Chapter 14
Disclaimer: I don't own anything
"Where do you think Tony's gone off to?" Maria asks curious as it has been about an hour since Andrew went to talk to Bucky and a few minutes earlier Tony said that he had to go do something, leaving Clint, Natasha, Melinda, Maria and Steve sitting on the floor outside Bucky's rooms, all four of them impatient for news.
"With him who knows." Clint comments, saying what they are all thinking.
"They've been in there a while." Steve comments, "Maybe I should go check to make sure everything is okay."
"No." Melinda, Clint, Natasha and Maria say together.
"This much time passing means one thing, Andrew has gotten Bucky to talk." Natasha says, "Just leave them and wait."
"That's not as easy as sounds." Steve admits.
"I know." Natasha says, giving him a supportive look, and the group once again drifts into silence.
"Got it." Tony says walking into the corridor once more.
"Got what?" Maria asks and Tony shows them a deck of cards.
"Waiting in silence is boring." Tony says, "I thought we could play poker." He explains as he felt the need to do something as the waiting in silence was starting to drive him crazy.
"You want to play poker with four elite spies?" Clint asks giving Tony an 'are you that stupid?' look.
"Sure. Could be fun." Tony says as he sits back down on the floor, being pretty sure that he may grow to regret that decision.
"Sure, I'm always willing to beat you." Natasha says with a smirk, "Who's going to deal?" he asks curious.
"The most honest gets my vote." Tony says as he throws the deck of cards at Steve.
"Really?" Steve asks as he catches them, "I never agreed to play."
"Oh come on Cap, you know you want to." Tony says with a smirk.
"It will actually be fun." Melinda says, "And I can teach you Clint and Maria's tells." She tells Steve in a whisper, only loud enough for him to hear.
"Okay I'll play." Steve says.
"Do I want to know what Mel just whispered to you?" Maria asks curious.
"Probably not." Melinda answers.
"Deal the cards, Rogers." Natasha says, being pretty sure that she could guess what Melinda whispered.
"I am, Romanoff." Steve says as he starts to deal doing his best not worry about his best friend.
It has been about an hour and a half since Bucky and Andrew started talking and because he had Natasha's words replaying in his mind Bucky has actually been talking to Andrew, and it has actually been helping.
"What are you most afraid of, James?" Andrew asks. Ever since they started talking Andrew has been calling Bucky James to try and help him remember who he is.
"Everyone seeing me for the monster I am." Bucky answers.
"You're not a monster, James. You were forced to do monstrous things, there is a difference." Andrew says, "Shutting yourself away won't help you, it will hurt you." Andrew says, "Even if you start by spending just five minutes out of this room it's something." Andrew says and Bucky gives a nod, "Now, how about we talk about how you felt when your memories started to come back." Andrew suggests and once more Bucky gives a nod.
After over forty five minutes of playing poker, Melinda, Steve, Natasha, Clint, Tony and Maria hear the door to Bucky's room open and when they look up they see not just Andrew, but Bucky step out.
"Buck." Steve says standing up and heading over to his friend.
"Steve." Bucky greats, "Is that offer to give me a tour still on the table?"
"Of course." Steve says with a smile and Bucky gives a nod.
"So Andrew, are you sticking around?" Clint asks curious.
"I would love to, but I have to get back." Andrew explains.
"Thank you Dr Garner, for coming, for helping." Steve says, stepping forward so that he can shake Andrew's hand.
"You're welcome, Captain." Andrew says, returning the hand shake, "If you need more help in the future just let me know, I'll be more than happy to help."
"I'll remember that." Steve comments.
"If you need to get back we can leave right away." Melinda tells Andrew.
"That would be great, thanks." Andrew says and after exchanging a look with Bucky, a look which Andrew uses to tell him that he is just a call away, Melinda and Andrew leaves.
"So, where do you want to see first?" Steve asks curious, after he watches Melinda walk away.
"Wherever you want to show me." Bucky answers, it being clear that he is still nervous
"Okay. I think I know where to start." Steve says planning on showing Bucky the less crowded area's first.
About forty minutes later Melinda and Andrew are on their way back to Virginia and are close to arriving when Melinda hears footsteps and Andrew walks in and sits next to her in the cockpit.
Knowing that Andrew will eventually make the reason why he has joined her in the cockpit clear Melinda doesn't even acknowledge him when he sits down.
