Chapter 4

The pregame show for the football game could be heard throughout Sam and Sarah's house as Bucky made his way into the kitchen to retrieve a couple more beers. The boys were playing outside, running off their energy while they waited for the game to actually start. It had become sort of an ongoing tradition on weekends when both he and Sam were in town that they would watch whatever game was being televised in the afternoon. The Wilson family had basically adopted him into their ranks, giving him a sense of peace he had not experienced in a long time.

Returning to the living room he handed a beer to Sam, before settling on the sofa. Sarah had disappeared somewhere upstairs once the pregame show went on, leaving all of the males in the house to fend for themselves for a while.

"When do they have you flying out to DC," Bucky asked, looking over at Sam as he took a sip of the beer.

"Wednesday morning," Sam told him. "Sharon's getting back into town tomorrow night and she has some intel she wants me to take a look at."

Bucky made a non-committal sound in Sam's direction. Sharon had been in regular contact with Sam since he made good on his promise to secure a pardon for her, and part of him wondered if there wasn't more going on between them then they let on. He resisted the urge to comment on it too much usually though and as it would only draw Sam's ire.

"I figured," he said, giving Sam a small smirk.

He saw Sam roll his eyes, fighting the urge to let his smirk grow into a knowing grin as he turned his attention back to the television. There was part of him that really wanted to annoy Sam as a sort of payback for the speeches he endured about Kelsey. It was an immature reaction, but there were times his competitive side won out over maturity.

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" Sam asked, and Bucky had to fight the urge to laugh.

"Nothing," he said. "It's just predictable...your trips to DC always coincidentally happen whenever Sharon gets back into town."

"Just how long was your last conversation with Kelsey?" Sam retorted, his tone making it clear it was more of a challenge than a question.

A special news report began, interrupting the pregame show. Instead of answering the question, Bucky looked over at Sam and asked, "Want me to grab the chips from the kitchen?"

He saw Sam nod and turn his attention to his phone. Grabbing a few discarded items from the coffee table he started to stand when the words Wheaton, New Jersey drew his attention back to the tv.

"The police and FBI are currently asking for help identifying those connected with an explosion that rocked a small neighborhood outside of Wheaton, New Jersey yesterday evening," an anchor said as they cut away from the speaker to an image of the charred remains of a house.

Bucky felt his chest constrict as he stared at the television in disbelief. The surrounding houses and what was left of the front porch were unmistakable and he sank back down onto the couch again as he watched. The house's frame was burnt and crumbling, police and investigators could be seen digging through the rubble.

"Sam," he said softly, his voice tight, "that's Kelsey's house."

He saw Sam look up out of the corner of his eye as the report continued, "We've learned that this is the former home of Captain Steve Rogers who passed away last month. He shared the home with his granddaughter, Kelsey Rogers who was believed to be inside when the explosion occurred, although no remains have been found at this time. She was thirty three years old."

Sam turned off the television and they both sat in stunned silence for a moment. The image of Kelsey's photo appearing on the television screen as they talked about her as if she was dead was burned clearly into his mind. Bucky took a few deep breaths, trying to fully process what he had just seen on the television.

"She could still be alive," Sam said next to him.

Bucky nodded, still staring at the blank television screen. He knew Sam had a point, they hadn't found her body. It wasn't a comfort though when his mind knew all too well all of the reasons why they might not have been able to find any remains in the wreckage of the house.

"I'm going to call Sharon," Sam told him, getting up from the chair he had been sitting in and heading towards the front door, "see if she knows anything."

Hearing the door close behind Sam, he pulled his phone out of pocket, checking it to be sure he hadn't missed a text message or phone call. There was nothing, and he opened the contacts and called Kelsey's number even though he knew it would be pointless. Her voicemail picked up immediately, the sound of her voice causing his chest to tighten once more.

Ending the call, he sat for a moment, staring at the phone in his hand and trying to calm him breathing. Various scenarios of what could have happened to Kelsey played in his mind, and none of them brought him any comfort. He stood, grabbing his jacket and made his way towards the front door. He opened it just as Sam was ending his call with Sharon, and from Sam's expression he knew the news was not good.

