Chapter 2. First Steps
June 21, 1943, the night before pre-serum Steve Rogers is transformed.
Abraham Erskine performed one final check of the equipment. As the last one in the lab, he always felt it was his responsibility to make sure everything was safely secured before he left. Stepping up the stairs he turned off the lights and headed out through the security station, signing his name at the bottom of the list where everyone else had already signed out.
"Goodnight, Doc," said the MP.
"What was his name again?" thought Erskine. Ah yes. "Goodnight, Sergeant Perkins. Keep everything safe, we have a big day tomorrow."
With an informal salute Perkins acknowledged Erskine's words and pressed the buttons that would allow the scientist access to the store front where an undercover agent would let him out. A car was waiting for him, dropping him off in front of his building in Queens about half an hour later. Stepping out of the car into the cool night Erskine started up the steps to his flat when he felt a hand at his elbow and a deep voice in his ear.
"Keep going to your flat," said the voice, "I won't hurt you, but we need to talk. Many lives depend upon it, including your own."
The voice seemed familiar and devoid of threat. No weapon was visible and although the man was big, he didn't force Erskine, rather he seemed to be attempting to be letting the doctor guide him. When they got inside the building the doctor tried to see the man's face, but he was wearing a hooded jacket that kept his face hidden.
"Who are you?" asked Erskine, suddenly unwilling to enter his flat with the man.
"You'll know soon enough," said that voice which Erskine was sure he had heard before. "Doc, I'm not here to hurt you but we don't have much time."
With a sigh, Erskine unlocked the door, stepped inside, and turned on a lamp before the man closed the door behind him. Expecting to hear the sound of a gun being cocked Erskine turned to face his fate and almost had a heart attack when he saw the man facing him, his face fully revealed.
"Hey Doc," said the super soldier, waving his hand at the same time.
"Mein Gott," said the shaken doctor, stepping backwards. "Steven? But how is it you look like this? Tomorrow is the procedure but ... I don't understand."
"You still have some of that schnapps?" asked Steve, moving towards the kitchen.
"Ja, in the cupboard," said the man, sitting heavily down in an armchair, still not believing what he was seeing.
Steve pulled out the bottle and two glasses pouring each of them a good amount. He handed Erskine his glass while sipping his own drink, sitting near him. Then he leaned close to the scientist.
"I'm going to give it to you straight," he said. "I'm breaking a lot of rules doing this, but I don't care. If I can stop what happens to you tomorrow and what happens to Bucky later, it will save a lot of people's lives. Doc, I'm from the future."
Steve thought Erskine took the news quite well considering what he just revealed. He pursed his lips slightly, took a drink of his schnapps, and leaned back in his chair before saying anything.
"Bucky, that is your friend who went to war after the night we met?"
"Yeah, that's him," replied Steve. "He'll be taken prisoner by Johann Schmidt and Armin Zola. You can guess what they'll do to him."
"They have a serum?" asked Erskine, seeming surprised. "How?"
"They make a copy of yours from Red Skull's blood but it's not as good and what they do to Bucky with it is the stuff of nightmares. Even though he's rescued once, they get him back again and this time they finish the process. It will take him decades to escape HYDRA but while he's under their control he does terrible things, things that will allow them to almost take control of the world. What he was forced to do for them will haunt him. I promised him before I returned to this year that I would stop them but to do that I'll need you to help him."
"Of course, I'll help him but why isn't he brought to me after he's rescued?"
"Because tomorrow you'll be killed," said Steve, placing his hand on Erskine's arm. "A HYDRA agent planted with the Senator will shoot you after setting an explosive off. With the security as heavy as it is I won't be able to get into the lab, but I have something that will save your life."
Standing up Steve took his hooded jacket off followed by the shirt he wore underneath. Erskine drew his breath in at the sight of the garment Steve wore. It was obviously a uniform of some kind, but it was completely foreign looking to Erskine.
"It's bulletproofed which means you'll live," said Steve, "but I want it back because I have other things I need to do after, and I'll need it. I've already brought Howard in on this because HYDRA has to believe you died and he'll be able to set you up in a private lab to replicate more serum. If I don't get to Bucky before something else happens to him then I'll also need Stark to help fix Bucky."
"What about Miss Carter?" asked Erskine. "Should she be told?"
Steve blushed. "No. It seems I came back for her multiple times, then apparently, I came back more times for her and to save Bucky, but all those attempts failed," he said, as Erskine looked at him in confusion. "I don't know any more if she belongs with me or the other Steve, the one you change tomorrow. It doesn't matter. My priority now is to save Bucky, a good man who didn't deserve what happened to him." He looked down at his hands. "He followed me, Doc, into the gates of Hell but he fell there, and HYDRA turned him into something terrible even though he fought it for as long as he could. I have to stop them, not just for him, but for all the lives they took until 2014. Once I do that I can rest and live my life the way I want to."
