Chapter VIII

"I'm on my way around the world
When I get back I'll have diamonds and pearls
All by myself, all by myself
I don't need nobody help me, I can do it all by myself"

-"All By Myself", Big Bill Broonzy, 1941


Coordinates UNKNOWN

Northern Italy

November 1943

"Danny, just because Bucky punched that guy didn't mean you also had to." Steve gives her that look she's quickly growing accustomed to. Daniela lets out a huff and flicks her gaze to stupid Bucky and the stupid grin on his stupid American face. Daniela shoves her elbow into Bucky's side and hunches her shoulders, ignoring the scolding voice of Steve in her ear.

Steve Rogers is a bit of a mystery to her. Everything about him is honest and pure, it's become irritating at times. The man is too genuine, Daniela knows the second she's done something to hurt his feelings. It usually goes like this: his puppy-dog eyes widen the slightest, he looks down for a few seconds, peers back up at her like she's kicked him, and waits. She hates when he waits because it makes guilt poke its nasty fingers into her head.

She usually apologizes, begrudgingly, but she still does it.

The only thing worse than hurting the man's feelings is when she says something he disapproves of. God, the look of honor that paints itself all over Steve's face drives agitation up her spine. Usually, Steve looks aside and gives a little sigh and then turns his attention back at her with a, "you know better than to say that", kind of look. if Steve's going to act like a scolding parent, then Daniela will happily act like a stubborn child.

"Danny, are you listening?"

Daniela looks up and Steve raises his brow and purses his lips, she rolls her eyes. She hates that stupid look, she refocuses on the blonde right as he gives the sigh and then that look. "No, I am not listening, Rogers."

"Wrong answer, Princess." Bucky laughs and earns a glare from both Daniela and Steve.

Steve shakes his head, "we are trying to keep peace among the men at least until we get to the base. Bucky didn't have to punch the guy, but you didn't help by punching him again."

"Steve, I believe I have the right to defend my own honor."

Bucky chuckles and Daniela sends him a glare, Bucky just laughs louder, "your honor?"

"Perhaps that is an exaggeration." Daniela burrows her face into the collar of her jacket to hide the warmth in her cheeks, "he should have called out or something! Who goes wandering to a pit latrine without checking for who's out there? Rogers, would you just walk into the woods knowing you might run into Bucky with his pants down squatting over a hole?"

The tips of Steve's ears tinge pink and Bucky throws his head back and howls in laughter. "She is making a valid point, Steve. The man had it comin' if he was too stupid to just make his presence known."

Steve clears his throat, "He apologized. It was an honest accident. You don't accept apologies?"

"Oh, I do. Steve, I was doing him a favor, he had one black eye, I figured he needed a matching pair." Daniela smirks and Bucky starts to laugh again.

Steve groans, "I can't win with you. You're as bad as Bucky sometimes, I swear." Steve raises his hand and the group comes to a halt, he turns and looks at the crowd of men in front of him. "This is where we'll stop for the night. We should be to the base within the next day or so. We've been making good time."

"Based on this mornings lesson," Bucky grabs a shovel, "I'll be digging the latrines from now on. Come on, Princess. Let's go pick your spot and then I'll dig the one for the others."

Steve pinches the bridge of his nose and takes a slow breath, "I'm coming too."

The three of them stalk into the woods and Daniela looks up at a wide tree, "this will do. Thank you, Bucky."

"It's Charming to you when I am performing Princely duties." Bucky grins and pitches the shovel into the barely frosted dirt, "it's going to be snowing soon."

Steve nods and puts his hands in his pockets, "we'll get warm clothes once we make it to the base."

Daniela raises her brows, "anything to fit me?"

"Uh," Steve looks her over and a blush crawls over his cheeks and ears, "Peggy probably will."

The shovel stops mid-air, Bucky looks up, "Peggy? Why haven't I heard of this?"

Daniela shifts her eyes to Steve and fights a smile. While he frustrates her, Steve is equally as entertaining when he's put on the spot. Daniela hasn't really had the opportunity to see if the noble Steve Rogers has his own girl. The idea makes her greedy for information, "yes, Rogers, why have we not heard of this, Peggy?"

Steve turns a brighter shade of pink, "w-well, it hasn't really come up."

"Steve! Tell me all about her, what does she look like? How close are you? When did you meet?" Bucky sets the shovel against the tree and sits on a nearby stump, elbows resting on his knees, chin in his palms. "I want the details, bud."

