Stopping Winter

by SJSmith56

Steve Rogers returned to the past to reconnect with his true love, Peggy Carter. That's what everyone in 2023 thought. The truth is he went back to right a wrong, to save his friend, James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes. But to do that Steve has to save some other people as well. He has a plan to stop the Winter Soldier from ever existing, now he has to implement it.

4. Chapter 4 Action

Chapter 4. Action

The first survivors of the battle at Azzano began drifting back through the lines a day after they narrowly escaped becoming prisoners of HYDRA. They told the commanders in that forward division that first noticed the approach of the survivors of being separated from the other companies in the 107th, unable to contact them by radio. There were also reports of blue flashes of light coming from the distance, accompanied by the loudest tank sounds any of them had ever heard. As they were being transported back to the main command base to be debriefed, Special Agent Steven Grant and his right-hand man Corporal Rose were stuck in the stockade.

Word of them trying to recruit certain soldiers with special skills had reached the ears of General Phillips. Already peeved at the audacity of Grant in questioning how Phillips commanded the forces under him, the general had sent a letter to General Eisenhower asking why the Army CIC agent was being inflicted on him. The response he quickly received, disavowing any knowledge of Grant's special mission, other than verifying his agent status, resulted in Phillips issuing arrest orders. Since then, Grant and Rose had been cooling their heels in the stockade, which was actually a tent with a barred enclosure inside, and a continuous guard at the entrance, for three days. Every attempt by Grant to request an audience with Phillips was ignored and he almost contemplated escaping custody using his own enhanced skills to expedite that. Then he received a visit, hearing her voice before seeing Agent Peggy Carter enter the tent.

"Carter," he said by way of a brief greeting. "Did the general send you?"

"No, I'm here on my own," she said, eyeing him suspiciously. "I have some questions for you."

He huffed a little and rolled his eyes; Rose watched the two with interest. "What do you want to know?"

"Why were you really interested in the 107th?" she asked.

There must have been something in the way she asked as he stood up and came over to her, standing inside the makeshift bars that had been set up in the tent.

"What's happened to them?"

"They were surrounded by German mortar divisions and infantry," she stated. "Then there were reports of weapons that fired blue flashes and a glimpse of the biggest tank any of the survivors recalled ever seeing."

"Prisoners?" he demanded angrily. "Were they taken prisoner?"

"Over a hundred, possibly more," she said. "Less than 50 have returned and they report being overwhelmed with German mortar divisions before their lieutenant ordered their retreat as they were cut off from the other two companies."

"Which companies were taken prisoner?" he asked, his face set in stone. She didn't answer and he snapped. "Which companies?"

"A and C Companies," she answered. "What's left of them at least. Those that got back were in B Company."

He looked back at Rose. "A week early," he muttered. He looked back at her. "The USO tour, with Steve Rogers. Where is it, right now?"

"Finishing off in Salerno, then on to Rome before it's on its way here," she said. "Should be here in five days, first show the morning after they arrive."

He took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes, then noticed how closely she was watching him. Putting his glasses back on he focused on her.

"Can you get us out of here?" he asked.

"Not without getting in trouble myself," she said. "I don't trust you enough to do that."

"Fair enough," he replied. "Can you get Steve Rogers involved in rescuing the 107th? I can tell you exactly where they are. You'll have to use Howard Stark."

Grant was expecting her to be surprised by all of that, but she actually smirked. "Why doesn't any of that surprise me? You knew this was going to happen, didn't you? That's why you've been asking about the 107th movements. You're not a Nazi spy who gave them up. You were trying to stop them from becoming prisoners."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," he replied cynically. "Is that what Phillips thinks we are, Nazi spies?"

She nodded. "He contacted General Eisenhower to ask about your orders advising him on HYDRA intelligence. Eisenhower knew nothing. Yet, you are a legitimate agent of Army CIC with a surprisingly unknown past. Who are you, really?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," replied Grant. "But if you can get Rogers to agree to attack that HYDRA position then I'll tell you what I can." He looked back at Rose who seemed surprised. "I actually think she already suspects who I am. I would just be confirming her suspicions."

