Riding Out the Day's Events

Chapter 26- Anyone who thought Captain America incapable of killing would not have recognized him as he eliminated the Hydra forces in his path.

OOOOO

The Avengers arrive and battle the Hydra forces attacking the tower.

OOOOO

Tony continued to monitor the test engine's performance and make adjustments, but his eyes were drawn to the video feed as he heard Darcy and Jane screaming. He blinked hard and yelled. "What? I'll be damned! Get up… NOW!" Steve glanced from Tony back to the screen, helplessly wondering what Tony was talking about, and if there was anything that could stop the Winter Soldier from following his horrifying orders.

In Lab Eleven, Darcy blearily pulled herself upright, wincing against the pain in her head and body. She gasped as she realized she was leaning against the gravometric energy rod that had fallen out of place when Hydra blew their way into the lab. She clicked it into place and flipped a switch to turn it back on, moaning with pain as she jumped away from it and pressed herself against the door. She turned and stared at the Winter Soldier, blinking away tears. He saw her expression and the indicator light, glanced around quickly, and leapt nimbly out of the portal field. She swallowed hard, both impressed and appalled.

Tony yelled. "Now, Foster! Hit it!"

Steve couldn't speak to ask what was happening. He was transfixed by Darcy's fearful tears as she watched the Winter Soldier. Thor nodded, clasping his hands in a prayer-like gesture, tears flowing. Steve vaguely wondered if Thor prayed to Odin.

Jane grabbed a small piece of equipment on the counter she leaned against, twisted a knob, and held down a button. Shots rang out and the lab camera lens was covered with blood. Steve heard Darcy crying out in pain again. He stared at the redness on the screen uncomprehendingly.

Next to him, Sam rasped. "God! What's happening?"

Natasha called out. "Tony, start backing off the power so we don't overshoot."

He replied testily and returned to his engine maintenance programming.

Steve could hear Jane calling Darcy's name, sounding fearful. He closed his eyes, and listened for a response. He heard sounds of fighting, and then more gunfire.

Tony called, "JARVIS, give me everything I need to power down the Mark-V Engine." Their communication with the Tower camera system was cut. The g-forces decreased. All eyes focused on the sight of Avengers Tower coming into view in the distance. Seat straps were released and weapons readied.

OOOOO

Three Hydra soldiers and approximately half of the commander… happily, the half holding the device that had plagued Bucky… disappeared from the room. The commander's blood and other bodily fluids splattered wildly, covering everything and every person still standing in the lab. Bucky cried out, holding his head, obviously in pain. Two Hydra soldiers who'd not been transported uneasily moved closer to him. Jane screamed in horror as she watched him quickly, brutally, and dispassionately kill the men. He shot one in the head and broke the other one's neck. He took their weapons and moved to the door, stepping into the hallway beyond and gunning down more approaching Hydra soldiers.

Jane gaped at him, and ran to Darcy's side. "Are you okay?"

Darcy nodded and leaned against the wall, hoping she was right. A bullet had grazed her arm, so she held her other hand over the wound, stunned by the pain and shocked by all that had just passed. Tear streamed down her face and she was breathing hard, like she'd tried to chase Steve running or something. It was a bad idea as the dead Hydra guy, well the half of him still on the floor of Lab Eleven, smelled terrible. She groaned, and struggled not to vomit or let panic overcome her. She looked at Jane. "Do you even know where you sent them?"

Jane shrugged. "Svartalfheim? I'm not sure. I'll have to check later. For all I know, they just landed in the courtyard of the Naval College in Greenwich! I just sent…" She looked around wildly, and finally grabbed Darcy's Taser off the ground and moved back to her friend's side. They stood shoulder to shoulder, both shaking like leaves in the wind.

Darcy tried to wipe some of the blood and other ick off her. It was disgusting. Her head hurt like hell with every movement, and she felt incredibly tender down her left side and on both of her arms. Tears flowed down her face as she and Jane silently watched Bucky fighting Hydra soldiers just outside the door to the lab.

Jane swallowed hard. "I guess… I mean, he's killing Hydra attackers now, right? So, I guess he's on our side again?"

Darcy nodded slightly and groaned. "Looks that way… I sure as hell hope so." Jane raised her brows, and blew out a shaky breath, nodding agreement.

They heard more gunfire, and saw Bucky take a bullet in the leg. Darcy cried out in alarm as he shot his attacker and then rushed into hand-to-hand combat with another invader. Bucky overcame the other men, and things went nearly silent. There were still battle sounds in other parts of the building and outside. The air was filled with smoke.

