A little bit of panic.
Chapter 4.
(Bold letters are text or phone calls)
(Italics is French speak)
A little bit of panic
The blaring of an alarm woke Steve right at 7 am, forcing himself up out of bed was easy with the thought of checking in on young Harry. After getting himself ready for the day, it wasn't long before Steve was heading to the Med-bay.
Harry was there sleeping, tucked into a large bed surrounded by lots of machines that were monitoring him, he looked peaceful despite the fading bruised and casts on his left arm and leg.
Steve took up post in the vacant seat next to the bed to wait for the tiny boy to wake.
A nurse was pottering around at a nearby station, making sure things were clean and ready for when anyone came in needing treatment. She was almost done when she spotted Steve.
“Morning captain," she said politely, making her way over to take notes on Harry’s chart.
“Morning,” Steve replied.
“Can I get you some breakfast? I’ll be bringing this young man's soon; he might feel better not eating alone” the nurse enquired.
Steve agreed and once the lady had left Steve was up and looking through the kid's file wanting to make sure nothing new was discovered during surgery.
The only thing of interest that he could see was a gene test to search for the X-Gene and a DNA test done while in operation. Hopefully, the boy had another family out there to find, and if one could find any it would be Shield.
“Those are meant to be private Captain!" Sad Dr. Callum as he spied Steve reading a patient's file. “Sorry, I wanted to make sure he was alright now," Steve said not actually feeling ashamed of being caught.
"He has a long recovery ahead, I won't sugar coat it, it will be tough on him, physically as well as mentally” Dr. Callum informed.
The kid was looking at six to eight weeks for the bones alone to heal as well as needing Physical therapy along the way, a good child phycologist was already being explored by Agent Billus for later down the line.
But just getting the boy to a healthy weight was also going to have its challenges. Steve returned the file to the end of the bed and resumed his previous position sitting next to the sleeping boy.
"He woke briefly after surgery but was soon back to sleep, naturally this time," The Dr. said accepting that Captain America had this child's best interest at heart, and he might as well treat him like the boy’s guardian for now.
“When his breakfast arrives, can I ask that you wake him, we need to get him on a regular eating schedule now to help combat the nutrient deficiencies and he seems to prefer you".
“Of course, Dr," Steve said it wasn’t a long wait for the nurse to return with a trolley carrying two trays, one was clearly for Harry with what looked like soft oatmeal and banana slices, along with a small bowl of diced fruits, and a drink. Steve’s breakfast had a whole banana and Apple, as well as eggs on toast with what looked like poached salmon, cooked just how he liked it with salt and avocado.
“I hope It’s to your liking Captain,” the nurse said smiling bashfully, "and don't feel pressured to finish it all, I know it’s a lot," she said as she began to set everything up on the overbed table really for when Harry woke.
"Don't worry about that ma’am, since the serum, I've had a big appetite," Steve replied.
Well, it was time to wake the young patient up, Steve just hoped he didn't scare him.
"Harry?" he called laying his hand over the child’s uninjured one and giving a gentle squeeze.
" Harry, time to wake up." He said louder.
Before long clear emerald eyes opened and stared right up at Steve.
“Hi buddy, how do you feel?” Steve asked while he took a seat again to be at eye level with the young boy and not standing over him.
"Happened? " Harry asked with a gruff voice. He had begun to look around wildly, but Steve was able to bring back his attention with a gentle squeeze of his hand.
“We are in the med bay remember?” Harry nodded his head yes before he began looking around the room again much slower now as to take everything in.
It was easy to tell when he had spied the food on the tray next to him as his eyes widened and he showed signs of interest, it saddened Steve that he didn't immediately go for the food as most hungry kids would.
"Breakfast is here for you, how about we get you sitting up so we can eat together,” Steve said indicating for the nurse to help him with the buttons on the bed, technology was still kicking his ass these days, but he was learning slowly.
“Morning Sweetheart, I’m Stacy, if you need anything at all, just ask me, okay?” Stacy said,
Steve not missing Harry's flinch even at the woman’s slow approach and friendly attitude.
Harry didn’t speak again while they got him situated, sitting up in bed surrounded by pillows to make him comfortable.
Once Stacy had moved the food on the overbed table in front of Harry, she excused herself so she could get back to work.
Steve moved his own tray within reach.
"Time to eat Harry, do you need help eating?" Steve enquired.
“l can eat? This is for me?” Harry asked and Steve wanted to cry, it was just truly heartbreaking.
