GOODNIGHT SWEETHEART

{Author's Note: I want to say a big thank you to LilyMayRose, CrimsonBlade13 and Banjonora for your kind reviews; they made me feel much better, knowing that you guys still read this :). I promise to keep this story regularly updated, provided I get some reviews, as encouragement helps me :). Thank you so much for reading x}

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the character(s) you don't recognise.

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{STEVE & ROSIE'S APARTMENT| WASHINGTON, D.C.| SOME TIME LATER…}

STEVE'S P.O.V.

I had returned from picking Taffy up at the kennels after a mission, to still find Rosie gone.
All throughout the stressful mission aboard the Lemurian Star I had thought about her and what was going on.
For Rosie to not tell me face-to-face that she was going away, just didn't sit right with me.
Having known her both intimately and platonically for most of my adult life meant that I'd have a good grasp of when she was getting involved in something serious.

Her letter had been brief and lacked the usual etiquette and charm that she writes with.
In other words, it meant that she was rushed.

'Steve,
Don't be worried, I need to go out on an important mission.
Tell Nat that our girl's night out will have to be rescheduled, and look after Taffy for me, sweetheart.
Don't worry.
I love you. Rosie x'

Even though she had repeated 'don't worry', it had done nothing to suppress my fears.
I knew that she was capable of looking out for herself; but this was a different feeling than a regular mission.

Fear had now turned to anger that Fury had put my lover in danger.
Making sure that Taffy had food and water, I stroked behind her ears before grabbing my jacket and hastily making my way towards the Triskelion.

~+~
{THE TRISKELION| WASHINGTON, D.C.| TWENTY MINUTES LATER…}

STEVE'S P.O.V.

So many emotions and worries were spinning around in my head causing me to not properly register when I didn't knock on Director Fury's door before I entered.

"We need to-"

Director Fury sighed loudly as he took a bite out of the sandwich he was holding onto, "Can't this wait, Captain?"

I scoffed in disbelief at him trying to fob me off, "No, it can't!"

"Captain, we have already spoken about what happened with the Lemurian Star. I have nothing else to add. Now, can I finish my lunch in peace or is there something more?"

I exploded in anger, placing my hands down on the desk in front of him as my eyes blazed, "Where is Rosie?!"

Then something happened that had me shocked and nervous.
A confused expression had briefly passed on his otherwise calm face that he just about managed to recover from.
"Agent Barnes? I don't know what you are talking about Captain, but if she is on a mission then I'd recommend for you to trust her skills."

"You don't know…" I furrowed my brow in concern.

Fury sighed again as he placed his sandwich back down on the plate in front of him, "If I did send Agent Barnes on a mission, then that would be because I believed her to be a capable agent and the right person for the job. Now, you know as well as I do that every job is confidential and only the agents sent can know the finer details."

It was typical of him to try and cover up any mistakes he may have made, but I could feel that this wasn't a mistake, nor did it have anything to do with him.
So that left two options: either she has gone away and wanted to keep it a secret from me as I wouldn't agree with her choices.
Or, she has been sent out by someone else to bring her harm.

A tense silence enveloped the room, as I stood up straighter, "You didn't send her out, did you?"
By now my anxiety levels were fast rising and it was taking every bit of my self-control to not get hysterical.

The Director raised an eyebrow at me but had now managed to keep his composure, "That is classified, Captain-"

I shook my head, "Nick-"

"You see this, Captain?" He held up his sandwich to cut me off, "You have managed to disrupt my lunch hour. This used to be a BLT; now it is a catastrophe!"
Pausing to let it sink in, his expression then softened, "Why don't you go back to your apartment and get some rest? I will pass on a message to Agent Barnes that you are thinking of her."

He was trying to cool down the situation, and although he said one thing, his eyes betrayed how he meant another.
I knew that he wanted to get to the bottom of this as much as I did.

~+~
{RETIREMENT FACILITY| MEANWHILE…}

Doctor Klara Weismann navigated her way through the front gardens of the lavish retirement home with confidence.
Her auburn hair was tied up in what would appear to be a careless ponytail, whilst there wasn't a hint of make up on her slim face.
Even her accent would be disguised under a careful English intonation.
Today she was playing a part.

Walking up to the front reception desk with a nervous smile on her face, she blinked innocently before saying, "Hi, my name is Joanna Smith. I'm here to see my Mother, Margaret Carter?"

The elderly receptionist looked up in surprise, "Good afternoon. Carter? Oh! Of course! But, I didn't realise that she had a daughter…"

Klara feigned a mixed look of guilt and shame, "My Mother and I didn't really get along due to a disagreement over my ex-husband. She was right! So now I'm here to make amends before it's too late. I can't lose my Mother without telling her how sorry I am!"
Crocodile tears flowed freely down her cheeks as her chest heaved from the sobs.

"Oh, honey!" The receptionist rushed over to try and console, "I am sorry, this must be such a hard time for you. I really shouldn't be letting anyone in to see her right now, but…"
She trailed off to look around before whispering, "Room three-zero-two. Go down the hall and to your left."

Choking back her sobs, Klara smiled, "Thank you. You are so kind."

The receptionist smiled warmly as she went back to her desk, "Be sure to fluff her pillow for her; make her comfortable."

"Oh…I will…"

~+~
{MEETING WITH EX-KGB SPY| MOSCOW, RUSSIA| MEANWHILE…}

ROSIE'S P.O.V.

I had been in Russia for the past few days but still hadn't managed to find much out.
It was almost as though he were a ghost; someone that shouldn't exist.
After much trailing around different archives and offices in Moscow, I was finally able to get in touch with an ex-KGB operative who agreed to meet with me.