"So you're really considering not going back to S.H.I.E.L.D.?" Andrew asks after about a minutes.
"I'm not sure of anything right now." Melinda admits as apart from wanting to be with Steve and the fact that she likes being with Natasha, Clint, Maria, Fury, Steve and the others at the facility she isn't sure of anything.
Due to the fact that it has been so long since he's seen Melinda truly unsure of anything it takes Andrew a few minutes to figure out what to say before he finally realise.
"Do you like being at the facility? Working with the Avengers?" Andrew asks curious.
"Yeah, I do." Melinda says, not even needing to think about it.
"Do you feel the same being at the Playground and working with S.H.I.E.L.D. ?" Andrew asks.
"Sometimes." Melinda admits.
"Then maybe you have your answer about whether you should stay or go." Andrew comments.
"Maybe." Melinda says, not sure what to say or do, "We're about to land." She informs Andrew.
"Okay." Andrew says in response, "If you need anything just call, I'll still here for you." Andrew says and Melinda just gives a nod, "And I hope you and Steve are happy together." Andrew says and at that revelation Melinda is actually surprised, something that doesn't happen much.
"How did you know?" Melinda asks.
"I saw the way you looked at him, I know what it meant, and I saw the way he looked at you" Andrew admits, "I'm glad. You deserve to be with someone who can make you have that look on your face, and who looks at you the way he did, you deserve to be with someone who can be your equal, someone you can be open and honest with, and I something tells me that Captain Rogers is just that person." Andrew says as he feels the plane land.
"He is." Melinda confirms as she powers down the Quinjet.
"Good. I'm glad." Andrew says as he will always care for Melinda even though they didn't work out.
"You deserve someone who can make you happy too, Drew. You deserve someone who can actually love you like you deserve to be loved. I hope you find that person." Melinda says, completely meaning her words.
"I think I have." Andrew admits as he stands up, "Goodbye Melinda."
"Goodbye Andrew." Melinda says and Andrew walks out of the Quinjet.
After a couple of minutes after Andrew leaves Melinda sits in silence, thinking about everything Andrew said before she powers the Quinjet back up and flies away.
When Melinda arrives back at the Avengers Facility less than an hour later Melinda starts her search for the others. It takes a few minutes but Melinda finds Steve, Bucky, Natasha, Clint, Tony, Rhodey, Sam, Maria, Wanda and Pietro sitting in the living area, all facing the TV.
"What's going on?" Melinda asks when she walks in and sees what they are doing.
"We're educating Steve, Bucky, Wanda and Pietro." Tony explains and as he says that Melinda realises just what's on the TV.
"How is Mean Girls educating?" Melinda asks amused.
"You know what movie it after only a few seconds?" Steve asks surprised.
"How is Mean Girls not educating?" Tony asks, his voice being completely serious.
"Good point." Melinda admits as she goes and sits next to Steve there being space for her.
"You never did answer my question." Steve comments as Melinda sits down.
"I may have seen this movie a few times." Melinda explains.
"Okay."
"Mel, popcorn?" Clint ask curious.
"Sure." Melinda answers Clint passes a bowel over and together the group of eleven drift into silence while they watch the movie.
It has been three days since Melinda, Steve, Bucky, Natasha, Clint, Maria, Sam, Rhodey, Tony, Wanda, and Pietro watched not just Mean Girls but several other movies together and in that time Bucky has attempted to spend more time out of his room, something which he has done to a degree but he is still spending most of his time in his room.
It is about one am and Bucky has left his room to go in search of Steve but to his surprise he finds that his friends' rooms are empty, so he starts to walk through the facility trying to find him.
Bucky has been walking for a few minutes when he sees a familiar person also walking.
"Natasha." Bucky says, having said the name over and over again in his head a few times to make sure he said the right thing.
"Barnes." Natasha greats, "It's good to see you out." Natasha says, actually telling the truth.
"Yeah, so um, Steve's not in his rooms. Do you know where he would be?" Bucky asks curious.
"This time of night, gym." Natasha reveals, not needing to think about that.
"Gym?" Bucky asks surprised.
"Yep. I'll show you." Natasha says and she starts to lead the way to the gym, Bucky traveling behind.
A couple of minutes later Natasha and Bucky arrive at the gym where they find Melinda and Steve sparing.
"No wonder Hydra wanted me to kill her." Bucky comments shocked when he sees Melinda holding her own against Steve, something which he knows isn't easy to do.
