Chapter Text
Lucy knew it was a stupid idea. She was forced to retire from the team for a reason, but that reason didn’t seem stop her today. Now, she was likely going to die in the one thing everyone made fun of her for fearing. Stupid bad guys. Stupid car accident. Stupid ocean. Stupid Lucy.
She had been attempting to keep her head above the rolling waves of the ocean while calling out for help, but the longer she tried, the more her legs screamed to give up.
When the current bad guys Jane had been searching for strolled into Lucy’s bar, she should have called Tennant. She definitely should have called her when she started following said bad guys after they left Rachel a terrible tip. And she 100% should have waited for Jane after she called and left a message instead of sneaking on to the boat when she heard the cries of the young girls they had kidnapped.
Things on the boat had been going pretty well; she had a good hiding spot and could wait for the coast guard or helicopter rescue Jane was sure to call in after tracing her phone, but then one of the bad guys went towards the door of the room holding the girls with something evil glinting in his eyes. Lucy ran out, attack mode on, eventually knocking him out, but not before 3 other bad guys came with guns to find her panting over their unconscious friend.
She was standing near the edge of the boat, gun pointed at her, not a lot of options left. And in the split second the gunman had his head turned, she took a deep breath and jumped overboard, but not before a shot grazed her bicep. She heard yelling as the large boat kept moving forward, but she lucked out when they assumed the ocean would finish the job.
As Lucy lost more blood, and struggled to stay above water, she was PISSED that they were going to be right. Her only condolence was her phone stayed in her initial hiding place, leading Jane to the kidnapped girls. At least they would be safe. At least she got one more case.
Things began to blur, but she saw a helicopter not too far in the distance. Lucy must have been hallucinating because she saw a person jump out of the chopper, hundreds of feet higher than it was safe to jump out of.
She was sinking underwater when she felt strong and sturdy arms pulling her to the surface. As Lucy tried to hold on to consciousness, she felt warmth and heard soft murmurs of comfort as the unknown figure decided she could swim them both the 5 miles to shore. Pff, idiot, looks like they are both going to die. Her eyes closed against her will.
Her lungs burned as she coughed up what felt like a gallon of salt water. As the haze cleared and she fell back groaning in pain, she realized she could feel the sun on her face, sand underneath her. Her eyes shot open again and met concerned brown ones staring back. Relief and a trace of small smile graced the blonde woman’s face seeing Lucy come to.
Lucy couldn’t place where she had seen this woman before, maybe a regular at the bar? Her blonde hair was wet making it darker and stick to her skin, sharp jawline and hesitant smile made this woman striking. If the lung full of water hadn’t stolen the air out of her, the sight of this woman would have.
“Are you okay? I tried to keep you above water, but you had taken a lot in already.” The voice was kind and sure, but the words were said in almost a whisper, a large hand guided Lucy’s face to look at her own. Brown eyes searching hers for something.
Lucy wanted words to come out of her mouth: thank you, what happened?, did you swim us back?, I love you, but her mouth just hung open.
“Your right arm is bleeding, but a few stitches should take care of that. You had Tennant in a panic, we had to divert the helicopter from Pearl to search for you when she got the message.”
Lucy sat up straight when everything came rushing back, fighting the groan from her aching muscles and spine. “Jane! Did she get the girls?”
Her blonde savior moved back swiftly at Lucy’s abrupt movement, and if Lucy hadn’t been so disoriented, she would have clocked the reflexes of the other woman. The blonde began to stand up while replying.
“Yes, we traced your phone. The coast guard and our chopper team cleared the boat and apprehended the bad guys, but the girls told us you were knocked overboard, so the helicopter team went out to search for you, I saw you from the chopper, and swam us back to shore.”
Millions of thoughts ran through Lucy’s head, but they all screeched to a halt when she looked up and saw her savior standing at her full height. Easily 6’2” and built like a brick wall, her wet shirt clung to every well-defined muscle on the woman’s body, athletic pants doing the same to her lower half. Her broad shoulders and giant biceps strained the shirt even though it would easily work as a dress for Lucy. Lucy’s mouth went dry as she had the out of body experience of ogling this woman and being unable to stop herself.