"Sharon only just found out herself. She said they found what they believe was her phone not far from the center of the blast," Sam told him. "They haven't found any evidence anyone was inside the house but they can't be sure yet."

"I'm flying up there to see what I can find out myself," he said.

"You need to give Sharon a chance to see what she can dig up," Sam told him as Bucky descended the steps. "Look, Buck, I know you're upset…"

"Sam, don't start. I'm getting on a plane and I'm flying up there. If she's alive I'm going to find her."

"Given Sharon till Wednesday," Sam said. "If there's no leads by Wednesday you fly up to DC with me and we'll both look for her. If she is alive you don't know what you're walking into and it could get you both killed."

He looked at Sam, weighing his options and rationally he knew his friend was right. They needed more information before he rushed in blindly and ended up making things worse. Yet the thought of Kelsey possibly being held and tortured during the next three days while they waited made him feel sick.

"Fine," he said, walking back to the stairs, his knees practically collapsing from under him as he sat.

Sam sat next to him, and they both stared out over the yard, neither of them saying a word for a while. Getting the call that Steve had passed while sad, had not been a surprise. The thought of Kelsey being truly gone shocked him to his core.

"I really hate sitting here doing nothing," he told Sam after a while.

"We're not doing nothing," Sam responded. "The second we get a lead we'll go get her."

"I'm going to head home," he said, standing up from the stairs. "There's a wall I've been meaning to take down and now seems like a good time."

"Do you want any help?" Sam asked.

Bucky gave a nod, and they both walked to the truck. All he could do was hope the wall in question would be a good outlet for the anger caused by his feelings of absolutely helplessness while they waited in hope that Sharon would produce a solid lead.

It took several bus transfers, a train, and a cab for Kelsey to finally make it to the address she had looked up a couple weeks ago when she got curious about the house Bucky had been working on. When the cab pulled up she saw a truck parked out front next to a familiar looking porch and she felt her body relax a little knowing she had finally made it to her destination. She paid the driver before taking her bookbag and climbing out of the back seat.

There was no sign of anyone outside, but as she approached the porch she could hear the sound of hammering from within even though it was nearly eight o'clock in the evening. Raising her hand she knocked and waited. The hammering stopped and she heard heavy footsteps approaching the door. She knew she looked like an absolute wreck, but she still straightened the hoodie and brushed the hair out of her face.

When the door opened, she felt relief well up inside her as she met Bucky's familiar steel blue orbs. His eyes widened and he almost looked as if he had seen a ghost, and she could hear him take a sharp inhale in surprise. She opened her mouth to explain her presence on his doorstep, but her words died on her lips as he pulled her into a tight embrace, her backpack slipping from her hands and landing on the porch as she returned the hug.

For the first time nearly forty eight hours she felt safe. She didn't try to pull away as they clung to each other in the open doorway. The way he held on to her told her that he already knew about the explosion and had probably assumed the worst.

"We thought you were dead," she heard him say.

"I'm sorry," she said softly, holding back tears. "I ditched my phone figuring they would be able to track it...I didn't have your number with me...I was hoping to get here before you found out."

"It's okay," he told her. "I'm just glad you're here."

"Me too," she said softly.

Kelsey soaked up the comfort of the embrace for a few moments more before she felt him pull away. She saw his eyes land on her cheek which had started turning a lovely shade of purple. She could see the anger in his eyes as he truly took in her appearance. At the last rest stop she had been at she had tried to clean up a bit, but there was no hiding the bruises on her face and neck or the dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep.

"Come on," he said, moving so she could step through the door.

She grabbed the backpack from where it had dropped onto the ground and made her way inside. The sitting area off the front entrance had a sofa and a tv over the fireplace. The decorations were sparse, but the space was welcoming.

