A/N In case you didn't read the synopsis this is the third story in a series with no name. The first two are Fallen and Sanctuary. It would probably help greatly to read those two first.

It took three weeks for all the paperwork and meetings to be completed before Steve Rogers, Captain America, was officially named handler for the Avenger initiative. Apparently saving the world didn't save you from red tape. It didn't bother Steve one bit. After all of what they had been through lately with betrayal and Natasha's kidnapping and torture, a little more paperwork to ensure her, and everyone else's security was a small price to pay.

Steve entered the building fifteen minutes ahead of time, to account for any new security check-in procedures. He was wearing a brand new suit, picked out by Tony Stark that was clashing horribly with his old pack that contained his lunch and a sketchpad. Agent Hill was waiting for him just past the security check point.

"Morning Rogers, last chance to back out."

"Not a chance Hill, I asked for this."

"That in itself should've kept you from passing the psych exam," Maria chuckled. "I'm here to show you to your new office and answer any questions you may have." Maria gave him a small tour on the way to his office, showing him the new areas his higher security clearance gave him access to. Finally they arrived at his office. Steve immediately knew it was his because someone had taped a cardboard replica of his shield to the door. Slightly embarrassed he carefully removed the shield. "You're never going to be a just a civilian Captain," Maria said.

"I've known that for over seventy years. Just don't want it affecting my job."

"Any questions?"

"Not right now, but I may call you."

"My number is already in your rolodex, extension and cell. I'm at your disposal."

"Thanks, you have always been a great help." Maria lingered at the door for a few more moments saying nothing. Then with a sigh and a wave she headed back to her office.

Steve closed the door and took in his new surroundings. He hadn't thought much about decorating but it seemed that someone had. On one wall someone had hung another, more realistic, replica of his shield; on another was a gathering of photos, all the members of his team. Upon closer inspection it looked like most had all been taken in his back yard the day he announced his new position. "Sneaky little devils," Steve said with a smile. Natasha's photo looked more recent. There were no longer bruises on her face, and her shortened hair was starting to show some signs of growing out. It was the only obvious reminder of what had happened.

On his desk along with the previously mentioned rolodex, were a keyboard and monitor, a nameplate, and a basket of fruit. Attached to the basket was a card that read "Cafeteria food here sucks, you definitely want to keep something in your desk. This should tide you over until tomorrow. By the way you are having dinner with us tonight – Clint and Natasha."

Apparently wanting to drive the point home, Clint was standing in the doorway. "Morning Cap', or is it Steve, Agent Rogers…What am I supposed to call you now?"

"Whatever you want Clint, I'm sure the rest of the team will do the same. I guess officially I'm Agent Captain Rogers, but that sounds like a mouthful. So what do you need? I'm assuming this isn't a social call."

Clint laughs, "Already sounding like him. Well actually this is a social call. I wanted to know what kind of food you wanted us to bring out tonight. I'm cooking."

"You don't have to do that, you're guests."

"As many times as I've been out there, I'm no longer a guest Cap'. And as far as Natasha is concerned…" Clint leans across Steve's desks and whispers. "How are you and Nat working out?"

"What did she say?"

"I think the direct quote was 'That's none of your fucking business.' I couldn't figure out if that was a good none of my fucking business or bad. Sometimes even I can't read her."

"Well I'm not saying anything if she's not. She has weapons you know."

"Come on. Can't I just get a good or bad?"

Steve smiled, "Good, very good. Now isn't there a briefing that you should be at?"

"Yes, Agent Captain Rogers sir," Clint said with a smirk. "I guess I'll just surprise you with something. Maybe I'll make something from your precious Food Channel. We'll be at your place at seven."

