Hey all. I wait between chapters.

It took me longer than I expected to get this chapter out. For some reason, it took me over 3 weeks to write this and the chapter isn't complete either. I intended to end in a different place, but this chapter was already large, so I decided to cut the chapter in half. Hopefully, it won't take me too long to finish the other half. In the mean time, here is this part.

disclaimer: I do not own Marvel and I do not money off this sadly.

Chapter 14:

The Engineer's Wrench

"So you believe me now?" Toni asked as she narrowed her eyes at the stupid Colonel. Though she was glad that he did believe her, this was not how she wanted it. She took a deep breath, but Erskine was going to die no matter and nothing could've changed that.

Phillips, who was sitting across from her, eyed her; he was trying to read her. "I still have my doubts, but-"

Toni glared. "Then why am I here? You should-"

"-But I'm starting to believe you," he stated, interrupting her. "I want to keep an eye on you." He opened up the file in front of him and skimmed it over before sliding it toward Toni. "You rotting in a cell won't help anyone."

She glanced down at the file. Without actually looking at it, she could tell it was about her as she saw her face staring up at her. "What's this?" she asked.

The Colonel stood up and crossed to the window. Unlike the last time they talked, they were in a small office that had a window facing the outside. "In order to keep an eye on you, I need you close and this is how I'm going to do so." He turned back to her with a smile. "It means you have to listen to me."

"I don't know what's in this file, but I won't listen to anyone," she stated. "What makes you think I will? Me and authority don't get along." She let out a chuckle as she thought about all of the times Rogers tried to tell her what to do.

"You'll have if you want to get home," he stated, putting stress on the word home.

Toni narrowed her eyes as she picked up the file. She let out a loud pitch laugh as she read it, because it was the funniest shit on the planet. It had her listed as a solder in the Army. "A Corporal? Really?" She couldn't keep the laugher in. "Why can't I be a Captain? No fair, Salty," she teased as she stuck out her tongue.

His eye twitched at the sound of the nickname. "You're lucky you're even that. I could've made you a private, but if you're going to be around my men, I want, rather need, you to be of a higher rank. These men hadn't been around a woman in a long time, and a slightly higher rank might be able to discourage them from trying something."

She stopped laughing for a second and glared. "Wait, what?" She paused. "Try what?"

He looked at her and laughed before he became deadly silent. "Though, they might not respect a woman Corporal," he stated very seriously. "There aren't women Corporals."

Toni's eye was still twitching. "I can take care of myself," she replied. She had heard of military women getting harassed in her time, but she could imagine that it was worse now. It scared her a bit to think about it; however, she wasn't going to let it get to her. Men were like dogs; if they smelled fear, they would attack.

"You say this now, but this won't be like anything you're used to," he stated as he stepped to a desk in the corner of the room. He opened a drawer and pulled something out. Toni eyed him curiously, but she did not say anything. "Here are some uniforms for you." He set them down in front of her.

She glanced at the items. "Please tell me I don't have to wear a skirt, as I refused." There were a few things she could put up with, but she wouldn't wear a skirt. Yes, she had worn skirts and dresses before, but that was different. This was the army.

Salty let out a laugh. "I knew you would say that," he chuckled as he glanced her over.

She was still wearing the black outfit that she had worn when she had snuck into Stark industries. For being in a cell for a few weeks, she didn't look all that bad, but she looked tired and worn out. "Well, it's hard to build an engine or a generator when wearing a skirt. Have you try to bend down while wearing a dress? It's the most awkward thing on the planet!" She paused and thought about her statement. "No, wait. I take that bad. That's the second most awkward thing on the planet. Me trying to play wingman to Steve Rogers is the most awkward thing on the planet." She let out a painful chuckle. "He can't even talk to a woman without breaking out in a cold sweat."

"You're so a Stark." He let out a sighing laugh as he shook his head.

Toni smiled. "I try." Though she did not like it, she was a lot like her good for nothing father. No, she did NOT have father issues and she would beat the asshole, who said she did.

"Back to what we were talking about," the Colonel stated. "When the need calls for it, you'll have to wear the dress uniform which does have a skirt, but around the base, you can wear pants."

Her eye twitched. "I guess I'll have to work with that, Salty."

"I hate when you call me that," he said bitterly.

"Well, too bad."

He put on a smirk. "Once you get dressed, report to Agent Carter. You two will be spending lots of time together, as she'll be keeping an eye on you."

Though she liked Peggy, it worried her. "Is that a good idea, Salty?" His eye twitched at the name. "I did almost shoot her the last time we met."

"You underestimate her; there's no way that you could've shoot her. She isn't one of our top agents for nothing. The cadets learned that the hard way during boot camp."

Toni snickered, knowing Peggy. Even with a hand tied behind her back, Peggy could still take her. "Well, I'm a lousy shot, but I can still put up a good fight."

He looked at her. "I doubt an engineer can win a fight against a trained solder."

