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Steve's POV
I sit at the bar, drinking whiskey by the bottle.
I wish I could get drunk, to leave my worries at least for a few hours.
The barman watches me, glancing my way everytime I down a drink and ask for another.
"You better take it easy, sir." He says, "You won't be able to make it home to your girl."
I shake my head and sip my drink.
"She's not there anymore." I say.
"Oh, I'm sorry." He pats my shoulder, "Did she leave you?"
"She was taken." I mutter.
"Some things happen for a reason." He tell me wisely.
I hang my head, wishing for the trillionth time that we can find her.
But it's been three months, and we've got nothing.
It's like she never existed.
I leave a tip on the bar, heaving out of my seat and walking out of the bar.
As I walk back to the apartment, I hear someone's voice.
"Excuse me?" A young girl is standing behind me.
She has long blonde hair, and wide blue eyes, looking up at me.
"Yes?" I ask her.
"Are you Captain America?" She asks timidly.
"Yeah." I nod, bending down.
"Where's the Redbird?" She asks curiously, looking around.
"She's-" I swallow, pausing. "She's gone to save more people overseas."
"Really?" She asks and I nod.
"Really."
"You two look like a prince and a princess." She giggles, before running off to her mother.
I straighten up and watch her leave, shoving my hands in my pockets and heading back down the street.
I go into the apartment, mess strewn across the floor that I have to wade through.
Dirty dishes cover the sink, the cupboards wide open.
I lie on the couch, pressing my face against the cool leather.
The sound of my phone ringing wakes me up, but I don't get off the couch.
I listen as mine and Zoey's voices on our message bank sound around the apartment.
"You've called Zoey and Steve." My voice says.
"We can't answer the phone right now, so just leave us a message and we'll try to get back to you." Zoey's voice finishes.
I shut my eyes as the beep sounds, and Fury's voice now fills the room.
"Rogers." He says, "You'll never believe this."
"We've found her."
My eyes blink open and I getting up, running to the phone and taking it off the reciever.
"What?" I ask straight away.
"We've located Zoey." He tells me, "Some agents have gone to get her. They'll be returning soon."
"I'm on my way."
~ ~ ~
"Where is she?" I ask, running into the lobby of the SHIELD building.
"Captain Rogers." I turn to see a SHIELD agent standing behind me.
"Do you know where Zoey is?" I ask quickly.
"The Redbird was flown to the hellicarrier." He tells me, "It was flying near Russia when she was located. The hellicarrier just came in about ten minutes ago. "
"Thank you." I say earnestly, rushing into the elevator, taking it to the basement.
I get off at the underground level, seeing the hellicarriers parked in the massive warehouse.
I recognise the hellicarrier that I spent so much time on two years ago when we fought Loki in New York.
I run through the crowds of agents, many people watching as I make my way up the stairs into the hellicarrier.
"Agent Hill!" I spot her in the control room, "Is Zoey here?"
"They just brought her in." Maria tells me, "She's in the infirmary."
I nod and rush over to the elevator, getting out and running to the infirmary.
Clint, Natasha and Tony all crowd around the door, banging on it.
"Is she in there?" I ask desperately.
"Yes." Tony says.
I glance at the entire group, who have all changed in appearance.
Natasha's kept her hair long, not bothering to cut it. She still wears her SHIELD uniform, having spent the last three months looking for Zoey.
Clint is the same, but with harder frown lines in his forehead.
The one of us who stayed relatively the same is Tony, who still wears a posh suit and shades, but I can see he's lost a lot of weight underneath the fancy clothes.
I bang on the door, before Fury appears down the hall, followed by two SHIELD operatives.
"Director?" I ask furiously, "Why can't we go in and see her?"
"She's weak, Captain." He says, "She's not even conscious. You don't want to see her right now."
"I do!" I insist.
"Steve." He puts a hand on my shoulder, looking me dead in the eye. "You don't want to see what they've done to her."
I swallow and nod, wishing I could break down the door.
But, like everything at SHIELD, it's immune to my strength.
"Dr. Banner is tending to her." He assures me, "She's in safe hands."
The door opens and a nurse comes out, allowing us a glimpse of Zoey.
Everyone gasps at the sight of her. She's covered in grime and blood, barely even recognisable.
The door shuts on our faces, everyone turning away.
I sigh and follow them to the conference room, taking a seat at the large table.
We wait for what seems like hours, with no news of Zoey ever surfacing.
After such a long time, Bruce appears.
"How is she?" I ask urgently, "Is she awake?"
"Yes." Bruce says, "But you can't see her yet. She's getting some tests done, then we'll clean her up."
"Is she hurt badly?" I ask cautiously.
"Steve," He swallows, "After three months, I think you already know the answer to that."
