Chapter Text
The rescued men had walked back into camp on a wave. Cheers and celebrations. And once the noise died down, every single one of them was sent to be checked over by the medical team.
Peggy, when she had finally stopped staring down Steve, had followed Colonel Phillips back into the command tent. She kept her face passive, but Phillips still glared at her slightly.
“Don’t say it” he barked out as he looked at her.
Peggy stayed silent.
“You told me so, I get it. Turns out there was a little something to your faith.” Still, she stayed silent.
He gave her a tight lipped smile.
“Well done.”
She nodded once. A small smile escaping her otherwise stony facade. Despite their sometimes differing opinions, and the words that had been thrown around not too long ago, Peggy knew that Colonel Phillips respected her. They’d developed a good working relationship over the last couple of years.
“We’re going to need reports from all of them. Every man that was being held. Luckily,” he paused, turning and picking up a stack of papers, “your faith might have been a little infectious.” Peggy realised with some surprise that he was holding the condolence letters. The ones he had supposedly posted the day after Steve had left on his rescue mission. She’d asked him not to. Tried to convince him to wait until Steve returned and he’d told her in no uncertain terms what he thought of that idea.
“Someone will need to sort through them, of course. Captain America didn’t quite manage to bring home all of them. But most of them can be destroyed.”
He thrust the stack of papers towards Peggy, who took them from him.
“Use whoever you want to get this mess organised. I want a definite list of names by the end of the day. I’ll get in touch with London. These men need a few days of food and rest, and it’ll be easier to get reports done there, with more hands to help.”
Dismissed, Peggy left the command tent, papers clutched in her hands.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of admin. Agent Carter was a force to be reckoned with, particularly when she had a job to do, and by the end of the day, she had a list for Colonel Phillips and the stack of letters had reduced to just a small pile. The others had ended up helping to keep a fire going for the men sat outside.
Those rescued from the facility were either still in the medical bay, waiting to be seen, or had already been released to find food and clothing. Peggy had organised a couple of the more junior soldiers to help with this task, and she was pleased to see men sitting around with plates of food and huddled under coats, blankets, and anything else that could be spared for them.
She caught snippets of conversation as she passed, hearing men talk in awe of the man who had saved them. A wave of pride flooded over her. He’d been meant for more. She knew it, and now everyone else did too.
She hadn’t seen Steve since the initial celebrations had died down. She knew he would have been sent to the medical bay along with everyone else. She also suspected that he’d have put himself at the back of the queue to be seen to. She wanted to go looking for him, but she didn’t have time.
Colonel Phillips had passed her earlier in the day and told her they were flying out the following day. London had a lot of thoughts about what had happened and they wanted all the men back there as soon as possible. Preparations needed to be made.
She finally caught a glimpse of him late the next morning as rows of men stood in line waiting to board the trucks that would take them to the airfield. He was helping wounded soldiers to settle in for the journey and she paused to watch him gently lift a young man, boy really by the looks of him, into the truck as he was too weak to climb in by himself.
She briefly wondered if the boy reminded Steve of himself. Back when he was weak and sickly, but still determined to do his part. She watched as he gently brushed the boys hair back, before leaning down to say something to him. The boy nodded back, and Steve patted him softly on the shoulder before moving on to help the next man.
Peggy took a breath, letting her gaze linger for a moment longer before pulling herself together and moving on. She still had work to finish before she could gather her own belongings and take her place in one of the trucks. It was going to be a long day, but knowing she’d be back in London by the end of it brought a warmth to her that only going home could evoke.
She hadn’t been back in London for several weeks and she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t missing some of her home comforts. As much as she thrived out on the front and in the field. As much as she loved going on her missions and doing her bit. There was nothing quite as alluring as a proper cup of tea and the chime of Big Ben.
She hurried off to finish her work, ensuring that every man was accounted for and that crucial intelligence was safely tucked away or destroyed. She met Phillips back in the command tent to check for any final instructions before collecting together her few belongings into her pack and heading out in search of one of the final transport trucks.
She shouldn’t have been surprised to find Steve still there. He was stood next to the back of an open truck, three men already sat inside. The sun was high in the sky and the light hit the blond of his hair making him almost glow against the dark green of the truck. He looked positively angelic and it almost took Peggy’s breath away.
