As Time Goes By

1: 03

Katherine got up the next morning and rubbed her eyes. She'd gotten little sleep due to nerves, excitement, and fear.

Once she'd gotten ready, she made her way to an airport. She was in a small group shipping out to England, then wherever she and her fellow WACs were told to go.

As she was leaving, she noticed a letter from Bucky.

Dear Katie,

I'm writing this before I ship off. I can't thank you enough for last night. The joy you brought me is something I shall carry with me for all my days.

I hope to see you again, but if I don't, be safe. Take care of yourself. I already know I'm with you to the end of the line, doll.

Yours,

Bucky

Katherine smiled as she read the letter. She put it in her bag and locked her door, silently uttering prayer that she'd return.

---

Meanwhile, Steve made his way to a medical room.

A nurse whispered something inaudible to a young doctor.

The young doctor said to Steve, "Wait here."

"Is there a problem?" Steve asked.

"Just wait here." He left.

Steve looked at a warning sign against lying on your enlistment and began getting ready to leave.

An Enlistment Office MP walked into the room and Steve looked at him worriedly.

Dr. Abraham Erskine entered the room as the Enlistment Office MP quietly left.

Dr. Erskine said to the MP, "Thank you." He turned to Steve. "So, you want to go overseas. Kill some Nazis."

"Excuse me?" Steve asked.

"Dr. Abraham Erskine." He walked over and introduced himself to Steve. "I represent the Shield Scientific Reserve."

"Steve Rogers."

Dr. Erskine began looking through Steve's file.

As he did so, Steve asked, "Where are you from?"

"Queens," Dr. Erskine replied. "73rd Street and Utopia Parkway. Before that, Germany. This troubles you?"

Steve shook his head. "No."

Dr. Erskine flipped through Steve's file. "Where are you from, Mr. Rogers? Mmm? Is it New Haven? Or Paramus? Five exams in five different cities."

"That might not be the right file."

"No, it's not the exams I'm interested in. It's the five tries. But you didn't answer my question. Do you want to kill Nazis?"

"Is this a test?"

"Yes."

"I don't wanna kill anyone. I don't like bullies. I don't care where they're from."

"Well, there are already so many big men fighting this war. Maybe what we need now is the little guy, huh? I can offer you a chance." They left the room. "Only a chance."

"I'll take it."

"Good. So where is the little guy from, actually?"

"Brooklyn."

Dr. Erskine stamped Steve's form and handed him back his file. "Congratulations, soldier."

Steve opened the file and saw that he'd been stamped with 1A. He'd been accepted.