"I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet." - Ghandi
The meeting with MACUSA had gone as well as Heather had anticipated. Some higher up decided that it was in the best interest of MACUSA that Heather be recruited. What they had not anticipated was the backing of the Queen and British government. The resulting black mark on the overly ambitious bureaucrat's record and the firm dressing down from the President were both embarrassing for MACUSA but also anyone involved.
With an emphatic apology from the President and stern warning from the Queen, Heather and her team returned to Avengers Tower. She did not want to rock the boat being so new to the US, but she refused to be used. She refused to be backed into a corner and essentially forced to take on roles and responsibilities that she did not want. In short, Heather did not want to work in the government. Having a military career, working with the Avengers, that was one thing. Working in the political cutthroat nonsense was nothing she wanted any part of.
The days and weeks blurred after that with training and acclimating to the team. Her own people worked shoulder to shoulder with Tony and Bruce on the coms until they had a breakthrough that would eventually revolutionize the world. They were also working on using potions and their ingredients to improve pharmaceuticals.
Then the day came that they were both anticipating and dreading. Another Hydra base had been found, only this time it was not on foreign shores. This time it was right in their backyard. Bucky and Steve were especially tense given the news. Heather could do little but watch them and support them in the days leading up to their move.
That came just two short days after the intel came in. The team was working jointly with local law enforcement and the military. Each team member would be paired off throughout the mission. They did not want a repeat of their last one.
"Out of the frying pan, and into the fire. Chaos begets chaos. Instability begets instability" - J.D. Vance
As they touched down, they spread out in the predetermined directions. From there they approached the target, however not everything went according to plan. In fact this time it went FUBAR almost immediately. Somehow the raid had been leaked and there was a mole. The enemy was waiting for them.
Heather had her back braced against the brick wall of the crumbling building behind her. She and Sam had partnered up, but he had taken to the air to give air support to the team. At the moment she did not have a visual on him and her location was compromised. She was pinned to the wall and the enemy was closing in.
Around her there was gunfire erupting as the rest of the Avengers were trying to get to her. She heard the jet packs of Tony, Sam, and Rhodey flying nearby. With a wandless and wordless gentle flexing of her hands, she disillusioned herself to make her location difficult for the enemy to find.
The Avengers had been tasked with taking out the latest Hyrda base that had been found in the Mid-West. A former military and SHIELD base, Hyrda had settled right in and put in some deep roots. There were a number of bunkers that were being raided at the moment as local law enforcement and the military were working with the Avengers.
Creeping lowly, Heather ducked and ran through the open square of the rows of barracks. She felt her pulse pumping rapidly and tried to slow her breathing. In her coms she could hear the team yelling about more of the enemy cropping up. However, her mind was focused on the main task.
She and Sam were supposed to make it to the munitions building. They had intel that there would be a number of weapons and experiments that needed to be shut down. Sam was flying overhead and taking out each enemy combatant that came out. Meanwhile she was making her way towards the intended target with a single-minded focus.
The Avengers were slowly making their way through the base with the help of the military and law enforcement personnel. However, none of them had sights on Heather and it was a bit disconcerting. Bucky was feeling a sense of urgency and dread knowing that she was out there somewhere. Normally he would have teamed up with Sam, but he and Steve were together on this one.
"We need to find Rosie!" he shouted over the coms.
"We will!" Steve replied. "But we need to get to the main target first. We will find your Rose, but right now we need to focus on the mission, Buck."
Swearing hotly, Bucky nodded knowing that Steve was right. He needed to get his head in the game. Up ahead rapid gunfire rang out and the group made their way towards the sound. There were sounds of a struggle and Sam flew towards it. Rhodey and Tony provided air support for the rest of the Avengers.
"Cap!" Heather's voice called through the coms. "I've reached the target, but there may be a problem. I'm not an explosives expert, but I know enough to recognize that this place is rigged to blow! Evacuate immediately! Repeat, evacuate immediately!"
Steve called the order, pulling Bucky with him. "Rosie!" he shouted back. "Meet us back by the carrier immediately!"
"I'm waiting on the thumb drive to finish the download." She called back. "I've only got a few more seconds. I've made magical copies of the notes and journals that I can find and shrunk them down. Everything else is wrapped in trip wires."
"Get out of there!" Bucky yelled over the coms. "You've got to get out of there!"
"Almost done!" she replied.
"You don't understand," Bucky yelled pulling Steve with him towards the munitions building. "Their MO is to have the computer detonate with what you're doing. You need to get out now!"
The resounding boom and flash of fire sent them flying. Steve and Bucky flew back with the blast and watched in horror as the munitions building did in fact blow. Bucky and Steve were shaking off the ringing in their ears and then they were sprinting across the yard. The rest of the Avengers were following as debris was raining down around them.
They all halted when several other blasts went off, signaling that the fires and explosions had reached the munitions being stored in the facility. Bucky's knees grew weak as he watched the wreckage of the building crumbling with each explosion. Steve was talking to him, but it sounded like it was coming from far away.
"Extreme fear can neither fight nor fly." - William Shakespeare
Tony called for JARVIS and there was a delay in the coms and response. However, it appeared that something had gone wrong. JARVIS was reporting over the coms that Heather had somehow gotten out with the files and intel that she was copying, however at the time of her transport the explosions had already started. Part of the fire had seemingly gone with her, and she had sustained some serious burns.
JARVIS reported that Lisa was portkeying in to Heather's location to triage immediately. The Avengers split up. Steve stayed with Natasha and Tony, while Bucky and Bruce were heading to Heather's coordinates to help. The others were helping with rounding up the rest of the Hydra operatives that were still coming out of the ground like ants.