"HEY! You should never count out a Stark," she countered. Though she wouldn't tell him that about the Iron Man Suit, she had the urge to bring it up, so he wouldn't think of her as defenseless. Even with her self-defense classes, she wasn't the strongest person around, but she could defend herself just as well, if not better, than most. "And there's nothing wrong with an engineer."

Phillips let out a chuckle. "Put on the dress uniform until we get to base."

Her eye twitched. "But I don't wanna."

"Just do, Corporal."

At hearing that, her whole situation came crashing down on her. All jokes aside, she was in a very tricky spot, and there was a chance that she wouldn't be able to get back. She might be suck as a fucken Corporal for the rest of her life, and she didn't want to be a fucken Corporal. She wanted to be in her lab, inventing shit, as Pepper ran her company. She did not want to listen to some asshat, telling her what to do. It went against her very nature, her very core. Maybe, I should take Loki's deal, she thought; however, that thought didn't last too long. There was no way she could take anything that he was giving.

"Are you okay, Sark?" he asked, pulling her out of her thoughts.

"Sark?"

"It's the name you gave Barnes. It would make sense to keep it."

"I guess," she stated, not really liking the name. She wanted her name, and there was no way in hell that she would give up her name by choice. If she ever got married (no chance in hell she would), her spouse would take her last name. That was not up for debate.

The Colonel's eyebrow rose at the sound of her depressed voice. "I have to hurry this along."

Toni exhaled slowly as she stood up and reached for the uniforms on the table. "How's Rogers?" she asked.

"Rogers appears well. He seemed to have gotten along with Peggy well. Too well if you ask me." He shook his head as he crossed to the door. There was a pause as he looked at her. "I do not care to know if I'm being honest. He's off being America's show boy," he answered, walking to the door.

She tried to work out what she was feeling. She had known that the Shrimp had a thing for Peggy, though she was unsure of what that thing really was, but hearing it from Salty annoyed her. She wasn't sure why, but she didn't want to think too much on it. It shouldn't matter what they were anyway.

*O*O*

As it was unclear to how long she was in the cell, she was glad to take a shower. She felt so dirty and disgusting, and she hated feeling like that. Unlike a regular woman, she didn't care if she took a shower every day; however, she refused to be dirty and smelly.

After a scrubbing herself three times to make sure she was cleaned, Toni turned off the shower and walked to a bench located a foot outside of the communal shower area. Alone in the locker room, she took her time getting her towel. After a few seconds of being completely naked, she wrapped the towel around her body and stepped toward a mirror. She dropped the towel slightly as she stared at her small form. She had lost a few pounds and she could see her some of her rips. Her current state reminded her of her condition when she was rescued in the desert. Her stomach growled taking her out of her thoughts. She needed to eat something, because she was exhausted just by standing there. However, she was unable to look away from her small frame.

While one hand held up the towel, the other traced the dim arc reactor. She was tempted to take it out and fix it, but she didn't have the right tools and she wasn't in the right location. She didn't need to faint while naked. That would be a very awkward, because at this time, her father would be the only hope that she had if the reactor failed, and she didn't want her father to see her naked, especially when he didn't know she was his daughter. Knowing her father, he would flirt and that would be… Ew! Toni shook her head. It would be embarrassing and mortifying to say the least.

Pressing her hand against the reactor, she took a deep breath. She couldn't stare at her naked self forever, but she didn't have any interesting in facing the world. Why couldn't she stay in the locker room? Shaking her head, she knew she couldn't and it would be stupid to think about it. Trying to force herself to a happier place, she turned to the uniforms that Salty had given her. With the towel wrapped around her tightly, she unfolded the uniform and laid them in front of her. She groaned at the hideous standard undergarments that the military provided. How could anyone feel any kind of sexy in this uniform? Toni sighed because she was being foolish as sex had no part in war.

After putting on the white undergarments, she slipped her arms through the off-white blouse and buttoned it. Before putting on the skirt, she put on a slip, an article of clothing she didn't understand the point of. After tucking her blouse in the skirt, she took a seat and put on a pair of kitten heels, another article she didn't understand. Standing up, she wandered back to the mirror and glared at her reflection.

Though she knew how sexy they made her legs look, Toni hated heels and never understand why anyone would want to wear them. They were the most uncomfortable things on the planet to walk in and it didn't matter what kind of heels Peppers brought her. However, there were two reasons why she wore them: Pepper made her or to get laid as men loved a woman in heels. She groaned, because Pepper wasn't here and she definitely wasn't getting laid. What was the point of heels if she wasn't trying to flirt the pants off someone? Exhaling slowly, she pulled on the itchy military jacket, which felt like it weighed 50 pounds. How could anyone wear this shit? She couldn't wait until she could take this off.

Her eye wandered to the sleeves of jacket and glared at the Corporal symbol. She didn't know how that was going to work, but it would be difficult as she wasn't one to listen without a fight, which was why she and Future Rogers didn't get along. He, like others, wanted her to listen without questions and that wasn't her. She had to ask questions; it was her nature.

