True to Phillips's word, Steve showed up two days later. Jo got out of helping Howard and went to visit Steve. It went horribly. The soldiers threw fruit at him and mocked him. Steve did his best but eventually gave in to the soldiers demands. The show girls went on stage, and he came off it.

"Well that was a disaster," Jo commented, startling Steve. "Oh come on! You have advanced hearing, you should have heard me coming."

Steve shrugged. "Sorry."

Jo sighed, "No, don't apologize. You've had a rough day."

She sat down on a deck, the roof blocking the rain that was sure to come. Steve sat by her, pulling out a sketchbook. He began to draw and the two sat in silence, listening to the thunder roll and the rain hit the ground. She didn't say anything when Peggy approached.

"Hello, Steve," she greeted.

Steve looked up from his drawing, a circus monkey, Jo realized. "Hi."

"Hi."

"What are you doing here?"

"Officially I'm not here at all. Neither is Merlyn or Stark. That was quite a performance."

"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'?"

"Bond sales take a ten percent bump in every state I visit," Steve droned.

"Is that Senator Brandt I hear?"

"At least he's got me doin' this. Phillips would have had me stuck in lab."

"And these are your only two options?" Jo asked, raising an eyebrow. "A lab rat or a dancing monkey? You were meant for more than this, you know?" Steve went to reply but hesitated. "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."

Jo wanted to laugh, just to make Steve sure his joke didn't go unheard. Instead she watched as an ambulance arrived with wounded soldiers. Steve and Peggy turned around to watch as well.

"They look like they've been through hell," Steve said.

"These men more than most." Peggy received two stares asking for clarification. "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."

"The 107th?" Jo and Steve cried.

"What?"

"Come on!" The three raced toward Colonel Phillips' tent. "Colonel Phillips!"

"Well, if it isn't the Star-Spangled Man With A Plan. And what is your plan today?" Phillips sighed.

"I need the casualty list from Azzano," Steve said.

"You don't get to give me orders, son."

"I just need one name. Sergeant James Barnes from the hundred and seventh."

Phillips pointed to Peggy. "You and I are gonna have a conversation later that you won't enjoy."

"Can you tell us if he's alive?" Jo asked. "It's B-A-R..."

"I can spell," Phillips cut her off. He stood up and looked through papers. "I have signed more of these condolence letters today than I would care to count. But the name does sound familiar. I'm sorry."

Jo and Steve fell silent. Jo couldn't believe it. Bucky was alive where she was from, maybe her being had changed things for the worst. No, that couldn't be it! The memorial at the museum said he was captured and rescued. And by Steve too. Maybe this was then! Hope spread through her at the thought of Bucky not having actually died because of her interference.

"What about the others? Are you planning a rescue mission?" Steve asked.

"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."

Steve was silent for a moment. "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."

Phillips walked away, leaving Steve, Jo, and Peggy. Jo caught Steve looking at the military map that showed where the Hydra base was, where the men were.

"Yes, sir. I do."

Steve was out of the tent in seconds, Jo following behind him. They arrived at his tent and Steve began pulling things into a bag.

"You'd better not be thinking what I think you're thinking."

"How did you know Bucky?" Steve retaliated, not looking up from what he was doing.

Then Peggy walked in. "What do you plan to do? Walk to Austria?"

"If that's what it takes."

"You heard the Colonel, you're friend is most likely dead."

"You don't know that."

"Even so, he's devising a strategy. If he detects -"

"By the time he's done that, it could be too late!"

"You do realize you might die out there, right?" Jo demanded.

Steve walked out of the tent and the two women quickly followed. They watched as he tossed his shield into the back of a jeep, followed by his bag. He turned from Peggy to Jo.

"You told me you thought I was meant for more than this. Did you mean that?"

"Every word."

"Then you gotta let me go. Both of you."

Peggy sighed and nodded. Jo shook her head. "I've got a better plan. A shortcut of sorts."

"You know the roads around here?"

"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need, roads."

Peggy caught on to what Jo was implying. "No."

"Come on, this'll be a great plan!"

This was not a great plan. In fact, this was a horrible plan. Jo had convinced Howard to take them up in a plane to drop off Steve. It was bad enough she hated flying, one of the reasons she and Logan got along so well. Jo hummed a song to take her mind away. She hadn't seen or heard from Logan in a while. He usually sent her a letter once every other week. Peggy was briefing Steve on the layout of the land.

"The Hydra camp is in Krausberg, tucked between these two mountain ranges. It's a factory of some kind."

"We should be able to drop you right on the doorstep," Howard said.

"That's if they don't shoot us down first!" Jo called.

"Just get me as close as you can," Steve said. "You know, you three are gonna be in a lot of trouble at the lab."

"And you won't?" Jo snarked. "You're going behind enemy lines with nothing but a shield, gun, no battle experience, and balls of steel."

