Chapter 25: The Calm before the Storm

AN: movie time! I'm so glad to have gotten here. Wish me luck!

On to the fic

'Best friends since childhood, Bucky Barnes, and Steven Rogers were inseparable on both schoolyard and Battlefield. His staunchest ally and closest Lt. Steven Grant Buchanan was the only man Captain Rogers trusted to lead in his absence. Barnes and Buchanan are the only Howling Commandoes to give their lives in service of their country.'

Steve could barely look at the pictures of Bucky and Steven without having to harden his heart. There was so little about them even in their own memorial. He understood with Steven with his powers and everything he did for the army, that most if not all was classified still. Even so, it still hurt.

He heard Peggy's voice coming from inside a small theater and stepped inside. Even after watching it a dozen times it still made his heart hurt to watch he talk about him and the war, long gone but never forgotten. Steve crept in and sat down, letting Peggy's own words wash over him. He was still mad at Fury for lying to him but he wasn't as fuming about it anymore. Right now he feel's just tired, and sad; and every inch of those years spent in the ice weighed on him like a stone around his neck. He understood now, why his mother told him when he was younger, "make friend's Steve, but don't get too close. Their lives are brief candles compared to ours. They will leave but we linger. That is the fate of those with our blood. Guard your heart, penneth. Don't let them break it."

'Steve… Captain Rogers. He fought his way through a HYDRA blockade that had pinned our allies down for months.' Peggy's voice was so earnest and honest. But Steve knew it wasn't just him, it was Bucky and Steven too that were at his side. Steven was always half a step behind him, and Bucky not far behind them. 'He saved over a thousand men. Including the man who… who would become my husband as it turned out. Even after he died, Steve was still changing my life.' Steve stood up and left pocketing his compass with Peggy's picture in it after a moment. He still couldn't sit through watching her think he had died.

As much as he loved the exhibit it did Steven no justice; nor Bucky either. But he couldn't do anything about that. Steven's files with the SSR were still classified to this day, and he hoped they stayed that way. His phone buzzed in his pocket and he checked it with a smile. Yasha had been bombing his texts with complaints about his babysitting assignment with Stark. It was mostly for show Yasha and Stark got along like a house on fire most days, and in small quantities, but Steve got the feeling this was mostly to vent about being sent away after he had only just gotten back.

Steve glanced at the plaque about Steven one last time. The short video about him was heavily edited to remove documentation of his powers. Even after all these years and a leak about it, the government still didn't like or rather want to admit that one of their most decorated War Heroes was a Mutant and the most powerful one ever documented at that. Steve had hoped that it would change with the Avengers and all, but even after petitioning to release the footage himself, he wasn't holding his breath.

Steve had seen a clip of an unedited version of these films on the web and it showed all; from Steven's Electrical powers to his telekinesis, and Technopathy, even his healing powers were on display in that film. It was no small wonder Steven had become an idol for Mutants, a symbol of what they should be, powerful yes, but compassionate and kind.

Steve walked away after checking his watch. He could pay Peggy a visit if it was a good day. She seemed to be having more of those lately, and he wanted to take advantage.

While the visit to Peggy was not a total loss, Steve still felt slightly hollow and wrung out afterwards. She'd been doing so well, but as always her memory slipped and it was so heartbreaking to watch her forget he was alive and see him as if it was for the first time again. He left not long after she fell asleep and told the nurse about the relapse before he decided to pay the VA and that snarky Wilson a visit. His phone buzzed just as he was setting his bike stand, and he looked to see that Andrew had texted he was done early and heading to his apartment for a visit and offered to buy a snack.

To Andrew: maybe. I'm at the VA.

From Andrew: Is everything alright? L

Steve grinned as he opened the door and walked inside, stopping just off to the side to shoot back a text.

To Andrew: I'm fine. I made a friend and he invited me. I thought I'd check it out.

From Andrew: oh. .. For a sec there I thought something was wrong. J

To Andrew: Ha-ha, very funny.

From Andrew: ya know, you still text like an old man.

To Andrew: hanging up now.

Steve put away the phone and followed the signs to the room with a smirk on his face. When he got there they were already in session and it felt rude to interrupt so he stood in the doorway and leaned on the door, listening and trying to understand.

Talking to Sam after felt natural like he'd known him for years, knew all his ticks and problems; probably because he went through them himself. Then he asked a question that had been on Steve's mind for a while.

