Warning: Deep emotional trauma
The mission lasted two more days but Julia never said anything to Bucky on their video calls, preferring to tell him in person. He could tell something wasn't right and asked her about it several times during each session.
"Bucky, I can't tell you over the phone," she finally said. "This needs a face to face conversation. It's nothing you've done because we're good. It's something to do with a cold case. Please wait until you get home before I tell you."
He studied her face over the screen image and finally let his breath out. "Okay, I'll trust you on this," he said. "Whatever it is, I'll be there for you. Just so you know Avengers security has made some headway on their investigation. They took Terry Edwards into custody. Once he became aware he was facing federal charges he started talking until he lawyered up, a high priced lawyer at that. Edwards would only say that a woman approached him. There's two woman of interest. The first is La Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine. I've never had any dealings with her but Yelena Belova used to work for her until she found out she was being manipulated with lies. She runs a kind of private black ops group, but has managed to keep her hands clean so no charges have ever been filed against her. You remember I told you about John Walker, who they named Captain America after Sam returned the shield? He works for her."
"She's behind it?" she asked. "But why?"
"Not sure but she does have some shady clients," he said. "Avengers security won't speculate on who her client is but they've put her and John Walker under surveillance. The second suspect is a woman who used to be a friend of Steve. She helped us with the Flag Smashers but since then it's become obvious she's dirty. There's evidence she was actually behind the attempt to recreate the serum to sell on the black market but it was stolen from her by the Flag Smashers. It's possible she's behind the kidnapping attempt. Either way, we don't want to take any chances. It's likely we may have to put an Avenger with you when I'm on mission."
Julia sat back, obviously bothered. "A couple of days ago I flashed you and we laughed," she said. "Now there are possibly two people that want to take me or Rebecca or both. Then this cold case that ... I don't even want to say anymore until I see you in person."
Someone said something to Bucky off screen and he smiled at them then turned back to Julia. "Just got the word," he said. "I'll be home tomorrow. You stay as relaxed as you can until I get home. We'll have a serious talk about all of it. I love you, babe. I'm sorry you're dealing with this on your own but when I get there I'll share the load."
Julia nodded. "I love you, too," she said. "I'll see you tomorrow, Bucky."
He arrived back the following mid afternoon while Julia was in the middle of baking to deal with her stress. As he walked into the kitchen he could see her hands were covered in flour and he put his arms around her from behind, kissing her neck. Then he went to Rebecca picking her up from her bouncy chair and gently cuddling her as he kissed her cheek. She squealed a little at his kisses which made them both smile. He never said anything about any of the issues which Julia was grateful for and once she got the baking in she began prepping for dinner. After putting Rebecca back in her bouncy chair he grabbed a knife and began chopping vegetables with her. She told him that Jason Welburn had a full crew at her parent's house since the incident and was always checking up on her and Rebecca.
"Good," he said firmly. "Jason's a good man. Did you manage to get some good sleep?"
"I did the grounding exercises before bed," she replied. "It helped."
Their conversation dried up and both continued to get supper ready. It was a chicken pot pie so once the preparation was done Julia waited for the baking to finish, then popped the pot pie into the oven, set the timer and picked up Rebecca.
"Come, sit on the couch with us," she said. "I need to feel some normal."
He sat and put both of them on his lap, looking intently at Julia as he stroked her hair and back. She leaned her head into his shoulder and he enclosed her in his arms, kissing her hair.
"Whatever it is, it will be alright," he whispered. "I'm home and I've got you. You know you're safe with me."
She nodded wordlessly but said nothing, just letting him comfort her. When the timer ended he took Rebecca from Julia so she could remove the pot pie and let it cool before they began eating. Julia pulled salad fixings out and got them all together in one bowl.
"It's ready," she said and set the table while Bucky put Rebecca in her high chair.
Julia had baked some baby biscuits earlier in the day and put one in front of Rebecca which she happily picked up and began gnawing on as she was teething. The pot pie was cut into and Julia served them each a piece. Then she helped herself to salad. Just as she was about to take a bite of the pot pie she stopped and put her fork down. Tears began streaming down her face as she covered it with her hands. Her shoulders shook as she felt overwhelmed by what she had to tell Bucky. Immediately he jumped out of his chair and lifted her up to a standing position, wrapping her in his arms.
