Chapter 22. Changes
Content warning: Description of an implied sexual assault and a separate attempted sexual assault.
Two Days Later
It was crowded in the SSR hospital room as Anya Waslewski took the IV out of Steve Rogers' arm. She noticed the young sergeant, Barnes, and the other man, Steven Grant, the man her sister loved, watching her as she did it. The two men, along with the others, had waited patiently over the last two days while she and her sister brought the young man out of his hypothermic state. Her sister and Dr. Erskine were also there in the room, Eva with her hand on the young man's wrist, checking his heart rate. Next to the bed, on a chair, was the woman who loved the young captain, Peggy, who had become her friend on the boat ride over from England. Together with her sister, and Lt. Hay, the three women had supported her on the trip, helping her get over her captivity at the German base. It was still difficult for Anya to believe that she was actually in America now, safe from the Nazis and more importantly, safe from HYDRA.
"It should only take minutes now," stated Eva, confidently. "His internal temperature is normal; his heart rate and breathing are within normal ranges. We noticed his eyes moving beneath his closed eyelids, so his brain function is becoming normal as that rapid eye movement seems to be part of the sleep function."
"Did it normally take this long?" asked Grant. "The other four didn't seem to take this long."
"The Nazis wanted it to be hurried up, as did HYDRA according to Anya so the freezing process was geared to that awakening," stated the doctor. "But slower is safer for the body and the mind plus his freezing happened naturally, in a cold outdoor environment, not a controlled cylinder, so the potential for tissue damage was greater."
Steve's eyes fluttered open and Peggy placed herself in his vision.
"Steve? Wake up, darling, you're safe," she said warmly to him.
He looked at her, frowning for an instant, then he recognized her, and his smile lit up the room.
"It worked?" he asked, his voice raspy. He raised his hand, then dropped it as it felt too heavy to support.
"It's going to take a few minutes to get your bearings, a little longer for your strength," said Eva. "Give yourself the time. We have lots of it."
He turned to look at her, then saw Dr. Erskine. "Where am I?"
"New York, Steven," said the older man, gesturing to the others. "With friends."
Turning his head the other way, he saw Bucky and Grant, who both waved at him.
"The bombs?"
"You crash landed the aircraft in the Arctic and none of them went off," said Grant, coming forward to stand at the foot of the bed, dressed in his Major's uniform. "You weren't quite where I was found but close enough. Howard got you back here as quickly as he could. He would have been here, but he went back out to find the Tesseract."
Turning again to look at the others Steve noticed Anya. "Who are you?"
"Anya Waslewski, Eva's sister," she smiled. "I was in Schmidt's HYDRA base, in a cryosleep cylinder, hours away from being sent to Argentina. I've been looking after you with my sister since you got here."
"You're, okay? They didn't make you into a super soldier?"
"Yes, thank you, I am," she replied, trying to look cheerful for him. "No, they had other plans for me. I'll leave you with your friends now."
"No, you don't have to leave. If you were their prisoner, you were there when we attacked the base."
She put her hand on his, smiling sadly. "I was, and I'm still recovering somewhat from the experience. Excuse me."
He nodded then, not quite understanding, as she put her hand over her mouth and left. Dr. Waslewski went with her leaving the others behind. Steve looked at Peggy.
"What did they do to her?"
She glanced at Grant who nodded.
"She was to be a breeder for them," she said, gently. "She may already be pregnant by one of the men that was in another cylinder. Twelve men who were hand-picked by Schmidt fought each other for the right to father a child. They were Nazis who were willing to follow him as part of the new order. The winner ..." She looked away briefly, leaving him to form his own conclusion. "They had already been transformed then frozen for transport to Argentina where they would set up a colony there."
Steve's face hardened and he looked at Grant. "Tell me you didn't save those men."
"We didn't," he said. "We made sure they will never get out of those cylinders alive, and they're buried deep where no one will find them. When I go back to Europe it will be to find others just like them."
"Then I'll go with you," said Steve, trying to get up.
"No," Grant shook his head. "We'll talk but you still need to recover. That's an order."
"But you need me," he argued.
"We do, but we need you completely healthy and I have an assignment for you here. We'll talk, I promise."
Steve looked to Bucky who shrugged with a smile. "The Major gave you an order, Captain. The good news is that once you're declared fit to leave your hospital bed you have a place to live ... me, you, and Peggy."
"Not with your parents," said Steve.
