Chapter 10
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Hours after Clint sung that first song he has sung several more, which everyone joined in, and everyone has started to head to bed.
"Do you want to go for a walk?" Steve asks Melinda curious when them, Natasha and Clint are the only ones left by the burning down fire.
"Yeah, I would." Melinda says and they both get up and start to walk.
"They're good together." Clint notes as Steve and Melinda walks away, "He's good for Mel."
"They're good for each other." Natasha corrects.
"Do you think they'll make it?" Clint asks curious.
"I hope so." Natasha says and the two of them drift into silence.
For a few minutes Steve and Melinda walk side by side in silence. They aren't holding hands but because they are so close their hands keep grazing each other.
"You've been quiet." Steve notes as they walk.
"I'm always quiet, Captain." Melinda responds.
"You've been even more quiet than usual." Steve corrects, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm okay." Melinda assures him, telling the truth, "What about you? You had an odd look on your face during one of Clint's songs." Melinda notes as she noticed it at the time but she didn't want to bring it up with Steve until they were alone, "If you don't want to talk that's okay, but I'm here if you do." Melinda says when Steve stares out at the ocean.
"It was what the song was saying." Steve says as he sits down on the sand and Melinda sits down next to him, "Hey brother, there's an endless road to re-discover. Oh, if the sky comes falling down for you, There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do. Hey brother, do you still believe in one another?" Steve quotes, "It just hit a bit close to home." Steve admits, "And reminded me of what I should be doing."
"What do you mean?" Melinda asks, as from the many times she has heard Phil tell the Captain America story she can guess who the 'brother' is though she doesn't get the second part of what Steve is saying.
"My best friend, my brother, Bucky Barnes, is alive. I thought he died, but he's alive, he survived because of the experiments Zola preformed on him and he's been brainwashed by Hydra." Steve explains.
"Oh Steve." Melinda says, reaching out and grabbing his hand, not sure what else to say.
"I should be working harder to find him, I owe him that." Steve says a tear coming to his eye, "He didn't deserve what they turned him into."
"What did they do?" Melinda asks, feeling like if she knows then she might be able to use something she's learnt in the last year and a half to help Steve find him or just help him.
"Brainwashed him, turned him into something else. Hydra turned him into their assassin. When I saw him in DC he wasn't my friend, he was their Winter Solider." Steve says and before she can stop at that Melinda tenses, "You know something." Steve realises, having felt her tense as he is holding her hand, "Melinda? Please tell me." Steve requests, there being pleading in his voice.
"I had a run in with the Winter Solider." Melinda reveals, knowing that it is going to be painful for Steve to hear, but realising that she owns him the truth.
"When? What happened?" Steve asks, needing to know.
"It was early 1991." Melinda answers, "I was on an intel mission in the Latvia, with….huh that makes sense now." Melinda realises.
"What makes sense?" Steve asks.
"The person I was on the mission with was John Garrett, someone I know for sure is Hydra." Melinda explains, "We got separated, I wasn't sure how, now I guess that it may not have been an accident, and I got fired upon. At first I thought it was multiple assailants but I realised it was one. A man, in all black, wearing mask and goggles, he was incredibly fast and strong and had a metal arm."
"Bucky." Steve realises and Melinda nods.
"I thought I landed blows but they did nothing." Melinda explains, "I got a slug in the leg, and another one in the shoulder." Melinda explains and at that it is Steve's turn to tense, "I had heard rumours of the Winter Solider and I realised what I was facing so I knew that there was a very good chance that I was going to die." Melinda explains, "So I did the only thing I could think of, I threw two grenades and ran like hell. Somehow I managed to make it to the extraction point." Melinda says, still not entirely sure how she managed that but if she has to guess she would say it was thanks to adrenaline, "I'm sorry Steve, I didn't realise that he was brainwashed if I did I would have done something." Melinda says as if she knew she would have tried to do something to help Bucky before she resorted to drastic action, just like she tried to do in Bahrain.
"It's not your fault, you couldn't have known." Steve says, "No matter what happened Bucky was there for me, when I had nothing I had him." Steve explains, "I need to find him, I need to help him, no matter what it takes." Steve tells Melinda there being no room for argument in his voice.
