Author's Note:
Figured what better way to celebrate the Fourth of July than another chapter update. This is another chapter that I had in the backlog forever. A slice of life chapter before we get into a multi chapter arc. And oh boy this might be the lightest chapter that we have for awhile. Things are going to turning dark real soon. As always please review and let me know what you think.
Triggers for mentions of physical abuse and emotional trauma.
Astrid clicked her tongue. Swirling the liquid in the tube. Holding it up to the Bunsen burner. Turning it from a clear to cloudy liquid. Placing it next to four other vials with identical liquids. Now she just had to do this about 20 more times and she should have enough pain killer to last them all a few months. She just had to make sure she had enough of everything else. Floating over a tray of white powder.
They had managed to convince Phillips to give them a week of leave. If only to give him a chance to figure out where to send them next. She was really hoping for Tunisia. But somehow, she doubted it. Regardless, the longer Phillips and the higher ups took to decide the more time she had to build up her supplies. As well as have fun with Steve at night. She had to admit. It was nice to be able to take her time with Steve.
Just as she was about to combine the powder with the liquid, she heard a knock at the door. Not even bothering to look up she continued what she was doing.
"Come in," Astrid responded, through both items into a beaker. Turning it into a bright yellow color. "Though I would put on the googles before coming in. There on a hook by the door." As the person fiddled around with her googles Astrid continued her work.
"Dr. Rogers?" A young women asked. Now that was interesting. Astrid was expecting a man. Looking up to find a petite brunette. Dressed in the SSR uniform. Googles slightly askew. Astrid swore she had seen her around. One of the many clerks helping out.
"What can I do for you?" She turned back to her work. Combing a vial with clear liquid with the beaker. Turning the entire thing green. Mixing it with a glass stirrer.
"You are a doctor, right?"
Astrid arched an eyebrow. "That's what I went to school for."
The girl flushed red. "Right sorry. It's just…" She was clearly starting to panic a little bit. "I'm Linda Taylor."
"You work as a clerk right?"
She nodded vigorously. "Yes. Anyway. I volunteer at a local women's shelter. Supporting widows and refugees. Others escaping bad circumstances." This woman was speaking her language. Astrid stopping what she was doing and turning to face her. Though continued to stir with her mind. "I was hoping you could help out. A lot of our women have medical problems and can't afford to go to a doctor. I know it's a lot to-"
She didn't even hesitate. Putting everything down and grabbing her bag off the floor. Shooting Linda a smile. "What are we waiting for?" Linda almost melted with relief. Taking off her googles. Astrid doing the same. Grateful that they provided her with this lab. Making sure to lock it behind her. Not that she didn't trust people but dangerous chemicals needed to be kept under lock and key.
Linda chatting in her ear. Starting and stopping about half a dozen conversations. She was definitely the nervous sort. Especially obvious when confronted by a couple of soldiers near the exit. Standing in her way. Smoking up a storm. Linda ducking behind Astrid as she glared at them. Astrid let out a sigh. Way too use to this.
"Look as much as I would love to have another one of these stupid conversations with you fellas I have somewhere to be," Astrid stated.
"Really?" The leader of the crew asked. A stern looking guy with sandy brown hair. Taking a long drag on his cigarette. "Because, the only place you seem to belong is Captain America's bed." She gritted her teeth as she fought the urge to stab him. "Probably the only reason he keeps you around."
"I'm sorry?!" Falsworth called out. Next to him was Dugan and Morita. Appearing almost out of nowhere from the hallway behind them. All three of them had their arms crossed. "What did you say to her?" The guy almost swallowed his cigarette. Letting out a hacking cough. The guys next to him looking equally uncomfortable.
"Look," one of his friends added in. A smaller guy with a mop of black hair. Patting cigarette man on the back. "We're only joking around."
Dugan snorted. "Seriously?" He stood right next to Astrid. "Because from where we're standing it sounded like you were hassling Doc here. You know. The women who has saved more lives than everyone else here combined."
The man recovered from his coughing fit. Giving her a dirty look. "Seriously now? You don't have to pretend with us. We all know the only reason she sticks around is that she's Caps favorite lay."
"Cap is her husband," Morita snapped back. "Watch your mouth!"
"She must be really good then if he married her." Dugan launched himself towards the guy. Falsworth and Morita holding him back. The fellas friend holding him back. Astrid could only shake her head. This was getting out of hand. Their voices getting louder.
"What's going on here?" Bucky came in and asked. Was the arguing going to summon every guy Astrid knew? Immediately the men stopped there bickering. Bucky was well known. Both in a fight as well as on the battlefield.
