Chapter 11:
Wartime Effort
April 1942
Bucky, Becca and Steve took a train up to upstate New York for the weekend. Becca was staring out of the window as Steve and Bucky talk about the war. Bucky didn't want Steve to enlist his name for the war cause. He knew Steve would not make it due to his health problems. Becca turned her head towards her brother and his friend.
"Steve, you need to promise me this." Bucky told Steve, "You need to stay home. You can help here in the States."
"Buc, I want to fight in the war." Steve replied. "I want to stop Hitler."
Unknowingly, Bucky was drafted to the war cause. He went he heard his name at the Brooklyn Hall. He got sick to the stomach. He didn't want this to happen. They were best friends. Steve smiles slightly. Becca laid her head on Steve's bony shoulder. She didn't mind it. As the train rolled into the station, Becca, Bucky and Steve got out of train wit their suitcases. Once inside, Becca heard a jazz song on the radio in a office. Moments later, it was a news break. The United States of America entered into the war with the bombing in Pearl Harbor. Bucky listened as the newscaster read off the news from overseas. Becca went over to the mirror and fixed the curls in her hair and her lipstick. Bucky grabbed his little sister away from the mirror. They went to a bad and breakfast inn. Bucky checked them in.
"Steve and I are going to share a room." Bucky informed Becca.
"I get my own room." She told him with a smile on her face.
Bucky nodded, "Yes." He said.
They went into their rooms. Steve and Bucky got settled in their room. Bucky was standing by the door. He had his arms crossed. Disappointed by his friend's effort to join the army, Bucky had to convince Steve it was a bad idea for him to join. The war was terrible overseas. Many men had already lost their lives fighting against Germany and Japan. Steve sat down the bed and looked at Bucky.
"I don't want to stay in New York." Steve sighed. "I want to enlist into the Army, Bucky." He said.
"I don't want to lose my best friend over gunshots or bombs exploding on the ground." Bucky told him.
Becca walked over to her brother's and his best friend's room. She knocked on the door. Bucky glanced at Steve. Then he went over to the door and opens it. He saw an innocent young woman standing in front of him. Becca went into the bedroom and sat on Bucky's bed. Then she waved to Steve with her hand. Bucky shut the door.
"We are heading out early tomorrow." She announced to the boy.
Bucky sighed as he began to unpack his bag for the weekend stay. He can smell the hostress making dinner downstairs in the kitchen.
Steven nods, "Alright, I will set the alarm clock for early." He told Becca.
Becca smiled at Steve, "Thank you, Steve." She replied.
Bucky shakes his head as he found his draft ticket in his bag. He hid it in his pocket, so Becca and Steve would not find it. Bucky did not want the panic begin. He had to get a physical done and sign papers. For now, he was going to try to enjoy the weekend with his best friend and his sister.
Becca got up from her brother's bed. She left the room, and she went back to her room across the hall. Bucky watched his little sister leave the room. His glance switched back over to Steve. There was no words from Bucky or Steve. Silence filled the room until morning.
Bucky woke up at the crack of dawn. He got up and went past Steve's bed. Shaking Steve to wake up then going over to the bathroom. He got a shower. When he got out, Bucky walked out of the bathroom. A girl, no older than eighteen, stared and smiled at Bucky. He smiled back. The girl blushed and giggled. He went back to the room. Bucky got ready for the day ahead of him.
Bucky was standing in a field. Steve was standing next to Becca with the camera. Bucky had his draft ticket in his pocket. He didn't want to say anything to Becca or to his parents.
"Damn it, Bucky." His sister called out. "Stop being so moody and smile for me." She said.
Bucky went over to Becca. "Moody, little sister." He smirked.
"Yes, moody." She smiled back.
Steve snickered.
"I have something to tell you later." Bucky told Becca.
Steve looked at Becca.
Bucky sighed and went back over to the field. He stood there until Becca took the picture. Steve smiled as he went over to his best friend. After the picture, Becca was putting the camera back into the bag. Steve and Bucky were eating lunch in the field. The girl, from this morning, came over to the group. She sat down next to Bucky. Becca noticed the girl and rolled her eyes.
"Hi." She said to Bucky.
