Chapter 21
The jet landed in the hanger, landing silently on the concrete floor. Tracey and Steve stood far off to the side as they watched its occupants walked off. Steve put a hand on Tracey's shoulder, squeezing it as he gave her a small smile. She smiled back up at him and fixed the ponytail in her hair and adjusted her backpack as she headed towards the three figures coming off the jet.
"Did you get it?" Steve asked as he and Tracey reached Bucky, Coulson, and May.
"Yeah, it's in the back," Bucky said, nodding his head over his shoulder. "You guys ready?" he asked, his eyes flickering from Steve to his girlfriend.
"Ready," Tracey answered.
"Good luck," Coulson said, patting the hacker's shoulder. "You'll do fine. First missions are always worrisome. But you have those two, things will be fine."
"Thank you, Coulson," Tracey smiled.
"Let's go," Steve said, walking up the ramp.
Bucky nodded at Coulson and May before he turned back to the jet. He quickly grabbed Tracey's arm and stopped her before she entered the jet. "Are you sure you're ready to do this?" he asked, staring her dead in the eye. His heart was pounding. He didn't want her to go. He didn't want to risk anything happening to her.
The hacker stared up at the soldier and nodded her head after a couple minutes. "Yes. I'm ready." She chewed her cheek before giving him a small smile. "I have you with me. I'll be fine."
The metal armed man pursed his lips before nodding his head. "Right." He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "Just stay safe."
"I will," she replied, kissing his cheek. "Let's go. We're keeping Steve waiting."
ooOOoo
The ride to Burnow's base was silent. Tension was in the air. Nerves getting the best of them. No one knew if Burnow realized Bucky had been undercover, they all prayed he had been oblivious with the super soldier's absence.
Bucky was currently at the helm of the jet, controlling the navigation. His eyes were trained on the sky right in front of him, his brow furrowed and his lips set in a firm line. Steve kept stealing glances at his best friend and would sneak a peek behind him at Tracey as she sat in the back. The hacker was on her computer, a headpiece in one of her ears as she listened to a conversation with Coulson and was typing furiously on her laptop's keyboard.
The blond soldier pursed his lips. Not only was the nerves of the mission causing tension, but it was the tension between the couple that put weight on everyone's shoulders. Steve knew how Bucky felt about Tracey going on this mission. Sure she had gone on small missions before. But those were dinner dates with Natasha or Stark Industries meetings with Tony to get information from rival companies. She had never gone on field missions like this. She wasn't a fighter. She didn't know how to defend herself. Sure she was able to throw maybe a few good punches at someone, but against super soldiers and mad scientists? There was no way she'd be able to defend herself completely without getting hurt somehow. And Bucky being the way he was, always wanting to protect her, there was no way he was in any way okay with her being here. Which was the complete truth in the situation. He was nowhere near happy about the situation.
"Approaching the base," Bucky said out loud, bringing the other two's attention to him. "Get ready you guys. I'll head in first and keep his attention from his security monitors. After about ten minutes come in. By then I'll have his attention on me and the Gravitonium."
"Got it," the other two said, nodding their heads.
Tracey watched as Bucky walked passed her and began hauling the Gravitonium off the jet and through the base's hanger. She turned to Steve, a look of worry crossing her face. "I know he's not happy I'm here, but I want to help."
"I know you do, Trace," Steve said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "And you're doing a great job. I'm proud of you for wanting to help on a field mission. But you know how Buck is. He's overprotective, I know that. He was always overprotective of his sister Rebecca, his family in general, and me. He's even more overprotective now. After being the Winter Soldier he had to gain everything back. He doesn't want to lose that again. He doesn't want to lose his friends and family again."
The hacker took a deep breath, slowly letting it out as she closed her eyes. She nodded her head. "I know. I just want him to know that he doesn't always have to protect me. I can help him."
"He knows that, but he's stubborn," the blond soldier said with a grin. "You and I definitely know that."
Tracey smirked. "Oh yeah." She smiled at Steve one last moment, as in a thank you, before looking at her phone. "We should get going."
