I had dreamed of coming to London one day. I just never thought it would be under these circumstances.
The church was packed. Hundreds of people had come to pay their respects to the famous, badass, Peggy Carter.
Sam and I sat in the front row pew of the church as Steve and the other pallbearers carried in the coffin draped in the British flag. Steve tried to appear stone-faced, but I could tell he was trying not to let the tears slip.
Peggy's niece came forward and gave a speech about her aunt. Steve and Sam apparently knew her. They told me she used to work at Shield. Now she was in the CIA, here on assignment in London.
Throughout the service, I held Steve's hand. I wasn't sure if it was too much, but he never objected or pulled away.
Afterward, when the service ended and everyone left Steve, Sam, and I remained in the church. Steve needed time to think we could tell. Natasha even showed up out of the blue to support Steve. She said nothing about the Accords and Sam, and I didn't bring it up.
Steve kept staring at Peggy's photo.
"When I came out of the ice, I thought everyone I had known was gone. Then I found out she was alive. I was just lucky to have her." He spoke to us.
"She had you back too." Nat gave him a rare smile.
Steve paused for a moment before asking, "Who else signed?"
"Tony, Rhodey, Vision." She replied.
"Well, we saw that coming," Sam mumbled out loud.
"Wanda?" I asked her.
"TBD." She shook her head, "I'm off to Vienna for the signing of the Accords. There's plenty of room on the jet."
Steve let out a loud sigh, not looking at Nat.
"Just because it's the path of least resistance doesn't mean it's the wrong path. Staying together is more important than how we stay together." Nat tried to gently reason with Steve.
Sam and I glanced at each other.
I shook my head.
Steve was never going to sign.
"What are we giving up to do it?" Steve questioned her.
Steve sighed again, "I'm sorry Nat. I can't sign it."
"I know." Nat's lips formed into a small smile.
"Then what are you doing here?" Steve inquired out of curiosity.
"You're my friend. I didn't want you to be alone. Someone reminded me of that." Nat spoke as she shot me a smirk.
Looking down I hid my smile. No doubt she was reimaging me smacking Tony upside the head.
In a rare show of affection, Nat stepped forward and brought Steve into a hug.
Sam and I left the church to give them some privacy.
"What does Beth think about all of this?" I asked Sam as we sat down on a bench outside the church. Of course, I knew what Beth thought, but I thought it would help Sam to talk about it.
"She wants me to do the right thing of course." Sam gave a sad smile "Her exact words were 'Don't let those bastards back you into a corner.'"
Letting out a rare laugh given the tone of the day I shook my head, "Yeah she's like me. We're both stubborn, but you have more to lose than Clint does." Becoming serious again.
"I don't think I can do it, Dottie." Sam shook his head, "It's not right what they're demanding. What Ross is demanding."
"I know." Sighing as I dropped my head on his shoulder.
We were both quiet for a minute before I asked, "What will happen when you guys don't sign?"
"I have no idea, but I doubt it will be good." Sam wrapped an arm around me.
The next day Steve, Sam, and I packed up and flew to the UN in Vienna for the Accords affair. Steve and Sam stayed at the hotel since it was obvious they weren't going to be apart of this. Sharon, Peggy's niece had come along for the ride because why not. That left me at the UN with Clint and Nat, and not many options for entertainment. Which was why Clint and I were currently in the main room of the UN assembly room hanging out with Nat, just waiting for the circus show to start.
Some secretary was asking Nat for her signature on some documents when a voice broke into our circle.
"I suppose neither of us is used to the spotlight." Prince T'Challa of Wakanda came over to Nat with a small smile.
"Well, it's not always so flattering." Nat turned on her charm.
"You seem to be doing all right so far." The Prince told her.
The Prince did cut quite the figure in his tailored suit and seemed more relaxed without his father-the King-around.
T'Challa turned to Clint and shook his hand, "Mr. Barton." He nodded to Clint.
