Disclaimer: I do not own Captain America or any of the other characters in the Marvel Universe. I only own the OCs that may appear in this story.
A/N: Thank you for all of the faves and follows from the last chapter. With this chapter the story really begins to take off. I only hope that you enjoy it.
Grace was scared of the man before her. After she revealed to Bucky that the girl he loved was not dead, but very much alive, he did not move nor speak. It left Grace feeling wary of what he was thinking about doing next.
'This girl, woman I should say, has been through terrible ordeals by those who wish to experiment and manipulate her abilities. I mean, she was downright tortured to the point of insanity just so scientists could see how fast her healing factor was.' Bucky remembered reading in Litchfield's article about the woman who would be Faye.
All of a sudden Bucky felt sick. He could feel the bile start to rise up in his throat. Quickly getting up out of his seat, Bucky started pacing back and forth in the living room. So many thoughts and emotions were running through his head. It was all starting to become too much for him.
Faye. That is all he could think about. His Faye. She was tortured, abused, and used just like him.
"Fourteen. That was two years after Steve and I met Faye. How did we not know? Why didn't she tell us?" Bucky asked looking towards Grace to see if she had an answer for him.
Confused as to what to say, Grace stuttered out, "I…I don't…I don't know why she didn't…tell you two. Her secrets aren't really mine to tell. Look, the thing you should focus on is that she is safe and…"
"Take me to her." Bucky demanded.
"What?"
"Take. Me. To. Her."
"I don't think that is a good idea. Let's just wait for Joel to come back…Whoa!" Grace said, but let out a yelp when Bucky grabbed her roughly by the arm to lead her out of the apartment.
Once outside Bucky looked around and pulled Grace along with him towards a car parked near the sidewalk. Using his metal hand to break one of the windows Bucky was able to unlock the doors. Unfortunately, that made the car's alarm go off.
As he quickly shoved Grace into the passenger's seat he proceeded to hot wire the car to get it started.
"Give me the directions as to where I need to go." Again Bucky ordered.
Realizing that it would in her best interest to comply Grace replied, "1407 Graymalkin Lane, Salem Center. That's about 50 miles north of Manhattan."
"Steve, I think you need to calm down and think for a minute. This guy just told you that your childhood friend, who you thought was dead, is not only alive, but is also a mutant." Sam intervened after Steve got off the phone with Litchfield.
"Who was captured and used by some government agency to exploit her abilities. I have to find Faye and let her know that she isn't alone. She would want to know that Bucky is out there somewhere." Replied Steve as he moved frantically around his living quarters.
"Maybe so, but think about this for a second. It has been two years since the battle of New York, right? That was when everyone found out that you were alive."
"What are you getting at Sam?"
"She had to have seen you in the papers after New York. My question is why didn't Faye try to contact you since then? What if, like Bucky, she doesn't remember who she used to be? How would handle with another one of your best friends who doesn't know who you are?" Sam questioned as he held the paper with Charles Xavier's number.
"Then that is a chance I am going to have to take." Steve said holding out his hand for the piece of paper to which Sam gave him hesitantly. He just didn't want Steve to get hurt.
Not many people could use the device created by Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr called cerebro. When using cerebro it amplifies the person's brainwaves. For telepaths using the device it helps them to distinguish between those who are mutants from humans. Only telepaths who are well-trained are able to use cerebro as it can be extremely dangerous if their minds aren't disciplined.
Jean Grey was one the few whose mind was strong enough to endure the psychic feedback when operating cerebro.
As she was about place the helmet-like device on her head a voice spoke up behind her.
Startled by the unexpected presence in the room Jean turned around and came face-to-face with a woman she had known for years since being at the school.
"Faye, what are you doing in here?" asked Jean.
"I need your help." Faye replied as she stepped closer to Jean.
As a child Jean had always looked up to Faye, like an older and sister still to this day. However, it was weird though in a way as Jean grew older, Faye appeared to remain the same age due to her accelerated healing ability. It became no surprise to Jean that Faye and Logan got along. Those two not only shared the same powers, but suffered the same ordeal from Weapon X. The only difference is that Faye was not given retractable claws.
"Everything okay?"
"No. I need you to locate Grace. She sent me a text and all it says is 'S.O.S'." Faye informed looking down at her cellphone.
"Alright, we will look for her." Jean reassured and turned back around to place cerebro on her head. "Now remember, don't move." She instructed and began to concentrate.
Fortunately, it did not take Jean long to find Grace. She appeared to be unharmed. Yet, what worried the telepath was seeing the younger woman in a car with an unknown man who looked questionable. To Jean there was something off about him. He seemed unbalanced.
"Oh my God." Faye said in a state of shock as she covered her mouth in disbelief.
For Faye it was as if she was seeing a ghost from her past. Someone who she thought was long gone.
"What is it Faye?" Jean asked.
"I know that man. He's supposed to be dead. How is he alive?"
Jean stopped concentrating and took off the device. "Who was he?" inquired Jean, but held up her hand to silence Faye from answering her. At the moment she was receiving a telepathic message from Professor Xavier.
'Jean, tell Faye I need to speak with her at once.'
'Yes, Professor.'
"Charles wishes to speak with you." Jean relayed the message to Faye who simply nodded her head and slowly turned away.
"Faye, who was that man with Grace? You said you knew him."
Letting out a sigh, she began to speak, "I was told Bucky died in action during the Second World War. I remember Rebecca telling me they never found his body. How can he be alive? Is he like me? Is my mind playing tricks on me again and I'm imagining what I want to see?"
Unsure of what to say Jean suggested they hurry to see what Charles wanted.
The two walked out of the room that held cerebro side by side in silence.
When they reached Charles's office both women saw that he was not alone. Dr. Hank McCoy was there in his office as well.
"Charles, I think something is wrong." Faye indicated as she pointed to head.
"Calm down Faye. There is nothing wrong with your mind." Charles reassured her.
"Then what is going on?" She questioned.
"I received a phone call not too long ago from someone asking for my help. This person was told by someone to ask for you. Please speak with him." Charles encouraged.
"He's on hold." Said Hank as he picked up the phone, "Hello, you still there? Yes? Good. Hold on second. Here she is."
Grabbing the phone from Hank she saw him give her a reassuring smile.
"Hello, this Faye. Who is this?" she asked into the receiver.
There was a few minutes of silence on the other end. Thinking the person on the end must have hung up Faye was about to do the same until a voice finally spoke up and said something.
"Faye? Is that really you?"
She immediately recognized who the voice belonged to.
"Yes. Steve?"
"Yes, it's me."
Tears started to pour from Faye's eyes and she could hear Steve getting chocked up as well.
"I saw him Steve. I saw Bucky. He's alive." She told him.
"I know…I know. But you have to listen to me. He isn't the same Bucky we remember."
"What happened to him?" Faye asked.
"It will be easier to tell you everything once I get to New York." Steve answered then asked, "Where did you say you saw Bucky?"
"I guess I'll have some things to tell you to when you get here."