Bucky turned and stared at them, then walked back into the room at a slow and deliberate pace. His expression was entirely different now, the one of sad anguish that Darcy knew so well, though also cautious and guilty as he saw the fear in Darcy's eyes and Jane's face. He sighed raggedly and rasped. "You okay? I'm… so… sorry that I hurt you, Doll." He sighed again and his voice cracked as he explained. "I couldn't let you taze me. I was scared it might fry my brain. I barely had a grip on myself as it was…"

Darcy gasped shakily, "Oh!"

Bucky looked out in the hallway again, listening carefully before he turned back to speak again. "Then, you wanted to get over there. That cowardly bastard had his finger on the button. I knew he wouldn't hesitate to zap me again if he knew I was playing the part instead of really in his control. I didn't want him to make me the Winter Soldier again for real, so I swatted you…" He looked down at the ground for a long moment, then met her gaze again. "I told you I was a monster…"

Darcy nodded, unable to stop crying, regardless of how much she wanted to. Her voice still shaking, she called, "JARVIS?" There was still no answer. She wrapped her arms around herself, trembling with cold and fear, dizzy, and even more nauseous. She saw Bucky's eyes narrow as he looked her over, assessing her wounds.

Jane pointed out, "JARVIS may not be fully operational, but the lab camera's on. It has been for more than five minutes. I'd guess Tony's working on getting JARVIS back in here."

Darcy's head jerked up as she stared at the camera and blinked back more tears.

Bucky swore under his breath. "I sure as hell hope Steve didn't hear what that commander ordered me to do to you. He'd go berserk." He looked somber. "I wouldn't blame him if he killed me first and asked questions later." His shoulders were slumped as he hung his head.

Jane looked from Bucky to Darcy and suggested nervously. "Let's get less bloody and stuff."

Darcy let out a breath, wiping away more tears as she saw that some part of Bucky would welcome death. Now that the immediate danger was past, at least for the moment, her shaking increased so much that her teeth began to chatter. She managed to ask a question. "What did they do to you?"

He glanced at her quickly, and then looked down again. He pointed to a place behind his ear. "...Inserted something there... They were juicing it up. I stopped resisting while I could still think, and pretended to be what they wanted, that I would do what they ordered. I tried to put our people down without killing them. You need to get the damned thing out… NOW. They gave me drug injections, too, and I don't feel right. I think the stuff Banner and other scientists have made for me is helping me hold it together, but I need to be certain that I'm not a danger to you."

Darcy blew out a nervous breath and gestured. "Him first, for God's sake... My bleeding can wait a minute if it makes it any less likely that they could turn him against us again."

While Jane gathered equipment, Bucky chuckled darkly. "It's funny, Doll. Usually you talk about 'gods'. When you really mean what you say, though, you're all about 'God.'"

Darcy shrugged and made a face. She thought about it for a moment, and felt a bubble of hysterical laughter trying to push its way out as she realized Bucky was right. She finally just shrugged again and half-grinned. She repressed the urge to joke that he ought to hear her in bed with Steve. That whole topic was fraught with awkwardness at the moment.

Jane told Bucky to kneel and lean against a stool so she could see his head better. She looked where he indicated with magnifying glasses, and felt the lump where the subcutaneous device was implanted. She groaned and shuddered. "Well, whether it's to God or gods… I wish I had anesthetic. This First Aid kit is pretty limited." She set items on the counter next to them.

Darcy murmured wearily. "JARVIS… make a note that we need better First Aid kits in the labs, please."

Bucky touched the cuff on Jane's wrist gently, and then used the fingers of his mechanical hand to snap it free. He made a face and shrugged. "Cut the thing out. Someone else might have an activation device. I'd rather die than do what any of them say again."

Darcy forced herself forward, and put a comforting hand on his shoulder while Jane grabbed an X-Acto blade and went to work, still favoring her wrist. Darcy could feel Bucky tense against the pain, but he didn't cry out. She guessed he'd suffered much worse at Hydra's hands, and the pity she felt nearly undid the little control she had over her emotions. She stroked his shoulder softly. He glanced at her hand and shook his head, then looked away. His blood ran freely from the wound. Darcy sponged it to help Jane see more clearly.

Jane murmured, "Almost done. Hang on…"

Darcy used more sponges and prepared bandages. She and Jane worked quickly in tandem to remove the device. Jane pocketed it. Darcy thoroughly cleaned the wound and bandaged Bucky's head carefully. He climbed to his feet, and moved between the ladies and the door. Darcy let Jane tend the gunshot wound on her arm and the cuts she'd gotten from the beaker. As she winced against the pain, she saw regret and guilt in Bucky's expression.

