Christine

                                   I was on my way to meet Dr.Erskine when I saw him leaning against an ammunitions truck and talking to Colonel Phillips. I intended to ask him about some details regarding project rebirth. I saw that both the men were in an argument.

                                  Colonel Phillips argued," You win a war with guts, Doctor." And at that moment he took a grenade from the crate behind him and flung it on the field where Peggy was conducting the training. He shouted," Grenade!" and everyone scrambled for shelter while Steve threw himself on the grenade to minimize its effect. Unknowingly, I too ran to cover the grenade to protect others And I saw that even Peggy too ran. 

                                 I stared at Steve's body on the ground around the grenade (tears threatening to spill over)in amazement because it did not explode. Someone else shouted that it was a dummy grenade, to the relief of everyone. Steve got up from the ground and I gave him a small smile. I looked at Peggy and saw the look on her face. The word lovestruck was written all over her face. That was a bit of a shock to me.

                                  Later in the evening, I got a chance to talk to Dr. Erskine. I knocked on his door and he replied, "come in."

 I settled in a chair in front of him when he asked me," Of what assistance I may be to you, Agent Brooke?"

I sensed the excitement in his voice and spoke," Dr. Erskine, I'd rather prefer Christine and I had some questions to ask regarding the super-soldier serum."

Knowing that I was one of the curious ones, he said, "Go on, ask me."

"Doctor, what types of changes does the serum make in the recipient's body?"

"The serum amplifies everything that is in the body. That includes all the aspects."

"Everything as in both good and bad?"

"Yes. The good becomes better. The bad becomes worse."

" To sum it up, are we looking for both physical as well as mental qualities?"

"That is correct, Christine."

"I think that you have selected the recipient."

"That is true. He is your best friend Steve."

Not so much of a surprise, I thought. "Thank you so much doctor, for giving him this opportunity. This means a lot to him. He's a patriot to the core and he's eager to serve."I spoke (more like blabbered).

" I hope so. I think it's late now, you must get some sleep as the procedure is tomorrow. Good night, Miss Christine."

"Good night Dr.Erskine."

               I walked towards my and Peggy's shared tent. I was seated on my bed and felt elated yet very scared because I knew that Steve has a lot of illnesses (as I had nursed him a lot of times). I prayed desperately that the serum would not backfire. As I settled in my bunk, I looked through the window and saw Dr. Erskine walking out of steve's tent. Probably for instructions. I did miss bucky though. He would have been shocked yet proud of Steve.

                                                                                     Steve

                  I woke up early, excited and scared. Today was the day of the procedure. I had changed into my uniform when Peggy came into my tent.

She asked, "Ready for today Steve?"

"Yes, though I am very nervous."

                  We were driving to Brooklyn where the procedure was supposed to take place. I wanted to make some conversation with Peggy so pointing to an alley through the window I said, "I got beaten up in that alley and that one and behind that diner."

Peggy asked, "Did you have something against running away?"

"You run they will chase you. You push back say no, how many times will they come after you?"

"I know a little of what that's like. To have every door shut in your face."

"Yeah. But I thought what a beautiful lady...no..dame, I mean...."

She cut me off and said," You don't know how to talk to a woman, do you?"

"Except for Christine, no."

"Didn't you ever go to a dance with a woman?"

"Asking a girl to dance always seemed so terrifying. And in the last few years, it didn't seem to matter."

"What are you waiting for?"

"The right partner."

    Peggy turned to face the other window. I did not mention to Peggy that I did dance once with Christine. I was sick and alone at home. She was a trained nurse and my best friend and felt that she should take care of me so she dropped by. I had an old record player at home that belonged to my dad. She played some music while taking care of me. The song was 'It's been a long, long time'. My pneumonia was flaring up and I was feeling a bit nauseated. 

She said, "Let's have a dance. It'll distract you from all this cough."

"Really Chris?"

"Yes, I wouldn't have told you if you wouldn't have been able to do so."

"Alright but I don't know how to dance."

"Don't worry, I'll teach you, sweetie."

                      She helped me sit up on the bed and helped me stand up. She took my right hand and guided it and set it on her waist. She kept her hand on my shoulder and took my left hand in her right hand. 

She spoke softly, "Just sway. Move back and forth."

I did as she told and for once, dancing seemed enjoyable. Until I stepped hard on her foot. She winced but she muttered that it was okay. 

She spoke again, "Alright let me hold your pointy finger and spin me around it."

Time seemed to slow down as we danced (and I stepped on her toes for like ten times. I'm sorry Chris). I felt a warm and cozy feeling inside me as I danced with her until I started wheezing (again). She set me down on the bed. 

She asked softly, "Did you like it?"

"Yeah, a lot. I am sorry for stepping on your toes so much."

"It's okay. I don't mind it. I just wanted you to calm down."

                                              I was jostled out of my thoughts as the car came to a stop in front of a shop. I was confused because I was expecting a big facility. We entered the shop and there was an old lady at the reception. 

Peggy spoke, "Lovely weather, isn't it?"

 The lady replied, "Yeah but I always prefer to carry an umbrella."

