Chapter 14

Jo walked out of the plane that had landed in the army base outside of London suitcase in hand. Nearly as soon as she was off the plane, she breathed in the scent that was distinctly home. On the bigger plane next to her nurses raced towards it to get soldiers into the hospital as quickly as they could reminding her of what she'd left behind. Partly in a trance she walked out of the base and towards the bus stop. When the bus arrived she quickly climbed aboard staring out the window as the countryside flew by falling yet into another trance. So caught up in being home and in her Mother's memory she nearly missed her stop. Shouting at the driver to stop she ran to the doors almost forgetting her suitcase. She watched the bus disappear around the corner before turning to the street she had doubts that she'd ever see again. With one last leap of courage she walked towards her house. At the back of her mind she started to have doubts that she could face this. It was her Mother's funeral! But it was her Mother's funeral she had to be there after all she was the only living family her Mother had left. Both sets of her Grandparents died before the war, he Father was dead because of the serum and her brother, James, was dead because of Hydra leaving only Jo and she'd left her Mother in her ill state. Would she ever be able to forgive herself? With shaky hands she reached into her coat pocket, pulled out her key and unlocked the door to her house. Without thinking she closed the door behind her before walking up to her Mother's old room. Immediately her hand flew to her mouth before she collapsed onto the floor crying in the doorway of the nearly empty room.

Fifteen minutes later, after she'd cleaned herself up into a nearly acceptable appearance and changed into black, Jo stood outside Annie's door. Sighing she lifted her hand and knocked loudly on the door. Jo twiddled her thumbs waiting, praying for Annie to open the door. Seconds later her prayers were answered by the door flying open. Jo looked up to see her best friend too wearing black and had red eyes. Once her eyes had landed on Jo her face lit up and once again tears welling in her eyes but not out of sadness out of happiness of seeing her best friend alive, well and standing before her. Annie quickly rushed down the few steps to her best friend and throwing her arms around her.

"Oh good god you're home! You're alive and home!" she wept. Annie had feared that Jo had been killed by a bomb or something. If she knew the truth, that Jo was intentionally running into the line of fire, she'd have a heart attack before giving her a good lecture on how war is no place for a woman but she didn't and she never would. Jo wrapped her arms around her before letting a few tears slip from her eyes out of pure happiness.

"Yes I am alive. I'm so happy to see you Annie. I'm sorry, I should have been here, I should have been with Mother. This is my fault, I could have helped her," Jo whispered. Annie, disgusted at her best friend's statement, held her at arm's length furious.

"NO! Don't you dare saw that! You are serving in the war; you are helping the injured which is more than I have been doing. You are helping win the war Josephine it is needed!" Annie glared at her.

"You are serving the war just as much as me Annabelle! Look at your skin it is tinged yellow and because of your work you may never have children! You have given up the hope of children for the war you are giving a greater sacrifice then me!" Jo argued with the hint of a smile. She'd missed their arguments. Annie rolled her eyes at Jo's statement.

"Oh don't lie! You are putting your life in danger to help heal the injured!" Annie countered with a faint hint of a smile as well. Jo sighed. If only that was true… quickly she shook that thought out of her head.

"Let's not argue about this, we're both doing our part to serve the war. Deal?"

"Deal," Annie smirked. Jo laughed softly before Annie turned to her telling her they needed to finalise the funeral plans. Jo's happy mood quickly disappeared before nodding and allowing Annie to take her arm and lead her to where her Mother was being kept.