Bucky was not sure what to expect but finding Heather unconscious and severely burned was not it. She had gotten the information that she could out of the computers and files but had taken a great risk to do so. While alive, she would be in a great deal of pain. His stomach felt sick seeing how badly she had been burned.
Heather's entire right side of her face was burned and blistered. She had blood pouring form her ears where her ear drums had ruptured from the blast. Her uniform had protected her somewhat, being dragonhide, but even then, she had sustained second and third degree burns where there was not dragonhide.
"What do you need us to do?" Bruce asked.
"We need to get her stabilized," Lisa said softly. "We have potions that can heal most of this, but she needs to be stabilized before we can safely move her."
Bucky knelt beside her and held her left hand. He murmured to her as Lisa and Bruce moved her carefully and hooked her up to IV's. While a portkey would be faster, her vitals were not solid enough for that at the moment. In the distance a large chopper was approaching. Thwump, thwump, thwump, pulsed in the air as they got closer.
Shielding the injured woman as best he could, Bucky tried to block the debris and dust from her with his body. She whimpered as the air around her blew across the burned flesh and nerves. Lisa had conjured a stretcher underneath Heather to avoid moving her too much, so they waited for the all clear to approach.
Bruce and Bucky picked up the stretcher and raced with it to the waiting medevac chopper. Lisa climbed in with them and immediately put a headset on. She barked out orders and gave her special credentials and rank they were followed. The on-board medical crew swapped out the iv's and added clean and new dressings to the burns as the previous ones had bled through.
They would be brought to the nearest military medical facility and given a private bay. Heather's rank and Avenger's status gave her and those with her that much. Her treatment would be classified as would her identity. No one should have survived such a blast. As part of the Avengers and special task force assembled, she was protected not only nationally, but internationally.
"Five minutes out!" the pilot called out.
"What the Hell happened?" one of the medics asked. "We were on standby and watching from the satellite images. No one visible entered that building!"
"Classified, lieutenant!" Bucky barked out.
"At ease, Serge," the pilot called out. "Most of this crew are what would be called first gen. magicals. Captain Potter is held in high regard with us and worldwide."
"It's still going to be classified information," Lisa replied over the coms.
"Understood ma'am," was the answer. "Just know that no one on this crew will say anything. If you need us in the future let us know. Captain Potter means a lot to a lot of people. I hope whoever did this to her was given Hell."
"Affirmative," Lisa replied darkly. "Those responsible are being tracked down by the rest of Potter's team as we speak. We've come out of retirement temporarily for it too."
"What?" Bruce and Bucky asked, looking at Lisa closely for the first time.
"Heather's ours," she hissed. "She's our Captain and those responsible now have the rest of The Reapers coming for them."
"Fucking Hell," one of the medics breathed. "You guys were The Reapers!?"
"I'm lost," Bruce said with wide eyes.
"We'll explain later," Lisa said coolly. "Right now, we need to take care of Heather. When the others get back from their hunting trip, we will disclose the rest."
Bucky sat back with his mind racing. Was Heather part of a group similar to the Howling Commandos? It would make sense if he were connecting the dots correctly. Her recklessness and courage against daunting odds would certainly fit the criteria. Looking down at the injured woman he swallowed thickly. It was hard to imagine that she would heal and recover from the injuries that she had sustained.
As the chopper landed, the medics lifted the stretcher and moved towards the waiting team and gurney. Lisa followed, barking orders and commands as was led to a private medical bay. Bruce and Bucky entered and scrubbed up to help where they could. More medical personnel entered and eventually Bruce and Bucky waited right outside the curtained off area.
They could hear Lisa commanding the medical staff around her. She was calling for various potions and bandages and giving instructions on how to apply them. Bucky felt his stomach roll as he heard Heather whimpering in pain and then smelled burned flesh. Bruce pushed Bucky's head between his knees as he noticed the other man pale. He murmured to Bucky to breathe through it and that Heather would be alright.
"Everything you want is on the other side of fear." - Jack Canfield
That was how the rest of the team found them. Bucky appeared to be struggling with himself to keep it together. They heard Lisa giving commands to the medical team and swearing frequently. There was little that they could do but wait. The information that Heather had gathered had been taken by Tony and scanned by JARVIS before handing it off. At the moment JARVIS was sorting through the information and databases as well as decrypting the files.
It was three hours later that Heather's magical team arrived looking grim. They had blood splattered on their gear, but none appeared to be hurt. Dean nodded to them and called out to Lisa. Lisa popped her head out and looked at him. Her only reply to the look he gave her was 'good,' before she returned behind the curtain.
"Those responsible have been taken care of," Dean said to the Avengers, leaning against the nearby wall. "We've brought in the survivors and handed them over to the necessary authorities."
"Survivors?" Steve asked uneasily.
"We have a protocol that we follow," Justin replied grimly. "The Reapers take survivors if there are any. When we hit a target, we hit hard and oftentimes, there aren't any. This time we paid special attention to making sure there were a few."
Natasha looked at them with a blank expression. "I take it that they gave you information?"
With a cold, shark-like smirk Dean nodded. "They eventually talked. There are three other bases in the Mid-West, but the one you took out was the motherload."
"Sweet Jesus," Clint whispered, connecting the dots of who Heather and her team really were.
Seeing Clint's expression, Moira nodded. "We will talk in a more secure location after we're certain Captain Potter is alright," she told them firmly. "Only with her permission, of course. Retired or not, she's still our Captain."
Steve and Bucky shared a look. They knew all too well about loyalty to team members and what that meant to soldiers. Yes, Heather was now part of the Avengers, but she had a team and a life prior to it that was part of it all now too. It would be interesting to see where this would all go from this point.
Lisa came out from behind the curtains looking fatigued. Her scrubs were covered in blood and what appeared to be potions or medications. She discreetly waved her hand over herself to freshen up a bit and nodded to the group.
