Chapter 28 Yesterday's Hero
I don't own Captain America
December 1945
Siberia, Top Secret Soviet Facility
In a Soviet bunker hidden deep under the frozen surface of Siberia, a Soviet Captain walked briskly down the dark halls wearing typical Soviet winter gear and carried a red leather-bound book in hand. The Captain is a pale bald man with a large red scar going across his face from the top of his left eye down to the right side of his lips. The clothing he wore consisted of a brown Telogreika, a cotton wool-padded jacket, and a grey Ushanka fur hat with the ear flaps tied up to the crown of the cap. The book the Captain carried had a black star in the middle with the Hydra red skull symbol subdued in the middle of the star. As the Captain turned the corner in the hall, he headed toward an armored blast door guarded by two soldiers carrying PPSH-41 submachine guns. He silently walked up to the doorway and entered the four-digit password into the keypad to open the blast door. The blast door clanged and creaked as it slowly swung open revealing a large dim circular room.
At the center of the room is an examination table with a man with a silver cybernetic arm strapped down to the table with metal clamps immobilizing his arms and ankles. The man had medium length dark brown hair and wore a dark blue shirt sleeve shirt with the number "000" printed on the chest, and wore matching blue pants. Surrounding the table are a handful of medical personnel, a variety of medical equipment, and a large rectangular machine with a metal Halo shaped ring at the end of a metal arm linked to the device. At the edge of the room is an observation room and more guards standing post at the perimeter of the room.
The Soviet captain approached the table and spoke to the lead Doctor, "Doctor, how is the soldier?"
The doctor put lowered his clipboard, "He's stable now."
"How was the last conditioning session," the Captain said calmly.
The doctor walked over to the man on the table who looked to be unconscious, "His mind is highly sensitive, and did not cope well to the conditioning nor to the commands we implanted. That, and the subject is still recovering from his tremendous fall from Zola's train in the mountains earlier in the year." He looked back up at the Captain, "Zola's experiments and his variation of the Super Soldier Formula kept him alive even with significant brain trauma, severe blood loss from the loss of his arm, and broken bones." The doctor skirted around the table to point out the cybernetic arm on the unconscious man, "If it wasn't for our informants and operatives in the United States, we could not have continued Hydra's work on him." The doctor shook his head, "In terms of the conditioning, Captain, his mind is still conflicting with his old identity of U.S. Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes."
The Captain nodded, "That is to be expected Doctor."
The doctor's assistant spoke up, "He's holding on, sir, but if we go any further it might melt his mind entirely and essentially turn him into a vegetable."
"That is a risk we need to be willing to take. We must continue with the conditioning and indoctrination process. He may be physically superior, but that amounts to nothing if he isn't loyal to us." He looked at the soldier on the table, "Up the voltage, increase the pain, he must not be able to remember who he was before he came here. He shall no longer be Sergeant Barnes…he will be our soldier now." Since Bucky was captured by the Soviets in the early months of 1945 by advancing Soviet forces into Germany, he has gone through lengthy torture, surgical procedures for his highly-advanced prosthetic, and an extensive behavior-modification program to breakdown Bucky's old personality and morality to make him an effective and nearly unstoppable living weapon.
The Doctor shook his head, "even if we increased the pain and if his mind didn't fracture, we still need more time to erase his old identity."
"Time is something we don't have, Doctor. Captain America didn't die on the Valkyrie as we once thought. He was found by Howard Stark… The Captain will be a major threat once he recovers, and when he does, he will continue his crusade once he realizes Hydra reorganized," the Soviet Captain said. He shook his head, "The Party leaders will tip our hand before we're fully ready to make full infiltration incursions into the United States. We need to be ready to counter Captain Rogers… it's only a matter of time."
The Doctor nodded, "Our solider… he's still fighting with his old identity, sir. Conditioning is very slow." He sighed, "It's obvious you want our soldier to be able to defeat Captain Rogers, but I don't think that's possible yet."
"Why not?" the Captain asked sternly.
"The reports of Captain Rogers states he and Sergeant Barnes were best friends throughout their lives. It's clear that Captain Rogers holds a significant place in his memories. So, engaging with the Captain might reawaken memories even under intense programming of his mind." The Doctor walked over to the Soviet Captain, "the human mind is more complicated than just simply switching memories off. If we send Sergeant Barnes before he's ready, his old identity will surface and conflict with his 'programming.'" He shrugged, "He might even freeze or make his mind crack."
The Captain nodded, "This is exactly why I said to increase the pain and the conditioning. Take the risk for the reward, Doctor." He looked at Bucky, "Now, Continue the conditioning."
The Doctor nodded, "Yes, Captain." He then signaled his medical team to get ready as he walked over to the rectangular machine to turn it on. Once the doctor powered the device, he grabbed the ring and extended the arm it's attached to so he could place the ring on Bucky's heads. The Doctor carefully opened the collar and aligned it to Bucky's temple then locked it in place, uncomfortably squeezing his head. He then walked back to the main machine, flipped four switches, and turned many dials and paused at the switch to activate the device.
The Soviet Captain nodded at the doctor, "Proceed, Doctor." The Doctor slowly flipped the switch which instantaneously made the machine zap Bucky with a tremendous amount of pain. The device in question is the Hydra Memory Suppressing Machine. Developed by Hydra and used predominately by both Hydra and the Soviet Union, the machine uses electrical signals sent to the brain to suppresses memories and make the subject's mind more malleable to receive information and to be programmed to respond a certain way. But the electrical output from the machine into the brain causes severe pain to the subject. The main essence of the machine is to suppress memories through pain. Under the conditions of suppressed memory from the device, the human mind retains any information in the "suppressed" state.
Bucky yelled in agony as he was jolted awake by the tremendous pain sent into his brain. "AH!" He screamed in spine tingling suffering. He gritted his teeth through the pain, but the pain was too much to bear. The pain felt unending and made his heart pump at an incredible rate like it was about to burst. Finally, for what seemed like hours, the pain finally stopped. The Doctor powered off the electric current then removed the Halo from his head as Bucky finally was able to catch his breath.
The Doctor looked at Bucky and checked to see if the machine did it's required effect. He stepped closer to the table and looked into Bucky's eyes with a flashlight, and noticed a blank stare with seemingly lifeless eyes but knew the Sergeant was completely conscious and alive. He turned off his small flashlight and looked at the Captain, "Do you have those trigger words, Captain?"
The Captain held up the book, "I do."
The Doctor looked down at Bucky, "The America is ready to comply with any order, but those 'trigger' words said in the specific order I mentioned are meant to prime him to accept any command he's issued without question, hesitation, and without the limits of human factors. Unfortunately, these trigger words and commands are not solidified in his mind yet, but this is why we do the conditioning, Captain, and why we need more time." He nodded at the Captain's red book, "you may proceed."
The Captain opened the red book and slowly started to list off through the trigger words, "longing… rusted… seventeen… daybreak." Bucky twitched and tilted his head as the Soviet Captain read the list of words. "Furnace…nine… benign… homecoming… one…Freight car…." The Captain closed the book and stood over the solider, "do you hear me, soldier?"
Bucky slowly turned his head and looked at the Captain, "Ready to comply…"
The Captain smiled, "Are you willing to give yourself to Hydra?"
There was a long pause before Bucky responded. "Yes," he replied in a deep and dry voice.
The Captain patted Bucky on the shoulder and smiled, "You will be the first of many Winter Soldiers." He looked back up at the doctor, "Again, doctor."
"Sir…" the Doctor protested.
The Soviet Captain nodded again, "Now…again, Doctor." The Doctor nodded as turned back to the memory suppressing machine to reactivate it for a second round of conditioning. The Captain smiled and walked away….
August 1946
New Buckingham Island
At this point, Bucky has been the Winter Soldier for almost a year and has made a name for himself as the Soviet and Hydra's most deadly assassin. Though he is far from the perfect soldier the Soviet Union and Hydra need him to be, he has successfully conducted multiple assassinations, instilled chaos, and executed acts of sabotage in many countries all over the world. One of the major operations he has done thus far was numerous assassinations of Greek Army officers and politicians at the start of the Greek Civil War. These assassinations prompted a far more brutal war that may be prolonged for many years with the hopes of Communist rule over Greece and establish not only Soviet Hegemony but Hydra as well.
But even with major successes in the field, the Winter Soldier has failed to win in an engagement with his American counterpart, Captain America. Earlier in the year, a small American incursion lead by then Agent Carter infiltrated a Soviet facility in Belarus with a team of U.S. Army Commandos and Captain Rogers. Before extracting from the Soviet facility with Doctor Johann Fennhoff (also known as Doctor Viktor Ivchenko), a Soviet/Hydra psychiatrist, the Americans came in contact with the Winter Soldier and Soviet response forces. The fight that ensued was the first-time Captain America, and the Winter Soldier fought each other. Captain Rogers was able to hold off the Winter Soldier which allowed the American Commando team to escape into the forest. Even at a superior tactical advantage, the Winter Soldier failed to exploit success which allowed Captain Rogers to escape. Though the brief fight seemed like a win for the Soviet Winter Soldier, the Hydra and the Soviets considered it a stalemate and a defeat. This failure lead to Bucky requiring more and more painful conditioning sessions with the Memory Suppression Machine. Additionally, at this time, Hydra scientists came to believe that memory suppression wasn't permanent which contributed to the Winter Soldier undergoing regular memory wipes to keep him memory-free and emotionless toward those he killed. But unfortunately for Hydra, there was no machine to suppress fate.
Its late at night and Bucky sat in a dark garage of an auto shop, hiding from the local Police after his fight with Captain America in the streets of the main town. This was his second fight with the Captain with either of them seemingly able to gain the upper hand over the other. Their fight in the street ended abruptly after Agent Margaret Carter Rogers shot him through the shoulder and British Police Officers appeared at the scene. He now sat in silence on a chair with the deceased tenants of the building sealed in body bags on the cold garage floor. He sat in a sense of individual isolation wearing his dark tactical mask and gear under a single light bulb hanging from the ceiling.
The side door of the garage slowly opened and the Soviet Captain and three other men wearing black suits walked entered calmly. All the men looked identical, they were all pale and all wore matching black suits, black ties, and white dress shirts. The Captain stepped into the light behind the Winter Soldier, "You let him get away." Bucky said nothing. The man walked around him and stood in front of him, "You let Captain America get the better of you," he said in a stern and slow tone. Bucky remained silent. The Captain bent down in front of him, "Kill him…or he kills you." He looked coldly at the assassin, "He knows now that you are tracking him. He knows what you can do." He shook his head slowly, "He won't make the same mistake twice." He stood up, "Or you can always go after his wife. Margaret Carter Rogers." He chuckled, "She has become quite the star in the SSR. She has proven to be a headache for the Soviet Union…make the decision, and finish the job." He shook his head, "but this…is the second time you fought the Captain, and again it ended in a stalemate. That will not happen a third time." He sighed, "Now…give me a mission report." Bucky remained silent and emotionless to the Captain's commands. The Captain repeated with a harsher tone, "Mission report now." Bucky remained silent and unresponsive. The Captain stepped forward and slapped him across the face.
After a long tense pause, Bucky responded, "The target…" He remembered Captain Rogers' face from their fight mere moments ago. "Who is he?" Bucky asked quietly.
The Captain responded evenly, "He's the same person you fought against earlier this year on another assignment."
"I knew him…" Bucky responded quietly as his mind slowly started to analyze the face of the man he fought. The face of Captain America was the only thing that stood out in his mind and occupied his every thought. He didn't even recognize Margaret Rogers outside of being a target, but Captain America seemed to be very important in his subconscious which influenced his questions.
The Captain sighed, "You work and what you're doing will change the world forever…and it a positive way. Do you see what you're doing? You're simply shaping tomorrow." He nodded, "Western society after the war is at a tipping point between order and chaos. Hydra with the power of the Soviet Union is the means to peace. If we don't do our part today, humanity might never have a tomorrow."
Bucky responded quietly, "But I knew him…
The Captain sighed again, "Prep him…"
One of the other men in the room spoke up, "Yes, sir," he said as he and another man went to grab Bucky by the arms.
"Get the machine out of the truck, we'll wipe him here," the Captain responded.
