I pace around my cell. I'm dressed in the classic orange jumpsuit and navy blue off-brand Vans. I scratch at my neck. My collar itches like a motherfucker. I spin in circles, bored out of my mind. I've been here for a week now. It has seemed like an entire lifetime. I still have no idea when I'm getting out. I start playing the A-trak remix of "Heads Will Roll" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs in my head. I slide across the floor, dancing.

I then start thinking about my trial...

"Skylar Lisbeth Hourani is hereby sentenced to The Cube holding cell until she is deemed safe to enter back into the world," the General states from his seat behind a judge's desk.

"Under what circumstances is that necessary?" Nick Fury asks from next to me, fuming.

My body is completely wrapped in chains and I'm bolted to a metal desk. It's a little excessive but I guess they don't want me going all avatar in a government building. I'm not a monster. I don't even know how to control it. But just like the Hulk, they're being ignorant and stupid.

"…Under the circumstances that that young lady has powers. She started shooting light from her eyes and hands. And she slaughtered those aliens in a force that I have never seen."

"How is she any different from The Hulk? He's just as big of a threat!" Fury yells back.

"Ms. Hourani is different because we were not aware of her abilities. She kept them a secret. She is a dangerous threat. She endangered millions of people!" The General crosses his arms.

"But, sir--!" I butt in.

"Not a word from you!" The General points his finger at me.

"She also saved millions of people! If it wasn't for Violet Shadow the Avengers would have been overwhelmed and we would not be here right now!" Fury retorts.

"The Avengers are a bunch of freaks and I'm coming for the rest of them next. Both you and them deliberately disobeyed the orders of the United States government. Now that will be all! Case dismissed." The General bangs the gavel and everyone starts to move.

"I'm sorry, Skylar," Nick says, turning to me.

"Don't apologize, Nick. It's not your fault. I can handle The Cube. It won't be so bad." I give him a weak smile and then I'm taken to an SUV and whisked away to The Cube's secret location.

When the memory ends, sweat starts to drip down my face. I dance to try to keep in shape. I'm not really a push-ups and sit-ups kind of girl. My heart is beating fast. Suddenly, my choker is activated and the depressant drugs are pumped into my system. My knees buckle and I'm left on the ground, in pain. I pull at the collar, desperately trying to pull the spikes out of my neck.

I can't take this anymore.

When the drugs stop flowing into my veins, I'm left on my hands and knees. I gasp for air as I slowly regain my strength. Tears roll down my cheeks from the agony. I feel so hopeless. What kind of life is this? They do tests on me. It's like I'm back to being strapped on that table in the woods with the man doing all those things to me. I never thought in a million years I would have to go through that again. What are the chances of that?

I slowly stand and plop down on my bed. Still breathing heavy, I pray to God that I am released soon. Prison is a lot harder than I had expected. Being surrounded by the world's harshest and most dangerous criminals is not that comforting. I'm not a criminal. Well, at least... not anymore. Just all the flashing memories start to swirl back into my head, there is commotion.

"Well, look who it is!" The prisoner next to me says. Everyone else is throwing curses and insults at the visitor.

I watch the hallway through the laser barrier. I hear the footsteps. Suddenly, the visitor appears in my doorway. A six-foot-tall man with golden blond hair and piercing blue eyes stands there, watching me. "Steve!" I gasp in surprise. I run to the barrier. Volts rattle through my body but it's not enough to incapacitate me.

"Hello, Skylar," he says with that winning smile. "How are you?"

"Well, I'm great now!" I say with a laugh. "What are you doing here?" My brows furrow together.

"I'm here to get you out!" He shrugs his shoulders.

"What? How?" I ask in excitement.

"I just kept working my way up through the channels of government, pleading your case. Finally, I got to the president. He was so impressed and appreciative with what you did to save New York that he put in for your release. And since he's the president, it worked! Congratulations!" His grin grows even larger.

"Oh my God! Are you serious? Obama appreciates me? Holy shit!" I squeal and start jumping up and down. Then my collar is activated and I fall to the floor from the burn running through my body.

"What's wrong?" Steve asks, dropping to his knees. His eyes are full of concern.

"It's... just... my collar," I whisper in between gasps.

"What does that do?"

I pause for a minute as I slowly stand up. That one wasn't so bad. "It's my collar," I say, hoarse. "Whenever my heart rate gets up to high, it injects me with depressant drugs. They believe that when I get excited or upset, it activates my powers. I have to wear it 24/7." I clap my hands and shrug.

"That's sick!" Steve says, his voice thick with disgust. He then looks down the hallway. "Oh, here comes the guard!"

A burly man in all black with the SHIELD crest on his jacket comes into my view. He pulls out a keychain and unlocks my cell. The laser barrier dissolves and I jump into Steve's arms.

"Thank you so much, Steve! You're the greatest!" I say against his rock hard chest.

"You're welcome," he says into my hair.

I release from the embrace. "Get this thing off me!" I exclaim at the guard, yanking on the choker.

"Alright, alright," he croaks. "Just a sec." He pulls out another key from his chain and unlocks it. He takes it out of my hand and puts it in his pocket.

"Um, actually, can I keep it?" My voice becomes soft and tender.

"Sure! Do whatever you want!" He reaches in his pocket and pulls it out. "They never told me what to do with it!" He hands in to me.

Steve gives me a questioning look. "I'm going to make it into a necklace," I explain. "It was made especially for me and I gotta have a keepsake from my time in prison! Now let's go get some real food! I'm starving!"

