A YEAR had passed. In November of 1943, Evelyn worked closely with her brother on weapon manufacturing and trying to figure out how exactly they were going to win World War II against Schmidt and Hitler. Between letters to Bucky and Steve, Evelyn had seen everything about Captain America around the world. She was proud of Steve for becoming the icon, but she knew he could have been doing more had he come to Europe with Evelyn. She had tried and tried, but Phillips was adamant that Steve stay in America unless necessary playing a 'chorus-girl.'
As for Evelyn's experiments on herself, she had found the serums worked perfectly in sync to one another. Peggy and Evelyn would train daily, and Peggy hardly could win when it was the opposite in the beginning. Evelyn's brains were just as quick, and her power grew with the daily exercises in controlling her strengths. Even with her strategic mind, Phillips still did not let her plan attacks. It was a precaution, she knew he kept saying, but she was ready to do more. At least Steve was an icon—the Star Spangled Man with a Plan. She thought, who would not be jealous of that? At least he was doing something to be recognized for. She felt she would be lost in translations as everyone worked around her.
When she heard Steve would be coming to the base in Italy, she felt a bit of relief at being able to see his face again. She felt disconnected from him and Bucky, and she really just needed to hold them again. Peggy noticed her sigh from across the room, as Evelyn wrote something down on Howard's orders. Peggy knew Evelyn was meant for more than this. She was not the kind of person to be cooped in a lab like Howard. She was also glad to see Steve again, wanting to congratulate him on the hope he had brought to America by just being himself.
Howard stood up, handing Evelyn a shot of whiskey. Both knocked it back in the Stark fashion, not even budging at the taste. He quirked a brow as he watched her finger the ring on her necklace.
"Have you heard from Barnes recently?" Howard asked softly.
Peggy's brow quirked at Evelyn's shortened breath that came out raggedly. "No," she said. "No, I haven't heard from him in over two weeks. That's the longest it has ever been without a letter from him."
"What about Steve?" Peggy asked softly.
"He should be arriving today," Evelyn whispered, gesturing for Howard to pour more of the alcoholic beverage in her glass. Both knocked it back quickly when he poured some in his own glass. "I'm sorry. I need to calm down. Bucky's fine. I'm sorry."
Peggy reached over and grabbed her hand. "He's your person. There's nothing to apologize for... a love like that is hard to find. I understand your worries, love."
Howard nodded. "I'm sure he's just busy," he said, choosing the right word. "Yeah, busy."
Evelyn smiled at them thankfully for trying to help. "I need some air. Let the Colonel know I'm taking a break."
Peggy nodded. "I'll come." Peggy nodded at Howard who smiled thankfully at her. Peggy linked her arm with Evelyn's. "Oh," she started as they made it outside, "there are some men arriving from a horrible battle in Azzano in an hour or so... they may require your assistance in the medical tent."
"I'll do what I need to do," Evelyn promised. She noticed a stage being set up. "Steve's performing?"
"I think so," Peggy said, a frown on her face. "Why would they have him perform here?"
Evelyn unlatched her arm as she sat on the ground, grabbing her jacket to open it. She began to dig around for a pack of cigarettes she stole from Howard, strictly only smoking when she was stressed. Howard leaned more toward alcohol, but Evelyn could not get drunk. She found her own methods to release stress, even if Peggy gave her looks from above.
Smiling, Evelyn said, "Bucky would kill me if he knew I was doing this."
"Then, why do it?"
"Because his ass won't let me know he's alive."
Peggy snorted as two large vans appeared through the gates. Along with the vans, soldiers were being brought in on their own automobiles. The vans were Steve and his group of dancing girls. The soldiers were the ones from Azzano.
"Are you going to watch the show?" Peggy asked as Evelyn stood, stepping on the butt of her cigarette. Evelyn nodded. "Phillips will be mad if we don't go tend to those men."
Evelyn shrugged. "Phillips has made me mad a lot, too." Peggy smirked and nodded, both women taking a seat on the nearest rail to watch the show.
It was certainly not like the shows she found in the newspapers and on film. She smiled at Steve's outfit, his tremendous attempts to get the crowd feeling a bit better after the Azzano attack. They hated him, of course, heckling and bullying him—even mooning him at one point! Steve quickly rushed off the stage with the girls coming back on causing the meat-heads to cheer at their appearances. Peggy and Evelyn simultaneously sneered at the men.
When it began to rain, Evelyn sighed, pulling the hood of her jacket over her head as Peggy opened the umbrella she brought with her—seemingly always prepared.
The pair walked to the stage, going behind to find Steve. He was doodling in a book, and Evelyn frowned at the performing monkey dressed as Captain America. Leaning forward, she touched his arm.
Though he was feeling depressed, a bright grin made its way onto his face at the sight of her. He stood, engulfing her in his arms as they hugged for a moment. Peggy smiled at the best friends reuniting. She even saw the first genuine smile on Evelyn's face in weeks.
"Hey, Stevie."
"Eve," Steve greeted before letting her go. "Aren't you just beautiful. I almost forgot how that curl always fall right," he pointed to the side of her forehead, "there. God, Evelyn. I've missed you."
Evelyn hugged him again, needing the comfort.
When they backed away, Peggy smiled at Steve. "Hello, Steve."