Spring 1947
Warehouse District, New York City, New York
Its late in the evening and Bucky sat in a leather chair at the center of a warehouse floor with a doctor in a white lab coat repairing his metal prosthetic that was damaged from the fight with Captain America earlier in the day. Ten pale men in black suits and ties surrounded Bucky in a wide circle in the shadows, keeping a watchful eye over the generally unstable Winter Soldier. Bucky suddenly started to get flashbacks from earlier.
Captain America stood up and looked at him with a confused look, "Bucky?" At that scene, Bucky's mind started to jump from memory to memory. He saw a German with glasses leaning over him on an operating table, "Sergeant Barnes…" the man said quietly. Bucky's mind was regaining fragments of memories but it was all fuzzy and hazy to be clear.
Bucky's mind jumped again to a random high speed German train rocketing down the tracks on the side of a snowy German mountain. He clung desperately to a railing outside of a blown-out section of the train, and saw Captain America frantically trying to reach him, "Bucky!" the American called out to him. But right before he could reach the Captain, the railing snapped and he fell hundreds of feet into the mountain valley. He could hear the American Captain call out, "No!" as he replayed the memory in his mind.
His mind jumped to another memory of him being discovered by Soviet soldiers and being dragged through the snow. He looked down and saw his left arm was missing, leaving behind a dark red trail of blood from his shredded upper arm in the snow. He blinked in his mind and heard the German's voice in the back of his mind again, "The procedure already started…" Bucky opened his eyes and saw doctors operating on him with drills and screws. He blinked again and woke up with an advanced metal prosthetic with five working fingers replacing his lost left arm. In a flash, he strangled the attending doctor coming to check up on him. The German voice returned quietly, "You'll be the new fist of Hydra…" The memory ended with a doctor stabbing him in the chest with a syringe which sparked him to see Captain America and another man who looked less imposing. The other individual wore a messy suit and is vastly shorter and skinnier than the mountainous form of Captain America. The image of the smaller man troubled him. Where does he remember him?
Bucky returned to reality and suddenly elbowed the doctor working on his arm in the ribs with such force; it sent him falling to the ground ten feet away. The ring of shadowy men instantly turned and pointed their side arms at him in a defensive posture. Bucky stared at the floor while he breathed heavily as he returned back to the present. The same Soviet Captain stepped out from the shadows and silently approached Bucky. He spoke softly, "I thought I told you to kill Captain America…" he said angrily because this marked the third time the Winter Soldier failed to deliver Captain Rogers' body. The Captain spoke sternly, "Instead we lost five assets and you let Captain America and Agent Rogers escape." He walked around Bucky slowly while staring at him coldly.
Bucky continued to stare at the floor, "I couldn't…" He looked up, "I knew him…"
"You don't know him!" the Captain expressed in rage. He stopped in front of Bucky, "You. Do not. Know Him," he repeated slowly. "Again, he's the target and the enemy…"
Bucky cringed, "I've met him before." He looked up at his handler, "From the car… I recognize him." He breathed heavily.
The Captain stared angrily, "You have never met him," he said for what to be the millionth time. He saw Bucky hesitate. He leaned down and whispered, "Do you want to go back on the chair?"
Bucky cringed angrily, "No…I don't."
"Do you want to go back into indoctrination?" the Captain pressed even more.
"No…" Bucky said angrily.
"Then finish the job. We have a feeling where he's going to be tomorrow so you'll have another shot… but this is your last chance." The Captain spoke deeply, "Finish the job or else you'll be back into indoctrination." Bucky stared at him with a cold stare. The Soviet Captain spoke coldly, "You are a weapon. Nothing more. Remember that."
Bucky stood up then quickly left without a second glance. A tall blonde female agent walked up to the handler in a black women's business suit and spoke in a perfect American accent, "His memory is coming back to him. I see it in his eyes. He does recognize, Captain Rogers."
The Captain watched Bucky's silhouette disappear in the shadows, "I know. We cannot let his memory surface again. Can't let his past history with Captain Rogers affect his mission." He nodded, "Once he eliminates Captain America, we will put him back in indoctrination and start from scratch. We'll send him back to Siberia." He squinted, "Follow him with snipers. If he doesn't kill Captain America, then the snipers will kill them both."
"What about Peggy?" The woman asked.
"If the snipers have a window…eliminate her." The Captain spoke coldly.
Bucky heard every word. He clenched his fists defensively as he walked away. Bucky started to struggle with his memories and the indoctrination the Soviets put him through. He struggled to remember who he was, but he refused to go back to indoctrination…
The handler turned to the woman, "You will continue to pose as an American citizen until I call for your activation."
The woman nodded, "I can no longer be Dottie. I need new papers…"
"You'll get them," the Captain said. Suddenly he heard the distinct sound of something metal rolling on the warehouse floor. The two paused and turned around and saw a metal circular object roll in between two other agents. The agents looked down with a confused expression. "Grenade!" the Captain yelled. As soon as he yelled, the grenade exploded instantly killing the two agents immediately adjacent to it and sending a wall of molten hot shrapnel in every direction. Shrapnel pierced the Captain in the shoulder and base of the neck and graze "Dottie" in the side of her head sending the two of them to the ground. Blood quickly pooled from the Captain's neck onto the now warm warehouse floor. The grenade managed to wound four other Soviet agents near them, the remaining agent's dove to the ground and protected their face with their hands.
Bucky slowly walked out from the shadows with a pistol in hand. A wounded Soviet agent attempted to sit up, "Traitor…" he said in agony. Bucky immediately shot him in the head with lethal precision. He then quickly turned and shot the remaining agents with deadly accuracy before they could respond. Bucky heard a groan followed by choking of blood at the center of the circle of death he made. He slowly walked over to his former Captain and stared at him silently.
The Captain gurgled as the blood filled his mouth, "Traitor…" He coughed up blood, "Your memory is dangerous… do you really think the Americans will simply take you back… You're a weapon…"
Bucky pointed his pistol at him, "Not anymore," he said as shot him in the head. Bucky lowered his pistol and took a moment to look at the carnage he made. The lifeless bodies of Soviet agents lay on the ground with blood pooling underneath them creating a sea of blood on the warehouse floor. Bucky took a deep breath; he may not remember everything from his personal history let alone who he truly is, but Bucky does know that he can't serve the Soviet Union and Hydra no longer. His memory may be fragmented, but he does have frequent and painful recalls of the atrocities he did for them even after he went through the memory suppressing machine. After everything he has been through in the past two years, with what he can remember, he had enough of the pain and death. He just wanted to disappear. But, before he did, he wanted to know who he is, and the one person who seemed to know him is his adversary, Captain Rogers. Based on his limited memories, the American holds the key to finding out who he is.
Bucky couldn't trust anyone, not even the American government and he's not sure if he can trust Captain Rogers fully. But finding Captain Rogers and confronting him is the best course of action. With his next step planned, Bucky quietly left the carnage in the warehouse to find Captain America.
Once Bucky left the warehouse, Dottie opened her eyes and sat up from the blood pool created by the Soviet Captain next to her. She ran her hand over the side of her head, checking the graze that the shrapnel from the grenade made, and realized she was bleeding severely but not enough to be considered life threatening. She slowly stood up and looked around at the amount of dead left behind by the Winter Soldier with cold emotionless eyes. Her mission just changed…
Two Years Later
April 1949
By April 1949, after many years of misery, through the depression and World War II, postwar prosperity is in widespread. With companies supplying newer models of cars, televisions are becoming more widespread, and other domestic goods in high demand in American consumer society, postwar America looks to be the example of peace and prosperity. The cars got bigger with some 6.2 million new cars sold in the United States alone. Television became more popular with nearly 10 million television sets in American homes with a growing number of TV programs broadcasted across the country. The postwar United States was full of national pride and longing for a new sense of life without war. The American dream in the postwar America became an enduring image of 2.5 kids, pet dog, and a house with a white picket fence. A house in the growing suburbs, good job in the city, and a family to come home to was the picture-perfect vision of peace. Though the country continues to enjoy prosperity, the continued developments in the escalating Cold War overshadowed the optimistic vision of peace.
By April of 1949, the Cold War continued to escalate, the Soviet blockade of Berlin continued with the Berlin Airlift running continuously to help the starving people of Berlin. The Soviet Union continued to close its grip on the Eastern Bloc of several socialist states of Central and Eastern Europe using these smaller countries as a buffer between the West and itself. While the tension between the Soviets and the West increased, the bloody Greek Civil War dragged on for its third year. In the Pacific in September 1948, the Soviet Union declared the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to be the legitimate government of Korea, Kim Il-Sung as Prime Minister. The United States and the West, however, recognize South Korea as the legitimate government. With tensions rising between the West and the East and fear of Communist expansion a very real fear, the United States, Canada, and Western European countries including Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, and United Kingdom formed a unified military alliance to resist Communist expansion. The military alliance established on April 4, 1949, became known as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO, which constitutes a system of collective defense whereby its members agree to mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party, specifically the Soviets. Three of the NATO members, the United States, France, and United Kingdom, are permanent members of the UN Security Council with the power to veto UN proposals. The global events that are occurring are setting the stage for a greater conflict. Peace is quickly hanging by a thread.
With the Cold War escalating and the threat of espionage and subversion from the Soviet Union a genuine fear in the United States, SHIELD continued to conduct a multitude of domestic and overseas operations to protect national security and American allies. The CIA predominately focused on espionage and counter-espionage of the Soviet Union while SHIELD concentrates on protecting the homeland from all possible threats. The most significant threat that SHIELD is focused on is Hydra and the Soviet Leviathan: Deep Science and Espionage Agency which are concurrently one entity. The danger of mass destruction that threatens national security and peace from any outside entity is the primary reason of SHIELD's existence. Hydra and Leviathan together have proved to be capable of mass destruction which SHIELD intends to counter in any capacity both foreign and domestic. But soon, SHIELD will come in contact with a threat that only a handful of SHIELD operatives including Steve and Peggy have ever faced…
Steve & Margaret Rogers Residence, Scarsdale NY
Peggy dressed in her light blue lace dress with a Bardot neck, ¾ sleeve, and swing skirt and heels, leaned over the toilet in the master bathroom and vomited. She gripped her stomach in discomfort and held her hair in place behind her ear with her other hand as she continued to throw up into the toilet. She just finished doing her hair when the wave of sickness washed over her forcing her to vomit into the toilet. She groaned and flushed the toilet then stood up to catch her breath. Peggy sighed as she wiped her lips with the back of her hand, uncomfortable from the horrible feeling and taste that accompanies vomiting. She walked over to the sink and filled a glass of water to rinse out her mouth from the bitter taste. As she rinsed out her mouth for the third or fourth time, she looked up at her reflection in the mirror and recalled the doctor's appointment she had earlier in the week.
Peggy has been feeling frequently nauseous the past month with the need to use the bathroom increasing the last few weeks. These things occurring to her health including missing her period gave her the thought that she might be pregnant again which prompted her to visit her doctor just to make sure. The signs are there, but Peggy needed medical confirmation. She got confirmation soon enough at her doctor's office; she's, in fact, pregnant again just a year after giving birth to Sarah and Michael. Though she had a feeling she was pregnant, the official news caught her by surprise. To be honest, she does want more children with Steve, but she didn't think she would get pregnant this quickly after Sarah and Michael. It didn't bother Peggy at the slightest, it was more surprise than anything else, not to say she isn't happy about having a growing family. She's been pregnant for a little over a month, and since finding out earlier in the week, she hasn't told Steve. Peggy didn't want to tell her husband immediately since she wanted a creative way of giving him the news because last time they were in a high-stress situation when she "told" him. She's definitely happy and looks forward to raising their growing family with Steve. Though Peggy couldn't help but feel concerned about her work at SHIELD since tensions between the West and the East are getting worse with each passing month, and Hydra is still dangerously lurking in the shadows.
Peggy walked out of the bathroom and sat down at her vanity table to fix her red lipstick that was accidentally wiped off from rinsing her mouth. Once she finished up with her lipstick, Peggy looked over her shoulder and checked the time on the clock on her nightstand to make sure she had enough time to fix her make-up and hair before joining her husband downstairs. Satisfied she still had the whole morning, she made her final adjustments to make sure nothing was ruined when she vomited earlier. Peggy couldn't help but smile at her own reflection, not because she's vain but because she knows Steve will be speechless when he sees her. Every time she dresses up for a formal occasion, Steve without fail, becomes speechless as he admires every inch and curve of her. Peggy knew she's a beautiful woman, and has no troubles admitting it or accepting it. But, Steve is the only person in the world she allows to stare and admire her looks and body in a lustful way. She couldn't lie, she always adored and looked forward to those looks on his face. Though making Steve speechless is always good, there's a special occasion she's dressed up today, and that's because she's the maid of honor for Angie and Daniel's wedding. She quickly fixed her makeup so wouldn't be late to her best friend's wedding.
