Chapter Seven
James feels a sharp sting on the sole of his back causing him to jump awake. "What the hell?" James curses starring disorientated around the room. Griffin smirks walking into James view with his arms folded across his chest. James lets out a heavy breath of air still not fully aware what all is going on. "What is going on?" James asks his speech slurred as he stumbles out of bed.
"Wow, you look drunk." Griffin comments now sitting at the desk in the hotel room. James glares in Griffin's direction while he heads into the bathroom. He shuts the door muffling the noise behind him.
Francis walks back into the room with a tired smile when he spots Griffin sitting in the room. "Hey." Francis greets walking over to Griffin holding a bag of snacks he got from the nearest Wal-Mart.
"Does James normally act drunk when he wakes up?" Griffin asks not able to remember a time he's ever seen James act like he just did.
"Not that I can recall," Francis answers truthfully while taking out a 20 oz bottle of coke out of the Wal-Mart plastic bag, "Why?" He turns towards Griffin with his brow creased unsettled by James acting strangely.
James opens the door feeling suddenly nauseous making him shut the door again. James bends over into the toilet and throws up feeling cold sweats run down his spin. James leans on the wall with tears lining his eyes from the pain of throwing up, "Dammit..." He whispers to himself while he whips his mouth off with toilet paper. He didn't understand why he felt sick all of a sudden. Honestly, he suspected it was from the stress and anxiety from the current situation he is in. He could distantly hear Griffin and Francis talking, "This door must be thick because usually, you can hear everything people are saying out there." He laughs to himself knowing he's right. He shuts his eyes trying to swallow the knot he feels in his mouth causing him to want to throw up again.
"I'm saying that he acted drunk getting out the bed just now. Granted I did slap him on the back before he woke up so that might have something to do with it." Griffin explains taking the apple Francis hands to him. Francis scans the room now noticing that James is nowhere to be found.
"Where is he?" Francis asks wondering if James is out secretly taking a smoke.
"He's in the bathroom." Griffin answers pointing over to the shut door. Francis walks over to the door suddenly concerned about James.
Francis drums his knuckles on the door before speaking, "Hey, James, are you okay?" James looks up at the door feeling his sickness taking back over.
"One moment." James gags before throwing up again. James opens the door weakly to find Francis staring at him with big concerned eyes. "Hey..." James says smiling.
"Are you sick?" Francis asks squatting down to examine James. Francis touches James's forehead to feel if he has a fever.
"Kind of, I don't know what's wrong. I don't remember eating or drinking anything last night." James answers truthfully while getting up slowly with the help of Francis.
"It might be the stress of everything. Remember when you were a kid, and you literally became sick from stressful situations." Francis recalls leading James to the bed.
James sighs heavily while laying back down on the cool pillows, "I actually thought of that." Francis hands James a coke hoping it would calm his stomach. James takes the coke from him knowing the carbonation probably will upset his stomach. James rolls onto his back with a huff before speaking again, "So why was I so rudely awaken?"
"That's my fault," Griffin admits with a raise of his hand while he takes a bit of his apple. James laughs not surprised at all that Griffin had slapped his back like he always done ever since they were kids. "So my mom brought me here." Griffin informs slurping up the water from the apple.
"Oh, yeah, that reminds me. Would you like to come to New York with us for a bit before school starts?" James asks propping himself up on his elbows.
"I'll have to ask, but that would be fun." Griffin adds looking over at James with a big grin. Francis laughs while laying down knowing now he'll have to keep an eye on theses two for sure.
"This should be fun." Francis says sarcastically while turning on the TV.
"It will be!" Griffin agrees not picking up on the sarcasm. James rubs his face feeling suddenly not as nauseous as before, but he couldn't shake the knot in his throat as he thinks about his parents.
"Any news about our parents?" James asks feeling tightness in his chest.
"Not yet," Francis answers solemnly. "Though they said we should head back to the house to get some things before heading to New York."
"When are we going?" James asks not really wanting to head back just yet. Francis pulls his phone out to look at the time before answering.
"Probably in the next two hours or so." He answers before pulling the covers over himself. "I'm going to take a nap before we head back over there."
James glances out the window trying not to allow his emotions override his mind, "I'm scared of what we'll find." James whispers when he sees that Francis is asleep. Griffin looks at James sympathetically.
"What do you thinks out there?" Griffin asks not fully understanding the situation. James sighs knowing he has never told Griffin why he came and lived with Francis and his family. James sighs heavy knowing that he can trust Griffin and he knows if he wants find solace in his friend he would have to tell him the truth completely.
"Okay," James hesitates but knows it's the right thing to do. "What I'm about to tell you may make you freak out, but I think you should know." Griffin looks at James perplexed not sure how to respond.
