Chapter 21

Home Again, Home Again

A/N: *sighs in an exasperated manner* I don't even know...

"Morning Cap."

Steve Rogers continued to jog in place as the woman approached him. Her arms crossed and hands hidden inside the sleeves of the oversized sweatshirt she wore. The Avengers "A" distorted under her limbs. "You're up early. Can't sleep?"

Chelsea smiled, "I actually think I got too much sleep. All I did while I was away was sleep and eat."

They shared a chuckle, "Want to join me?"

"I'll walk with you." she offered.

The blonde slowed his bouncing to a stop then nodded, "I'll take it."

After a few paces the woman spoke, "So I hear you didn't think I was coming back."

The Avenger rubbed the back of his neck, "When you stopped answering my calls I thought maybe something was wrong."

She couldn't help a broad grin, "I did want to enjoy my vacation. You checked in everyday."

He nodded, "Natasha said something about hovering being bad."

"It's ok. I half expected you to show up but I'm glad you had some faith in me."

"Of course."

"I actually want to return the favor."

"How do you do it?"

James Barnes put his chin on the woman's head as they sat together in his small apartment. It was god-knows time of night and the city was mostly quiet. The only light in the room was leaking in from the open bathroom door. "Do what?"

"Stay here alone and not go crazy?" He didn't answer so she elaborated, "I'm surrounded by people at work and at home. But I came here because despite being surrounded by people I was losing my mind."

"I accepted that who I am now is dangerous to people around me." he took a moment to take a deep breath, "I think that you feel that way, but it's the opposite."

"You don't think I'm a threat?"

The man chuckled, "I've seen for myself that you can be. But what I mean is that you need to take advantage of the people around you. They want to help you, don't they?"

"I can't help feeling like it'll effect you somehow."

"Don't worry about me."

The woman turned to him, slightly exasperated, "That's not fair. All I can think about is you, protecting you, and I don't think it's a bad thing."

Bucky frowned deeply, "You don't think tricking people who care about you, hiding and making bribes just to come see me is bad?"

She didn't; at least not until he'd said it like that.

"Steve is a good guy. I know that now, and I know that he always has been. Let him help you."

Chelsea didn't realize she'd started crying and tried to glare at the winter soldier although she knew it wasn't working, "How can you know this is about him?"

He reached for her hands, being extra careful with the strength of his left, "Because if I remember how good of a friend he was to me, I know that with how alike we are he must really care about you."

"I've been turning down your help because I was scared."

The blonde visibly relaxed and offered her a slight smile, "I know. You're pretty headstrong like someone else I used to know."

"I want to let you help me. As much as it terrifies me." She felt vulnerable, weak even. But Bucky had been right. She went crazy because instead of accepting help, she figured she didn't need any, and things spiraled out of control.

Steve was right in front of her in two steps and her face was smushed into his chest. The hug was super close and she realized that part of what she needed was this. She held him back, just as tight thanks to her strength.

It ended rather abruptly as they awkwardly broke apart to the sounds of a training squad making their morning run around the building.

The woman clapped her hands together, "How about some breakfast?"

"Sounds good."

"You wanted to see me?"

Chelsea smiled at Wanda as she entered her office looking for all the world like a sour teenager. It almost made the older woman laugh, almost. "I did. Have a seat."

She sat and watched the other woman. The older swiped, poked, and typed away at the glass, computer like, apparatus in front of her before she sighed. Using one more motion to frost over the clear walls of her office, she stood and joined Wanda on the white couch.

"I owe you an apology."

"You do?"

"Yes I do. I realized that trying to see what I've been hiding was your way of protecting this new family you have. While my hiding was a way of doing the same. But, it's time I come clean."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I won't block you this time. Doing it was actually just causing migraines anyway so..."

The younger woman was confused and found herself showing it in her body language. Unlike Chelsea's open posture, knees pointed toward Wanda, hands in her lap. Scarlet Witch had her arms crossed, knees pointed away, and a small glare set on her face. "You want me to see in your head?"

