "I knew what I was getting into on that first date. You told me. So shut it."

"Peg—"

Then she's kissing him so passionately that all thought leaves his mind. She pushes him back against the roof and is practically on top of him, her hands in his hair and then one at his waist.

It's just them, kissing with every emotion for a minute before she pulls back, and her eyes have a gleam. Then she's reaching to pull off her jacket and his eyes go wide. He reaches out, snagging her hand. "What are you doing?"

She huffs, "you said you wanted to live so—"

"I didn't mean this!"

She yanks back and goes to pull it off again and he grabs the pocket, holding it down, "Peggy, stop—"

"Steve, I want to—"

"Well, I don't!"

Peggy freezes, her hands still holding the fabric and her eyes trained on his face. Then she slowly blinks and he sees the hurt of rejection cross her face. "Oh—"

He huffs and sits up, holding her in his lap, "Peggy, I told you I wanted to wait—"

"Wait for what Steve?" She asks sadly, looking at him. "Are you going to propose soon?" He winces. "I knew it." He doesn't answer, just stays quiet and her brow furrows, "all this talk about waiting and it's all a lie!"

"It's not a lie!"

"You have no plan to sleep with me. Ever." He groans and puts his face in his hands. She huffs and stands up, walking to the roof's edge and glaring out at his house. "At least explain why."

"First of, we're barely legal—"

"Oh, for heaven's sake."

He crosses his arms over his chest and she mimics him. "Second, it's…" he frowns, "it's not right of me."

Even in the darkness he can see her narrow her eyes. "Explain."

"I don't know when I will die. So, I can't promise we'll get married. And if I can't marry you, then it's not fair to…" he swallows thickly, feeling the awkward tension of his next words, "take your virginity. That should be for the man you do marry." Her eyes close and he feels the words jumble up and out of his mouth. "I don't want to do something so special and so… sacred knowing I won't be able to be your partner forever. That would be selfish of me, to take that from you when I can't stay by your side forever. And third…" this is the scary vulnerable part, "I have no idea how my body would actually work. I'm… pretty much a mess right now. I… I don't think it would be worth your time anyways."

At that, she's in front of him and stabbing a finger in his face, "don't you dare—" she breathes out angrily, "don't you dare talk about yourself like that. I don't care about any of that!"

"I do—"

"It's not that big of a deal!"

"It is." He says softly, then he shrugs, "it is to me. Either they "fix" me and I do right by you by proposing and being your husband. Or they don't. And I do right by you by not being selfish and claiming something that's not mine to keep."

"I am not an object to be claimed!"

Steve frowns at her. "If you're going to be obtuse and pretend you don't know what I mean, then—"

Peggy groans in frustration and stomps her foot, "I don't have a say? It's my body! My 'sacred virginity'." She says with a mocking sneer, "but you get to decide this for us?"

Steve stands and looks at her seriously. "It's rude to mock the fact that I think having sex in general and having sex with you is special. And if you disagree with me, then maybe we're not the right fit."

It takes courage to say those words. The words burn his chest, aching and cracking because he knows she's the right one for him. But he means them. Maybe people think he's old school. Or would scoff at him for not taking the chance to have sex when he could. But that's just not Steve. That's not the man he wants to be. And if she gets mad at him for it, then so be it.

She's frowning at him, her face hurt, "it's rude that you don't want to have sex with me."

He sighs, scrubbing at his face, "that's not what I said.—"

"Actually, you did."

"I know I said 'I don't'. I meant I don't want to right now."

"So you will have sex with me."

"Yes. If we get married knowing I'm going to live a long time."

Her eyes close and he sees the way her fingers grip at her arms, "that's not fair. That takes away my chance to show you how much I love you."

"I don't need you to have sex with me to show me that."

"Okay, but—"

"Peggy." Steve says firmly. "If having sex with your boyfriend is something that's vitally important to you then maybe I'm not the right boyfriend."

She glares at him. "You're not being fair."

"Maybe that's how you see it. But I don't. I'm being true to myself. Do you doubt my love for you?"

