Pryor to S.H.I.E.L.D (in progress)

Chapter Three; Boundaries of trust - Steve

It was close to 11pm when Bucky pulled into the base. There was a knock on the door of my cabin. "Captain Rogers, your friend Barnes requests your presence, mission gone wrong." Phillips said gruffly as he bowed his head.

"Sure" I said as I grabbed my jacket and sprinted out to where I could see car headlights. Two nurses, Peggy and Bucky where already there. I could see agent Pryor slumped in the car.

"Buck, what happened?" I asked.
"Agent Pryor was drugged by Ronaldo at the club, God knows what with - the other agent was shot, presumed dead." Bucky explained.

"Can I ask why you where there at all Sergeant Barnes? Colonel Phillips made it clear earlier that it was not your mission to attend." Peggy interrupted.

"It didn't seem safe for a newly trained female agent to attend a solo mission, I took matters into my own hands. I accept that I disobeyed orders from a senior officer, but with all due respect Agent Carter, sometimes you have to do what you think is right as a person, not just as a soldier, I'm sure you of all people understand that." He said as he glanced across at me, and Peggy nodded.
We all knew that he was talking about the 107th.

One of the nurses had left now and the other approached us,
"This woman needs rest, she will be fine but do not expect her to wake for another 24 - 48hours. The antidote she's been given is extremely strong, your lucky we where able to treat her in time, if it was left any longer she'd be dead. Will she require a hospital bed or does she have a room? We can treat her  tomorrow from wherever is best" The nurse asked,

"she has a room already thankyou" Peggy replied. The nurse nodded at the four of us.

"Right, would one of you men be able to bring Lottie back to the room and I'll see to her from there" Peggy ordered shakily and Bucky nodded.

The three of us walked into the stone building that housed the agents and offices and walked through the dimly lit corridors. Bucky strode ahead, carrying a very pale Charlotte, whilst me and Peg walked behind.

"Hey Peg, are you okay?" I asked her quietly. "I should think so yes, I'm just concerned for poor Charlotte is all" she replied.

We turned the corner and Peggy signalled for us to stop, she brought out a key and unlocked the door, we walked in as she lit an oil lamp in the corner of the room. Bucky placed Agent Pryor down on one of the bunks before joining me once again.

"We better be going then, night" I smiled at Peg, "goodnight gentlemen" she said before closing the door behind us.

"Alright?" I asked Bucky,
"Yeah I'm fine, I just feel like I should've done something to help, you know?" He shrugged.
"You saved her life Buck - don't be so harsh on yourself" I said patting him on the back.
"yeah but I should've stopped Ronaldo or something." He continued.
"Look you did your best, you know that. Do you like her or something? Is that it?" I asked as we walked across the base and towards the small stone outbuildings where some of us where housed.

"If I'm honest? Yeah, you could say that." Bucky replied and I laughed "Not like you to fall for a girl so easily, normally the other way around" I grinned and he shrugged.

"What about you and Peggy anyway? How's that working out?" He asked me, "I don't know, she's confusing, I mean, I think the world of her I really do, but I'm outta her league." I said casually, "Seriously? Have you had a few to drink? What are you on about? You're Captain America! You could date any girl you want!" Bucky said shaking his head at me,

"maybe, but Peg's different, she's not just any girl" I said with a smile.