The past two weeks had gone by at an incredibly fast pace. I spent most of my time studying and trying to wrap my head around the human anatomy but studying had never been so much fun. What I really loved about this week was when I didn't understand something neither Howard nor Dr Erskine ever looked down on me. They took the time to explain everything in detail until I understood.
It wasn't long before I was dressed in a long sleeved white shirt, a knee length white skirt and a pressed white apron. Plus I had one of those little white hats everyone loves. Why did these ever go out of fashion? They are so cute.
"Bonnie do you have any Friday night?" Erskine asked me as I was packing up my note books and satchel for the day.
"No, not really. I was thinking I might just read some more of my book." I replied.
"I vas vondering if you would accompany me to the recruiting centre in New York." He explained. I'm pretty glad this was a work thing and not social.
"Sure. I'd love to. Which recruitment centre were you headed to?" I asked, interest.
"The von near the Stark expo." He responded.
I finished packing my things and slid my bag over my shoulder, carrying one of my books tucked under my arm. "Well I'll be off now if there isn't anything else that you need." I said heading for the door.
"Enjoy your evening." He called as I slipped out of the building.
"Ahh just the gal I was looking for." Howard commented as I stepped into the mess hall for dinner.
"What do you want then?" I asked with a smile.
"Gosh. Rude. I just wanted to know your plans for Friday night. Gees."
"Alright drama king I'm going down to New York to visit the enlisting centre. Near the future expo actually."
"Oh yeah?" He quirked a brow. "Just so happens I'll be in New York around then." He grinned.
"Uh huh." I put my hand on my hip and stared him down.
"So how about we head to dinner before hand. I've got the show, you've got your shift. But that won't stop us doing anything before then."
"Well, I guess I don't have anything else to do before hand. I mean it is my day off. Why not?" I replied after a moment of consideration. "It'll be fun." I smiled and then took my food from the counter, heading to my usual table.
"Ready to go?" Howard asked, coming in and leaning on the doorframe of my room at the base.
"Yeah just give me a second," I replied. I zipped up my backpack where I was storing my neatly folded uniform.
I guessed I looked a little odd dressed in dinners wear while carrying a backpack but I needed to change later and I supposed I could keep it in his car. I also guessed I looked a little weird dressed in dinner wear so early in the day. But that was because of his long it takes to drive to New York.
The car ride was mainly quiet, although it was a peaceful silence that was only broken by the sound of the radio softly playing in the background and the occasional page turning of my book. I'm not sure what songs for the 40s and 30s were playing as Jarvis had tuned them out to instead play me some rap songs I might like based off one of my current playlists. Sometimes I noticed, Howard would glance back at me to check on me and other times he pat me on the knee.
Although it probably comforted him more so than me. I'd heard that Howard was a player much like his son, and was only interested in one thing. But the personal experience I'd had with him was a much sweeter, quieter man.
"So I'm curious." I started.
"Hmmm." He hummed as he waited for me to continue.
"Why is Howard Stark, most eligible bachelor around, could have any women hanging off his arm so infatuated with the base nurse?" I looked at him, no longer politely pushing my food around my plate.
"I'm not exactly sure. There's something about you doll that I can't quite put my finger on. You're different but I can't quite figure out how." He pondered out loud.
"There's always something about me that people can't put their finger on." I sighed, too disappointed to realise I'd just made a double entendre. Howard smirked a bit, noticing it too.
"You're just untouchable." He laughed outright. "Don't fret about it doll, own it."
I couldn't shake it completely but I was able to ignore the fact that everyone I met seemed to be infatuated with me. I wasn't exactly the world's most likeable person but for some reason I was liked without much effort. I sighed and decided to move on. I read somewhere that Cleopatra was so beautiful that people started wars in her honour and supposedly in my time we're supposed to be much more beautiful than we were back then. So maybe that had something to do with it, maybe it was because I was something new and people hadn't seen someone look like this before. I shrugged, it had to be something simple. It had to be.
"So, did ve enjoy our dinner vith Howard?" Dr Erskine asked when I showed up at the recruitment centre, where we had agreed to meet earlier that day. I had gone to the Stark Expo with Howard to duck into his dressing room to change into my uniform. I had to say I rather liked the nurses uniform of the day, I was dressed from head to toe in white cotton instead of brightly coloured scrubs. There was a knee length skirt, white button up shirt with elbow length sleeves and a white apron. I even got one of those little foldy hats. I had to sew some elastic to it to keep it on my head thought.
Jarvis had helped me come up with a way to style my hair over the elastic so no one could see it and I'd used a few hair pins for extra support to keep it in place. I liked that the uniform didn't have little red crosses everywhere like the uniforms you saw in costume shops. I even got this cool cape thing for the colder weather, not that I got cold often. It was a little rainy so I excitedly wore my cape.
"I did. He behaved himself which was unusual." I laughed, as he lead me inside.
"He seems very interested in you." Erskine commented. I glanced at him, so he had noticed too.
"I know, I wish I could give him the chance he deserves." I sighed. I was in too deep with Bucky to even think about another guy. Especially not another one from another time period. It was hard enough back home with all the other guys in my life, and I just had to pick one I knew for sure was going to suffer a tragic and painful death.
