AN: We're getting close to seeing Jessica, y'all.

✧

Steve's teeth were grinding as he walked to Nick Fury's office, gripping onto Jessica's file that Chess had obtained only minutes ago.

In the short walk it had taken Steve to Fury's office, several things had finally sunk into the man.

One, SHIELD had covered up Jessica's disappearance, which meant they knew where she had been but did nothing about it. Secondly, Peggy Carter and Lydia Martin-Stilinski were alive.

Thirdly, and most importantly to Steve, Nick Fury knew that the women were alive and hadn't told him.

The last thought is what had Steve practically barking at the man as he opened the door to his office, eyes dark.

"You just can't stop yourself from lying, can you?" He growled, fist clenched around the file in hand.

Fury didn't turn from looking out the window as he said, "I didn't lie. Agent Romanoff had a different mission than yours."

"Which you didn't feel obliged to share, though that is not what I was speaking about," Steve's eye twitched, slamming down Jessica's file on his desk.

Nick jumped a bit, turning to see the now bent file as he spoke, "I'm not obliged to do anything. What is this?"

"Why don't you find out?" Steve's jaw clenched, hands curling into fists as he held back tears, "I'd think you would have found the common decency to share this."

The man rose a brow, opening the manila folder to see the actual report on Jessica's disappearance. He let out a small sigh, closing it as he sat back in his office chair.

"Remind me to speak to Ms. Stark before she hacks into our systems again, which is breaking the law if you do care about that," Fury entwined his hands in his lap, looking up at Steve.

The said man scoffed, "Like I give a rat's ass about that right now. You could have told me that the woman I loved disappeared over enemy territory and no one did a damn thing to find her when we met three years ago. It's not like you didn't have the time."

"And would you have complied then, Captain?" Fury questioned, standing up as he placed his hands on the table, "We found it easier to let you believe she had lived a life in hiding, away from public view."

"I don't care what you thought was easy," Steve practically yelled, slamming his hand down on the desk, "That is my wife!"

Fury was quiet for a moment before he said, "So the rumors were true. You two were more than friends."

"Of course we were," Steve whispered, shaking his head, "If you didn't think so, you wouldn't have gotten a women to look like her the day I woke up from the ice."

"No one would ever fess up, Captain," Fury smacked his lips together, "They said it wasn't their story to tell."

Steve hummed, "You still should have told me. Even if you thought we were just friends. Family is important."

When Fury didn't say anything, Steve bit his lip, looking away from the man to outside the window. Steve swallowed his anger about Jessica away, humorlessly chuckling after a moment.

"Speaking of families, those hostage's had families. They could have died, Nick."

Fury scoffed, "I sent the greatest solider in history to make sure that didn't happen."

"Soldiers trust each other," Steve shook his head, "That's what makes it an army. Not a bunch of guys running around shooting guns."

"Last time I trusted someone, I lost an eye," Fury reminded, thinking back many years ago.

The two men were quiet for a moment before Nick Fury sighed, knowing that Steve would not back down.

"Look, I didn't want you doing anything you weren't comfortable with," He tried, making Steve raise a brow in question, "Agent Romanoff is comfortable with everything."

Steve nodded, "I can't lead a mission when the people I'm leading have missions of their own."

"It's called compartmentalization," Fury explained, not backing down, "Nobody spills the secrets, because nobody knows them all."

"Except you," Steve sarcastically smirked, lips tugging upwards towards his ears as his chin clenched.

Fury sighed, knowing he wasn't going to get anywhere with Steve, especially since he had kept the fact that Peggy Carter was alive along with the fact that Jessica had gone missing.

"You're wrong about me, you know?" He murmured, "I do share. I'm nice like that."

Five minutes later, Nick Fury and Steve Rogers were stepping into an elevator, the first man saying, "Insight bay."

"Captain Rogers does not have clearance for Project Insight," The SHIELD computer immediately responded. Fury smacked his lips together, "Director override. Fury, Nicholas J.."