Toni stepped away from the mirror to a duffle, and after making sure it was packed, she headed to the door. She had to meet Peggy, but she didn't have to go too far to find her as the agent was waiting outside the room. A few feet down, Peggy, who sported a frown, was leaning against the wall. Urgh, she thought as she took a few steps toward her. She hated when Peggy was upset. "Hello, Agent," she stated as she held the bag over her shoulder.

"The glow is covered." She glanced down at Toni's chest.

"I figured Salty wouldn't want it visible."

"No, he wouldn't." Peggy pushed herself off the wall and looked Toni over. "Was that why you were in there awhile?"

"Well, I hadn't taken a shower in a while as I was rotting in a cell," she explained with a smile. A second later, she felt her stomach rumble in hunger again.

"A well deserve cell."

Toni's eye twitched. Though she wasn't sure what Phillips told Peggy, she knew it wasn't much, that she was working on limited information. She had a reason to be harsh as Toni could be a spy for all she knew. "It was a misunderstanding," she replied. She needed to change the subject. "Can we get something to eat? I got to feed the beast."

Peggy raised her eyebrow. "Are you under the impression that you are the 'beast'?"

"Are you saying that I'm not?" she asked, smirking. Shaking her head, Peggy didn't respond and turned away. "O', you are no fun," Toni joked as she followed after her. Thanks to the stupid heels and being out of shape due to the long prison stay, she was having a hard time keeping up.

"We do not have time for fun."

"There's always time for fun." Peggy glanced back at her, annoyance present on her face. It was weird to be hated by her as Peggy had been her life line when she was younger. Whenever Toni needed to talk or cry something out, she went to Peggy, who would always listen no matter what even if it was two in the morning. "So where are you taking me?" she asked, knowing she better change the subject again.

"A quick bite to eat and then we are off to London," she answered, very bitterly. "I assume you know you're coming with us? The Colonel wants to keep an eye on you."

"I know," she replied, trying to keep up. Peggy was walking too fast for her, and it annoyed Toni. There was no doubt that Peggy knew she was having a hard time keeping up and was doing it on purpose. It irritated Toni and she wanted to say something, though she doubted that Peggy would slow down if asked. There had to be another way to make her stop. "So do you like Rogers?" she asked, knowing it would piss her off. It also bugged Toni that Peggy and Steve were close. This isn't surprising, but why do you care? She asked herself. It's for the best.

The Agent stopped and turned on a dime. "Corporal Sark, that's none of your concern."

"Ouch, did he turn you down?" It would take Toni some time to get used to being called that.

Carter was glaring at her. "I think you're jealous."

Toni laughed, because it was completely ridicules. How could she like the asshole Captain Rogers? She couldn't even stand him. Though the shrimp Steve was sweet, he was Captain America now, which made him an ass. "I think you're crazy," she replied. "Why would I like him?"

Peggy took a deep breath before she started to walk away. "You brought him up." There was a long silence pause. "We do not have time to talk."

It annoyed Toni that Peggy was able to get to her. "Fine."

*O*O*

After the awkward bite with Peggy who glared at Toni the whole time, they boarded a plane. Toni had been on quite a few military planes before but she had never been on a plane this old. It isn't old, she told herself. For the time, it was highly advance and there was no safer plane; however, she still did not like it. The only aircrafts she trusted were her own as none could compare.

"Scared?"

Twitching, Toni turned and glared at Agent Carter, who had followed behind her on the plane. "I was just deciding where to sit," she stated. So this is how it's going to be? Toni thought to herself. She was okay with that, because she didn't want to befriend anyone, though it was already too late. She had already befriended Steve- no Rogers. As he was the Captain now, he was Rogers again to her. She had also befriended Barnes, but that was a lie as he had betrayed her to Salty. That still blew her mind.

"This plane is one of the safest plane you can be on," Peggy stated.

Toni narrowed her eyes, because it was that mindset that brought planes and ships down. Fury's beloved heliocraft would have gone down if it wasn't for her actions. "I said I wasn't scared. No need to try to baby me."

"I'm your baby sitter." Annoyance was present in her voice.

Toni couldn't keep the laugher down, because Peggy was her babysitter for much of her early life.

Peggy raised an eye brow. "What's so funny?"

Shaking her head, Toni didn't answer and walked away to find a seat. As she walked toward the front of the massive plane, she noticed a few stares, which she didn't like. It appeared that Phillip had been right, but she wasn't going to let that get to her. Speaking of the man, she spotted him near the front, and deciding it would be best to sit close to him, she made her way toward him. As she neared, Salty glanced up. "Colonel," she greeted as she took a seat next to him. She glimpsed down the plane toward Peggy, who was walking toward them in a slow pace.

"Sark," he stated. "Are you going to stop calling me Salty?" He eyed her. "I don't need my men to hear that."

She let out a small chuckle. "Not a chance, Salty." she smiled. "So where's my device?" she asked as she buckled herself in tightly. However, if the plane was to fall from the sky, a seatbelt would not save her.