Howard laughed while Peggy sent a reprimanding look to Jo. She shrugged in response. Steve was blushing madly but turned back to Peggy.

"Where I'm going, if anybody yells at me I can just shoot them."

"They will undoubtedly shoot back."

"Well, let's hope it's good for somethin'." Steve knocked on his shield.

Jo closed eyes and took a steadying breath. If Bucky was dead, then the timeline was screwed. But if he was alive, then this would be when Steve would liberate the soldiers and the Howling Commandos would form. History would be okay. Jo racked her brain for any other information about Bucky but came up with nothing. She knew he died, just not how or when.

Explosions rocked the plane and Jo startled. Steve stood up and Jo followed, Peggy behind them. Steve opened the door and got ready to jump out, Jo standing at the edge of the door.

"Get back here!" Peggy called. "We're taking you all the way in."

Another explosion tipped the plane and suddenly Jo wasn't leaning on the side of the plane. She was falling out of it.

Shit I'm dead holy fuck, Jo thought, watching the plane get farther and farther away. She saw Steve jump after her, doing a nosedive until he wrapped his arms around her. Jo did the same, wrapping both arms and legs around him, modesty be damned. He gave her to the count of three before pulling the cord to the parachute.

The jerk left her winded. When they landed in Austria Jo took the moment to puke. She missed her boots which she was thankful for wearing. Steve, ever the gentleman, patted her back to show comfort. Jo coughed roughly.

"Thanks," she said. "I thought I was going to die."

"Don't mention it," Steve said.

"So... what are we doing now? But leaving me here? That shit ain't gonna happen," Jo said nonchalantly.

Steve gave her a look of disapproval at her choice of words, but by now he knew nothing could stop her from using them. Any manners Jo had obviously weren't in use after dropping hundreds of feet.

Jo's boots were sinking into the moist ground, and she looked around. The surrounding fog made the forest look creepy. She shivered, they needed to get moving. Jo was also fairly certain she saw something moving in the far distance. She sure as hell hoped it wasn't anything from those horror movies she used to watch with Darcy. The ones Darcy picked out scared her to sleeping with her light on more often than not.

A twig snapped.

"Okay, nope!" Jo said, walking towards the Hydra base. "I am not going to be eaten by some demon in the woods just because you can't make up your mind. Have fun!"

"Jo!" Steve rushed after her. "You have to go back. It's not safe."

"Not happening. I know the way to the base, I don't know the way back. And this forest is creepy. I'm fairly certain I'll be eaten."

Steve cast her a curious glance. "You're superstitious?"

"More like I've seen too many horror films and I don't want to end up as that one person who is separated from the group and ends up being killed first. Besides, unlike you, I do have experience in hand-to-hand combat."

"Where'd you learn that?"

"A special school."

There was silence as they made their way toward the facility.

"You never did tell me how you knew Bucky."

"He asked me to dance on the night of the Stark Expo, the night you were accepted into the program."

Steve nodded. "What about Stark? He's your cousin?"

"Yes, why?" Steve shrugged. "Spit it out, Steve. I might not answer in a few minutes."

"At the loading dock right after I became this," Steve gestured to himself, "a wolf appeared out of nowhere and saved a boy."

"Yes, I heard."

"After everything, Stark said to Peggy that you would explain something. What was it?"

Jo paused in her steps. Damn this man and his enhanced hearing. She sighed and ran her fingers through her short hair. The Steve in her future never flinched when Jo was announced a mutant. Maybe it was because he already knew. Jo damned Steve yet again. Out with it then.

"What's your opinion on mutants?"

"What does that -" Steve stopped himself realization dawning. "You're a mutant."

"Yes. And I was that wolf on the dock."

"Oh. Sorry about the pats on the head, by the way."

Jo snorted. "Yeah it was a little demeaning, but you didn't know. Peggy saw me transform, that was why Howard said that."

"Is there anything else you're keeping secret?"

"Yes. Everyone has their secrets, and this one can't be shared beyond two people. I'm sorry Steve."

Steve nodded, accepting the answer. And then they were off again, Jo more tense but glad that Steve knew.

Eventually they found themselves at the entrance of the Hydra facility. Neither one of them know how to get in. The sound of a running engine reached their ears and they shared a look. As the last vehicle approached, Steve and Jo took off after it, jumping in through the back. Two of Hydra's men were sitting a few feet from them.

"Fellas," Steve greeted.

The two attacked and were taken care of rather quickly, their bodies thrown out into the road. The trucks made it into the facility without a hitch. Steve stepped toward the end of the truck and held up his shield. The flap covering the inside was lifted by a Hydra man, and Steve slammed his shield into him, sending him back out cold. Jo snorted and followed Steve out the truck.

