Chapter 32. Trust Is Earned

An hour later they landed near a large thicket of bushes determined to be John Walker's location. With the quinjet in full stealth mode they barely made any sound at all until the ramp opened and they came out led by the task force who set up a perimeter around the thicket. Bucky and Sam told everyone else to wait while they entered the thick foliage. Bucky's senses were on high alert until he finally heard what he was seeking, an elevated heartbeat and loud breathing. For all of his abilities Walker seemed to have no idea of how to be stealthy. Stepping ahead of Sam and keeping him behind by a few steps Bucky slowly advanced on the man.

"John, we're here," he said calmly. "It's just me and Sam here in the bushes. No one else will come in if you don't want it."

There was no response and Bucky swore in his mind at how ridiculous the man could be.

"John, I can hear your heartbeat and your breathing," stated Bucky. "I don't want to come closer until I have your word you aren't going to attack me or anyone else. I know you're upset. I would be, too, but we need to work together and get your son out safely."

"They took him right from in front of me," said a despondent voice from somewhere nearby. "Had to decide between keeping Olivia safe or him. I couldn't do both. What kind of man lets someone take his son?"

"A man with an impossible decision," replied Bucky. "You did what you could. Olivia is safe. She's in a secure place with someone capable of keeping her safe. Now we need to find a way to get your son. So, are you going to let us come in and see you, help you in this? Or are you going to put his life at risk by trying to do this on your own?"

Just ahead of him a wall of leaves moved and John Walker appeared holding a very large gun that he lowered. Then he breathed heavily and stepped back allowing Bucky and Sam to enter. It appeared to be a very large blind with an observation portal looking southeast. He gestured to a spotting scope and Bucky looked through it, seeing the complex that the satellites had picked up. Stepping back he gestured to Sam to have a look.

"What have you found out?" he asked.

"They have him," John said dully. "He's been allowed out into the sunshine a couple of times then they drag him back inside. I think I know why they took him." He looked at them with anguish. "They're making serum from his blood, aren't they?"

Bucky swallowed and considered his words. "That's our assessment as well," he replied. "John, did you allow any of your own blood or your son's blood be taken as part of blood work at any time in the past 5 years?"

Walker's face hardened. "You think I let them do this?"

Bucky put his hands up. "That's not what I said," he stated calmly. "Super soldier serum needs super soldier blood. I haven't given any blood samples that weren't destroyed in my presence after. My kids have never had blood taken. My concern is that you were lied to in order for blood to be taken either from you or your son, at least twice in the last 5 years. The blood that was used for the Flag Smashers serum was all used up so they must have found another source. If it wasn't you, your son, or me, then there's someone else. Regardless of who it was it means they connected your son to making more serum."

All sorts of emotions played over Walker's face, making it obvious that he still had many of the same issues that were evident during the Flag Smashers mission. Then he made a disgusted look with his face and looked at Bucky.

"Yeah," he said finally. "I gave a sizeable blood sample a few months after the Flag Smashers. Scientists contracted by Val; she said they had a way to grow more blood in case I ever needed it. She gave it to HYDRA, didn't she?"

"I don't know for sure," replied Bucky. "But several years ago someone tried to kidnap my wife and daughter." Again Walker's face turned hard. "I had two suspects and brought them together, here in Mexico, actually. The one was appalled that I thought she would stoop that low. The other denied it to my face but I read her like a map. I secretly listened to her admit it then confronted her after and this time she admitted it to my face. I warned her off of ever trying anything with my family then or in the future or else I would kill her. You know me, John, you know I don't kill but I would have if she ever showed her face around my family again. It was Val."

"That doesn't mean she's behind your son's kidnapping," said Sam quickly. "In fact, she's the one who contacted us to find you and keep you from killing anyone else."

Walker smirked. "I make a lot of money for her," he retorted. "It's more like she wanted you to protect her investment. How could I have been so stupid?"

In a fit of rage he stepped up to one of the bushes with a thick trunk, pulled it out of the ground then tore it apart into pieces. Slumping to the ground he put his head in his hands and looked stonily at the ground. Bucky kneeled down then sat across from him.

"She's a good liar," he said gently. "Probably made it sound like a very reasonable request. Five years ago today I left my wife the day after our wedding because of a mission that involved a HYDRA cell making serum on a medical ship. They had enough to fill a lifeboat but we destroyed it. A year and a bit later, after the attempt on my family some careful questioning of a 3 star general revealed the names of over 200 people in the U.S. military who were HYDRA sympathizers including the admiral who ordered the kidnapping of my wife and daughter, who doesn't have my abilities, in case you were wondering. But they would have likely bled her out before accepting that. That's the type of person who wants the serum, John. They don't care who they hurt to get our blood."

