| This story gets the good Captain's LANGUAGE warning.|

I do not own these characters (I just write them as a way to love them and care for them).

Sam's eyes flickered over to the magazine laying on the bed and then back out the window. He let out a sigh like he was about to say something he didn't want to have to say. "So how long have you had feelings for him?"

I stopped chewing and stared at him. "What?"

He gave me the 'get real' look. "Come on, Y/N."

"Uh, I... I guess it's been awhile," I confessed.

"I could tell that reporter fishing around last night bothered you," he said, keeping his gaze focused outside. "She wants to get her hands on him."

"She sure does."

"So why does that bother you?"

I couldn't find the words, my mouth went silent. "I... guess it shouldn't," I sighed. "I haven't told him how I feel and there's obvious reasons why I shouldn't."

"Sure because I can't see Pepper loving that," he gave a little chuckle.

"Why would Pepper care?" I asked, my forehead wrinkled.

"Woman, what is with you? Of course she'd— Oh.... wait. Are we talking about Tony?"

My nostrils flared and my eyes widened. "What?! No!"

Sam slapped his hand over his chest. "THANK GOD." He turned towards me and his face softened. "So who are we talking about here then? Are we talking about... Steve?" He was putting the pieces together as he spoke.

I looked away from him and nodded as a tear rolled down my cheek. I squeezed my eyes closed to make the whole thing go away.

"I'm sorry," Sam said nervously as he glanced out the window and got up to sit next to me on the couch. "What did I say? I'm sorry..." he said as he wrapped his arms around me.

My face buried into his shoulder, I said, "You didn't do anything, I'm already upset about it."

"Wait, why can't you be with Steve? Do you think that Sadie girl is after him?"

"Because he's... he's the Captain, Sam. And we're friends. If I tell him my feelings, I may ruin our relationship. He doesn't feel that way about me. And yes, I think she's after him."

Sam laughed, " I thought she was after Tony."

"Oh," I said, and then I started laughing, "Why would you think I like Tony, by the way??"

Sam pulled back to look at me, he was chuckling now, his shoulders shook. "You keep carrying that stupid magazine around with Tony on the cover."

I laughed so hard, "What am I? —Like 12? I have a crush on Tony and I carry his picture around?? I just keep getting interrupted and haven't been able to read it yet."

Sam shook his head. "I'm sorry! That was ridiculous for me to think. I guess I thought last night you were upset when she asked where Tony was."

"No, I was trying to keep it together about Steve," I said, it came out kind of sad. I'm not looking for sympathy here. And it certainly wasn't my intention to tell one of Steve's closest friends about this.

"I won't say anything," he looked at me seriously. "But are you sure he'd react badly to this? I think you two would be great together. Now that I think of it, this should have happened a long time ago."

I gave him a weak smile. "It doesn't matter now anyway, she's got her hooks in him."

"Y/N..." he said to me seriously.

"Natasha says she's there today and she has her hands all over him. Plus, Tony said they were on a date last night."

"Okay," he said quietly, "it may not be what we think though." He walked back to the window.

"Do you mind if I take the street after I finish here?" I asked. "I need to clear my head."

"Go ahead, sweetie," he said. I can tell he feels bad now. That really wasn't my intention.

I tossed out the rest of the sandwich and got ready to walk around outside. At least it was the most gorgeous fall day. The fresh air did take my mind off the situation for a while and I was thankful. I felt worse now because not only was I heartbroken over Steve, but now I think Sam was upset too. He sounded pretty distracted when I talked to him over the comm.

Late in the afternoon, just when I was getting hungry again, Sam and I both noticed about 15 men leaving the warehouse. We agreed that had to have been just about everyone who could have been inside, based on the size of the building and the people we had seen in and out all day.

"I'm going to just..." I started walking and talking to Sam over the comm, "I'll just see what's going on over here." I casually crossed the street.

"You don't need to do that," Sam said nervously.

I peered around the corner into the alley, "Relax, I'm not going inside or anything. Just thought I could get a closer look."

"Five minutes," he said. "You go look and come right back."

"Five minutes."