The dark-haired woman stared at him. "Tell me exactly what you want me to do." When he finished outlining his plan to her, she shook her head as if to reject his suggestion. "I'll likely be court-martialled for this. You realize that."

"No, you won't," replied Grant. "The worst he can do is send you back to England, although British Intelligence can likely arrest you." He grinned. "You have to believe that this is how it has to happen. If Rogers is successful, all will be forgiven."

"What about you?" she asked. "You're just going to sit here?"

"It's not my first choice but I will," he answered. "Just get him here as soon as you can. It's important that Steve Rogers does the rescue. It sets in motion a lot of the successes against HYDRA, but it has to be him that does it."

She sighed but agreed to do her best. After she left Corporal Rose came to Grant's side.

"What happens to us?"

"I honestly don't know," replied Grant, gesturing to the bars. "This is all new to me. I've been told it works out, but I have to keep my eye on the ultimate goal, rescuing Bucky and defeating HYDRA. Everything else is secondary."

Two days later Grant woke up to a surprise visitor. Sitting on a stool in front of the bars of their makeshift jail was General Phillips. Nudging Corporal Rose to wake up, Special Agent Steven Grant stood up and faced the worn out looking senior officer.

"Sir," he said, in a neutral tone.

"How did you know about the 107th being surrounded and the majority of their soldiers being taken?" asked the older man. "You warned me of it happening and it happened exactly how you said."

"Yes, sir, so I've heard," replied Grant. "I would like to tell you, but you won't really believe me."

"Try me," said the general.

Looking back momentarily at Rose, Grant placed his hands on two of the vertical metal bars and began to pull them apart. Reaching for the horizontal cross piece that connected the two bars together he snapped it then continued pushing the vertical bars far enough apart so that he could step out. Almost at attention he stood in front of the general, waiting for his reaction.

"You're showing me that you could have escaped anytime you wanted to, but you didn't," noted the general.

"Yes sir," replied Grant. "I'm not the enemy so there was no reason for me to escape. I'm here to make sure you use the right people to take the fight to HYDRA. Steve Rogers was the right person and you left him in the States to do a dog and pony show. Several other people who are the right ones for the job are prisoners of Red Skull right now, in Austria. They were in the 107th Infantry Regiment that you sent north. Some others that are right for the job from other units were already prisoners there."

"You know this how?"

Grant sighed then took a leap of faith. "Because when I was Steve Rogers in my original 1943 that's what you did to me," he said firmly. "You were a colonel in my timeline, but you left me behind in the States doing a Victory Bond song and dance tour, as if I was nothing but a dancing monkey. When I got here on that tour and found out the 107th was taken prisoner I disobeyed a direct order from you and talked Agent Carter into helping me. She convinced Howard Stark to fly me behind enemy lines and I rescued the survivors of the 107th plus many other soldiers being held there, marching them back through enemy territory to here where you finally realized that you had made a mistake. We formed a special unit to go up against HYDRA and were more successful than any other regiment or division in the allied war effort."

"Why is it so important that Rogers perform this miraculous rescue?"

This time Grant smiled. "It's part of the mythology that will be created by his actions; mythology that will demoralize the Nazis and HYDRA. You yourself know that Hitler has spent a lot of time and effort finding mythological artifacts to bolster his claim of Nazi superiority. Johann Schmidt, the Red Skull, has done the same. He believes he is the superior being and he plans to make more superior beings like him. He doesn't care who he transforms and one of my friends becomes his victim, or more precisely, Dr. Arnim Zola's victim as he's in charge of what they will call the Winter Soldier program. I came back to prevent that and got into Army CIC to make sure Zola doesn't make it back alive to the United States. He is a cancer who will infiltrate American security intelligence agencies and corrupt them from the inside. I won't allow that to happen."

"Yet he is the only one doing super soldier research," said Phillips, "by your own admission. Project Rebirth died with Abraham Erskine's death."

"No, Zola is HYDRA's only hope," smiled Grant. "We still have our own program, operating in secret."

The general peered at him, working through what the man in front of him wasn't saying out loud.

