RARE WISDOM, TINY LANGUAGE
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"So, from a genetic standpoint," Sadie explained to Adrianne, who sat on the couch opposite her, eating ice cream at an alarmingly fast rate. "The method that's being tried is one using the lentivirus to deliver a healthy copy of the CFTR gene, then the patient's cystic fibrosis could be treated via gene therapies in the form of inhaling an inactive version of the virus,"

"That's a huge advancement in itself," Adrianne said,  through a mouthful of Ben & Jerry's.

"Yeah, But at Stark, they are not stopping there- they're looking into ways that they can do this without the virus," Sadie continued on, unable to keep the excitement off her face. "Meaning they could pull down the side effect rate to 0.00001 percent! And I gotta say, the data looks like they're getting real close."

Sadie was still buzzing from her time spent at Stark Industries three days ago, and when she'd answered her apartment door to find Adrianne waiting patiently with a bag full of supplies, she was never more happy to see her friend, and tell her about all the amazing things she had seen. Adrianne herself had claimed to be happy to be there as, having left the kids with her husband Jamie, they could use this time to pamper themselves. And they had all the essentials: facials and massage and classic romantic comedies and ice cream.

She wasn't sure how well she had done at the interview, she had no way of guessing since the presentation panel all wore poker faces, and there was no hints afterwards.

"That is actually insane," Adrianne responded, with just as much enthusiasm as Sadie felt. "If they keep going, they might just make a world where we don't even need doctors."

"That's the aim, right?" Sadie replied, before her mind drifted elsewhere. "How is everything at the hospital?"

"I thought you said you weren't going to ask anymore," Adrianne reminded her, and she rolled her eyes.

"Isn't a girl allowed to ask how her bestie's career is going?" Sadie challenged, with her best cheeky smile before she smoothed her sheet mask onto her face, revelling in the coolness and the smell of rose.

"My career is going the same as always. Thriving!" Adrianne's sing-songy voice would have made Sadie laugh, if she wasn't determined not to move a muscle until the mask was properly set in place. "But we both know you're not asking about that."

"Just tell me the worst of it," Sadie spoke like a ventriloquist.

On the screen in front of them Rachel McAdams was being wooed by yet another gorgeous Hollywood man, but Sadie was less watching the movie and more watching her phone. She had been told by Dr Cho that she would hear back from Stark Industries within three working days. Today was the fourth since her interview. So, Sadie didn't think it was unreasonable for her to ask about the hospital, and keep her mind anywhere else besides waiting for that phone to ring.

"There's nothing bad to tell," Adrianne shrugged. "I mean, Wyatt is a pain, and I still haven't gotten used to seeing him in your seat at meetings, but his residents are doing fine."

Sadie stayed quiet, and as she watched the amnesiac protagonist n the television get lost on a short trip out, she felt that she could relate somehow.

"Also he kept asking about you, so I told him you're taken," Adrianne added, and Sadie gasped. "You're welcome."

"When did you tell him that?" Sadie cringed. Benjamin Wyatt was not the type to value loyalty in his own relationships, let alone her fictitious ones, so Sadie imagined that this would only make him interfere with her life even more.

Her suspicions were only confirmed when Adrianne answered, "Like a while ago. When you were in DC."

That explained the macarons and the accusations of 'Nightingale Syndrome' in the boardroom. Mixed messages, sure, but that's how Wyatt worked, the meddling bastard.

That was when Sadie's phone pinged, a simple notification. Then again, and again and again. She shot up from her lounging position, reaching for her phone on the end table. Once she reached it, she lay on her stomach, squinting her eyes at the messages on her phone. Some from her ex-residents, some from colleagues and medical contacts, some from old friends from medical school.

Sadie frowned, confused as Adrianne asked what it was. "Everyone's saying congratulations."

"About what?"

New York Presbyterian's Chief Resident, Sarah McCoy, was the only one who had bothered to explain. Her text included a link, and when Sadie clicked on it, it redirected her to the Stark Industries website.

The headline of the article was bold against the background, Meet Our Newest Medical Innovator: Doctor Isadora Moore. Sadie let out a girlish squeal of excitement, no longer caring about the positioning of her face mask, and instantly forwarded the link to Adrianne. Sure enough, a moment later, her best friend squealed as well, as they both leapt up in unison.