"What happened exactly?" he asked, motioning for her to sit on the sofa. "The explosion was all over the news yesterday…"

"I wish you didn't have to find out about it that way," she said, tucking her hair behind her ear as she sat, putting her bag off to the side. He sat next to her and she said, "I got a text a couple hours after I talked to you telling me someone was coming for me and that I had sixty seconds to get out of the house. All I could think about was getting out and I dropped the phone in case they were tracking me...I got out of there as fast as I could...I barely made it to the far corner of the back yard when the whole house went up in flames."

That was a sight she would likely never forget as long as she lived. There was part of her that swore she could still feel the heat of the flames against her skin even now. She had tried to remind herself that it was just a house and the keepsakes inside were just things, but none of it could ever truly be replaced.

"What about the bruises?" Bucky asked, his face neutral but the way his jaw clenched gave Kelsey a good idea of how he was feeling about what had happened.

"Someone was waiting for me outside," she told him. "He tried to grab me and got pissed off that I actually fought back and broke his nose." A smirk formed on Bucky's lips for a split second and she added, "He was unconscious when I left and I knew I had to get out of there and find help…I got on the first bus I could and started working my way here."

"Obviously whoever is behind it underestimated you," he said, causing a small, appreciative smile to form on her lips. "Sam made some phone calls yesterday to try to figure out what happened exactly. He put in a call to Sharon and she was going to try to track down leads."

"I heard she was back at the CIA," Kelsey told him. "I haven't talked to her in years…but if she doesn't mind keeping it quiet that I'm here then she's a good resource."

"Agreed," he said. "Until we know who or what we're dealing with the fewer people who know you're here the better."

There was no denying that they needed to keep the fact that she was alive and in Louisiana quiet. Whoever set the bomb and tried to kidnap her was likely not going to stop just because she managed to take down one bulked up goon. The last thing she wanted was for anyone to get caught in the crossfire, but she knew she couldn't figure how to stop whoever was after her alone. She needed help and there was no one she could think of who would be better equipped to give her that then Bucky and Sam.

Kelsey frowned slightly, looking away as she responded, "I really hate that I had to dump all this trouble on you. I just...I knew I could come here and I'd be safe while I figure this out."

"Kels, you did the right thing coming here."

"Thanks, Bucky...I think I'd be pretty lost right now without you. This is just such a mess." Glancing down at the clothing she had been wearing for two days she couldn't stop herself from laughing as she added, "More importantly...I'm a mess. Do you mind if I get cleaned up?"

"Do you have a change of clothes in there?" he asked as he stood, looking at the bag she had discarded on the floor.

"Ummm, a pair of jeans and an old tshirt," she said, pulling her tired body off the sofa and grabbing her bag. "I'll have to do something about that tomorrow."

"I'll find you something you can wear for tonight," he told her, leading her down the hall and turning on a light in the bathroom. "Towels are in the closet. The water takes a few minutes to heat up...I'll leave you something to put on outside the door."

"Thank you," Kelsey responded, stepping into the bathroom and turning to close the door.

"Are you hungry?" he asked before she could close it.

"Starving and I'm not picky," she told him with a small smile. "I'll see you in a bit."

Closing the door, she turned on the shower and let the water start to warm up before retrieving a couple towels from the small linen closet. Unzipping the hoodie she began peeling away the layers of clothing that had been wearing for two days. Standing in front of the mirror, she took in the full extent of her appearance. The bruises on her cheek and neck told a vivid story of what had happened outside the house.

She emerged a short time later, wearing the sweatpants, tshirt, and hoodie Bucky had left for her outside the bathroom door. Her wet hair was pulled into a messy bun on the top of her head with a hair tie she had found stashed in her bag. She felt like she was practically swimming in the items provided, but there was something comforting about being wrapped up in his clothing.

Bucky was just coming back through the front door when she made her way into the living room. His eyes trailed over her standing there in his clothing, but she couldn't quite read the expression on his face. When he met her eyes once more she could have sworn she saw the slightest evidence of a blush before he turned his gaze away and made his way back towards the kitchen area.

"Sam will be over first thing in the morning," he told her as he walked past her. "Sharon had sent him a few possible leads and he wants your expertise to see what you can track down online."