Downstairs in the living room, Steve sat on the couch dressed in a well-pressed black suit and silver tie with Sarah and Michael sitting down on either side of him while he read them a children's book. Sarah wore a light blue toddler dress with a blue bow on the hip while her twin brother, Michael, wore a black suit and clip-on tie. The whole family is dressed nicely, and all are going to Angie's wedding. The twins are a shocking one-year-old, one-year and seven months to be exact. The twins had grown a lot since their first birthday last year, not just in size but in language, and physical development. The twins took their first steps in early December and are excitedly still learning to walk, or toddling to be exact. Though the twins aren't exactly proficient in walking yet, they efficiently use furniture as support as they cruise around the house on their daily adventures. Michael is more of the adventurer than his twin which is cause for Peggy and Steve to keep an eye on him the most when he moves and plays around the house. But both Peggy and Steve encourage their young toddlers to explore and move freely throughout the house and often have to refrain from picking them up and carrying them too often. To facilitate their want to play and walk around, Steve and Peggy made sure they childproofed everything to assure a safe environment for their kids to play.
In addition to walking more, the twins are talking a lot more as well. Though their vocabulary ranges from "mama" and "dada," and mostly consisting of babbling than speaking, the important this is that the twins are merely vocalizing more and more. An essential aspect of both Michael's and Sarah's growth is that they both recognize their mom's and dad's voices as well respond to their names. They also respond to simple directions like "up" and "where's your nose?" Steve and Peggy know that the twins will learn more words by imitating them and merely reading to them. One of Steve's favorite things to do with the kids is read and tell them creative stories. Peggy enjoys telling stories too, but she admits that Steve's creativity is more adorable and enjoyable than hers. Overall, Steve and Peggy work together to develop their children, and their two twins are growing and learning quickly. It won't be long until they speak full sentences and read books by themselves. Time will go by like a flash and before Steve and Peggy know it, Sarah and Michael will be in high school, and to Steve's fear… Sarah dating…
Michael and Sarah were leaning on Steve' side and gripping his leg as he continued reading the book Horton Hatches the Egg, a favorite of Sarah's based on her cheers when he mentions reading it to her. Both the twins are unsurprisingly quiet as they listen with great interest in the story Steve is reading. He couldn't help but smile at his kids as he turned the page of the thin children's book. It's moments like these that he feels blessed and lucky to have such a wonderful family consisting of two beautiful children and a caring, loving, and beautiful wife. He grinned as he read in a goofy voice, "I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful one-hundred percent!" Both Michael and Sarah giggled happily at their dad's goofiness in his words. Steve couldn't help but laugh with them as he continued, "So poor Horton sat there. The whole winter through… and then came the springtime with…" He paused for dramatic effect, "with trouble anew! His friends gathered round and they shouted with glee." He looked down at Sarah and Michael with a smile, "shout with glee," he told them in a cheerful tone. Sarah and Michael yelled happily on command. Steve laughed, "Look! Horton the Elephant is up in a tree!" Sarah and Michael cheered once again in unison earning a proud smile from their dad.
Suddenly Steve heard Peggy's heels click on the hardwood stairs as she walked down the steps. He closed the book and smiled to his kids, "Looks like mommy's done."
Sarah smiled, "Yay!" she cheered happily.
Michael gripped Steve's leg and pushed himself up to stand on the couch cushion, Steve wrapping his arm around his son to balance him in case he fell. "Mama!" Michael cheered happily.
Peggy walked down the steps and smiled at her family, "I can hear you three laughing and yelling from upstairs," she said cheerfully.
Steve twisted on the couch while maintaining positive control on his kids to make sure they don't fall, to look at his wife. Steve was about to speak but lost his words when he saw his wife standing before him in her figuring accentuating dress. With her long brown hair, down in elegant waves framing her gorgeous face and lively dress complimenting her figure, Steve was a loss for words. Speechless. Peggy giggled at Steve's loss for words, an exact reaction she wanted from him. Sarah peered over the couch and called out, "Mama!" she yelled happily dragging Steve back to reality.
Steve chuckled, "Peggy, you look…amazing. Drop dead beautiful," he said as he stood up making sure he kept his hands-on Sarah and Michael to keep them safe on the couch.
Peggy grinned as she walked around the couch, "You don't look so bad yourself, darling." She walked up to her husband and rested her hands on his chest, "You look rather dashing." She leaned forward and kissed his lips briefly. She gripped his collar, "Ready?"
Steve nodded, "Ready as I'm ever going to be." He looked down at the twins, "Sure it's wise to bring Sarah and Michael to Angie's wedding? It's not too late to call Katherine."
Peggy nodded, "It's Saturday and Katherine deserves the day off, plus the weekends are our family days," she said with a tender smile. "And you know how much Sarah and Michael misses us during the days in the week." She chuckled and looked down at the twins who are now playing on the couch, "They go through withdrawal, so it's best that we spend time with our kids on the weekends."
Steve chuckled, "I think I go through withdrawal when I leave for work," he said wrapping an arm around Peggy's waist.
Peggy giggled, "Me too. I miss them madly when I'm at work." She looked up at her husband, "It's a family day."
Steve wrapped her in his arms and pressed her back against his chest. He planted a kiss on her head, "All for family days. Looking forward to bringing our little toddlers to a wedding."
Peggy laughed, "Angie did invite them. You know how much she loves our kids."
"That she does." He looked down at her, "Well, the baby bags are packed with everything from snacks, towels, and diapers."
Peggy turned in his arms and looked up at Steve, "Don't forget the change of clothes."
Steve chuckled, "Already packed." He looked to the door, "Ready to go, Mrs. Rogers? I'll grab Sarah and the bags, you grab Michael?"
Peggy smiled widely, "Sounds like a plan. But let me use the loo really quick and we'll go."
Steve let go of his wife, "Again? You were in the bathroom all morning." He turned and picked up his daughter off the couch and kissed her cheek.
Peggy shrugged, "A lady's got to do what a lady's got to do, darling." she said with a wink before turning and heading to the downstairs bathroom.
Steve chuckled and smiled at Sarah, "Mama has been acting pretty weird the past few weeks." He quickly looked down and checked Michael on the couch to see him entertaining himself with his clip-on tie.
Sarah cocked her head to the side, "Mama?"
Steve laughed, "Mama will always keep Daddy on his toes."
St. Patrick's Old Cathedral
New York City
Angie Martinelli stood at the end of the aisle in a beautiful long floor length white dress with lace short sleeve and V-neck. The dress is appliqué with elegant white designs sewn into the dress. She looked like a goddess dressed in pure white with her single tier veil up no longer obstructing her beautiful face. Opposite of her, holding both of her hands, is her soon to be husband, Daniel Sousa. He stood with a confident smile in a black suit and silver tie and stared lovingly into his soon to be wife's eyes. The church is beautiful with old stone and brick and stained glass that produced a pure angelic ambiance throughout the church. The Victorian architecture of the church wrought with iron grille, arches, spires, bell tower, heavy iron-bound door, and candles gave way to the feeling of old. The spring sun streamed through the stained glass produced a bright and tranquil atmosphere that no one can ignore regardless of belief and creed.
The sizeable crowd in the pews consisting of close friends and family of the bride and groom sat happily in support of the wedding. Angie's family consisting of her grandmother, mother, father, brother, and a handful of her close cousins are all present to watch her get married. She also had all of her closest friends from her old job at the L&L Automat, friends from the theatrical company she currently acts in, and some of her former neighbors from the Griffith Hotel she considered friends. For Daniel, mixed into the crowd are his close family composing of his father, mother, and two sisters. He also has close friends, and colleagues attend his wedding including Jack Thompson, Rick Ramirez, and Mike Li. The crowd wasn't large nor was it small, but it was sizeable enough to fill the front half of the church and intimate enough for the happy couple. Steve, in support of both the bride and groom, sat toward the front of the crowd flanked by his two young toddlers who are surprisingly well behaved for the ceremony. He sat close enough to the alter, and on Angie's side, so Sarah and Michael had a better of view of their mother standing by Angie as her maid of Peggy stood beside Angie with a warm smile on her lips, and next to her stood the flower girl and four bridesmaids consisting of Angie's cousins and friends from the theater wearing dresses of similar light blue to Peggy's. Sousa stood with his best man and groomsmen comprised of his brother and cousins wearing matching suits and ties. Together, Angie and Sousa stood at the alter hand in hand waiting for the rest of their life together.
Though the day is about Angie and Sousa, Steve couldn't help but look at Peggy from his seat. He would argue that she's the most beautiful one in the church, but that's his biased opinion. Of course, Angie looked drop dead gorgeous in her dress but Peggy is his wife so it's right for him to say Peggy is more beautiful. Standing by Angie, Peggy would often share a look with her husband and her kids, always with a consistent, smile of true love and happiness that continues to bloom in the family. The priest at the alter spoke up with a warm smile, "before you say your vows, I ask you to remember that love…which is rooted in faith, trust, and acceptance… will be the foundation of an abiding and deepening relationship." Angie and Sousa smiled happily at each other as the priest continued, "No other ties are more tender, no other vows more sacred than those you now assume. If you are able to keep the vows you take here today, not because of any religious or civic law, but out a desire to love and be loved by another person fully, without limitation…then your life will have joy and the home you establish will be a place in which you both will find the direction of your growth, your freedom, and your responsibility…" Angie couldn't help but beam happily with complete love and joy for Daniel. Sousa, too, has a wide smile but his eyes betrayed the joy that's radiating through his heart. The couple are at that pivotal point where no other feeling can match the one they have now. The Priest smiled at Angie, "you may say your vows."
Angie gripped Sousa's hands and spoke with tears of joy filling her eyes, "Daniel, when I first met you, there was something in you I couldn't quite explain that I loved. After spending my days with you I come to see your unbreakable spirit, unshakable resolve, and the loving and kind attitude you have every day. You make every day an adventure. You bring joy to my life. You taught me to pursue every goal and every dream, and to not accept any limitations." She beamed happily, "I, Angie, take you, Daniel Sousa to be my husband, my constant friend and partner, and my love…" Angie gripped Sousa's hand affectionately, "I will work to create a bond of honesty, respect, and trust; one that withstands the tides of time and change, and grows along with us. I vow to honor and respect you for all that you are and will become, taking pride in who we are, both separately and together. I will join with you in an ongoing struggle to create a world we all want to live in. Our home will be a sanctuary and a respite for us and for those whom we cherish. Above all, I will give you my love freely and unconditionally. I pledge this to you from the bottom of my heart, for all the days of our lives." Peggy smiled happily behind Angie at her two friends. Steve and the rest of the crowd smiled in silence and happiness at the soon to be married couple at the altar.
The priest nodded at Sousa. Daniel smiled and spoke anxiously at first before regaining his calm, "Angela… when I first met you… you were larger than life. Being introduced to you has been by far the best thing that has ever happened to me." He gave a brief smile to Peggy then continued to look back affectionately at his wife-to-be, "You taught me that I'm not less of a man because I have one leg, but instead taught me to be proud of the things I can do that I'm not barred by limitation." He gripped her hands, "I, Daniel, take you, Angela Martinelli to be my wife, my constant friend and partner, and my love. I will work to create a bond of honesty, respect, and trust; one that withstands the tides of time and change, and grows along with us…" He continued to repeat the vows he and Angie made together while everyone watched happily. Peggy couldn't help but grin happily at her two friends while the ceremony continued. She's extremely happy for the two of them. Both Angie and Daniel have struggled in life and deserve the happiness they both vow to share. Though Peggy knows that the road won't always be smooth, frankly it wasn't always smooth sailing with Steve either (they had their fair share of bickers and fights), she knows that the two of them will overcome any challenges in their relationship.
The priest smiled at Angie, "Now, do you Angela Martinelli, take Daniel Sousa to be your husband, to support and respect him in the good times and bad, to nurture him, to love him, and to grow with him throughout the seasons of your life?"
Angie smiled happily, "I do," she said without pause or hesitation.
The priest looked at Sousa, "Do you, Daniel Sousa, take Angela Martinelli to be your wife, to support and respect her in the good times and bad, to nurture her, to love her, and to grow with her throughout the seasons of your life?"
