AN: Hey everyone, thank you so much for reading, reviewing and liking the story. I've posted one shots that are prequels to this story on "A Long Winter", so check those out as well! Check out the exclusive content at thebuckybrigade . tumblr .com - there is some really great stuff there. Songs that inspired this chapter are: "Warriors" Imagine Dragons, and "Oh What a Life" American Authors. Enjoy! xoxo

The next morning Kyra woke slowly, her brain foggy from vodka. There was a loud rumbling, and Kyra sat up alert. Looking out the window, she relaxed, realizing that it was thunder, and not gunfire that she was hearing.

Leaning back against her pillows, Kyra watched the rain fall, missing her apartment. Sighing, she wondered if Sherlock was still there, or if he was roaming the streets. Climbing out of bed she dressed in ratty jeans and a tshirt, pulling on her boots and a ball cap before locking her door behind her.

Tossing her backpack over her shoulder, she walked down through the helicarrier and outside into the rain, her cargo jacket disguising the holster holding her guns. She moved quickly and quietly through the streets of DC, doubling back and taking alleys to make sure no one was following her, until she finally arrived at her apartment building.

Standing across the street from her building, she stared at the blackened and bullet ridden exterior, her stomach sinking. Was there any hope for her home?

Walking inside, she saw apartment doors hanging open, belongings strewn into the halls, bodies tucked into corners. Taking the stairs, she raced up to her apartment, and was surprised to see the door shut. Trying the handle it opened, and when she entered, she found her apartment ransacked.

Stepping over the remnants over her furniture strewn through the hallway, she called out softly, "Sherlock…here boy…psst…Sherlock!"

Walking back to her bedroom she stared at the destruction; the silvery curtains had been ripped from the ceiling and lay in tatters on the ground, having been trampled underfoot. Her bed had been slashed and burned, the stuffing strewn about the room.

Stepping through the mess, she pulled out her drawers and went through her closet, stuffing any whole pieces of clothing into her backpack, along with shoes and a few books. Standing amid the ruins of her life, she looked around in sadness and shook her head, wondering if anything would ever be the same.

"Mreow! Meow!"

Looking around sharply, Kyra saw Sherlock's face peeking up from the damaged bed. Her heart raced and she crouched down, whispering, "Sherlock! It's me buddy!"

"Meow!"

He came trotting over, looking sleeker than before, but healthy. Nudging his head against her knee insistently he purred loudly, meowing happily when she scratched behind his ears. Opening up her backpack she tossed a towel inside and lifted Sherlock in gently, "You be good and don't jump out now, okay?" she whispered.

Lifting the backpack gently onto her shoulders, she walked back into the kitchen to grab his food and water bowls and checked the date on his food, placing a few cans of wet food in the backpack with Sherlock.

Looking over her shoulder at the apartment, she sighed and left the door open, walking away without another look.

When she arrived back at the helicarrier she found Coulson waiting for her, looking distinctly unamused. "Agent Barnes, you went out alone…and you've come back with a cat?"

Kyra nodded, "He's mine, Sherlock. I went to my old apartment to see if he was there, see if my stuff was there….they were."

Coulson sighed, "You took an enormous risk, one you cannot take again. If you need to leave the helicarrier to go somewhere, you need to take backup. Do you understand Agent?"

Kyra bristled at his tone but calmed when she took a closer look at his face, seeing the worry and exhaustion lining it. Nodding, she smiled, "I'm sorry. It won't happen again sir."

Coulson shook his head, "You don't need to "Sir" me. Just make sure you are safe."

Kyra nodded and went to walk past him to go to her quarters when he touched her arm, stopping her, "I need you on the command bridge, when you're done with the cat."

Kyra smiled and nodded, "I'll be there." She walked quickly down the halls to her quarters and unlocked the door, setting her backpack down and letting Sherlock out to explore. She filled his bowls with food and water and spread the towel on the floor, hoping that if he needed to go, it would be on there and not anywhere else.

Rubbing his head quickly, she waved goodbye and shut the door, walking quickly down the halls until she came to the command center. Gathered there were Steve, Natasha, Agent Hill, and Clint. Kyra joined them with a smile, "What's this about?" she asked softly.

Clint shrugged, "Coulson just said to be here."

A moment later Coulson entered the room and waved a hand, "Sit down."

They sat at the table across from him and Agent Hill, waiting to hear what they had to say.

Coulson sighed, "We have pockets of Chimera resistance across the world. We need to create teams to combat them, and I need you all to lead them. Agent Barns, we would like you to lead here in Eastern Province. Captain Rogers, we need you in the Western Province. Agent Hill will be in South America. Agent Romanoff, you and your husband will be in the United Kingdom. Agent Barton, you will be in Russia. Are there any questions?"

