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CHAPTER 9.

"It's ok Stuart, everything's fine. I… I was just nervous about the press conference. Everything is fine."

"Is there something you need from me?" he said over the phone.

"Really it's ok. Listen, I'm just heading out. I'll check in later?"

"Briefing tomorrow morning."

"Alright."

She hung up the phone and blow dried her hair. She'd made a complete fool of herself. So far, Bucky had done nothing but prove himself.

He'd mentioned being partners. She remembered that Stuart had said that too in the beginning. She compared the old Winter Soldier she'd encountered to the new Bucky she'd met. They were polar opposites. Something inside her told her that no man could be trusted. But she wanted to try. She knew now, she was using him as a stand-in for Daniel. And at the core, her grandfather. And that wasn't fair. She could at least try to make it right. Apologies wouldn't cut it. She had to make it up to him.

She pinned her hair back and changed into a light blue pantsuit and put on some "Tommy Dorsey" swing music to set her nerves back right. Nothing like the classics to make her feel at home.

Jenny went over the briefing again. An urgent matter had pushed her meeting with the Prime Minister to tomorrow so they had moved the press conference up to today. The Minister had signed off on her speech, so all she had to do was look presentable and say the words.

Placing her lucky eye glasses on her nose, she gave herself one last glance in the mirror. She walked down the hall to the Lobby and found both Max and Bucky. The former Winter Soldier was in his leather again, shoulder harnesses and gloves on. His stubble looked more shadowy than usual, and his under eyes were darker. He barely looked at her. A groundswell of embarrassment went straight to her cheeks.

Max smiled and offered his arm. She took it and practically pulled him to the car.

"What's the rush?" he asked with a chuckle. "We're actually early."

"Just ready to get started I guess."

They climbed into the idle car. She waited for Bucky to climb in after them, but he ushered Juan and Russel in, shut the door from the outside, then climbed in the car behind them with the extra guards Stuart had procured. She sighed and sank back into the seat.

"Worried about our friend?" asked Max.

She gave him a little smile and shook her head. She concentrated on reciting the speech in her head.

When they pulled up, she was shocked to see a media circus. About one hundred members of the local, national and foreign press were gathered. Flashing cameras and boom mics and reporters holding out tape recorders had mobbed the car.

"Oh god," said Jenny. She bit her lip, feeling a tremor of fear go down her spine. It wasn't supposed to be like this.

The door opened, and Bucky was there. He held his gloved hand out and helped her out of the car. He expertly pushed through the crowd, and helped her onto the outdoor stage, the Symkarian flag the backdrop. Then he was gone, and it was just her, alone in front of the huge crowd, with more gathering on the other side of the street.

This was it, no lead in, no introduction. She took a deep breath.

"Good afternoon. Thank you all for coming. We at the Global Repatriation Council appreciate your presence. As you know..." she caught sight of Max in the huge crowd. His attention was only on her, and he snapped a photo of her with his phone and gave her a little smile. She gave one back. "As you know there has been a great amount of unrest due to the displacement of individuals because of the "Blip". Peoples who are in great need of assistance to get back to a sustainable way of life…"

She faltered for a moment, as she thought of the little girl with the filthy teddy bear, lost and alone in Estonia. But she pushed on, even though a rude member of the press kept shouting questions at her. "We'll be taking questions later," she said.

"We know the GRC has been seen as cumbersome and bureaucratic, but we've learned from our mistakes and are striving to make amends by listening, learning and working toward common ground." She went on, saying the words, every syllable flowing out of her like they were her own.

"Which is why, as we look to the future, the council is committed to being a platform for action to repair broken trust in a fractured world for all people. This is our chief priority. Thank you for your attention. We'll take questions now." Jenny took a breath, ready for the deluge.

A reporter with long flowing almost white hair broke through the din. Her Symkarian accent was thick and angry. "Silvija Sablinova, from the Mercenary Syndicate. How can you stand there after what your new Captain America did in our country? He rounded up innocents, provoked violence and threatened our people."

Jenny adjusted her glasses and straightened the papers in front of her. "The GRC takes full responsibility for the actions of John Walker. As of now, he's been stripped of the title of Captain America, and dishonorably discharged."

"And what of the disrespect that's been shown?" asked Silvija. "How can you gain our trust back?"

Jenny caught sight of Bucky walking through the middle of the crowd. Focused and singular in his purpose. Protection for all involved. "I know that we've made errors. Not allowing people to change, not… not trusting in the humanity of the individual. Holding the forced choices that had to be made over countries' heads. Which has effected individuals." She gulped. She watched as Bucky stopped walking and turned to face her.

She was completely off script now. "It was a mistake. One that I regret."

Their eyes locked over the sea of reporters. She knew that she had his full attention, his jaw unclenched.

"Trust can be hard to get back, especially if one never had it. But as long as there are allowances on both sides, and forgiveness, I'm confident…"

Bucky gave her a half smile, pushing his cheek up to crinkle his eyes.

"I'm confident that we can make a fresh start, and create…"

He took a deep breath. There were only the two of them.

"A new partnership."

The flashing started again and the questions were hurled at her, faster than she could keep up with. After fifteen minutes, she felt his presence behind her before she saw him.

"That will be all ladies and gentlemen," she said. "Thank you for your time."

He followed behind her as she went down the steps first. He put his arm around her shoulders, barely touching, and guided her to the waiting car through the throng of grasping and anxious reporters. He helped her through the door behind Max, Juan and Russel and shut it from the outside. She looked up at him through the window as he looked down at her, his eyes never bluer. He hit the roof of the car twice, and the driver whisked them back to the hotel.