They met up with Peggy outside an antique store, and she nodded to both of them. "Let's get underway, shall we? This way."
Adeline fell into step with Steve, hanging back slightly as Peggy led the way. "What are we doin' here?" Steve asked, twisting his hat in his hands. Adeline shrugged.
"Just follow me." Peggy said shortly.
Adeline kept her curiosity to herself, as well as her rising trepidation. She didn't like walking into somewhere that was alien to her – any adversaries would no doubt no the terrain better than her. she didn't like it at all. Perhaps her agitation was showing, because as an old woman emerged from behind a curtain, she felt a light touch – right on the centre of her spine. She looked sharply at Steve, who was offering her a small smile. She kept her face carefully blank, and stepped away from his touch, though it cost her. She pretended she didn't see the slight drop in his face, as they were ushered through to another room – one wall, completely covered by a bookcase.
Her nose twitched at all the dust in the air – clouding everything with a fine film. But…
She sniffed slightly, eyes narrowing.
Something was behind there…
It smelt like machinery and men – and sterilized equipment. Then there was a hiss and the bookcase started to split, opening.
Before she could stop herself, she stepped in front of Steve.
There was a slight cough, and she looked at Peggy, who was smirking. She scowled, cheeks flushing – and stepped forwards – not waiting for the other two.
They soon caught up with her, and she hung back – cheeks still annoyingly hot.
Their entrance into the large lab was enough to stop the action of everyone present. She swallowed, eyes darting to Steve who looked suddenly, overwhelmingly terrified. She looked to Peggy, looking pointedly at Steve. Peggy looked at the small blond man, and gave him a small smile. She began leading the man down the stairs – but Adeline stayed still for a second longer
With a pointed clearing of her throat, and a murderous glare directed at the whole room – work was resumed.
Howard remained where he was – waiting until she noticed his wide grin. She felt a responding smile stretch her cheeks, and almost jogged down the steps to greet him.
"Nervous?" He asked, leaning against a panel of flashing dials. She raised an eyebrow.
"I feel like it should be me asking that question."
Howard made a considering noise, before his eyes fell past her. "I guess. But it is your boyfriend going up there." Adeline made a spluttering noise – turning it into a cough as Howard laughed. "Just teasing, Ads. Lighten up." he grinned.
Adeline scowled at him – but despite his words, she turned to where Steve was. She winced slightly at his skinny body.
"Mama… mama please…"
"I know you're hungry, but darling, we cannot spare any more food tonight…"
"She can have mine, Lettie. The girl will starve."
Adeline tried to smile at her father – whose eyes shone, despite the sunken pits they had fallen into. They were hungry. There was no money.
"Adeline."
She blinked rapidly, turning away from her memory as if it was a bright light.
Howard was watching her worriedly, and she avoided his eyes. "I think I shall put my things away."
"We are ready as we'll ever be."
Steve eyed Howard suspiciously, but said nothing. God, he had never been so scared in his life, and so afraid to show it. He swallowed, and turned his gaze to the ceiling as they talked around him.
He turned to watch Peggy leave.
It was a shame.
He'd grown to like her – and the prospect of one less friendly face made his fear grow again.
As Dr. Erskine introduced the procedure, he felt his body give way to fear, and began to tremble.
A hot hand on his shoulder made him turn his head.
Commander Wolfe was watching him carefully, grey eyes that were usually blank, awash with something he couldn't understand. He was so busy trying to work out what it was, that he didn't see the nurse inject him, until he felt the sharp sting of the needle. He winced, turning to look at her as she hurried off again.
"That wasn't so bad." He said, as he realized the sting had lessened almost immediately.
The Commander's lips quirked in her almost smile; "That was penicillin." She murmured, and he flushed. She turned away from him as Dr. Erskine approached, her eyes falling blank again. When Erskine tried to smile at her, she turned away slightly, catching his shoulder. "Wenn du ihn tötest, werde ich dir niemals vergeben." She hissed. Steve frowned, wishing he knew more German. The doctor had paled slightly, but nodded. Her hand on his shoulder squeezed gently. "Good luck, Just-Steve."
