The Dove & The Strongman

'What other name starts with 'D'?'

"Wait, my brother's letter, the one that came with Timothy's last one?"

"What of it?"

"Stevie mentioned a few names in that letter, can you read them off to me again?"

"Whatever for?"

"I need another name that starts with 'D' and I thought there was a name in there."

There was the rustling of paper as Tess looked for it.

"Here it is."

"Well?"

"Ahh, yes, there is a name starting with a 'D' in here. A 'Dugan'"

Lyla thought to herself, 'it couldn't be, could it?'

'It was just a coincidence, right?'

"Put it on the list or I'll be here for hours trying to come up with another name that starts with 'D'."

"Alright, done. Is there anything else you need?"

Lyla smiled to herself.

"One more thing...but I think Mr. Jarvis would be better suited to this task."

"Oh, and why is that?"

"Because its a gift for Timothy."

"Oh, sending him a care package then?"

"I thought it would be nice. I mean he is in the same company as Steve and Bucky, so three birds one stone."

"Good thinking. Now what were you planning on getting them?"

"I was thinking some candies, a few books, and some cigars for Timothy."

"Cigars?"

"I could smell it on the paper. That and gun oil."

"That's definitely a perk to being blind."

"Yes, at times it is, but other times, not so much."

"Ahh, doing laundry I suppose?"

"The first time was so over-whelming that I had to stuff tissues in my nose." Lyla laughed.

Tess couldn't help but join in her laugh before she stilled. "Wait a minute. I have an idea. Where's your perfume?"

"What?"

"Its something my mother told me about. We'll get a piece of cloth and soak it in your perfume and send it in with the letter."

Lyla blushed and shook her head.

"Well, why not. He likes you, right? And you like the man too, don't you?"

She nodded.

"Then show him that you do."

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

Dugan rolled his still healing shoulder. The cold did little to help the dull ache, especially when they were constantly on the move.

He was elbowed and looked over to see Monty right next to him.

"So, have you taken my advice yet?"

"For what?"

"The little dove?"

"Oh."

"'Oh', indeed. So what happened?"

Dugan let out a frustrated sigh and patted his pocket.

"She wrote me back. And she wants us to continue to write to each other."

Monty gaped at him."You bloody brilliant lug you. How did you pull that one off?"

"I just went with my gut."

"You asked Stark, didn't you?"

Timothy glared at him.

"Only to get the letter and gifts to her without my name being on them. The gifts were all my choosing."

"Gifts? How many did you send her?"

Dugan looked uncomfortable.

"I sent her three. Paint, brushes and flowers."

Monty just shook his head at him and smiled.

"Well, who would of thought the big man would be such a romantic?"

"Shut up. You know, my gun's not in pieces this time, Monty."

"Alright, alright, you're secret is safe with me."

"What secret is that?"

They both stopped in their tracks and turned to face their C.O.

Steve Rogers was standing there behind them thoroughly confused.

He held up his hands, "Don't worry about it. Whatever it is can't be that bad, can it?"

With a smile, Monty elbowed Dugan again, causing the man to lightly punch his shoulder.

"Shut up."

"I didn't say anything."

"Yeah, but you sure were implying it."

"Friendlys ahead!" Bucky yelled back.

That meant only one thing. They were back at base.

Dugan grinned and patted his vest pocket again.

'Let's go check the mail.'

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

She sent another letter, but this one had some weight to it, which left him confused.

But what left him even more confused was the large box that the Cap was carrying.Whatever it was had him smiling ear to ear.

"Men, we got a gift."

"From who?"

"My sister, Lyla. She thought we could use a little cheering up so she sent us some goodies. She said that she didn't know what to get everyone, so she sent a little of everything."

He set the box on the ground and opened it with little flourish.

Inside there was a huge bag of candy, a small selection of books, some more paper and pencils, even a tin of tea for Monty, and-He smiled then laughed.

'Lyla, you beautiful dove, you.

She had sent cigars.

If she kept this up, he was going to be well on his way to never letting her go.

Never.

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

A few hours later found Dugan sitting outside the large tent that held their cots, smoking one of the new cigars Lyla sent.

He gently opened the letter and immediately a soft flowery scent hit his nose. So he quickly plucked the cigar from his mouth and tapped the ember out before tucking it into his pocket.

'What is that smell?'

He tipped the envelope over and a small piece of cloth fell out. Dugan lifted it to his nose and inhaled deeply.

When he realized what it was, his heart stuttered.

It was her perfume. Vanilla and honeysuckle.

His eyes closed and he breathed in again. There was a noise and he quickly shoved the cloth in the same pocket with the other letter just before Bucky came into view.

