Winter's Beginning [1]

Enlisting Again.

Chapter two.

"Come on, kinda missing the point of a double date. We're taking the girls dancing." Bucky said as he and Abi walked up to Steve. He was was stood in the entrance for the station, exactly where they thought he would be.

"You go ahead; I'll catch up with you." Steve told them.

"You really gonna do this again?" Bucky asked.

"Well, it's a fair chance. I'm gonna try my luck." Steve said.

"As who? Steve from Ohio? They'll catch you. Worse, they'll actually take you." Abi said, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Look, I know you don't think I can do this." Steve started before Bucky cut him off.

"This isn't a back alley, Steve. It's a war!" 

"I know it's a war. You don't have to tell me." Steve said starting to get annoyed that his best friend and his sister didn't think he could do this.

"Why are you so keen to fight? There are so many important jobs." Bucky said.

"What am I gonna do? Collect scrap metal..." Steve retaliated.

"Yes!" Abi said. She knew she wasn't being supportive but she didn't want him to get hurt, or worse.

"...in my little red wagon." Steve said sarcastically.

"Why not?" Bucky said.

"I'm not gonna sit in a factory, Bucky. Both of you come on!" Steve said. "There are men laying down their lives. I got no right to do any less than them. That's what you don't understand. This isn't about me."

"Right. Cause you got nothing to prove." Bucky said sternly.

"Hey Barnes. Are we going dancing?" The girl called Connie called.

"Yes we are." Bucky called back before turning to Steve. "Don't do anything stupid until I get back." Bucky said.

"How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you." Steve said with a laugh.

"You're a punk." Bucky said as he walked up to Steve and gave him a hug goodbye.

"Jerk. Be careful." Steve told him.

"Don't win the war till I get there!" Steve called as he walked in.

Bucky turned to Abi. "You gonna come dancing?" He asked looking back at the other two girls who were waiting for him.

"What with you and two other girls? You've got to be kidding me!" She said with a laugh. "I've gotta make sure Steve doesn't get himself killed."

He shook his head and walked up to her, pulling her into a hug. "Keep yourself safe, with whatever you're doing." He muttered in her ear before pulling back and kissing her on the forehead.

"Be careful and bring yourself home in one piece." She said as she let go of his arms. He smiled and then turned and walked away towards the two girls. Abi quickly turned on her heel and walked to where Steve was waiting.

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Abi sat on the chairs provided and waited for Steve to come back out. She reread the army poster in front of her for the twentieth time when she noticed a familiar face  walk around the corner. "Dr Erskine?" 

"Ah, Abigail, so he's your brother then." He said gesturing with an army folder to the door behind her.

She nodded her head as he motioned for her to follow him. They walked in to find Steve sat, starting to put his shoes back on looking terrified, although when Abi walked in after the Doctor, he looked confused.

"So, you want to go overseas. Kill some Nazis." The Doctor asked.

"Excuse me." Steve asked.

"I'm Doctor Abraham Erskine. I represent a Strategic scientific reserve. The company that employs your sister here." The Doctor told him.

"Where are you from?" Steve asked.

"Queens. Before that, Germany. This troubles you?" The Doctor asked.

"No." Steve said glancing at his sister.

"Where are you from, Mr. Rogers? Mm? Is it New Haven? Or Paramus? Five exams in five different cities." The Doctor said flipping through his file.

"That might not be the right file." Steve said looking worried.

"No, it's not the exams I'm interested in. It's the five tries. But you didn't answer my question. Do you want to kill Nazis?"

"Is this a test?" Steve asked.

"Yes." Abi told him as she sat on the medical bed.

"I don't wanna kill anyone. I don't like bullies. I don't care where they're from." He told them. 

Abi smiled, her brothers compassion would never cease to amaze her.

"Well, there are already so many big men fighting this war. Maybe what we need now is the little guy, huh?" The Doctor said. "I can offer you a chance. Only a chance." The Doctor told him.

"I'll take it." Steve said looking at Abi excitedly.

"Good. So where is the little guy from, actually?" The Doctor asked.

"Brooklyn." Steve said.

"Congratulations, soldier." The Doctor said stamping Steve's file and handing it back.

____________________________________________________________________

"Okay, can you tell me what you do?" Steve asked as they walked up to Abi's door.

"No. But I think you'll find out soon enough, I'll see you tomorrow." She said hugging him and walking inside.

Her apartment was tiny but she loved it none the less. It had a kitchen, a living room, a bathroom and a bedroom. There was a table in the kitchen to eat at and a bookcase filled with old battered books occupied one wall in the living room. She walked over to her coffee table next to the sofa and picked up a battered copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and began to read.

About two hours later, there was a knock on the door. She jumped slightly and looked at the clock; half past twelve. Confused as to who would be calling at this time, she walked up to the door. She opened it to the person she was least expecting to see.

"Bucky?" She asked as he smiled.

"I couldn't leave without saying goodbye." He said walking up to her. He placed his hands on her waist. "Well, at least not properly." He said as he leaned down and kissed her, shutting the door with his foot. One of his hands came up and cupped her face. She moved her hands to the base of his neck.

He pulled away and smiled. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that." He whispered before kissing her again.