Stars and Stripes: Amelia Rose Rogers

he's dead

I break down in sobs as Steve doesn’t say anything, just looking down at me tears in his eyes that he struggles to hold back. “I need you to say it” I say choking on my words. “he’s dead, he fell off the train” Steve finally says refusing to look me in the eyes. the words start to replay in my mind as I fall to my knees Peggy coming behind me catching me, my breathing shaky and my chest tightens. “No!” I scream as my head spins. He’s not gone he can’t be gone we had plans. He promised to come back to me. It’s not true.  Peggy kneels down pulling me back against her chest. As Steve just walks away saying nothing. “Breathe Mia... breathe for me” Peggy says softly trying to calm me down, but it doesn’t help. “I can’t... I can’t breathe” I sob out holding onto her arms for dear life. Memories start flood into my mind.
Flash back: 1935, December, Brooklyn, 17
I sit on a blanket staring at James’ eyes as he looks at the stars. The light hitting them just right and they sparkle with the daydream look in them. I smile, my eyes full of love. “Rosie, you're staring” He whispers as his head turn to look at me, his eyes mirroring mine and a smile on his face. “So? You’re so pretty to look at” I say keeping eye contact and it's like time stood still as we sit there, under the stars, the sound of crickets and cars in the distance. “you’re my best friend you know that” he says breaking the silence and bringing his right hand up to cup my face. “Wow I beat Steve at his own game” I say jokingly the breeze blowing my hair away from my face “James...” I say in a quiet breath “Yes doll?” He responds “Promise to always come back to me if it doesn’t go as planned” I say placing my hand over his on my cheek. “I promise you right now to always come back. I mean I have to be present to marry you don’t I” He says, and my smile widens “I'm gonna hold you too that” I whisper and then tilt my head placing my lips on his.
End flashback:
I stop cry suddenly and stand up clearing my throat “Mia... Are you okay?” Peggy asks a somber look in her eyes as she stands up fixing her skirt “No, I’m not but it seems as though I have business to take care of and a doctor to talk to” I say hiding the pain for now and walk down the hallway out the lab doors. I hear her voice call me from the lab, but I ignore everything in my gut. My heart can’t take this right now.
Time skip: Interrogation cell
I walk into the concrete cell, grey walls, metal chair and table where Dr Zola was handcuffed to the table. I walk over to stand in the corner as Phillips walks up to the table. I was ignoring everyone telling me not to go in there, including my better judgement. I hear the scrape of the plate, Phillips brought in a steak with potato and broccoli on the side. I stand there with my arms crossed over my chest my right-hand fidgeting with my ring glaring at Zola. “What is this?” Dr. Zola asks looking suspicious. I watch Phillips slide over some silverware as I fidget with the makeshift ring James gave me. “It’s a steak.” Phillps responds bluntly “What’s in it?” Zola asks with the look of I'm on to you. “Cow? Doctor, do you have any idea how hard it is to get hold of a prime cut like this out here?” Phillips responds and I crack a smile for the first time since I found out. “I don’t eat meat.” Dr Zola says in a smug tone. “Ever?” Phillips asks and I step forward patience running low. “It disagrees with me.” Zola says thinking he’s winning this he's too cocky. “How about cyanide? Does that give you a rumbly tummy too?” Phillips then slides the plate to his side and cuts into the meat himself, munching contentedly. “Every Hydra agent we’ve tried to take alive has cracked a little tablet before we could stop them, but not you. So, here’s my brilliant theory: you want to live. I can’t make you any promises” I say and move forward resting my hands on the table beside Phillips. “Are you trying to intimidate me, Colonel? With her” Dr. Zola says, and I roll my eyes. “I bought you dinner!” Phillips says and nods to me. I slide a piece of paper that was in my hand over to Zola, who reads aloud: “Given the valuable information he has provided, and in exchange for his full cooperation, Doctor Zola is being remanded to Switzerland” I look straight in his eyes “Sent that to DC this morning. Of course, it was encoded-say, you haven’t broken those codes, have you? That’d be awkward...” Phillips says and takes a bite. “Schmidt will know this is a lie.” Dr Zola says, and I smirk becoming the person he’ll regret ever coming across. I lean forward nose to nose with Zola “He’s still gonna kill you. Doc, You’re a liability. You know more about Schmidt than anyone.  Oh, and the last man you cost us was my husband and Captain Rogers’ closest friend, so I wouldn’t count on the very best in protection. On our end.” I state never breaking eye contact “It’s you or him. That’s just what she dealt.” Phillps finishes and I could see it in his eyes Zola knows he’s right. Genuine fear tinges his responses and, in his eyes, “By the time you act, it will be too late. Schmidt believes he walks in the footsteps of gods. Only the world itself will satisfy him.” Zola finally says “Huh. You do realize that’s nuts, don’t you?” Phillips says and Zola looks at me “The sanity of the plan is of little consequence.” Zola says staring right into my eyes. “And why’s that?” Phillips says, “Because he can do it.” Zola says “okay I'm already tired of the back and forth, so cut to the chase. What's his target?” I cut in grabbing Zola by the shirt staring back into his eyes. “Everywhere.” He says and I look over at Phillips. “I think I'll leave the rest to you Miss. Rogers” Phillips says and stands up taking the plate. He turns and winks at me before opening the door taking the two other guards with him. I smirk and look back at Zola. My fist hitting his cheek with a hard punch “Now let's find out what else you know” I spoke and look at him
Time skip: to the briefing room
I sit beside Steve as Phillips stands at the head of the table a grim expression on his face. Me, Steve, Peggy, Howard, And the rest of the invaders surround the area. “Johann Schmidt belongs in the bughouse. He thinks he’s a god and he’s going to blow up half the world to prove it.” Phillips says and snaps his fingers at a map of the United States. “Starting with the U.S.A.” He finishes and I twist my ring around my left ring finger staring off into space. “That’s insane.” Dum Dum Dugan says, and I scoff “And what do you think he is?” I ask sarcastically “So’s Hitler, but he’s gotten pretty far with less than Schmidt has.” Peggy says looking at the map. “But Hydra would need millions of men, fleets of transport. They’d have to be fed, fueled” Howard shakes his head. Faldsworth says “And that's exactly what he has” I say and Howard continues “Schmidt’s working with powers beyond our capabilities. He gets across the Atlantic, he’ll wipe out the entire eastern seaboard in an hour.” “Every able-bodied man we have is either here or in the Pacific. Our borders are wide open.” Steve says and I stand up “How much time have we got?” Jones says looking at Phillips and I slightly sigh. “According to my new best friend, under twenty-four hours.” Phillips says and a Dread-filled silence falls over the room. “Where is he now?” Steve asks and Phillips points to a spy photo of a mountain. “Hydras last base is in the, in the Alps...” I say and glace around the room “What are we supposed to do? It’s not like we can just knock on the front door.” Morita says. The room goes silent. Steve looks at me knowingly and says “Thats exactly what we’re going to do”