"But I work for her!" he cried. "I've taken her money and her praise and her bullshit, all of it, because she made feel like I was doing something good."

"Because she doesn't see the person, not really," replied Bucky. "She saw economic potential in you, and she exploited it. After I confronted her, we arrested those people and, in the process, found a base just like this one and we destroyed it. Since then, we've heard nothing more about any bases until this one. I'm guessing she had nothing to do with this one ... that's my honest assessment because if you found out she did then you would kill her and rightly so, in my opinion. But a HYDRA sympathizer who noticed you had a son might have put two and two together, like they did with my wife and daughter, figuring they would have a source for serum if they could just get their hands on a small boy who would be too little and too scared to fight back. No matter how I feel about you and your reckless decision to take the serum, I could never sit by and watch an innocent child be used by those people. So, will you let us help you, and do our thing to find where he is in that complex, extract him and then blow the shit out of that place?"

He looked directly in Walker's eyes as he made his case and finally the man capitulated, nodding his head in agreement. Turning his head Bucky looked at Sam.

"On it," said Sam. "We'll wait for dark to split both Redwings and send them throughout that entire complex. I'll get them to map it out as well so we know exactly what we're up against. John, we will get your son back. All of us know that's the primary mission."

Walker nodded in acknowledgement then looked at Bucky, taking a shaky breath. "You have any food or water?" he asked. "I kind of came unprepared."

"Come with me," said Bucky, offering a hand up.

Lifting him up he led him out of the thicket and into the quinjet, with Walker noting its stealth camouflage with admiration. He noticed the task force guarding the perimeter and Bucky assured him they were a good team that would help them. Then they walked up the ramp to the waiting figures of Thor, Yelena, Shaun and Scott, who actually stepped forward to shake his hand, because that was the type of man he was. Remarkably, Walker took it, smiling slightly.

"I apologize for being difficult," said Walker. "I'm hungry and thirsty as well as angry about my son. Thank you for coming to help."

"Do you have a picture of him?" asked Scott. "I have a daughter. She's older but if anyone messed with her, I'd be just as angry."

Walker took his phone out and shared several pictures of his son. Bucky looked at Scott gratefully, knowing that normalizing the man into being a scared dad would help in dealing with him. Going over to the pantry he pulled out a large bottle of juice and several energy bars, including one that Bruce Banner developed with high caloric values.

"Here, this will help restore your energy levels," he said to Walker, then gestured at a seat.

Walker guzzled half the bottle of juice and ate the first energy bar. Sam explained that they would wait for dark before sending the Red Wings out for surveillance of the site. Scott asked if he could hitch a ride on it and Bucky agreed with the suggestion. Walker looked puzzled.

"I'm Ant Man," said Scott. "I can shrink down or get a lot larger, although the latter uses up a lot of energy. Tell me, do you have a secret word with your son?"

"What do you mean?" asked Walker.

"Well, when my daughter was little there was always a concern of someone showing up at daycare or school and saying that they were sent by my wife or by me to pick her up," replied Scott. "So we gave her a code word so that if we ever did have to send someone else they would whisper it in her ear and she would know they were telling the truth. No code word, no go."

"No, that's the first I ever heard of it," said Walker. "Something so simple. That's how they got my son. We were walking to his kindergarten to pick him up and saw these guys leading him out by the hand. I yelled and they grabbed him then started running. I had only gone a few feet when Olivia screamed. One of them had her and I had to make a choice."

Walker took in a ragged breath, trying to keep his composure. Scott kneeled down in front of him.

"I thought it was something like that," he said calmly. "No good dad would let them take his son unless he had no choice. If I see him, I'll try to tell him that his dad is here to rescue him so that he's ready to go. Does that sound alright?"

"Yeah, thanks ... Scott," replied Walker.

One of the task force soldiers had taken over surveillance on the spotter scope and he radioed in that something was going on. Sam sent both Redwings to observe from high above and record. They watched on the screen inside the quinjet as four men brought a little boy out and pushed him forward. He stood there then looked up and it showed that he could see and possibly hear the two drones as his attention was directly on them. Then he looked down at the ground as if he saw a bug. With his finger he drew a triangle. Then he stepped back and kicked one of the men in the shins making him yell and grab his leg. Raising his hand as if to hit the boy the child just looked calmly at the man, daring him. Walker watched angrily but with a bit of a smile at the same time.

"Your son is brave," said Bucky. "Does the triangle mean anything?"

"Yeah," said Walker softly. "It means our family, me, Olivia and him. When the baby comes we'll change it to a square. I guess he has super soldier vision and hearing if he knew the drones were up there. Never thought he would figure out it meant help was near."

