A/n: I only own Ellie; all other characters that you recognize are property of Marvel.
A/n2: I highly encourage everyone to look up the movie The Last Full Measure starring Sebastian, Samuel L Jackson, William Hurt and many others, on Fandango or Moviefone to see where it is being shown in your area. I saw it again last night and it is such a powerful movie. Sebastian was amazing in it.
Thank you to the new followers: Jacquie M. Cullen and d-ess19
I see the world has folded in your heart
I feel the waves crash down inside
And, they pull me under
I would give you anything you want, oh
You are all I wanted
All my dreams have fallen down
Crawlin' around and around and around...
~ Save Me by Remy Zero
*~*~* March 20, 2018 – Wakanda *~*~*
Ellie walked into Steve's room, "Hey Stevie."
"Hey sis," Steve said as he muted the TV, "Come on in."
"How are you doing today?" Ellie asked looking at his high vitals.
"I'm bored out of my mind," Steve told her as he messed with his sheet between his hands, "Can you… I hate asking this but… can you help me up? I need to use the bathroom and my legs feel weak when I first get up."
"No problem," Ellie said as she helped him pull the sheets down then put his arm around her.
Steve stood up slowly, and Ellie tried not to frown as she felt his ribs as his body sagged against her, "I forgot how much this sucked. At least I'm not short still," Steve joked with a grin.
"Hey shut it with the tallness. I didn't gain the height you did," Ellie teased as she helped him to the bathroom, "Are you alright from here?" She asked standing back from the door.
"I'm good thanks sis," Steve said as he went into the bathroom and she shut the door leaving it a small crack open.
Ellie frowned, as she realized that he was losing his muscle mass now.
Dr. Ksie walked into the room, "Hello Ellie."
"Hi Doc, how are you today?" Ellie asked as she turned to him with a fake smile.
"I am doing well. How is he doing today?" Ksie asked.
Ellie sighed as she walked over to him and crossed her arms over her chest, "I just got here but… he is losing his muscle mass fast isn't he?"
Ksie nodded, "We are doing our best to slow it but… until we find an antidote…" He told her sadly.
The bathroom door opened, and Ellie looked at Steve, "Did you wash your hands?"
Steve rolled his eyes and grinned, "Yes Mom."
"I am glad you are still in good spirits Steven," Dr. Ksie said as he walked over to him.
"I've had it worse," Steve told him as he slowly walked back towards the bed.
"Before you get into bed, over here please," Dr. Ksie stated pointing at the wall, where a large growth chart was located.
Steve walked over to the wall and tried to stand tall against it.
Ellie bit her lip when she noticed he was now measuring under 6 feet and was sitting at 5'8.
Steve turned, "Damn… now it's actually even taking my height."
Ellie bit her lip, "Doc… what if I gave him blood?" Ellie asked, "I still have the serum going strong through me."
"It might help but he doesn't need blood right now, but… it is an idea. Go to my lab and tell them to take two pints of blood," Dr. Ksie told her.
"I can give more," Ellie told him as she helped Steve into bed.
"No, no… two will be enough," Ksie said as he looked at her, "I want you to do a blood panel first. With Nalia doing the testing for Grant soon, we will need the blood anyways. I know you can't get major sicknesses but we can't pass anything to Steve."
"Will do Doc... Want anything, Stevie? When I come back?" Ellie asked him as she helped him cover back up.
"Can Sarah come here?" Steve asked them.
Ellie looked at Ksie, who nodded, "If Nat doesn't bring her, I will and Grant too. Who started crawling by the way, well if you can call it that," Ellie said with a smile, "Anyways I'll go do the blood work."
Steve smiled as he laid his head back and yawned, "Thanks El,"
Ellie got off the elevator with Grant, as Natasha carried Sarah in her carrier behind her, "Bucky said Steve was napping when I talked to him last."
Natasha sighed, "This is scaring me, Ellie. Are you sure Bucky said that Steve is in the future?"
"Yes, I live with you and Steve… or well you guys live with me," Ellie told her, "So Steve is okay in the future."