Steve really didn't have much to do his first day at work. Fury, with the help of Hill, had been keeping all the administrative duties for the Avenger Initiative up to date during the transition. It was the least they could do. Steve turned on his computer and decided to see what his new security clearance granted him access to. He immediately put IVAN KOLSTOV into his search. Tony had offered to get him the files he wanted but Steve would not be party to illegal activity against S.H.I.E.L.D. The rest of the team was mad at him for not allowing Tony to help. Accept for Natasha, she had touched his arm and told him she understood when he told Tony no. It had surprised him; she above all others was the one with the most to settle with the arms dealer cum kidnapper and torturer.

Steve search yielded several files, most were grayed out however. Steve clicked on one of the non-grayed out files and it just contained basic information. Very basic. General description, pasts arrests, recent sightings, all of which Natasha had already told him. Except that there was the sighting a week after Natasha had been rescued. It was in Paris, France, but it was only a fifty-four percent possible match so nothing to get too invested in. He closed the file and opened another. It was Natasha's debriefing with Fury. Steve immediately closed the file. He would read it someday he supposed, especially if he needed to but he really wasn't interested in thinking about what happened to her right now. Most of bruises had finally gone away and the cuts mostly healed, it made being with her easier. He didn't have to deal with the nagging feeling that he had failed her, that they all failed her.

The next file he opened was a hierarchy chart. Most of the names were blacked out but there was Kolstov's among the ten names on the third row. Steve was surprised that he was up that high and still considered only a 'top priority'. Maybe the other files could offer some insight. He decided to give Agent Hill a call.

"Hi Maria, I know it's not even noon and I already have a question. I'm looking at some files on the computer and I can't get some of them to open."

"Are they gray?"

"Yes."

"Then they are above your security clearance."

"Really? I would've thought handlers had a pretty high clearance. How many security levels are above mine?"

"Officially, four."

"Unofficially?"

"Five, apparently there are things that even Fury isn't allowed to see."

Steve blew out a low whistle. "So is there anyway besides promotion to know what's in those files? Maybe not the exact contents, but say maybe just the subject of the contents."

"Well," Maria paused as if considering something. "Someone with a higher clearance can grant specific and limited access to higher classified information. I'm two levels above you…"

"I hate to ask but…"

"I'm not authorizing you for any of the Kolstov files."

"How did you know that was what I was going to ask about?"

"I'm not just a pretty face Rogers. Besides, everyone knows that the Avengers are all out for revenge for what happened to Romanoff. I'm just not going to be a party to you all going off half-cocked and screwing up something so much bigger that you don't even have a clue about."

"Well if I had access to those files, maybe we could make a more informed decision."

"Look if you want those files, talk to Fury. I washed my hands of this when we got Barton back."

"Okay, I understand. I'll talk to Fury."

He tried calling Fury but was routed back to the main switchboard who said he would be in meetings until near the end of the day. So after eating lunch he decided to catch up on his team's files. Barton had been sent on two short missions in the last three weeks. Mostly security details for moving items, which were blacked out in the reports, to different facilities. There was also a disciplinary action filed against him, by Agent Strickland. Apparently Clint had run into him in a hallway and punched him several times in the face, breaking his nose. "He never said anything to me about this," Steve thought. In fact Clint had apparently lied to Steve about where the scrapes on his hand had come from. Steve made a mental note to talk to Clint later. He couldn't have his team lying to him.

Everyone else's files didn't have any real updates. Natasha still had to come in for weekly psychological evaluations. He knew about those though. She would come over to his house afterward and complain about how unnecessary they were. Then they would watch a movie and both pretend that the evaluations weren't dredging up all kinds of things that would have been better off left buried. The first time she stayed the night, in the guest room. Midway through the night Steve was awaked by the hoarse screams of Natasha relieving some horrible part of her life. He crawled into bed beside her and lay with her until morning, holding her close and soothing her whenever she began to stir. After that, they slept in his bed. Well she, slept, he watched sentry over her, protecting her from the demons of her past that he couldn't slay.

But there was one he could help with. He checked the time and figured he would go visit Fury since he should be out of his meetings by now.

