Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel's Captain America, Agents of SHIELD, and so on. Just Jaime.

Chapter 30
Out

Jamie had been so tense and paranoid since she got back from her mission. There was a constant debate in her head on whether she should tell Steve she saw Bucky when she was on her last Cerberus hunt with her British Team. In the end, while sitting on the couch with him, trying to watch a movie the very next morning after returning, she couldn't take it anymore. She didn't keep things like this from Steve. Not since the whole Stalker thing. That was the only thing she kept from him. She didn't want to make that mistake again.

"I've gotta tell you something, Steve," Jamie sighed, staring down at her hands as she hesitantly made that statement.

"Okay," he said, nodding his head. "What's up, Jay?"

"I…" she said, trailing off, running a hand through her hair, accidentally hitting the large bruise on her head. She ignore the discomfort though, and cautiously looked up into Steve's blue eyes. "I saw Bucky," she informed him.

Steve stared at her for a moment, his eyebrows furrowing, his posture straightening as he heard the name of his best friend. "What?" he asked slowly, softly, which made it seem all the more terrifying.

Jamie's blue eyes shifted across the room to the picture frame hanging on the wall beside the television of Patrick. "When I got trapped in that building," she went on to explain. "There was the explosion at the Cerberus base and in all of the chaos after we ran into each other…." Jamie started to explain. "He saved lives, Steve."

Steve slowly sat down. She knew he had been shocked to hear that. After months of searching, to no avail, they finally had one sighting of best friend. Jamie has seen him! "W-What did he say?"

"Nothing really," Jamie stated. "I thanked him and he left."

"And you didn't try and stop him from leaving?" Steve asked quickly, his tone accusing.

Jamie narrowed her eyebrows. He does see me, right? she thought, referring to her beaten up she was. "I wasn't really in any physical condition to stop him, Steve," she tried to reason.

"Was there really nothing you could do?" Steve asked rubbing the back of his head.

"What? You don't believe me?" she asked. A pain shot through her chest, the muscles in her stomach contracting, making her feel queasy, which she definitely didn't need with how much discomfort she was in to begin with. "Steve, you do see my injuries, right?" she asked. "All I could do was talk to him, and I could barely do that."

"Well, what did you say to him?" he asked.

"I thanked him for saving my life, obviously," she stated first. "Then I told him he didn't have to be a gun anymore. He could do whatever he wanted, be whoever he wanted and that if he ever needed me, us, that he should feel as if he could come to us. Because we'd help him no matter what. He was shocked that I wasn't gonna force him in, but I told him that I couldn't make him do anything he didn't want. And he seemed to think about that. I don't know, maybe he appreciated someone giving him a choice for once in who knows how long."

"When you can't run, you crawl. When you can't crawl anymore, you find someone to carry you," Steve said. "That's what I'm doing. I'm trying to find Bucky to carry him."

"He doesn't want you to carry him!" Jamie yelled back.

"That's just because he doesn't know yet!"

"Would you just give it a break! Stop and think, just for a second, how Bucky has to feel!" Jamie screamed. "He doesn't know that because he doesn't know himself yet! He's out there trying to figure that out. And he can't do that when someone that knew him before is shoving the past down his throat. He's not the same guy you knew, Steve, and he's not going to be! Not with the things he's done; the things he's been put through! He's not your Cammando's Bucky, he's not the Winter Soldier anymore either. He's out there trying to figure out who the fuck he's supposed to be!"

"It because of what he's been through that he needs me! I understand him better than anyone and not just because he's my best friend. Both of our lives were taken from us, dedicated to others, and we did so without complaint. But then we're put on ice, frozen in time and then put back in play seventy years after the war we fought was over! Seventy years, Jamie! Do you have any idea what it's like? To live in a completely different world than the one around you? How lonely it can get?" Steve argued with her. He looked down. "To live out your life with no connections, just...out there, floating, with nothing to teach you to live. But we can be that for each other, me and Bucky. Whether he thinks so or not."

Jamie knew Steve had a point. There was no possible way for her to know what it was like to be taken from her own time and put into another one that was completely different. She always knew that Steve didn't feel right, and she made sure that he knew she was there for him to talk to her about it, but he never did. He wasn't giving her the opportunity to try and help him, so she couldn't' really help him if he wouldn't let her.

"You might think that; need that, but maybe he doesn't. You don't know what he thinks and what he knows, Steve. And you can't just force him into it. He's a human being, not an animal you can cage up in Avenger's Tower," Jamie argued. "You can't gain his trust by forcing him to do something he's not ready to do."

"I don't want to force him, but I can't let him go either, Jamie!" Steve argued. "This is dangerous behavior. He'll get himself killed. Tell me, if it were me would you let me do this?"

"I can't make you do anything, Steve, all I can do is make sure you know I'm there for you! That I support you. I've backed you up on this, haven't I? I've tried to help you find Bucky."

"That's what I'm trying to do for Bucky, but in the way I think is best for him." Steve said crossing his arms stubbornly, not going to budge

"But he has to figure that out on his own, Steve," Jamie said. "He's like a rebellious teenager trying to figure out who he is and the more you push them the more they can pull away. You won't get anywhere if you do that."

