Chapter IV

A few weeks later…

Grace arrived home from the enlistment office late. The apartment was dark.

"Steve?" she turned to flick on the lamp by the door, but two strong arms encircled her waist. She screamed as the lights suddenly turned on. She was set back on her feet, and she spun around to find her assailant. A pair of gray eyes laughed down at her.

"Miss me, Babydoll?" There stood Bucky in his dress uniform, smirking at his success. Steve stood by the light switch, grinning.

"James Buchanan Barnes!" She scolded. "I oughta kick your tail down all three flights of stairs and out the front door!"

"It's Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes to you, Miss Nightingale," Bucky corrected. "and is that any way to treat a soldier on leave?"

"No, but it's an excellent way to treat you for scaring me!"

"Ouch," Bucky mock-winced. "Steve, you might wanna teach your little sister to pull her punches."

"Now why would I ever do that?" Steve grinned wider. "Hearing you two go at it like an old married couple is quite amusing."

"Punk."

"Jerk."

"Boys…" Grace's voice took on a warning tone.

"Yes, ma'am," the men chorused, each rolling his eyes.

"Now, if dinner is going to be anytime soon, we'd better—"

"Actually, Steve and I decided we'd go out for dinner," Bucky said. "So go change out of all that white, Nurse Rogers." With a roll of her own eyes, she sent him a mock-salute, and went to change out of her uniform. Twenty minutes later, she came out in a navy blue skirt and a pale pink blouse, her hair re-pinned up.

"You look swell in pink, Gracie," Steve smiled.

"Thanks, Stevie," She winked at him, knowing he hated the nickname. "Everyone says I should wear blue."

"However, Steve's right," Bucky said. "As I recall, your gown for the school dance this last spring was light pink, and What's-his-name couldn't keep his eyes off you."

Grace shook her head. "That was the year before, and the staring only lasted until we got to the dance. Katherine McPhee showed up in emerald green."

"Oh?"

"She has green eyes and red hair. Very red hair," Grace explained. "She really did look stunning that night."

"So did you, Grace." Bucky smiled softly.

"Not rea—"

"Excuse me! I drove you, Becca, and your fellas to the dance; I would know." Bucky said. "Now, if you are finished insulting my pal's sister, let's go eat. I'm starving."

At the diner, they found a booth in a quiet corner. Steve and Grace took one side, and Bucky sat across from them. They each ordered a hamburger and fries with a milkshake for afterward. Bucky kept the two Rogers in stitches as he regaled stories from bootcamp.

While they were waiting for their milkshakes, Grace excused herself to the ladies' room. When she came out, three loud, young soldiers were at the counter. One of them spotted her. "You look kinda young to be pinning your hair up, Dollface. Your mama know you took it out of the pig-tails?" he drawled with smirk

"How I do my hair is none of your business…" She glanced at his insignia. "Private. Please, excuse me." He was up in a flash, and took her by the arm.

"We didn't mean to make you snap your cap*, Doll," he cajoled. "Why don't you sit down and have a Coca-Cola on me?"

"Why should I?"

"Well, it's a shame for a pretty little dame like you to sit and eat alone."

"Who said I was alone?" She asked politely, "Now, please let go."

"Aw, come on, Babydoll—"

"Excuse me, did I give you permission to address me like that?" she hissed in annoyance. "It's 'Miss', and I shouldn't have to ask a second time to be let go."

"Wait a minute," one of the other soldiers, a corporal, said. "I know you. You're that little nurse from the enlistment office. At least five fellas there with me said they wouldn't mind taking you in their pocket to the front with them. You're just about small enough to fit." He smirked at her.

"Is there a problem here?" Bucky and Steve suddenly appeared at Grace's side.

"No, there isn't," Grace answered. "You, Corporal, can tell your pals from me that they are barking up the wrong tree. If they want a girl to carry in their pockets, I suggest cutting a picture out of a magazine." She turned her gaze on the one still holding her arm. "Now, Private, let me go."

"Come on, Doll, we were—"

"Let my sister go," Steve ground out.

"Yeah, let the lady go, Private," Bucky said.

"And who are you to tell us what to do?"

"I'm her brother," Steve growled. "So let her go before I punch you."

"No!" Grace sent a murderous glare to all of the men. Bucky could almost swear he saw little blue flames spark in her eyes. "There will be no fighting," she said firmly. "This is what will happen: The private will let go of me, and you three will go back to your meal quietly." She turned to Steve and Bucky. "We will return to our table and enjoy our milkshakes in peace. Am I clear?" She swung her piercing eyes back to the soldier holding her.