"She's stable," Lisa said clinically. "Her vitals are solid, and we were able to treat the burns. She had some significant internal bleeding and damage that we administered potions for. Her eardrums will be repaired overnight. Right now, she is in a medical coma to allow her wounds to heal."
Bucky breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back in his chair. "She'll be alright?" he asked.
"She's going to be fine," Lisa assured them. "They'll keep her here overnight and then we can transport her to the Tower for the remainder of her care."
Steve clasped Bucky on the shoulder. He didn't say anything, he didn't need to. Bucky slumped slightly in his chair and knew that he would not get much rest until they were safely behind the walls of the Tower. Now more than ever he knew that he needed to talk to her. They had been dancing around it for months now.
As the medical bay was relatively empty, the Avengers and the Reapers were fanned out sitting in various areas nearby. The military personnel of the base were used to keeping things discrete when needed. At the moment the entire situation was being treated as if it were a matter of national security, which it was.
Much like their British counterparts, the US had magical team members join their military as well. It was a closely kept secret among their ranks. The military protected their own. Irrespective of country of origin, if they were allies, those same secrets were kept and held sacred.
Out of the Middle East, there had been whispers and rumors of The Reapers for years. They had stormed in the dead of night taking out various bases with a brutal ruthlessness that left none questioning their stance on things. They went in, did their job, and got out like ghosts in the night. Their team was much sought after and called upon for some of the deadliest missions.
Knowing that the members of The Reapers were there, that Captain Potter was there in their medical facility, there would be silence. A number of the military personnel popped in to quietly and discreetly speak with Heather's team. For once, the Avengers were not necessarily the main topic of discussion. It was relieving and yet startling.
They were beginning to see and understand a different side of Heather. Not that it would change their opinion negatively. What she and The Reapers did was nothing short of astounding in the war efforts in the Middle East. They would often team up with the other Special Forces to take out high-level targets. Every so often they would be part of extraction teams or recovery teams.
Knowing that Heather was part of that, a leader in all of that only intrigued Bucky that much more. This woman had so many layers he knew that it would probably take a lifetime to get through them all and discover each and every one. Because if he were being honest with himself, and he finally was, she was his. He wasn't going to lose her now.
Stretching, Bucky came to stand and asked Lisa if he could see Heather. Lisa nodded with a slight smile on her face before schooling her features. He ignored it, knowing that he was less than subtle in his attraction to the woman in the hospital bed. Hell, at this point he didn't care who knew as long as she was alright.
Ducking behind the curtain he stopped short seeing her. She was covered from head to toe in bandages. He could see the gentle rise and fall of her chest and knew that she was breathing. However, seeing her like this was gut wrenching. Wearily he sat in the chair beside her bed and waited. He would have reached out to hold her hand, but both were wrapped tightly in gauze and bandages.
"Behind every beautiful thing, there's some kind of pain." - Bob Dylan
He must have dozed at some point because he jolted awake to Lisa bustling around the bed changing out the bandages and redressing the wounds. She nodded to him with a grim look and continued her work. He could already see the pink, healing flesh under the bandages, but the wounds looked a bit raw still. It was remarkable just what magic could do in that regard.
Heather had been lucky. Had they not had magical personnel, she would have been in a lot of pain if she had even survived the blast. The areas where the burns had been the worst still looked pretty awful, but they were markedly better.
Having had burns himself in the past he knew that she was better off unconscious. That kind of pain was agonizing and there was little that could be done to soothe it. He knew that she would be fine, but he hated seeing her like this.
The hours ticked by and before he knew it, they were preparing to move Heather. All of their gear had been collected and taken to the waiting chopper on the roof. Heather was being prepped for transport and the medical personnel were rushing around to make sure that she had sufficient supplies for the move.
Finally they were loaded up and on their way back to the Tower. Heather was still heavily sedated at this point and kept unconscious to help with the healing. The Avengers and Reapers were buckled into harnesses around the large military chopper provided for the move.
The intel that Heather had collected was more than fruitful. It pointed out a number of undercover operatives planted in various government and military positions. It also gave up safe houses, other bases, and information regarding weapons and experiments. In short, Heather had gotten them right where it hurts and Hydra was none the wiser at this point.
"We will be approaching New York in two hours," the pilot informed them, as they lifted off the roof of the military hospital.
It was a relatively quiet and easy flight. The sound of the propeller lulled many of them. It had been a long sleepless night as many kept vigils by Heather's bedside. None were comfortable leaving her side knowing the severity of her injuries.
"We're going to have to ground her for a bit," Lisa murmured to Dean. "Though the wounds will be healed mostly in the next few days, we need to assure that there is not lasting nerve damage."
"What about nerve damage?" Steve asked sharply.
"The nerves need to be regenerated and regrown," Lisa explained carefully. "Heather has an extensive past and long list of injuries. She's experienced the torture curse, which essentially fires all the synapsis at once, frying the nerves. With the burns, we need to make sure there is not going to be permanent damage."
Bucky snarled quietly from his seat hearing this. Perhaps wrapping her in bubble wrap and making off with her like a caveman was the best solution at this point. She clearly needed someone to take care of her and watch out for her. And he thought Steve would be the one to cause the most trouble in his life!
They landed on the roof of the Tower and quickly unloaded Heather who was brought first down the elevator to the medical bay. The rest of the team gathered their gear and thanked the military personnel for the lift. The chopper lifted off leaving both the Avengers and the Reapers on the roof waiting for the return of the elevator.
Bucky took both his and Heather's gear down from the roof. He stopped first on the floor her shared with Steve. Putting both his pack and Heather's on the table he went to his room to grab a shower and a change of clothes.