"Shhh, shhh," he whispered. "You don't have to be afraid, not of me. Not of anyone. I don't know what's got you so upset but it's obviously something you're terrified to tell me. Let's try to eat normally, give Rebecca her bath, like we always do, then you feed her and we put her to bed. Then, and only then, will you and I talk."
She nodded and Bucky handed her his handkerchief to blow her nose and wipe her eyes. They sat down at the table and ate their dinner then she took Rebecca upstairs to start bathing her while Bucky cleared the dishes and put the extra food away. He came up to the bathroom and they both sat on the floor watching while Rebecca played in the water. After about 20 minutes she started to fuss and Bucky picked her up while Julia wrapped her in a towel, carrying her into the bedroom. The diaper went on, followed by her sleeper and Julia sat in the rocking chair, exposing her breast to Rebecca who latched on hungrily. Bucky leaned against the doorframe watching with his soft face, loving this part of the mother / child relationship. When her suckling slowed on the first side, Julia burped her and offered her the other breast. While at this breast Rebecca became sleepy and played with Julia's skin, touching it and kneading it. Her eyes grew sleepy, then closed and she unlatched, her bottom lip still with a drop of breast milk on it. Bucky picked her up and held her to his shoulder, gently rubbing her back to bring up another burp. When it came, he laid her in her sleep bag, fastened it at the shoulders and leaned over, kissing his baby girl on the forehead. She murmured in her sleep and they both smiled. Julia kissed her forehead and turned on the white noise machine, made sure the baby monitor was on and turned down the lights. Out in the hallway she looked at Bucky.
"I can't tell you in bed," she said. "It has to be downstairs."
He nodded and took her by the hand, leading her down the stairs to the living room. Turning off all the lights except one he sat on the couch and she sat on his lap, burying her face in his shoulder again for a minute.
"I've never told you the details of how Mason hurt me," she began. "There's a reason for that. Part of it was my own shame that I put up with it for so long because I thought I loved him but I didn't really get how a "normal" marriage works. Part of it was fear of what you would do to him if you knew the truth." She took a deep breath. "I couldn't sleep after the kidnapping attempt so I pulled a random cold case file off the pile and opened it. It was an old one and one of Rick's first cases, about two years before he and Mason became partners."
Bucky watched her intently as she told him of seeing the images then remembering things that Mason had done to her that were the same. When she told him about the bites his face grew darker but he said nothing so Julia continued but she knew what he was feeling inside and began to cry as she talked. She finished with informing him that Rick took the file, was getting a court order for access to Mason's dental records and then arresting him for murder.
"Just a moment," said Bucky, caressing her face, and he stepped out onto the deck, closing the sliding door behind him. She heard a blood curdling yell then she watched him try to perform the grounding exercise as he paced back and forth on the deck. It took him several tries before he felt he could come back in. He sat back down and took her hands in his, composing himself before speaking.
"You were right not to tell me," he finally said looking at her intensely. "I would have gone AWOL, tracked him down and killed him, like the vermin he is. There would have been no guilt, no shame, nothing except I was removing a stain from the face of the Earth. But that would have destroyed us and you are so much more important than satisfying my blood lust against him." He stopped for a moment and took a long deep breath. "I want you to consider getting counselling. What he did to you was cruel, and humiliating, and I think you've buried a lot of it deep inside of you. If you keep it inside it will fester. I have some experience with this so I beg of you to agree."
"I think you're right," she said quietly. "As long as you talk to your therapist about how you felt tonight. I can see this has affected you deeply and ..."
She broke down again and Bucky clasped her close to his chest crying with her. "No one," he vowed, "absolutely no one will ever hurt you again. Not Mason, not the kidnappers, not the Contessa or John Walker or Sharon Carter. I pledge my life to you, to keep you and our children safe, always, even if I have to quit the Avengers to do it. No one hurts my family."