"No, across the street from them. A two-bedroom flat. Peggy already had a look and is happy with it. She'll move in today, then once you're out of here, I'll move in as well."
Steve settled back, then looked at Peggy again. "Alright, but the moment I'm fit for duty I'm on the first transport back."
"That goes without saying," said Grant. "We'll leave you and Peggy to catch up."
They left the couple alone, returning to the main part of the hospital unit. Dr. Waslewski and her sister were nowhere to be seen. Grant and the others still felt angered at what happened to Anya at the base. After she had been unfrozen in England, she was almost in a state of shock, unable to speak of what happened to her there. Howlett, who had found her in her cylinder, and Raines, who translated her file, had both been furious at what had been planned for her. Raines, especially, visited her every day in England after she was revived, speaking Polish to her in an effort to draw her out, but neither man knew the plan outlined in her file had already been implemented. It was during the trip over in the hospital ship with her sister, Peggy and Lt. Hay that she finally confided in them; telling them of being forced to watch the brutal gang fight between the dozen super soldiers, then being shut into a room with the blood covered victor. His treatment of her had been as depraved as one could imagine. Grant, once he found out, insisted on her seeing a sympathetic woman psychologist for counselling while she insisted that she be allowed to work with her sister. To her, it was part of feeling normal but one could only hope that someday she would feel safe again.
Later that afternoon, after Bucky and Peggy went back to Brooklyn on the train, Grant entered Steve's room, pleased to see him sitting up and looking more like himself. He pulled the chair up to the bed and leaned on his knees before clearing his throat.
"It's as bad as that?" joked Steve.
"No, just on completely new territory now so I'll get right to the point," he replied. "I want you to stay and help Bucky. He's getting better but once these rumours hit here it's going to affect him, and his emotions might take a dive. You know he can't get the full serum treatment if his head isn't right. That's not your only job. You, Peggy, and Bucky are going to work with Private Richards and Corporal Chatham to identify any HYDRA supporters still in this building. We can't expect to weed them out elsewhere unless we clean our own house first. Sousa is in Washington doing the same. He's already assembled his own team and will identify anyone in the upper command positions that are compromised."
"Okay, how long?"
Grant shrugged, then he pulled a slip of paper out of his pocket and looked at it before handing it to Steve.
"On that day is a dance in Queens, at that address. You and Peggy have to go to it, and you have to convince Bucky to go with you. I can't give you any reasons or details why you have to go, except that it's important for Bucky to be there."
"Last day of March," said Steve. "So, I'll be here until at least then."
"Looks like it." Grant stood up then had a thought. "You and Peggy could always get married while you're here. If you fill out the form, I'll get the General to approve it. I'm leaving tomorrow and it should be filed by next week or the week after." Steve seemed shocked at the suggestion. "Or you can ask her first and then fill out the form. Don't wait to do what you know is right. You two were meant for each other and should make the commitment."
"I'll talk to her about it," said Steve, then he looked at the older man, puzzled. "Thanks."
Grant left him, then went to the lab, where Eva, Dr. Erskine and Anya were looking over the notes of Steve Rogers' reawakening process. They all looked up to him, then Eva looked at the clock.
"I guess we should be going," she said, smiling, before looking at her sister. "You're sure that you're okay to stand up with me?"
"To marry the man that you love? I wouldn't miss it even if I was on my deathbed. Just let me change out of this nurse's uniform."
Dr. Erskine took his lab coat off and hung it up on a coat rack that held his jacket. Eva came over to straighten his tie then she smiled at him as he threaded his arms through the jacket sleeves.
"You're a good friend, Abraham," she said. "You'll watch over Anya tonight?"
"I will," he said. "I'll take good care of her. She will always be with friends."
Eva went to Grant next, touching his tie and collar but not finding anything to fix on it. He smiled at her so softly, his blue eyes bright as he gazed at her face.
"You're sure you don't mind me keeping my name?" she asked. "There is only me and Anya left of the Waslewski's now."
"It's not uncommon in the future for a professional woman to keep her name," he said softly. "With all the research you and Abraham plan to publish together it deserves to be in your name. I'm so proud of you. You know that, right?"
"You've said it often, Stefan," she answered, using the Polish version of his name. "Having you here this past week has made the decision to marry you very easy. You are a very liberated man."
"Only took 12 years of living in the future to make me that way," he joked, then he looked in the direction where Anya went. "I wish it was better for her."