Hearing her footsteps, he turned towards her. His face split into a boyish grin as she approached.
“Agent Carter. I thought you might have already left.” It wasn’t quite a question, but there was something in his tone that caught her attention. His eyes sparkled as he looked at her.
“I had some last bits of work to finish up. I was always expecting to be in the last truck. I thought you might have already left though.” She countered.
He ducked his head a little. He’d been encouraged into many of the earlier trucks but refused until every single one of the men he had rescued had been accounted for and was on their way.
“After I went to so much trouble to save them, I didn’t want anyone getting left behind.” He smiled as he said it, but there was an earnest undertone that made Peggy believe that his reasons were genuine.
“And he hoped he’d get to sit next to you at the back of the bus” one of the voices called from inside the truck.
Peggy finally diverted her eyes from Steve to look at the man who had spoken. She looked him over, saw how his grin didn’t quite meet his eyes and how he was holding himself, tense, as though hiding an injury. He was pale, and looked like he hadn’t had a good meal in some time. He definitely looked like someone who should’ve been on one of the earlier trucks with the injured.
“Sergeant Barnes, is it?” She asked, clipped. He was not quick enough to hide the shock on his face that she’d known who he was.
She’d seen him, stood a little behind Steve when they’d arrived but the crowds were so dense with the bustle of excitement that she hadn’t had the chance to establish which one was the friend Steve was so determined to save.
As soon as he spoke though, she recognised the person who had called for the cheers for Captain America. She’d thought at the time that he was just a grateful soldier. She realised now it was the schoolboy prodding of a friend who, despite everything, couldn’t resist embarrassing the closest thing he had to a brother. It’s the kind of thing her brother would’ve done. A little in-joke in the middle of everything.
Still, this one came with an audience and was at her expense, and therefore not something she would stand for.
“Yes ma’am” he responded, clearly remembering their ranks.
Steve was looking between them. His smile had dropped and, had he been closer to Bucky, he definitely would’ve taken a swipe at him. But he also knew Agent Carter could take care of herself and would probably not appreciate him getting involved.
“Seeing as you’re injured, I won’t do to you what I did to the last person who made a comment like that to me.” Her eyes moved pointedly to his crotch, and anger blazed behind her eyes. “But do consider this your one and only warning.” The ice in her tone was unmistakeable and Steve smirked as he watched Bucky shift his hands not particularly subtly into his lap, eager to protect himself just in case she changed her mind.
“Sorry ma’am” Bucky mumbled.
Peggy climbed into the truck, followed closely by Steve who gave Bucky’s foot a quick kick. Bucky glared at him but didn’t say anything. Steve sat down next to him, Peggy across from him next to one of the other men.
“Agent Carter, you’ve already had the misfortunate of meeting Sergeant Barnes, but may I introduce Corporal Dugan and Private Juniper” Steve gestured towards the other two men. Dugan tipped his hat towards Peggy, smiling under his moustache and Juniper looked down at his feet, mumbling “ma’am” in her general direction. He seemed a little afraid for his own privates, despite only Bucky’s being under threat.
A silence settled briefly in the truck while Steve looked at Peggy and Peggy tried to look everywhere but at Steve. She glanced out the back and saw Colonel Phillips striding towards them.
He thumped the side of the truck as he climbed in, calling “roll out” as he took his seat and the truck started moving.
“You’re the last, sir?” Peggy asked him.
He nodded back. “The first plane should already be in the air.” He replied. “We need to get moving if we want to be on the last one.”
“How far is to the airfield, sir?” Steve asked.
“We’ll be in here for a couple of hours. Might as well make yourselves comfortable.” And with that, Phillips settled into his seat, crossed his arms and legs and promptly fell asleep.
The others all looked at each other. Steve shrugged, “you heard the man.”
Dugan didn’t seem to need telling twice. He pulled his bowler cap over his face and was soon snoring softly. Juniper curled up in his seat, tucking his knees up into his chest and tried to doze.
Bucky opened his mouth to speak. Peggy looked at him, one slightly quirked eyebrow, and it was enough for him to close it again.
Not wanting to wake the others, none of them spoke but all three of them remained solidly and decidedly awake. Peggy, too uncomfortable to let her guard down enough to sleep. Bucky, too wired to have any chance at some shut eye. And Steve, not willing to rest while the other two didn’t.