Saving Grace

Chapter VII

August 7, 1942.

The next morning dawned bright and early for the nurses in Grace's cabin. Next door to them was a large cabin of soldiers, many of whom became sick during the night. Luckily, Grace still felt no signs of the dreaded complaint. So, with little ado, she donned her field uniform, consisting of a khaki blouse, olive trousers, and combat boots, and grabbed several canteens, filling them will water since the biggest problem would be keeping the soldiers hydrated.

Grace and two of the other nurses worked tireless all day among the men. The rest came down to help in shifts, most of them did not stay long due to the stench. Most of the men were grateful for her help, but a few saw it only as an opportunity to "get friendly" with the nurses. Especially one young captain who was visiting an ill pal of his.

"Well, hi-de-ho*, little Missy. Aren't you a keen* little thing," he smirked.

Grace ignored him. "How are you feeling, Sergeant?" she asked the sick soldier on the bunk.

"Terrible."

"Do you think you could get some water down? It's important to keep water in you."

"I can try," he answered weakly.

Grace looked over at the captain who was sitting on the edge of the bed. "Excuse me, I need to be where you are."

However, he did not move an inch, but continued to smirk at her. "Name's Downing, Captain John Downing. What about you, sugar?"

"You can address me as Nurse or by my rank, which is Corporal," she answered firmly. "Now, please move, Captain Downing."

"Now, why does a pretty little nurse like you have to be so unfriendly," he asked condescendlingly. "Didn't they teach you anything about bedside manners in training?"

"They did," She deadpanned. "But you're not sick, Captain." She marched around to the other side of the bunk. Kneeling beside it, she cradled the sick sergeant's head so he could take a few sips of water. She could tell he was younger than his obnoxious friend.

"Thank you, nurse," he murmured with a weak smile.

"Your welcome, Sergeant...."

"Zeke Downing." He answered and nodded to the captain. "We're cousins."

"Ah, I see," Grace gave the light brown-haired young man a small smile. "Well, you give a shout out if you need anything, alright?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Over the next three days, a storm came up, making the sickness in all of the passengers worse. Even Grace became quite nauseated, but she never threw up, so she pushed on both in the soldier's cabin and in her own to help those who had taken to bed as best she could. The storm raged for five more days, and Grace became known as "Nurse Rosie", though if that was for the rose-engraved locket she always wore or because they all thought that she was a nurse version of Rosie the Riveter, Grace did not know.

Finally, the seas evened out and last week or so was much smoother sailing, with only a few still complaining of seasickness. She gained two fast friends in the nurses who helped her most with the sick. Nancy, a practical Connecticut farm girl was tall, had chocolate brown hair, and honey colored eyes. Julie, a whimsical Southern belle originally from South Carolina but brought to New York City by her father's work, was also tall, and had auburn ringlets and bright green eyes.

Unfortunately, Captain Downing seemed to take great pleasure in aggravating the trio, and seemed to think that all women adored him. One day, at lunch in the hold of the vessel, and Nancy, Julie, and Grace were swapping hilarious childhood stories. The two taller girls were sitting across from Grace, leaving a space open beside her. Without asking permission, Captain Downing came over to sit down.

"Well , if this end of the table isn't full of the prettiest dames," He smirked as he sat down next to Grace. "May I inquire, Nurse Rosie, as to what is so amusing?"

"You may inquire," Grace answered loftily. "but we might choose to not answer."

He leaned close, too close, to Grace. "Aw, come on, Dollface," he pouted, "It can't be that much of a secret if you three at laughing so openly about it."

"I reckon we'll be the judge that, Capt'n Downin'," Julie answered in her thick Southern accent.

"Is that so?" He asked with smirk, leaning across the table toward the pretty the red-head.

"I agree," Nancy piped up. "and since I'm sure the vote is unanimous..." Here, she paused to glance at Julie and Grace for confirmation, "the subject of our amusement will be for us to know, and for you to wonder about."

"Well, fine, if you're going to like that about it," he huffed and left.

Nancy rolled her eyes. "Geez, you'd think the fella would take a hint."

Julie just shook her head and looked over at Grace. "I don't know what you did, chickadee, but it would seem you have an admirer. A stubborn one. Gotta give him an "A" for effort, I guess."

"Yes, "A" for supremely annoying." Grace huffed. "I honestly don't know what his problem is."

"It's probably because you didn't swoon right at his feet," Nancy answered. "I suspect he's used to having whatever girl he wants."

"Well, this is one girl he can forget about." Grace firmly said.

"You said it, darlin'," Julie nodded. "Come on, we'd better head back to all those poor, lil' sick soldiers."

Present day, Avenger's Tower.

Tony Stark stood on the edge of the helipad on the top of the Avenger's Tower, awaiting the arrival of the quin-jet carrying, Steve, Barnes, Wilson, and the new frozen HYDRA captive. Why were all of the HYDRA captives frozen? Sam exited first carrying a handful of files. Barnes and Steve came down the ramp much slower, carefully maneuvering what looked like a small retro refrigerator down the ramp.

"What have we got, Wilson?" Tony called.

"Seems to be an earlier version of the cryo-chamber that HYDRA kept the Soldier in." he answered, waving the files in his hand, "This is everything we could find on the occupant and related experiments. They're in German and Italian, though." He handed the stack to Tony, who opened the top one, and found the name.

"Norma Grace Rogers, huh?" he commented as they headed inside with their precious cargo. "Any relation of yours, Spangles?" He really did not expect an answer one way or the other; however, Steve dropped a proverbial bomb on him.

"She's my younger sister."

Tony nearly dropped all the files he was carrying and whipped off his sunglasses to look Steve in the eye. "Are you serious?" he asked. "No jokes, Rogers?"

"No jokes, Stark," Steve answered. "Grace was my only living family, besides Bucky."

"Well, how the heck did she end up with HYDRA?"

"She was field nurse during the war," Steve answered. "Other than that, I have no idea. The last time l laid eyes on her, she was boarding a ship for the front."

"Well, I'll have JARVIS start on scanning and translating this stuff," Tony motioned to the files in his hand. "Everything is all set up and ready. Bruce is waiting for us in the lab," He glanced up at the ceiling of the elevator as they got in. "JARVIS, please let the Doc know we're on our way down; we've got a Miss Capsicle to thaw."

40s slang:

Hi-de-ho: Hello or Hi

Keen: pleasing or attractive