"Let me know if you ever need a break or anything, okay? I can make that happen." Steve managed a smile. "I am a captain."

"I'll let you know, I promise," Taylor said, nodding. She wasn't entirely sure that was the truth; she was in the bad habit of not being willing to admit when she needed help or a break, but she could try.

Steve nodded and stood. "I have to get to a meeting, but I'll see you again for dinner," he said with a little smile.

Taylor nodded.

"I'll see you later, then," she said. She grinned. "Try not to get annoyed at anyone there."

Steve chuckled. "I make no promises," he said, but he grinned at her anyway before he left. He was already planning on getting her again for dinner.

Taylor went back to copying the notes Howard had left on her table. She was actually learning quite a bit as she copied them, and it made the time just fly past.

It wasn't much longer before the Howling Commandos were sent on a mission. Alissa and Taylor did not get to go with, and stayed behind with Howard.

Alissa would never admit that she was kind of a nervous wreck the whole time.

Taylor was nervous, too, and she stayed close to Alissa the whole time. She had no idea which mission they had been sent on, but she desperately hoped it wasn't the train mission.

When the team made it back after a week and a half, Alissa let out a shaky breath, leaning against the nearest wall for support. Her leg had gone a little weak on her.

Steve had come out the best of the team, besides Bucky since Bucky was usually back out of the line of fire, as a sniper. But he was pleased to see how well his team worked together, and they'd taken out a Hydra base, so go team.

Taylor had also gone a bit weak in relief when they all made it back. Everyone but Steve and Bucky were a bit battered and bruised; the only sign that Steve had been in the thick of things were the dings on his uniform and the smudges of dirt and soot still on his skin. Bucky was just as good as always, if looking a bit more exhausted than when he left.

Steve smiled when he saw Taylor and paused to talk to her, just for a minute.

"I have to go to a debrief but then I'll be back. Want me to pick up some coffee?" he asked. Because while everything was fine, he was kind of looking forward to coffee and tales of the future, which had kind of become a thing for him and Taylor now.

Taylor nodded.

"Sounds great," she said. She looked him over quickly. "You're okay, right? Nothing that won't heal by tomorrow?"

"I'm fine," Steve assured her. "I'm pretty much healed already, just a few lingering bruises, that's all."

"Okay," Taylor said with a sigh. "Good."

Bucky glanced around for Alissa.

"Hey," he said. "We're back."

Steve smiled. "I'll be back in an hour or two, depending on how many questions they have," he said.

"Hey," Alissa said, shooting him a quick smile. "Looks like things went okay."

"You know where to find me," Taylor replied with a small smile.

"Okay enough," Bucky said, nodding. He grinned. "Miss me?"

Steve smiled and headed off to go get his debrief done already.

"Hey, someone besides Cap has to make sure you come back alive," Alissa said, neatly side-stepping that particular land mine.

"You kidding, I'm the one who keeps an eye on him," Bucky replied with a bit of a crooked grin. "Anyone who tells you elsewise is a liar."

Alissa snorted. "Pretty sure it's mutual now," she said with a bit of a grin.

Bucky snorted.

"I just let people think that," he said, though he was grinning. "I still keep an eye on him."

"Pretty sure you'd never stop keeping an eye on him," Alissa said with a little grin. "But someone does need to keep an eye on you."

"I'm fine," Bucky said, waving a hand. "Up and out of the way. I'm no good down in the thick of things."

Well, that was really kind of true.

"Still, just in case," Alissa said. "Maybe you should practice with Steve. And his shield. I mean, you're the one that would drop everything if he actually got into trouble, so in case you have to defend the two of you, you know? Just practice some."

Bucky paused and considered that.

"With the shield?" he asked. "You really think I'd need to use it?"

"You might," Alissa hedged. "I mean, you never know. What if something happens to Steve and you don't have your gun, or can't get a clean shot? You'd go for the shield, probably, especially to help Steve."