Sousa smiled confidently, "I do," he said like it was always meant for him to say to her.
The priest smiled happily, "by the power invested in me, under God, and the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife." Angie and Daniel shared ecstatic smiles and loving eyes while the crowd all beamed with joy and happiness for the couple. The priest nodded, "You may kiss the bride," he said to Daniel.
Daniel stepped forward and slowly captured Angie's lips in a tender kiss. The moment the couple kissed, the crowd cheered happily with enormous applause and hollers of joy. Steve grinned and did his best to clap his hands, but found it difficult while balancing Sarah on his lap. Peggy clapped happily behind Angie with the rest of the bridesmaids and groomsmen. Angie wrapped her arms around her new husband as Daniel refused to break the kiss like he was afraid he would lose her any second. Angie didn't seem to complain. After a while, the couple split the kiss finally allowing the guests to cheer louder with joy.
Over the mass of applause, the priest smiled, "I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Sousa!" The crowd's loud claps and cheers were the response.
Woolworth Building, 15th Floor
New York City
A lifeless woman slumped against the wall in her office with a broken neck and a fractured skull with severe bruising around the neck and face and blood oozing out of the front of her head. It seemed that someone with unusual strength was the one responsible for this poor woman's demise. A shadowy figure walked over the corpse and opened the window to get a high angle view of the City Hall over three hundred yards away. The figure breathed calmly and brought up a scoped bolt action Soviet M1891 Mosin Sniper rifle and aimed out the window, staying two or three steps away from the window itself to prevent exposing the muzzle and remain concealed. The shadowy figure sighted in through the scope and watched the dozens of innocent people moving in and out of the building. The shooter had a good view of the city hall even above the trees surrounding the building and adjacent park. From the angle in the Woolworth building, the individual could see people crossing the street and stopping by to pick up their daily magazines and newspapers from a newsstand on the sidewalk. Ordinary citizens living their everyday lives without a care of the world had no idea what was about to happen.
The individual breathed steadily and fired a shot at an old man sitting stationary on a bench. The loud thud from the rifle could be heard throughout the building and echoed outside in the sprawling city claiming its victim from over three hundred yards away. The old man slumped forward and fell onto the ground face first. The shooter cycled the bolt and chambered another round from the magazine and sighted in once again with lethal efficiency. The shooter paused for a few long seconds, carefully sighting in onto the next victim. The citizens below barely had time to react to the first shot before the assailant shot another round with another thunderous bang that echoed out through the city block. The shot hit a man on his way into the capital building causing him to fall limp just short of the door. The assailant shot four more times in rapid succession claiming four more with deadly accuracy. Even though the shooter missed once, whoever the shooter is, is exceptionally skilled.
The killer dropped the rifle on the office desk, stepped over the deceased woman, and walked out of the room calmly…
"Uncle Johnny's"
Wedding Reception
After the wedding, all the guests were invited to the wedding reception at a city favorite Italian restaurant called "Uncle Johnny's" that was about a twenty-minute drive from the church. The restaurant is located nearby Central Park but with city traffic, the time to the restaurant from the church was closer to thirty minutes. "Uncle Johnny's" is relatively large for a restaurant in the city with two floors. The restaurant split into two parts divided by stories, the first floor of the restaurant is the regular dining area, and the top level is the spacious dining hall capable of seating all the guests comfortably. On the top floor, the banquet room had large windows on one side to see the busy street below, and the other side of the room is a bar with a wine rack spanning much of the wall. Adjacent to the bar is the second staircase explicitly used for the waiters to bus the food up and down from the kitchen. The circular tables in the banquet hall ordained with a white tablecloth, candles, flower décor, and name placards for the assigned tables of the guests provided a joyful atmosphere. While most of the tables in the hall are large and circular fitting about six-to-eight guests, the smaller table that could only fit two is specifically for the married couple. In a cutaway in the sea of white tablecloth, in the middle of the room, is where small swing band played and a place for the medium-sized dance floor with people dancing happily.
The guests happily conversed amongst themselves, danced, and listened to the lively music from the band as everyone enjoyed the afternoon wedding reception. The reception just started, and everyone is having a good time with the band played an upbeat, energetic tune. The newly married Sousas sat at their table happily cuddling close with each other as they whispered sweet nothings amongst themselves with the look of love, joy, happiness, and anticipation for the future. Its no denying that Angie Martinelli Sousa and Daniel Sousa are perfect for each other just by looking at them interact. Even with all the guests in the reception, the Sousas seemed to exist in their own world. Though they're enjoying the festivities and fun, the newlyweds enjoyed their closeness while still surrounded by their friends and family. They even danced a quite a few times already.
Steve, Peggy, and their two twins toddlers sat together at their table closest to the dance floor and the Sousas table. Both Sarah and Michael sat between their mother and father respectively in booster seats, so the two parents can tend to their needs and not let the twins feel uncomfortable sitting next to a stranger. At the Rogers table also sat Mike Li and Priscilla, his Japanese-American Fiancé, who's quite a joy to be around. Michael screwed his face up at his father like he was struggling to say something, "B-b-b…"
Steve chuckled and smiled at his son, "what is it, kiddo?" he said leaning down to listen. Peggy produced a small smile while cleaning Sarah's cheek after the little girl accidentally dripped milk out of her mouth after drinking from the baby bottle.
Michael smiled, "Bottle?" he asked in a cute tone.
Steve chuckled, "I'll get it, don't worry." He looked up at his wife, "Hey hon, may I have Michael's bottle please?"
Peggy nodded and stopped cleaning Sarah's cheek for a moment to reach below her chair to get Michael's baby bottle out of the baby bag. The Rogers made sure to have two of every essential item for the twins, two bottles, two times the number of diapers, and two times the number of snacks. Peggy then sat up and handed her husband Michael's color coded bottle, "Here," she said kindly.
"Thanks, hon," he said gratefully as he gave his son the bottle. Michael took the bottle from his father with his surprising firm grasp and began drinking it slowly.
Peggy placed the napkin back on the table and smiled at her daughter, "Goodness, darling, you sure can make a mess out of everything can't you," she said in a playful tone. She kissed her daughter on the head, "Want more food?" Sarah shook her head in response with a big grin on her lips. Peggy smiled and started to finish her own food on her plate.
Priscilla smiled at Peggy, "Goodness, Peggy. When Mike told me about you, I didn't imagine you would act and look like that," she chuckled. She waved her hand, "I hope that wasn't rude."
Peggy laughed, "No, it's quite alright. I heard far worse things from work and even from Mike. Even people thinking I would look more masculine," she said half-jokingly since perception of her like that still exists.
Priscilla gave her fiancé a dirty look, Mike shrugged, "What? I apologized." Priscilla rolled her eyes with a cheeky grin.
Sarah reached up onto the table and grabbed the spoon and started to whack the table with it. Peggy quickly reacted in a motherly fashion and gently removed the spoon from her daughter's hand, "Sweetie, stop that. That's rude." She placed the spoon next to the other utensils she previously placed out of Sarah's reach, "you want your picture book, honey?" The little girl nodded. Peggy chuckled, "Excuse me," she said to Priscilla and Mike as she reached down to the baby bag to get Sarah's picture book. Though Sarah can't read, she always got a kick out of the pictures.
Priscilla smiled, "That's okay, I understand." She looked over at Mike, "She's incredible."
Mike shrugged, "She can also be scary when she wants to," he said dancing around the compliment his fiancé just made to his boss.
"I bet. I'm so glad we sat with them," Priscilla said in awe.
Peggy sat up and opened up the picture book onto the table which instantly drew Sarah's attention, "Here you go, darling," she said wrapping an arm around her daughter.
Priscilla grinned, "A mother, have a husband, and work a fulltime job in the government? You can do it all. Much more than the average woman can do in society." Mike Li told his fiancé the minimum amount of information about his line of work, just enough information not to break the strict operational security regulations imposed by SHIELD and the government. Mostly, he only told her that he's a federal agent for SHIELD and his boss is Peggy. Like many agents like him, Mike gave little to no details of what his work truly entails, and much of the information he said to Priscilla was a lie to protect the agency. Though many people know SHIELD as an agency, fewer people know Peggy as one of the architects and ranking leaders of the new government agency. Though most of the agency remains a secret to the public, the existence of it is enough to make people come up with theories of its true intentions and purpose. SHIELD is highly secretive with each personnel sworn to secrecy on the majority of its daily operations and interworking's.
Steve jumped into the conversation, "She definitely can," he said with a smile. Peggy giggled softly and smiled at her husband.
Peggy rolled her eyes, "this life isn't as easy as you think, Priscilla. Believe me." No doubt Priscilla doesn't realize the dangerous things Peggy had done in the past nor know her true line of work. The people she killed, the situations she almost died from, and the questionable things she done for the greater good that the average person like Priscilla will never know. Being a mother and wife is by far the most normal thing she's has done, though being married to Steve and mothering their children is already far from normal.
Priscilla giggled, "I have to ask, how did you two meet?"
Mike laughed, "Now that's a good story." He smiled at his fiancé, "But, to be honest, I feel less manly every time I hear the story." He waved his hand, "Scratch that I feel less manly every time I'm next to the guy."
Priscilla laughed and leaned into Mike, "Don't feel that way. I'm out of his league and he's already taken," she said jokingly causing Peggy to chuckle. Mike chuckled and kissed her on the head in response.
Steve smiled, "Well if you want the story, it's a long story, but I think Peggy can tell it better than me," he said as he took the baby bottle from Michael once he realized he was done with it.
Peggy chuckled, "I don't know if I can give the story justice."
Suddenly Angie and Daniel appeared behind the Rogers with happy grins on their faces. Angie looked down at Peggy, "English! Why are you and your husband still sitting here!" she said with a grin. "You think I'm going to let you leave here without dancing with your husband?" Peggy smiled and shook her head.
Steve looked up at Daniel with a questioning look. Daniel shrugged, "Hey, sir, she's right. I got one leg and I already danced a few numbers." He patted his shoulder, "what's the worst that can happen. Enjoy the reception."
Steve laughed and looked at his wife who still had her arm around their daughter, "They got a point, sweetie."
Peggy looked up at Angie, "Steve and I have two kids to take care of and make sure they don't cause too much trouble."
Angie laughed, "Then let me take care of my niece and nephew while you two go dance." She rested her hands-on Peggy's shoulders and leaned down with a grin, "And I know how much you two love dancing, and you know how much I love Sarah and Michael. Toss me a bone?" She asked with a begging look.
Peggy rolled her eyes and looked over at her husband who had a big smile on his face. "Fine, you caught me," she conceded with a smile.
Angie jumped with joy, "Yay! It's a win-win. You two get to dance and we get two take care of your two joys."
Daniel smiled at Peggy, "Peggy, your kids will be in good hands."
Peggy rolled her eyes as she stood up from her seat, "They better be." She looked over at Steve, "Husband," she said in a humorous tone as she held out her hand.
Steve chuckled to himself and stood up, "Wife," he said as he took her hand. Angie and Daniel took a step back to let the lovely Rogers couple through to get to the dance floor.
Daniel pulled out the seat next to Sarah for Angie before taking his seat by Michael. "How's it going, Li?"
Li nodded at his friend, "Loving this party. Everything is great." He chuckled as he watched Daniel's wife engrossed in the picture book with Sarah. Both Sarah and Michael are extremely comfortable around Daniel and Angie since they see them on numerous occasions that they hardly make a fuss around them. Li smiled at Daniel, "Congrats, Daniel and Angie."
Daniel smiled at his friend, "Thanks, Mike," he chuckled at that fact that Angie didn't respond because she's too immersed in the book with Peggy's daughter.
Priscilla leaned into Mike, "Ah, the Rogers seem like they haven't left the honeymoon phase yet," she said as she watched Steve and Peggy dance happily together. The Rogers now looked like they existed in their own little world away from everyone else on the dancefloor. Not once ever taking each other's eyes off one another, maybe for the occasional glance to check on Sarah and Michael, but for the most part, their eyes remained glued to each other. The music directed their movements around the dancefloor as they continued to dance happily with one another without a care in the world almost like nothing will separate them.
Daniel laughed, "Trust me. Their honeymoon phase ended, but they manage to keep the magic alive. Call me cheesy."
Angie quickly looked up at her husband, "You're cheesy, baby."
