Author's Note: As this is the 10th chapter I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for checking out my story. I started this fanfic to amuse myself and I never really thought anybody would care enough to check it out. Also, a special shout out goes to everyone who decided to follow/favorite. If you have time, please comment it really makes my day Enjoy!
p.s. if you haven't watched the agent carter vs. agents of shield dubsmash war you're wrong
-permafrost-
The blue color scheme of the infirmary was entirely too calming for Lucy's tastes. The walls were painted a lackluster shade. Not pure like an aquamarine gemstone. Not deep like ocean waters on the verge of dropping off into an unfathomable darkness. Not vibrant like the color of Steve's eyes. Just blue, a generic, overused, understated blue. And instead of calming her down, it served the opposite effect. It made her see red. The startlingly scarlet that spread across Erskine's chest. The sangria shade that the Nazi's splashed on everything they touched. Red, the crimson life source a nurse was currently pulling from Steve's veins.
"Please state your full name." a doctor pulled Lucy out of her reverie.
"Lucille Marie Barnes." Lucy replied absentmindedly, for the hundredth time.
"What is your date of birth?" he continued jotting down notes.
"November 19th, 1920." She drawled and continued to watch Steve's progress.
"Do you remember what happened? Do you know where you are? Do you feel any pain? Dizziness? Nausea..." the same questions over and over every couple hours. Even if they had a good reason to ask her these mundane questions, who did they think she was? A mere child? At least change up the questions.
The physicians were taking strict precautions to make sure Lucy healed as quickly as possible. In the aftermath of the spy disaster, there was not much left to do. Lucy and Steve were left in the medics' care, as the higher ups regrouped to decide the next course of action.
"I'm sure you'll make a complete and speedy recovery Miss Barnes." The doctor's voice broke through her thoughts, "Just, take it easy the next couple of days and get plenty of rest."
"Thank you." She responded. The clinician sent her a robotic smile and left the room.
Steve smiled assuredly from across the room at Lucy. The nurses were currently taking vial after vial of his blood for testing. Peggy had come to visit Lucy and to oversee the blood samples.
"I told you, you didn't have to stay up with me." Lucy chastised him noticing the bruise like circles under his eyes. He had dutifully stayed the entire night with Lucy since returning after his chase.
"I wanted to make sure that fall didn't knock any screws loose." Steve soothed her. "Lord, knows they're loose enough already." He grinned.
Assuming a fake pout Lucy turned her back to him to speak with Peggy. "Are you alright?" she asked her agent friend.
"I should be the one asking you that." Peggy laughed, "But I won't because I know you'll only get mad at me for hovering over you."
"And that's why you're my best friend." Lucy agreed. "You hear that Steve?" She asked over her shoulder, "Real friends are nice to each other."
The only response he gave was a light chuckle. "Think you got enough?" Steve asked when the nurse finally pulled away.
"Any hope of reproducing the program is locked in your genetic code." Peggy explained.
Lucy added, her cheerful mood leaving, "But without Erskine it could take years. The man was paranoid." She expounded, "He coded all of his notes. Even his codes have codes. He wouldn't tell me everything, said it was for my own protection. Now I see why." She sat up and stretched her sore back. "I don't know if they'll even let me work on it because of how long it'll take to develop and test. I'm probably going to be reassigned. We have more pressing matters at hand that I can help with immediately."
"He deserved more than this." Steve referred to the Doctor's undignified death, then to Lucy. "You deserve more than this." He waved toward her injured arm. "Are you sure you want to continue working so closely in the war effort?" he divulged to Lucy worriedly, "I just want to make sure you're safe."
Lucy smiled grimly, "This is war, Steve. I knew what I was getting myself into. I knew I could make some enemies and here's proof that I have. They've made a threat against my life. But that just means I'm doing something right." Lucy finished defiant, "And I won't go down without a fight. Reassigned or not, I'll make sure Doctor Erskine's work won't be for nothing." Then more quietly she told Steve, "I know you know how it feels to want to be useful."
Steve stared at her, proud of her commitment.
"Besides, if it could work only once, he'd be proud it was you." Peggy added. Then to Lucy, "And if anyone was brilliant enough to replicate it, it'd be you Lucy." Peggy gave her a slight hug. "Come on you two, the Colonel has asked us to meet him in the lab. I think they're going to debrief us."
-permafrost-
"Lucy doll!" Came Howard's relieved call from behind the one-man submarine. He wiped his hand on a grease rag, and then flung his arms around her gently minding her sling. "Are you alright?" he questioned checking all her injuries.