And then she was gone, and the room felt cold as ice when her warmth left him.
His last glimpse of her before the contraption shut was her half way up the stairs – laser like eyes focused on him. Worry filled her eyes.
He was so surprised at finally putting a name to something she kept hidden, that it was only when he couldn't see her that he realised it was about to begin. He closed his eyes.
Adeline stayed where she was, frozen halfway up the stairs.
She hadn't felt so panicked in a long while – and she didn't want to dwell on the reason. She didn't want to dwell on Steve, who was about to experience the pain she had, but condensed in a way she couldn't imagine.
As Howard began to pour Vita rays into the machine, the light brightened – but she didn't dare look away, heart beat thrumming in time with the low whine of the energy pulse.
And then a scream echoed out – branding her ears.
She had already leapt over the railings, and was about to flip over the panels to the machine, when she registered Peggy shouting.
"SHUT IT DOWN!"
A sudden violent rush of affection filled her, and it carried her jump, so that she landed directly in front of the glowing machine, causing assistants to stumble out of the way. Abraham shot her a look she couldn't decipher – and she shoved him out of the way, and banged on the porthole, already mentally plotting how best to crack it open.
She shoved her fingers into the seam, and gritted her teeth, as Abraham shouted at Howard. With a runt of effort, she began to pull it open – metal protesting.
"NO!"
She started at the cry from within.
"Don't! I can do this!"
She stepped back, hands shaking – as the light got even brighter – forcing her to finally shield her eyes. As the other lab coated assistants cowered back from the light and sparks, she stood her ground, feeling her skin heal instantly as hot sparks bounced off her.
Then with a sudden hum, it was done, and the light faded.
Adeline took a shaky breath. She swallowed. "Howard?" she called. In response, the man pressed the button, and there was a hiss as the machine opened.
At first she didn't know what she was looking at – and stood there dumbly, as people rushed around her – towards this bronzed Adonis.
Then his eyes opened and she saw him. Saw her Steve.
Peggy touched her shoulder briefly, and moved towards him, holding out a shirt for him – and exchanging conversation with him.
She was about to step forwards, when something made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Slowly, she turned and eyed the men around her – those who had descended from the viewing room.
Almost immediately, she spotted him. He seemed to feel her gaze on him, and as she narrowed her eyes, he smirked at her – and raised his hand slightly.
Adeline had spent enough time with German forces to know a fake lighter when she saw one – and lept. But it was too late.
As she jumped towards him – the explosion went off, the shockwave sending her sideways, missing her target. She was on her feet almost immediately – when a gun went off.
She turned, following the barrel of the gun – and saw Abraham, standing above the rest, looking almost shocked at the blood blooming from the shot to his chest.
"NOOO!"
The scream tore from her throat before she could completely understand what was happening.
She leapt for the pale eyed man, hands extending like claws. His eyes went wide, and another three shots went off.
Adeline dropped heavily to the floor, as people scattered and screamed.
She couldn't make a sound, as her vocal chords had been ripped apart by one of the shots that had blown through her throat. Blood poured over her hands as she tried to staunch the blood flow, crawling towards Abraham's fallen body.
She turned him over, and his face lit up, as she collapsed next to him, loosing blood steadily as her body tried to repair her punctured heart and lungs.
"Ah… Adeline." He coughed, blood bubbling at the corner of his mouth. "Es sieht aus wie die Zeit hat mich eingeholt." It looks like time has caught up with me.
"Nein…" she wheezed out. She ran a hand down his face. "Tut mir leid…" I'm sorry... so sorry...
"Nein. Ich sollte um Vergebung bitten. Alles, was ich getan habe, um dich zu verletzen ..." No. It is I who should be asking for forgiveness. Everything I have done to hurt you...
"Nein... Nein." Adeline whimpered, clenching her hand into a fist around her throat, willing it to close. "Es gibt nichts zu verzeihen." There is nothing to forgive. "Abe, Bitte. Bitte bleib bei mir!" Please. Please stay with me!
Abraham coughed weakly, and his eyes fluttered shut. She let her head thump down, a silent cry shaking her whole body.