"Alright, I'll wear this under my clothes tomorrow," said Erskine, gesturing at the bulletproof suit. "You'll find me after?" Steve nodded. "There is more isn't there?"
"There is but one thing at a time," said Steve. "Saving you is the first thing that has to happen. Doc, you can't let on that you know about this version of me. I'll be going by the name Steven Grant in this timeline. Once we get Bucky saved, I'll be working on saving a few other of HYDRAs victims."
Steve showed the doctor some cellophane packages made by Howard Stark to fasten under his regular suit but above the bulletproof suit, assuring him it was only to make the illusion of his death more realistic. Erskine accepted them without hesitation then poured some more schnapps for the two of them, inviting Steve to stay and talk. Unlike the persistent questioning about the future that Howard subjected him to, Steve's conversation with Dr. Erskine was centred more on how the serum had changed him, specifically whether it had made him better. He described how he ended up in the future, a man out of his time. Never one to blow his own horn, the information that the doctor really wanted had to be dragged out of Steve by careful questioning. He had his own reasons for wanting it, thinking that if Steve's friend was injected with his serum there might be complications, especially if he had the HYDRA version first.
June 22, 1943
There was a slight amount of awkwardness when Howard Stark and Abraham Erskine arrived at the secret lab underneath the streets of Brooklyn on the Tuesday morning. Both men already knew what they had to do, having been briefed by Steven Grant, the new identity of the Steve Rogers from the future. During the week Grant had arrived almost every night at Howard's penthouse, always at the same time and in the same way that he did the first time. Two nights before the procedure Howard was already waiting for him on the penthouse terrace.
"I can't believe you just climbed up the side of the building," he said. "Made me think of King Kong."
Steven smirked. "You're no beautiful damsel, Howard," he quipped. "I just want to make sure you're still in on this."
"I am," replied the billionaire inventor. "It occurred to me that we're going to need visible proof of Erskine being hit by the bullets. I phoned a friend of mine in the movie business, and they suggested we tape some small packages of fake blood inside Dr. Erskine's suit that will make it look like he's bleeding."
"You didn't tell them why you needed to know that?" asked an exasperated Grant.
"Of course not," replied Howard. "I'm not stupid. I know how that would look. Basically, I asked how realistic it could be portrayed in a movie before the censors stepped in. Said I was thinking of producing a war movie but what was the point if I couldn't make it look realistic. My friend gave me the formula and everything. Here they are, already made up. Dr. Erskine just has to fasten them on his chest where they won't be visible."
Howard handed Steven several cellophane packets, full of a syrupy dark red liquid. When Steven passed them on to the doctor, explaining their purpose, he accepted them without question, stating it was good they had Stark in on the deception.
After winking at the scientist when they both arrived early on the day of the procedure, Howard quietly reminded the man how he just had to tap them with his hand to burst them, making the bullet holes look fatal. As he turned around, alerted to the arrival of Peggy Carter and Steve Rogers, Howard almost couldn't contain himself when he saw the younger man walking down the stairs towards the capsule, as it was the first time he saw the original candidate in his pre-serum state.
The small and fragile stature of the man as compared to his future self was proof of the success of the formula and he wanted to shout out the fact to everyone, but Erskine gave him a look that brought him back down to earth. Keeping his excitement in check, Howard played his part while Erskine spoke calmly to the young man as he laid on the capsule platform. When the procedure started and young Steve began to scream, Howard almost lost his nerve, but Steven told him exactly what would happen and how he had to react. When the power was finally shut down and the capsule opened to the god-like physique of the transformed Steve Rogers he was in awe of the accomplishment. Truly, they had achieved something that could change the war. Then all hell broke loose when Mr. Clemson from the State Department, later identified as HYDRA agent Heinz Kruger, set off the bomb in the viewing gallery, took the final vial of serum and opened fire on Dr. Erskine.
Still excited by the success of the procedure, Erskine almost forgot to react properly especially once he was actually hit by the bullets, then fortunately touched his chest where the bullets hit and triggered the first one, remembering to touch the others. The transformed Steve Rogers bent over him, and Erskine said his "last" words to the changed man before closing his eyes. Stark took over then, as young Steve went in pursuit of Kruger, confirming Dr. Erskine's imminent death then making sure that Erskine was hustled out of there to an ambulance with Jarvis as the attendant and a disguised Steven Grant at the wheel. Instead of transporting him to a hospital he was brought to another Stark lab that had been in mothballs but was now set up to continue the serum research. While Jarvis made a second trip to Erskine's apartment to bring his remaining possessions from there to the new location Steven helped the scientist inside to change out of the soiled clothes.
"You did good, Doc," he said, as he examined the fake blood-stained uniform.