"You're insinuating that Dr. Abraham Erskine is alive? I saw him die with my own eyes."

"Faked," said Grant, "with Howard Stark's help. He has Steve Rogers' blood and is working to replicate the serum in a secret lab. We're going to need it to treat my friend, making him our second super soldier. Dr. Erskine was right about picking the right man for the serum. Even though my friend is injected with HYDRA's serum they have to go to great lengths to make him their tool. When he is finally able to escape from them, he turns against them completely to fight on the right side. You can't give the serum to bullies as it just makes them worse. Good men become great with the serum and my friend is a good man."

General Phillips harrumphed as he stood up, fixing his critical stare on Grant. "You're either telling the truth or you're crazier than Hitler. I'm not sure which it is but you'll be happy to know Steve Rogers is on his way here. Agent Carter pulled some strings to get that dog and pony show here early which is when I began to suspect you had something to do with it. When he does arrive, I want you to stand next to him. Maybe shave that beard and remove the glasses. If I'm convinced that you're a different version of him, I may believe you. Of course, if I don't, I'll have you and the Corporal shot."

Motioning at both men to leave the stockade with him he told them they could return to their tent, but they were not to recruit anyone to their unit until Grant's claims had been proven. Once that was done, he was willing to listen to the man's plan for a second unit to go against HYDRA, in addition to the one that Steve Rogers would apparently lead.

Returning to their tent both Grant and Rose were pleasantly surprised to see that nothing had been taken from their possessions. When they were imprisoned, both were certain that the MPs would go through their tent with great precision, looking for evidence of their treachery. Realizing that the arrival of Steve Rogers would necessitate a leap of faith on his part Steven Grant did as General Phillips suggested, by shaving his beard. The following day, when Howard Stark arrived, having been summoned by the general to explain his part in saving Erskine, Grant presented himself to the billionaire, who shook his head, unsure if this was the right move.

"I knew at some point I would have to enlighten the General," Grant said to Howard. "It wasn't my original plan to show myself to Steve Rogers but if it helps, then I'll do it."

"He threatened me with arrest," said Stark. "Said if I had been in the military, I would have been court-martialled just for faking Dr. Erskine's death. At least he's not reporting either of us."

"Well, we did save Project Rebirth from being mothballed," reasoned Grant. "I think Agent Carter suspects who I am."

"Can I ask you something about her?" asked Howard. "Were you and her ...?"

Grant smiled. "We danced around it," he replied. "She was one of the reasons I came back but I've been rethinking that part of my decision."

"Why?"

"I don't think I feel the same about her anymore," said Grant. "The more I see her, the more I realize I've changed, moved on. I am 12 years older than I was when I went into the ice, so I'm 39 now. She's only 22. Steve is only 25. They're much better suited for each other just on age alone."

"I'm 26," said Stark. "I could still ask her out."

Steven smirked. "She was never interested in you," he stated. "Sorry to burst your bubble but she didn't want to be a notch on your bed post."

Stark made a bit of a face at that observation, but he didn't really argue the point and Steven realized he may have just changed that part of history as well. They talked for some time on Dr. Erskine's progress in recreating the serum. It was better that the general knew about that as well. He could get more funding and help for the doctor to work on that part of the project. Something told Steven that Bucky was going to need it more than even he had previously realized.

The next morning word rippled through the camp that the USO show had arrived. Steven had already told Peggy and the general to ask Steve Rogers not to perform as the men wouldn't accept him.

"They want the girls," he said. "Let them have the girls while we plan his attack on the factory."

"I still have to be convinced of that, but I'll request his presence here," said General Phillips. Then he looked pointedly at Grant. "I must say, that without the beard I do see the resemblance."

Steven shrugged. Until the two of them were standing side by side he didn't think Phillips would be willing to even entertain the operation. Minutes later Steve Rogers walked in, wearing his captain's uniform, drawing a critical look from the general. It was still amusing to Steven to see how Senator Brandt had pushed that commission through for the untried soldier. Peggy smiled at Rogers, confirming to Grant that he was the object of her affection. He smiled back then saluted the general and stood waiting, still unaware of Grant's presence.