"Just trying to clear something up," Cigarette man spat. Bucky arched an eyebrow. "As the second in command you should-"
"Actually, that's Doc right here," Bucky interrupted placing a hand on her shoulder. Astrid could have burst out laughing. It didn't even take him a second to realize what was going on. "I can see why that would be confusing. Having two Captain Rogers in command." The men stood there gaping. Clearly not expecting that answer. "They giving you a hard time Astrid?"
"Please she shouldn't even be here. Everyone knows that women can't be doctors." Her medical degree and years of training said otherwise. "The only place she should be is in the kitchen. Or on her back. Like a good lady." His friends paling. Clearly wanting to back out of this fight. But they were in too deep. Bucky immediately punching him in the face.
A sickening crack echoing through the hallway Strings of curses leaving his lips. He looked up at Bucky. Holding his nose together. Bloody and clearly broken. His friends taking off. Not wanting to risk Bucky's wrath.
Bucky smirked. Getting right up into his face. "Say something like that again and Captain American will deal with you himself. And you do not want to know what he does to people who are stupid enough to insult his wife. The love of his life." He gave a brief nod. Taking off after his friends.
Astrid turned to look at them. Linda still hiding behind her. Trying not to draw attention to herself. "Thanks fellas but you didn't have to do that."
"Yes, we did Astrid," Bucky responded blood still dripping from his fist. The others nodded. Astrid handing him a cloth out of her bag. Bucky taking it from her. Wiping the blood away. One look from him killed any response that she may have had. "No one insults you." She rolled her eyes. It definitely wasn't needed. Able to handle whatever was thrown at her. A job requirement in her profession.
Glancing over at Linda she was still pretty skittish. Standing behind Astrid still. Glancing at each of the boys. Astrid didn't necessarily blame her. They could be pretty intense.
Astrid gave them a wave. "I'll see you fellas later. I wasn't joking when I said there was somewhere I needed to be." They waved her off. Dugan tipping his hat. Linda also giving them a brief nod before taking off towards the door. Dragging Astrid with her.
"Sorry," she stated her voice barely a whisper. They were now out on the city streets. A faint drizzle falling on their heads. She started walking down the narrow streets. Knowing exactly where she was going. "My Dad fought a lot with Mum and…"
"I don't need an explanation," Astrid replied placing a hand on her shoulder. "I understand." Linda seemed to relax with those words. "It's the little things sometimes." Linda nodding along. The two of them coming to an understanding.
"If Cap is…"
Astrid didn't even let her finish the sentence "No. It was the man before him." For the first time she realized that she felt at ease when she talked about him. Panic no longer racing through her body. "Steve had been nothing short of incredible."
Linda gave her a small smile. Walking up to a red brick house. Taking ahold of the brass doorknocker. Knocking three times while Astrid looked over the house. Worn brick. Chipped paint. Clearly needing some upkeep.
A frazzled older woman answered the door. Spectacles hanging around her neck. Whisps of greying hair all over the place. Surprisingly strong though. The moment Linda introduced her the woman grabbed Astrid's arm and dragged her inside. Guiding her into the parlor. Sitting down on an old worn-out couch. Faded with age.
Mostly Astrid was treating cuts and bruises. Coughs and headaches. But those injuries were easy to treat. It was the stories the women were telling that made her heart ache. Offering what advice, she could. Linda hovering about. Helping out where she could. Leading women to and from the room.
Astrid wasn't sure how long she was in that room for. But it felt like it wasn't long enough. Running out of supplies before she could help everyone. Hating that she couldn't do more. Promising to return as soon as she was able. Several of the women thanking her for her efforts. By the time her and Linda left the house it was late afternoon. Rain letting up revealing the sun. Astrid taking a moment to just breath. Feel the sun on her skin. Before the blaring of the alarms interrupted her peace. Everyone knew what that meant.
People looking up in the sky before darting to the nearest underground station. People flying out of their houses. Including the women Astrid just treated. Heading towards safety. Linda and Astrid exchanging a glance before taking off themselves. Knowing that they wouldn't make it back to headquarters in time. Before the bombs fell.
Unfortunately, they couldn't even make it that far. Unable to risk using her powers in public Astrid grabbed Linda and shielded her with her body right before a nearby building exploded. Screaming soon following. Panic filling the crowd as they raced towards the underground. Linda clinging onto Astrid as she helped her up. But despite the noise and the chaos and the smoke in the air, one thing drew Astrid's attention. A women's cries for help.
