In Pnillips' Office

"I have to say I'm surprised," Peggy said, panting slightly next to me.

"By what?" I asked as I jogged next to her. The pair of us had decided to wake up early that morning and go for a jog around the track the soldiers used for training. We hadn't taken into account that this being an Army base, a place for training soldiers, the track was a lot longer than the one at your average high school.

"I wasn't sure you'd be one for early-morning exercise."

"It was the only time my dad had to work with me," I explained.

"Work with you?" Peggy repeated. "Your father exercised with you?"

"I asked him to. He used to box in the Army. I asked him to teach me, and it was part of my training. He also taught me how to shoot." I smiled at the memories of my dad shaking me awake in the mornings. I'd get up, get dressed, and follow him out onto the grounds around the plantation house. We'd stretch, run laps, do pushups and sit-ups until the rest of the house was awake, and then we'd go in for breakfast, sweaty but happy.

"I see," Peggy said, smiling slightly. "So you're close… to your father?"

"Very. He and my grandmother are really my only family. I have an uncle who handles the family business, but we don't see him and his kids often."

"I'm an only child and so is my… father."

"Your mother?" I asked curiously.

Peggy shook her head. "She has a brother, but he… never married."

Peggy was panting hard now. I was barely breathing deeper, but I adjusted so that she didn't feel so bad.

"Well if you want to stop by…" I panted, "I'm sure dad'd make you run too. Hah!"

We had reached the end of the track. Peggy and I stopped running and she doubled over, hands on her knees as she took a few deep breaths before straightening up.

"I believe I'll need a shower before I face the day," Peggy said, wiping a hand across her sweaty forehead in distaste. "Coming?" she asked, tilting her head in the direction of the barracks.

I shook my head. "I think I'll stretch a moment and then join you."

"Don't take too long," Peggy said sternly. "You have a job to do."

"Yes, mother," I replied with a cheeky grin. Peggy rolled her eyes at me in amusement before taking off for a shower and a clean change of clothes.

I felt great, like I could run another couple of miles. I looked at the track contemplatively and considered running another lap. But Peggy was right, I had a job to do, and after another lap and a cool down I would most definitely be inexcusably late to the lab.

Instead I began stretching out my joints, bending my arms and shoulders and loosening up. I dropped to the ground, feet in front of me, toes pointed, and bent forwards. My fingers just brushed my toes and I held the pose for a few minutes before spreading my legs into a split and touching my head to the ground, feeling the strain in my back.

Pleased with the workout – this was the first time I'd gotten any real exercise since I got to the base – I stood up and breathed in the morning air deeply, savoring the slight chill of the breeze before turning to go back to camp.

I hustled along the roads. The camp was just starting to wake up for the day, with sounds of soldiers moving around inside the barracks. A few early risers were already up and dressed, leaning outside of the buildings and enjoying the morning.

I attracted a few looks as I rushed for my barracks, but thankfully most people were too tired to realize I was there. I turned down the side road that lead to my barracks and picked up the pace, anticipating nice, hot shower.

"Hey, pretty lady. Where are you hurrying off to?"

From between two barracks a hand emerged, catching my wrist. I jerked to a stop and a burly blonde man stepped out, grinning down at me.

I tugged weakly at his grip. "Let me go, please," I requested, my voice tight.

"I don't think so," the blonde said smugly. "You're always rushing around, now that I've got you, I think I'd like to talk for a while."

"I have somewhere I have to be," I said coolly. Ice cold, ice cold.

It wasn't working quite as well as it usually did though. My blood was already pumping from the morning exercise, and ice cold was hard to do when I felt warm blood pounding in my temples. I was annoyed with these soldiers who seemed to think I owed them the time of day for some reason, and I was very close to fed up with them.

"Where?" the blonde scoffed. "Getting coffee for those lab rats?"

I blinked at him. "Getting… coffee?" I repeated dangerously. Ice cold, ice cold! "That's what you think I do?"

"Aside from eye candy, I don't see what else you could do," he said, gaze sweeping up and down my form lewdly. "Maybe some light cleaning?" He laughed at his own joke.

I wasn't amused.

"Get your hands off of me," I snapped. "Now."

Ice… cold…

"No, like I said, you'll run off, and we haven't finished our conversation yet, doll."

Burning hot.

"Yes we have," I snarled, and drew my fist back. I swung at him, nailing him in the eye. He reared back, releasing my wrist. I pulled it back and swung again, making contact with his chin. He yelled in pain and staggered back. I had to give a little hop to reach, but for good measure I landed a solid kick in his stomach, flinging him back against the outside of the nearest barracks building. Clutching his stomach and gasping for air, he slowly slid down the wall.

"Do not," I hissed dangerously, "touch me again."

I turned around and held my head high. I knew exactly what was happening around me, the soldiers murmuring amongst each other and staring at me. A couple looked mad, a couple looked impressed, but most just looked startled. Either way, they all stared as I walked up to my barracks, stepped inside, and shut the door behind me with a bang.

