Chapter 10

"Absolutely not!" Samantha snapped her arms crossed under her large chest; Zaria had a moment of petty jealousy of breast size.

"And why not? It's a good idea." Nick responded his arms also cross over his chest as he basically had a staring contest with Samantha.

"It's a stupid idea!" Samantha slammed her hands on the table as she stood up. "I cannot allow you to use my patient like that."

"If she can prove that she's on our side and not their side I would be willing to release her from here."

"She is not a prisoner in the first place!" Samantha was angry, and from the look on the other team member's faces, this was something they had never seen. "You have no right to keep her here in the first place, but I will not allow you to use her as bait!"

"I never said the word "bait". All I said was she would be a perfect candidate to get the Winter Soldier out of hiding."

"By using her as bait!" Samantha waved her hand in Zaria's general direction making Zaria wish she had the ability to disappear. "I don't know where you've been this whole time but I had a very personal experience with what that man did to her the last time she was caught by him. I will not allow her to put herself in that type of danger again just so you can have the minor chance of catching that man. He might kill her this time!"

"She's right, in a sense." Zaria finally spoke up.

"What do you mean?" Fury turned the full brunt of his attention on her along with everyone else at the table. Zaria had to fight the urge to fidget.

"I would be a bad choice of bait for the Winter Soldier. The next time I see him, I will kill him."

"And what a great job you did last time you ran into him." Fury commented.

Zaria's hands curled into fists under the table but her reply was as cold as ice. "I did clear half the bunker before finding him, excuse me for being half dead when I started that fight, I'll make sure it doesn't happen again. Besides, there is nothing I can do that will draw him out. Even if he thought I somehow survived he knows my next move is to leave and disappear. I wouldn't just go on living normally."

"But you haven't packed any of your stuff up. One would think, if you survived, you would have to at least return to your place to get the essentials."

He was right, of course. She could do without most of the stuff she had at her apartment if she had to, but there were a few things she couldn't part with and her grandfather would know that if he knew anything at all about her.

"I would still be lousy bait as the moment I see him he's getting two rounds in the chest and one in the head most likely before you even get a chance to catch him."

"And where are you going to get a gun to do that with?"

"Any gun shop." At the odd look from Fury she sighed. "If you had actually taken the time to read my file you would know that everything I was convicted for doesn't transfer over as it was all when I was under the legal age to be tried as an adult. Even the stuff that technically happened "while I was an adult" was removed as there is no legal birth certificate that can tell you the exact date of my birth. All charges as an adult had to be dropped because the dates on both legal and certified birth certificates that can be located do not have corresponding dates. The judge ruled that I was under the legal age and it was all sealed when I turned eighteen the next month. So do you honestly think that I still cannot go to any gun shop anywhere and get myself a gun? In Texas I can get two."

She smiled, smug with the notion that she had just won the argument. Fury glared but didn't respond. She was right and he knew it he just didn't want to agree with it.

"I doubt you would shoot him in broad daylight with more witnesses than you could count."

Zaria's eyes hardened. "You know full well I would do whatever I had to, to make sure he died even if that means going to jail for murder. But he is not stupid to approach me in broad daylight anyway so I doubt that would ever be a problem."

The table was dead silent as everyone watched Director Fury. Zaria wasn't going to back down; she knew that what they wanted her to do was something she would never be able to do. She wondered what Steve was thinking when she said she would kill his best friend if she had the chance, but she couldn't lie, not about this.

Finally, Fury uncrossed his arms and put his hands on his hips, feet apart, in an aggressive dominating stance; he had made up his mind and she wasn't going to like it.

"You will either go along with the plan without killing the target or you can stay here on the Helicarrier with an Agent watching you twenty four hours a day seven days a week and never get the chance to get off this ship."

Zaria's mouth nearly dropped open, she was stunned. He really was going to treat her like a prisoner if she didn't go along with his plan?

