Helena Stark: A WWII Widow

chapter seven: Right

"What do we got here?" A voice asked timidly a few seconds later.

My head comes out of the pilot's seat as Howard slid out from underneath the thing. "Speaking modestly we're the best mechanical engineers in this country. Heck, Helena's the best in the world, or at least we thought she was. But I don't know what's inside this thing, or how it works."

"I could figure out how it works, but we're not even close to this technology," I said as was brushing off the dirt from my skirt.

"Then who is?"

"Hydra, I'm sure you've been reading our briefings." Colonel Phillips said.

"I'm on a number of committees, Colonel."

"Hydra is a Nazi Deep science division. It's led by Johann Schmidt, but he has much bigger ambitions." Peggy said as she walked in with Steve.

"Hydra's practically a cult, they worship Schmidt, they think he's invincible," I said as I went to the edge to jump down. Steve came forward and offered me a hand, "thank you." I told him as I jumped down as ladylike as I could.

"So what are you going to do about it?" The man asked, who for the life of me, I couldn't be bothered to remember his name.

"I spoke to the President this morning. As of today, the S.S.R. is being retasked."

"Colonel?"

"We are taking the fight to Hydra. Pack your bags, Agent Carter. You too, Stark. Well, both of you." Phillips said as he glanced at us. "We're flying to London tonight."

"Sir." Steve and I said together, but I backed down.

"If you're going after Schmidt, I want in."

"You are an experiment, you're going to Alamogordo."

"The serum worked." Steve protested.

"I asked for an army, and all I got was you. You. You are not enough." Phillips said, much to Steve's disappointment.

"With all due respect to the Colonel. I think we may be missing the point. I've seen you in action, Steve. More importantly. The country's seen it." The man said making me roll my eyes, he's going to make this into a publicity stunt. "Paper. The enlistment lines have been around the block since your picture hit the newsstands. You don't take a soldier, a symbol like that. And hide him in a Lab. Son. You want to serve your country. On the most important battlefield of the war."

"Sir. That's all I want." Steve answered.

"Then congratulations, you just got promoted."

"I really don't think Steve knows what he's getting himself into," I said with a groan.

"Well, you're not much better," Howard said making me jump as I ran after Colonel Phillips.

"Colonel!"

"Yes, Ms. Stark?"

"I can't leave my daughter," I told him.

"We can arrange for someone to watch her while you're helping with the war efforts." He replied.

I ran in front of him, "but sir. Rosemary is a little girl who just lost her father..."

"I'm very sorry Helena, but you have to make a choice," Phillips said sadly as he looked at me. "You can help us with this war, or you can go home to your daughter. The choice is yours. If you are with us out there, we will win this thing faster."

I sighed as he walked away and Steve stood next to me. "Is everything okay?" I jumped, "sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."

I looked at him, still not used to his size. "No, it's fine. I'm just trying to decide if I should go with Howard, or stay with my daughter. If I go with Howard, then I can help end the war, but leave my daughter here with the Jarvis'. I could stay with my daughter, but that is all I could do. I want to stay with Rosemary, especially since we found out her father died, but I just don't know what I should do." I explained quickly, stopping at the end to take a deep breath.

"You should do what you think will be best for your daughter in the long run," Steve suggested timidly.

"I should go with Howard."

"I didn't say that."

"No, but that will be what is best for Rosemary in the long run."

~*~

"I'm going to miss you lots!" I told Rosemary as we stood outside in front of the plane. "You be a good girl okay?"

"I'll be good for Mr. and Mrs. Jarvis Madre! I promise." Rosemary said as she clung to me.

"It'll give us good practice for when we have children of our own." Mrs. Jarvis said smiling.

I gave her a tight hug, surprising the young woman as she hugged me back. "Thank you so much, thank you. Both of you."

"It will be our pleasure to house the young lady," Jarvis said as he picked her up.

"Helena! We have to go!" Howard yelled at me as the plane started up.

"I love you," I told Rosemary quickly as I kissed her forehead. "I'll be back, I promise." Then I ran up the stairs to Howard, waving to my daughter as I went in.

"You can't promise her that," Howard said softly as we buckled in.

I looked away from him, "I can try."

~*~

For the last four months, Howard and I have been the SSR with the war efforts. Today is the closest I've been to the front lines since I got here. For once Howard was being incredibly protective, but today, well I don't think anyone would try to attack us today. No matter how good of a mechanic and scientist I am.

At the moment I'm standing in the rain trying to figure out where Steve has gone after his horrible performance. I don't think people thought it through when they asked him to go up there, or at least Steve told them he could handle it. I found him sitting on the steps of the backstage, drawing. "Hello, Steve."

"Hi," Steve said as he looked up, jumping a little bit when he saw me. "What are you doing here?"

"Officially I'm not here at all," I said with a wink as I sat down next to him. "That was quite a performance."

"Yeah, uh... I had to improvise a little bit. The crowds I'm used to are usually more, uh... young." Steve said awkwardly.

"I understand you're America's new hope," I said with a smile.

"Bond sales take a ten percent bump on every state I visit," Steve said, but it didn't sound like him.

"That's Senator Brandt's idea."

"At least he's got me doing this. Phillips would have had me stuck in a lab."

"And these are your only two options?" I asked as I looked at what he had been sketching. "A lab rat or a dancing monkey. You were meant for more than this, you know."

"You know, for the longest time I dreamed about, coming overseas and being on the front lines. Serving my country. Finally got everything I wanted." Steve said with a rueful smile on his face, "and I'm wearing tights."

"Well, tights are comfy at least." I offered making Steve chuckle.