"I want you to feel safe with me around."

Just in that declaration, Wanda felt her honesty. She changed her posture, trying to open up. With a slight flex of her fingers she reached up, holding both hands on either side of Chelsea's face, but not touching the skin.

What she saw was confusing at first. Trying to place the dark haired man was hard for her as she'd never seen him before. But she could feel Chelsea's heart breaking. Then screams and electricity coursing through her hands and up her arms. She wavered, but held on. It was a confusing mix of happiness and fear, pain and sorrow. Everything snapped into place and Wanda let go, tears running down her face.

"Love is tearing you apart."

Chelsea smiled, her own eyes watering up, "Feels like obsession some days. But my own emotions were turned against me..."

"And you just want to protect him...whoever he is."

"It wasn't something I needed to hide."

The younger frowned deeply. She'd seen flashes of their leader in there too. Love was literally pulling her in two directions even though she could see that even Chelsea didn't understand it fully yet.

It explained the Captain's outlook on her though. His mind was easy to see into and half the time he didn't even feel it. It was always filled with her in some way among other faces she recognized, and that dark haired man.

"Thank you."

Chelsea was slightly taken back, but pleasantly, "You don't have to thank me."

"I do. And I was wrong to try and pry like I did. You were right about this being a family for me, I don't want to lose another one."

"I understand."

Wanda stood to leave but stopped at the door, turning back as Chelsea reached her desk, clearing the walls. "I see why the Captain respects you so much."

The other woman smiled, "Really?"

She only nodded and left the office.

A small intercom on the desk clicked to life, "That was brave."

The Great Crusade turned her chair to the right, looking over at the glass office across the hangar from her own. Inside, Steve Rogers gave her a small wave. She reached over to the intercom and hit the button, "Thanks."

Chelsea sat there, just smiling like an idiot for a few minutes. She'd still hidden some things from Wanda, but made sure to show her enough to make her understand. As for Steve, she would stand by what Bucky said bout him.

He was a good guy.

"Friday?"

"Miss Jones."

It was late. Easily three in the morning and the whole of the compound was quiet. Chelsea Jones had no way of knowing if everyone was sleeping, but all that mattered was that for now she was alone.

"Do you have Jarvis' backup files of my medical history?"

"Yes, I do."

The woman closed her eyes. Bucky had spoke to her about embracing what happened, strengthening herself, and understanding that living with what she was may be the best option. She wasn't entirely sure about his approach, as she was sure a day would come where her unyielding need to protect him would surface again.

"Has there been any news on how to reverse what happened to me?"

"Unfortunately, no. I'm showing here that Tony has a program constantly searching the web for new ways to repair the damaged areas of your brain. Few studies had any conclusive findings. Any attempt at reversal may kill you."

She took a deep breath, maybe it was just in her head. Or maybe she could live with it.

"Thank you, Friday."

"Do you need anything else, Miss Jones?"

Chelsea stood from her desk and moved to the door, but stopped short, "Can you show me the progression?"

The Ai hesitated. Damn Tony for creating them with near human feelings, "I can."

"I want to see."

A floating hologram of the woman's brain appeared in the center of he room. Damaged parts from her 'conditioning' were clearly darker, near burned. As the scans phased through the spots grew in size, not by much, but enough.

"If I may..."

Chelsea wiped her eyes, "Go on, Friday."

The hologram changed again, this time the damage seemed to recede. "This is from now, Miss Jones."

"What am I seeing?"

"Areas of initial damage are seemingly beyond repair. But your own personal influence is causing further damage. Whatever you did on your trip helped to ease some of the newer damage on your brain."

The question here though was whether giving in and seeing him helped ease her mind, or if it was choosing to try and let it go. "I understand. That's enough. Please keep these findings between us."

"Yes, Miss Jones."