Chapter 25. Control

Jane

When the first bullet hit Bucky, I gasped. When the third one hit him, I was almost incoherent but thankfully Happy was suddenly there with his arm around me, as he spoke calmly into my ear.

"None of the shots are fatal," he murmured. "From the sounds of it they were placed to take him out of the fight."

He must have forgotten that I could hear their comms chatter as they all identified John as the shooter. It was part of his sick game; first to show what a great marksman he was and secondly to show he had complete control over my husband. There was no doubt in my mind that John knew exactly who Bucky was. His game now was to show everyone that he had the power of life and death over the man who had replaced him. What an absolute sick fuck he turned out to be, even more since his attempts to kill me.

"I'm calling for a cease fire," advised Thor, over the comms. "SWAT is setting up a sniper to see if we can take out Walker but it's going to take some time to get one set up with a clear line of sight."

We could hear him call over to the building for a pause in the hostilities. Unfortunately, we couldn't hear John's response, but we could hear Thor's disgust at it.

"He wants us to retreat and leave Bucky behind," he reported. "That's not happening." There was a pause while Thor repeated that to John. "He says if we don't, he'll take him out with a head shot."

I looked at Tony, in agony, and he sighed before responding. "Thor, how long can you keep him occupied while the sniper sets up?"

"Not long," replied the FBI agent then we heard the sound of a single gunshot. "Fuck! He just shot into the ground right beside Buck's head to prove he means business."

It was obvious to me that if they let John have Bucky, I would never see my husband alive again and I wasn't going to let that happen, so I made a counteroffer.

"Tony, tell Thor to tell John I'm willing to trade myself for Bucky."

"No!" exclaimed Tony, glaring at me. "We're not going to do that."

"I know but it will buy us time," I explained. "What he's doing right now is theatre, playing to an audience of one, me. The only thing that will make him happier is if I'm right in front of him. He wants to see me suffer, wants to put the knife in himself and twist it. Well, if you dangle my appearance there, he'll wait and maybe that will be long enough for SWAT to set up their shot."

Tony looked at the others in the communication centre, including Agent Darwin and Happy, who both shrugged slightly, acknowledging that I had a valid point. It still bothered Tony until I went to him and placed my hand on his arm.

"Please, he'll kill him otherwise." I looked at him, willing him to feel what I was feeling. "I can't let him."

"He'll kill you," said Tony, his eyes already haunted at the thought.

"He can try." I smiled weakly, as he accepted my suggestion.

"Thor, Jane has offered to trade herself for Bucky. She thinks it will buy time for your sniper to get set up."

"Shit," replied the big man. "That's not what we do. We don't offer one hostage in exchange for another."

I gestured for the headset and Tony gave it to me. "Thor, please, if I don't he'll kill Bucky right there in front of all of you. You've already lost an agent that you were close with. I know that you and Bucky have become close as well. You don't want to lose him. John won't kill me right away. He'll want to play with me first, show me he's the boss."

"Buck won't let that happen." I could hear Thor's desperation. "You know that he won't want you here, Jane."

"Can you give me a private comms to Bucky?" Tony looked at the comms people and nodded. "Bucky?"

"Jane? What's going on?"

"I asked for a private comms so it's just you and me talking," I replied. "You know why John's doing this. He wants to make me suffer."

There was no sound at first then I heard a groan and looked up at the screen where the drone showed Bucky had tried to move.

"I can get out of this," he gasped, obviously in pain. "All we need is a good vantage point for SWAT to take him out."

"He'll kill you first. Let me come there. It will buy you time."

"No, baby, I don't want you here. This isn't ..."

He moved again, and once more John fired a shot that just missed Bucky's head, causing him to duck and press his face into the ground. Swearing, he lowered his head towards the dirt, trapped out in the open.

"Bucky," I said softly. "Please, I can't watch this from here. If I offer myself to John, maybe he'll take me and let you go. He doesn't know how strong I am now. John doesn't know that the good man I married gave me more in the few months we've been together than what he gave me in all the years of our marriage. Most of all, he doesn't know that I'm pregnant."

"You are?"

"No, I'm not but John doesn't know that. If I tell him that I am and go on about how virile you are it could draw him outside. Maybe he'll want to look you in the eyes when he takes me away from you. He likes to make a statement, especially with an audience. He's probably feeling pretty invincible right now."

