The Dove & The Strongman

"So how many letters have they sent back and forth?"

"This will be the third round of letters, sir."

"So you're telling me that she still doesn't know who it is, just that the first name is Timothy?"

"Yes sir."

"That idiot."

"Sir?"

"Jarvis, can you call and make sure my plane is fueled and ready to go in a few hours?"

"Umm, y-es? Might I ask why, sir?"

"I'm going to help things along."

Jarvis was thoroughly confused by his employer's words.

"Sir, whatever are you talking about?"

"Alright, so you know this guy that's sending Lyla all those letters?"

"Yes, well, only his first name and of course the initials of his middle and last names."

Howard shook his head.

"I know who it is? And he's an idiot."

Jarvis was intrigued and couldn't stop himself from speaking.

"Sir, just who is it?"

"Timothy Aloysius Cadwallader Dugan."

"Who?"

"Really Jarvis? He's otherwise known as Dum Dum Dugan."

"Oh...oh dear."

"Yeah. With how he was staring slack-jawed and starry-eyed at her the night they first met, I had a feeling he was hooked good and tight. I'm surprised Steve didn't notice but then again, he's not very good with women himself."

"Of-of course, sir, but Dum Dum Dugan? I mean, he's sent gifts and my wife mentions that he is quite the writer."

"I know. Surprised me too. I mean, flowers and paints, and romantic letters...who would've thought it?"

"It could considered quite alarming to others but not me. I do work for you after all."

"Funny, very funny. Don't forget the plane, okay Jarvis?"

"Yes sir. It will be fueled and ready to go in three hours. I'll make sure of it."

When Jarvis left, Howard picked up the phone and dialed.

When the other line picked up, he smiled.

"General Phillips! How nice to hear your voice."

"No, nothings wrong."

"I don't-oh, alright, I have a little favor to ask."

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

Lyla none too gently put the brush she was holding back into the already dirty water placed at her side and sighed.

'This is the third time that my hands have started shaking like crazy.'

"Get yourself together, Lyla. You're just painting."

'But you're not, are you? You can't wait for another letter from Timothy.' Her conscious supplied.

She groaned.

In her frustrated state she didn't hear the door open and footsteps make their way to her.

"So whatcha painting?"

She screamed and turned, smacking Howard Stark across the face.

"Ow! Whoa, hold on a minute! Its me, Howard Stark, remember? I live here too, you know."

"Oh, Mr. Stark. I'm so sorry. I didn't hear you come in."

"Yeah, I noticed. You know, you have a mean hit."

She giggled.

"Bucky taught me how to throw a punch. He didn't want me to be completely without protection."

"Good for him."

"What are you doing in here?"

He sounded surprised when he replied.

"I wanted to see your artwork and I have to say this is amazing. How do you get the lines so..so..."

"Straight?" She finished.

"I start out using a canvas primer, like gesso, and once it dries, I use a little awl to scratch the lines in. Then I use those as guides for the paint strokes."

"Genius. I bet you could get a lot of money selling them."

"No. I won't ever sell them. Give them away, yes, but never sell."

"Why is that?"

"It would make my hobby, what I love doing, turn into work, then there would be no relaxing and no fun involved. Just deadlines."

"I see your point."

Lyla had a feeling Stark was not there to just talk about paintings. There was something else.

"What else?"

"What?"

"You didn't just come here to discuss my paintings, Mr. Stark. What else?"

He clapped his hands.

"I was wondering if you would want a little break from the mansion. A little vacation away."

She shook her head, exasperated.

"I can't just up and go off with you vacationing, Mr. Stark. I have important things to do."

"Like what? Waiting for another letter from your mystery man?"

She was shocked.

"You know about that?"

"Well, this is my house."

"So why a vacation? If you know about the letters then you know I can't just up and leave."

He laughed.

"Sweetheart, how would you like to hand-deliver your next letter?"

'Oh...ohh.'

Her heart hammered in her chest.

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

It felt like the last few days have flown by to Dugan.

It was a tricky day today as he stood on the edge of a cliff overlooking train tracks.

Their mission: Capture Zola. The right hand man of Johann Schmidt himself.

They had to wait for the train to come through and then...well, he's glad he wasn't on the team assaulting the train.

He looked down the steep cliff and whistled.

'That's a hell of a drop.'

Cap and Barnes were in front of him, reminiscing about some ride they got sick on.

Dugan only shook his head at their banter.

Gabe and Morita were on the radio behind him, hijacking Hydra transmissions, and double checking their info. It would be pointless to zip-line to the train if Zola wasn't on it. Monty of course was watching the tracks through his binoculars, to give a heads up on when the train was approaching.

But he had a funny feeling that something bad was going to happen. He had felt the same when they had been captured at Azzano, but this time, they had the Cap there, so he shook it off.

"So I never did ask about that last letter you got."

Dugan groaned, turning to face Barnes.

"My girl is none of your business, Barnes."

"I know, I know. I was just thinking about something."

Steve smiled, "What now Buck?"

"If she continues to make Dugan smile like she has been, we just might have make her a honorary member of the commandos."

Dugan laughed.

"She would probably like that."

Gabe's voice cut through the happy air. "Cap, we got a hit. Zola is on the train. Hydra command just gave him permission to open up the throttle."

"It's moving like the devil's behind it."

Dugan smiled.

"I thought the devil was on board?"

Steve placed his shield on his back and placed the zip device on the line.

"Stick close. We've only got a small window to get on that train or we're bugs on a windshield."

"Better get going bugs!" He joked, trying to lighten the tense mood that fell on them.

Then Frenchie gave a signal and Cap pushed off, followed shortly by Barnes and then Gabe.

"Good hunting, boys."

He waited with bated breath until Monty said the magic words.

"They made it! Good job, lads!"

Timothy motioned to the other commandos.

"Pack up. We've got to get moving if we want to make it to the rendezvous point."

He turned back to the now empty tracks, that bad feeling washed over him and this time it wouldn't leave.

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

When they finally arrived at the rendezvous they of course found Cap, Gabe, and Zola, but no Bucky.

A strange feeling hit him hard in the chest.

'No...not the kid.'

He hesitantly asked, "Where's Barnes?"

Then Steve looked up and all Dugan could see was a scared, heart-broken little kid and he knew.

Bucky was gone.

'Damn Hydra to hell.'

Notes