"As crystal," he smirked, leaning in closer to Grace. "Geez, fellas, who knew how hotsy-totsy* a mad, bossy, little nurse be?" Grace ripped her arm her arm from his grip and smacked him hard across the cheek.

"Pray that I don't have the pleasure of performing your next check-up, Soldier" she ground out before sweeping back to her table with her head held high. The men stared after her, three in shock, two in admiration.

"Atta girl, Babydoll," Bucky grinned.

"Wait, you're her—"

"Naw," Bucky shook his head. "but knowing her since she was born has privileges."

"Oh? Such as?" the private raised his eyebrow suggestively.

"Nicknames and the best oatmeal raisin cookies in the USA" Bucky answered frankly, guiding Steve back to their table before he could lash out. They sat down to find Grace sucking her milkshake down furiously as she seethed.

"Why wouldn't you let me punch him?" Steve asked in aggitation. "The jerk's got it coming."

"It's simple, Steve," She answered innocently. "You punch him, he flips his wig*, a fight breaks out and I'm too humiliated to show me face in here ever again. Now, I punch him, and all he can do is nurse his face with a cold glass of Coca-Cola. On top of that, he now has the humiliation of having been put down by little dame like me in the middle of a diner, with a sergeant looking on, no less."

Bucky shook head ruefully, admiration showing in his eyes. "You just beat him far worse than the two us ever could." Steve send him a questioning look. "Trust me, his buddies will never let him live this one down," Bucky said.

A small smile broke out on Steve's face as he understood. Putting his arm around her shoulders, he hugged her to his side. "Proud of you, Gracie."

"Thanks, Stevie. It's just common-sense; use his weakness against him," Grace gave a small grin. "He was trying to impress me and his friends, so I just refused to be impressed, making him look bad in front of his pals."

"You ever think of getting into strategy?" Bucky asked. "If the Army puts you in charge, I figure we'll have this war taken care of before summer's over."

"Very funny, Sergeant. You know they would never listen a five-foot-one pipsqueak like me."

"Now, now, there are no pipsqueaks here," Bucky argued. "Steve might be a punk, but no pipsqueak." He pointed to Grace. "You are smart little dame who just so happens to be...travel-sized."

"'Travel-sized'? Seriously, Buck? Is that even a thing?" Steve scoffed.

"Travel-sized, huh?" Grace asked, thoughtfully sipping her strawberry shake. "Wonder if that's why they decided to send me over."

"What?" Bucky and Steve gasped.

"You're being shipped out?" Steve asked.

"Just got the orders today," Grace nodded. "Apparently, I work well in stressful situations. They want me to be a field nurse. We leave for Italy in August." She sent a small smile to her brother. "At least I'll be home for your birthday."

"Grace—"

"We've discussed this, Steve. If they want me to go, I'm going."

Bucky reached across the table and covered her small hands with his own. He felt callouses on them that had not been there when he left. "Babydoll, we're just worried about you."

"I know." Grace murmured. Her heart swelled and her stomach flip-flopped at his touch, and he had no idea what he was doing to her. She lightly squeezed his hand and withdrew hers. "I'll be okay, fellas. Really. They wouldn't be sending us if it was as hopeless as all that."

They quickly finished their milkshakes, and Bucky drove them home. He walked Grace and Steve up their apartment. Steve fished in his pockets for the key, and let them in.

"I'll only stay a minute," Bucky said. He gently tugged on Grace's elbow and pulled her aside. "I just want to say, well, I'm proud of you, Grace."

"What for?" she asked, confused. "The jerk in the diner?"

"I'm talking about shipping out with the field nurses." He looked her in the eye. Grace took a deep breath to keep her heart from beating out of her chest. "I'm worried to death about you being over there, but I'm really proud of you for be willing to go. It won't be easy, especially for a little dame like you."

"I'll be alright, Bucky,"

"I know you will," He hugged her for a moment, then grinned teasingly down at her. "If tonight was any indication, heaven help anything that gets in your way."

"Bucky," she groaned, and lightly smacked his chest.

"Hey, I just call the shots as I see them," he protested. "Good night, Punk." He called over to Steve, who had been extremely interested in a shelf of books for the last minute or so.

"Yeah, yeah, same to you, Jerk."

"Seriously, you two, anybody listening to you would think you're enemies, not best friends." Grace shook her head.

"Good night, Babydoll," Bucky called over his shoulder as he left.

"Good night, Sergeant."

The door closed and Steve grinned at his sister. "Anybody listening to the two of you would think you're going steady, not just friends."


40's slang:

Snap your cap- get mad or angry

Hotsy-totsy- pleasing or attractive

Flip your wig (top)- to lose control of yourself