Author's Note:
No triggers for this chapter. Just Astrid and Dernier getting into trouble. Expect more of that in the future. As always please review and let me know what you think.
"This is all the medical supplies we have?" Astrid asked in perfect French. She was talking with Denier. Going over their supplies. Everything from rations to bullets. Making sure they had enough. Only a handful of the soldiers spoke French and Jones was still busy trying to get communications up with Morita. Leaving Astrid to deal with the supply problems with Dernier. She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "We're probably going to have to tear apart extra clothing for bandages. If we start having infections then we are going to be burying bodies."
"We're probably going to have to collect all the booze as well," Denier pointed out. He tsked. "The men aren't going to be happy but if it helps keep their wounds clean and your equipment sterile."
Astrid nodded looking up at him. Fully invested in his task. Taking note of everything that they had."You know what you're doing."
He shrugged. "You don't spend time in the Resistance without learning how to conserve supplies. Something I'm sure you know about as well." Astrid nodded. You had to make sure that everything you had counted. There was absolutely no allowance for waste. "Though I thought you guys were wiped out. Wasn't expecting to see you around. Rumors were flying that you had all been killed."
Astrid glanced down at her uniform. What it stood for. They had some dealings with the French Resistance in the past so it wasn't surprising that Denier knew about them. That was the point of it after all. That every corner of Europe would know. The Nazis were never safe. There was hope.
"Two of us made it out." Astrid indicated towards the front of the group. "If we ever get to where we are going, you'll meet the other one." They had been walking for six days now and they were all getting tired. Even Astrid was feeling it. If it wasn't for Steve, they would have lost morale a long time ago. But something about following the embodiment of the American Flag inspired people to continue on. Even just glancing at Steve people felt renewed.
Dernier nodded. "We're also going to have to cut rations."
She looked at him sharply. Resisting the urge to curse. "I thought we had enough."
"Of water yes but half of the rations are unusable."
"Unusable?" She arched an eyebrow at him. Dernier gave her a look in return. She had to give him credit. He hid his concern well. "I don't want to know do I."
"No, you don't."
Well, their situation couldn't get any worse. "Please tell me that we at least have ammo."
"Oh, we got that." She let out a sigh of relief. "It helps that the Hydra weapons don't require bullets. And we haven't been attacked in a while." Both were true. At least they had that going for them.
"Okay, I'll give Steve the news. If the troops are going to get the bad news it would be best to get it from him."
Dernier threw her a wicked grin. "You've two made up yet?"
"You think that we are fighting?"
He let out a laugh. Closing the last of the supply crates. "You don't stay married for as long as I have with as many kids as I do without knowing if a couple is fighting or not. And trust me you are mad at him about something." Great. Astrid wondered if everyone could sense it. That made things awkward. "I suggest that you make up. The troops don't like it when Cap and his Lady Liberty are fighting.
That stupid nickname. If she had to hear it one more time. Though it seemed that Dernier wasn't over exaggerating. Maybe she should do something. If only to keep morale up. "Well, I would have sex with him right now in front of everyone but I was afraid it would insult the American sensibilities." Dernier let out a roar of laughter. Attracting the attention of a few of the surrounding men.
"I'm glad someone else understands."
"Oh, do not get me started. And they think we're the rude ones." He nodded in agreement going back over the supplies. Trying to figure out how to extend what they had. Double-checking everything. Honestly, if it wasn't for Dernier they probably would have never even made it this far.
Astrid sighed looking around for Steve. He wasn't too hard to find. The outfit making it easy to spot him. Near the front of the group as always. Keeping a careful eye on the treeline. Not wanting any surprises. Once she located him, she headed straight towards him. Noticing that Bucky was talking to him as well. Those two were basically inseparable.
"Hey Astrid," Bucky stated. She flashed him a smile. Bucky was doing a whole lot better than how he was when they first rescued him. He also didn't seem to be perturbed by Steve and his changes. "Coming here to keep Steve and I company?" It was actually kinda odd. Ever since their rescue, he's been acting as Steve's wingman. Trying to convince her that he was the same person. Bucky hadn't succeeded. Yet.
