[b]Brooklyn[/b]

Steve Rogers rubs his eyes as he takes a break from staring at his computer screen. He had been sifting through ever possible name he could think of with a Eastern European accent that could muster the kind of money to hire the Sandman. Every lead he followed came up short, however. Most of the names on his list were either dead or captured already. Whoever was behind the attack was covering their tracks incredibly well. Even the SHIELD forensics techs couldn't track where the bank transfer entered Sandman's account from.

He heard Sharon stir in the bed behind him, before approaching him and pressing herself against him from behind, "Come to bed, Steve. You're not going to figure this one out in one night. Not even you're that good. Let the techs have some more time with the bank stuff. Come to bed and get some rest."

He knew she was right. She was always telling him he pushed too hard, too fast. She was right, of course. But then, he wouldn't be the man he was if Steve wasn't recklessly impulsive and driven.

And he just hated being played. Whoever this mastermind was, Steve wanted to make sure they knew Captain America wasn't a pawn to be pushed around the board. He wanted to get this wrapped up before some other needless attack happened just to draw the Avengers out.

[color=slateblue]"Yea, sleep is good,"[/color] he nodded and powered down the computer. [color=slateblue]"You know I don't like playing the puppet, though."[/color]

"I know," she nodded. "Not after the Alexander Pierce debacle."

Pierce had been Fury's right hand man. Together the two of them had planned to create an autonomous SHIELD force that could protect the world better than the Avengers ever could. In theory that's what they were doing, of course. In reality, Pierce was working for HYDRA, and was planning on using the project to wipe out any resistance to their rule. He had sent Cap and his team on missions they thought were for the good of the world, but in reality were just knocking off HYDRA's competition. It still made him sick when he thought about it.

[color=slateblue]"Yea, well,"[/color] he said as he laid down, [color=slateblue]"let's hope we're not dealing with anything like that."[/color]

[b]---[/b]

Light filtered in softly through the curtains that hung over the bedroom windows, rousing Steve from a comfortable night's sleep. He groggily rolled over and reached for Sharon, but he found the other side of the bed vacant. He stretched out, figuring she was out for her morning run or making breakfast.

"Sleep well?" a gruff voice surprised Steve, who shot up in bed to find Nick Fury standing at the foot of it. "Sorry, Cap. Didn't think you could be snuck up on. Sharon let me in."

Fury was the sneakiest bastard Steve knew, and he had to smile at the spymaster just hanging out in his bedroom waiting for the super solider to wake up.

[color=slateblue]"To what do I owe a briefing in bed, sir?"[/color] Rogers wiped the sleep from his eyes. 

"You gave communicators to the duck and Spider-Man?" Fury asked casually. "I was hoping you'd give one to the spider, but I don't have much use for a duck."

[color=slateblue]"Well you've never been one for small talk, sir,"[/color] Cap chuckled. [color=slateblue]"I gave it to them because they helped. And because I doubt whoever's behind this will let them go. I want them to be able to call for help if he or she comes after them."[/color]

Fury considered what Cap had said. He didn't trust people well. The last time he did, he lost an eye. It's why he fought Cap when the hero said he wanted all SHIELD communicators to be untraceable. These heroes had their own lives. They would never help if they thought they were being spied on.

"Fine, but if the duck dies, I'm not dealing with PETA."

Cap shook his head at the terrible, terrible joke, [color=slateblue]"Sir, I would expect nothing less."[/color]