Natasha opened the door to Steve's room and Bucky looked up, "Hey Buck, how is he?"
"Still sleeping," Bucky said as Grant reached for him and he took him from Ellie.
Natasha sat down on the other side of Steve's bed, "His color looks a little better today."
"We need to come up with a plan," Bucky told them.
Steve groaned, "For when I turn old finally?"
"Shit Steve," Bucky said, "I didn't know you were awake."
"I'm awake… exhausted but awake. I'm not….dumb," Steve said as he yawned, "The serum is gone, I'm going to age… looks like I'm aging fast."
"No… you aren't aging, you are just reverting to your original body," Ellie told him.
"I'll be dead in a year," Steve told them sadly as he saw Sarah, "Give her here."
"It's not fair," Natasha said as she put Sarah in his arms, "Here I am, with the serum thanks to you. Why can't one of us do it? Give you our blood."
"Because they would have to drain his blood entirely" Ellie stated.
They all looked at her and she sighed, "I asked about it… I'm the only one that could do it because Steve and I have the same blood type. The problem is…there are at least 10 pints of blood in Steve's body, probably more. I only have 9 because I am a woman, and… that is if I'm drained dry," Ellie told them, "Bucky has a different serum and different blood type. Natasha's blood type is-"
"I'm B negative," Natasha said sadly.
"So it's only me," Ellie told them, "I just donated two pints. If… as long as Steve stays stable if I went back into the past and told myself to donate blood from now until when Grant was born… we'd still be only at 8 pints of blood and that is pushing it. I had Grant four months ago, two pints a month, when we need another month, two just to be safe."
"Fuck," Bucky said running his hand over his face.
Sarah started fussing and Natasha reached into her bag to grab a bottle.
"Here let me feed her please," Steve asked reaching for the bottle.
"Of course," Natasha said as she handed him the bottle, "But I have to warm it first."
Ellie took it from her and held it in her hand for a few seconds then tested it on her wrist, "How about now?"
"So if I get your blood, your serum will I get your powers?" Steve wondered.
"You wish," Ellie said with a grin.
"Man it would be awesome to fly," Steve stated as he put the bottle into Sarah's mouth.
"I don't fly… I float," Ellie told him shaking her head.
"And the electricity thing… you know Thor needs to come back, you and Thor could compare electricity," Steve told her with a smile.
"At least you haven't lost your humor," Ellie said sarcastically as Ksie came in, "Saved by the Doc. Our plan still a go?"
Dr. Ksie sighed looking at a chart in his hand, "One problem, you can't donate again."
"Why?" Ellie asked with a frown.
"Because you are pregnant," Dr. Ksie told her.
"What?!" Ellie and Bucky said as Ellie walked over to Ksie, "I can't… I can't be pregnant."
"I'm going to have you do another test, but the blood test shows elevated levels-"
"Let's do it now," Ellie said as she stormed out of the room.
"Shit," Bucky said as she left.
"Did she mention a baby?" Steve asked looking at Bucky, "In the future I mean"
"No," Bucky said biting his lip thinking of Kasie.
"Well… so… what are your plans when you guys leave here… whenever that is?" Natasha asked.
"Nothing for sure," Bucky told her.
Ellie came back into the room ten minutes later with Ksie on her trail.
"I am sorry, it was a false positive," Ksie told them, "Ellie can still donate but not yet, our key now is keeping you healthy until we have enough blood."
Ellie looked at Bucky as she sat on the armrest, "Sorry for the near heart attack."
Bucky squeezed her hand, "I would be happy about it, but I want to be there for you."
Ellie leaned down and kissed him, "I know"
*~*~* March 23, 2018 – Wakanda *~*~*
Bucky woke up and stretched looking over at the other side of the bed and finding it empty. Throwing the covers off his body, he got up and walked into the kitchen of their apartment to find Ellie standing at the stove with Grant in his bouncer as he babbled.
