CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

( MADDOX GOES MAD )

"SERIOUSLY?" JO'S VOICE is loud enough to wake Quinn up from her deep sleep. There's a crick in her neck as she raises up from the couch where her head had been laying awkwardly. It takes her a moment to get her bearings as she opens her eyes, everything seems to be in a haze, but she notices the familiar shape of Steve's body also stretched across the couch at the opposite end.

"I'm going to start asking you for rent every time you sleepover," Jo threatens the super soldier who just groans in response as an apology. He must've fallen asleep during the movie from last night as well. Jo narrows her eyes at Quinn, who notices this and tries to bury her face with a throw pillow to avoid her.

"And you," Jo begins, stomping over to her side of the couch. "Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"Enlighten me," Quinn's muffled voice challenges from underneath the pillow, causing Jo to furrow her brows in frustration. "It's seven, you're late for your jog,"

"I don't think I'm going-" Quinn begins to excuse herself but Steve quickly pipes in, his voice is gruff from the early morning. "Is this the group you run with every morning?" he questions, causing her to take the pillow off her face and look towards him.

He looks tired, his blonde hair was messy in the back from where his head was resting, his arms were across his chest. She didn't know where this was going and she didn't know if she'd like it. "Yes," she begrudgingly admits before Jo pipes in.

"Is that the one that your date from last night is in?" he clarifies. She narrows her eyes towards him, wondering what he was getting at. Was he going to try to make her go? "Yes but I don't think I'm going to - "

"You should," he insists, stretching his arms above his head as he slides his legs off the side of the couch, planting his feet firmly beneath him. "Because I'm going," he states in a matter-of-fact tone.

This causes Jo to perk a brow up in question at the declaration, then her eyes fall upon Quinn who's face is more shocked than hers. "Quinn," Jo calls for her attention, tearing her eyes away from the Avenger to look up at her. "What happened?"

Quinn nervously bites down on her bottom lip as she tries to think of a good way to explain what Maddox had done. Jo will inevitably feel disappointed that she wasn't the first to know about Maddox, that Steve was the first to know and the one who rescued her from him.

"Maddox didn't get what he wanted. Well, first he showed up forty-five minutes late which is why I contacted Steve - I knew you were with Josh and I didn't want to ruin your time with him," Quinn quickly tries to explain, watching Jo's face fill with frustration at first before it dissipates. "But then Maddox wanted more than what I did, he got huffy, and I'm lucky Steve was there when he was because I don't want to know what would have happened if he didn't," she says, looking at Steve and giving him a soft smile which he returns. It's enough to cause her heart rate to pick up.

"Do you think he would've hurt you?" Jo questions in a nurturing tone. Jo, the woman who would go out almost every night leaving Quinn to worry, was now being a worrisome mother. This was usually a conversation that she'd have with Jo about her dates. It was nice to see Jo worried like her, it was about time she repaid the favor.

"I'm not sure. Maddox is usually competitive and cocky. He can be bashful and respectful at times but last night was a different side that I haven't really seen," Quinn hesitates as she tries to shake the image of Maddox blocking her way into entering her building. She didn't know it then but she was terrified that he was going to try something.

In retrospect, she could've handled him with the lessons she's been learning but just the thought of Maddox trying to intimidate her into something she didn't want was enough to make her sick. "He has women pining after him, you know he does, we can't let them go after him," Jo announces, grabbing her tennis shoes from near the door. "My thoughts exactly," Steve agrees, placing his own shoes on his feet while Quinn looks confused between the two as they begin to get ready to confront Maddox.

Instead of joining, Quinn wraps the blanket that was haphazardly tossed aside by Steve across her body trying to avoid the situation completely, she had already been through enough with Maddox. Steve throws her a confused look which could easily be mistaken as judgmental as he watches her cocoon the blanket around her entire body, to wear only her face was sticking out.

