The truck stop was bustling with activity. Rumblings of diesel engines rattled the windows occasionally as 18-wheelers pulled in and out of the parking lot. The smell of oil and grease permeated the air.
The three men were holed up in a corner booth grabbing some lunch after hiking several miles out of the Missouri corn field they had parachuted into. Sam casually dipped his fries in catsup as Bucky quietly surveyed the comings and goings of the dining room, seemingly ever alert. Steve watched James carefully wondering if Bucky ever got tired or seemed to be running on some sort of super-human endurance. To him, a bed would be heaven right about then. But they had to keep moving. Self consciously, he adjusted the ball cap over his head and pushed his sunglasses up at the bridge of his nose.
Wearily rolling over the past day's events, it hurt even more the way that airman looked at him; like he was the worst enemy she had ever seen. The echoes of the others rang loudly in his ear as they called him a 'traitor' and 'vigilante'. Tony's voice trying to sell him those Accords tasted like the soap his mother washed his mouth out with as a child; harsh and sickening.
"Are you going to answer that?" Wilson's voice asked, cutting through Steve's introspection.
"Huh?" Rogers looked at Falcon tiredly.
"Your phone."
Just then he realized his phone was ringing in his pocket. Sliding it out, he tapped the button not bothering to check the caller ID.
Before he could say hello, Natasha's voice was on the other side. She sounded uptight, which was unlike the typically composed spy.
"Steve, I know how much Bucky means to you, but stay out of this one. You'll only make it worse." Natasha pleaded from just outside the press conference. Tony was clapping media friends on the shoulder as Rhody smiled at his side. What a pair they made, Natasha glanced their way, turning her stomach. Everything these days was just pure wrong.
"What?" Steve said confused then sternly, "Why am I even talking to you? Are you trying to arrest me through the phone?"
There was a pause but Rogers could hear her impatient, or was it nervous, breathing. The sounds of voices were loud in the back ground… was it Tony's he could hear? "Look. I know you are not happy with me right now-"
"That is an understatement." Cap snapped back, his temper rising with his exhaustion.
"Ok. I get it. Listen. You're on the news. Everyone in the world is looking for you. I think I know where you're headed. This is wrong Steve. So wrong. –" Romanov said quickly trying to keep in him on the line.
"And it's my fault? Trying to get me to come back? As long as he wants Bucky's head, it won't happen." He growled, a lump of fury in his belly growing. Rogers could feel Bucky and Sam's eyes on him, watching.
Taking a deep breath, she tried a different angle acting like she was talking to a friend as people passed by, "Do you want your gear back?"
"What? How?" Cap lowed his voice with hers temporarily forgetting his anger.
"I haven't worked that out yet, but I will." She breathed into the phone. "Keep your head low, Rogers. All of you. I'll call you later."
There was a click and then nothing.