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: New update! Hope you all enjoy reading the new chapter. Thanks for the reviews, the faves, and the follows.
"I hope you don't mind, but I have someone who will be coming along with me to New York. His name is Sam Wilson and he's a friend, so you can trust him. He has been helping me in the search for Bucky." Informed Steve over the phone. He was still talking with Faye and going over the plan to reunite with their childhood friend.
"That's fine. Steve, I'm going to send some people to get you and bring you and Sam up here. Alright? You can trust them as well. Scott Summers and Ororo Munroe." Faye told Steve as he continued to write down her instructions on a piece of paper.
"And the professor is going to use this machine to locate Bucky?" asked Steve still confused about the machine called Cerebro.
"Cerebro will find the location of Grace and that is how we will find Bucky. I think it would be best to stop him from reaching the school. I mean, if he is as unstable and dangerous as you say he is then I fear of what he could do around these kids. Or if he is being tracked by his former handlers and they locate him at the school. Lord only knows what those awful people would do if they got their hands on any of these kids. No, scratch that I already do know because it happened to me." Faye shared sadly.
There was quietness on Steve end of the phone.
"Steve, are you still there?"
"I'm here." He spoke up, "I just…I know you probably don't ever want to talk about what happened to you and I understand that. I won't ever push you to divulge or relive what you experienced. I am sorry that…I'm sorry I couldn't protect you."
Faye sighed. 'That is so like Steve. Always looking out for others.' She thought to herself. But Faye wasn't going to allow Steve to feel the burden of guilt for what Weapon X put her through.
"Don't! Don't you ever blame yourself in regards to what happened to me and Bucky, okay? None of this is your fault. You understand me?" Faye told him. She only hoped that Steve would believe her. But knowing Steve he would mull over the thought of failing his two best friends that no amount of reassurance could help him cope with the fact that he was faultless.
"Oh joy, the gangs all here. What's the problem this time?" asked Logan when she saw Scott and Ororo standing off to the side of the Professor's office.
"One of our former students might be in trouble. Jean and Faye saw her on Cerebro. Turns out the person the student is with could be dangerous." Ororo explained.
"So, why aren't you two plus Jean doing what you do best by running off to rescue the kid?"
"It's not that simple, Logan. According to Faye, the person that took the student was someone she and Steve Rogers knew a long time ago. Someone they both believed to be dead." Scott added into the conversation.
"Oh yeah, Faye did mention one time she was best buds with Captain America back when they were kids." Said Logan and reached for the doorknob to Charles's office.
"You can't go in there." Ordered Scott but Logan just ignored him. Scott and Ororo gave each other annoyed looks and reluctantly walked in the office after Logan.
The three X-Men saw Faye hang up the phone and looked back and forth between Charles and Hank.
"So, what's the plan?" Logan asked Faye.
"You actually want to get involved?" Faye replied a little confused.
Logan rolled his eyes at her, "Don't act so surprised."
"Logan is right, Faye," Jean stepped in to speak, "You have helped all of us at one time or another, so it is our turn to be there for you."
"I'm touched," said Faye, "I really don't know what I would have done without you all in my life. Alright, so before I start becoming a crying mess here's the plan. Ororo and Scott I need you both to go and pick up Steve. His friend Sam will be accompanying him as well. Here is where they will be." Fayed instructed handing Ororo a piece of paper that had the geographic coordinates of where the two men will be to get picked up. "Once you get them bring them back here. Charles and Jean, you two head to Cerebro and keep me posted on where Grace and Bucky are at. Logan, you are coming with me. Hank, I need you stay put. I just think if Bucky were to see a furry blue man would be rather unnerving in his state of mind. No offense, buddy."
"None taken. I completely understand." Hank accepted
"If anything goes out of hand I will be sure to call you for back up, okay?"
The car ride to Xavier's school was silent and starting to take its toll on Grace. Despite being scared she knew Bucky wouldn't hurt her, not intentionally. Unfortunately, no one could predict when and what type of mood swing he could experience at any given moment.
They weren't that far away from the school. Regardless of knowing that once they'd reach their destination Grace would finally be out harm's way she still felt an uneasiness about Bucky being there. He posed such a high risk. He was a wanted man; well the Winter Soldier at least was what with Bucky technically still labeled as being dead.
Grace wanted to send a text to Faye or anyone at the mansion to inform them of what was going on, but knew Bucky would probably catch her. She had to cause a distraction to buy her some time to get a message out to Faye.
"Can you pull the car over? I need to use the bathroom real quick." Grace requested.
Bucky ignored her request, so Grace tried again.
"Look, earlier today I had two caramel macchiato and a Frappuccino, so I really, really need to use the bathroom."
"There are no bathrooms around. You are going to have to hold it." Bucky advised.
Grace stubbornly shook her head no. "I can't do that. Just pull the car over to the side of the road and I can go behind those trees over there. Please, I am begging you. I won't take long. Come on." Grace pleaded with him.
Without saying a word Bucky reluctantly stopped the car at the side of the road. Grace quickly unbuckled her seat belt and opened the door.
"Thank you. I won't be too long," she told him as he got out of the car, "I'll be right back."
Grace sprinted into the woods and dashed behind a tree. Knowing she was out of Bucky's sight she pulled out her phone.
Trying to keep her hands steady as she searched for Faye's number in her contact list Grace peered behind to tree only to find that no one was in the car.
