The Curse of Dr. Zola
Chapter 36
Bucky accepted the spoonful of scrambled eggs eagerly and swallowed it down so fast he barely even tasted it. The nurse spoon fed him the entire meal as he was still strapped down. He wolfed down every spoonful like a madman.
He was expecting more even after the last bit was gone.
"If that stays down, I'll be back with some more."
Bucky looked like he was going to cry as she walked out of the room.
He needed food! Why won't they feed me? His mind was going in several directions at once until his stomach lurched.
OH GOD! Here it comes… Bucky felt the food disagreeing with his tormented stomach. His torso heaved as the food threatened to leave. He clamped his teeth together and used every last ounce of strength and willed the food to stay down.
In the end he won, but his stomach protested violently. His chest heaved with exertion as he tried to catch his breath.
30 minutes and two more episodes later, the nurse came back with some broth and a straw.
Bucky sucked down every drop in two minutes flat. Another waiting period, and more food.
"That's all for now. Your stomach has to re-adjust."
As the nurse left, Pierce strolled in. "I see you are eating, that's good. You're going home soon. We no longer have a need for you. Such a waste tho, to think what you could have become, but I got a bargain with Shawn. He was young, eager, and he broke fast. Breaking you would be most satisfying, a real win for my career, but I've got a bigger fish on the line, so I don't need you anymore. It'll be fun to watch your face when I drop you off at home." Pierce glanced at Bucky's confused face as he strolled back out.
Bucky had been cleaned up. As he came round from the sedative, he realized that he was dressed and on board a quin jet. His wrists were in a Vibranium restraint and Shawn was glaring at him coldly.
"Where are we?" Bucky asked.
He got no reply, but then he really didn't expect one. He looked around, trying to use all his senses to determine what was going on, but he was able to discern very little. He was in no danger that he could tell, but he kept on alert just in case.
Mary sat in stunned silence. No one knew what to say.
"I have a brother…" Mary mumbled. "I have a brother! Steve, I have a brother!"
Steve smiled back.
"But where is he? What happened to him?"
Mary quickly skimmed over the last pages of routine motherly entries, put the book down and picked up the next one.
She read a few more detailing little James progress; crawling, first word, first step, all the usual, but the sound of a jet engine caused her to put the book down.
"It's time." She stood up and went to grab her bag.
Steve tried to stop her. "Steve, I have to do this."
He sighed as he followed her out.
They saw the back ramp lowering to the ground, and Pierce himself stepped out. "All yours!"
Shawn had Bucky over his shoulder like a bag of potatoes, and he stepped out onto the grass.
"I want to see him, and make sure he's ok first." Mary defiantly stood her ground.
Shawn looked over at Pierce questioningly. Pierce gave him a "whatever" look and a half-hearted eye roll, but nodded.
Shawn dumped Bucky on the ground and backed up a foot or two.
Mary, Steve and the rest converged on him. Mary's face went white and then livid with rage at his condition. "What have you done?" She looked at the metal arm, and obvious weight loss.
"He's alive, isn't he? That's more than generous in my opinion."
"You bastard!"
"You gave me your word, now let's get going before I change my mind and have him and all your friends killed where they stand. What? You don't think I came alone, did you?"
Mary caressed Bucky's face, and leaned down to kiss him goodbye. "I'll see you soon, and we'll get married, just like we planned."
She stood, and with bag in hand, walked towards the jet.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Bucky screamed. "Steve, you've got to stop her! For the love of God, you've got to stop her." Bucky struggled to his feet as Pierce threw the unlocking mechanism for his cuffs onto the ground.
Bucky was still very weak, but his love was very strong, and he got to his feet to try and get to Mary.
Steve leaned into him to help keep his body upright.
The last thing he saw was Mary's face as the door closed on the jet and it lifted off.
With a final cry, Bucky collapsed and his world went black.
Bucky woke up some time later, and it was déjà vu. He was on the bed in the spare bedroom. Nothing had changed; the walls were the same muted earth-tone color, the linens as simple and homey as before, and the wash stand still held the bowl and pitcher.
He was disoriented as before, until his mind remembered and he let out a heart-wrenching wail.
Steve came running in.
"Why didn't you stop her? Why? Why Steve?" Bucky broke into tears, as Steve put his arms around him.
"Don't worry Buck, we'll find her. I won't stop until she's home."
On Asgard, Heimdall stood and watched over all the realms as he always did. He expected nothing out of the ordinary as it was just another day to him. But then something caught his eye.
It started out quite small, but then it grew to be a bright light. His breath caught in his chest, as he turned to run to the palace of the King.
He did not pause. He did not chat. He ran! He ran past Thor. He ran right past everybody only to stop before Odin himself.
"What is this all about, Heimdall? You never leave your post."
"My King, please forgive me, but I have important news."
Odin stood up. Heimdall would never leave his post unless it was life or death. "What has happened?"
"My King, the Soul-stone has woken."