Daniel chuckled, "Thanks, hon. Anyway, they been through a lot together, not many people gone through what they did, so it makes sense why they're so tight." He shrugged, "I can let them explain. It's not my place to tell their story." He turned to Michael who gripped the sleeve of his suit causing him to shift his attention to the little boy. He smiled, "Hey buddy," he said in a cheerful tone, now focusing his attention on the Rogers son.
Angie looked up from the book she was flipping through with Sarah, "believe me the Rogers have their fair share of fights." Priscilla and Mike nodded with smiles as the group went into comfortable silence as the music from the band filled their ears.
Suddenly Director Chester Phillips accompanied by four men, two of which are SHIELD security, appeared in the banquet hall of the restaurant. Phillips quickly identifies the Rogers table by the two Rogers children sitting between Daniel and Angie, and immediately makes his way through the maze of tables and people to their table. While Steve and Peggy danced their second number, Peggy caught Phillips heading toward their table in the corner of her eye. She stopped dancing and gripped her husband's lapel and looked to confirm that it was really Director Phillips she saw heading to their table. Peggy quickly looked up at Steve and noticed he was watching Phillips too as he rested his hand on the small of her back. "Darling," she began.
Steve nodded, "I see him. Let's see what's going on." With that the couple walked arm in arm briskly to meet Phillips at their table.
Once the couple reached their table, Peggy spoke up to greet the Director who just reached their table, "Director." Daniel immediately realized who Peggy was talking too and stopped playing with Michael to stand up and greet the Director of SHIELD.
Phillips stopped in front of the table and frowned apologetically, "Sorry I have to come by on your day off and especially interrupt the reception, but I need you two back at the office. I'll tell you more when we get there," he said to Peggy and Steve.
A man in a black suit in tie next to Phillips spoke up, "It's urgent, Madam Director." Angie looked with concern as she watched and listened to the group while she kept Sarah Rogers close to her. She also kept a watchful eye on Michael since her husband stood up to greet the older gentleman who recently appeared.
Phillips turned and introduced the man who just spoke, "Rogers," he said mentioning Steve and Peggy as a couple. "This is FBI Agent Witwer. The FBI will be working by us for this, so hope this gives you some sort of idea of how important this is." Phillips nodded, "Also…The Director of the FBI and the Secretary of State will be meeting with us back at headquarters."
Peggy instantly realized that once Phillips said he needed her and Steve back, and especially the fact that the FBI and Secretary of State are involved gave her an idea of how important the situation. She looked down at her two kids with Angie then looked back at Phillips, "We're going to have to bring our kids with us. At least for now."
The FBI agent shook his head, "I don't think…"
Phillips interrupted, "That's fine." He looked down at Sarah and Michael and gave them a gentle smile and a small wave, breaking the serious character he brought into the room just for the Rogers children. Sarah and Michael waved back energetically after Angie directed the two toddlers at him.
Steve nodded as he positioned himself behind his daughter, "We'll meet you at Aegis, sir." With that he grabbed the picture book and Sarah's bottle off the table then squatted down to hastily pack up the baby bag under the Sarah's chair. Once he had the bag all packed, he grabbed it from under the chair and slung the bag over his shoulder. He then gently picked up his daughter from her booster seat next to Angie, "Excuse me, Angie."
Angie smiled at Steve, "It's okay," she said as she stood up next to Steve.
"Sorry, looks like duty calls," He said to her as he rocked his daughter gently. He looked over at Peggy, "Hey, honey, I'll get the pram ready downstairs."
Peggy handed him Michael's baby bottle he left on the table, "Thanks, darling. Don't forget Michael's bottle."
Steve nodded and took the bottle from his wife with his free hand and quickly dropped it into the baby bag hanging off his shoulder. He smiled at Angie and Daniel, "Congratulations to both of you. See you two soon," he said before walking off. Angie and Daniel responded with a smile at Steve as they watched their friend walk away with Sarah in his arms.
Peggy turned her attention to her son, "Okay, sweetie. Upsy Daisy," she said as she picked her son up from his booster seat. Michael quickly hugged her and rested his cheek on her shoulder earning a tender smile from his mother. While all this was going on, many guests at the reception were staring at their group due to all the commotion going on. The band continued to play their set of music not being bothered by the commotion at the Rogers table.
Daniel took a step back to be by his wife, "Director, do you need…"
Phillips shook his head, "I'm sorry to interrupt the festivities, Sousa, but I don't think we need to take you away from your own reception and honeymoon. We'll call you if we really need you. Don't want to ruin your special day if we can help it."
Angie smiled at Phillips, "Thank you."
Phillips nodded, "Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Sousa." He turned to Peggy, "See you there," with that he turned and left with the FBI agent in tow.
Peggy turned to Mike, "I'm sorry, Mike, but I might need you and the rest of the team at the office."
Mike nodded and stood up, "You got it, boss, I'll grab them." He kissed his fiancé on the head before turning to grab Thomson and Ramirez.
Peggy repositioned her grip on her son before she turned to Daniel and smiled at him, "Congratulations again, Daniel. Enjoy the rest of your day and honeymoon, okay? Promise you won't let this situation worry you. If we really need you at the office, I'll call you, okay?" Peggy said as she gave him a hug with her free arm.
Daniel nodded, "Thanks, Peggy." He smiled as he turned to Angie, "Thanks for coming and for your support in us… and well everything. I wouldn't have met Angie without you and be where I am with her right now without you." Angie blushed in response to the praise. Daniel simply smiled lovingly at his wife then turned back to Peggy, "Just let me know if you need me."
Peggy nodded, "I will. I'll try not to so you can enjoy your honeymoon," she said with a smile. She took a step passed Daniel to speak to Angie, "Angie, congratulations to you too. I'm so happy for you. You two deserve happiness together," she said giving her a tight hug with her free arm while still holding her son in her arm.
Angie returned the tight hug, "Thank you so much for everything, English. I'm so glad I have you in my life," she said genuinely.
Peggy let go of her friend and still maintained a warm smile at her, "Enjoy every second of it, Angie," she said referring to marriage. "It's clear you two love each other and trust each other, but when it gets difficult remember why you're together in the first place," she said with a kind tone. Peggy chuckled, "And trust me, it'll get hard sometimes but it wouldn't be marriage if it was always easy. Believe me. But I know you two can overcome anything. Always remember you love each other and why you two got married in the first place," she said as her last few words of wisdom to her friend. She and Steve rarely fight but when they do it can get pretty vocal and usually doesn't last long. Steve makes it hard for her to stay mad at him because he always tries to find solutions to their problem and make it up to her in any way shape or form.
Angie smiled, "Thank you, Peggy. And I will always remember from this day on."
Peggy smiled, "anyway, Angie, thanks for letting me be your maid of honor." With that Peggy turned and began to excuse herself, "You two have a wonderful honeymoon, Mr. & Mrs. Sousa," she said to the newlyweds as she made her exit.
Daniel wrapped his arm around his wife as the two watched their friend make her way out of the reception.
Time Square, New York City, SHIELD: AEGIS HEADQUARTERS
Conference Room
Steve sat at the head of the conference table with Peggy to his immediate left, who now wore a Navy-blue business suit and skit she stored in her office in the event she needed it, and to Steve's right is the FBI director, Agent Witwer, and Dean Acheson, the current Secretary of State. To Peggy's left is Howard Stark who was called in by Phillips, and two SHIELD analysts who were called in by her and Phillips to give additional analytical feedback on the situation that is about to be briefed. Though Peggy and Steve had to bring their two young toddlers to the office, they couldn't exactly bring them to the meeting, so they left the two of them in Peggy's office with Rose watching them for the duration of the meeting. Phillips stood at the other end of the conference table with his back to the chalkboard behind him. He spoke in an unusual tense manner, "Deputy Director Rogers and Captain," he said addressing Peggy first. He waved his hand over to the Secretary of State and the FBI Director, "As you know, this is Dean Acheson, the Secretary of State, and the FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover." Peggy could tell something was bothering Phillips by how he was speaking and his body language.
Hoover and Acheson nodded at both Steve and Peggy with a neutral expression which honestly made Peggy uncomfortable. Peggy had meetings with the FBI Director on a few occasions with the interactions with him being cold while still maintaining some resemblance of professionalism. Needless to say, Peggy's first impression of Hoover during her first few months as Deputy Director of SHIELD are extremely poor. It hasn't changed in the slightest since Hoover struck Peggy as an insufferable sexist individual. While SHIELD has a small handful of female field agents, FBI remains to have none. Under the direction of Director Hoover, the FBI utilized no female agents since the late twenties when he said that he "had no particular work for a woman agent." The sexist hiring practice continued through the forties thus far which only allowed women to be secretaries and phone operators for the Bureau, a typical job for women in that day. SHIELD on the other hand, under the leadership of Peggy and Phillips, know the utilization of female agents in espionage which prompted hiring more female agents for SHIELD although the vast majority remain to be men. Aside from Peggy's negative personal feelings toward him, Hoover is an excellent Director for the FBI, and she will give him that much.
Her impression of Dean Acheson was more favorable though she had little to no interaction with the Secretary of State. Of her limited exposure around him, she knew he's a tough anti-Communist, has a tough stance on the spread of Communism, and is in a central role in the nation's foreign policy. Other than being tough and assertive, she doesn't have much of an impression of him. Peggy, however, is curious as to why the Secretary of State is in the SHIELD headquarters right now. Must be a really big deal if the SHIELD Director(s), FBI Director, and the Secretary of State are all in the same place.
Phillips spoke up again, "Earlier today while you two were at the wedding," he said toward the Rogers. "An unknown shooter shot and killed four people by City Hall. The initial FBI investigation found that the shooter shot from the 15th floor of the Woolworth Building from a range of 300-500 yards out." He nodded at the analysts, "Take a look in these files and you'll see photographs taken from the preliminary FBI investigation." One of the analysts passed Howard a stack of three thick files to pass two for Peggy and Steve. Howard placed one file in front of him and handed Peggy the other two.
Peggy opened the file and flipped a couple pages until she reached the photos of the crime scene. She analyzed the photos for a moment then leaned back in her chair and fiddled with her pen, "Sounds like an experienced shooter."
Phillips nodded, "Agents found a Soviet made sniper rifle along with another body in the office room the shooter shot from, leaving a total of five dead." He leaned on the table, "The victim in the room was named Gloria Fischer, a secretary for Gene Hill a CEO of an Accounting business." He raised a hand, "Before you ask, Mr. Hill's alibi checks out because he was in a middle of a conference involving much of the management in the office with multiple witnesses in and out of the meeting." He stood up and paced around his side of the table, "Ms. Fischer died from extreme blunt force trauma with a broken zygomatic bone, severely broken neck with over four broken vertebrae in the neck, and a fractured skull."
Agent Witwer leaned forward and looked at Steve and Peggy, "Initial findings from our coroner suggest that her wounds were caused by hand and not by an object or weapon. We'll know more once the coroner finishes his autopsy, but his initial findings find that the assailant had to be unusually strong and trained to cause such damage to the woman's neck and head."
Phillips nodded, "The four victims in the street are…"
Peggy suddenly felt uncomfortable with a wave of nausea sweeping over her. She placed a hand over her stomach and quickly excused herself, "Pardon me, Director," she said as she stood up from her seat, dropping her pen on the file.
Steve looked up at his wife, "Everything okay, Director?" he said maintaining the professional standard in front of the FBI. He still betrayed the hint of concern in his voice toward Peggy.
Peggy nodded, "Everything is fine, gentlemen. Just have to take care of a few lady things…"
Phillips paused, "Understood, hurry back. Time isn't on our side on this."
"I will," she said as she excused herself again and left the conference room in a hurry to the nearby bathroom.
Once Peggy left the room, Agent Witwer shook his head and grunted. Steve turned to the FBI agent, "Watch your tone." Acheson remained silent but made a light chuckle at the sudden exchange between Captain Rogers and the FBI.
"Excuse me, Captain?" Agent Witwer asked in an authoritative tone like it would phase the Captain. "I understand your married to her but it's just a surprise that an agency such as this has a…"
Phillips interrupted him, "I will be careful with the words you say next, Agent," he said reprimanding the FBI Agent. "As long as you're under our roof you will abide to the courtesy and respect that is due for her. She damn well earned it. You know her record and reputation, and that should speak for itself."
