A/N: I only own the OC
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I looked around as I got to the diner that Sharon wanted to meet me at before she left town. I was surprised she had called me. I knew about her plans with Karly and the guys were moving in tonight. I was worried about Bucky, Steve, and Sam tonight since Karly was planning on something that would ruin New York. They were going to bomb the Counsel meeting. I was going to head over there once I got done with Sharon, but I couldn't shake my bad feeling. I cleared my head as I walked into the diner to see Sharon sitting in a back booth. I saw someone with her and realized that it was Karly just from the back of her head. I had seen her picture so many time by now that I knew it. I sent a text to alert everyone before sliding in with them. I knew that I shouldn't have met them.
"Hey, how's it going?" I asked her as I looked at Karly. She looked so much younger up close... she really was just a child caught up in this. They had already ordered food so it meant we weren't staying long. I wonder if I could stall them.
"I'm surprised you came." Sharon said and I shook my head as I felt her gun nudge between my ribs.
"I thought we were friends. I guess I was wrong." I said and she shrugged.
"Some people pay better." she said and I nodded as the waitress came over. Sharon gave her money and nudged me to stand up. I complied as she hid the gun and I was walking between Karly and Sharon. We walked out to a waiting SUV and I was pushed in.
"So, what is this?" I asked her.
"We know that the guys will try and stop us so we needed someone to help us convince them to leave us alone." Karly said and I pursed my lips. I was really tired of being the fucking bait. I should have just let Steve do it when he wanted to.
"We are trained to forgo emotions in times like these... they will do what they have to do." I said as Sharon started laughing.
"Are you hearing yourself right now? You are the one person that all three of them care about more than themselves. Bucky is so madly in love with you that he will do anything to protect you. Steve wants you from Bucky so he will do anything to look like the good guy compared to Bucky; and Sam thinks of you so much that he got into a fight with Steve and Bucky to leave you alone so you could have your own time." she said and I sighed. I knew that she was probably right. I got ready to say something else when I realized that I was the one thing standing in all their ways. I knew what I needed to do.
Bucky POV
I got to the diner, but they weren't there. I knew that she still had her tracer on so I started to follow it. Sam and Steve were heading to the counsel meeting to stop the rest of the group. I couldn't believe that Sharon put Sarah in that position, but I guess that you never really knew people. I followed it to the building the meeting was in so I knew that Sam and Steve were here somewhere. I told them that I was here, and that Sarah was here as well. Steve was talking to the counsel about canceling the vote and meeting, Sam was sweeping the floors, and I was going to look ion the other floors and meet him in the basement.
I got down to the basement at the same time as Sam. Steve had managed to have them stall the meeting, but no sighting of Sarah, Sharon, or Karly at this point. Sam and I split up when I heard him yell for me, and told Steve to get down here. I ran to where Sam was to find Karly, Sharon, Sarah, and 8 other newly made super soldiers waiting for us. Karly had a gun to Sarah and I pursed my lips as Steve appeared a minute later.
"Why are you doing this?" Steve asked her.
"Because I got fucked over just like you did, but I didn't drink the kool aid.' Sharon snapped and I saw Sarah wince as the gun went further between her ribs.
"Sharon, you know..." Steve was saying when Karly cut him off.
"Shut up! You shouldn't even be here! You are the reason everyone here is in this mess. You couldn't even stay in the past! You have no idea how they have treated us." she said and he put his hands up to show her he meant no harm.
"Karly, we can fix this. You know that there is an answer that isn't violence." Sam said and she raised an eyebrow at him.
"I thought you would have understood out of anyone. You have been pushed aside, forgotten, stepped on, and now that he's back you don't even get the shield you worked for." she told him and I wanted to agree. She wasn't wrong, but she was going about it the wrong way.
"Look, everyone wants change, but this isn't the way to get it." I finally added and she smirked at me.
"You just want her back. I know what you want." she said and I felt rage go through me that comment.