"I know, I can't believe you are four months old Little man," Ellie said as she cracked an egg then looked around, "Shit I wish I had my omelet maker. Your Daddy loves omelets and I can never fold them right. I wonder if that is where you get it from when you are older... subconsciously you know it… or genetically. That ain't from me. I hate eggs."
Bucky smiled, as he watched Ellie move around the kitchen.
"Enjoy your time with Daddy… this next month went by too fast Grant," Ellie told him as Grant babbled, "I know, and these last four years have seemed like a lifetime. You are four and a half… you need to remember to take it easy on me as you get bigger. I have my hands full."
Bucky watched her as she added cheese and peppers.
"Do you want mushrooms, Grant? Shit… you can't eat this yet what am I thinking," Ellie said as she turned around to face Grant who looked up at her.
"Maamamama," Grant babbled.
Ellie smiled, "Yes I'm mama. Come on say, Dada… Daada."
"Maaaaammmaaa," Grant screamed.
"We'll get it eventually," Ellie told him as she kissed his head and turned to see Bucky, "How long have you been there?"
"Dada," Bucky said with a grin as he walked over and pulled her into his arms with a kiss.
"Mmm hi," Ellie said as she looked up at him with sparkling eyes.
"When are you visiting from?" Bucky asked her.
"March 2022," Ellie said sadly as she touched his face, "It's been over half a year since I've seen your face. Its… it has been way too long."
"You can visit me more often you know," Bucky told her tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
"I know," She told him with a sigh, "Everything with Steve was going on here but… there is a lot of stuff going on for me too. Remember how I said that the Richards were teaching Grant to skate?" Ellie asked.
"Yeah," Bucky said.
"He started hockey and he is really into it. Sports are starting to… try to come back again. Seeing him skate, is so funny Buck," Ellie told him with a smile, "God I wish I could show you"
"One day you'll figure it out," Bucky told her with a smile.
"Yeah one day," Ellie said sadly as she pulled away to turn the heat off for his omelet, "Grant and I made you an omelet"
"You know I love them," Bucky told her.
"So does your son by the way," Ellie told him as she plated it.
"Does he?" Bucky asked as he took it.
"Yep… he eats his with peppers and cheese but likes mushrooms on it," Ellie told him.
"That is your influence," Bucky said with a grin as he sat at the kitchen island.
"Yeah," Ellie said as she bit her lip.
"Are you okay?" Bucky asked.
"It's time Buck," Ellie told him sadly, "When I leave, you need to tell me… her, that I need to go back to confront Howard. Tell him he needs to work on a serum that will counteract Agent D-743."
"Agent D-743?" Bucky asked as he closed his eyes, "That…shit that is what they designed to use…against me?"
"No, they designed it to control me. In case the serum they gave me was too much so they could try to save me. They didn't know how the serum would affect my body so… Howard created it, but I didn't know he used Zola's notes," Ellie told him, "He has to work off that."
"Okay," Bucky said.
Ellie stood on her tiptoes and kissed him, "I love you."
"I love you too," Bucky said as he pulled her into a hug.
"I wish I could stay here in your arms," Ellie said resting her head on his chest, "But I have to get back. Steve is out of town and Nat… I don't know what she is doing anymore. If the kids wake up, I don't want them freaked out when they can't wake me."
"If you need me, I'm here," Bucky said as she looked up at him.
"I know…it's the only thing that keeps me going sometimes," Ellie told him sadly as she kissed him, "I will see you soon. For me, not soon enough but I'll see you soon."
Bucky led her to their bedroom and tucked her in, "Sleep well, my Angel. I'll be waiting for you in your dreams."
Ellie closed her eyes as he kissed her nose and fell back asleep with a smile on her face.
Bucky walked back out to the kitchen and sat down next to Grant in his bouncer as he started eating his omelet, "Bud, when it comes time… I need you to keep an eye on her for me. Can you do that for me?"
"Mmamama," Grant babbled.
"Yeah keep an eye on Mama for me," Bucky told him as Grant started fussing, "Mama is sleeping, we have to give her a little more time then she will feed you."