They made their way around the grounds, between tanks, and across the yard. Steve hopped up onto a tank and onto a low roof, Jo hot on his heels. They ran across the roof and got inside via open window. Steve knocked on the door lightly. A Hydra soldier opened the door only to be met with a punch to the face and his head knocked into the door. Jo slid the unconscious body into the room and stepped out the door.

They crossed the room when no one was watching, making their way through what looked like warheads. They paused at a circular object with glowing blue objects inside. Jo stepped forward and picked up a small cartridge. Steve pocketed one and she did the same. Jo spied a door labeled 'Cells' and rushed toward it. She wasn't sure why it was written in English, but she didn't care.

She opened the door quietly and stepped in, Steve closing the door softly behind them. A Hydra soldier was slowly walking away from them. She scanned the area, no other soldiers. Steve snuck up on the soldier and hit him on the head with his shield. Jo grabbed the keys from the unconscious man.

"Who are you two supposed to be?" a man from below asked. Jo recognized him as Gabe Jones.

"I'm... Captain America," Steve said.

"And I fell out of the aircraft carrying us here," Jo deadpanned.

"I beg your pardon?" a man Jo thought may have been Falsworth said.

"Then beg," Jo said. A man below her laughed, Dum Dum Dugan, she thought.

"I like her."

Steve and Jo made their way down to the cells and unlocked every one of them as they went by.

"What, are we taking everybody?" Dugan said, referring to a Japanese looking man. Jim Morita, Jo's mind supplied.

Jim flashed his dog tags, "I'm from Fresno, Ace."

"Is there anybody else? I'm looking for a Sergeant James Barnes."

"There's an isolation ward in the factory but no one's ever come back from it," Falsworth said.

"All right. The tree line is northwest, 80 yards past the gate. Get out fast and give 'em hell. I'll meet you guys in the clearing with anybody else I find. Jo, you lead the way."

Jo gave a mock salute with a, "Yes, sir, Cap-i-tan."

"Wait! You know what you're doin'?" Gabe Jones asked.

"Yeah. I've knocked out Adolf Hitler over two hundred times."

Jo groaned and shook her head as Steve dashed off. The soldiers looked to her for instruction. So she led them out of the cells.

"This way!" she called.

Two doors stood in the way of their escape and Jo started running towards it, the men slowing down to watch what she would do. Jo took a great leap and slammed her shoulder into the doors, and to the men's surprise, the doors opened. Jo groaned and held her shoulder, stepping out of the way of the prisoners escaping into the compound. They overpowered the guards with their sheer numbers. She watched as Jim snapped a Hydra soldiers neck and Dernier picked up one of the Hydra guns.

"You know how to use that thing?" Jim asked. Dernier pulled the trigger and blew up a wall. "Okay."

Jo made her way into the battlefield dodging whatever projectile that came her way. She followed Dum Dum and Jones, overtaking a small tank. She stepped in the tank followed by Jones.

"Hey," Dum Dum greeted. "Not exactly a Buick."

Jones pointed at one of the controls, "That one. Zündung."

"Zündung?" Dum Dum pressed the button and the tank started up. He laughed in delight.

Falsworth jumped into the tank, "Get this thing going, Dugan!"

"I didn't know you spoke German," Dum Dum said.

"Three semesters at Howards, switched to French, girls much cuter."

"Didn't ask for the resume."

"Just hit whatever is in sight you two," Jo groaned.

"You okay over there, girlie?" Dum Dum asked.

"If one of you could help me set my shoulder, that would be great."

Jones went around the step ladder and helped her with her shoulder. He gave her to the count of three, and they set it right, Jo groaning at the pain. She rolled her arm experimentally, nodding at the feel and in thanks to Jones. Jo stood and joined them at the front.

"We need to go out that gate," she pointed.

Dum Dum laughed as he blew up enemy tanks. Falsworth joined in the laughter as he blew up the tower and the gate that was supposed to hold the in.

"So what's your name, girlie?" Dugan asked. "Captain whoever called you Jo."

"Technically it's Joanna, but everyone calls me Jo."

The tank made its way down the hill and they stopped, Jo hopping out and staring as the facility went up in flames and explosions. Jo watched the place burn down, worry flowing through her. Where was Steve? Did he find Bucky? Did they get out? Where were they damn it!

"We need to get out of here," a man said loudly.

"We're far enough away, we'll be fine. We need to wait on the Captain."

The man gave Jo a once over. "And who are you to give orders?" A few men oohed and watched the exchange.

"The person who helped get your sorry ass out of that place."

"But why should we wait for this Captain? He could be dead for all we know."

"Because I said so."

The man scoffed, "Because you say so? What'll happen if we don't listen? Huh? What's a girl like you gonna do to me?"

"I would listen to her, bub," someone said.