Samantha, who had been sitting silently beside Zaria during her face off with Director Fury, was outraged. Her hands slammed down on the table, making Zaria nearly wonder if the woman would snap it in half, as she stood up and jabbed a finger in Fury's direction. "Zaria is not a prisoner! You cannot treat her like that. You have no right to hold her here against her will just because you can't control her to do what you want her to do."

"On the contrary, she's related to a major political assassin and we do not know what her affiliation is with him. She could very well get off this ship and warn him that we are looking for him. She is a flight risk and a danger to society as a whole, I have every right to keep her here indefinitely for the safety of the public as a whole."

Samantha looked as dumbfounded as Zaria felt; they really could hold her indefinitely? She tore her eyes away from Fury to look at Steve for his response, surely he wouldn't agree with this, but as her eyes passed over his face she saw the grim look on it. His lips were pinched in a thin line and he appeared to not be enjoying what Fury said, but it didn't appear like he was going to argue with him about it. The realization shocked her almost more than the fact that Fury was planning on keeping her a prisoner on his ship for the rest of her days.

Samantha recovered enough to try and catch her dignity. She straightened slowly as she raised her chin and stared at Fury with still seething anger in her eyes. "I want off this ship right now. I cannot work with people like you and still have a clear conscious if you're so willing to do something so atrocious to an innocent." She turned on her four inch heel and stalked from the room, her white lab coat billowing behind her like a cape.

The team watched her go and Zaria noticed that Clint only remained in his seat by sheer force of will and she wondered if he was the man with the secrets in Samantha's story.

"So," Fury said into the astonished silence that followed Samantha's departure. "What will it be Ms. Barnes? A lifetime locked on this ship or being bait to capture a war criminal that you are not allowed to kill?"

Zaria turned her attention back to the man who basically had her life in his hands. He had no idea what he was messing with.

"Fine," she said coolly. "I'll be your bait."

"Then get ready, you're going home now." Fury eyed her suspiciously. "Steve will be going with you to make sure you keep in line. Dismissed."

Zaria stood from the table and ran over her options. She doubted Steve would allow her to go and buy a gun but if she remembered correctly she still had her grandmother's old revolver somewhere in the apartment. She wasn't even sure if it would fire, but she had to try and she could get to it without alerting Steve. So she, Steve and Clint made their way down a hallway to wherever it was they had their way of getting off the Helicarrier. Zaria gave Clint an odd look; she wasn't sure why he was coming with them.

"I'm to fly you down to New York." He said, although he looked more like he was joining them only to find one particular person. Who happened to be leaning against the wall ahead on them with her arms crossed and a sound look on her face. Clint could barely constrain himself enough to walk to her instead of run. He had his arms out like he was going to embrace her but she shook her head.

"Jasmine called her from her grandparents' house." Samantha said as if to explain the lack of wanting to touch. "I didn't like the sounds I heard so I really do need to get back."

Clint lowered his hands and nodded. Zaria thought he would have looked upset about her denying him but he looked more distraught about what Samantha just told him. "Did she say anything?"

Samantha shook her head again as she turned and walked ahead of them with Clint. Zaria fell back a few more steps feeling she should give them privacy. She touched Steve's arm gently and when he looked she indicated the two up front with a nod of her head.

"We should probably give them space." She murmured. Steve slowed down to match pace with her. "Do you know who Jasmine is?"

"Jasmine is Samantha's daughter. She's really sweet; I think you'd like her if you met her."

"I don't do well with kids."

Steve didn't respond, perhaps he didn't know what to say, so they walked in silence to the hangar and got on one of the planes to return to New York where Zaria would have to face her grandfather eventually.

Ride back to New York was uneventful. Samantha sat up front with Clint and Steve and Zaria sat in back. Clint left them off in a relatively familiar area before he and Samantha continued off to their destination. Zaria looked around as she considered what she wanted to do.

"I feel like I should check in with my jobs to see if I still have them and let them know I'm alive." Zaria said finally.

"Fury had a cover arranged and told your bosses that you would be back so they still should have the positions held for you."

