Chp 14: Introduction to 'The Caretaker'
Melissa and Garrett escort Bucky back to his cell. Once she locks the door, she turns around only to meet a fist that goes straight to her nose, breaking it. Garrett pulls the attacker away and blocks Melissa from being attack again.
"What did I tell you?! Stop using him like that!", shouts the attacker.
"You don't have any right to raise your voice at me, Agent Johnson", says Garrett.
"No right? I'm his handler", says Johnson.
"Handler…, not the leader of HYDRA", says Garrett, smirking. Johnson growls and glares at him.
"Let me know the next time you decide to take him out from a spin", says Johnson, bypassing them and goes to check Bucky.
"I don't know what Rumlow sees in her", says Melissa, covering her bloodied nose with a tissue.
"Johnson is his protégé, of course he trusts her", says Garrett.
Johnson sits in front of Bucky and he merely hold out his right hand, where the wound is. Johnson sighs as she cleans his wound and Bucky can sense her tension.
"I'm sorry", he says.
"Why must you be sorry?", Johnson sighs.
"You could've walked away when HYDRA went down", says Bucky.
"And leave you here? You're insane", says Johnson as she begins to dress his wound.
"Steve…", Bucky whispers, looking very much afraid if any of the officers can hear him say that name. Johnson looks at him, troubled.
"I'll come back later with food. Rest", she says before leaving. She goes back to her quarters and secures the door. She pulls out a secret phone and begins to type out.
Johnson: They haven't done the safe word therapy in two days and his memory is growing back. When do you want me to move out?
Encrypted: Maria will be waiting for you in a couple days at the dock. Be there before midnight. You know what to do, agent.
Johnson: They'll transfer Bucky back to Siberia tomorrow night. I need the back up if I ever want to get him out of here alive.
Then, there's a knock, startling her. She hides her phone and opens the door to a very pissed off Melissa.
"He's at it again – baby tantrum", she says, annoyed by the fact that she has been sent to fetch you.
Johnson runs to Bucky's cell and sees him choking one of the scientists. She immediately grabs him and pulls Bucky away with just one hand. "Enough, soldier!", she yells. Bucky stops immediately and the scientist scurry away.
"Put him back to the chair", says Melissa. Johnson panics inside.
"No, he's just irritated. I'll put him to rest…, then, I'll put him in the chair", says Johnson.
"Are you being soft, agent?", asks Melissa.
"Are you being a bitch, ma'am?", Johnson fires back with sass.
"Rumlow isn't here, probably dead. Don't think you hold the power here", says Melissa.
"Mind you I can just grab your head and smash it to the wall like a damn pumpkin", says Johnson. Realizing she's not winning this argument, Melissa leaves.
"They can kill you", says Bucky.
"Not if I try to kill them first", says Johnson.
Johnson heads out and comes back with fruit, one of them are plums. The reason why the therapy is working less is because of the plums. Bucky stops eating mid way and Johnson notice a tear going down his cheek.
"I hate myself", he says.
"Who did you kill?", Johnson's usual question.
"I didn't kill anyone. I hurt someone", says Bucky. Johnson raises her eyebrow, curious. "I…, she loves me, but I hurt her. I turn her over to Melissa, her mother", says Bucky again.
Johnson knows who Bucky is talking about – Neko Takashi, the unwanted daughter of Melissa, a mutant like her father, Minato, one of Rumlow's best STRIKE agent and apparently, Jack actually have a crush on her. Jack also happens to be Minato's protégé back when he was alive.
"Do you love her?", asks Johnson.
Bucky looks at her, eyes lost and indecisive of what he thinks of Neko. "I don't know. I don't even know what you're asking of me", he says.
"Would you like to see her again?", asks Johnson and Bucky gives her a look of hope. "I've been meaning to leave, but I'm not leaving you here with them. Do you want to leave?", she asks again.
"Is it possible?", he asks her back.
"If you want out, I'll make it happen. I'll die trying", says Johnson.
-A FEW DAYS LATER-
Bucky gets nervous, but Johnson sitting opposite him seems to be at ease. Who in their right mind to break out of HYDRA without any back-up? Johnson is. She seems confident enough.
They board the boat and sails away from the dock. Bucky tries hard not to fidget and Johnson gives him a squishy ball. Bucky squeezes as he sits at the top deck with her. Melissa and Garrett don't come along though since they know Johnson is someone Rumlow trusts.
"You ok?", she asks. He just stares at her, confused. What is she planning? "Hang on, sarge. The ride is about to get bumpy", she says, smiling. The sea grows unpredictable and the boat begins to rock.
"Agent, I'm calling the chopper. We need to get him to Siberia, fast!", says one of the HYDRA agents.
"No, you're not", says Johnson before shooting him and the rest of HYDRA agent on board. Bucky looks around and panic.
"They're gonna find out", he says.
"No they're not", says the captain. An old man smiles as he emerges from the captain's cabin. The old captain then transforms into green mist and turns himself into a young man with jet black hair and a set of emerald eyes.
"Son of Loki, good to see you again", says Johnson.
"Good to see you again, Rounin", says Lucas. Bucky chuckles to himself. Of course, only Rounin can truly conceal from the truth. Johnson must be one of the seniors Rounin since Melissa and Garrett can even notice this right under their nose.
"So how do we get outta here?", asks Bucky.
"Hope you're not sea sick, sarge", says Lucas. Suddenly, a giant serpent rises up from the sea. It helps them guide their boat to safety.