"Dr Isadora Moore is a powerhouse in medical diagnostics," Adrianne began to read as Sadie pretended to bow to an adoring crowd. "After graduating from Stanford University at the top of her cohort, Dr Moore gained an internship at New York Presbyterian Hospital, and continued her professional development there past attending status as Chief of Medicine. But beyond that, she has embarked on important research studied by medical students worldwide, written several books and and volunteered as a medical aid for two years serving in Afghanistan and Libya- and it goes on and on- just packed full of praise for you, Sadie!"

"I gotta call my mom," Sadie said, calling her number at the nursing home with shaky hands. It took a few rings, but eventually her mom picked up, and asked who it was. "Mom, it's Sadie."

"Sadie?" Her mother's voice was full of confusion, reminding her that she had to slow down so as to not disorientate her.

"Isadora," she clarified and her mother tutted.

"Isadora-Michelle," Shan corrected, and Sadie couldn't help but smile. "If you're going to shorten it, make it Shelly, it's prettier."

"Yes, Mom," Sadie said, unable to contain her grin. "But, guess who managed to land themselves an amazing new job?"

"A new job?" Her mom questioned, her smile audible. "My girl Shell?"

"Yes," Sadie laughed, as Adrianne handed her a glass of champagne which had apparently appeared out of thin air. "And it's better pay than what I had before, which means I can get a house within the next two years, and hire the help we need, and you can move back in with me!"

"Oho! That would be wonderful darl'," her mother said with a laugh in her voice. "Now, hand the phone to your sister, I've missed her."

"Savannah, uh... isn't home," Sadie explained, her smile falling. Adrianne gave her an encouraging smile. "Mom, I'll stop by tomorrow, okay?"

"You better," Shan warned, playfully, and Sadie was laughing again. "Love you, baby girl."

Then the line clicked off, and Adrianne continued with her loud celebration, turning music on and making it awfully loud. Sadie's phone lit up again with another text, this time from a unknown number she'd deleted from her contacts a long time ago, but still recognised. Wyatt's text made her heart jump out of habit- but she immediately forced down the feeling, reminding herself why she had left him in the first place.

UNKNOWN
congrats babe.

UNKNOWN
how about I take you someplace nice to celebrate?

Sadie pretended to gag and ignored the message, as she began to sway around and opened up a chat with someone else entirely, before sending her own enthusiastic text:

SADIE
I got the job!!!!!!!!! Thank you for the encouragement,  it helped a lot xx

After that, she joined in the dancing with her best friend, as Rachel McAdams found a ride home on the television, and as they laughed and danced; a weight was finally lifted off of Sadie's shoulders.

Her phone vibrated once more, and she had a quick look to read the text message gleaming on the screen.

STEVE
YES! I knew you had it in you.

Sadie held the phone to her chest as her smile grew even wider.

~

"I mean, I'm really glad for you," Natasha said, before taking a bite out of her croissant.

The red haired agent had turned up at Sadie's apartment that morning, offering breakfast as a congratulatory gesture for the new job she'd landed that week. Natasha had explained that it was the least she could do after Sadie had healed her gunshot wound. Sadie knew better than to ask how she got her address. It was, after all, going to be a short breakfast as Nat had 'places to go, people to see' and Sadie was sure the topic of espionage would take the entirety of their time.

"Thanks," Sadie smiled, residual excitement still rushing through her veins. She took a sip of her drink. Sadie had ordered peach iced tea, Natasha had ordered black coffee, no sugar, and had mixed in a dash of some alcoholic beverage she kept in a flask.

"Steve was super proud when he heard the news," Nat added, with a smirk.

"Well, he's sweet like that," Sadie shrugged, and Natasha immediately cocked an eyebrow.

"Not a lot of people would call Steve Rogers 'sweet'," she told her. "You saw him on that highway."

"Well, it's not everyday that you get attacked by a near army, is it?" Sadie said. They sat on a table outside of the café they'd ordered from, the hustle and bustle of the city right by their side.

"It is for us," Nat said, and there wasn't a hint of sarcasm in her voice as she raised her coffee to her lips. "Speaking of being attacked, you decided what to do with those powers of yours?"

"What I've always done," Sadie responded, simply.

"Pretend they don't exist?" Natasha teased and Sadie rolled her eyes, trying not to crack a smile. The woman opposite her was so blunt it was almost funny. "You know, with some training, you'd never need anyone to save you from anything."