That night Jo lay awake in her bed unable to sleep. Tossing and turned she let out a sigh finally accepting she would never get to sleep. Growling she pinched her forehead. With the blackout still in force she could hardly do a god dam thing! She didn't have to worry for long though. She'd only just sat up in bed when the dreaded sound of sirens shook all of London. Her eyes shot open before she quickly turned to her bedside table and grabbed the torch she always kept there for this kind of situation. Jo jumped up and ran towards the door grabbing her dressing gown and gas mask on the way past. Whilst she ran down the stairs she did her best to pull it on. Once she'd reached the backdoor she fumbled with the key desperately trying to unlock the door. Eventually it unlocked and she nearly fell into the back garden. She was half way to the Anderson Shelter when she risked a glance up to the sky. Her mouth fell open at what she saw; a plane was dropping a bomb on a street not too far away and getting closer fairly quickly. They'd be above her soon. Forcing her feet to move she bolted to the Anderson Shelter and ducked inside closing the door behind her. Quickly she grabbed the covers off of the other three beds and wrapped them around her. This was her first air raid by herself and it was terrifying her. She'd forgotten just how terrifying the experience really was. Jo spent what felt like hours listening to the bombs dropping, praying that it wouldn't hit her street, praying the boys would drive the Nazi's out of the London skies.

The next morning, the morning of the funeral, Jo left the Anderson Shelter praying that her house (and the other surrounding ones) was still there. Jo sighed in relief seeing it was still there and Annie's too as she remerged from the Anderson Shelter. Quickly she made her way to the house to shower and change into her best, black, clothes. Slowly she pinned her hair up into its usual Victory Roll. Looking herself over one last time she walked out the house to where Annie was standing with a couple of other neighbours who were attending the funeral. They all gave her pitiful looks and their condolences. Jo nodded and thanked them for coming before they made their way to the church. Funerals, as you would suspect, were plentiful at the time so no one gave the group a second glance the whole of the country had gotten used to people dressed in black.

The funeral was relatively short as the priest had others to do. Despite this the whole way through Jo spent her time whishing Steve was here to support her, sure she had Annie but it wasn't the same. She desperately wanted Steve to be here but he couldn't. At the moment he should be taking down on of the remaining Hydra bases or recovering from taking it down as he'd been forced to stay with the team. Tears streamed down Jo's face as she watched the coffin be lowered into the grave by the few remaining neighbourhood men. Annie seeing his put her arm around Jo's shoulders and they cried together watching the grave be covered over and gravestone placed. After the grave was covered the priest said a few more words before leaving to conduct another funeral. Annie tapped Jo on the shoulder saying she'd see her back at the street telling she just wanted to be alone. Jo nodded unable to speak before looking down at the gravestone through blurry eyes. Still crying Jo took the flowers she'd forgot she was holding and placed them on the newly laid grave.

"I'm sorry Mother…" she whispered as if she could hear her. Trying desperately to control her breathing she stood up before wrapping her arms around herself. She was just about to leave when she heard someone approach her from behind. With clenched fists she span round ready to face whoever was trying to sneak up behind her only to see…

"Steve…" she whispered. Steve smiled solely at her before walking over to her. When he reached her she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately the tears still falling. When they pulled away Steve lifted up his hand and wiped away the tears before cupping her cheeks.

"I thought you would still be taking down the Hydra base," Jo whispered.

"The men made a pact to get it done quickly so I could come support you," Steve explained. Jo smiled weakly.

"That was very sweet of them," she smiled, "But how did you get back? I know for a fact that Colonel Phillips won't have let you go."

"Howard may have "kidnapped" me oh and Howard may or may not be waiting outside your house," Steve grimaced. Jo froze before her eyes widened.

"We better go," she spoke taking his hand. Steve looked at her confused. What was so bad about Howard waiting outside her house? As almost as if Jo sensed his confusion Jo quickly explained.

"If Annie sees a stranger outside my house she'll go all rage Annie on him," Jo shouted over her shoulder as she started to run.

"Rage Annie?"

"Don't get in the way of an angry Annie!" Jo let go off his hand so she could run properly. After a couple of seconds she looked over her shoulder to see Steve hardly running a while behind her. Checking to see the street was empty she shouted over to him.

"What's the matter supper soldier?! Afraid of a little running?!" she teased. Steve growled before running after Jo who was already sprinting off towards her house laughing happily. Steve smiled to himself. She was laughing again and to him that was the best sound in the world. He didn't care who cheesy that sounds but it's true. After everything Steve was just happy her mind wasn't on her Mother and that she was smiling again. To him her smile is the best sight in the world and he hated seeing it gone and was thrilled to see it back even if it would only be for a while.