He looked around to see if anyone was in earshot. "Your father has it."

Her eye twitched at the word, father. "Am I going to get it back?" she asked annoyed. Why did he have to use the word father? Just thinking about Howard made her blood boil.

"Once we touched down, Stark, who is waiting for us in London, will hand over the device and he will supervise you."

"I don't need a babysitter," she protested. She was referring to both Peggy and Howard. "And don't you think that could mess up the whole timeline?" she whispered. "Is this about not trusting me?" There was also the fact that she couldn't stand to be in the same room of her father; however, she wondered if the world could take so much genius in the same room. She couldn't deny the intelligence of her father.

"Don't take it personally. I don't trust anyone," he stated.

"Well, I-" Toni started.

"Colonel," Peggy greeted, interrupting. She took a seat across from Salty and Toni. Her glare had changed to a smug look.

"Agent," Phillips replied. "Have you two been getting along?"

"Yup, we're best friends," Toni responded. She could feel his eyes on her, and she did her best not to pay any attention. "We're already giggling about nails and boys."

"I doubt that," he replied as he turned back to Peggy, who let out a sigh. Everyone knew Toni wasn't going to be easy.

"We don't need to be friends," Peggy replied. "It's not my job to friendly." This was where Toni toned them out.

Old Salty had said something to the sassy Agent, but Toni wasn't paying attention. At this moment, anything that came out of Peggy's mouth annoyed her. However, it did make her laugh, because somehow, she was friends with Rogers and 'enemies' with Peggy, when it was the opposite in the future. What was going on to make her consider Rogers a friend over Peggy?

Still toning them out, Toni glanced at Salty and Sassy from the corner of her eyes. What they said didn't matter, because the only thing that did matter was her damn device that her father had. The longer he had it the more chances he had to ruin it, but it didn't matter when she got the device back as she would have to work with her father.

The very idea of working with her father annoyed the hell out of her. How could she work with someone like him? He couldn't see pass his big ego, but then again, there were other reasons why she hated her father. He basically abandoned her to nannies, as he didn't have time for her. Yes, she was still bitter about it. Sure, she grew up fine (some would probably disagree on that like the asshole Future Rogers), but it wasn't the same. Though she didn't play as a child, she had seen other fathers with their children and she had desired to have that same relationship.

"Sark."

Though the child genius needed special care, it wasn't fair that was all she got. She was treated with gloves and wasn't even allowed to have fun when she was a child as her father didn't deemed it necessary. He felt it would do more harm than good, but he was wrong. She wished could tell him that, but she was never able to. She was a chicken when it came to speaking her mind to her father.

"Sark. Sark!"

Toni jumped and glanced toward Phillips who had been calling her name. "Talking to me?" she asked, as she glanced toward Peggy, who was staring at her.

"I was calling your name, Corporal," Phillips answered.

"Were you?" Toni asked. "I wasn't paying attention."

"Clearly," Peggy muttered.

Phillips glimpsed at Peggy. "I see you two might have an issue getting along. If you two can't control yourselves, I'll step in and if I have to, it won't be pretty. I cannot allow this on the battlefield."

Toni glanced toward Peggy before leaning back and looking up at the roof of the plane. "I will behave," she said as her fall flashed before her eyes. "Though, I have an issue listening to authority, Salty."

"I can tell," Phillips stated, annoyed.

Toni can see Peggy wanted to say something, but she was refraining. Unlike her, Agent Carter could keep silence and listen, even if she didn't want to.

She closed her eyes and allowed her mind to drift. During her daydreaming, the plane had taken off and was currently over the ocean. She could hear the wind violently and ferociously strike the plane as it flew through the ruff air. She took a deep breath as they went through a bumpy patch. Lately, she hadn't been a fan of flying unless she was the one piloting. Her fall kept replaying in her head.

"Are you okay, Sark?" Peggy asked.

Toni didn't open her eyes. "I'm fine, Agent Carter," she stated. Her voice was shaky and she hoped no one noticed.

*O*O*

Toni looked around at Howard Stark's lab away from home. For being a make shift lab in a middle of a military base, it was pretty decent, and she was impressed by that; however, she should've expected this. Her father only liked working with the best and the top of the line items, and he refused to work with anything less. In those regards, he was pretty much like her, but he was a bigger asshole than she. She, at least, could carry on a conversion unlike him.

Still wearing the annoying dress uniform, Toni paced the room as she waited for her stupid father, who made her very nervous. Could she impress him? Or would he be disappointed in her like always? She betted the later as she had never made him proud. Why did she care anyways? She shouldn't care what he thought about her.

With each passing second, she was getting angrier. Though being a Stark made her who she was, she wondered what it would have been like if she wasn't raised by an ass, who was hardly around in the first place. Seriously, he liked to pawn her off whenever he could. No, she didn't have daddy issues!