"As tempting as that sounds, I've had my share of training. A lifetime ago," Sadie sighed, remembering her early days at SHIELD, when they'd been trying to understand what she was. Weeks spent attempting different skills until they concluded that it was mimicry, and couldn't be defined. "And it didn't lead to anything good."

And there it was, that look on Natasha's face. She knew. And Sadie's suspicions were only confirmed when the agent said, "Yeah... I read the files."

"Then you gotta understand, Natasha," Sadie sighed. "Why I'd rather only use these abilities in emergencies. To help in conflict, instead of being a part of it, or a cause of it."

"So, you wanna settle, huh?" Natasha said, tossing her recently cut red bob into a rough side parting, the loose curls framing her face. "Got anyone special in mind?"

"When did this become about that?" Sadie laughed, and Nat shook her head, tutting in annoyance. "No, I don't. The only guy that seems to want to take me out is my ex, who broke my heart and stole my job."

It bothered Sadie so much that her heart still hurt when she thought about Benjamin, and how much she had loved him. She thought about his text earlier in the week, and the gift he'd sent before that, her mind wondering what on earth he could want. But then Sadie caught herself thinking that way, and pushed it to the back of her mind.

"Well, Chief of Medical Innovations at Stark- who's laughing now?" Natasha asked, and Sadie smiled, sadly.

"How about the Chief of Medicine at New York Pres?"

"You got better pay, better vacations and a better reputation. Plus your job title sounds way cooler," Natasha told her, and Sadie was inclined to agree. "Besides, there's plenty of fellas who could treat you way better than he did."

"I don't know," Sadie smiled. "It's a pretty open wound. I got lousy taste in guys. But I guess I just gotta find the good ones."

"Honestly, Moore?" Natasha said, with a grin. "They're usually a lot closer than you think."

Sadie didn't let herself ponder that for too long.

~

It was a sobering reminder to Steve, as it always was, visiting Peggy. A reminder of the time that was both given to him, and stolen from him. He was never sure whether to thank the Lord that he was still young, or get angry, and let Him know how he felt about the whole thing.

He decided it's better to keep quiet and see how fate plays out. He tried to have faith in what Isadora had said to him months before, when he'd embarrassingly spent the night in her gorgeous apartment. Tried to have faith that he'd figure it out.

Steve didn't try to explain what had happened to SHIELD to Peggy; the first time he had, it had broken her heart, he could tell, that all her life's work had been crumbled from the inside out. And that look on her face- hated himself for thinking it, but he was glad when her memory reset itself and she forgot the horror of reality. As a result he'd started the conversation again and never mentioned it.

"I think I've settled in alright," Steve told Peggy, as she smiled up at him from her hospital bed. It was true, he'd settled in best he could, he thought. Of course, for Peggy each time she saw him was like the first time, so it was an awful game of catch up before their time was up. "Made myself some friends. A soldier, and an agent, and a doctor- a couple doctors actually- and a whole team of colleagues I get along with. Even Howard's kid."

Yes, Steve had good and properly warmed up to Tony despite their differences, especially these last few months as he and the rest of the Avengers had been working more closely and storming HYDRA strongholds. The work, despite its importance, was definitely easier and lower stakes than an alien invasion of the planet, or impending genocide via helicarrier. Steve almost couldn't recognise himself when he caught himself thinking about it all like another day at the office.

"I'm so glad," Peggy's voice was frail and soft. Nothing like the commanding tone she used to use. "You deserve some company that isn't lying in a sick bed, and ancient."

"Hell, Peggy I'm as ancient as anything," he chuckled, before adding earnestly, "And you look just the same to me."

She didn't point out that that was a blatant lie, because she knew what he meant. She always knew exactly what he meant. That she was just as special now as she was the day he'd met her, regardless of what her opinion of herself was. Steve hated that she thought of herself the way she did; he thought that age was beautiful on her.

"It's a shame I don't have my lippy, in that case," Peggy said, half-jokingly. "Pop of red might've brought the look together."

"I can get you some for next time I visit," Steve offered, and he meant it. Maybe it would be mortifying to ask, but perhaps Natasha could help him find something in that matched the old red Peggy used to like. Or actually, Isadora was less likely to make fun of him, but he didn't want to bother her with how busy she ought to be, settling into her new job and all.

Or maybe he'd just ask a store clerk, one of those nonchalant teens who are nowhere near as happy to have jobs as kids were in his day.