As her eyes finally moved from the flexing bicep that was trying to brush sand off her body, her eyes met those brown ones again and it finally clicked.
“Holy shit you are Captain America!” Concerned brown eyes switch to amused, a smile fighting to stay off her face. “Fuck I can’t cuss in front of Captain America. Holy shit, Captain fucking America.” Lucy took a deep breath and muttered, “Stop cussing like an asshole in front of Captain Fucking America, Lucy Tara.”
Kate smiled, her long, strong arm reached down to offer Lucy a hand up, “Kate is fine.”
Lucy stood up, awe in her eyes, embarrassment flushing her cheeks. As soon as both of her feet were firmly planted, she felt that familiar stabbing in her lower back, stronger than it had been in over a year, and gazed at her own blood-soaked arm, the adrenaline leaving her body.
The last thing she remembered was those strong arms wrapping around her again before she could hit the ground.
Lucy groaned when she became aware of the all too familiar beeping and the sterile smell of hospital. Ernie and Jane were going to kill her. It had been over two years since the car accident that damaged her spine and ruined her career landed her in the hospital, and she definitely hadn’t missed it, despite having multiple stays since then. She imagined they didn’t miss it either.
The throbbing in her wrapped right arm was nothing compared to the aching pain of her spine, but Lucy was relieved when she could easily wiggle the toes on both of her feet. It had taken her months after the accident to get out of a wheelchair, and even longer than that to manage not needing a cane every day. Lucy could handle an occasional small limp, but anything more than that made her more anxious than she liked to admit.
Glancing around the room she saw Jane, looking uncomfortably asleep in a chair nearby, and spotted Ernie’s computer, but no Ernie.
Lucy tried to croak out a hello, but her dry throat stopped her, luckily Ernie walked in with a purple smoothie and two of the biggest coffees she had seen.
“Luce! I’m so glad you are awake. Jane is going to kill you.”
With a roll of her eyes, Lucy croaked out “water.” Jane was awake and on her feet faster than it should have been possible.
Handing Lucy the cup, a soft but sure hand made its way to Lucy’s shoulder, offering a comforting squeezing.
“Lucy, glad to see you back with us. If I could fire you, I would. While you saved those girls, we almost lost you.”
Lucy greedily drained the water, her eyes widening and remembering her savior. “Am I crazy, or did Captain America jump out of a helicopter and drag me back to shore?”
Jane sighed saying “this is supposed to be classified” at the same time as Ernie said, “Not only that, but she bridal carried you out of the ocean, performed CPR, stayed with you while the ambulance came after you passed out again, rode with you to the hospital, and waited until we showed up. She even ripped up her shirt to dress your arm.”
Lucy closed her eyes, realizing she did, in fact, make an ass in front of one of America’s greatest heroes returned from the past.
Jane shot Ernie a disapproving look and a small eye roll.
“What? With the amount of pictures I have had to scrub to keep Cap back at Pearl a secret, I have a right to gossip with Lucy about it. If Lucy wasn’t passed out, she probably would have from the chivalry of it all.” Lucy didn’t even have a comeback, knowing Ernie was right and took the teasing with grace.
Ernie wordlessly slide the purple smoothie and a phone to Lucy. She stared at the photo for longer than she should have. Captain America, in all her wet glory, was striding through the sand, broad shoulders straight and true, while she gazed down at a passed out drowned rat looking Lucy in her arms.
Lucy snorted at the contrast between the beautiful, put together hero and her own tiny body. “Well, that is embarrassing. Hopefully I never have to face her again to relive how stupid I was.”
Ernie face split into the biggest grin she had ever seen as Jane winced a little at hearing that, replying, “About that…”
So. There was a party. It was in honor of her surviving and to thank a national treasure for not letting her die. Technically, no one outside of the official team should be aware of the classified information surrounding Captain America’s location, but once Team Tennant, always Team Tennant. Plus, Lucy was stuck at Jane’s for at least 24 hours to make sure she didn’t have any medical complications.
Lucy had been hanging back, mostly out of embarrassment, not knowing if she could form a sentence around the woman. But also because while she was putting up a good façade, Lucy could not imagine how overwhelming everything was for Captain Whistler.
