Reina kept the rifle at her side, ready to aim if needed as the group marched through the woods. Steve was at the front of the group, leading them back to base. The tanks formed lines on each side of the trail, the guns searching for any targets hidden in the woods. It was still pitch black outside, the only sources of light were the blue glows from the guns. Once they were a far enough distance apart, and sure that they were not followed, they began setting up camp or the night.
They moved the tanks to form a perimeter around them. A small group took first watch, taking their stations atop the tanks. The others started settling in for a few hours of sleep, while others built small fires for warmth. Reina found herself with her old cellmates, all of them huddled around a small fire. She sat between Bucky and Steve, her knees pulled to her chest with her arms wrapped around them. Laying her chin on her arms, she watched the crackling fire. She began nodding off, her eyes snapping back open every few seconds. She was fighting sleep, worried that they would be attacked during the night and be captured again.
"Reina" She heard Steve's voice from her left.
She tilted her head over to look at him, letting out a soft 'mh' in response.
"It's alright. You can sleep"
Reina smiled slightly, her smirk hidden by her arms.
"Thanks for the permission" Reina muttered out, stretching her legs out in front of her.
She set her palms on the ground beside her, leaning back to look up at the night sky.
"…How's Peggy?" She finally asked.
Steve took a moment to respond. "She was…distraught to say the least…She was at the base with me"
Reina looked to him again. "You guys were at the base?"
"Well for me not by choice…I had a tour here for the troops" Steve laughed slightly. "Peggy had come on her own accord, because of you. That's when she told me that the group I was talking to were part of the 107th."
Reina slid her gaze over to Bucky sleeping peacefully beside her.
"I wanted to help with the rescue mission but…" Steve continued.
"There was none" Reina finished his sentence. "I knew from the start there wouldn't be one…we would of lost more than we would of gained from it"
"That's the same thing Colonel told me"
"And he was right" Reina looked back at him now, giving him a small smile. "But I suppose he didn't take into account how stubborn you'd be"
Steve laughed at that, shaking his head. "I was just trying to save my fellow soldiers. And my friends"
"How did you make it all the way out here anyway?"
Steve pulled the broken transmitter from his pocket. "Stark and Peggy…this was supposed to let them know our location but…looks like we're walking it"
"Great. Stark couldn't have made that thing fire proof could he?" Reina shook her head.
She rubbed her eyes, dragging her hands down across her face.
"Get some sleep. We've got a long walk ahead of us" Steve leaned his back against the tank's tire.
Reina nodded slightly, turning to lay down on her side. She laid her head against her upper arm, pulling her legs up into a fetal position. She peered to her rifle sitting leaned against the tank before closing her eyes. Even with how drained she felt, she didn't fall asleep right away. Instead she laid there, listening. She could hear the chatter of soldiers on the other end of the camp, and the leaves rustling as a squirrel ran through them to climb up a tree. All her senses were so much shaper. When they made it back, she would need to have a talk with Stark. Maybe whatever type of serum she was injected with would unlock more clues to Erskine's serum.
!
When Reina woke at dawn she felt reinvigorated. The cuts and bruises that covered her arms the night before were completely gone. Even the hives from the injection were gone. For the past few months she had felt continuously weak and frail. But this morning she was wide awake and ready to take on whatever was thrown at her. As she helped pack up the makeshift camp she would steal glances of Bucky. Looking for the same change in him. He was steady on his feet, and while there was dried blood and grim on his face she couldn't see any wounds.
When they moved out, Reina was at the front of the group alongside Bucky and Dugan. The two stood on either side of her, their guns at the ready. She kept her own rifle at the ready, following behind Steve as he led them through the woods. Those that were sick or injured rode on top of the tanks, the rumbling of the tank engines the only sound for miles. They had a long march ahead of them, the goal being to make it to camp before nightfall.
!
The sun began to sink beneath the trees, turning the sky a light orange color with streaks of purples. They had been marching for hours, yet to Reina it felt like only minutes. She wasn't fatigued in the slightest, instead feeling like she could march straight through the night without stopping. There were no aches in her legs or cramps in her feet. Most of the men around her were heaving their breaths, however Reina's heartbeat was barely up. This felt like a casual stroll through the woods.
Soon they were coming up on the base, the soldiers there already forming a crowd. The barrier was lifted as they marched into camp. The soldiers began clapping, hugging and greeting their lost friends. Reina looked up as Steve stopped, peering over his shoulder to Colonel Phillips and Peggy standing in front of them. She smiled to herself, noting how Peggy only had eyes for Steve in this moment.
"I'd like to surrender myself for disciplinary action" Steve saluted.
"That won't be necessary" Colonel gave them a small smile, turning to head back to the tent. He clapped Peggy on the shoulder gently as he passed.
Reina took a step from behind Steve, Peggy's eyes finally falling on her.
"Reina…" Peggy's smile widened, the woman practically launching herself at Reina.
Reina caught her in an embrace, laughing as she felt the tears stinging her eyes.
"I thought you were dead…" Peggy sniffled, fighting back her own tears.
"I'm too stubborn for that" Reina rested her chin on her friends' shoulder for a moment before pulling back. She gave her a smirk. "Go on" Reina nodded her head back to Steve, stepping aside.
The two stood staring at each other, Reina giving Peggy a small shove forward before she made her way to the office tent.
Colonel Phillips turned to her as she entered. She saluted to him, speaking before he could get a word out.
"I'd like to give my report, Colonel"
He seemed surprised by her statement, leaning against the oak desk in the center of the tent.
"Report? On what? You should be in the medic tent" He crossed his arms over his chest. "You've been to hell and back"
"I know where I've been. But this is serious" Reina walked over to the other table, looking down at the map spread out on it. "I'm not sure how, and I don't even know if they are remotely similar to eachother, but Hydra has made their own Serum"
This caught the colonel's full attention. When Reina turned back to him, he was standing upright with his gaze locked on her.
"What" Was all he said.
"I never saw exactly what ingredients he used or how the serum was prepared. But I saw the aftermath of it"
He was silent for a moment, contemplating her words. Finally, he sat down in the office chair and folded his hands on the desk. He looked to her, nodding to continue.
"I was held in a cell inside Zola's laboratory. Within the time I was there, a dozen or so men came through his lab. It was always the same. He would inject them with a serum…and they would die agonizing deaths a few hours later. None of them ever survived" Reina shook her head, continuing. "But I did…somehow…There was no radiation used, only an injection. It caused horrific pain. I'm not even sure how long the pain lasted. It felt like days.
The Colonel stayed silent, letting Reina recount the past few days.
"Once the pain stopped…I was exhausted. I could barely move. But my hearing was amplified. Then my sight. Even my endurance was up once I was able to sleep and rest. My minor wounds completely healed over" Reina took a breath now. "I need to meet with Howard. Maybe this is what we need to unlock the serum. This, along with Steve's blood. It could be the answers"
The Colonel sat, taking it all in. Finally he looked to her.
"I'm sending all the POWS out to a city in London for rehabilitation" Phillips stood, pushing the chair back.
Reina watched him, her brows furrowing in confusion. "What?"
"You'll be going as well. We will talk to Stark in a few months. After you've had time to recover"
"Sir I'm fine we need to start now-" Reina was cut off by one of his sharp glares.
"Those are my orders, soldier."
Reina snapped her mouth shut, watching Phillips. She knew he was worried for her health. But this was so much more important than her own wellbeing.
She only nodded, muttering a strained "Yes, Sir…"