A/N: A three-part update :D
Steve lets himself into Colonel Phillips tent when the colonel's aide is out on a smoke break, just as Peggy predicted he would be.
There's no one to head him off at the door, but there's also no one inside when his eyes adjust to the dim light. He hesitates, standing uncertainly in the middle of the space, stubbing the toe of one boot into the packed dirt floor. He's still standing there when the colonel arrives a few minutes after him, arms laden down with file folders and stacks of forms. He doesn't look remotely startled or surprised by his visitor - but then, Steve would very much like to see the man who could startle Colonel Chester Phillips.
He clears his throat and tries to stand at crisp attention.
"Please, sir. I understand he needs to rest, but I need to see him. They won't let me in without your ok."
"Rogers, what the hell do you think you're doing in here?" Phillips strolls calmly around him to the desk pushed up against the back wall of the tent, barely glancing at the blonde giant that takes up half the remaining floor space. "I'm pretty sure I told you I was busy the last thirty-seven times you came by." he adds, spreading out an armful of files and leafing through them.
"I need to see Sergeant Barnes, sir."
"I heard you the first time." A few sheets of paper are shifted into another folder. Some notes are jotted at the top of another. "Thing is, what you want isn't real high on my list of priorities right now. The only reason your ass isn't getting busted down so hard you can't sit for a year after the stunt you pulled, is because you just brought back a few hundred men in more or less one piece." Phillips fixes him with an unreadable look. "You might not have noticed, but it takes a lot of resources to take care of that many wounded. I'm still trying to scrounge up enough supplies to go around. You'll have to forgive me if I'm not real concerned about whether or not you get visiting hours while I'm busy making sure these boys get fed."
"Sir-"
"I'm curious, Rogers… What's your backup plan, if I just keep saying no?" The colonel rests his elbows on the desk, leaning forward toward Steve. "You planning to parachute into the infirmary and fight your way out?"
"With respect, sir," Steve persists, not rising to the bait, "Sergeant Barnes is family. Just let me see him. Please. I just want to make sure he's alright."
The colonel regards him assessingly, then leans back in the chair, crossing his arms.
"Son, would this be the same Barnes you were looking for right before you stole United States Military property and launched an unauthorized one-man assault on an enemy position?"
"Yes sir." Steve honestly can't argue with the description of what he's done. Intentions aside, he really is lucky not to be sitting in a cell somewhere.
"Do I want to know exactly why you're so hung up on this young man?"
"We grew up together sir. Like I said, he's family."
There's a long silence while the colonel studies him thoughtfully. "0800, tomorrow. One hour. Then you stay the hell out of my hair. Understood?"
"Yes sir." Steve repeats dutifully, a small smile creeping over his face. He isn't above talking back to anyone he has to... but he genuinely finds himself liking Colonel Phillips, though he couldn't quite say why.
"Good. You can start practicing right now. Goodbye, Captain." The colonel points him toward the door without looking up.