The team exchanged looks before Natasha leaned forward and asked, "How long do we have before we ship out?"

Coulson nodded, "Four hours. You'll need to pack, conference call with your team leaders in country, and then go."

Natasha nodded and stood, "In that case, I'd like to get moving."

Coulson nodded, "You're free to go."

Clint, Natasha and Hill took off, talking amongst themselves, leaving Steve and Kyra at the table with Coulson.

Coulson looked between the two and smiled, "I hope you understand why I didn't send you abroad. You have the most experience here in the US, and your loved ones are here. I thought it was kinder to keep you as close as possible."

Steve nodded, "Thank you Phil. We appreciate it."

Coulson nodded and stood, "You should get going Rogers, you've got a lot of work to do in the next few hours." He waved to them both and left the command deck, the room growing quiet.

Kyra sighed and smiled at Steve, "Looks like we're splitting up again."

Steve reached out and took her smaller hand in his, "I'm always here for you though kid. No matter how far apart we are."

Kyra nodded and smiled, staring down at the table before asking softly, "Did you know dad's surgery is today?"

Steve nodded, "Will you be there when it's done?"

Kyra shook her head, "I'm going to meet with my team, learn their credentials, see what our biggest threats are here. There's nothing I can do while he's in surgery, and most likely nothing I can do once he's out. It's just a waiting game for now."

She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. With repeated washings the henna was coming out, leaving her hair a lighter brown, with strands of her natural auburn peeking through. Steve stood and leaned down, pressing a kiss to her temple, "I love you kiddo. Call me if you need me."

Kyra nodded and kissed his cheek, "Love you too Uncle Steve."

After Steve had left Kyra sighed and stood, walking through the helicarrier to the medical wing. She waited patiently till she located one of her father's doctors and waved, walking over. "Doctor Shoals, it's good to see you."

Doctor Shoals smiled and shook her hand, "Good to see you too Agent Barnes, how can I help you?"

Kyra sighed, "I just wanted to check on my father's surgery, I didn't think you had started yet, had you?"

Doctor Shoals nodded, "My team has, I was just preparing to enter surgery myself. Would…would you like to watch?"

Kyra shook her head vehemently, "No…I just wanted to make sure everything was going well."

He nodded, "It is, the team is in the preliminary stages of surgery. The tricky part will begin when I go in. If you would like to receive updates, we can have someone find you and update you."

Shaking her head, Kyra stepped back, "No, I'll be with my team. Once the surgery is done, let me know. Thank you."

Walking away quickly, she crossed her arms over her stomach, feeling a knot of worry lodge there. Walking back to the command center she found the large conference table filled with more than 50 people. At the other end of the table was an attractive middle aged woman with dark brown hair, and a Romanian accent when she spoke.

Kyra stood at the head of the table and knocked her knuckles against the wood, gathering their attention quickly. "My name is Agent Barnes. Most of you probably know my father, James Barnes, also known as Bucky, most recently the Winter Soldier. You also know my uncle, Steve Rogers, Captain America. Who you don't know is me. So, ask, and I'll answer."

She stood silent, waiting for their questions until the woman at the head of the table leaned forward, "You are young to have gotten a command unit of your own. Why should we trust you?"

Kyra nodded, "You're right, I am young, and I never thought I would have command of a unit myself. You should trust me because I've been tortured by these assholes, bribed to keep my head down and ignore them, and when I didn't they took my friends and family and tortured them too. I have refused to give in, and I'm not going to stop just because we have them on the run."

The woman nodded thoughtfully, "Very good. Now, can you tell us what you expect to do about Chimera here in the Eastern Province?"

Kyra stared at the woman, a hint of recognition nagging her. Wrinkling her forehead, she shook her head slightly and sighed, "I don't know the full situation. We've been fighting in a very reactionary manner. If you all have up to date information for me on the situation here, I would be very interested to hear it."

The woman nodded, "Well Agent Barnes, I am Wanda Maximoff, and this is your team. Everyone here has very particular skills that you will need in this campaign against Chimera. My skills…I'm sure you're aware of." Wanda smirked at Kyra.

Kyra stared at her dumbfounded, Wanda Maximoff? I thought she was dead! No one's heard from her in years. Kyra nodded and sat down at the table, "Why don't you all introduce yourselves and explain your skills, and then we can get started on the plan to attack."

The agents around the table nodded and quickly went around the table, introducing themselves and explaining their skills. When they were done, the lead from the intelligence sector leaned forward and slid a file down the table to Kyra, "This is everything we have on the major groupings on Chimera in the Eastern Province. Our focus for now is DC, because the President is still a threat for them. Our latest satellite and recon shows that they have taken control of the Hart Senate building."

Kyra opened the file and began reading the intel, nodding, "Great. What else do you have?"