I slowly walked down the alley and listened for any sounds or voices. It was perfectly quiet. Further down the alley, I could now see an open door. It was just too tempting but I had promised Sam I'd be careful. If I was Natasha, I would be inside already kicking seven kinds of ass and smirking. I got close to the door and pressed myself against the building to look for security cameras. Before I really got a good look three enormous men walked out of the doorway, engrossed in a conversation. Somehow they managed to not notice me but I could feel my heartbeat in my throat now and I realized a quick decision had to be made. I looked inside and saw no one so I ducked in there. I couldn't let them see me, they could turn around or be back any second. Sam's was still talking in my ear but I couldn't answer him because I was still looking around for any other signs of life. I heard the voices outside again and I quickly pressed myself into a dark corner behind a shelving unit. I couldn't help but think I'm not cut out for this as I tried to steady my breathing.

They closed the door up and walked right past my hiding spot, walking far across the warehouse. I slumped down into the corner further, my mind racing. I was finally getting the chance to look around. From where I was, it was mostly crates and boxes, nothing I could find concern with. I waited.

As time passed, I was paralyzed with fear. I was too afraid to even move to get my phone out of my pocket. They seemed to be walking around the warehouse and I was afraid even one wrong move would give me away. Sam was still talking in my ear, trying to get me to tell him where I was. My five minutes were up. I couldn't speak for fear of them hearing me but my throat suddenly felt like it was full of cotton anyway.

I have just done the stupidest thing in my entire life.

Now what? Am I stuck here overnight? Are they going to find me? Suddenly, my problems from the past couple days seemed like small potatoes.

After what had to be an hour, I reasoned with myself and accepted the fact that they didn't realize I was in the building. That only relaxed me partially because in the meantime, my comm had gone dead. I could no longer hear Sam's panicked voice in my ear. I tried to imagine what was going through his head just then. I put my hand on my phone on the outside of my pocket and just then, I heard them again. I realized I'm no match for what now looked like about ten guys and I was frozen again, unwilling to get my phone out and make a noise or light my screen up.

I waited.

Trying to calm myself, I pictured Steve's face except it wasn't working. I think my brain must be under too much stress to function properly. The light in the corner is too dim and I couldn't even make out my watch to see what time it was. But I know it has to be hours by that point. The men have eaten and sat around and talked... except since I don't speak German, I'm not privy to the conversation but there's a lot of laughing and some gesturing that's making me uncomfortable being the only female on the premises. What in the fuck have I done?

Fighting off tears of frustration, my eyes darted around the large room. I saw a set of windows high up near the ceiling and something caught my eye... a couple of really small red lights in a triangular formation.

I could be wrong but I feel like it could have been Redwing. I took a chance and waved my hand a little, making sure no one saw me.

The lights were gone when I looked back and my heart sank. I realized I'm either really going to have to get brave and move or I'm going to die there. I'm willing myself to make that decision when I notice a few of the men get up and walk to the other side of the building, through a hallway. I heard a light scuffle and a couple more of them went running that way. Then there was a thud at the door I had come in through and a second later, the door whipped open. I couldn't make out what was going on because it was still somewhat dark. I could see a dark figure with a...

...with a shield. And my heart started beating fast.

I leapt up to my feet and stepped out of the dark corner in time for the rest of the men to come running, some coming towards me and some to Steve. I crouched into a fighting stance and extended my arms in front of me, one on top of the other, my palms facing each other. Flames fanned out from my hands towards the men and they backed off as Steve took more of them down. They fell to the floor one by one like toy soldiers.

I finally got to look at Steve and his chest was heaving. He was wearing his stealth suit instead of the Captain America uniform I'm more used to seeing him in. He looked so angry, it was like he was looking right through me. I can't remember him looking like that before... at least not directed at me.

"Captain, I'm—" I started to say, not feeling like it was the appropriate time to call him Steve. But he talked right over me.

"Let's go."

The stern, husky voice that came out of him was the last sound I heard from him for quite a while. He had his hand around my arm walking me out of the building and down the back side of the alley. I didn't see Sam or anyone else but there was plenty of noise from inside the warehouse.