Steve's eyes practically turned to hearts at the sight of the agent. Evelyn smirked to herself. "Hi."
"Hi," Peggy said again causing Evelyn to snort a laugh.
Steve and Peggy both flushed before Steve coughed. "What are you both doin' here?"
"Officially we're not here at all. That was quite a performance," Peggy said with a mischievous look in her eye.
Steve seemed to flush more, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah. Uh... I had to improvise a little bit. Crowds I'm used to are usually more uh... twelve."
"I understand you're America's New Hope?" Peggy continued as Evelyn noticed the men moving to the medical tent. She furrowed her brows at their uniforms, trying to read the number on one of the man's sleeves.
"Bond sales take a ten percent bump in every state I visit."
Evelyn scoffed, looking back to the conversation. "Is that Senator Brandt I hear? God, I hate him."
"At least he's got me doin' this. Phillips would have had be stuck in lab," Steve amended.
"I can try to get Phillips to keep you here," Evelyn said softly. "He's been feeling extra bad for me lately," she said with a teasing smile though she felt sick at the thought of something happening to Bucky.
Peggy rose a brow. "And those are your only two options? A lab rat or a dancing monkey? You were meant for more than this, you know? Both of you were. She's been here doing paperwork for Howard and being hassled to create Erskine's serum. It's been no fun," Peggy said as Steve opened his mouth to respond before closing it. "What?"
"You know for the longest time I dreamed about coming overseas and being on the front lines. Serving my country. I finally get everything I wanted, and I'm wearing tights," Steve said as another ambulance arrived with injured soldiers. "They look like they've been through hell."
"These men more than most. Schmidt sent out a force to Azzano. Two hundred men went up against him and less than fifty returned. Your audience contained what was left of the 107th. The rest were killed or captured," Peggy said offhandedly, not realizing the panic that just settled in Steve and Evelyn's stomachs. Evelyn felt her world freeze.
"The 107th?" Steve repeated before his eyes widened at Evelyn's shaking hands. Steve quickly rounded the truck he was sitting by, grabbing Evelyn's hand and began to run to the tent where Colonel Phillips would be.
Peggy noticed the shocked expression on Evelyn's face as she struggled to breathe. "Colonel Phillips," Steve said quickly.
Phillips smirked up at them from his spot behind the desk. "Well, if it isn't the Star-Spangled Man With A Plan. And what is your plan today?"
"I need the casualty list from Azzano."
"You don't get to give me orders, son."
"I just need one name. Sergeant James Barnes from the hundred and seventh," Steve said as Peggy gasped at the realization.
Even Phillips knew who Evelyn was engaged to due to hearing conversations from Howard about how much he wanted to hate the practically perfect guy. He hesitated before pointing at Peggy. "You and I are gonna have a conversation later that you won't enjoy."
"Please tell me if he's alive, sir. B-A-R..."
"I can spell," Phillips said as he stood to go through the letters. With a sigh, he could not meet Evelyn's eyes. "I have signed more of these condolence letters today than I would care to count. But the name does sound familiar. I'm sorry."
"No," Evelyn said. "No, you're not right. He's not dead."
Steve noticed Peggy grab Evelyn's hand. "What about the others? Are you planning a rescue mission?"
"Yeah! It's called winning the war."
"But if you know where they are, why not at least–"
"They're thirty miles behind the lines. Through the most heavily fortified territory in Europe. We'd lose more men than we'd save. But I don't expect you to understand that, because you're a chorus girl."
"I think I understand just fine."
"Well then understand it somewhere else. If I read the posters correctly, you got some place to be in thirty minutes."
Evelyn looked up, her brain already moving a mile a minute to strategize. She saw the map. She saw where the men were. Without wasting a second, she snarled, "Yes, sir, we do."
As Phillips passed Peggy's glare, he said, "If you have something to say, right now is the perfect time to keep it to yourself."
Steve turned, noticing Evelyn was gone. Rushing out of the tent, he saw her walking in the rain toward the housing area for the lab techs. She shoved open the door, going to her room. She began changing quickly just as she heard Peggy yell, "What do you two plan to do? Walk to Austria?"
"If that's what it takes," Steve said, walking in to see Evelyn dressed in better fighting clothes and tying her hair up. She quickly put a belt on with guns latched in the holsters before grabbing the black helmet she wore when practicing on the obstacle course for the soldiers.
"You heard the Colonel," Peggy said as Steve shoved off his coat to leave him in his Captain America gear. He noticed Evelyn's helmet—wanting one of his own. "I hate to say it, bur your friend... your fiancé, Evelyn... is most likely dead."
"You don't know that!" Evelyn said harshly as she pushed past the pair looking for one person only.
"Even so, he's devising a strategy. If he detects—"
"My brain is made to strategize. I got it," Evelyn said quickly.
Steve agreed. "And anyway, by the time he's done that, it could be too late! You told me you thought we were meant for more than this. Did you mean that?"
"Every word."
"Then you gotta let us go."
Evelyn reached the room of Howard Stark, knocking the door open causing the man to yell in fright from his spot on his bed. He looked like he was about to take a nap.
"What, Lynnie?" Howard groaned, running a hand through his hair. He then noticed her outfit as he furrowed his brows.
"Get up. You're flying me and Steve to Austria."