The Other Romanoff

**Steve POV**

Later that night I got thirsty, so I got up to get a drink of water. As I was walking back from the kitchen with the bottle of water, I walked past Mina's room and I heard a lot of talking, crying, thrashing around, almost screaming and yelling. I knew she was having a nightmare. I wasn't sure if she would be okay with me walking in her room, but I wanted to check on her. I sighed and finally just opened the door. I looked on the bed and didn't see her at all and was confused. I then heard a whimper from the corner of the room and saw Mina wrapped in her blanket but thrashing around.

"No! Please! Stop! I don't want this!" She cried out. I rushed over to her.

"Mina, sweetie...wake up." I said and touched her arm. She instantly grabbed me pushed me off of her and then punched me in my jaw...again. She snapped her eyes open and looked at me.

"Steve?! Oh god, I'm so sorry..." Mina pleaded, and I shook my head, rubbing my jaw.

"I asked for it. I touched you while you were having a nightmare." I said and she just sighed, pulled her knees up to her chest placing her forehead there and just started crying.

"Mina...why are you on the floor?" I asked finally and she sighed.

"I feel safer in the corner." Mina said looking up at me as tears streamed down her face.

"Mina, you're safe here in the compound, no one can get you." I said wiping her tears away.

"I know Steve, but I'm scared still. I thought I would be over it by now." Mina said.

"Mina, you can't get over the fear unless you try to change it. Why don't you get in the bed and try it out?" I asked her and she half nodded.

"I can maybe try it..." Mina said giving me a small smile. I got up from my crouching position and helped Mina stand up. She walked over to the bed and got in. She got covered up and comfortable. I smiled. I went to walk away. I felt Mina grab my hand.

"Please stay." Mina begged, and I sighed looking down at her.

"You sure?" I asked and she nodded.

"Please...you're actually calming me right now." Mina said and I half nodded. I went to grabbed the blanket from the corner that Mina had been using, I grabbed her desk chair and propped my feet up on the bed. She gave me a pillow and put it behind my head since I was against the wall beside the bed. I knew sleeping in the bed would have been over stepping.

"Good night, Mina." I said and she smiled at me.

"Good night, Steve, thank you." Mina said and reached her hand over, I smiled grabbing her hand and she squeezed it. She then didn't let it go as she drifted off to sleep as did I.

🔴 🔴 🔴

**Mina POV**

I woke up in bed the next morning feeling completely rested. I smiled remembering Steve coming in halfway through the night and he slept in the desk chair next to the bed. I looked over and he was gone. I was wondering where he went but the pillow he used was back on the bed and the blanket was folded and placed at the foot of the bed along with the chair back in its place.

I sighed and got out of bed. I took a quick shower and got dressed. As I was walking out of my room Steve was about to knock on my door.

"Good morning." I said and he smiled at me.

"You look well rested." Steve said and I smiled.

"I feel it. Thank you for last night. Sorry I punched you." I said and Steve shrugged with a smile.

"I was happy to help you in any way I needed to." Steve said and I smiled but grabbed his chin turned his face sideway inspecting the bruise I left.

"I think you need to wear a helmet around me." I said as I left the room and Steve walked with me.

"Maybe it's not a bad idea." Steve said and we laughed as we walked to breakfast together.

Once we reached the kitchen Bucky and Nat were sitting at the table. I sighed seeing them as I walked to the stove seeing some eggs and sausage still there.

"This open for anyone to take?" I asked.

"Yeah, go ahead." Bucky said and I plated up some for me and looked at Steve.

"You want some?" I asked.

"Sure." Steve said and I gave him the last bit of everything.

"Well, isn't that sweet..." Nat mumbled from the table even though I heard her.

"Excuse me?" I asked turning to face her.

"Well, I mean you're plating breakfast for him, you left his room last night and then he left your room early this morning...super sweet that you two are being all couple-y." Nat said and I groaned slamming my plate down on the table across from her.

"For you information since you went out with your boy toy last night, I had no plans for dinner and Steve invited me to eat with him and watch a movie." I said and she didn't say anything. "And this morning was because Steve heard me having a nightmare last night and found me in the corner of the bedroom again. I asked him to stay once I got back into bed. Something I could have asked you if you had known." I snapped and Nat just looked down at her plate.

"Okay this is getting old you two. You need to work out all your problems. No one else is in the compound but us and we no one can leave the kitchen until you two talk." Bucky said and Steve nodded.

"I don't know what possibly needs to be said. I think my sister regrets coming to get me from the Red Room. She should have just left me." I said. Nat just looked at me.

"Are you insane?! Why would I leave you there?!" Nat asked and I shook my head.

"I don't know but ever since you came to get me you have barely had any interest in me being here. You have been training or with Bucky or on missions and I get thats what you do but damnit Nat. You bring me to this world of yours and tell me I can't leave but then I'm alone! I'm making friends where I can and thankfully that's with Steve." I said and Nat just listened to me.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Nat asked.

"Why should I have to?! Don't you want to check on your little sister?! Don't you care?!" I asked.

"I do and I'm sorry. This is all new territory for me. I'm not used to having people close to me. I have the team, I have Bucky but as far as family you know as well as I do, thats not something we are used to." Nat said and I sighed.

"I never forgot about you. I was so happy when you got out. Mad I couldn't go with you but happy for you. You were able to be free of that place. I was stuck though Nat, I was brainwashed, I was trained, I was beaten, I was tortured. I took what they wanted to do to you plus what they were already doing to me." I said and Nat dropped her head as my eyes filled with tears.

"Mina, if I had known..." Nat said.

"It wouldn't have changed anything. You were out and there was no way to get me out at that time. I just need you to know that you came and got me, and I thought for sure we could try and be those sisters you so desperately told me you wanted to be again, yet I feel like you've abandoned me." I explained and Nat got up from where she was sitting and came over to me. Me with tears flowing and Nat's eyes full of them, she hugged me.

"I love you Mina and I'm so sorry." Nat said as we hugged, I felt myself relax in her embrace. This is what I had needed since I was out, and it seemed like I would finally have it.