[ 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

[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?"

[from_the_outside]

"Find some way to get everyone else access that doesn't involve explosions and gunfire," she says, frustrated.

"I'm making this up as I go, Nick. But it seems to me it's be useful to have someone on the inside."

[marvel_npc]

"Can't argue that. The more the merrier, in fact." Fury glances around at them all, then lets his eye rest on Nat. "The Council members are coming in for the launch. If we get you a veil, think you could mimic Hawley well enough to pass?"

Nat's smile is bright. "Easily."

Fury nods. "That'd give us Thirteen in the bay, Romanoff with the council, and both Rogers and Wilson standing by for the swap and as air support. If we handle it right, we can take them down quietly and then maybe, just maybe, we can salvage what's left."

Steve stares at him in disbelief. "Salvage? We're not salvaging anything. We're not just taking down Insight, Nick. We're taking down SHIELD."

[from_the_outside]

Everyone turns to look at him. A faint ringing noise begins in Sharon's ears. She stares at him, disbelieving. "Everything?"

True, SHIELD has been compromised. They need to burn HYDRA out at the root, but... "Steve – "

But she doesn't know what else to say. What is there? The very idea is impossible. Even thinking about it is like running face first into a brick wall.

[marvel_npc]

"Everything. It all has to go." His heart aches, knowing how much SHIELD means to her; knowing what it means to her to be following in her aunt's footsteps, how she's dedicated her life to what SHIELD means.

What it was supposed to mean, anyway. What it apparently hasn't meant for longer than any of them had ever guessed.

"We know the rot goes all the way to the top, and we don't know how far it's spread, but it's a lot. How many people are working in those helicarrier bays? How many HYDRA agents are scattered across the world, trying to destroy it with SHIELD's protection and support?" He swings to pin Fury with a sharp look. "How long has this been going on under your nose without you noticing?"

Fury glares at him. "Why the hell do you think we're meeting in this cave? I noticed."

Steve shakes his head. "And how many paid the price before you did? No. It ends now. SHIELD, HYDRA, it all goes."

But even as he says it, he turns back to Sharon. "I'm sorry. But you know it's the right thing to do."

[from_the_outside]

He holds her gaze, and because it's Steve, she doesn't have to try to explain. He knows. SHIELD has been her whole life, her career and her purpose. What she'll do when it's gone, she has no idea.

But he's right. She can't hide from that truth, no matter how much she wants to.

Sharon takes a deep, shaky breath, and nods. "I know."

Her voice is quiet, but determined. "I'm with you, Steve. No matter... no matter what."