Back in 1945

14

 We had walked through the night, but everyone was tired now. It was a fight between pure exhaustion and the drive to get back into a safe zone. I had forced myself to walk the whole night despite the pure pain in my ankle. I was limping the whole way, starting to fall asleep while walking, forcing my self to move fast to keep up with Bucky and Steve in the front.

The first few hours were the men talking about being free, the first thing they were gonna get back at camp. After that had died down before arguments for taking a break began. I was ready to pass out, I could feel at least few fractures in my leg as I limped on. I don't know when or where but the decision had been made to walk on, thetiredandinjured men piling on to the tank a few feet behind us.

"You should go up on there" Bucky said as he brushed against me.

"I'm fine."

"No your not." Looked back at the tank, the fallen soldiers on top.

"Theres 3 men with multiple gun shot wounds, two dead, a man to weak to stand and the three people making sure none of them die or fall off. I'll be fine."

"Who won the finals when I left?" Bucky said, changing the subject to a more light hearted one than our current situation.

"19." I smiled.

"19? You talking about the amateur races in New York?" A man with a thick Jersey accent asked.

"Yeah, I actually know the racer who won apparently."

"19? He was the one who would drifted corners! They almost eliminated him for that! That man knew how to put on a show!"

"Congratulations on your win Andy" Steve chimed in, a knowing smile upon his face. "They give you a trophy this time?"

"Nah, all metal going to the war effort, although I wasn't outed this time."

"Trophy?' The Jersey man chimed in again. "You trying to say you racer 19?"

"Andy here, is the best racer from Brooklyn." We turned to talking about times before the war, all of us sharing different stories as we kept making our way to the camp. It made all of us smile and laugh, thinking about times before, more grateful we were alive and free now.

—/—

As we arrived back a camp there was dozens of soldiers flocking us, calling out names and cheering as we rolled through.

Colonel Phillips had broken through the crowd, coming face to face with the three of us. Rogers stood at attention, saluting the colonel as he looked through the crowd of starved men.

"Some of these men need medical attention." Rogers reported. "And I'd like to surrender myself for discinplary actions."

"That won't be necessary." The colonel said as a smiling Peggy Carter stood behind him, meeting Steve's eyes with an excited look.

"Yes sir." Steve said as the colonel turned away and disappeared into the crowd again. Carter walked up to Steve, changing he look to a more stern but still happy expression.

"Your late" she scolded. Steve pulled a transponder out of his pocket, shot up and broken.

"Couldn't call me ride." He said smugly. I turned to Bucky as cater continued beaming at Rogers.

"Hey!" Bucky yelled over the crowd. "Let's hear it for captain America and sergeant Jones!" The crowd exploded around us, dozens upon dozens of men so happy just to be safe and out of enemy hands.

"Sergeant Jones?" Peggy questioned as she looked at me.

"Wanted to rub it in his face." I smiled.