"No, I stopped wearing it a long time ago. My hands are too shaky, and they don't manufacture the one I liked," Peggy answered, her shoulders barely lifting in a little shrug. "So you've got yourself friends, but have you got yourself a girl?"

"I don't need a girl," Steve replied, maybe all too quickly. But it wasn't a lie. "I got you, don't I?"

He always thought, if he survived the war, he'd spend his life with Peggy Carter- make her Carter-Rogers, settle down with a white picket fence. He'd carried her little photograph on every mission so that, if his time came, he could see her face. Steve loved her. It was a love that transcended distance then, and now transcended time. This spitfire woman who told the world yes when it had told her no over and over.

"You won't always have me," Peggy said, and he sighed. Steve knew he would lose her. Any day now. She took his hand, sitting up as best she could, which was to say, not at all in the end. "But if there's anyone on this earth with a heart big enough for two, it's you."

Steve didn't think he had a heart bigger than any other man, and even if he had- this was the first time he was home for longer than spending a couple nights at Avengers Tower in months. Stark had decided they all would take a belated summer break for a couple weeks. But still, Steve was hardly the most emotionally available person in New York City.

His conversation with Peggy was running out of time, and she seemed to know it too. When Steve left, the air was dry, and summer was well and truly dying. It was already September, and soon the rain would hit sporadically, and the leaves had already begun yellowing, pirouetting from their branches.

Steve never liked the coming of winter- maybe it had been conditioned into him from childhood, when each year somebody would contract some horrific infection and it would spread like wildfire throughout New York. He would hear of kids passing from the rattle in their lungs, not dissimilar to the rattle in his own. He'd wonder when it would be him, or Bucky, or Bucky's sister, and then one year, the unexpected had happened- Steve's own mother died instead. He had been so close to dying too, but Bucky had dragged him through it by tooth and nail, refusing to leave his side.

Bucky... What had their lives become?

Based on age alone, and the cards he was dealt growing up, Steve should have been dead at least thirty years ago.

He stumbled across a sign for a pop-up farmer's market in Central that afternoon, and decided he would browse the fresh produce and baked goods- attempt to fill his empty cabinets. He usually only shopped enough for a couple of days at a time, knowing that with his hectic schedule, he could be out of his apartment for weeks at a time.

Steve was minding his own business when he felt a gentle tug on his chinos, and looked down to see a small boy who he recognised as Jacob Valentina staring up at him. Jacob's face was open in a wide smile that made Steve grin too, as the little boy held his tiny fist up to him. Of course, Steve complied, tapping his own fist against Jacob's gently. The kid looks extremely happy at that.

Almost immediately following came Isadora Moore, rushing after the little boy and crouching next to him, still not noticing Steve. Sophia Valentina trailed behind, some sort of pink games console in her hands.

"Jake, what'd I say about running off like that?" Sadie laughed, as she fussed over the five year old,  and Steve couldn't help the fond smile on his face. "I'm so sorry Sir, he's a little-" she looked up at last, a little surprised to see him as she stood, picking up Jacob and holding him on her hip. "-overactive. Fancy seeing you here, Captain Rogers!"

"Pleasure to see you too, Doctor Moore," Steve replied, mirroring Isadora's playful formal tone. The woman before him looked radiant, dressed in a white sundress with little cherries embroidered in the cotton, her hair up in two curly poufs. Steve wanted to tell her how well she was looking, but was promptly interrupted.

"Hey, punchy man," Sophia spoke up from Sadie's side, finally looking up from her game.

"Hey, Sophia," Steve replied, and Sadie looked at him quizzically raising one eyebrow. "Don't ask," he added upon seeing the woman's expression.

"I'd throw my hands up, but they're full," Sadie laughed, before frowning slightly and shaking her head. "We were gonna go take ten on the grass. I don't know if you're done with your shopping but you're welcome to join."

Steve wasn't done with his shopping, but he figured a little break wouldn't do any harm, and he wanted to savour some of the sunshine before it disappeared for the next half year. By way of reply, he picked up her shopping bags for her and she thanked him, before they headed over to the grass. Sadie finally set Jacob down and he rushed over to play with some of the other boys his age.

"So you're on babysitting duty?" Steve asked, helping Sadie lay out a picnic blanket that she'd brought in one of the bags.

Sophia had also gone over to a group of girls her age in the two seconds they hadn't been watching, and was now showing off her console to the group. Steve noted how the Valentina children were so sociable, that they would probably have no problems with all the networking business Tony was always telling him to master. 

