I hope you guys like this latest chapter...sorry I kept you waiting so long. It's not as long as I liked but I wanted to post something tonight because I'm planning to switch to Bucky's POV next. Enjoy and as always thanks for reading. Reviews are appreciated! I have created an email address strictly dedicated to answering any and all questions you have about the story...anything you ever wondered about or suggestions of your own. The yahoo email address ID is ecorleyfanfic

ECORLEY

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CLICK

I involuntarily flinched when I heard the gun click and I nervously waited for death to come and take me away from this life. I knew that a shotgun fired at this distance would certainly mean my death...there would be no recovery from it. I had no delusion of grandeur that I would be spared...there would be no miracle to save me. If I was really lucky, it would be both quick and painless. In mere moments, Eden Page would be gone from this world...only a memory in the hearts of the few people I may have significantly touched in my life.

I only hoped that this whole fiasco would end with me. Maybe my death would mean something if it at least saved the lives of the two men now bleeding on the floor and the woman unconscious a few feet away. As I kneeled on the ground waiting for death to come and take me away, I listened to the sounds around me. I heard Phil's labored breathing coming from behind the counter. I heard the low, painful moan escape Sam's lips from his position a few feet to my right. I heard the police frantically bustling around outside the store shouting orders at each other.

Through all the sounds and all the commotion, I finally heard the one thing I needed to hear to snap me out of my thoughts...the one thing that made me want to fight for my life...the only thing in this world that mattered to me. It was Bucky's voice that was now shouting my name through the chaos, like a light in the darkness searching me out.

"EDEN"

I felt my heart start to race as I realized that he would be there to witness my death...he would be there to see the end of me. Strangely, it both comforted and frightened me. Knowing he was there, as he always promised he would be, gave me a semblance of peace. But the realization that he would be there to watch what would surely be my bloody demise scared the shit out of me. I knew it would break his heart. Bucky had said, many times, that I was his everything, his entire life. I wish I could believe that he had really meant it when he promised he would go on with his life if something happened to me. I could only pray that Steve would be able to help him rebuild again like he had done those months ago before I had entered Bucky's life...before we had begun our great love story.

I kept my eyes squeezed shut waiting...the seconds kept ticking by and death still hadn't found me.

Maybe it has Eden...maybe it happened in a blink of an eye and now it's over.

I knew I had to open my eyes and face reality but I was still clinging to my life. I cursed at myself for being so pathetic and finally gathered enough courage to open my eyes. I looked up to see the madman staring down at me in shock and then back at his shotgun. He pulled the trigger again and the same sound was heard once more...click. At that moment a flood of emotions soared within me and I let out a shaky breath.

Relief

The shotgun was out of ammo. I had been given a short reprieve, perhaps for just a moment until he pulled that .38 from his waistband. I still took it as a small victory on my part. I wasn't dead, at least not yet anyway. I still had a few more moments to try and survive and maybe, just maybe, that would be enough. I could still make this right...I could still survive for Bucky.

Anger

That look of shock on his face suddenly pissed me off but not nearly as much as it did when he had pulled the trigger a second time. This asshole didn't know me and yet he was so eager and willing to end my life. For what? For the thousand dollars he pulled from the safe? Was my life really worth less than that?

No!

Was I really going to stay here on my knees and let this happen?

No!

Was I going to let him rip me away from my life? From Bucky?

Hell No!

I felt the anger building inside of me...begging for release. I closed my eyes and let it flow...uncontrollable...untamed...pure animalistic rage trapped inside of me. I let it envelop me like a wall of protection that I could cling to in time of great need. That time was now...my anger was my shield and in this moment, I was invincible.

I opened my eyes and let them settle on my enemy standing over me. He looked startled and let the arm holding the shotgun slowly drop back down to his side. I had an idea what it was exactly that he saw locked in my eyes. The dark and dangerous thing I had created inside of me had finally breeched the surface and it was glaring back at him defiantly, ready to strike him down. I had always managed to keep it under lock and key and reel it in when I got too out of control. Tonight, the angry thing that had been building inside of me for weeks...months...years even, was finally ready to rear its ugly head.

It was as if time slowed down in those next moments. I saw the shotgun slip from his fingers and heard as it clattered onto the floor. I knew this was all about to end in the next ten seconds.

ONE...TWO...

I threw myself back and away from him, scrambling to my feet and looking around for something to fight with. I knew he had plenty of ammo left in that .38 and he wasn't going to hesitate to shoot me. If he got that gun before I found something to defend myself with, it was over.

THREE...FOUR...