Lucy grew up in Texas, and Texas prided itself on its American heroes. She remembers learning about Captain America and her team taking down Hydra, turning the tide of World War II, her ultimate sacrifice. She remembered posing for photos with the gigantic statue of Captain America a few towns over. Hell, her walk to their office in Pearl had a 10-foot image of Captain Whistler, dirt streaked, full uniform, helping clear rubble from the attack at Pearl Harbor after arriving in Hawaii to help.
She remembered six months ago, every news channel, paper, social media post, blog talking about defrosting of the hero, and her escape into Time Square. Lucy also remembered the sympathetic wince she felt for the woman: not only was her entire world in pieces, but she was also a meme.
Lucy remembered watching Captain America run through Times Square, the look of confusion, and then anguish on her beautiful face broadcasted by the nightly news. She sent a silent prayer to the cosmos wishing Kate Whistler well in the new world she had saved.
Lucy, however, did not expect Captain America to pluck her out of the ocean six months later, and drag her ass to shore.
Lucy nursed her juice (strict orders from Jane of no alcohol) and watched her team huddle around the hero. She was, somehow, more impressive now than at the beach. Maybe because Lucy had a clear head and eyeline to the woman. Dressed casually in athletic wear again, her broad shoulders and muscles easily distinguishable through the clothing, she was a force to be reckoned with.
Despite only being an inch or so taller than Jesse, she somehow made him see small. She was nice, polite, reserved, answering direct questions patiently, but also evasive in most of her replies. She smiled, but nothing reached her eyes, which were sharp and on alert. It was clear she was used to being surrounded by men talking about guns and old mission stories, listening more than participating, but she fidgeted with her beer bottle and often gazed off as if remembering something of her own as Kai, Ernie, and Jesse went on about one story or another.
Lucy was startled out of her thoughts when Jane snuck up behind her and started speaking, “They sent her here, mostly, because they don’t know what to do with Captain Whistler. I am sure the Navy would love if she joined back up; the team would love if she joined us. Personally, I think the woman deserves a nice retirement and to spend time by the beach. I suppose time will tell what she decides. My grandfather served with her, and she saved his life, so I jumped at the chance to have her sent here. At least I can offer her privacy and some normalcy as she weighs her options. Better than the underground bunker they had her in.”
Lucy hated everything about the accident, especially the fact that it meant retirement from a job she loved, but one of the most unexpected silver linings was her new relationship with Jane. Lucy had worried they would drift after not working together, but it seemed to have the opposite effect. Jane didn’t need to be her fearless boss or leader, she could be more honest and vulnerable with Lucy, even using her to bounce ideas off of in a way she never could before. Lucy kind of loved it.
“I couldn’t even imagine,” Lucy murmured, eyes still fixed on Kate. Jane, with a smirk and a raised eyebrow handed her an open beer and shooed Lucy away, “Go save her from Ernie, I think he is trying to explain wifi. Take her to the deck.”
Lucy made her way to towards the group, beer in one hand, cane in the other, determination on her face to complete her rescue mission.
“Boys, Jane needs y’all in the kitchen for something,” Lucy announced, disbanding most of the team.
Lucy gaze traveled up, locking eyes with Kate’s brown ones. “America- uh, er, Captain Kate, I mean-Whistler.” Lucy heard Ernie’s loud snort; she elbowed him the stomach and trying to encourage him to leave as well.
Mortification aside, Lucy took a breath and tried again, “What I meant was: Captain Whistler. Hi. This beer is for you,” her arm jammed forward offering the sweating bottle. Lucy gave a timid smile glad at least one coherent sentence came out of her mouth. She saw brown eyes soften kindly and that same small smile fight its way onto Kate’s lips.
As her large hand wrapped around the beer, Kate replied softly, “Thanks. Kate is fine.” Lucy heard Ernie mumble, “oh boy,” softly and prayed Captain Americ--Kate didn’t hear it as well. With a small head nod, Lucy motioned to the glass French doors that led to the deck.
