¹𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘆 - 𝘴. 𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 ✓

𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟮

The doctor ripped the blood pressure cuff off Steve's arm. "Wait here." The doctor ordered. Steve was sitting in the enlistment office exam room trying to get into the army for the 5th time.

"Am I in trouble?" Steve asked, suddenly worried. Bucky's words rang in his ears, they'll catch you. Or worse, they'll actually take you.

"Just wait here." Steve's stomach filled with anxiety.

The doctor and the nurse walked out of the room. Steve's eyes wandered to the sign on the wall, Its illegal to falsify your enlistment papers. Only traitors lie to their country.

Suddenly an MP slid open the curtain, "I'm in trouble." Steve knew they had caught him this time.

But to Steve's surprise an older doctor entered, "So you want to go over seas, kill some Natzis?" He spoke in a thick German ascent.

"Excuse me?" Steve was now confused.

The doctor extended his hand, "I'm Doctor Abraham Erskine. I represent the Strategic Scientific Reserve." Steve shook it, still confused.

"Steve Rogers. Where are you from?" He asked, referring to his accent.

"Queens. 73rd and Utopia Parkway. And before that, German. This troubles you?" The doctor asked in a nonjudgmental way.

Steve just shrugged. It didn't bother him. If the US Army trusted him that was good enough for Steve.

"And where are you from, Mr. Rogers? Is it New Haven, or Paramus, or..." he read over the file. "Five exams. In five different cities..."

Steve knew he was I trouble. He did some quick thinking, "that might not be the right file..."

"It's not the exams I'm interested in. It's the five tries." He peered at Steve over his glasses. "You never answered my question. You want to kill Natzis."

Steve thought for a moment. He wasn't really sure how to answer. "Is this a test?"

"Yes." Dr Erskine answered point blank.

Steve thought about his answer again. He obviously wanted to kill Natzis but he felt that wasn't the correct answer. "I don't like bullies, doctor. I don't care where they're from."

The doctor seemed pleased with his answer. "There are already plenty of big strapping men in this war. What they need now is maybe the 'little guys,' yea?" The doctor questioned.

"Maybe. What do you do, exactly." Steve now realized he wasn't a normal, enlistment office doctor.

"Let's say I believe there is great potential in every human. It's just a matter of bringing it to the surface." He gave a vague answer.

He laid out Steve's file and grabbed a stamp. "I can give you a chance, only a chance."

"That's all I'm asking for." Excitement rose in Steve. This was actually happening!

"So, really, where is the little guy from?" Dr Erskine asked with a smile.

"New York City. Brooklyn." And with that the doctor stamped his file.

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𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿
𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝗹𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵

Steve and ten other men stood in a line. They wore full army uniforms. Steve's was a little baggy on him and his helmet was way to big but he didn't let that bother him. He stood at attention with the rest of the recruits.