Steve walked me to a fire escape and pointed at it for me to go up as he followed behind me. I climbed the fire escape with shaky hands and unsteady feet. The lump in my throat was growing to epic proportions. At that point, there was no doubt in my mind I'm getting booted off the team.

On top of the building, there's a helicopter and Steve doesn't hesitate to firmly pick me up under my arms and lift me up into it. He still isn't saying a word. I wait for him to get in, knowing what's about to happen is going to be epically bad.

But he got in and put his ear protectors on and handed me a set without a word. We took off quickly and I turned my head to look out my side, not wanting to face him. I'm completely ashamed that I made such a stupid choice. The city lights below turn blurry as my eyes tear up. If I wasn't so upset, it would be beautiful. Fuck.

We were landing back at the tower before I could believe it. As mad as he was, he still gave me his hand to help me out of the helicopter. He didn't look at me but he helped me out. "Conference room, now," he barked out.

I followed him downstairs and into the conference room where he pointed for me to sit down in a chair. He proceeded to pace around the front of the room, eventually moving his hands to his hips. "What in the hell do you think you were doing?"

"I take full responsibility, Captain. Sam urged me not to go near the building, I—"

"You're damn right you take full responsibility." His voice was so loud and so firm. He wasn't yelling but he might as well have been. "You jeopardized the surveillance and your own safety - not to mention Sam's. I don't know what's gotten into you, that was reckless. Coulson's going to be all over my ass wanting to know what the hell happened that he had to send a SHIELD swat team there tonight."

I looked down at my hands folded overtop of each other and they shook like leaves. When I looked back up at Steve, he was staring me down.

"You're on probation. Hell, I'm probably on probation. I'm the one who trained you and sent you on this mission. I'm the one who had to bring Natasha with me to get you out of there. She and Sam get to clean up your mess. I'm not so sure that they won't also be in trouble now."

I wasn't sure if I was allowed to talk now. He was finally quiet for a minute. "I apologize, Captain. I made a really bad choice. I thought I could just walk around the outside of the building, but I—"

"But what? You couldn't help yourself? You had to play the hero?? Or prove yourself??"

"No," I looked down, "some of them came out... and I ducked in the building just so they wouldn't see me. I never intended to go inside. Once I was in there, I knew there were too many of them."

At that, he seemed to calm down some. But I knew even if he wasn't mad at me as much anymore, I'd made his world a total mess.

A legendary fuckup that I will never live down.

A shaky little breath escaped my lips as I wished I could have a do-over and not make that sound. But he heard it, I know he did. Steve's head whipped around and he looked at me, he was angry. But his face softened. Maybe he thought I was going to cry to get out of trouble but I never would do that. I know my eyes are already red and I'm not at my best but I would never force a cry and now that he's looking at me, he knows it too.

"Dismissed," he said, his voice almost a whisper now.

I stood up to go and I said, "Yes, Captain." But my voice broke again.

As I put my hand on the door to open it, I heard him right behind me. "Do you have any idea what tonight was like?" His voice was steady and I turned to look at him. "Do you have any idea how worried I was?"

All I could do was watch his face.

"I didn't know if you were dead or alive, Y/N. I imagined the worst things... You scared the hell out of me. Don't you ever do that to me again." Steve stepped closer and his face looked pale, making his eyes look extra blue. "You don't know how worried I was." He was angry but maybe not angry with me anymore.

I didn't know what to say but before I could say anything, he stepped right in front of me and put his hands on the back of my head, pulling my face to his and pressing his lips firmly against mine. It all happened so fast. After I caught up to him, I kissed him back and moved my hands up to hold his elbows. I never saw it coming. His lips brushed overtop of mine softly but with a firmness. It was no ordinary kiss, by the feeling of it, it was something a long time in coming. I started to tear up again, the hot wetness spilling over. I pulled back from him and looked up into his eyes.

"I'm sorry," I squeaked out. There was no more denying that I was feeling emotional.

"I know," he said, brushing a thumb over my tears.