"My parents are, um, Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff. I am the son of Captain America and Black Widow. I was adopted into the Barton family when I was eight after my parents had passed. MY father passed when He was on a mission, and then it turned out that HYDRA wanted me. My mom and I went into hiding with my father's allies, and um, my mother found out where the people who had killed my dad was at. She went after them and I never saw her again. I went and lived with the Barton's and about a month later it was official my mother was dead. They didn't tell me who killed her, but it was obvious it was the same people who killed my father," James pauses swallowing the lump in his throat as he rubs his eyes. Griffin stares at James still in shock over the news he is receiving. "The same people who killed my biological parents attacked my parents. That's why they are in the hospital, and is why we have to leave to New York." Griffin blinks trying to comprehend everything he was just told.
"So I was right." He finally says dazed. "So they are after you again?" James glances down to the white sheets not sure of the answers, but know they probably are.
"Probably are, the thing is I don't know why. I'm not special, I mean, I have heightened abilities that's it." James says with a deep sigh as he leans back into the pillows.
"Maybe that's why they are after you. Because you are different, and they want that." Griffin says thinking on the possibilities.
"You know when I was a kid, I had an encounter with one of the guys. Out of fear, I cooperated with them, and they took some blood of mine I don't remember anything else. I just remember being always on the run, and I remember living in Virgina on the beach for a while. But I don't remember who the people looked like, I was never told anything. I just remember wanting my dad and wishing all the crap to be over with." James explains trying his hardest to remember the past. "I remember when I found out my mother had died I was crushed and that's when everything turned into hell for me emotionally. I don't even know when I started to suffer from depression, but it's as long as I remember. But once I turned thirteen it was like I accepted the death of my parents, and I moved on. I still felt a little out of place, and still depressed but I was moving on. I, for once, felt happiness like I belong somewhere. I had parents, a brother, and friends. And now finally getting over it and moving on to adult life this blows up to hell again. I'm nineteen, I should be concerned about college and girls and soccer; nothing else. But it seems that all I can think is why?" James rants feeling his mind wander back to when he was eight.
Griffin looks away from James not able to relate, but he tries to understand where he is coming from. Griffin never knew why James was the way he was, he always credited to his parent's death, but now knowing how his parents died he could see why James is the way he is. "I have no words..." Griffin confesses wishing he had some kind of words of comfort. James shakes his head understandingly knowing Griffin doesn't understand not even Francis fully understood and his parents where superheroes as well. They fell into silence knowing there wasn't much to say until Francis wakes up and they head back home to pack up some stuff to take to New York.
Collison walks out onto the porch waiting for the boys to get there. Sam walks up next to him with a heavy sigh, "I had left a probably thirty minutes before all of this happened." Sam explains feeling slightly guilty. Collison nods his head remembering receiving that information earlier. "I just wished I had stayed a bit longer."
"Then you would end up in the hospital as well." Collison says kind of cold, "I think it's time we tell him the truth." Collison finally says prepared for repercussions of that decision.
"What truth?" Sam asks knowing there are so many secrets that he's not sure which one they would tell James.
"About his parents," Collison adds knowing that information would be hard to take in.
"I have to disagree. James is not ready for information. It may be best to never tell him because it could destroy him." Sam shakes his head knowing that what is going on now is too much for him.
"I talked to them and they said that they believe that would be the best." Collison adds with a sigh really not wanting to tell him either.
"Then let them tell him. If they truly want that then they will come over here, and tell him themselves. I think he deserves that." Sam says sharply with bitterness towards Steve and Natasha.
Collison nods his head agreeing with Sam, "I will tell them. I think you're right, he deserves to be told by them." Sam nods his head pleased that Collison will not tell James.
They pull into the long dirt driveway leading them up to the house. James stares out the window looking for the barn, he lets out a sigh when he sees the barn burn to ashes. "It's going to be okay." Francis reassures while putting a comforting hand on James's shoulder. They park the car before getting out to be greeted by Collison and Sam. Sam smiles at James noticing his pale demeanor. They follow them into the house with Griffin trailing behind all of them as if he didn't want to impose.
James breathes in deeply the sweet smell of home before turning towards the stairs. "I'm going to get some stuff from my room and bathroom." James's tired raspy voice announces across the room to everyone before he slowly walks up the stairs. Sam turns towards Francis with his lips tight with worry.
"How's he holding up?" He asks nodding towards the stairs.
Francis scratches the side of his head before answering truthfully, "Terribly. I just don't know how to help him. I don't know what to say, I myself is freaked out. I just wish that sometimes he was stronger, but I understand why he's not." Sam nods his head knowing what he means.
"I think once they get better, and school starts for him, really when soccer camp starts this will eventually pass. He's doing better than when he was younger. I just think he needs time, I was there when they were actively after him. We don't even have to tell him who did it, he just knows." Sam says knowing things will eventually get better.
"You're right, he just needs time." Francis agrees knowing Sam knows the whole situation and is most likely right.
