The stars are bright, but clouded with smoke from where I lay out in the open with a cigarette in hand. I know that my body won't let me sleep until I'm in a safe location, but I'd spent many sleepless weeks making my way across Europe with Katya, so one sleepless night is nothing.

Steve and Bucky lay nearby, having talked for the past few hours considering the months they have to catch up on, but nothing's caught my attention until now.

"Tell me about her."

"About who?"

"Ada," Bucky says and I'm careful not to move, not to give away that I've heard anything. "Who else?"

"You mean the Russian spy you tried to take home at the expo?" Steve says and I press my mouth together, anxious to see where they take this.

"So, she's mentioned me then?" Bucky says and I hear the smile in his voice.

"After knowing her for nearly six months yeah, she mentioned it eventually," Steve says, still a little offended I kept it to myself. "Did you miss the Russian spy part?"

"I won't lie, I'm a little surprised but seeing her pull a pin out of a grenade with her teeth." He whistles in a way that has my face going warm. "That was something."

"Don't tell me you've got your eye on her."

"Why, do you?"

"Oh god no," I hear Steve say, and I'm offended almost as much as I'm relieved.

"You're telling me that you've spent six months with her and there's nothing there?" Bucky asks a little incredulously. "I mean, you've seen her right?"

The exasperation in Steve's voice is loud and clear. "Yes, I know she's pretty, but I can promise you that there's no attraction there. Besides, we couldn't be more different."

"So go on, tell me about her then," Bucky says, trying to goad him into giving his honest opinion, and that is a frightening prospect.

"She's brilliant, good at what she does, but even after knowing her for this long, I... I still know nothing about her." My smile falters slightly at the distrust in Steve's voice. "I'm grateful for what she's done, coming here with me to rescue you, but... even now she still feels like a stranger. The only time I've seen her take a half genuine interest in someone it was Howard Stark, but even then I can't be sure of what's going on there."

"She's with Howard Stark?" Bucky asks and my mouth opens, wanting to refute that but I continue lying there with a dying cigarette in my fingers.

"No, but he's got his eye on her. That much is obvious," Steve says before clarifying "Look, I'm not saying anything bad about her, just that I don't really know her. We've been out there performing together for months and we've bonded over that, but then I hear stories. Colonel Phillips and the rest don't trust her because of her history."

"So what if she spent some time in Russia?" Bucky says, as if it's a complete non-issue. "We're allied with them remember? I mean they might be Communists but they aren't Nazis"

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean they're our friends," Steve says, repeating the viewpoint of most of the officials we deal with. Even if the president believes in upholding a good relationship with Stalin, the same can't be said for a generation that was raised to fear communism. "And they were happy enough to work together until they weren't."

"Alright, so what are you getting at?"

"She didn't just spend some time in Russia Buck, she worked directly for Stalin. I don't know the specifics but... it was bad."

There's a beat of silence before Bucky speaks. "Or was she forced to work for him?" My heart stops as he defends me, and I blink away tears as I look up at the sky. "She told me that- that the things they did to me they did to her, then there was everything else that Nazi was saying. Whatever she did before she ended up here, I don't think she did it willingly."

"Don't get me wrong, I like her, I do," Steve insists. "She's a good partner and I like to think she's becoming a friend, but I don't know how much interest she has in actually getting close to someone. Agent Carter, she seems close with her, but she keeps to herself most of the time. I just- with her I never know what's genuine and what's not. Every time I've ever seen her smile it just seems fake, I think the only time I've ever seen anything genuine is when she's mad."

Silent tears slip down my cheeks in frustration, so badly wanting to prove them all wrong. Most of all myself.

"Well, I don't know about that," Bucky says as dawn begins to rise. "Because she was smiling earlier, and she was smiling that night in Queens. She might have been a spy but she saved my life, Steve. If I was someone like her and got told to be a circus act I'd be pretty pissed at the world too."

"Well you aren't wrong there," he says and a smile tugs at my lips. "If nothing else she's got a mouth on her, and she's not afraid to follow it up. I had to stop her from hitting our stage manager before we came here."

"I like a woman with an attitude," Bucky remarks and I turn my head enough to see the grin on his face.

Steve scoffs. "Since when?"

"Since now," he decides and I can't help the smile that spreads across my face.

"I didn't think she'd be your type of girl," Steve remarks.

