"It's not okay," Gemma replied, arms still around herself. "I can't be around people if this happens. It's too dangerous."

"You're still learning, you haven't had this power for very long," Steve said. "Really, Gemma, it's okay. You'll be okay."

Gemma shook her head.

"I shouldn't be here," she said, slowly stepping back towards the apartment door. "I can't be here."

"Gemma, sweetie, let's talk about this," Steve said gently. "You don't have to go anywhere."

"It's not safe for me to be around people right now," Gemma replied, shaking her head. "I have to go."

Steve sighed after a moment. "Where do you want to go?" he asked, watching her. Because he could and would follow her.

"I don't know," Gemma said quietly. "I just can't stay here, not like this." Turning, she headed upstairs to grab some essentials.

Steve gave her a bit of room. He spent the time calling the one other employee Gemma already had, and then calling the team to see if anyone was willing to help out while he and Gemma were gone. He closed up the shop for the day and made sure everything was secure by the time she was ready to go.

Gemma, however, had a different plan. Once she'd jammed all of her essentials into a bag, she opened the window in the living room and climbed out onto the fire escape. She couldn't risk leaving through the shop and possibly having Steve try to talk her out of leaving. She had to leave, it was the safest option. She made her way down the fire escape as quickly as she could, and jumped the last few feet down to the ground.

Steve waited for a minute, and then he frowned. It was too quite upstairs; he'd been able to hear her rummaging around. Then he heard the thump outside, and he sighed. Time to go. He locked up the shop and headed around the side to follow Gemma.

Gemma headed off down the alley, heading for the edge of the city. She needed to get out of the crowded areas before something bad happened.

Steve followed behind her, keeping a little distance back. He would catch up with her outside of the city. He could be patient.

Gemma made it out of the city proper before she finally slowed down. She was still glancing around warily as she went, but she wasn't moving quite as frantically anymore.

When she slowed down, it didn't take Steve long to catch up to her.

"So, where are we headed?" he asked, walking next to her nonchalantly.

Gemma jumped, and the top of a nearby trash can blew into the air.

"What are you doing?" she asked, shaking a bit. "You shouldn't be following me. It's not safe."

"Dunno if you've noticed, but I have a habit of doing things most people don't consider safe," he said, shooting her a little grin. "Besides, I'll be fine. Even if you hurt me, which I doubt, I heal quickly."

"Steve, please," Gemma said, wrapping her arms around herself. "I don't want to hurt you. I'd never forgive myself if I hurt you."

"Gemma." Steve stepped in front of her, looking at her. "I am not going to let you go on your own. You will not hurt me. We'll figure this out, and you'll be fine, and you won't hurt me. Okay?"

"You don't know that," Gemma protested. "Hell, I don't even know it. I don't have enough control, Steve, and I can't risk it. Not with you."

"You're not risking it, I am," Steve said. "You can't talk me out of this, Gemma. I'm seriously. You're not going alone."

"But why?" Gemma asked, looking at him. "Why would you risk it?"

"Because I care about you. I don't want you to go through this alone." Steve looked at her.

Gemma bit her lip, blinking rapidly to keep from tearing up. It didn't work, and a few tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I can't stay in the city," she said. "I can't be around people until I have this under control."

"Okay. I know a few places out in the country where we can stay for a while." Steve reached over to wipe the tears away. "It won't be so bad."

Gemma couldn't help tilting her head a bit into his hand when he touched her face.

"I'm scared, Steve," she said. "I don't know what I'm doing anymore."