Hello everyone! Here's chapter 2 of this story. Special thanks to WaterGirl15 for helping me cowrite this story. Check out her stories.
Disclaimer: I don't own any Marvel character
Warnings: Language and sexual
The streets of 1940's New York City aren't that different besides the fact that there are almost no people or cars. The people I do see all seem to be heading to the same place. So I make the decision to follow them. The Future Fair seems like it'll be interesting. If I don't stay long, Gabi and the others will never know I was there, right?
It isn't that far from the apartment, although walking with crutches isn't exactly the easiest thing, especially with a broken foot. By the time I got there, I realized that maybe leaving the apartment was a mistake after all. I was already tired.
When I got inside, I found an area where I could sit down and there was a band. I order some onion rings and a soda and watch the bad play. They are really good.
"Jessica? What are you doing here?" I hear Steve ask.
"Who? I think you're mistaking me for someone else," I tell him my best English accent, "I'm Charlotte. My family sent me here from England after the war started. You Americans sure have some big parties."
"Nice try Jessica, but Gabrielle warned me that you do that to stay out of trouble."
"I don't know what you're talking about," I continue the accent, "Now run along and let me listen to this nice music."
"Alright 'Charlotte' I will make sure Gabrielle doesn't come this way," Steve smiles before leaving.
I exhale, but I'm not completely sure he won't tell Gabi he saw me here. Then I'd be in deep trouble. I keep a guard, looking around between the exits rather than paying attention to the band. A guy bumps into my table.
"Sorry," he smiles and then keeps walking.
He was clearly drunk. I hated alcohol. It was the stupidest thing. People make bad choices on it and too many people use it too much as a crutch to get through their lives. My step dad always jokes about how once I'm an adult with kids and a job I'll need it to take the edge off at the end of the day. I doubt it. I don't plan on working in a job that I hate that much. Of course, that's only true if I get back home. If not - I don't want to consider the alternative.
I take a sip of my soda and turn my attention back to the band. Slowly they start to sound better. But I don't want to just sit around anymore. I finish my soda and my snack and get up and start wandering around. The exhibits are really cool. There is a car that flies - well, sort of. It flew for a few seconds. I wonder why no one tried to perfect the design. We certainly don't have flying cars in the future.
After exploring the exhibits, I find a dance floor. I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn around to see the guy that had bumped into my table.
"Hi," I smile at him. I study him. He sort of looks like Steve, but he's tall and muscular. His hair is blond and his are blue like the sky or the ocean or something really blue.
"Would you like to dance?" he asks.
"I'd love to!" I smile and let him lead me to the dance floor. There are so many people. I've never liked big crowds, but I'm having so much fun.
"What's your name?" I ask him.
"Alex."
"That's a nice name. Are you in the war?" I ask him as we dance around to a fast song. I try to do what everyone else is doing, but I'm not a good dancer to start with and I don't know a lot of dances from the 40's.
"I am," he tells me, "I'm in the navy." His hands are all over me, but for some reason I really don't care. I'm having too much fun.
"The navy? That sounds like fun," I smile, "I've always loved the ocean. It's so blue and big."
I giggle as the song changed to a slow one and he pulls me tight. I put my head on his shoulder and we sway back and forth to the music like many other couples. His hands start to wander my body a little, but I don't mind. He seems really nice. I look down and remember my foot is broken, but I don't feel any pain in it. I feel like I'm floating on a giant fluffy cloud. I wonder for a moment if clouds taste like marshmallows. I bet they would be a comfy place to nap on.
Suddenly Alex is pulled away from me violently by a guy in tan, who grabs Alex by the collar of his shirt.
"What did you do to her?" the voice demands from Alex.
"What are talking about?" Alex asks as if he has no idea what the man is talking about, "I am just dancing with this lovely gal."
"You drugged her, didn't you?" he growls at Alex.
"So?"
The guy in tan punched Alex and sent him falling to the ground, seeing as Alex had already been a little unsteady on his feet.
"Hey!" I exclaim, "What the hell? We were just dancing. Mind your own business!"
"How can you dance with a broken foot?" he demands, "Do you have any idea how upset Gabrielle will be!?"
"You can't tell me what to do with my life! I don't know you! And Gabi can't tell me what to do either! I was having fun! So go away. I can handle myself. I don't need a stranger to act like my dad. My dad was a pretty crappy dad to start with!"
"Jessica, he drugged you and you were letting him touch you inappropriately, maybe I cannot tell you what to do or Gabi. But Gabi is the only person you have right now and you will make her worry beyond belief."
"I don't care! And maybe I like him! Did you ever think of that? And how do you even know my name? Why should you care what I do with my life which already sucked before I ended up in this awful city! No guy has ever paid attention to me and you just punched my best chance of being happy!"
"I have help you! See you don't even recognize me! It's me Bucky! This man is drunk and will do anything to get a girl, I am trying to help and protect you. But obviously you do not want someone to look out for you to make sure you are safe, I tried being a friend to you and I cannot do that if you do not see yourself making a huge mistake."