"Things got out of control, I never meant for that to happen. I was just trying to be thorough and do a good job—"

"I know," he whispered. He put his forehead on mind and tightened his arms around me as I finally let the rest of my defenses down and returned the hug. "I know why you did it. Things took a wrong turn."

"You trained me better than that," I said.

"Well, you were smart enough to stay put and hide when you knew you were outnumbered. That wasn't the wrong thing to do." He squeezed me harder, "When Sam called and told me... I..." he shook his head. "I freaked out, I grabbed Nat and we ran. The whole time there, I didn't know if we'd find you or how we'd find you." He looked down at me and brushed some hair out of my face. "That's when I realized how afraid I was to lose you."

I looked up at Steve's chin as he tilted his head back to look at the ceiling. "You are?" My voice sounded like a mouse.

"Yeah I am," he said, finally looking back down at me.

"I thought you were... uh...."

"What?" he whispered.

"I thought you were interested in Sadie..." Saying it out loud made it sound ridiculous.

"No!" His face grimaced and then he laughed. "My God, no. She's horrible. You're..." he looked into my eyes, "You're the one I want." Steve's eyes narrowed as he looked into mine. His head was tilted a bit and he ran his hand over the side of my face. "I should have said something a long time ago. I was afraid I missed my chance."

"Steve, I... I didn't know." I looked at his chest in front of me and pressed my forehead into it. "I like you, too," I said, only it was purposely muffled by his uniform because I didn't know how to say it out loud.

"What?" he laughed, lifting up my face with his finger.

"I said I like you, too," I told him, looking away but having a hard time controlling my grin.

"I didn't know," he said, pulling his eyebrows closer together. His eyes searched my face before he kissed me again. This kiss was much softer, barely there but so sweet. I melted into him as he held me closer. We couldn't get enough of each other and I started to feel like I was becoming part of Steve.

TAP. TAP. TAP.

The sound startled us and we pulled apart to look at the glass behind me. Tony was standing there with Sadie Sennett. Tony looked pretty pleased and gave Steve a salute while Sadie's mouth was gaping. Tony opened the door, "Miss Sennett's all finished up with the interview."

"Thank you for your cooperation," she said to Steve, looking away and ducking away behind Tony.

Tony lingered a moment longer. "Nice one, Cap." He laughed himself out of the room and Steve looked at me again.

A little smile crept over his face. "You know, you can kiss me like that all you want but I still have to put you on probation..." he started to chuckle.

I jokingly swatted at him. "I guess if I'm in trouble, I shouldn't get any kisses."

"Try and stop me," he said, coming in for another one.

I put my hands on his chest to keep him away, "Steve, I really am sorry."

"It's okay," he sighed, "we'll get through this together... And, I'm sorry too... I'm sorry I was so hard on you." He put his arm around my back and walked me to my room. "How about when this all blows over, we go out on a real date?"

"You mean ten years from now?" I asked.

He sighed with a half grin, "I don't think it will be that bad." He played with my hands as we stood in front of my door. "You know, you have to write a report... and I have to write a report... Just tell the truth, it'll be fine. I'm not saying we won't have our asses handed to us but... I think after we explain, it will blow over."

"Our timing's a little off," I smiled.

"No, no, it's fine. It's going to be fine. I'm just glad everything's out in the open."

"Me, too." I looked away, trying to hide my embarrassment.

"What's that face?"

"Yeah, not my finest moment but I was... a little jealous and maybe upset that I thought you were seeing Sadie."

"Aww, really?" he asked. Thankfully, he didn't seem creeped out, maybe he was flattered. I think he was.

I nodded at him. "I finally got up the nerve to ask you out the other day and she butted right in."

"You were going to ask me out?"

"I was going to try," I laughed. "I was pretty nervous." I looked at Steve, I mean really paid attention to him. He was leaning against the wall and looking into my eyes and he looked happy. I lost my train of thought and my breath caught in my throat. I searched his eyes for the words I needed, "I thought I'd never see you again."

"No, I'm here," he said, grabbing my hands in his.

"I don't want to be alone right now. Will you come in?"