"Confirmed."

The door closed and began taking them down to where Fury wanted to show Steve, silence overcoming them for a moment until the Captain broke it.

"You know, they used to play music."

Fury nodded, "Yeah. My grandfather operated one of these things for forty years. Granddad worked in a nice building."

He met Steve's eyes, who looked intrigued, prompting him to continue, "He'd walk home every night, roll of ones stuffed in his lunch bag. He'd say "hi", people would say hi back. Time went on, neighborhood got rougher. He'd say "Hi", they'd say, "Keep on steppin'. Granddad got to grippin' that lunch bag a little tighter."

"Did he ever get mugged?" Steve questioned, brow quirked. Fury chuckled, tilting his head lazily, "Every week some punk would say, "What's in the bag?""

"What did he do?"

Nick Fury gave Steve a genuine smile, "He'd show 'em. Bunch of crumpled ones and loaded .22 Magnum. Granddad loved people. But he didn't trust them very much."

The SHEILD workers shifted as they continued down the elevator, Steve's blue eyes widening as he noticed several giant helicarriers.

Fury noticed his gaze and nodded, saying, "Yeah, I know. They're a little bit bigger than an .22."

Steve and Fury stepped off the elevator as it stopped and the elder man was in awe as his superior showed him around.

"This is Project Insight. Three next-generation helicarriers synced to a network of targeting satellites," Fury explained, pointing to the large ships.

Steve nodded, concluding, "Launched from the Lemurian Star."

"Once we get them in the air they never need to come down. Continuous sub-orbital flight courtesy of our new repulsor engines."

Steve let out a breathy scoff, saying, "Stark?"

"I assume you are speaking of Tony," Fury rolled his eyes, "Yes, he had a few suggestions once he got an up close look at our old turbines."

They walked closer to the helicarrier and Steve's brows raised toward his hairline at the sight of the large guns on the ship.

Fury noticed and said, "These new long range precision guns can eliminate a thousand hostiles a minute. The satellites can read a terrorist's DNA before he steps outside his spider hole. We gonna neutralize a lot of threats before they even happen."

"I thought the punishment usually came after the crime?" Steve challenged, fingers looped in his belt on his waist. Fury shook his head, "We can't afford to wait that long."

"Who's "we"?"

Steve narrowed his eyes at the sight of Fury's jaw clenching and unclenching, inwardly noting that the man was getting frustrated. He had to conceal his chuckle by biting the inside of his cheek, letting the man speak.

"After New York, I convinced the World Security Council we needed a quantum surge in threat analysis. For once we're way ahead of the curve," Fury relented, looking back up at the helicarrier.

Steve nodded, sarcastically smiling, "By holding a gun at everyone on Earth and calling it protection."

Fury's eye visibly twitched, his clenching at this sides, "You know, I read those SSR files. Greatest generation? You guys did some nasty stuff."

Steve thought for a moment, cheeks heating with both anger and embarrassment. After a moment he finally spoke, saying what Jessica had told him once when they had his same discussion since they both different points of views on what they were doing at the time.

"Yeah, we compromised. Sometimes in ways that made us not sleep so well. But we did it so the people could be free. This isn't freedom, this is fear."

Steve's heart felt like it was pulling out of his chest at the words, knowing that Jessica hadn't always liked what they had done. But, in the end, she did it knowing that if she didn't the future before them would be different; Jessica never wanted to kill anybody.

In fact, she usually always caused the men to knock out or to hurt them instead of killing them.

"I never want to kill anyone, hero. Even if they are on the wrong side. To them, we're on the wrong side, too," Jessica sighed, crossing her arms against her chest.

Steve huffed, hands gripping the back of his neck, "I understand this, Jessica. But you almost got hurt today because you wouldn't shoot the man that shot at you."

"What if we just stopped shooting at one another all together?" Jessica's green eyes held tears, "Why can't we all just get along and there be no evil in the world?"