"Steve—"

"Peggy, do you doubt that I love you? Do you need my body to know I'm the love of your life?" She's silent. "I don't need your body to know you're mine. Just being with you is enough. Loving you… it's enough. The time I have with you is what I have. And I wish it was more. Wish it was forever. But it's what I've been given. I won't take anything more. And," his throat catches but he soldiers on, "when I'm dead, and you're marrying some other man who treats you like you deserve, you'll be happy that he's only yours and you're only his—"

"I'm not only anyone's!"

He huffs, "Peggy, you know what I mean! If it's special enough to do before I die, then it's special enough to not do because I'm not your forever partner!"

Her face is pinched. "There's not another man—"

"Peggy—"

"I won't be happy about anything!"

"Exactly." He says sharply. Finally feeling like he's going to get to the root of the conversation he wanted to have, "maybe it's prideful of me to assume that you might not, but I'm going to need you to live a life after I die. I'm worried about everyone when I'm gone: Peter, Bucky, Sam, geez Howard?" He huffs, "Tony, Clint, you… you guys are more upset about me dying than I am." She opens her mouth to protest but he doesn't let her, "it won't 'honor' me by you staying alone. So you better not."

"You have no right—"

"I know." Steve responds firmly. "Just don't think you'll be doing me any favors. I'll be dead. I don't need favors."

"What the hell are we talking about right now," she snaps, "I don't understand why you're talking like this."

And there it is. The truth rises to his lips, something he hasn't admitted even to himself until this moment. "Because I can tell it's going to be soon."

Her face shifts to shock, and then confusion followed by disbelief and anger, "you stop this. You can't know that."

And he's silent for a long minute, her glare at him, then he breathes in and slowly out. Before whispering, "maybe."

"You're not dying. This whole conversation is unnecessary and ridiculous."

"Peggy—"

"Steve, if you don't shut the hell up—" her voice cuts off and she's covering her face with her hands.

He steps forward, wrapping her in his arms. "You know I'm not trying to hurt you. I'm just… I want to be honest."

"Well don't." She whispers back weakly. There's a pause and then she rests her head on his shoulder, "tell me you're mine."

"I'm yours."

"Forever. Say you're mine for forever."

"I'm yours for my forever."

"Steve—"

"I don't get to claim you for forever if I'm not here. I'm yours while I'm here."

"I hate you." She says, muffled against his neck.

He huffs a laugh, "I love you too."

—-

Her parents call, sending a car to take her to her train. They kiss and hug goodbye and her eyes are fearful when she gets in the car. But they don't say anything about their previous conversation.

He walks slowly to his house and Sam is still up.

"Hey."

"How was the rooftop?" Steve's silent for a moment and Sam looks up, "what?" Steve shoves his hands in his pockets, feeling his cheeks heat. He's not sure how to ask. Sam's voice gets cautious, "Steve, what is it?"

"Peggy—" he swallows, but forges on. He trusts Sam, wants to know he's not being ridiculous. "She wanted to…" his voice cuts off and Sam's eyes widen, his mouth making an 'o' shape. "I told her no." Sam's eyes go even wider, "I don't think it's a great idea."

Sam's voice is a bit hoarse, "oh?"

Steve shuffles his feet, looking back behind his shoulder to see Daniel asleep on the couch in the living room with the TV on. "Yeah…"

He can tell Sam's trying to remain nonchalant. "Why's that?"

Steve sighs, "because we'd be doing something that she can't take back. And I'm probably not going to get to marry her…" he's staring at the floor, "Isn't it just added emotional baggage she doesn't need?"

Sam's entire face shifts, realization of Steve's reasoning hitting him, his eyes getting sad, "oh, Steve…"

Steve feels his throat get tight, eyes watering, voice wavering as he asks, "it's the right thing to do… right?"

Sam's on his feet and yanking him into a hug before he can process it. The man wraps him up tightly and all Steve hears is Sam say, "oh buddy…" which Steve can't explain why it makes him cry harder, but it does.

—-

"You mind if I go back out tonight?"

Sam looks up at the clock, already reading past 1am.

"Go where?"

"Clint will know."

"He joining you?"

"No, just… if you need to find me he'll know. And I'll take my phone."

"I don't know, Steve. It's late, and it's cold and…" he frowns, "I'm worried about you all alone out there."