"Smart as well, then," said Thor. "Good. I think you have your code word, Scott."

The Redwings returned to the quinjet after the men took the boy back inside and they all stretched out waiting until dark for the opportunity to scout out the complex. As they sat and waited Walker looked at Bucky.

"You have pictures of your family?" he asked.

Bucky took his phone out and brought up the most recent ones. Walker pored over them for several minutes.

"Nice looking family," he said. "Your daughter doesn't have your abilities?"

"No, mine are connected to my Y chromosome," he replied. "She's pretty much a normal little girl. My son, on the other hand, was 10 months old when he jumped into a lake and caught a fish with his bare hands. Scared the shit out of me."

Walker chuckled. "Yeah, Lemar did something like that," he said. "He jumped out of the second story window, landed on his feet and laughed. Good thing I was wearing brown pants that day. That's when we knew. How did you know your abilities were linked to your Y chromosome?"

Bucky took a deep breath. "We went to Wakanda," he said. "They're the only ones I could trust to handle the testing. They think my son will grow up to be taller, stronger and faster than me."

"Why?" Walker looked puzzled. "Just curious."

"Because he won't have 70 years of continually being put on ice and thawed out for his body to recover from," replied Bucky. "He won't have to fight to regain his memory after having it wiped for every mission. He won't be pumped full of all sorts of shit that they tested on me to find out if I could get stronger, or faster, or meaner. He won't be tortured for ever questioning what they asked him to do."

There was silence between them until Walker let out a breath. "I never really understood what they did to you," he said. "You never had a choice at all, did you?" Bucky shook his head. "If you had you probably would have told them to go fuck themselves."

Bucky smirked. "Probably."

"I'm sorry," replied Walker. "I owe you an apology for taunting you about all the power you have and how you repress it. I wish ... I wish I had never injected myself. I killed that man in Latvia in a rage that I just couldn't stop. I have nightmares about it, about him begging for me to stop."

"Have you had counselling for your PTSD?" asked Bucky. "Asking as one vet to another."

"No. But maybe I should." He paused for a moment. "Do you think the Wakandans could tell me about Lemar's prospects and if my daughter will be a super soldier?"

"You're not exactly welcome in their country," said Bucky steadily. "But if you let me approach them maybe they would be willing to help. Getting counselling would go a long way to greasing that wheel."

"Thanks, I would appreciate it," said Walker, then he offered his hand to Bucky. "Truce?"

"Truce," he replied, shaking Walker's hand.

Walker got up and put his empty bottle in a recycle bin and the wrappers in a garbage receptacle. Then he went outside. Sam looked back at Bucky.

"You think you got through to him?" he asked.

"Possibly," said Bucky. "He needs help, that's for sure.

He went to the pantry and took some food out for himself, knowing that he would need the calories to keep his energy levels up. Depending on what they found with Redwing's reconnaissance he wanted the raid to go at night. If they could kill the lights and bring the night vision goggles in case they were needed it would give them a big advantage but only if they could get the boy out first. A thought crossed his mind and he sat next to Yelena.

"When we leave the quinjet can the controls be locked?" he asked quietly in Russian.

"Yes," she replied then she looked at him with raised eyebrows. "You don't think he would try to take it, do you?"

"I'm suspicious of any man who doesn't like me suddenly being friendly," he said. "I could be wrong. I hope I'm wrong but I don't want there to be any chance of him getting control of this aircraft."

"Okay, Yakov," she stated. "I will make sure to put the claw on."

Bucky smiled. "Club, it's called The Club but I like your word as well, little sister."

A couple of hours later it was dark and Sam sent both Redwings, splitting them up into their three components. Scott was perched on one of them that would go searching for the boy.

"You ready there Tic Tac?" asked Sam.

"Ready," came the reply.

Everyone crowded around the video displays as the drones flew into the night and approached the complex. Remembering how the other South American complex had been built Sam sent one drone into the air vent at the top of the tall building searching for the grill that would allow a look inside. It confirmed that building was the serum manufacturing site and Bucky looked at Suzuki, who gave him a thumbs up. The drone that Scott was on looked for an opening into the building the boy had come out of earlier in the day. It found a vent and went through the duct work, peeking into various rooms. It appeared to be in the living quarters area and they finally found the room containing the boy. Scott jumped onto the grill from the drone and dropped down to the floor before climbing up on the bed. They could hear his exertions over his comms.

"He's asleep," said Scott. "John, is he easy to wake up?"

"Yeah, just whisper wake up sleepyhead," he replied.

Scott did that, repeating it several times in the boy's ear until he heard it and sat up. "Who's that?" he whispered. "Did you send that drone?"