"Jane ..." I could hear an almost inaudible sob.

"It's okay, I know." Right now my voice was just for Bucky. "It hurts to say yes to this. But I don't think we have any other options."

I looked at Tony and nodded, handing the headset back to him. "Thor," he said quietly. "Tell Walker that Jane is offering to trade herself for Bucky."

The FBI lead agent swore but relayed the message and just like I thought, John said yes to my offer. Agent Darwin led me to the armoury and brought out a box and an armoured vest. I started to put the vest on but he stopped me and opened the box, containing several versions of an empathy belly.

"If you're going to tell him you're pregnant you might as well make it look good," he said. "We don't have to put all the weights in or fill the bladder portion so that you look like you're just starting to show. Then you wear a tunic to cover it and we fit the armoured vest on. If he tells you to take the vest off then it's the big reveal of your condition."

"Why do you have empathy bellies?" I asked.

He grinned. "When an agent first gets pregnant their centre of gravity starts to change which affects how they shoot. It's just a way to get them ready for it. Not that a lot of them stay out in the field past the 7th month. Plus, we can fit a gun into the back waistband. You are going to be in a position to take him out yourself."

"I don't know if I can do that," I admitted outright. "It's one thing aiming at the target but a real person? Someone I know?"

"Did he hesitate when he sent those two men to kill you?"

That hit me, hard. He was right. John had contracted my death out, had confessed to as much when he showed up unexpectedly at FBI headquarters in Washington. But even then he was trying to exercise his control over me, trying to bully his way into being in my presence, as if what I wanted never mattered. That's when I made the decision to take the gun because even though my offer was to trade myself for Bucky something told me that John would change the conditions upon my arrival. The only way to beat him at his game was to surprise him. The "pregnancy" was going to shake him but so would a gun in my hand aimed at his head, one that I had to be prepared to fire.

"What do you have to do to get this ready for me?" I looked at Agent Darwin intently.

"It's best if I put whatever weights we're going to have on you while you're wearing it," he replied. "Since you're going to wear it under clothing you'll have to take your shirt off."

Without hesitating I pulled my top off and he grimly helped me put the prosthetic device on. Happy had already arrived and although he looked only at my face when I took my top off, he observed what Darwin was doing. Looking up something on his phone he showed it to the FBI agent before showing me images of a woman at three months pregnant then at four months pregnant.

"Does John know how long you and Bucky have been together?"

"No, but I moved to New York in the middle of July and became involved with Bucky two weeks later. That's less than three months."

"So we make you look three months pregnant," suggested Happy. "You and Bucky fell in love at first sight and got pregnant right away. Did John know when you moved?"

"I don't think so but I don't want to chance it with anything more than three months."

He shrugged. "There you go. Decision made." He looked at Darwin. "Three months pregnant."

Half an hour later I was ready, with a handgun in a special holster in the small of my back.

Carol and Jack came back in the helicopter for me, with Coulson in the back, all of them looking a little surprised at my appearance. When I put the headphones on I told them of the plan. On the way there, Coulson counselled me on how to approach John.

"I realize you know your ex-husband best but I think he's changed considerably in the past year," said the older agent. "He was very dismissive of you."

"He was always that." I searched the man's face. "You know I was pregnant when he tried to have me killed. I was told that when he found out he said he didn't want to be a father anyways."

"He repeated that several times. Textbook case of psychopathy. Promise me that if the bullets start flying that you take cover."

"I'm not leaving Bucky out there." My lips trembled as I faced Coulson. "He's the best thing that ever happened to me and I'm staying with him."

He squeezed my hand and didn't say anymore. The flight took about twenty minutes, with a local police car waiting for me at the landing zone. We sat in the back seat as their hostage negotiator tried to tell me more about how to handle John. I heard his words but I really didn't listen. The thought that either Bucky or I, or both, would die was all I could think about but I didn't care at this point. I wasn't going to let John have his way.

The police vehicle pulled up and the negotiator opened the back door to let me out. Coulson escorted me to their perimeter. Through a gap in the fence I could see Bucky lying on the ground. It was hard to tell if he was conscious or not.

"Jane." Thor's deep voice broke through to my thoughts. "We have a sniper in place, more than one, but we need Walker to come out of the building."