Bucky apologized haltingly. "I'm sorry I… hurt you… and frightened you." Jane gulped and nodded. Darcy took a deep breath and let it out shakily.

He looked at Darcy, and the anguish in his eyes cut through her, though she also shuddered fearfully and fought the urge to vomit. She reassured him in a hollow voice. "It's okay, Bucky. Thanks for… helping..." Her breath shuddered again and she struggled to stop her teeth from chattering.

He shook his head. "Too good. Definitely the right one for him..."

She held a hand against her head, hoping to press away the pain, "God! What a Monday..."

He nodded. "No shit!" Bucky walked to the door and peered out, listening and concentrating.

Jane looked out the window and exclaimed. "Look! Iron Patriot!"

Darcy's phone made a noise, indicating an incoming text. It was about 40 minutes old, and read, 'On our way home. Love you.'

She sighed, relaxed slightly, and told the others, "I have phone signal again! Avengers should be here in less than three hours."

JARVIS spoke, "Hello, Dr. Foster, Bucky, and Darcy. I have regained function in the Tower. May I be of help?" Darcy gasped with relief, and Jane cheered at the sound. Bucky looked up, his eyes narrowing.

Darcy cried out. "Oh! Thank God! And, well, Tony. I feel some Tony-love at this moment. You can even tell him I said that, J!"

Bucky chimed in. "What's our situation?"

JARVIS replied. "The Avengers are about to land. The new, faster engine passed its first field test."

Jane cried out. "Faster? My God! Did he break Mach 12?"

JARVIS replied, "They achieved Mach 15." Jane gasped, impressed and shocked.

JARVIS continued, "Sir is pleased, though he needs to make structural improvements to the Quinjets. As I said, the Avengers will arrive momentarily. Director Coulson's SHIELD team is one floor below you now, battling a Hydra squadron and preventing them from attacking you. They have worked together with surviving SI employees to secure the building up to that point, including Containment… where drones are returning escaped prisoners and securing captured invaders. The 77th floor is clear of hostiles at the moment, but that seems subject to change. There are hostile forces mostly concentrated on floors 78, 79 and 80, and a few individuals on other floors between this lab and the roof. I count twenty seven hostiles in total."

Bucky checked his weapons and prepped. "Will both sides be shooting at me?" He cleared his throat. "And, what does Steve know about everything that's happened here today?"

JARVIS answered. "I was able to alert Mr. Stark when I was shut out of the Tower, Bucky. The Avengers soon completed their mission in Afghanistan, and began their return flight. Mr. Stark tested a new Quinjet engine successfully, and cut their travel time considerably. He reactivated Tower sensors, and received status reports of the attack and defense efforts. Tower cameras reactivated next, and the Avengers were able to access them while they traveled. I know that Captain Rogers' StarkPad showed the events of your capture, Bucky, and then the attack you led on Lab Eleven. It also displayed all interactions inside Laboratory Eleven until the camera lens was obscured. All Quinjet power was diverted to the engine as they began their approach."

Bucky let out a breath, and shook his head. Jane looked dismayed, knowing that Thor would have been watching and worrying as well.

Darcy's voice quavered. "Is Steve okay?"

JARVIS replied, "I cannot verify his reaction, Darcy. The Captain has not spoken in some time."

Bucky asked brusquely. "How long?"

JARVIS replied. "The Captain has not spoken a word in thirty five minutes and six seconds."

Bucky and Darcy exchanged a look. Darcy asked, "JARVIS, can you tell Steve that Bucky and I are both fine now? He helped me and Jane get rid of those goons, and has been fighting off other hostiles to keep us safe. Can you let Steve know that?"

JARVIS agreed. "I will update the Avengers as you ask, Darcy."

Bucky sighed. "If he can't, Steve's gonna feel some serious guilt for doing me in … once his temper settles."

Darcy shook her head. "Stop that crap! He needs you."

Bucky looked at her and sighed with resignation, muttering to himself, "...says she who's never seen Steve REALLY pissed off…" He looked around them, and lined up the weapons stash he'd gathered from the fallen Hydra operatives. "I'll keep you safe." He paced. "They'd better hurry their asses here, though. Even I can't hold off twenty seven guys AND keep two civilians free from harm, alone." A few seconds later he pointed to the window. "Christ! It looks like they burned a lot of paint off that bird!"

