What was she supposed to do? Max said he needed information. But what did he need? Jenny felt out of control. Of her equanimity, her mind and her body. Like it was moving out of her volition. What was she even doing here? She'd signed up for this job at the urging of Stuart, not because she'd vied for the position, but because of some heavy coaxing. She'd essentially been kidnapped at the request of a Federal Marshal with no training on how to extract information. Now she was in a Wakandan air craft heading to Louisiana with a trained psychopathic assassin who happened to be the most attractive person she'd ever encountered. Someone who she felt the most comfortable with, and yet, couldn't trust as far as she could throw him. Which was not at all. And still, she'd kissed him that morning with everything she'd had, and he'd kissed her back. They'd melted into each other like their lives depended on it. It was the only decision she'd made so far on this trip without someone telling her to do it.

And it was all she could think about, bursting in on her thought process of escaping this situation. The memory of his body against hers, his taste, his touch made her tingle all over. What that said about her, she didn't know.

She'd opted to sit in the back, watching as he flew them over the ocean.

"How long?" she asked.

Bucky turned his head slightly. "Four hours."

She smirked. If only commercial air flight was as fast. "Is there a bathroom on this thing?" she asked.

"Back and to the right."

Jenny could feel his frustration from where she sat. It was an aura he wore like an old familiar blanket. She understood it. She had her own.

She stood and shut the door to the lavatory. It was also sleek and black and shiny. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and dialed Nicole's number.

The phone picked up almost immediately. "Hey gorgeous," said Nicole. "Your ears must be burning, I was just thinking of you."

"You don't know how right you are," said Jenny, the pain in her ear hot and stinging.

"You never called me after your date? You did say yes didn't you?"

Jenny bit her lip. The memory of her and Bucky's ill-fated night with Max came to mind. It felt like an eternity away.

"It was… eventful."

"Are you alright? You sound… upset."

Jenny had to be careful. If she was dealing with Federal Marshals, she couldn't tell Nicole everything, regardless of if she trusted her with her life.

"I will be. Listen, can you tell me how Max Hoffenn was hired? Like what channels he went through to get on this trip?"

"Who?"

"Max Hoffenn," she said again.

"I have no idea. But I'll look. I'm confused though."

"Why?"

"There were only two people slated for the trip."

For some reason, Jenny's blood ran cold. "You mean two extra people?"

"Two total. You and your fine-ass counterpart."

"What about Juan and Russel?"

"Who?"

"My body guards."

"James Barnes is your body guard. I'd let him guard my body any…"

"Nic, is it possible that it's a mistake? They must have been added at the last minute."

"I can check. I mean, if they're there with you then it's gotta be. Right?"

Jenny thought for a minute. If Max, Juan and Russel weren't part of the GRC then they wouldn't be vetted through the agency, but there would at least be a record or manifest wouldn't there?

"I'll do some research," said Nicole. "Is it important?"

"Very."

"You got it pal."

"How's baby?"

"Baby's kicking me every chance she gets. She's gonna be a runner this one."

"I miss you."

"Miss you too."

"Nicole?"

"Yeah?"

Jenny hesitated. Maybe Max would report her missing tomorrow and she didn't want Nicole to worry. Not when she was so far along in her pregnancy.

"Whatever you hear, I just want you to know I'm safe."

There was silence on the other end. "You know that's the scariest thing for a new mother to hear don't you?" said Nicole finally.

"I promise I'll keep checking in. I'm not saying our safe word."

A heavy sigh came through the receiver. "You tax me Jen."

"Please don't worry. If it's any consolation, I'm with Bucky."

"That does ease my mind. But be careful? Keep this channel open please."

"I will. Thanks for looking into Max for me."

She hung up. At the silence she heard Bucky on the phone through the door.

"I'll keep you posted," he said.

She pressed the button to the side of the doors. They whooshed open and she rushed around the corner running straight into a solid Bucky.

Bucky pushed at the ground with his toes, and Jenny crossed her arm, holding onto her elbow.

"Here," he said. "I thought you might need this." He held out a phone charger.

"Oh. I didn't even think about it." She took it waiting for him to say something else.

He just nodded and went back to the pilot seat.

She fell back down onto the bench and plugged the charger into an outlet, contemplating what she would say to Stuart when Bucky mumbled something from the front.

"What?" she asked.

"It would be a lot easier if you came up here," he said.

Slowly she walked to the front of the vessel and strapped herself into the chair.

"I was saying," he said. "I called Stuart while you were in the bathroom. Let him know there was an emergency and I was pulling you out."

"Oh. Ok. That makes sense."

"If you want, I can drop you off in Washington, then go to Delacroix on my own."

