Chapters 26. Encounters
Breakfast was a pleasant affair as Gladdie was the first one up and dressed. She made herself at home in the kitchen, whipping up the meal for everyone, making extra because they didn't eat dinner the evening before. It was tasty, earning compliments from everyone for her cooking skills. While the others cleaned up, Gladdie got dressed, coming out to wait in the living room while the others got ready.
"So, we'll go to the city clerk's office, and get the marriage license," said Bucky, coming out of the bedroom tightening his jacket belt. "Then we'll go into the SSR office and get you set up with ID. I'll show you around and see if they'll let you into the lab. I want you to know everything."
Bucky went out onto the landing to use the phone, and called the taxi company, giving them the name of the driver. With a promise to be there in 10 minutes he told Steve and Peggy through their bedroom door that they had to be downstairs in that time.
"We'll have to stop at the bank first to get the licence fee and the taxi fare. I should take something out for lunch as well, seeing as you'll be with me," he said to Gladdie.
"It's okay, I can come back on the train," she said.
"Nope. My girl is going to be taken out for lunch. I want everyone to know I have the prettiest fiancée in all of the boroughs. After we're done at the lab, I want to get you a proper engagement ring as well."
She smiled shyly at his compliment but was pleased at his statement. Steve made the same comment about the bank when he and Peggy emerged from their room. Walking down the stairs to the entrance both men let their ladies exit before them, then Bucky noticed the taxi driver leaning against his cab across the street and waved to him.
"We need to stop at the bank first," said Bucky. "Need some cash for the marriage licences." He noticed the look the driver gave Steve. "This is Steve Rogers and his fiancée Peggy Carter. This is Daniel Levinson. He took me to Grand Central Station yesterday and brought us back."
"Wow, Captain America in my taxi," said Levinson, offering his hand to Steve. "It's a pleasure."
"Well, Mr. Levinson, if you could stop at the Williamsburg Savings Bank and wait for Sergeant Barnes and me, I would appreciate it," replied Steve, amused at the reaction of the taxi driver.
Squeezing into the back, Bucky whispered to Gladdie that she could sit on his lap if she wanted a bit more room. Shifting slightly, she placed herself in a way that his right arm circled around her. It was more comfortable than being crammed together in the back seat. It didn't take long to get to the bank and both soldiers promised to be out as quickly as they could. Levinson put a pause on his meter and turned around to smile at the two women.
"So, when's the happy event?" he asked Gladdie.
"Friday, for both of us," she replied, glancing at Peggy. "They're getting married as well."
"Keep it quiet, Mr. Levinson," added Peggy. "You know, loose lips and all that. We don't want the newspapers there interfering with our wedding day."
"Yes ma'am," he nodded. "I wouldn't want a bunch of nosy photographers ruining my wedding day. The war's going to be over soon, right? The Russians are closing in on Berlin from the east while the Allies are getting closer from the west. It's been a hard fight. You know, I read about that camp the Howling Commandos and that other unit, the Phantom Patrol, liberated. The things they were doing to people, those were crimes worse than murder."
"They were, indeed, Mr. Levinson," replied Peggy, remembering the mission on Auschwitz. "Even with the war in Europe almost over, there is still more for us to do. We can never allow someone like Hitler to be in power again."
"Yes, ma'am," he replied, then he pointed towards the door of the bank. "Here come your fellas. That was fast."
Bucky and Steve were smiling as they re-entered the taxi and once again Bucky made sure Gladdie was on his lap. The next stop was the city clerk's office and Levinson put the off-duty sign on his dash, promising to wait for them. Inside, there was a small lineup at the marriage licence window, so they settled into a place at the back of the line. Just like on the train, the two super soldiers could hear whispered words of recognition, more for Steve than for Bucky. When they finally got up to the window Steve gestured to Bucky and Gladdie to go first. They offered their identification and filled out the form for a licence, both of them signing it. Bucky asked about making the appointment for the wedding ceremony and chose 09:30 on Friday morning. Stepping aside, they waited while Steve and Peggy filled out their form, with them getting the 09:45 slot. Directed to wait at the side while their licences were printed, they were patient. After a few minutes a clerk appeared.
"Barnes and Norton? Rogers and Carter?" she called. They all approached her. "Here are your marriage licences. Please be here 15 minutes before your scheduled time and bring the licences with you. If you have any questions, you can phone the office. The number is on the envelope."
