CHAPTER 2

"Hi," he said. His face was a stone fortress, no one in or out. Jenny stared at the black leather gloves covering his hands, then met those cool gray eyes. She was transported back. Back to eight years old. That night they first encountered each other so clear. She'd never forgotten. She glanced at Stuart, and back at the man in front of her, her chest tight with fear.

"Excuse me," she managed to choke out. She fled past the Winter Soldier, out the door.

The hallway air was cool on her flushed face, and she managed to suck in air in large gasps.

"Jennifer, you ok?" asked Stuart coming behind her.

"I can't do it Stuart, I can't."

"He was cleared of all charges."

"It's not that."

"What is it?"

She looked up at Stuart, his eyes lit with concern. Her Grandfather's eyes flashed in her vision. They used to look just like that. She knew right then she could back out of this. That Stuart would tear up her paperwork and that she could just go on with her job.

Those dead, gray eyes, and solid body poised to kill, was going to be with her twenty four seven. But some cold, metallic bite was creeping up her spine, and settling like a tang in her mouth. It was because of him that she no longer believed in Super Heroes. It was because of him that she'd lost her grandfather's legacy. Those dead, gray eyes, and solid body poised to kill, was going to be with her twenty four seven and she could use it to her advantage. The delicious shiver creeping over her was revenge. It sent a shock through her muscles. This was her chance.

Bucky Barnes had redeemed himself in everyone else's eyes, but not hers. She knew the truth. And she was going to prove it to the world.

She stood up straight and looked Stuart dead in the eye. "I'm alright. Just needed some air."

Stuart breathed a sigh of relief. "Ready to go back in?"

"No, I'll head down to Media. I made a rotten first impression, and I'd rather think about how to fix it."

"Alright, your call. I'll brief him. You'll leave on Monday. It's a month long tour, six countries in four weeks."

"Yeah," she said, the cold steel galvanizing her to a new purpose. "I'll just have to figure some logistical things out."

Stuart went to leave but stopped and gave her shoulder a chaste squeeze and left her frozen and calculating in the hallway.

She pinched her arm to make sure she was still breathing and forced her feet down to the elevator. Just as the doors were closing, Nicole slid through.

"You'll never guess. You'll never guess in a million years! Guess who's here? Walking around the building."

Despite her nervousness, she forced a smile. "Hmm… The Winter Soldier?"

"Yes! Oh my god, he's so hot. Did you see him? I saw him walking out of Stuart's office."

"I saw him."

"Did you just die?"

"Something like that."

"Damn, did you get close? Is that jaw as sharp as it looks from far away? And those cheekbones."

"Nicole…"

"The man is thick. Like he's solid you know? What I wouldn't give for a…"

"Nicole! Please… Just… This isn't professional at all. What would Aaron say?" She felt woozy.

"You kidding? He knows the Avengers are on my free list…. Hey, are you ok? Oh my god, you're white as a ghost."

Jenny nodded and put her hand to her forehead. "I'm going to be working with him."

Nicole froze and grabbed Jenny's arm. "Stop, you are not. How? Why?"

She gave Nicole the details as she rubbed her hand over her stomach.

"Wow. And I thought my job was stressful." Nicole had just taken a position in HR and had a problem with how much they protected the GRC more than the actual individuals who worked there. Jenny admired her. And how much she stayed a rebel.

"Welp," said Nicole. "In celebration, I'm springing for Nachos too. And those I definitely can have."

Jenny linked her arm through Nicole's, her one friend she'd made since the Blip. With Nicole it was easy. Keeping her true identity a secret was the hard part.

She walked her all the way to the media wing, until someone from security finally asked Nicole to go, and let Jenny through with her new temporary press badge.

"Bye! Remember, you're getting drunk and telling me everything. You still haven't described his beard." She winked and went back to the elevator, a little pregnancy waddle just starting.

Jenny swallowed hard. No one knew what he was like. No one knew how dangerous he was. But by the end of this tour, everyone would.