"A friend? You haven't done anything to help me! You're just some creepy guy that won't leave me alone and thinks because you are in a uniform you have to protect everyone! Well, you do a terrible job at it. Plus, you have no idea what I'm going through! You probably have girls throwing themselves at you, Mr. Tall-Dark Hair-Pretty eyes! So why don't you leave me alone?"
"Fine, I will leave. I will tell Gabrielle not to worry since her so-called-friend doesn't care that her only friend will be worried sick," Bucky says walking away.
I push my way through the crowd that had formed around us, going in the opposite direction, no longer caring about the guy I had been dancing with. I can't even think of his name now. I find myself an empty corner and sit down and wrap my arms around myself. I can feel myself shaking. I just want to go home. I hate it here.
I have no idea how long I sat there. The room starts to slowly empty as people head home. There are still plenty of people around. I can hear all the noise. I hope this whole thing is some sort of dream. I mean, I can't really be in 1943, can I? I feel someone sit down next to me. I lift my head slightly.
"Come to yell at me?" I mutter, "maybe you should have told her where I was."
"No, I am not going to yell," Bucky sighs, "I did tell her and she sent me to find you. She said I handled you poorly and she wanted me to make it up to you."
"It's not your fault. It's mine. I just hate it here. I want to go home, but I probably will never see my family again," I tell him, "I was mean to you and I'm sorry."
"I shouldn't have yelled though, I understand you are upset with being stuck here. I am the one who is sorry."
"You were just trying to look after me. If you hadn't found me, I'd probably be in a ditch or something right now and I don't have to be very imaginative to figure out what he would have done."
"That's why when I saw you I had to come and get you, I had no idea that he had drugged you until I got close."
"Did Steve tell you I was here?" I ask him, "I saw him earlier. He told me he wouldn't tell anyone, though. He probably should have," I push myself to my feet, "I'm going back to the apartment. Thanks for looking out for me."
"I'm going to walk with you, and no Steve didn't tell us. I was on the dance floor with Gabrielle when I spotted you, I told her to check on the Punk when I went to you."
"You don't have to walk me home. What about Gabi and Steve? Won't they look for you? I don't want them to be more worried."
"I told her to take him back to the apartment, I don't want you to go alone."
"Fine," I say, "Although I might need some help with the walking thing. It was hard enough to get here."
Bucky nods and he helps me get back to the apartment. It was easier with him helping me than it had been getting here. I was practically asleep on my feet so I was leaning heavily against him.
"Promise me something?" I ask him when we get back to the apartment.
"Anything."
"Don't do anything stupid that will get you killed," I say, "And keep in touch if you can. It'll be lonely around here."
"Of course. I wouldn't want you to feel alone."
"Thanks," I smile, "I better get to sleep. It's late."
"Me too, good night Jessica."
"Good night, Bucky," I use his name for the first time. I head into the bedroom and curl up and fall right asleep.
The next morning I went to watch my friends leave. Steve had been accepted into the army the night before and was heading to training camp and Gabi and Bucky were heading overseas. I would be completely alone for who knows how long. I stay until they are all long gone and then I take a cab back to the apartment.
Over the year that follows, I keep in contact with all three. Occasionally a month would pass without a letter, but that rarely happens. I keep a stack of all the letter in the drawer beside my - well, Bucky's - bed. While I am glad to hear from Gabi and Steve, Bucky's letters are always my favorite. He is actually a really sweet guy. I slowly become used to this version of New York City. I actually like that most people are friendly and there isn't a lot of traffic or people. Or course, most of the men are overseas. I get a job at a little bakery down the street after my foot heals.
However, a little after a year after they all left, two official looking letters arrive at my door. I don't even have to open it to know what is inside it. I haven't heard from either in almost 3 months. With shaky hands, I open the first envelope and read the letter.
To Miss Jessica Arnold,
I regret to inform you that Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes from the 107th was captured in a zone around Berlin Germany by the Nazi science division called Hydra. We send our apologies and condolences but we have to list Sergeant Barnes as MIA assumed dead.
Colonel Phillips
I read the letter about 5 times before it really sink in. I start to crying and am shaking.
"You promised. You promised. You promised!" I say over and over, getting louder each time, "YOU PROMISED!" I sit down on the steps with my knees pressed to my chest and sit there, outside the apartment, sobbing. I can't bring myself to open the other envelope. Two of my best friends are dead and the other is now just the government's dancing monkey. I really am alone now. I wonder if Steve knows yet. Who is going to tell him? He is not going to be happy, first his best friend and the girl he likes, considering Gabi told him before they left.
So I do another thing I wasn't supposed to do.
Once I calmed down, I walk right to the nearest recruitment office and sign up to go overseas to be a nurse. There is nothing left here for me, nothing for me to look forward to. The very least I can do is help other people.