"Your Royal Highness." Clint replied as they shook hands, "Let me have the honor of introducing you to my fiancé, Dorothy Laurens." Clint glanced at me, his eyes full of mischief.
Against my will, my cheeks turned pink when Prince T'Challa took my hand and bowed.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, your Royal Highness." Smiling at him as he raised his head to look at me.
"The pleasure is all mine, Miss Laurens." He gave me a coy grin. The kind of grin that had been perfected time and time again for the face of politics.
"Like my fiancé, you give me too much credit your Royal Highness." The smile on my face now turning to a smirk as a looked at Clint.
"They do this all the time." Nat quipped as she jumped into the conversation.
"Considering your last trip to Capitol Hill I wouldn't think you'd be particularly comfortable in this company," T'Challa commented to Nat as he looked around the room.
Nat had laughter in her eyes.
"Well, I'm not." She told him.
"And that alone makes me glad you are here, Ms. Romanoff." The Prince responded.
"Why? You don't approve of all this?" Clint asked him.
"The Accords, yes. The politics, not really." T'Challa spoke with a grim face.
"What unfortunate luck for your future then," I spoke aloud without thinking, but I didn't regret it.
"Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Isn't that what they say?" He joked, but he was serious.
"Every man is a king so long as he has someone to look down on." Responding with an equally serious face.
T'Challa looked at me. No, strike that.
He studied me.
Meanwhile, Nat and Clint stared between the two of us. Both of their eyes wide, probably thinking I was nuts for kind of openly insulting the crowned Prince of Wakanda.
T'Challa's lips formed into a smirk after a few seconds, "I did not know you knew the works of Sinclair Lewis, Miss Laurens."
"People are often surprised by me, your Royal Highness." My own lips forming into a small smile, "Especially when I speak my mind against tyranny."
"Is that what you think this is Miss Laurens? Tyranny?" He inquired with an amused expression.
"What else is it called when one group forces and regulates the movements of another. You will make them sign their lives away and then slowly but surely Ross and his majority will start picking off enhanced humans, one, by one." My eyes narrowed in on him even though he was royalty. Even though he was a Prince and a full-grown man, I would not submit just because of that.
Prince T'Challa was quiet for a moment as he continued to study me with more renewed interest than from before, "You study history do you not?"
"I do." Answering him, suddenly amused, "How funny that it always has a way of repeating itself."
"But would you not agree that two people in a room can get more done than a hundred." T'Challa challenged back at me.
"Unless you need to move a piano." A new voice stepped in with their joke.
The King of Wakanda had saddled up next to Nat and entered the conversation.
T'Challa smiled at his son as they greeted each other. Clint, Nat, and I made our introductions to the King.
"King T'Chaka," Nat spoke, "Please allow me to apologize for what happened in Nigeria."
"Thank you." He answered her, "Thank you for agreeing to all of this. I am sad to hear that Captain Rogers will not be joining us today."
"Yes, so am I." Nat's smile didn't quite reach her face.
The speakers came to life asking everyone to get to their seats.
"That is the future calling," T'Challa said to us.
My lips screwed together so tightly that I must have looked ready to burst because T'Challa was staring at me.
"We should go." Clint noticed my face and took my hand as we said our goodbyes.
As we turned to go Prince T'Challa's voice stopped me.
"Miss Laurens, you did not answer my question." He said, "Do you agree that two people can get more done in a room than a hundred?"
Looking over my shoulder I stared straight into his eyes, "It depends on what they are trying to accomplish. Sometimes tyranny only needs two people. It just does better to have a hundred and seventeen."
I held his gaze for several seconds before turning back and walking out with Clint.
Clint opted to stay at the UN to give support to Nat. Knowing fully well I was done with this whole thing he hailed me a taxi, kissed me, and sent me on the short trip back to the hotel.
Sam, Steve, and Sharon were in the lobby about to head back up to their rooms when everyone's phones began going off.
Sam reached his phone first. His face paled as he looked at the screen.