Quinn defies his gaze by glaring at the two of them, adamant on sitting underneath the blanket while they went on their little mission. "Jo," Steve calls out to her roommate without breaking eye contact from Quinn, catching her attention.

Jo spins around to see Steve in the middle of a stare-off with Quinn, her face draining of any empathy she had for her roommate. "Oh, no-no-no," Jo tuts as she crosses the room to Quinn. She begins yanking on the large blanket the Quinn has wrapped herself in. "We are not doing this again. You can't just hide from him and let other people get assaulted by him. Other people don't have Captain America at their disposal. You have to be the bigger person," Jo grunts out as she strains to sweep the blanket off of Quinn.

Although Quinn can be reasonable at times, she can also be hellishly stubborn and closed off. An unfortunate trait she learned from her mother. Jo is almost done with ripping the blanket off Quinn when she notices that Steve is now beside Quinn, placing his hand over hers in a comforting manner as Quinn begins to blush.

"Please, I'll be right there with you," his voice is soft and encouraging. The way he sounded so honest, astounded Jo and forced her to stop yanking on the blanket. There was no point as Quinn's attention was captured in Steve's pleading eyes. Her lips press into a thin line before she narrows her eyes with determination burning in them.

She nods her head once before tossing the blanket off of herself and pads her way into the bedroom. Jo looks back at Steve amazed but he doesn't seem to be paying attention to her, his eyes have drifted towards Quinn's bedroom door, a lopsided smile forming on his lips.

Jo can't help but smile herself. There's no denying it, there was something happening between the two.

~ BOOK ONE: WINTER SOLDIER ~

THERE'S AN UNRELENTING pit of anxiety growing within Quinn's chest while walking towards The Joggernauts. She couldn't tell if it was from walking with Steve out in broad daylight when Fury had explicitly told them not to do (even though Steve insisted they were fine) or if it was the impending doom of a conversation she'd have to have with Maddox and the group explains why Captain America was joining them this session.

The only person who seemed to be enamored about the confrontation was Jo, who thrived on any drama, although Quinn couldn't blame her; if she was in the same position she'd want to see this too. However, even with the support of her two friends her hands still began to tremble at her sides from the nerves.

A part of her still liked Maddox in a way, they were competitive friends, he provided her with a challenge and fun banter each morning. Did she really want to throw that away? It's not like she had a choice in the matter as she watches Steve's brow furrow as he sets his gaze upon Maddox. The group had finally come to their regularly scheduled stop, and even though they were joining late, Quinn felt an urgency to leave.

She had to compose herself even though each and every single nerve in her body told her to run from the situation, that it was going to be awkward and tense, and just cause repercussions with Fury that she didn't want to happen. She definitely didn't want to go toe to toe with him, however, she knew Steve felt differently towards the director of S.H.I. .

He must've viewed him as how Quinn viewed Edith - overbearing, harassing, and judgmental; but Quinn wouldn't intentionally piss her off like how Steve knew he was pissing Fury off by doing this. She just hoped she didn't get a severe punishment for this.

As they approach the stretching group Quinn can hear the faint chatter amongst its members, each of them giving Steve a lingering look before turning to someone to gossip. She heard Steve grunt out a wry laugh to himself as she places her eyes on Maddox who seemed to be making himself at home flirting with two women in the group.

He doesn't even recognize their existence until one of the girls nudges the others arm while gazing up at Steve. For the first time, she hated how everyone's first reaction to him was exactly like that. Gawking. She couldn't relate as to why he would even go out in public like this and deal with masses of pining people.

Maddox narrows his gaze upon Steve's large stature, glaring up at the Avenger. She catches the instructors attention by clearing her throat. "Sorry, we're a little late, we ran into some traffic," she lies effortlessly. She hates how she's become so good at it lately.

A small smirk appears on her face after seeing how livid Maddox has become just by looking at Steve, remembering how he said that Steve shouldn't have gotten to be the subject of the serum made this whole situation more humorous to her. "Hope you don't mind if I crash the party," Steve interjects, earning nearly everyone in the group's attention.