"I'll try my best to make it happen." I looked at him, then at the others. "Thank you for everything you've done to keep me safe. If it doesn't go to plan will you make sure my family knows I love them very much? Tell them I chose to be with my husband."

I was surprised when the big man hugged me. The others touched my shoulder except for Joaquin, who hugged me as well.

"I'll make sure Walker pays one way or another." The young police officer's voice was solemn when he said that.

"Bucky cares about you very much," I said softly to him. "Take care of Rose."

"Always." His eyes were glistening as he pulled away.

As the others got into position Thor placed himself into position where he could watch me approach Bucky. Then he called out.

"Walker! Jane is coming out. Hold your fire."

"About time she got here. Always was slow."

Thor grimaced at me, upset that John was using the occasion to insult me. I stepped out through the opening and I walked directly to Bucky.

"Stop there, Jane." As if I was going to listen to my ex-husband. I kept going and he fired a shot at my feet.

"I'm not stopping John," I called out as I walked. "You're going to have to kill this pregnant woman yourself this time. No contract killers to do it for you. I'm going to my husband and I'm going to help him get up and back to safety. Then I'll come to you."

"No, no, that's now how this is going to work, Jane." John was angry. I could see him just inside the doorway. "You're going to come directly to me then I'll let Bucky crawl."

"No John. I'm not doing it your way. I offered to come on my terms and you accepted them. You going to show all these people who are with you that you're a liar?"

I was almost at Bucky and I started to kneel down to him. He looked at me and I could tell he wasn't doing well. There was some blood pooled under his body. Slowly I started to take my armoured vest off, intending to drape it over him if they began shooting.

"What are you doing?" His voice was wheezing. "Jane put that back on, please."

"No, I want you safe if they start shooting. It's alright." I looked up towards the doorway. John was seething and I knew I had him. Without taking my eyes off of him I got closer to Bucky's ear. "Keep your head down. I love you."

"God damn it! If you can't take fucking orders from me then you're dead! Do you hear that Jane?"

John was partway out of the door now, aiming his rifle at me. I looked at him, not showing any emotion to him. I just told him exactly what I thought of him.

"You have no power over me. You're a pathetic excuse of a man who thinks he's a badass. You're not. You're just a leech, sucking the life out of people, stealing their computer code, my computer code, stealing my bonus money, killing your own child."

With a furious shriek he came fully out of the doorway, his rifle trained on me, and was shot down immediately by the snipers, two shots to the head and one to the chest. I pulled the gun out of my back holster and aimed it at the doorway before calling out.

"Federal agents! Come out with your hands up."

The rest of the team and what local law enforcement was there swarmed over the compound as people began coming out with their hands up. Some of them had children with them who fearfully held on to their parents as they stepped out of the building. I kneeled down to Bucky as a paramedic reached us, turning him onto his back.

"It's over, John's dead."

I looked him in the eyes as his hand grasped mine then I buried my face in his neck before pulling away so the paramedic could assess him. Wiping my running nose with the back of my hand I cried deeply as I began reacting to what I had just done. Malin came to me, with a blanket, putting it around my shoulders, then gently took the gun from me.

"You did good."

Her voice barely registered in the babble of commands, children crying, and the news helicopters buzzing overhead. Bucky just squeezed my hand as he smiled weakly at me. I mouthed that I loved him and he mouthed it back, making me cry some more. A dark-haired man came out, beaten and bloody. Obviously, he had turned against the others. He was handcuffed by the FBI but asked to see Bucky first. He nodded his assent and looked up at the man.

"Rumlow," he said.

"I tried to stop them from firing back," said the disgraced police officer. "Walker was crazy. He said if you weren't with him then you were against him. Anyone that tried to leave got a bullet in their head from Walker."

"What about Pierce and Ross?" asked Thor, who was listening.

"They weren't here but I'll talk to you, tell you all that I know." He shook his head with regret. "It wasn't supposed to get violent like this. Walker's people just got so out of hand and took over. The bombs were their idea. I'm sorry about the agent they killed and his wife. That was not ..."

He began to shake and Thor ordered him taken to a vehicle. The paramedic called for the gurney and they loaded Bucky on it. Thor looked at me again as I walked with my husband to the ambulance.

"You did well, Jane. Take care of your husband now. We'll finish the rest."