Howard chuckled, "I don't know if you had any face-to-face with her before, and the fact that you made that noise behind her back when she left means you don't have the personal integrity or character to tell her to her face." He spoke in a serious tone, "She earned her place here…"
Phillips nodded, "That's enough. Feelings of respect for Director Rogers aside, let's get back to the brief shall we. This is time sensitive…" Everyone nodded. Hoover remained silent and shook his head at the exchange. Steve gave a cold look at the FBI agent and Director before returning his focus to Phillips. Though, Steve couldn't help but feel concerned about Peggy. She's been acting strange and feeling sick for a while now, but he can't figure out what's the matter. She claims to be fine, but he isn't so sure.
Acheson leaned over to Hoover and whispered, "You know what's going to happen next. Try and not anger the man who can fight a bear and win." Hoover nodded in silence and Phillips continued the brief.
Ladies Room
Peggy walked up to the counter and turned on the sink to wash out her mouth after she spent a few minutes vomiting into the toilet. She sighed as she rinsed out her mouth to rid the bile taste of vomit from her mouth. She spat out the water she just swirled then looked at her reflection in the mirror and sighed again. Being pregnant does have its disadvantages and morning sickness, though not in the morning, is a significant disadvantage for her. Morning sickness usually mellows out for her around noon, but there are some days, like today, that she feels sick later in the day. When Peggy was first pregnant with Sarah and Michael, the term morning sickness was very misleading since she had morning sickness in different hours of the day on some occasions. Peggy shook her head as she rinsed her mouth out again, cringing at the lingering taste of vomit still present.
An older woman in a coat grey business suit and skirt walked up to the sink next to her and started to wash her hands. The woman's color-coded name tag around her neck showed that she's in SHIELDs Research and Development (R/D) department. The woman looked old and couldn't be any more than sixty years old, thirty-two years older than Peggy. The woman is likely a secretary based on Peggy's the observation of her worn down fingers from constant typing on the typewriter and filing papers. The hands on this older woman look frail with blue corded veins, and years of constant typing showed on her fingers from joint pain. These hands looked like it belonged to someone who has worked tirelessly and diligently. Peggy didn't feel young next to her but felt a sense of respect for someone who looked like she dedicated her life to working hard. No matter what job she has possessed, she looked like a hardworking woman which Peggy can respect. Peggy returned to reality and spat out the lingering water in her mouth then looked back in the mirror. The woman gave a warm smile, "Good afternoon, Director."
Peggy gave a small but friendly smile, "Good afternoon."
The woman sensed Peggy's discomfort, "Feeling alright?" Peggy simply nodded in response hoping not to betray her irritating nausea. "Sick?"
Peggy shook her head, "No, just uncomfortable."
The woman chuckled lightly, "Are you pregnant?" Peggy turned to her with a look of surprise. These days, it was uncommon and outside the norm of society for the topic of pregnancy to be discussed in public and discussed outside of immediate friends and family. Though people always found out eventually regardless if she talked about it or not. Besides, Peggy was never one to fall into the social box. The woman smiled at Peggy, "I know you were a highly skilled field agent and currently a director of an espionage agency, but there are somethings you can't just hide."
Peggy looked down at her stomach then back at the woman, "I'm starting to show?"
The woman laughed, "No, dear. I wasn't born yesterday, I know what it's like to be pregnant." She chuckled, "I can see it on your face. Congratulations."
Peggy smiled, "Thank you, Miss…"
The woman wiped her hands with a nearby towel and held out her hand to Peggy, "Call me, Martha."
Peggy shook her hand, "Thank you, Martha."
"Is this your first?" Martha asked kindly.
Peggy chuckled, "No, actually. Second pregnancy though I have twins, one boy, one girl." She shrugged, "My angels."
Martha smiled warmly, "That's wonderful. I still feel the same way for my two sons. Though they're grown, I still call them my babies." She laughed, "They don't like it when I call them that but I'm their mother they can't do anything about it." Peggy laughed in response alongside the woman. Martha smiled, "Does your husband know yet?"
Peggy shook her head, "Haven't told him yet. But I will soon, I hope."
Martha leaned forward and whispered, "Don't worry I won't say a thing, it will be our secret between us ladies."
Peggy chuckled, "Sounds perfect." She nodded to the door, "I'm sorry, Martha. I have to get back to work," she said not wanting to waste any more time from an important meeting concerning murder and potential Soviet infiltration. Though Martha seems to be a kind woman, Peggy can't afford to waste any more time.
Conference Room
Peggy reentered the conference room and took her seat, "Sorry for the interruption gentlemen. Did I miss anything?" Steve looked at her with a worried look as his wife took her seat. Peggy gave Steve a quick glance and a reassuring smile before turning her attention at the job at hand.
Phillips nodded, "We just finished talking about the other victims." Peggy took her file and flipped through the pages detailing the multiple victims from the sniper.
As she glided through the details of the first three victims, she noted that nothing stood out to her and so far, all the victims were normal innocent people spending their day in the city. The second victim was an old man named Anthony Greer, a retired college professor, who died reading a newspaper on the bench. The third victim was a woman named Julia Davis, a nurse for the local hospital and a mother of two, shot while running for her life down the sidewalk. The fourth victim another young woman named Ashley Louisa Coleman, a kindergarten teacher for a local primary school and a mother of one, was also caught in the open as she ran. Peggy frowned as she briefly skimmed each document and photos of the victims. Looking at the images of dead innocent people is never easy, but Peggy knows she has to be objective and do the job required of her. Though violent crimes such as mass murders and sniper murders fall under the jurisdiction of the FBI, Peggy couldn't help but wonder why SHIELD is involved in this case. She figured that SHIELD is in this violent crime case because it may include international espionage from potentially Hydra and Leviathan or both. The FBI, however, has also held the responsibility for identifying and neutralizing threats to national security from foreign intelligence services and foreign threats since 1917, years before SHIELD, and has aided in countering Hydra and Leviathan actions in the continental United States. So, Peggy couldn't quite figure as to why SHIELD is being drawn to this case since the FBI tends to take lead in violent crime and sniper murder cases such as this one. The FBI probably found something that requires SHIELD's vast recourses and expertise that the FBI can't handle themselves which calls for a joint agency effort. Peggy made an educated guess that it involves Leviathan's Red Room Assassins. An adversary that SHIELD rarely makes contact with, detects, and counters.
Red Room Assassins, is what SHIELD designated the female assassins that come from the Soviet Red Room brainwashing and training program. The program takes, by recruitment from poor families or kidnapping, young girls, and women and turns them into deadly spies and assassins. From the limited information gathered from this secret training program, the young girls and women are put through violent torture, strenuous daily training, combat training, acrobatics, weapon and tactical training skills, and extensive behavior modification. Only the strong graduate from the numerous Red Room Academies throughout the Soviet hegemony. The best source of information of the secret program was the 1946 raid into one of the academies in Poland lead by Peggy and Steve. That raid was the first time the U.S. learned of the existence of these female assassins. Since then, SHIELD managed to make brief contact with the assassins but unable to effectively kill or capture any assassin or Red Room cell. Dottie Underwood is the first and only Red Room Assassin that SHIELD was able to identify, but the name is no doubt a cover. The assassins are incredibly methodical and careful and manage to avoid detection and capture with extreme skill. They're chameleons. Only a handful of SHIELD operatives came face-to-face with a Red Room Assassin.
Peggy turned the last page of the victims and saw the picture of the old man who was killed just before the door to City Hall. Peggy took a moment and looked at the details of the last victim and realized there was nothing about him in the document other than a name, age, and date of birth. The man was named Neil Berman, and that was all she got from the file. Peggy sighed and looked up, "who's this Neil Berman?"
Phillips looked over to the FBI Director for him to answer. Hoover stayed silent for a moment then shook his head, "We found no information on him in our preliminary inquiry of his background." He paused, "That's all we have on him so far. We just got to dig further because we know no one is that clean to avoid the FBI." Something didn't feel right to Peggy. She got the feeling that the FBI was hiding something from them but she couldn't tell what. Granted, this was just a hunch and she has no evidence to back it other than the fact she doesn't like nor trust the FBI Director.
Steve nodded, "Obviously, the FBI is here for more than just a public shooting. It's seems the FBI is here because they believe the murders were caused by the Soviets," he said almost like he was tracking on Peggy's chain of thought.
One of the analyst spoke up, "The Soviet rifle at the scene, Captain. It's…"
Steve nodded, "The rifle alone doesn't mean the Soviets were to blame. Soviet weapons have been found in the black-market after the war…"
Hoover stood up, "We here because we know the Soviets are to blame."
Peggy looked up at him with a questioning look, "Tell us then…"
Hoover grabbed a photo and a piece of paper from his file in front of him, and walked to the head of the table, Phillips stepped aside and took a seat closest to the head of the table, so Hoover had space to speak. Hoover leaned on the table, "Because the shooter has been identified as former U.S. Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes, the Winter Soldier." Steve immediately tensed upon hearing his friend's name. Peggy looked at her husband and noticed him tensing in his seat, but wore the façade of calm. If no one knew him, people would think he was calm, but Peggy knew he was troubled to see his old friend at the center of this violent crime. She reached over and placed a hand on his thigh and squeezed it affectionately. She gave him a reassuring smile and he responded with a troubled gaze.
Hoover clipped an old photograph of Bucky in his dress uniform to the top of the chalkboard, "multiple witnesses described him entering and leaving the Woolworth building." He then clipped a sketch of Bucky next to the photo, "This is a forensic sketch artist depiction of the assailant from multiple witnesses seeing him entering and leaving the Woolworth building. Former Sergeant Barnes is hereby identified as the shooter."
Steve spoke up in a calm but stern tone to counter the FBI director, "Are we sure…"
Hoover interrupted him, "We have probable cause that he's the shooter and we'll apprehend him as such. Regardless whether or not he's the shooter, he's still a danger to national security and wanted for acts of terrorism, subversion, espionage, assassinations, and murder. Either or, he's a wanted man guilty of a long list of crimes. He should be hunted down with extreme prejudice and put to death for treason. I can guarantee you he's the man we're after. The man responsible for the day's shootings and many other deaths."
Peggy knew how much Bucky means to Steve, and how much this case is already eating away at him. She recalled Steve mentioning Bucky deserting Leviathan a few years ago after the incident in the city that resulted in a firefight in the streets and costly property damage. She personally never spoke to Bucky since before he went missing in the war, and since then, the only contact she had with him was when he tried to kill her and Steve on numerous occasions. If it wasn't for Steve, she wouldn't believe that Bucky truly deserted Leviathan. She does have her doubts but she believes that Steve believes, and maybe that's enough. Peggy looked at her husband and could tell Steve was getting defensive, but remained visibly calm. But she knew him better than anyone, and she knew he was getting more tense. She looked up at the FBI Director, "And you need SHIELD to do what? Help you catch him?" She kept a neutral tone, "We've been looking for him for over two years, and we haven't found him. He's a ghost, so what makes you think we can find him after this?" Peggy did her best not to reveal any information of Sergeant Barnes' whereabouts since they've began trying to find him for the past two years.
Hoover nodded at his agent, "We went public with his photograph and in about an hour so, he will be on the front page of every newspaper, and on every radio broadcast, but we won't need your agency to catch him if we can find him on our own."
Peggy spoke up in irritation, "Then why are you here if you don't need our help."
Agent Witwer nodded, "We understand your need for secrecy in locating him in the past, but now we can't afford it. We've got authorization to capture him then turn him over to you because you have the necessary facilities to hold such an individual as I understand it."
Steve finally spoke up, "If anyone should capture him, it should be us and my special purpose unit. We're trained in doing the difficult tasks, and capturing him will be difficult," he said in defense. Peggy placed a hand on his thigh and gave him a reassuring gaze, an unspoken language only he, and she can understand.
Hoover nodded, "We know your personal friendship with Sergeant Barnes during the war, Captain, and that's why we aren't asking you to apprehend him. We're afraid your personal feelings will get in the way." He shrugged, "besides…whatever accolade he had in the past is gone now. He's yesterday's hero. He should've remained a dead war hero." Steve remained stoic, betraying no emotion of his frustration at the FBI Director, especially after that last statement. Hoover sighed as he stood at the head of the table by Phillips, "Now for the other reason why I'm here." Peggy and Steve looked at each other briefly. He turned to Acheson, "Dean."
