March 6, 1943 – Camp McCoy, Wisconsin
"AJ?"
Looking up from the file, staring back at AJ was Anthony James. She had been surprised to see his name on the list of candidates that Colonel Phillips had given her, but after reading his record, AJ understood why he had made the list. The dark-haired man, still in need of a proper trim, looked at her, leaning forward in his seat only to straighten when she raised her brows at him, he cleared his throat roughly, shifting in the chair.
"I mean, Dr. Frost." Anthony corrected himself.
AJ ducked her head, fighting back a smile. He was the first of the friends AJ had made on base that she was interviewing. And after running a physical on him that made the mans ears turn a shade of red that mirrored her own lipstick, it was now time to interview Anthony.
"Why did you enlist?" AJ asked him.
Anthony looked taken back, trying to sit even straighter in the chair. "I uh, because it was the right thing to do." He said, voice cracking slightly.
"Why?"
"Why?" He echoed the question.
"Why was it the right thing to do?"
Anthony narrowed his eyes, "I'm sorry, AJ – Dr. Frost," He was quick to correct himself again. "I don't understand."
Setting down his file, AJ placed her hands together on top of the desk. "You don't understand the question, or you don't understand why I'm asking it?"
He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck, cheeks flushing. "Y'know, you're pretty damn intimidating for such a little thing. I can see why Bucky's always going on about ya."
AJ pushed her hair behind her ears and sighed, scribbling down a few notes that she'd need to go over later while reviewing Anthony's file.
Dr. Erskine always asked just one question, do you want to kill Nazi's?
There had yet to be a solider who didn't jump at the opportunity to say yes. Perhaps with a different approach, AJ may find a different answer from Anthony. A man who met nearly every requirement to be a candidate for Project Rebirth physically. But it was her assessment of his mental state on the war that would sway Dr. Erskine.
And then Anthony surprised her. "I suppose I enlisted because I've known all along we should be fighting this war. I didn't enlist because Japan attacked us – I enlisted because there are innocent people dying overseas because a mad man somehow is in power. I enlisted because there's a kid who lives on my street back home – small thing, wouldn't hurt a fly – who just so happens to be Jewish. And I feel like it is my duty to protect him by going over there and fighting for my country. A country that I vow to keep safe from men like Adolf Hitler."
That just left one question left to ask she would need to ask after hearing his reason for enlisting.
"You want to kill some Nazi's?" AJ asked, hoping for a different answer from Anthony than she had received from all the other candidates.
There were two stamps, one on each side of Anthony's file. One, after being dipped in ink, would read the word: ACCEPTED. The other: REJECTED.
She waited for his answer before grabbing one.
"Yes ma'am. I do."
Trying to hide her disappointment, AJ reached for the stamp on her left and quickly pressed it down into the ink before marking Anthony's file and closing it quickly before he could see.
"Thank you, Anthony, you may go now."
Anthony grinned wide at her, giving a little nod before he left the room.
Sighing, AJ opened up the file and watched as the red ink dried.
REJECTED.
_
March 9, 1943 – Camp McCoy, Wisconsin
It had been three days since she talked with Bucky. And every single one of those days, Sharkbait had been keeping his eye on AJ. Any move the female scientist made, he watched. It was almost as if he knew that she was trying to find the evidence she needed against him.
Nate, the loyal friend he was, stayed by AJ's side whenever Dr. Bateman was around. He didn't want her anymore in the line of fire than she had to be. Safe to say, Nathaniel Adams did not like the idea of AJ snooping around Batemans office to find his stash. He decided to task himself with that mission.
AJ sat at her desk, going over Batemans sloppy scrawls on his notes. By the end of each page, his handwriting grew worse. But that could always be explained by the man being exhausted. AJ knew better though.
"A-...AJ?"
Looking up, Sully stood in front of her. His thick curly hair hung over his crooked glasses. AJ noted that the bridge of his glasses was bent. She had to frown, knowing that Sully's frames had been fine earlier in the morning. That's when she noticed the stain of dried blood under his lip. AJ stood up in a haste, walking around the desk and over to the tall skinny man and began to examine his face. He flinched when she lifted her hand up to grab his chin to get a better look.
AJ slowly recoiled her hand, not meaning to upset Sully any more than he already was. "I'm sorry." She made sure to stress each word.
He nodded shakily, pushing up his glasses that fell down his nose with his good hand. His left arm was still protected in a sling from his blow he took that caused all things to go to Hell. Nate had been the one to pop his arm back in place, but it would take time to fully heal.
