The radio cut to static as the plane made impact. Steve almost flew through the windshield, but was barely stopped by the seatbelt. He glanced around dazed, but still conscious. The nose of the aircraft was buried in the ice, and the cracks were spreading. For a moment, he thought he might be able to get out before it went under completely. He frantically tried the escape hatch door, but the impact had jammed the lock and bent it. Maybe if the radio still worked, he might be able to call for help. He pressed all the buttons he could think of, but was met with the bleak sound of more static.
"Please God...not this...I didn't want to go down like this..."
The frame of the jet shuddered at it sank a little lower. Water seeped through the cracks. Steve's eyes widened in horror when he realized what was happening. He picked shield and began beating at the hatch, losing his calm, and going at it like a madman. The water was up to his ankles now, seeping through the leather boots, sending shivers up his spine.
"Don't give up...Don't give up...Don't...give...up..." he told himself, but before long, even his superhuman strength gave out. "Please...please, pleas, not like this...Why God? Why? What did I do to deserve this?"
No answer.
"It's because of Bucky, isn't it? I couldn't save him and now you won't save me? If you're so mighty, why couldn't you? Save him, at least...Save me..." He sobbed brokenly. "I can't give up..." He glanced around, the room going blurry for a moment. The water was up to his knees now, and the cold was starting to get to him. To buy himself some time, he pulled himself up onto one of the equipment shelves in the back, dropping the spare chutes into the water, watching them sink, trying not to think about how in less than an hour, he would be no better.
Finally, the water was just inches beneath where he sat. No one was coming for him. The realization hit him like a round fired from a Nazi tank. This was it, wasn't it? The end of the line...
Laying down and giving up felt counter-intuitive, but there was nothing else to be done.
"I'm not giving up." he said, glancing at the picture of Peggy once more before lying down. "Just giving in..." He closed his eyes, letting the water take him.
So cold and so sweet...