"I can't lie... I haven't met any girls like her before," he says as he sits upright. "Not even close, but it's hard to beat the sight of a woman who knows how to hold a gun."

Steve shakes his head. "You're crazy."

"Hey, I might be crazy but I'm not wrong."

Neither of them notice me getting up until I'm standing over them with my rifle hanging by my side, a smirk playing on my lips as I meet Bucky's eye, the sun rising. "On your feet soldiers, we've got a long walk ahead."

"Yes ma'am," Bucky says and takes the hand that I extend to him to pull him to his feet, holding onto it as he looks me in the eye. "If you aren't needed elsewhere it would be an honour if you'd walk with us."

Steve can't quite believe the sight in front of him, but all I can do is smile.

"I think I'll take you up on that offer, Sergeant," I say, still holding his eye as he brings my hand to his lips, my breath hitching as he presses a single kiss to my knuckles. "Then we'll see about that dance."

His eyes brighten, and it's impossible to pretend that I don't know how his lips feel when the memory of them's burned onto mine.

Although a reminder certainly wouldn't hurt.

Steve has to clear his throat to break the tension between us. "They're about to start marching again, do you have any orders?."

"Tell the men in the trucks to drive slowly, avoid hitting any bumps hard," I instruct, gently removing my hand from Bucky's when reality begins to set in. "Phillips is going to have our heads for this."

"Just surrender yourself for disciplinary action and make it easier for yourself," Steve advises, but there's a bit in my stomach knowing that they'll make him a hero for the same act they could put me back in a cell for. "It'll be fine."

Bucky sees my worry and brings his hand up to brush the hair out of my face, taking a look at what is no doubt a very rough bruise on my temple. "You saved a few hundred lives, I doubt he'll have much to say."

"You'd be surprised," I say quietly and he puts a hand on my back, guiding me over to several of the men I'd spoken to last night.

"This is Adelina Morgan," Bucky says to the men, although the Frenchman and the Englishman share a hesitant look considering they know at least some of my background. "Ada this is James Falsworth, British Army, and Jacques Dernier, French Resistance."

"Yes, we've heard much about the famous Red Widow," Dernier says. "You were captured by the Americans in France, yes?"

"I was," I say and the word captured immediately has Bucky's brows drawing together. "I had deserted the NKVD and was trying to make my way to the French Resistance to offer my services before the Americans and Hydra both happened upon my train."

"Quite the bloodbath left behind I heard," he mentions, although some of that apprehension's faded upon my confirmation that I'd deserted.

"Yes, although that was very much Hydra's fault," I state and he nods, accepting that answer. "But the United States government didn't quite see it that way. I tried to reason with the soldiers that came for me and they decided to talk with their guns instead."

"Ah well, that's American's for you," Falsworth says and nods his head in respect to me. "Those weapons you gave us were useful."

"Well, there's no point having grenades if they aren't going to be put to use," I say as several more men come over, already seeming acquainted with Steve.

"Jim Morita, Gabe Jones, and Dum Dum Dugan," Bucky continues to introduce, but they already seem aware of me.

"You meant to be the Russian?" Morita asks bluntly and I raise my eyebrows.

"I am."

He nods before looking at Jones. "Don't know what all the noise is. She doesn't sound Russian."

"As long as she's not a Nazi we don't have anything to worry about," Dugan dismisses and extends his hand for me to shake. "Do you have a rank ma'am?"

"Private, formerly agent," I say, shaking it firmly. "Yourself?"

"Corporal."

"Not to be rude, Private," Jones begins. "But aren't you that lady that's up on all those posters?"

"Unfortunately yes, although Steve might have me beat in that regard," I say and the men laugh while Bucky's eyebrows shoot up. "According to the government I'm Russian until they want to put me in stars and stripes."

"That's the same government that's saying they're allies with the Soviet Union?" Jones scoffs and I give an affirmative nod. "They hate anyone that isn't their type of American until they can find a use for us huh?"

"Oh indeed," I agree. "Couldn't have said it better myself."

Steve interrupts at the sound of one of the trucks getting started.

"Come on, we've got a long walk ahead."

The men start walking and I fall into line next to Steve and Bucky, deciding to give Steve a heads up about what his second greatest concern should be next to getting disciplined.

"You know Peggy's gonna be worried sick right?"

"She will be?" he says, almost hopefully, and I shake my head at him.

