Chapter Fourteen

Once Cecile leaves he stays in his room feeling confused. He stares at the ceiling fan that goes around and around much like his thoughts. "How..." He whispers to himself unable to comprehend what he had seen the other day. He shuts his eyes tight trying to reimagine the silhouette of the man that night. His heart sinks when he is unable to make the picture clear. "It had to be him... I've seen that silhouette before... But why, why would he be alive? and What about my mother?" He mumbles to himself as he pulls the blankets over his head frustrated. Unable to contain his curiosity anymore, James stands up to get dressed and go back to the museum.

James walks down the empty halls of the museum feeling small compared to large pillars guiding him to his past. He stops at the entrance seeing all the faces he once knew. His heart falls knowing this must've been how his father felt back before James came into their life. He enters in strong although his heart was racing a thousand miles an hour at the thought of seeing the face that's been haunting him for the past three days. He stops when he sees the memorial of his father hanging beautifully above the well-protected class case of his shield. James runs his hand across the smooth glass feeling a sense of pride but also grief. "The Museum will be closing in ten minutes." A loud voice projects over the intercom letting everyone know it's time to leave.

James turns to walks away until an idea pops into his head. James quietly heads towards a locked door that says employees only, he unlocks the door quickly before heading into the room. He walks a little further down the hall watching carefully for any security guards to walk past James enters a closet filled with security guard uniforms which he quickly changes into. He hastily makes into back down the hallway and out the door without anyone noticing him. He stops at the shield once again. He examines the glass containing it, he notices that it sealed tight except for once small area.

He bends down on one knee watching his surroundings as he pulls out a pocket knife to fiddle with the open spot. "Hmmm..." James scratches his head knowing that he might regret popping open this because it could trigger alarms. He goes ahead and pops open the containment but nothing happens which makes him wonder if it's a trap. He continues to open the glass door to find that there was easy access to the shield. James grabs the shield quickly to make his great escape as the alarms finally trigger.

James takes off running down the hall hoping no catches him. He hears the alarms shut off suddenly causing him to stumble to a stop. He looks around to find no one approaching him in the large open area that's pitch black except for the moonlight filling in the room. His breathing fills his ears as he stares at the shield in his hands. "That doesn't belong to you..." He hears from afar causing James to throw the shield in that direction. The person in the shadows moves to the side as the shield flings pass them and swivel back to James.

"Who are you?" James calls as he catches the shield perfectly.

"Imma friend."

"I don't know you. I don't even recognize your voice so how can you be a friend?" James asks feeling nervous. The man walks towards James stepping into the moonlight revealing his face.

"It's because you never met me, but I know you." James steps back seeing the man who doesn't seem to have aged a bit. "Your name?"

"James." James quickly answers not sure what to think of who he's seeing. "James Rodgers."

"I've heard a lot about you, Kid." James walks closer to the man still surprised that none of the guards have come, "What's your aim?"

"Excuse me?" James asks innocently. The man glances down at the shield firmly secured in James's hand, "OH? This, I just you know,"

"Wanted to use it, to steal it?" James looks away unsure how to answer an iconic legend. "It was your fathers, and you feel entitled to it?"

"I'm just searching for answers..." His voice falls flat, "That's all I want."

"So stealing is the answer?" James looks away ashamed, but honestly, he thought this was the only way. He was willing to punch his way through the mess his parents created just to find some solace. "You have a life outside of this world that would better suit you."

"How do you know?!" James snaps surprisingly, "This was my fathers, and I deserve the truth! I could go hide behind the lies, I could. But I won't. I know, I know I need to use my four-year scholarship. Make something of myself besides my families legacy. But when my mother is in the hospital bed about to die, and HYDRA sneers its head again. I am compelled to do something. I have to go find the truth, even if that means I find something I wish was never revealed." James' head hangs low as his words settle around them.

"You remind me of him." The man admits, "Whether that's a flaw in you or your greatest strength, it reveals who you are and where you come from. I encourage you to seek the truth, but I'll warn you, it might destroy you. If you need any help, here's my card." James takes the card from him hesitantly.

The man turns to walk away, but before he can leave James calls out to him, "Why did you come here?"

"I wanted to see what you wanted to do with that shield." The man answers, "Put it to good use. I'll see you again." James looks down at the card in the palm of his hand as a smile slowly creeps on his lips.