"Guys, there is something you have to see." He grimly told us. We all huddled over his phone as news coverage of a bombing at the UN in Vienna flashed on the screen.
"Oh, God." Gasping as I felt the air leave my body.
Grabbing my phone I dialed Clint's number as we scurried into the elevator up to our rooms.
"He's not answering!" Tears spilled from my eyes as Clint's phone went to voicemail. We all went into Steve's room.
"I'm sure he's okay Dot." Steve soothed as Sharon turned on the news.
Sam's phone rang again. I just knew it was Beth.
"Hey, baby. No, no I'm fine. We're at the hotel. Yes, Dottie is here with me." Sam spoke into his phone.
I tried to pay attention to the news as Sharon was on the phone with the CIA behind us.
"A bomb hidden in a news van has ripped through the UN building in Vienna. More than 70 people have been injured. At least 12 are dead, including Wakanda's King T'Chaka." The news anchor revealed.
"Oh God." My lips trembled as new tears spilled from my face.
I tried Clint again but nothing.
Please, please no.
"Nat's not answering either." Steve ran a frustrated hand through his hair.
"We would have been notified. I'm sure they're just caught up in the aftermath." Sam tried to be the voice of reason.
My attention was focused back on the screen, hoping to see some glimpse of Clint in the crowds.
"Officials have released a video of suspect…" The news anchor spoke but all the blood rushed into my ears.
"Steve." Gasping out as I stared at the television.
"Who they have identified as James Buchanan Barnes. The Winter Soldier, the infamous Hydra agent linked to numerous acts of terrorism and political assassinations." The news continued.
Sam and I eyed Steve who was clenching his jaw so tight I thought his teeth would crack.
"I have to go to work," Sharon said before she disappeared out the door.
"Why would he do this?" Asking aloud to the two of them.
"Maybe he felt Steve was being threatened by the Accords?" Sam ventured.
"Or maybe it wasn't him who made the choice," Steve said.
"You think someone from Hydra resurfaced to activate him?" Inquiring, "I thought anyone who was left that you guys didn't find went underground."
"It's possible someone came back." Steve replied, "If they wanted to cause a scene I'd say they did a pretty good job."
My phone rang.
It was Clint.
"Baby?" Picking up the call with elevated anxiety.
"I'm okay." I heard him breathe out, "So is Nat."
"Thank God." My eyes watered with relief.
"Are you still with Steve and Sam?" He asked me.
"Yeah, I had just gotten back to the hotel when the news story broke." Explaining to him.
"You gotta warn Steve. T'Challa is out for blood because of his father. If he gets to Barnes first he won't hesitate to kill him." Clint told me.
"I'll tell him." Looking over at Steve with panic in my eyes.
"I don't know how long we'll be down here. I'll call you when I'm leaving." He told me.
"Okay. I love you." Softly replying to him.
"I love you too." He said and then the call ended.
"We have a new problem." Speaking to the pair of them.
Sam and I were waiting inside the restaurant. Steve was outside on his phone talking to Nat. Little did she know that we were about 100 feet from the UN site.
There had been a lot of back and forth between Sam, Steve, and I about agreeing to let me come along. They argued it was too dangerous to let me tag along. I countered that they had promised to keep me safe, and I was safest with them. Fight or no fight.
Begrudgingly they gave in. Which is why I was trying to do and say as little as possible so as not to annoy them.
But there was one thing I couldn't keep to myself.
"You guys need to get better disguises. One day a pair of sunglasses and a baseball hat isn't going to cut it anymore." Leaning over to Sam and telling him in a hushed tone.
Even though I couldn't see his eyes, when Sam craned his neck to look at me I could feel the annoyance in his eyes behind his shades.
"I'm just saying." Throwing my hands up in defeat.
Sam was still daggers at me when Steve came back up to the bar.
"She tell you to stay out of it?" Sam asked not looking up from his food.
Steve's answer was silence.