"There's a lot you need to learn about women, Steve," I say and Bucky grins beside me, no doubt having gotten a mouthful about Peggy from Steve at some point in their debriefing. "Although I may also be on the receiving end of a verbal thrashing from her considering I'm the one that gave you the transponder."

"I apologised for the transponder," he whines. "It's not my fault it got shot."

"And where would that bullet have landed if you didn't have the transponder shoved into your pocket?" I retort. "Not in a very pleasant place I can assure you."

"Then it's a good thing it was there," he argues. "Because I'd rather get a lecture from Peggy than..."

"Tell her you got shot in the ass?" Bucky finishes when Steve can't bring himself to verbalise it and we're both grinning.

"Yes, that."

"And I'd hate to have to explain to Phillips that America's ass got shot on my watch," I say, referencing the countless comments we've heard thrown at it over the past months. "That's government property you know?"

"I'm aware," he sighs. "But so are you."

"Don't remind me," I grimace and Bucky squeezes my shoulder as we prepare to walk the next nineteen miles.

~

It's late afternoon when the camp is finally in sight, and we arrive with weapons in hand; victorious and defiant. I almost feel safe walking beside Steve and Bucky, almost untouchable.

"Ready for a dressing down?" I ask Steve as men start to rush over. "Phillips is gonna be pissed at us for ruining his little show."

"That's his problem," Bucky says and I look at him, genuinely surprised by how well he's handled the journey back considering his current state. For him to have survived the experimentation alone is evidence of how strong he is, mentally and physically, but I begin to wonder if I've underestimated his endurance.

Despite my initial anxiety, I know that whatever punishment I receive will be well worth it the moment I see the look of pure astonishment on Phillips's face at the sight of Steve and I leading the men with weapons in hand.

And Bucky isn't the only one trying his luck today as we come face to face with him and Steve salutes, but I don't give him such respect.

"Some of these men need medical attention. Private Morgan has personally overseen their treatment with the limited supplies on hand until now, but they'll need further treatment," Steve says and I give him an appreciate nod. "I'd like to surrender myself for disciplinary action."

Steve's honourable in his surrender, but I'm still a tad more spiteful.

"I don't," I say, smug at the look on the Colonel's face because he knows damn well we have him cornered.

"That won't be necessary," he bitterly says while I thrive on finally having the upper hand for the first time since we stood together in my father's office at Pearl Harbor.

He walks away as the men reunite with their fellow soldiers and I can't help the relief that overcomes me the moment I spot Peggy and step forward to meet her embrace.

"I told you we'd do it."

"I never doubted you for a second," she assures me before letting me go to come face to face with Steve, and if that man is still clueless about the way she feels when she's looking at him like that then he's beyond help. "You're late."

Steve holds up the transponder. "I couldn't call my ride."

I feel Bucky's hand on my waist and I look back at him in the middle of the crowd, locking eyes with him before he looks back at the soldiers behind him.

"Hey!" Bucky calls out to the men. "Let's hear it for Captain America and the Red Widow!"

I stand there utterly stunned as the men cheer, the first time I've ever heard that name spoken with pride, let alone have men cheer for it. My eyes are on Bucky as I stand there breathless, tempted to kiss him right here in the middle of this crowd until I hear nurses calling out for all hands on deck. It isn't my post, not anymore, but I know where I'm needed.

"I'll find you," I say and he nods, squeezing my hand as I find my way to the outskirts of the crowd only to be stopped by a dreadful face.

"You and I will discuss this later," Phillips says, but for the first time since I was brought back to America, I have leverage.

"Will we?" I counter. "Learn when to accept defeat, Colonel."

It's then Peggy comes to intervene and her presence alone is enough that Phillips backs off and finds somewhere else to be. "I thought I gave the transponder to you."

"Yes well, complications arose," I say before informing her "Zola and Schmidt were there."

Her face falls. 'Did you-"

"Kill them, no, but I tried," I say and move my hair back to show her the wound on my forehead. "Turns out the serum Schmidt got really did work despite its physical defects."

She curses quietly under her breath. "You're getting taken to a nurse."

"I am a nurse."

"Who has done more than her fair share," she says pointedly, and Peggy is the one person I know not to argue with. "Aside from those complications it seems it was a mission well done."

"Yes," I have to admit as I look back at the men we freed, at Steve and Bucky with their arms around each other's shoulders. "It was."