"Dugan."

"Barnes."

"Whatcha doing over here? Gabe is reading The Hobbit right now. You have got to hear his voices for each of the characters. He's gaining quite a crowd."

"I'm enjoying the peace and quiet right now. Maybe later."

"Got another letter from your girl, didn't you?"

Timothy didn't answer, instead choosing to pull his cigar back out and place it between his teeth.

Bucky laughed."You're not still sore about that teasing last time, are you? I said I'm sorry."

A hand patted his shoulder and he looked up and saw the smile was gone from Bucky's face.

"I mean it, Dugan. I'm happy for you. Hell, its difficult enough to be here with someone waiting for you back home, but on your own, even damn harder."

Dugan waved him off.

"Stop with the mush, Barnes."

The younger man laughed.

"There's the same old Dugan. Glad to see that gal hasn't changed you too much. I'll leave you alone with your letter okay?"

Bucky waved as he walked away but he caught the faint whiff of vanilla.

And a funny thought hit him.

'Why do I smell Lyla's perfume around him?"

He shook the thought from his head with a laugh.

'Its probably all over the care package she sent us.'

Dugan inhaled deeply before taking Lyla's letter out.

"Dear Timothy,"

He smiled wide.

The only thing that would make him feel better at seeing his name in her letter, would be for her to actually say it to him. That same heat as before knotted in his stomach again.

"I hope this finds you in good health. I was glad to hear that you smiled. And I was glad to be the cause of it as well. You are a mystery Timothy, but I will find out who you are."

He laughed, "I don't doubt it dove."

"I hope that you liked the cigars. I had to send them in the care package with the other things. I thought since you wanted to keep me to yourself a little longer, you wouldn't mind."

Again Dugan laughed.

'This woman knows me too well already.'

"I was surprised when I heard about the circus. A good surprised, that is. I remember one time Bucky and Steve saved up money to take me to the circus the year I turned 13. Even with all the loud sounds, I enjoyed myself immensely. They even made a special exception for me and allowed me to pet the horses and even give a peanut to one of the elephants. But the part I loved the most was the sideshow. When the performers realized I was blind, they pulled me onstage and made me an impromptu part of their act. Since I was still so small of course. And do you know what act I joined for an hour that day? The strongman. He lifted me up so I was sitting on his shoulder. I felt like I was flying. For a time there, I had almost forgotten I was blind. The crowd all cheered and clapped when it was all done but one man had to gall to say that I was very brave to go up there with those people. I told the man, that those people, those complete strangers showed more kindness to a blind girl in one hour than she had seen in years, excluding her brother and his best friend. So yes, I was very pleasantly surprised and happy to hear of your previous profession."

"I want you to know that it wasn't originally my idea to send the sample of my perfume, but Tess, Mrs. Jarvis insisted that I send you something personal. The fabric that is soaked in it is actually a piece of fabric I was going to use to make a dress for myself but that's not as important as the perfume. It was my mother's. It was the first thing Dad bought for her when they got married. I always remember her hugging me and the scent of vanilla and honeysuckle would envelop me. Mom died six years after I lost my sight. So I wear it only on very special occasions since its the last bottle. I would definitely say you are a special occasion, Timothy."

Timothy let out a shaky breath, wiped his face, and continued reading with shaky hands.

"I didn't say the previous things to make you sad, but just to share to story of me before we wrote each other. Don't feel like you are alone, Tim because from now on you have me.

Your girl,
Lyla"

Dugan was breathing heavily.

'That's it. This woman has ruined me for life.'

He flipped the paper over and laughed whole-heartedly at what he found.

"You didn't think I would honestly forget our little game, did you? I love a challenge so I thought I would choose 5 names per letter just to start out with. If none of them are correct, then you have to give me the next letter in each name. Alright?
Names starting with A:
Arthur
Alvin
Albert
Avery
Alexander"

Dugan shook his head. 'Where did she get Avery from?'

"Names starting with C:
Cyril
Cecil
Christopher
Charles
Corey"

'Cyril? Cecil? Good God, do people actually use these names?'

"Names starting with D:
Daniel
Dylan
Dale
Donald
Dugan"

His hands shook at the last name written. 'How did-?'

He shook his head.

"Its probably just a coincidence. That's what it is."

Dugan needed to calm his thoughts before he wrote Lyla back.

So he put the cigar back in his pocket and pulled the piece of cloth back out and inhaled deeply. With the heady scent of the vanilla/honeysuckle perfume in his nose, his thumping heart calmed.

'Lyla...'

Notes