The Avengers' Quinjet did look worse for wear, but was an incredibly welcome sight all the same. They watched it until it disappeared from view, settling atop the Tower. Darcy looked at her phone again, and texted. 'Love you. Bucky good. Welcome home.' Bucky breathed in and out heavily, and took up position at the main lab door.

OOOOO

When the Quinjet landed on the roof, shaken Avengers rolled out, a bit unsteady on their feet from all of the turbulence and g-forces, but blazing into battle mode regardless. Thor looked at the remaining helicopter gun boats locked in battle with Iron Patriot, and back to Captain America. Steve verified with JARVIS that no innocents were aboard the enemy craft. Then, he asked him to alert Iron Patriot that Thor was about to join battle, and that Rhodes should shift his efforts as directed by Iron Man. Cap gave Thor the go-ahead. Thor brought down lightning on the Hydra craft one by one, his face contorted into a mask of rage. Tony gestured for Falcon and Iron Patriot to join him in battle on the side of the building away from Thor and his deadly lightning offensive.

Steve turned and ran into the building at his top speed, pushing it more as JARVIS updated him on the location of hostile forces and the status of those in Lab Eleven. He first met a group of seven Hydra soldiers outside one of the secondary R&D labs. There was no hesitation and no mercy from Captain America as he plowed into the invaders. He fought with an unmatchable ferocity, cutting into the group with his shield like they were bowling pins lined up for him to strike, one soldier falling dead immediately from the first impact of the shield as he let it fly.

Then, Steve took a knife from one man and lethally pinned him to the wall with it through the throat. He took a gun from another Hydra soldier and shot the man straight between the eyes and then used the gun to crush the skull of another soldier. He whirled and kicked another man through a wall, the impact of the blow crushing bones and rupturing internal organs. Anyone who thought Captain America incapable of killing would not have recognized him as he eliminated the Hydra forces in his path.

The remaining two soldiers turned, and fled in terror. One of them only made it ten feet before the shield made contact with the back of his skull. The final man, the squadron commander, fell to his knees and put his hands up in surrender. Steve ran to his side and pulled the shield out of the fallen man's head, then used it to dull his punch enough so that he only knocked the squadron commander unconscious. He disarmed him, and cuffed the man to a handicapped assistance railing on the nearest wall.

Steve heard a noise, and rounded a corner to see Hulk smashing two Hydra soldiers against opposite walls of the hallway, their heads lolling at unnatural angles as he tossed their corpses aside to move on to the next threat. Steve forced open elevator doors and climbed down the cable quickly, determinedly heading for the 77th floor.

Hawkeye was in the vent system, finding sections that allowed him to drop down five floors at a time. On the 78th floor, he stepped out into a hallway, immediately facing six Hydra agents. He engaged them and went to work, both arrows and fists flying hard.

Black Widow was able to access smaller vents. She arrived on the 77th floor ahead of the rest of the Avengers. Natasha stepped out into the hallway and heard someone shout. "It's Black Widow! Avengers are on site!" She cursed, and ran forward, tossing widow's bites and shots with equal abandon.

OOOOO

Even though Bucky was practically growling as the sounds of battle drew nearer, Darcy was amused to see Jane return to work on the formula they'd been discussing before the attack had begun. Battle noises came closer while Darcy marveled at the hold that !Science!had on her friend. Bucky tensed more and more, monitoring everything happening around them, she supposed. She heard shouting and the sound of running feet coming closer. Suddenly, Bucky moved to the door opening. He listened, turned, ran back to Jane and Darcy, pushed them both down on the floor, and covered them with his body.

Three seconds later, the room exploded.

OOOOO

Still fighting his way there, Steve heard JARVIS' report... "Explosion in Lab Eleven." He pushed himself even harder, wishing he was in the lab that instant…

Natasha saw the bomb thrown into Lab Eleven, and pulled back around a corner to avoid the worst of the explosion. Then, she moved back out to fight the desperately retreating Hydra operatives. She was in the midst of taking down a group of them, when she heard noise approaching. It was either Hulk or Cap in ultra-smash mode, so she rolled and flattened herself against a side wall before the doors at the end of the hallway burst open. Cap's shield flew hard and fast, helping her finish off the soldiers she'd been battling, including the man who had pitched the bomb into the lab.

As Steve dove into the burning lab, Natasha called, "I've got your back. Find them!"

More Hydra soldiers came round the corner to face her. At that moment, the air vent over her head burst open, and Hawkeye fell in next to her, firing arrows at the approaching forces without missing a beat. The door from another hallway opened. Coulson and his team entered the fray behind the Hydra force. The SHIELD team and the two assassins fought and downed all of the remaining enemies in short order.