"Yeah, Adrianne and her husband Jamie have gone on a city break," Sadie explained as she plopped herself down on the blanket, in a graceless way that made Steve smile. "So I'm playing fairy godmother while they romance in their-" she changed her tone of voice to one that sounded like a playful commercial. "Californian holiday home!"

"California, huh?" Steve nodded. He sat beside her, facing the direction of the sun. "Impressive."

"They're both very accomplished," Sadie smiled and there wasn't a trace of envy on her face, just pride. It was refreshing.

Steve glanced over to where Jacob Valentina had ran to, expecting to see the young boy playing with his peers. Instead, Jacob was stood in front of a boy twice his size, who prodded his chest patronisingly, almost knocking the five year old over. But Jacob stood firm, an image Steve had seen a million times before, one that he himself had been a part of- the little guy underestimated.

There was one major difference though. Instead of fighting back, Jacob turned around, picking up an inflatable soccer ball and held it out the the taller boy. A peace offering. The bully knocked it out of his hands. That was when Sadie entered the picture (although Steve hadn't noticed her stand) scooping up Jacob in order to de escalate the situation, and barking something at a woman Steve could only assume was the bully's mother. When she returned with the small boy, there was a hint hurt in Jacob Valentina's face.

"Hey, I think you dealt with that well, Jacob," Steve said, truthfully. Jacob just sat himself down beside Steve in a manner not dissimilar to how Sadie had.

"He's a bully," Jacob muttered, his voice high in pitch, and quiet, and shy. "But I be nice, 'cause everybody likes nice. And maybe I can give them some nice."

Steve found himself dumbfounded at that. A kind of rare wisdom, in tiny language. Sadie raised her eyebrows at Steve in an expression that said smart kid, as Jacob zoned out of the conversation, instead pulling out toys that peeked out of Sadie's bag and beginning to play with them on the blanket.

"Speaking of bullies," Sadie started, nodding to Steve. "You guys got a lid on HYDRA yet?"

"Almost," he answered, glancing around them for any listening ears. "We're lucky- a lot of their locations are places I've been before but, the whole world looks majorly different than when I first travelled it, so I'm not much help in that respect. Stark though, he can hack into just about anything and get us just about anywhere."

"He seems like a wildcard, that Stark."

Steve shrugged, not commenting. She was sure to meet him soon enough; Tony had a way of knowing anyone and everyone. "How's the job going?"

"Oh, I love it," Sadie said, but for some reason, Steve wasn't sure it reached her eyes. Jacob played out a car crash with his toys between them. "It's real different."

"And that's a good thing?" Steve tried, hopefully.

"Yeah, I mean, maybe I could do with a few more patients..." Sadie's voice trailed off in thought. So there it was, there was her problem. A doctor with few patients. "It's just really research based. I kinda miss being handed a desperate case, bringing in my team of residents, spending days, sometimes weeks, looking for clues- and then cracking it. And being able to tell the patient: hey, we know what's wrong. We can help you, now."

Steve felt an intense admiration as he thought to himself God, she's wonderful. Isadora Moore, with her intellect, and her power, and her desire to help people hands on. He thought for a moment of what to say.

"Well, I've heard Stark Industries is a great place to grow," Steve told her. "Maybe, given some time, you can take your work in a direction that suits you a little better, while still fulfilling all of those research requirements."

"Huh," Sadie said, as if the thought hadn't occurred to her. "You may be right. I suppose Stark gives me a lot more room than the hospital did- approaching things from outside the box. Could be something great."

Then, Sadie leaned back on her elbows, soaking her umber skin in the sun as she kept a close eye on Sophia with her group of friends. Steve mirrored Sadie's position, Jacob still playing in between them as he closed his eyes, embracing the heat and for once not thinking of the cold to come.

...
..
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Age of Ultron begins next chapter and I'm so excited!!! This chapter is kinda a filler but at least plot progresses with the job and all!! There's also a bit of a time jump in case it wasn't clear, but that's mainly because ordinary life is pretty consistent for Sadie. I also hope you enjoyed seeing more of Sophia and Jacob!!

btw guys- I have a new fic out!!! post-endgame Thor fic called "Midas Touch" if you wanna check it out, I would be so happy!!

Let me know how you're all doing, I love hearing from you!

-Amber.