“Yeah, buddy this is your breakfast,” Steve reassured the five-year-old.
No longer needing to be told, Harry reached out and began to chow down.
"Whew, slow down buddy, it’s not going anywhere okay” Steve promised, if Harry continued to eat so fast, he would only make himself sick.
While looking at Steve, Harry wrapped an arm around the bowl to protect it, scared it would disappear, or be taken.
This was when he finally took notice of the cast on his arm.
"What’s this," he asked taping on it.
"That’s a cast, Dr’s put it on broken limbs so they can get better," Steve told him as he began to dig into his meal.
“Eat up Harry, but slowly. I won't let anyone take it from you till you are ready" Steve assured the five-year-old.
“Harry?" He was asked by the curious boy.
“It’s your name,” Steve told him, he was unsure if he was doing this right and hoped, he wasn’t causing any more issues with the child, like self-identity issues. They really needed a child phycologist soon.
"But I’m Freak!" Harry insisted,
“Freak was never your name; it was a mean word your uncle called you,” Steve told him gently.
"You gave me a name?" Harry asked timidly,
“I didn’t, it's the name you were given when you were born by your mum and dad.”
Harry looked like he didn’t know what to say to that, so Steve prompted him to start eating once more, the rest of the meal was shared in silence Steve was glad that Harry didn't go back to inhaling his food down, but he still guarded it protectively.
Harry had gotten through a good majority of his food before he stopped eating and began looking around once more.
Steve set his tray aside once he had finished his meal.
“So, Harry, do have any favorite games!" Steve asked, not wanting the child to get bored.
“I made a game of pulling all the weeds when I garden," was Harry's reply after he took time to consider the question,
“Do you like to garden?” Steve asked. Hopeful that it was a positive experience.
“Sometimes it's ok, but if Dudley is outside too, he gets me in trouble," Harry said sadly.
"That's not nice of Dudley,” Steve commented.
Harry turned sharply to look at him, he probably wasn't expecting Steve to say that judging by his expression of shock.
Steve remembered the boy saying no one ever believed him. It was likely this Dudley caused problems by getting Harry in trouble purposely. Steve knows the type, a typical bully.
He bet if he investigated records, the other child would have reports of the behavior from school or childcare, and Steve bet if Harry had attended any, he wouldn’t even have a record of bullying.
Steve was a good judge of character. Harry had a diffident manner and wasn’t coming across as confident enough to be a bully.
“You won't have to worry about that anymore Harry, you will not be going back to that house," Steve said.
Harry had begun to silently cry, once again getting overwhelmed by Steve’s statement, he felt bad for making the child cry, little did he know it was fear of the future as well as relief to not return to his relatives.
"I now have ta go live at an Orphanage or on the street coz no one wants a freak," Harry said through his tears, hiccupping as he tried to talk through the emotions.
“Hay, hay, none of that, you are not a Freak Harry! You are a little boy who we will find a family for ok, you will be loved and cherished like all children should be” Steve said fighting back his own tears.
Slowly Stare moved to give Harry a soothing hug, being mindful of the child's injury and giving him plenty of time to see Steve’s intentions.
The child melted into his embrace, clinging on as if his life depended on it.
Steve moved to sit on the side of the bed and allowed Harry to cry himself to sleep.
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It was a few hours later that Harry woke up and had a snack provided by a nurse.
Steve was just finishing telling Harry about one of Captain America's adventures, dulled down to be kid-friendly when he was requested to return to conference room one.
Reluctantly Steve had to go, reassuring Harry he would be back as soon as he could before he left Harry in Stacy’s hopefully capable hands.
Billus wanted to update Steve on Dursley's interrogation, so far, the Husband was staying silent, refusing to answer any questions until a lawyer was present, not knowing Shield had no intentions of following standard police protocol here being an organization beyond the government. A lawyer was never going to be provided.
Petunia Dursley was very happy to inform them about her “horrid” nephew when asked, she stated he was mentally impaired a dangerous criminal, and how a Five-year-old could be labelled as such with no records, Steve would never know.
But the woman didn't know what her husband had done with the boy, and she never reported him missing either. She was looking at charges of child neglect and endearment as well as child abuse.
The young Dursley boy was placed in foster care for the time being as the aunt, Margery Dursley was found lacking when it came to providing a safe place for the child.
Billus reported that they wouldn’t rest until the husband cracked, ever moving onto harder interrogation methods. Steve was just glad to hear that they would end up locked away for their crimes against Harry, and never be able to hurt another innocent child again.