"I...I uh, I...need help." Sully said in a quiet voice, AJ watched as tears filled his eyes. "Please?" His voice broke.
It was clear he wasn't talking about needing help with work. AJ took a step closer, pressing her hand to his arm and giving it a light squeeze. "Of course, what can I do?" Leading him over to her desk, AJ motioned for Sully to take a seat in her chair.
He took in a deep shaky breath as AJ grabbed another chair and brought it over so she was sitting in front of him.
"You're safe, Sully." AJ made sure to tell him once she was seated across from him. She needed to make sure that Sully knew that she would never do anything to hurt him, that she wanted to protect him. The man looked so small, the same way he looked on the floor the day everything went to Hell.
Sully opened his mouth, and he recalled every single beating he took from Dr. Bateman. Each one more graphic then the next. It started off as a few swipes to the back of the head, and then they became worse.
"Please...AJ," Sully held onto the hand she had offered him with a tight grip. "Someone needs to stop him." He closed his eyes. "I'm...scared."
AJ nodded, squeezing his hand back tight. "We're going to stop him, Sully. I promise."
Sully smiled.
But the man looked defeated.
Hopeless.
But AJ was not.
She was more determined now than ever.
She would find some way to stop Dr. Bateman.
I will, AJ swore to herself.
_
The evenings sky was a shade of pink and purple, the setting sun looking more red than yellow as AJ looked across at the open field in front of her. She kept her back was pressed against the tree that she now deemed her own, the tree she sat under on her first day at Camp McCoy. Sitting under the tree always had AJ at her most peaceful state. But after spending the last few hours trying to come up with an idea to take down Bateman...AJ was feeling less than peaceful.
She closed my eyes, trying to drown out every failed plan she had come up with to help Sully and get Quentin his job back.
Come on, Jay. Think!
Groaning, her head thudded against the tree, eliciting another groan from the woman, and a few words that even her older brothers would feel shame saying.
A familiar chuckle caused AJ to open her eyes.
"Get up." Bucky was looking down at her with a lazy grin, his arm reached out, hand extended for AJ to grab ahold of.
Too tired to argue, too tired to even come up with something witty to say back to Bucky, AJ held out her own hand for Bucky to grab. He pulled her up with a quick tug. She let go of his hand once standing, brushing off pieces of grass from the skirt of her dress. The woman had been absentmindedly ripping the grass out of the soil again. Something she tended to do whenever she sat under her tree.
Bucky was looking down at her when she finally looked back up at him. "Come on," He said, taking a step back and towards the road leading to the barracks. He kept his back to the road, signaling for AJ to follow his lead.
"Don't you have dirty dishes to wash?" She called out after taking her first few steps to follow after him while he turned his back to AJ, waiting on the road until she was at his side. They fell into sync with one another easily as they walked down the road.
"No ma'am. Yesterday was my last day of KP Duty." Bucky said, looking straight ahead.
Her green eyes traveled to his face, watching as his lips twitched up in a smile. AJ noticed a slight stubble already growing along his jaw line that hadn't been there the last time she saw him. AJ looked away when he broke into a full-on grin, feeling her eyes on him, she was sure.
"Where are we going?" AJ asked, looking straight ahead.
"Nowhere." He replied. With a raised brow, AJ gave Bucky a skeptical look when he looked over at her. "We're just takin' a walk, Frosty."
"With no destination?" Her tone was dry.
He chuckled. "Exactly."
They walked in silence, and before AJ knew it, she felt a relaxing calm take over her. It was odd to her how easy it was to feel so comfortable in Bucky's presence. The two walked around the base twice as the sky grew a deep shade of purple.
AJ looked down at her wrist when they neared the barracks again, checking the watch her father had given her two birthdays earlier, the kitchens were closed now.
They had been walking for over an hour in complete silence.
AJ picked up her pace, taking a step in front of Bucky and then came to an abrupt stop, hands pressed against his chest to stop him from working forward as well. "Did you eat already?" She asked, brow quirked up.
If he missed supper because she couldn't keep track of time...
He shook his head with a little grin. AJ opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say anything, Bucky's hands wrapped around her wrists softly, catching her completely off guard. He slowly pulled her hands off his chest and held them, "What's going on in that big brain of yours, AJ?" Bucky finally asked softly.
Sighing, AJ recanted everything Sully had told her about Bateman as Bucky finally let go of her wrists.
"I've been sitting under my tree for the past few hours trying to come up with some sort of way to get him fired or to kill him and make it look like an accident," Her tone was very dry and Bucky grinned. "Any suggestions."