He laid back on the couch pulling her next to him and they cuddled together alternatively crying and trying to comfort the other. Neither knew how long it was before they fell asleep until Bucky woke with a start and saw by his watch that it was after 2 am. He got off the couch, turned off the light and picked up Julia, still sleeping. She gave a little protest whimper but he just whispered to her and she snuggled into his chest. Taking her up to their bedroom he laid her on the bed, undressed her, slipped a nightgown on her and tucked her in. At first he wasn't going to get in with her but she whispered his name so he stripped down to his briefs and got under the covers with her. She grasped him desperately in her sleep and he stayed with her until they both fell asleep.
The next morning he could hear Rebecca crying on the monitor but Julia wasn't in the bed so he got up and threw on some sweat pants before going to the nursery. Taking her out of her sleep bag he checked her diaper and changed it out before carrying her downstairs which was also empty of anyone.
"Julia?" he called out but there was no response.
Thinking of before their marriage he opened the blinds hoping to see her sitting wrapped up on the deck but she wasn't there. Noticing the deck door was already unlocked he stepped out and looked over at her parent's house, realizing their screen door was open. Still carrying Rebecca he went down their deck steps and up the other house's steps.
"Julia?" he called through the open screen door and this time he heard crying.
Entering the house he followed the sound of the crying and found her huddled in a closet, still dressed only in her nightgown. As he kneeled down to her she noticed him and looked at him helplessly as the tears continued to roll down her face.
"He was a killer, Bucky," she gasped between sobs. "I married a violent killer who treated me as his practice victim. Why couldn't I see that? What's wrong with me that I couldn't see what he really was?"
"Baby, come with me," he said softly. "Come back to the house. I'll feed Rebecca while you have a bath and then we'll talk. But you can't stay here."
He offered her his hand, becoming alarmed when he felt how cold her hand was. Taking it she stood up and he supported her with his arm around her waist walking her to the screen door. Leaving it unlocked for the moment he walked her back to their place. Putting Rebecca in her bouncy chair temporarily he lifted Julia up and carried her upstairs to their bathroom where he started the water running in the bathtub. After dissolving some lavender bath salts in the water he helped Julia into the tub.
"I'm only going to be gone for a few minutes while I get a bottle warmed up for Rebecca," he told her. "Then I'm coming back up with her and sit with you while I feed her. You're going to be okay until I get back?"
She nodded dully and he stopped in the bedroom to grab his phone first then raced down the stairs to retrieve a bottle of frozen breast milk. After thawing it in cold water he put it into a pot filled with warm water. While he waited for it to warm up he texted Janey and Lydia.
Need you both. Julia having breakdown. It's Mason related but I can't say more until you get here. Help, this is the worst I've ever seen her. I can't leave her alone.
Within minutes he received an answer from both that they would drive in immediately. The bottle was still too cold so Bucky mashed up some banana for Rebecca, feeding her tiny spoonfuls as she sat on his lap. He continually tilted his head trying to hear any changes in the sounds coming from the bathroom but all he could hear was the occasional sound of Julia lifting water up in the sponge and letting it drop. After Rebecca finished the banana he checked the bottle again and was satisfied it was warm enough. Gently shaking it while walking up the stairs to make it all one consistency Bucky was relieved to see Julia was actively bathing in the tub when he arrived. He pulled the stool over from the vanity mirror and held Rebecca while offering her the bottle. She took it, although she seemed confused seeing her mother right there.
"I texted Janey and your Mom," he admitted. "You don't mind, do you? I think you'll need a lot of emotional support for a while."
"It's probably a good idea," said Julia. "I woke up and all I could see in my head was the picture of the dead woman's breast. How many more women did he kill or terrorize before he found me to keep as his punching bag?"
She closed her eyes and laid her head back, her face a mask of sorrow. The tears began forming at the corner of her eyes and she let them stream down her face. Bucky, desperate to keep her engaged in talking, tried a different tack.
"Julia, you said once he didn't start to hurt you until after you were offered a consultant's position, right?" asked Bucky. "How many cases over the years did you find that had similar MOs?"
Still sniffing she looked at Bucky strangely. "None, why?" she asked.
"Until you got this really old cold case you never once came across a similar murder that matched what he did to you," he stated. "How are the cold cases filed? You're a records person."
