A/N - the QAIMNS is Queen Alexandra Imperial Military Nursing Service

QAIMNS rank = Equivalent Army rank (from 1941)

Staff Nurse

Sister =Lieutenant

Senior Sister = Captain

Matron = Major

Principal Matron = Lieutenant-Colonel

Chief Principal Matron = Colonel

Matron-in-Chief = Brigadier

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1943

After the celebration came to an end Steve found himself suddenly face to face with an angry Nurse. Steve gulped, he knew he was in trouble from the look on her face, but he did save the 101st and Bucky.

"Steven Grant Rogers! What were you thinking?" She growled, Steve was aware that the crowd had parted and Bucky was standing closer to his shoulder ready to give back up if needed, Steve relaxed knowing Bucky always has his back. "Brave? Yes. Foolish? Yes. Why on earth would you go into battle with a prop, Steven?!"

"Prop?"Bucky's deep voice interrupted Steve, looking through narrow eyes between the nurse and Steve. "What kind of prop? What does she mean, Steve?" He asked curiously, the slow roll of his accent meaning that he was already working out just what Steve had done and he knew he wasn't going to like it.

"The stage kind" she said sending Steve a disapproving glare while crossing her arms over her chest. It was a stance Steve remembered his mother doing a lot when he came home beaten up.

"A stage prop!? You stupid little punk, did you not think how dangerous that was?" Bucky choked, turning full to his best friend with a angry frown.

So much for back up, Steve though as Bucky turned on him.

Needless to say Steve spent the next ten minutes getting an earful from both his friends about the dangers he put himself him. The pair received a nickname from those who witnessed it, mainly the people that would later become known as the Howling Commanders: mom and dad.

"Now get inside that medical tent young man, so help you if I find one stitch out of place in the costume." The young nurse growled at Captain America, before turning to his dark haired friend and eyed him critically "you to handsome." she jerk her head in a jester for Bucky to follow the blonde, as he stomped into the medical tent like a misbehaved child.

Bucky raised his eyebrows at her. It's been a long time since any one called him that and admittedly he wasn't in the best state right now.

"Sargent James Barnes, but everyone calls me Bucky" he says taking in the woman fully for the first time. She couldn't be much younger then him, she was dressed in a nurses outfit, which was a grey serge colour, with white linen cuffs and a white linen collar, she had a lock of golden copper hair curling around her face as it freed itself from the muslin cap she had on.

"Nice to meet you, Sargent Barnes. I'm Sister Kathryn Layton but everyone calls me Sister Layton." Bucky straighten up and gave her a quick salute. In the months he had been in Europe he had started to get used to how the British way of things.

"Ma'am" he winked and shot between the canvas doorway before she could react. She huffed and marched after him. If there was one thing she was sure of it was that Sargent James Barnes was going to be a handful just like Steve Rogers.