Kate walked through first, followed by Lucy, and as Ernie tried to follow, Lucy was quick to turn around to use her cane to slam the door shut and hold it in place by leaning all her weight against the cane’s tip to block the door closed as Ernie tried to push to get through. “Fine! I’ll go talk to Commander Chase!”
Lucy heaved a sigh of relief and turned her head when she heard a small chuckle behind her. “Sorry, he can be a lot, and I wanted to talk to you, and you looked like you could use some air.”
Kate tilted her head in curiosity and took a small sip of her new beer encouraging Lucy to continue. Taking a fortifying breath, Lucy squared her shoulders and started, “Captain Whistler, I just wanted to thank you for saving my life, and not embarrassing me when I made a fool of myself, and apologize for putting y’all in that position. I really thought I was done for. I don’t swim, or ocean, or do water in general, so my pathetic doggy paddle wasn’t going to last much longer. I’m not a hero like you or a badass like Tennant and I’ve retired from the force and I know I shouldn’t--”
Lucy stopped feeling Kate’s hand cover both of her own as they nervously fidgeted together during her speech. “Hey, you are definitely a hero, especially to those girls you saved from god knows what. You don’t need to thank me; Tennant and I should have found you faster. And I’ve told you twice to call me Kate, after this third time if you do it again, you will need to apologize.”
Kate’s eyes were kind and warm, crinkled in sincerity, a small lopsided smile graced her face. Lucy blushed at the words, sharing a smile with the woman. Pleased that her warm hand was still covering her own.
“Okay, fine, Kate. I’m Lucy,” she responded, shifting their hands into a shake and an introduction, emphasizing the name she said aloud.
After long beat and a lingering gaze that Lucy couldn’t quite figure out, Kate husked, “I know who you are Lucy Tara, we met on the beach.”
Lucy was slightly frozen in place. The air was electric around them; she felt like there was a buzz just under her skin. Despite the night air and the cool breeze, she felt her body heating up over the moment and prolonged handshake.
Loud laughter from inside broke Lucy from her trance and caused Kate’s insanely fast reaction skills to place her body between Lucy and the perceived danger. Lucy, a little dazed from the sudden action, reached up to try and place a comforting hand on Kate’s shoulder, feeling the muscle hard and tight with tension and anxiety under her fingertips. She could hear the quickened breathes of the hero facing away from her.
“At ease soldier,” Lucy said soothingly, managing to maneuver them to the outdoor seating Tennant had all over the deck. Lucy watched as Kate met her eyes and her breathing started slowing back down to normal. She hadn’t realized how tense the captain’s body had been this entire evening until she watched her shoulders sag, relaxing under the weight of Lucy’s hand. Lucy lightly pushed her towards the love seat, while she angled one of the armchairs to face Kate. Lucy found herself smiling as the hero’s broad shoulders took over more than half of the cushions.
“Sorry, you can take the girl out of the war zone…” Kate said, her voice burning with embarrassment while her eyes were casted down to her fingers picking at the peeling beer bottle label.
Stealing a page out of Kate’s book, Lucy placed a comforting hand over hers, “If I don’t get to apologize, you definitely don’t either Kate.”
Lucy moved back into her chair properly, the action of reaching over bothering her a back a little. Kate looked back up with those impossibly soft and kind eyes. They flicked down to where Lucy had deftly leaned her cane against the side of the chair.
“Did you sustain a more serious injury than we initially thought on the beach?” Kate asked, eyes moving from the cane to appraise Lucy from head to toe. Her stare was laser focused, almost like if Kate tried hard enough, she could see any fractures or broken bones Lucy was hiding under her flesh. Then again, if someone told Lucy that Captain America had x-ray vision she wouldn’t be surprised. The woman before looked like she could do anything she really tried to.
“Oh, no, just an old spine injury acting up after my heroics. A couple years ago on the job with Tennant I was shot during a car chase, crashed, and sustained some pretty serious injuries. I had to retire from the team, but I was able to bully my way out of a coma, some brain trauma, and a wheelchair. Every now and then I need the cane, but today it was more for Tennant and Ernie, than the actual pain.”