Standing under the spray he let the hot water ease some of the tension he was feeling. They were back and alive, she was alive. Next time, he thought to himself, he would be partnering with her. She, like Steve, was clearly reckless with her own well-being. He fought back the emotions that threatened to overwhelm him as he washed away the remnants of the battle they had just fought.
Toweling off he pulled on a clean t-shirt and a comfortable pair of sweatpants. Right now he just wanted comfort. Figuring that if he were going to be sitting by her bedside for hours, he may as well dress accordingly.
Grabbing her pack, he went up to her floor and dropped it off on her table. Entering her room, he grabbed her a few things to wear in case she was changed in the near future. He did not use the time to invade her privacy, he did not snoop. He grabbed one of the magical books on a nearby shelf that looked interesting and went back to the elevator to go up to the medical bay.
Bucky stepped off the elevator and walked with the single minded purpose of getting to Heather's side. He entered the room where she was recovering and sat on the comfortable chair that Lisa had provided for him. He put the clothes that he brought on the table nearby and stretched his legs out in the chair and began to read.
He was not sure how much time had passed by as he was fully immersed in the magical history book about the British Enclaves. Blinking in slight confusion, he looked up to find Lisa in the room changing the bandages on Heather's arms and legs. Her face and neck had healed and were well enough to leave uncovered for the rest of the healing. Her torso had mercifully been protected by her dragon hide armor.
Lisa tutted over Heather's hands and carefully soaked them in bowls of various potions. Bucky watched as the healer worked her magic on the unconscious warrior. His heart ached knowing that there was a possibility that she had sustained too much damage to continue. And while part of him would be relieved, he knew that she would never fully be happy walking away from the fight. As a soldier, he knew that it was a lot to take.
Quietly he asked Lisa what sort of time frame they were looking at for the completed healing. Her eyebrows pinched together in thought before she replied another week or two at most. Heather would need to remain sedated to allow the wounds to fully heal. Only when they were certain that the burns had been fully healed would they slowly bring her to consciousness. From there the process of testing the nerves and possible lasting damage would begin.
"We cannot learn without pain." - Aristotle
The sounds of machines and the sterile smell of hospital was the first thing that Heather noticed. Feeling out with her magic, she sensed that she was safe and with her friends and allies. Nearby she sensed Bucky before his scent hit her nose. She heard her heart monitor spike in reaction and mentally scolded herself. Groaning hoarsely, she heard movement nearby and the sound of a book hitting a table.
"Easy there, doll." Bucky murmured close to her ear. "You're safe and in the medbay. We're back at the Tower and everyone got out."
Heather's eyes felt so heavy. She struggled to get them to open and tried to move but found herself immobilized. Lisa must have her magically restrained. For the first time she wondered just how injured she was as everything was blessedly numb. That's when the panic set in as she remembered what had happened.
The monitors in the room blared as her heart raced and she struggled to breathe. Bucky smoothed her hair from her face and told her that everything was alright. She tried to focus on his voice as she looked up at him in a panic. Was she paralyzed?
"No, doll!" he assured her. "You aren't paralyzed. Doc has you numb because you were badly burned and you needed time to heal. Your nerves needed time to heal uninhibited."
"He's right," Lisa said, bustling towards the bedside. "You gave us a bit of a scare, Captain. The Reapers were less than pleased with your state of return and went hunting."
"Bloody Hell," Heather breathed tiredly. "How bad?"
"The burns are healed, and your ear drums repaired." Lisa told her with a fierce glare. "Your internal bleeding and organ damage was also healed. Heather, I love you dearly, but you've got to be careful. Magic cannot heal everything, and I don't want to have to test the limits."
"I'll do better," Heather replied, her eyes getting heavy again. "Didn't mean to get caught in a blast. Tried to get out as soon as Bucky mentioned it." Her voice trailed off as she fell asleep.
Bucky carefully held her recently healed hands. The skin there was smooth and fresh. There were no visible remnants or reminders that she had third degree burns there less than two weeks ago. Swallowing thickly, he looked over to find Lisa watching him carefully.
"You'll do," she smirked at him. "Apparently she'll listen to you. Good luck, you'll have your hands full with this one."
Bucky watched her walk off chuckling softly to herself. Blinking in realization, he looked down at Heather. Pursing his lips, he fought a smirk of his own finally catching on to what Lisa had implied. He watched her breathing even into a deep sleeping pattern and stretched from his seat.
Taking the elevator to the common floor he walked in to find Lisa chuckling with the rest of the Reapers. Tony looked over at the group of cackling magical wearily. Bucky cleared his throat as he approached and they smiled at him knowingly. The rest of the Avengers team that were present were a bit lost.
Steve, having overheard the conversation, sent Bucky a mischievous smirk. Rolling his eyes in reply, Bucky walked to the kitchen to grab something to eat. He felt Steve approach and lean against the counter beside him, bumping shoulders.
"How is she?" Steve asked him quietly.
"Well, she woke up for a bit," he replied, taking a long pull from the glass of water he had poured. "She admitted that she was trying to get out before the blast went off, but it came too quickly. She's better though and remembers what happened."
"We'll test for lasting nerve damage starting tomorrow," Lisa informed them. "I want to give her another day to rest before I slowly start removing the numbing spells and potions."
"If you can replicate this process, it would change the medical field." Bruce stated from the table. "It could help and save a lot of people."
"It would need to be discussed with the ICW and higher ups in the magical government." Lise replied warily. "The Statute of Secrecy is as much about protecting non-magicals as it is to protect magicals."
SHEILD has sent out another team to raid one of the Hyrda bases the day before to great success. The other two bases would be hit simultaneously in the following weeks. For now, they were under surveillance. Should there be any suspicious activity or movement the timeframe would be moved up.