I leave a week later. I quit my job at the bakery and talk to the landlord and give him most of my money so that if I do come back, at least I have a place to come back to. Steve too, if the government lets him go after the war. I pack up my stuff that I'm bringing with me and head to the train station.
The base is not what I expect. I arrive with other people and am met by a woman who was clearly not a nurse.
"Hello, I am Peggy Carter," the woman says, "You must be the new nurse."
"Yes," I say, "I'm Jessica Arnold. Nice to meet you. You don't look like a nurse."
"I am not a nurse, but I am in charge of what the nurses do, as you know your job is to help the wounded soldiers. We are no longer sending any nurses out after our last one was captured."
"Gabi," I whisper, "I know. She's why I'm here. Her and my friend Bucky got captured. He was in the 107th."
"I know, Gabrielle and Bucky talked about you before. You were also friends with Captain Rogers."
"I still get letters from Steve occasionally. Do you know where he is?" I ask. She probably can't tell me, but it wouldn't hurt to ask.
"We...we lost him behind enemy lines last night."
"What?" I whisper, "Steve just does shows! How could you send him behind enemy lines? He was supposed to be safe!"
"He went by his own choice."
"So I'm all alone now," I sigh, "Karma must really hate me. So, where do I work?"
"You will be working in your friend's old tent."
Peggy leads me to Gabi's old tent and when I enter the first thing I see is a frame with a picture of the two of us. I smile sadly at it. At least I know she used to be here. I only hope I can be as good a nurse as she was.
For a few days, it was really quiet. The things I got were basic injuries that didn't need much more than a bandage. I get to know Peggy really well. It's nice to have a friend to distract me from everything that was going on in my life. The soldiers are mostly nice to me because I am helping them, but some are bitter about the war and want to go home. I have no home to go to. I have given up hope of going back to 2015.
Suddenly, one afternoon, there is a lot of noise outside my tent. I leave my tent to see a large crowd of soldiers on foot. I wonder briefly what is going on, but I know I probably have a lot of work to do. I see the other nurses standing outside their tents, ready to treat the soldiers.
"Hey! Let's hear it for Captain America!" I freeze. Did someone just say Captain America? Steve was alright? I couldn't believe it.
"Can someone bring me medical supplies?" I hear a female voice ask. I grab my nurse bag.
"I'm coming!" I hurry towards the crowd and the female voice. Once I get through the crowd, I can see who asked and I stop in my tracks.
"Gabi?" I ask, staring at my friend, "But you're dead."
"Huh?" Gabi turns to face me and her eyes widen, "Jess? What are you doing here!?"
"I'm a nurse. That's pretty obvious. What was I supposed to do after I heard you and -" I cut off, "Died. Then I get here and find out Steve is dead too!"
"We weren't dead, just in captivity," Gabi says taking the bag, "Steve isn't either, he saved all of us."
"Well, you can start sending people towards my tent and the other tents. Is anyone badly hurt?"
"Only a few, as we left we had to fight. I will help, I am not too weak."
"Maybe you should get yourself looked at. You've been through a lot," I tell her.
"She is going to get checked out," Steve says taking Gabi's hand.
"When did that happen?" I ask, looking at their connected hands, "Apparently I missed a lot."
"You wouldn't believe how badly he freaked out when he found us," Bucky says. I turn at the sound of his voice and find him standing beside me. The first thing I do is slap him.
"Jess?" Bucky asks holding his cheek, "What the heck was that for?"
"Do you have any idea what I've been through the past few months? I thought you were dead! I thought all three of you were dead! I had no idea what I was supposed to do!"
"I'm sorry Jessica, Gabi and I were busy and we meant to send you a letter," Bucky says taking my hands, "But then Hydra found us and captured us."
The next thing I do is even more uncharacteristic than the first thing I did. I reach up and kiss him. I didn't know why I was doing it and it was almost like I have no control over what I am doing. I felt Bucky stiffen but then he wraps his arms around my waist.
"Well, it's about time," Gabi says from behind me. I pull away from Bucky and turn to face her.
"Oh shush," I say, "I bet you haven't been with Steve long."
"Well, it took Steve months to admit to me," Gabi says, "I told him when we left. Also it took him until I almost died from experimentation for him to tell me."
"You could have told him how you felt, you know," I say, "And experimentation? What does that mean?"
"Hydra did somethings to me, and I have no idea what."
"Did they experiment with anyone else?" I ask her, "Because you need to get looked at by one of the nurses ASAP. As does anyone else who they experimented on."
"That would only be Bucky and I, the others died," Gabi says as Steve took her to another nurse.
"You, Sargant, are coming to my tent," I told Bucky, "I have to check you over. Make sure you're still human."
"Alright," Bucky smiles, "Lead the way."
I walk back to my tent and open it so he can get in. I'm a little concerned about what Hydra might have done to Bucky and Gabi. Why did they survive when the others all died? What permanent damage would there be? I wouldn't find out the answer for a long, long time.