Zaria stared at Steve confused. "What kind of cover story did he come up with? I've been missing for a month and I'm pretty sure when I didn't show up for either of my jobs I was reported missing. Joe would have done it at the very least."

"The missing person's report never made it to the police; Natasha intercepted it and took the call herself. I don't know what Fury came up with, but and Agent went to both of your jobs and told them you would be gone for a while doing something."

Zaria just shook her head. "I doubt Joe believed that. Come on, I should probably see to him first."

They arrived at the bar just after its noontime opening. Zaria considered whether or not she should enter in the back or the front and finally decided the back would be safest so she didn't cause a scene if any of the regulars were in today. The heavy metal door was locked and when she reached for her keys she realized she didn't have them, so in the end she had to knock and as she waited she considered if going in the front would have just been easier in the long run.

The door opened to reveal Joe's haggard frame. The big man just leaned against the frame and crossed his arms as he stared at her. Zaria had to fight the urge to fidget under his gaze, she felt like a child being caught doing something wrong and waiting for her father to reprimand her.

"So," Joe finally said as he scrutinized her and Steve. "You finally back from seeing that distant relative that died and left you money?"

Zaria's head snapped around and stared at Steve stupefied. "Could he really not come up with something better?"

Steve raised his hands in surrender. "I guess he thought they would buy it."

"I could see George or Annette possibly buying that really obvious bullshit but Joe," she waved at the man in question. "Joe invented the bullshit detector."

"The what?" Steve asked confused.

"Bullshit detector." Joe answered. "I can tell ya when people are lyin' to me and that man in his spiffy suit and shades screamed all kinds of bullshit before even opening his mouth. Now are ya going to tell me what really happened or am I kickin' you out of my bar?"

"Zaria hung her head, she had been really hoping to avoid telling Joe anything. "Can we at least come in...?"

"So you're telling me that you were kidnapped, attacked your kidnappers, were shot in the process of escape, nearly died, and now you're just waltzing into my bar as if nothing happened? You do realize I'm not stupid."

Zaria sighed as she ran a hand through her hair. Steve had been almost no help with telling the story so she edited what she could but told him nearly all of it. "Honestly Joe that's about what happened. I can't tell you all of it, I don't think it would be safe and I doubt you would believe most of it even if I tried. And if I told you the whole thing I would have to tell you it from the very, very beginning and that is a really long story."

"This doesn't have to do with Jimmy does it? Because if it does I'm going to kill that little rat."

Zaria looked stricken and Steve turned his attention to her with a look of confusion.

"Who's Jimmy."

"Someone we never speak of." Zaria answered automatically.

"He's the rat that got her into all that trouble she's been in. Making her join his gang, getting her into trouble with that museum, and leaving her out to dry for it. Not to mention the years of abuse. If you would just let me I could wipe that shmuck off the face of the Earth and no one would even care."

"This man, he hurt you?" Steve asked with barely veiled anger. Zaria flushed; she didn't like discussing this part of her past with anyone.

"Look he's ancient history, haven't seen him in forever." Which was a lie and both she and Joe knew it, but he wasn't saying anything different. "And it didn't have anything to do with him or whatever gang he's in or now in or not in. It was a random act of kidnapping, must have thought Steve had a lot of money or something."

Joe watched her, studying her as he thought about what she said. "You would tell me the truth if you could, right? This kid's not here to keep you from telling me anything is he? Because if he's threatening you like Jimmy did-"

"Steve isn't like that." Zaria said hurriedly before Steve had a chance to say anything. "He's the one that saved my life, honest. If I could tell you everything I would, but I don't want to put you at risk."

Joe leaned back in his old chair, it squeaked in protest as usual. "I wasn't a navy gunner so I could be safe Zaria, I can handle myself."

"I would hate myself if anything happened to you. And you're retired now, it's not like you have a ship you can climb onto anytime you want to shoot people with. Steve's here, he's going to keep me safe, right?" She turned to Steve with a questioningly look.

