Second Chances

04

Steve and Gracie took off on his motorcycle, ending up at the Smithsonian. There was an exhibit dedicated to Captain America.

The Smithsonian narrator said, "A symbol to the nation. A hero to the world. The story of Captain America is one of honor, bravery and sacrifice."

Steve kept his face hidden under his baseball cap as he walked towards the exhibition.

A woman on the PA said faintly, "Welcome to the Smithsonian. Visitor information booths are available on the second level."

The Smithsonian narrator continued. "Denied enlistment due to poor health, Steven Rogers was chosen for a program unique in the annals of American warfare. One that would transform him into the world's first super soldier."

A boy recognized him. Steve smiled and put a finger to his lips, indicating the boy to keep quiet and the boy nodded. Gracie looked between the two with a light smile.

Steve watched old footage of himself.

"In this rare footage, everyone's favorite war hero, Captain America..."

Steve went to the display where there were mannequins with costumes of Steve's old commando squad.

The Smithsonian narrator spoke again. "Battle tested, Captain America and his Howling Commandos quickly earned their stripes. Their mission, taking down HYDRA, the Nazi rogue science division."

Steve walked over to the display of his friend Bucky.

"Best friends since childhood, Bucky Barnes and Steven Rogers were inseparable on both schoolyard and battlefield. Barnes is the only Howling Commando to give his life in service of this country."

Steve and Gracie watched an older looking Peggy Carter being interviewed.

"That was a difficult winter," Peggy said. "A blizzard had trapped half our battalion behind the German line. Steve..." She hesitated. "Captain Rogers, he fought his way through a HYDRA blockade that had pinned our allies down it turned out. He saved over a thousand men, including the man who would... who would become my husband as it turned out. Even after he died, Steve was still changing my life."

Gracie watched Steve's expression and took his hand, giving it a light squeeze.

---

Steve and Gracie visited Peggy, who was lying sick in bed.

"You should be proud of yourself, Peggy," Steve told her as he looked at Peggy's family photos by her bedside table showing with her husband and children.

"Mm," Peggy hummed. "I have lived a life. My only regret is that you didn't get to live yours." Steve looked sad. "What is it?"

"For as long as I can remember, I just wanted to do what was right. I guess I'm not quite sure what that is anymore. And I thought I could throw myself back in and follow orders, serve, help save people. It's just not the same."

"You're always so dramatic. Look, you saved the world. We rather... mucked it up."

A light smile tugged at Gracie's lips before she said, "You didn't. Knowing that you helped found S.H.I.E.L.D. is half the reason Steve stayed."

Peggy took Steve's hand before saying, "Hey. The world has changed and none of us can go back. All we can do is our best, and sometimes the best we can do is start over." She started to cough. Steve got some water and went to hand it to her.

"Peggy," Steve called.

Suddenly, Peggy looked at Steve like she was seeing him for the first time since he was frozen and she called, "Steve? Gracie?"

"Yeah?" Steve and Gracie said.

"You're alive! You... you came, you came back."

"Yeah, Peggy," Steve replied.

Peggy began to cry. "It's been so long. So long."

Steve smiled and said, "Well, I couldn't leave my best girl. Not when she owes me a dance." He glanced at Gracie, who nodded, understanding that part of his life.

---

Steve went to a PTSD meeting. Gracie went to assist Hill with something.

Sam was counseling other veterans.

A female war veteran said, "The thing is I think it's getting worse. A cop pulled me over last week, he thought I was drunk. I swerved to miss a plastic bag. I thought it was an IED."

"Some stuff you leave there, other stuff you bring back," Sam told the group. "It's our job to figure out how to carry it. Is it gonna be in a big suitcase or in a little man-purse? It's up to you."

After the meeting, Steve waited for Sam as he finished saying goodbye to the veterans.

"I'll see you next week," the female veteran said.

"Yeah," Sam answered.

"Yeah."

Sam walked over to Steve and said, "Look who it is. The running man."

"Caught the last few minutes," Steve replied. "It's pretty intense."

"Yeah, brother, we all got the same problems. Guilt, regret."

"You lose someone?"

"My wingman, Riley. Flying a night mission. Standard PJ rescue op, nothing we hadn't done a thousand times before, till RPG knock Riley's dumb ass out of the sky. Nothing I could do. It's like I was up there just to watch."

"I'm sorry."

"After that, I had a really hard time finding a reason for being over there, you know?"

"But you're happy now, back in the real world?"

"Hey, the number of people giving me orders is down to about zero. So, hell, yeah. You thinking about getting out?"

"No. I don't know. To be be honest, I don't know what I would do with myself if I did."

"Ultimate fighting?" Steve laughed. "It's just a great idea off the top of my head. But seriously, you could do whatever you want to do. What makes you happy?"

"I don't know." But even though he didn't say it, Gracie Peterson made him happy and maybe they could have something in the future.