"Right," Steve nodded, sliding his helmet on. "Do you know where to go?"
The blonde woman nodded. "Yeah, I'm heading to the room he kept me in. I can access his files there without him knowing I'm here."
"Alright," he said. "Be safe," he added after a moment. He gave her a small smile before he turned and ran off out of the hanger.
Tracey smiled at him before he left, watching him go. The smile fell to a dark expression once he was out of sight. She pulled her phone out, pulling up a map. Her eyes scanned the area before they landed on a certain area. Pocketing the phone, she rushed off and out of the room. She better hurry before Burnow was done talking with Bucky.
ooOOoo
"Excellent work, Winter Soldier," Michael Burnow praised as Bucky walked into the lab carrying the Gravitonium over his shoulder.
The soldier placed it down on a table and turned his attention to the scientist. "Quinn tried to stop me, but I was able to take care of him," he explained in the monotone voice of the Winter Soldier. "What do you need of me next?"
"Nothing," the scientist said, waving his hand dismissively as he stared at the element in the box. A twisted smile grew on his face. "Have you ever seen anything more fascinating?" he mused, shifting his eyes up to glance at the soldier. "This element will help me get my plans in motion and get a hold of anyone that gets in my way." He turned back to the Gravitonium and stared at it in awe. "I don't need your services anymore, soldier. You can return to your quarters."
"Yes, sir."
"Which reminds me, I need to start fixing that chair," Burnow mumbled as Bucky turned his back to him, oblivious to the soldier's stiffened posture.
Bucky mentally sighed when he heard the scientist mumble something along the lines of "Worrying about it later" as he headed out the door. He turned a corner and blinked. He turned his head to the left, brow furrowed. He could have sworn he saw a flash of blonde hair.
"Tracey…" he breathed. He pursed his lips. "Be safe."
He wasn't sure where Tracey planned on extracting the files from Burnow's database, but he hoped it wouldn't take long, let alone get her caught. He figured he should head to find Steve and help him in finding the kidnapped men and get rid of the bugs; not to mention return them to their families. That was the plan. He would leave Tracey to do her work. He trusted her.
He froze halfway down the hall. His eyes shifting to glance behind him. He heard hustled footsteps behind him. Tracey was heading somewhere. But where?
ooOOoo
Burnow picked his head up from his notes as he examined the Gravitonium. Footsteps were heard coming from the doorway which caused him to sigh in annoyance. "I thought I said I didn't need your services, Winter Soldier," he said, turning around to the soldier. But he froze, eyes shooting up. He was now facing down the barrel of a gun. His eyes shifted up from the gun to the angered face of the woman in front of him. A grin spread across his face. "Well well well… Miss Madison. I didn't think I'd see you again. Let alone with a gun pointed at me. Are you sure you know how to use that?" he teased.
A click came from the gun as Tracey glared at him. "Positive."
"What's wrong, dear? Did you come here to save your little soldier?" he asked, grinning even more as Tracey took a small step closer.
"He has a name," she snarled.
"Of course, of course. Bucky Barnes. I wouldn't forget his name. No one can really," Burnow said, nodding his head. "But that is why you're hear of course. Isn't it?" he asked, raising a brow.
"Yes," the hacker answered, her glare growing. "I'm also here to stop you, from whatever you're planning."
"And you think you alone can stop me?" the scientist laughed. "You're just one person. And from what I have learned, not much of a fighter."
"I'm a fighter when I need to be. Especially when someone threatens or hurts my friends and family!" Tracey yelled, her grip on the gun tightening. She was so close. He was right there. "You killed my dad. Threatened my brother and mom. And then you turned Bucky back into the one thing he hates. The one thing he isn't and will never be. You're puppet to control and use at your disposal. I am done with you attacking my family!"
Michael laughed, shaking his head. "I am sorry that you feel this way, Miss Madison. But I honestly don't think you have the guts to shoot me. Besides," he said, pulling out a gun from his lab coat, "you'll be dead before you even pull the trigger."