"Might have a point." Sam continued to eat.
"He'd do it for me." Was all Steve said.
Looking forward I moved my hand until I found Steve's and gave it a squeeze. He squeezed back.
"In 1945 maybe," Sam replied.
"You don't know that." Softly interjecting, "You don't know who he is now."
"I just want to make sure we consider all our options. The people that shoot at you, usually wind up shooting at me." Sam lightly joked.
"Tips have been pouring in since the footage went public." Sharon came up to the bar and spoke, but she looked straight ahead, "Everybody thinks the Winter Soldier goes to their gym."
My lips moved into a smirk.
"Most of its noise." She said before sliding a folder over to Steve, "Except for this."
Steve took the folder without looking down at it.
"My boss expects a briefing pretty much now so that's all the head start you're going to get." She told us.
"Thank you," Steve said.
"You're gonna have to hurry. We have orders to shoot on sight." Sharon said and then turned around and left.
An icy feeling washed over me. I glanced at Steve and saw him swallow a lump.
Without thinking I jumped off my stool and ran outside after Sharon.
"Why are you helping us? Him I mean." Asking her. She was a few feet ahead of me.
She stopped. Sharon turned around and a small smile was on her lips.
"Because it's what Aunt Peggy would do." That was all she said before continuing to walk back to the site.
My own small smile formed before I went back into the restaurant and joined Sam and Steve at the bar.
"So where is he?" Asking them.
"Bucharest," Steve answered.
"How the hell did he get from D.C. to Romania?" Questioning aloud.
"Good question," Sam muttered under his breath.
"You're going to have to hurry in order to beat them and T'Challa." Quietly speaking.
Wrapping my arms around Sam I gave him a hug.
"I'll update Beth okay."
He nodded against me and I heard a muffled thank you.
Going over to Steve I wrapped him in a hug, "Just get to him first and stay safe okay." Softly speaking out. So much for trying to not let my fear show.
"We will." Steve firmly said as he held me tight.
"No matter what happens I have your back." Whispering to him before I stepped away.
"If Clint finds out anything, we'll let you know." Saying to them in a hushed tone. Before tears could spring into my eyes I turned and left the restaurant as I made my way to the UN site to meet up with Clint.
"What do you mean you can't leave?" Asking Wanda over speakerphone.
Clint and I had followed the group to Berlin after Cap, Sam, Bucky, and T'Challa had been arrested by German police and Rhodey, which I was still seething at, in Bucharest.
Ross was threatening to prosecute both Sam and Steve. We were now in an open agreement never to mention that T'Challa is also the superhero The Black Panther, and Steve and Sam had their gear taken from them into government property.
Steve said they carted Bucky off to some secure cell and no one was to see him until some fancy psychiatrist arrived to "evaluate" him. Then most likely Bucky would be extradited so said Everett Ross, the asshole commander of the Task Force in Berlin.
Jesus this was getting to be too much.
Now Wanda was telling us Vision wasn't letting her leave the compound.
"That is what I mean. Vision said on Starks orders I cannot leave the compound!" Wanda's anger flared as well as her accent. I noticed it always got stronger when she was pissed.
"He can't just keep you there. You're an eighteen-year-old adult." Clint replied with a frustrated tone. We both were treading a thin line of how much more we could put up with Tony and his bullshit.
"Stark wants to avoid any further public incidents until the Accords are more stable." Wanda hissed.
"Okay as soon as we get back stateside, we'll figure this out okay, I promise. You'll leave and come home with us permanently if that's what we need to do." Trying to comfort her.
"No, I couldn't do that to you guys." She replied anxiously.
"You're family. There's no arguing about this." Clint replied with stern love.
My heart warmed.
Looking at him I mouthed an 'I love you' before we turned our attention back to Wanda.
"Okay, thank you. How is it going there?" She inquired.
"Not great. I am about to go yell at Tony now." Telling her as we made our way into the task force command office.