Bucky turned his head towards the girl, "Hi there, beautiful." He replied.
Later in the night, Bucky and the girl were out in the barn. They were having intense make out session in the hay. The girl slid her hand up Bucky's shirt. Her fingertips traced down his abdomen. Bucky was getting hard and aroused in his pants. He slowly unbutton the girl's blouse and kissed down from her neck to her breast. His hand wondered down her skirt and felt her up. She moaned softly. Becca came into the barn looking for Steve. She saw Bucky and the girl making out.
"James Buchanan Barnes!" She called Bucky out.
Bucky stopped and the girl closed her blouse. He got hot red cheeks from being embrassed. The girl got up and ran away. Bucky stood up with hard on in his pants.
"Becca! I-" Bucky paused.
"Really! Are you trying to get yourself killed?" She yelled.
"No-" Another paused from Bucky.
"What the hell then?" She asked.
"I was drafted into the war, Becs." Bucky spills.
"What?" Becca said, put her hand in her mouth.
"Drafted..." Bucky told his younger sister.
"Does mom and dad know?" She asked.
"No." Bucky answered.
There was a long silence between the siblings. Becca walked over to Bucky and hugged him. He hugged her back. She began to softly cry in Bucky's arms. Bucky kissed the top of his sister's head. She clings onto his shirt. Her body was shaking from the crying. Bucky began to rock her to calm her down. Becca, I am so sorry, he thought. Steve came out to what was taking the Barnes siblings so long. He looked in the barn and saw them. Becca was crying. He went over to them.
"What's wrong with Becca?" Steve asked.
Becca turns around towards Steve. She looks at Bucky. Her blue eyes were stained red from crying.
"Steve, I was drafted." Bucky told Steve.
"What?" Steve answered.
"I was drafted. I told Becca." Bucky said.
"He's going to war, Steve." Becca said softly.
After the weekend, Bucky went to do his physical. He passed it. James Buchanan Barnes was going to war. He had to wait for his orders to come out. When he got home, Bucky told his parents about being drafted. His mother broke down crying in his father's arms. How younger brothers had their heads down and praying for Bucky's safe return.
During the next few weeks, Bucky trained in the midwest. He became Sergeant James Buchanan quickly. As soon as Bucky came home, he got his orders for the war. He went to find Steve and tell him. Becca was coming down the street with a man. They were talking to each stops them on the street. Becca looked at her older brother.
"Bucky-" She said, "You're back."
"Yes, I am." He told her looking at her beau.
"This is Henry." Becca introduced Henry to Bucky, "Henry, this is my brother James. He likes to be called Bucky."
Both men shook hands and smiled each other. Bucky noticed there were enlistment papers in Henry's hands. He didn't say anything to Becca about the papers. It was war. All of New York men are signing up and help with the cause of stopping Hitler. Even children were helping out as well, they were collecting scrap to make for war machines. Women were throwing themselves into work. Bucky noticed a few cuts on his sister's fingers. She was working in the mill to pump more war craft machines. He wondered where Steve was in all of this.
"Where's Steve?" Bucky asked his sister.
"Down at the theater the last time I saw him. He was waiting for you, Bucky." She answered.
Bucky nodded, "I better get there before he starts trouble." Bucky said.
After his conversation with his sister, Bucky headed down to the theater. He noticed Steve wasn't in line anymore. He knew Steve was inside watching the movie. He grabbed his ticket and snacks for the both of them. Once inside the movie, Bucky sighed when he saw no Steve sitting on the chair. He looked up at a beautiful woman.
"Have you seen a short, blonde, and skinny man here?" He asked her.
She shook her head, "He and another man went outside to fight in the alley besides the theater." She answered him.
"Thank you." Bucky told her.
Steve, what are you thinking? Bucky thought. He went outside of the theater and headed down the alley. He saw a man punch Steve. He came running down to save his best friend. Then he was going to yell at him for being so stupid. Of course, this was Steve. Where Steve goes, trouble would find Steve.
A/N: One more Bucky and Steve moment before Winter Soldier chapters. What's going to happen to Violetta and Bucky went they confront each other about Buck's past. This story is now available on Wattpad.