She nodded, watching his back as he walked into the kitchen. She knew she could get what they needed without leaving too much of a digital footprint behind, slightly relieved to be able to be of some use in tracking down whoever was responsible for the attack. The hardest part of the last two days had been feeling helpless while running away from the fight instead of facing it head on.

"I ordered a pizza," he called out, drawing her from her thoughts as she stood in the middle of the living room. "Do you want a beer?"

"Yes please," Kelsey, responded, pushing the sleeves of the hoodie up a bit so it didn't cover her fingers.

She heard him opening the refrigerator, and she turned back to sit on the sofa again. Her eyes though caught sight of a familiar picture frame on the end table next to the sofa and she couldn't stop herself from reaching out to pick it up. The old photo in the frame showed Bucky and her grandfather during the war, both of them were in uniform, sitting at a bar with drinks in front of them. Neither of them had been looking at the camera, instead they were laughing at something, both of them grinning mischievously.

She had stumbled upon the photo when she finally went through the box of old photo albums about a week after the funeral. It had been near the bottom, the frame and glass were covered in a layer of dust. Without giving it a second thought she had cleaned it and packaged it up so it would be safe before mailing it to Bucky.

She smiled sadly as her fingers brushed over the cool glass that protected the photograph. She hadn't noticed Bucky come back into the living room and she jumped slightly when she heard his footsteps behind her.

"Kels, you okay?" he asked, setting the beers down on the end table, and glancing over at the photo.

"Yeah," she said softly, setting the photo down, "it's just been a long couple of days."

"Are you sure?" she heard him ask, and she slowly looked up to meet his eyes.

His face had softened as he looked at her with concern and she felt something inside her start to crumble. For forty eight hours she had been pushing aside every emotion to focus on getting to safety. Now that she was there and with the person she probably trusted most in the world, the waves of sadness, anger, and fear threatened to overwhelm her as previously unshed tears filled her eyes.

She wasn't sure which one of them moved first, but she found herself suddenly wrapped up in his arms once more, her face buried against his chest as the tears turned into sobs that wracked her entire body. He held her tight, and she was pretty sure her knees would have given out if he hadn't been holding her up. They stayed that way for several minutes, with the only sound filling the house being her tears. She noticed he didn't say a word, but simply provided a physical anchor to keep her from drowning in the emotions that were coursing through her body.

When the sobs started to ease into sniffles, he guided her to the sofa, wrapping his right arm around her so she could rest against him. She laid her head against his shoulder, trying to calm her breathing. His cheek came to rest against the top of her head, the fingertips of his right hand trailing up and down her arm in a comforting motion.

"Thank you for not just trying to tell me it'll be okay," she said softly when her breathing returned to normal. "I know people mean well when they say that...but right now…"

"I know," he responded when her voice trailed off. "I've got you, Kels. You don't have to be okay right now."

A shaky breath escaped her lips as she continued to lean against him, her fingers playing with the buttons on the front of his shirt. She knew she believed him. Right now, it didn't matter that she couldn't be the person he was used to talking to for hours, instead he just sat patiently providing her with a safe place to fall apart and just ride the emotions that had built up over the course of two days.

They stayed that way until the pizza arrived. When he got up to answer the door he handed her the remote for the television before crossing to the door. As soon as he pulled away, she missed the comfort of having his arm wrapped around her. She flipped through the stations until she had found a comedy she had seen a hundred times before that she could mindlessly watch as they ate.

After they had finished eating, she sat for a while just watching the movie, and occasionally one of them would make a comment. She couldn't help noticing he had sat close to her once more, their shoulders touching as they sat. Biting her lip, Kelsey took a chance and she moved his arm around her shoulders so she could lean against him once more. If he minded, he didn't say a word. Instead he let her settle against his right side, his arm holding her tight as she laid her head against his chest. At a certain point in the movie her eyes began to feel heavy. She closed them, telling herself she just needed a minute to rest them, but instead she slowly drifted off to sleep, lulled by gentle rise and fall of his chest under her cheek.