"He has to be starving," Ellie said as she walked into the kitchen, "He didn't wake me up for his 5 am feeding."
"Umm… he may have already been fed," Bucky told her.
Ellie frowned as she sat with Grant at the table and he didn't seem very interested in feeding, "Wait you have an omelet. I came to visit didn't I?"
"Yes," Bucky said, "You gave me a message to give to you. We are going to get a call soon and when we do you have to go back and confront Howard about everything. Also what Steve was poisoned with was Agent D-743. Tell him he has to work on the antidote for it."
"Shit… that's what they used for me," Ellie said, "They created it for me in case… the serum didn't work. How… damn, Hydra."
"This is all on Hydra-" Bucky said as Ellie's phone rang.
Ellie grabbed it, "Nat?"
"Ellie, his blood pressure just skyrocketed. They are trying to manage it right now but it's getting worse," Natasha told her.
Ellie looked at Bucky, "Nat don't worry I'm on it."
Ellie hung up and handed her phone to Bucky, "Take this, I'll be in our room."
Bucky followed her, "When are you going back to?"
"1987," Ellie said as she walked into their room, "Howard was in New York when I was and his lab was there. I had come to the lab for some tests and was staying at his home because of it. I'll be gone for a few hours."
Bucky kissed her as he took Grant so that she could lie down on the bed, "Be careful."
Ellie laid down and thought of New York and Howard's condo.
*~*~* May 15, 1987- Manhattan, NY *~*~*
Ellie gasped as she opened her eyes, and looked around orienting herself to make sure she was in Howard's condo as she remembered. Getting out of bed, she quickly grabbed her clothes out of her go-bag, then got dressed so that she could leave the bedroom.
Maria Stark looked up at her as she walked past the kitchen, "Hello Ellie, you are up early for getting in so late."
Ellie stopped and looked at her as she tried not to think about her upcoming death, "Maria, I am sorry to bother you but where is Howard?" Ellie asked her.
"He is downstairs," Maria told her, "Go ahead on down there. He is in his office. Would you like some breakfast?"
"Thank you but I can make something for myself later," Ellie said as she went down the stairs and walked over to the door.
Throwing the door open, she flinched as it slammed against the wall, "Sorry," She said as she looked at Howard sheepishly.
"Gees Ellie, you scared the shit out of me," Howard said holding his chest. He frowned as he walked over to her, "What is up with your eyes?"
Ellie shut the door behind her, "I am going to tell you something, and you are going to tell me the whole truth and you are not going to tell a soul. Do you get it? Because you know me, and you know I can get the whole truth"
"What? You don't think I can keep a secret?" Howard asked offended.
"No, I know you can and that is the problem. Did you know that Hydra had a hand in my powers?" Ellie asked as she stood right in front of him.
Howard looked at her wide-eyed as the ends of her hair started sparking, "What the hell Ellie?"
Ellie screamed, "Tell me the truth Howard!"
"No! Well… not at first. What did you find something? I had suspicions about Reinstein until Zola died but… did you find something?" Howard asked.
Ellie sighed as she sat on his desk, "Thank God, but Howard why haven't you told anyone?"
"Zola is dead and Reinstein hasn't done anything… weird in years. He and Zola were working on projects together and… why do you know that they had a hand in your powers?" Howard asked.
Ellie looked at him, "Do you promise me what I am about to tell you is going to stay in this room? It cannot get to anyone, Peggy, SHIELD or anyone. Any changes could… set off an avalanche of World ending possible changes."
"What did you discover?" Howard asked suddenly serious.
"I'm not the Ellie you know," Ellie told him.
Howard frowned, "What do you mean?"
"Howard… I'm from 2018," Ellie told him.
Howard backed up, and collapsed into his chair, "What?"
Ellie sighed, "I can't give too much away about the future… your future but something happens to me soon here. You have to put me back under."
"How… tell me something…something about the future that won't…change anything by me knowing," Howard told her.
Ellie bit her lip, then smiled, "Tony runs a multi billion-dollar company called Stark Industries that has cornered the tech world and he does it by being a philanthropist. He has saved lots of people with his work."
