Captain America #122 (1970)

Captain America is once more brooding over his lot in life, wondering if he is doomed to live as a symbol of the American dream as Captain America, or if he can find a normal life as Steve Rogers. Looking at the world he lives in today he also wonders how he can live in such a vastly different time as a symbol when most people would protest against the government. That people only find it hip to bring down the establishment instead of supporting it. Captain America cannot bring himself to be like them, he maintains to be part of the establishment, but does not see that the rebel set is wrong. However, despite the strange times he lives in, he is determined to defend the democracy and the flag he represents within the letter of the law as he has since he first became Captain America. Returning to his hotel room he continues to consider that the "establishment" itself was not bad as it brought great people who did great things, like Martin Luther King Jr. and the Kennedy brothers. He comes to the conclusion that above all else, men should learn to love each other. However, thoughts of love gets Steve thinking about Sharon Carter again, and how she cannot settle into a relationship with him while she is in her career as a S.H.I.E.L.D. spy. Like a true man of his era, he does not understand why she will not let him protect her. Going into a fitful sleep, Steve dreams about Sharon being in constant danger and it ends with Sharon being shot by A.I.M. agents, waking him up and shouting her name. This dream would prove to be prophetic as, at that moment, a spy ring is in the middle of yet another operation and their spies have been able to determine that S.H.I.E.L.D. and particularly Agent 13, Sharon Carter, is preparing to deal with their operation. The leader, Specs, knows that in order to handle the situation, their best option is to eliminate Sharon, and he has hired a specialist to do the job for them. Unable to sleep, Captain America decides to go out and get some air and checks out of the hotel. Outside, the Scorpion is out after months of hiding and decides to test out his powers before going on his appointed mission. As fate would have it, he would clash with Steve Rogers. Caught off guard, Steve injures his hand and is felled by the villain. The Scorpion is about to steal his briefcase (unaware that it contains Captain America's shield and costume) when the police begin to arrive, sending him fleeing into the night. Getting back to his feet, Steve decides to tackle the Scorpion as Captain America, rushes back to the hotel, checks back into his old room and changes into his costume. Captain America tracks the Scorpion down to Chinatown and sees him get into a car. Hopping into a cab, Captain America orders the driver to follow after it. Up ahead, the Scorpion uses the vehicle's monitoring devices to track down Sharon Carter and he watches her as she is about to sneak onto a property owned by the spy ring. However, when he goes out to prepare to attack her, he is instead jumped by Captain America. While the Star-Spangled Avenger is busy battling the Scorpion, Sharon sneaks into the compound and is quickly captured by the spy ring. They have her bound hand and foot and gagged and then put her in the cellar while they decide what to do with her. Once he has defeated the Scorpion, Captain America smashes his way in and easily defeats the spy ring, unaware that Sharon is in the building. As S.H.I.E.L.D. agents come to clean the place up, Sharon manages to use the sharp edge of a barrel to cut off the gag around her mouth. She calls out to Captain America to come back, but he has already left. Being driven away from the scene, the cabbie asks: