A Serum a Day Keeps the Fine Doctor Away

"Another."

Howl was offered another glass of scotch. She downed the drink already feeling the buzz hitting her. She had been sitting alone in the private bar for a while. She glared down at the leftover ice in her glass. Poking at it with a tooth pick.

"Why so mellow, dear?" a man chuckled smoothly as he claimed the seat next to her.

"Hello, Howard." She greeted.

He ordered what she had for himself and studied her state, "You're scoring for a hangover when you ship out tomorrow?"

She shook her head, "I'm not going with the 107th, apparently the good scientist found his applicant for project rebirth."

His eyebrows shot up in surprise, sipping his drink as he spoke, "Well that is certainly good news."

She rolled her eyes, "Why is it that everyone in the SSR but me thinks it's a good idea?"

Howard pushed his glass away and sighed. He was one of the very few people who knew how traumatized she was at what happened in Germany. Her eyes displayed the horrors and he could almost see what had happened to her if he stared into her cold green eyes long enough.

"Howl..." He said softly, "This is not going to be anything like what you went through in Germany and I promise you... No.." He shook his head and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Peggy, Abraham, and I promise you that nothing bad will happened to you or the applicant."

She wanted to believe him. She really did. She placed her hand over his and looked at him, "Sometimes... I wish I was never born with this."

Howard gave her a soft smile, "It's a gift, Howl." He stood up and adjusted his jacket, "Will you be there at the exhibition?"

She laughed, "No, I'm already sick at looking at you."

"You're breaking my heart, woman." He smiled slyly as he started toward the door, "You better be there at the after party, then!" And with that he was gone. Howl shook her head and rubbed her eyes. A gift they say. Perhaps, it can be. A gift that brings unfortunate to her and others. Adding Steven Grant Rogers to that list.

-=-

"Ow!"

A needle pricked her arm and the nurse jumped at her sudden shout. Howl was silent up until this point and the nurse was afraid she was taking blood from an intoxicated individual. Dr. Erskine stepped into his lab and heard Howl's sudden singing voice.

"Blue Moooooooon," she slurred, "Now I'm no longer alone!"

Abraham gave her an annoyed expression knowing well enough that her regenerative super human healing would just make her sober up quickly. Judging the time he took her away from Howard's silly party. It only took about thirty minutes for the alcohol to wear off. Using the bathroom three times, it took a few minutes.

"Without a dream in my heart." She sang stupidly glaring at him, "Without a love of my own."

They both jumped at Peggy's sudden intrusion. She looked angry. Really angry.

"What on earth were you thinking?" Peggy shouted sounding like a mother scolding her daughter for bad behavior.

"It's Howard's birthday!"

Peggy shook her head checking the blood flow from the tube that stuck out from Howl's arm, "You sure she's not intoxicated?" she asked Abraham, ignoring Howl, and stopped the process of taking blood out of Howl.

"Howl can drink all of Germany's liquor and sober up within an hour." Abraham answered, "She's perfectly fine, aren't you, Howl?"

She rolled her eyes, "Perfekt."

"Dr. Erskine, can you please excuse us?" Peggy asked kindly. Abraham looked at Howl and nodded, "I'll be outside."

As soon as he left Peggy turned to her and sighed, "This isn't the first time you've been difficult but damn it, Howl, we've worked so hard to get this project going-"

"And for what?" Howl cut her off, "I'm tired, Peggy."

Peggy opened her mouth to speak again but Howl shook her head and continued, "I'm tired of running. I'm tired of HYDRA and this bloody war!" Howl shook from her seat. These emotions she suppressed were slipping out from her eyes. Maybe drinking wasn't a good idea. Peggy's face had soften and she sat next to Howl.

"That's what we are doing." Peggy whispered, "That serum we created, your blood being one of the key ingredients, it's our only hope to take down HYDRA and end it all."

Howl sniffed and wiped her eyes.

"And the soldier. If he makes it through, he'll lead the way to victory."

Howl looked at her and replayed the sentence. If. They were still unsure. How can they proceed with this? Hasn't anyone learned from what Germany has done? What had happened to Schmidt?

