The Curse of Dr. Zola

Chapter 30

Spring 2014 brought them some good news.

Bucky had been presented with all the "official" documents he needed. They got him a driver's license, a passport, and a social security number. The name printed on them was his cover name, but to Mary, he'd always be Bucky.

SHIELD had arranged for a safe-house, for just in case, and all the security protocols were finished.

Mary and Bucky picked a wedding day, Steve's birthday, and of course, Steve was tapped to be Best Man.

Steve's cottage was finally completed and he moved it, but not before Mary insisted on a champagne toast. Then Bucky took the bottle from Mary and sprayed Steve with it. The two of them raced around the yard, laughing; Steve trying not to get soaked and Bucky trying to spray him some more. Mary laughed and shook her head at these two grown men acting like little boys. She often wondered what they were like as kids, running around the streets of Brooklyn, in those carefree, innocent days.

Steve's phone beeped and he stopped abruptly. Bucky didn't stop in time and ran into Steve. They both tumbled to the ground, the champagne bottle went flying.

Instinctively, Mary reached out with her gift and pulled the bottle to safety. She walked over as the boys extricated their limbs from one another.

"What is it?" Mary asked. Then Bucky's phone went off. "Uh oh." She knew that meant a mission. She pulled out her phone, and waited.

Steve and Bucky stood up. "It looks like this one is just us this time Mary."

"I'm sure they will find something for me to do."

"They will. We gotta get our gear. They're on the way to pick us up. Are you going to be okay with us gone?" Bucky was concerned.

"Yes. The new security works well, even if there aren't any more agents assigned. Hurry up, or they'll get mad at you."

The boys grabbed their gear and waited for the quin jet to arrive. It wasn't long.

As the tail door closed, Mary threw Bucky kisses. He waved back.

She squinted against the rush of engine power and the jet rose and she watched until it vanished.

The shots came out of nowhere.

Steve and Bucky had been in conversation with Director Fury about the mission they'd been sent on.

They had rescued hostages from a ship named the Lemurian Star and had received an urgent message from him to meet. They hadn't been prepared to see Fury in a bloodied and battered state. He'd called them to a safe-house, and now Nick Fury was bleeding profusely from several bullet wounds.

"Call 911, I'm in pursuit!"

Bucky called for help while Steve chased down the shooter.

Steve crashed thru the window, used his shield to absorb impact from his landing, and flung it at the shooter.

He caught it like it was nothing, and flung it back.

Steve hadn't been prepared for the power of his catch and it sent him flailing backwards. By the time he looked up, the shooter was gone.

He eventually caught up with Bucky at the hospital, but it was too late, Fury had already passed.

They exchanged grim expressions as a SHIELD agent came to take them to HQ. They were to meet Alexander Pierce, one of the members of the World Security Council.

They were brought up to the top floor by the agent. Kate was just emerging from Pierce's office as they approached. Steve smiled at her, and she blushed.

"Right thru there gentlemen." The agent gestured politely and left them to their meeting.

Pierce extended his hand. "Captain Rogers."

"Sir, it's an honor."

Pierce turned to Bucky, and extended his hand to him. "So, you're James Buchanan Barnes. I've heard a lot about you."

Pierce did most of the question asking, and he didn't seem too happy with the answers given.

"Someone killed my friend; I intend to find out who, and I won't let anybody get in the way…anybody."

Steve gave him a curt nod as they left. "Understood."

As soon as they had left the building, Bucky told Steve he needed to go to the hospital. Steve became alarmed but Bucky re-assured his friend it wasn't like that. "You'll see."

Bucky went to the vending machine to retrieve the flash drive Fury had handed to him just before Fury passed out, but it was gone. He turned at seeing Natasha's reflection in the glass.

"Looking for something boys?"

Steve pushed her into a nearby room while Bucky covered their sudden disappearance.

"Where is it?" Bucky asked her.

"You mean this?" She held up the flash drive.

Bucky snatched it from her hand. "Quit fooling around."

"What's on there?"

"That's what we're trying to find out."

"Where did you get that, Bucky?"

"None of your business."

"Fury." Her face lit up with enlightenment. "Fury gave that to you. I can help you discover what's on it."

Steve and Bucky exchanged glances. Neither one of them had enough knowledge when it came to computers, and they were out of options.

"I also think I know who killed Fury."

"Keep talking."

"Most of the intelligence agencies don't believe he exists. They call him 'The Curse'. He's been credited with over 2 dozen assassinations that we know of, over the last 50 years. I've tried to find him; he's a ghost story."

"Let's go find out what the ghost wants then."

They found an internet café at the mall where Nat was able to plug in the drive. "Uh oh."

"Uh oh, what's uh oh?" Steve demanded.

"It has a tracker. We only have a few minutes."

Nat managed to find out some stuff before she had to pull the plug, and then they left. They slipped past one set of agents, but after they got on the escalator down, they were trapped.

"Kiss me!" Nat demanded. "Public displays of affection make people uncomfortable."

"Yes, they do." Bucky agreed.

"I'm not kissing you." Steve said flatly.

So, Bucky grabbed him and planted one on him, much to Nat's delight.

As they were getting off the escalator, she smirked at Steve. "Still feel uncomfortable?"

"That's not the word I would use."