A Super-Soldier for the Modern World

Chapter Seven

"Let's hear it for Captain America!" Bucky shouted.

The entire camp shouted in gratitude to the one man responsible for reuniting the entire 107th infantry.

Agent Amanda Carter saw the look of pride on both of the Captain Rogers' faces and couldn't help but smile herself. But that didn't last long. She knew they were in trouble.

No matter what they did, their actions could create change throughout all time. And the idea of maybe never knowing Steve back in 2013 scared her.

Steve looked down to his girlfriend. He knew the look on her face. He was worried, too, but definitely less so. It was the first time in a long time that he felt like he was where he belonged, despite the fact that it was incredibly not true.

How was he going to explain to Colonel Philips, Peggy and Howard Stark that there were two Captain Americas? And that he looked the same because he ends up frozen in ice for 70 years?

"We just need to wait a bit longer," Steve told her. "How's your side?" He eyed her curiously, waiting for her to lie to him.

"It hurts like hell, but I'll be all right. I think the bleeding has pretty much stopped," Amanda told him.

The entire side of her white SHIELD suit was stained red and had darkened to a hideous dark color as it dried. The fabric was torn and her hip showed through it.

Amanda was exhausted and she looked it. It had been a long couple of weeks for her since Fury's abrupt departure. Steve knew she hadn't been sleeping because she'd spent maybe two nights with him since her promotion. Well, three if you counted the morning he'd found her passed out fully-clothed on the couch in the living room.

"Once I talk to Peggy and myself, I guess, we can get a place to rest and we'll get you bandaged up," Steve told her. "Can you make it a few more minutes?"

"I think I'm going to have to," she replied. "We don't have a choice."

"You're probably right," Steve told her.

"Do you remember this?" Amanda asked.

"Yes," Steve replied. "Right now I'm in that tent with Colonel Philips telling him that I'm surrendering myself for any punishment for going against orders."

"Oh."

"And he told me that it wouldn't be necessary."

"Well, you just rescued a hell of a lot of men from certain death," Amanda told him. "Including your best friend."

"You know that story?" he asked.

"That's the story I liked Aunt Peggy to tell me when I was staying over at her house," Amanda told him. "It was my favorite."

Then it was when Amanda realized how awkward it was going to be if and when Peggy Carter, Howard Stark and the Steve Rogers of 1943 actually believed their story. And the thing was, Steve of 2013 was Steve of the 40s. Was he immediately going to fall in love with Peggy again?

"We can go now. That tent at ten o'clock," Steve pointed. "I'll go first because I can cover if we get stopped."

"Right."

"You don't sound so sure," Steve said.

"I just…I just don't want this to be some kind of plan from AIM. What if all of this is a big elaborate plan to make us think this is really Germany, but it actually isn't?" Amanda asked. "What if it's all some kind of simulation?"

"AIM is good with its tech, but are they this good?" Steve asked.

"I don't know. What did they even blast us with?"

"It looked like HYDRA technology," Steve told her.

"That makes me feel so much better," Amanda told him. "So much."

"Let's assume that we really are in Germany 1943. And that in a few minutes I actually will be talking to myself…" he trailed off.

"Okay…" Amanda said.

"We'll go with it until we find out that we are in imminent danger," Steve told her.

"You don't think the simple fact that we have somehow been transported to Germany 1943 is enough to think we are in danger?" Amanda asked. "Because we may never leave 1943 and the other Steve will never meet me because I'll be old like Aunt Peg in 2013. We'll be stuck here forever. And that can work for you, but would not work for me," Amanda said. "The odds are not in our favor."

"Have a little faith, Amanda," he told her. "It might be the 1940s, but these folks can handle more than you think," Steve finished.

Amanda and Steve had crept up on the camp. Amanda had made sure to holster her guns, and Steve had his shield over his shoulders on his back. She let Steve take the lead so if they got into trouble, he might be able to talk his way out of it. Amanda also didn't want to be the first one in sight in case they thought she was some kind of alien. Steve was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, but Amanda definitely didn't feel the same way.

Steve motioned for her to follow him and they both jogged for the tent in question. He'd mentioned that it was Peg's tent and that after his talk with Colonel Philips, the two of them adjourned there.

"We aren't going to interrupt anything, are we Steve?" Amanda whispered before they entered.

"No," he replied hastily.

Steve pulled back the back opening of the tent and both he and Amanda scuttled in as quickly as possible. Two sets of eyes were immediately on them and the other Steve and Peggy had their guns drawn.

"No, no," Steve told them. "Don't shoot. You and I," he pointed to himself and then to the Steve of the 40s. "You and I are the same person."

"Then who, or what, is she?" the other Steve asked as he pointed behind Steve at Amanda.

"I'm Agent Amanda Carter of SHIELD," Amanda told them. "And you, Margaret Carter, are my great aunt Peggy," she said.

Both Steves saw the resemblance between the women, especially since they were roughly the same age right now.

"I'm afraid I don't understand," Peggy said in her accented voice.

"Join the club," Amanda muttered.

"This has got to be some kind of trick by the Red Skull," 40s Steve said.

The two of them had lowered their weapons and now both Steves were looking at one another.

"Believe me, it's not a joke or a trick. I'm you and you're me. Do you think we can tell them the story?" he turned to Amanda.

"I don't know if it'll make much of a difference if they're going to shoot us, I think they're going to shoot us," Amanda said. "And we can't change the past, Steve," she finished.

"I know," he said. "If you both would give us a few minutes to explain, you'll see we're telling the truth."

Steve Rogers, the man now of 2013, explained what happened. He explained the whole process of the super-soldier serum, to the events of today, to what would happen before the year was done. He told them of the day he fought the Red Skull and had to put the ship in the water to save the world. Then it was Amanda's turn.