"It will be better, now that she's here," said Eva. "If she is carrying a super soldier child it will be her decision whether to go ahead with the pregnancy or not. Abraham and I have already worked it out between us. If she isn't then perhaps her healing can progress better. Either way, she won't be alone."
He nodded. "Raines asked if he could write to her. I think he likes her."
"He is a good man. I will try to get an answer from her before you leave tomorrow."
They were interrupted by the arrival of Anya, wearing civilian clothes. Allowing the two women to leave ahead of them, they all waved goodnight to Lt. Hay who had arrived later in the day to work overnight. She wished them good luck, having been made aware of and sworn to secrecy over what was going to happen between Dr. Waslewski and Special Agent Steven Grant. With her own marriage coming up over the summer, she was excited for the couple.
Outside, it was cooler out in the late February afternoon than it had been a couple of days before. The driver assigned to take both doctors home beeped his horn at them as he pulled into the empty space in front of the building. Dr. Erskine sat in the front while the others sat in the back.
"City Clerk's Office in Brooklyn," said Grant. "Then you'll take Miss Waslewski and Dr. Erskine back to Queens."
Even though it didn't take long to get there both Grant and Eva worried about being late for their assigned time. It was all unnecessary as they arrived with plenty of time to spare and waited with several other servicemen and their fiancées. Just before their time came, Bucky rushed in, looking a little rushed, carrying two small bouquets of flowers. He was followed by Peggy Carter.
"Sorry, we're late," he said. "Couldn't find the camera, then we had to wait for the bouquets. Can you believe they didn't have them ready?" He looked Grant up and down, nodding his head in approval. "I tried to give Peggy the slip but she's too good of a spy to fool. She figured out something was up as soon as you arrived at the office wearing a full-dress uniform."
Grant blushed, then faced the woman he had loved back when he was younger.
"I won't ask you to keep this from Steve, but no one else should know," he said. "It's safer for Eva and Anya. Once we start looking for Zola, it's going to be even more dangerous."
"We'll keep it to ourselves," she said. "I'm planning to come back with Steve. It's my fight, too."
"I wouldn't dream of keeping you out of it," he smiled.
Their names were called, and Steven turned his attention to Eva, offering her his arm. With a shared smile they followed the clerk into the office, accompanied by Dr. Erskine, Anya, Bucky and Peggy. Ten minutes later, it was done, and the man born Steven Grant Rogers, in July 1917, frozen in the ice in 1945, who woke up in 2011, fought as an Avenger for 12 more years before returning to 1943, married a woman who had originally been just a name on a HYDRA file. Dr. Eva Zofia Waslewski never expected to find someone who wasn't threatened by her knowledge and drive. All of her adult life, most of the men who were interested in her made it clear they expected her to give up medicine and science, to accept the limited role of wife, mother, and keeper of the household. Steven Grant came from the future to save her life, then won her heart with his honesty in their dealings, and belief in her accomplishments. Although they would only get one night together before he flew back to England, she knew his work had to take priority for a time. She believed in him just as strongly.
England - One week later
The Phantom Patrol were spread out on both sides of a country lane in the middle of blackout conditions. It was unseasonably warm for the end of February. Daffodils had been popping up everywhere, a sure sign of spring, even though it was several weeks before the equinox signalled the official start of that season. Still, it was early in the morning, they were all in combat gear and blackened faces, supposedly training for a covert approach to a building that was standing in for their target on their next mission. Except, any vehicle driving by would easily see them at the side of the road, as there were no ditches to hide in.
"Grant?" asked Howlett, as their commanding officer held his hand up, stopping them briefly as they approached a crossroads. "Why are we out here at 1:30 in the morning?"
"You know there are some things I'm not at liberty to share," replied the intelligence agent. "But if you're asked by anyone else it's nighttime training; something we have to do before we head into Russian occupied territory."
He gave the signal to cross the open road, then slowed up as they walked along the darkened lane when they got to a high stone wall. Grant and Howlett heard it first, their heads snapping up to the sounds of a woman's cries and the laughter of men, several men.
"What the hell?" muttered the sergeant. "Did you know about this?"
"Can't say," said Grant, then he looked back at the others. "I'm going forward, you follow and take them all into custody. Howlett, make sure they're all charged. I'll meet you back at the base later."
They watched as Grant advanced first, stealthily creeping along the large stone wall that opened into a parking area outside what appeared to be a private club in the country. He saw the men, visible in the faint glow coming from the windows of the club, who hadn't bothered to fully black out their interior. There were six of them, two on the ground, holding a woman down while one of them, still standing, had started unbuttoning his pants. The other three watched, doing nothing to help her.