Despite their night together in the barn, Astrid was still concerned. She had no reason to be at all. But a part of her mind wondered if he was just pulling her into a false sense of security. That it would all come tumbling down the moment she was completely vulnerable. After all, Steve was the only other person besides Shamira who truly and deeply knew her. And considering the changes that her father went through… it wasn't out of the realm of possibility for Steve to be bidding his time. Waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
"I wish," Astrid replied. "We got a problem." She connected their minds and debriefed them on their supply situation. Steve gritted his teeth. It wasn't good.
'Any chance we can stretch the supplies?' he asked.
'Dernier is working on it as we speak but it doesn't look good.' Bucky and Steve shared a look. It was more than not good. It would tank morale and make it harder for them to continue on. There were still deep in enemy territory. 'I think he and I should go on a scouting mission to see if we could find more supplies.' Astrid felt a flare of emotion come from Steve. An emotion that she had never felt from him before. Jealousy?
She looked at him hard. Breaking off the connection. In the early days of their relationship, he used to get jealous. Side effect of low self-confidence. But he always trusted her. Using it as an opportunity to better himself. Not that he ever needed to. Now on the other hand. What was he going to do? Was he going to prevent her from going?
"Be safe okay," Steve stated giving her a small smile. "Last time you went out you got shot. The last thing I want to see is you covered in your own blood again." The wound had basically healed up at this point. The creams Astrid used really did wonders. Something else she was running low on.
She felt her heart melt a little. Unable to help herself she kissed him on the cheek. Just how she used to. Except now she had to reach up to do it. If she was honest with herself the extra height made it a little easier. Just something she would have to get used to.
"I will be love." Steve had a blush covered his face. Less nervous now. Steve had nothing to worry about. Even with the changes, Astrid would never be with another man than the one she married.
After deciding where to meet up she headed out to find Dernier. He was still going over supplies. Finding places where they could save.
"We got our orders," Astrid said in perfect French. "He wants us to see if we can find anything."
Dernier raised an eyebrow. Looking around them. "Seriously? We are in the middle of the woods."
He was right. They were still deep in the woods. Having been so for days. "We might be able to find something. We're ordered to take a couple of men and scavenge what we can find. At the schedule, we're keeping we only need enough to tide us over for a few days."
Dernier rolled his eyes and signed. "Better get started then." Astrid nodded grabbing the two brothers from Montana as well. Both of them were experienced hunters. Even just a couple of game animals would be enough to start.
Which is how her and Dernier ended up even deeper in the woods. Scanning the area for any sign of life other than themselves. The two hunters had some luck. Catching a few rabbits and a deer but still, there was a need for more.
"Your group didn't keep any caches in this area?" Dernier asked stepping over a fallen log.
Astrid shook her head wincing at the sound of crunching leaves underneath her feet. Hating any sound that could give away their location. "There wasn't any need to. Hydra's headquarters is close enough that we could just head in that direction if we needed anything."
"Right because at that time you didn't realize that Schmidt was completely insane."
"He wasn't Red Skull at the time." Astrid knew she was defending him at this point and he did not deserve it. Not after the things that he had done. But deep down a part of her knew that he wasn't always like this. Sure, he was zealous, often going too far. Embodying the ends justifying the means but after the serum, it was like all the bad traits were dialed up to 11. Not that she could explain that to Dernier. Or anyone else besides Shamira.
Dernier didn't respond. Something that Astrid was gracious about. She really didn't want to argue over it. And in the end, they would both agree on the same thing. He had to be stopped.
Though Dernier had a point. Her group may not have had a cache but someone else might.
"What do you think are the chances that the Nazis have set up camp somewhere around here?" Astrid asked him. Stopping for just a moment. "It wasn't too long ago that we ran into that patrol and we can't be the only ones who know that there was a Hydra base here."
Dernier snorted. Stopping right next to her. "Good luck finding it if there is one. We got so much forest to cover."
She cocked her head side to side. He had a point there. But she had her own way of finding people. Sending out a mind pulse to see if she could detect anyone. Nothing but the two of them. Even the twins managed to make it back to the main group. Disappointing but not unexpected.
"Any other suggestions?"
Dernier tilted his head and looked around. "You know what we might find? A farm or maybe even a town."
Astrid scoffed. "One that hasn't been completely destroyed?" She shook her head. "We have a better chance of finding the Nazis."
