Author's Note:

The last chapter of the first arc. Next chapter the movie plot truly begins. Which will be a lot darker and also a lot longer. We are going to be in the world of the TFA for a longtime. Hope everyone has enjoyed the trip so far. As always please review and let me know what you think. No triggers for this chapter.

"Excuse me, Dr. Rogers." Astrid looked up from her paperwork. She was sitting in her office sifting through patient charts, surgery notes. Every shred of paperwork that went through the office. Her least favorite part of being chief. She wondered if the Dean was trying to kill her with all the paperwork. She might actually consider getting a secretary one of these days. "Dr. Rogers!" She looked up. One of the nurses pocking her head through the door. "The Dean of Medicine wants to see you now."

"Can it wait?" Astrid asked glancing at the clock on the wall. "I'm expecting to see a patient shortly."

"He said it was urgent."

Astrid growled. With him everything was urgent. "Better be." The nurse ducked away from view. Not wanting to deal with an aggravated Astrid.

She walked to the Dean's office. Having long since memorized the route. Astrid had been in there a lot since becoming chief. For both good and bad reasons. Luckily it wasn't too far away so she might be able to deal with whatever the Dean wanted and get back to her patients.

"This better be important," Astrid stated opening the door and walking in. "I got patients that ne-" She stopped when she saw that they weren't alone. Some sort of army officer was also in the room. A colonel judging by the rank on his uniform. Standing over the Dean who was sitting at his desk. Who looked less than happy.

"I can assure you this is highly important," the officer stated. His voice was gruff fitting the rest of him. Glaring at Astrid. Astrid knew that she would not get along with him. Whatever he was here to say wasn't good. She hoped that they hadn't caught on to Steve trying to enlist from different cities.

"Please close the door and take a seat," the Dean added on gesturing towards the door. Astrid did so. Sitting in front of his desk. He got out a syringe and passed it to Astrid. It was filled with a silver liquid. "I'm going to assume that you don't need to be told what this is."

"No, I don't," Astrid replied taking the syringe from him and injecting it into her arm. Just as she had done a 100 times before. She was curious though why they were requiring her to take the rank marker.

"Let's cut to the chase shall we," the army officer stated. His voice sounding like he eats cigarettes for every meal. "My name is Colonel Magweather and you are a trained Nazi torturer."

Astrid sat up straighter. She could already feel the injection starting to work. Burning through her veins. "You here to arrest me?"

"No, to recruit you. I want you to train our torturers in the Nazis' methods. What techniques they use. How to counter them."

Astrid shrugged. Feeling herself relax. If that was all... "Consider it done."

Dean's eyebrows shot up. "You sure? This is not a light commitment."

Astrid rolled her eyes. "Trust me. There is no lost love between me and bloody Nazi Germany."

"Great," Magweather added in. "Then you'll have no qualms when you are deployed in June."

Now that got Astrid. "I'm sorry?!" She stood up. If looks could kill then Magweather would be a pile of ash on the floor. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll train whoever you need me to train but I'm not going to set one toe off this country. Or Hell, even out of New York City!"

Magweather chuckled. "You think that you have a choice?"

Astrid glanced at the Dean. Wondering if he was going to step in. When it was clear that he wasn't Astrid took control. "I actually believe I do. Not only am I an American citizen through marriage but I'm also a woman. Not subject to the draft." The one thing being a woman was good for in this society.

Magweather took a step closer. "But you are a German and not just any German. One trained by the Nazis to torture." He pointed towards her. "Your marks prove it."

Astrid rolled her eyes. She could feel the medication do its job. Already seeing the gold markings on her hands. Meaning that it was obvious on the rest of her body as well. Showing the marks that she got after she graduated from the program. Only revealed when injected with a special chemical. "Arresting me for treason won't get you what you want."

"No, but arresting your husband will." Astrid's blood ran cold and not from the liquid racing through her veins.

She turned to the Dean. But he looked at her helplessly. "He can't be serious? Going after family? That goes against-"

"The torturer's code?" the Dean finished off. "I know. But he isn't one of you." He almost sounded sorry.