"Stop struggling and take it," sneered the man who was standing. "There's no one coming to your rescue out here, Junie."
"Wrong!" yelled Grant, leaping at the man and pushing him to the ground while he grasped the two men holding the woman down.
He pulled them off of her, throwing them at least twenty feet away. The other three scattered but his men spread into the yard and quickly took them into custody. Grant stood over the first man, looking at him with murder in his eyes.
"What'd you do that for?" fumed the man, doing his pants back up. "She's been asking for it. Strutting around like she's too good for any of us. Just a WAC, a slut like all the rest."
Grant reached down and lifted the man up by his collar, pulling him close to his face. "You have no right to treat any woman in that way. I accuse you of attempted rape, assault of a fellow soldier, and conspiracy to commit a crime." He looked to Howlett, shoving the man towards him. "Take them."
He turned back to the woman who lay sobbing, curled up into herself, her uniform torn, and her stockings ruined. As he kneeled towards her, she cried out and tried to get away from him, pushing herself away while she looked for somewhere to escape.
"Shh." His voice was soft as he put his hand out towards her. "It's alright. I'm a friend. My name is Steven and I'm to here to help. I won't hurt you."
She looked fearfully at him, but his tone must have assured her as she allowed him to lift her up in his arms. Once he sure she was secure he carried her out of the parking enclosure and back out into the lane. Without waiting for his team, he began the walk back to the base. Her soft voice broke through his concentration at getting her to safety, when she spoke to him.
"Where are you taking me?"
"To the base hospital," he replied, looking ahead into the dark. "My men will make sure those men who attacked you are charged. I'll stay with you at the hospital until I'm sure you're okay. What's your name?"
"Corporal Norton," she answered, her voice quavering. "I'm a mechanic in the motor pool. I wasn't supposed to be on duty then Colonel Eastman requested a car and driver. I was the only one available as the other drivers were already there at that club."
"I'm glad I got there before they could go further," stated Grant. "Had they tried this before?" She began to cry again, burying her face into his chest, and he held her a little tighter, taking that as a yes. "Don't worry, Corporal. It'll be alright. I promise."
Ten minutes later he approached the base gate where the MPs were on guard.
"My ID is in my chest pocket," he said to the MP in front of him. "She was attacked by several members of the motor pool. My team is bringing them in, and I will file full charges against them. Inform General Phillips and make sure they're all put into custody for court martial."
The MP reached into Grant's chest pocket, saw who he was and nodded, placing the card back inside its spot. Ordering the gate to be raised he went inside his hut and called General Phillips' quarters, telling him what just happened. Shortly after Grant arrived at the hospital unit with the young woman corporal, the General came in, looking like he had dressed hastily. He looked with concern at the young woman as Grant stayed with her at the reception desk then walked with him while they wheeled her to an examination room.
"We were on a night training session," said Grant, keeping his voice low. "I heard her screams then the laughter of men. They had her down on the ground, two of them holding her down while one was getting ready to take her. The others were watching, doing nothing."
"The others?"
"Drivers from the motor pool, all of them," said Grant. "They've been planning this, I'm guessing. She was on duty but shouldn't have been. It's my understanding women personnel who are not nurses are not to be on duty at night, especially alone. Nor are they to be used as drivers at night, correct?"
"You're right," confirmed the General. "Who ordered the vehicle?"
"Colonel Eastman," said Grant. "With your permission I would like to go back and bring him in. He was at that club in the country." He turned his eyes to the General. "You know the one I'm talking about."
Phillips raised his eyebrows thinking it would be more than just bringing the Colonel in, but he nodded his permission. Then he looked towards the cubicle where the woman was being attended to by a nurse. They noticed him looking and the nurse pulled a privacy barrier over.
"She's a beautiful woman," he noted, then at Grant's glare shook his head. "I'm not saying she asked for it. Far from it, as no woman deserves that treatment. You should ask around as to whether others have assumed things about her or if other women in that detail have experienced similar situations. They've had several women transfer out recently, although none of them indicated there was any impropriety." He shook his head. "What's the world coming to that a woman soldier, just doing her job and her duty can't do it without some lowlife trying to take advantage of her. We'll get swift justice for her, I promise you."
The nurse came out, carrying the woman's uniform in her arms. "She's asking for the man who carried her in."
