"Valery!"

Turning, she was faced with Howard Stark, aiming directly for her with two glasses of Champagne.

"What did you think of the show?" He blurted enthusiastically as he handed her a glass.

"Which part? The girls or the car?"

The dark haired man laughed, "Both! All of it! Weren't you in the slighted bit impressed?" One of the showgirls rushed to his side, leaning into him.

Tossing back the glass she responded. "You're the only man I know that can get beautiful women to prance around a floating car, during a war, Howard."

"That isn't an answer." He smirked as his hand went to the girl on his side.

"The women were impressed by your car, the men were impressed by your girls, and I, Howard, am impressed by your lack of focus for the project at hand."

"Who do you think you are?" The showgirl snapped. "You can't talk to Howard Stark like that, he is a genius and an artist. His inventions are saving the lives of thousands of soldiers every day. He's a hero."

Valery turned her eyes to Howard for a moment, watching the man bite his tongue before responding to the girl. "Your opinion is rather high. Do you understand the sciences behind what happened tonight? The technology behind the car- can you even operate a motor vehicle?"

"Excuse me?!"

"You don't see the mess left behind by Stark's 'inventions'. You simply show up to his parties and drink and eat and prance around in this illusion he likes to escape to." She turned back to the man. "Inventions that kill men who've never had the opportunities or luxuries we sit back and enjoy every night, in this security you enjoy, all because Mr. Stark is a 'hero'."

The girl glared at Valery before turning on her heels and pouting up at the Inventor. "Who is this horrible woman, Howard? Does she even have an invitation?"

Howard looked up from the pouting face back at Valery, "Yes, darling she does. I handed it to her personally."

"Are you really going to let her stay here after she said all those things about you?!"

"He doesn't have to." Valery answered for him, setting her glass down and weaving through the crowd for the exit.

"Val!" Howard called after her, escaping the showgirl and following. "Valery?"

Howard finally caught up to her a few feet from the door of the club.

Reaching out he managed to grab her arm and spin her to look at him. "Valery, please."

She spun to face him. "I didn't come out here to watch you take your showgirls out of their stage clothes, Howard. I'm not here to drink and rub elbows with people who don't matter to my mission."

"I didn't invite you for that, Vee."

"So why did you invite me? To attempt to get me out of my clothes?"

"No! I wanted you to get out, to enjoy yourself." He stepped closer to look at her face. "You've been so closed off to everyone and everything since …. Erskine did what you asked him to ….. Since your procedure."

She jerked her arm from his grip, "Damn you, Howard Stark! You've no right to ….. You …."

"I know you don't talk about what happened, but I figured maybe if you did—"

"You don't get to figure. You don't get to think about the very little you actually know and attempt to use it to help me. I don't need your help."

"Excuse me." A man in US Army uniform walked over to the two of them. "I'm sorry to intrude, but it seems like there's a problem here."

"No, there isn't." Howard snapped looking from the girl to the soldier. "Everything's fine here."

"I'd like to believe that, Sir, but your conversation was getting rather loud and the Lady looks like she's ready to run away from here." He turned to her, "Ma'am are you alright?"

She looked up, finally seeing his face, the look on his features was one of concern. "I'm fine, I would just like to go home."

Howard stepped toward her, "That's fine, Val. Let's go back to the club and I'll have the Valet get my car."

The soldier stepped directly between the two, "Sir, it doesn't seem as though she wants to go anywhere with you."

"Do you have any idea who I am?" Howard snapped.

"You're Mr. Howard Stark, I was at your show. But right now, you're making a very beautiful woman very upset, and I'm afraid I can't allow that."

Howard looked offended, but he had noticed, as had Val, that the soldier was both taller and bigger than the inventor. He glanced at the soldier's sleeve, "I appreciate you're honesty, Sergeant. Perhaps I have allowed this to get out of hand. I apologize, Valery, and I would very much like to speak tomorrow about any offense I've caused?"

The Sergeant turned to her, waiting for her reaction.

"I'll think on it Howard." She answered, indifferently. "Go, enjoy your party and your friends, we can talk after you've gotten sober."

"Can I at least offer my driver to take you home?" Howard offered.

"Miss, I'd be more than willing to make sure you get home safely, if you wouldn't mind." The soldier offered.

She glanced between Howard and the Sergeant. "I'd like that very much, thank you."

Howard nodded, putting on a rather business look. "If everything's settled, Sergeant, Miss Valery, I should get back to my guests." He turned and made the short walk back through the doors of the club.

The soldier turned to her. "Sergeant James Barnes, Miss." He introduced, offering his arm.

"Valery Erskine." She responded, sliding her hand around his arm as they began to walk.