"So you can see I am quite serious." Magweather took another step closer. "I understand that you've only been married recently. What is it? Seven months now?" Astrid didn't say anything. Only continuing to glare at him. "I also understand that he isn't in the best of health." He tsked. "Not sure prison would be a good environment for him." Astrid was ready to rip his throat out. "So here are your options. You are going to be shipped out to Europe in June under the guise of being a doctor with the appropriate rank that comes with it. Your actual orders will be to forcibly extract knowledge and intel from whoever we order you extract knowledge from. The only difference between your two choices are whether your husband is sitting comfortably at home or rotting in a jail cell." Astrid was trembling. Fighting the urge to cut the man's throat and leave him bleeding on the floor. He got right up into her face. "So what will it be?"

Astrid let out a huff. There was no winning this. She had no idea how she was going to explain this to Steve or Shamira. "I'm sure my husband will enjoy some time alone at home."

"Good choice." He started to head out the door.

"I do have one request though." Shamira was going to kill her. But it would be worse if Astrid didn't drag her into his. "I want to bring my executioner with me. We can say that she's my medical secretary."

The colonel shrugged. "Consider it done. I'll be mailing your orders to your house tomorrow." With that, he left the room. Astrid immediately turning to the Dean. Slamming her hands on his desk.

"I swear that if anything happens to Steve you won't even be able to comprehend the torture that I will put you through." He actually had the decency to look scared. Her rank was as clear as day. The gold shining through every part of exposed skin.

"No harm will come to your husband as long as he is in this city," he stammered. "You have my word." She stood up straight. Not believing the day that she was having. Turning to the door.

"Have Dr. Maxwell take my patients for the day." She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "I have to explain to Shamira why we are getting shipped out." She didn't even know how to begin to explain it to Steve. All he wanted more than anything was to go out and fight. But he kept getting 4F after 4F. Astrid got the feeling that he would try in every single city until someone took him.

She left his office. Not bothering to close the door. The marks of her rank already fading off her skin. The Americans needed the stronger stuff. In Germany, it lasted a good half hour. Not even bothering to say goodbye to anyone Astrid left the hospital and headed straight home. Hoping that Shamira was already home. That work didn't hold her hostage today.

"You're home early," Shamira stated as soon as Astrid opened the door. "What hap-" The look Astrid gave her killed her good mood. She had seen that look many times before. Usually before Astrid torturers someone. "What happened?"

"You and I have been recruited by the U.S army. We ship out in June." Shamira looked at her as if she didn't believe what she was hearing.

"I'm sorry?" Shamira asked standing up. "I must have misheard you. Because I thought you just said that we have been recruited by the U.S army. Which is absolutely absurd-"

"You heard me right."

Shamira threw up her hands. Running her fingers through her hair. "Look I know Steve has probably gotten into your head. But you promised me. You promised me that we wouldn't go back."

"It's not by choice Shamira." Astrid walked up and took one of her hands. "They were going to arrest Steve for treason if I didn't say yes."

Shamira's temper towards Astrid cooled. She shook her head. "Bastards!" She stared at Astrid. "What are our orders?"

Astrid scoffed. "Officially or unofficially?" Shamira let out a string of curses in German. Astrid was half tempted to join her. Breaking away from Astrid to resume pacing. Once she had calmed down enough she turned to face Astrid.

"So June?"

"June."

Shamira signed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "How are you going to tell Steve?"

"Tell me what?" Steve asked coming in the door with Bucky. Carrying a boatload of groceries. Bucky basically lived here. Even if he didn't live here, live here.

Astrid felt her stomach drop. She wanted at least some time to figure out how to word it. She had no choice now. Swallowing the lump in her throat.

"I got to be honest I have no idea how to say this," Astrid started looking over at Steve who was busy unloading groceries. " So I'm just going to say it. Shamira and I have been recruited into the Army." Steve dropped the carton of eggs he was holding but Astrid swiftly caught it with her mind. Floating it to the kitchen counter.

"What?" Steve asked whirling around to face her. "I thought that you said you never wanted to go back. Why would you enlist?" He was clearly hurt. His pride wounded.

Astrid walked up to him. Taking his hands into hers. "It wasn't by choice. They figured who I was… what I am." She took a deep breath. "If I didn't say yes they told me that they would arrest you on false charges."