"She's safe with me Joe; I won't let them get her again."

Joe eyed Steve as he considered Steve's words. "You better not. You better take good care of that girl sittin' next to you. She may not be my blood but she's as important to me as my own kids are. If anything were to happen to her again you will be the one who will be snuffed out."

With the posturing finished Steve and Zaria left the bar and went to the museum where, after a quick explanation that, no Zaria had not received any inheritance, yes she would give them money if she did ever get it, and made sure both her grandmother's desk and her little project were still intact and safe they returned to her apartment building.

At the apartment Zaria buzzed her landlord to ask to borrow his keys claiming she had run out and forgotten her's when she had gotten the news of the dead relative. Once she had them they headed straight up to her apartment.

"You don't have to come with me." She said again.

"Last time I let you walk to your own apartment alone you were kidnapped." Steve answered, again.

"It wasn't your fault." She tried.

A muscle in Steve's jaw twitched and Zaria realized he did actually blame himself for what happened to her. She stopped on a landing and turned to Steve.

"Hey," she said as she took his hand in her own. "Have I thanked you yet for saving my life?"

Steve looked down at her. "No, I don't think you have."

"Thank you, for saving me. And for believing in me. If I were in your shoes I don't think I would have been as supportive as you have been, I would have cut my losses and run for the hills." She smiled.

He hesitated before he lifted his free hand and cupped her cheek gently. "I was so afraid that you were going to die. It's been so long since I've felt this alive around another person and I nearly lost it all."

He leaned down slowly and pressed his lips to hers. It was a gentle kiss, one that spoke of fear of rejection and hope for acceptance. His lips were soft and full against hers. It wasn't demanding or possessive, just caring and sweet. She wanted to jump into him, to hold herself tightly against him and take more, but she wouldn't. She would let him lead where he wanted to go and she would following willingly.

"Get a room." Someone muttered. Zaria's face flushed a dark red and her cheeks burned as Steve pulled back with a little laugh.

"I guess we should get to my apartment." Zaria mumbled as she turned and quickly led the way up the last flight of stairs to her apartment. She hadn't let go of Steve's hand.

At the apartment door Steve took the keys from her.

"Let me go in first." He slid the key into the first lock, undoing each of them slowly and precisely.

Zaria stood back, something feeling off about the whole thing. Pursing her lips she stared at the door as she tried to figure out what it was until it finally clicked.

"Don't open the door!" She cried as she stepped up to him and tried to yank him back but it was too late.

The door swung open and the humming sound from behind the door stopped with a click and a bang as her entire apartment exploded. Steve turned around, trying to block her from the explosion as it sent both of them back into the banister. His weight smacked into her as the old wood gave way under the pressure and she went through it and over the edge. She cried out in surprise as she fell. A firm hand caught her wrist, yanking her arm and stopping the descent to the floor far below.

"I got you!" Steve shouted over the roar of the flames coming from her room. She hung there for a moment in disbelief. Her apartment had blown up just like in the movies. And just like in the movies she had been blown back, through the railing and nearly fallen ten floors to the ground below.

Steve pulled; jostling her from her stupor, as he slowly dragged her back onto the landing. With firm ground under her feet she all but leapt into the flames of her apartment.

"What are you doing?" Steve cried in shock as he yanked her bodily against him.

"My stuff!" Zaria cried. "My father's jacket, my grandmother's ring, I need to get them I can't replace those!"

"And I can't replace you if you run in there and get yourself killed in the fire." Steve snapped as strong arms turned her to face him. "You're more important than anything else."

Smoke burned her eyes and lungs as she stared at Steve wide eyed. Everything important to her had just gone up in flames in her apartment. Every precious item she ever collected destroyed. Tears misted her vision as she balled the front of Steve's shirt in her hands. She rested her head against his chest and he held her to him in response.

"I'm going to kill him..." She murmured. "I don't care what Director Fury says, the next time I see my grandfather: he's dead."