Adeline seethed silently in the corner as one of Howard's lab assistants and a medical professional examined her hands.

She had yet to look at them herself – she didn't need another reminder of Schmidt at that second.

How dare she? How dare she touch what was- and how dare he assume- of all the people- as if she would- he was-

Adeline couldn't help the low growl that ripped from her throat at the thought of what she had just seen. The doctor jumped, but Howard's assistant, used to her, simply continued poking and prodding away at the mess her hands were in.

She couldn't feel them.

When she had first had them checked, after she had been rescued by-

After she'd been rescued, they'd told her she had what looked to be near permanent nerve damage to her nail beds and finger tips – but slowly, ever so slowly, they'd been healing. Every now again she'd get shooting sensations of pain.

"So, you're technically completely healed, as we expected, but the nerves are still on their way. The claws themselves-"

She looked at him sharply. "Claws?" she swallowed thickly. Howard's assistant smiled sympathetically.

"The claws seem to be somewhat retractable. When your nerves have finished repairing, you should be able to work them." She could feel a dulled sensation as he pushed and pulled at the Vibranium. "For now, I'm going to secure them retracted, so that they don't get in the way. Howard's made you some gloves tipped in Vibranium, so if they do slip out, they won't puncture the fabric, okay?"

"Ja." She said absently, allowing him to slip on the gloves.

He said he would make her into an animal. He said she was his pet. He said he wanted to see the wolf.

She was going to kill him.

"Vibranium."

Adeline was drawn out of her thoughts by Howard's voice.

"It's stronger than steel, and a third the weight. It's completely vibration absorbent."

Adeline couldn't help her curiosity, and walked over to where Howard was. She froze as she saw Steve. Her heart thudded, even though anger still made her mouth bitter.

What was it about this man that made her so… so weak?!

"How come it's not standard issue?"

"That's the rarest metal on earth. What you're holding there, that's all we got. Except for whatever Schmidt did to Adeline."

Adeline's fists clenched unconsciously as Steve looked up at her name and saw her standing there. Howard grinned, "Speak of the devil!"

"Are you finished, Howard?" Adeline asked roughly, shifting uncomfortably under Steve's eyes. He tried to smile at her, but his eyes dropped to her gloved hands. She bristled. "I think the captain has some unfinished business." She said coldly.

Steve chuckled. "So, what'd 'ya think?"

Cold fury engulfed her for a brief dark moment, and before she could stop herself, she had pulled out her handgun.

She fired four shots, hitting the dead centre of the shield, making Steve duck behind it in terror.

A hand touched her wrist and she shuddered suddenly, dropping the gun. Howard gave her a worried look. She clenched her jaw, schooling her features and taming her emotions again. Steve's face emerged from behind the shield, looking terrified.

"I am- Well. I think it works."

"Commander!"

Adeline turned sharply at the call of her title, and made eye contact with Peggy. "We need you in the briefing room."

Adeline nodded jerkily, and made swiftly for the exit, fists clenched.

December 2nd, 1943, Poland.

Steve still had not spoken or really seen Adeline since she had shot at him – and it bothered him. More than he could really understand.

And he hadn't just been thinking about her, but he'd been… dreaming about her.

He flushed at the memory.

It wasn't inappropriate – at least not all of it was – but it was just the fact that it was her.

Strong. Untouchable. Cold. Beautiful.

He'd gotten so crazy he'd even started sketching her.

His little book was filled up with half finished images of his dreams; flushed cheeks, her silhouette, that little smile that was pulled out of her when she didn't want it – and her eyes, half lidded, glowing out of the pages with silvery intensity.

Steve groaned.

What was wrong with him?

"ETA five minutes." He opened his eyes at Bucky's voice. The man in question pocketed his little communicator, and sat across from him in the back of the truck. "You alright, pal?"

Steve ran his fingers nervously across the surface of his shield. "I guess I'm just nervous about our first mission."

Bucky smirked. "You nervous about seeing the Commander?"

"What?!" Steve felt his stomach drop. "She's there?"

Bucky laughed – not unkindly. "You got it bad, buddy. She's been there for the past two days, gathering intelligence. She'll be with us when we storm the joint."

Steve was silent. A sort of quiet elation filled him, dancing with the fluttering of nerves in his stomach.

Was she still angry with him?

"Ready, Cap?"

Steve realized the truck had stopped moving. His men were looking at him.

"Shoulders back. If you stand like you don't want to fight, then you've already lost. You need to look prepared."

Steve blinked hard as Adeline's advice echoed through him. He squared his shoulders, and stood up. "Right. You know the mission, stick with your assigned targets and get it done. Let's move out!" He turned and jumped out of the truck, landing lightly in the snow.

In front of him, with her back to him was Adeline. As his men jogged off, towards their primary targets, she turned towards him.

She was wearing a hat, which was the first thing he noticed about her; a dark brown felt fedora, tilted down to shade her face somewhat. Over a thin, white men's shirt, she wore a soft looking leather jacket. The shirt was tucked into a pair of combat pants similar to Bucky's, with large boots.

"Aren't you cold?"

He flushed and clamped his mouth shut.

But to his surprise, the corner of her mouth twitched, and she half-turned from him as that little smile emerged. "I don't get cold, Captain." Her smile faded as gunfire and yells started, and she hardened her face. "Are you ready, Barnes?"

"Yes, ma'am." Bucky smiled grimly at her, and she nodded to him.

"Get going, sergeant, you're going to need a head start."

And then they were alone again.

Steve shifted under her gaze. "Comma-"

She held up a hand. He fell silent, waiting. "Steve. I am sorry. I overreacted the other day. It was unprofessional and impolite to our friendship. I have no ownership over you, and it does not matter who you choose to be intimate with. We are friends foremost, and soldiers." She was smiling, but her eyes weren't. Steve felt his heart sink.

"Our friendship…

…Friends foremost…

…It does not matter…"

He clenched his lips together for a second, searching for words that were nothing like what he wanted to say. "I think we can both agree I was the unprofessional one, Commander."

She smirked. "Call me Adeline. We better get a move on, Just-Steve." She winked and he blushed.

What was he doing?