-So…thefuninthedisfuncitonal help me finalize this. This will have major spoilers for Captain America the Winter Soldier, both the movie and the comic called the Winter Soldier. Enjoy.

Chapter 1

The Girl at the Smithsonian

Steve Rogers was exhausted; there was too much going on in his head to stay in his DC apartment. He needed to get away and what better way to escape from the troubles of the past few weeks than to go to the Air and Space Museum, thought Steve sarcastically as he walked inside the museum. Though he admitted to himself that it wouldn't change his mind and it wouldn't take back the events that had occurred. All it would do was remind him of what he had lost, what was now lost in the notes and pages of history. He vowed however that he would not go into his exhibit.

He walked around various sections, looking at the Wright brothers' display, looking at the early planes, the ingenuity of their designs and some of the early artifacts helped him relax. He then headed to the space area. It was amazing to find out that America had landed on the moon. That kind of achievement could not be overlooked. Eventually, however, despite his best efforts to avoid it, the soldier found himself back at his own display, starring at a picture of his best friend, Bucky Barns.

He looked at the blue wall that had his picture and biography on it wondering what his poor friend was doing now. Did he finally remember? Or had he simply found his way back to the people who controlled him. He wished he knew, he missed Bucky and only wanted him back.

He adjusted his cap with a sigh.

A blonde young woman walked into the exhibit wearing a black pencil skirt, a white button down shirt and a badge which indicated that she was a tour guide. Her hair was long and was almost curled, parted on the side. She could have been a bombshell, thought Steve, but the thought was quickly pushed away from his mind.

"And this is the Captain America wing, the fella on the side here is the man himself," she had faint traces of a faded Southern accent. He had not seen her before. "And these are all the things Cappie here accomplished. Oh, sure he thought he was a grand man, but he looks more like a fuddy-duddy." The way she spoke, "And to your right are his Howling Puppies," A few of the kids on the tour laughed, "Back in m….during WWII the Blackhawks was where the real fighting took place."

Blackhawks? What was a Blackhawk, other than a bird? "The Blackhawks were master pilots and they only ever let one gal join their team, a real spitfire that one."

Steve moved closer towards the beautiful blonde woman, "But, Captain America is certainly an attractive fellow, look at that chin, and those eyes, he looks like he'd be sweet as Apple Pie, though he's prolly not a big contender to my Blackhawks."

"Who are these Blackhawks?" asked Steve

"Best bunch of pilots anyone's ever seen."

"The thing is…" said Steve taking off his cap, the kids on the tour gasped, "There weren't any Blackhawks during the war….I've never heard of them."

The woman let out a sigh, folding her arms, "Aren't you a little old to be on a Middle School tour?"

"I happen to like coming here."

"Need an ego boost, darling?"

"Just remembering old friends," supplied the Captain.

"Ah, kids, why don't ya head over and see if you measure up to Captain America's standards," said the woman indicating the display to their left. The kids didn't want to move, Captain America was standing right in front of them, but their teacher had come over and hurried them along.

"Steve Rogers," he introduced himself cordially.

"Zinda Blake," she replied and unfolded her hand to shake his briefly, "But I know who you are sugar, you're famous in this world."

"This world?" asked Steve.

"Uh…all over the world," corrected the woman, but Steve eyed her, "Sorry, I'm still adjusting to being here."

"Here?"

"Just moved to DC from Go…..good ol' Texas, so it's been weird. And you though, buddy, still adjusting to not being an ice pop."

Steve looked at her, the way she talked…no, it couldn't be it was just…no. Clearly, after seeing Bucky he's in shock and not seeing things clearly. There is no way this woman could be from WWII, especially not with the historical inaccuracies in her statements.

"This is my last tour for today, want to go out for a drink or something?" asked the forward woman.

"Uh, sure…mind if I hang around for the rest of the tour?"

Zinda sent him a sly smile, "I think the kids'll enjoy that."

So Steve hung around the rest of the tour, answering the kids' questions, telling them funny stories and charming the pants off the teacher. The kids left an hour later and Steve waited as Zinda went to change. She came out in jeans, a white tank-top and a brown leather jacket draped over her shoulder.

"Now how about that drink?" asked Steve. Zinda Blake grinned. The two walked out of the museum where Captain America's bike was parked a block away.

"Aint that a foxy ride," said Zinda, "You got a helmet for that?"

