The Dove & The Strongman

Through the haze of her tears, she realized that she had her arms wrapped around a man that wasn't her brother, but his noticeably strong arms were lightly wrapped around her. It felt...nice.
Then she realized that it was Dugan holding her and for such a big man, he was being surprisingly gentle with her.
And when she took in a ragged breath, she could smell the scent of cigar smoke clinging to his shirt.
And was that vanilla?
She internally smacked herself, the vanilla was from her. She was wearing her mother's perfume. She had promised herself that she would wear it when she met Timothy for the first time.
/ ~ / ~ / ~ /
She was in his arms and her hands were digging into his back, grabbing handfuls of his shirt and the scent of vanilla and honeysuckle hit him full force.

He nearly groaned aloud, but didn't, choosing instead to fight the heat that coiled low in his abdomen.

'Get yourself together! Now's not the time for that, idiot.'

After five more torturous minutes, her sobs finally faded into hiccups and sniffles.

He rubbed her back, "Do you want to sit down, Miss Lyla?"

She sniffled again and nodded.

"Alright, let me see where you can go, okay?"

His eyes scanned the room and landed on an MP standing close by. He gave a questioning look to which they pointed to a door behind them.

Dugan nodded his thanks.

"There's a room just over here where you can sit down in private. Do you want me to take you to it?"

He received another nod in answer.

"Lyla, you have to let go of my shirt first."

Her hands quickly unfurled themselves from his shirt and slide away over his ribs. He immediately missed the contact.

When they moved, his hand went to the small of her back to guide her.

All that time and she still hasn't spoken. The gal that Steve and Bucky and the letters had told him about was vastly different from the woman at his side now.

And he hated it.

She's not supposed to be like this. She's supposed to be smiling and laughing, not crying her little heart out.

He had a sneaking suspicion that her brother was partly to blame because he just up and left her all alone when she needed him more than anything.

They took a few more steps and Dugan talked to her.

"Okay, we have maybe three or four steps left before we hit the door."

She still didn't speak and by now his blood was boiling from his rage at the Captain.

"Okay, hold on, let me get the door opened."

A slight creak and the small metal door opened.

He took her hand gently in his. It was so small and so soft compared to his big bear paws. 'They're perfect, like her.'

"The door's open now." He gave a gentle tug and she quickly stepped into the room after him.

"Don't worry. You won't fall with me here. If you do I'll catch you first. I promise."

Dugan placed his hands on her shoulders, "Stand right here. I'll bring the chair to you."

There was a small scraping sound and then Lyla felt a chair lightly touch the back of her knees and she sat down slowly.

"Thank you, Dugan."

"It was nothing at all, dove."

He saw her straighten in her seat, "What did you say?"

Dugan swallowed hard.

Give him Hydra soldiers any day and anytime and he could take them all with a hand tied behind his back.

But faced with Lyla, he was already itching to run.

Until he remembered the letters.

'Don't forget that you have friends. Including me.'

'I was glad to hear that you smiled. And that I was the cause of it.'

'I would definitely say you are a special occasion, Timothy.'

'Don't feel like you are alone, Tim because from now on you have me.'

Timothy had made up his mind and so squared his shoulders in preparation.

"If you give me a moment. I have to get something. No one will bother you here, okay?"

"You're coming right back right?"

"I promise."

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

Steve Rogers was officially a coward, at least in his own eyes.

He couldn't even tell his own sister about Bucky and they had all grown up together. He didn't want to see her cry. Part of him was angry at himself for walking away and part of himself was glad that Dugan was there to do it.

'I only hope you can forgive me.'

"I'm so sorry sis. "

"You're damn right, you're sorry."

Steve turned swiftly and found Dugan at the doorway.

"Where-"

"She's in a private room nearby, sniffling and hardly speaking. She's even got the hiccups from crying so hard."

"I-"

Dugan interrupted as he approached him.

"That is your sister out there. With Bucky gone, its only you and her now. You need each other."

Steve was floored by Dugan's tirade and a little angry as well.

"Wait, why are you giving me the second degree on this?"

Dugan stopped right in front of him and didn't say anything as he bent over the seat and grabbed his vest.

He unbuttoned the front pocket and pulled out the letters that were hidden there. Then with a sigh he handed them to the other man.

"This is why, Steve."

The younger man looked down at the letters in confusion.

"But these are letters from your girl. Why are you handing them to me? Their supposed to be private."

"Open the top one and read it."

"But I-"

"Cap..."

Steve nodded as he place the other letters down on the table, keeping the one indicated. He pulled the paper from the envelope and unfolded it.

Dugan waited there with baited breath as his friend and C.O. read, watching as his eyes widened in realization.

"This is-" Steve looked up at Dugan in shock, then back down at the letter, "This is from Lyla. But how? Why?"

"Remember that night Howard brought her to the bar to say hi to you?"

Steve nodded.

"I can never forget seeing her walk in on his arm. She was the prettiest gal I had ever seen. Then she smiled and the whole room lit up. And it wasn't until she spoke that I knew I was in trouble. It took a few days for me to work up the courage to want to speak to her. That was when Monty suggested I write to her. I arranged it with Stark to send the letter anonymously so if she didn't write back...no harm done, so to speak."

"You were the one that sent her the paints and brushes, aren't you?"

Timothy nodded, "And a couple dozen lilies too."

Steve shook his head still in shock at what Dugan was saying.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"You want the truth? I was scared out of my mind."

