On Your Right- A Falcon and the Winter Soldier Anthology

Wrong Guy

The trucks swerved violently as the drivers below tried to help their comrades on the roofs of the trailers. Two of the Flag Smashers held Bucky by each arm, their superhuman strength pinning him down to his knees. Falcon swooped in kicking a Smasher in the chest but another came from behind, grabbing a wing, spinning him. A quick series of punches came flying at Sam's face.

Bucky growled as he struggled but was held firm by the Smashers. In the distance he heard a chopper coming their way. Squinting into the sun, he saw a hint of red, white and blue. "Shit." he muttered and kicked out with one leg, sweeping a Smasher off balance.

Trying to stand up and loose his arm from the fallen fighter, he lost his balance as Sam spun around dealing with his own attacker. Quicker than a flash of lightening, ropes appeared from the chopper that had caught up with the parallel trucks as they careened down the autobahn.

John Walker rappelled easily followed by his partner Hoskins. He flung the shield about like a boomerang frisbee knocking attackers free except for the stubborn one that clung to Bucky like a leech.

Pulling his sidearm from his thigh, he aimed and squeezed the trigger just as the truck swerved violently, throwing Bucky into the path of the bullets instead of his assailant. Walkers' eyes went wide as he saw the bullets impact Steve Rogers' best friend, a fine mist of blood scattering out as if in slow motion.

Sam pivoted to see what John was gawping at and swore as Bucky's knees buckled, a puzzled look on his face, staring incredulously back at the star-spangled man, as if Steve himself had come back from the dead and killed him.

The Flag Smasher regained their balance and seeing their target neutralized, let Bucky go, allowing him to crumple to the roof of the trailer. Sam leapt from one truck to the other, throwing a Smasher down, knocking the unawares Hoskins off the truck. John flung his shield to protect his friend as he skidded down the pavement.

Bucky had blood bubbling up from his lips, gasping for air, "He shot me!" his whisper was indignant, his eyes flashing with anger.

"Yeah. I know. Come on, National Treasure, we need to get you out of here!" Sam went into full paramedic mode and hoisted Bucky up in front of him. He threw a disgusted look at Walker as a Smasher crept up behind John. Falcon heaved both of them into the air, the jet pack straining under the weight of both of them.

John spun around to confront the Flag Smasher who quickly threw him into the windshield of a car following. The car screeched to a halt, throwing the new Captain to the ground. He tumbled for several moments then came to a standstill, as he watched the Smashers drive away down the autobahn and Sam barely clear the trees with the wounded Bucky. That's going to be some report, he thought bitterly, standing up and dusting himself off. Captain America, John Walker, shoots best friend of Steve Rogers. Way to go.

The jet pack was not able to hold them up for very long, and Sam was grateful for any distance he was able to put between them and the new Captain America and his side kick. "Torrez!" Sam shouted into the coms, regretting the loss of Red Wing.

"Yes sir!"

"I need assistance. I have a payload."

"A… payload?"

"Yes, get my coordinates now and send a pickup."

"But… that's going to take some time. We can't just launch… I mean… I have to be subtle about it."

"A man's life hangs in the balance of your subtlety." Sam's tone was dark as they descended. He set down roughly on the ground, trying not to jar Bucky in the process but failing. A thin groan escaped him and Sam felt slightly guilty.

"Yes sir!" Torres replied and the com went silent.

Sam dragged Bucky under the cover of the trees nearby and assessed him. Wilson had doubts that Barnes was the intended target, but he had to admire Walkers' shooting skills. If Bucky was not a super soldier, he would have been a corpse within a few moments. Pulling open his jacket, he saw the two small holes in the front of his right chest, knowing behind were larger ones. Barnes was pale and his eyes fluttered as blood oozed from the corner of his mouth and nose.

Pulling off his pack, Sam quickly found the syringe of quick-coagulant he carried for first aide. It would stop the bleeding, which right now was the biggest risk to Barnes' life. Inserting the syringe into the bullet holes, he depressed the plunger. Spasmodically, the mechanical left arm swung up and grabbed Wilson's shoulder in a crushing grip. "Bucky! For Chrissakes, I'm trying to save your life- you moron!"

The arm loosened the grip even if Bucky didn't give any indication that he heard him. Sam exhaled- he didn't trust that the Shuri had full purged the Winter Soldier from Barnes entirely- he carefully did a shoulder roll to make sure all the parts were still intact. In the distance, he heard a whirr of a small chopper. Subtle, Sam thought, not bad and just in time.

Bucky felt himself in a bed and something sticking in his nose: a nasal cannula. How did he get into that bed made him concerned. His eyes snapped open, and he tried to sit up, but stabbing pain in his chest made him catch his breath and forget that idea.

"On your right." Sam said in a low, semi disgusted tone, that had just a tinge of gratefulness that he woke up.

Bucky cut his eyes and turned his head slightly, his voice a dark hiss, "What the hell?"

"Captain America shot you. You remember?"

Bucky's brow furrowed. "He's not Captain America."

Sam put down the book he was reading. Bucky glanced and saw "The Hobbit". "If it makes you feel any better, he didn't get them either."

Bucky gave a long blink of satisfaction and then stared at the opposite wall, not sure what to do next.

A long silence passed between them. Sam almost picked up his book again to the page where he left off before Barnes finally turned his gaze towards him. "Thanks."

Wilson's eyebrows shot up and he touched his chest with his fingertips as if a surprised delicate woman. Bucky's rolled his eyes in anticipation of his comment, "Did I just hear, the great Winter Soldier, or White Wolf… whatever you wanna call yourself, thank me?"

"Yeah. That." Barnes whispered. "Don't get used to it."

"Guess it's your lucky day that I just happen to be… oh a military paramedic!"

"Hmm."

"I'll just say I didn't want the double guilt of that shield or letting Steve's best friend die on my watch." Sam sounded vaguely remorseful.

Barnes nodded barely.

"Heal up. We have work to do." Sam stood up and walked to the door of the room waving the book, "The movie was better." A mischievous grin cracked on his face when Bucky opened his mouth to protest that statement, and left Barnes with that pleasant thought.