"Yeah, Mel's one of the best." Natasha says with a smirk, it being clear that she is proud of her friend.
"She was a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent right?" Bucky asks curious.
"Yeah, since she was seventeen." Natasha answers.
"Huh." Bucky says, it being clear that he isn't exactly sure what to say.
For the next few minutes Natasha and Bucky watch while Melinda and Steve spar.
"Do you two want to join?" Melinda asks as she knocks Steve to the map.
"Sure." Natasha confirms as Melinda helps Steve up.
"Bucky?" Steve asks seeing that his friend is nervous.
"I'm not sure." Bucky admit as he and Natasha walk over. Honestly he doesn't want to hurt anyone, even if it is by accident.
"That's fine." Natasha comments, "Mel, how about you and me go first?" Natasha suggests as she figures that if Bucky just watches, with Steve next to him, then maybe he will feel better about joining in.
"Sure." Melinda says, and she and Natasha move over to the mats while Steve and Bucky take several steps back.
Once they are sure that Steve and Bucky are far enough back Melinda and Natasha start to spar, it being clear that they are both going all in.
"This is meant to be friendly, right?" Bucky asks Steve as they watch Melinda and Natasha spar.
"This is them fighting friendly." Steve says, knowing that from experience, "Don't worry, they know what they are doing, and I've never seen them seriously hurt each other." Steve explains, leaving out that he has seen them both to get a few cuts and bruises, a few sprains, but nothing more serious than that.
"Right." Bucky says and he continues to watch, "Okay. I'll spar." Bucky says after a few minutes of watching Melinda and Natasha.
"Great." Steve says.
After over an hour of Steve, Melinda, Natasha and Bucky sparing together whether it be different one on one competitions or group sparing, the group of four have finally left the gym. Natasha and Melinda going in one direction to their rooms while Steve and Bucky go in another to head to their respective ones.
"So what did you think?" Steve asks Bucky curious.
"It was interesting." Bucky admits, "Do you do that a lot?" he asks curious.
"Melinda and I do, we spar at least once a day." Steve explains, "Sometimes Natasha or one of the others join us."
"I see." Bucky says as they arrive at their doors.
"I'll see you in the morning, Buck." Steve says.
"Yeah, night Steve." Bucky says
"Night." Steve says and the two of them head into their respective rooms.
It has been three days since Bucky, Natasha, Melinda and Steve spared together and ever since then Bucky has spent slightly more time out of his room, though not by much.
It is mid-morning and Steve, Natasha, Clint, Maria, Tony, Rhodey, Sam, Pietro and Wanda are getting ready to go on a mission.
Clint is helping Steve load the Quinjet when he notices someone walking towards them.
"Um, Steve." Clint says and Steve looks up and looks at where Clint is looking, "I didn't think Mel was cleared yet." Clint comment.
"She's not." Steve says with a frown as he puts down what he is doing and walks over to Melinda, "What are you doing?" Steve asks.
"Getting ready to leave on the mission." Melinda says, it sounding like it is obvious.
"Dr Cho hasn't cleared you for missions yet." Steve reminds Melinda.
"It's been almost five weeks, I'm fine." Melinda say, not seeing the big deal.
"Dr Cho doesn't seem to think so." Steve argues.
"Yeah well, Doctor Cho is just being overly cautious." Melinda says, it being clear that she is annoyed, "I know my body Steve, and I know that I can handle this."
"I know you believe that." Steve says, "But I saw you wincing when you were moving after sparing this morning."
"You noticed that?" Melinda asks surprised as she through that she was doing a good job at hiding that.
"Yes. You're not okay Melinda, not completely. So just please wait until Dr Cho gives you the all clear, please." Steve requests, there being an undertone of begging to her voice.
"Three days. I'll give Dr Cho three days to clear me then I'm going to go on a mission whether or not she says it's okay." Melinda says, "Good luck, Captain." Melinda says before walking away, it being clear that she is less than happy about sitting out.
"That went well." Steve says as honestly he was expecting things to go a lot worse.
It has been a couple of hours since Steve and the others left on the mission and still annoyed Melinda is waking around the facility.
"Melinda." A voice says and Melinda turns to see Bucky, "Is everyone back?" He asks curious.
"No. I didn't go on the mission." Melinda explains.
"Why not?" Bucky asks confused.