They were hoping that by then Heather would be recovered enough to at least oversee the raid from a safe location. Even if she was not physically cleared to participate, they could use her mind and battle tactics to assist from a bird's eye view.
The teams went back to their various tasks and training. Steve dragged Bucky to the training room, firmly telling him that he would be of little use to Heather if he got sloppy and rusty. It was enough of a dig to have the pair of super soldiers throwing each other around the training room in a brutal sparring match.
When they were finished both were sweating and breathing heavily. Both men were sore and sporting bruises. Bucky had worked off his pent-up anger and frustration. Steve had gotten in a good workout from someone that could physically keep up. Bucky knew that the little punk had goaded him into fighting. He was grateful for it and felt a tad guilty for the busted lip Steve was now sporting.
"Let's get cleaned up." Steve suggested. "We can head out and catch a movie or watch one upstairs."
Bucky nodded, running his hand over his face tiredly. He knew that over the past couple of weeks he had been focused on Heather. If he were being honest, he had been focusing on her a lot since he had met her. He knew that deep down she would change his life and part of him was terrified at what that meant. He had so much blood on his hands and on his conscience. However, he was trying every single day to atone for that.
Drawing a cleansing breath, he glanced at his lifelong friend, he gave him an easy smile. "Sure, punk!" he chuckled. "Sounds like a plan. Which one is next on the list to watch?"
"We can check in the apartment," Steve said, rotating his neck, loosening the tightness he felt. "It's on the fridge."
The pair stood and made their way to the elevator with their arms slung over one another's shoulder. They were laughing about some story from the forties as the others in the training room watched with sad smiles on their faces. The story of Cap and Bucky was one they all knew and could not imagine going through firsthand. It was good to see them coming back together.
"Numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it." - J.K. Rowling
The following morning rose with the pained whimpers of Heather in the medical bay. Lisa had slowly begun the process of removing the numbing spells and medications. Though the nerves were healed, her mind and nerves were essentially recalibrating. Her mind and body hadn't caught up yet and she was feeling the phantom pains of the burns and nerve damage that her body had sustained.
By the time the numbness was removed, Heather was a sweating, trembling mess. She had silent tears pouring down her face and she was pale. Lisa gently helped her sit up in the bed and let her friend and sister in arms lean heavily on her for support. Lisa had come to her room in the predawn hours to begin the process, knowing that Heather would not have anyone else to witness her pain.
"Breathe, love." Lisa murmured into Heather's curls. "Breathe through it. I've got you."
Heather leaned on Lisa's shoulder and winced as she flexed her fingers. The searing agony of the movement caused a wave of nausea to wash over her. Choking back the rising bile in her throat, she breathed heavily. She needed to fight through this, she would fight through this.
"Ready for the next part?" Lisa asked gently. "You can take as much time as you need."
It was an awkward shuffle, but the pair maneuvered Heather to sit at the edge of the bed. Her limbs were trembling as shouting bursts of blinding pain. She closed her eyes and leaned against Lisa as she struggled to catch her breath. Her breath wheezed in her chest as she felt her muscles tightening and spasming with the pain.
"Fucking Hell," she whimpered. "Tell me it'll stop, Lisa!"
"Is it getting better?" Lisa asked her with her voice thick with emotions.
Heather shook her head into Lisa's shoulder. "Not yet," Heather replied hoarsely.
Lisa helped Heather to flex and move her muscles. Gently and with practiced ease, Lisa manipulated and maneuvered each of Heather's limbs. She started small with the fingers and toes first. Both women fought tears with each agonizing movement.
Heather was lost in a haze of pain. Logically she knew that her body was healed, but her mind and nervous system had not synced back up yet. Her entire body felt like it was on fire. She tried to breathe through it, but her lungs felt like they were clogging and she began to panic. In the distance she heard Lisa trying to talk to her and start shouting, but Heather was helpless.
Vaguely she felt a breathing mask put over her face and secured. She felt the oxygen move and force its way into her lungs as she struggled to relax. Her consciousness reached out to her surroundings as she heard other voices nearby. Behind her she felt a large warm body climb on the bed and gently wrap around her.
"I've got you, sweetheart." Bucky murmured into her ear. "Breathe with me, doll. That's it, nice and easy."
Bucky felt her sag against him as he tried to calm his racing heart rate. He and Steve had been sitting and having breakfast in their apartment when JARVIS had informed them that Lisa required assistance in the medical bay. Bucky was already running to the stairwell before the message had finished with Steve racing behind him.
The pair entered the room to find Heather and Lisa both in distress but for different reasons. Steve went to Lisa's side to try to calm down the normally calm and stalwart healer and soldier, while Bucky climbed onto the hospital bed, cradling Heather to his chest. The super soldiers calmed both the healer and patient as the rest of the teams arrived.
Tony and Bruce approached and had JARIVS pull up additional information about nerve damage healing and therapies. Lisa leaned against the warm, solid chest of Steve as he rubbed her back comfortingly. Something must have gone very wrong for both women to be in such distress.
"I think I pushed too hard too soon," Lisa said in devastation.
Heather shook her head in denial. "No," her voice rasped out from behind the mask. "I'm fine. It hurts, but I will be fine."
"You're not fine!" Lisa sobbed. "You nearly stopped breathing from the pain!"
"We'll figure it out," Tony assured them. "We've got some of the best minds in the world in this room. We can fix this."
"We may need to call in Granger," Dean reluctantly stated.
"Absolutely not!" Heather gritted out vehemently. "If you bring her or Ron here, I will never forgive you. I don't need a lecture from a bloody textbook. I love her and respect her, but she regurgitates facts at you. They'd bring everyone and smother me and you know it! She and Ron tried to make me stay!"
"Right," Justin said, intervening. "We won't contact them. How about we reach out to St. Mungo's or Gringotts?"