"You found his friend I see."

"Yes, I think that I rather like him," I mention and she raises her eyebrow at the smile in my voice before it turns more serious. "He's been through hell." Her brows are drawn together as I tell her "Zola was experimenting on the men... he was the only one that survived it."

"God," she breathes and touches the crisp ends of my hair. "I dare say you put those grenades to use then."

"I did," I say, but my concern's still on Bucky. "I think I would have gotten myself killed going after Zola if he hadn't talked me out of it."

"Well thank god he did," she says, guiding me over to the nurses. "I've been worried sick about you, and with good reason it seems."

"I sliced through Schmidts plantaris tendon and the top of his achilles," I make the point of noting. "Although my attempt at his throat wasn't as deep unfortunately."

"Good god," she murmurs.

"And yes the rumours about his face are true," I inform her, my head wound perhaps finally beginning to take its toll. "It's fucking ugly."

"I don't doubt that," she assures me. "But the main thing is that you saved the lives of these men, Schmidt and Zola can be dealt with later."

"You're right," I admit to myself as much as her, and decide that I prefer coming back from a mission with lives saved rather than taken. "They can be."

It's a feeling I can get used to.

~

I don't manage to find Bucky that night with the chaos in the camp as we prepare to fly out to London in the morning, but the moment I step onto the plane my eyes search for him, and I can't ignore the swell in my chest when I finally lay eyes on him. This time somewhat more put together with my lipstick and hair done, rather than rain drenched in a field uniform.

Although he certainly didn't seem to mind.

He looks up at me in surprise when he sees me standing over him and I ask "Is this seat taken?"

"Not at all," he quickly says and pats the seat beside his. "Thought Steve might join me but he seems a little occupied."

We look over at Steve and Peggy at the entrance of the plane, chatting away over whatever acceptable topic of conversation they deem to be related to their duties. "He always is when she's around, you get used to it."

He watches his friend with proud amusement as I sit down beside him. "So how long has he been head over heels for Agent Carter?"

"I'd say since the moment he met her," I answer, knowing that he's had eyes for her certainly since the moment I met him. "Poor boy, she's right there giving him the same eyes and he still can't see it."

"You said it himself, he's got a lot to learn about women."

"And you don't?" I tease, and he gives me a self-assured shrug. "Well, you are a ladies man after all, so I suppose you've learned a thing or two."

His eyebrows raise at my comment, but he only takes it as a challenge. "You see, I thought I had it all figured out, but there's this one girl. Most beautiful woman I've ever seen, and she's got a mind and a mouth on her like nothing else. Let's just say a thirty mile walk gives a guy some time to think, but she's a real mystery to me."

I play along with his game. "How so?"

"I've heard a lot of things about who she was, who she is," he says and I'm listening intently. "Beautiful and deadly and doesn't take anyone's crap. Seems like a hell of a woman but I think there's even more to her than that."

"Hmm, do tell," I say curiously, but still proceed with caution.

"I think that she acts like she doesn't care what anyone thinks, but not so deep down she wants recognition for what she can do," he says and I stay quiet as he reads me to a degree that leaves me exposed. "I've heard that she never smiles and might have a few problems with the government, but I don't think that reputation she's got is what it seems, and maybe that scares her a little."

My throat's tighter than I'd like it to be. "Why would that scare her?"

"Because I've heard that the thing she hates most is being vulnerable," he says, treading dangerous ground. "But I think that I'd like to learn the truth for myself, if she'll let me."

And he puts it in my hands, gives me control. I feel the temptation to pull away, to tell him he's lost his senses if he thinks this is a good idea, and perhaps I've lost my own as I swallow those fears and look him in those damn blue eyes.

Peggy and Howard have taken my reputation at face value and accepted it, that's one thing that I'll be eternally grateful for, but someone wanting to dissect it is another. Someone who might just understand what it's like to have your mind picked apart and played with. To be utterly at another person's mercy. Someone who might just understand the desperation that led me to play the role I did for so long. I heard him say as much to Steve.

Peggy and Howard both know that I was an unwilling participant in Zola's experimentation, that my hand was forced when it came to the work I did on Stalin's behalf, but I've never truly been able to admit to them, or myself, that even when the handcuffs were off I was still psychologically chained to that academy.

I've never been able to admit just how little control I've had over my own mind after a lifetime of conditioning, and just maybe, he can see that.

