The Curse of Dr. Zola
Chapter 41
They all sat in the lounge at Stark Tower in New York City.
Steve, Thor, Lady Sif, Fury, Bucky, Maria and Mary were joined by Tony, Rhodey, Sam, Nat, Clint and Dr. Banner.
"Now, let me get this straight. This little thing here picked up Thor's hammer and knocked The Curse into the middle of next week?" Tony asked.
Fury nodded. "Right off the roof!"
"That's impossible. We all sat here and tried to pick that damn thing up and couldn't. How is this even possible?"
"I have the answer to that question." Sif supplied. "Apparently, when Odin was much younger, he fell in love with a Midgardian. This was before he met Frigga. Of course, this was several thousand years ago. Her blood has been diluted over the millennia, but Odin's blood still runs in her family."
Thor looked from Sif to Mary. "So, you are actually my relative?"
"It appears so, but several generations apart."
"You have the heart and soul of an Asgardian, and you are welcome to come any time. I'm sure Father will be happy to see you."
"So, what's going to happen to the Soul-Stone, Thor?"
"It is going to be hidden away and kept safe, have no fear."
"I nearly killed myself trying to activate it, and yet, it glowed all on its own. What did I do wrong?"
"According to legend, there are several Infinity Stones. They were scattered among the stars because they were too powerful for any one being to control. In mortal hands they would kill whoever held them."
"Then why am I alive?"
"You have Asgardian blood in your veins, that's why you are alive. It is rumored that only those with pure souls can wield the stone. A sacrifice must be made to begin the activation. From what you told me, you sacrificed yourself to save the man you loved. There is no greater sacrifice. And there's something peculiar about the metal that encases it. Our people will look at it before it is hidden away."
"And what about the Curse?"
Fury shook his head. "We couldn't find him. If he somehow survived the fall….."
Mary shook her head. "That poor man! He was tortured into fighting for HYDRA all these years. If my grandmother hadn't saved Bucky…"
Bucky squeezed her shoulder gently. "It would have been me. I would have been the Curse. Your grandmother told me because she rescued me; she had condemned another man in my place. It was him."
"I checked into the history of the 107th. After I went down in the plane, Shawn was recaptured by the Nazi's. I assume they turned him over to HYDRA shortly thereafter. By the way, Buck, your Congressional Medal of Honor is being re-issued and President Ellis is to present it to you personally in DC next month." Steve added.
"Are any of the Howling Commandos still alive?"
Steve shook his head.
"That medal belongs to them, not me."
"So, wear it for them, in their memory." Mary kissed Bucky on the cheek.
Bucky nodded.
Mary stood up and announced she needed another glass of Coke.
Fury excused himself a moment later and joined her at the bar fridge. He held out his glass for a refill.
She tossed in some fresh ice and tipped the bottle.
"When are you going to tell him?"
Mary looked at Fury and smiled.
After they had returned to New York, Mary had undergone a physical exam, well, they all had, and that's when they discovered Mary was pregnant. Bucky's leg had been fixed up but he was well on his way to recovery, thanks to his super soldier serum. They had spent about a week under medical supervision before they were cleared to leave.
"How about right now?"
He walked her back to the group and sat down.
Mary stood, one hand on a hip, and the other swirling her drink around. She stared right at Bucky until he began to squirm uncomfortably. Inside, she secretly enjoyed that.
"What?" Bucky asked her. He had that same guilty feeling any time he'd been called to his CO's presence.
"I want to know when you're going to make an honest woman of me, since our plans fell through." She put her coke down on the table.
Bucky coughed and stammered out an unintelligible answer.
"Hmmmm….I didn't hear that."
"I thought it didn't matter to you."
"When our baby is born, it just might."
"What?" He sat up straight.
"I'm pregnant! You're going to be a father."
"I'm what?" Bucky jumped up. "Really?"
"Really!" She nodded.
Bucky howled at the top of his lungs, picked Mary up and twirled her around. "I'm going to be a father! Did you hear that Steve? We're going to have a baby!" He put Mary down and smacked Steve on his shoulder.
"It's a girl."
Bucky stopped short.
Fury frowned. "It's too early to tell."
"Not for me." She placed her hand below her navel, and closed her eyes momentarily. "I can tell already."
Bucky fell to his knees in front of her, and gently placed a hand over hers. "We're going to have a daughter?"
Mary nodded.
Bucky pulled Mary to him and embraced her. He rested his head against her belly. All was right with the world.
He wrapped his shirt sleeve around his arm loosely and inserted sticks underneath the cloth. He stuck one end of fabric into his mouth, and braced it while he tightened it with his free hand. His scream pierced the darkness.
He had no idea how long he'd been walking, where he was, or even who he was. Instinct drove him onward. He knew enough to secure the broken bone in his arm, but beyond that, he was lost.
Shawn Murphy staggered on into the night and looked for shelter. He found a craggy nook in the rock, protected from the wind, and wedged his body into it. He fell asleep almost at once…and dreamt of home.
A/N; I'll be posting the epilogue next week. I just wanted to say "Thank you", to those reading and or reviewing. I hope you've enjoyed the story.