As Steve made his way back to Harry, he received a text “Hay, Hope your mission went well, check in soon, Stay Safe!” Steve smiled.
He was so happy to have his friend Bucky back, it made Steve feel less lonely living in the present, to have a familiar face.
Steve only wishes he could have saved Bucky from his horrid fate with HYDRA sooner.
Bucky was recovering, living in the compound, Stark hadn't so much as forgiven him for his part in his parent’s death, but he had agreed that Bucky wasn't at fault due to the Brainwashing.
Steve still hadn't been forgiven by Stark, all he could do was give the man his space to cool down before trying to mend the bridge and try working as a team once more.
“Safe at the base, will be here for longer than expected, Go get some sleep Buck”, Stave typed back. knowing it was close to 4.30 am in Upstate New York.
When Steve got back to Harry, the boy was still sitting up in the bed and looked to be drawing in a sketchbook with colored pencils that littered his table and Stacy was in the chair next to him reading aloud from a book in her hands.
"Hay," Steve greeted taking up the only empty space next to the bed.
"Harry seems to like to draw and color Captain," Stacy said handing Steve the book.
“Really? That’s one of my favorite things to do as well,” Steve told Harry,
"Can I see?” The child asked peering up at Steve in hope.
“We can draw together? all my stuff is back in New York” the captain explained.
“I’ll leave you to it then, I have some work to do,” Stacy said.
“Bye Stacy,” Harry said in a small voice seeming to have warmed up to the woman while Steve was out.
“See you later Harry” She fare welled before heading out the door.
Steve joined Harry in drawing in the sketchbook, each taking turns to add to the picture.
He was happy Harry was doing something enjoyable and able to be carefree and childish.
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Steve had stayed in France for two weeks, and some of the people around him were making him feel like he had overstayed his welcome.
He had been getting some bad feelings from the agents and soldiers working on the base. Whenever Steve was walking around while Harry slept, people would cut their conversations short as he passed, and it was making Steve angstier the longer he was on base.
It was as Steve was on his way back to the med bay after finishing in the base gym that he managed to catch what they were keeping from him.
He stopped as he heard a conversation between two workers a corridor over. They were speaking in French, but Steve could clearly pick out the words.
"Have you heard the latest break room gossip about the kid?” one of the men said quietly.
Stave only just making it out at the distance.
“No, what now? More plans for secret training, Shield wants to make him their newest youngest spy yet, what else do they want!" Another man said just as quietly in French.
“It’s just Haywood, he found out what the Romanians wanted with him” The first man replied.
"Oh, they finally cracked have they, Haywood must have really stepped it up."
“The rumor mill has it, the uncle sold him to them as Tony Starks bastard son, he had some type of proof as well."
Steve was shocked at what he was discovering. Tony had a son! Harry was Tony's kid? He thought there was a bit of a resemblance, and the child would have taken after his mother as well, Steve rationalized. But he never would have made such a connection.
Steve wondered why Billus hadn’t updated him on any DNA test yet, he was sure it would have returned by now, with today’s technological advances.
Steve continued to listen, trying to gather as much intel as he could.
"Why not sell him to Stark? The man’s not lacking in money” the other workman asked.
“Apparently the uncle didn't want the kid looked after well, living it up with daddy dearest, in a life of luxury” was the other man’s response.
"Well, the uncle will be getting his wish with Haywood around" was the amused reply making Steve clench his fists in anger.
"Yeah, that man is a hard ass."
"A hard ass? That man is just cruel, sick, and cruel… That kid is in for a hard life."
Steve was getting queasy by what he was hearing. Harry was just a sweet little boy who didn’t deserve the hardships he has endured.
“I’m surprised the good Captain hasn’t run off to tell Stark.” One spoke.
“It was buried deep even Stark couldn’t find it on any server. We were told it doesn’t leave the base, Haywood paid off the lab tech and took the file." Steve could tell that the men had begun to walk in the other direction as the conversation began to fade away.
Steve was in shock, Harry was Tony’s Son, but the record of birth listed James Potter as the boy’s father, Steve wondered if the man had ever known before his death.
They weren't even planning on informing Tony, and Tony would fight tooth and nail to protect his son once he knew, Steve was sure.
This Haywood was making plans for Harry's future, plans that would be unethical and downright inhuman.
Steve had to get Harry out, take him to America with him and make sure he was delivered to Tony. He was sure Tony would conduct his own test to be certain, especially as it was currently a rumor.