"You thinkin' about gettin' out," Sam asked. Steve's first answer was reflexive.

"No," he said, and then thought, "I don't know." He looked at the man with honesty.

"Ada," Steve looked up quick at the voice and grinned. Sam turned around as Andrew came trotting over.

"Andrew," Steve said with a grin, "what are you doing here?" Andrew pulled Steve in for a hug which Steve gladly returned.

"What, I can't ambush my Ada for a visit," Andrew joked back with and infectious grin. "Who's this?"

"Where are my manners," Steve said with a sassy smirk, "Sam Wilson, this is Andrew my son," Steve gestured to Andrew, "Andrew this is Sam Wilson, we met today, well this morning." Andrew turned and gave Steve a side eye, before shaking Sam's hand.

"Andrew Rogers," he introduced, "nice to meet you, Sam. Don't feel too bad, Ada out ran an Olympic runner in training, made the poor guy cry after he threw up of course." Sam's brows went to his hair line and a grin pulled on his face.

"Your dad that brutal to all his acquaintances," Sam asked.

"I was havin' an off day," Steve admitted. "In my defense I told him not to try it. Not my fault he thought he could out sprint me. And to be fair you held out better after, at least you didn't throw up."

"Why'd he cry," Sam asked, and Andrew grinned.

"'cause someone beat his ass soundly," Andrew teased. Steve raised a brow and gave him a look, before Andrew amended, "the guy was good, but it was a warm up day and Ada pushed him so hard he really over did it; threw up all his breakfast. He should have known better."

"I took him home after made sure he was okay," Steve added, "I gave him my card. Told him he wasn't a bad sprint partner. We still go running when he needs someone to push his pacing. Last I heard he won gold."

The look Sam gave him was of pure disbelief, as if he didn't believe a word Steve'd told him before. There was pride there, too, in his eyes, because he saw the love and care for his son in Steve's face and voice.

"You work with your dad then," Sam asked. Andrew shook his head.

"No," he said, "I don't want to work for those spooks. No I work for the FBI." Sam looked Andrew up and down a bewildered brow lifted on his face.

"You work for the Fuzz," he asked. Andrew laughed.

"Yeah," he answered, "as a Special Criminal investigator, for the corruption department."

"Corruption," Sam asked with wild brows. Steve grinned.

"Andrew here," he said placing his arm around Andrew's shoulder and tugging him into his side with a proud grin, "investigates dirty agents in other agencies, turncoats and the like. He's good at it." Steve grinned at Sam proudly, "He runs his own team and everything."

"Yeah," Andrew admits with a shy blush.

"Speaking of which, I never asked," Steve said, "why are you in town?"

"Oh, that," Andrew cleared his throat, "I've been assigned to DC for the next few days. We got a tip from the Agency about something. I haven't been fully briefed yet." Steve looked at Andrew with a look of playful curiosity.

"What can't tell your old man what you're up to?" Steve teased. Andrew laughed.

"Naw," he answered, "it's more like we don't know anything and the suits in the Agency aren't talkin'." Andrew's face got a bit more serious, "someone over there seems to think something bad is gonna happen and we might be needed, so here I am." Andrew laughed and brushed off his nerves.

For a second Steve opened his mouth to lay in to him about keeping secrets, when his and Andrews stomachs both growl at once. Andrew looks abashed.

"When'd you last eat," Steve asked.

"I had a light lunch on flight in," Andrew admitted, sheepish. Steve fixed his son with a look before chuckling.

"I guess I'm no better," Steve said. "Come on, kiddo, let's go grab a snack." Steve looked up and saw Sam smiling at them with a look that reminded Steve of Bucky's mom, bemused and proud. "What about you, Wilson, I feel like I'm leavin' you out here. Wanna come join us?" Sam waved him off.

"Naw," Sam answered. "I feel like you guys' snacks are us normal people's full meals. You go enjoy yourselves. I'd feel like I'd be intruding on quality father son bonding time."

"Your loss," Steve said as he and Andrew walk away.

TBC…

Endnote: another long break, but a short chapter. This time it was because I can't find any WS clips that I need! Plus I only have a DVD drive on my computer not Blu-ray. Sucks to be behind the curve

In all honesty this was meant to be a short and sweet interlude. The outline was only a few paragraphs and I didn't feel like rehashing a lot of perfectly good scenes.

Next up: Prelude to War