Lucy sped through the explanation, hopefully glazing over the months of pain, physical therapy, and depression that she had to overcome. Building a new life out of the violence that ripped away her old one was something she didn’t like to dwell on, especially not with others, but given her sudden career change, and her occasional limp and cane, she had become a pro at diverting from the hard truths of the circumstances.
Kate nodded in understanding, “I get that. Sometimes it’s easier to conform to the wants of others rather than fight the fight, especially if it makes them feel better.”
Lucy gave the captain a slightly quizzical look at the comment, but simply replied, “Yea, took my Texas heart a while to accept that the path of least resistance might, sometimes, be the right one.”
A soft smile made its way onto Kate’s face at the response while her eyes drifted over Lucy’s head to watch the team inside share laughs and smiles. “Must be hard retiring; your team seems good,” Kate said, her own nostalgia coating the sentence.
Lucy sighed a little. She wasn’t used to being the one getting asked questions; she tended to avoid these kind of talks in general, but as she eyed Kate on the love seat, shrinking herself down to take as little space as her impressive frame could handle, despite the fact that they were alone and she could sprawl out, she realized that Captain America must have been answering these types of questions since she woke up.
“It was hard giving up my dream job and being able to help them every day, but they are still my team and family. It’s just different now. But despite my retirement, they were still the first people I took steps towards at PT, and the first ones I served when I opened the bar. I built a new life out of the ashes of my old one. Not the first time, probably won’t be the last either. Just glad they are still the most important people in my life.”
Lucy jumped back to six months ago when she heard this woman was woken up in a completely different world than the one she left. She remembered thinking that she shared nothing in common with this impossibly kind, strong, heroic woman, and her heart had gone out for this person who lost an entire world. But something in the way Kate’s eyes drilled into her own, how she held breath while she listened to her respond, made Lucy think, maybe they weren’t so far apart after all. Or, a thought more heart breaking than it should be for a relative stranger, the woman in front of her was more lost and lonely than anyone could ever imagine the world’s most famous hero could be.
A cool breeze ruffled Kate’s long blonde hair, offering Lucy sweet relief to the humidity and the faint scent of jasmine from Kate’s perfume or shampoo. Usually, silence would drive Lucy up the walls and her leg would bounce with anxiety, but right now it was nice to hear the sounds of night and watch Kate think without an audience, staring into a far-off distance the elevated deck provided, slowly taking sips out of the beer Lucy had brought her.
Lucy rested her head in her hand, propped up by the arm of the chair, her fingers twirling a loose curl that had fallen out of her messy bun as she stared—no, observed Captain Whistler. Her strong jawline, the cupid bow of her top lip, the way her fingers had stopped picking at the bottle label and started unconsciously tapping an unknown song. Brown eyes pulled from the view after feeling Lucy starin—observing for too long. Head tilted to mirror Lucy’s pose, Kate’s eyes locked with her own hazel, a small, playful smile matching the faint one on Lucy’s face.
Lucy opened her mouth, not knowing what was going to come out, when she was interrupted by the door opening and Kai sticking his head out with a grinning Ernie behind him.
“Tennant said food is ready and to come inside,” Kai informed them, welcoming smile on his face. Lucy turned back to Kate while informing the boys they would be right in.
Kate’s stood in front of Lucy’s seated body, hand out as a silent, polite offer for help up from the large armchair. Lucy was surprised to see the immediate change in Kate’s body upon Kai and Ernie’s presence, those shoulders high, tense, and carrying the weight of the world, strong jaw locked in a clench, and a completely neutral expression graced her lips.
Looking up at her, Lucy took in the statuesque form, but noticed those eyes soften when they locked with her own. Lucy couldn’t help but remember a dripping wet Kate Whistler, sun lighting her in a way the hero absolutely deserved, sand everywhere, giving her those same soft eyes and amused smile after saving her life.
Lucy’s hand slipped into Kate’s, completely engulfed by the size and tingling from the softness and warmth. Kate easily pulled her up without help from Lucy, and handed her the discarded cane with her free hand. Their hands stayed linked as they maneuvered around the furniture, and as they picked up the empty beer bottle Kate had been nursing earlier, and all the way to the door, dropping just before Kate stepped through the threshold back into the house.