Steve gave her a grim smile, walking over to his wife and placing his hands on her shoulders. Jessica looked up at him as he cupped the side of her neck, their eyes meeting softly.

"I know, I know, it's unreasonable to think that we could all get along when there are bad people with dark hearts," Jessica whispered, pressing her face against Steve's chest, "I'm just tired of seeing all this hatefulness."

"I know, Brooklyn baby. I know."

"I guess we just compromise. We make decisions that make us not sleep well... but we do it so we can be free. Everyone in this world deserves to be free. If they aren't, they're just afraid. And what is life if we live it afraid of what happens next?"

Steve was shaken from his memory of Jessica as Fury spoke loudly beside him, "SHIELD takes the world as it is, not as we'd like it to be. It's getting damn near past time for you to get with that program, Cap."

"Don't hold your breath."

✧

An hour later, Steve found himself at the Smithsonian Museum, entering the Captain America exhibit as the Smithsonian narrator's voice echoed throughout his head.

"A symbol to the nation. A hero to the world. The story of Captain America is one of honor, bravery and sacrifice."

The man kept his head low, the baseball hat on his head covering his blue eyes from the public.

He listened quietly as he upon a display of himself, telling his story.

"Denied enlistment due to poor health, Steven Rogers was chosen for a program unique in the annals of American warfare. One that would transform him into the world's first super soldier."

As Steve's eyes trailed, he noticed a small boy in a Captain America shirt staring intently at him, knowing that he recognized him. Steve smiled and put his index finger against his mouth, quietly telling the boy to keep him a secret.

The boy nodded and Steve grinned, walking over to another display across the exhibit. He continued to listen to the narrator until he stopped dead in his tracks, looking at the display of the Howling Commandos in line, eyes focused on the mural of Jessica beside him and Bucky.

Steve sighed as his eyes lingered on his friend and wife, stuffing his hands in his pockets before he made his way through the crowd. He stopped once again when he came upon a display of Bucky, blue orbs softening at his best friend.

"Best friends since childhood, Bucky Barnes and Steven Rogers were inseparable on both schoolyard and battlefield. Barnes is not the only Howling Commando to give his life in service of his country as Jessica Martin, the pair's other best friend, went down with Captain Rogers in the Artic."

Steve bit the inside of his lip, almost drawing blood as he moved away, hearing Jessica's voice making his eyes widen. He pushed through the crowd, stopping at the sight of his wife smiling, moving her hair to the side as she looked at Steve through an old video.

The video changed and turned to Jessica sitting in a chair in Army uniform, Dr. Erskine by her side. Steve immediately noticed the dull look in her eye as someone spoke off camera.

Steve recognized the voice to be one of the many nurses that was there the day he was administered the serum as she said, "Ms. Martin, what certain qualities do you believe Steve has that will be heightened with this serum?"

"Well, the objective of this serum is to project the special, good qualities of the man," Jessica began, voice raspy as if she had been crying though no one would know it beside Steve.

The said man felt his heart grow heavy when he realized the video had been taken when the pair were not speaking, after she had kissed him and he left her.

"Administer the serum to a good man, it makes him great. Give it to a bad man and it makes him diabolical. Steve Rogers has the heart of a good solider. He only has ever wanted to do right by anyone," Jessica explained, fingers entwined on her knee that was crossed over her leg.

She sighed once more before she finished, "I do believe that this will be enhanced. Intelligence, strength both physically and mentally, stubbornness, and his charisma are ones we do believe will be progressed."

The nurse's voice was heard again, "And you know this because Steve Rogers is your best friend? Do you believe that makes you prejudice in the decision making?"

"Possibly," Jessica chuckled, causing Steve to as well, "I think everyone is prejudice in certain ways. However, the fact that Steve Rogers is my best friend does not inhibit me from my job. I make calculated decisions when watching these men. I've studied them and at the end of it, made a conclusion based off their hearts. Steve Rogers has a good heart, this I do know."