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As they travelled across the Brooklyn Bridge on the vehicle deck, Gladdie looked out the side and back windows, marvelling at the bridge structure again. Bucky just watched her with a soft smile on his face, at the wonder on her face. Once again, he thought she was the prettiest woman he had ever met. Giving Levinson another good tip, the four of them left the taxi and entered the SSR headquarters in Manhattan. Right away, they stopped at the MPs station and Corporal Chatham straightened up.
"Agent Carter, Sarge, Cap," he said, greeting them. "Corporal Norton? We hadn't heard you had been recalled to duty."
"I haven't," she said, unsure of herself. "Actually, I'm here with Sergeant Barnes. I wasn't really told that I had been assigned to the SSR. Agent Carter informed me yesterday."
"Oh," Chatham looked from her to Bucky. "I didn't know you were acquainted with the Sergeant."
"Relax Mickey," said Bucky. "She's my fiancée. Just asked her yesterday. We're getting married Friday. Is Miss Norton permitted to enter?"
Chatham looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there. "Not exactly," he winced. "She has clearance, and everything related to being a courier, but we don't have any identification for her to be in the building, yet. She'll have to wait here while you go to the security office and get that taken care of."
"I can wait here with Gladdie, while you two take care of that," offered Peggy.
"Actually, Agent Carter, I was told to send you up to the radio room as soon as you arrived," said Chatham. "Miss ... Corporal Norton can wait here at the desk with me."
Bucky took Gladdie's hand in his. "You'll be okay here?" he asked. "We won't be long. Steve will come with me, and we'll get this sorted out."
"Go ahead, I'll be fine," she smiled, then sat in a chair that Corporal Chatham pulled out from behind his desk.
The other three went through the automatic door, after Chatham buzzed them through the security gate. He entered their arrival in his log then smiled politely at Gladdie. He shifted some papers then looked at her again.
"How long have you and the Sarge known each other?" he asked. "I didn't know he was serious about anyone."
"Saturday," she replied. "We just hit it off like two peas in a pod." She smiled at the look of confusion on Chatham's face. "I know it's sudden but we're both ready to commit to someone."
The phone rang and Chatham spoke to the person on the other end then stood up.
"I have to go upstairs, briefly. I'll be back as soon as I can."
He took his keys out, opening the security gate, then locking it behind him, before disappearing behind the automatic door. For several long minutes she sat patiently until the door to the outside opened and a man, with a moustache, dressed in an expensive suit and wearing a hat, entered. He eyed Gladdie like she was something meant just for him.
"Well, hello," he said, in a tone she had heard all too often in England. "Who might you be, darling?"
"I'm Miss Norton," she replied politely, trying not to make eye contact. "I'm just waiting for my clearance."
"You're going to be working here?" he asked, standing right in front of her. "What department?"
"Could you please step back," said Gladdie, shrinking away from him.
"Sweetheart, I won't bite," he cooed. "My name's Howard." He stepped closer, reaching for her hand. "What's your first name?"
"Please." Gladdie began to get anxious. "Please, just leave me alone."
Suddenly, Howard Stark was yanked away and then he was on the ground after being punched, Bucky standing over him with his right fist clenched.
"What's your problem, Howard?" he asked. "Don't you listen when a lady asks you to back off?"
"I wasn't hurting ..."
"You weren't listening to her," repeated Bucky. "What's wrong with you?"
"Bucky, it's okay, he didn't hurt me," said Gladdie, standing next to him and reaching for his fist. "I'm alright, really."
Stark looked from her to Bucky and back again. "She's with you?"
"She's my fiancée," answered Bucky, as Steve, Peggy, and Chatham came back through the security gate. He put his arm around Gladdie, bringing her in close. "I'm sorry it took so long to get your ID. Come on. We'll let these two deal with him."
He had an ID in a lanyard and placed it over Gladdie's neck, then went back through the security gate after Chatham buzzed them through. With one last look at Stark on the floor, Bucky shook his head and led her through the automatic door. Steve offered Stark his hand, pulled him up, then went through the security gate himself, also perturbed at the man's behaviour.
"What did I do?" Stark asked Peggy, bewildered. "I didn't treat her different than any other woman."
"You really don't see how you treat women as a problem, do you?" asked Peggy. She pulled him away from Chatham and lowered her voice. "She was attacked in England by several men at once, intent on treating her the same as any other woman they had previously attacked. Just because she's attractive and doesn't react like I do to a situation doesn't mean she doesn't deserve your absolute respect, Howard. How many times did she ask you to stop?"
