Found You - James B. Barnes

5. Sink or Swim

Daniel Sousa's Home, Los Angeles - July 1955

"I need to go undercover." I speak plainly, without room for discussion. Charlie furrows his eyebrows, shaking his head.

"Are you sauced?! Going undercover ain't a gas Edie!" He shouted, eyes bulging out of his head. He clenched his fists and moved his feet farther apart, as if he were about to fight me. I won't let him talk to me like this.

"I've been undercover before, Turner," I correct him, raising my voice too. "The moment we continue the Chief's investigation, we're dead." I snap my fingers and step forwards.

"If they catch you-" Turner begins, stepping closer too, "When, they catch you, they won't just kill you." He lowers his voice, but his expression doesn't change. I know that of course. I've read the reports from the war, I've read the Chief's files here. Death from Hydra is a mercy, one they don't always give. But, they killed Daniel, I can't let that slide. I need to avenge him and bring justice.

"I'm doing this whether or not you help." I stand my ground. "You want to cook with gas?" I know we can't play this by the book, but knowing that Charlie is watching my back will make things a lot easier.

He sighs deeply and turns to the side. He shuts his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose. He mutters something under his breath before answering me.

"Fine, but how are you planning to get in. You can't be expecting to get an invite." My heart swells, I've brought him around. He has a point though.

"Especially if the higher ups in Hydra are the higher ups in Shield, they'll know about Peg." I sigh, this is going to be difficult.

"Peg? Who's Peg?" He asks, head tilted to the side and eyebrows furrowing together. Oh, I hadn't meant to say that out loud. I've never told Charles that my last name is actually Carter. Collins is my mother's maiden name. I tuck my hair behind my ears.

"My sister... Peggy Carter." I grimace, I don't like lying to Charlie, but how could I have known we would become best friends?

"Your sister? The founder of Shield? Are you messing with me?" He looks up at the ceiling and scoffs. I nod meekly. "Ok, ok. Then you're gonna have to fake your death or something." I gasp slightly. I wasn't expecting to have to go that far. Maybe I actually need to go further.

"We need to make it look like I've gotten myself involved in something shady. That way the office won't be as bothered in finding my killer if they think I betrayed them." It's go big or go home. I can't go home. Charlie nods, moving to face the files, stating that we should finish reading them all before we continue.

I get all the way down to the third to last file when I realise where I need to go. The file belongs to Arnim Zola, he was Johann Schmidt's right hand man, the top scientist in Hydra. If he's been working for Shield all this time, he's certainly been working for Hydra. In fact, he might be the top of the food chain. It would be risky going straight for the boss, if I get caught... I don't want to think about that.

I haven't worked in a hospital since 1949, but I am still a nurse. I'm officially an Agent and an Advanced Medic, I received extra training for the medic position about five years ago, I'm halfway to a Doctor. It's been incredibly useful, helping me save some lives I wouldn't have been able to before.

It says in the file that Doctor Zola often worked with Doctor Stefan Alderfer. I remember his file, it was the second one I read, he had something to do with cryo-genics. I now have a reason to research that if I meet Dr. Alderfer.