I spotted a potential weapon at the same time he reached for his own. I bent down to pick it up as his hand was tugging the .38 from his waist. The weight and the smooth curve of the object was a satisfying sensation in my hands. The rage I had felt inside continued to grow, like a bomb ticking the seconds away until it would finally detonate and destroy everything in its path. Currently, the only thing in my way was the asshole in front of me and he was about to wish he had never stepped foot in this liquor store tonight.

FIVE...SIX...

He was quicker only because he had easier access to his weapon. My reflexes were better and my reason for living was just outside that building screaming my name. I wasn't going to let Bucky see me die...not here...not like this. I was still raising my weapon with my right arm when I saw him yank the gun up and point it at me.

SEVEN...EIGHT...

My left arm came up to defend myself and I slammed it into his right arm. His hand holding the gun was knocked away from me and the gun misfired somewhere off to my left. He let out a grunt of surprise when my arm made contact with his with enough force to knock him off balance. He had steadied himself and was raising his gun once again but it was too late.

NINE...TEN !

I let out an angry yell as my right arm swung towards his head. The bottle of wine made a loud crack on his left temple and shattered upon contact. Glass and alcohol rained down onto the floor at my feet. I could feel the wine drip down onto my arm and mix with the blood already coating my pale arms. The smell of the metallic blood mixing with the sweetness of the wine sickened me to my core. I had swung that bottle with every bit of force I could muster and my hit was solid. The man immediately fell to the floor into unconsciousness. The anger I had built inside of me had exploded the moment I hit him. It was now gone and I was left feeling empty. Perhaps if it was still there, I would have retaliated more but the moment was lost. I once again slipped to my knees and let my head slump forward, letting the relief flow through me. It was over.

I was numb and for a moment I just stayed there, listening to myself breathe heavily as I tried to calm myself. I finally looked down at Sam and scurried over to where he was lying. I let out a low moan when I saw his eyes were closed and quickly reached out to feel for a pulse.

I was relieved when I felt it and quickly pulled my jacket off and rolled it up to tuck under his head. His face had paled and his hands had fallen away from the scarf I had pressed to his wound only minutes earlier. A small puddle of blood had gathered at his side and I felt it seeping into the fabric of my jeans.

"Sam! Sam, open your eyes" I demanded.

His eyes stayed shut and I pressed my hands against the scarf in an attempt at stopping the blood from flowing so freely. He let out a low moan of pain when he felt the pressure of my hands on his belly.

Where are the police?

I lifted my head and screamed as loudly as I could, "Help...somebody help us!" I looked back down at my hands as I felt the warm blood slipping between my fingers, soaking the scarf more. There was so much blood...too much.

"HELP!" I screamed again in panic.

I could hear people banging on the front door and I remembered that the robber had locked the deadbolt when he walked in. I turned around and saw two police officer's banging at the door, motioning me forward.

"Ma'am, unlock the door" one of them shouted. He was pounding on the glass and then pointing to the lock. "We're here to help you, let us in"

I looked down at Sam and then back at the door. I couldn't do it...I couldn't leave him. I was frozen in place, my hands pressed against the wound, feeling his life drain away. I shook my head and willed myself not to break down. I took a deep breath and brushed a strand of hair from my face before reaching for Sam's pulse again, noticing it seemed to be getting weaker.

"Move" I heard a familiar voice shout. My head jerked towards the door when I heard Bucky's voice and let out a sigh of relief when I saw him and Steve both standing behind the two police officers. Seeing him and knowing he was only right outside that door gave me the strength I needed to keep it together. I wasn't going to let Bucky see me fall apart.

"Sir, get back now" one of them shouted at him, not bothering to even turn and face him.

"I said move, NOW!" I heard Bucky shouting angrily.

That got the attention of both the police officers and my gaze settled on a few men who were now cautiously approaching the door with guns drawn, staring at Bucky like he was the bad guy. I felt those familiar tingles in my spine...that rage threatening to come back. The threat of him being hurt was the only thing that could have gotten me to my feet at that moment. It they laid one hand on him, that darkness inside would start racing to the surface again and I wouldn't be able to stop it. My first instinct was to shout out a warning to him. They all gaped at Bucky, as did I, but before any other words could be said or actions be taken, Steve spoke up.

"We're here to help officers. This is my partner, Sergeant Barnes" I heard Steve say calmly. "He knows her...we both do. Let us through"

All eyes flickered to Steve and a flash of recognition appeared on their faces. One of the police officers visibly relaxed and nodded his head, "Sorry about that Captain Rogers. Just doing our job sir"

Captain America saves the day again!