Steve sits on the ground and leans forward, picking at dead leaves. "We're friends, okay?"

Friends? Daniela chews at the dried skin on her lip, perhaps Peggy is to Steve what she is to Bucky. Her eyes light up at the deep blush blossoming on Steve's neck as he shifts his gaze to the ground. Perhaps Peggy means more to Steve than Daniela thought. "Your face betrays your emotions. I do not believe you are just friends."

Steve looks down and Daniela can tell something she Bucky rolls his eyes, "in Brooklyn we were never been 'just' friends with a woman."

"No, Buck." Steve laugh and looks at Daniela with a smirk, "you were never 'just' friends with a woman. Those girls never looked my way."

"Okay, I'll rephrase it, in this day and age, men and women can't be 'just' friends." Bucky scratches behind his ear and grins at Steve. Daniela shifts her weight and feels some discomfort in her gut, a subtle reminder that there is a reason that they're out in the woods digging a hole.

Daniela kicks Bucky in the leg and he swats her boot away, "I'll finish digging, hold your horses, your highness...So that's it? You're not gonna give me any details."

"You'll meet her, you can judge then." Steve stands and stretches his back with an ugly popping sound. "Let's finish digging these holes and get back to camp. I want to get back to a warm cot and some real food."


Steve has been quiet since the conversation in the woods, his eyes wander and she's caught him sighing to himself and wearing a small, sad smile. Daniela raises her palms to the fire and looks over at Bucky's sleeping form a few paces away. Steve leans back against the bark of a tree and looks up into the starry sky, another sad smile on his face. Maybe she and Bucky should have left Steve and his feeling alone. Guilt pokes its fingers into Daniela's head. The idea of an apology tastes sour to Daniela's tongue, she sits on the other side of the fire and contemplates how to relieve some of the guilt curling into her chest.

Daniela shuffles to the other side of the fire, she looks at Steve while clearing her throat, "I never thanked you."

Steve looks at the sky before turning his gaze to her, "sorry?"

"For helping us escape," Daniela offers a small smile, some guilt dissolves off her chest. "Bucky and I had been discussing our escape for a while, the men were trying to start some type of uprising. It just wasn't coming together, the notes had stopped and it seemed like nothing was going to happen...But then you came and...saved us all."

Steve looks down, "it was the right thing to do."

"Thank you for not leaving me behind." A breeze blows hair into Daniela's face, with an irritated sigh she looks into the fire. "You could have left me."

"That wouldn't be right," Steve gently elbows Daniela's arm, she looks up to see wrinkles by his eyes and a kind smile stretching over his face. "Besides, you're not half bad company."

Guilt dissipates, Daniela laces her fingers together and leans towards the warmth of the fire. "I know I haven't been the kindest of people, but you tend to...unsettle to me. At times, well at times I fear that I am short with you because you frustrate me."

"How so?" Steve's brows press upwards and a small line appears between his eyes.

It reminds Daniela of two caterpillars looking at each other through a window. A little giggle bubbles up at the image and comes to a halt at the bewildering look on Steve's face. Daniela flattens her smile, remembering the topic at hand, "you're...very open. I can read your emotions so easily if I offend you I can tell...I tend to feel bad if I've hurt your feelings."

"That's called guilt."

"I know the word." She shrugs, ''it is not something I am accustomed to feeling so often. Not to mention, you scold me. I believe I am a grown woman, I do not need you to, to ''mother'' me."

"Danny," Steve frowns, "I'm not trying to "mother" you...I've always looked out for my friends, I'm not trying to tell you what to do. Just look out for you."

"You scold all your friends?"

Steve chuckles and shifts his gaze to Bucky's sleeping form, "no. Just the ones who seem to have a knack for getting into trouble."

"I do not." Daniela crosses her arms across her chest and looks at the orange flames licking at her. "It is not my fault if trouble finds me."

Steve laughs, "I see why Bucky likes you."

"What?" Daniela's eyes snap to the sky before turning her attention to the trees and settling her gaze to the fire. Her friendship with Bucky is a touchy subject, she respects the American, he has proven far more loyal than anyone she's ever met. However, she doesn't care to discuss the specifics.

"You're the right amount of trouble to keep him on his toes." Steve beams at her, "you fit in with us."