"I almost forgot to hit the blood packs," said Erskine. "The excitement of the successful transformation made me hesitate. Do you think the others bought it?"
"As long as HYDRA does, that's what's important," replied Steven. "There's a chance we may have to enlighten General Phillips at some point, but he won't be in the right frame of mind until after Steve rescues Bucky and the 107th."
"About that," said Erskine. "I have a concern about the other serum your friend may be given. You said you believe it was based on Red Skull's blood?"
"Yeah," replied Steve. "Why?"
"There could be differences in compatibility between the two," he replied. "Differences that might cause problems. If I just had the formula for it, I could possibly compensate but you would have to break into Zola's lab to get that information. It would be dangerous for you."
There was a reason Dr. Strange told Steven to bring all of the HYDRA files to the past, just for this very contingency. Dr. Erskine would need them to make a serum that could counteract any of the side effects of Zola's serum. Even if Bucky didn't get that treatment there would likely be others who did, and they would need the new serum for all of them.
"I don't have to break into Zola's lab. I already have the files."
Erskine looked at him with surprise then with understanding. "You brought them with you. How were you able to do that?"
"Can't really say, but there was a way and they're in file cabinets in my flat," replied Steven. "There's only one thing. Only you and I can have access to them. Under no circumstances is Howard Stark to be made aware of them."
"You think he is with HYDRA?" asked Erskine, concerned.
"No, he's not but he's still motivated by money," answered the super soldier. "I'm hoping he'll come around to something more altruistic, but I could tell he believes he can get future knowledge from me, knowledge that he wants to use for his own gain."
Erskine couldn't disagree with that and he concurred to not say anything to the billionaire inventor. Steve showed Dr. Erskine how Stark had built an apartment with the lab so that he could live and work without the risk of being seen. Jarvis would shop for him, purchasing groceries, supplies, and anything else he needed.
"You'll have to work mostly on your own for a while," said Steven. "Can't risk HYDRA finding out that you're still alive."
"What about you?" asked the doctor, concerned. "You have prevented my death. What will you do now?"
"I'm hoping Stark can find a way to get me over to Europe," replied Steven. "I'll need to be there. Before that, I'll bring the information you need. Then I have to do some research on some certain people that the Nazis will conscript and assign to HYDRA. They aren't true believers and will try to work against them from the inside."
"But eventually they will be found," stated Erskine, shaking his head, sadly. "I was fortunate that Agent Carter was able to spirit me away. It will likely be harder for others to do it."
Steven smiled grimly. "That's what I'm going to try to do." He looked at the red stain from the fake blood on his Captain America uniform. "I need to change the colours on this as well, make it less obvious. I'm not Captain America anymore."
"I might be able to come up with something," smiled Erskine. "What colour would you like? Blue, black?"
"A dark blue, perhaps," replied Steven. "Although black is fine, except I don't want to be mistaken for a HYDRA soldier.
He cleaned off the fake blood while Dr. Erskine took stock of his lab. All that he needed were his notes from the old lab. When Jarvis and Howard Stark arrived with everything else, the scientist breathed a sigh of relief. As the assassin had taken the final vial of serum it meant they had to start all over again, but with his notes and the knowledge that his formula worked Erskine was sure he would be able to replicate it in good time. Whether it would be soon enough to help Steven's friend Bucky was another matter, but he would do his best to help.
That night Dr. Erskine sat up for a long time, writing out the results of Steve's transformation, full of anticipation for what it could mean to the war effort, to humanity, to be able to have more good men to protect the world from the bullies of the Nazis and HYDRA. Howard Stark sat in front of his fireplace, drinking his expensive scotch, that Jarvis poured before bidding good night to his employer. The billionaire, already a man of great influence, was foreseeing a time when he was in a position to control the market on the serum. As part of the weapons he already produced with Stark Industries, it could be a tool to keep the right people in power. If he could get Steven Grant on his side, there was an opportunity to pick his brain for the future possibilities in weapons and armaments. Once the Nazis were done, the Russians would fall into line and the world would be safe from aggressors like them forever, while America, with him helping behind the scenes, would be poised to be the dominant country of the world for a long time.
In his little Brooklyn flat, Steven Grant reflected on the first accomplishment of his new life in the 1940s. Saving Dr. Erskine had been the right thing to do. He was certain of that, of it being the first step of many. However, he was going to need to keep an eye on Howard Stark. Even back at the new lab he had seen the hungry look of the billionaire engineer, recognizing the same look in Johann Schmidt's eyes when the latter boasted about his vision for the world. Why was it that powerful men like them craved even more power and control, considering themselves the only ones capable of steering history? He kept thinking about it as he laid on top of his bed, before closing his eyes.
