GUYS. I'M BACK. So... I decided to finally update again...But hey, if you're into Broadway musical, I got about a dozen of those published... so that's cool.

I decided to rewatch The Avengers, so... here we are.

I apologize for the wait, but that's just how writing is sometimes.

Anyway... get ready for a non-angsty chapter. *gasp* I know, but that's just the point we are at. Don't worry, angst will return in the next chapter.

NOTE: Bold sentences are in American Sign Language

Enjoy!

~TH~

Recovery was slow. It was mind-numbingly boring. Steve found himself aimlessly staring at the ceiling.

After two weeks of conscious recovery, he had insisted that Natasha go do something other than sitting with him. It had taken some convincing, but she had gone. Now he was alone with nothing to do. His eyesight had continued to improve, but his hearing remained gone. It would likely stay that way.

The nightmares were horrible. More vivid than ever and... He had had some terrible ones in the past. Everyone kept telling him he needed to eat. He knew he did, but he couldn't make himself. The demons in his mind were taking over. He was sick of it.

He was done.

Slowly, he pushed himself into a sitting position. Steve looked at the IV sticking out of his arm. It was the only thing still hooked up to him. He was pretty sure it was for nutrients. Making his final decision, he tore out the needle.

Now was the hard part. Taking a deep breath, he pushed himself off of the bed. Everything protested. Every fibre of his being screamed for him to stop. But he was nothing if not determined.

He planted his feet on the ground. His knee was still week. He hadn't used it in weeks. Slowly, he stood up. It was shaky, but it was worth it. It felt... invigorating. 

He took a wobbly step forward. Then another. He nearly laughed out loud at the utter joy he felt. It was like just being out of bed chased away some of the nightmares. Because he was Captain America. He could do this all day. 

There was more staggering than walking involved, but he made it to the door. Then to the Avenger's living room. 

Bruce looked up just as he was entering, he nearly knocked his StarkPad into the floor he stood up so abruptly. Thor quickly followed, spilling a bowl of popcorn all over the floor. Clint didn't stand. He simply looked at the super soldier and blinked, a small smile appearing. 

No one's mouth was moving, so Steve assumed they were all silent. "Uh, hi." That's when they were around him. Clint took a drink of his Coke, laughter in his eyes. Thor gave him a hard pat on the back. He flinched at first but then was able to smile, really smile at his friend. Bruce nodded his head towards the couch, then grabbed his forearm. Steve partly wanted to resist, but he was getting tired. He hadn't done... well much of anything for a long time. 

He was about halfway to the couch when Natasha came in. Her mouth was moving, then stopped. Her eyes widened and she dropped the plate she held in her hand. 

Steve laughed, "I thought nothing could surprise you." He winked at her. 

She ran up and wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you." He whispered. 

When they broke apart, he couldn't help but notice the smirk on Clint's face.

~A~

Steve sat on the couch, the leg of his injured knee lightly resting on the glass table in front of him. He brought his right hand up, lightly slapping the underside of his left twice. "Easy." He raised his eyebrows at his friend.

"The word?"

Steve shook his head, "This lesson."

Clint let out a small huff of laughter. "You catch on fast. It takes most people months, sometimes years to master sign language." 

Steve shrugged, a smile still on his face, "Eidetic memory," he tapped his head. "I learn fast and can't forget things even if I tried."

He meant it lightly, but the Captain noticed the dark shadow that seemed to cross the archer's face. Steve knew what he was thinking. It was true. He didn't forget. Anything. No matter how painful or gruesome.

He shrugged, "It's a useful trick." He didn't mention the vivid nightmares that went along with it. He had a feeling Clint already knew.

"Well, not everyone in the Tower knows sign, but at least me and Nat do. But I think you'll be fine. You seem to be able to read lips pretty well."

Steve nodded. "I had bad hearing before the war. Wasn't completely deaf, but still couldn't hear great. Learned that reading lips was a whole lot easier than asking people to repeat themselves a million times."

Clint let out a snort. "Got that right. "

~A~

Steve had been doing better. Ever since he got out of his bed, he had felt like a completely different person. The nightmares still came, the unexpected touches still made him flinch, but he felt... alive. 

He started spending more time in the communal Avengers living area. The other Avengers seemed to have taken to sitting in there with him. Steve was watching some sit-com with Thor, the subtitles on screen struggling to keep up with the characters, when Bruce walked in and handed him a small device.

Steve held it in his hand, raising an eyebrow. "What's this?"

"It's Jarvis." The doctor explained.

Steve gave him a confused look.

"Go ahead, try talking to him."

"Uh, hey Jarvis."

The small device vibrated before words appeared. "Good evening, Captain Rogers."

Steve smiled, Bruce did too.

~A~

"Thor, you know I can't hear it, right?" Steve stood on the roof next to the Asgardian. The Norse held Mjolnir in one hand.

The super soldier didn't know what he expected. The hammer was sparking, and he knew that there should be a low rumble associated with it. This wasn't uncommon for them to do. Thor had often taken Steve to the roof to cause thunder. It had slowly helped the former World War II Captain become less afraid of the sudden loud noises at night. 

But right now, while he could see the sparks, what should have been an almost comforting rumble was replaced by silence.

Thor grinned at him before taking his hand and placing it on the handle. And Steve could feel it. He could feel the thunder. Feel the vibrations. He could feel what he should have been hearing. It was even more magnificent than the sound. 

He pulled his hand away and the vibration stopped. 

He glanced at Thor who as absolutely beaming, smiled himself, then touched the handle again.

~TH~

Like I said, considerably less angst.
And as I said, it will be returning in the next chapter.

I am going to stick to my original plan for fourteen chapters as I have already planned them all out. It's just the... you know... writing part. 

In other news, I got a Tumblr! I'm Trekkiehood because, why ruin a good thing (or in this case, name) so check me out!

I will try to not fall off the face of the planet this time and update in a reasonable manner.

Until then, please comment and let me know what you thought!

God bless,