"Good luck with that." Wanda snorted.
"And good luck trying not to kill Vision," Clint said before hanging up the call.
We walked into the room mostly unnoticed. I made a beeline for the office where Tony and Steve were.
"I'm not saying it's impossible. There would have to be safeguards." Steve was speaking but I cut him off when I came in.
"You have some goddamn nerve." Walking straight up to Tony, "Guess who just called us mega pissed off and feeling betrayed."
Tony said nothing.
"What is going on?" Steve questioned.
"Go on tell him." Trying to rile Tony up, "Tell him how you're keeping Wanda hostage at the compound with Vision as her jailer."
"Wanda!" Steve rose his voice, "Oh, God Tony!"
"Every time I think you see things-" Steve started to talk but Tony cut him off.
"It's a hundred acres with a lap pool. It's got a screening room. There are worse ways to protect people." Tony tried to justify his actions.
"Protection?" Steve, Clint, and I questioned him like he was out of his mind. Which he was.
"Is that how you see this? As protection? It's internment Tony!" Steve's frustration was rising fast.
"She's not a U.S. citizen!" Tony replied, his own frustration growing.
"Oh come on Tony-" Steve tried speaking but Tony's voice rose higher cutting him off.
"They don't grant visas to weapons of mass destruction!" He shouted at Steve.
"She's a kid!" Steve yelled back.
"And she's not a weapon!" Shouting with Steve.
"Give me a break!" Tony boomed at us. He suddenly looked exhausted but that didn't grant any sympathy with me, "I'm doing what has to be done to stave off something worse."
Steve looked at Tony for a long second before he calmly said, "You keep telling yourself that."
Steve dropped the pen he was holding on the table, "Hate to break up the set." He told Tony and then walked out of the room.
Tony got up and put the second pen back in the case.
He let out a large sigh.
"I could wring both of your necks." He calmly told us, "He was this close to agreeing with me. Everything would have been handled."
"Only because you were lying. Once again." Evenly responding to him.
Tony didn't respond.
Clint and I left the room to go find Steve and Sam. Bucky's interrogation, sorry, "evaluation" was about to begin.
The best friend pair was set up in another office facing the many computer screens. Nat was with Everett Ross monitoring them.
"We'll figure this out." Telling Steve as Clint and I walked into the room, "Once we get back home we'll get Wanda out of there. She'll stay with us permanently."
"What's going on now?" Sam questioned.
"Stark is holding Wanda hostage at the compound. Vision has orders not to let her leave." Clint caught him up to speed.
"Jesus Christ." Sam groaned dropping his head onto the table.
"She'll be alright." Reassuring Steve as I stood next to him. He was focused on the screen where Bucky was present.
"And us?" He questioned still looking at the screen.
"Jury's still out." Responding as the psychiatrist sat down across from Bucky in his small holding cube.
"Hello, Mr. Barnes. I've been sent by the United Nations to evaluate you. Your first name is James?" He asked but Bucky didn't respond.
"The receipt for your gear." Sharon came in and handed Sam the slip.
"Bird costume! Come on!" Sam huffed. My lips twitched into a smile.
"I didn't write it." Sharon threw her hands up.
Behind me, I could hear Clint trying not to laugh.
The screen in the room suddenly changed. Showing us an up-close picture of Bucky. Steve and I looked back at Sharon. She gave a small nod.
"I'm not here to judge you." The doctor continued, "I just want to ask you a few questions."
"Do you know where you are James?" He asked Bucky.
Nothing.
"I can't help you if don't talk to me, James." The doctor said calmly.
"My name is Bucky," Bucky said finally lifting his head up.
Next to me, I heard Steve suck in a small breath. Without thinking I wrapped an arm around him.
"He remembers," Steve whispered so low that only the two of us could hear.
Leaning into Steve I wrapped both arms around him and hugged him.
Steve suddenly broke away and went for the pictures of Bucky after the bombing.