"No!" said Jenny. She was still helping Max. And deep in her heart of hearts, she didn't want to go. "No, I'll stay," she said.

Bucky's eyes relaxed. "Ok," he said. "We can stop in town before we get to Sam's. I know we left your stuff in a hurry."

"Thanks," she said.

They flew the rest of the way in silence, as Jenny watched out the window wondering what on earth she was doing.

…..

Bucky flipped on the ships stealth mode and they descended just beside a water tower. The door opened, and a thick heat blasted into the air conditioned space, causing Jenny's upper lip to sweat immediately. It was around five o'clock, almost the hottest point in the day.

"We just have to grab a couple things," he said, taking off his coat so he was only in his dark blue tee shirt. His metal arm glinted in the sunlight that broke through the doors. "Then we'll head to Sam's."

She nodded trying to avert her eyes from his arms.

Town was about a ten minute jaunt up the road. Bucky stared straight ahead, walking evenly, his sunglasses hiding his eyes. Jenny took in the sights around her. She'd never been in the South before. The big trees were a lush green with moss hung down in long strands like tinsel over the branches. The air smelled like salt water and licorice. Crickets hopped along the heated concrete next to her and buzzed in the grass making the atmosphere vibrate.

"What are you getting?" she asked when the silence became too much.

He gave her a sideways glance. "Cake."

"Cake?"

He didn't say anything, just picked up speed.

"Why?" she asked.

"You don't show up to Mama Wilson's house without something in hand," he said.

Jenny nodded slowly.

They reached town, and everyone they passed greeted Bucky with a smile or a handshake, welcoming him home. She looked surprised at all of his warm welcomes. And people seemed surprised by her surprise.

Bucky headed into a small convenience store. The second the bell over the door rang, she heard a yell from inside.

"Metal man!" came a boisterous voice.

"Hey, how are you?" said Bucky. He reached over the counter and an older black gentleman in a fishing cap gripped Bucky's hand and pulled him closer slapping his shoulder.

"Right as rain," said the man behind the counter. "What are you doing in this neck of the swamp?"

"I need a cake."

"Ah! Right over here. Who's this?" He pointed at Jenny who stood awkwardly by a rack of chips. She gave him a wave holding her elbow.

Bucky pushed his hand through his hair. "This is… she's."

"Nothing, just a colleague," she said quickly.

He gave her a strange look, then Bucky then her again. "What happened to your head Chere?" he asked.

Jenny had almost forgotten the bandage wrapped around her ear. She touched it gently and it pulsed like it had a heartbeat. "Hazard of the job I'm afraid."

"You a super human too?"

"Something like that," she said, not wanting to get into it. She wasn't sure what she could say.

"Nice to meet a colleague of Metal Man. He's an honorary member of the community," said the man coming around to shake her hand. "Mason." He grasped her hand, warm and dry in his.

"Jenny," she said with a smile. "Your town is beautiful."

"Why thank you," he said.

Bucky opened the sliding door and pulled out a cake from the refrigerator.

"You bringing that over to Sarah's?"

"That's the plan," said Bucky.

"She still mad at you?"

Bucky cleared his throat. "Um… well..."

Jenny looked curiously at him.

Bucky put the pastry on the counter and handed Mason a few crumpled bills from his pocket. "We'll also take one order of fried redfish." He pointed to the case in front. Mason took out some tongs and loaded a Styrofoam container with fried fish, hushpuppies and two pieces of corn on the cob. "Oh, and we'll take these too." He ran down an aisle and grabbed two toothbrushes and a small tube of toothpaste like a nervous child.

"Mhm… colleages," chuckled Mason as he rang them up glancing between them. Bucky waved at him to keep the change.

"Till next time Mason." Bucky picked up his purchases and walked out the door.

"Bye Metal Man. But I think you forgot your friend…"

"Lovely to meet you," said Jenny shrugging.

"Until next time Mon Chere," he said with a smile.

She followed Bucky out the door with a jingle. He was halfway down the street passing people when she caught up with him. "I don't actually live here you know, you can't just leave me in a convenience store."

Bucky juggled the items in his hands and shoved a toothbrush at her. "Let's get back to the ship before this melts," he said nodding to the cake.

"Can I take something?" she asked, his hands filled with the cake and the fish container.

He nodded, handing her the fish. It smelled salty and greasy, and her stomach rumbled.

"Who's Sarah?" asked Jenny.

"Sam's sister."

"Oh. It's her house we're going to?"

"Both her and Sam. They inherited from their parents when they died."

"Why is she mad at you? Not that I blame her."

He gave her a sideways glance. "Because."

Jenny grunted.

"Because," he said sighing. "She's sort of my ex."