Connections

11: Adjustments

May 2012

"Seriously, Fury! Its been months." I yelled a little loudly. I stood in a room with Fury as he stared at the screens in front of him. I watched as he quickly whipped around. His single eye staring me down. I gulped nervously as I stood up straight.

"Sir..." I finished my sentence properly. I had been trapped here since waking Steve up. Fury told me I was taking a break from missions. That I needed to learn how to follow orders before going back in again. I understood at first why he did it. I did not come back for a bit from my trip to the past...and lied that I needed to stay longer when I didn't.

"I've spent the past six months not being able to really do anything but paperwork." I replied.

"And you'll spend another six if you keep it up." Fury replied back simply. I just continued to stare. Hoping maybe, just maybe he would change his mind. Fury just continued to tap away on the screen. I let out a loud groan. I was being childish and throwing a tantrum. However, I was so bored just being here. I quickly walked away to the door.

"Where do you think you're going?" Fury asked sounding annoyed.

"To get coffee. Or is that taken away now too?" I yelled. He turned slightly showing me his eyes and raising his eyebrow.

"Don't push it." He said quietly.

"Yes, sir." I saluted to him, mockingly.

I walked through the busy streets of New York. The people moved around quickly, the sounds of the cars honking, and street performers filled the air. I ignored anything I could adjusting my sunglasses as I walked. Keeping me from missions was making me go crazy. Clint was busy guarding the tesseract, Nat as on her own missions, and Steve though slowly getting used to this time, was taking his anger out at a boxing gym. Everyone gone, and leaving me alone to think about Bucky.

I still wasn't over it. I pretty much accepted I was never going to be over it.

I got closer to my destination and stopped at the crosswalk. I looked up to see Stark tower. A tall and interesting building. For someone who was basically a super hero, he really doesn't stay under the radar. I laughed a bit, and wondered what his dad would've thought.

I scoffed as I looked back down. I really needed to get my head out of the past. I looked over across the road at the café I was heading to. Behind the low gates surround the outdoor seating sat a familiar face. Steve focused closely on his notebook. Probably scribbling his usual detailed drawing.

I smiled as I quickly crossed the street. Avoiding the cars speeding by. I walked up to the gate as he continued to focused.

"Hey soldier." I called out. He quickly looked up and over at me. A small smile landing on his face. I jumped over the gates and took a seat in front of him.

"No super in front of the name this time?" He asked.

"I was trying not to bring attention." I said quietly. "Not that it really matters now. Welcome to the 21st century where no one can look away from a cell phone." I looked around the café and noticed everyone on their phones. That was the one thing I loved about the 1940's. Genuine human contact everywhere you went.

Steve nodded his head. A chuckle escaping his lips. I leaned back. In that moment a waiter walked up. She smiled at me softly before looking at Steve. I couldn't help but notice her face change looking at him.

"What can I get you?" She asked looking back at me.

"Just a black coffee please. Thank you." I smiled peering at her through my sunglasses. She nodded, before looking back at Steve. He was so oblivious to her flirting eyes.

"We have free wireless." She said quickly, only staring at Steve.

"Radio?" He asked questionably. She looked at him confused before walking away. I couldn't help but laugh at the question.

"Remind me to show you what the internet is later." I chuckled. Steve just looked down at his paper. I could see the slight ashamed look as he had. I looked back up through the café window as the waitress poured my coffee. She stilled continued to gaze up at Steve every now and then. I shook my head as I looked back up at him.

"So what brings you out here?" Steve asked breaking the silence.

"I'm grounded still. So I figured I could get some air." I replied sounding annoyed. Steve chuckled as the waitress came back out. She set the cup down, before giving Steve one last look. I smiled and thanked her as she walked away. Steve still had no clue. I figured he was only thinking about one person.

"Did you call her yet?" I asked. I gave Steve files Shield had of everyone he knew back in the 1940's. I hoped it would push him to contact Peggy. She would be thrilled to see he came out of the ice. Steve shifted nervously in his seat. A sad look landing on his face.

"No." He answered simply.

"You do know how the phones work in this time right?" I asked sarcastically. Steve gave me an agitated look.

"How do you call someone who thought you died seventy years ago and show up looking..." Steve didn't finish his sentence. I knew where he was going with it. I took a sip of my coffee and took a deep breath.

"I can't make you do it, Steve. However, if it were me. I'd want to know the second you woke up." I smiled. He nodded his head and looked up at me with a smile.

'Thanks, Layla." He said quietly. I took a deep breath before shifting around.

"Okay, time for me to go back to my damnation." I said quickly. I reached for my bag and opened it up. As I pulled out my wallet a picture fell out of it and landed next to Steve's foot. My smile faded as he bent down to grab it for me. He looked at it intensely. A slight smile growing on his face. It was a picture of Bucky and I that I stole from Shields files. One of many.

"You still love him?" He asked softly. I let out a slight chuckle. I nodded to myself as I felt the emotions sweep over me.

"I never stopped." I answered my voice cracking a bit. Steve gave me a bigger smile. He handed me the picture. I looked down at it. Just the two of us smiling, Bucky looking down at me, as I held tightly to his arm. The sepia stained photo brought my heart joy, but also pain. I put it back into my bag and stood up.

"Don't be a stranger. You need to get out of that gym every once and a while." I said as I patted his shoulder.

"I wont." He answered back. I gave him one last smile before leaving.

I arrived back at Shield. The second I walked in everyone was moving around in a panic. I looked around the entrance. Agents moved swiftly around me as I walked through the halls. I arrived to the elevator, wondering what happened to set everyone off. Before the doors could close a hand stopped the door from closing. A random agent stood there as they opened back up.

"Agent Black. Fury needs you in the meeting room." He said. I looked at his confused before nodding and following behind him. I was guessing it had to do with everyone moving around abruptly. Maybe I actually get to be included in a mission this time. We arrived to a closed door. The man stood back and opened it for me.

I walked into the room. A table in the middle of the room with eight chairs around it. I looked around it as the lights flicked on. The room was completely empty. I heard the door close behind me. Before I could even turn I felt a slight sting in my neck.

"What-" I reached up as I watched the man pull a needle out of my neck. In an instant I felt my body begin to grow heavy. I staggered over to the table as I used it to hold myself up. The objects around me blurred and my head began to spin. My arms finally gave out. I fell backwards onto the floor. My vision darkened as the man stood above me.

"Hail Hydra." He said as the room became dark.