Grant nodded at the General and entered the cubicle. In the light from the bedside lamp he could see how delicate she appeared, especially now that she was wearing a hospital gown. She smiled gratefully at him, but he could see she was still shaken.
"They've taken my clothes as evidence of the assault. My roommate, Corporal Steinman, should be able to bring me more clothes in the morning. They want me to stay here tonight for observation. What's your last name?"
"Grant," he replied. "Special Agent Steven Grant. I'm with Army CIC. My team and I were on a night training session. That club, you're aware it is a bordello?"
Her eyes opened wide. "No, I was just told to drive the Colonel there and wait for him. I would have said no if I had known. I should have stayed in the car, but it was so warm that I had to get some air." She frowned. "Those men you stopped, they've always been after me, even when we're on duty, always making crude remarks, wanting me to go out with them. I'm engaged and I wouldn't do that to my fiancé."
"Is he in the service?" asked Steven.
"No, he's 4F, flat feet and asthma." She showed Grant her engagement ring on the same chain as her dog tags, then started to cry. "He'll say he told me so when hears about this. He didn't want me to join the army."
"You don't have to tell him if you don't want to," said Steven, sympathetically. "I do hope you'll testify against these other men. If they've tried it with you, they've tried it with others."
"I'm sure they have," replied Corporal Norton. "We started out with six women mechanics and now there's just me and Ruthie. The others got reassigned to other jobs elsewhere. One had to go home." A tear trickled down her cheek. "I should have transferred when I had the chance."
The nurse appeared with a pill and a glass of water. "The doctor wants you to take this to help you sleep," she said kindly. She looked at Grant knowingly, then smiled at the woman. "You're safe here, Corporal. We'll take good care of you."
She took the pill, drinking some of the water to wash it down then looked at Grant as she laid her head back on the pillow. "My friends call me Gladdie," she said. "It's a nickname as my full name is June Gladys Norton. I recognized your Brooklyn accent. I'm from the Bronx."
He smiled at her, pulling up a chair. "I was born in Hell's Kitchen, but my Ma moved us to Brooklyn when I was a kid. Lived there ever since. How long were you a mechanic in the Army?"
"I was a mechanic before the war," she said. "My grandpa taught me. Then when they started up the WACs, I figured it was a way to serve. My fiancé wasn't happy about it, but I wanted to do something meaningful before I got married and settled down." She frowned. "I can't help how I look. When I was growing up boys said I was too big and tall. Then when I joined the army, it was like men and even some women assumed I was something I wasn't."
"I don't think that," said Steven. "I know guys who would treat you with respect. Tell me what you do for fun in the Bronx."
"Other than work on cars and motorcycles? I like to read, and dance except I'm not very good because most guys don't want to dance with a tall girl. I listen to music and I'm a good cook." She yawned. "My brothers taught me how to play basketball and baseball. I love the Yankees." She smiled sleepily at him. "Sorry, you're probably a Dodgers fan."
"Yeah, but I won't hold that against you," smiled Grant. He watched as she closed her eyes, realizing she was asleep then he spoke softly. "Bucky will treat you right. I think you're the one he's always been looking for."
He turned off the bedside lamp and stopped at the nurse's desk. "Corporal Norton is sleeping. Take care of her and make sure she gets back to her quarters safely in the morning."
"I heard you're pursuing charges against her attackers," stated the nurse. "A couple of the doctors here were ordered to brush it under the carpet but she's not the first woman to be attacked by some of those men in the motor pool. One private had to go home when she ended up in the family way, poor kid. She was only 19 years old."
"Who is the officer responsible for the motor pool?" he asked.
"Colonel Eastman is the CO," she replied. "Captain Green is immediately below him. The captain is alright, but he's been overruled several times when he's tried to bring charges against some of those men. They think because they're based at HQ that they're invincible."
"Thank you, Lieutenant," said Grant. "I won't stand down on this, and now that the General knows neither will he."
When he got out of the medical building, he saw Howlett waiting for him in a Jeep. He smirked as he sat next to the Canadian sergeant, who had an unlit cigar in his mouth.
"We're going back?" asked Howlett.
"I am," replied Grant. "You get those other men into the stockade?"
"Yeah, some of them resisted. They may have acquired some injuries on the hike back. Corporal Bradley sends his apologies."
"I'll make sure to put that in my report," smirked Grant. "Head back to the club. I have to inform a Colonel about a failure in command. He likely won't take it well."