Jo glanced around the men and met her brothers gaze only a foot away. She launched herself at Logan and hugged him tightly.

"Logan!"

"And here I was thinking my sister forgot about me," Logan deadpanned.

"Not a chance, you can't get rid of me that easily."

The man from before scoffed again. "Oh look, big brother to the rescue. Can we go now?"

"No!"

"You can't stop me."

Jo quirked an eyebrow. Before the man could blink Jo punched him, slammed his head into the side of the tank, kicked a knee which sent him to the ground, and finished him off with a kick to the face. All the men standing within view took a noticeable step back from her. Dugan was howling with laughter, as was Jones and Falsworth. Logan was grinning.

"Any objections?" Jo asked sweetly.

"Objections to what?" a familiar voice asked.

Jo turned around and faced the voice. "Steve!" she cried, rushing forward to meet him in a hug.

"Joanna?" another voice asked.

"Bucky!" Jo turned and gave the man a hug as well. "You're alive!"

"No, I'm just a figment of your imagination," Bucky joked.

Jo punched him in the arm and Bucky gave a mock hurt look. She rolled her eyes and turned to the men watching them. She cleared her throat and made her way to the front of the line.

"Alright men," she called out, "it's a thirty-mile walk back to camp. If we start off now we'll make it back just after dawn. Let's get moving." When no one moved Jo snapped out a loud, "Now!"

The men immediately started walking down the road, Steve, Bucky, and Jo leading the way. Logan and the rest of the group Jo knew followed. Someone had the decency to pick up the unconscious man.

"What did you do to them?" Bucky asked.

"Someone thought he was above me and shouldn't wait for the person who helped rescue them. I knocked him out."

"She sure did," Jones nodded, coming up behind them. "We didn't even know what happened until the guy was on the ground out cold."

"Barnes, your lady here probably scared half the troops," Dugan added.

Steve and Bucky glanced at one another before looking down at Jo. She ignored their stares. They spent their time catching Bucky up on what he missed. Everything, that he missed.

"So let me get this straight." Bucky pointed to Steve, "You signed up to be a super soldier, gave you a serum that they weren't even sure was going to work, and you come out here to rescue me with no experience?" He turned to Jo. "And you, you're a mutant, and you let him come out here alone but fell out of the plane on the way by, helped in a prison escape, and intimidated an army. That sound correct?"

"Don't forget my brother walking behind us. You just met him, remember?"

"Oh, yes, let's not forget that."

"I think solitude has made you snarkier than usual. There's not enough room in the world to handle the sarcasm we would create together. Sarcasm is an art, a language."

"Sarcasm isn't a language," Logan corrected.

"Wouldn't it be great if it was?"

"No," several voices answered and Jo pouted.

It was a long walk back to the camp, and day had come by the time they reached it. People began filing out of their tents and Jo grinned.

"Serious faces, boys," she said. "Let's make a good entrance."

And so they entered the camp. Steve leading, followed by Bucky and Jo, then Dugan, Jones, Falsworth, and Logan and then the rest of the men. Colonel Phillips met them and Steve saluted him. The Colonel's eyes glanced over the men, stayed on Jo briefly, and then landed on Steve.

"I'd like to surrender myself for disciplinary action," Steve said. "But a lot of these men need medical attention first."

Phillips raised an eyebrow at Steve, glancing at the hundreds of men he had rescued. "That won't be necessary, Captain." Then he looked to Jo. "What do you have to say to yourself, Merlyn?"

Jo stared and met his gaze. "All I did was fall out of a plane. You should try it sometime, it might get rid of those stress lines."

Jo could have sworn she saw the man smile. He nodded and made his way back through the crowd. Peggy approached Steve. Jo was about to greet the woman when she was swept up in a hug.

"Oh thank God! I thought you were dead!" Howard hugged her tighter.

Jo laughed as she was put down. "We both know I made a deal with the devil."

"Damn Jo," Dugan whistled. "Just how far up is your ranking?"

Jo shrugged, "I'm just Howard's cousin. Although that would be nice to know."

Dugan opened his mouth to say more but shut it. He shook his head. A voice called over the rest of the men, it was Bucky.

"Hey!" Bucky called. "Let's hear it for Captain America and Merlyn!"

Cheers erupted and people clapped for their saviors. Jo laughed when Bucky hoisted her above his shoulders. She was let down seconds later and Jo turned to face him. Jo gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before skipping away, Howard following in her step. Bucky and Logan stared after her and when she was out of sight Logan clapped him on the back.

"Good luck," he said. "You'll need it."

**********

There's almost four thousand words here. I hope you're happy. Also, sorry for the lateness, I was in the hospital.

In other news, Bucky is back! And so is Logan! Bet you thought you saw the last of him, huh? Anyone notice my Back to the Future reference?

Thoughts? Comments? Concerns?