Toni glanced around the lab that Peggy had dropped her in a short while ago, having important things to do that she didn't want Toni to know about. She had talked generically in front of her without revealing any details as she eyed Toni. It made her feel like child, which infuriated her, but she didn't say anything or even react to it liked she wanted to. If she wanted to earn their trust and get her damn device back, she had to listen and behave, which would be difficult.

She took a seat at one of the tables in the lab as she eyed the only door into the room. It would be the only way into the room and she didn't want Howard to get the surprise on her. Out of habit, her hands reached for the closest thing: a crescent wrench, and started to mindlessly play with it. The wrench was cold in her hand and it felt nice as the room was warm. She couldn't understand why it was so hot in here. Should it be colder with all of his equipment?

Shaking her head, she took a deep breath and held it for a few seconds. Exhaling slowly, she kicked the heels off her feet and stretched out her legs. "Stupid heels," she muttered. Holding up her legs, she glanced down to her feet.

"I think heels make a woman's legs look sexy."

Recognizing the voice, Toni glanced up with a glare. "Mr. Stark," she greeted, trying to keep back her anger.

He smiled at her with an annoying grin. "We meet again." Toni raised her eyebrow. "I guess… the first time didn't count as you were unconscious."

It kind of creeped her out that he had visited her when she was sleeping. She took a deep breath to relax herself. "Where's my device?" she asked, not wanting to stretch this out. She thought she could keep her cool, but seeing his sorry smug face set her off…again.

Howard lifted up a metal suitcase that he was holding. "So what does this do that you want it so badly?" he asked as he set the case down on the table that Toni was sitting.

"Wouldn't you like to know," she responded, sitting up. She lean forward as if to grab to the case, but her hands stopped short. It was dead bolted and there was no way she could open it.

"I would." He paused. "I would also like to know how you got into my lab. My security is top notch."

"I don't know if I would say top notch if a petite woman got in." Toni let out a chuckle, because she liked how annoyed he was by it. "What did Colonel Salty tell you about me?" she asked, wondering what lie he told them.

Howard took a key out of his pocket and slid it to Toni, who scooped it up immediately. "Don't worry about it. Just know you'll be spending lots of time with me, which makes you the luckiest lady on the planet. Lots of women would love that chance."

Her eye started twitching as he winked at her. "You're ridiculous, you know that?" she snapped as she stood. "Why in hell would anyone want to be with you?" She unlocked the suitcase and slid her device out.

He eyed her. "I heard you didn't like me. Can I ask why?" He paused as she didn't answer him. After a long silence, he spoke, "I'll change that as no one can hate this smile."

"I can." Toni, glaring, looked up and studied him. This man was different than the man, who raised her, and it pissed her off. "I have no interest in making friends."

"Well, that's no fun," he stated as he stepped toward her and leaned against the table a foot away from her.

"War shouldn't be fun."

Howard looked at her. "I didn't say it was."

She didn't respond as the sight of her broken down device infuriated her. "Why did you take it apart?" she snapped. It also appeared that he tried to put it back together.

"To see how it worked."

"Did it work?" she asked, as she picked up the device and moved to a different table.

He left out a chuckle. "I think you know the answer to that," he said as he followed after her. "You know it might be best to put on shoes when walking around the lab. We don't need a pretty dame getting hurt."

"Don't make me hurt you." Toni glanced down at her feet before looking over her should. "And you don't need to hoover." Why did people keep calling her a dame? She hated that word.

"Hostile," he muttered as he raised his hands up in defeat. "I'll leave you be." He stepped away from her and crossed to a separate table.

*O*O*

The next week or so, Toni did her best not to acknowledge Howard whenever he talked to her, which was harder said than done. Everything out of his mouth annoyed Toni, who wanted to snap back a witty nasty comment to everything he said, but she forced her mouth shut. There were points that she made her lips bleed as she bit down too hard. She knew she was being stupid and she should give him a chance, but she kept flashing back to her childhood and how she could never make him happy.

To be honest, it was weird to see him like this, and she didn't know how to act around him. She was able to see he wasn't a total asshole that was if she put her anger aside for a second. Though his ego was the most annoying thing on the planet, he was relatedly nice to the people around him and, for the most part, he was approachable. However, that did not mean she would change her outlook of him.

Shaking her head, she glanced over her shoulder at Howard, who was working on something. At his sides were a couple of lab techs in lab coats. He was working on something that Toni didn't know anything about. Yes, he probably would've told her if she asked, but she didn't want to know. She watched as Howard spoke to his techs, pointing at some of the tools on the walls. His laugher broke across the room at something that one of the techs said in response. Howard patted him on the back and told him something, which Toni couldn't quite make out from this distance. She eyed her father as he returned to the welder in front of him.

Toni took a deep breath and turned to her device, which she had put back together. After replacing most of the wires, it hadn't take much to get her device back in working order, well back to where she had before. It still bit when she tried to power it. She reached for a small generator on the table and pulled it toward her, thinking whether she should try or not. As it would just spit it back out, it would be stupid to try. She pushed the generator away and grabbed a small wrench. After taking off the metal casing, she pushed the wires out of the way and partly pulled out the motherboard.