—
He was on the third helicarrier, facing the Winter Soldier, whose intense glare indicated he was focused solely on his mission, killing Captain America. Once again, Steve tried to reason with him, tried to speak to Bucky, his best friend since childhood, who was somewhere behind that blank face and ice blue eyes. Their bodies grappled with each other, punctuating the effort by trading punches that felt like battering rams. As he pulled the cards out of the slots to insert the new card in that would allow Maria Hill to order the large vessels to fire on each other Steve felt the sting of bullets as the Soldier shot him. After more brutal fighting he finally succeeded in inserting the card and signalled Maria to give the command. The Soldier wasn't going to let him leave but he wasn't going to leave without Bucky. As the aircraft tilted dangerously towards crashing into the ground both men fell, and the Soldier was trapped. With all of his strength Steve lifted the beam that trapped his friend who repaid the favour by attacking him again, brutally beating him, even though he had injured his arm. Repeatedly Steve called him by name, saying they were friends, and he wouldn't fight him anymore, refusing to fight back.
"You're my mission!"
Over and over the Soldier screamed those words at him as he hit Steve repeatedly with his metal fist until he poised with his fist overhead, ready to deliver the final, killing blow. Then Steve gave him permission to finish it, to kill him, because no matter what he was with Bucky until the end of the line. As far as Steve was concerned, he was there at the last stop, ready to get off the train. Just before he fell through the broken glass, Steve saw a flicker of recognition in the Soldier's face, a hesitation, a memory maybe of one of the numerous times that Bucky came to his rescue, when his big mouth got him beaten up by a bully.
He still had no memories after that until he woke up in the hospital with Sam Wilson sitting beside his bed, dozing. Still dreaming, he suddenly had printouts in his hands, from some spy satellites that captured images of a dark-haired man, dressed in black, with a silver arm, dragging another man in blue out of the river, then leaving him on the riverbank. He remembered when he was finally strong enough to stand and look out the window, he saw that dark head of hair duck down behind the top of a building across from the hospital, knowing that the man was standing watch for him. Giving Bucky permission to leave him behind was hard, but necessary, as his friend had to save himself and get away, before HYDRA recaptured him, or before he was shot on sight by the police.
It took another two years to find him, two more years of healing in Wakanda, then for five years Bucky was gone, along with half the world's population. In his dream, Steve felt a profound sense of loneliness, of being a solitary man out of his time who began wishing he was back in the 1940s. There were the memories of the files, all the files that various agencies had on Bucky, proof that many of them knew who he was and did nothing to rescue him or even to recognize him as a PoW.
"You left me behind, twice," said Bucky, shown as he was just before Steve left him for good. "Once in the ravine and again in 2023. I'm not worth it, Steve."
"Leaving you behind in 1945 was my mistake," replied Steve, looking at his long-haired friend. "I'm leaving you now so I can save you and stop it from ever happening."
"It's already happened for me," he countered, running his hand through his hair. "I still went through it, still lost my arm, and I'm still alone in a world that is loud, confusing, and where I know I don't belong. Nothing will change for me, except you won't be here."
"You're alive, you have a new arm that works, and you know that Sam will help you. So will the others. They care about you, and I know you'll meet someone. You're Bucky Barnes, God's gift to women."
Bucky smirked. "Punk."
"Jerk," smiled Steve, placing his hand on his friend's shoulder.
He realized his eyes were wet and put his hands to his face, while turning to Bucky who faded away, leaving him alone in the dark. Snow started falling, then a wind came up, and he was once again in the Valkyrie, after he crash landed it on that glacier. With a nod, he accepted that this was the price he had to pay for his own redemption.
—-
With a start, Steven woke up feeling almost like he did when he had an asthma attack when he was a kid. Turning the covers back he put his legs over the side of the bed and sat in the dark, rubbing his chin. He had never been much of a dreamer and even though he knew he likely had PTSD it had always manifested itself in irritability, and a need to keep busy. Even though he wouldn't call this dream a nightmare it still raised questions. Did he blame himself for not looking for Bucky in the ravine? According to the files he lay there for almost two days before he was found. If Steven had only known that his friend had received the serum, he would have gone back for him. If this timeline's dates were different Bucky might be captured by HYDRA at a different time. He might also fall into the ravine at a different time. Either way, that meant he had to be where Bucky was. It could also mean that if he was saving Bucky, then he should save Steve Rogers as well. It was only right.
—-
Author's note: It occurred to me after I posted the first chapter that I gave the Steve Rogers who returned to the past a new name that already exists in the MCU. Steven Grant is the name of one of Moon Knight's personalities. I chose that name because it seemed logical that future Steve Rogers wouldn't want to stray too far from his birth name, so he chose to switch his middle and last name, becoming Steven Roger Grant. Let's just say that Moon Knight doesn't exist in this new timeline that Steve Rogers created when he returned to the past.