"She didn't say stop," he replied, annoyed, then saw the fury building on Peggy's face. "Okay, she used other words and told me twice."
"Once," stated Peggy. "You should have backed off the first time, instead of pressing yourself on her. No, scratch that ... you should have assumed from the start that you didn't have a right to treat her that way at all. You have no idea what is to be a woman in a man's world, do you? We're told to be polite, to be pretty, to be quiet, to be passive, to let a man enter our personal space because to tell him to back off would be rude to him. I know you see Bucky Barnes as competition, but he'll always be the better man than you because he can read women and he does know when they need to be treated with kindness instead of with ... with the expectation that they should let someone like you drool all over them."
With a huff, she went back through the security gate and through the automatic door, leaving Stark there, wondering why he felt like such a heel. Even Chatham frowned at him. Gathering what dignity he had left, Howard Stark went through the gate and the door, then stood in front of the elevator. He was planning to go to the procedure lab today but wasn't sure he would be welcome. Instead, he went to the prosthetics lab, figuring he might as well tinker for a while on that arm for Sergeant Barnes. Rubbing his jaw, he wondered how a one-armed man could still hit so hard, even if he had taken the serum.
In the elevator down to the lab, Bucky flexed his hand. It didn't hurt but it kind of felt good using it against that jerk, Howard Stark. He saw Gladdie's hand on his arm and looked at her, feeling incredibly protective of her.
"I'm sorry I overreacted to him," he said, quietly. "All I could see was your face and how uncomfortable you looked. Even though you were telling him to leave you alone, he kept trying to touch you."
"It's okay," she smiled softly. "It was very gallant of you. Reminded me of Steven Grant. Who was he, anyway?"
"Howard Stark, the billionaire," grinned Bucky. "I used to admire him. He's smart and has done a lot for the war effort but he's not much for being a nice guy. You're sure he didn't hurt you?"
"I'm sure. Who are we going to see now?"
Bucky's face brightened. "Dr. Abraham Erskine, the man who invented the serum. I want you to meet him. Dr. Eva Waslewski might be there as well. Don't tell anyone but she's Steven Grant's wife. They got married here before he went back to England. She's very nice. I think you'll like her."
"He mentioned her. Not by name. Said he had a letter for her in the courier package I brought back." Gladdie frowned slightly. "She doesn't go by his name?"
Bucky shook his head. "According to Grant, women in the future can take their husband's name or not. Lots of women who are doctors keep their name, to keep their accomplishment theirs and not their husband's. Do you want my last name?"
She nodded. "I want to be Gladdie Barnes, but it's kind of nice for a woman to have the choice."
The elevator door opened, and he led Gladdie into the hallway then turned towards the lab. He pointed out the various rooms, including where the procedure would happen. Then he peeked in a window on a set of double doors and nodded to her, pushing on one of them. Dr. Erskine and Dr. Waslewski looked up from a bench.
"James," said Dr. Erskine, then he noticed Gladdie with him. "You've brought us a visitor."
"Yeah, Dr. Erskine, Dr. Waslewski, this is Gladdie Norton, my fiancée. We're getting married on Friday."
"This is the young lady you just met, ja?" He shook hands with her.
"Yeah, but we're both pretty sure. Gladdie knows Special Agent Grant. He helped her out in England."
"He wrote about you," said Dr. Waslewski, coming forward with her hand outstretched. "You're the mechanic. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. He spoke of you as well. He seemed to be very proud of you. Bucky said you're working on the project that could restore his arm." The two doctors looked at each other. "I have clearance. Apparently, Special Agent Grant got it approved for me when I acted as courier. Bucky told me the details because he wanted me to know before we got married."
"We are working together on it," said Erskine, reluctantly.
"Doc, can she be there for the procedure?" asked Bucky. "I would like it if she could."
The two doctors looked at each other, unsure.
"Please," said Gladdie. "Whether it works or doesn't makes no difference to me. I love Bucky the way he is, but I know this is important to him. Since I have the clearance, I would like to be there."
"What do you think?" Dr. Waslewski spoke to Dr. Erskine in German. "She's wearing the correct identification."
"Ja, but why would Steven arrange for a mechanic to get full clearance before she ever met Sergeant Barnes?"
