Everly || Steve Rogers

17. I had a Date

A faint voice filled the air as Steve's eyes slowly fluttered open. He blinked a few times, listening to what sounded like a radio in a far corner of the room. 

'Curve ball, high and outside for ball one. So the Dodgers are tied, 4-4. And the crowd well knows that with one swing of his bat, this fellow's capable of making it a brand-new game again. Just an absolutely gorgeous day here at Ebbets Field.'

He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion and stared up at the ceiling as his mind was flooded with thoughts. He had heard this somewhere.

'The Phillies have managed to tie it up at 4-4. But the Dodgers have three men on.'

Steve looked at the room around him. He was lying atop a stiff bed. The fan hanging from the ceiling produced a quiet hum as it spun. A gentle breeze blew through the open window, causing the curtains to move in the slightest. All was calm. Almost too calm. He slowly sat up, dangling his legs over the side of the bed where he paused for a moment. His face was plastered with confusion as he tried to figure out where he was.

 'Pearson beaned Reiser in Philadelphia last month. Wouldn't the youngster like a hit here to return the favor? Pete leans in. Here's the pitch. Swung on. A line to the right. And it gets past Rizzo.'

He turned his head to look out the window behind him. Car horns were heard outside as his focus again returned to the radio. 

 'Three runs will score. Reiser heads to third. Durocher's going to wave him in. Here comes the relay, but they won't get him.' 

Finally it clicked. That was the game Everly had taken him to. He could almost feel her head resting on his shoulder. His heartbeat quickened as it set in that something was wrong. With a click, the door swung open and in walked a smiling brunette. 

"Good morning." She gently closed the door behind her and took a few steps toward him as she checked her watch. "Or should I say afternoon?" The woman continued smiling, though it didn't seem genuine.

"Where am I?" Steve skipped straight to the point. 

"You're in a recovery room in New York City."

'The Dodgers take the lead, 8-4. Oh, Dodgers! Everyone is on their feet. What a game we have here today, folks. What a game, indeed.'

He was silent for a moment, listening to the game. His eyes flicked back to the woman. "Where am I really?" Her smile faltered and a look of panic briefly took hold of her features. 

"I'm afraid I don't understand."

"The game. It's from May, 1941. I know 'cause I was there." The woman's face housed a look of terror as Steve rose from the bed slowly and began walking towards her. "Now I'm going to ask you again. Where am I?" 

"Captain Rogers..." She began, attempting to calm him down.

"Who are you?!"

Two armed men burst through the door and Steve's eyes widened as he took a step back. He threw them into the wall, only for it to crumble upon impact. The room was built within a larger room. Screens projected buildings through the windows, creating an elaborate illusion. It had all been a set up. He leapt through the hole in the wall and looked around in shock. He still couldn't understand what was going on. All he knew was that he needed to get out of there. 

"Captain Rogers, wait!" The woman yelled to him, stepping through the hole as he bolted for the doors. He found himself in a hallway with a large glass wall being the only thing separating him from freedom. Dozens of men in suits stopped to look at him strangely.