The Dove & The Strongman

They emerged a few minutes later, Lyla clutching his arm, blushing like mad and Dugan placing his hat on his head with a smile.

The MPs didn't say anything, but one did smirk and give a wink which caused Dugan to shake his head.

He looked back down at Lyla's golden covered head and his chest filled with warmth. She was starting to become the single most important fixture in his life and he knew now that before her, he had been lost. Then when their lips met he had found himself. He had found home.

'You are something else, dove.'

"We should go find the others. I know your brother wants to talk to you."
She scowled and he nearly laughed at how adorable it made her look, but he refrained from it.

"Oh I definitely have a few words to say to him myself."

Dugan shook his head, chuckling."I have a feeling that this is going to be a day for the books, huh?"

She grinned. "I'm part Irish, Timothy, of course its going to be."

He patted her hand on his arm and leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"Then lets go find him, dove, because I'm not going to miss this for anything."

She laughed and he couldn't help but smile.

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

"Where is Dugan? He's Captain Rogers' second, he needs to be here for the briefing, Agent Carter. I sent you to find him."

Peggy nodded, "Yes, you did, but I found him indisposed at the moment."

"Now what the hell does that mean?"

Peggy was interrupted from answering when Dugan walked into the room with Lyla, a hand on her low back and the other hand holding hers'.

"Dugan, its nice of you to finally join us, but what is this civilian doing here?"

Peggy stepped in."This is Lyla Rogers, Captain Rogers' sister."

Colonel Phillips lips thinned in slight annoyance. "Cilvilians cannot be sitting in on an important briefing like this."

Lyla shook her head. "You're Colonel Phillips, correct?"

"Yes, I am."

She smiled brightly, "I want to thank you for giving my brother the chance to serve. I understand it was you who signed off on his slip along with Professor Erskine."

Dugan watched with a smirk as Lyla spoke.

"As for my being here, you are just going over maps, correct? I'm blind, Colonel. I can't see anything."

Phillips shook his head and grinned. "Ms. Rogers, I think my wife would like you."

Timothy leaned over and whispered in her ear.

"You're amazing, you know that?"

She smiled and lifted a hand to turn his face to the side and quickly kissed his cheek.

"You're not too bad yourself."

Peggy cleared her throat. "Ms. Rogers? You can take a seat next to me."

Lyla looked nervous, but she quickly assured her as Dugan helped her in to her seat.

"Don't worry. Mr. Dugan will be on the other side of you."

The young woman smiled brightly at that and Peggy smiled in return.

Timothy took his seat and patted her hand, letting her know he was still there.

That was when Steve walked into the room.

He was floored to see his sister sitting there inbetween Peggy and Dugan and Dugan looked happy, far too happy for a briefing.

Steve sent a questioning look to Peggy who only shook her head, her cheeks suddenly tinged pink. That was an odd sight but not an unpleasant one.

His gaze flicked down to her lips and back to her eyes as he thought to himself.

'Would she blush like that when being kissed?'

He quickly cleared his throat and spoke.

"Colonel Phillips."

"Captain Rogers."

"Did Zola talk?"

Phillips smiled, "He squealed like a pig in the July heat. He gave us the location of Schmidt's main base."

Dugan snorted at the Colonel's colorful wording while Peggy continued the briefing.

"We're going to go in with three teams: Captain, you will take-"

"I'll go alone."

Lyla gasped, "Steve!"

"Its alright, sis. I can handle it. I'll go alone and get inside, Dugan, you, Monty, and Gabe will rappel down coming through the windows here, once the area is secure, Colonel, we'll give you the signal for your team to move in. Our main goal is to secure this Tesseract and get it out of Hydra's hands. Our other top priority is to secure Schmidt. We cannot allow him to escape."

Once all was said and plans were finalized, Colonel Phillips stood up and cleared his throat.

"That'll be all for this briefing. Be geared up and ready to leave tomorrow at 0900 hours. Lets get this son of a bitch, boys."

Lyla was thoroughly confused by everything that was said. 'What's a tesseract?'