"I know." Melinda says, "I would do the exact same thing." Melinda says as if she was in Steve's position and it was Phil there is nothing she wouldn't do, "And I'll help you, Steve. Do whatever I can."
"Melinda…" Steve starts to say.
"I've made up my mind, Captain, if there is anything I can do to help then I will do it." Melinda tells him.
"Thank you." Steve says gratefully and touched.
"And I think I have an idea of how I can do that once we get back to the Facility." Melinda informs Steve.
"How?" Steve asks curious.
"I can access the S.H.I.E.L.D's systems and we've gotten access to some Hydra systems in the past year, which I can get into. I can see if I can find something that could help you find him." Melinda explains.
"Thank you, Agent May." Steve says, feeling hope that maybe they might be able to find something that could give him an insight into finding Bucky.
"You're welcome, Captain." Melinda says and Steve leans down and kisses her. Once they break apart Melinda moves slightly so that she is leaning against Steve, just like she was when they were sitting around the fire and once more Steve puts his arm around Melinda, kissing her on her cheek as he does.
For hours Steve and Melinda sit together on the beach, not really talking, until the sun starts to rise.
"I always love watching the sun rise." Steve comments.
"Same." Melinda admits, "When I've been on mobile command units, or even when I spent time on the Helicarrier, I would get up early to do Tai-Chi in the place with the best vantage point to watch the sun rise." Melinda explains.
"That sounds nice." Steve says.
"It was." Melinda confirms, "We should probably head back to the house." Melinda comments as she knows that if they don't head back there soon then they are going to be missed.
"Yeah, we probably should." Steve says and both he and Melinda get up and head inside.
When Melinda and Steve walk into the house they are attempting to be as quiet as possible as they figure that everyone else is still asleep.
"Well, well, well." Tony's amused says.
"What time do you call this?" Natasha's voice asks and Steve and Melinda turn to see Natasha and Tony sitting on different couches in the living room.
"If you're going to stay out all night it's customary to call." Tony tells them, "Unless of course you were too busy." He adds with a smirk.
"Neither of us have our phones. We were sitting on the beach." Melinda explains.
"Sitting on the beach?" Natasha asks, both her and Tony giving Steve and Melinda a look which says they don't believe that.
"Yes, sitting on the beach." Steve confirms.
"Don't you two have better things to do than sit up and question us?" Melinda asks, being pretty sure that they do.
"Neither of you came to bed. I went to check with Tony when I realised Mel hadn't come to bed and when we realised that neither of you did we became worried." Natasha explains.
"And so you decided to sit and wait on the couches instead of looking for us?" Steve asks.
"We saw you walking up the beach." Tony explains.
"Which is why you're submitting us to this lovely interrogation." Melinda comments, sarcastically, "I'm going to have a shower, see you later, Nat, Tony, Captain." Melinda says before heading upstairs.
As soon as Melinda leaves Tony and Natasha look at Steve with questioning looks, it being clear that the want explanation about what happened.
"I think I'm going to use the other bathroom before everyone else wakes." Steve says before heading upstairs too, not really wanting to deal with an interrogation from Tony and Natasha.
"So what do we think happened?" Tony asks Natasha curious.
"Under normal circumstances it would be pretty obvious, but its Steve and Mel, so who knows." Natasha admits, as if it was anyone other than Melinda May and Steve Rogers she would be able to guess what happened, but when it comes to them she can't predict.
"Do you have a theory?" Tony asks curious.
"Yeah, I do." Natasha says, "I'm going to get into the last shower before anyone else can." Natasha says before heading upstairs too.
"Guess, I'll get started on breakfast." Tony says before heading to the kitchen.
A couple of hours later everyone is awake and enjoying their selves on the beach or in the water. While Steve, Rhodey, Sam and Tony are playing volleyball in the water Melinda, Natasha and Maria are sunbathing while Wanda and Pietro are exploring together as they haven't had many chances to go to the beach.
"Nat, Mel, Maria." Clint says, standing in front of them, blocking the sun.
"You have five seconds to move out of the way, Clinton." Natasha tells her partner, the threat being more than clear in her voice.