Natasha stepped over bodies, ran up to Phil Coulson, and shook him by the lapels hard. Then, she hugged him with all of her might.

Hawkeye peered into the burning lab. They heard Steve yelling with exertion, apparently lifting something very heavy. Hawkeye started into the room, but stopped when he saw Thor fly in through a blown-out window, wildly bellowing Jane's name. Falcon assumed a guard position outside the lab window, flying back and forth with an eye out for additional threats.

Smoke poured through the windows and doors, billowing out of the destroyed lab. Together, Steve and Thor easily lifted the support beams and tossed them aside. Thor ripped off his cape and used it to smother flames licking at the unmoving bodies on the floor. Next, Thor pulled Jane into his arms, whirled his hammer, and flew out the window and down to the Healing Ward entry window, almost out of his mind with fear for her.

Steve shook with emotion as he looked down at Bucky's burned body laying atop Darcy, shielding her from further harm. Natasha and Hawkeye entered the lab slowly, weapons drawn.

JARVIS broke the silence as Steve knelt and began to carefully check Bucky and Darcy's wounds. "Captain? Darcy asked me to tell you that Bucky was protecting her and Dr. Foster from Hydra. He explained that he pretended to be the Winter Soldier again in hopes of preventing Hydra from reconditioning him successfully. His actions were also intended to enable him to assist Darcy against Hydra. You were… occupied… when I tried to relay the message earlier." Steve froze for a second, and then nodded numbly.

Natasha observed. "Steve… I don't know why he knocked Darcy's Taser away so harshly… but when he hit her, he telegraphed his blow clearly, and he aimed so that she landed exactly where she needed to go in order for Foster to activate the portal device."

Hawkeye grabbed a fire extinguisher and put out small fires all around them. His voice sounded choked as he rasped. "So, he knew what they were ordering him to do to one of the very few people he calls friend, what they would make him do if they took his will away again..." Neither Natasha nor Steve thought Hawkeye's voice was affected by the smoke.

Steve continued to work. He finished evaluating wounds, and spoke in a low tone. "I'm gonna take Darcy to Healing now. JARVIS? Can you have a team bring a gurney for Bucky? His injuries are much more severe since he took the brunt of… everything."

Natasha reassured him. "They're tough, Steve. I'm sure they'll be fine. Take Darcy. We'll look after Barnes." He easily lifted Darcy into his arms, mindful of her injuries. As he left, Steve looked back at Bucky with haunted eyes.

Moments later, a medical team arrived, leaving the gurney in the hall outside the remains of the lab. Natasha spoke to the leader while Hawkeye watched the orderlies approaching Bucky. As one touched Bucky, he moaned and lifted his head, pushing up slightly on his arms. His flesh and bone arm was savagely burnt all along the back.

The second orderly's face shifted to a snarl of hatred as he realized who lay on the floor in front of him. He swung back the oxygen tank in his hand, intending to smash it directly into Bucky's face with lethal force. Hawkeye tackled him. As they rolled to a halt, the man screamed accusations. "He led soldiers against our people! He's the enemy! He doesn't deserve to live!"

Hawkeye restrained the man and dryly called out, "Hey, JARVIS? Can you send another orderly? This guy's not working out. He forgot the 'do no harm' thing pretty thoroughly, and is trying to murder the patient." He stood and pointed to the door. "Get the fuck out, man. Don't make me hurt you. Just go."

Natasha had one of her guns pressed against the other orderly's temple. "What about you? We have a problem?"

He shook his head. "No, ma'am. I know it's Captain's orders for us to take care of this guy."

Hawkeye stared at Bucky, noting that the man had not moved at all, and was staring straight ahead, unflinching. Hawkeye snarled. "You having trouble moving, Barnes?"

Bucky shook his head and pushed to his feet. He wobbled on one obviously broken leg and hopped awkwardly towards the door. Hawkeye shifted closer, and did his best to assist without aggravating Bucky's wounds. It was difficult going. Finally, Bucky managed to reach the gurney, and lay on his stomach on it. Within seconds, he passed out again from pain and blood loss.

Natasha shook her head. "I don't understand. If he could move that much… Why didn't he defend himself?"

Hawkeye sighed heavily. "I understand. He didn't want to, 'Tasha." She blinked hard. Hawkeye sounded bitter as he added, "I'm gonna accompany him the rest of the way, and make sure none of the other med people try to kill him." Natasha made a face at Hawkeye, gave him a long kiss, and murmured private words of comfort.

to be continued...