Lucy giggled as he poked and prodded her. "Howard. Howard. Howard Stark!" she swatted away his hands, "I'm fine. I'm fine. I just need to rest for a few days and then I can come back to work."
"Well that's a relief." Howard kissed her forehead, wrapping his arm around her and gesturing comically, "I can't have you dying on me. I'd have to find someone else to try new things with wouldn't I?" Howard grasped his heart in mock horror; "Actually," he continued conspiratorially, "I've just had an idea. Let's not come in tomorrow. Let's just take a day. Have you ever tried fondue? There's a fondue joint about two blocks from here…" and their voices faded off as Howard steered Lucy to go examine the foreign sub.
Steve blinked at Lucy and Howard's closeness as they walked away. He knew the two had been coworkers for a long time, friends even, but he had never seen them together. Actually, it almost seemed like they were, together together. Steve looked away his heart growing heavy in his chest.
Just then Peggy rounded the corner. "The Colonel should be here soon." She announced to the room as she organized various papers on her clipboard.
Not long after came the sound of various people entering the lab.
"Colonel Phillips, my committee is demanding answers." Came the indignant voice of senator whats-his-name.
Phillips rebutted sarcastically, "Great, why don't we start with how a German spy got a ride to my secret installation in your car?" receiving no answer he turned to Howard and Lucy, "What have we got here?" he inspected the sub.
"Well, speaking modestly, I'm the best mechanical engineer in this country…" Howard began.
"Psh," Lucy commented, raising her eyebrow, "you are in no way modest."
"As I was saying," Howard continued rolling his eyes, "I don't know what's inside this thing. Or how it works, neither of us do." He motioned to Lucy.
"We're not even close to this technology." Lucy supplied tinkering with a few wires.
"Then who is?" the senator demanded looking back and forth at them for answers.
"Hydra." The Colonel stated dryly. "But I'm sure you've been reading our briefings."
The senator's s lips curled, "I'm on a number of committees," he spat out, "Colonel."
"Hydra is a Nazi deep science division." Peggy informed the senator, "It is led by Johann Schmidt. But he has much bigger ambitions."
Phillips continued, "Hydra is practically a cult. They worship Schmidt, they think he's invincible."
"So what are you going to do about it?" the senator challenged.
"I spoke to the President this morning." Phillips responded, "As of today, the SSR is being retasked."
"Colonel?" came Peggy's response, verbalizing everyone's question.
"We," the chamber tensed as the Colonel clarified, "are taking the fight to Hydra." Looks of surprise spread throughout the room, "Pack your bags Agent Carter. We're flying to London tonight. Stark, Barnes!" he barked, causing the two scientists, engrossed by their shiny new toy, to jump, "You'll be joining us in a week." He added giving Lucy a gentler look. "After you heal up and finish organizing everything here. I'm sure we'll be set up for you two by then."
"Sir!" Steve stopped Colonel Phillips as he was about to leave the lab. "If you're going after Schmidt, I want in."
Phillips shook his head, "You're an experiment, you're going to Alamogordo." The Colonel retorted shortly.
"But, the serum worked." Steve pleaded.
"It did." Lucy spoke from beside the submarine causing the two men to look at her. She was still inspecting the machine in wonder alongside Howard, "I reviewed his test results myself."
"You should be resting Miss Barnes." Phillips admonished her, then to Steve, "I asked for an army, and all I got was you. You. Are not enough." He alleged meaningfully before walking off to prepare his men for departure.
Walking up beside a dejected Steve, Lucy took his hand with her good one. "Don't believe everything the Colonel says." She prompted him soothingly; "He's under a lot of stress right now. I know you'll find something where you'll be a big help to the war, Steve."
"I agree with the lady." A voice floated over to the couple. Dropping their joined hands and spinning around they saw one of the senator's men, "And with all due respect to the Colonel, I think we may be missing the point. I've seen you in action Steve. More importantly, the country has seen it. Paper!" he called to his assistant. "The enlistment lines have been around the block since your picture hit the newsstands. You don't take a soldier, a symbol like that and hide him in a lab. Son," he asked seriously causing Steve to look up at him, "you want to serve your country? On the most important battlefield of the war?"
"Sir." Steve replied earnestly, "That's all I want."
"Then congratulations! You just got promoted!" the man grinned slyly.
"To what?" Lucy questioned suspiciously.
-permafrost-
Side note: Not sure if anyone has noticed, but I stick little references into the story from various movies/TV shows etc. If you spot any, comment! I know you're all very clever ;)