Good news- from this chapter we're finally in the movie so the story can really now start to progress!
Bad news- two months ago, I lost my aunt to cancer and unfortunately, I found out my grandad passed with the same illness yesterday. It may be a while before my next update as I am going to stay with my nan for a while as she is disabled and needs help with funeral and care arrangements now she's alone. I will try to get the next update out sooner, but I'm currently dealing with a lot. I thank you in advance for your patience.
Also, thank you to aandm20 and TenebrisSagittarius for your reviews, they mean the world to me.
June 15th 1943. London, England
It seemed as though no time at all had passed when suddenly, there she was in his arms, holding him as if he could blow away any second. Not that he cared as he returned the embrace with one of his own, holding so tightly she was sure there would be bruising on her ribs the next morning.
"I missed you." He said after kissing her for the umpteenth time.
"I missed you too." She replied, pulling him in for yet another one.
The whole journey to the camp they sat holding hands, their eyes never straying from each other. Beth's smile was radiant and Bucky's heart gave a kick every time her mouth curled upwards in a smile.
"How did it go last night?" she asked him, remembering the Stark expo.
"Pretty good, until Steve decided to try joining up again."
Beth shook her head with a fond smile on her face.
"He'll never give up." She stated.
"Yeah. Little punk." Bucky agreed.
Beth started giggling and Bucky chuckled, both completely unaware that at that moment, Steven Grant Rogers had started his journey towards becoming one of the greatest legends of all time.
June 20th 1943, London, England
Bucky was in awe. All he had come to do was tell Beth he was due to be shipped out to Italy in the next week. Instead, he found himself standing shock still as he walked into the tent to find the woman of his affections with her hand shoved into a man's stomach, pulling out chunks of what looked like shredded beef. He watched her work effortlessly, keeping her calm as the solider grew weaker and weaker until, despite her efforts, the light of life vanished from his eyes. His first instinct was to go and hold her as she lifted the calm mask to reveal one of sorrow. Instead, he forced himself to watch, admiring her strength as she simply brushed some hair off the man's face and kissed his cheek before covering him with a sheet. She then took a few breaths and moved on to her next patient, a young man who couldn't have been out of his teenage years with half his face missing. Once more, Bucky watched as she soothingly stroked the man's hand then got to work with cleaning his wounds. After a few minutes, he could see her looking around and realised she needed help. Not missing a beat, he was by her side before he even realised he'd moved.
"What can I do?" he asked.
When she looked at him, it was as if he was just another nurse or doctor. As much as the feeling was odd to him, it also filled him with pride.
"I need you to put some alcohol on the gauze over there and then I need you to pin him down."
Both Bucky and the young man looked at her in confusion but the steady gaze she pinned on him quickly had Bucky doing what she instructed. He soon realised why when she pressed the alcohol to the boy's face and he began to scream. Bucky knew that sound would never leave him, but he held on tighter as the man thrashed beneath him. He could see it was tearing Beth apart to inflict the pain, but as he listened closer, he could make out a soft murmur she repeated over and over both to herself and the soldier.
"It's a healing pain, it's a healing pain, it's a healing pain."
Three hours passed and she finally finished cleaning and stitching the man's face until he now somewhat resembled a human again and not something out of a mincer. The young man had passed out after a few moments and Beth had been grateful, desperately wishing she had the ability to take away some of the pain.
"He's just a boy." She said softly as Bucky came to stand next to her.
"I know. I'm so proud of you. You're so strong." He answered, voice heavy.
She looked up at him, her eyes swimming with tears she refused to let fall.
"Please don't ever turn up on one of these beds. I won't be able to be strong if you do, and I have to be strong. I have to."
She was in his arms in a heartbeat, her face pressed tightly against his chest. She shuddered under him, but her tears still did not fall.
"I promise."
June 21st 1943, London, England.
Beth looked blankly at the man in front of her, unable to process that he was really there and had requested her specifically. Beside her, Josh gave her a nudge, but she simply blinked. One minute, she'd been enjoying her time off with Bucky, the next she'd been summoned to the head surgeon's office and come face to face with the last person she ever expected to meet.
"Miss Rogers? Are you on board?"
"O...of course, Mr Stark."
Howard Stark grinned broadly at her and grasped her hand in an enthusiastic handshake.
"Excellent! Well, run along and pack your bags. We leave in one hour."
She nodded dumbly and left the room in a daze. Bucky met her outside her barracks, immediately worried by her expression.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I've just been asked to be a private medic for a mission back in New York. I'm leaving in less than an hour."