Howl cried again, "Have you seen this soldier?"

Peggy blinked at her, "Dr. Erskine told me he found him at the exhibition recruitment center. I only saw his file. He's a sickly young man named-"

"Rogers." Howl finished.

"You know him?" Peggy asked.

"I fixed his broken wrist." She looked at her.

Peggy knew that look. Howl knew the dangers and risks for showing off what she was capable of doing. Howl has an incredible knowledge of medicine how to help someone without using her ability to heal someone that quickly and only if it was necessary. Showing off to this random kid from Brooklyn was something Peggy did not understand and she trusted Howl to have her reasons.

"I could fix more." Howl whispered, "He doesn't have to go through the vital rays."

Peggy stood up and looked at her, "Get some rest, Howl."

If only she could. Dr. Erskine came inside and helped her up to her room. She dreamed of the night she first witnessed the vital rays being used. So many men have died. Only one survived. That was Johan Schmidt. He was always so fascinated with Howl's powers. He believed he could possess it. She knew he wanted to do more and it made her feel sick. This was no gift. It's a curse. That is how she came to know Abraham, then they had different names. Well he did, she was only labelled. She knew Schmidt would be after her one day. If anyone knew what she was capable of, they would believe she could almost never die. Why hadn't he found her yet? Howl had overheard his search for this great power. He already has her powers and more running through his veins. Now he's reaching to be God.

She sat up from her bed and gasped, "We're in trouble."

-=-

Early in the morning, she sat next to Dr. Erskine on a ride to the boot camp. In front of them is a man who saved both their lives in Germany.

"Well, Howl, I'm aware of what HYDRA has been planning to do." Colonel Phillips said flipping through some pages of a report, "I don't know why you're so freaked out about it now."

"Colonel, doesn't seem strange? This is all going smoothly." Howl leaned forward to his ear, "What if they know?"

"Howl, you're overly paranoid and it's scaring me." Colonel shrugged her off, "And we've already thought of that. Can't you have a little faith in us that we covered yours and Dr. Erskine tracks so well?"

Howl huffed sitting back and crossing her arms. Dr. Erskine rolled his eyes at her childishness, "For a woman your age, you certainly act like a seven year old."

"Maybe that's my mentality." She told him.

"I wouldn't doubt it." He chuckled.

The colonel turned back to look at her, "Though it may be the case, if you know anything fishy, you report back."

"Is this a case for me?"

"It is now, doctor." The colonel confirmed it and sat back in his seat looking out for the new recruits.

She gave him a confused look and back at Dr. Erskine who had shrugged and smiled at her. Back before she was captured, she knows a decent knowledge of being a soldier but being a medic was the main thing for her. Then she was Dr. Erskine's and SSR's lab rodent. Now they're giving her a chance to be something else. She wondered if Peggy had something to do with it. Speaking of which, Peggy was in clear view now with the new recruits. We pulled up near them and suddenly she socked someone's face.

Howl couldn't help but laugh and Colonel gave her a look before stepping out of the vehicle, "Agent Carter." he called.

"Colonel Phillips." She straightened out.

"I can see you're breaking in the candidates, that's good." The colonel walked forward to the soldier who was on the floor, "Get your ass up out of that dirt and stand in line for attention till someone tells you what to do."

Howl walked alongside Dr. Erskine and stared at the troops. Only one of them will be chosen to be the new breed of super soldier. She cringed at the term new breed. All this is just sending her down to memory lane. One soldier caught her eye and that was Steve Rogers. She knew he would be here but it still surprised her to see him here. When his blue eyes met with hers, she saw the look of recognition and gave him a half-smile and a wink.

At the end of this week, she may or may never see him again. She covered up any trace of worry and walked with Dr. Erskine and Phillips.

"Now, Howl," the colonel caught her attention, "As we look at the new recruits, I want you to investigate." He turned to face her completely, "Out of all of us you know how this son of a bitch thinks and if you want to stretch your legs out of the lab, you best cover up this project's tracks."

She glared at him, "You're threatening my freedom?" She knew he was talking about Schmidt but to make her do something just to get out of...She growled. She is not a damn animal.

