"Trust me, I get it," Steve said. "Don't worry about them. Let me handle that. You just focus on you."

Alexis nodded. "Thanks, Steve." She managed a tired smile for him, even though she wasn't physically weary.

"No problem," Steve said. He gestured to the remaining stash of punching bags. "Tony restocks those once a week or so. You're welcome to as many as you need."

"I'll try not to go through too many," Alexis said. "I'm not going through them like you do, at least not yet."

"Use what you need," Steve said. "They're just punching bags, that's what they're for."

"I know." Alexis shrugged a little. "Maybe I'll go run a few miles and be able to settle down for a bit."

Steve nodded.

"I usually circle around the park a few times," he said. "Depending on how many people are out."

"This time of night? Not many." Alexis snorted. "Least I don't have to worry about being mugged."

"Still, be careful," Steve said. He backed off from her a bit to give her some space. "You should get a pair of good running shoes if you're going to make running a habit."

"Tomorrow, when stores are open again," Alexis agreed. "I'll go get a few things." Like hand wraps, because even with increased healing she figured she had a few good welts on her hands.

Steve nodded.

"Try to get some rest, when you can," he said. "Even if it's just relaxing for a while."

"I will," Alexis promised.

And she did manage to wear herself out enough that, by sunrise, she was flopped over on a couch channel surfing, no longer full of nervous energy. She still wasn't normal, not by a long shot, but she wasn't about to go insane, either.

At about sunrise, Steve came down from his room, dressed for running.

"I'm going out for a run," he said as he passed Alexis. "You're welcome to join me, if you like."

Alexis considered for a moment and then scrambled after him, grabbing a new shirt and tugging it on in the elevator.

"I understand your running habits so much better now."

"I'm sorry you have to," Steve said as they headed outside. "The serum worked miracles for me, but it's still not necessarily anything anyone else should have to go through."

"Yeah, well, no undoing it now," Alexis said. "After I have a panic attack, probably tonight or so, I'll be able to start dealing with it and making plans."

"For now, let's just go for a run," Steve said. He knew from experience that one thing at a time was best, at first.

"Good plan." Alexis followed him out to the park and let him set the pace, keeping up with him. It took a little work, since he had longer legs, but it felt good. Better than running on her own had.

Steve set a fairly quick pace, though he kept them to the perimeter of the park. No sense in going further, not today. He kept an eye on Alexis to make sure she was able to keep up.

Alexis did manage to keep up, although the pace tired her out more quickly. Even that made her grin, though, because that was good.

Although if this was going to become a thing, she'd better invest in some decent earbuds to listen to music while she ran.

Steve noticed when she finally started slowing down. It didn't take as long as he thought it would, which he was counting as a good thing for now.

"Ready to head back?" he asked.

Alexis nodded. "Yeah," she said, slowing to a walk instead. "Yeah, I'm ready."

"Let's head back for breakfast, then," Steve said. "You must be starving by now."

Alexis nodded a bit. She hadn't noticed, but once he mentioned it she was aware that she was, in fact, hungry. She made a face.

"I'm going to have to eat like you do, huh?"

"Most likely," Steve said apologetically. "Side-effect of the serum."