                    By now I figured out that this was code language and was awestruck when I saw a secret door open up. I walked down a long corridor and there was a huge room at the end. I stood at the balcony and saw Howard stark, Dr.Erskine and Chris down there preparing the machine for the procedure. In the balcony above, I could see some very distinguished guests including the senator and Colonel Phillips.

                      I walked down the stairs to join Chris and Dr.Erskine. I greeted Dr.Erskine and he instructed me to remove my cap, tie, and shirt. Peggy was standing behind me when Dr. Erskine said, "I think it will be more comfortable up in the booth, Agent Carter." Flustered, Peggy went up in the booth.

                       As I lay on the bed in the machine, Dr.Erskine asked me, "Comfortable?"

"Yeah. It is just a bit big ." he just looked at me and smiled.

"You save me any of that schnapps?", I asked.

"Not as much as I should have. Sorry."

                     Suddenly, a nurse came to me with an injection in her hand. She looked at me and injected me with it. It was painful but was over quickly. I spoke, "That wasn't so bad."
"That was just penicillin.", Chris said as she walked over and looked at me with an apologetic smile. She tried to cheer me up by saying, "You can do it, Steve. I know it."

                     I saw Dr.Erskine tapping on a microphone and he spoke, "Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Today we take a step towards peace instead of annihilation. Are we ready Mr. Stark?"

"We may dim half of the lights in Brooklyn but we are ready."

"The serum will be injected into the subject's major muscle groups and to stabilize the growth, the subject will be subjected to vita rays. Serum infusion in 3,2 and 1."

                   Suddenly, I felt as if 10 injections were injected into my body all at once. The pain was agonizing. It was as if every nerve on my body was set on fire. At the same time, I felt that the machine was being lifted into the air. I could make out Dr.Erskine giving orders to Mr.Stark and saw that the machine closed around me. The pain was now gone. I felt a rush of air inside the tiny space. 

                                                                                    Christine 

                       I was standing there looking at Steve as the machine closed around him. Dr.Erskine walked up to the contraption and knocked on the glass to check on Steve. He asked, "Steven?" 
And Steve answered the way you would expect him to. He asked, "Is it too late to go to the bathroom?". I let out a breath that I didn't know that I had been holding all this time. Dr.Erskine gave Stark the go-ahead and they started subjecting Steve to Vita rays. I was gnawing on my lip the whole time. When the levels reached about 40%, Steve started screaming. Peggy stepped outside the booth and screamed, "Shut it down!"

                     I knew Steve quite well. I knew that he will not give up but I was still concerned. He shouted, "No! I can do it!".  I smirked to myself. The vita ray levels touched 100% and sparks were flying from the equipment. All of a sudden, everything went quiet and the machine opened with a hiss revealing a bare-chested, Muscular and Tall Steve rogers. My face felt so hot that I could feel myself burning. I took a large T-shirt which had been kept aside for this very purpose. Dr.Erskine and Mr.Stark supported Steve as they helped him down and it was an atmosphere full of relief.

                    Even as they supported him to get down from the machine, Howard stark was very awestruck with the result. Dr.Erskine said, "We did it Mr.stark." Near the staircase, I could see the senator and other major guests chatting and a majority of them looking pleased. I took the t-shirt and went towards Steve to give it to him.
 I asked, "How are you feeling?"

He said," Taller."

Suddenly, Peggy grabbed the t-shirt from my hands and gave it to Steve. I was pissed but when I saw the look on both of their faces, I felt a lump in my throat. Suddenly, Gunshots rang out in the air and there was a blast. The shooter shot Dr.Erskine in the chest and everything went numb. Steve ran towards him and so did I. Peggy went after the shooter. I saw Dr.Erskine point to Steve and then he was gone.

Steve had a look of vengeance on his face and ran after the shooter. I bent down to look at Dr.Erskine's lifeless eyes and I closed them.

                                                                          Steve 

I was at a hospital and they were collecting blood from me. Peggy was standing next to me and said, " The serum is locked in your genes. Any hope of recreating it is locked in your DNA. Without Dr.Erskine, it would take years." I got down from the table and walked outside the door. Howard stark was at the other edge of the room looking at the submarine which I had found when I had chased the Hydra agent. Colonel Phillips came up to me and said, "I asked for an army and all I got was you.
I spoke, "I am enough"

"No, you are not."

Across the room, Howard stark spoke, "Modestly speaking, I am the best mechanical engineer in the country and we are not even close to this technology."

Colonel asked, "Then who is?"

"Hydra, the Nazi rogue science division."

"Oh, I spoke to the President this morning and as of now, the SSR is being retasked. Pack your bags Agent carter and Agent Brooke. You too, stark."

I sighed with disappointment as I knew that Phillips was going to put me in a lab Senator Brandt came up to me and spoke," Son do you wish to serve your country on the most important field of war?"

I said," Yes."

Outside, I met Chris who gave me a small smile.

She said, "So I am now being transferred along with Peggy, I suppose. I overheard your conversation. Take care of yourself when I am gone. Don't be an idiot."

"Of course, I will. If you meet Bucky, tell that jerk that Steve sends his regards."

"Of course."

All of a sudden, she pulled me into a hug and patted my back. She half-whispered," Goodbye Steve." And I felt something inside me like a dull ache. The one which gives you an ominous feeling.