I saw him step to the side and motion both Steve and Bucky forward. Sam suddenly let out another low moan and I turned away from the door to focus on him again. Bucky was here...everything was going to be okay now...I was going to be okay.

"Sir, she won't open the door...she must be in shock. I've got a man going around back to see if there is another way in" I heard one of the officers say.

I shook my head in frustration. Why didn't they understand? Why did they not get it? I had to stay with Sam. I had to keep pressure on his wound. His life was slipping away and I had to save him in order to save myself.

The sudden sound of glass being busted garnered my attention and I turned towards the door again. Bucky hadn't wasted time trying to convince me to get up from my position on the floor...he had to have known I wasn't going to leave the side of a dying man. He had simply punched through the glass door with his fist and was now reaching towards the deadbolt. His metal hand worked the lock quickly and a second later he pulled it back through the hole and yanked the door open.

I watched as Bucky surveyed the store surroundings, taking the damage all in. I saw his eyes darken as they landed on the unconscious man on the floor. The shotgun and .38 lay not far from his body, along with the broken glass from the wine bottle I had clocked him with. His eyes continued to sweep over the scene before they finally landed on me.

"Eden" he said shakily, almost in a whisper.

I pressed the scarf tighter over Sam's wound before glancing back up at Bucky, "They need help" I said, looking down at the dying man on the floor beside me and then pointing to Phil behind the counter.

Bucky continued to watch me for a moment longer, intently staring like he might not ever see me again.

"Please" I begged, reaching up to brush another bothersome strand of hair from my face. His eyes widened and he finally snapped out of his trance to shout somewhere behind him, "We need those paramedics in here"

I gave him the barest of nods before turning back to Sam. His eyes were still closed but his pulse was there, not beating as strongly as I hoped but beating nonetheless.

"Help is here Sam. They're coming. Just hold on a little longer" I begged.

I wanted nothing more than to step away from the bloody mess that was continuing to seep into my clothes. I wanted to rush over to Bucky, throw myself at him and tell him to never let me go. I wanted to tell him that I had fought because of him. I needed him to know that in the end, it was his voice that gave me all the strength I needed.

But I stayed there, pressing that damn scarf down on Sam's stomach, watching as the blood coated my fingers in its stickiness.

He finally opened his eyes and I let out a relieved sigh. I could hear footsteps approaching behind me and I knew it was the paramedics Bucky had called for.

Sam reached his hand up weakly to grab for my blood soaked one and gave it a weak squeeze. I gave him the smallest of smiles and nodded my head at him.

"Thank you" he said quietly.

Before I could speak, two paramedics were on either side of Sam and I felt someone slip their hands under my arms and pull me away. I didn't bother turning around to see who had grabbed me. Bucky's comforting presence was familiar to me and I knew it was him I was leaning against. I watched as the two men worked on Sam and saw another two heading to the space behind the register to find Phil. Steve was now crouched down beside the woman who was slowly stirring back into consciousness.

I felt Bucky grab my arm and I was suddenly being led away from the bustle, to a quiet section near the back of the store. He turned me around and I finally got a good look at him. His blue eyes were red and for a moment, I wondered if he had been crying. He was frowning and I saw his jaw muscles flex as he swallowed hard. He had both of his hands resting on my shoulders and he squeezed lightly. I could see him shaking as he stared at me and I reached out to touch his face, stopping abruptly when I saw the redness still coating my hands.

I closed my eyes, shaking my head and pulling my hands away from him to let them slip back down to my side. I couldn't touch him...I didn't want to taint him with the evil that had happened here tonight. Bucky had already had enough of that in his life and I would spare him from my own.

My eyes popped open when I felt him take my wrists in his hands. He shook his head at me, "You're okay" he said, so quietly that I wasn't even sure it was me he was talking to...almost as if he was trying to convince himself that it was the truth.

I felt him pulling me towards him and as much as I wanted to bury myself in his chest, I resisted it. Bucky looked confused as I struggled against him, not allowing him to comfort me with the warmth of his body.

I shook my head at him, "I can't. I'll fall apart if you touch me. Please...just not here...not now"

"Eden, it's okay to fall apart baby" he said, reaching for me again.

"No!" I said firmly. I regretted the forcefulness of my tone when I saw the hurt in his eyes and I repeated myself, softer this time, "No Bucky, please...maybe when this is over...when we're at home and alone...but for now...no. I don't want to fall apart"

He nodded his head as a confirmation that he respected my wishes. He leaned down and gave me the gentlest kiss on my forehead, "I love you" he said softly.

I closed my eyes and smiled... I couldn't help it. Even in my darkest times, hearing those words from his mouth always seemed to make everything better.

"I love you too"