"Beth, that's incredible! It shows how skilled you must be!" he gushed.
She sighed, brushing her hair back.
"I know, but it's top secret, which always means bad, it's Howard Stark who's hired me and is flying me home, so who knows what mess I could end up with!"
She moved into her room and began packing, Bucky helping her. suddenly, he stood ramrod straight and turned to her with a dumbfound look.
"Wait. Did you say Howard Stark?"
June 22nd 1943. Brooklyn, New York.
Beth stared out of the window, watching her old neighbourhood pass her with new eyes. Though she hadn't seen any of the fighting, her time with the fallen soldiers had deeply affected her and she knew she'd never be able to return to her previous life. She didn't know what she wanted to do instead, she just knew that her previous job filing papers in an office was not her future. All she did know was that no matter what, she would have Steve and Bucky with her every step of the way.
The car halted outside an antiques store and Beth stepped out, thoroughly confused as the soldier accompanying her led her through the doors.
"Wonderful weather we're having." An elderly lady greeted, smile on her face.
Beth gave her a baffled look. The solider next to her fought a smirk as he replied.
"Yes, but I'm always sure to carry an umbrella."
The elderly lady nodded and reached under the counter. A second later there was a click and the back wall slid to reveal a secret entrance.
"Woah."
"This way, miss Rogers."
She followed behind, amazed at the open space behind the shop front, machines towering over her. She couldn't help it; her jaw dropped. A chuckle sounded from behind her and she spun round to face an elderly man with glasses and a sparkle to his eyes that had her smiling.
"It is quite astonishing, is it not?" he asked her.
His German accent surprised her, but she didn't show it, instead returning his smile.
"It is. It's astonishing."
"As is how much you look like your brother."
This time she did show her surprise and he chuckled once more, reaching up to push his glasses further up his nose.
"I am Dr Abraham Erskine. I have come to know Steven very well during his training. You have the same look of strength as he does and your eyes are identical."
For a moment, her lips twitched, until his words sank in.
"What training?" she asked.
His eyes widened and he gave a small cough.
"I accepted him to the army as a recruit for the project we are running here. This project takes a special man and turns him into the extraordinary. Your brother is already extraordinary, so this will turn him into something legendary. This project uses a serum that will transform him from the frail, small man you know to a super soldier. I assume you knew, after all, it's why you are here. Howard thought Steven would appreciate a familiar face and as you are already medically trained, you were the perfect choice."
Her head was swimming. She had fund it strange that she hadn't heard from her brother for a while, but she'd assumed he was simply busy with work now the other men had all left for the military. To find out he'd spent the past weeks training made her feel sick to the stomach. She bent over, gasping for breath, unable to believe her worst fear had come true. He remained oblivious to the door sliding open again behind her.
"Beth?" A familiar voice spoke.
Not thinking, she twisted round, her arms snapping out so her hand connected sharply with the skin of his cheek. Steve stumbled back from the blow, reaching a hand up to touch the site. He looked at his sister in shock, the pain and fear in her eyes enough to make him step forward and gather her in his arms. She struggled briefly against him, before settling, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Jerk." She mumbled, voice hoarse with unshed tears.
"I know." He replied as he squeezed her tighter.
"Ah! Rogers, come over here would ya?"
Steve turned to the voice but met resistance instead, a tug on his hand stopping him from moving. He looked down to see Beth's hand clamped onto his own, her eyes silently telling him he was going nowhere without her. He gave a smile and pulled her with him, her hand tightening further. Her eyes fixed on the back of his head until they stopped in front of an ageing man in an army uniform. Beth felt the man's eyes sweep over her, scrutinizing her, but she refused to return the gaze, afraid that if she took her eyes from her brother for a second, he would go and do something even more stupid than the stupid thing he'd already done.
"Umm, who is this?" the man said, his voice commanding.
"Beth. My sister, colonel." Steve replied.
His tone made Beth look away from his head to the colonel in surprise. It was no news that Steve didn't take well to people pushing him around, but this was someone clearly of authority. The colonel himself seemed surprised and annoyed, but he didn't show it. Instead, he extended his hand to the young woman, forcing a smile on his face.
"Welcome to the mad house miss Rogers."
She was startled out of a smile and took his hand. Steve placed a hand on her back reassuringly. She glanced over at him but before she could speak, another voice interrupted.
"Ah! Beth! Over here please!"
Beth found herself being pulled away from Steve with a panicked squeak.