"I could do that, or we can work on our revenge, not just on Tony but on everyone." Clint tells his friends.
"What are you thinking?" Maria asks as she looks up at him.
"Something that shows just what we're capable of." Clint explains.
"Have you got something more specific? Coz that means a lot of different things." Maria informs Clint.
"Yeah, I was thinking that we could pull something out of mine and Mel's old bag of tricks." Clint explains with a smirk.
"Yeah, we're still going to need something more specific." Natasha says as that to could mean a lot of different things. As Natasha says that Melinda and Clint lock eyes and as they do Melinda realises what he is thinking.
"Hub, 94." Melinda says.
"Yeah, that's what I was thinking." Clint says, "It seems fitting."
"That it is." Melinda confirms.
"Okay so I'm glad that you have over twenty years of pranks that you can think up, but we're going to need more." Natasha tells her friends, "It was before our times after all." Natasha explains.
"Do you want to tell the story or do you want me to?" Clint asks Melinda curious.
"It's all yours." Melinda says and Clint starts to tell the story, the more he says the more Natasha and Maria like the sound of the idea.
It takes well over an hour but Natasha, Clint, Melinda and Maria manage to set up everything they want and once they finish they head back out to the beach and head over to where the others are playing volleyball in the water.
"Finally decided to stop sunbathing have you?" Tony asks when he sees them.
"Yeah, volleyball was starting to look fun." Maria says with a shrug.
"Okay then. Romanoff, May, you're with Rogers and Wilson. Barton, Hill you're with me and Rhodey." Tony says and the four agents nod.
Together the group of eight continue start to play volleyball, it is clear after a few minutes that this isn't exactly a friendly game, they are all quiet competitive and determine to win, which is exactly why Melinda is able to ignore the pain from her wound and play to the best of her abilities.
After about an hour it becomes clear that no one is giving in and that they are all giving their absolute best.
"Five minute break." Rhodey requests and everyone nods in agreement.
"Strategy meeting." Natasha requests and Melinda, Steve, Natasha and Sam swim off away from the others.
"So, we're in front, right?" Sam asks.
"Yeah, but not by much." Melinda explains.
"Any idea how we can get ahead?" Steve asks curious.
"I've got one." Natasha says with a smirk.
"Oh no." Steve and Sam say worried.
"Don't worry, that's Nat's this is very good for us smirk." Melinda explains, knowing that as she learnt a long time ago what Natasha's different smirks mean, "What are you thinking?" Melinda asks and Natasha smirks once more then begins to explain.
A few minutes later the game of Volleyball continues and after a few serves Natasha and Melinda exchange nods and within a seconds Melinda jumps onto Steve's shoulders and Natasha jumps onto Sam's which gives them both more height so that they are able to get better shots.
"Okay, that's cheating." Tony says as Melinda and Natasha manage to get about three points in a row.
"How is it cheating?" Melinda asks.
"It's not fair. So even if you win you won't be winning fairly." Rhodey points out.
"Rhodey does have a point." Sam points out.
"Guess so." Melinda say and she and Natasha both push themselves backwards off Steve and Sam's respective shoulders.
"We will win, and we will win fairly." Natasha says once she and Melinda have come to the surface.
"Bring it on, Romanoff." Tony says.
A couple of hours later the group of eight have finished playing volleyball and are walking back to the house. They are right near the stairs off the porch when they spot Wanda and Pietro.
"There you two are." Clint says when he sees them.
"How was exploring?" Maria asks curious.
"Great. There are a lot of interesting places around here." Wanda explains as everyone starts to walk up to the stairs. Seeing that Steve is close to being one of the first people who is about to walk into the house Melinda reaches out and takes his hand, pulling him back. At that Steve just gives him a confused look but Melinda just shakes her head at him and because he trusts Melinda Steve just gives a nod.
"We should order in or get pick up for tea, save us from cooking." Sam says as he and Tony walk closer to the door.
"Sounds good to me." Tony says, opening the front door. The second Tony opens the door an ACDC song starts to play and Tony and Sam find themselves being sprayed by beer and food dye.