"Hey, bring me some!" The prisoner in the cell next to mine shouts.

"You wish, Abs!" I yell back.

"Abs?" Steve asks.

"Absorbing Man. He can absorb any material he touches. He's been here for a while." I move to show Steve the man floating in his cell. "Now let's go!" I grab Steve's hand and sprint down the hallway.

Steve and I weave through the maze of hallways of The Cube. When we reach the exit, the sunlight is blinding. Steve hands me my wayfarer sunglasses. Steve drives and I ride in the passenger's seat. We drive away in a cloud of dust. We hit the first McDonald's we see.

"Oh my God! This is the greatest thing I've ever tasted!" I exclaim as I chew my Big Mac. "I mean, the grub in The Cube wasn't that bad but I missed fast food."

"I'm glad you're enjoying it," Steve says, his mouth full of food.

When Steve finishes, we continue our 35-hour drive back to New York City. Steve's apartment is the final destination. I devour a Big Mac, a large order of fries, a double cheeseburger and a large Coke. I then decide to take a nap.

"I'm just going to lie down in the back if that's okay," I say as I climb into the back seat.

"Um, okay," Steve says, glancing back at me. He sounds disappointed.

"Those super villains can be pretty loud. I haven't gotten a good night's sleep since before I was remanded to The Cube. I won't be asleep long." I lie down, put on my sunglasses and close my eyes.

When I awake, I see the sun reflecting off my sunglasses. I rub my eyes beneath the lenses. I turn over and look out the window, but I can't tell what state we're in. I slowly sit up, still groggy from my slumber.

"Good morning!" Steve says joyfully.

"Good morning," I mumble. I take off my sunglasses and rub my eyes once again. "How long was I out?" I shake the grogginess out of my head.

"About 22 hours." Steve looks at me in the rearview mirror.

"Are you shitting me?" I exclaim. My eyes about pop out of their sockets. "22 hours? That crazy long!"

"I guess you were right about now getting a good night's sleep."

"Have you been driving this whole time?"

"Yup!"

"Oh my God! How are you doing that?" I giggle.

"I am Captain America. I think I can go 22 hours without sleep. Plus I was asleep for 70 years. I think I've had my fill." He smiles at me.

"Right," I say, leaning up against the backs of the two front seats.

I stay up the rest of the 13 hours talking to Steve. He tells me war stories and I tell him all the different technologically advanced things we have. We hold onto each other's every word, wanting to absorb everything. World War II is my favorite war. I can't learn enough about it. Steve Rogers is like the best WWII documentary come to life but even better.

When we arrive in New York, my face is glued to the window. New York City is my second favorite city in the world. Detroit is my first. I love big cities. I've always been a city girl. The lights, the glamour, the stores, the movies. I was planning to move to New York City as a teen after I got my degree in whatever film making thing I needed. But that changed.

"Here we are," Steve says proudly as he opens his apartment door. "It's not much but it's home."

"Ooh, I like it," I say, entering the room. "I love the decor." I admire the 40's-style furniture and drapes.

Steve walks past me over to his desk. He picks up my messenger bag. "And here's your stuff." He gestures to my luggage. My samurai sword is in its sheath, leaning against the desk.

"Oh, thank you, Steve!" I walk over to him and snatch the bag out of his hands. "Well, I've got to go!"

"What?" Steve asks, confused. "You just got here!"

"Well, it's not like I'm going to stay here! I've got to get back to Michigan. I have a couple of things to take care of," I explain, grabbing my sword and suitcases.

"Well, let me at least drive you to the airport."

"That won't be necessary. I had SHIELD send my Cadillac here. It's a '64 Eldorado!" I wink at him. "I'll just take a taxi to the garage where it's being stored." I start out the door.

"Can I at least help you with your bags?" Steve asks, giving me a pleading look.

"Oh, alright," I say. I drop the suitcases with all my weapons and computer stuff and hand him my sword.

The elevator ride down is quite awkward. We just stand in silence, holding my bags. By now I had already changed. What did he think was going to happen? Did he think I was going to stay with him or in NYC? I have other arrangements that I need to get to back in Grand Rapids. I think I'll drive north for a while. Maybe stay in Traverse City. I would stay in a cabin but I need internet.

Steve hails a cab for me. "Well, I guess this is it," he says. His words are dripping with sadness.
"I guess so," I say, shrugging. I then lock eyes with him. "I would like to thank you again for getting me out of prison. I was seriously going to lose my mind if I had to stay another night in there."

"You're welcome. It was nothing, really." He twists uneasily.

"No, it's wasn't nothing." I cup his face in my cheek. I stand on my tippy toes to reach Steve's cheek and plant a kiss. I then step back. Steve just looks at me in awe. "Oh! I almost forgot! I got you something." I reach in my messenger bag and pull out a small box.

Steve opens it. "A cell phone?" Steve says, looking confused.

"It has my number programmed into it. Call or text anytime. If you don't know how, there is another number in there; a friend of mine named Carlos. He can help you. He lives here in the city."

Steve looks up from his gift. "Thank you," he says softly.

"Well," I say, picking up my bags. "Goodbye, Steve Rogers. I hope to see you again soon." And before Steve can say his goodbye, I'm in the cab and heading to the garage.

Notes

Aw! Steve has come to the rescue! But why is Skylar being so cold to him? All will become clear very soon!

Skylar's Outfit: http://www.polyvore.com/skylar/set?id=52633610