To anyone else, this may have been just a polite way to joke around but knowing what happened last night - how Steve interrupted their date - it was a direct jab at Maddox, which made her grin. "I've seen you guys run through here a bunch, I just wanted to join in at least one time," Quinn swears she can hear every woman in the group gasp with excitement as they quickly whisper to the person next to them. Maddox was no longer the heartthrob of the group.

"It's no trouble," Maddox responds through gritted teeth, trying to turn to ignore them once again until Steve clears his throat.

"I also heard you think you're the fastest in D.C.," Steve addresses, causing Maddox to turn with a frown.

"And?"

"I'm here to challenge that," Steve announces, earning a wry laugh from his competitor.

"I don't think that's fair," Maddox exclaims, crossing his arms across his chest. "You have the enhancements and all,"

"I would be able to beat you without any enhancements," Steve challenges, his voice getting low and threatening. He puffs up his chest as he starts getting insulted by Maddox, Quinn pats his chest, telling him to stand down as she steps in front of him, looking directly at Maddox.

"I'll do it," she pipes up. Maddox makes a confused face as if he'd been slapped out of nowhere. "Do what?" he clarifies. "Beat you. Without enhancements. If I win you stop acting as if you were the victim last night -"

"If I win," Maddox speaks up, pressing his index finger to his chest and sauntering closer to her. "I get to take you on another date," he leans down to her ear so only she can hear him say, "And I will do whatever I want." He moves away from her, winking in the process while Quinn is stone cold.

"Knowing how you've been running lately, I'll make the date for this Saturday at eight? Sound good?" he leers, Quinn doesn't respond. His eyes flicker up at Jo for a moment. "You'll want to stay out of the house that day, things will get loud,"

Jo tries to jump forward at Maddox, fists clenched, eyes swelling with rage as she attempts to attack him, however, Steve holds her back. His eyes lock on Maddox for a split second. "That won't happen," he states, his voice once again threatening.

It was enough to make a chill run up Quinn's spine. She took note to never piss off Steve, she was nervous to just be around him at the moment. Maddox hums a little in triumph as he walks away, demanding that everyone stay back as there's going to be a race between him and Quinn.

"Are you sure you can handle this?" Jo asks worry is imminent in her voice as they begin pacing towards the pavement where Maddox was stretching his legs. Adrenaline starts coursing through her veins just at the sight of him, there was no way he could win. "Yes," Quinn answers softly, calmly as her nerves begin to spark off in several different directions.

As she reaches the pavement she begins stretching her legs just as Maddox did, trying her best to avoid eye contact with him. A soft touch wraps itself around her shoulders. It's Steve, pulling her close to him, it's the closest they've ever been while being conscious.

"If Blair taught you anything about running or anything of this sort that'll help you win, use it," he whispers to her, before pulling on her shoulders in a half attempt of a hug. Quinn hums in agreement before letting go of him, locking her eyes with Maddox as she saunters up to the crack in the pavement that they've cleared as the starting line.

Quinn crouches down beside Maddox who seems to be giggling at nothing. "Didn't know you and Captain America were so close," he notes, trying to distract her. "Hope something doesn't happen to him on his next mission or whatever he does since he's wasting his time with you," the taunt doesn't take effect on Quinn on the outside but deep down inside that was always her main worry, her biggest concern when it came to her friendship with Steve.

But no matter how many missions he went on he always came back. He always wanted his jacket and he always managed to give it to her each time he went on a mission.

She shakes her head clear of the thoughts of Steve and focuses on the mission she gave herself, she had to be the first at the monument, she couldn't let Maddox take advantage of anyone else nor could she risk seeing him again. Her heart thumps rapidly in her chest as she begins tuning out the rest of the world. All she does is focus on her breathing and lets her mind go blank, leaving everything out in a muffle. She barely hears someone say go as she lunges forward along with Maddox.

