CHAPTER 5.
Jenny paced in her room. Juan and Russel were taking shifts outside her door.
When Bucky had practically pushed her in the car, Juan had shrugged apologetically as the car had pulled away.
"Glad you're ok ma'am," he'd said. She gave the young security guard a half smile but was too angry to speak.
Hanging on the back of the hotel door now was her ruined dress. The remnants of her former life, all in tatters. She picked up the hem, and let it drop.
She'd watched the news with her translator. The shooting outside the hall had nothing to do with the dinner.
Still, she'd been told that the Winter Soldier wouldn't be back until late by one of the guards. Apparently, he'd decided the police hadn't done a good enough job, and he was interrogating the shooter.
That is if he didn't kill them first. She couldn't wait any longer, she had to expose him now. Their rooms were adjacent, which had made her nervous. She removed the chair she'd placed in front of the door knob. She knew with his Super Soldier serum and metal arm, that didn't mean much, but it still gave her a layer of security.
She pulled a hair pin out of her mess of a bun, and stuck it in the lock, twisting until she heard a soft click. She squinted in the dark and turned on a lamp by the door. There had to be something here that would incriminate him.
He was neat. Everything folded and tucked in drawers, his suitcase lined up in the corner. She'd have to be careful not to muss anything as she rifled through his stuff. There was only one thing out of place. She walked over to his nightstand and picked up a tattered copy of The Hobbit, the fabric over the top practically gone. It was a first printing. She flipped the cover open to a note on the inside.
For the best pal a guy could have. I know how you love this stuff. Merry Christmas. -Steve.
Her heart caught in her throat. She was holding something Captain America had written in. She dropped it, and a folded piece of paper fluttered to the ground. She picked it up and opened it.
It was list of names, with "Reparations" written at the top.
Some names were crossed out with scrawly old fashioned cursive.
Margaret Simmons: $2000 for Anna's tuition.
Jeremy Houser: Told about his grandfather.
Martin Tishman: $30,000 for medical bills.
The list went on and on. She sat heavily on the bed, the paper landing on the comforter. Maybe…
She heard muffled voices in the hallway. He was back.
"Shit!" she said.
She folded the paper back up and placed it haphazardly in the pages of "The Hobbit". She hurried to the access between their rooms as a key was being put into the lock. Oh no! The lamp. She switched it off as the door opened and turned the knob, to prevent the click and closed it behind her. She breathed out, listening, as the Winter Soldier moved around his adjacent space. She heard him flop on his bed, and then all was silent.
….
She was cleared to go back to the capital building tomorrow as they felt the threat had been neutralized. Except the Winter Soldier. He sent a guard to tell her that he'd be escorting her to President Tarkov himself. She'd requested that Max come as well, to which the Winter Soldier reluctantly agreed.
Max had come to check on her that morning. He brought her coffee, a cardamom roll and his smile. Despite needing to shut down the flirting she was relieved to see that he was alright. "How are you?" he asked as she closed the door to her room from the hallway. They started walking toward the elevator.
"No worse for wear. Are you ok? You disappeared last night."
"Yeah, well I went to track down those shots. Thought I'd make myself useful."
"That's noble Max, but you could have been hurt."
"It was pretty fool hardy. But I had to make sure you were safe," He pushed the button in the elevator, and stuck his hands in his pockets. "You're important." He bit his lip and stared at the floor. "You're important to what we're doing is what I meant."
"Max, I…" Too much had happened in her past to jump into trusting a man who flattered.
The elevator dinged and the doors opened. And there he was.
The Winter Soldier waiting for them. Waiting for her. Their eyes locked, and she felt a wave of heat. He'd grabbed her, ruined her dress… and saved her.
His steely gaze was in place again, his emotions completely locked away. She couldn't tell if he'd been able to ascertain if she'd been in his room or not. That's why she'd insisted on Max. And maybe other reasons.
He didn't say anything, just followed them out to the car and climbed in behind them. She tried to look out the window, but she couldn't help but steal glances at him. His focus was purely outside the car. She couldn't help but wonder about his dog-eared copy of The Hobbit from Steve Rogers. It was so cute. Something that reminded her of her little brother and his best friend.
That personal note was one of the most simple and loyal things she'd ever read.
But looking at him now, there was no trace of someone who would steep themselves in a fantasy novel. She thought about their first encounter, all those years ago, His eyes dark and cold like a stormy January. She hadn't noticed that she'd been picking at the skin of her thumb with her nail until she realized he was looking back.
For some reason, she didn't look away this time. Maybe it was the book and the list that made him less scary. His eyebrows looked relaxed, his jaw not so tightly set. They weren't studying each other, just looking. Her palms started to sweat, and she flexed her fingers. One corner of his mouth turned up just barely.
"What are you looking at?" asked Max.
The Winter Soldier smirked and went back to the window.
"Don't let him get to you. He's here to follow orders," said Max.
Jenny frowned. Regardless of how she felt about the Winter Soldier, she hated talking about people like they weren't there.
"Thank you for the coffee by the way," she said.
Max smiled and winked at her.
When they arrived at the Capital building, President Tarkov was there to greet her again. The older woman smiled and hugged her, and Jenny couldn't help but melt into her embrace a little. It had been so long since she'd gotten a hug.
"My dear, I'm so glad you are alright. Your stoic friend moves quickly."
"Yes, he was the right man for the job I think." Jenny couldn't believe the words she was saying. The Winter Soldier was a few feet away. She dared not look at him.
President Tarkov took her hand and led her to the waiting car. Both Max and the Winter Soldier climbed in the car behind, and they were off.
"What made you apply for this job?" she asked
"I sort of fell into it," said Jenny.
"Why did you take it?"
Jenny considered. Revenge. "I wanted to help. I was blipped, and I understand how it feels to have no place in this world. I had no job and no family and no fiancé when I came back. I'd never felt… I'd never felt more confused or lost. That's why I became a case worker."
"Ah. We called it the 'Tolm'. 'The Dust'. My own daughter was subject to the Tolm."
"I'm sorry, that must have been awful." She realized this conversation wasn't exactly professional, but it was so needed.
"I got through it. Just like you. But when she came back? I've never been so overjoyed. A piece of my heart returned."
Jenny nodded. She hadn't been so lucky.
As they drove around the city, President Tarkov pointed out several homeless camps. Refugees and people displaced after being removed from the homes that they used to occupy during the blip. "This is what the old GRC has done and your new Captain America. Helped those who came back, by exploiting those who remained."
A little blonde girl holding a muddy teddy bear on the side of the road caught her eye. Alone and cold.
"It's awful," said Jenny, shaking her head. A lump had formed in her throat. "The new GRC will be taking measures to find homes for them instead of these camps in the future. And there are funds being set aside to assist with housing and repatriation."
"That's what they told you to say. Do you believe it?"
"Yes."
President Tarkov narrowed her eyes.
"I want to," said Jenny.
"When you go home," said the older woman. "Tell the Council what you've seen. Take a step toward action and not just the words of a man that have been written down for you."
Jenny swallowed. It wasn't a reprimand, but she felt the sting. "I will."
"I know you will. It's in your blood."
Jenny froze, every muscle in her body going taught. "What do you mean?"
President Tarkov leaned forward, her words so loud they swallowed up every sound in the car. "I know who you are Yennifer Pierce."