"But?" Erskine prodded.
"There's someone else. He's had my heart since I first saw him. Which is why I can't give Howard the chance he deserves even though I want to." I explained. Erskine nodded. He slowed his pace as we walked up the steps to the recruitment center.
"How long have you know him?" He asked, taking off his coat and draping it over his arm. I looked down at my shoes.
"I met him the same day I met you." I answered almost ashamed. "I've known him for almost no time at all but it feels like I've known him all my life. It feels like I was always supposed to meet him and it feels like I've loved him from the minute I met him." I sighed, "At first I thought that things had gone too fast and that something was wrong, like I'd only fallen for him because he'd saved me. But it didn't wear off and I'm so afraid because my heart says trust him and love him and my head is screaming no, don't do it. Because I know it's only a matter of time before it all goes wrong and it will only end in hurt."
He put a warm hand on my shoulder and gave it a bit of a squeeze. I looked up and him and he shot me a soft smile. He reminded me a little of my grandfather. "You shouldn't be afraid to love. If you stopped yourself from loving someone because you might get hurt you'd never love someone at all." Erskine replied simply and then escorted me inside.
After the incredibly boring experience of helping doctors give hundreds of soldiers physical examinations and trying very hard not to gouge out my own eyes every time one of them tried to hit on me Dr. Erskine thought it was about time I took a break. We left that part of the building and were strolling before Erskine noticed two men arguing over something. I recognised the voices immediately and turned my attention to the argument.
"Look, I know you don't think I can do this..." Steve started to explain himself but was cut off by Bucky's impending lecture.
"This isn't a back alley Steve, it's war!" Bucky exclaimed.
"I know it's war, you don't have to tell me." came the blond's reply.
"Why are you so keen to fight? There are so many important jobs." Bucky asked, I knew he was only worried for Steve and I think Steve does too but that wasn't going to stop him for trying to prove himself. I know he has his good intentions but I'm pretty sure part of it has to do with his little guy complex.
"What am I going to do? Collect scrap metal.."
"Yes!"
"..In my little red wagon."
"Why not?" Bucky urged.
"I'm not gonna sit in a factory, Bucky. Bucky, come on! There are men laying down their lives. I got no right to do any less than them. That's what you don't understand. This isn't about me."
"Right. Cause you got nothing to prove. Don't do anything stupid until I get back." Bucky said as he seemed to have finished his rant for the night, chalking it down as hopeless.
"How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you." I could hear the grin in his voice as he talked to Bucky for the last time in a long time.
"You're a punk." He replied, walking backwards towards him and hugging him goodbye.
"Jerk." Steve said in response. "Be careful. Don't win the war till I get there!" He called after him as Bucky exited down the stairs.
"Hey could you excuse me a moment?" I asked, sending a sideways glance towards the doctor. He gave me a confused nod and I ran after Bucky towards the stairs and called his name. "Bucky! Wait up a second."
The brunet in an army uniform turned around on his heel and took a set towards me as I ran down the stairs and flew at him. He caught me in an embrace and game me a peck on the cheek. "Bonnie, what are you doing here?" he asked. "Steve said you were away on business."
"I was. Preparing for the project I'm working on. I came back today and I was hoping I'd run into you." I replied. I swept some stray strands of hair away from my face and tucked them behind my ear.
"I'm glad you did babydoll." He replied leaning down to give me a deeper kiss. "Can I persuade you to come dancing with us? Steve might actually come if you do."
"Sorry Bucky, I really am but I have to work right now." I gave his hands a small squeeze. "We could always do something after my shift if you're up for it. I would like to see you before you go." I added after seeing him look a bit deflated. He perked right up after I did.
"Sure thing cookie." He pressed his lips to my cheek just as some woman behind me started calling out.
"Hey Sarge, are we going dancing?" She called. I had overheard them earlier talking about me but I'd ignored it until now. Before he started kissing me they'd just assumed I was someone related to Steve as we looked similar. But now the brunette was feeling threatened. She should.
Bucky turned around to face them. "Yes we are." He replied with his arms out. "You don't mind do you?" he asked when he turned back to me.
"No? Why would I mind. You'd going dancing not going to bed with them. I don't own you Bucky." I replied honestly, a sneaking satisfaction that, according to Steve's letters, those girls could dance all they liked with him but I was the one Bucky wanted.
"I'll pick you up when your shift finishes," Bucky leaned down to kiss me one last time.
"See you at 10:30." I replied, taking in his form. This would be the last time I saw him in a long time. Well, excluding tonight of course.
I walked back inside the recruitment center and straight past some half naked men in shorts till I found the good doctor. He smiled at me fondly and directed me to a curtained room. "I think I've found the right one. Look at this file."
He handed me a manilla folder opened to the right point. The medical records were, well, this guy shouldn't be allowed out of bed let alone outside of the house and here he was on his fifth try to enlist. The more I read through this file the bigger my sneaking suspicion grew that tonight was the night I was going to run into the future Captain America.
He directed me behind the curtain to start doing my checks and I couldn't stop myself from sighing and rolling my eyes.