"Yeah and like a rebellious teenager he could wind up dead if I don't do something." Steve said shaking his head. "I won't let that happen."

"I don't know what else to tell you," Jamie sighed. "I don't agree with you on this, Steve. I can't. I don't know if I can do it anymore."

"Then," Steve sighed looking away. "Then I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

Jamie's head snapped up, her eyes looking at Steve in pure shock. "What?" she asked, not believing she heard him correctly.

"If we can't agree and you feel you are unable to continue working under these conditions. As your Captain I'm asking you leave the team so not to cause conflict." he mumbled. He never used rank to make a point before.

He wants me to leave? Jamie asked herself, her face going pale. He really wants me to go? But we're in this together. We've always been in this together. She just couldn't believe what he was asking. Jamie slowly stood up, despite her body screaming in protest. "Is that an order, Sir?" she asked, straightening up as best she could in proper military stance.

"Yes it is, Private," Captain Rogers said also moving into proper stance. "I will reassign you if I have need of you. Until then, you are dismissed."

Jamie's throat tightened up, tears starting to well up in the corner of her eyes. She held them back as she stood there. She somehow managed to keep hher voice even too, as she nodded her head, raising a bruised arm in salute. "As you command, Captain," she said. Jamie lowered her arm and tired in a quick snap, marching her way out of the room with her back to Steve, tears slipping out of her blue eyes.

What else was she supposed to do when her best friend and commander asked her to get out? She was a soldier, she followed orders. And if her best friend didn't want her around, then she wouldn't be there. She didn't want him to be burdened her,knowing that she didn't agree with him on in his command in that particular situation. She was following orders as best she could, but if he didn't want her there with her doing that, then she would listen to him and go at his command.

The first thing she did was go to her room and grab her to go back, with her newly repaired uniform stashed in the bottom. She packed her usual clothes, and her hygiene products, as well as a couple pictures that she just couldn't leave behind. Just because Steve didn't want her there, didn't mean she didn't want to be there. She cared about Steve still, their argument wouldn't change that. And she wasn't just going to forget about all of the fun times they had while being together. Plus, it wasn't just her and Steve. The whole Team was involved and incorporated in the pictures. They were still her family.

Once that was done, Jamie headed to the elevator, her bag painfully resting on her bruised shoulders. Once inside the elevator, she dropped the bag to the floor so it wouldn't have to cause her more pain than needed and pressed the button to head down to the garage where she could get her bike and leave, though she wasn't quite sure where she was going yet.

I can't stay with James, she thought, leaning back against the elevator wall, her eyes red and skin puffy from the tears. That'd put him and his family in too much danger. We put them in hiding for a reason. So where the hell do I go? I don't have anybody else. Just my Team...

She didn't make it to the garage without going unseen, however. Because the elevator stopped on one of the floors not too far below the resident section. It was the labs, where Bruce and Tony spent a good majority of their time. She watched as the doors opened, and a rather disheveled Bruce appeared on the other side. He walked in without look at her at first, quickly turning to press one of the buttons to one of the storage areas in the building below them.

"Jamie?" Bruce asked in his soft way, tilting his head to the side in confusion.

She forced a smile, nodding her head ever so slightly in his direction in greeting before sighing, her head resting against the wall once more. She hoped that would be the end of that, she didn't want to go over everything that had just happened. Not now. Not with sweet Bruce. But bruce being the sweet guy that he was, definitely wouldn't let Jamie stay upset and not ask about it, not if he could possibly do something to help his friend.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?" Bruce asked her when she didn't say anything. "Or are we to play 20 questions?"

Jamie sighed, her head falling to her chest. No, she didn't want twenty questions. "I got kicked off the team," she told him quietly, her voice barely audible.

"Kicked off the team? What do you mean kicked off the team?" Bruce asked her. "You can't be kicked out of the Avengers, you are a key member."

Jamie's throat was tightening up again, and she knew her voice wouldn't stay even if she spoke. But she had too, because Bruce was expecting a reply, and she wasn't going to let down another member of her Te-former Team. She wasn't going to let down a friend again. Her voice cracked as she said, "Captain Rogers just ordered me to leave," she stated, tears welling up and spilling out without any control.

"A-Are you sure he meant the team or just the squad you joined him on to search for his friend? The one with him and Natasha and Sam. That sounds much more reasonable, and Steve to my knowledge has always been reasonable."

"He told me that it was so I wouldn't cause a disturbance," she wrapping her arms around herself tightly, despite the pain. "To leave the Team to not cause conflict. I'm dismissed until further notice," she sighed shakily.

"So it's not permanent!" Bruce tried to cheer her up. "And I'm sure once both of you have a chance to calm down he'll call and apologize then welcome you back." Bruce assured her.

"I'm not angry with him, Bruce," Jamie said. "I see where he's coming from. I get it, I do. I just don't completely agree with it. And I told him that. And he got all upset and, and...I've never seen him so worked up before, Bruce. He's never been that mad at me. He even went and pulled rank."

