Revelations
Chapter 3
Revelations
Just as Steve had expected, the young boy had fallen asleep once again, despite the excitement of flying it was noticeably clear the child was exhausted.
When the Jet landed at base Steve was more careful about unbuckling himself and the child from the seat, not wanting to wake him up a second time that night, it was going on three in the morning after all. Despite it only being around 9 pm New York time, Steve was feeling the strain of the day.
He was sure the child would wake again soon and just hoped that whatever medic he got on base was quiet and gentle as to let the boy sleep.
Children being up so late was also not good for their health, as they needed routine and structure in their lives.
The one-hour time difference between Germany and London probably affected the child as well, that’s even if his captives even let him sleep or fed him.
“Captain?” called a Soldier from across the tar mat.
Steve winched at the loud noise and checked it hadn’t woken the child, as the soldier came closer Steve held his hand up to his lip making a shushing gesture with his finger.
“Sorry Captain " the man whispered.
“Agent Billus sent me to direct you to medic so you can drop him off them I’m to take you to conference room one for debriefing” the soldier announced softly.
"Ok sure, lead the way, Soldier," Steve said in a low calm voice.
The base was quiet at this hour, few being up working, just the usual patrollers and night staff milling about.
Once at the med bay, Steve was directed to lay the child down on a nearby gurney by Dr. Callum.
“He has been asleep for the last 45 minutes now, but he clearly needs a good night’s rest and a feed," Steve told the Dr who had begun to take basic vitals.
"Some bruising on his arms and I suspect his chest” Steve reported.
He hoped it wasn’t anything worse than that, even the small number of injuries that he could detect right away was telling about what the child’s life was like and Steve was praying nothing server was found.
"Thank you, Captain, we will take care of him from here," "The Doctor said filling in information on a clipboard.
"I don't want him to wake in a new place alone with nothing he recognizes or feels safe with, he's very timid," Steve told the Doctor, hoping he was a man capable of treating such a patient.
"Yes well, I'm sure we will manage, and you are welcome back once I have seen to him properly." The Doctor told Stave in a gentle voice.
"We will, unfortunately, wake the poor boy, we will be calm, and you have my word he is safe here...". The kind doctor said patting Steve on the back as he guided him to the exit.
"Thank you, Doc, I'll be back as soon as I can if you can let him know.".
"Of course, Captain" The Doctor promised as Steve left to be directed to the conference room reluctantly.
He didn't want to leave the child, he couldn't imagine the fear he will have upon waking in an unknown environment, it was testing Steve’s control to walk and follow the Soldier when every fiber of his being just wanted to sit and stay with the child.
Steve resolved with getting the debrief over and done as soon as possible.
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The two Agents Steve was meeting with, were two Agents he hadn't worked with before.
Agent Alex Billus was a man of business, all about the facts, and having the proof laid out before you acted kind of a man, from what Steve knew of him he was fair and kind.
The other Agent, Agent Victor Haywood, had a bit of a reputation, not that Steve followed the office gossip, but the man was not known for his most ethical decisions. Steve made a note to not let him alone with the child.
"What more can you tell us, Captain?" Billus enquired. Despite wanting a quick debriefing, they had been at it for 20 minutes already and Steve was itching to get up and leave already.
“The boy mentioned the name Vernon and Petunia Dursley and a Dudley, originally from somewhere in Britten. The uncle has connections with the Romanian terra group somehow and sold his nephew to them." Steve reported, finally able to get to the concluding information of his report.
Billus made a note of the names to look up. Hopefully, there’s some record of the child living with them to be found.
“Did the child know the reason why he was sold?" Questioned Haywood.
"He doesn’t know the real reason, I’m sure. The uncle told him it was because he was an ungrateful freak, there are clear signs of Physical and psychological abuse from the relatives, and there has to be another reason for Romanians to have an interest." Steve said, pondering the mystery still.
Why did they want the child? Why were they excited to have him, just what made one little boy so desirable to a terra cell?
"We will investigate, so the boy didn't say his name then". Billus asked after going over his notes quickly one last time.
“I'm pretty sure he doesn’t know his name,” Steve said sadly. Billus made a contemplative noise, he was saddened by the news the boy was mistreated in any way.
Haywood just continued to look disinterested.
"Thank you, Captain. I’ll get my team on this right away, your assistance on this mission was greatly appreciated.” Billus said, standing and shaking Steve’s hand.
Steve just nodded and was glad to be done so he could get back to the child.
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When Steve re-entered the med bay he was met with the screams of a terrified child. The boy was wailing and trying to get away from the doctor and nurse around him.
This was why Steve wanted to stay with him.
“Hay Buddy,” Steve said slowly approaching the distressed five-year-old. The child turned to Steve as soon as he heard his voice with tear strained eyes and reached out for the familiar comfort of the men who saved him.
“I’m right here now kid." Steve soothed wrapping on arm around the child’s back.
"What happened?" Steve asked the doctor who had been standing closest to the bed.
"He woke moments ago while I was getting a full body scan.” The Doctor reported.