Steve lowered his head sheepishly, "I'll take that as a no," she laughed. He hoped onto the bike, she put on her jacket and got on behind him, her arms came together around his torso, "I bet you do this to all the ladies, put on that good old boy charm, maybe a line about how it was in your day and get them on this machine."

"Ah, you've discovered my tactics."

"But seriously," said Zinda as he turned the bike on, "Have you been on a date since you've been back from your little nap?"

"Dating really hasn't been a priority," he replied and they sped off towards the bar. It was a little place, a few blocks from his apartment. The owner was a nice older man who had served in Korea.

"Capt'n Rogers," said the old man.

"Ernie," replied Steve, "Can I get a beer for me and…" He turned to his blonde friend.

"I'll have the same," she replied to the bartender. The bartender seemed impressed by her choice and poured the two beers on tap.

The couple sat down at a booth by the window, "So, come here often?" asked Zinda.

"On occasion, the bartender, Ernie is a nice guy, we talk shop sometimes. He served in Korea."

"Korea?" Asked Zinda, "Now there was a hooey! Just bad, bad business, though I hear Vietnam was worse"

"So I've read," said Steve, taking a drink. Zinda followed and together the two drank the whole glass with little to no effect.

"Well, looks like the Captain can hold his liquor,"

"The way you talk," said Steve, "It's almost as if…"

"As if…." Tried Zinda, but Steve shook his head, "As if I were from your era?"

He looked blankly at her, "Yes, I mean your attitude, your vocabulary it just all screams the 1940's."

"You ain't far off," Zinda grinned and called to the man at the bar, "Two more over here." As they got their beers Steve continued to stare at the woman in front of him. She was so raw, so strong, Peggy was strong, but she wasn't raw. This woman looked like she had seen and done so much, a real gun rifling kind of woman.

"Are you serious?"

"About me bein' from the 40's? You darn tooting I am…not," said Zinda, "I'm just a regular girl from Texas who moved to DC two weeks ago, just in time to see them giant carriers plummet right into the water, nearly gave me a heart attack."

"Sorry about that,"

Why did she lie? This was Steve Rogers; the man was in all the papers since she arrived in this strange world. Clearly if anyone was going to understand, it was going to be him. But maybe it just wasn't the right time. Was the right time ever going to come? However she got here, it would have to remain a secret…at least for now.

"What made you want to come to DC?" asked Steve, "I know I needed to get out of New York…and the job at SHIELD."

"It was…a spur of the moment kind of decision," supplied Zinda, "So…have you discovered the fabulous music of this…the present?"

"Sadly, I have," Steve took another drink of his beer, "It's not very good. There are some interesting things, I like Rock n Roll… and Jazz and Blues which granted was around in my time, but this modern stuff and those clubs…they're not really my thing."

"Mine either; I prefer a good old fashioned bar to one of those clubs. Although…my gals and I once dragged another one of us to a male strip joint. Oh, you should-a seen that birdie. Of course, if she were here, she'd have my hide. We all promised her we wouldn't bring it up again, but it was too good."

Steve couldn't believe this woman. After finishing off the beers and carrying on their conversation Zinda abruptly and boldly invited Steve to her apartment. Reluctantly the man out of time agreed. However when they exited the bar, a red headed woman pulled up in a slick black Corvette.

"Can you point me to the American History Museum; I'm picking up a founding father."

"Founding father?" asked Steve, "Really?"

"I've been busy, sue me. Now get in, we got a sighting."

Steve turned Zinda, "I'm sorry, this is work related…rain check?"

"No worries," said Zinda with a salute, "I could use another round and I'll probably catch a ride back."

Steve Rogers smiled at her, "Duty calls," and got into the car. Zinda watched him go, that red head chick was on TV, part of that rag tag team of Avengers. Well, she supposed, they weren't Justice League, but they seemed capable.

"He was seen at the Air and Space today at 1600 hours," said Natasha.

"What?" Cap looked shocked at her, "Are you serious?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I was there just an hour ago." Steve couldn't believe it, him and Bucky could have run into each other.

"The cameras picked him up in the reflection of his own display."

"Did he…" Steve couldn't bring himself to ask that question.

"He didn't hurt anyone," supplied Natasha as they drove off, stopping at a red light, "So…she seemed cute. She got a name?"

"Zinda," said Steve, "She's a tour guide at the Smithsonian."

"At least she's not a fossil," supplied the assassin as the light turned green and they continued to the Air and Space museum.