James packs his clothes purposefully as he checks behind him every twenty seconds. His mind spins with possibilities as he thinks of what lies at the end of the journey. A knock from his door rings in his ears causing him to stuff the rest of his clothes in his pack and zipping it up. "Yes?" James calls out hiding his bag under his bed. Francis walks in with a guilty look in his eyes, "Can we talk?" James nods his head as he sits down on the edge of his bed.

"I just wanted to apologize for the other night." Francis sincerely admits.

"Why?" James asks now kind of annoyed. "You didn't do anything."

"Look, we both messed up. I-"

"Wait, hold up." James interrupts abruptly, "What do you mean both?"

"Yeah, both, we both messed up." Francis sighs heavy, "You don't think you did anything wrong?" He looks at James perplexed.

"No?" He shrugs distancing himself from the truth. "Look, I don't have time for this."

"Yeah, I guess you don't." Francis stands up abruptly, "I don't want you to resent me, James."

"I don't..." James admits softly feeling sudden guilt hit his gut. Francis nods his head before regretfully walking out the door.

Once out the door, James pulls out his suitcase again with his hand involuntarily scratches his head before heading towards the door leaving his suitcase in a special place. "I'm heading out!" He announces feeling his chest tighten. "Don't wait up!" James walks down the steps in front of the apartment complex where he climbs to grab his suitcase.

"You ready to go?" Cecile calls out from a cab. James heads over to the cab getting in meeting Cecile with a soft smile. "You okay?" She asks noticing his trembling hands.

"I'm fine." He answers distantly.

"Where you headed?" The cab driver asks.

"The Airport," James answers feeling his head becoming lightheaded with every shallow breath he took. He clinches his fist together allowing what's left of his fingernails dig into his palms.

Once they make it to the airport he slowly gets out of the cab the sun blinding him. "This way James," Cecile says taking his hand into hers guiding him into the airport. He holds tightly to her hand as sounds from the airport become deafening causing his head to spin with thoughts. Cecile pulls him through the crowds with ease even though she could feel his grip becoming tighter by the minute. "We're almost there." She comforts recognizing something she's only witnessed once with him. He nods his head while he silently tells himself it'll be okay. They head through security without trouble.

James notices chairs in the middle of the enormous room, "Hey, you go talk with them, I need to sit down for a minute." James squeezes her hand reassuringly. He presses his sweaty palms onto his flush face trying to steady his mind, but the noise makes everything worse. Not here... he pleads with himself as he can feel his body reel back with the weight of panic. The rhythm of his breath becomes unsteady as tears burn his eyes as he tries to grasp his thoughts. He holds his breath trying to stop the racing irrational thoughts, Stop, stop, please. He buries his face in his hands as tears begin to flow uncontrollably as the weight of doom breaks over him.

"Hey..." Soft hands gently rest on his thigh, "it's okay." Unable to register who is speaking to him James shies away from the gentle touch. "James, it's me. It's okay, breathe James, just breathe." He chokes on his breath as he tries to steady his breathing and ignore the pain inside his chest. "You're safe, you're okay, It's going to be okay." He feels body go limp as Cecile embraces him. She pulls him closer while she runs her fingers through his hair comforting him.

"I'm sorry..." He whispers feeling the pain of embarrassment hit him. She quiets him as she continues to stroke the back of his head calming him. "I don't know why it happened now."

"Sometimes fear can just appear without our control and it's nothing to be ashamed about. You are going into an unknown area, and causing you anxiety. I know you, James, every time you encounter new, it would become scary." She pulls away to look him in the eyes.

"I can't do it." He admits suddenly.

"Why?" She asks taking his hands into hers with a sweet smile.

"What if it's true, what if they are alive?" He stops talking trying to prevent another episode. Cecile looks down at their hands not sure what to say.

She sighs heavy, "Then I guess we will figure it out as we go, but with all, that's happening it's best to find out the truth. You have people after your life, that's not okay." James feels his heart sink as the reality of the situation hits him.

"Why can't I just be normal?" He whispers feeling the weight of responsibility on his shoulders.

"You have gifts, and some people are just envious of that and want it. So you have to protect it, and this is the start of that." Those words resonate in James ears giving him some comfort.

"Alright, let's go talk to Bucky and find the truth." He sighs as he stands up reluctantly. They walk still hand in hand heading in the direction of their boarding area.

Author Notes: Hey guys! I know this is a short chapter and did take me a while to upload, but I hope you all enjoy it! It so far has some of my favorite moments with Cecile and James in it! Also, next chapters ;) exciting stuff coming! I'm so happy you all love this story, I'm having such a blast writing it! Hope you love it, so review and tell me what yall think!

-C.R.