"Shit," Howard said looking at her, "That's why you haven't aged a bit"
"No, but in the future… my future… someone I love very dear also has the serum… or their version of it. They were exposed to Agent D-743," Ellie told him.
Howard stared at her, "Impossible. It's locked up in SHIELD…it gets stolen doesn't it?"
"That I don't know. It just becomes a weapon. Problem is I don't know the antidote" Ellie told him.
"I don't have one. It was just to eliminate your abilities if they became too much. How has it affected… him?" Howard asked.
"THEY are losing muscle mass and strength, slowly they are reverting to their previous… abilities before the serum," Ellie told him.
Howard looked at her, "How long has this person had their serum?"
Ellie thought for a second, "Nine years."
"The serum should be solidified in their DNA, it's unmutating their DNA?" Howard asked.
"Yes," Ellie said with a nod as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Shit then they had to have been exposed to it for a long time," Howard said with a sigh, "I don't have an antidote, Ellie."
"Well, you have some time until it is needed. I need you to work on it, and when you… when you create it, put it with me where you end up hiding me," Ellie told him, "So I know where to find it."
"I hide you?" Howard asked surprised, "What happens that I have to hide you?"
"Yes… something happens in the future, and you think that is the only option for my survival and you are right. You save me by doing that," Ellie told him, "I want to thank you for a lot of stuff Howard. You have been very… influential to my life. Both financially and otherwise."
"Have you… stabilized your powers?" Howard asked.
"Yes… thanks to a group of scientists… and a lot of work. I am stable. No more blowing up things," Ellie told him with a grin, "I even can float."
"You can fly?" Howard asked surprised.
"Float… I'm not a bird," Ellie told him frowning, "But seriously Howard, you need to get to work on it. I can't lose them."
"I will but… can I see it?" Howard asked, "The floating that is."
Ellie rolled her eyes, "I'm not sure if I can do it without the chip in my brain."
"Wait they put a chip in your brain? A chip of what?" Howard asked interested.
"You know I can't tell you that Howard," Ellie told him as she closed her eyes and focused her powers. She felt the surge of power flowing over her body and was a few inches off the floor when things started sparking and blowing around her and the power went out.
"Shit," Howard said staring at her, "My God… you were actually off the ground and you are glowing."
Ellie put her feet down, "See told you, anyways…I hate to do this but I promised someone that I would do something."
"What?" Howard asked as he came over to her.
Ellie punched him with her right hook and sent him to the ground, "Howard? Shit, sorry. I promised Tony I would do that if I ever came back to visit. I didn't mean to knock you out."
She turned around at a noise behind her, to see Peggy standing at the door with her brow raised.
"What did he do?" Peggy asked with a smile.
Ellie walked over to her, "Peggy I have to-"
Peggy took a quick intake of breath as she looked into her eyes, "When are you from?"
Ellie frowned with an intake of breath, "Come to my room."
Peggy followed her back upstairs to the bedroom that she was using and Ellie locked the door behind them.
"How do you know?" Ellie asked turning to look at her.
Peggy sighed, "Someone from the future… visited me... prior."
"And they told you everything?" Ellie asked surprised.
"Not everything but… about you and your life," Peggy told her, "Without too many details that I couldn't change. I'm so happy for you Ellie."
Ellie tried not to cry as she pulled Peggy into a hug.
"So… when are you visiting from?" Peggy asked.
"2018 Peg, everything is so different there. I miss the simple things you know?" Ellie said as she led her over to the bed so they could sit.
"So… 2018… Grant has been born?" Peggy asked.
Ellie laughed, "Shit you do know everything," Ellie said, "Yeah, I have a son."
Peggy took her hands, "I am so happy for you. Are you happy?"
"There are a lot of things… going on… impending," Ellie told him, "Sometimes it sucks knowing the future and knowing something is happen… something is coming that I have no control over and I can't stop."
"Just remember it takes time to build castles," Peggy told her.
Ellie frowned remembering Daniel Junior, "Are you secretly Irish?"