Bucky gave into a little shrug with a crooked grin. "Well, I've never killed a man before," AJ narrowed her eyes at him and then shoved hard against his shoulder. He grinned, pushing back on his heels to keep from falling over.
"I'm serious, Bucky."
He sobered up, "I know, I know."
AJ looked past, her eyes zoning in on the lab behind Bucky, a place she really did not want to go back to without a solid plan on how to get Sharkbait fired.
"What if you out his drinking?" Bucky suggested, seeing the troubled look on AJ's face.
AJ brought her attention back to Bucky and sighed. "I tried...but without the evidence I'll be the girl who cried wolf. Again." She began to rub at her brow. "No one is going to take my word over his."
"I would." Bucky disagreed, his voice strong, no wavering in his tone. He meant what he said, and it made AJ feel warm. "And...this time you won't be alone. I'm with ya, AJ. I'll help you find the evidence."
AJ ducked her head, an overwhelming feeling of affection towards Bucky filling her that she tried to ignore. "Are you sure?" She looked back up. A teasing smile appeared on her lips. "You did just get off KP Duty?" AJ reminded him.
He snorted. "I'm sure."
AJ grinned at him and then motioned for him to follow her to the labs. He spoke up again when they were at the door, "Our tree." He corrected her.
"Hmm?" AJ said, walking through the door as he held it open for her.
Bucky followed after her. "You called it your tree." He moved to stand in front of her now. "I'd beg to differ, Frosty. That tree is ours."
AJ felt her ears burn and took in a breath of relief when she saw Nate making his way over to them. "Nate!" She said, glad that the man showed up when he did.
Nate stood with them now, leaning in close. "I found it. I found his stash."
Smiling wide at Nate, AJ felt like finally things were going right.
They did it.
They finally found a way to get rid of Sharkbait for good.
_
March 10th, 1943 – Camp McCoy, Wisconsin
Finally feeling comfortable and sure enough, AJ made her way into Colonel Phillips office, accompanying her were Bucky and Nate. If it wasn't enough for the people who ran Camp McCoy and employed Dr. Erik Bateman to take a woman's word – hopefully with proof, the backing of Bucky and Nate, and with luck; Colonel Phillips as well – they would believe that the man was a danger to be around.
AJ curled her hand into a fist as they stood in front of Colonel Phillips office, trying to find more courage before she went in with the information on Bateman. It wasn't until she felt the soft squeeze on her arm and looked over her shoulder to see Bucky looking down at her with an assuring smile. She nodded with a soft smile and then gave the door three raps by her fist and waited until Colonel Phillips shouted for them to come in.
She straightened her blouse and pushed her hair behind her ears before she opened the door and stepped inside, Bucky and Nate following closely behind her.
"Dr. Frost," Colonel Phillips looked up, blinking in surprise when he saw she wasn't alone. "Adams," He greeted Nate and then squinted at Bucky.
"James Barnes, sir." Bucky said, standing up straight, hands positioned behind his back.
Phillips nodded and then looked back to AJ. "Is there a reason for this visit, Frost?" He asked.
"There is," AJ made her voice strong and confident. "You asked me before if I had proof of Bateman's drinking and I did not. I do now."
Phillips raised his brows in surprise. "You do, now?" He got up from his desk chair.
AJ looked over to Nate, who then explained to Colonel Phillips that he had seen Bateman drinking on the job, and was able to find his stash – giving a specific location as to where he hid his booze.
"And you're sure about this, son?" Colonel Phillips asked Nate.
"I am."
Phillips then turned his attention back to Bucky. "And you are here as...?"
"Dr. Frost confided in me about Bateman, and I would like to volunteer to be a personal witness if a trial is needed to determine Adelyn's credibility." Phillips made a face, not particularly liking Bucky's tone.
AJ told him her worries of going to Phillips, simply for the fact that even with the stash location – being the only woman in a camp full of men, her opinion didn't really matter. And when it came to credibility? She had a hard time believe they'd ever listen to what she had to say or believe her words as the truth. It wasn't Colonel Phillips she worried wouldn't believe her, it was the men who he would have to go to afterwards with the information. When they heard that the accusation came from a woman?
It wouldn't be pleasant.
And Adelyn Frost had a bit of a temper when it came to misogyny. It was hard to bite her tongue when it came to men not giving her the time of day. It was hard enough being taken seriously as a female scientist – but coming forward with an accusation against her superior? It'd be a laughing stock. And AJ was too passionate about Project Rebirth now to risk losing her job.