"It'll be okay!" he called after her, seeing her try to pull herself from the grip of Howard Stark.
She relaxed, letting the older man pull her away. As soon as he released her, she frowned at him, hands on hips.
"There are better ways to get my attention Howard."
Howard looked from the papers in front of him, his expression unusually sombre as he addressed her.
"I know, but the way you were reacting to your brother made it clear there was no other way to get you away from him. You're scared and worried for him, I get that, but right now we need you to be a medic, not a sister. Think you can do that?"
She found herself nodding, looking back to see Steve about to remove his shirt. His eyes met hers and she gave a brief smile. He relaxed, relief and gratitude on his face as she stepped up to the table to check his stats.
"You sure about this?" she asked, still not too sure what 'this' even was.
"Not really," he admitted, knowing Beth was the one person he could admit it to. "But, I have to."
She placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed reassuringly before taking his shirt from him.
"I'll be here the whole time. They try to hurt you, I'm stopping it."
He smirked and she stepped back to allow Dr Erskine access. She shared a look with the scientist, her eyes pleading with him to keep Steve safe, his eyes promising he would. Reluctantly, she moved away from them as the procedure began, her eyes straying to the heart monitor next to Howard. The next few moments were a blur to her, her focus purely on the tiny screen in front of her, her hands gripping the side tighter as she watched her brother's heart rate steadily increase. Suddenly, he began to cry out and the monitor began screaming, his heart rate too fast.
"Stop." She said quietly, but the electric carried on and Steve's shouts grew louder.
"STOP!" she screamed, this time her voice carrying over the sounds around them.
Ignoring Howard shouting her name, she ran to the capsule, halting as Steve begged them to keep going. Her heart clenched, torn between refusal and acceptance but she forced herself back, shaking as the power switched off. It flickered back on, the room silent as the capsule opened. As the steam billowed out, she covered her eyes with her arm, and as she lowered it to see her brother's transformation, her jaw dropped. His eyes opened, locking on to hers, showing his pain and exhaustion. She was quick to snap out of it, hurrying forward to brush past the woman touching his chest, gently but firmly moving her away so she could check on him.
"Are you okay? No sickness, dizziness or anything?" she asked, eyes shining with worry.
Steve looked down at her, shocked that for the first time in his life she was actually smaller than him. In fact, seeing her now and how petite she truly was made him realise how easily she could get hurt. That thought made him dizzy. Before he could open his mouth to speak, a blast rang out, sending everyone to the floor. Beth looked up at the sound of a gunshot, horrified to see Dr Erskine fall to the ground. She watched as Steve crouched beside him and by the time her brother stood again, she knew it was too late. With a quick glance in her direction, Steve was up and running after the shooter.
"Be careful!" she called after him.
She shook her head as he vanished from sight, turning her attention to the occupants in the room brushing glass from their clothes.
"Anybody injured form a line over here. I'm a medic, I can help."
June 23rd 1943. SSR HQ, New York.
Beth hovered over Steve's shoulder as the doctors looked him over. She still couldn't believe the tall, muscular man in front of her was truly her brother, but the kindness in his eyes told her it was him. Less than 24 hours ago, she would have towered over him as he sat there. Now, even when sat down, he was almost as tall as her. She couldn't help but smile; her brother's body was finally as strong as his will and she couldn't be happier for him.
"What is it?" Steve suddenly asked.
"What do you mean?"
Steve reached out and took her hand, his own swamping it.
"I know that look in your eyes. You feel guilty and worried about something."
She sighed, knowing he of all people would be the one to see through her smile.
"I tried to call Bucky last night but I found out he's been shipped to Italy. I also have to head back to London by tomorrow, apparently a new wave of injured soldiers has arrived so they need me back there."
Understanding flooded across his face and he smiled warmly at her.
"It's okay. from what the colonel said this morning, I'm going to be stuck in a lab somewhere until the war's over."
"Steve, you need to adjust to your new body before doing stupid stuff. Leave that bit to me and Bucky for now, okay?"
Hearing the underlying tremor in her voice, he looked up to see her holding herself despite the joke shed made. Sensing the fear she had in knowing Bucky was now heading to the front line, he stood, drawing her into his arms. She went willingly, noting that he was even taller and broader than Bucky, her head barely reaching his chest. She snuggled against him, pleased to find that he still smelled the same despite the transformation. He rubbed her back soothingly, pressing a kiss on the top of her head.
"He's going to be okay. we're all going to be fine." He soothed.
She nodded, unable to let herself believe the words, no matter how much she wanted to.