Lay Me Down

Dr. Katherine Davis was exhausted. The nine months she had spent in Petersburg had taken their toll on both her body and her mind. Nine months of extensive testing, hypothesising, and problem solving had drained her. Now, she wanted nothing more than to find a cot to rest her body on.

She let out a soft sigh, knowing that her bed would be no where in the near future. Stark was in the pilot’s seat, already rambling through the list of things he wanted her to look over or test.

Katherine closed her eyes, her mind drifting to the young man she had said goodbye to when she left the camp. Steven Rogers. They had written to each other the first few months she had been gone. However, soon after, the letters stopped completely. Katherine had been completely wrapped up in her research; truthfully, hardly ever leaving her lab. She could only assume the same had happened to Steve.

“Anyway, Kat, Phillips and Peggy would like to see you as soon as we touch down,” Howard Stark was saying. “They just want to get you up to date on everything that’s been happening.”

“What’s been happening?”

Stark raised an eyebrow as he turned to look at her. “Well now, if I told you, there would be no need for a reunion, now would it?”

“I suppose.”



“Dr. Davis.”

Katherine was greeted by Agent Peggy Carter as she approached the camp.

“Peggy,” Katherine said with a smile. “It’s wonderful to see you again.”

“You as well.” Peggy returned the smile. “I don’t want to get into all the details tonight, Katherine, to be honest with you. I’m sure you’ve had a long day, and I’m about ready to call it a night.”

Katherine chuckled, nodding her head. “That sounds great to me. Stark had be mentally preparing for an intense catch-up tonight.”

“Of course he did.” Peggy rolled her eyes.

“Agent Carter, you asked to see me?”

Katherine turned to look at the voice. He was taller, much taller, and broader; every muscle in his body seemed to strain against his simple t-shirt and khakis. His face looked the same, although the longer Katherine looked, the older he appeared.

Peggy looked up at the sound of a man entering the tent. “Ah, yes, Captain. Would you mind showing Dr. Davis to her quarters? I’m sure she could use a rest after such a long journey.”

“Of course,” came Steve’s response.

“We’ll take again in the morning, Dr. Davis.”

Katherine simply nodded, following Steve out of the tent.

They walked in silence for a few steps, Katherine taking in the new frame of her friend.

“Did it hurt?”

Steve seemed surprised at her question, but quickly masked it with a smile. “A little. Agent Carter and Dr. Erskine had wanted to stop for a moment. But I wanted - I needed it to work. And it did.”

They paused outside of the tent where Katherine would spend her nights. “I don’t know what I was expecting,” she told him, biting her lip in hesitation, “but this wasn’t it.”

Steve’s brow furrowed in the dark. “Do you not like it? Sometimes I think it’s all a little foolish.”

“No, no,” she corrected, quickly. “That’s not what I meant.”

Katherine took a step closer to her friend, laying her hand on his now-toned forearm. “I think you look wonderful, Steve. But that’s not the point. I had been afraid that the serum would have affected you mentally, as well as physically. But standing here with you, I can see that I had nothing to worry about.” She squeezed his arm gently, smiling at him. “You are everything that Dr. Erskine hoped you would be.”

Captain Rogers smiled down at the woman. “Thank you, Dr. Davis.”

“Please, Steve. Call me Katherine.”

“Katherine,” he said with a nod. “I know you probably need to rest, but I’m meeting Bucky and the rest of the squad in town tonight. We’re going to celebrate our latest victory,” Steve shot her a crooked smile. “If you’re feeling up to it, maybe you could join us?”

She mulled Steve’s offer over for a moment. “You know what,” Katherine said, “why not? Do you think I could steal a ride with you?”

“Of course.” Steve nodded. “I think we’ll be leaving in an hour or so.”

“I’ll be ready. Thank you, Cap.”



She was beautiful.

A knee length red dress clung to her torso, the short sleeves barely covering her shoulders. A white lace collar and pearl-like buttons adorned the top of the dress. Her light blonde hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders, a front section pulled back to the side of her head.

She was beautiful.

Bucky looked to the man whose bicep she had wrapped her arm around. It was Steve. Jones followed behind them as Steve made a beeline to his best friend.

“Buck,” he said, as the blonde removed her hand from him, Steve stepped forward to hug his friend. “This is Dr. Katherine Davis.” He nodded to the woman standing next to him.

Bucky ran a hand through his brown hair, holding the other out to the woman. “Ma’am. Sergeant James Barnes. It’s lovely to meet you. Steve speaks highly of you.”

She smiled at him, taking his hand in her own. “He’s sung you nothing but praises, Sergeant.”

“Bucky.”

“Bucky,” Katherine repeated.

Steve couldn’t help but smile at the exchange between his friends. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Peggy and excused himself from his friends.

“Do you like to dance, Dr. Davis?” Bucky asked, as Steve wandered off, no doubt on the lookout for Agent Carter.

“Actually,” she started to say, but was cut off by the arrival of Howard Stark.

“Kat,” Stark sidled up next to her, putting an arm around her waist. “Care for a dance?” It was then he noticed the Captain’s friend. “Sergeant Barnes.”

“Stark.” Katherine couldn’t help but notice the cold look pass over Bucky’s features at the arrival of Howard.

“Actually,” she said, stepping out of Howard’s reach and wrapping her hand around Bucky’s bicep, “I’ve been promised a night of dancing by Mr. Barnes here. You’ll excuse us, won’t you?” With a small smirk, Katherine pulled Bucky to the dance floor.”

“An entire night of dancing, huh?” Bucky asked, with a smile on his face. He took of her hands in his own, while placing the other on the small of her back. Katherine raised her free arm on his shoulder.

“If you’re lucky,” came her response. “I might even let you buy me a drink.”

“It would be my pleasure, Kat.”