"Because I don't have medical clearance for field work at the moment." Melinda explains.
"But you were sparing three days ago." Bucky says, not understanding how Melinda could not have medical clearance considering the way she was fighting.
"Yeah, I was, but Dr Cho hasn't cleared me for missions." Melinda explains, it being clear that she is less than happy about that.
"What happened? Why aren't you cleared?" Bucky asks before he can stop himself, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"I got in the way of a grenade a few weeks ago, it did some shrapnel damage to my liver and spleen." Melinda explains.
"That would have hurt." Bucky comments.
"Yeah, a little." Melinda admits, "But what is annoying is that I feel fine and Doctor Cho hasn't cleared me for field work which means I have to stay here while my team are on a mission." Melinda says, it being clear that she is annoyed that she can't watch her teams back.
"I'm sorry."
"Yeah." Melinda says and the two of them drift into awkward silence.
"So, um could you show me where the firing range is?" Bucky asks curious.
"Sure, if that's what you want." Melinda says as she knows how hesitant Bucky has been about fighting and weapons.
"It is." Bucky confirms, "I don't want to kill anymore." Bucky says, only telling Melinda because he needs to tell someone and Melinda is the only one around, "But I can't sit here when Steve is out on missions, I need to watch his back."
"I think I have something that can help you have it both ways." Melinda realises, getting an idea.
"Really?" Bucky asks shocked.
"Yeah, follow me." Melinda requests and she heads down one of the corridors, Bucky, quiet confused about what is going on, following behind.
After leaving the corridor Melinda leaves Bucky straight to hers and Natasha's rooms as it is where she will find exactly what she is looking for.
"I'll just be a minute." Melinda says when they enter the living area of Melinda's and Natasha's rooms.
"Sure." Bucky says as Melinda heads into the bedroom and he stays in the living area.
For about a minute Bucky waits in the living area until Melinda walks out holding what looks to be a pistol and extra magazines for it.
"This is an ICER, an Incapacitating Cartridge Emitting Railgun." Melinda explains putting the gun flat in in her hands so she can show Bucky without him seeing it at a threat, "It was created by two people I completely trust and works exactly like a regular pistol except it's non-lethal." Melinda explains.
"How?" Bucky asks.
"Each round has doses of Dendrotoxin it will knock a person back and out." Melinda explains, "They don't always work against enhanced people, but they are effective for everything else." Melinda explains taking a step forward, "It's yours now if you want it."
"Are you sure?" Bucky asks feeling like that may be the perfect weapon for him.
"Yeah. And Maria can put a call in to get extra rounds and rifles, both sniper and assault." Melinda explains as she hands over the gun and magazines.
"I'd like that." Bucky says as he accepts the gun, "Thanks, Melinda." He says as he inspects it.
"You're welcome." Melinda says, "So the others won't be back for a few hours, do you still want to go to the firing range?" Melinda asks curious.
"Please." Bucky responds, looking up from the gun and both he and Melinda head out of the room.
It has been three days since Melinda showed Bucky the ICERS and in that time Melinda has been cleared for field work though there hasn't been a mission yet and Bucky has gotten to the point where he spends more time out of his rooms than in them.
It is just after breakfast and while Melinda, Clint, Steve, Bucky, Natasha, Wanda, Tony, Sam, Rhodey, and Pietro are all in one of the living area Maria is in the Action Centre finishing up some things she needs to do when she notices she has an incoming video call. When she presses answer Maria sees Phil on the other end of the call.
"Hey, Phil. Thanks for the shipment of ICERS they are very much appreciated here." Maria says then she notices that Phil looks afraid, he looks panicked, "Phil, what is it?" Maria asks concerned.
"Please tell me you know where Melinda is, that's she's safe." Phil requests his voice sounding even more panicked than how he looks, something which Maria didn't think was possible.
A few minutes after she received the panicked call from Phil Maria rushes into the Living are where she finds everyone in the middle of some kind of game with many tennis balls.
"Maria, what's wrong?" Natasha asks, being the first one to notice her friend.
"I just received a panicked call from Phil Coulson." Maria explains, causing everyone to turn to look at her.
"What happened? Is everyone okay?" Melinda asks, worried about her team.
"Not exactly." Maria answers, "Ward's rebuilding Hydra." Maria says taking a step towards Melinda, "And he's put a hit out, on you." She reveals, to the shock of everyone in the room.