Acheson stood up from his seat and walked to the head of the table as Hoover returned to his seat. He nodded, "I'll try and keep this brief. Captain, Back during the depression, I was involved in a severe car accident outside of Chicago. That turned out to be the best experience in my entire life because and after six hours of surgery… I found something that years of politics never taught me." He locked eyes with Steve, "True perspective." He took a step around the table, "The country and the world owes you, Captain, an unpayable debt. You have fought for this country, protected this country, and risked you and your team's lives for us. Though a great many people see you as heroes, there are some..." he paused. He locked eyes with Steve and Peggy, "who prefer the word, 'vigilante.'" Howard too had a chill down his spine as he listened to the Secretary of State. It didn't take a genius to know where this line of thought was going.
Steve remained silent as he took in Hoover's words. Howard looked up at the Secretary of State, "And what word would you call them?" he said in a judgmental tone.
Acheson stared at Howard, "How about dangerous? What would you call a U.S. based special operations military unit operating freely without restriction within the country? Who also routinely ignore laws and sovereign borders, and inflict their will and seem unconcerned on what they leave behind." He nodded at Agent Witwer, "New York," he said prompting the FBI Agent to toss the Rogers and Stark a packet of photos from the incident in the city with the last confrontation with the Winter Soldier. Peggy, Steve, and Howard just stared at the picture silently without picking them up. The pictures consisted of the carnage left behind during the fire fight with Bucky and his team of gunmen, wounded and dead innocent people, and a burning building. Steve shook his head slightly at the reminder of the chaos of that day.
Acheson nodded again, "Paris…" The agent tossed another stack of photos consisting of a multi-car accident caused by Steve's pursuit of a Hydra operative with numerous people injured and a handful of people killed in the accident. Worse, the accident was caused when Steve was acting on his own accord outside of the SSR's authority. Peggy looked at Steve with concerned eyes as Steve looked at the pictures with intensity. Phillips shook his head in frustration with the topic.
"West Virginia," Acheson said as Agent Witwer dropped another stack of photos in front of the group. The images consisted of several angles of a collapsed mountain sitting inside a wide crater caused by a nuclear detonation under the mountain. The atomic explosion was caused by Steve and the commandos when they were taking down a Hydra facility while working outside of the law and the SSR. They were mostly operating rogue at that time.
Acheson continued, "And the numerous raids you, Captain Rogers, initiated against crime rings all over the East Coast to hunt Hydra cells."
Before Agent Witwer threw down another stack of photos to the cluttered conference table, Steve spoke up, "Okay, that's enough," he said in a calm tone. Peggy looked at him with worry in her eyes but maintained a calm expression on her face. She again utilized that unspoken language only Steve could see and understand when he looked at her. Peggy, too, felt frustrated at this change in topic; it almost seemed like the FBI and the Secretary of State were painting her husband as a criminal. Understandably, the situations documented in the photographs are terrible but were either necessary or unavoidable for the sake of national security or preservation, and Peggy has participated in all of them in some way shape or form.
Acheson took a step back, "For the past few years, Captain, your team has operated with nearly unlimited restrictions and authority." He nodded, "That's something this nation can no longer tolerate. But we have a solution."
Peggy spoke up, "Who's 'we' and why is this coming up now?"
Acheson nodded at Phillips, "An inquiry from Congress to the President. This isn't an investigation of SHIELD. There's no denying it's success and utility in the short time of its existence, but a step toward limiting its nearly extra-governmental power. SHIELD is supposed to be a clandestine agency, no? But all these 'missions' Captain Rogers conducted all seem very public and exposed SHIELD's ability in working outside the regulations of the government." He nodded at Agent Witwer again, "Which brings me to my next topic." Agent Witwer reached under the table and brought up a thick book that had "EXECUTIVE ORDER: 9940" printed on the cover. The FBI agent slid it over between Howard and Peggy. Howard picked up the thick document first and opened it to briefly skim the first few pages. Phillips crossed his arms and leaned back with a neutral expression at the continuation of the discussion. Internally, Phillips wasn't happy with what's going on especially after hearing about the new Executive Order just yesterday.
Acheson paced around the table, "Approved and spearheaded by the Attorney General and myself that states that SHIELD will no longer conduct major domestic and overseas operations freely without insight of the National Security Council and the President of the United States. Additionally, the Special Purpose Unit will operate with strict rules of engagement while overseas, and rules of force while operating domestically." He continued his slow pace around the table, "Oversight while maintaining decentralized control of SHIELD is the best option for the countries primary intelligence apparatus. While in the past the Director of SHIELD answered directly to the President, the lack of control President Truman feels lead to the executive order due to a number of incidents outside of presidential authority." Acheson paused back at the head of the table, "Believe me, this is the best course of action."
Peggy spoke up, "My question is, why did you focus specifically on Captain Rogers and his unit?"
Acheson nodded, "Because though SHIELD has many resources and assets, Captain Rogers remains as a physical face to SHIELDs power projection where ever he goes. What he does and what he fails to do, reflects greatly on your agency and the nation." He looked at Steve, "Captain Rogers has made a pattern of doing things outside the regulations, control, and rules of the U.S. government in a very public manner. He and his team specifically has come to the public attention as almost comparable to the Soviet KGB with their raids and missions within the continental United States." He focused directly at Steve, "Captain, you and your unit pose a direct threat to the fabric and fundamentals of the nation." He looked around the room, "The Executive Order, is made for him and operational teams like him to operate in a set of regulations and guidelines while being discreet. I can assure you, this order nor the National Security Council will dictate how a result is to be achieved but will indicate what measures may be unacceptable."
Steve spoke up, "SHIELD was given the task to protect national security, peace, and the country from any outside threat, and my unit and I were given the task to handle the complex missions that achieves that goal. We were tasked in making the country safer and I feel like we done that."
Acheson leaned forward on the table, "Captain, can you tell me with certainty that all your raids in the Eastern Seaboard lead to the capture of Soviet and Hydra agents and the destruction of spy rings? And were you legally justified?" Steve remained silent. Acheson nodded, "If the FBI raided the wrong building and the perp wasn't there, and there was collateral damage or worse civilians were killed, you bet there would be consequences." He looked at Phillips, "This executive order is the best option. It's for the greater good," he repeated. Peggy, Steve, and Howard remained silent as they took in what the Secretary of State said. Peggy looked at Steve again and noticed concern in his eyes like he was worried about something big that was about to happen. Hoover continued, "This order isn't limiting SHIELD's potential. It is oversight for security and protection."
Agent Witwer leaned over to Hoover, "Sir, I think it's time for us to go," he said as he gathered their files on the table.
Hoover stood up, "Pardon me, we need to return to the field office." He walked over to Phillips, "As soon as we get word of where he is we'll let you know, and we'll bring him to you." He looked at Steve, "Captain, let us handle this," he said sternly. He turned to Phillips, "When we capture him, you'll know."
Phillips stood up while he maintained an emotionless expression. He nodded to Peggy, "She's in charge of the operations here. Make sure you call her," he mentioned toward Peggy.
Hoover briefly looked at Peggy then looked back at Phillips, "You make sure Captain Rogers stays out of our way. War hero or not, he doesn't have jurisdiction for Barnes' capture," he said coldly. The mood in the room has already been dropping, but now, between the two agency directors, the atmosphere is cold.
"I don't think you know where our jurisdiction ends," Phillips responded.
Hoover stared at Phillips coldly for a tense second before leaving the room with Agent Witwer behind him. Howard nodded at Acheson and continued the meeting, "There are contingencies?"
Acheson looked at the remaining group, "Every executive order undergoes revisions to make it more…accommodating for lack of a better word." He nodded at the group, "Understand it and talk about it, because this is non-negotiable." He looked at Phillips and nodded, "Director," signaling to Phillips that he was done speaking. Acheson then quietly exited the conference room with Phillips in tow, escorting him out of SHIELD to his awaiting motorcade. With the meeting officially over with the departure of all both head agency directors and the Secretary of State, the two SHIELD analyst packed their things and left the conference room quietly leaving Howard, Peggy, and Steve remaining at the table.
Howard sighed and leaned back in his seat, "Well this was bound to happen," he mentioned the Executive Order. He shrugged, "Honestly not the worst idea the U.S. government has considering all we've done."
Peggy looked over at Steve, "You okay, darling?"
Steve flipped through the Executive Order document, "This doesn't feel right."
"What do you mean," Peggy asked curiously.
"This whole situation. The situation with Bucky and this executive order. It seems wrongs," Steve responded calmly.
Howard spoke up, "Think about it, Steve. SHIELD needs to be oversighted much like the CIA. The CIA can't do overseas action without presidential authority. The National Security Council can provide oversight for us to keep us in check." He waved his hand, "There's nothing wrong with our leadership and we do the best we can, but yourself and SHIELD in general has already done a multitude of questionable things. If we can't accept some sort of limitation or restriction than we're no better than our enemies. We're no better than Hydra and the KGB."
Steve responded, "Howard, this executive order itself ties one hand behind our back and prevents us from acting when we need to. Our ability to choose and go where we need to go is the reason why SHIELD is effective enough to do the job necessary." He shook his head, "It's not like we're not taking responsibility of our actions. This executive order is directing us to be more reactive than proactive."
Howard shook his head, "Sorry…Steve, that's a dangerous thought. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. This is the National Security Council. It's not one man at the top using SHIELD as a personal hit squad, it's…"
Steve interrupted, "No, it's a council run by politicians with agendas, and agendas change."
Howard nodded, "That's good, that's why I'm running SHIELD with Peggy and Chester because when I found out what my weapons are capable of I had the government return them and destroy them…" Peggy watched quietly as the two men argued over the legitimacy of the new executive order while simultaneously forming her opinion of the document. She knew there were more pressing matters at the moment other than bickering over the executive order, but she could understand why both of them are talking about it. She understood both of their points as well, and to be honest she had her fair share of working outside the law during her time trying to clear Stark's name.
Steve shifted in his seat toward Stark, "Howard, you chose to do that. If we go with this, we lose the ability to choose. What happens if the council authorizes an operation where we don't think SHIELD should go, what if there is somewhere we need to get involved and they don't let us? What happens if we seize an opportunity against Hydra and the council orders us to stop? SHIELD may not be perfect, but the safest hands are still our own. I'm not saying we won't listen to the President, I'm saying that there needs to be more decentralized control if we're going to succeed in the future. This document creates a rigid structure that leads to an inability to adapt."
Peggy leaned back in her seat, "Boys, I don't think we have much room to contest this nor do we have a choice. This is an executive order, it will require congressional power to overturn it, and we already know Congress won't veto it." She sighed and looked over at Howard, "Anyways, we have more pressing matters currently."
Howard looked at her with surprise, "Right…"
Peggy looked over at Steve, "My office?" she said in a soothing tone toward him. Steve nodded quietly in response as he stood up. Peggy stood up from her seat and followed him out of the conference to her office.
Howard chuckled, "I'll just be here if you need me."
Before Peggy walked through the door she turned and smiled at her friend, "When you're married you'd understand."
"That'll be the day," Howard replied humorously. He quite enjoyed the single playboy lifestyle as it is and marriage wasn't on his radar for the immediate future, but it probably won't be such a bad idea later down the line
Peggy's Office
Peggy walked into her office with Steve trailing behind her and saw Rose sitting on the office couch while Sarah and Michael happily played with their toys on the floor. Rose had a book in her hand but maintained a watchful eye over the Rogers' kids. Peggy smiled at her friend, "Thank you for watching them while I was in the meeting, Rose. I really appreciate it."
Rose closed her book and smiled at Peggy, "Of course, Peggy. It's my pleasure, plus I never see these two sweethearts enough," she said happily.
Peggy sat down on the armrest of the couch next to Rose, "Hope my babies didn't bother you too much." Steve greeted Rose with a friendly smile as he closed the office door.
Rose chuckled, "You know they're always good. Though Michael was a little fussy initially." She smiled at the little boy playing with his toy on the floor, "Probably just missing mommy and daddy."
Peggy chuckled, "Oh, I'm sure. Seriously, thank you for watching them for us."
Rose stood up from the couch, "It's always a pleasure, Peg. You can add babysitter to my line of duties if you want."
Peggy laughed, "Hopefully I don't trouble you with babysitting duty again."
Rose chuckled and looked over at Peggy's dress hanging neatly on the hanger over the top of the door, "That's a beautiful dress, Peggy. Hope you had fun before being recalled back to work."
Peggy smiled at her friend, "Thank you, Rose. Steve and I made the most of it," she said as she glanced over at her husband with a loving smile. Steve returned her gesture with a small smile and a light chuckle.
