New update to move the story forward a bit. Still don't own anything Marvel related…
"Irresponsible!"
"Dangerous!"
"Idiotic!"
"What the hell were you two thinking?"
Once they'd made camp for the night, both Bucky and Ryder started with the lectures…part of it screaming, part ranting, pacing back and forth in opposite directions, casting glares at each other as they passed in the middle of their circles.
"What the hell are you two smirking at?" Bucky finally demanded of the two.
Both Steve and Case grinned at them, watching them pace. They were both leaning against a nearby tree, with the largest silliest grins on their faces.
"We thought you were dead," Case began.
"And yet here you two are, safe and sound," Steve added. "You two can be angry all you want, we're just happy you're alive."
Both sets of shoulders slumped as they sat down across from Steve and Case. They both plopped down on the ground, apparently having run out of steam.
"You still haven't answered the question of what happened to you," Bucky told Steve. As Steve opened his mouth, Bucky pointed at him and snapped, "And don't say you joined the Army!"
Steve shifted, then sighed, "That doctor Schmitt mentioned…his name was Abraham Erskine. He developed a serum…I was a success story. Despite what Schmitt wants to call it, Erskine didn't think of him as a success."
"Man's nuttier than a fruit cake," Case pointed out.
"I don't know if I should be impressed, or pissed because you volunteered for it," Bucky admitted.
"Brought me to top physical condition, I'd say impressed would be a wise choice," Steve told him.
"Man has a point," Ryder chimed in. "Question though…are they making more soldiers like you?"
Steve shook his head, "Erskine…he's dead. One of Hydra's agents killed him after I got the serum." He looked down at the ground, and he felt Case give his left shoulder a squeeze. "I know they're trying to figure out the formula…but so far, it's just me."
"So, what are you doing here together?" Ryder asked. He turned to Case, "I thought you were with the USO, not here for battles."
Case chuckled, then asked Steve, "You want to tell them, or should I?"
"Tell us what?" Bucky asked.
"It's…nothing really…" Steve said awkwardly.
"He's the 'Star Spangled Man with a Plan'…and I'm one of his Star-Spangled singers," Case explained. "It's this whole road show…this was our first trip overseas."
"The Star-Spangled Man with a Plan?" Bucky and Ryder asked simultaneously.
"It's not as ridiculous as it…" Steve began, then sighed, "Okay, it's exactly how it sounds…but bond sales increased in every town I visited."
"I think I'm out of a job now, considering," Case admitted. "Wonder what they're gonna say after we bailed on the last show."
Steve pulled the busted transponder out of his pocket, "I'm wondering what Peggy's going to say when we get back."
"How did you manage to bust that thing, anyway?"
"I've got no idea."
"Still sounds as ridiculous today as it did back in forty-three," Ryder Howlett chuckled.
The four of them stood in the cemetery, in front of the gravestone of the man that had called them there – Ryder and Case, Steve, and Sam.
It read:
Col. Nicholas J. Fury
"The path of the righteous man…"
Ezekiel 25:71
"Peggy asked if we were going to walk to Austria…didn't think after that flight we'd have to walk back," Case admitted.
They stood in silence for a few moments, listening to the breeze rustle the trees and the birds chirp as they flew by.
"So…" A new voice spoke up. A man in a black sweatshirt with the hood pulled up to his face walked into their little circle, "You've experienced this sort of thing before."
Steve had a small smile on his face as he answered, "You get used to it."
Fury took a moment to gaze at his gravestone, then turned to them as he said, "We've been data mining Hydra's files. Looks like a lot of rats didn't go down with the ship."
They all let that sink in for a moment.
Fury then continued, "I'm headed to Europe tonight. Wanted to ask if you'd come."
Steve paused a moment before answering, "There's something I've gotta do first."
"How 'bout you Wilson? Could use a man with your abilities."
Sam looked at Steve before saying, "I'm more of a soldier than a spy."
"Howletts?"
The twins looked at each other, before Ryder said, "Where Steve goes, we go."
"Alright then," He shook each of their hands, then said, "Anybody asks for me tell them they can find me," he nodded at the stone, "Right here."
As Fury took his leave, Natasha's voice called out, "You should be honored, that's about as close as he gets to saying, 'thank you'."
Steve smiled and walked over to Natasha, "Not going with him?"
"No," Natasha said emphatically.
"Not staying here."
"Nah," She looked off to the side before she told him, "I blew all my covers, I gotta to figure out a new one."
"That might take a while," Steve pointed out.
"I'm counting on it."
Case rolled her eyes and caught sight of Ryder. He had his eyes on the ground, staring at the flowers lying over Fury's fake grave…almost like he was trying to ignore Natasha's presence there.
"That thing you asked for," Natasha held out a file to Steve, "I called in a few favors from Kiev."
Case tugged at Ryder's sleeve, "Before you look at that file…we need to have a conversation you're not going to enjoy."
Ryder sighed and looked down at her, "Case, I'm sorry—"
"It's not about Bucky."
They'd missed part of Steve and Natasha's conversation, but when she stretched up to kiss Steve on the cheek, Case could swear she could hear Ryder's teeth grinding together as his jaw clenched.
She took a few steps back, before she gazed at all of them in turn. Case didn't miss the tiny quirk of her lips as she looked at Ryder, before she said, "Be careful…all of you." She nodded toward the file in Steve's hand. "You might not want to pull on that thread."
She walked away as Ryder, Case, and Sam all made their way toward Steve. He opened the file, and Case could see a picture of Bucky behind glass. As she got closer she could see the smaller picture of him clipped to the larger picture, this one a black and white snapshot of just his face, his uniform hat perched on his head.
"You're going after him," Sam stated.
"You don't have to come with me."
Sam looked at the Howletts, who each gave him a nod before he said, "We know…when do we start?"
