Childhood Hero: Return of the Redbird (Captain America Story)

Chapter 5- I'm Done

- - -

Steve's POV

"What's gotten into her?" I ask helplessly.

"She's just taumatised." Fury says, "It's been a hard three months."

I sigh and lean my forehead against the wall, banging it gently.

"Let her sleep for now." The old doctor who looked after Zoey says to us, "We'll see how she is in the morning."

I nod and head into the elevator, joining the others by the dormitories.

"Is she still the same?" Tony asks.

I nod my head and go into my room; our room.

But Zoey's not sleeping in here tonight.

I lay on the bed, trying to feel her presence, her life on the other side of the bed.

Why was she acting so strange?

Is it really just shock?

Why was she saying it was my fault?

The thoughts continue until my mind drifts into unconsciousness.

- - -

I wake to the sound of muffled voices, the clock beside me reading eight o'clock in the morning.

I pull myself out of bed with a sigh, walking out of my room.

I follow the sound to the conference.room, where the rest of the team, minus Bruce, was talking.

"What's going on?" I mutter.

"We're deciding who should talk to Zoey." Natasha says.

"Oh." I lower my gaze.

"Steve." She says, "I know you want it to be you, we all do."

"But, for the moment," Tony says, "Perhaps we should try a third party here."

"Okay." I nod, before a door bursts open.

We all turn to see Zoey walk in, an angry look on her face.

Fury and Bruce immediately appear after her, calling her back.

"Shut up, Nick." She tells him, not turning around. "You're the last person I want to talk to right now."

I can see in her expression that something is wrong, making me run after her as well.

She quickly goes down the hall, slamming the door to our room.

"What's going on?" I ask Bruce and Fury, as we all gather outside the room.

"Nothing." Fury says quickly, "She's just getting something from your room."

"Is anybody going to go in?" Natasha asks.

"I will." I say.

"How about I go first?" Clint suggests, everyone agreeing.

I nod and let him through, listening through the door as the sound of muffled voices is heard.

~ ~ ~

Zoey's POV

"Glad to see you're feeling better." Fury says as he and Bruce enter the infirmary.

"Mm." I murmur, not looking up.

"Zoey." Bruce says hesitantly, "I'm afraid we've got some bad news."

I slowly raise my gaze to look at him, watching his expression closely.