"Every police department is different," she said, sitting upright. "San Francisco PD uses the year of the case, followed by a combination of the victim's name, estimated date of death, and lead detective."
"So this was a ten year old case, meaning it was 2017," said Bucky. "When they first asked you to look at cold cases what year did you start looking at and where are you at now?"
"2003 was the year of the first cold case they gave me," she replied. "I'm on 2019 right now."
"So how did a 2017 case get filed with the 2019 cases?"
"It got misfiled at some point," she said slowly, "either accidentally or deliberately. They built a new storage area for the cold cases in 2020. It could have been misfiled then when they transferred the files over."
"You met Mason when?"
"2019," she answered. "We married a few months later and six months after that in 2020 I was offered the consultant's position. By the end of that year he was abusing me. You think Mason took cold case files out of storage but he missed this one because it was misfiled?"
Bucky shrugged slightly but watched as Julia worked the problem in her mind. Her eyes were still red and puffy but her demeanour had changed and he began to breathe easier, hoping it was more than a reprieve of the emotions which had overwhelmed her.
"He was taunting me," she finally said. "You said that once before that he taunted me with leaving all the clues of his cheating. What if he took the files so I couldn't review them?"
"That would make him a serial killer," said Bucky, hoping that observation didn't push her back into her despair. "Even in the short time I spoke to him when he came to your parent's house I got the feeling he thought he was the smartest person there. Is it likely he kept the files somewhere else so he could go through them from time to time and relive his greatest moments?"
Julia stood up suddenly and grabbed a towel. She dried herself and wrapped it around her.
"I have to call Rick," she said. "He needs to find out if Mason has a storage locker somewhere and search it. You're right. That kind of murder wouldn't be a one-off. Someone who would do that got off on it. He did it before we were married and probably did it after. He may have used me to tide him over until he could kill again."
After leaving the bathroom and grabbing her phone Julia returned as she waited for Rick to pick up. When he answered Julia told him what she and Bucky had come up with. On the speaker Rick gave out a long whistle.
"Jesus, he was taunting all of us, wasn't he?" he replied. "I think I know the location of the locker. He stopped there once to pick something up. We're still waiting on the dental records but I have the search warrant for the condo. I'll get one for the storage locker as well. Julia, how are you handling all of this?"
She looked at Bucky as she spoke. "Not well," she admitted. "I might have to get some counselling on this one. Might also have to take a break on reviewing cold cases."
"You do what you have to," replied Rick. "I've got your back. You take care of yourself, Bucky, and that beautiful baby. They're what's important now."
They said goodbye to each other and she offered her arms to Rebecca. Lifting the baby into her arms she looked at Bucky with emotion. Her lips trembled and she swallowed as he stood up putting his arm around her. He led her into the bedroom and pulled up the bed covers so she could get in with Rebecca. Then he got in on the other side and they lay with their daughter in between them watching as she fell back asleep. Julia laid on her side with her head on her arm and looked at Bucky.
"What now?" she asked in an almost whisper. "I wasn't truthful with you about Mason."
"You don't have to tell me anything," replied Bucky quietly. "He brutalized you, Julia. I meant what I said about you going for counselling because I think you do have to tell someone everything."
"Okay, I'll do that," she said. "Are we going to be okay?"
"We'll be fine," replied Bucky then he swallowed and took her hand. "When your mom and sister get here later I have to leave for a couple of days to take care of some personal business. I'm not going after Mason, I promise. I have a feeling Rick is going to handle that file with a passion." Julia looked alarmed at him but he stroked her hair gently. "I assure you, no one will be hurt. It's just something I have to do for myself to keep you and Rebecca safe."
The following day over the Atlantic Ocean.
As Bucky held the quinjet over the coordinates that were given to him the massive structure of The Raft rose from under the rough seas and he waited for the landing pad hatch to be opened. The permission to land was relayed to him and he lowered the aircraft into the gaping hole. There was an armed guard waiting for him when he lowered the ramp and he waited while they searched him for hidden weapons. Then a US Marshal stepped up and faced Bucky.
"There was a time we thought you would be an inmate here," he said stonily. "What is the purpose of your request?"