"Bastards," Bucky spat. "How could they?"

"They have," Shamira replied. "We leave in June."

"So you had to say yes," Steve stated softly. "To protect me." He started to turn away from her. But she held on tightly to him.

"Do not blame yourself," Astrid implored. "It is no way shape or form your fault. It's the fault of the man who tracked me down and recruited me. Who is willing to resort to blackmail to get what he wants." She turned to Shamira. Eyes begging for forgiveness for what she was about to say. "Though a part of me always regretted leaving. I know we had no choice. But there are still so many people over there who needed our help."

"You can't help everyone, Astrid," Shamira stated softly.

"But we can damn well try!" She let go of Steve and whirled around to face Shamira. "I know why we left. I agreed with you then and I agree with you now but we can go back."

"Steve really has gotten to you hasn't he?" she rubbed her forehead.

"There are people who can use us Shamira. It's…" Astrid swallowed the lump in her throat. "It's the right thing to do."

"I can't." Shamira shook her head. "I can't watch you get almost destroyed again." Astrid was quiet as she listened to what Shamira needed to say. Unable to form the words in English she spoke in their native tongue. "I watched as they took you away. Covered in your mother's blood. I was the one who pulled you from that ditch filled with corpses. You were barely clinging onto life. If your father didn't save you." Shamira's breath stuttered. "I saw you after the explosion. Battered. Burned. But still wanting to go on. But your father…" Tears sprung to Astrid's eyes. "After your father, I couldn't take it anymore. I can't watch you go through that again. And you can't promise me something like that won't happen again if we go back." She looked around the place. Glancing at Steve who was looking at Shamira with worried eyes. She switched back to English. "You… you are supposed to start a family. Have cute adorable kids and argue with Steve about which of his drawings to put over the mantlepiece. Not fighting to save people's lives as bullets fly over our heads or taking a knife to someone's throat in order to learn troop locations."

Astrid walked up to Shamira and embraced her. Rocking with her back and forth. "I know I can't promise that. You know me. I'm the first one to run into danger."

Shamira chuckled. "Yeah. I think the only person that has you beat for that is your husband."

"No kidding," Bucky added in. "Still trying to keep this punk from getting into fights."

Steve huffed. Leaning against the wall. Looking over everything with sad eyes. But Astrid needed to focus on Shamira first. Who was looking up with a smile.

"I've known you since we were toddlers," Shamira started. "When you shouted at the bullies heckling me for being Jewish." She chuckled looking fondly at her old friend. "Astrid I would follow you to hell and back."

Astrid pressed her forehead into Shamira's "You already have."

"Then what's one more journey into the breach? Because despite the risk of seeing you hurt not being there would be even worse. After all. Who else is going to pick up the pieces?"

"I can," Steve brought up. Astrid turned her focus to him. "I can."

Shamira smiled at him, "I suppose that is true as well. Though it might be difficult from here."

Steve shook his head. "No." He walked up to Astrid. "I will find a way to enlist. Find you over there."

"Steve," she murmured moving off of Shamira and onto him. "You are truly one of a kind. But I already have you with me." She picked up the locket from underneath her shirt. "Remember?"

Steve took the locket in his hand. "I remember."

"So remember this." She held his face between her hands. "No matter where we are. No matter how far apart we are I will always carry you with me. You are going to be with me regardless of whether you enlist or not. You are going to be with me for every patient I save. Every enemy I takedown. Every person I interrogate. You are going to be serving right beside me. And that is why I could even consider going."

Steve scoffed looking down at his shoes. "What other choice did you have?"

"Honestly? I did consider stabbing both him and the Dean. Running back here and telling us that we all had to move to Canada effective immediately."

"Kinda wished you did do that," Shamira added on. "I hear Canada is nice this time of year. Though you wouldn't make it. You would complain about being cold after our first week of winter."

Astrid rolled her eyes. She wasn't wrong. "Please. You would also hate Canada."

"Astrid's right," Bucky added on.

"I know she is," Shamira sighed exasperated. "And even that would probably not stop them."

"So you're going off to fight," Steve huffed.

"And you'll be with me," Astrid stated. He really would be. She would carry Steve close to her heart. Always and forever.