"Acceptable," Heather muttered in exhaustion.
"Do you want me to apply the numbing spells?" Lisa asked.
"No," Heather slurred hoarsely. "Too much pain when they're removed. Need to get used to it."
Bucky wrapped around her and held her to his chest. If possible, he'd take her pain from her. He could feel her limbs tremble and spasm even now as she lost consciousness. Closing his eyes he dropped his face into the crook of her neck and breathed in her scent.
"We need to get her laid back in the bed," Lisa said cautiously.
Bucky lifted his face and met her gaze. Clenching his jaw he nodded and moved as gently as possible to ease them both back. His body was still wrapped around hers protectively as they moved. He murmured to her as he felt her jolt and whimper in pain, trying to help anchor her. When he finally had her laying back, he eased her from his arms and slowly rolled off the bed. He fussed a bit and pulled the blankets up gently.
He slumped into the chair that he had spent so many hours in and looked at the others in the room. Steve still held Lisa gently to his chest, which caused Bucky's lips to twitch in amusement. If he didn't know better, he would think his friend was oblivious to the witch he held. However, the telltale blush and redness of his friend's ears gave him away.
Smirking at him knowingly, Bucky chuckled. The others in the room let their gazes' flit over to Captain America and Lisa who was now referred to as "Doc" by the others. No one made a comment of the pair's closeness but did shoot them knowing looks. It would appear that both super soldiers were smitten with witches.
Bucky sobered as he looked over at Heather. The others in the room left and Steve settled in a chair beside him. Lisa had gone with Dean to reach out to other magical resources regarding healing Heather. Hopefully they would have answers soon because they hated seeing her in such pain.
Two painfully long hours later, Lisa returned with a robed individual and a small fearsome looking creature. Dean followed with another robed person. Apparently, there would be a joint effort in helping Heather to heal.
A strange, rough garbled sound came from the creature and the man beside him replied. Bucky tensed briefly as the man drew his wand and aimed it towards Heather. He felt Steve still at his side as well. Both ready to spring into action should the need arise.
Lisa came beside the man and explained the situation again, handing over the notes she had put together. The other man leaned in as well and they began to confer, nodding in agreement with what the creature muttered. Bucky and Steve did not recognize half of what was being said, however they did catch something about mind magic.
"No!" Bucky said gruffly.
"Excuse you?" one of the men scoffed.
"I said, no." Bucky stood. "You aren't going anywhere near her mind without her permission."
"I fail to see how this has anything to do with you," the man chided.
"He's right," Lisa said firmly. "You will not muck around in her mind without her consent, that is non-negotiable."
"You brought us here to help!" the man retorted in agitation.
"As a Healer you took an oath," Lisa scolded. "Several in fact. Lest you be named oath breaker, you will follow the appropriate protocols or I will have you tossed out McLaggen."
"Should you fail to heed Warrior Turpin's warning," the creature grinned menacingly. "Gringotts would be happy to enact sanctions against House McLaggen for attempting to harm Warrior Potter, Goblin Friend for your actions. Retribution will be swift and deadly."
The man named McLaggen paled drastically and nodded. Lisa sneered at the man and turned back towards Heather's bed. She knelt beside her sleeping friend.
"Heather," she murmured. "I've brought some help, but we've got to ask a few questions."
Heather blinked over to see Lisa beside her. She still had the oxygen mask on, helping her to breathe easy as her body was still adjusting to the pain in her nerves. Nodding her head in understanding, she waited.
"Master Healer Bloodtooth and Curse Breaker Wells have suggested that perhaps mind magics may help heal you," Lisa replied cautiously. "Healer McLaggen is here from St. Mungo's and agrees with their assessment. But we need your consent, love."
"Not McLaggen," Heather rasped. "He's not going near my mind. Master Healer Bloodtooth and his team."
"Now see here!" McLaggen protested only to be shut up by a flick of Lisa's wrist.
"Dean escort him back," Lisa barked. "Ensure his silence."
Dean dragged his former Housemate out of the room. The man's protests could be heard briefly before there was a yelp and a thud. Bucky and Steve shared a look before taking their seats once more.
"Very well," Bloodtooth stated before approaching the bed. "We will need to take you to our Healing Caverns, Warrior Potter. The wards there are specially crafted to aid in mind magics and healing."
"We can arrange a transport," Lisa offered, but was cut off abruptly.
"We will portkey there right now," Bloodtooth stated. "Gather those attending and we will leave momentarily."
"I'm coming," Bucky and Steve stated at the same time, standing at attention.
Lisa nodded to the pair and sent off a patronus message to the rest of the Reapers. Each of the apparated just outside the room immediately and were ready. The goblin nodded to his companion and muttered something in his native tongue. The man pulled out a long golden chain and stretched it, pulling additional lengths to allow the large group to travel.
"Bucky, Steve." Lisa called out. "You will both need to hold on to the chain and not let go until we've arrived. We'll hold Heather, but just make sure not to let go of the chain no matter what."
Steve and Bucky grasp the seemingly flimsy gold chain and braced themselves. For what, they had no clue. The sudden jerk behind their navel and then the spinning through space and time was not what they were anticipating or expecting. Both men had a hard time fighting the nausea that was swamping them as they spun endlessly before coming to an abrupt and hard stop, landing on the stone floor of a very large carved cavern.
Both men were sitting on the ground watching the cavern burst into a flurry of activity. Heather was levitated towards the center of what appeared to be some sort of stone ritual site. Bucky stood shakily beside an equally shaky Steve. They followed the rest of the group and waited as an even stranger looking goblin entered the room.
"Master Healer Bloodtooth," the being rasped in a booming voice. "Why have you brought Friend and Warrior Potter to our realm?"