For the most part, Maddox is in the lead by a hair, no matter how hard she pumps her legs. She can see the shit-eating grin on his face as he gains even more of a lead. Her lungs start to burn and her eyes start to swell with tears as she pushes herself to her extreme. Her heels never touch the ground yet, Maddox is barely struggling to keep up with her. She had let herself go ever since she started overtime, she could clearly see that now.

That's when she starts pumping her legs faster. Overtime didn't screw her over, it introduced her to Steve, she was brought into a new way of life. She met Agent Barton and Blair, and she was training, not to be an agent, but to be evaluated as one. That's why Fury approached her, that's why Blair didn't hold back.

She was more than just some lonely I.T. that ran every morning with a jogging group. She was Quinn. And she would make a damn poor agent if she were to get bested by Maddox.

She pushes well past her limits, running at what seemed to be more than her top speed. She finally gets in the lead by a hair, glancing from the corner of her eye at Maddox who's face is more determined to beat her more than ever. She was almost at the monument, just a few more feet and she'd make it.

"Hey, Maddox," she pants out from beside him, he grunts in reply. "Eat...my...dirt," she pants lunging forward an extra few inches - pulling herself into a visible lead just as they approach the monument. She skids to a halt, raising her arms above her head in victory. She can hear Jo shout at her triumph from across the reflective pool, Steve just stands clapping his hands and smiling.

Her breath is ragged and labored as she takes a moment to catch her breath, Maddox appears to be having a tough time too as he places himself on the ground. His chest heaves from the deep breaths he intakes. Quinn saunters over to him, limping in the process, her legs weren't used to this kind of running. She outstretches her hand for him to take, all he does is look at it and then shake his head.

"All I wanted...was you..." he exclaims, his voice was more sharp than usual as he was exhausted. Quinn rolls her eyes and crouches down beside him. "I'm not a prize, I am not a goal, and I am not a pushover. I am a person, who is not interested and you didn't care," Quinn lectures earning an eye roll from him.

It hurt her to see him act the way he was, this wasn't the Maddox she had grown accustomed to. "I want you out of the group," he replies with an acidic tone. This takes her back a moment and then she frowns, pressing forward.

"That's fine. The Joggernauts is a stupid name anyway," Quinn states, standing up and stretching. Her eyes dart towards the edge of the reflective pool where Jo and Steve along with the rest of the group were walking towards them. "I'm sorry it has to end this way, I'll be fine," she shrugs it off and begins walking away from Maddox, who just stares at the ground rather than looking up at her.

A wide smile spread across her face as she approaches Jo and Steve, Jo looking particularly excited that she won. Her arms stretched out as she ran forward to hug her before she quickly pulls away. "You're sweaty, but I'm so happy for you," Jo exclaims, wiping her hands against her jogging sweats. "Yeah, I won," Quinn hums out. "I also got us kicked out of the group,"

"What?" Steve chimes in, crossing his arms over his chest. "He's such a poor loser, but, I can't say I'm not thrilled I don't have to get up at six with you in the morning now," Jo quips with a slight smile, earning an unamused glare from Quinn. She never went anyways, she didn't care.

She turns back to see the group crowding around Maddox as he licks the wounds in his ego. There's a small part of her that wants to destroy the rest of it yet, she lets it go, turning on her heel and walking away towards the entrance of the park where Jo had parked her car. Instinctively she matches her pace with Steve's as Jo heads off in front of them to talk to Josh on the phone.

Quinn admires the smile that is on Jo's face, she's happy she finally found someone to match her needs. "I've been thinking," she starts, catching Steve's curious attention. "I think I want to be an agent," she announces, listening to Steve's breath hitch. "An agent?" Steve reiterates, sounding surprised. "Being an agent implies you'll have to -"

"I know," Quinn interrupts him, her eyes trailing off to where Jo was wandering off to. Being an agent meant detaching from people who cared for you the most.