Tracey's eyes widened, but quickly went back to the glare she had seconds ago. "I'll kill you before you can kill me," she said lowly. "I'm not afraid to get rid of you for good. You've caused too much pain to othe-"
A loud bang rang throughout the large lab. Tracey gasped as the gun that was once in her hand was shot out of them and flew across the room. Both the hacker and scientist turned their attention to the doorway to the lab. There stood Bucky, a dark glare on his face as he stared at the two.
"Perfect timing, Winter Soldier," Burnow said, the grin growing back on his face. "You get to finish your mission this time. Kill her."
Tracey stared at Bucky as he slowly made his way to the pair. His gun was still held up in the air as he glared at her. A chill ran down Tracey's spine and she knew that glare wasn't just towards Burnow. It was towards her as well. Bucky was furious.
The soldier's eyes continued to bore into the blonde's as the two were locked in a staring contest. A fearful and worried look on the blonde woman's face as anger and hatred was in the metal armed man's. He quickly spun on his heel and turned on the scientist.
"I suggest you lower your gun," he said with a growled.
Michael Burnow's eyes widened, his gun lowering slightly, but he quickly pulled it back up to point at the soldier and hacker. "What are you doing, soldier?" he yelled. "Shoot her!" he continued to yell, pointing his gun from the soldier to the blonde woman.
Bucky took a step and blocked the crazed scientist's view from Tracey. "Put down your gun," he snarled. "Right. Now."
He glared at the scientist when he didn't lower the gun. In a swift motion, the super soldier had a hold of the man's arm and twisted it until a snap was heard. Burnow dropped his gun as a scream of pain erupted from his mouth.
"You are supposed to be working for me!" Burnow hissed through gritted teeth.
"I was never working for you, genius," the dark haired man snapped.
"What happened? You were in the chair! Your memories were erased! I made that happen!" Burnow said hysterically as he was thrown to the ground.
Bucky bent down and picked up the discarded gun. "I'm no one's puppet…" He turned to the doorway to see Steve rushing in, the two kidnapped men behind him. Both had dazed looks on their faces, but it looked like that was slowly fading away as they took in their surroundings.
"What happened?" Steve asked Bucky as he yanked Burnow off the floor.
Bucky ignored his friend and went to across the room and picked up the gun he had shot out of Tracey's hand. He holstered it and turned to his girlfriend. "What the hell were you thinking?" he yelled.
"I was going to get rid of him!" Tracey shot back. "He's done too much already! Look at them!" she said, motioning to the two men standing off to the side. "They were taken away from their families for months and forced to do things that they wouldn't normally do! He threatened my mom and Barry! He killed my dad! And he put you through the pain of being the Winter Soldier again, Bucky!" she said, desperately, glaring up at her boyfriend. "He's done too much!"
"And you think killing him is the right thing to do?" the metal armed man shouted. "Would you have pulled the trigger?" The blonde didn't answer, making the soldier furrow his brow even more. "Would you have pulled the trigger, Tracey?" he said more forcefully.
Tracey lowered her head, hiding her face from the man in front of her. "No…" she spoke quietly.
Bucky placed a hand under her chin and lifted her head up to look at him. "Tracey…that's not you. Threatening someone like that. That's not you… I had to stop you from even attempting to pull the trigger. If he had kept egging you on I feel like you would have eventually shot him. And if you didn't he would have killed you."
"I would have gladly done it!" Burnow shouted, struggling against Steve's hold on him. "That bitch has been a pain in my side since the start of all this! Breaking into my databa-" He was interrupted by another scream coming from his mouth. Blood was seeping from his foot and pooling around it on the floor.
"Bucky!" Steve shouted, glaring at his friend as the dark haired soldier holstered his gun again. The blond man shook his head and dragged the seething scientist out of the room with the two kidnapped men following behind.
"Trace, you wouldn't have lived with yourself if you had killed him. Knowing that you had killed someone – innocent or not – you wouldn't live with yourself. You're one of the kindest people I know and you having someone's life in your hands, killing them, you would have a huge burden on your shoulders you wouldn't be able to get rid of. I'm not about to let you live with that for the rest of your life, Trace," he said, pulling her into his arms.