"I promise I'll be fine, I just need…" he shrugs his shoulders, "some space to think."

He can see Sam warring with himself. "Okay." He finally agrees. "If you promise to take your phone and be careful."

"I promise."

—-

The air is cold as he walks. But he'd put an extra long sleeve under it and better shoes. He gets on the subway and waits til the stop he needs. There aren't many people out at the time. But it's New York, so there are some people.

He hopes Sam doesn't freak out and actually check where Steve is going. That will be annoying to explain.

He passes a bar and then approaches the building the address on his phone leads him too. He dials a number and calls.

It rings three times before he hears a click. "Steve?"

"Hey, Matt."

The man on the other end seems confused, "you're calling late…?"

"I kinda figured you might be a night owl."

Matt Murdock huffs a laugh and Steve can tell he's smiling. "What can I do you for, Steve?"

"I wanted to talk to you—"

"Are you in Hell's Kitchen?"

Steve pauses, looking around, "yeah, how'd you know?"

"Can hear it. Has its own sound. Give me 10 minutes."

The call ends and Steve stands there in surprise as his phone screen goes dark.

9 minutes later he sees a figure approach. "Hey, Steve."

"Hey."

"You're taller."

"Really?"

"Barely."

Steve laughs, "thanks for meeting me at this odd hour."

"You were right. I am a night owl. Good judge of character." Steve laughs, and then goes quiet. Matt's head tilts, "I'm assuming you're not here for a social visit."

"I wanted to talk to you about…" he looks out as the few cars pass by them on the street, "making a will."

Matt's still wearing his sunglasses. But Steve can see his brow furrow. "Oh?"

Steve nods, "mhmm."

Matt reaches into his pockets, "let's go up to my office." He unlocks the door they're in front of and they head up the stairs.

—

Matt offers him water but he declines. The office is sparse and a bit outdated but Steve doesn't care.

"So.." Matt says slowly, leaning against the desk, "walk me through your thinking."

Steve settles in his chair and looks out the window. "I'm dying soon. I can just sense it. It's like an itch at the back of my neck, you know? A sense. And I'm young. I don't have much. But I'm 18 now. Which means I can access my ma's life insurance policy. And I want to work with you to get that so I can put that back into my will for someone else."

He can see Matt biting the side of his tongue in thought, "okay…"

Relief that Matt doesn't immediately turn him down or say he's being dramatic fills him. "Okay."

"Would you like to do that now?"

Steve nods, "I want to do it as soon as you can. I'm not sure when I'll have another chance to come down here."

"I would have come to you—"

"No." Steve says firmly, "I don't need Sam asking me why you're there."

Matt frowns, "Sam doesn't know you're here or making a will?"

"Sam's no longer my legal guardian. I'm legally an adult."

"That's not why I asked."

Steve deflates, "I know. But I just…" he sighs, "I don't want them to worry more. If I explained why I wanted a will he and Howard would lose their minds and I… I just can't deal with that right now."

"Where does Sam think you are right now?"

Steve winces, "I just told him I'd be out."

Matt sits, opening a laptop, "okay… well then, let's get started."

—

It's close to 4 am when he's back in Brooklyn. And he decides to go where he'd actually insinuated he was going. He gets a call at 4:45.

"Steve?"

"I'm fine Sam, promise."

"Okay… you need me for anything?"

"No, I'm good, I'll be home before breakfast."

"Okay, love you."

"Love you too."

At 5 am he's looking up at the scaffolding and building up his willpower.

He reaches up and grabs the first metal rung, hauling himself up onto the wooden planks.

—-

It takes him the better part of the hour to make it to the top. And by the time he crawls over the stone wall to the bell tower he's soaked in sweat, his heart is pounding out of his chest, and his breathing is raspy. But he's smiling.

He wasn't sure he could do it.

And he's elated that he could.

One he regains some semblance of control of his muscles, he climbs up to Clint's favorite stone to sit on and he looks out over the city, watching the sunrise and feeling its warmth on his face.

—

Clint reaches for his phone, mumbling half asleep, "'Ello?"

"Clint?"

Clint opens one eye and squints at the clock. It's 6am. "Sam? What's wrong?"

"Steve's been out all night and—"

"What!"