"What the Hell?" whispered Grace.
"What are you doing?" a threatening voice asked which caused Grace to scream. She turned around and came face to face with Bucky.
"Not…Nothing. I was just…gonna…" Grace stumbled over her words as she was trying to make enough space between herself and Bucky.
"Who were you trying to call?"
When Grace didn't answer he lunged forward and grabbed her by the arms and pushed her up against a tree.
"Who were you calling?" Bucky asked again. His grip on her arms getting tighter which caused Grace to let out a little cry.
"If you hurt me or cause any harm to me, then Faye will find out. Do you think she would want anything to do with you then?" Grace threatened Bucky which seemed to work. He let her go and backed away, "Just let me call her and tell her what is going on. She is your friend and she would want to help you."
"No."
"Why not? You drove us out here because you demanded to see her. You know you are going to have to talk to her once you see her. What? Are you scared to see her now?" Grace asked.
Bucky stared at the ground as he continued to not respond to Grace. As she stood there and watched him she could see that he was battling his emotions.
"This was a mistake. I shouldn't have come here." Bucky mumbled under his breath which Grace almost didn't catch. As he started to make his way back to the car, Grace yelled after him
"Hold on second! You're not going to run off without seeing her are you? You do realize that there are people who want you dead i.e. Hydra and what is left of Shield to name a few. You need help. You need someone to look after you. Faye can do that."
"And then what, huh!" Bucky shouted at Grace. "I'm supposed to just go back being who I used to be! I can't do that because there are too many holes. I can't remember who I am supposed to be. I'm not James Barnes. He died a long time ago and so did Steve and Faye. The three of us aren't supposed to be here. Not like this! Everything is wrong!"
"Jean just texted me. She says that Charles located Grace just ten minutes outside of the school. Bucky is still with her." Faye informed Logan as he kept his eyes on the road, "God, I hope nothing bad happens when we see him."
"Don't jinx us now." Logan teased.
"Nah, I don't know how messed up this whole situation could get." Faye managed to let out a giggle and shake her head in disbelief, "All I ever wanted were my two best friends back and I it's all coming true, but at a horrible price. The three of us won't ever be like we used to be. We can't get back what we've lost."
"No you can't. But that doesn't mean you three can't start over. Trust me on this. I know what it's like to have your life turned upside down and have everything be torn apart." Logan opened up to Faye, "I know what it is like to rebuild and start over. Been doing that for many years. Longer than you even."
Faye smiled, "Thanks Logan. That does make me feel a little better. Not the starting over part, but the fact that you are much older than me. I mean compared to me you are ancient."
"We get it, Faye." Logan sighed.
"I mean, I'm only 93, but you go to be at least over 100 years old." Faye quipped at Logan's expense.
"This is what I get for opening up to you."
"So worth it. Thanks Logan. I really needed to feel good about myself."
"That's what I'm here for, kid." He countered with a small smile forming on his face, "What's going on here?" Logan asked when they saw what looked like an abandoned car parked on the side of the road.
"That has to be them. Stop the car." Faye instructed.
Once the car was at a complete stop Faye quickly unbuckled the seat belt and exited the car. Logan was not too far behind.
Both the driver and passenger doors were still open.
"Keys are still in the ignition." Logan pointed out.
"Can you make out a scent?"
"Oh yeah, but no need to follow it far. There behind those trees over there. Faye, hold on second." Logan called out when he saw Faye race into the forest.
Faye looked over her shoulder to see if Logan was following her only to slam into something hard that knocked her off her feet.
"Just…just go. I shouldn't have made you bring me here. It was a mistake." Said Bucky.
"No, it wasn't. Bucky you are so close. You are almost there. Don't let your fear stop you." Grace tried to reason with him.
But Bucky didn't appear to listen and walked away from Grace. Feeling defeated Grace peered down at her phone deciding on whether to call Faye until a noise made her look up. She saw Faye on the ground with Bucky standing over her.
"Shit! That hurt. That really hurt." Faye moaned, "That was like slamming into a metal door or something."
It was at that moment when Faye finally looked up and saw the man standing above her.
"Oh my God." She whispered.
Bucky kneeled down to Faye's eye level and continued to stare at her. The sight of the woman before him opened up a flood gate of emotions. Love, lust, desire, happiness, delight, and the sense of security all wrapped together. Bits and pieces of memories started to emerge little by little. It was becoming too much for him to handle. He cradled his head in his hands to help calm himself down.
"Bucky. It's me. You do know it's me, right?" Faye asked as she moved slowly to get on her knees. She could feel the sting of tears start to fall from her eyes. As she reached for his hands she finally noticed the difference between his left and right. The right was a normal human hand whereas the left was not.
"Don't." Bucky said when he saw Faye try to hold his left hand, "Don't touch it." He ordered clearly ashamed of the metal arm.
Faye was at a loss of words. What Steve had told her about Bucky was true. The man she used to love had been broken and beaten so badly by Hydra to the point of being almost unrecognizable.
"Bucky." She spoke up, but received not recognition from him, "Bucky." Faye said one more time. This time he finally looked at her.
"You are safe now. I won't let anything or anyone hurt you. Please trust me when I say that." Faye expressed earnestly.
"Steve." Bucky uttered out.
"Steve is okay. He's fine." Faye told him, "But first let's take care of you.