"Karly..." Sam said and went to step forward. She pulled the gun from Sarah, and she reacted. Sarah elbowed Karly in the face and the she dropped the gun. Sharon pulled her gun, but Sarah knocked her down as well. She turned when a gunshot rang out. I watched in slow motion as it hit Sarah in the neck, and felt rage. I snapped... I didn't need to be activated by words this time. I saw red.
We all began to take them down. I got to Karly and slammed her against a wall. I got ready to sat something when I heard a gunshot from behind me. I turned to see Sharon holding a gun and felt Karly got limp in my grip. I looked back to see Karly holding her side as blood was gushing out of it. I let down to the ground and looked at Sharon.
"I couldn't have any loose ends." she said.
"Neither can we." a voice said and I looked to see Sarah propped up as she shot Sharon in the head. I rushed over to Sarah and she collapsed back onto the ground. She had been grazed by the bullet as I moved her hand to see.
"I'm tired of being the bait." she mumbled and I laughed as I kissed her forehead. I picked her up and looked at Steve and Bucky.
"Self Defense?" Sam asked us and we all nodded. I carried Sarah, Sam carried Karly, and Steve carried Sharon out of the basement to waiting reporters, counsel members, and the public. I looked at Steve and Sam when they started to ask us what happened.
"What happened was a misguided attempt at trying to make people aware of a wrong in the wrong way. She had as much of a right as anyone to express her unhappiness with the way the world is going now. We more than ever need to band together to accept the changes that we have all gone through, but to also make them better. She didn't start out to be a criminal. She started out to be a voice, and one that very much got our attention. I wish we could have done more to save her. We need to work together to makes these changes to prevent this from happening again." Sam said and Sarah cheered for him.
"Captain America, are you back?" they asked Steve and he nodded.
"I am back, but I'm not Captain America. Times have changed, we have all changed, and the person who has stood by everyone consistently needs to be the new Captain America." Steve said and handed Sam the shield. Sam took it as everyone cheered. We finally made out way out of there, and back to the headquarters. Nick had doctors waiting as I helped Sarah inside.
"We will discuss this later, but for now you enjoy your night." he said to us as the doctor took Sarah to the medical floor.
"Come on." Steve said and we all followed him to the elevator. He handed us beers as we shed a few layers and looked at each other. Steve's TV was on and we watched as Sam's speech was played and then Steve handed over the shield. I couldn't believe it was over for now. I had no idea what was next.
"So what now?" Sam asked us and I looked at Steve.
"I'm with you til the end of the line." I said and he smirked. I may have been mad when Steve came back, but he would always be my best friend.
"I guess we are with you, Sam." Steve said and we all toasted each other.
"Is there room on this new team for me?" a voice asked and we looked up to see Sarah standing there. I ran to her and kissed her.
"You know there is room, and you are never allowed to be bait again." Sam said and she smirked.
"But I'm so good at it." she said and I kissed her forehead.
We sat around and talked until Sam got ready to leave. Steve was out on the balcony and I looked at Sarah.
"Go make sure he's ok." she said and I kissed her before walking out there.
"You alright?" I asked him and he smirked back at me.
"I guess. I am just trying to figure out where I fit in. I was so lost when I first came back, but this seems... different." he said and I nodded. I knew exactly what he meant.
"You will. It took a lot out of me to figure it out, but I did... and with the right people around... you will be old Steve again." I said and he chuckled.
"She changed you." he said and I nodded.
"For the better... I really am happier now." I said and he smiled.
"I'm glad, maybe a little jealous, but glad." he said and I chuckled as we walked back inside. Steve hugged Sarah and we left to go home.
"My place tonight?" she asked me and I nodded.
"I would love that." I said and she smiled at me.
I knew that when I first met Sarah I hated her. I hated how she made everything seem so easy, but then I realized that she didn't make it easy... she made it normal. I guess that's what I had been looking for because for the first time since I could remember I fell asleep with a smile on my face, and no nightmares to wake me up. She hadn't saved me... she had shown me how to make my own path to happiness.
THE END! I left it open in case I decide to make a sequel. Let me know if that would be something you would be interested in reading.