"What's up?" Inquiring with piqued interest.
"Something-something doesn't feel right." He replied as he stared at the photos.
We were quiet as Steve studied the pictures.
"Why would the Task Force release this photo to begin with?" Steve openly wondered aloud.
"Get the word out, involve as many eyes as we can?" Sharon offered up.
"Right." Steve said, "It's a good way to flush a guy out of hiding. Set off a bomb, get your picture taken. Get seven billion people looking for the Winter Soldier."
"You're saying someone framed him to find him," Clint spoke.
"Steve, we looked for the guy for two years and found nothing," Sam said.
"We didn't bomb the UN. That turns a lot of heads." Steve replied.
"Yeah, but that doesn't guarantee that whoever framed him would get to him. It guarantees that we would." Sharon spoke and we all went quiet at the realization.
We all turned our heads to the doctor on the screen.
"Oh my God." Speaking what we were all thinking.
Just then all the lights went out. The power failed.
"He set this up!" Clint said. I reached for him in the darkness and found his hand.
"Alright come on guys get me eyes on Barnes." Everett Ross spoke frantically into a walkie-talkie.
Everyone was moving.
"Sublevel five, east-wing," Sharon said to us.
We all took off running out of the room. Sam, Steve, and Clint were so wrapped up in what was happening that none of them even argued that I should stay behind. All that mattered was us getting to Bucky and the doctor.
By the time we got to the east wing all of the guards were on the floor knocked out cold.
"Help me." We heard a pained whisper, "Help."
We all went to the noise.
The doctor was lying on the ground trying to get up. Steve stalked over to him.
"Get up." Steve roughly yanked him up off the ground and pushed him against the wall.
"Who are you? What do you want?" Steve hissed at him.
"To see an empire fall." The doctor calmly replied.
Turning my head, I noticed that someone was in the corner of the room.
"Sam look out!" Screaming as Bucky's metal arm flew out and almost punched Sam in the face. Instead, Bucky took Sam by the throat and launched him across the room into the pod.
Clint pushed me down into a corner and went to help Steve fight Bucky. Crawling over to Sam I asked him, "Are you okay?" Even though it was a stupid question.
Sam nodded painfully.
"What happened?" Asking as I tried to help him to stand. The fighting trio moved down the hall.
"He's been activated," Sam told me.
I swung my head around me. We were alone in the room.
"The doctor is gone." Speaking aloud.
We heard a crash. Sam and I turned to see Bucky throw Clint onto the floor just before he pushed Steve into an open elevator shaft.
"Steve!" Screaming out as I watched him disappear.
Clint was on the ground trying to regain sense.
"Hey!" Sam yelled out.
The doctor was looking down the open elevator shaft. The doctor looked at Sam and then started to run.
"Go! I've got Clint." Telling him. Sam took off after the doctor.
Running over to Clint I dropped down next to him.
He was groggy, trying to come to.
"You're okay." Soothing to him before I looked down into the shaft and saw Steve on top of an elevator.
"Steve!" Exclaiming with relief, "Can you get up?"
"I'm trying." He groaned out, "Where did everyone go?" He asked me.
"Sam just went to chase down the doctor. I'm not sure where Bucky is." Replying to his question. Clint was finally awake.
"Barnes is in the cafeteria!" Natasha said to Clint over his earpiece. She yelled it so loud even I could hear it.
"Go, get to him first. I'll make my way there." Steve panted as he stood up.
Helping Clint to his feet we took off in a run to the cafeteria.
We got there just in time to see Bucky slam Tony onto the floor.
"Careful he's been activated!" Shouting to them as I saw Bucky move onto Sharon.
"Yeah, we kind of figured that out," Nat grunted out as she kicked Bucky in the back.
Sharon was flipped down onto a table. Bucky grabbed Nat and held her in a chokehold.
Clint took off and tried to get him off her, but he was tossed to the floor.
T'Challa came out of nowhere and kicked Bucky off of Nat. Her face was flushed as she tried gasping for air.