He was running through his protocols as normal, but making sure he was extra gentle with the slight boy.
It was bound to happen, the child walking during the medical exam, and being scared.
“It’s alright Buddy, I’m so sorry I wasn’t here when you woke up," Steve said as the child began to calm, being latched onto the only form of comfort he knew.
Steve was heartbroken as the boys sobbing slowly subsided into silent crying. The young boy tried to bury himself in Steve’s embrace.
“Sorry Captain, so far, we have found a few broken bones that have healed incorrectly over time, he was never taken to a hospital for it I’d say. His right collar bone has a fracture as well as a few of his ribs. He more than likely will need surgery to correct the damage" the Doctor stated.
Old injuries... Steve was expecting something similar unfortunately he knew a few bruises couldn’t be all it was deep down. But to have healed incorrectly, at such an early age, this child had suffered greatly. Steve silently vowed he wouldn’t let it ever happen again.
“I'd like to sedate him for now and do a full medical scan. we need to make sure we aren’t missing anything that could cause more complications for him” the Doctor explained gesturing to the nearby nurse who looked to have a catheter and IV waiting.
Steve knew it would be for the best for the kid, but it really broke his heart that this child was going through this at all.
"If you can hold him, Captain? He seems to prefer your company; we will make this as quick and painless as we can” the Doctor said.
The Doctor had seen some Agents come back from a mission with fewer damages than this child has, it was gearing up to be a long recovery for the tiny being.
"Hay kid, can you look at me please?" Steve asked pulling back a bit so he could look down at the clinging child.
Peering into the deep emerald eyes, Steve gave the best reassuring smile he could currently make.
“This nice doctor is Dr. Callum; he wants to help make you feel better... I bet you feel some pain right now, yeah?” Steve said when he had the child’s full attention.
"I’m going to stay now and make sure you are ok. And that you are taken care of” Steve told the small boy.
Steve would stick to his promise, he wasn’t going anywhere, and not even Fury could move him from this post.
The child just nodded his head before burying himself into Steve’s embrace once again.
Steve wrapped his arms around the boy and gave a nod to the doctor.
The boy was still overwhelmed after everything he had been through and waking up once again in an unfamiliar environment with people he didn't know, just frightened him even more.
He was going to be in for a long recovery, both physically and mentally, they didn’t even know half of it yet. No child should suffer, Steve was going to make sure the people responsible for this will pay dearly.
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Steve stayed while the doctor performed the medical exam on the sedated child, more old injuries were found including a broken leg from the previous year that was never set.
The boy had many scars as well, it was like someone had whipped the boy on the back many times.
The more injuries that were uncovered made Steve sick with the knowledge that anyone would think to hurt such a defenseless child, practically a baby.
The Monsters responsible better hope Steve never finds them.
He might even bring Banner in just to take the big guy along for the ride, Steve wasn’t an eye for an eye kind of man himself, but this really warranted it in his books.
“I suggest immediate surgery Captain, the sooner the better for the lad. He must be in an incredible amount of pain from the old breaks," the Doctor informed Steve as he began to gather what he would need as well as calling in his team to prepare the operating room.
"He didn't show any indication of pain while he was with me." Steve notified the doctor.
“Just shows how used to it he has become, to already have such a high pain tolerance at his age." Dr. Callum explained, shaking his head sadly.
Several medical personnel arrived and began to get the child ready for surgery, the doctor ordered blood work to be done as well to find out the damage of the clear malnutrition, and a basic workup for the report.
As the child was wheeled away, Agent Billus joined the captain in the medical bay.
“We had a hit on those names, my team is on-route to take them in for questioning” the men announced.
Steve expected to be sent out on a mission to help, but he felt he would have to refuse this one if asked, he really needed to be here for the child.
“Vernon and Petunia Dursley of number 4 Privet Drive Surry England, with their six-year-old son Dudley. Petunia registered the nephew, Harry James Potter born on the 31st of July 2013 as living with them, to obtain government benefits. She was originally denied the first application due to lack of documentation,
but she had a birth certificate of the child later for her second attempt." Billus said reading off a report he had in hand.
“His parents died on the 31st of October 2014 according to Dursleys application, but they only had a death certificate for Lilly Potter, nee Evens, Petunia Dursley’s adopted sister," Billus said, it was a lot of information gathered so quickly but then again Shield had people in every department.
“Go get some rest Captain, the Potter boy will be in surgery for several hours yet and then not wake for several more,” Billus said before he went in search of a nurse who could update the child’s medical record with his name and date of birth.
So, the child’s name is Harry, Steve pondered, glad to finally have a proper name for the child.
Billus was right, he had time to get some rest. Despite not wanting to leave Steve was also feeling the strain of the day, not from physical exhaustion but from mental exhaustion.
It was a hard choice to make, but in the end, Steve rationalized that there was nothing he could do sitting in the med bay waiting, and it would be a long wait till Harry was out of surgery.
Committed to his decision, but not really liking it one bit, Steve headed to his assigned bunker on base, making sure he set his alarm for seven o’clock in the morning, he finally began to get some much-needed sleep. As restless as it might have been.