James walks down the hall to his room with his hands shaking slightly. He breathes deeply when he enters his room to find it just how he left it which puts him at ease. He opens the closet to pull two suitcases from the shelf above his clothes. He takes all of his clothes out from his closet knowing that he probably won't come back here for a while. He takes each item off of the hangers and folds them to be put into the suitcase. He moves over to his dresser to get his pajamas and undergarments. He looks at the photos of him and his family that sits nicely on his dresser. He stops scanning the photos when he notices his favorite family portrait lying face down. He picks it up, but when he does he spots a note laying next to it. James picks up the note with trembling fingers.
"All the things that you know to be true will surely turn into lies..." James reads with his brow creasing downward perplexed. His eyes scan the paper for any signature to give any inclination on who wrote this note. His eyes land on a stamp with the HYDRA emblem resting maliciously in the bottom right corner. James stumbles backward onto his bed when he sees the sight of the red emblem that only haunted him in his dreams. James puts his hand over his mouth trying to contain his screams. His breathing turns ragged as rage fills his veins as realization dawns on him that all of his suspicions are true.
"James, how are you doing?" He hears Francis down the hallway which makes him stuff the note into his pocket. He grabs a red flannel from his suitcase to put on.
"James?" Francis asks popping his head into the room to find James swinging his favorite flannel around him to put on.
"Yeah?" James says turning towards Francis with an uncanny smile while he puts his arm through the sleeve. Francis steps back a little taken back by James sudden change in mood.
"Just making sure you were getting your stuff." Francis says trying to mask his concern for his little brother.
"I got everything, I just got to get my stuff from the bathroom." James informs walking past Francis while putting on his grey beanie. Francis turns to watch James walk into the bathroom adjacent to his room.
"Do you think you'll need that beanie? It's kind of warm outside." James hears Francis ask from the hallway, James' eyes scan the wooden floor feeling sick again.
James lets out a forced laugh before responding, "I think it'll be fine. I'll take it off unless it gets too hot. Hey, I gotta use the restroom."
"Ok-" Before Francis could say anything James shuts the door cutting him off. Francis blinks at the door now extremely worried for James.
James almost throws up again into the toilet with his stomach in knots. He puts his hands over his face unable to control the anger and anxiety he felt. He hadn't had an episode like this since he was fourteen when a tornado had almost hit their house. It had seemed all the quirks that James had gotten ride of where suddenly reappearing for a reason he didn't know why. He wasn't being overtly anxious about what was going on, but he was internalizing everything. Well honestly, he thought he was concealing his anxiety, but the reality is he was showing too much.
James flushes the toilet before standing up off the ground. James turns on the sink to wash his face off and brush his teeth. He rubs the facewash into his skin feeling suddenly calmer than before. "Alright, get it together. You can't let them know anything, or it will be taken away from you. This is your chance to figure out who the hell theses people are. So after you gather your stuff you will go out there, and act normal. Act normal. Well...act YOUR normal." James says to himself while he splashes his face with warm water. He brushes his teeth with his thoughts returning back to the note resting in his pocket. James pulls the note out of his pocket to examine it again.
He stares at the note while his teeth clench on his toothbrush that rests in his mouth. He could feel his anger slowly overriding his anxiety while he stares at the emblem. "James?" James puts the note back into his pocket before spitting out the toothpaste in his mouth.
"Sorry, I was washing my face and brushing my teeth." James says quickly while he pulls all of his stuff off the counter. He struggles to open the door, but when he does he is greeted by Francis.
"I was just making sure you didn't get sick again." Francis says with his eyes glancing at James's arms filled with stuff.
"Don't worry about me, Big Brother. I wasn't sick." James smirks before walking past him into his room.
"Okay, well I'll be downstairs with my stuff when you're ready. Also, Griffin said his mom said it was okay for him to go to New York." Francis informs before walking down the stairs. James lets out a cool breath of air before zipping up his suitcases to head downstairs to meet with everybody.
James meets everyone downstairs with a slight smile on his lips. "I'm ready." He announces with his voice tired and raspy once again. Everyone smiles happily to see him a little bit better, and not so pale. "Alright, the plane will leave tomorrow, and all of your tickets will be paid for." Collison says with a cheery grin.
"Even mine?" Griffin asks not trying to sound desperate.
"Yes, even you." Collison chuckles before turning back his attention to James. "You'll be okay there, right?" James looks up from the ground at Collison with a forced toothy grin.
"Of course! I'll be with my brother!" James exclaims which puts everyone at ease.
"Good." Sam says now smiling himself.
"We'll head back to the hotel, and get ready to leave tomorrow." Francis says while picking up his suitcase. James followed Francis and Griffin back out to the car with one thing on his mind, HYRDA.
Author Notes: Hey guys! Thank you for the sweet reviews from the last chapter! I love that you guys ship CecilexJames! I hope y'all enjoy this chapter!
With Loves,
-C.R.