"Why don't you let me get my laptop? We can write our reports together." I don't know if it was him trying to be productive or him thinking I was inviting him in for other reasons and trying to hint that it wasn't going to happen... but I didn't care. I just wanted to be around him.

"Sure," I smiled.

He gave me a little peck and ran off. I thought it was funny that he ran, almost like he couldn't wait to get back. I went in and changed into pajama pants and a tank top and fired up my laptop. It was so comforting to be back in my own room, I sat down on the couch and found myself just smiling. I couldn't stop thinking about Steve and all that kissing. Damn, that was... it was good.

When I heard him knock, I ran over to the door. I was pleasantly surprised to see him in navy sweatpants with a white t-shirt and some sneakers. I love seeing him in a way no one else ever gets to.

"You look cute," I told him. He got a little pink as I led him to the couch to sit down.

Steve got his laptop out and he sent me the link to the report form. "Just be honest, be yourself," he assured me.

"I'm worried I won't remember everything," I said. "I froze in the warehouse, my brain panicked. Does that ever happen to you? What do you do?"

"It hasn't happened to me in a long time but... it does happen to the best of us. You're human." He gave my knee a squeeze and we both started writing. A minute later he laughed to himself before looking at me. "I guess that wasn't completely true... I have had problems with freezing up recently. Every time I tried to ask you out, that happened to me." We shared a little laugh before we got back to work.

Once in a while, we'd look at each other. It was the most mundane thing... report writing... but it was so nice to have him there.

"Can I use your bathroom?" he asked.

"Sure."

"Not weird or too personal or anything?" he asked, looking awkward.

"Well, okay then, just hold it," I laughed. "Go ahead."

He shook his head at me and headed in there. I looked at what I was typing to try to find my place again when I heard another knock at my door. I opened the door to see Sam, looking relieved to see me. He threw his arms around me. "Man, you scared me, girl."

"I'm so sorry, Sam. It all happened so fast," I hugged him tight before letting go and motioning for him to come in. "I froze up, they kept walking past me. I didn't know what to do and then my comm died..."

"How was everything with Steve? He was pretty mad, wasn't he?"

"Uh... yeah..."

"Don't worry, it'll be okay. He can't stay mad at you," Sam said. "I'm just glad you're okay. You scared me so bad."

"Thanks for calling, Sam," Steve said from the bathroom doorway. Sam looked like he saw a ghost.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt anything," Sam said.

I put my hand on his arm, "You didn't, Sam. Do you want to come in? We're just writing our reports."

"Well, I'll let you get to it then... your reports, I mean," he grinned.

I gave him one more big hug, "Thanks, pal. I owe you my life."

"Go get 'im," he whispered in my ear. I let Sam out and turned back to Steve.

He was still standing near the bathroom door. He started to walk towards me. "I think maybe I ought to let you get some sleep," he said with a soft smile.

"Oh, okay." Truthfully, I was surprised by him saying that.

"Maybe that sounded bad," he said, reaching back to scratch his neck. "I didn't mean anything by that." Steve bridged the gap between us and put his hands on my arms. "I just... want to take things slow with you. I want to make sure everything's right..."

I gave him a smile, "I understand. I don't want to mess this up."

His hands moved from my arms to my back and kept sliding down until they were crossed over each other at the small of my back. I slipped my arms under his and it's amazing to me, because I already feel like I fit perfectly there. His lips found mine and his kiss was hungrier this time. We were tangled in each other for ages until he pulled away. "Whew... wow, that was... wow." He ran his thumb over my face and looked at me sweetly, "If I don't leave now..."

"I know," I said, feeling my hands heating up on his back, I pulled them away so I wouldn't hurt him.

"I'd like to take you out before... things go that far," he smiled.

"Okay," I said. "I'm on board with that." My mind was there but my body was a couple of steps ahead at this point... but that's okay.

He picked up my hands and brought one to his lips for a kiss. He breathed out quickly and squinted his face, "Oooh, you're hot." He laughed as he brought the hand to his chest and pressed it flat against himself and came in for one last kiss. "Goodnight... Hot Stuff."