Ashley Davis and James 'Bucky' Barnes were together and in love with each other in the 40s. But when Bucky finds out he has been enlisted in the 107th infantry, everything changes for the worse. Both of their lives fall apart without each other.
...
It's been about a month since Bucky left for war and a lot has happened since then. And I mean a lot. First of all, Steve finally got into the army- well the training part of it. He got selected as a test subject for a new serum that was supposed to enhance everything. His muscles, height, strength, and the part that surprised me most was that Steve no longer needs his inhaler. I know crazy right? I wasn't sure about it at first, but Steve said that Howard Stark was a part of it, so I agreed to it knowing how good of a scientist Stark is.
Colonel Phillips still won't let him actually fight in the army yet, so for now, he stays as a "dancing monkey" as Steve calls it, whilst I have other plans. I wanted as much information on Bucky's journey as possible, so I applied for a nurse in the army, and surprisingly I got in straight away. I have seen a few minor injuries here and there, but nothing major yet. There hasn't been any news about bucky or the 107th so far, but that is good right? No news is good news?
*Steve's POV*
I'm sitting down on the steps behind the stage that I just performed on, for a bunch of grown adults. I feel like that's all I am now, a performance. A laughingstock. I pull out my little book of drawings, adding more detail to the dancing monkey page.
"Hello Steve" I heard from behind me, startling me slightly. I turn around to see Peggy, I haven't seen her in a while, because we've both been very busy lately. Of course, she was doing something important, while I was out singing and dancing for a crowd who were only there for the ladies dancing behind me.
"Hi," I responded, genuinely happy to see her, "what are you doing here?"
"Officially I'm not here at all," she replied, "that was quite a performance"
"Yeah, uhh," I paused thinking of what to say next, "I had to improvise a little bit. The crowds I'm used to are usually more uhh... twelve."
"Why aren't you out fighting with the rest of them?" she asks, although I'm not quite sure how to answer that.
"Phillips would rather me be in a lab having tests done, than out on the battlefield fighting. Whilst Senator Brandt wants me doing this. Did you know bond sales have a 10% bump in every state I visit?"
"And these are your only two options? A lab rat or a dancing monkey?" she pauses once again. Her face shows a look of sadness, "you were meant for more than this, you know?" I looked away, taking in what she had just said. A thought came to mind that made me frown. "What?" She questioned me.
"You know, for the longest time, I dreamed about coming overseas and being on the front lines, serving my country. I finally got everything I wanted," I paused scoffing under my breath, "and I'm wearing tights-" I get interrupted by a loud horn blowing. Both Peg and I look over to where the noise was coming from, to see a medic vehicle rushing into where Ash was working today. We can see that some of them are being carried out of the van on a stretcher. "They look like they've been through hell," I said, a sorrowful expression planted on my face.
"These men more than most," She replied, causing me to look up at her, confused. "Schmidt sent out a force to Azzano, two hundred men went up against him, and less than fifty returned." She paused taking a few short breaths, "Your audience contained what was left of the 107th, the rest were killed or captured".
I snapped my head towards her, my heart dropping deeper into my stomach by the second "the 107th!? That was Bucky's infantry, we have to find Ashley. Come On!" We got up and ran into the medical huts, looking for her everywhere.
"There!" Peggy shouts, pointing to the other side of the room.
*Ashley's POV*
I'm about to discharge one of my patients when I hear a commotion coming from outside. I quickly finish up and tell them to go and rest. Walking out of my office I see Peggy and Steve running around looking for something, then I hear Peggy shout and point me.
"There!" They both run over to me, Steve looks to be on the verge of tears.
"Woah what's going on? What's happened?" I ask them both.
"It's Bucky's infantry, they've been attacked and only 50 of the 200 returned today" Steve rushed out. My heart sinks to my feet, and my world starts spinning, I knew this was going to happen, I should never have let him go, but now he is gone. Forever. "We don't know for sure, but he has either been killed or captured", Those words circulate in my brain, killed or captured, repeating over and over again.
"We can ask the colonel for the casualty list and see if he is actually on it" Peggy suggests, I think she was trying to calm us both down in a way.
"O-Okay" I replied with a shaky voice, beginning to walk over to his desk. He is talking to someone, when Steve called his name, gaining his attention.
"Well if it isn't the Star-Spangled Man with a Plan, what is your plan today?" He replied, I rolled my eyes at him.
"I need the casualty list from Azzano", Steve said quickly.
"You don't get to give me orders, son", my hands start shaking.
"I just need one name, Sergeant James Barnes from the 107th", he said, still not giving up.
"You and I are going to have a conversation later that you wont enjoy," He says pointing at Peggy. I think she told us something she wasn't meant to.
"Just please tell me he is alive sir, B A R-" Steve began to spell out James' last name before getting interrupted.
"I can spell," the colonel said, looking up at us. "I've signed more of these condolence letters than I would care to count. But the name does sound familiar. I'm sorry"
My breath hitches in my throat at his words, my hands continue to shake. I look down at the floor to hide the tears falling down my face. I can't stay here. "I-I have to go, I'm sorry" I whisper, quickly walking out of the room and into the rain.
