Chapter Text
Steve Rogers entered the tent of Colonel Phillips to report about the mission he and the Howling commandos just finished. He had been looking forward to this moment since the mission started. This moment meant that their mission was over. He had to shower twice to get rid of the smell of the last Hydra lab they got into. He did not want to smell so terribly when reporting. He would feel as a fool if he admitted to himself that he was looking forward to the reporting so much that his heartbeat was stronger and louder even when he just thought about it. This moment also meant that he deserved a little treat. Treat in the form of meeting Agent Carter. This moment also meant that he deserved a little treat. Treat in the form of meeting Agent Carter. The smile she gave him every time he entered the tent made him want to go on another mission – just to meet her again. In all his honesty, the report to the colonel was not the main reason why he opened the tent so happily.
Phillips was sitting at his desk, drinking coffee, and reading some papers. He looked up and gestured to him to sit down. Steve looked around but realized that the seat which was usually occupied by Agent Carter was free and that the table was cleaned. Only an old typewriter was put there, but no folders or papers around it.
“Sit down, Rogers, what are you waiting for?” Grunted Phillips.
Steve sat down nervously. His previous excitement faded away and he felt as if he forgot everything he should mention about their mission.
The colonel finished the paper, put it aside and looked at Rogers. He spotted the disappointment in his face. Even though he felt a little annoyed by that, he decided not to make fun of Rogers. God knows that he suffered a lot without him.
“She is gone,” he explained.
“Gone?” Steve looked surprised.
“She is an Agent. Do you really think that her main job is to train new recruits? It was her punishment. She did a few stupid decisions the last time she was outside. It almost cost her her life. They decided that she needed to relax a little bit before going to spy on Hydra. That’s why she was here. And when the project Rebirth died with Dr. Erskine… she was given a mission.”
“Oh, I see.” He could not show his disappointment. He also did not feel calmer at all after what the colonel just said.
“So?” Colonel asked.
“Sir?”
“I believe you are here to report on the mission.”
“Oh, of course…” Steve started the report. Even though he was speaking, his mind was racing somewhere else. When he finished, he was told to leave. He stood up and then stopped in the tent opening for a few seconds as if hesitant.
“What it is, son?”
“May… May I just ask when will Agent Carter be back?”
“When the work is done. We can’t really plan the spy missions as well as yours. She will be back once she infiltrates the Hydra group, once she finds out everything needed, once she finds a way how to get out of there safely.”
Steve nodded and was about to leave when he stopped again.
“What is it now?” the colonel was losing his patience.
“Sir, can I just ask you… may I… may I leave a letter for Agent? So, once she came back, she could read it?”
“Do I look like a bloody post office?”
“No sir, no, sorry, I did not mean to suggest, it’s just… I do not know who else I might trust in this camp.” He said defeatedly.
“You can trust no one, Rogers.” He looked annoyed but then added, “OK Rogers. Leave it to me. But do not get used to it. Do you understand?”
“Of course, sir! I will give it to you tomorrow. Thanks.” He was leaving the tent when Phillips shouted after him: “You better get some sleep. Leave the letter to tomorrow. I am not going anywhere.”
The following mission was followed by the second one and the third one in a row. They did not see anyone from the base for almost a month, they did not hear a word from them. They only reported to some agents that were sent after them to collect the intel and left them without knowing anything else than the new mission's whereabouts.
After a month they finally arrived at the camp. Steve took a quick shower and then went to give his report. He straightened up when he started towards the central tent, realizing, that maybe she was finally there. Was it possible for an agent to get from the mission in a month? But then he realized that he really did not know when did her mission start because he did not ask Phillips. He aimed at the central tent. When he went in, the general noise stopped at once. Everyone looked at him. Most of them smiled some people started to clap. Colonel Phillips, who was bending over a large map, straightened up and looked at him. He looked tired and stressed. The sparkle in his eyes that Steve got used to, disappeared.
Phillips went to him, jerked his head towards the tent opening and almost barked “Follow me.” They left the tent. The colonel followed a path that led out of the camp. When they were so far that they could not be heard nor seen, he stopped abruptly.
“I know who you want to ask about. I do not know where she is.”
“Sir? I thought that she was on a mission…”
“Yes, she was. But where she is now, I have no idea. When we have our spies on missions, we control them. They get us information continuously. But we lost the connection with her about two weeks back. We do not know what happened.”
“And what is the plan now, sir? Will there be any rescue mission?”
“No,” he said gravely.
“What? How can’t …”
“Listen to me, son. This is the true work of agents. They are alone in it. If something happens, it’s up to them to get out of the trouble. There is no backup, and they know it. Just think of it. We can’t just run into the Hydra base and ask about them if we lose contact. It’s up to them.” He said it heavily and Steve realized that he, Steve, was not the only one who worried about her.
“But sir. If we do it very carefully. If we follow the path, she went…”
“We can’t spare anyone now, Rogers.”
“We do not let any man behind, sir.” He almost shouted. He could hardly control his voice.
“You know, there is one old joke. It’s not really a joke but that’s what being an agent really is. They say that they are not left behind, because they are always in the front. And if something goes wrong, they can be picked up on the way. It’s a stupid philosophy, but it happens sometimes. Sometimes an agent is caught by the enemy and then found by us… But we do not know if she had been caught, Rogers. We must just trust her and wait.” He turned on his heel and aimed for the camp.
Steve was looking after him, still processing what he found out a few moments ago. He was worried sick for her. He was a good man, a good soldier who always obeyed orders. Now, however, he knew only one thing. He does not leave his man behind.
Colonel Phillips was marching towards the central camp. He was worried about Agent Carter more than was appropriate for a man of his position. He hoped that she was still alive. He hated the fact that he could not do anything. He would disobey orders if he sent Rogers after her. However, he had faith in him. If anyone had a chance to find her, it was the Howling commandos. He was sure that if they were not given the plan for the next mission immediately, they would go for a search. He arrived at his table, looked at the folder including the intel about the next Hydra base the Howling commando should attack, and put it into the second drawer. It can wait.