Peggy laughed, "No why?"
"Is Daniel, Irish?" Ellie asked.
"Daniel? Oh Daniel, yes… he is Irish, on his mother's side," Peggy told her.
"Okay… I thought he was part Spanish or something so I was confused," Ellie told her with a sigh, "Nevermind that… I need to be heading back."
Peggy took her hand, "Tell… the family… that I send my love."
Ellie frowned, "Peggy, what do you know?"
"That you need to be getting back, all in due time," Peggy told her as she stepped back, "Go to sleep Ellie. Don't ask questions right now, go home to him."
Ellie laid back, "We will talk later."
"I bet we will," Peggy said as Ellie closed her eyes.
*~*~* March 23, 2018 – Wakanda *~*~*
Ellie gasped as she sat up in bed.
"Breathe, Angel… just breathe," Bucky said as he held her shoulders as she gasped for breath, "Whoa, whoa… you are okay," Bucky said as he sat next to her.
Ellie groaned, "The farther back I go the harder it is," Ellie said running her hand over her face.
"Did you do it?" Bucky asked.
"If he was able to do it, he should have put it where my pod was. Under the panther," Ellie said as she tried to stand up and got dizzy.
Bucky caught her and eased her back onto the bed.
"Take it slow, I'll tell Shuri," Bucky said as he called Shuri.
"Yes, Brother?" Shuri answered.
"Check for the cure for Steve where Ellie was stored. It would be labeled SHIELD or Howard Stark or something along those lines," Bucky told her.
"I'll head down there now," Shuri told him as she ended the call.
Ellie rolled her neck trying to stretch out her muscles.
"So what did Howard say?" Bucky asked rubbing her shoulders.
Ellie sighed, "He had suspicions but wasn't for sure. Do you know what surprised me the most? Peggy knows."
Bucky sat next to her, "Knows what?"
"If my suspicions are right. She knew about almost everything, about Grant... about a lot of things. She wouldn't tell me because I shouldn't know too much about the future," Ellie said shaking her head, "I'm visiting her from the future and she is telling me that she knows about my future."
"How did she know?" Bucky asked.
"Someone from our future goes back to tell her. I don't know why I would though," Ellie told him confused.
Bucky bit his lip, then looked at her with a smile, "We know you figure out physical time travel... What if it's not just you that can do it?"
Ellie laughed, "Steve... He would tell Peggy everything, of course, he would."
Bucky leaned over and kissed her, "You tell the people you love everything when you trust them."
Ellie slowly stood up, "I'm okay now... Let go check on Steve."
Bucky pulled her up and into his arms, "He is going to be okay."
Ellie buried her face in his chest, "I know."
Ellie walked into the hospital room to see Steve with an oxygen mask on his face, "Has Shuri been here yet?"
Natasha frowned as she sat holding Steve's hand, "No."
Steve pulled the mask off his face, "Did you do it?"
"Do what?" Ellie asked him innocently.
"Confront Howard," Steve said gasping for breath
"Put the mask back on. Yes, I did. He didn't know, but he suspected something after I was frozen the first time but never knew for sure. I feel a little better at least about it," Ellie said as Shuri came in the room with Dr. Ksie and a box.
"This is marked for Ellie, so I assume this is it," Shuri said as she sat it down, "It was in this refrigerated box. Somehow… it was fueled for years to stay cool."
She hit the button and it lit up, opening with steam rising out of it.
Inside sat three vials and an envelope.
"Ellie, it has your name on it," Shuri told her holding it out to her.
Ellie took it and chuckled as she saw the writing on the envelope, "Howard."
Opening the envelope, she unfolded the envelope.
Ellie,
To know that I am writing this to you in the future, in a time that I do not know when it will even be read, it blows my mind. I hope all is well and this is the cure you need. Peggy dumped Steve's blood into the river years ago, so we have nothing to test it o to be sure. Administer in the following order. Red vial, wait 2 minutes, then shake green vial and immediately administer black vial. Administer 2 liters of your blood to strengthen. That should all that needs to be done for it to work and jump-start it.