"Head to safety!" Astrid stated turning to Linda. "I need to see if I can help." Linda nodded. Taking off with the rest. Astrid heading in the opposite direction. Towards the woman's frantic shouts. Standing in front of a wrecked building. A man digging through the rubble. Desperation surging through his body. She raced to his side. As she got closer, she noticed what he was digging for. A young man, barely a teenager. His leg pinned under a metal bar. The man trying desperately to lift it.
"Dad!" he grunted. "Save yourself!"
"Not without you!" He tried to move the bar. Only causing his son more pain. Screaming in response. Astrid quickly checking his pulse. Way to rapid for her liking. The father barely sparing her a glance.
"Relax," she said. "I'm a doctor." The father wasn't in the mood to argue. Still trying to pry the metal bar off his son.
It was a risk but she had to. Floating the bar slightly off his leg. Enough to fool the father. Allowing her to pull the son free. Screaming bloody murder. His leg a mangled mess. The mom also rushing to his side. Holding her son's head in her arms. Scarf whipping in the wind.
"Hand me your scarf!" Astrid ordered. The woman handing it to her immediately. Now Astrid turned her attention to the father. "Go! See if you could find a stick or metal rod or something!"
He gave a short nod. Leaping up. Searching through the rubble. Ripping through it. Astrid going through her bag. Trying to see if she had anything left. Cursing the fact that she left her most potent supplies back at headquarters. Luckily the poor kid had passed out.
"Will this work?" the father asked. Hand trembling. Handing Astrid, a thin metal rod. She took it. Wrapping the scarf around his leg. Sliding the rod through. Twisting. Creating a makeshift tourniquet. Stopping the blood flow. The alarms still screaming. Astrid almost thought she could hear the roar of the planes overhead. Bombs still falling.
"We need to get out of here!" Astrid stated earning the attention of both parents. "This is a patch job. I'm going to have to go in and find the source. But I can't do that until we get somewhere safe."
"There's an Underground station nearby," the father said gently picking up his son. Cradling his arms. "Can you perform surgery there?"
"I can damn well try." The three of them took off. They were the only ones left on the streets. Making the trek easy. Rushing down the stairs into the tunnels below the city. So crowded people were sitting on the stairs.
"Make room!" Astrid called out emphasized with the power of her mind. Immediately people started moving. Creating a space where the boy was placed. People circling around. She could feel the tension in the air. The sounds of bombs echoing high above. Each explosion causing people to flinch. Wondering if this was the end.
Astrid winched. The chance of infection was high. Even with the high dose antibiotics in her bag. But she had no choice. It was life or death.
"I'm going to need as much space as possible!" Everyone backing off as much as they could. Craning their necks to watch. Astrid slipping on the mask. Still attached to her bag. Unrolling her scalpel bag. Right now, she had a job to do. And damn sure she was going to do it.
…
Shamira huffed. Flipping through the pages of her book. She was never much of a reader. Especially now. Hard to concentrate with the sound of explosions above. At least there were safe in here. Probably one of the safest places in all of London.
Not for the first time she was grateful for the breakroom Phillips provided them. It provided a little sense of normalcy. Away from all the chaos of the war. That's all Shamira wanted.
Jones and Dernier were also in the break room. Conversing in French. The rest of the boys around. Training or somewhere else. Astrid probably holed up in her lab. She knew better than to disturb her. Though Shamira was sorely tempted. She could probably use the break. Closing the book.
Bucky walked in at the moment. Looking around at the three of them. A worried look on his face. Looking for something. Growing more concerned when he didn't find it.
"None of you have seen Astrid have you?" Bucky asked. All three of them looking up at him.
"No...why?" Shamira asked standing up. Walking up to him. "Shouldn't she be in her lab?"
Bucky huffed. Running her hand through his hair. "I already checked. She's not there. Dugan and Morita checked everywhere else."
"Did you check with Steve?" Jones asked smirking. "Chances are those are together."
"Steve's in the gym training." Steve was almost always in the gym training. Seeking to improve himself. He had already destroyed most of the gym equipment twice over. Phillips kept having to replace everything. Bucky shook her head. Cursing under her breath. "I guess she's still out."
"Out?" Shamira questioned. Crossing her arms. "What do you mean she's out?" Jones and Dernier also standing up. Chairs scraping against the floor.
"She left earlier today with another woman. Not sure why." He bowed his head. "And she's not back yet."
"Does Steve know?" Dernier asked. Jones reiterating the question. The look on Bucky's face answered everything.
"Well, we can't tell him," Shamira added on. Pinching the bridge of her nose. "He'll tear apart the city or what's left of it." Granted Astrid would do the same thing. Despite how skilled both of them were it was like they completely lost their minds when they thought the other one was in danger. "Astrid will be fine. She's knows what she's doing." All they had to do was keep Steve calm.