"Rogers," drawled the general. "Do you have any brothers?"

"No sir, I'm an only child," replied the young captain.

"Cousins?"

"No sir."

Phillips looked at Grant and the latter stepped forward to stand next to Rogers, who glanced briefly at him then did a double take before facing forward again. Both the general and Peggy looked back and forth between the two.

"I'll be damned," said Phillips. "Grant, how old are you?"

"39, sir," replied the older man. "Captain Rogers is 25, both of us born July 4, 1918. He has a birthmark behind his right knee, in the same place mine is. The serum fixed any childhood scars that we may have shared. Our mother's name was Sarah, our father's name was Joseph who died of mustard gas poisoning in 1918 two months before our birth. We met our best friend Bucky Barnes after he intervened in a beating we received from some bullies trying to steal our milk money. We're both artists and lost our virginity on the USO tour."

"Now just a minute," said Steve. "Have you been spying on me? Who is this guy and why does he look like me?"

"Is everything he said true?" asked General Phillips.

Rogers blushed angrily then nodded his head. "Yes sir, all of it," he replied, glancing at Peggy.

"Well, Special Agent Grant, I guess you get to introduce yourself," said the general. "Then we'll sit down together, and you'll tell us how Captain Rogers here rescues the 107th from HYDRA's clutches."

"Wait, what about the 107th?" asked the younger man.

"At ease, Captain," said Grant. "First things first. Look at me, really look at me."

The two men faced each other, both of them the exact same height, weight and build. Grant was older, his face a little more lined and his hair darker in colour. As Rogers continued to study him, he began looking at General Phillips then Peggy Carter before looking back at Grant. It took several minutes before he opened his mouth to speak.

"Are you me?" he asked. "How?"

"I know Bucky was the one who loved reading science fiction but it's pretty simple," said Grant. "We'll have time to talk more but I was born the same day you were, to the same parents, in the same hospital. I was a sickly child who never thrived but had a mouth on me that always got me into trouble. Bucky bailed me out many times. After he shipped out, I signed up for Project Rebirth and was chosen to receive the serum that Dr. Abraham Erskine created that made my body look just like yours. He's alive, by the way, unlike in my original time. I arrived a few days before the procedure and convinced him to wear a bullet proof garment. Howard provided some blood packets to make it look good. He's in a secret location working on recreating the serum."

"You're from another timeline?" asked Steve, hesitantly. "You're older ... you said you're 39 so that means you came back from 1957?"

Grant shook his head. "2023. I ended up in the 21st century but I'll explain how later. I came back to make sure that what happened to Bucky in my timeline didn't happen in this one." He looked at Peggy. "I came back for you as well, but you're not mine. You and Steve belong together, always did." His gaze returned to Rogers. "Once I was here, I realized there were more people I could save from HYDRA and with the general's help I hope to have a second secret unit to do that while you lead the first unit. But first you have to rescue Bucky and the 107th, alone. Trust me, it's better than this dog and pony show that Senator Brandt set you up in. You're capable of being a leader, Steve, and you'll put fear into HYDRA."

Rogers said nothing for several long moments but continued to stare at Grant until he turned to the General.

"What do I have to do to help Bucky?"

Both versions of Steve looked at the General now and a hint of a grin appeared on his face at the possibilities that had just been offered to him.

"Grant, tell us everything."

HYDRA weapons facility, Kreischberg, Austria

It had been almost a week since the soldiers of the 107th were herded into the cramped circular cells in the weapons facility. In that time, they had been starved, beaten, and forced to work 12-14 hours a day helping to build weapons for HYDRA, under the sadistic eye of Colonel Lohmer. Any little thing could set him off and he always seemed to take it out on the same soldiers. For the 107th, that seemed to be focused on their sergeants, Bucky Barnes and Aaron Ginsburg, from C Company. Ginsburg died first, having been beaten to death by Lohmer within a few days of their arrival. Then Lohmer went elsewhere for a week but since his return had focused his anger on Barnes, beating him for all sorts of imagined infractions. It was all the more brutal because Barnes was also sick, likely suffering from pneumonia due to the poor conditions in the facility.

