Scars Run Deep

Chapter IV

Night of July 4, Present Day

Steve mindlessly sat outside the lab, quiet and waiting. This is the opposite of Bucky, who had paced up and down the hallway until he went to the Avengers' common kitchen. What he was doing now was beyond Steve. By now, it had been five hours and there was still no word on Elle's condition. The prospect that she might not wake up from her frost coma scared Steve to the bone. That was his sister on Tony and Bruce's table; the only blood family he had left. He had gone all this time believing she was KIA when serving in France, but there was more to the story. And Steve had to know what happened. Inspired by his sudden urge to search for the truth, he dialed Agent Coulson. Steve's call was routed to voicemail, so Steve left a message.

"Hello Agent Coulson, it's Steve Rogers. You may have heard, but if you haven't, my sister was found cyro-frozen in an old HYDRA facility. I was hoping that you could pull her service records from the Army. Her name is Eleanor Grace Rogers, and last I heard she was a Second Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps. Thank you, and have a good night, or day, depending on when you get this."

Just as Steve finished the message, Bruce and Tony came out of the lab. They both showed obvious signs of exhaustion, with the purple bags under their eyes and hunched-over posture.

"She's going to be just fine, Cap," Bruce told Steve

"Thank you, Dr. Banner. Thank you." Steve sighed

"Any idea when she might wake up?"

The doctor shook his head "All anyone knows right now is that she's defrosted and stable."

"Where's Barnes?" Tony questioned

Steve was about to respond he didn't know when the elevator at the end of the hall dinged

"Here," A deep voice came "I was in the kitchen" Bucky emerged from the shadows, carrying a platter with 4 bowls on it. "I made soup."

"Why soup?" questioned Bruce

"Elle would make soup when Steve and I got sick, so I'm returning the favor. Her favorites were tomato and chicken noodle soup, so I made both for when she wakes up. Plus some for Steve and I." Bucky explained, still making his way over to the other two men, in short, careful steps.

Steve couldn't help but smile "You remembered."

"I never knew the Terminator could cook," Tony remarked

Bucky ignored him and gently set the soup tray on a nearby table. "How is she?"

"She's stable for now, and doing well," replied Dr. Banner

"Thank you" Bucky's voice sounded lighter like he might now have hope that he can see Elle again.

Bruce started to walk away, with Tony not far behind him "Of course. Now you two should go get some sleep." Bruce told the super-soldiers. The pair walked off.

"I'm checking on her" Steve decided and opened the double doors to the lab. Bucky followed behind him, still holding the soup.

There, laying on a steel slab and under a ceiling lamp, was Eleanor Grace Rogers. It was apparent HYDRA changed her. Her frame used to be lined with strong muscles, but now was stick-thin from starvation. Elle's once well-kept short hair now reached the middle of her back, untamed and free.

Steve walked over to her "What have they done to you?" he murmured

Bucky muttered something darkly in Russian

Steve pulled two chairs up to her bedside and began to stroke her wild hair out her face. Her skin felt deathly cold under his fingers, and the realization crept into Steve's heart. This was his little sister. The same girl who said he looked handsome then laughed at Steve's embarrassment a moment later. The gentle dame who cared for him every time he got sick. The one who would spend countless nights with Steve, mourning the loss of their parents. The sister who worked 14-hour days, but still find time to make dinner and spend time with he and Bucky. The one who was constantly singing with that sweet and low voice of hers'. She was right there in front of him, pale; unconscious. Steve took her tiny hand and pressed it up against his forehead, quietly remembering what she was like. Would she recognize him and Bucky when she woke up? Would she be the same? Or did HYDRA bury the real Elle so far deep that she couldn't be retrieved?

"Eat"

He took the bowl Bucky held out "Thanks, Buck."

Bucky nodded and began to eat his soup

"Elle taught you well." Steve took a small spoonful of the still-hot meal.

The two quietly sipped the soup and stared at the smaller Rogers.

"She was always teaching us to cook" Bucky broke the silence "Wasn't she?"

Steve nodded "But no matter how much either of us fellas tried, we couldn't hold a candle to Gracie's food"

His comment hung in the air before Bucky replied "She was a great baker too."

"You were obsessed with her blueberry muffins"

"So were you" Bucky allowed a small smile to creep up his face.

Steve matched his expression "Can you blame me?"

"No" Bucky shook his head then gazed at Elle "No, I really can't" He finished his soup and put the empty bowl on the tray. "Where should I put the soup for if she wakes up?"

"When" Steve corrected "When she wakes up."

Bucky lowered his eyes "We can't be sure."

"We came out fine"

"But we have our serums-" Bucky started

Steve stopped him "And so does she. Elle will be fine."

Bucky quietly took the empty bowls and walked out of the lab. Steve sighed and tried to quiet his own fears. Elle would wake up. She had to wake up.