"Thank you, Rogers." Warmth spreads across her chest, Daniela frowns at the feeling. "I am glad that you feel I fit in."

Steve smiles just a hair wider, "Peggy will like you, too."

"Ah, yes, Peggy. Your 'friend'." Daniela wiggles her brows suggestively.

Steve throws his arm over her shoulder and ruffles her hair. Daniela huffs and grabs Steve's arm while mumbling curses under her breath. Why do these Americans insist on ruffling her hair and ruining what semblance of personal care she has? Steve finally releases his hold and Daniela glares, "I do not know why it is fate has chosen to place me with two of the most annoying men in the world."

Steve clutches his side and pouts, "oh, that cut deep...Get some rest, Danny. We head to base tomorrow, you should have some energy. I don't know what will happen once we get there. I'll take first watch, go to sleep."

Daniela crosses her arms tighter, burrowing into her jacket for warmth, ''see, you're mothering."

"Can't help it, you're just too easy to boss around." Steve just laughs at the pinecone she throws at his head.


The camp they walk up to is bustling with soldiers moving things and smoking when they arrive. Daniela stays between Bucky and Steve, Bucky keeping his eyes on the woman who's wide eyes are drinking in everything she sees. Bucky smirks at the straight face of Colonel Phillips, who approaches with a lifted brow.

Steve stands tall, "I'd like to surrender myself for disciplinary action."

Phillips nods subtly, "that won't be necessary." Phillips turns away, stopping to say something to the redhead woman standing near Steve

The woman with vibrant red hair walks up to Steve and smiles. "You're late."

Steve grins and lifts the broken machine, "couldn't call my ride."

Bucky feels pride surge in his chest, that little scrawny kid from Brooklyn has always been a hero to him. It's just that now, everyone else can see it too. Bucky takes Steve's arm, raising it into the air and yells, "Hey! Let's hear it for Captain America!" The men behind them chant and yell, rushing forward into the camp.

Phillips stands to the side and Bucky grins at the Colonel, hoping he sees the man and hero that is Steve Rogers. Bucky wasn't surprised when Patten let Steve off without any discipline, but when Phillip's eyes fall to the girl standing right by Bucky's side, nerves clump in his gut.

Phillips approaches with a stern frown, "who's she?"

Daniela steps from Bucky, and he barely keeps a smirk off his face as she speaks proudly for herself, "Daniela Katarine Waltz. I am an escaped prisoner, just like these men."

Phillips raises a brow, "you German?"

"And Jewish." Daniela stares up at the Colonel defiantly.

Phillips nods slowly to himself, "I can send you to America or England, someplace where you'll be safe."

"No, I stay here. I'm just as good of a soldier as these men." Daniela looks past Phillips to Carter who stands a distance behind, "give me a gun and let me fight for myself."

Phillips seems to be shocked to say the least, his mouth open before shutting it promptly. "And I'm supposed to take your word for it?"

Bucky clears his throat, "if I may, sir?" Phillips nods and Bucky swallows the nerves in his throat, "Miss Waltz knows how to fight like a soldier because I and Rogers taught her. She's deadly with a gun and her loyalty lies with the allies. She has stood alongside us, plus she's got a deadly right hook. You can ask just about any man here and they will vouch for her."

Phillips nods, "I'm not supposed to be doing any of this, but you kids seem to know that war isn't exactly about following all the rules. We better win this war or my goose is cooked. Well, let's see what you can do, Waltz. Give that woman a gun and throw up a few targets." He seems irritated and frustrated with everyone, but whatever is watching out for them, whether it be fate or destiny, Bucky owes them everything.

Daniela takes the gun handed to her and rests if against her shoulder, she takes a slow breath and Bucky relaxes at the determination burning in her eyes, she breaths in before pulling the trigger. Bucky taught her everything he knew, made her spend hours and days practicing for this kind of thing. To prove herself or to save her life. He looks at the target with a wide smile, she lowers the gun for a split second before raising it again and shooting several more rounds into the target, clustered around the bullseye.

Phillips leans forward and stares at the target, "well that's enough for me. I'll handle the paperwork listing you as a foreign volunteer for the allies. Carter?"

Carter walks to Phillips and eyes the girl standing in front of them, "yes sir?"

"Get her cleaned up and in some suitable clothes."

Bucky exhales, relief flooding him. Daniela looks at him with a bright smile and warmth floods his chest.