Chapter 2 [Eastern France—a week later]
The sun had broken through the persistent cloud cover, allowing the allied raiders some pleasant blue skies despite the heat on that day. The grass cushioned the soldiers' boot falls. The wind billowed through the trees' leaves high above.
Steve sat down moodily in front of the small campfire. He'd just returned from a patrol of the surrounding countryside. To his relief and satisfaction, the surrounding villages appeared clean and safe. "Score another one for the good guys."
"You still can pick 'em," Bucky jabbed good naturedly as he sat down on the other side of the fire.
"I never met a fight I didn't like," Steve responded half-seriously. He knew the situation was serious of course. However he and his long time friend still could lighten things a bit.
"You got in enough of them. Seriously, Steve, charging into that hornet's nest in the last village? That was crazy!" Bucky lectured.
"I had my shield," Steve replied not letting the other see his own relief. He stirred a small pot on the fire. "Beans are looking good."
Bucky recognized his friend's deflection. He knew his friend thought first about everyone else. When they were kids, Steve had stood up to bullies at cost and bruises to himself. He had to pull several of them off of the former 98 pound weakling. Now the latter charged through Nazis like a crazed knife through butter. "I'm sure they are. Just don't end up in a box."
"I won't." Steve served out two bowls of the hot dish and handed his friend one. "You got your spoon?"
"Never leave home without it. You know how my Mom was about not eating," Bucky retorted.
"Yeah I do," Steve agreed conceding a little smile. He stirred his own bowl and inhaled deeply of the dish. His mother's spice combos could liven up even the blandest of army rations.
Bucky sampled the beans. As back home, he admired the simplicity wrapped up in the ornateness of the recipe. Maybe none of them were rich in the old neighborhood but they knew how to live. "They should've made you chef instead of PR guy."
"I do whatever it takes. If they want a chef for the mess tent, fine." Steve ate deeply of the beans.
"One of these days, you're going to run into someone you can't handle. Then what? We need you," Bucky pressed.
"That's why I've got all of you," Steve retorted while punctuating the point with a spoonful of beans.
Bucky recognized the frown and knew he wasn't going to win the debate. "And we want you around. I'm sure that agent lady would agree on that."
"Yeah." He drooped his shoulders.
"What the Hell did you do?" Bucky queried.
Steve bristled and stuffed another mouthful of beans into himself. "I didn't do anything. A girl kissed me."
Bucky rolled his eyes. "And it was right in front of that dame, right? Steve, she thinks you two timed her."
"It's not like I started it, Bucky. That private ambushed me," Steve protested. "I told her not to. She did it anyway. I can't hit her."
"But you could've held her back. That's what the agent saw. You still don't get this stuff, do you?" Bucky pointed out. "You really need to talk to her."
"I wrote her a letter. I can't really call Allied Command," Steve countered. "Bucky, you know how it is. I wish I understood."
Bucky chuckled. "If you find out, write it down for the rest of us. You'll be rich." He saw Dum Dum Dugan approaching. "Anything new?"
"Nope." The tall and muscular man tipped his brown bowler hat up and wiped his forehead with his sleeve. "Hope Fritz took the hint."
"We can hope," Steve agreed while pouring out some beans into the spare coffee mug and sticking a spoon in it. "Sorry it isn't a bowl."
Dugan sampled the goods and nodded. "It's great, Rogers. Thanks. Mind?" He motioned toward the ground to the Captain's left.
"Please do," Steve invited.
Dugan sat down gingerly, allowing the stiffness in his legs to ease out. He ate deeply of the beans. Then he complimented, "You really need to let the CO know how you do this."
"Told you so," Bucky reminded his best friend.
"Tell it to Phillips." Steve looked to the east and shook his head. Despite the village next to them being clear, he knew that the Nazis were still out there and licking their wounds. "Schmitt's out there. We have to contend with him."
"That's your deal," Bucky insisted. He still remembered watching the Red Skull ripping off the latex mask and throwing it into the fire.
"He's havin' puppies with the ass kicking we're giving Hydra," Dugan presumed.
"Yeah but don't count him out. The Nazis have more guys than him too," Steve noted. With a shake of his head, he imagined what else was out there. And I'll keep going. I'm sorry, Peggy. I'll make you proud of me. He bit back into his beans and stared into the gloom.
Fate, as it would have it, did have such a new threat arising. And he would meet it head on….