The hacker sighed and buried her face in his chest. "I can't stand him. He took my dad away from me and nearly the rest of my family. Then he almost took your memories away from you."
"I know, darling, I know," he said, rubbing her back. He kissed the top of her head. "Come on. We need to get going. Coulson's expecting Burnow in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody when we get back."
"Alright," the blonde sighed.
Bucky smiled lightly down at her and put his arm around her, holding her close to him. "Were you able to get the files?"
Tracey let out a small laugh. "Duh. That was my part of the mission."
The super soldier let out a laugh, smiling brightly at her. "That's my girl!" he said, kissing her cheek. He rubbed his hand up and down her arm. "Everything is going to be okay, Tracey. Don't worry."
ooOOoo
"Thank you guys for the help," Bruce said as the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents stood in the hanger.
It was a couple hours since Bucky, Steve, and Tracey had returned and Burnow was put into custody and now Coulson's team was ready to head out and handle their own missions again. It was bitter sweet. The two teams wishing that they had a bit more time to get to know each other rather than running around trying to stop a mad man, but that was the life of agents and superheroes.
"Not a problem," Coulson said, smiling at one and every Avenger.
"You should stop by again sometime. You kinda need to make up for the fact that you kept your 'death'," Tony said, using air quotes, "a secret from us."
The S.H.I.E.L.D. director chuckled and nodded his head. "Of course, Tony. Maybe a day when the world doesn't need saving again. And you're not locked up in that lab of yours," he said with a smirk. "Will I ever get to see what you've been working on?"
"Maybe one day, when it's complete," Tony ginned.
"I'm glad I got the chance to work with you again, Coulson," Steve said, stepping up to the director. "I hope we get the chance to see you again," he said.
"Same with you, Steve," Coulson, shaking his hand.
"Oh before you go," the super soldier said, rummaging through his pocket. "I kind of owe you these," he said, handing him a stack of cards.
Skye, Trip, and Jemma smiled brightly when they saw the rather large smile on Coulson's face as he stared at the signed Captain America trading cards. May and the rest had smirks on their faces at the sight of their director.
"Thank you," Coulson said, doing his best to hide his smile. But obviously failing.
Skye and Jemma stepped up to Sharon and Tracey, all four giving each other smiles.
"It was so nice to meet you!" Jemma exclaimed, hugging each female Avenger.
"You too!" Sharon said, hugging the scientist back.
"You still owe us a shopping spree the next time we visit," Skye said to Tracey.
"Of course," Tracey smirked.
"It was an honor working with you two," Trip said to Steve and Bucky, shaking both of their hands.
"It was our honor to work alongside Gabe's grandson," Steve said.
"He would be proud of you, that's for sure," Bucky said, smiling at the dark skinned agent.
"Next time I visit, we can continue our conversation about Clint," Bobbi said, winking at Natasha.
"Only if you tell me about your thing with Lance," the red head said, smirking when she saw the light pink on the blonde's face.
"Good seeing you again, Bobbi," Clint said, smiling lightly at the woman.
"We should get going," May said, looking at phone. "We need to get this man to the Fridge."
"Right, right," Coulson said. "It was great seeing you all again," he said, waving as he and his team boarded the jet.
"You as well, Coulson!" Thor boomed, smiling brightly as he waved. "I hope to see you and everyone else again soon!"
The Avengers watched as The Bus exited the hanger and soon became a speck in the sky. Smiles were on the original Avengers' faces as they watched their thought to be dead friend leave. Happy to have the chance to work with their friend again and hoping to work together again soon.
Well I got this whole thing done in one day in a few hours. I think a new record!
I hope you liked it!
If you have any questions for the tower, feel free to leave them on my tumblr. Have any prompts for Life at the Tower – AU or non-AU – leave them on my tumblr, PM me here, or in a review.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this story! I hope you liked it!