"Well, I suppose I can say she's never had anyone who's wanted to learn before," I tell him, that vulnerability indeed uncomfortable when he's prying open the door that I've kept sealed shut for as long as I've been alive. "But the truth isn't pretty."

Peggy and Howard know my past, and I've addressed it with the security of a false shamelessness, pride even. Perhaps that's where Steve's apprehension comes from, because he can see that it's all for show, and here Bucky is; touching on the fact that I don't know where that act ends and where it begins.

"I can handle it," he says and I could almost laugh. He has no idea. No damn clue what I've done. "We're both soldiers, and every man here's got blood on their hands."

"Some more than most," I comment, and my voice is strained as Phillips approaches at the worst possible moment.

"Morgan, you'll be reporting to me once we land in London."

"I'm assuming for a promotion?" I counter, that act quickly re-equipped, but his tongue is crueller than I'd anticipated.

"Your father was a good man, but the worst mistake he ever made was marrying that Russian woman," he begins and my eyes burn. "I hoped you would be like your father but you are just like that mother of yours, an arrogant piece of work, and if you're even thinking about a future in this organisation then you need to pull yourself back into line before I ship you off to Stalin to deal with."

"I am American!' I screamed at my mother, fifteen and fighting with her over the cancelled plane ticket back to Washington, the first of my attempts to move Katya to America that was foiled. "I hate Stalin, and I hate you! Dad wants me home-"

She struck me hard and grasped my chin in her hand, forcing me to look at her as blood fell from my nose and I tasted it on my tongue along with the liquor on her breath. "He doesn't want you. No American will ever want you because they don't trust us. Russia is your home, and Stalin will give you opportunities you could never imagine. Together with Hydra's scientists we will make you something the world has never seen while the Americans will only want to lock you away. You mark my words. Without this program you are nothing. You have no place in this world."

I heard a quiet breath and looked to see her standing in the doorway, not even two years old, too young to understand. Mama gave me a warning look and I wiped the blood from my face, keeping my head high for her sake.

"Katya, go back to bed," I said gently, since my mother was anything but gentle with her. "I'm fine, Mama's just drunk like always."

She released me with a shove and I stormed out, picking my sister up and setting her on my hip as I brought her into the very small room attached to our mothers.

"Lina," she whimpered and I hushed her gently, knowing that any side of weakness would be met harshly. "I'm scared."

It broke my heart that at such a young age, with such a limited vocabulary, that those were the words she knew. She was always a bright child, but I knew I could only protect her for so long.

"I know, I know," I said, holding her tight. "But remember, fear is only a weapon that can be used against you, nothing more. If you do not let them see it, they cannot use it to hurt you."

I'd said those words with tears in my eyes as I'd heard the familiar sound of a belt being unbuckled and knew that the belting would be for the purpose of frightening Katya, a demonstration, whilst my true punishment would be something far more brutal.

I knew that the price of resistance would be my mind. I knew that they'd break it, but even then I didn't know when to keep my mouth shut. In my last years in the Red Room I adapted, I learned to play the role that was required of me, but I'm not putting on a performance to placate Phillips.

And so I look him in the eye as I stand, evening the balance of power between us. Knowing better than he ever could that power is merely a perception that's purely psychological.

"I know what my mother is, and I know what I am," I say, my voice as even as I can make it. "So either put me to work or send me back to Russia, because I have unfinished business with Hydra and I will finish it with or without you."

Peggy quickly rushes over just as Phillips says "You should be damn grateful you aren't in that asylum where you belong after the blood you've spilled."

Peggy pulls me out of the row, leaving the Sergeant sitting there bewildered as she guides me away and physically moves me off the plane away from Phillips before I can do something regrettable.

"I could kill him."

"I know," she assures me as we instead board the plane Howard flew us out on. "But we'll handle it."

"I could make him disappear."

"And you would be the first person they'd blame," she reminds me as we step inside. "And no, it wouldn't be worth it."

"Ah, there you are," Howard calls out from the cockpit and holds up a wrapped dish. "I saved you some of that fondue, it's a bit cold though so you might want to wait til we get back to London to heat it back up."

"Thank you, Howard," I sigh weakly as I find myself sitting by the entrance to the cockpit, knowing that I could be in the midst of a very different conversation right now. "I don't suppose you brought back any wine did you?"