The agent shot a look to another agent and hesitated before speaking, "The Chimera group in question is being led by your former boss, Senator Udall. He along with General Murphy are in control of the Eastern Province's Chimera forces."

Kyra sighed and closed the folder. "So tell me what your plan to take them out is." she said, looking around the table.

The agent leaned back and nodded, "We were thinking a direct strike with a tactical weapon."

Kyra stared at the team and shook her head, "No. Not until we know that everyone in that building is Chimera. There could be prisoners. Innocents." She turned to Wanda and asked, "Can you sense people? See them through walls? I've heard rumors about what you can do."

Wanda nodded, "I can, and more if necessary. What do you have in mind?"

Kyra stood, "I'd like for us to do a recon mission. See what we can see, and gather intel. Does the building still have active security?"

The agent nodded, "It's functioning, but we're not sure if they're monitoring it for key card access from the outside."

Kyra nodded, "Good, I still have my Senate ID. I can use it to get in, and if we use multiple people at entry, we can pass the ID off, confuse the trail. I can get in and do internal recon."

Wanda raised a brow, "That's awfully risky, perhaps unnecessary too? I can sense everyone in the building. Get me within a block and I can pick through their heads and determine who is friend and who is foe."

Kyra sighed and nodded, "Okay, let's get you close. If it's necessary for some reason, I go in. Is everyone comfortable with that?"

After a moment, the agents and Wanda shook their heads in agreement. Kyra rapped her knuckles on the table and leaned away, "Okay lets gear up and head out in 30 minutes."

The team nodded and there was a murmuring of "Yes ma'am" before they stood and dispersed. Kyra watched the team go, feeling the odd burden of leadership fall on her shoulders. Walking back to her quarters she checked on Sherlock and found him sleeping. A litterbox had been left in her room along with a note, "Kyra, if he's going to by aboard my helicarrier, I expect no mess. –Coulson"

Kyra grinned and nodded, she could work with that. Shutting the door behind her, she walked to the armory and pulled on an advanced bullet proof suit, much like the one Ian had given her, and layered her clothes on top.

Tucking knives into her boots, and guns into her thigh holsters, she nodded, satisfied with the weapons. She tucked one last weapon into her pocket, a secret one that would only be used as a contingency.

Walking through the halls and down the hangar bay, she reunited with her team. They had commandeered a jet and four Humvees for the mission, and quickly moved out. Kyra sat in the front passenger seat, watching as they approached, her pulse steady, but her stomach in knots.

When they were within a block of the building the Humvees stopped and Wanda turned in the backseat to stare at the Hart Senate building, her eyes glowing red, a pulse of power surrounding her. The long minutes ticked by until she stirred and the red faded from her eyes.

"They have 25 people hostage. General Murphy and Senator Udall are there. What would you like to do?" she asked.

Kyra stared at the building, wondering at the best course of action. Finally she turned to Wanda and the three other agents and asked, "Will you follow me?"

They eyed her for a moment and then nodded. Wanda asked, "What do you have planned?"

Kyra shook her head, "I need you to trust me. Follow my lead. I need you three to stay outside while we go in, can you do that?" she asked the other agents.

They nodded, but looked uncomfortable. They exited the Humvee and Kyra pointed to the building, "We need to approach separately, Wanda and myself, go in directly at the front, you go towards the back."

They nodded and split off, using the cover of debris and the grey light of mid evening to stay in the shadows. Kyra and Wanda began to walk in the opposite direction, coming around the other side of the building, approaching from the front.

When they were getting closer, Kyra held out a hand and stopped Wanda, pulling her contingency plan out of her pocket. She applied the film to her face and throat, taking on the identity of Captain Berger once more.

When she spoke, it was with a German accent, "Let's go."

Wanda stared and then nodded, "I see."

She and Kyra walked closer to the building. It was time for the contingency plan to take place.

Wanda was caught off guard when Kyra struck her hard from behind, knocking her to the ground, kicking her in the ribs, and striking her again in the face when she tried to rise.

Kyra dragged Wanda up off the ground and whispered, "Follow my lead, got it?"

Wanda breathed painfully and nodded. She knew there were times when people had no other options. She held no grudge against Kyra.

Kyra drug her up the steps and pounded on the door until the guard inside came to look at them. When he opened the door she smiled, "I have a gift for the General and the Senator. I survived the bombing at the Anacostia base."

The man stared at them, his face impassive, "We heard there were no survivors."

Kyra shrugged, "I was out on patrol and had just come back when the bombs hit, so I jumped out of the Humvee."

The guard stared at her for a long, long moment and then nodded. "Who is this?" he said, pointing to Wanda.

Kyra tugged on her arm, "She's an Avenger; she has powers. Trust me, they'll want her."