Peggy looked up at me in surprise from where she was busy slicking on her red lipstick. She took in the rage on my face and immediately rose, asking, "What happened?" Her scent fanned around her in her annoyance, something floral undercut with the hardness of steel.

"They can say whatever they want," I said dangerously. "But they will not lay their hands on me."

Peggy's face hardened in understanding. "Are you hurt?" she asked sternly. "Do you need to see Williams?"

I shook my head. "No." I smiled maliciously. "Can't say the same for the guy who touched me, though."

Peggy looked a little put off by my expression. Hastily, I fought down the red still flickering at the edges of my vision and schooled my expression into something tamer. She watched me the whole time, and when I was done, she nodded contently.

"That's far better than the alternative," she said softly. "Go on, I think you've earned a hot shower. I'll tell Erskine you'll be a bit late."

"Don't bother," I said shaking my head. All I wanted was to throw myself into my work, into something that was purely logic and thought and cool-headedness and get away from the anger pumping through my blood and making my fists clenched.

Peggy seemed to understand the desire to throw myself into work, because she gave me a look over to make sure I was fit for duty and then nodded.

"Alright. I'll see you later tonight," Peggy said, and pushed in the chair at her desk, sliding the small mirror she used for her makeup and hair into a drawer. She slid on her shoes and headed out. I stepped past her into the bathroom, shucking my clothes and stepping into the shower. But unlike what Peggy had recommended, I shuddered under cool water instead of basking in the heat.

Ice… cold…


I wasn't entirely surprised when Erskine approached me only an hour after I'd gotten to the lab. He was looking even more tired than he had been the past couple of days and was also looking unhappy with me. I dipped my head, wincing. I admired Erskine, the last thing I wanted was him to be disappointed in me.

"Colonel Phillips would like to see you in his office," Erskine said stiffly. "Miss Ealum, I hope I didn't make a mistake when I asked you to come here."

I stood up and pulled off my lab coat, folding it and draping it over my chair. I took the time to fight down my gut reaction to start blaming the blonde man who'd grabbed me. It was his fault, but I didn't think Erskine would appreciate me casting blame.

"Sir," I said, turning to face him and folding my hands in front of my waist. "I would never put my hands on someone who didn't put theirs on me first."

Erskine looked slightly mollified by that. The displeasure leaked out of his face, leaving him looking exhausted.

"I see. Well I cannot be mad at you for that. Viel glück, Fraulein Josie," he wished me.

"Danke," I said and moved to the door.

I held my head high as I moved through the camp. I saw a couple of the soldiers giving me passing glances and muttering to their friends under their breath, pointing to me not at all subtly. I knew what they were discussing and I knew what they were wondering. It was on my mind too. Would I be tossed out of the program?

I knocked on the door of Colonel Phillips office. When I heard the call to come in I stepped inside and seated myself in one of the uncomfortable wooden chairs in front of Phillips's desk. The whole top of it was spread with papers and files. A stack teetered precariously to the left. Phillips was busily filling out a report when I entered. He was still writing when I sat myself down. He finished the section he was working on, set his pen aside, sighed heavily, folded his hands, and looked at me.

"I'm guessing you know why you're here?"

"A recruit with a black eye filed a report?" I answered bluntly. Phillips snorted.

"I'd watch your mouth if I was you," he said shortly. "I don't have any say over what goes on in that lab, that's Erskine's territory, but I do have a say in what goes on everywhere else. And I say that you will not go around beating up my men."

"Sir," I began respectfully. "The only reason I laid my hands on your recruits was because he grabbed me and refused to let me go when I asked him to do so. I don't lash out for no reason – I was put into a situation where I feared for my personal safety and I reacted accordingly."

Phillips snorted. "And considering who your father is, you could have done worse, and I right?"

I blinked, startled at the mention of my father. "You… know my father?" I asked uncertainly. Phillips nodded.

"Thomas Ealum and I met several years ago, when we'd just come out of basic. I remember that no one on the entire base could beat him in a boxing match. Going by what you did to my recruit," Phillips gave me a stern look, "he taught you how to hit."

I nodded. "He did, sir."

"Which is how I know that you could have taken that recruit apart if you were actually trying to hurt him."

I nodded again. "You're correct, sir."

Phillips stared at me intently from across the desk. "Make no mistake, if this happens again I will toss your ass of off this base so fast you'll leave skid marks behind you. I'm willing to let it lie this time, but don't let this become a habit, Miss Ealum," he warned.

I nodded. "That's fair, sir."

"Good.

He had the same dark circles and exhausted expression as I'd seen so often recently on Dr. Erskine's face. "May I say… you're looking very tired, and so is Dr. Erskine."

Phillips scowled thunderously. "That's what happens when the idiots in Washington makes us run through hoops to get so much as a nickel out of them. But that's not your concern. Now get the hell out of my office and go make me a super soldier."

I smiled. "Yes sir. Of course."


Viel glück – good luck

Not much change in this chapter, so... not much to say. Drop me a review?