Aleksei Ivanov wasn't a name many people had wanted to speak of.
I was told that he is still wanted by the KGB for his crimes of treason and desertion.
The only way that he agreed to meet with me was if I promised to pass on his details to SHIELD so that he could escape Russia.

"Agent Marilyn Barnes?" A tall, slender man with an impeccable appearance was walking hastily towards me underneath the shadows of the neighbouring buildings.

Nervously, I nodded, "You must be Aleksei-"

"No time for pleasantries, Agent Barnes. We must speak quick and under the guise of darkness. Sounds dramatic, no? These are the times we live in; even sceptics can be haunted."

I froze in place, catching on quick as to what he was saying, "This…ghost, is he in Russia?"

Aleksei nodded once, "I believe so. Of course, to most he doesn't exist. To most he is but an urban legend that was to keep the fear of the soviet union alive."

"I'm not most people."

"Ah, I sense there is something personal involved with this case, no?"

I nodded lightly, "You are correct. Look, I need to find him before it's too late and he is harm-"

A scoff broke my worried rambling, "You are scared for him?! Agent Barnes, this is a man whom never misses his target! I'd be more worried about your life than his."

I stood defiant, "He would never harm me."

Aleksei went silent as he studied me closely before saying, "He would not hesitate to harm women and children if his job required it. You are not in America anymore. Saying that, I also believe you are not being told the whole story."

"Please, tell me."

He sighed but continued quietly, "It was the KGB who nicknamed him The Winter Soldier, before that he was just another nameless tool of the trade. None of my fellow agents believed that he was real; but I saw him! Crouched among the overgrown foliage, waiting for his target to come into range. His target was my friend-a man who wanted to leave. Well, I guess that he did in the end…"

I parted my lips in shock, "He killed him?"

"Of course. Like I told you, Agent Barnes; he always finds his target. The Winter Soldier fast became an important weapon! One that HY-"
Suddenly a shot rang out, sending Aleksei's head back with a sharp snap.

"NO!" I gasped out in horror, rushing forward to try and catch him but already knowing that it's too late to save him.

Whipping my head around, I frantically tried to scan the pitch black surroundings.
If this was The Winter Soldier, then he'd surely listen to my reasoning.
He was still James.

I then froze as I could feel a shift in the air around me.
"You are a long way from home, Agent Barnes…"

~+~
{THE TRISKELION| WASHINGTON, D.C.| MEANWHILE…}

Nick knew that things were starting to not make sense; at least, morally.
He wanted answers.
Wanted to know what actually went down aboard the Lemurian Star, why SHIELD secrets were becoming too classified for even him to know, and most of all, why Agent Barnes was sent out without his prior knowledge or permission.

All those questions could only be answered by one man: Secretary Alexander Pierce.
He was a man whom could be counted upon to be honest and never hold back on what needed to be said or done.
If anyone knew what was going on, it was him.

"I work forty floors away and it takes a hijacking for you to visit?"
His charismatic and teasing tone of voice had alerted Nick to the presence of his friend.

"A nuclear war would do it too…"
They shook hands, "You busy in there?"

"Nothing some earmarks can't fix." Pierce answered in amusement before waiting for his old friend to elaborate on why he was there.

"I was actually going to come here regarding a favour, but now I need to ask for some answers too."

"Favour?" Pierce nodded, "Well, I will help in any way that I can. What is this favour?"

The awkward expression that had taken over Nick's face didn't go amiss, as he said, "I want you to call for a vote. Project Insight needs to be delayed."

Pierce raised an eyebrow in shock, "Nick, that's not a favour, that's a sub-committee hearing. A long one."

He sighed and shook his head slightly, "It could be nothing. It probably is nothing. I just need time to make sure it's nothing."

"But if it's something?"

"Then we'll both be damn glad those helicarriers aren't in the air."

"Fine." Pierce nodded in retaliation, "But you've got to get Iron Man to stop by my niece's birthday party."

Fury nodded, "Thank you, sir."

They both shook hands to cement the deal as Pierce continued, "And not just a flyby; he's got to mingle."
A smile was shared between the two friends before Secretary Pierce cleared his throat to ask, "So, dare I ask what the answers were that you wanted?"

A look of seriousness had now taken over Nick's face, "Agent Barnes it seems was sent out on a job that I didn't give authorisation on. You know anything about this?"

"Agent Barnes? You may have to refresh my memory, Nick…"

"Small, dark hair, has heterochromia. And she's one of my Avengers."

"Of course! Yes, she is unforgettable, isn't she?" Pierce smiled, "I believe I had spoken to her a few days ago. I wanted to meet with the woman who was instrumental in defending New York. But regarding your question? No, I did not send Agent Barnes out. After all Nick, you made it perfectly clear that the Avengers are not under my jurisdiction."

He raised his eyebrow, "And no one else could be responsible?"

Secretary Pierce shook his head, "Not that I can think of. Is everything going alright? I can send word to a few of my contacts to try and find out?"

"No, that won't be necessary. I will deal with it. Thank you for your time."

"My pleasure." He smiled, "Oh, and Nick?"

"Yes?"

"Try not to worry. From my recollection of Agent Barnes, she struck me as a capable woman."

Nick stiffened as the dots were beginning to connect, "I will keep that in mind. Thank you, sir."
With a stony expression, he made his way back towards the exit.

EDIT: I don't know if/what Peggy changed her name to. So, I went with 'Carter'. If anyone knows different, please feel free to tell me :).