While glancing toward her father (who was a horrible supervisor), she pulled out her smart phone, which she had repurposed again. It had taken some time to convince Salty to give it back, but she was able to sweet talk him. Similar to before, it was a scanner and she could do a full diagnostic on any device. Though it wouldn't be as thorough as if Jarvis did it, it gave her some idea of what was wrong with it. Yes, the purpose of the device was to suck power, but it wasn't supposed to spit it back out with so much force.

Maybe, it's that spit back that I want, Toni thought as she remembered what happened in her own lab. However, if she was able to power it, it would either kill her or send her farther back in time, and she didn't want either of those things. She needed to find a way to control the device, but first thing first, she had to find a power source.

Just as Toni was about to disconnect the motherboard from the device, it somehow sent a shockwave through her arm without even being connected to a power source. "FUCK," she screamed as she dropped what she was holding. She cradled her right hand close to her chest as she rocked. She couldn't feel her arm, which didn't scare her too much. Her frustration of being bested by her own damn device was overshadowing the shocking pain. Why couldn't she fix it?

She jumped at a hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?" Howard asked as he kneed down in front of Toni. "I have one of the techs getting a doctor. Let me see your hand."

Toni eyed his hand on her shoulder. "I'm fine," she said through her teeth. Seeing, hearing him like this reminded her of the times before her mother's death.

"Something tells me you're lying," Howard joked as he stood up. He pushed the table away from Toni, so he could knee down in front of her. "I have been bitten by that device. I know how much pain you're in."

She held her arm tighter. "I bet."

"I can help you with this. I'm not sure what you're trying to do, but I don't own Stark industries for nothing."

Toni narrowed her eyes at him. She could have said the same thing, but she didn't. She also didn't tell him that she handed the control of the company to her secretary. "I can do this on my own."

"I'm supposed to supervise you for a reason."

"And you did a piss poor job of it," she replied. "I don't need your help anyways."

Howard let out a chuckle. "You're something else." He went to grab her arm to look at it, when he was pushed out of the way.

When Toni looked back, there in Howard's place stood a military doctor. "I don't need a doctor," she stated as she reluctantly allowed the doctor to take her arm. She bit down on her lip as he extended her arm.

The Doctor looked up at her face and he could see the pain written on it. "Corporal, the shock has numbed your arm. You should gain the feeling back in your arm in a few hours. Do you want a sling?"

"No, I don't," she stated as she tried to pull her arm back and failed. She tried not to pay any attention to the word 'should.' "Thanks." She eyed her arm and the growing blisters, forming on it.

The Doctor reached into his bag and pulled out a gauze and medical type. "Hold still." Finding some burn cream, he applied it to her skin before wrapping her arm in the white gauze. After making sure it was typed properly, he let go of her arm, stood, and headed to the door. "Just keep it dry for a few days."

"I got it," Toni replied as he watched the Doctor leave. Taking a deep breath, she held her arm against her chest and closed her eyes. Howard must've waved his techs away as she heard two additional people leave the room.

"Are you sure you're okay, Toni?" Howard asked as he stepped to the device.

She opened her eyes slowly. "It's just a flesh wound," she stated as she stood up. She looked toward the door and was greeted by the sight of Colonel Phillips. "Hello, Salty."

The Colonel took a deep breath. "My name is not salty."

"I don't think she's going to stop calling you that, Colonel," Howard stated as he placed her device back into the metal suitcase. Both Toni, with a glare, and Phillips watched as he did this.

"You don't have to put it away. I can still work on it," Toni spoke as he watched him shut the case.

Howard took a deep breath. "You're hurt. Take the rest of the day off. Put your sexy legs up. A Lady does not need to work this hard."

It irked her to hear him say that. Was that why he didn't love her? Was that why she couldn't make him proud? Was it because he wanted a son? A son to carry on his legacy? Was this why he and Rogers got along? Did he consider the Captain a better legacy than she? "You better watch your mouth," she hissed.

Phillips stepped toward. "Easy, Sark," he stated as he grabbed hold of her shoulder. "Though he should reframe form making absurd comments, he meant no harm."

"The hell he did," she stated. It was always when someone meant no harm did he caused the most harm.

Howard let out a small chuckle. "I don't think I can ever win with her," he stated as he picked up the case and headed to the door. "I'll leave now. I have to pack anyways." With that, he was out the door.

Toni wanted to go after him, but Phillips held her back. "Let me go," she ordered. Her arm was still firmly against chest.

After making sure they were alone, he spoke, "Stark, relax." He paused. "I take your relationship with your father was shitty?"

"How can you tell?" she asked as she shook his hand off her. "You should watch calling me Stark. We don't want anyone to hear that."

"They'll just think you two are married," he chuckled.

"Me married to him?" she pointed toward the door with her left hand. "I would shot myself."