Steve still wasn’t taking any chances leaving the kid here. It was time he returned home; he was just going to have a bit of extra cargo this time.
Pulling out his phone as he moved to his original destination, Steve sent a text.
"How soon before you could get to France?" He typed before putting his phone away while he waited for a response.
Once back at med bay, Steve’s Heart dropped.
Harry's bed was empty, there was no one around, Steve felt himself beginning to panic.
Had they taken him while he was sleeping, and Steve wasn’t there to protect him?
Would Steve be able to find the child?
What if he woke scared without him, in a new environment once more, and surrounded by hostile agents? or scientists? Just what were they planning to do with the kid?
Steve was truly on the verge of a panic attack.
"Steve?” All at once Steve felt the panic recede, his shoulders slumped as he turned and watched Dr. Callum wheel Harry into the room in a wheelchair.
“Hey buddy, "Stave greeted trying to hide how breathless he was.
“I had an X-ray," The five-year-old told him almost excitedly.
"He is healing at an excellent rate; we might even be looking to take his leg cast off in another three weeks." Dr. Callum reported as he helped Harry to bed.
"That’s really great," Steve said feeling relieved to hear some good news.
Harry just pulled one of the books he got off the nurse closer to him and began to read. Steve sunk into the chair, trying to get his heart to stop pounding in his chest.
The sooner he got Harry to safety, the better he would feel.
It amazed Steve how one tiny child could steal his heart so completely, having the last two weeks with Harry and getting to bond with the child was something he never expected.
Steve wouldn't change it for the world, he was glad to be in Harry’s life when he needed him, Harry had fast become like a son to Steve, and he would do anything to protect the small boy.
A text came through shortly after Steve had finally calmed down,
"On my way” was all it said, making Steve smile. Hopefully the other would arrive soon, and he could take Harry tonight to a much safer location.
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It was midnight when he was notified that the other man had arrived and was waiting about a mile away.
It was time to move.
Steve had sat vigilantly at Harry's bedside all day, refusing to leave, not that anyone asked him to, but Dr. Callum knew he used the time Harry was asleep to do other things, so only commented briefly about going for a walk to get fresh air while Harry had his afternoon nap.
Steve wasn’t taking any chances by taking the doctor up on his suggestion, as night had fallen and Harry was asleep for the night it became odd that he remained, Steve could only use the excuse he wasn’t tired to the nurse who asked.
He had waited till no one was about before he put his plan into action, grabbing a sheet from a nearby shelf of linens he ripped it, so he had a thinner strip to use as a body wrap.
"Harry," Steve said running his fingers through the boy’s wild hair to try to wake him up.
“Steve?" was the sleepy reply.
“Come on buddy, we are going on a trip." He told the boy helping him to sit up, he had the sheet wrapped around his body to make a baby sing, the only way he could think to carry Harry hands-free.
“Buddy, let’s get you in here and I’ll carry you to where we are going," Steve said lifting Harry as gently as he could into the makeshift sling, once secured Harry was snuggled tightly to Steve’s chest leaving Steve free to still move around.
Steve first made his way to his room, quietly moving about the corridors and avoiding people as he moved.
When he reached his room, he grabbed his bag which was always ready to go, and made his way toward the building's exit. On the way, he remembers the chill of the evening and didn't went Harry to get cold.
He knew close by was a man’s room, that was bulkier than Steve, he could sneak in, hoping the man was asleep or off working, and borrow one of his larger coats. It would help to conceal Harry as well as keep him warm.
The detour to get the coat didn’t take long at all, and Steve was once again heading for the exit, Harry safely strapped to his chest hidden under the warm coat.
Getting past the gate was ridiculously easy and Steve thought to make a note to inform Fury later.
He had a mile hike ahead of him and he had to be as stealthy as he could while making sure to stay off the roads and not leaving a trail to follow.
Luckily Harry was fast asleep, so he wasn't worried or anxious about their new adventure, when he was sure he had hit the mile mark, Steve paused to check in on the meet-up location sure he was close by.
Three flashes of lights caught Steve’s attention and he knew he had made it. still advancing with caution, he wasn't taking any chances.
"Bucky?" Steve said as he approached the man leaning against a Honda adventure bike.
“Steve… So, what's going on?” Bucky greeted as he searched his friend for any sign of injury, even in the dark he could tell Steve was hiding something.
Darting forward he pulled the zipper down on the man's oversized jacket.