Running over to her I helped her sit up, "You're okay. Just slow breaths." Rubbing her back to encourage airflow.
We all watched T'Challa and Bucky fight.
"I lost the doc!" Sam bellowed over the radio.
"Shit!" Clint cursed as he helped Tony and Sharon.
Everything went quiet.
Bucky was gone.
I saw T'Challa looking around bewildered.
Where would he go?
He was trapped and he was activated. The only thing he would be focused on is getting away. No matter what-
"I know where he's going." Saying to myself. I pushed myself into a sprint.
"Dot!" I heard Clint shout behind me, but I didn't stop. I wasn't really thinking. I was acting on instinct.
Running as fast I could I ran up to the roof and burst open the roof door and saw Bucky powering up the helicopter.
"Bucky!" Yelling at him.
The Bucky that looked up at me made my blood stop. He was so disconnected and cold. Methodical. A true weapon trained to feel nothing.
But that wasn't him.
"Your name is James Buchanan Barnes." Shouting as loud as I could to him, "You were born on March 10th, 1917 in Brooklyn, New York! You're the oldest of four children! Your best friend is Steve Rogers you met when you two were kids growing up in Brooklyn! You would defend him from bullies who would beat him up because he was so small!"
Bucky stopped moving. His entire focus was on me. Slowly I inched my way forward to the helicopter.
"Your father's name was George. Your mother's name was Winnifred. When you enlisted in World War II you were assigned as a Sergeant to the 107th Infantry Regiment. In 1943 you and your whole infantry were captured. Steve rescued you." Talking to him in soft, low tones.
"Steve?" Bucky quietly questioned to himself.
"Yes, Steve. Steve your best friend. Steve who would do anything for you, and you for him. Steve who loves and cares about you and has thought about you every day." Tears sprang into my eyes. If only Bucky knew how much Steve loved him.
"Two years ago you saved his life. You pulled him from the river. Even when you were the Winter Soldier, you could still remember Steve because you love him. You care about him." Getting so close to him now.
"Don't let that psycho do this to you, James. You're better than that. You're better than what Hydra tried to make you into. You are human and you are good James." Pleading with him, "Please."
He was quiet as we stared at each other. For a split second, I could see the cracks forming. It was working!
The door burst open behind me. The interruption caused the cracks to disappear. The methodical distant look came back.
Steve rushed out and stared at Bucky.
Bucky started up the helicopter. Steve ran after it and held on tight to keep it from taking off. I walked back to the wall and slid down to keep myself out of the way.
"Steve!" Yelling out as he was so close to falling into the water below. He had one hand on the helicopter, the other holding onto the bar connected to the building. If he was stretched any further he was going to be split in half.
Steve used all of his energy to pull the helicopter back to the landing pad. I wanted to go forward and help but I knew there was nothing I could do.
Bucky jerked the helicopter and it slammed into the edge of the landing pad. The blades collided with the cement almost hitting Steve. Debris collided with the pavement and sent parts flying everywhere. I raised my arm and covered my head.
"Please." Crying to myself. Please let them be okay.
The helicopter stopped. There was no noise. Looking back up Steve was okay.
"Are you alright?" He called out to me from his spot on the ground.
I nodded in return and slowly got up off the ground.
A metal hand shot out of the glass window and wrapped itself around Steve's throat.
"Steve!" Screeching out as I watched Bucky choke him. I moved to help him.
"Dot stay back." Steve wheezed when he saw me attempt to come forward. The helicopter began to teeter over the edge of the pad.
"No, no, no." Panting out in fear.
All of the blood rushed to my head as I watched the helicopter go over the edge taking Steve and Bucky with it.
"No!" Screaming so loud my voice became raw as tears fell from my eyes. Bolting up I sprinted to the edge and saw the wreck disappear under the river. I couldn't see Steve or Bucky.
Not even thinking about it, I moved back then took into a run and dived into the water.