"He isn't that bad for the most part."

Her eye twitched. "Not that bad? Have you tried working with him?" He looked at her. "Okay, Okay. I know you are now. But his ego just makes me want to puke."

"And yours does that to me," he stated.

"Ouch. I'm not that bad."

"No, worse," he stated. Toni opened her mouth as if to protest, but he cut her off. "Let's go. We have things to. We're heading out."

"Heading out where?" she asked.

"You don't need to know. Just get ready."

*O*O*

Toni had no idea where Howard was with her device, as she hadn't seen him since that night she hurt her arm. It annoyed the hell out of her that he had taken her device with him, but she didn't say anything as she realized that she needed a break. She had been working on it for days without end. Maybe, it would give her fresh eyes, because right now, she couldn't think of anything and it was frustrating her.

Exhaling slowly, Toni, who was in the tent that she shared with Peggy, pushed herself up into a sitting position on the cot. She glanced at Peggy's cot, which vacant and neat. For as long as Toni knew Peggy, she was immaculate and never had a hair out of place, and it made sense that she would be that way now.

Always getting up at 4am, Peggy, who was never late for anything, would fold her blanket and set it at the end of the cot and leave soon after. Toni's glance dropped to Peggy's items, which were neatly packed and stored under the cot. Though Toni had tried to be neat, her side of the tent could not compete with Peggy's. It looked like her clothes, which was impressive as she had only a small amount, exploded on her side. Peggy, like always, did not approve.

Her mind wandered to Peggy, and Toni wondered if the agent had noticed that Toni hadn't been sleeping. Yes, she had gone to bed each night with the intention of sleeping, but she just couldn't. She couldn't get her mind to stop, and it would only allow her to rest for few hours before she found herself staring up at the tent. At some point of the nights, she would watch Peggy sleep, wishing she could rest like her. Yes, it was fucken creepy, but she couldn't force herself to look away.

When she couldn't stare anymore, she would take a long walk around the camp, which Phillips wasn't too happy about, but he didn't stop her. After the long stride, she would return to the tent and curl up in a ball under the blanket. She would play with a wrench as she would try to close her eyes and sleep, which would work only for a few seconds before she was staring off again. When Peggy woke for the day, Toni would listen to her movements, which relaxed her for some odd reason. It allowed her to drift.

Today was no different, but it didn't last. As soon as Carter left, Toni was wide awake. Kicking her feet over the edge of the cot, Toni buttoned up her shirt, which was partly undone to allow for some freedom around her neck. The good thing about rooming with Peggy was that she knew about the reactor and Toni didn't have to hide it, though she did catch the Agent staring at it. The reactor, which was dim as ever, had seemed to have stabled, but that didn't mean anything. It could still fail at any moment, and she knew for sure it would fail if that device misfired like it did before in the lab.

After slipping into her combat boots and the wrench to her pants' pocket (to Toni's joy, she was wearing pants), she exited the tent in the search of her favorite person, though Phillips would not like that. Even if he believed her, she was not his favorite person and she was okay with that. Putting on a smile, she ignored the looks and stupid ass comments from the male solders as she walked through the camp. She didn't understand how they thought whistling or stupid pickup lines would make her want to drop her pants.

Just the Colonel's Tent came into view, she stopped as she heard someone yelling. "Fire Rocket!"

Toni turned. "Fire Rocket?" she asked, eyeing the solder running toward her. He looked familiar, but she couldn't place him.

When he was a few feet away from her, he spoke, "I'm surprise to find you here, Fire Rocket. Not that it's unpleasant." He gave her a creepy smile as he looked her over.

"Do I know you?" Toni asked, eyeing him. She had to have met him before as he knew her, but she had no idea of where. "What's with the name Fire Rocket?" She had no idea why he called her that. It was annoying as all hell.

"We met before outside the theater. You were with that Rogers guy," he stated. He sounded bitter. "I still have no idea why they choose him for the project but I guess it doesn't matter now. He's just a poster boy." He waved a comic in her face. Even though she couldn't get a good look at it, she knew it was a Captain America comic.

"I think you're jealous," Toni stated as she tried to walk away, but the unnamed guy stepped in front of her. "Is there a problem, Private?"

He let out a laugh. "You're such a fire Rocket."

"What does that even mean? Do you even hear to yourself?" Toni asked out of annoyance. He stepped closer to her, and Toni could smell his stench, which was a combination of a few of things "Also, do you believe in showers?" Though it wasn't as bad she pretended, she waved the smell out of her face.

"You have such a mouth."

"O', I know." She paused. "And I'm not a Fire Rocket." She still had no idea of why this solder would call her that. She was a hot head, but she wasn't sure she would call herself a fire rocket.

"But you are. If you like, I can show you," he stated as he reached out to her.

Before he could touch her, Toni hit his arm away. "There's nothing you can show me."

"That wasn't very nice. Someone should teach you matters."