"Oh, oh wow umm, what...what was it about, do you mind me asking? I mean, you two rarely fight and it's never been that bad," Bruce said taking her hand in his in a friendly manner.

"Bucky," she stated, that since word answering everything.

"Ah, I can see why now. I mean, that is his best friend and their reunion isn't the best ones I've seen."

"And my best friend tries to kill me every time we're reunited," Jamie said. "Everything's messed up, but I'm there for him. And I'll back him up, do whatever the hell he needs me to do, but I don't have to agree with it."

"Well then, why do you need a place to stay? I assume that's why you're leaving."

Jamie shrugged. "I don't know where to go," she said. "I mean, the Tower's my home."

"Jamie," Bruce laughed. "The Tower is Tony's, you're allowed to stay."

She shook her head. "I can't if Steve doesn't want me to," Jamie said. "He's my best friend, and I have to respect his wishes. I don't want him to be more uncomfortable than he already is. I don't want to make him even more mad. Plus," she sighed, "an order's an order. What kind of soldier would I be if I didn't follow that?"

"Jamie, be reasonable. Steve wouldn't want you to be out on your own even in a fight. You'll make him feel worse than he already feels." Bruce said tugging her hand.

"He told me to leave, Bruce," Jamie said. "What else am I supposed to do?"

"Stay anyway, like you said this is your home and Tony's building." Bruce rolled his eyes. "Are you sure you're not just wanting to leave so you're not uncomfortable."

Jamie's head shot in his direction. "I don't want to go," she stated. "Everybody I care about is here. You guys are my family. But an order is an order. Steve doesn't want me here. I'm preventing him from getting his best friend back, which apparently doesn't involve me."

"Not by living here." Bruce rolled his eyes. "Just doīn't get involved."

"I can't not get involved," Jamie said. "If I'm here, then I'm going to want to do something. I'll say something and he's not going to like it. I'm a soldier and we follow without question; without remark. But I thought with Steve, since we're close that I could voice what I think. And look where that got me! I've been kicked out of the only Team I've ever been on that makes a difference!"

"I guess, I can't change your mind." Bruce sighed. "While I disagree with all this you gotta do what you feel is right. Why don't you go somewhere fun, relax. I'll see if I can calm him down."

"You don't have to do that, Bruce," Jamie assured. "I don't want you to have to get in the middle of it." The elevator dinged and the door before them opened to Jamie's designated floor. Before turning to leave though, Jamie turned to Bruce and leaned in to kiss his cheek. "I'll be in touch, I promise. Just, keep an eye out for everybody for me, please?"

"I wouldn't have to if you stayed," he promoted one last time.

"Please, for me, Bruce?" she begged, picking up her backs and slowly walking backwards out of the elevator so she wouldn't have to break eye contact with him.

"For you, of course," he said. "Just take care of yourself too, okay?"

"Oh, you know me, Bruce," Jamie laughed. "It's the trouble that always finds me, not the other way around." Jamie left the elevator with Bruce just standing there staring after her.

Jamie got to her truck and hopped in with only one possible destination in her mind.

...Please don't kill me...In my defense, I did pretty much warn everybody that the happy times weren't going to last, and that there was going to be one last big arc before Age of Ultrom! And the specifics of the arc will be revealed/where she's going in the next chapter, so I hope everybody's ready for that next week. And yes, I know both Jamie and Steve were overreacting, but this is very emotional for both of them. Anyway, even though it's a horrible thing, I hope everybody liked the chapter. Please leave a review to tell me what you think, even if it's just to yell at me...

Thanks go to the following for their reviews on the previous chapter:

WriterGirl1198- ...Well...Bucky's not home yet, and he honestly won't. I follow the storyline very strictly. If I can avoid changing things, I will.

Jedi Jelsa777- lol I'm sooooo going to die this semester. And I feel the same way about the two part movie, but I'll probably just end up seeing them both right when they come out. Who am I kidding? I won't be able to wait. And I'll see Doc. Strange. He's not my fave, and I honestly don't know as much about him as I should/do other characters in Marvel, but it's a Marvel movie...and It's Cumberbatch so...

Jo- I have it as Bucky's first location in hiding. Just like he did in Civil War before Steve got to him. He was just simply living life and hiding.

FelixFelicis02- I know, it is amazing, isn't it! Next chapter starts a whole bunch of Agents stuff. I'm very glad you liked the action, because that's whats taken me so long with these chapters.

CJ/OddBall- Well, there goes your theory out the window! lol. Most people thought the same as you, but I need them both to have one really big argument. They've had little spats, but they've always worked it out right after (like when she snuck away for her first date with Collin). I really needed something that could possible show people if Steve and Jamie really are meant to be together, or if it's better to be apart, that's what this arc is supposed to be for. I've seen Puncture. He plays a drug addict. School is kicking my ass already. I shouldn't question by major/college choices this much! (Don't worry, all art majors do it though lol).

The girl with no life- Yeah, definately not a good place for Jamie to have to be in, and as we saw in this chapter, it def. didn't work out for her.