He shrugged his shoulders. "Thought I saw a road a little bit back. Might as well see where it goes." Having no better ideas Astrid followed Dernier as he led her to the road. Retracing some of their footsteps. Though it was less of a road and more of a dirth path cut through the forest. Clear of any undergrowth. Someone else had definitely been through here.
It was only desperation for supplies that kept them going. Finally reaching their destination after an hour of solid walking. Astrid about ready to give up until she picked up the sounds of people. Once they realized what they were looking at they both took cover. Hiding behind a large rock. Letting out a string of curses in their native tongues. Oh, they found their destination alright. A well-defended well maintained Nazi camp. Complete silence between the two of them. If they tipped off the Nazis that they were here they would be dead. No questions asked.
It didn't look good. The camp was crawling with them. She scanned for any points of weakness. Seeing where they could sneak through. Astrid also spotted exactly what they needed. A supply truck parked on the other side. Still loaded up. Reading the minds of the nearby guards she realized they had the perfect opportunity. Cripple the Nazis and get what they needed. That supply truck bringing in much-needed supplies. She signaled to Dernier. Pointing to the truck. All they needed was a distraction.
After several hand gestures which felt more like a game of charades than military communication, they had come up with a plan. Just as Astrid was about to crack and send her thoughts directly into his head. Only reason she didn't was that the first-time experience was rather shocking. And giving away their position was not part of the plan.
It was a relatively simple plan. Astrid would sneak in and once Dernier gave the signal start the truck. What that signal was she had no idea. Probably something big. She crawled around the edge of the camp. Careful to not be spotted. Shielding herself from those with weaker minds. Making it so that when they looked in her direction their minds would make them think that there was nothing there. It didn't affect those with stronger minds. But lucky for Astrid there didn't seem to be any of those here.
When she finally reached the truck, she took out the three men around. One near the back of the truck. Slitting his throat with ease. Not even enough time to make a sound. One on the side. Covering his mouth and stabbing him through the ear. Killing him instantly. Before finally taking out the man sitting in the truck. Sneaking in through the back. Stabbing him through the back of his neck before kicking him out of the driver seat. Hoping into the seat herself. Now all she had to do was wait for Dernier's signal.
Which turned out to be a freaking massive explosion on the other side of camp. So loud Astrid wasn't sure that Steve and the others couldn't hear it. It rocketed up in the air. Setting some of the trees on fire. Black smoke rising from it. Pulling everyone's attention. Allowing Astrid to start the truck and drive it off into the woods. The sounds of panic disguising the sounds of the engine. Driving far enough away that they wouldn't spot her circling back. Meeting Dernier at their chosen meeting spot.
"Really?" Astrid asked pulling the truck up. "An explosion? What exactly did you do?"
"Set off their ammo storage," Dernier answered hopping inside. Closing the door behind him. "Worked didn't it?"
"I'm starting to get a feeling of what you did for the Resistance exactly." It probably had to do with blowing things up. Something he was really good at. She tsked. "What would your wife think of you now?"
"Probably criticize my technique. Saying that we need to set a good example for the kids."
Astrid let out a laugh. "Sounds like my kind of woman."
Dernier nodded. "The two of you would definitely get along."
It took less than half the time to reach the others than it did to get to the camp. The men gathering around the truck as they pulled up. Guns raised until Astrid and Dernier got out. A collected moment of relief. Soldiers patting her and Dernier on the back. Thanking them for their efforts. Steve trotting up to them.
"When I sent you two to get supplies, I wasn't expecting this," he stated looking over the truck.
Astrid crossed her arms and shrugged her shoulders. "We did do as you ask."
"Yes, you did." He still looked over the truck. Counting all the rations coming out. Dernier was already taking charge. Making sure that everything was being unloaded correctly.
"By the way. Did you know that Dernier is an expert at explosives?"
"No, I didn't." He quickly switched his attention to Astrid. "How do you know that?"
"Well, we had to have some sort of distraction." The look that Steve gave her told her that he required more of an explanation. "Relax. We stole it from the Nazis. Blowing up their ammo in the process."
Steve chuckled and Astrid soon joining him. Leaning into his shoulder as she looked at her and Dernier's fine work. And at that moment it was like nothing had changed. Just her and Steve. Laughing at the trouble one of them got involved in.