Howlett started up the Jeep and the two men were at the bordello a few minutes later. While the Sergeant waited at the door, Grant entered and flashed his ID, sizing up the woman in front of him.
"What's your pleasure, Special Agent?" asked the madam, smiling sweetly. "Blonde, brunette, redhead?"
"Colonel Eastman," he stated. "Now."
"Well, that would be against house policy to confirm that an officer is on the premises," said the woman, not so friendly anymore.
"Then I'll call the MPs and have your "club" closed," said Grant. "I'll make sure you're arrested for being the madam of a house of prostitution. It is officially illegal in England, isn't it?"
"Now listen here, Yank," said the madam, her full accent coming out in force. "We have a lot of high-ranking officers who have a membership here."
"None of them will lift a finger to help you if they're rounded up by the MPs," said Grant. "So, tell me where Eastman is, and you can continue to offer your services to your other members. I just want him."
Grumbling, she told him and led him up to the room. They could hear the obvious sounds of a couple in the throes of passion emanating from the room and Grant shook his head in disgust. What a man and a woman did behind closed doors was their business, but Corporal Norton's presence outside had been a result of Eastman breaching regulations and his duty to the people under his command. It had been well over an hour since Grant took her to the base hospital and it appeared the Colonel hadn't made any effort to see to her welfare. Trying the door handle and finding it locked he looked at the madam for a key, but she shook her head. With one kick he broke the door down and amidst the cries of the woman in the bed strode over to Eastman and dragged him out.
"Colonel Eastman? I'm putting you under arrest for the following charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice," he announced to the naked man. "You are charged with Soliciting of the commission of an offence, Endangering an enlisted soldier, Misprision of a serious offence, and Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman."
"What's the meaning of this?" asked Eastman, reaching for his clothing. "You have no right."
"You realize that while you were in here your woman driver was attacked by the other members of the motor pool who were out in the parking area of this "club,"and that it was determined that this isn't the first time a woman soldier under your command has been subjected to an assault of a sexual nature?"
"I can't be responsible for the conduct of everyone under my command," sputtered the Colonel as he tried to pull his pants on.
"Actually, you are when it seems to be an offence that happens more than once," answered Grant. "Plus, Corporal Norton, as a woman, should never have been asked to transport you or wait for you at night. It is against all military regulations involving the use of women drivers. For that alone, you're looking at a court martial, Colonel. Now, get dressed."
After waiting for what seemed like too long, Grant grabbed the Colonel by his collar and began dragging him out of the room. The Colonel took a swing at him which Grant easily sidestepped. Kicking the Colonel in the ass he got him down the stairs and out the door where Howlett stepped forward to help. Putting his hand up to stop the Sergeant, Grant picked up the Colonel by the collar and his belt then forcibly placed him in the back seat of the Jeep.
"I'll see you up on charges," fumed the Colonel.
"Fine, you do that," replied Grant. "Now shut up and stay in the Jeep."
By the time they arrived at the base gate the MPs were ready to take custody of the Colonel. They read out the list of charges sworn against him by General Phillips; the same charges that Grant recited in the bordello. As he watched the Colonel being taken away Howlett stood behind Grant.
"Are the charges going to stick?" he asked.
"They'll stick," replied Grant. "I'm guessing General Phillips checked into the other assaults that happened against several other women drivers."
"What's so important about this woman?" asked Howlett, then he raised his hands when Grant glared at him. "Hey, if the Colonel did what those charges said then he deserves to get what's coming to him, but you seem to take it seriously about the Corporal. Why?"
Grant exhaled a loud breath. "Bucky's not doing so well. I failed him, failed to prevent him falling from that train."
"He disobeyed orders," said Howlett, puzzled at the change in subject. "He wasn't supposed to go on the train, but he did."
"Yeah," grimaced Grant. "He's got a protective streak in him that runs deep, and he wasn't going to let Captain Rogers get on it without backup after Falsworth slipped. I should have realized that and confined him to base but I didn't. I took him at his word that he wouldn't go on the train. I was so angry with him when we found him in that ravine."
"That's why you offered to end it for him." Grant looked at Howlett in surprise. "Yeah, my hearing is as good as yours. My sense of sight and smell are probably better. I could smell the blood from quite a way out. When you offered to end his suffering you meant it, didn't you?"