Rose leaned closer to Peggy and whispered, "You're such a lucky woman, Peggy, with a loving family, supporting husband, and a career." She nodded, "I'll be at my desk if you need anything, Director," she said in a friendly manner as she excused herself.
Once Rose left the office and closed the door behind her, Peggy went to her two kids on the floor and scooped up Michael into her arms earning a loud laugh from her son. She kissed her son on the head as she walked over to her office chair, "talk to me, darling," she said to Steve who has been looking troubled for the past few hours. Although she already knew what was troubling him, she wanted him to tell her himself.
Steve chuckled lightly at Peggy's ability to read him without issue. There unspoken language they share is truly fine-tuned and unique. Sarah looked up at her daddy and raised her arms happily, "Daddy," she said in an innocent tone that melts both Steve and Peggy's heart.
Steve quickly scooped up his daughter from the floor and swung her playfully earning a loud yelp and giggle from his daughter. He kissed her cheek, "Hey there, sweetie." He smiled at his toddler daughter, "Are you going to let me talk to mommy for a moment?" Sarah didn't respond and simply rested her head on his shoulder. Steve's warm smile faded as he sat down on one of the chairs in front of Peggy's desk, "Bucky."
"mhmm," Peggy hummed in response and to allow him to keep going.
Steve rubbed Sarah's back gently, "I need to get him…"
Peggy sighed and bounced their son on her lap while simultaneously keeping his hands away from the things on her desk. She shook her head, "Darling… I know how much Barnes means to you, I really do. But… stay here with me; you'll only make things worse." She sighed, "Considering the business with the new executive order, you can't get him especially since we were told explicitly to allow the FBI to capture him." She shook her head again, "I don't like the executive order any more than you do, but…"
"If I go do this, are you saying you'll arrest me?" Steve replied with conviction.
Peggy looked taken back by the comment, "What? No, of course not," she said in surprise. She sighed, "But someone might. That's how it's going to work with this order in place."
Steve shook his head, "If they say he did what he said he did, and he's that far gone then I should be the one to bring him in," he said urging to be allowed to go capture Bucky.
Peggy sighed with worry, "tell me why." Steve didn't respond initially and remained silent for a moment. "Just tell me, darling," Peggy urged in a hushed yet supporting tone.
"Because…I'm the one least likely to die trying," Steve responded plainly.
Peggy took a deep breath and ran a hand through her long brown hair while she kept Michael close to her and on her lap. She gave him a reassuring smile, "Darling I…" she suddenly thought it's a good time to tell him that she's pregnant, but quickly decided not to because it would seem like she's trying to guilt him into staying back rather than giving a logical reason.
Steve frowned, "I'm sorry, Peggy." Peggy looked at him with a look of worry on her face. She knew he would probably go regardless if she ordered him to stay. Peggy wasn't worried about his physical safety, but more concerned about the repercussions of him acting on his own accord to apprehend Bucky. "This one's on me," Steve said as he stood up from his seat, still holding their daughter in his arms. He frowned, "I have to do this."
Peggy frowned, "I know you do, darling," she said softly. She shook her head, "I don't know if I'll be able to help you."
Steve walked around her desk and gave a small smile, "I have an idea…"
"What is it?" She responded quietly.
"Forgive me?"
Peggy gave a worried smile, "Can't forgive you if there's nothing to forgive."
Steve bent down a kissed her lips briefly, "Know that I love you… and I don't want to get you into trouble but this is something I have to do." He then turned around and went back to the kid's toys on the floor at the center of her office and gently placed Sarah down by her favorite toy. Sarah happily crawled over to her toy and started to happily play with it without any care of the world. Steve squatted down and smiled as he ran a hand through Sarah's long dark brown hair, "Daddy's going to go now. Just for a little while, okay?" Sarah giggled happily at him in response, not fully understanding what's happening. Steve smiled and leaned forward and kissed his daughter on the head before standing up.
Peggy watched with concerned eyes as her husband walked out of her office. She knew Steve could handle anything, but it wasn't his physical safety that worried her. Peggy is worried about the agency, the job, and her husband becoming branded as a rogue agent or worse a public enemy. She could take anything the men on the hill could throw at her except separating her and Steve and turning him into a villain. Peggy agreed with Steve on his stance on the executive order, but she's right that it'll be close to impossible to overturn it especially since Congress approved it long before the President issued it. As Deputy Director of SHIELD, Peggy is the second-highest officer in SHIELD, in addition to running SHIELD and being responsible for the management of day-to-day activities and all missions and operations, she's in charge of the agency adhering to all government policies. Government policies she may not agree with such as "Executive Order: 9940," is still her responsibility that the agency follows it to the T. Peggy is in an unfortunate position torn between the job, her husband, and what's right.
Truthfully, Steve's right that he should be the one to apprehend Bucky since he's more physically capable in case a fight breaks out. Plus, if Bucky said he deserted Leviathan and is innocent, then Steve taking him wouldn't be an issue. But if a team of FBI agents storms his location, then Bucky will most likely react violently and defend himself since it would look like the government is trying to eliminate him. But the agency and the government Peggy is sworn to serve is dictating her to keep Steve and his team away from Bucky, even though her trust in her husband to do the right thing is telling her otherwise. The situation she's in is extremely fragile, and she honestly didn't know what the right answer is, and there very well might not be a right answer. Peggy believed in morality and is willing to lie if the situation called for it, including the period when she was hiding her involvement with Howard from the SSR. Peggy's reliance on her morals and her principles guided her to her next decision. She just hoped Steve would understand…
South SoHo, Coco's Groceries
At a small family run grocery store, Bucky stood outside by the fruit and vegetable display stand looking through fresh produce. He did his best to blend in with the crowd, sporting a black newsboy cap, long sleeve black jacket, grey collared shirt without a tie, and a leather glove covering his metal prosthetic hand. He's clean shaven, and hair is neatly trimmed and combed back under his hat instead of his messy hair he didn't cut while he served as a brainwashed assassin. He looked like everyone else in the crowded sidewalk as he looked through the trays of fruits and vegetables. Bucky slowly looked over his shoulder to check what was behind him, a habit he picked up as an assassin. A habit that he religiously practiced since killing numerous Leviathan agents when he deserted.
He suddenly heard a police siren blare over the crowd causing him to tense a little. As the police siren got louder and louder, he dipped his head away from the street to hide from the police. Bucky may have deserted Leviathan, but he's positive that he U.S. government is still searching for him since he was a foreign assassin and spy credited with numerous killings. Once the police car siren was no longer to be heard, he took a deep breath and placed the fruits he chose into his basket. He then calmly walked back into the store to pay for his groceries. As he walked into the store he heard the radio playing a familiar tune from 1940. "Only Forever," by Bing Crosby filled his ears as he walked toward the cashier. He couldn't help but get a fragment of a memory play in his mind of his brother and his two sisters on Halloween before the war. The memory was brief but clear enough to recognize the faces of his brother and two sisters. Bucky has been isolated for the past two years and made no attempt to connect with anyone from his past.
As Bucky approached the cashier, the radio broadcast was interrupted by a news anchor, "We interrupt this program to give you a special news bulletin… the shooter at the Woolworth building has been identified as… James Buchanan Barnes. All citizens, be on the lookout… for a thirty-one-year-old male, six-foot-tall, with brown hair, blue eyes, and is likely wearing a dark colored glove over his left hand. Perpetrator is extremely muscular. Additional physical description includes cleft chin, crinkles around the eyes, cheeks filled out, and a consistent light crease between the eyebrows. He is known to be a Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier. Be on the lookout. I repeat, be on the lookout for a…" Bucky stopped in his tracks and looked directly at the cashier who was staring at him with a concerned look. As the radio broadcaster repeated the description of his appearance, the cashier took a step back from his counter and rushed into the back room of the store. The patrons in the store who also heard the radio broadcast didn't connect the dots quite yet and were busy talking amongst themselves about where the killer is possibly located.
Bucky dropped his basket of fruit and quickly made his way to disappear into the crowd of people outside.
The Old Haunt Pub
Steve sat at the bar next to a vacant stool of a favorite local pub located near the Aegis Headquarters building. The pub was crowded with more and more people coming in preparation for happy hour that is fast approaching. With someone playing live music on the piano and patrons singing songs and talking happily, the atmosphere is vivacious. Steve frequented the pub after work on numerous occasions with members of his team and sometimes even Peggy when she feels like immersing herself in that type of atmosphere. Though, Steve hasn't frequented the pub as much recently since becoming a father of two. But his past trips to the bar made him a favorite customer of the owner, as well as Peggy.
Steve took a sip of his beer as he leaned forward on his seat. Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw Dugan take a seat on the vacant stool next to him. Steve turned to Dugan, "Thanks for coming."
Dugan smiled at him, "No problem. I don't do anything on Saturday's anyway. Is it just us?"
"Just us. Less involvement from the team the better for them," Steve replied calmly.
"Did Peggy tell you to stay out of it?" Steve's silence was the answer. Dugan shook his head, "She may have a point."
"He'd do it for me, Dugan."
Dugan shrugged, "Maybe back during the war." He sighed, "What we're doing might be riskier than taking down Zola and Hydra a few years ago. At least that time we had substantial backing on our actions. Going after him might put us in conflict we don't intend to fight." He shook his head, "Because most people who shoot at you wind up shooting at me."
Steve nodded, "You don't have to do this if you don't want to."
Dugan smiled, "I never quit on you before, sir. Won't start now. Let's get our brother back," he said confidently.
The bartender came up to the bar and nodded at Steve, "Captain, phone for you."
"Do you know who it is?" Steve asked curiously.
"It's your wife," the bartender said courteously.
Steve produced a genuine smile of happiness at the news of his wife calling him. How she found out he was at the bar is beyond him. "Thanks, Pat," he said graciously.
Pat, the bartender, nodded over toward the semi-booth to the public phone off the hook, "Can take it over there, Captain," he said as he started to tend to another patron.
Steve excused himself from Dugan and weaved his way through the barstools, tables, and people to the public phone by the wall next to the door. He picked up the phone, "Peggy?"
Peggy responded in a light tone, "Didn't think I'd figure out you're at the pub, did you?"
Steve chuckled, "Well, hon, you are the director of an intelligence agency. I'm sure it didn't take you long to figure out." He smiled, "Actually surprised for you to call."
"You're my husband, Steve. I'm betting you're doing this for the right reason and I figured this is for the best. And don't worry, this call isn't traceable or tapped," Peggy responded. She paused, "FBI got multiple tips of Barnes' location. Most of it is turning out to be false except one report from a store owner and an apartment manager. Got a pen?"
Steve chuckled, "Don't need one."
"Barnes is located at Longview Apartments in the Lower Eastside. Apartment number 723. The FBI is moving to apprehend him now, you better get moving," Peggy said plainly.
Steve smiled, "Thank you, Peggy… really," he said graciously and affectionately. Peggy remained quiet on the other side of the line for a moment. "Hon?" He asked calmly.
"Just…be careful, darling. I need you and the kids need you to come home. I love you," Peggy said softly before hanging up the phone. Steve smiled and hung up the phone before returning to Dugan.
Steve leaned against the bar next to Dugan, "Peggy just called and gave us the address."
Dugan smiled, "God Bless that woman, I swear." He patted Steve on the shoulder, "You sure won the lottery with her, Captain." Both Steve and Dugan knew how hard, but can't truly understand, the gravity of Peggy's decision and the position she's in, between adhering to the executive order and trusting her morals and her husband. One could argue that Peggy is folding to her personal relationship with Steve, but both Dugan and Steve knew that wasn't the case. She's very analytical and doesn't base her decisions on emotions, but bases her decisions on facts, details, and morality. So, Steve knew deep down she made the hard decision to trust his judgment even though he's going against the government because she truly believed it's for the greater good. Dugan looked over at Steve, "When do we go?"
Steve turned around, "Now…"
Hope you enjoyed this chapter, trying to tie everything together from the previous chapters.
Prepare to see a lot of Bucky.
Also, as a fan of Castle, you'll see occassional references.
Understandably technology and society were different back then in the 40s, but I'm making small tweaks to society and technology to further the story while maintaining as much realism as possible and historical accuracy. Also, this is an AU with super heroes and science fiction so we have the world to play with.
Hope you all enjoyed! Review if you would like, I always appreciate the comments regardless if positive or negative.