He holds up a bottle as he asks "I take it you've had a long few days?"

"Yes, and somehow dealing with Phillips is worse than dealing with Nazis," I mutter as he passes it back to me. "Although those grenades did come in handy."

"See, I never disappoint," he praises and I shake my head fondly as I pop open the bottle much to Peggy's disapproval. "Did you end up finding Rogers' friend?"

"Yeah, we did," I say, holding onto that connection while I still can before it inevitably implodes. "He's a charmer that one."

"Then I hope Rogers has warned him that he's got his work cut out with you," Howard remarks. "Grenades and fondue and I still haven't gotten there yet."

"Don't forget wine," I add, but I manage to ground myself in the stability of being here with both of them again, just as I did when they brought me to Brooklyn. "How much trouble do you think we're in?"

"Well, Phillips knows that he can't touch Howard, and now that Steve is America's new hero that leaves you and me to bear the brunt of it," Peggy states frankly. "So I might just share that bottle with you after all."

I manage a smile as I pass it to her, trying to shut out the dread of what comes next. Although that effort isn't successful since that dread is worse than ever by the time we land and receive our official summons to Phillips's office a mere hour later.

Howard also receives an urgent message to examine some of the technology recovered from the factory, and so my usual defender's conveniently nowhere to be found.

"Remember that after what you did you have the upper hand," Peggy reminds me when she locates me in Howard's lab. "And you have people willing to defend you, Sergeant Barnes being one."

She gives me a knowing look and I try to laugh it off. "What makes you say that?"

"I ran into Steve while you and Howard were having your fondue," she says, both of us struggling to keep a straight face at the double meaning. "He told me that Sergeant Barnes kept wanting to see you to make sure you were alright after I took you off the plane." I come to an abrupt stop before we can reach the office. "Said something about him wanting to return the favour."

And I know the only favour he could mean was the moment we shared in that truck, telling him that he didn't have to pretend to be alright with me, his head on my shoulder...

"Of course he did," I say quietly, and she gives me a curious look.

"He seems to have taken a liking to you."

"I know he has," I say and quietly reveal to her "That soldier I kissed the night of the expo... it was him."

Her eyes widen and she shakes her head in disbelief. "I'm not one to believe in coincidences but-"

"It's a hell of a coincidence isn't it?" I manage to laugh before admitting "As much as I like him, he has no idea what he's getting himself into."

"You never know," she says with a look in her eyes that I've begun to associate with Steve. "Men can surprise us."

"Like Steve?" I tease and she wears a guilty smile before opening the door to Phillips office and pushing me inside, although we go still at the sight of both the boys sitting there waiting for us.

"Colonel," I say stiffly while Bucky tries to give me a reassuring smile that only affirms how fucked I am.

"Captain Rogers and Sergeant Barnes both insisted on being here," he sighs in annoyance. "I assume you do also, Agent Carter."

"I do," she says closing the door behind us and I prepare for trial by taking a seat and pulling out a cigarette, more out of pure necessity than making a statement, although I see the corner of Bucky's lip twitch in amusement while Steve shakes his head in disapproval.

"Captain Rogers had a personal reason to commit insubordination by entering that camp, hence Sergeant Barnes, but you had no reason whatsoever to accompany him," Phillips begins. "And I already know Agent Carter's reason for assisting in your scheme."

Steve just looks confused and at this point I don't think a slap in the face could get him to wake up to how she feels.

"Do you have any relation to Sergeant Barnes, or any other member of the 107th, which would act as a mitigating factor in your insubordination?"

"No," I answer without missing a beat.

"Then why did you do it?" he asks me, and I realise that enough people must have overheard our argument for it to reflect poorly on him instead of me for once, it's the only reason he'd be treating me impartially now. "Other than for the sake of disobeying a direct order."

"To assist a brother in arms and prove that I can serve this army in a way that isn't as a pin-up girl for your USO shows."

"We have been over this, Morgan," he sighs in frustration. "The USO shows were Brandt's idea, not mine. As for the rest, this government cannot trust you when you were acting against American interests while following Stalin's orders. Him and the president might get along now but that doesn't change the fact that you were committing espionage. We simply cannot trust you."

"You're the one who doesn't trust her," Steve interrupts. "Not us, not the men that she helped free."

"You cannot speak on behalf of the 107th, Rogers."

"No, but I can," Bucky says and my eyes fall on him.