"When they were doing research in the Arctic, they found the crashed HYDRA ship. Cap was frozen alive, and we brought him back. He became priority number one for SHIELD."

"What is SHIELD?" Peggy finally found her voice to ask. Listening to this other Steve talk, she knew him well enough to know he was telling the truth.

"Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division. It's a more advanced and more secret version of the SSR," Amanda replied. "We handle what no one else can handle."

"Amanda and I were fighting some AIM agents when…"

"AIM?" the 40s Steve asked.

"Advanced Idea Mechanics," Amanda told them. "They're a little like HYDRA. They're the guys making new technology to take over the world."

Peggy Carter and Steve Rogers looked at the modern version of Steve and the woman claiming she was Peggy's great niece. They sure sounded convincing, but would they ever know if they were telling the truth until it was too late?

"We know it's hard to believe," Amanda told them. "But it would be really great if I could get this cleaned out."

Steve looked down at her. "You said…"

"I know I did. But it would be amazing if I could stitch this up. It's deeper than I thought and it's bleeding again," Amanda told him.

Steve put an arm around her as he saw her getting a bit wobbly.

"Perhaps you should sit down," Peggy told her. She took the other woman's arm and she and the modern Steve helped Amanda down onto the bed.

"What do you need?" Steve asked. "Are you going to be okay for a few minutes until I get them?"

"I'll be okay," she said, looking up into her boyfriend's eyes.

"Maybe I should go get what she needs," 40s Steve looked to the modern Steve. "Someone might notice the different uniform."

Modern Steve looked down at his uniform again. "Some changes had to be made in 2012."

"Maybe we should be focused on the injured party of the group before we continue to discuss the uniforms, men," Peggy told them.

"Thank you" Amanda told her through gritted teeth.

Amanda knew that when they dashed for the tent she had re-opened the wound. And from what she could see of it, she knew it was worse than she had originally thought. At the time, she thought it was just a scratch, but now she could tell that the 'scratch' was a cut and it was probably an inch deep.

Both Steves headed for the door, but Peggy stopped them. "You don't both think you can go, do you?" she asked. "Because two Captain Americas might cause a bit of a problem," she finished.

"If someone could tell me where the medical tent is, I can go by myself," Amanda replied. "I am a doctor; I'll just go take what I need."

"You're a doctor as well?" Peggy asked.

"Yes. I think that's why Nick Fury hired me," Amanda replied. She tried to stand, but the pain was too much. She immediately plopped back onto the bed.

"I'll go," Modern Steve said. "I know where the medical tent is and that way you can quit looking at us with such disbelief."

Modern Steve leaned down and kissed Amanda's temple before taking his shield off. He leaned it against her leg and exited the tent without another word.

"Steve, would you turn around so I can help Amanda change out of her bloody clothes?" Peggy said.

"Oh, of course," he said, turning a fierce shade of red. Amanda recognized it and fought the smile coming to her lips. He had blushed that way the first few times they'd been intimate and it always made her feel special.

40s Steve turned and gave Peggy and her niece privacy.

"I must have something that will fit you."

"You know, my dad had always said how much I look like you when you were my age, and the pictures just didn't do you justice," Amanda told her as she started to remove her boots.

The resemblance was really uncanny. Both women shared the same dark hair and bright blue eyes. Amanda's skin held a slight tan, but that was due to the residual color that she had from the summer; the last little bit was hanging on.

"What year did you come from?" Peggy asked as she rifled through her trunk.

"2013," Amanda replied.

"Oh, I suppose I'm not around anymore, then," Peggy said sadly.

"No, actually, you're about 93, I believe," Amanda said. "But you tell people you're 85."

40s Steve chuckled but sensed the dirty look that Peg was casting him.

"But you're in a coma right now because of some issues," Amanda said vaguely. "But before we ended up here, I had just checked on you and you were responding to my voice. Tony is sparing no expense for your well-being."

"Who is Tony?"

"Tony Stark," Amanda said.

"Stark?" both Peggy and Steve replied together.

"Yes, Howard Stark's son. He's your Godson. And Tony is actually my Godfather. And boy, does he like to remind me of that," Amanda smiled.

Peggy grabbed a pair of trousers that she had tucked away and a loose blouse. Amanda unzipped her suit and tried to be as modest as possible in front of her aunt and current peer. It was then that she realized that she was wearing her favorite bra because she had no intention of ever putting her SHIELD suit on today. Her lingerie would be considered thoroughly scandalous.

Ignoring it the best she could, Amanda shifted her focus to the blouse her aunt had handed to her. "I don't want to ruin this," she said.

"It's all right. You need it more than I do," Peggy told her.

Amanda had changed into the wool trousers and had the blouse open over rhinestone hot pink bra. Her Steve rejoined them a minute later. Modern Steve was not concerned with modesty and was immediately at Amanda's side with the suture kit.

"I hope I got the right thing," he told her as he watched her open the kit that Steve had brought her.

Amanda inspected the kit's contents. "This is perfect, thank you, honey," she said without thinking.

All of them were surprised at what she said, but none of them said anything.

Amanda went to work on putting the stitches in her side and all of the other three proceeded to stare at her.

"Doesn't that hurt?" 40s Steve asked.

"I'm trying to ignore how much it hurts," Amanda said through clenched teeth. "I'm not sure what this unlabeled syringe is."

"Are you sure you don't want something?" modern Steve asked.

"No, no. I'll be fine, Steve…and Steve," Amanda said.

She finished stitching her wound closed and buttoned up the blouse that her Aunt Peggy had loaned her. It was highly likely that she would never get the shirt back.

"We need to speak to Howard Stark. He might be the only person who can help us get back to our time," she told them.

…

So, we're back in time. What do you think? You should let me know!