"My friend did," said Scott, perched on the boy's shoulder, making himself a little larger so he was visible. "I'm a friend of your dad's and we're here to get you out of here. We saw the triangle you drew and your dad said it meant your family, you, him and your mom. When she has her baby you'll change it to a square."

The smile on the boy's face was visible in the dark and Bucky looked back at Walker's face, full of relief. "Tell him to sit tight and Dad will get him," he said to Scott.

Scott relayed the message and Lemar nodded. "Listen," said Scott. "Maybe I should stay here and take care of anyone who comes in that door. I'm worried that once the attack starts, they'll come straight for him to get him out of here."

Bucky turned to Walker. "It's your call," he said. "I know I said it would be you rescuing your son but Scott's right. Lemar is their trophy and if we don't get to him quick enough, they can take him. Unless ... Scott, is the vent cover big enough for Lemar to get through?"

"Yeah, but I would have to be normal size to take it off," he replied. "You want him to hide in the ductwork?"

Walker looked at Bucky. "That's a good idea. Yeah, Scott, put Lemar in the ductwork and put the cover back on. Tell him to sit tight in there until I get to him."

Scott told the boy that he was going to make himself normal sized to take the vent cover off and help him into the duct work. When he changed his size the boy's eyes grew wide.

"You're Ant Man," he whispered excitedly.

"Yeah," replied Scott. "Now remember when I put you up there that you have to be quiet. We don't want these bad guys to find you."

They watched on Scott's video cam as he pulled the vent cover off then lifted the boy into the opening. The drone showed him coming through the opening into the ductwork and Scott replacing the cover. Then he disappeared until he appeared ant sized on the grill portion of the cover and confirmed they were all in the ductwork. In the meantime the rest of Sam's drones had mapped the entire complex and they saw it had been prudent to call in the task force on this one. There were more armed adversaries in this complex than there were in the South American one. They couldn't locate where to shut off the power. Walker looked at Bucky.

"You'll need me," he said. "I'll bring Lemar back here, close up the ramp to keep him secure, and return to help." He looked intently at Bucky. "You have my word."

"Okay," replied Bucky. "We get the boy out first, as quietly as possible so that the others aren't alerted but I'm guessing that won't happen. Sam, you're overhead, keeping an eye on everything, directing us to wherever we're needed. Use Redwing to keep the other force under fire. Yelena, Shaun, take care of the guards on the perimeter then make your way to the guard complex with a couple of the task force. If any come out deal with them. Lay the charges and go on to the next building. Thor, you go with John, and the rest of the task force to the housing complex. Mow them down, clear the path for John to get to his son's room. Then provide cover for him as he gets out with his son." He pressed his comms. "Scott, you stay with Lemar until his dad takes custody then go to town on anyone you see there."

"On second thought, Sam, could you fly Lemar to the jet?" asked Walker. "I hate to leave a fight."

Sam looked at Bucky who smiled and nodded. Walker wanted his pound of flesh and he was willing to give it to him. "Yeah, as soon as you're outside call me on comms and I'll fly him here, make sure he's secure then I'll be back."

"As soon as the boy is out of here we take them all on and lay the charges," said Bucky. "Suzuki and I will be in the manufacturing plant, destroying the serum, and setting the charges there. As soon as everyone confirms their charges are set I will give the Omega Protocol warning, count down from 5, then send the signal. You'll have 30 seconds to get out of there. No one left behind, just like last time. John? You understand? When I call Omega Protocol, you have 30 seconds. Sam will verify everyone has left the premises. Oh, and Sam, take out the airstrip."

Bucky looked at the faces of every single person to visually confirm they understood the plan then Sam gave the order to gear up. Walker returned to his thicket, coming back with that very big gun, his helmet on and began running in place to warm up.

"You want to borrow the shield?" asked Sam, to Bucky. "It will be better used on the ground than sitting on my back up in the air."

"You trust me to give it back?" replied his partner. "You know I like it."

"I know where you live," said Sam. "Julia would give it back to me anyways. She likes me."

"She tolerates you," replied Bucky, "better than me, actually."

"I promised I would bring you home," Sam reminded Bucky, putting his hand on his friend's arm. "Don't go doing anything stupid."

"You either, partner," said Bucky, then took the shield, sliding it into a harness he put on while they bantered.

The other Avengers just smiled, as did the task force, seeing this play out many times over their long mission a few years before. Walker watched, somewhat envious that their partnership had endured. He still missed Lemar and even though Val gave him competent people to work with there had been none he trusted quite like his best friend. Then he and Bucky made eye contact again and they both nodded at each other. Surprisingly, Walker felt calm and in control. After one more look at everyone Sam gave the order to go.