"This issue doesn't involve you Barnes, I don't even know why you're here," he remarks dryly. "Probably because she was the only woman in that camp aside from the one over there that Rogers has already claimed."

Peggy's mouth falls open and I butt in when uses Peggy to launch his attacks. "Is that appropriate, Colonel?"

"Do you really want to talk about appropriate?" he shoots back and I take a long draw of my cigarette to keep from opening my mouth, but Bucky takes care of that.

"This does involve me," he argues. "She saved my life, Colonel. When I was being rescued I sure as hell never expected her, but I've never seen a soldier fight like she does. In the field I made the decision to trust her, as did the men her and Steve freed, and that's a decision that I stand by. She made sure that no men were left behind and she was willing to risk her life to kill Zola until we forced her to escape with us."

"You have no idea what this woman is capable of-"

"No I don't," he admits and I can't bring myself to meet his eye. "I know that she was trained in some sort of messed up Russian program and that Hydra tried to get inside her head, but she chose to leave didn't she?" Phillips doesn't have an argument against that. "She's a soldier as much as Steve, as much as any man in my unit. She didn't have any obligation to come after us, but she did that and more. You can't give Steve a medal and then punish her for doing the same thing. After seeing her in that factory I know that I want her in the field with me just as much as I want Steve there."

"Yeah, because she's a woman and you want to make a fool of yourself with a Russian spy," he comments offhandedly while I'm still processing what Bucky just said. "Sit down Barnes."

"No, Bucky's right," Steve argues. "If you put me in the field I want her on my team."

It goes quiet and Phillips looks at me nursing my cigarette, stunned into silence by Steve and Bucky's support.

"You've been unusually quiet, Morgan," Phillips notes. "If you've got something to say, say it now."

And so I do.

"You've known me since I was a little girl," I remind him, having once known him only as my father's friend. "And you can try to just dismiss me as a Russian spy but you know damn well how hard I fought to escape the academy I was trained in. That when I was called upon to serve and defend this country I did just that. You keep mentioning my mother, but you know that I never had any love for her. She was abusive in ways you could never fathom, and I spent years playing along with what they wanted me to do so I could get my sister out of that country." I put my cigarette out on the desk as I fight back tears. "Thanks to you I failed."

"And you shot me in the leg for it," he reminds me in return and I catch the shocked look Steve and Bucky share. "But you were the one that took a five year old Jewish girl into Nazi territory, not me. The only reason that girl is still alive is because of the contacts your mother used to get her back. Hydra would have attacked that train no matter what we did because you left that many bodies for them to follow that you couldn't cover your tracks. The only person you have to blame for what happened that day is yourself."

"You're right," I say hoarsely. "I failed, and I'm going to have to live with that for the rest of my life. Everything I've done, all the orders I carried out, I'll have to live with that. All I am asking for is the chance to save lives and do something to take out Hydra so we can end this war." My eyes fall on Bucky as I add "So they can't do to anyone else what they've done to me."

Phillips is quiet as he studies me and I swallow my rage. Remembering all the words from Erskine and Howard about self preservation. The chance for true freedom is finally in reach, and I can't let it slip from my fingers.

"Anything else?"

"Yeah, that your obsession with me's only reflecting poorly on you," I say and Peggy kicks my foot in warning beneath the table. "We both know that this is personal, but we have jobs to do so let's call a ceasefire and get on with it. I'll be the bigger person and apologise for my conduct, as well as shooting you, and you'll set this vendetta aside."

He takes a deep breath before finally agreeing. "Fine."

Peggy and Steve share a surprised look and I lean back in my seat, the balance of power finally even. "Will you put me in the field?"

"I will discuss it with the others in charge of this operation," he bitterly concludes. "You are free to leave."

I stand and force myself to salute, but I've sacrificed my dignity for less. "Colonel." As I go to leave I stop and look at the boys. "Rogers." And then Bucky, who I'm still in awe of. "Barnes."

The corner of his lip turns upwards. "Morgan."

Peggy and I leave the office and as we walk down the hall she lets out a breath of relief. "Thank you for being the bigger person."

"Well someone had to be, an with witnesses he could hardly refuse."

She nods before remarking "Barnes doesn't give up easily does he?"

"No, he doesn't," I sigh considering that he put himself and his reputation on the line to defend me. To fight for me. "He wouldn't be alive if he did."