"Your Majesty," Bloodtooth bowed. "Goblin Friend and Warrior Potter has received grievous injuries. She refused treatment from the wizarding kind and has asked that we tend to her needs."
There were garbled mutterings echoing in the Healing Caverns. It was unheard of for a witch or wizard to turn down their own Healers in favor of the Goblin Nation's. That Friend and Warrior Potter had done so was a boon and an hour for the warrior race.
"Then heal her we shall," the Goblin King boomed, before leaving the room.
"Into the air, Into the earth, into the fire, I am with you." - Orson Scott Card
Master Healer Bloodtooth turned to where Heather was laid on a large stone palette. Other healers approached as well as several Curse Breakers. Lisa walked up beside the palette as well and murmured softly to Heather. Steve and Bucky stood with the rest of Heather's friends, not sure what they could do to help.
Bloodtooth and several of the goblins spoke and kept glancing from Heather to Bucky. Bucky shifted uncomfortably and waited. Finally, the Master Healer broke away from the group and approached him. The cavern fell silent with his approach. Heather's friends watched in fascination as the Master Healer addressed Bucky.
"Warrior Barnes," Bloodtooth addressed him. "We will need you to act as Warrior Potter's anchor through the healing and ritual."
"I'll do whatever I can to help Heather," Bucky replied seriously.
Bloodtooth stared at him for a moment before giving him a terrifying toothy grin. "Of that I have no doubt," he rasped with a chuckle. "Come, you must climb on the palette and hold her. Whatever happens, do not let her go."
Bucky followed him and looked at Lisa. She gave him a small smile, but he could see the fear and concern on her face. There was something more there in her gaze, something that she wanted to say but knew that she couldn't with the audience they had. He wished that there was time to ask her what was going to happen, but it seemed as though the goblins were going to proceed immediately. He looked over his shoulder to Steve and found that he had followed him and was going to stand with Lisa.
Taking care to climb up on the hard surface of the palette, Bucky made sure not to jostle Heather. As gently as possible he followed the instructions of the Master Healer and laid down, holding Heather securely and firmly against his larger frame. With her back pressed against his front, he wrapped his arms around her securely. He breathed in her scent and closed his eyes before looking down at the crown of her head.
Bloodtooth approached with a lit bundle of sage and began chanting. Bucky felt the air around them instantly charge and fought his instinct to take Heather and run. He felt her muscles tremble as the chanting picked up and wind swirled around the cavern. Heather clutched his hands with her own, leaning back into his frame as she breathed through the pain. Her eyes were blown wide, and her mouth was open in a silent scream. He held her even as he felt a jolt of energy pass through them both. It seemed that where one ended the other began and there was no separation.
Master Healer Bloodtooth placed his hands on her temples and chanted gruffly. Closing his eyes, Bucky held her, clutching her to him desperately as she bucked, and her muscles bunched and spasmed. He could hear her weeping now and felt his own eyes sting with tears that he struggled to keep from falling. Behind his eyelids he could see bursts of colorful lights whipping around them. He felt something touch their joined hands, but couldn't open his eyes against the onslaught of the blinding lights.
Somehow, he could feel what she was feeling, pushing that thought aside he held her and tried to take on as much of it as he could as his own. It was pain not unlike what Hydra had used on him and he gritted his teeth against the onslaught. How could she stand this, he thought. He had to keep reminding himself that this was helping her, it would be healing her. Even as he felt a sharp sting on his right wrist and felt the echoing sting on hers, he held her willing her to match his breathing.
Finally, when Bucky thought that neither he nor Heather could take anymore, the chanting ceased. Heather's ragged breathing was heard in the cavern as well as the sound of weeping and sniffling around the vast space. He felt her take a breath and relax against him. For a moment he feared the worst, but he felt the bunching of her muscles stop and all tension that she had felt released. It was as if he could feel something within her click, and she completely calmed.
"Warrior Barnes," Bloodtooth addressed him, "Warrior and Friend Potter is healed. You may take your bonded and follow Healer and Warrior Turpin to the waiting portkey."
Bowing his head, "Thank you Master Healer Bloodtooth."
Bloodtooth returned the nod and flashed him a toothy smile. "May your enemies blood flow freely, Warrior."
"And yours," Bucky replied, unsure of the proper form of address.
Gently, Bucky cradled Heather to his chest and stood from the table and approached Lisa and the rest of their group. Most of Heather's team were standing looking at him wide eyed and like they wanted to say something, but they remained silent as he approached. The golden chain they had taken to arrive was once more enchanted. Bucky held her against his chest with his metal arm, gentle but unyielding and grasped the chain with his other hand. On either side of him both Steve and Lisa grasped the chain and him as they were whisked away once more.
When they arrived back in the Tower Bucky landed on his knees holding Heather. She nuzzled against the crook of his neck and took a deep breath, causing a chill to run through him. He looked up to find Heather's team regarding him quietly. Glancing at Steve he found that his friend was just as confused as he was.
"I have questions," Bucky said quietly. "But first I think we need to get her to bed."
"Right," Lisa said, jolting out of her stupor. "Back to her own rooms, I think. She's fully healed and just needs a good night's sleep now."
Bucky shifted to his feet easily. Steve walked beside him as they followed Lisa to the elevator. He tried to ignore the sharp and excited whispers that followed their departure. However, he had a feeling that something unexpected had happened during the ritual.
When he had Heather settled in her bed, he brushed her hair from her face. She blurrily looked up at him before turning to lean into his hand and falling back asleep. Swallowing thickly, he reluctantly pulled his hand and followed Lisa and Steve up to the common floor. The Reapers and Avengers were there waiting.
"Let's wait until we're with everyone," Lisa said firmly, seeing the curious stares of both super soldiers.