"Why am I not surprised?" I asked, drawing Steve's attention to me.
"Bonnie?" He breathed. "What are you doing here?"
I gestured to the uniform and then took out a stethoscope and touched it to his skin. He jerked forward with the cold temperature and shot me a look.
"You have a terrible bedside manner." He commented.
"You are terrible at lying! What the hell are you doing enlisting again when all you've changed on your form is what city you're from?!" I whisper yelled at him. Honestly he'd have been a lot more successful at this if he'd just asked for my help.
"So you're not mad that I'm enlisting again, you're mad I'm not lying enough?"
"I'm mad you didn't ask for my help." I replied, counting and checking the little watch attached to my breast pocket. I was writing down my findings, albet a little sugar coated for Steve's sake on a clipboard when a military doctor came in behind the curtain.
"Nurse, please excuse us for one moment." I eyed him warily, I'd never been asked to do this before. Oh god, was Steve going to get caught out? Was I about to go to jail as an accomplice? I JUST HELPED HIM LIE ON AN ENLISTMENT FORM. "Nurse, could you please step outside?" He asked again, a little more annoyed this time. He held the curtain open for me expectantly and I stalked out of the room. Watching him carefully.
I stood directly outside the curtain listening in on what was happening. Honestly if I was smart I'd start running now. I was pretty fast so it could be a while before they caught me. Especially since there was no real records of my existence yet. Another nurse, with brown hair and cherry red lips, bumped past me and went through to the exam room. She whispered something and I heard moving footsteps.
"Wait here." The military doctor said from behind the curtain. 'Well that can't be good.'
"Is there a problem?" Steve asked. 'Yes Steve, there is a freakin problem. We're going to jail.'
"Just wait here." I heard the examiner say as he came out of the screen. I tried to make it look like I was just standing there nonchalantly but I don't know if it worked or not. He paid me no mind as he walked past me and my heart began to race as a soldier walked behind the curtain. 'Oh shit.'
I visibly relaxed when I saw the good doctor heading towards shot me a fond smiled and walked behind the curtain, dismissing the army dude. THANK GOD. I let out a sigh of relief and poked my head round the side of the curtain. I was met with the sight of Steve still trying to tie his shoelaces in a fluster.
"Yes, you can come back in Bonnie." Erskine laughed when he saw my head poking through the door. I stepped through the curtain once again and stood up straight beside him as if in a soldier's stance myself.
"So, do you vant to go overseas and kill some nazis?" Dr Abraham asked, not looking up from Steve's file.
"Excuse me?" Steve asked at the abrupt question.
"Doctor Abraham Erskine, I represent the Strategic Scientific Reserve."
"Steve rogers."
"Where are you from?" 'Steve rogers ... where are you from?'
"Queens, 73rd Street and Utopia Parkway." He said nonchalantly. "This troubles you?"
Steeve only shook his head in response. I didn't know he was from Queens. That's where I live. Or where I will live in about 50 years. I wonder how close our houses are. I'm pretty sure I know Utopia Parkway. Jarvis chimed in with a helpful GPS Estimate of 15 minutes between the two areas, depending on traffic.
"Where are you from, Mr Rogers?" Erskine asked flicking through pages of his file. "Is it New Haven? Or Paramus? Five exams in five different cities."
"That might not be the right file." Steve replied awkwardly in a half hearted attempt at a lie.
"No it's not the exams I'm interested in; it's the five tries. But you didn't answer my question. Do you vant to kill nazis?" Dr Erskine asked again.
"Is this a test?" Nah Steve just say what you want, it'll be fine. YES OF COURSE IT'S A TEST.
"Yes." The doctor replied in a much more eloquent way than what I was thinking.
"I don't want to kill anyone." Steve answered. "I don't like bullies. I don't care where they're from." So that's why he smiled at me funny the other day when I said I didn't like bullies. He said it too. The doctor smiled, maybe he'd said it once too. Nah.
"Well there are already so many big men fighting this war, maybe what we need is a little guy." Haha he won't be little for long. He's going to become a giant beefcake and leave me behind in the metaphorical midget dust. "I can offer you a chance, only a chance." He said as we followed him out of the room, now Steve had finally tied his shoelaces.
"I'll take it." He replied excitedly.
"Good. So, vhere is the little guy from, actually?" The doctor asked.
"Brooklyn." Right near my apartment.
"Congratulations, soldier." Dr. Erskine stamped the white box with a IF stamp and Steve looked at it with a mixture of joy and relief. I punched him lightly in the arm and gave him a grin, he did it. He finally did it. Erskine pulled me off to the side after that. "Do you know this Steven Rogers?"
"I do, yeah..." I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly.
"I did vonder. Is he the man you were talking about before?" Erskine asked as we walked into the coatroom to gather our things. I slipped on my cape, having left my little backpack with Howard in his car. I had debated leaving my pocket Jarvis behind since I doubted I'd be going far enough away to loose connection but I shook that off right away and slipped the slate into my pocket.
"No, Steve's a good friend of mine but he's not, he's his best friend. Steve's his best friend." I replied, not really knowing how to explain things. Man I can't wait to get back to my time where I didn't have all the self confidence of a rusty door.