"He asked, it's fine, I just talked to him less than an hour ago, but… he said he was going somewhere and he wouldn't tell me where. But he said you would know it… and I just.. he had kind of a weird night and I'm just worried. Do I need to be worried? Do you know what he's talking about?"

The church bell tower.

Steve really shouldn't be climbing that.

"Yeah," Clint answers, voice still deeper in sleep, "I know where he is. You want me to go check on him?"

"No, you don't have to, I… I just wanted to make sure someone knew…"

Clint's already up and out of bed, grabbing his shoes and keys, "I'm going."

Sam's voice sounds grateful, "thanks, Clint."

—-

Steve hears the creak and he rolls his eyes. "I told Sam I was fine."

"He knows that." Clint's head appears and he climbs into the tower, his shoes crunching against the stone. "He's just being a dad."

Steve nods, not really bothered since he's already accomplished what he wanted to tonight, "I know."

"So…" Clint says, settling next to him, "what brings you to the thinking tower?"

"Just thinking."

"Sam said you had a weird night?"

Steve looks at him, "is that all Sam said?"

Clint tilts his head, "yeah… thought it was strange since it was prom night but he didn't go into detail. Why what happened?"

Steve studies his expression and decides he's being honest. "Nothing." He says calmly, looking back to the horizon as the sun starts to crest over the highest buildings in the distance.

He can tell Clint wants to ask more. But he doesn't. Maybe because of the last time they were up in this bell tower.

"Peggy get back okay?"

"Yeah, she texted she got back to campus."

"You got a picture of you guys?"

Steve pulls out his phone, flipping to their prom picture from the Barnes' house.

Clint whistles and nods appreciatively, "good looking couple."

The phone twirls in his hands, "thanks."

"Be honest," Clint starts, voice hesitant, "how'd you do climbing up here?" Steve wrinkles his nose, and Clint breathes in, "that bad?"

"But I did it." Steve says firmly, his jaw tight, "it was hard. But I did it."

And Clint nods, "yeah, Steve. You did."

—-

He sleeps most of Sunday. Exhausted and worn out from his whole night escapade. No one bothers him. And when he wakes in time for dinner he gets to see all of Yelena's pictures from her prom and hear about how much fun she had.

They trade stories and the whole house howls with lighter when he talks about Peggy punching Ranger Rick. He can tell Sam is watching him subtly. But he just goes about life as normal.

—-

"Peggy punched some guy at Steve's prom!"

Natasha sits up, "wait what!"

"Yeah apparently he was being a total jerk and Peggy punched him!"

Natasha smirks, "good for her. Did you have fun at your prom?"

"Yes!" Yelena crows, "I'll send you photos."

"You better!"

"Can't wait for you to be home!"

Natasha sighs, "yeah, just over a month and I'll be home."

—

Steve pushes his hair off his face as he walks to school. It's a strangely warm day and he can see people shedding their jackets and coats.

He hesitates for just a minute before shrugging out of his coat. His thin arms, scars and burn mark on display. He knows people are always morbidly curious. But he can't seem to find the will to care.

He steps through the door and is immediately accosted by the girl, the one who helped him up, Angie. "Who was she?"

Steve blinks, "excuse me?"

Angie tugs on his arm, pulling him forward, "the girl, the one you were with at prom! Who decked what's his face!" Steve internally notices that no one seems to know the kid's name, "she was phenomenal, I need to know who she is!"

The laugh that exits him makes people turn towards him in surprise, "that's my girlfriend, Peggy."

Angie is still pulling on his arm, hand right over the gnarled burned skin, not even noticing. "I want to be friends with her. You have to introduce us."

"She's coming to graduation—"

Angie smiles, "okay great!"

"We've barely ever talked," Steve comments, eyeing her with confusion.

"You gotta problem with that?"

Steve shrugs, "guess not. I never got to thank you for helping me by the bus."

"Not a problem." She says with a smile, "you'll introduce me?"

He laughs, "sure—"

"Cool." She kisses his cheek, surprising him, "see you." Then she's gone and Steve looks around, wondering if he'd stepped into the twilight zone.

"Dude!" He turns to see Scott running up to him, "where were you! I thought you were going to be at prom!"

