[ WWII AU ] a ghost story

[from_the_outside]

It's been almost two years since she's been home, and little by little, the grief has gotten easier to live with.

It hasn't gone away. But she's able to focus on her job, watch movies, chat with friends, sleep most nights. She still dreams about him, but the dreams are tinged with wistful longing and only sometimes does she wake up with tears on her cheeks. She can't have his picture out in this apartment, Kate's apartment, but it's safe in the mountain house, along with his last letter to her, and she has a scan on her phone to look at when the long day is over and she's in bed, the stars from the lamp he'd given her filling her dark room.

Steve has helped, more than she could ever explain, and she hopes she's helped him in return. Aside from a few deeply classified missions here and there, they haven't worked together all that much, but she still sees him almost every day. In the halls, she's undercover as his mild-mannered neighbor, Kate, but in her secure apartment they can talk over anything, everything.

And it works. Every day is a little easier. They lean on each other when they need to, and they spend hours remembering and reminiscing about Bucky, talking shop, chatting about how Steve's fitting into the future. It's nice. She still misses Bucky, an ache that never really goes away, but they can both breathe through it, work through it, live through it.

She's on her way up from the basement laundry machines when she hears a familiar step in the hall, and has to smile to herself – first her own, then Kate's sweeter, more open one. "Hey, neighbor."

Comments

[marvel_npc]

She finds his phone and a second phone, which she considers for a few moments before destroying both. The intel would be good, but they'll just have to coax Sitwell to give up anything they need, and the risk of being tracked is far too high otherwise.

"Better back up a step," she advises Sam. Sitwell's eyes widen in alarm. "What? No! We had a deal--" He breaks off there with a gargling sound as she flicks one of her Widow Bites at his chest and watches sparks crackle over him, dancing across his lapel pin before fading out.

[from_the_outside]

Sitwell shrieks and shudders, then falls limp and silent, and Sharon sighs. "We'll need a car to get him back to base."

[marvel_npc]

"Not a problem," Nat assures her. "There's a garage in the basement of this building."

"You are one scary lady sometimes," Sam observes. He looks like he's struggling not to laugh, and she beams a cheerful smile at him.

[from_the_outside]

A smile of her own quirks at her lips. "Alright," she agrees. "Then let's pack up and get the hell out of here."

[marvel_npc]

* * * * *

In the time the team's been gone, Fury's managed to coax as much information out of Rogers as he thinks the man has to give, enough to have a better sense of just how well and truly fucked they are.

Alexander Pierce is HYDRA. How many others on the World Security Council are? Just how deep does the corruption run? Is there a way to rip it out at the roots and strangle it without destroying SHIELD in the process?

There has to be. Hopefully whatever Romanoff and Thirteen bring back will help. He's brooding over the problem, pretending to follow doctor's orders to rest by leaning back against the bed, when he hears a flurry of something at the outer door.

No one moves like Steve Rogers, he has to admit that. The man's across the room and into the hall like a shot... and then he comes back in and holds the door open for the trouble twins, who drag Jasper Sitwell in, with Sam Wilson bringing up the rear.

Fury feels his eyebrows rise skyward. "Is this a present or a problem?"

[from_the_outside]

"Nick," Sharon says, wounded. "Please. We brought you your favorite thing: intel, in the form of a spineless turncoat."

She and Nat shove Sitwell the rest of the way into the room. Sharon dusts her hands and sets them on her hips. "The bad news is that HYDRA is utilizing an algorithm to pre-emptively identify anyone who might ever be a threat to them. They'll use the Insight carriers to wipe them all out."

Her jaw sets. "And the helicarriers are set to launch in less than sixteen hours."

[marvel_npc]

The look Rogers gives him practically shouts "I told you so," but at least the man has the decency to not say it aloud. Instead, he says, "Then we've got to stop that launch."

"Unfortunately, I don't think the Council's taking my calls any more," Fury drawls. "Not to mention trying to delay the launch is what got me shot in the first place. They're not going to do it just because we ask nice."

[from_the_outside]

"Gee, if only we had a bunch of people around who are way past asking nicely," Sharon says, dry.

[marvel_npc]

"There's that." Fury trades a look with Hill. She leaves the room as he turns his eye on Sitwell, who shifts uncomfortably before raising his chin to stare defiantly back at him.

"Now would be a good time for you to start talking," Fury says, mildly.

"Why? So you and your thugs can judge me for choosing a better way?" Sitwell lashes back. "I'm not going to defend myself to the likes of you."