A hand lightly touched her shoulder, instantly calming her and she couldn't stop herself from asking, "What does rappel mean?"

"Umm...it means we hook up to ropes and lower ourselves down steep areas, like cliffs or ravines."

"Cliffs? Ravines? It sounds dangerous."

"I've done it before, dove. Its fine, I promise."

She frowned, "Just be careful."

Dugan smiled down at her, moving to lightly entwine their fingers together. "I can't guarantee my complete safety, Lyla, but I can promise that I'll try, okay?"

"Okay."

Steve watched Dugan and Lyla from across the table, smiling at their conversation and their clasped hands.

The look Dugan was giving his sister made his chest warm. It reminded him of the looks his parents used to share.

'And I'm think I'm falling in love with her.'

There was no 'falling' involved. Dugan was already in love.

"They are quite adorable, don't you think?" Peggy murmured beside him.

Steve's eyes flicked over to hers and nodded. "I don't think I've ever seen him like this. At least not the whole time I've known him."

She smiled, "I've heard love can make people do strange things."

He swallowed hard at her words, his eyes landed on her lips for a split second before returning to her eyes.

"I guess so."

"You should go talk to her. I know that you're upset with yourself for leaving her to deal with the news about Barnes." Peggy advised.

He agreed. He had basically walked away from her without any preamble.

"You're right, Peggy. Thanks."

"Its quite alright. although I distinctly remember hearing him give you quite the earful over it already."

"You heard that?"

She nodded, "Now enough chattering. Go and talk to your sister. That's an order, soldier."

He gave a mock salute, "Yes, ma'am."

She gave him a soft smile before gathering her files and leaving the room.

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

So is 0900 hours basically nine o'clock?"

"Yes."

"Tomorrow morning?"

Dugan nodded, but was confused with the path her line of questioning was taking. What was she thinking?

"So that means you have nothing to do tonight, right?"

'Oh.' He gulped.

"Well, yes, but I-"

"Well, I had planned on having dinner with Howard and Mr. Jarvis, but I think I'd rather have dinner with you."

He chuckled, tracing a finger over the back of the hand he held.

She shivered.

"You know, you're going to have to stop doing that."

Her brow furrowed in confusion, "What?"

"Saying things that make me want to kiss you."

Her face flushed at his words and her lips curved into a shy smile, "Maybe I want you to kiss me."

He closed his eyes and inwardly groaned.

"Not here, dove, please?" He pleaded.

"I'm not interrupting, am I?" Steve questioned.

They both jumped apart. Lyla dropping her hands down into her lap and Dugan fiddling with
his hat.

Lyla smiled widely, "Steve!"

Dugan watched her reach a hand out to Steve, which he took, helping her to her feet.

When she was standing, she tugged her brother down into a hug, but before he got his arms around her she hauled off and punched his chest.

"That's for just up and leaving me alone! For making Timothy be the one to tell me about Bucky. It should've been you to tell me! It's just us now, Stevie. I lost Bucky, WE lost Bucky, don't make me lose you too." She sobbed, throwing her arms around him.

Steve tightened his arms around her, laying his cheek on the top of her head.

"I'm so sorry, sis. You're right. I should've told you."

"My hand hurts."

Steve and Dugan shared a look before both began to chuckle.

She gave a frustrated sigh, "You two are going to drive me crazy, you know. 'Buachaillí dÚsachtach.'"

Steve dissolved into laughter at Dugan's confused but warm look.

"Crazy boys. She called us crazy boys, Dugan."

Timothy joined in the laughter. "Smart gal because I'm definitely crazy."

'Crazy for her.'

Steve released her from his hug and stepped back.

"I didn't get the chance to ask you, but where are you staying sis?"

"Howard said he hated the cooped up feeling of being in a hotel room. So he rented an entire house to stay in."

She shook his head, "I would've been just fine in a hotel room but he insisted."

"Which reminds me," she smoothed out her dress, "You, Peggy, and Timothy are coming there to have dinner tonight. I'll dare say, you all haven't had a homecooked meal in a while."

"That would be great, sis. Please tell me you're making what I think you're making?"