"I was." Steve says, starting towards his locker, "just left early, where were you?"

"Got there super late, Hope and I got distracted at dinner."

Steve makes a face and Scott laughs, "not like that, we were arguing which part of San Fran is the prettiest, lost track of time." The bell rings and Steve slams his locker. "Heard Peggy decked Travis. Good for her."

Travis. Finally a name.

"Yeah—"

"Bet he deserved it." Scott looks at Steve's arms and then back up, an eyebrow raised.

"It's hot." Steve says defensively.

Scott's eyes shift, and something unreadable crosses them, "okay."

"What? I can't wear short sleeves?"

"I didn't say anything." Scott responds calmly, eyes going to the hallway, "I'll see you at lunch." He takes off and Steve rolls his eyes, heading towards class.

—-

It's Thursday and the subway screeches as it slows and Steve yawns, hitching his backpack higher and standing. Trepidation fills him as he steps off at his old stop. When he makes it above ground, he feels a sense of vertigo. Maybe he was only 5 when he stopped living in this area but he still remembers it. That bodega, that cart, those little shops and that fading brick advertisement.

The walk to the hospital is quiet and he's glad he was able to convince Sam to let him go alone. He signs in at the front desk and works his way of to the 7th floor. When he steps out, he walks to the nurse's station, pausing briefly to look at the old staff photo on the wall.

It's when they opened the new ward.

There she is. His ma. Smiling and standing there, looking proud. Ms. Bailey and a few other nurses he recognizes stand in the crowd. He feels his throat tighten and he smiles.

"Steve?" He turns at the sound of his name only to freeze. "Steve, is that you?"

Oh no. He looks around, as if maybe by accident he walked into the wrong hospital. But it's not. This is his ma's old floor. "Hey, Ms. Sadie, what are you doing here?"

She looks at him curiously, "I transferred her about a month ago, it's closer to my home, what are you doing here? Is everything okay?"

"My ma used to work here on this floor. I came to visit some of the nurses."

"Oh," she pauses her face telegraphing her concern, "that's nice," she adds, as she steps behind the nurse's station desk. She looks about to say something else when a happy shriek is heard.

"Steve!" He turns around to see Nurse Nina striding towards him. "You've grown so much!" He finds himself being wrapped in arms and he hugs her back.

"Hey Ms. Nina."

"It's Mrs. now!" She laughs and ruffles his hair, "how have you been?"

"I've been great." He answers with a smile, "how's the hospital?"

"Same old, same old—"

"Steve!" He turns back to the hallway and Ms. Bailey is rounding the corner, "you came!"

"Of course." He says with a chuckle.

"Is Sam with you?"

He turns to Ms. Sadie who is smiling and he shakes his head, "no, I'm here by myself, just for a quick visit."

He tries to change the subject but Ms. Sadie is already speaking, "you tell him I said, hello, okay?"

He nods, "I will," then he turns back to Ms. Bailey who has her head tilted.

"Nurse Sadie just transferred here…" his stomach churns, "how do you know each other?"

He's not sure how to answer and the silence behind him tells him Ms. Sadie is caught off guard as well.

"I met her at St. Sebastian's." Steve says easily, "so, tell me how the floor has been the last 13 years!"

But Mrs. Nina is looking at him, "why were you at St. Sebastian's?"

He internally winces, now it's either lie and be caught out, or tell the truth. So he stays silent.

Ms. Sadie must not know what to do either. Because she's quiet.

"Steve?" Another voice enters the area, "oh, Bailey told us you might come!" He looks over to see nurse Olivia stride into view, a stethoscope swinging from her neck, "my you've gotten so big!"

He tries to laugh, "I was 5, you know, it's expected that I grow." Then he notices her coat, "you're a doctor now?"

She smiles and nods, "your mom always said I should go for it, and I did!" She hugs him quickly and steps back, "are we the only ones you remember?"

He looks at them and then tilts his head, "I remember that male nurse, the really nice one with crazy red hair?"

"Oh! Jamie! Yeah, he works on a different floor now, but he's still around. So! Tell us about your life! We've missed so much!"

