from_the_outside | [ WWII AU ] a ghost story

It's been almost two years since she's been home, and little by little, the grief has gotten easier to live with.

It hasn't gone away. But she's able to focus on her job, watch movies, chat with friends, sleep most nights. She still dreams about him, but the dreams are tinged with wistful longing and only sometimes does she wake up with tears on her cheeks. She can't have his picture out in this apartment, Kate's apartment, but it's safe in the mountain house, along with his last letter to her, and she has a scan on her phone to look at when the long day is over and she's in bed, the stars from the lamp he'd given her filling her dark room.

Steve has helped, more than she could ever explain, and she hopes she's helped him in return. Aside from a few deeply classified missions here and there, they haven't worked together all that much, but she still sees him almost every day. In the halls, she's undercover as his mild-mannered neighbor, Kate, but in her secure apartment they can talk over anything, everything.

And it works. Every day is a little easier. They lean on each other when they need to, and they spend hours remembering and reminiscing about Bucky, talking shop, chatting about how Steve's fitting into the future. It's nice. She still misses Bucky, an ache that never really goes away, but they can both breathe through it, work through it, live through it.

She's on her way up from the basement laundry machines when she hears a familiar step in the hall, and has to smile to herself – first her own, then Kate's sweeter, more open one. "Hey, neighbor."

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From:

marvel_npc

"Hi," he says, polite but direct. "I'm checking out. Steve Rogers, from--" He cranes his neck to spot the room number.

"I know who you are, Captain Rogers," the nurse replies. "I'm afraid Doctor Fine needs to clear you first."

From:

from_the_outside

"Where is Doctor Fine?" Sharon asks, lightly. "Captain Rogers is ready to check out."

From:

marvel_npc

"He's finishing rounds," the nurse says, unmoved. "He'll be here as soon as he can."

"How much longer will that be?" Steve asks.

From:

from_the_outside

"Once he's finished rounds," the nurse says, a little more crisply. She stares Steve down exactly the way Nurse Hart used to stare down Howard Stark. "Please, go back to your room, Captain Rogers."

From:

marvel_npc

Sam takes a look at Steve's expression and interposes himself. As he does, he catches Nat's eye and tips his head, trying to get her to coax them away.

"Listen," he says, quietly. "Think you can cut him a break? He really does have somewhere he needs to be, after, well, you know. Everything. Maybe just page the doc?"

From:

from_the_outside

Nat insinuates herself between Steve and Sam, then points out something of vague interest on the opposite wall. Steve gives her a wry glance, but goes along with it, and Sharon catches her fried tossing a wink to Sam as they step aside and let him talk.

"It won't be long, no matter what," Sharon tells him, quiet. "But you're not planning on going back to the apartment, are you?"

From:

marvel_npc

"I hadn't actually thought about that yet," he admits. "Is there somewhere else we need to be?"

He doesn't mention Fury's name, not here, but the question is in his eyes.

From:

from_the_outside

"Better if you lay low for a little bit, Cap," Nat murmurs. "A lot of people are about to be asking a lot of questions."

Sharon nods, wry, and looks at him. "The mountain house," she suggests. "For a few days, maybe?"

From:

marvel_npc

Steve hesitates, considering, then nods. "That's probably a good idea." They can plan there as easily as anywhere else, and it's a lot less likely that they'll have the media or worse show up.

From:

from_the_outside

"My place, first," Sam says, coming towards them. He tips his head toward the nurse. "She's paging the doc. Shouldn't be long."

Sharon gives him a small smile. "Thanks, Sam. And thanks for the room last night."

From:

marvel_npc

"No problem. Y'all are always welcome," Sam tells them. Steve huffs a wry breath. "I know. But like she said, thanks."

From:

from_the_outside

"Captain Rogers?"

Sharon turns to see a white-coated doctor coming towards them, and steps back as the man approaches Steve. "I hear you're feeling better."

From:

marvel_npc

"Much," Steve confirms. "Thank you for taking such good care of me. But I'm afraid I need to get on the road."

From:

from_the_outside

"Glad to hear it, Captain." The doctor tips his head down the hall. "Let me just check you over, and I'll be happy to release you."

Sharon glances at Steve, eyebrows lifting minutely.

From:

marvel_npc

Steve gives the doctor a level look, then visibly decides it'll be faster to go along with the request.

"I'll be right back," he tells the others, and follows Fine to the room.

From:

from_the_outside

She hides a small smile and crosses her arms as she settles in to wait with the others, before glancing over at Sam.

"Any visitors come by last night?"

From:

marvel_npc

Sam shakes his head. "Looks like we were able to keep it pretty quiet that he was here."

From:

from_the_outside

She meets Nat's glance for a second, then smiles at Sam. "Good. Thanks for staying with him, Sam."

From:

marvel_npc

"Sure, no problem," he says, easily, but his gaze openly tracks that exchange of looks. "Something I need to know?"

From:

from_the_outside

"Not right now."

And not here, where nurses and doctors and staff and security can hear them. "I'm glad it was a quiet night."

From:

marvel_npc

Sam eyes her for a second before he nods. "You can fill me in at the house."

He glances down the hall, where Steve's coming back out of the room, and raises his eyebrows. "That was fast."

From:

from_the_outside

"Well, I heal fast," Steve tells him. He slows, but doesn't break stride, and Sharon falls in next to him, amused and relieved in equal measure.

"Time to invade Sam's place again," she comments. "Remind me to leave you grocery money."