Ever After

Part 14 - Camp Lehigh

Immediately you feel a sense of calm as you and Steve sneak through the barracks of Camp Lehigh. Awash with soldiers, and a hive of activity it's much different from the last time you and Steve were here; confronting Zola after you had found out Hydra had infiltrated Shield.

Catching a glimpse of Steve and Tony entering the SHIELD base, you follow behind, keeping track of their movements. "I can't risk being seen again Belle," Steve admits. "We ran it too close last time."

"You didn't have me last time," You smile. "I practically lived here until the 90s. I know my way around." Grabbing him by the arm, you direct him to the back of the building, where just as you remembered the cellar door was. Picking the lock, you open the door quietly to reveal a long staircase heading straight into the basement. You shrug when Steve looks over at you. "Fire escape."

"Why was it locked then?" You sigh before starting to climb down, Steve following your lead.

"Because I used to use it to sneak out sometimes." You can't help but smile at the memories. "I would head to the city, sometimes just to hang out with Howard and Maria."

"And they didn't want you out, so they locked it?" A slight tinge of anger to his voice.

"Not them," Your voice is timid now, unsure if you want to go through all that right now, with Steve of all people. "The thought of a rogue super soldier running around terrified some people." You try to brush it off as you reach the bottom finally. "But even the lock couldn't hold me."

"How many times did you break it?" Steve smiles as he joins you at the bottom, making you raise an eyebrow and grin.

"Never. Jarvis used to leave it open for me. He'd give me ride there and back and then lock me back up. That way she'd never know."

"She?" But you brush off his words, turning your back on him and heading towards the basement. You move slowly, keeping Steve behind you; the risk of running into someone was too high. Zola, Howard, even yourself; not to mention Tony. Just as you think of him, his voice echoes down the corridor.

"I'm sorry Belle," You manage to pull Steve into the shadows as soon as you hear his voice. Sneaking a look round, you see Tony standing with a case in his hand, while he stares at the machine in front of him. "You were right. This was no way to live." He sighs, pressing a hand up towards the glass, you feel your heart break. "I forgive you. I forgive him."

Steve sneaks a look too, almost gasping at the glass cage Tony is standing in front of; it reminds him of the tank Erskine and Howard had used to turn him back in the 40s. He'd never imagined you would have had the same.

"Arnim," Howard's booming voice echoes down, making you and Steve hide back in the shadows. You can feel Steve tense up, his breath hitching slightly at the sight of your old friend. You reach out for his hand, giving it a tight squeeze.

Not wanting to run the risk of being seen, the both of you stay in place, just listening to the interaction between Tony and Howard. You let your mind wander back; Maria was heavily pregnant with Tony, Howard was as always working far too much, but both were extremely excited. A few tears run down your face as you listen; a small smile also appearing, relishing the fact that Tony got to spend one last moment with his father.

When the footsteps start to echo away, you signal to Steve to move; both of you still treading quietly. There was still the risk of running into Zola, and knowing what you know now, even Steve wouldn't be able to stop you from lashing out.

Vaguely remembering where the tesseract had been stored, you open the door, seeing the gap made by Tony. "OK Steve," you sigh, expecting him to be right behind you. "Last one, then it's...Steve?"

Shoulders hunched, and case at his feet, Steve is stood in front of the machine where you would sleep. "Why did they do this to you?" His voice a whisper. "Why did you let them?"

It was something you had barely spoken about with him, and Bucky. Too focused on helping them both go through what they needed to, your life, your pain had seemed somewhat insignificant. The story of your life was clear: those two meant more than anything, including yourself.

"I told you." You move to stand beside him. "They thought I was the last of the super soldiers; they needed to keep an eye on me."

"But you weren't a threat..."

"To some I was." You sigh. "People were angry with Howard, for using the last of the serum to turn a nurse." You reach up a hand to press against the empty case, one where you had spent years of your life. "But if anyone was going to be stubborn enough to keep searching for you, it was going to be me. If anyone had enough fight left to take down HYDRA it was going to be me. They had taken my life from me, it was the only way I could fight back."

"But why would Howard keep you locked up? Why would he let Shield..."

"Zola." You try to explain. "We didn't know it then, but Zola was using me. Taking blood samples, and using them..." You feel a shiver running down your spine. "Using the serum in my blood to make the Winter Soldier stronger." Instantly Steve turns his head to look at you as the tears build up, as well as the guilt. "It was all my fault." You sob. "I helped create the Winter Soldier, I helped them do what they did to Bucky."