The Girl Out of Time

Chapter 23

Brooklyn, NY 1943

I had spent most of my day at the hospital working my volunteer shift. As soon as I left the hospital there was James Buchanan Barnes standing in full head to toe army uniform. The sight of him took my breath away but shattered my hurt. He did it. He enlisted. I smiled even though I suddenly wanted to cry.

"Well hello soldier" I teased as I stepped over to him.

He smiled down at me as he offered me his hand.

"How would you like to join me in finding our little troublemaker then enjoying a night of unashamed fun?" He asked as I grabbed his hand.

I laughed but nodded.

"Let me call my house real quick." I said then turned to go back into the hospital.

"Why?" Jamie asked as he followed me.

"To tell my Pa I'm working a double shift." I said looking back at him over my shoulder.

He chuckled and nodded. I walked over to the desk where one of the nurses were sitting. I pointed at the phone which she happily handed to me. I dialed my home number. My mother answered but was quickly replaced by my father after she said my name.

"Hey Pa, I was asked to work a double shift. They're a bit short staffed." I said sweetly.

"You got your blade?" He asked.

"Of course" I answered.

"Good, keep it with you. Be safe coming home." He said in his normal soft tone.

"I will Pa" I said then hung up the phone.

I turned back to Jamie who was smirking devilishly. God he should be illegal. Especially in that uniform. I followed him back out of the hospital towards one of the recruitment centers.

"You seriously think he'd try again?" I asked him as we walked inside.

"You don't?" He asked raising a brow.

Ok he had a good point. Steve was never one to back down from anything. No matter how many times he got hit he'd always get back up. He was tough but stupid at times. Jamie asked the nurse at the desk about Steve. She told us he was here but was denied. Big shocker. Jamie sighed then thanked her. We walked back out to the street.

"Where do you think he went?" I asked.

He shrugged. We walked a short distance down the street. We passed the theater. Just as we got to the alley beside the theater we both heard grunting and the sound of fists hitting flesh. We looked at each other then farted down the alley. Sure enough there was our Stevie getting the shit punched out of him.

"Hey!" Jamie shouted as he grabbed the guy.

He pushed him towards me making me step to the side.

"Pick on someone your own size." He ordered the stranger.

The man swung at Jamie but he was quick to dodge it and throw his own punch which connected perfectly. I ran around them to Steve so I could help him back to his feet. Jamie was at our side a few seconds later.

"Sometimes I think you like getting punched." Jamie said as he stopped in front of us.

"I had em on the ropes." Stevie panted.

"How many times is this?" Jamie asked as he bent down and picked up a paper.

He opened it to see what it said. I had a feeling it was another one of Steve's enlistment forms.