She giggled, "Yes, I'm making mom's bread and butter pudding."

Timothy was confused, she could cook?

"Wait. I'm missing something here. Did you say you're baking something?"

She tilted her head, her sightless gaze unknowingly fixed on his jaw.

"I can bake. Steve or Bucky usually set the ingredients out for me to mix together and then they put it in the oven for me."

"It helps her have a sense of independence without worrying about her getting hurt."

He was stunned, "That's genius, you know?"

Steve rubbed the back of his neck, "I just wanted my sister to be happy. I still do."

She clapped her hands, "So what time should we do this? I already have the ingredients for everything. I just need Mr. Jarvis to start everything else. He was planning on teaching me how to make what he called a 'proper' pot pie if you can believe that."

"Well, we gotta clean up first, sis. And I' still gotta go ask Peggy too. So is eight alright?" He gave a side glance to Dugan who answered back with a nod.

'It wouldn't do to show up to dinner with your girl, smelling horrible.'

Lyla grinned. "That'll be fine. It'll give me time to freshen up too."

"Well lets get you to the car, okay?"

She reached out a hand and Steve nodded to Dugan, letting him gently grasp it.

"Timothy?"

"How'd you know it was me?"

"You're hands are rougher than my brother's"

He tugged her closer and wrapped her arm around his, "I still can't get over how you can do that. It's a skill."

She laughed prettily, "A necessary skill, like I've showed you before. I have to see with my hands."

That made Steve give him a questioning glance.

"And before you start on him Steve, because I can feel you glaring at him, I was just seeing his face."

"That still doesn't fail to scare the wits out of me, Lyla."

"I know, that's why I do it." She snickered.

Dugan chortled, "Before you scare your brother further, we better get you to the car. Who knows when Stark's going to leave his lab."

"He better, or I had Jarvis promise not to leave him any food. That man needs to keep food on his list of piorities."

"You're devious, woman. Devious."

She gave a little curtsey, "Thank you."

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

They stopped right in front of the car, the driver was leaned against it, reading a newspaper.

"Mr. Jarvis?"

The man startled so bad, he nearly fell over.

"Ms. Lyla! I'm afraid you gave me quite a start."

"Sorry. I would like to go back to the house now, please?"

"Of course, miss. And who is this with you?" He questioned as he moved to open the passenger door.

"This is Timothy Dugan, Tim this is Edwin Jarvis, Mr. Stark's righthand man."

"Butler, miss, I'm his butler."

Jarvis head out a hand which Timothy shook.

She shook her head, "It feels strange to call you that."

Dugan saw Jarvis shrug, "Its only the truth, miss."

Lyla patted his arm and he moved to help her into the car.

"Watch your head, there's the roof right there." He smacked it for good measure.

When she was safely in the vehicle, she smiled sweetly at him.

"Put your hands in your lap. I don't want to accidently close the door on them." He instructed as he closed the door.

He leaned into the window, grabbing the hand that reached out and placed it on his cheek.

"Don't forget, eight o'clock, alright?"

"Not going to miss it for anything, dove."

He turned his face to her hand and placed a kiss to the palm of her hand then nibbled down her palm to leave a lingering kiss to her wrist. He noticed her cheeks turn a bright red and chuckled. "You've got to stop with those naughty thoughts, sweetheart."

"Oh stop it you. They only happen because of you!" She gasped and covered her mouth with both hands.

That made his eyes widen in shock and a jolt of desire hit low in his abdomen.

"Sweetheart, you-"

"Oh I didn't say anything!"

"Nothing to be embarassed about, dove. Say what, we'll talk about it after dinner, okay? So put it out of your mind until then."

She sighed and gave him a soft smile, her cheeks still pink. "I'll see you at eight then, Timothy. Jarvis, we can go now."

"Yes, miss."

The car started and Dugan smirked as he pulled back from the car and watched it drive away.

He shook his head, slightly nervous and more than a little aroused thinking about discussing those 'naughty thoughts' with Lyla.

He shivered. 'Good God that woman is going to ruin me.'

Notes