"The same reason he stopped you being killed, and he rescued me, then Anya," she replied, after some thought. "He knew they would get married. You know he wrote me about her; she was attacked in England by a group of men. Stefan and the Patrol just happened to be nearby and prevented it. I think he knew Sergeant Barnes needed her, needed her love and support to be ready for the procedure." Dr. Erskine still looked hesitant. "Abraham, you know Stefan wouldn't have arranged for her clearance unless there was a reason for it. She is marrying James and as his wife, she needs to know about the changes the procedure will produce in him."
Erskine nodded at that and looked at the young couple, still waiting for his answer.
"Yes, I think we can arrange that," he smiled. "Would you like to see the procedure room?"
"Please," answered Gladdie, grasping Bucky's right hand.
Together they walked to where the procedure would take place. Anya Waslewski and Lt. Hay were both there. Bucky introduced them to Gladdie, noticing how pleased the Lieutenant seemed for him. He was even more pleased with Gladdie's questions for the doctors, at how she wanted to know more about the engineering behind the capsule he would be in during the radiation part of the treatment. When she was told that part of it was Howard Stark's responsibility, she looked at Bucky uneasily.
"Oh dear, what happened won't affect his part in your treatment, will it?"
Dr. Erskine looked from one to the other. "What happened?"
"A misunderstanding," said a male voice, as Howard Stark walked in. He rubbed his jaw. "I'm sorry, Miss Norton. It won't happen again." Anya and Lt. Hay shared a knowing look. "I know, I've said it before, but I mean it this time. It was pointed out to me that I should be more respectful of the fairer sex, that they are not automatically interested in my attention to them. Now, it appears you have some engineering knowledge. What would you like to know about the capsule?"
Bucky grinned at the question she asked Howard about the stresses on the working parts of the mechanisms inside during the procedure and what safeguards had been taken to ensure his safety in the event something went wrong. At first the billionaire bristled but when Gladdie showed she was genuinely interested in the device his inner engineer took over and he pointed out the various safety features that were an improvement over the original capsule used on Steve Rogers.
"We also have a more secure power supply here," he added, "so that there are no fluctuations in what we draw from the electrical system. Sergeant Barnes will come through this with flying colours. I'm sure of it."
"Would you do it?" asked Gladdie, looking him in the eye. "Would you undergo the procedure?"
"No, I wouldn't," he admitted, then he looked down before looking at her again. "Because I'm not a good man, not like Steve Rogers was and not like Sergeant Barnes is. I have too many faults to overcome to be qualified to take the serum. I'm vain, arrogant, entitled, and I take women for granted."
"Thank you for your honesty, Mr. Stark," she replied. She looked at Bucky. "I'm confident it will work, and I want to be here when it does."
With that settled, Bucky showed her around a little bit more then declared that he was leaving early to get some things settled for the wedding. Together, they left the building and stood on the street for a moment. He looked at his watch.
"Do you have anything else to get from your home?" he asked, looking at her with concern.
"No, but I should go to the bank and close my account," she answered. "We could see my parents to let them know about getting married, but my dad would be at his office and my mother would be at home. His bank is near Yankee Stadium."
"Well, let's get you an engagement ring first," he smiled. "At least with that, they'll see I'm serious about being your husband. Okay?"
She nodded and smiled, taking his right arm as they walked down the street together. Bucky seemed to know where they were going and stopped at a small jewelry store a few blocks away. He opened the door for her to enter first. Half an hour later they left, with Gladdie wearing a modest solitaire diamond engagement ring. Bucky carried their wedding bands in a small box inside his jacket, insisting that he fully intended to wear one once he got his left arm and hand back. They stopped at a small diner for their lunch. Both of them were reminded of their time in the diner on the Saturday night after they left the dance. Once they were finished, both of them were ready to tackle the next part and they boarded the subway for the Bronx, getting off at the stop closest to Yankee Stadium to see her father first.
Gladdie's father, Charles Norton, was a loans manager at the bank where she kept her account. As they waited to see him, another man walked by, limping slightly and wearing thick glasses.
"June?" asked the man, looking nervously at Bucky then at her father's office. "Why are you here?"
"Hello Donald," she said politely, then turned to Bucky. "This is James Barnes, my fiancé. Donald Major is the man I told you about. He was repatriated from a PoW camp because of his eyesight. He works as a teller here in the bank. We're here to close out my account but I wanted my father to meet the man I'm going to marry."
"You're getting married?" Donald looked at her father's office again. "I thought we were supposed ..."