And maybe it's because his back is to her, but he feels her eyes heavily on him. Maybe she didn't know everything, but she's seen him. His body. The scars. The words. The wounds. Heard enough of his background from Sam so she could take care of him.

"I've been—" he starts, trying to figure out how to thread the needle of his life, "in Brooklyn still, went to school and I'm almost graduated now."

Mrs. Nina smiles, "are you still drawing? You used to love to draw and color!"

He nods, "yeah, I've been keeping up with my art. Had a gallery at a college not too long ago—"

They gasp and are chattering at him positively, and he smiles, happy to have something good to report.

"Is that what you're going to major in for college?"

He considers it, "maybe," he says easily, "haven't decided yet."

"Well that's so nice!" She smiles sadly, "we miss your ma everyday here. Who are you living with now?"

"My dad's name is Sam." Steve responds easily, "it's a home for kids, he's a really great dad." Steve's happy it's the truth.

Ms. Bailey sighs, "we'll that's so good, we're so glad you've been in a good home!"

He's nodding but he hears it. The "um—" from behind him. He turns, her eyes looking at him in confusion. She knows Sam didn't burn his arm to high heavens. She knows his medical history.

She looks at him and must re-think it because her mouth shuts and the group falls quiet.

But Nina looks between them and she tilts her head, "how did you say you knew each other again?"

"I was at her old hospital a few months back, and I met her there. That's where she met my dad."

"What were you in the hospital for?" Ms. Bailey's eyes are trained on him, concern radiating off her.

"You know me…" he says weakly, trying to stay light, "I'm always sick with something." Ms. Bailey's eyes flick to Ms. Sadie's and he knows one way or another they're going to find out. So he takes a deep breath, "did you uh… hear about the school shooting that happened back in November?" There's a brief pause where the women are silent and he grimaces, "that was me."

The same shocked silence pervades the hallway and then Olivia turns to him and puts a hand up to her forehead, her eyes wide in confusion, "excuse me… come again?"

"It's a long story. But I'm fine now. I promise."

He can feel Ms. Sadie walking around the edge of the desk and then moving towards him. She stops by his side and looks at him, "may I?"

He shrugs and slips his backpack off his shoulder. Then lifts his shirt, enough to reveal the healed, puckered gunshot wound. A gasp from them has him feeling self conscious, but then Ms. Sadie is pointing to it, "Steve was on my floor while he was healing. The best and most patient patient I had." She winks at him and then stoops a bit to examine it, "how did the skin grafts feel after you went home?"

"Sometimes itchy, but mostly fine."

Ms. Bailey's eyes are tight, "Steve, baby, you were shot? At school?"

Steve nods, "yes, but he wasn't mentally stable, and he wasn't after me. Just an accident. So—" he says, pinning a smile to his face, "tell me what's been new with you all?"

—

Steve leaves the hospital, knowing Ms. Sadie is going to speak to them after he's gone. But there's not much he can do about that. So he heads home.

—

Tony glances at his phone that's buzzing. He's elbows deep in an engine, grease coating his arms, but he sees it's Carter, so he leans over and uses his chin to swipe 'answer'.

"Carter?"

"Anthony?"

"Yes…?" The silence makes the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, "what is it?"

"Has your father said anything… about Steve's condition? About him deteriorating?"

Tony feels his heart beat, "no." He looks at the phone, mouth dry, "why?"

Her voice is quiet, "just something Steve said."

"What did Steve say?"

"You promise not to freak out?"

Tony glares at the phone even though he knows she can't see, "is it freak out worthy?"

Peggy's sigh comes through the phone and he can picture her pinching the bridge of her nose, "he just… he insinuated…." She huffs, her voice brittle and angry, "no, he didn't insinuate, he practically told me that he felt like he was going to die soon. And I just needed to know if your father's scans could confirm or deny—"

"He said what!" Tony shouts, making the only other person in the engine lab look up in confusion.

"I don't know what to think, I'd thought he'd been doing better, and then he was telling me this…" her voice wavers off and he rests his forehead on the cold metal in front of him, his eyes closed.

"I'll call my dad." Tony responds quietly, "I'll ask."

"Thanks, Anthony." The dial tone happens quickly and Tony feels a pit of dread gather in his gut.

—-