"You speak of his heart as if you feel his love, Ms. Martin. Do you believe is love for anyone, including yourself could be strengthened?"

Steve watched as Jessica was quiet for a moment, biting her lip as she played with the ring his mother had given her.

Jessica finally looked up from her hands, saying, "Love for everyone? I do believe that will be greater than it is now."

"And for you?"

"I don't know," Jessica's voice cracked, "All I know is that his heart is pure and warm. He'll get the job done."

The video blacked out and Steve gulped away his tears, walking forward as the narrator began speaking about Jessica.

"Jessica Martin, friend of Bucky and Steve since the age of thirteen years old. The woman was born March 19th, 1919 in Brooklyn, New York. Unknown to many, the friend since childhood held a secret of her own. Jessica held the ability to manipulate the elements, making her ranked second in the Howling Commandos only behind Steve Rogers after she helped lead the program after Dr. Erskine's death. It is rumored that she and Steve Rogers were romantically involved, but the world never got to know before they crashed into the Artic Ocean together in 1945 where we now know she died under the ice."

Steve clenched his fists together in his pocket, heat rising up his body as he grew angry. The man hated that the world thought Jessica had died along side him, never knowing the truth.

After a moment, Steve found himself walking again, entering a dark room that had Peggy Carter on the screen, only the woman looked to be older than when he saw her last. The man sat down in the room that only had three others, watching intently.

"That was a difficult winter. A blizzard had trapped half our battalion behind the German line. Steve and Jess..." Steve watched as Peggy hesitated, "Captain Rogers and Dr. Martin fought their way through a HYDRA blockade that had pinned our allies down for months. They saved over a thousand men, one of who would become my brother-in-law as it turned out. Even after they died, they were still changing my life. Lydia, Jessica's younger twin sister still remains one of my best friends after all these years. They brought me great happiness when I needed it the most."

Peggy's words were enough to make Steve stand on his feet, walking to the exit of the Smithsonian as he pulled out a paper that his fist was clenched around.

Twenty minutes later, Steve found himself waiting into a nursing home, being met with a desk as soon as he opened the door.

The woman who worked there didn't look up from her paperwork as she said, "Hello, how can I help you today?"

"I'm looking for a Lydia Martin," He gulped, giving her a smile before he looked down at her name tag. Steve's heart stopped as he whispered, "Jessica."

The said woman looked up and Steve's heart practically burst at the sight of bright widened green eyes.

She looked like his Jessica, only her face was more slim, freckles dancing upon her nose and cheeks.

"Uncle Steve?" The woman whispered, her red scrubs shifting as she stood. Steve's brow furrowed as he said, "Uncle? Who are you?"

"Oh my god," The young redhead screeched, "Great grandma always said that you would be back!"

Steve's mind was going a mile a minute, his eyes widening, "Wait. Grandma? Who's your great grandma?"

"Great grandma Lydia," She came around the desk.

Jessica put her hands on Steve's shoulders, shaking him, "She said great aunt Jessica always thought you hadn't died and when you came back grandma didn't know how to contact you. And then after the accident-"

Steve cut his great niece off, saying, "Wait. What happened to Lydia?"

"She fell down the stairs and hit her head two years ago," She explained, turning on her heel. She waved Steve along, "But she's here now. Has been since it happened. I started working here because of it."

Steve nodded as they began walking down the hall of the nursing home, saying, "But she is alright? No substantial injuries?"

Jessica was quiet for a moment before she whispered, "After the fall... she developed dementia. She doesn't remember much of the recent years."

Steve felt his heart plummet to the floor, feeling helpless.

"What all does she remember?"

"You're in luck, uncle Steve," She smiled at him, stopping at a closed door that had Lydia's name on it, "It seems since she's in the later stages of dementia, she's stuck. Remembers mostly everything before she was thirty years old. Still thinks that grandma Claudia is a kid."

Steve couldn't help the small smile at graced his lips thinking about his niece and nephew as he said, "What about Noah?"