"I want to ask him about an attempt to kidnap my wife and daughter," replied Bucky. "Even here he knows things."
"You aren't going to break him out like you did in Germany?" asked the Marshal.
"No, he needs to stay incarcerated," said Bucky. "Now please, let me talk to Helmut Zemo."
The Marshal turned and Bucky followed him, noticing the armed guard stayed close behind him. They stopped outside a heavily armed door and the Marshal pressed his comms giving the command to open the door. Bucky nodded and stepped into the open area before the barred cell. Zemo was on his back reading a book.
"I wondered when you would come to see me," he said in that accented voice of his. Then he sat up and looked at Bucky with some sympathy. "Your wife and daughter are alright, James?"
"They are safe," replied Bucky. "My wife is having some emotional issues about the attempt and another matter."
"Her ex-husband," said Zemo, shaking his head. "My apologies. Such cruelty to such a gentle woman. I commend you on your restraint in that matter."
"Is there anything you don't know, Zemo?" asked Bucky, irritated. "They haven't even got all the search warrants arranged yet and you seem to already know what he did."
"I do care about you James, and your family," stated the man. "It distresses me that your wife is so affected by it. I do hope that she is able to overcome this shock to her sensibilities. I have the highest regard for her own abilities to discern clues from criminal cases long thought unsolvable. You are here to find out about who would try to take her from you."
"Do you know?" demanded Bucky. "Have your sources already deduced who would send two masked men to break into my home and try to take her?"
"They want the child more than the mother," said Zemo. "They believe she may inherit your abilities. However, I believe she hasn't inherited any of use. She hasn't shown anything too out of the ordinary as she grows through her infancy. By all accounts she is growing up as a normal human child."
"How would you know that?" asked Bucky, becoming more exasperated.
"Talk to the Wakandans," said Zemo, ignoring the question. "They have a theory that seems to explain it and it is just a theory but one based on science." Bucky scowled and a slight smile appeared on Zemo's face. "It has to do with the X and Y chromosomes that determine the sex of the baby. In some of my HYDRA research it's implied their scientists linked many of your abilities to the Y chromosome. Your daughter has the XX genotype; no Y, so she doesn't carry any abilities linked to the Y chromosome. There are some abilities linked to both chromosomes so she would inherit them from you but unfortunately none of them are of the type that would interest someone looking for their own super soldier."
"Like what?" asked Bucky, interested in this theory.
"Likely good health, possibly regenerative abilities and your advanced hearing skills," replied Zemo. "The Wakandans would be able to determine that better than my idle speculation. As to who sent the masked men I don't know for certain. There are two likely candidates which you probably already suspect."
"The Contessa and Sharon Carter," stated Bucky, as Zemo slightly tilted his head in agreement. "Thank you, Helmut, for being truthful with me."
Bucky turned around to give the signal he was done. "James, there is one more thing," said Zemo. "You dealt with some HYDRA remnants last year. Your interception of their floating serum factory was well executed and you did well to destroy their stockpile. That three star general was likely not the only HYDRA sympathizer in the US military. Tread carefully."
Zemo turned back to his book and laid on the bed facing towards his wall. Bucky signalled the guard and the door was opened for him to exit. As he lifted off of the landing pad and up through the opening that appeared above him he considered Zemo's parting words. Then he opened communications with Avenger security on a secure frequency.
"Did you hear all that?" he asked.
"Yes, Sarge," replied the commander. "We've received confirmation from both women accepting the invitation to the meet at the coordinates you specified. What would you like us to do about the HYDRA angle?"
"Rhodes here," said another voice. "Let me do some digging into it. We still have that general at Guantanamo Bay and he's not as committed to HYDRA as he thought he was. We should be able to get some names. You go on to the meet and make your case, Buck. I'll support you all the way on this."
"Thanks, Rhodey," said Bucky. "It means a lot that you would let me freelance this."
"They're worth it," replied the head of the Avengers. "Just return the quinjet in one piece."
Bucky smiled and confirmed that was his intention. As he headed to his next set of coordinates he set the autopilot and sat back, stretching his arms out then putting them behind his head. He closed his eyes and napped as the quinjet began its eight hour journey to the next encounter.
