𝗀 𝗁 𝗈 𝗌 𝗍 | | 𝗌 𝗍 𝖾 𝗏 𝖾 𝗋 𝗈 𝗀 𝖾 𝗋 𝗌

𝗍 𝗐 𝖾 𝗇 𝗍 𝗒 － 𝗍 𝗐 𝗈

⍟ 𝟣𝟫𝟦𝟧, 𝗅𝗈𝗇𝖽𝗈𝗇, 𝖾𝗇𝗀𝗅𝖺𝗇𝖽 ⍟

MARTA BLINKED HER EYES OPEN, finding herself in a white room, filled with medical devices. She assumed it was the hospital ward of the SSR. There was a seady beating of a heartbeat monitor, and an IV was attached to her right hand. She looked to her left, nearly jumping out of her skin when she saw Howard sitting there, reading a newspaper.

"Morning, sunshine." Howard folded up his paper, offering Marta a smile. She rolled her eyes.

"I'm not feeling very sunny. My chest hurts." Marta said, coughing. Howard handed her a glass of water, helping her to lean forward and swallow.

Howard put the glass back on the side table. "You inhaled a lot of smoke. The doctors say it's mostly out of your system now." He explained, being mindful of his words. He didn't want to set her off.

It all came back to Marta again. She extended her hand out to her bedside table, reaching for the dog tags she had spotted. Marta sighed, her hands shaking as she read Bucky's name on the tags. "I'm guessing this wasn't just an elaborate dream?" Marta said, lifting her head gently from her pillow to pull Bucky's tags onto her neck, right with her own.

"The Commandos recovered Thomas's body. He died. Steve was the one who found you. Morita and Dugan said he'd never looked so concerned or scared in all the time they had known him." Howard explained, and Marta closed her eyes, a tear slipping down her cheek.

"Jamie?" She asked. Howard knew she was talking about Bucky.

"K.I.A. Zola was captured. You and Haskett ended up stopping the train. This is a win, Marta." Howard said.

Marta opened her eyes. "No, it's not. A win at the expense of comrades, and friends, and innocent people isn't a win at all. We lost that mission, Howard." She said sternly, unaware of the harshness of her tone.

Howard nodded, staying quiet for a few moments, allowing Marta to calm down. "I'm sorry. You're right." He said, glancing away from his friend.

Marta sighed, hand on her brother's tags. "No, Howard, I'm sorry. Thank you for being here." She said, and Howard gave her a soft smile.

"You're going to be out of here this afternoon. Peggy and Steve just left about an hour ago." Howard said, and Marta looked over at him again.

"Steve was here?" Marta questioned, surprised. Things were not good between Steve and Marta, and they hadn't been for weeks. But it shouldn't have surprised Marta that Steve had stayed with her.

Howard smirked, sitting back in his chair. "Are you surprised? You've got that poor guy wrapped around your pinky finger, Miss Marta." He winked, and Marta rolled her eyes, taking a drink of water again.

She looked down at Bucky's dog tags. "No, I'm not surprised."

When Marta was released from the hospital ward, the first thing she did was look for Steve. Marta was afraid of what she would do if she were left alone, and she knew Steve needed someone. They were more distant than ever before now, but Marta and Steve needed each other. They just did.

Marta changed into her military uniform, ignoring Peggy telling her she didn't have to. She needed her routine back. Marta simply brushed her hair, leaving it long against her shoulders as she set out to find Steve. London had been hit hard by the Nazis, but Marta found Steve in the abandoned building that was once The Stork Club. Marta hadn't been there since she told Steve she couldn't marry him.

Steve was sitting at the destroyed bar, drinking alcohol. Sure, if he tried, he might be able to become intoxicated, but he wasn't trying. He was simply heartbroken. Bucky was gone. His best friend, the one who was always there for him. He was gone, and Steve blamed himself. What was worse for Steve was that he didn't have Marta by his side. He had lost her.

Marta worked her way into the bar, stepping over rubble and ducking under hanging pieces as she joined Steve at the last standing table. She pulled up a chair across from him and grabbed a glass, pouring herself a large drink. It was quiet as Marta downed the alcohol, neither knowing what to say. Steve was crying, and Marta was too. The silence was peaceful, besides the radio going off in the background.

"Trying to see if you can get drunk?" Marta asked after a few moments, sipping her third glass of vodka.

Steve shrugged. "I don't think so." He said quietly, his voice wavering.

Marta nodded. "Good." She finished the vodka and poured another glass.

"Why is that good?" Steve questioned, not even bothering to wipe away his tears. He knew Marta was crying all the same.

Marta paused, staring straight at Steve. "I don't want you to be like me." Her voice cracked, and Steve's heart clenched. He didn't care how angry he was at Marta, or how things didn't work out in their favor anymore. Marta was the one who was with him, and he was glad that she was.

Steve looked up at Marta, reaching for her hand. He intertwined their fingers when he grabbed it. Marta began to cry harder. Forgiveness. Can you imagine? Marta wiped her eyes, squeezing Steve's hand gently. "I'm sorry that I couldn't save Buck." Steve whispered, drinking his liquor.

"I know. I'm sorry I didn't find him." Marta said, feeling Steve's gaze on her. He noticed the dog tags she wore on her neck.

"I know," Steve said, thumb instinctively brushing over Marta's caloused hand. Marta let him. She missed the feeling, but she knew she didn't deserve to. She's the one who told him no. Steve reached into his pocket, pulling out a set of dog tags. He placed them in front of Marta. "Falsworth and Jones recovered these from Thomas's body. You and his family should have them."

Marta picked up the tags, letting Steve's hand go. She wiped her eyes, tucking the tags into her pocket. They would go to Elizabeth. "Why did you visit me in the hospital? I was awful to you, Steve. I left you standing alone in front of all of our friends and family. I don't deserve it." She asked suddenly, looking at a dejected Steve.

His answer was simple, and needed no hesitation or thought. "Because I love you. I've always loved you, and I don't think I'll ever stop loving you. And you deserve the world, Marta. I'm just sorry I couldn't give it to you." Steve said, sniffling. He wiped some of his tears, as more fell from Marta's eyes.

Marta swallowed more vodka, wincing as the alcohol burned her throat. "I love you, too, Steve. But I can't focus on that right now. I have to go after Schmidt."

Steve almost chuckled. "And you think I would talk you out of it?" He asked, drinking from his own glass.

"You often do." Marta shrugged.

Steve poured them both more of their drinks. "Not this time. As long as you're feeling up to it." He said.

Marta raised her glass. "I'm always up to shooting at the enemy." Steve let a hint of a smile cross his features, as he met Marta's glass with his own.

"To taking down Hydra." Steve proposed.

"Amen, good sir." Marta downed her glass at the same time as Steve, inhaling sharply before she stood up.

"Off to make some more explosives?" Steve asked. He knew Marta so well.

She smiled, putting her hand on Steve's shoulder as she passed him. "Be careful with the drinking. Come find me if you need me." Marta said gently.

Steve nodded. "I don't need you. Don't blow yourself up." He said, and Marta sighed, walking out of the bar. It was different. They were different. Marta would have to get used to it.

⍟