Friend Or Foe? (May 2002)

Kate sat down on a bench and glanced over at Steve as he sat down next to her. She took a bite of her sundae. She crunched on a few peanuts as the whipped cream, hot fudge, and rich vanilla ice cream melted together in her mouth. She knew why he had wanted to talk to her. She glanced at him again and didn't say anything, but didn't stop him from continuing on either.

“He remembers me but just looking into his eyes...He’s missing alot of who he used to be. I asked you here today because I know he hurt people. People you care about,” he said as he took a spoonful of his sundae. The sweetness of the caramel made him sigh. “I know he hurt your people but how would you feel if you were programmed against your will to be a weapon? A weapon that did what it was ordered to do. A weapon without a conscience or emotion or a choice. I know your friend got hurt but I’m trying to save mine. What would you do for a friend? A real friend that you counted on and counted on you?” He asked.

Kate listened to Steve. She wanted to remain angry at him...at James Buchanan Barnes...at the world for what happened to her friends, but deep down in her heart Kate knew that none of this ultimately had been his fault. She still mourned for her friend however.

"Daniella's entire life was being a field agent," Kate said as tears came to her eyes. "She was incredible at her job and now...now she'll never be able to go out into the field again."

She looked away from Steve and wiped the tears from her eyes. She hated crying in front of him, but she couldn't stop the tears from coming. Finally, she got herself under control. She glanced at Steve with slightly red eyes.

"What exactly are you asking me to do?"

Steve felt compassion for Kate. Her friend, likely a close friend, lost her active field status due to Bucky. He didn’t know her exact injuries but he could guess if it pulled her off the street. He looked at her. “Kate, Bucky isn’t himself. If and when he realizes what he’s done, it will ruin him. The longer he is away from Hydra’s control, the more he sounds like himself. What I need is help. Where do I take him? Who can help him? He’s not the man I knew, he’s a murderer and terrorist. I know I have no right to ask you to help, but I am. I think enough death and suffering has been perpetrated on Hydra’s behalf. I owe Bucky my life,” Steve said.

Kate mostly just looked straight ahead as Steve spoke. After he finished speaking she was quiet for a while. She could tell that Steve really cared for James and would do anything for him. She felt the same way about Daniella. In that way she understood what Steve was trying to do and why he was trying to do it. She eventually pulled out a piece of paper and a pen. She wrote down a name and phone number and then handed it to Steve.

"Professor Charles Xavier is a powerful mutant who runs a school for mutants in Westchester. Charles is a psychic, but he's able to also get into a person's mind and recover memories or help someone understand who they are a little better. He won't delve into someone's mind unless they are willing. He's the only person I know of who would be able to help him."

Kate then got up and tossed away her empty ice cream container into the trash can and left to head back to SHIELD HQ.

Steve tossed his paper bowl into the trash when Kate did. He followed her uncertain of what to say. He appreciated what she did for him, but didn’t know how to tell her. “ He hurried to catch her and gently took hold of her arm so she could not get away. He let out a soothing breath as she turned toward him questioningly.

“Kate, I respect you, I care about your friend that’s hurt and those that died. But I was wondering..If I could ask you out...for myself,” he asked and he didnt really understand why he was saying these things. He liked Kate but he didn’t know if she liked him in return.

Kate was surprised when Steve suddenly grabbed her arm and she stopped and turned to look at him. She held her breath when Steve actually asked her out. She couldn’t deny that she was attracted to him and the fact that he cared so much about his friend said something about him. However, a lot had happened recently to the both of them.

“You and I are both dealing with a lot right now. I think for the moment you should focus on your friend. Help him heal. He’s going to need you. Then...ask me again. You have my number.”

Steve knew Kate was right but was also a little hurt by the rejection. He took it in stride though and he thanked her for her help and parted ways with her amicably. Professor X? He heard of him, in conversation but didn’t know him or any of the X-Men. When he got back to the tower he told everyone about his short meeting with Kate Blackwell and the advice she gave.

“Well, it couldn’t hurt. I don’t think I want to keep him like a wild animal in a cage,” Tony said. He looked at Isabella. “Make the call?” He asked her.

Isabella knew who Professor Xavier was. When her powers had first emerged he had made contact with her and he had helped show her how to control her powers. She had never lived at the mansion, but had stayed there for a short period of time.

"I know Charles," she told Tony and Steve. "He helped me when my powers first emerged. If there is anyone in this world who can help him it would be Professor X."