Jessica's face fell and she bit her lip, looking to the ground. Steve tilted his head, putting his hand on her shoulder.

"Where's Noah?"

She licked her lips, looking back up at him, "Uncle Noah died in Vietnam in '65. Someone threw a grenade... he jumped on top of it to save his crew. He died a hero."

"Oh, god," Steve whispered, his hand falling from her shoulder as he stumbled into the wall.

He put his hands on his knees, chin quivering as he thought of the small boy he once knew. Steve couldn't help the tears that fell down his checks, thinking back on the last time he had seen Noah, who had been smiling and telling him that he was going to become a soldier just like he had.

"Lydia doesn't remember?" He turned to his great-niece, eyes glossed over.

The girl shook her head, pursing her lips slightly, "Not at all. We don't mention it in fear that she would break down. It's not healthy to bring up traumas to patients with dementia. They live through the pain all over again and that doesn't help them."

Steve nodded, wiping his eyes as he swallowed the lump in his throat. After a minute, he closed his eyes, letting out a final sigh before he spoke once more.

"Can I see her?"

"Of course," Jessica smiled, "I think there's going to be someone else here you'll be happy to see."

Jessica knocked before she opened the door, allowing Steve to follow her as she said, "Lydia, it seems you have another visitor."

Steve and the girl moved past the small hallway, entering the large bedroom and siting area Lydia had at the nursing home. His eyes widened as he landed on a elder grey-haired woman with brunette tips, eyes almost a honey brown.

"Claudia?" He murmured, moving toward her as she gasped. Claudia moved as quick as she could, using her green cane to stand as she said, "Uncle Steve!"

Steve wrapped his arms around her small, frail frame, closing his eyes as he pressed his cheek against the crown of her head. Claudia gripped onto his upper arms, using what little strength she had to squeeze him in a comforting hug.

When they pulled back, Claudia had tears in her eyes, whispering, "I never thought I would see you again. We didn't know how to contact you when we found out you survived."

"That doesn't matter anymore," Steve smiled, cupping her cheek as he saw the child-like glint in her eye that she once had, "I'm here and I'm going to take care of you all."

The pair were pulled from their thoughts as a frail voice was heard, "Steve?"

Steve turned and his eyes glossed back over when he saw Lydia sitting in her small twin bed, long white hair rolled down her shoulders causing her green eyes to be brighter than they once were.

He couldn't help but see Jessica in that moment, imagining that it were her instead. Steve made his way over to Lydia, who only tilted her head, hands laced together on her lap.

"I thought you were dead," Lydia's voice was raspy, cracking after every syllable. Steve knelt down to the floor, meeting her at eye level, "I came back to my family like I said I would.'

"But Jess," She furrowed her white brow, "She's gone, too. She went looking for your friend."

Steve put his hand on the bed, Lydia only looking at it before she put her own on top of his.

"Do you remember where she went, Lyds?"

Lydia only shook her head, "I think she went to find someone. I..."

She trailed off and Steve only watched as her eyes glossed over, saying, "Lydia?"

"He's gone," Lydia's hand shook on Steve's, "He's gone."

"Who? Who's gone?" Steve tried, stomach twisting in knots. Lydia shook her head, eyes looking everywhere but Steve, "Can't say. Can't say. Promised."

Steve turned to Jessica and Claudia, "What does she mean?"

The grandmother and granddaughter looked to one another, knowing what Lydia had meant. In silent agreement, they sighed, Claudia turning back to Steve.

"I'm sorry, uncle Steve. We promised that we wouldn't say anything. It's not our place."

"Please, Claudia," Steve pleaded, "I need to know."

Claudia bit her lip, "You need to hear it in her own words."

"Whose?"

"Aunt Jessica's."

✧

AN: I'm so sorry it's taken forever to update. I just moved and we are renovating our new house. Wallpaper is not fun to remove.

Anyways, I hope you all liked the chapter <3