It's then I stop in my tracks, remembering what else I'd seen in that lab.

"Ada?"

"When I found him in that lab I saw a map on the wall with marked Hydra factories. Can you bring me somewhere I can mark those down for you."

"Yes, certainly," she says and we make hast. "Steve told me earlier that Barnes said they were shipping resources out to a larger base, but we haven't been able to locate it."

"Then get me a map and let's see what we can come up with," I say and Steve arrives to the main operations room not long after us with Phillips in tow. Although Bucky is unfortunately missing.

"Private Morgan's informed me that she'd seen a map marked with Hydra factories when they liberated the prisoners," Peggy explains as I get to work, more familiar with the terrain than any of them.

"Sergeant Barnes said that Hydra shipped all the parts to a facility that isn't on this map," Steve adds, but I have other worries.

"Yes, although my primary concern is the nature of the experiments Zola was conducting on the men," I state, able to get to work now I've put by spite aside. "Barnes was the only one who survived experimentation, and my concern is that Zola will continue using prisoners of war as test subjects within these other factories. Has Howard identified the technology they used in their weapons?"

"He's working on it," Phillips says and looks at me. "If you have any additional intelligence regarding Hydra operations that you have not yet shared with us Private, then now is the time to speak up."

"My experimentation was done with two objectives; formulating a serum suited for the body of a female agent, which Erskine had successfully done while he was Schmidt's captive, and then employing various methods to break the mind beyond psychological conditioning in order to make the subject vulnerable to mind control. Until 41 it was a joint program between Hydra and the Red Room, but the Soviet Union withdrew its participation when Hitler attacked."

"I think it goes without saying that they didn't succeed in the latter with you," Phillips remarks and Steve's face is grave.

"Whilst there was evidence of torture I couldn't find anything to indicate what experimentation was taking place," I'm reluctant to admit. "Zola left in a hurry and any research was taken with him."

Phillips nods and looks at Steve "Has Barnes said anything to add to that."

He shakes his head. "No Sir, they tortured him but it's not like they ever stopped to tell him why, and even if they did... I don't think he'd remember it."

"Give him time, memories will likely resurface in the next few weeks," I advise from personal experience. "He's been through an ordeal, there's no point picking at those wounds when I doubt he'd be able to provide further insight."

Steve gives an appreciative nod and Phillips instructs "Agent Carter, coordinate with MI6. I want every allied eyeball looking for that main Hydra base."

"What about us?"

"We are going to set a fire under Johann Schmidt's ass," Phillips says and stops when he sees the smile that plays at my mouth. "You have something to add, Private?"

"Just that I already did that in the literal sense," I say a little too proudly. "Between the three of us we left him with a few bullets and slash wounds but that serum sure as hell does its job well." Although I taste the bitterness on my tongue at just how unprepared I was for it. "Which is why we need to kill him."

Phillips looks between Steve and I in reluctance, and then resignation. "Alright then, what do you two say? Rogers, do you think you'll be able to wipe Hydra off that map?"

"Yes Sir," he says without a moment's hesitation. "I'll need a team."

"We're already putting together the best men."

"With all due respect Sir, so am I," Steve says and immediately I know that's where Bucky's disappeared to. "And-"

"Yes, I'm aware that you want her on it," Phillips says and I'm not the only one sacrificing their dignity today as he finally caves. "If it was up to me alone I'd agree, but to put a woman in the field in that capacity will require government approval." We stand steadfast and he sighs "I'll make a few calls, see what I can do."

"Thank you, Sir," Steve and I both say before he leaves us and Peggy squeezes my hand reassuringly.

"See, at this rate you'll finally get given the rank of agent even if you'll be operating in a limited capacity," she says and I look at Steve in a newfound respect.

"Thank you," I say to him. "For defending me."

He nods and returns it. "Thank you for jumping out of that plane with me."

"Hey, like I said, you don't have to thank me for doing my job," I tell him. "I just hope that it won't be the last time we're in the field together."

"Likewise," he says and when he's called away I turn back to Peggy, knowing there's one more person I need to thank after her.

"The men are going out to the pub tonight aren't they?"

"I would certainly assume so, yes," she answers and I make a contemplative sound.

"I don't suppose they brought the USO things back from the front?" I inquire since there's a dress or two there that I don't mind amongst all the pinup costumes. "I owe someone a dance."