~ ~ ~
Zoey's POV
My eyes slowly open and I blink a few times as they come into focus.
"Where-" I start to sit up, but pain courses through me and I groan.
"Just relax." Bruce tells me, appearing above me.
"Bruce?" I ask timidly.
"Zoey?" He asks hesitantly.
"Hi." I avert my gaze, fiddling with my hands.
"Zoey, I'm so sorry." He says, "We tried to-"
"Forget it." I say quietly, "Thanks for answering your phone."
He puts his hand on my shoulder, kissing my forehead before leaving the room.
Two SHIELD doctors start some tests, checking my limbs for broken bones and fractures, treating my wounded skin, and testing my blood for diseases.
"Just sit up slowly, sweetheart." An older doctor says kindly, "We need to check that bullet wound."
I do, and she pulls up the back of my shirt.
"Oh my." She says quietly in surprise, "What have they done to you?"
"More than you'll be able to handle." I say bitterly.
They finish their tests, taking a few x-rays and ultrasounds in the process.
The man then leaves and the woman cleans my face and body, wiping off all the grime, dirt and blood I had caked on my skin.
"Here you go." She says, showing me a mirror.
I look at my scarred and battered body, but my face seems relatively alright, except for a thick scar running along the top of my forehead, just below my hair line.
I can remember when they gave it to me, one of the earliest tortures they inflicted on me.
It repulses me to even look at it.
"Do you have any scissors?" I ask the doctor, who hands me a pair.
I look back at the mirror, positioning my hair in front of my face, then begin to chop it into a fringe.
I keep going until I'm satisfied, then hand her back the scissors.
"How do I look?" I ask her simply.
"Perfect." She smiles warmly at me, but I just sigh at my reflection.
My brown hair just reaches above my eyes, hiding the scar from view.
"I like it." I grin, but it doesn't reach my eyes.
She puts away the mirror, handing me a SHIELD uniform.
"Could you go to my room and just get some normal clothes?" I ask, shaking my head at the uniform.
"Of course." She says, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I know they aren't letting the others in, for which I was grateful.
They don't need to see me like this.
The doctor comes back, helping me into the clothing.
"Thank you." I tell her honestly.
"My pleasure." She smiles kindly, then helps me out of the bed, allowing me to stand for the first time.
I wince as I put pressure on my feet, my wounds stretching.
"Do you want to sit back down?" She asks, concerned.
I grit my teeth and shake my head, breathing heavily.
"Please," I beg slightly, "Just get me out of here."
She nods, holding my arm and helping me to the door.
We make our way slowly through the building, heading towards the conference room.
She opens the door and leads me through, my gaze resting on the entire group.
Natasha, Clint, Tony and Steve all rush over to me, but slow down when they reach me.
"Zoey!" Natasha says, "I'm so sorry, really. I went back and searched everywhere for you!"
"I know, Nat." I swallow, "I know."
"You had us so worried," Clint says, "We've been searching for you for months."
"Really?" I ask quietly, "I hate to have made a fuss."
"Don't say that." Tony says, "We've all missed you so much."
I don't say anything in reply, just lower my gaze and tense my arm that Susan is resting her hand on.
"Zoey?" Tony asks, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." I shake my head slightly, "I just need to lie down."
"Of course." Susan says, "I'll help you back to the infirmary."
"Hold on." Steve says, but I turn my back and face away from him.
"Zoeybird, Zo." He calls.
"What?" I ask quietly, exasperated.
"What's the matter?" He asks, reaching for me.
I take a step back, causing everyone to gasp slightly.
"Don't." I look at the floor, "Don't touch me."
"Zoey?" He asks, hurt written all over his face.
I don't say anything, an awful silence passing over the group.
"Perhaps Zoey should lie down." Susan says.
"Good idea." Fury nods, "But I urgently need to ask her some questions."
"In the infirmary." She counters.
I nod, allowing her to lead me away, Fury following as everyone stays in the conference room.
I can feel Steve's gaze on my back, but continue walking.
~ ~ ~
"Did you find out anything about their plans?" Fury asks.
"No." I shake my head, "They kept me in a cell the whole time. I never even knew if it was day or night."
I grit my teeth and look at him, unblinking.
"It was either torture time, or a chance for sleep."
Fury winces, until I notice that the door is ajar.
"Zoey." Steve says to me, "I-"
"Get out." I say savagely, "Get out of here."
"Zoey." Fury protests, "You're in shock."
"Get out!" I scream, "Get out, all of you."
"I think it's best if we all leave." Susan says, sheparding them all to the door.
"It's your fault!" I yell, "It's all your fault!"
"Zoey!" Steve calls, "Please, I love you!"
I just put my head in my hands, waiting until they leave before I sob.
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