They entered the sitting area where everyone was sitting quietly but seemed to be thrumming in anticipation. The Avengers looked confused, but the Reapers, now they looked like they weren't sure what to think at the moment. Bucky stood, leaning against one of the structural columns and waited with Steve standing at his side.
"Will someone tell us what's going on?" Steve asked.
"That's what we'd like to know," Tony replied. "You all just suddenly disappeared, and JARVIS said something about Rosie needing emergency healing."
"The nerve damage on Heather was worse than anticipated," Lisa answered hoarsely. "Her previous exposure to the torture curse compiled with the severity of her burns was more than her body could handle."
"She needed more help than we could give her here," Dean answered. "The solution ended up requiring her to immediately travel to the Healing Caverns of the Goblin Nation. A ritualistic healing was performed as was a ceremony."
Bucky felt a slight shimmer of unease run through him before stamping it down. His features were carefully schooled and blank and he was hiding behind the cold mask of the Winter Soldier at the moment. Something big must have happened.
"There was something more," Bucky stated, staring them down. "Something happened during the ritual and you need to explain that now."
"Heather's going to lose it," Moira muttered. "She should be here for this conversation. She will hate us talking about it without her."
"Pardon the interruption," JARVIS broke through the tension. "Lady Heather is demanding someone come and get her immediately."
Straightening, Bucky did an about-face and went to the waiting elevator to go down to get Heather. He needed to know what happened so that he could fix it and help her. His shoulders bunched with tension as the door opened to her floor. He could hear her muttering from her room and smiled softly in amusement, knocking before entering.
He found her sitting shakily on her bed in a completely different outfit. She had on a pair of black leggings and a large oversized t-shirt. Her hair was hastily plaited, and she had tugged on a pair of thick socks.
"I used all the energy I had to change," she told him with a tired smile.
"I've got you, doll." He teased as he easily lifted her into his arms. "Everyone's upstairs discussing what happened. You're needed there for an explanation as well."
Bucky glanced down and found her staring down at her right wrist on her lap. There appeared to be strange markings around her wrist. Her eyes snapped up to his, looking at him in shock. He could somehow feel that shock and a slight trickle of fear.
"What's wrong?" he asked as they entered the elevator.
"Nothing is wrong per say," she whispered breathily. "However, I think the ritual had some unintended consequences."
"Are you alright?" he asked, stepping onto the common floor foyer. "Whatever happened doesn't put you in danger right?"
The room around them was silent and seemed to be charged with tension. Bucky could see that they were waiting for Heather and himself before continuing the conversation. The Reapers looked a bit restless and cautious and the Avengers looked to be on the edge of their seats in anticipation.
"We're glad you're alright, Pixie." Tony smiled at her kindly. "I hear you had a rough go of it and am relieved that you're doing better."
"Thanks, Tony." She said, leaning her head against Bucky's chest as he sat in a large chair holding her. "I feel much better."
"Is anyone going to explain the consequences of what happened?" Steve asked. "It's been alluded to a few times that something happened that will affect Heather and Bucky."
"Sometimes a witch or wizard finds someone that their magic is compatible with," Moira said softly. "It does not happen often, but when it does a bond starts to form."
"What?" Steve asked in confusion. "Like a soulmate?"
"Yes and no," Lisa picked up. "Soulmates are not exactly a real thing. However, bonds are real and sacred. That kind of compatibility and companionship, that kind of connection, is a blessing. What happened in the ritual is a result of a bond."
"What do you mean?" Bucky asked, feeling Heather cling to his shirt and tense.
"It would seem that you and Heather have that sort of connection," Lisa smiled softly.
"But what happened during the ritual?" Tony asked. "And is it something we need to worry about?"
"Bloody Hell," Heather murmured, burying her face against Bucky's chest before looking up at him.
Sitting up she showed him her wrist and picked up his right hand, pushing up the sleeve and showing the matching markings on his. He looked down at their joined hands and glanced into her eyes. He could feel her fear of rejection, the affection that she felt for him, and so much more. His chest felt like it was going to burst with it.
"These marks mean that we were officially bonded during the ritual." Heather said softly to him. "As Lisa said, a bond is a sacred thing, cherished. Its permanent and cannot be undone, the only escape is death."
"But what exactly does that mean?" Natasha asked firmly.
"Essentially, they're considered married in our world." Dean told them bluntly. "However, it goes beyond that. There is no divorce from a bond. Bonded can share feelings, thoughts, energy and so much more. There is not a lot known about bonds because they're incredibly personal and private."
"Holy shit," Steve whispered, looking at his best friend wide-eyed.
Bucky only had eyes for Heather. Tilting her chin up to meet his eyes once more, he tried to send her his understanding and reassurance through their link. Her eyes filled and she gave him a tremulous smile before hugging him. Bucky wrapped his arms around her and breathed in her scent, closing his eyes.
He wasn't sure what he had done to deserve her, in fact he was certain that he did not, but he would spend the rest of his life trying to. Bonded, he mused, that didn't seem so bad. If he were being honest with himself he had been falling for her from the start. Being tied to her would be no hardship as he admired and cared for her.
The thrilling thought and knowledge settled in him. She was his. His smile grew on his face and caught her breath. Heather breathed a sigh of relief and leaned into his embrace. Part of her had always feared being alone. Finding Bucky and feeling the bond grow was terrifying. But having him accept it was breathtaking. For it to settle and fully seal during the ritual and ceremony, meant that he had willed it to happen even on a subconscious level.
The pair was lost in their own little world as the Reapers answered the questions of the other Avengers. No one disturbed Bucky or Heather as they sat quietly together. It was a long night of talking and learning, but it was something that both groups accepted. Not a few were envious of such a bond, but they were all thrilled for the pair. It would be interesting to see what would happen in the future from such a thing.