[from_the_outside]

"Careful, there, Jasper," Sharon warns. "We can still choose to leave you out in the open for Pierce and his cronies to find. Think they'll be lenient, when they find out how fast you spilled your guts?"

[marvel_npc]

"A better way." Each word is quiet, but clear. Steve studies Sitwell, taking in every detail of how he's holding himself. "Is that what you think this is?"

"It's not the same as back when you were fighting, Cap," Sitwell lashes out. "The world's a violent, bloody mess that's busy tearing itself apart. HYDRA's the only one that's got the guts to do what has to be done to stop it, even if it takes a few precision strikes and some acceptable losses." He waves a hand at Fury. "Hell, even he'd call that a fair price to pay to protect the rest! Wouldn't you?"

"No. I wouldn't. What you're talking about is wholesale murder and slaughter of the very people we're supposed to protect, in the name of power and control," Steve says. "That's not acceptable. It never will be. I've never stopped fighting to prevent that, and I never will."

[from_the_outside]

"Shut up," Sharon tells Sitwell, vicious. "Don't even pretend you think this is a better way. Be honest: the only benefit you can see to HYDRA being in power is that maybe you'll be on top, for a change. Right? But you were never going work your way up the ranks, Sitwell. You're nothing to them. And they'll kill you without blinking if we decide to let them."

[marvel_npc]

"They'll kill you first," Sitwell spits. "You really think we weren't tracked? It won't take long for the asset to get here from downtown. And then we'll all be dead."

"Wait." Steve stares at him in shock. "You know where he is?"

[from_the_outside]

"What's it matter?" Sitwell bluffs at him, attempting to be tough. "He'll come for you anyway."

"But we could go to him, first," Sharon murmurs, glancing over at Steve.

[marvel_npc]

“Are you insane?” Sitwell stares at Sharon, open-mouthed. “Do you want to die? You—-urk”

He chokes a little, scrabbling to push himself away as Steve strides across the floor and twists his hands into his shirt, lifting him into the air so he can glare at him eye to eye. “Where is he??”

[from_the_outside]

"The bank!" Sitwell gurgles, his bluster deserting him. "Under the, the Ideal Federal Savings Bank! That's where they're keeping him!"

[marvel_npc]

“Keeping him?”

He doesn’t wait for Sitwell to answer. Steve drops him to the floor in a heap, already turning toward the exit, mind racing.

“Captain Rogers.” Fury’s voice is sharp. “Let’s not go off half cocked here.”

[from_the_outside]

She can feel the tension thrumming off him without even touching him. "If we're going to get him, take down Pierce, and stop the helicarriers, we need a plan," she says, quiet.

"And we need you, Steve. I know – I know. You know I do. But we have to be smart about this."

[marvel_npc]

He lets out a shaking breath, and nods to Sharon. She’s right, he knows it, and Bucky would be the first to agree.

“Then let’s make one,” he says, as Hill comes back into the room carrying a black case. Fury beckons to her and waits for her to set it down on the table beside him before he snaps it open and raises the lid to reveal three computer chips of some kind.

“If we can get these into the helicarrier command systems, we can take over control.”

[from_the_outside]

"I might be able to sneak in," Sharon offers. "Undercover, as a HYDRA operative."

Saying it again leaves a bad taste in her mouth, but if they can do this quietly, they'll have a better chance of success. "But if those helicarriers launch, Steve and Sam are probably our best options for accessing them."

[marvel_npc]

"If those helicarriers launch, we have until they reach an altitude of three thousand feet," Hill informs them. "At that point they'll synchronize with the targeting satellites. If we haven't stopped them by then..." She doesn't finish. There's no need.

Fury eyes Sharon. "We have to assume every single person on those boats is HYDRA," he points out. "You sure you can pass inspection, Thirteen?"

[from_the_outside]

She gives him a level look. "Are you questioning my ability to go undercover, Nick?"

[marvel_npc]

He holds her gaze. "I'm not questioning your skill, agent, I'm questioning the likelihood that your colleagues will buy it based on what they know of you."

He doesn't mention her aunt. He's well aware that she keeps her connection to Peggy Carter quiet, and why, but the point stands.

[from_the_outside]

She exhales, explosive, and crosses her arms.

He has a point, and she knows it, but she doesn't have to like it. "I don't know."

[marvel_npc]

"Setting that part aside for the moment," Fury says. "Work the problem. What would you propose to do if you got in?"