"Captain Rogers, enjoying your first day behind a desk?" Fury looked up from the paperwork covering every inch of his desk.

"Yes sir, I think I'm adjusting pretty well. Hope I don't spend most of my time there though."

"Completely understand. I rather be under enemy fire than behind this desk. But it's part of the job. So what do you need?"

"I would like to get access to some of the Kolstov files, but Agent Hill said I would have to come to you for authorization."

"First day and you are already diving into that mess. I think I've told you several times already to let it go. Kolstov is a top priority and not your team's mission."

"Frankly sir, we both know what 'top priority' means. And I don't see what the harm it could be for my team to look into this when we are not otherwise occupied. In the last three weeks the only one who's been sent out is Barton. I know Romanoff has still not been released for field work yet, and I wouldn't show her the files until she's ready…"

"Don't let this 'thing' you've got going on with Romanoff cloud your judgment." Fury said.

"Thing sir?"

"Don't make me spell it out Rogers, you and Natasha, don't let it become an issue. Probably don't want to let Barton know about it. He's liable to try and see how indestructible you really are."

"How do you know sir?" Fury didn't say anything, instead just gave him a look. "Well no need to worry about Clint, he knows and approves. I still don't understand that, but I'm just accepting his word."

Fury arches an eyebrow, "Barton already knows? I need to work on my sources."

"I should probably go before I say too much…" Steve heads to the door.

"Rogers. Leave this Kolstov stuff alone, there is more at stake than a redhead's honor."

"You know I can't sir. And it's not because it's Natasha, it's because it involves a member of my team."

"You are a S.H.I.E.L.D. member first. You will follow orders."

"Just like you did when the council ordered a nuclear strike on Manhattan?"

Fury sighed and rubbed his fingers along either side of the bridge of his nose. "Give me a couple days to look through the files and decide what you can have access to. Just don't fuck up the bigger picture Rogers."

"I'll keep you informed of any progress we make and I'll let you now before we make direct contact with Kolstov." Rogers left the office before getting a response from Fury.

Steve stopped by his favorite bakery on the way home. It was one that had been around when he was a kid. None of the original people were still around but it still tasted the same. He loved finding places like this it didn't make him feel so out of touch with the rest of the world. Once he got home he just had time to shower, change, and take his neighbor one of the cupcakes he bought before Clint and Natasha arrived.

"I went simple and made lasagna, Natasha made the salad," Clint said as he pushed past Steve towards the kitchen. "Oh yeah, she also picked the wine. According to her I have no taste."

"You don't," Natasha responded after giving Steve a quick kiss hello. Steve tries to glance back subtly to see if Clint saw it. He didn't but Steve turned back to see Natasha frowning at him. "You still having trouble with this aren't you," she whispered.

"Sorry."

"It's okay," she responded when clearly it wasn't.

"Foods in the oven, maybe we can have some of your snotty wine while we wait Nat." Natasha opens the wine while Steve gets the glasses then they all go into the living room until dinner is ready. Clint and Natasha sit on the couch while Steve chooses the chair the farthest away from them.

"Why so far away Cap? There is plenty of room on the other side of Nat."

"I'm fine here."

Natasha sighs, "Would it help if I told you he's currently dating someone else?"

"Oh yeah, you'd like her Cap'. I've seen her around for a while but we didn't start seeing each other until couple of weeks ago, you know once I knew Natasha was okay," Clint said patting Natasha's leg.

"I wish you would tell the damn staff shrink that. I'm ready to go back to work."

"Are you sure?" Steve asked remembering the last time she was there, of how she woke up fighting and drenched in sweat.

"I was having nightmares long before this Steve. You can't do the work we do without having some… side effects. They don't care about that." Natasha was almost able to keep the bitterness out of her voice. "They just want to make sure I can't be coerced."

"Would you like me to say something to Fury?"