"Hey!" Steve called out coming into the room. "Have you seen Astrid? She's not in her lab." All of them turned. Eyes darting between themselves. Trying to come up with something to tell him. Unfortunately, this was Steve. He could tell instantly something was off. "What's going on?"
"Astrid left several hours ago. We're not sure where," Bucky answered. Well, he folded like a cheap hand. Not that Shamira blamed him. Bucky could never lie to Steve. "And she's not back yet."
"She's out in this?!" His voice raised. This is what Shamira was worried about. He gritted his teeth. His thoughts clear on his face.
Bucky placed a hand on his shoulder. "Relax. This is Astrid we're talking about. She knows what she's doing." He smiled. "Besides. Think how angry she would be if she found out you were out looking for her in this?" An explosion erupted above them. Causing the entire room to shake slightly. Only proving Bucky's point. "Trust me. The second this lets up we'll be out looking for her."
Morita came in at the moment. Walking into the scene. "I'm guessing none of you have seen Astrid." They all gave half-hearted chuckles.
"Come on," Shamira said. "Let's go tell the others. Before they all come in here asking the same thing." They all nodded. Leaving the room one at a time. Steve and Bucky being the last to leave. Shamira squeezing Steve's hand briefly on the way out. All of them hoping for the same thing. That Astrid was okay.
…
Astrid was covered in blood. Leaning against the Underground wall. That was way too close for her likening, but the boy would live. Parents sobbing their gratitude. They still should take him to a hospital. Once this was all over. Though who knew when that would be. Listening to the sounds above. They were going to be stuck down her for hours. Parents huddling around their kids. Couples cuddling up next to each other. And then there was everyone separated from their families. Just looking up. Waiting for it to be over.
"I didn't know they made women doctors," one of the men next to her said. Thick accent. Clearly worn wool coat. "Good for you. My daughter wanted to be a doctor."
"She still can be," Astrid replied. "You really just have to learn not to take no for an answer."
"That's what I keep telling her." He shook his head. "Not that she listens to her old man anyway."
"They never do," another middle-aged man popped up. Much better dressed. Beautifully kept suit. The two men started conversing. Drawing in some of the others as well.
"Though I also have a son as well, about your age," the well-dressed man stated, leaning closer to Astrid. She held up her hand. The ring catching in what little light there was.
"Married to an army captain." Didn't want to give any of them ideas. Astrid was most certainly taken.
"Ah. You must have met him in Germany then," another man added on. His wife sitting next to him. Young girl sitting in her lap. Astrid winched. Despite how hard she tried she was never truly able to hide the accent. Not like how Shamira and Peggy could cover up there's. The second Astrid spoke everyone knew. She was German. "Brought you over to save you from your fellow Krauts."
She slowly nodded. Not wanting to get into it. The conversation weaving into the hatred for Germans. Astrid couldn't blame them. Not really. But still it stung. Thinking of the evil her countrymen were committing. Listening in on the conversation around her. There wasn't much else she could do. Just taking in the people. There troubles and woes. Until the bombs stopped falling. Alarms ceasing to blare.
They were still cautious in making their way out. Worried about the one stray bomb. Luckily it seemed to have finally ended. People beginning to pour out. Heading home. Or what was left of it. Astrid heading out as well. Glancing up at the sky. Now pitch black. Rain still falling down. She let out a sigh. Adjusted her bag and made her way back to base. Hoping that no one was out looking for her.
By the time she made it back all she wanted to do was curl up in bed. Maybe read for a little bit before falling asleep. She was really getting into her latest murder mystery. Heading towards Phillip's office to report on her little escapade before finding Steve. Instead, she heard her boys arguing over something. Steve and Philips talking over each other. Bucky, Shamira and Peggy occasionally chipping in.
"Did I miss something?" she asked Falsworth who was standing near the back. Arms crossed.
"Arguing if we should head out and go look for you or if we should just stay here and wait," Falsworth answered. "Cap wants to head out. And most of us are inclined to agree with him."
"Yeah… I'm not sure that's needed."
"Why not?" He turned to look at her. Astrid only arched an eyebrow. Blinking at him a couple of times. "Astrid!" Everyone turned to look at them. Steve visibly breathing a sigh of relief before walking up to her.
She smiled up at him. "Sorry I took so long. Got caught up in something."
"Clearly." He pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear. Faintly damp. Looking her over. "Do I even want to know why you're covered in blood?"
"Oh this…I had to perform surgery on a young man in the Underground."
"Really Astrid?" Bucky asked beckoning her to elaborate. "You know better by now."
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Alright. Here's what happened…."