The breaking point for the men was when he beat Barnes for causing a cart full of munitions to fall, after he passed out. Lohmer viciously beat and kicked Barnes even though the unconscious man offered no resistance. Lieutenant Kleiber was ordered to clean up the mess when Lohmer had his fill of sadism, ordering Dum Dum Dugan and Gabe Jones to take Barnes back to the cell. The two men conferred with their cell mates, Falsworth and Dernier, coming up with a plan to kill Lohmer. As word was passed through the other cells it was decided to put a substance on the chains that were attached to the cranes that lifted bins of scrap metal to the foundry to be melted and turned into munitions. Focusing their attention on just one link of a specific chain on that one day, every man that was working near that chain smeared a "lubricant" on it, as part of their usual work, but substituted a corrosive substance instead. It soaked into the metal overnight, eating away at the integrity of the metal.

The following morning, Barnes woke up, his breathing laboured due to the broken ribs he almost certainly had, in addition to the illness he was suffering from. With the assistance of Dugan and Jones he stood up, ready to do the labour he was ordered to do. He filled up a bin with scrap metal then one of the prisoners who had the job of handling the crane pressed the controls that brought the chains over to the bin. Several other prisoners attached the chains to the bin then the order was given to raise it and transport it to the foundry. As the bin passed overhead it matched the path of Lohmer as he walked. A loud metallic snap was heard, and the bin toppled, its contents landing on Lohmer, killing him instantly. Every prisoner cheered for several seconds until Kleiber got his wits together and ordered that everyone be returned to their cells.

As Dugan and Jones helped Barnes back to their cell the big man whispered to his sergeant.

"Alright Bucky, we got you. Lohmer won't hurt you again."

"Thanks," was all that Bucky managed to get out before he collapsed onto the floor of the cell.

It was obvious by the next day that Bucky was in no shape to work. Kleiber allowed him to stay in his cell as Dum Dum and Gabe took turns bringing his food and helping him to the latrine when he needed it. As best as they could manage over the next few days, they took care of their sergeant, but his coughing grew worse, and he began bringing up a bloody discharge.

"Pneumonia or maybe even tuberculosis," speculated Falsworth. "Your man's had it."

"Fuck off," said Dum Dum. "Sarge is the strongest one of us. He'll beat this." He looked desperately at Gabe. "He has to."

On the fourth day Kleiber brought a doctor to see Bucky. A slight man with thinning hair, glasses, and a reedy voice Dr. Zola was not what Dum Dum would consider to be a doctor that inspired confidence. His manner, although polite, was still disturbing in that he didn't really look at Bucky as a patient. Rather he mumbled about his overall physical appearance, taking note that he had heard Sergeant Barnes had been a boxer.

"I think he'll do nicely," he finally said, rising from where he had been bent over Bucky's prone form. "Lieutenant, bring the sergeant to my lab. We'll start him on the treatment."

Three guards came over to the cell. One of them armed with a gun, motioned the other prisoners to move aside while the other two picked him up under his arms and dragged him out. As they closed the barred door Dum Dum yelled at them in both fear and frustration at his own inability to keep Barnes safe.

"Don't kill him, you dirty bastards!"

Zola stopped just before the door and turned back towards the soldiers still in the circular cell.

"I have no intention of killing your sergeant. Whether he survives the treatment is up to him. If it works, it will be a new day in science and your sergeant will never be sick again."

The little man gave everyone a smile that chilled them all with its lack of warmth and left them to wonder if they would ever see Sergeant Bucky Barnes again. For several days the remaining prisoners continued working under the watchful eyes of their armed guards, never receiving any acknowledgement of whether Bucky was alive or dead.

Then, late one night as they were all trying to sleep on the cold hard floor of their cells, they heard the sound of a body falling and looked up, seeing their guard unconscious. A quick check of the other cells showed the same phenomena of unconscious guards. A man, wearing a costume under a leather jacket while wearing what looked like a toy helmet and carrying a toy shield was bent over the guard, searching for his keys.