"What that?" Sam asks as Tony takes a step forward and the second he steps into the room balloons drop from the ceiling, completely filling the room.
Seeing the confused looks on everyone else's faces Melinda, Clint, Natasha and Maria can't help but laugh.
"YOU!" Tony says looking at Maria.
"Me." Maria says with a smirk, "Orange is defiantly your colour, Stark." She informs Tony.
"I will get you back for this." Tony says.
"You'll try, but you won't succeed." Maria says, knowing that for a fact.
"Is it safe to walk in?" Sam ask as he looks hesitantly into the house.
"Yeah, it's safe." Natasha answers, completely lying, not that anyone can tell.
"I'm not sure I believe that." Sam comments, "After you." He says to Natasha.
"You worry too much." Natasha says before she walks in, but because she setup the prank Natasha knows exactly where to step so that she doesn't set off any of the things that she, Melinda, Maria and Clint put in place.
Thinking that it is safe everyone with the exception of Melinda, Clint, Wanda, Steve, and Maria walk in and once they do they find themselves getting hit by foam darts.
"Okay, for this you're on dinner duty." Tony says, "All six of you. I need a shower." Tony says. before heading upstairs, not carrying what else happens, and because of that he finds himself getting hit by several other things.
"Six, what did I do?" Wanda asks confused.
"You knew it was going to happen and didn't say anything." Pietro tells his sister.
"I see your point." Wanda realises.
"When did you set all this up?" Steve asks, looking around.
"When we were meant to be sun bathing." Melinda explains, "What do you think?" she asks curious.
"It's impressive, creative." Steve says.
"We have a bit of experience with that." Clint comments.
"So what should we do for dinner?" Maria asks.
"Barbecue." Natasha suggests.
"Sounds good." Clint says with a nod, "Mel, Steve, Wanda do you want to go to the store?"
"Sure." Steve says and the others nod.
It has been two days since Clint, Natasha, Melinda and Maria pulled a prank on everyone else and in that time the group spent another day at the beach house before returning to the Avengers Facility.
They have been back at the facility for a day and already everyone, except for Melinda and Fury are away on a mission. Melinda and Fury on the other hand are in the Action Centre monitoring everything.
"Good job. Come on home." Fury instructs before cutting the coms.
"See you in a few hours" Melinda says before she cuts her coms too.
"You'll be back soon, May." Fury informs Melinda.
"I really wish people would stop saying that." Melinda says, "Is there anything else you need me to do?" Melinda asks curious.
"Nope."
"Okay, I'll see you later." Melinda says before picking up a tablet and leaving the room.
As Fury watches Melinda go he wonders what she could need the tablet for because it is unlike Melinda to take it, but Nick also knows that it it would be better for him not to question and so he puts it out of his head.
It has been a few hours since Melinda left the Action Centre and ever since she has been sitting in the living area of the rooms that were Natasha's, but are now very clearly both Melinda and Natasha's, looking through information on the tablet. Due to the fact that Melinda is so focused on what she is doing she doesn't notice the door open nor Natasha walk in.
"Hey." Natasha says as she walks over and sits down on the other end of the couch from Melinda, "Hello, earth to, Mel." Natasha says when her friend doesn't respond, "Mel." Natasha says, nudging her friend with her leg.
"Sorry, what?" Melinda ask, looking up.
"Hi." Natasha says, with a smile, "What's so interesting?" Natasha asks curious.
"Just something I'm…" Melinda starts to say but trails off.
"Just something?" Natasha asks ashes notices Melinda get a look of surprise on her face, "Mel? What is it?" Natasha asks, concerned as she isn't sure what to think.
"Just the very thing I've been looking for." Melinda says as she stands up, "I'll be back." Melinda says before hurrying out of the room.
"MEL? What's going on?' Natasha asks confused as she turns to look at Melinda's retreating figure.
After leaving the rooms she shares with Natasha Melinda hurries, as fast as she can, to Steve's rooms. The second she gets there Melinda starts to knock loudly at the door.
"Agent May?" Steve asks surprised when he sees her after opening the door after a few seconds, "What's wrong?" he asks concerned.
"I think I've found a way for you to find Bucky."