Nine hours later, somewhere in Mexico.
The Contessa stepped out of her limousine and looked at the old warehouse with some distaste. Hopefully, it wasn't as filthy inside as it appeared on the outside. Motioning her security to stand watch outside she entered the building and stepped into the dim interior. A blond woman was already there.
"The Power Broker I believe?" asked the Contessa. "I'm a big fan. We should have done business together long ago, Miss Carter."
"I'm a fan of yours as well," said Carter. "Why did you summon me here, of all places?"
"I thought it was to set up an enterprise together," said the Contessa, puzzled. "I mean, you did contact me."
"No, you contacted me," said Carter, pulling her handgun out from her holster as she realized they had been set up. "Whoever arranged this better show themselves now."
A shadowy figure jumped from the ceiling and landed between them knocking Carter's gun away before she could react.
"Bucky," she said, confused. "Why are you here?"
"To give you both a warning," he said, looking from one to the other. The Contessa took a couple of steps back. "I wouldn't try to run. I can move faster than you can think. Ask Sharon, she'll confirm that."
"I wouldn't dream of trying to outrun you, Sergeant Barnes," replied the dark haired woman smiling nervously. "I am at a loss why you think I need a warning."
"One of you sent masked men to my home in an attempt to take my wife, or my child, or both," he stated looking intently at both of them for clues. When he saw the reaction he was looking for he kept speaking to both of them, not giving any indication that he knew which of them was the guilty party. "I'm here to warn you both off my family, now and forever. If anyone tries anything at anytime I will come after both of you and for the first time since I stopped being the Winter Soldier I will kill a human being, two in fact. My family means everything to me and I will protect them with my full capabilities."
"Bucky, I would never ...," stammered Carter.
"I don't want to hear it," snapped Bucky. "I don't care which of you did it. I will come after both of you and you won't hear me coming. This is the only warning I will give you."
He jumped back up into the darkness of the ceiling and then he was gone. Sharon looked at the Contessa in fury. "I know I didn't try to go after his family," she said, picking her gun up and aiming it at the woman. "Are you nuts? Do you have a death wish?"
The Contessa started to say it wasn't her but realized that Carter wouldn't believe her. "It was a contract with a generous reward," she said nonchalantly. "Well worth the risk, at the time. Of course, I will rethink that now. I do have a super soldier in my employ if he does come after me."
"Yeah, one that Bucky can't stand and will have no problem crushing before he finishes you off," said Carter, still aiming her gun at the woman. "You've put me into danger and I won't forget that. We have no business to discuss. If you try something this dangerous again I'll come after you myself just to prove to Bucky that I would never be involved in anything so stupid."
She whirled around and left through an exit on the other side. The Contessa stood there and took a deep breath before turning back to her exit. Suddenly Bucky was in front of her again, only this time his metal hand was around her throat.
"Who hired you?" he demanded, his blue eyes cold in his fury. "A name, just a name and I will let you live out this day."
He began to squeeze and she started to panic as she felt her airway closing. "HYDRA," she gasped finally. Bucky released her and glared at her dangerously. "They want your daughter; they think she will inherit your abilities."
"Do they know where I live?" he asked, his eyes blazing into hers. "Who in HYDRA?"
"No, they don't know where you live," she said, rubbing her throat. "Only I do and I only told the two men who were arrested. I got it from that contractor. I don't know who the person is from HYDRA. I got a phone call, voice altered, then a text from a hidden source."
"I still mean what I said," he warned her. "If anyone comes after my family, at my home, or anywhere I will come for you and take you out. You will not ever disclose where I live because I will know who told them. John Walker will not stop me from getting to you. Believe that."
She nodded nervously. "I won't accept any requests for anything involving you or your family," she said. "You have my word ..."
Her voice trailed off as she watched him leap up to the ceiling again and disappear through a hole to the roof. She heard the tell tale sound of a quinjet leaving and realized he had been there all along listening to her admit she sent the kidnappers. Then she felt her neck again and understood she got off easy this time. If HYDRA wanted his daughter that bad they would have to get her themselves. She was out of it, knowing that John Walker wouldn't stand a chance against an enraged super soldier like Bucky Barnes.