"Who are you?" asked Gabe.

He shrugged and answered in a Brooklyn accent. "Captain America."

Jumping off the cell to the floor he unlocked the door of the one cell then gave the keys to one of the men, who unlocked the other cells.

"I'm looking for Bucky Barnes," said the rescuer. "Is he here?"

"Sarge, yeah, but they took him for medical treatment," said Dum Dum. "He was sicker than hell and could barely stand. You look like Sarge's friend, Steve. I remember seeing you at Grand Central, but you were shorter."

"I grew," grinned Rogers. "Do you know where they took him?"

"No, but there is an isolation unit," said Falsworth. "It's where Zola does his experiments. You should start there."

"Alright, I'm going to get him," said Rogers. "You guys get out of here, raise some hell on your way out, and wait at the tree line for us."

"Hey, do you know what you're doing?" asked Gabe, as Rogers started towards the door. "You're not exactly wearing a uniform."

Rogers grinned. "It's okay, I've fought Hitler over 200 times and won."

He headed out, looking for the signage that Steven Grant told him about, finding the hallway. At the end of the hallway, he saw a little man in a hat, carrying his coat and a briefcase. Grant had told him to let the man go as they would have another opportunity to capture him again. Rushing into the door that the man came out of he found himself in a lab and heard the sound of someone muttering. It was Bucky and Steve hurried to where his friend was restrained, pulling the straps apart. It took a moment for Bucky to come around and recognize him but as soon as he did, he noticed Steve had changed.

"You were smaller. What happened?" he asked, still gathering his wits.

"I got into the army," replied Steve, placing his arm around Bucky's waist. "Come on, we've only got a few minutes before this place goes up."

"What about the others?" asked Bucky, pulling away to get to where the men were.

"Already released them."

They made their way to the cavernous factory just as the explosive charges went off. As they approached a movable walkway that spanned across the floor, they began walking across it, with Rogers expecting Red Skull to appear on the other side as he had been warned. However, the man never did, and both he and Bucky made it out to the roof, making their way down to the ground then out towards where Steve told the others to wait. He would have to make sure to tell Grant that Red Skull and the little man, Dr. Zola, left right away rather than confront him and Bucky. It was strange getting intel on what was supposed to happen, but it also confirmed that Grant was an older him who had already lived through a version of this rescue. He glanced at Bucky. That was going to be interesting when he met Grant.

When Steve and Bucky got to the tree line, he was happy to see a significant number of PoWs waiting for their arrival, most of them armed with the strange weapons. They had some tanks with them, which the weapons guys were going to love as well as the components he grabbed with the blue glowing portions on them. It was a power source unlike any of them had seen although Grant said it was important.

They began the long walk back to the base although General Phillips said they would send trucks for them, once they were sure there were no enemy units along the way. Either way, Special Agent Steven Grant said it was important to set up the mythology of Captain America, of his strength, ingenuity and tactical ability. They weren't just going to fight HYDRA physically; it was going to be a propaganda war as well, exposing those thugs for what they were.

As he kept glancing at the beaten face of Bucky, with the dried blood that was evident on his ears Steve confirmed something that Grant had briefly mentioned. Bucky had already been given some serum. The others, specifically that Dum Dum Dugan fellow, said Bucky was barely able to stand, as he was so sick and injured. Yet, there he was, a gun in hand, walking just as strongly as all the others. He still wasn't completely well, but he wasn't dying anymore. Steve was sure that HYDRA had done something else to him, but Bucky never said a word of it to him on the journey back, his best friend never spoke of it. Grant told him that what they did had likely already affected Bucky emotionally. Steve didn't want to believe that of the strongest man he knew and idolized but it was right there in front of him, as plain as day. As happy as Steve was that he had done something good in rescuing all the PoWs, he feared that he couldn't help his best friend deal with what HYDRA forced onto him. That one thing made him feel like he had already failed Bucky, before they even got started and he didn't like it.

Author note: The scenes in the factory of Barnes, Dugan, and Jones after being captured are based on a digital comic book titled Captain America: First Vengeance by Fred Van Lente.