Helena Stark: A WWII Widow

chapter nine: Reality

"So, you're going to tell me where the isolation ward is." I said as the soldier struggled, "and if you don't.... Well I'm really good with this thing." I said as I held up a hammer.

"Down the hall, turn left when you reach the end, keep going and you'll see it on your left again." The man said quickly. I smiled sweetly at him before I knocked him out with my hammer. Well, that was easy, I followed his directions and found the lab right next to it. I quickly ran in and grabbed as many files that looked interesting that would fit in my bag.

I heard footsteps and ran out, only to stop when I saw Steve. "Why are you here?" I asked. Steve didn't answer as he ran into the isolation room, I closely followed behind him to see a young man strapped down to a table, along with a world map with pins all over it. "That's why..."

"Bucky," Steve said as he took the cuffs off of the man. "It's me, it's Steve."

"Steve?"

I jumped as I heard alarms going, "lovely reunion, but we have to get going. It's a pleasure to see you again Mr. Barnes." I told them as I pushed them out of the room, but not before I grabbed some more files. We started making our way down the hallway.

"Helena?"

"I thought you were dead," Steve said to his friend.

"I thought you were smaller," Barnes replied.

"Come on you two," I muttered as I grabbed his other arm and we limped down a hallway.

"What happened to you?" The man asked.

"I joined the army," Steve replied.

The man looked at me confused, "I helped make this happen." I explained, to which Mr. Barnes gave me a weird look. "It's a long story."

"Did it hurt?" Barnes asked once I explained.

"A little," Steve replied.

"Permanent?" Mr. Barnes continued.

"So far." Steve and I said together, but then we stopped as a bridge appeared. However, there were two men on the bridge. Two men, I did not want to see.

"Captain America. How exciting. I am a great fan of your films." Schmidt said as he looked at us. "So Doctor Erskine managed it after all. Not exactly an improvement, but, still. Impressive. Even with help from a widow."

I glared at him as Steve spoke up. "You've got no idea."

"Haven't I," Schmidt said with a smile. "No matter what lies Erskine told you. You see I was his greatest success." He said as he slowly peeled off what I thought was his face.

"You don't have one of those, do you?" Barnes asked.

"I hope not," I muttered as Schmidt tossed it over the railing.

"You are deluded, Captain. You pretend to be a simple soldier, but in reality, you are just afraid to admit, that we have left humanity behind." Schmidt said with a wave of his arms. "Men like you. They embrace it proudly. No fear."

"Then how come you're running?" I asked simply. They didn't answer as they ran, we looked around frantically as we ran downstairs. Things began to implode and explode as we dodged flying debris. "Do you even know where you're going?" I asked Steve.

"No!"

"That's just brilliant." A few more explosions followed my statement and we came to a halt as we looked across the way. "And that's the way out."

"Let's go," Steve said as he bent it back. Barnes stepped on and we heard creaking, "one at a time." Barnes quickly made his way across and then it was my turn. "Come on Helena, your turn."

I looked down and quickly shook my head when I saw the supports or lack thereof. "Nope, it will break as soon as I get to the middle."

"Helena, it will break before you get to the middle at this rate. Go!" Steve ordered making me jump. I looked at him nervously as I started to inch my way across. I weighed more since I had a backpack full of files on my back, I was half tempted to toss it to the side, but I knew they were more valuable than me. Though not more valuable than Steve.

"Come on!" Barnes shouted at me as I slowly went, I was just past the middle when I heard creaking and braking. I quickly shuffled forward in a sideways run as I jumped and Barnes grabbed my arms and hauled me up. "Are you okay?" He asked concerned as I looked over the edge.

I nodded, "well Mr. Barnes, I am now permanently afraid of heights."

Barnes smiled at me, "call me Bucky." He told me, but then we looked around as we tried to face our next challenge, how on earth to get Steve over. "Gotta get a rope or something."

"Just go, get out of here," Steve shouted over to us.

"No, not without you," Bucky shouted back.

I looked around even more frantically as Steve bent the bar back and took several steps back, "jumping over an inferno is not the solution!" I shouted as Steve started to run. Bucky and I held out our hands to try to catch him when a flame surged up in front of me. I scrambled back just as Bucky grabbed Steve's outstretched hands.

"What was that you said?" Steve asked as we made our way out.

I glared at him, "dumb luck."

~*~

"What the hell is going on out here?" I heard Colonel Phillips ask as we approached.

"Some of these men need medical attention," Steve called out as we marched forward. "I'd like to surrender myself for disciplinary action."

I shook my head as Phillips just looked at Steve in disbelief, "that won't be necessary."

"Yes, Sir," Steve said with a nod.

"Faith, huh?" Phillips nodded towards Peggy then walked away.

"You're late," Peggy said as she hugged me tightly.

"Couldn't call my ride," Steve said sheepishly as he held out the communicator.

"And I couldn't make one. The place blew up." I said when Peggy gave me a questioning look.

She didn't get a chance to say anything else as Bucky shouted, making me jump. "Hey! Let's hear it for, Captain America." Cheering roared through the clearing we were standing in as Steve looked down sheepishly while Bucky beamed.

Once everything died down I was walking with Peggy intent on finding clean clothing when I heard shouting, followed by a lot of cursing. "Where is she? I'm going to kill her for scaring me half to death!"

I smiled at Howard as he ran towards me and crushed me in a tight hug. "Don't ever do that again." He scolded as he looked at me closely.

"Don't worry, I don't plan on hanging out in anymore exploding buildings for a long time."

"Exploding buildings?!"

~*~