"At that moment, yeah," replied Grant. "I wanted to know if he would fight to live, and he chose to fight. But since he healed, he's been depressed. Dr. Erskine thinks if he gets the full treatment that Steve and I both got that it would trigger his regenerative powers into restoring his lost arm. The only problem is with his depression the risk of him transforming into something worse is higher."
"Okay, but what does the Corporal have to do with that?" A look of realization came over his face. "You think he'll fall for her, and she'll restore his confidence?"
"I asked for help from a source that can peek into the future," said Grant. "I got advance notice to be at that place at that time and date. We prevented the rape, and it appears that at some point she returns to New York where she meets Bucky and makes him happy. Happy is better for him and better for the transformation. From what I've seen of her, Bucky can make her happy as well. I'm sure of it."
"Were you always that romantic at heart?" smirked Howlett.
Grant chuckled. "I have my moments. Let's get back to our quarters. It's still a couple of months before the surrender happens, but we need to be in and out of Russian occupied territory before it's declared. I want to support her during the court martial if it's soon enough."
Three days later, the court martial of six men in the motor pool was held. After testimony from Special Agent Steven Grant, Sergeant James Howlett, the medical staff on duty, and Corporal June Norton, the prosecuting officer presented evidence of other assaults against women mechanics, including one which resulted in an unwanted pregnancy. Evidence was given by Captain Marlin Green that he attempted to bring up charges against several men, but was overruled by Colonel Eastman who instead ordered the women be given transfers to other postings. After presenting the prosecution's case the accused men were given the opportunity to defend themselves. Their only defence, that Corporal Norton could have left the club herself, was quickly discounted by the tribunal, the three superior officers who would rule on the case. As a corporal, she had to obey the order to drive the Colonel, and once there, stay at her post until the Colonel gave her leave. All the men were found guilty, sentenced to military prison for one year, dishonourably discharged on their release, with no further benefits being extended to them for the duration of their confinement.
On the following day, Colonel Eastman faced his own tribunal. Just before the prosecution presented their case, the lawyer advocate for the Colonel, stood to advise the court that Eastman was prepared to plead guilty, lose his commission, his benefits, his pension, accept a separation from the service under Other than Honourable Conditions, and no imprisonment. In return he would apologize in writing to all the women affected by his omission of duty to protect their interests adequately. After a short recess, where General Phillips, one of the three superior officers on the tribunal, spoke in person to Corporal Norton, and Special Agent Grant, the plea was accepted, and Colonel Eastman lost all standing in the United States Army.
In the week after the assault, Grant made sure that Gladdie was never alone. He asked the sympathetic nurse, and her roommate to spend time with her, letting her talk. With the time approaching for him to leave on his mission he came to visit the young corporal one more time, meeting her outside the motor pool, where she was in her work coveralls, a smudge of grease on her cheek, but looking much better than she had during the court martial.
"Special Agent Grant," she smiled, when she saw him. "Sorry, I must look a mess."
"You look fine," he said. "I'm headed out tomorrow, but General Phillips has offered to send you home, if you want. There's a courier aircraft going out, and he's willing to designate you as a courier, to take some things to the SSR building in New York."
"What about the motor pool?" she asked. "They need me."
"A base further north is being relocated here, and they're combining the two complements. They'll have more than enough mechanics. We just thought you might want to get back to that fiancé of yours and get your life on track."
He was astute enough to see the shadow flicker across her face at the mention of her fiancé but didn't change his own face, knowing she was going back for other reasons. The shadow changed into something wistful, and once more he knew without a doubt that Bucky would fall hard for her. His protective instincts would be in full force with Gladdie, and not in a bad way.
"Alright," she replied. "Home sounds good. Thank you for being there that night and for standing by me at the court martials."
"You're welcome," he said. He offered her his hand. "I hope we meet again. My wife ..." He hesitated for a second, as this was the first time, he ever referred to Eva as his wife to anyone over here, other than the General. "I'll put a letter to my wife in the package. She works there and will get it when you deliver it."
"I'd be happy to," said Gladdie. "Good luck on your mission." She covered her mouth with her hand, an embarrassed smile on her face. "Oops, loose lips."
"I won't put you on report," he smiled kindly. "Goodbye, Corporal."
Author's notes: The motor pool got off easy. It shouldn't be that way but the verdict was not unanimous, as one of the tribunal requested a firing squad. The character Gladdie will feature prominently in the next few chapters. I've pictured actress Kim Novak to portray her; mainly because she shows a vulnerable side that Bucky will respond to.