"I know what my parents led you to believe, but no, I wasn't interested, Donald. I'm sorry." She put her arm through Bucky's right arm. "I'm marrying Bucky."
"Well, then I guess I can offer you my congratulations," he said, grimacing slightly. "I hope that you'll be happy."
He nodded at Bucky and returned to his teller's position, opening it up to attend to the next customer in line. Gladdie squeezed Bucky's hand and smiled at him. Several minutes later her father's office door opened, and a couple came out, shaking hands with him. He watched them leave then turned to the chairs, his face darkening when he saw Gladdie. She stood up with Bucky.
"Dad, do you have a few minutes?"
"What are you doing here, June?" he asked. "Is this the man you think you're in love with?"
"Sergeant James Barnes, sir," said Bucky, stepping forward with his right hand outstretched. "Please, let's do this in the privacy of your office."
Her father looked at Bucky's hand, ignored it and went into his office, leaving the door open for them. They followed him inside, closing the door behind them. Gladdie sat first, facing her father, with Bucky seated next to her, his cap on his lap. Glaring at both of them, her father sat in his chair and leaned back, waiting for her to speak.
"Bucky and I are getting married, Friday morning at the City Clerk's office at 9:30," she stated, firmly. "We're here to tell you, in case you and Mother wish to come to the ceremony and the luncheon after."
"Are you in the family way?" he asked. "Is that what this is about?" He shook his head. "I always knew you'd end up shaming your family."
"Don't talk to her that way," growled Bucky. "I won't stand by and listen to you insult my fiancée."
"As if you're a suitable man to be her husband. I heard everything about you, Barnes. How you're a traitor to your country, a freak of nature, a man not to be trusted."
As he spoke, Gladdie could feel Bucky get tense, then angry. She stood up, shielding him from her father.
"Stop! How dare you accuse him of those things! You know nothing about him. If he's a traitor, why is he still in the army with a top security clearance? Why is he sharing a flat with his best friend, Captain America? You know who the traitors are? The people who are spreading those lies, and the ones listening to them. Shame on you, Dad. Bucky has been nothing but a gentleman since I met him. He's been kind, understanding, and I'm marrying him, with or without your blessing. I'm also taking my money out of the bank, and you better not try to stop me."
"Go then," sneered her father. "When he leaves you in the lurch, don't come crawling back because I won't take you." He pulled a slip of paper out of his drawer and scribbled on it, then handed it to her. "Take your money and never show your face around here again."
She took it, and turned away from her father, walking straight out the door. Bucky stood up slower, looking down at Mr. Norton. With deliberation he placed his cap back on his head.
"I'll be Gladdie's husband on Friday," he said. "I'm going to do everything I can to make her happy. My parents think she's wonderful and already see her as a daughter. When I rejoin the Howling Commandos to help them finish the job against HYDRA, they're going to be there for her. As far as I'm concerned, she's an orphan now and I don't want you contacting her ever again. Do you hear me, Mr. Norton? You're not her father anymore. Her well being is my concern now."
Without waiting for an answer Bucky left, then saw Gladdie in one of the teller's lines. He joined her, slipping his hand into hers. She smiled sadly at him, then her lips trembled. A teller opened and she stepped forward, telling her she wished to close her bank account as she was getting married and moving to Brooklyn. She gave them the slip from her father, giving her permission to close the account. After filling out and signing the forms she waited as the teller counted out 1456.87 to her, giving her an envelope for the bills. Gladdie put the change in her coin purse and the envelope inside her purse. Then she took Bucky's arm, and they walked out the bank together. As they walked towards the subway station, her knees buckled slightly, and she whimpered. Bucky hailed a cab, helping her in. The driver was reluctant to go all the way to Brooklyn until Bucky offered him 2 as a tip.
"Oh Bucky," she cried, looking at him with her eyes welling up.
"It's okay," he whispered, holding her close. "Let him go. My parents are your parents now. We'll take care of you."
She cried the whole way back to Brooklyn.
For the longest time single women needed a male relative to open or close a bank account. Gladdie's father would have been well within his rights to not give his permission for her to close her bank account. Her father's accusation that she was already pregnant would have wounded her even more, considering her parents didn't know what happened in England.
The first automatic doors were installed in June 1931 at a Connecticut restaurant, allowing servers to move back and forth between the dining room and kitchen with their arms full. The photoelectric eye installed on each side of the door reacted to presence of a person arriving at the door.