-U.S. Camp-

-May 1943-

Eddie had just finished digging a new latrine by the time he reached the stage, but the show was already over.

'Damn.'

Howard had convinced Senator Brandt to allow the Captain America tour to come to Italy to perform for the service men.

"Kent!" yelled Sergeant Hodge, "I need you to dismantle that stage now." Sergeant Hodge was one of the lucky few of the 107th to survive and return to camp. A large black bruise covered the left side of his face and he walked with a distinct limp all of it the payment for his survival.

"Sir, yes sir." Eddie huffed.

"That didn't sound very respectful to me, Private?" growled Hodge as he got up close to Eddie. Eddie groaned inwardly it seemed Hodge was in a mood and needed a punching bag. As if Eddie's unavailability in the raid was the cinch to the company's success.

What if you stood up to him: a stray thought swooped in.

Eddie saw Hodge had his right foot a bit more forward than his left, and he imagined himself socking Hodge in the face like Carter did. Then he inwardly sighed, 'After that what, I get court martialed for striking a superior officer, get dishonorably discharged, or spend a year in confinement.'

At least you'll be out of this army like you originally wanted: chides the stray thought.

But thinking takes up a lot of time, enough time for Lieutenant Hodge to shove his way past Eddie. Eddie slipped on the uneven ground. As he attempted to get up a new onslaught of rain picked up. "The Kent luck at work, ladies and gentlemen." He grumbled to himself.

He made his way onto the stage where there were already some of the tour crew to dismantle the impromptu stage.

"I came to help." Eddie told a crewman who pointed Eddie where he could start. Eddie was unscrewing the floorboards when he saw Steve Rogers was on a set of steps writing in his notebook. Then Agent Carter appeared behind him and was talking to him. Carter and Eddie hadn't talked much since their argument a few days ago, not that they had much of a relationship before that.

"Hey, you, help us pull down these poles." Urged a heavyset worker. Eddie got up and moved to the front of the stage where he was to levy the weight of the poles, so it didn't fall straight down and break. After a few minutes of 'careful, careful' and 'what are you, guys or gals?', the curtain pole was down.

"Thanks soldier." Said the heavyset worker, "we got it from here."

"Alright." Eddie replied wiping the sweat from his forehead. He thought it be best to start packing up since tomorrow he was finally leaving this hellhole. He wasn't exactly sure if he was happy about that or not.

As he made his way to the tents, someone rushed up to him.

"Excuse me where are your weapons and supplies?" Eddie whirled around at what he felt was an odd and suspicious question to ask.

He turned and saw it was Steve Rogers, who was in a whole other weight class in muscles, and at least five inches taller than Eddie.

"Cap-Steve." Eddie said.

Steve's eyes widened in surprise and then embarrassment before it returned to determination, "Hey Eddie, not enough time to explain, weapons?"

"Follow me." Eddie said as he led him to the weapons cache.

"What the hell are you doing?" demanded Sergeant Hodge.

"Steve needs weapons." Eddie said.

Sergeant Hodge looked at Eddie then at Steve. Hodge didn't know which one to address, the bitterness toward Steve who became the super soldier, or his oppressive hate to Eddie.

"You're not a real soldier Steve so go back to your circus." Hodge hissed before whirling toward Eddie. "And you don't get me started, get your ass to work, that's an order."

Just hit him.: Returned the stray thought.

Steve opened his mouth impatient. Eddie struck out with his right fist and reveled in the crunch of a broken nose. Hodge look aghast before collapsing to the ground. Maybe there was something to the four months of menial labor.

With that done Eddie began sorting through the weapons pulling out a pistol, and a few rifles. Eddie turned around to see Steve looking a bit surprised.

"Will this do?" Eddie asked.

"Yeah." Steve said grabbing a nearby duffel bag and placed the weapons inside. Eddie's heart was beating so fast.

"I need a vehicle."

"Keep up Roger." Eddie said as he began to jog out of the tent. Roger was able to keep up, which was a pleasant surprise. There was an unused jeep behind the deconstructed stage.

"Thank you, Eddie," Steve said as he walked to the back of the jeep.

Eddie looked down at his shoes, but then that stray thought spoke up, it told him to do something about his situation. "Steve…I'm being kicked out, todays my last day, so I might as well make this last day worth doing something."

Steve smiled, "I think I know where the 107th prisoners are being held, its gonna be dangerous."

Eddie bit his lip and thought of Mike Li, "Then even more reason I'm coming." Eddie got into the driver's seat. Steve smiled and stuck his hand out. Eddie shook it.