It was so cold. The shock of the water made me gasp as I broke up at the surface to get air. Trying to remember my swim team training from high school I pushed the cold water from my mind and dove under the water to look for Steve and Bucky.
Internally I breathed a sigh of relief when I found Steve at the bottom of the lake breaking the glass windshield to pull an unconscious Bucky from the helicopter. When I swam over to help, the way Steve's eyes widened when we saw me was comical. In another circumstance, it would have been funny. I knew he would be yelling at me shortly for diving in after them, but for now, we had to get Bucky and get out of the water.
Steve took one of Bucky's arms and I took the other and we swam to the top.
Jesus, he was all muscle and heavy as shit.
Together we made our way to the surface. My lungs were burning when I broke the water trying to get much-needed air.
Steve and I supported Bucky, who was still unconscious.
"Are you out of your fucking mind!" Steve panted at me as we made our way to the shore.
"Right I see one of my best friends get pulled into a river via falling helicopter and I decide to do nothing." Wheezing out. All my exertion was being directed to helping hold Bucky above water and paddle.
"You shouldn't be involved in this Dot!" Steve scolded as we finally made our way to the shore. We dropped Bucky in a still unconscious, less than graceful heap onto the shore edge as Steve and I were on our hands and knees taking a second to catch our breaths.
"News flash Steve." Panting out as I pushed more air into my lungs, "I'm already involved in this."
Steve looked like he was about to argue but I shut him up.
"Come on we need to get somewhere private." Standing up and wringing out my hair. Pulling out my phone I shook all the water off it and prayed it would still turn on.
When I pushed the power button my phone turned on.
"Thank you." Whispering to myself.
I sent Clint a quick text.
I'm okay. But I don't know if I can walk away. I've pulled myself in too deep. I need to be on the side of what's right. But if you want me to come back I will because I love you.
Tucking my phone into my soaking wet jeans I tried not to shiver from being freezing cold.
"We need to get you warm," Steve said as he picked up Bucky and I went over to the other side and tried, keyword tried, to help support Bucky's weight.
"And hide. Don't forget that." Grunting as we began walking.
My phone beeped but I didn't dare look at it until Steve and I found an abandoned warehouse and hoisted Bucky up the stairs.
Well, I didn't do much. It was all Steve basically.
Steve found an old vice and wrapped Bucky's arm inside of it.
"Is that necessary?" Asking as my teeth chattered.
"Better safe than sorry." He shook his head. I'm assuming it wasn't bringing him much joy to have to do it either.
"How are you not cold?" Holding my arms to my chest as I tried not to shake as much.
"Serum. My body heat is higher than normal people's. I'm almost dry." Steve explained.
He came over and wrapped his arms around my shivering form. It was like being enveloped in a personal space heater.
"Oh, that feels nice." My teeth still chattered but I definitely felt warmer.
"If I didn't know that you were gay, I would think you're making a pass at me." Attempting to joke in light of the situation.
Steve let out a short laugh.
"You're like my little sister. That would be so gross." Steve grimaced.
"I'm guessing you haven't seen Game of Thrones." Smiling as I felt my body temperature rise.
"No, it's on my list though." He smiled at me.
"I'm going to call it now. You won't like it." Grinning thinking of how he would hate Game of Thrones when he had problems with Back to the Future.
"I'll call Sam and ask him to pick you up some dry clothes. Are you okay?" Steve asked as he looked down at me.
I nodded. I felt much better.
Steve unwrapped himself from me and went to call Sam.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket. I had a new text from Clint.
Glancing at Steve's back I wondered if this would be the time I would need to walk away.
Swallowing my nerves, I opened my messages and saw Clint's text.
Clint: Where you go. I go.
Instantly tears pooled in my eyes. My heart swelled at how much I loved this man. We were really in this now. For better or worse. And it sure as well wasn't going to get better after the last few hours, but at least Clint and I would have each other. No matter what happened.
