When It Rained

Chapter 35 - In His Eyes

It went exactly opposite of how it was supposed to go. Today, Steve was in charge of firing up the troops. He was the new model to the American soldiers, they were supposed to look up to him. They didn't however, instead- they mocked him. Threw things at him on stage, complained about wanting the girls back. 

Their words were enough to tell him that they didn't want him there. 

Frustrated, Steve pulled off his mask and leaned against the wall. He was getting nowhere, and all he wanted to do was fight for his country. 

"Steve?" A soft female voice carried across back stage as the show girls strutted past him. Turning to follow it, he had to look through the dim light to figure out just who it was. 

As soon as he did, the man had her in his arms. "Peggy. What are you doing here?" 

Another sigh filled the room. "Nice to see you too Short Stack." Glaring over Peggy's head, Steve's eyes locked on Finley. She had her arms crossed leaning against the wall, the normal grin plastered across her lips. The woman was different from the last time she saw him though. She looked skinnier, paler, and for some reason: sadder. 

"Oh my god, Finn?" Moving on to wrap her into a hug, Steve did so with a little more caution. It looked as though he was going to break her. "What are you two doing in Germany?" 

At this, Finley pulled away from him and took a breath. "It's Bucky." 

Just like she had done before, Steve's face fell in fear. "Is he dead?" 

This time, Peggy answered. "We aren't sure." 

"Howard tracked his name through the system." Finley called his attention back to her. "His team, the Howling Commandos? They were flanked. Most of them wound up dead." Her voice trailed off. "But Bucky's name wasn't on the list Steve."

"That means two things." Steve shook his head only for Finn to finish. 

"Either he was beyond recognition, or Bucky is being held captive." 

"So what do we do?" He asked. 

"We go to the general, ask to see his reports. If Bucky's name isn't there, it means he's still alive." Peggy answered. 

"And where is the general?" 

"It's about an hour's walk from here." she looked to her feet. "But lucky for us, Mr. Stark can get us there in about 15." 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Peggy road in the backseat with Steve, meanwhile Howard and Finley remained in the front. There was no speaking, but Finn could still feel Howard's eyes on her. It was like he was observing her, watching every breath that she took. It gave her a weird feeling, like she was one of his lab rats. However, whatever he was contemplating in his head was the least of her worries at the moment. 

There was a chance that her dreams were right, that her suspicions were true. There was a chance that she really was too late. 

Bucky could have been dead for weeks, and there was nothing that she could do about it. 

"What's Jack going to do with the bar while you're gone?" Steve asked Finley from the backseat. 

"Agent Carter was gracious enough to supply him with some help until I get back." With a long sigh, she looked further out the window towards the dissipating landscape. By now they were reaching a flat ground. There were no buildings, no city life, instead- it was wilderness. Every now and again they would pass a military vehicle or soldiers passing on the side of the road.