It hit her. The alley! He was the asshole that attacked Steve in the alley and slapped her ass, which no one did and got away with. He was also the reason why Steve and she didn't talk for days. "It won't be you," she snapped. Shaking her head, she turned to leave, but she didn't get too as he grabbed her arm. "What the hell? Let me go, Private," she ordered, using ranks.

"Corporal Sark, where would the fun be in that?" he asked. "I just want to show you a good time." They were starting to attract a crowd; however, no one did anything except watch.

She tried to pull away but she couldn't break away from his grab. "Let me go," she ordered.

"That would be no fun."

Without another thought, Toni swung her fist and decked him in the face, sending him back. "Find your fun elsewhere, Fucker," she hissed. "I'm not opening my legs for you."

The Private regained his composer and stepped toward Toni, who could see his anger as he grabbed her. "You-"

Before Toni realized what happened, the asshole was pushed off her and she stumbled back without the weight on her arm. She looked around to see what the hell had happened, and there to her surprised stood Barnes. The sight of him pissed her off, even if it was a relief.

"Who the hell are you?" the asshole asked as he dusted himself off. "Why don't you mind your business?" The crowd just watched the three of them.

"If you touch her again, I'll beat the shit out of you, and her wellbeing is my concern, Private," Barnes stated as he grabbed the man by the collar. "GO." He shoved him off. There was a movement along the crowd but none stepped forward to break up the fight.

The man glanced at Toni before he rested his eyes on Barnes. "I'll be back," he stated before he disappeared into the crowd.

Toni watched him leave before she turned to Barnes. She only stared at him for a second before she disappeared into the crowd as well. She had wanted to speak to Salty, but the sight of Barnes irritated her. He had betrayed her to Phillips, and she could not look pass that.

*O*O*

Somehow, she made it back to her tent without being stopped, but when she got there, she wasn't so lucky. In front of her stood Barnes, who was eyeing her intensely. "Why are you here?" she asked as she played with the wrench in her pocket. There was nothing she wanted to hear from him.

"Can we talk, Toni?" Barnes as he stepped toward her. He was dressed in his combat uniform, and even with his face all bruised up, he was sexy as hell.

Toni's eye twitched. Why did the universe hate her? "Why are you here?" she asked.

"I need to explain," he stated as he stepped to her.

She looked him over and stopped at his black eye. "What happened to you?"

"Just came back from combat," Barnes answered. "It got a little ruff, but it isn't anything that I can't handle." He paused. "I think it makes me look manlier." He let out a laugh. "What do you think?"

Toni narrowed her eyes as she crossed her arms against her chest. Her fingers were tapping in annoyance. "I don't know if I would consider you a man."

"Toni."

"Don't Toni me," she demanded. "Why are you here?" She didn't want to talk to him. She had other things that she could be doing instead of wasting her time talking to him, especially when he betrayed her to Colonel Salty. Yes, she knew everything turned out well as she was closer in fix that damn device, but he was the reason why she was in a damn cell for a month. For the longest time, her voice was the only voice she heard, and it was annoying.

"I want to explain why I did it."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "You don't need to. I know why you did. You thought what you were doing was for the best. I would've done the same thing." It was true that she would've, but that didn't mean she had to like it.

Relief flashed across his face. "Toni-"

"However," she interrupted, "that doesn't mean jack shit." She took a deep breath. "Doesn't change anything."

"I'm sorry. Please, listen."

Toni didn't understand why she was even having this conversion. Why did she even care about his friendship? She didn't need his friendship, which served as a distraction. "Thank you for saving me from that ass." She paused as she studied the expression on his face. "But I don't need your explanation or your apology. You don't need to explain anything to me. We aren't friends. See? No issue. Now go."

Barnes' expression changed. "You can't order me. I outrank you, Corporal."

She so hated that title, and she was tired of everyone calling her by it. "I know that, Sergeant." How in the hell did he get that rank? She wanted to punch the person who gave it to him. "But I don't care! Just go."

"Toni, when I agreed to tail you, I didn't do it to prove you guilty. I did it to prove you innocent," he stated.

How many times did she have to tell him that she didn't care, that she didn't need it? "We aren't anything besides roommates for a brief time." She let out a laugh. "Bad roommates, really, but again, it doesn't matter. You act like it hurt me that you did it. It didn't. I need to care for you to be hurt by you, and I don't care."

His face fall. "Toni, I-"

"How many times do you have to tell I don't need your apology?" she asked. Her hand was holding the handle of the wrench tightly.

Barnes took a deep breath. "I get it," he stated as he put his hands up in surrender. He turned away from her and walked away. "I am sorry," he stated a few feet away from her.

Toni watched him leave, knowing this was for the best. She had other things to do, like see Salty, which she hadn't been able to do. She had something to talk to him about.

I hoped you enjoyed this. Please let me know! :)

And sorry for the lack of Steve, who would be missing from the next chapter as well. :( However, it seemed like Howard made it through this chapter without being beaten by Toni. You think he will make it through the next in one piece?

Anyhow, until next time.

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