"Why?"

Dugan took a shaky breath. "Because its Lyla. She's your sister and she's the kindest soul I've ever had the chance to meet. She made me smile and laugh when I didn't much feel like doing it. She gave me hope, Cap. And I'm quite sure I'm falling in love with her."

Steve's anger dissipated at Dugan's confession and all that was left was confusion.


"Does she know its you?"

The other man only shook his head.

"I planned on telling her in my next letter, even though we haven't finished our game."

"Game?"

"Where she guesses what names my initials stand for. There's a list of names on the back of the last letter she sent me."

Steve opened his mouth, but Dugan answered him quickly. "She already knows my first and last name, but not the two middle ones though, not that they matter right now."

Steve pulled the third letter out and read it, shaking his head and chuckling.

"You turned it into a game?"

"Yes sir. It was a great idea at the time."

"That could be construed as romantic you know?"

Dugan snorted.

"Where's Lyla concerned, I could care less what others think or say."

"As her older brother and your C.O. I could tell you to stay away from her, but I won't. From what I've read from your letters, I know it would hurt the both of you if I did."

It was Timothy's turn to be shocked.

"Wait a minute...does this mean what I think it does?"

"Most of the things she's put in these letters, she hasn't told anyone else but me and Bucky so I know she must like you. Although I don't have to tell you what would happen if you hurt her, do I?"

Dugan shook his head.

Oh he knew. He had seen enough Hydra scum go flying from a single punch alone. Even more when his shield was involved.

He straightened up and locked eyes with Cap.

"If I hurt her at all, I'd let you."

Steve reached a hand out.

"Then good luck Tim."

Dugan was quick to shake his hand, grinning like a fool.

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

Lyla's mind was racing.

Dugan had called her Dove.

Only Timothy called her that. At least in his letters to her.

Had he been telling the others about her?

She felt her cheeks warm at the thought.

But that still didn't explain why he smelt like cigar smoke.

Then she remembered the package she sent all of them.

'Of course, they all would've grabbed one to smoke. I sure sent enough of them.'

It was then she heard footsteps outside the door where she was sitting and she stilled.

The door opened.

"Miss Lyla?"

It was Dugan.

"Dugan?"

"Yes, ma'am. I have something to say to you and I'd like you to listen. Please?"

Lyla was shocked at the nervous tone to his voice.

A big man like Dugan and he was nervous. Around her!

"What is it? Are you okay?"

"Please, just listen, okay?"

She nodded.

Then she heard the rustling of paper and then Dugan took a deep breath.

"Dear Lyla,"

She gasped.

"I am writing this letter today, hoping that when it finds you, you are healthy and happy. I have been thinking a lot about you lately. Especially the first day we met. Yes, we have met before we started this correspondence between us. Let me tell you about that day, maybe then you'll know who I am. I was there in the bar that day Howard Stark walked in with you on his arm. I about nearly dropped my drink in my lap when I first saw you. I'll admit here in this letter that I was immediately jealous of him because he had the most beautiful gal on his arm. I didn't know then from looking at you that you were blind, I didn't realize that until your brother walked you over to our table. You tripped and almost fell over, but I grabbed your shoulder and you smiled at me. When you smiled the whole room lit up and I nearly forgot where I was. You had me so flustered that I tipped my hat to you. Tipped my hat. I smacked myself for that."

Lyla giggled.

The giggle and the smile he saw on her face gave him courage and he continued.

"Then you spoke and I knew I was in trouble. Your being blind had nothing to do with my choice to write you. I thought you were perfect, I still do. I braved going to a gift shop and a flower shop because I wanted to make you smile. I never want to see a frown on that face of yours, or tears for that matter. That's why it hurts to do this. I can't write down how sorry I am, but I'm still sorry. Bucky's gone. We were on a mission to acquire a scientist to interrogate and he fell. He didn't survive. He was a good man, a even better man for how he treated you growing up. I'll never forget him and you shouldn't either. Because when you forget someone that's when they win. Don't let that happen, dove."

She was sniffling again.

'Don't start crying now, dove.'

"You are the kindest and most beautiful soul I have ever had the chance of meeting. It was unexpected the impact you have had on my life but I'm not complaining. You should know that the letters you sent me, I still take them out and re-read them every chance I get. You make me smile and laugh even when I don't much feel like doing it. You give me hope, Lyla, even at this hopeless time. I don't know what this between us, but I can only guess that this is the feeling you get when your falling in love with someone.

Your guy,

Timothy Aloysius Cadwallader Dugan"

Her sniffles turned to soft cries.

"Don't cry little dove. It's okay."

She looked up at him with tears in her sightless eyes.

"You're Timothy?"

"Yes I am."

The smile she gave him right then sent his heart stuttering in his chest. Even with tears streaming down her face, she was beautiful.

"Hi."

"Hi."

She reached a hand out to him which he took helping her to stand up. When she was standing she moved forward and wrapped her arms around his waist.

He smiled and folded his arms around her.

Her voice was muffled against his chest. "I'm only a little surprised, you know."

"Oh?"

"Yes. I think a part of me already knew. Plus, you smell like cigars and gun oil. I smelled the same things on your first letter."

He laughed, lightly squeezing her.

"You are one of a kind, you know that."

She snuggled her face into his chest.

"Chinn mé ar deireadh tú."

He looked down at her head, smiling.

"Now, what does that one mean?"

She laughed softly.

"It means 'I finally found you'."

Notes