If I am alive, look me up but I assume I am gone since you came back to ask me. Look up Tony for me and tell him that I love him. He is the best thing I have ever created and that I am sorry that I have been a horrible father.
Howard
On the bottom of the paper was a simple phrase written, 'Until the end of the line'.
Ellie stared at it then showed it to Bucky.
Bucky shook his head, "That's not Howard's writing."
"Nope, that is Peggy's," Ellie said, "All but confirmed my suspicions too. Anyways Dr. Ksie, Howard says we need 2 liters of my blood for it to work. Do we still have what I gave before?"
"We have used almost a liter experimenting. Probably better to be safe and give only one more," Ksie told her, "Come with me downstairs and we will get it quickly."
Ellie nodded and followed him as they left the room.
Ellie took Steve's hand as the medical team prepped around them, "We don't know if this is going to work for sure Steve."
Steve smiled under his mask, "I know," His muffled voice replied, "But it will."
"Are you ready Steve?" Ksie asked.
Steve nodded as he coughed, "Go for it doc."
Ksie looked at the directions then attached the red vial to Steve's IV. Ellie watched the blue-tinged liquid flow through the tubing into his arm.
"Start the timer," Ksie said to his assistant.
Ellie looked over him then at his face, "Do you notice anything yet?"
"No, it just started Ellie," Steve told her.
"30 seconds," Dr. Ksie said as they noticed Steve's temperature was rising.
Dr. Ksie picked up the green vial and started to shake it as the alarm went off, as well at the timer. He injected the green vial into Steve's IV. Immediately as it flowed into his arm, Steve's back stiffened and he gasped.
"Steve!" Natasha yelled as she held down his shoulder as his body moved off the bed.
"Hold him still," Dr. Ksie said as he put the black vial into his IV next.
Ellie put her hand on Steve's chest to feel his heartbeat as Dr. Ksie switch it over to the blood transfusion, "His heart is beating irregular."
Steve's eyes open wide and he gasped then the machine showed a flat line.
"No!" Ellie screamed as her hand glowed over her chest.
"Move back Ellie," Dr. Ksie said as the room filled with the familiar rhythm starting back up on the monitor as Steve's eyes opened.
Bucky tried to move her back.
"No! Something is happening," Ellie said as she placed her other hand on his head and it started to glow.
Dr. Ksie looked at his vitals, "They are improving"
Ellie closed her eyes and concentrated. Steve's body started to glow from her hand over his heart spreading across his body.
Natasha stood next to him, "Are you okay?"
Steve looked over at her, "I feel like…I'm in a hot tub."
Without opening her eyes, she told Ksie, "Give him the other bag."
Dr. Ksie looked over to see her blood transfusion had already emptied and switched the bags out.
After five minutes Ellie sat back with sweat streaming down her face breathing heavily, "I think I did it."
*~*~* March 24, 2018 – Wakanda *~*~*
Ellie couldn't sleep, so she left the palace and wandered to the hospital. The doors slid open and she slipped out of view of the night security at the front desk.
The man frowned and walked over to the door to look outside to see what had opened the door. So she took the time while he was looking and ran full force as fast and as quiet as she could to the stairs. Quietly opening the door, she slipped into the stairwell and walked up to Steve's floor.
Opening the door, she looked out and when no one was there she walked to his room.
In front of the door was one of the Dora Milaje standing guard. Ellie stood in front of her, "Hello… I'm visiting my brother now," She said trying to make sure she was using her voice that she needed to be to persuade people, "I do not want to be disturbed."
The guard stepped aside and nodded.
Ellie walked in shutting the door behind her.
"El?" Steve's voice asked from the bed.
"Yeah Stevie it's me," Ellie said as she walked over to him and turned the light on next to his bed, "How are you feeling?"
"Fine… I think I'm back to normal honestly. How are you?" Steve said as he sat up.
"A little tired but I can't sleep," Ellie told him as he moved over and patted the bed.
She hopped up next to him and he pulled her into him.