“What is that? Is that a kid? Steve, what the hall?" Bucky Said, he was not expecting to find Steve smuggling a child.
“I'll explain, can we just go, I want to get him as far away as possible and get him to America somehow," Steve said, they were still too close to the base for his comfort.
Harry's absence was probably discovered by now and soldiers were probably out looking for them.
“I have transport sorted”. Bucky said eyeing his friend like he had grain an extra head, this was new even for the soft-hearted man.
“You just had to get a bike, didn't you? Is it going to be safe with all three of us?" Steve said in exasperation eyeing the bike subspecialty.
“Well, I didn't know it would be three of us, did I? I was just expecting you, but you had to go ahead and kidnap some kid, is that what we do now? Are we kidnappers now?" Bucky asked he really didn’t care that Steve was dragging him into a potential kidnapping he knew Steve always had the best intentions.
“Think about it as rescue and deliver,” Steve stated as he checked that Harry was still secured to him.
"Whatever let's just go, but you will be giving me that explanation," Bucky told him before starting the bike up.
Harry woke at the loud noise and Steve had to reassure him that he was safe and that they were just going for a ride.
Sitting behind Bucky on the bike he held on as the ex-assassin took off.
An hour later Bucky pulled into Lyon Airport, and into a private runway.
Steve was glad to see no signs that they were being pursued.
"Did you bring a Quin jet?" Steve asked as they walked up to a large hangar.
"Not exactly" was Bucky’s reply as he entered the hangar and began to pull the large doors open.
"Is that?" Steve asked upon seeing their transport.
"Yep," Bucky said smiling.
"You stole Tony's, Private Jet!" Steve yelled startling Harry awake. "Shh… Harry, I’m sorry, your safe, I'm sorry I scared you." Steve soothed while rocking Harry gently back and forwards.
Bucky continued to stare at Steve being a Muma bear, it wasn’t the first time he had witnessed it, but it warmed his heart every time.
“We are trying to stay in Tony's good books Bucky, taking his jet is just asking for trouble,” Steve scalded while rocking a silently crying Harry.
"He probably won't notice, he’s so deep in his work, besides it was easier to steal than a Quin jet and almost as fast!” Bucky, defended, it’s not that he didn’t care what Stark would say, it’s just that… No, he didn’t actually care what the billionaire had to say.
"You know what let’s just get home and hope he doesn’t find out," Steve stated in frustration as to board the plane.
Bucky smiled as he watched Steve, the man was such a worrier sometimes.
Carefully taking Harry out of the sling now that he had stopped crying, he got the boy buckled into a seat closest to the cockpit.
“We are going for another flight Harry; this one will be different from the last one,” Steve told the five-year-old as he wrapped the large coat around the small boy’s shoulders to keep him warm.
“This man is my best friend Bucky, he and I are going to get the plane in the sky and then I'll come out and sit with you, if you need me for anything, just call for me,” Steve spoke gently, as he checked the seat belt was secure enough. As he stood back up and made his way to the cockpit, he saw Bucky watching him curiously.
"What?” he asked his best friend.
“Nothing” Bucky replied shrugging how shoulders, "I just always know you'd make a great mom someday" Bucky teased.
"That's… what? Shut up." Steve spluttered as he elbowed his way past his snickering friend.
Take-off was standard, Bucky had everything sorted and ready to go for the return journey back to America.
Harry was quiet the whole time just looking out the window as they made their ascend. The child was clearly tired still, but he was fighting sleep, so he didn’t miss the experience of flying. It seemed being on a plane didn’t bother the child at all.
It was several hours later when Steve got a call on his phone, checking the caller ID he was not that surprised to see it was Tony of all people. He gave Bucky a pointed look as if to say this is all your fault, which... 'fair' Buck thought, it was.
Steve braced himself as he hit the answer button.
“Hi Tony” he greeted cheerfully.
“Spangles, you wanna tell me why I was just informed your boyfriend took a joy ride in one of my Jets,” Tony asked seeming very annoyed with the situation, he felt like he was looking after a bunch of teenagers.
“He isn’t my boyfriend… And I will be having very stern words with him about that.” Steve said feeling his face burn with a blush.
Bucky had to try to stifle a laugh at the scandalized look on his friend’s face.
“You do that, not a scratch Rogers” Tony said before he suddenly hung up on Steve.
“Are we grounded?” asked Bucky cheekily.
“Just get this plane grounded Punk,” Steve said as he got up to go check on Harry.
Leaving Bucky to his amusement.