CHAPTER 3

She was packed and ready to go. The wind was whipping through the tarmac, completely ruining her hair. She wheeled her suitcase behind her, practically running in her heels to the jet.

This last weekend was a whirl. Since seeing him, she hadn't been able to sleep. The memories kept flooding her nightly dreams, and those dead killer eyes haunted her waking hours. But then she would remember she had a job to do.

There he was, next to the plane. He had on a leather jacket, tight jeans and sunglasses. His hands were still gloved, and he was… smiling. Talking to the pilot. She shivered. What a sociopath.

She held her chin high and refused to show that she was shaking. A worker grabbed her suitcase and threw it on the cart. Holding tightly to her bag that held the GRC's laptop, and her other carry-ons, she turned toward the plane. It was now or never.

She walked straight to the stairway that the Winter Soldier seemed to be guarding. As she passed, she got a whiff of his scent. Heady and strong. Leather and something sweet and familiar underneath.

"Hi."

She turned against her will, an almost involuntary response. He'd taken off his sunglasses. His eyes were so much softer than they used to be. He seemed to be studying her. A wave of heat went down her head to her toes.

She nodded and walked quickly up the steps and plunked down in one of seats, placing her bag on the chair next to her. She closed her eyes. At least she'd been able to keep from shaking or punching him.

She pulled out the laptop and swiveled the chair to face the window. As private planes went, this wasn't bad. She'd been in all manner as a child with her grandfather, and this one had that new plane smell. Tan leather seats, wood paneled accoutrements. She put her head down and went over the briefing again. First stop was Latvia, second was Estonia. She hadn't been, and despite the plan to expose the metal armed guard outside she was eager to visit. The country was beautiful. Colorful and rich in history. It was an easy gig these first two times. Meet with the Countries reps and then a press conference. Everything had been written out for her, all she had to do was read it. It wasn't exactly Shakespeare, but it wasn't terrible.

They were traveling with two guards, Juan and Russel, plus the Winter Soldier. And finally an aide from the GRC. Max or something. He looked nice. Too old to be an aide, but who was she to judge? She'd gotten into this line of work late. Though she had a sociology degree, she also had a one in teaching. She'd hated to give up her second grade students, but after the blip, she knew she could help more people with the Global Repatriation Council.

She knew the pain of being displaced after disappearing into dust.

The other men got on the plane and she took a deep breath. His smell was there. That leather and sweet bourbon smell. That's what it was, like an Old Fashioned cocktail. Memories of her grandfather swirled in her head, and she ached. She ached for how things were before she knew, and she ached because nothing would ever be the same again.

"Hi," said a friendly voice above her. She looked up and jumped in her seat.

The Winter Soldier was standing to her right, not smiling, but not grimacing either.

"Hm," she nodded. He sat down across from her. She could feel the hate rising up in her.

"Jennifer, right?"

She nodded again.

"James." He held out his hand. When she didn't take it, he pulled it back and sighed. "So how long have you worked for the GRC?"

"Three years."

"She speaks." He gave her a little lopsided smile. It was the sort of grin that Nicole would have fallen all over herself for.

"After the 'Blip'," she said.

He looked sad then, his eyes distant. "Sorry, I'm not great at small talk. My therapist says stick to work and the weather."

"I don't do small talk either."

He bit his lip then and nodded slowly. Finally, he seemed to be getting that she wanted to be left alone. "I don't work for Hydra anymore. That was… a long time ago."

At the name Hydra, angry heat washed over her. "Not that long," she said without thinking.

He frowned. "So it's going to be like that this trip," he muttered under his breath.

She'd had a shaky plan at best. Play nice, cozy up and learn all she could to show that he was a killer. That he should be behind bars. But staring at him now, and his smug countenance, she couldn't help it. "We don't have to be friendly. This is a business trip, and I'm here to do my job."

"Fine by me." He lifted from his chair and sank into one of the seats near the front.

She looked back at her brief and minimized it. She pulled up google and typed in "The Winter Soldier" just like she had so many times this weekend.

A million hits came up. "James Buchanan Barnes, AKA the Winter Soldier, linked to two killings in Hong Kong… Linked to the assassination of UN leaders from Beijing… Latvia, Poland…" The list went on. She typed in "Bucky Barnes."

"…cleared of all charges… Best friend Captain America vouches for Barnes… Time in Wakanda equals cured…"

"Looking up our sullen friend?"

Jenny jumped for a second time and saw Max's congenial smile above her. She slammed the laptop shut.

He sat down in the seat the Winter Soldier had just exited and stuck one leg out in a completely comfortable manner. She looked him over. He seemed nice. Sparkly green eyes, and red hair. Friendly, and light. Not dark, brooding and… dangerous.

"Does he make you nervous too?" he whispered, crossing his hands over his stomach, leaning back in his chair.

"Not nervous…" she said. "Just, cautious." She had to watch her words carefully.

"I get it. I don't know if I buy that he's completely rehabilitated."

Jenny pursed her lips. She couldn't trust anyone with her past yet. Even a tall, handsome friendly sort.

"So, you're a case worker. Noble. How'd you get this gig?"

"Fell into it."

He gave her a dazzling grin. Straight white teeth. "I hope you don't mind… I sort of looked you up." He ran his hand through his hair, the clean red strands softly falling back into place.

Jenny tried to keep the look on her face relaxed, but she started sweating. She'd managed to separate her past from her present in so many ways, but if someone really wanted to know who she was, they could find out.

"Just your personnel file, I didn't google you or anything. Though… I may have checked your Instagram." He looked at her coyly from under his lashes.

"Oh, and what did you find out?" She shifted in her seat, trying to make herself look engaged and not nervous.

"You have a really cute dog."

She breathed out. She set her laptop down on the seat next to her and leaned back too. "Rufus. He's quite the good boy."

"Looked like it."

"How about you? If you don't mind my saying so, you're not what I would expect in an Aide…"

"You mean I'm too old?"

She laughed. "I was trying not to say it. But it's ok. You, yourself are not old. It's just usually kids doing internships."

"Well you're right, I am. I was just so inspired when Falcon gave his speech, I had to be a part of the new GRC."

"You mean Captain America," she corrected. She gave a little sigh. She couldn't tolerate ignorance when it came to race, and she hoped it wasn't the case with this guy. If it was she'd shut this conversation down faster than Quicksilver could run. Falcon had turned into an amazing Captain America, and he was the reason she stayed at the GRC.

He shook his head. "Of course, you're right. It's just hard to get used to a world without Steve Rogers."

At Steve Rogers name, she heard The Winter Soldier shift in his seat near the front of the plane.

"It was a very good speech," she said.

"I heard it, and I decided to quit my job as a data analyst and see if I could make a difference too."

"Noble," she countered impressed.

Just then the engines came to life, and the plane started taxying backward.

"I'll let you get settled and do the work I interrupted." He got up and leaned forward, offering his hand. "Nice to meet you Jennifer."

"You too," she said taking it. It was firm and warm, a silver ring on his finger, smooth with an imperceptible engraving.

She opened the laptop again and closed out her search on the gloomy assassin sitting unnervingly close in the metal flying cylinder.