"You saved me El," Steve told her as he kissed the top of her head, "That glowing that you did…"
Ellie bit her lip, "Grant's healing powers come from me. Steve… I'm scared," Ellie told him as tears fell from her eyes, "I don't even know what I am capable of."
"I know… you are an amazing Mom, a beautiful person, a badass, the best sister in the world that I owe so much to," Steve told her, "You've saved my life… so many times that I've lost count."
"Steve… if…if something big would happen… and you had to leave me. I… I want you to know I'm okay… I will be okay with it," Ellie told him thinking of Peggy.
Steve frowned, "What do you mean El?"
Ellie sighed, "How we got the cure for you, was I went back to confront Howard. When I did I ran into Peggy… she knew about Grant."
Steve was quiet for a minute, "You think I would leave Nat, leave Sarah… leave you and Grant and go back into the past if I had a chance with Peggy again? You are crazy El."
"Look I don't know how she knew. She didn't tell me how she knew but… she knew. I am just letting you know if… there does come a time. I won't like it but I'll be okay," Ellie told him.
"There won't be that time. I'd never leave Sarah," Steve told her, "Now go to sleep… we both deserve it."
Steve reached up and turned the light off then they both settled in on the small bed.
"A little different than the 30s," Ellie mumbled.
Steve laughed, "The bed is even bigger than our apartment was, but it feels smaller."
"Are you calling me fat Steve?" Ellie joked with a smile.
"Oh shut it so I can sleep," Steve told her as he closed his eyes.
Ellie looked at him as her eyes adjusted.
"Quit staring at me with your weird night vision and go to sleep," Steve mumbled.
"Why didn't I get your eyelashes?" Ellie wondered laughing as he tried to push her out of bed and she had to hold onto the rail, "You got your strength back I see."
"Are you going to shut up or go home?" Steve asked.
"I'll shut up. Night Stevie," Ellie said as she closed her eyes.
"Night EllieBelly," Steve said calling her his nickname from their childhood.
Ellie had just started to drift off when she felt something on the edge of her consciousness. Opening her eyes, she saw a man standing on the other side of the room with his finger against his lips.
Slowly climbing out of bed, she walked over to him, "Strange why are you here?"
Dr. Strange glanced back at Steve, "Is he okay?"
"He is now, but why are you here?" Ellie asked.
"I need your help but… we don't have a lot of time. I've looked into the future and… it was bleaker than I first feared. We do not have much time," Dr. Strange told her.
"We don't have time for what?" She asked as he turned to leave.
He turned back and looked at her, "To get you trained. Come."
Ellie glanced back at Steve, "I can't leave. I have my son and Bucky, Steve-"
"They won't even know you are gone," He told her as he punched at her body and she fell back.
"You asshole!" Ellie yelled as she looked down at her hands then watched wide-eyed as Dr. Strange picked her body up and placed it back into bed.
"Are you ready to be trained now?" Strange asked looking at her, "Like I said they won't even know you are gone."
"It will help save people?" Ellie asked.
"You will save us all," Strange told her simply.
Ellie glanced at Steve then back at him, "Take me where I need to go." Ellie told him.
a/n3: So what did you all think of the chapter? Please leave me a review so I know what you guys are thinking about the direction so far. It could even be MORE SOON! I just want to know how many people are reading. Time management is a huge factor for me right now. I am working 42 hour weeks and I am back to school in my Master's program full time. I wrote a lot during Christmas break but in the two weeks, I've not finished a single chapter. So please leave me a note!
Now to the review:
Gingin1975: Thank you for reading and reviewing. It is just going to get worse.
Now here is your preview of Chapter 78- Time of your life:
Bucky walked into their apartment after hanging out with Steve for a bit, to see Grant scooting his way to him. Bucky picked him up and put him on his hip, "Grant, where is your Mommy?"
Grant squealed and smacked Bucky in the face.
"Yeah yeah," Bucky said as he walked deeper into the apartment and found Ellie on the floor, "Oh God, Ellie."
He fell to his knees next to her and rolled her onto her back.