The guard nodded and stood back, "Go in. Top floor. They're in Senator Udall's suite."

Kyra nodded and tugged on Wanda, dragging her to the elevator, staying quiet until the doors closed and they rose up slowly. "I'm sorry for hurting you" she whispered softly.

Wanda barely nodded and stared at the ground, whispering, "It's fine."

When the elevator doors slid open, Kyra walked them down the hall and knocked on the door to the Senator's suite. A moment later the door was opened by General Murphy. Kyra pushed Wanda past him and followed after, nodding at General Murphy.

Looking around the suite, she noted that there were no guards or soldiers. General Murphy waved a hand and walked back to Senator Udall's office, pushing the door open, "We've got a gift Senator."

When Kyra walked through the door, she let out her breath softly upon seeing the face of the man she had considered a friend for so many years.

When General Murphy went to stand next to Senator Udall, Kyra smirked and shook her head, "It's good to see you both again."

The General tilted his head, "I don't believe I've met you before Captain Berger."

Kyra reached up and deactivated the film on her face, her other hand drawing her gun, pointing it at both men. A laugh bubbled up out of her at the shock on both men's faces.

"You're right, you haven't met Captain Berger before General Murphy, but you have met me" she said with a grin.

Senator Udell took a step forward and Kyra waved a finger, "Nope, you stay right there." He nodded and stepped back.

"Kyra, it's good to see you again." He said, smiling charmingly.

Kyra gave him a shark smile, "Oh yea Senator, I'm so happy to see you. Now both of you walk." She waved her gun towards the door.

Walking the men out to the elevator she waited until the doors were closed and spoke softly to Wanda, "Grab my other gun."

Wanda nodded and took her gun, keeping it lowered, but ready. When the elevator doors slid open on the bottom floor, three guards stood pointing guns into the elevator. Wanda's eyes glowed red and a blast of power flowed out, knocking the men to the floor.

She turned to General Murphy and the Senator and waved a hand, another ball of power rolling out over them. She smiled at Kyra, "Less effort this way."

Kyra nodded, "Thanks."

They took the men by the arms and tugged them along, leading them out of the building, disabling guards along the way. Their three agents met them at the back of the building, providing a clean exit, and tied the men up in the Humvees.

The ride back to the Helicarrier was quiet until Kyra asked Wanda, "Do you think we could do that again? Go back for the prisoners? Could you disable more of them at once?"

Wanda nodded, "Definitely."

Kyra smiled, "Great. I want us to roll out at midnight."

When they arrived back at the helicarrier Coulson greeted them with a smile, agents taking the men into custody and into cells. Kyra watched them go and walked over to Coulson, "We're going back out at midnight for the prisoners. I want a tactical strike on Chimera when we're done."

He stared at her for a moment and then nodded, "If you're sure. We could try to put people on trial."

Kyra sighed, "Do you really think genocidal murderers really want to be forgiven? To be put on trial? No…." she shook her head, "No, their psycho leader was right. Some people don't deserve to go to Elisium. But it wasn't the people they were trying to stop. It's them."

She sighed heavily and walked away, into the helicarrier. She needed to eat something and decompress.

Sitting at the cafeteria looking out at the darkening sky she sighed deeply, wishing she could talk to her dad. She wondered how the surgery was going. It had been hours, but she was positive it was going to take hours longer. Picking at her food, she dropped her fork and dropped her face into her hands.

She prayed silently for her father to make it through surgery, for Ian, and for the strength to make it through. She felt a welling of emotion and cried softly, wishing for a hug. A moment later when soft arms surrounded her, she started.

Wanda hushed her and stroked her hair, and Kyra sniffed, hugging her back. Wanda's eyes glowed red for a moment and Kyra gasped when she saw her mother standing before her, smiling and happy.

Rose waved, smiling, "Hi sweetie. I love you."

Kyra gasped and smiled, "Mom! Oh mom, I miss you so much."

Rose smiled softly, "I miss you too darling. I'm so proud of you. You're so strong and amazing."

Kyra's vision swam, tears in her eyes, "Thank you momma" she whispered.

Rose nodded, "I love you sweetie…I'll watch out for you."

Kyra gasped and reached out, "Mom…I love you!"

When the vision cleared from her eyes, she let out a sob and put a hand over her mouth, holding in the sobs. Wanda held her, shushing her.

Kyra took deep breaths and steadied herself until she felt calm enough to pull away and smile shakily at Wanda. "Thank you…That was, incredible."

Wanda smiled and nodded, "I knew your mother, she was a good woman. So are you."

They sat together for awhile, talking about Rose, the Avengers, and Wanda's adventures until Kyra felt calmer.

It was the closest Kyra had felt to her family in a long time.