Agent Carter walked up to the jeep, she obviously knew what Steve was planning, "What do you plan to do? Walk to Austria?" Agent Carter turned and was surprised to see Eddie in the driver seat. Eddie attempted to smile, but the concern on Agent Carter's face killed it.

"If that's what it takes." Steve replies.

Carter shoulder's sagged, she turned toward Eddie about to ask for help. Eddie and Carter's eyes locked, and shame overtook them both causing them to look away.

"It's a suicide mission." She said out loud, Eddie wasn't sure who it was directed at and Steve was too determined to listen.

Steve moved to the passenger side of the jeep looking at Carter, ""You said I was meant for more than this... Did you mean it?"

Carter met Steve's hopeful gaze, "Every word."

Steve looked to Eddie, who pressed the clutch and turned the ignition. "Then you got to let us do this."

Eddie was about to position the gear shifter when Carter came to the driver side placing a hand on Eddie's shoulder. Eddie stopped and looked toward Carter.

"I can do you guys one better."

Eddie held his stomach as he stared out the window of the plane. Somehow, Agent Carter had managed to convince Howard Stark to pilot the plane. Eddie felt uncomfortable being in close proximity with Carter yet chose to sit up front.

Eddie had to close his eyes, as the plane rattled a little from turbulence, Howard patted him on the back. "It's alright pal, everyone has the same reaction when they first fly on a plane."

Eddie groaned slightly, "Please keep your hands on the thing.". Howard laughed and shook his head, "Trust me kid I can fly this plane wasted and blindfolded."

"Please don't." Eddie groaned at the thought, which only made Howard laugh harder.

"You should head on back we're almost there." Howard said. Eddie's finger shook as he undid the seatbelt and made his way to the passenger section.

The inventor took his eyes off the sky and spoke loudly so Agent Carter could hear him, "Agent Carter? If we're not in too much of a hurry, I thought we could stop off in Lucerne for a late-night fondue."

Eddie only caught the last few words of what Carter was saying, "…we're lucky to have him."

Eddie had to smirk when Steve spoke up, "So are you two? Do you..." Eddie couldn't believe he was ever jealous, changed or not this was still Steve, and that thought warmed his heart. Eddie broke into a full smile, when Steve said, "…Fondue?"

Carter ignored the question holding out a metal device, "This is your transponder, activate it when you're ready and the signal will lead us straight to you both."

Steve took the metal device and looked it over before shouting at Howard, "Are you sure this thing works."

Eddie strapped on his parachute as Howard shouts back, "Tested more than you, pal." The skies suddenly lit up with anti-plane gun fire. Eddie's eyes snapped open and fell into one of the seats. Eddie made sure he still had his pistol in the new belt holster. Even if he couldn't shoot well, it was better than nothing.

Steve opened the plane's door, and looked at Agent Carter, "The second we jump out, you both get the hell out of here."

Agent Carter yelled through the intense wind, "You can't give me orders!"

Steve put his shield to the front of him and held the ripcord for the parachute in his other hand, "The hell I can. I'm a Captain!" Steve proceeded to jump out of the plane.

Eddie swallowed as he started to head for the door, he turned to Agent Carter, "How do I uh... use this?"

Agent Carter frowned, realizing the situation Eddie was in, "Jump, count to 5, and pull the cord."

Eddie nodded his head, the booming from the guns was only getting louder, he grabbed the cord and jumped. The last thing Agent Carter heard from him, was him yelling, "12345!"

Eddie ran through the woods with Steve. Flying and skydiving had made Eddie love to have his feet on solid ground.

The pair had been looking for the Hydra facility for about half an hour. When they found it, Eddie was in awe at how ominous the facility looked.

Eddie looked at Steve, "How do we get inside?"

Steve noticed that the facility had spotlights, and guards. He was about to suggest the two waits but then he heard trucks coming up the road. Steve turned his head, sure enough a fleet of trucks were making a delivery to the facility. Steve pointed at the trucks, Eddie nodded and the two ran to the truck that was the last in the fleet. The two jumped into the bed of the truck. Eddie smiled at Steve, excited for doing something amazing, the smile faded when he saw two Hydra soldiers that were also in the truck...

Eddie frowned slightly as Steve said, "Hey fellas." Steve moved like a blur, upper cutting a hydra soldier so hard they hit the ceiling. It was like one of those strength games played at the carnival. Steve followed it up with a roundhouse to the second hydra soldier.

"Damn." Eddie said in amazement. The two quickly tossed the unconscious pair of guards out of the truck. The two huddled down, getting ready to enter what could most likely resemble Hell.