Natasha shook her head "No, it's standard procedure that the agent is out for six weeks. I'm just getting bored and stir crazy, that's all."

"We could… never mind."

"We could what Steve?"

"Never mind," Steve stands up and grabs the wine glasses, "I'll refresh everyone's drinks."

"Sit. Tell me what's wrong." Natasha reaches up and touches Steve's hand. He pulls away.

"I need to refill these and probably check on the food."

"Sit." Natasha doesn't raise her voice but it's tinged with the deadly coldness that can't be ignored. Steve sets the glasses back down and turns to head to his chair when Natasha catches his hand, squeezing it in what would be a painful grip to anyone else. "Here, beside me. Tell me what's wrong."

Steve relents and collapses on the couch beside Natasha, "It's nothing really, just having a little trouble adjusting to this. I accept that Clint is okay with this. I don't mind knowing that when you're not with me, that you are probably with him. I didn't think I would but, I can't explain it. It's just seems almost right. I'm not sure if you were seeing someone else if it would."

"I don't plan on seeing anyone else Steve. Unless it's an assignment and that's not the same at all."

"I know."

"Then what is it?"

"It's stupid."

Clint suddenly stands up, "I'm going to check the food while you two play dentist."

"Huh?" Steve and Natasha look at Clint perplexed.

"Pulling teeth to get you to say what's on your mind Cap'. I just don't have the patience to watch. Spit it out already." Clint picks up the glasses. "I'll fill these while I'm at it. Something tells me someone's going to need a drink."

After Clint leaves, Natasha turns to Steve. "He's right you know. You're dancing around something. It's not going to make it any better if I have to pull it out of you word by word. Just tell me."

"It's all the secrecy." After Natasha didn't respond Steve continued. "I guess when I thought of dating and possibly falling in love with a girl, excuse me woman, I imagined taking her out. You know dinner, movies, maybe even dancing. I would take her out to art museums and share with her all my favorite paintings. I would hold her hand as we walked down the street. But I guess that's old fashioned. Just another thing I need to learn about this new world."

"It's not old fashioned. It sounds nice."

"But not something we can do."

"It's me. Clint takes his other girlfriends out on dates all the time. We've never been on a real date. We went out once, but that's when he had been sent to kill me and I was trying to see if he could be corrupted to my cause. He accepts that. Maybe because he can find someone else to take out."

"I know your privacy…"

"It has nothing to do with privacy. I'm sure everyone at S.H.I.E.L.D. knows about me and Clint, even if they don't say it out loud. I'm sure they'll know about us soon enough."

"Fury knows, I swear I didn't tell him."

"I'm not surprised. Steve, it's, it's that every…date I've been on has been as part of a mission. I don't know if I could be myself on a date. Black Widow knows how to lure, seduce, and be the perfect date companion. I'm not sure I could relax enough to enjoy it."

"It's okay, really. I'm working on getting used…"

Natasha put a single finger up to Steve's lips, "But I'm willing to try. For you. Just once, I can't promise future…dates."

Steve smiles and lightly kisses her finger as he takes her hand into his. "Are you free Saturday? I know the perfect place for us to go."

"I've got nothing for three more weeks."

"Good. It's a date then. Smells like dinner maybe ready, I guess I should go set the table," Steve says getting up from the couch. Natasha gets up as well.

"I'll go help; I still need to put the dressing on the salad." Steve stops her before she can walk off, caresses her face, lifting her chin up then leans in.

"I neglected to give you a proper kiss when you came in." After a few minutes Steve finally steps back and allows Natasha to come up for air. She notes that his technique has improved greatly over these short few weeks as evidenced by her desire to skip dinner entirely and send Clint back to the city alone. "Hungry?"

"I was thinking of a different word beginning with H actually," Natasha said breathlessly.

"What word?"

"We can discuss it later. Saturday, after our date. Right now, I want a second glass of wine." Steve followed Natasha into the kitchen trying to figure what the 'H' word she was talking about.