She believed in Project Rebirth.
She just needed someone to believe her.
"Dr. Frost's credibility has never been in question for me." Phillips said in a stern voice. He then looked over at Adelyn. She mimicked Bucky's stance, keeping her arms behind her back. "Sully – has he finally changed his mind about testifying against Bateman?"
"Yes, he has." AJ nodded. "He came to me in private and went into detail about how long Bateman has been abusing him. I swore to him that I would help him. I hope you won't make me a liar."
Phillips sighed dramatically, rubbing at his brow. "You're a damn pain in my ass, you know that, Frost?" He grunted.
AJ grinned, seeing now that Phillips, in his own way, was agreeing to help. "Thank you, sir."
"I suppose I can put off leaving for one more day. Come on now, I need to see this stash personally in order to help." Phillip said, walking past AJ, Bucky, and Nate.
AJ looked to Nate with a wide grin, his expression mirrored her own. They were going to do it! Bateman would be gone and Quentin's integrity would be restored. And with hope, he would come back to work with them.
"Get a move on it!" Phillips shouted, not out of the office.
AJ looked over to Bucky before they left the room, thank you, she mouthed. He smiled, eyes twinkling and nodded. Always. He mouthed back.
Bucky had to go back to drills so it was only Phillips, Nate, and AJ who went back to the lab. AJ and Nate went inside first, the lady scientist pulling Sully aside to tell him that Colonel Phillips was going to help them and that if he felt comfortable, would he be willing to distract Bateman long enough for Phillips to find his stash.
The young man agreed, though he looked quite frightened. AJ gave him a reassuring smile and promised him that she would not let anything bad happen again.
"D-Dr. Bateman," Sully called out, standing next to AJ, who held on tight to a beaker, ready to break it if need be, were a fight to start. Bateman didn't answer, simply grumbled as he sat across from them, right in the line of view of the door where Nathaniel would be sneaking Phillips in. "I, I think I found some inconsistencies in your notes."
Batemans head snapped up in anger. "Are you questioning my equations, Smith?" He huffed, Adelyn could smell the stench of booze on him from across the table. He moved around the table and over to where Sully and Adelyn stood, pushing AJ to the side with his elbow so he could look at the notes Sully was going over.
AJ watched as Nate opened the door quietly and he and Phillips came into the lab. For a moment, AJ was sure they were going to get caught when the door closed and Bateman made a move to look up. She quickly bumped into him causing him to move forward a bit into the table, the notes scattering a bit in the process so he'd have to look down to grab them. Bateman then turned to look over at her with a glare. "Damn woman," He began to mutter.
"You see, here!" Sully said, stopping Bateman from going after Adelyn.
"Where?" He looked back to the Notes, pulling his glasses out of his lab jacket pocket and put them on. "You blind fool!" Bateman said in anger, going over the equation to prove that he was right. He was – but that wasn't what they were trying to prove right now.
"Dr. Bateman," Colonel Phillips voice filled the room, causing all three scientists heads to shoot up to look in his direction. "Care you explain what these are?"
AJ took a step back, moving behind Bateman and gently grabbed Sully by the arm to pull him away too. She didn't want the young man to be anywhere near Dr. Bateman right now. It was safest for the both of them if they were not in sight at the moment.
"Those aren't mine!" Bateman said with a huff, looking behind him to see AJ and Sully slowly walking away from him. "-The-they're lying!" He slurred his words. "Tell him Sullivan!" He ordered Colin.
Sully looked at Bateman, and then glanced over at AJ who gave him a little nod.
You can do this, Sully.
"Dr. Smith?" Colonel Phillips looked to Sully.
He took in a deep breath before taking a step forward, finally looking as tall as he really was. "The alcohol is Dr. Batemans, sir."
"You little," Dr. Bateman made a move forward and AJ put herself between Sully and Bateman.
"Don't think about taking another step, Bateman!" Phillips hollered.
AJ was finally able to breathe once Dr. Bateman stood down, turning around to face Colonel Phillips after giving AJ and Sully a murderous glare.
He left shortly after with Colonel Phillips and before AJ could even say anything, Sully was pulling her into his arms in a tight embrace.
"Thank you." He whispered against her hair.
She smiled, hugging him back. "Of course."
AJ didn't know how things were going to play out or how much trouble Dr. Erik Bateman would be in. All she knew was that for the first time since meeting Colin Sullivan Smith, his entire body was completely relaxed.
And it was worth the uncertainty of what was to come.