"I'm trying to help save your ass from HYDRA. As soon as we get our super-soldier no one will think twice in getting their hands on you." The colonel nodded to her temporary tent, "You're dismissed."

She shook her head in disbelief. She looked at the recruits and gritted her teeth. This couldn't be the price for freedom. This was not just Steve but none of those men deserve this. There was nothing she could do. What can she do? She can't undergo a fight with everyone. She was an army doctor for god sakes. She sighed in frustration and head back. She decided to at least figure out if HYDRA wasn't near her. That should take some weight off of her shoulders.

-=-

It was almost the end of the week but of course knowing Dr. Erskine's full intent there was no other soldier he wanted but Steve. Despite colonel Phillips protest, his decision was final. Howl knew Abraham deep down was a good man. He saved her life despite everything. He never wanted to abuse her power for Schmidt in the first place. Now he had a different mindset. After every reminder that this project will be different than the one before still won't go past Howl. It's not just this second trial. It was the fact that it'll get everyone's attention and not everyone has a good heart like Dr. Erskine. Most of the people she had run into throughout her life, they are more related to Schmidt.

Howl watched the recruits run laps. She couldn't help but chuckle at Steve trying hard to catch up. Those in the lead were already going for their next lap and about to pass Steve. She figured she paid a visit to her new companion and jog at his pace. She noticed him slowing down and trying hard to breath. Almost stopping one of the guys ran into him and pushed Steve to the ground. The rest laughed as they ran around passed him. Steve reached for something in his pocket and Howl noticed it was an inhaler. One who was about to pass him kicked it out of his hands and received laughter from the rest of them. Howl stuck her arm out and clothes-lined the soldier making every one of them shut up. She made her way to Steve, doctor mode now on and sat him up.

"Steve, have your chin up," she commanded him and placed one hand in the back of his neck and the other on his chest. "Now breathe in." She breathed in with him and he struggled at first but he was able to take in some air, "And out." She breathed out and he did the same. "Again." He breathed with her and realized how easy the air was entering his lungs. He looked into her eyes and noticed they looked more golden than ever. His heart rate returned back to normal and his lungs don't feel as restricted as they used to. He was breathing more air now. He wondered if she actually got rid of his asthma. She smiled at him and stood up, offering him a hand. He gladly took it and looked up to her, "Thanks."

"You're a magnet for trouble." She smirked.

"And you're still impossible." He remarked back and shook his head, "I don't understand how you do it."

Howl was about to speak but Agent Carter came by with another solider who snitched what happened. She looked at the two, "Everything alright?"

"Just doing what a good medic would do." Howl said as she showed Peggy the inhaler and handed over to Steve. He didn't even know that she got it. He looked around to see that the recruits were staring and remembered the promise he made to Howl.

"I had an asthma attack." Steve admitted, "Dr. Howl retrieved my inhaler in time."

Peggy smiled at him and eyed her suspiciously, "Good." she looked at the rest, "Get back to your laps." All of them gave her a 'yes, ma'am' and carried on. Peggy looked to Howl still trying to figure out why. And to be honest, Howl had no idea either.

"So you have him covering up for you as well?" she questioned Howl as they walked away from the recruits.

"If you must know, I saved a friend of his, who I am acquainted with, and well I didn't expect them two to appear in my office out of the blue." Howl explained to her with a shrug, "I don't know what you want me to say."

"The fact that we're trying to keep you under radar and you're out there showing off to the world."

"That's the thing, Peggy." Howl stopped in front of her, "I don't think me and those recruits are safe. Do you even know what's going on?"

"I think what Colonel Phillips said is true, you're paranoid and you're putting yourself and all of us at risk." Peggy sighed, "Please, I care about you. Don't make them have to lock you up."

There was a sudden fear that flashed through Howl's eyes, "You would let that happen?"

"I'm trying to stop it." Peggy reached for a file of the 107th updates, "I've already enlisted you to go join them after Project Rebirth is finished."

And with that she walked away, leaving Howl to contemplate.

"I need a drink."