Inside the ambulance I sat where the paramedic gestured and watched as they took Bucky's vitals. When she was done she looked back at me then at Bucky.

"The bullets don't seem to have hit any major arteries but I think surgery will be necessary."

"How bad are the hits to the arm?" asked Bucky.

"The right one isn't bad," she replied. "The left one may have done some damage. The surgeon will have to see when they operate. The one to your leg is in your quadricep. No leg days for a while."

He laid there looking up at the roof of the ambulance for several minutes then he looked at me. I could tell he was wrestling with a whole range of emotions. Perhaps he was afraid of saying something he would regret. Both of us were still dealing with the moment so I was relatively content to stay quiet. Soon enough we were pulling into the ambulance bay of a hospital and I got out, holding his hand as they unloaded the gurney. He was taken directly to a triage room and had his injuries assessed. A surgeon was called who ordered him into surgery right away. Before they took him Bucky asked for a moment alone with me.

With just us two there I found it difficult to maintain my equilibrium and I began to cry. Then I placed my head on his chest as he lifted his right hand onto my head and stroked my hair.

"I should be angry that you put yourself into danger for me," he whispered. "But you read the situation correctly and were able to draw him out. You saved me, Jane."

"My place was with you." I raised my head so I was looking at him. "I was terrified the whole time but if I couldn't confront him then when your life was on the line then I would always wonder if I could ever stand up to him." I roughly wiped the tears off of my face and he winced as he raised his right hand to my cheek. "I love you, Bucky, and a life without you isn't one I want to live."

Leaning over him I gave him the sweetest kiss I could manage with a runny nose and weepy eyes. Then they took him away to surgery and I wrapped myself tightly in that blanket before being led to a room where I could wait for word of the surgery. I was there for about an hour before I was joined by Thor, Tony, Carol and Joaquin bearing coffee. They also brought me a jacket to wear and my purse.

"Rumlow told us everything," said Thor. "He's agreed to testify against all of the major players. Ross and Pierce are in the wind but there's an international warrant out for their arrest now. They had a lot of support but once word got out of the extent of their activities that support dried up. There will still be a major reckoning for the FBI, the military and some local police departments."

"Does Rose know about Bucky?" I said it out loud, hoping someone had thought of it.

"She's on her way," said Joaquin. "So is Captain Rogers and his wife. We brought your things. They're in the car so if you want to stay in a hotel while Sarge is recuperating you can."

"On our dime," added Thor.

It was another three hours before a surgeon finally made his way to us. After introducing himself as Dr. Khan he sat wearily on a chair that he pulled up and looked directly at me before speaking.

"The leg and right arm gunshot wounds were straightforward and were repaired with no complications. The left arm injury was much more severe. The bullet severely damaged the radial nerve and shattered his humerus. We've patched the bone together as best we could but the nerve damage is the key. If it regenerates it will take at least 8 weeks before your husband even begins to regain use of his arm." He lifted his own arm and traced a line from the collarbone through his armpit, behind his arm, then coming around over the elbow to the forearm, wrist and fingers. Then he tapped the portion that went over his tricep. "That is where the nerve was damaged. Without that nerve being intact he has lost all feeling from the point of impact down."

"So, his arm from the tricep down is pretty much useless," I said, trying to quell the fear that was in me. "What are the chances he regains the use of it?"

He shrugged slightly. "The younger the patient the better the chances but your husband is in excellent physical condition so it could be good. I wish I could tell you something more definitive but it will be a couple of weeks before we know for sure if any nerve function has been restored. Once we determine that, we can take stock then on further treatment options. There are some experimental treatments and I will be consulting with those people who are piloting those trials. We will look at all possible options for your husband."

"Can I see him?"

"He's still in recovery and will be taken up to ICU in about an hour." Dr. Khan touched my hand. "I understand your husband was unable to take cover for about an hour after the injury. It wouldn't have mattered how long he had to wait. Nerve damage is always tricky. For now, stay hopeful."

With a grim smile he left us there and although we were relieved that Bucky made it through surgery we all knew that without a working arm his law enforcement career could be over. The injury, if the nerves didn't heal well enough, would impact his whole life. I was still wearing the empathy belly and touched it. Our tentative plan of quickly starting our family wasn't likely to happen, at least for some time. For some reason that bothered me the most and I could feel the disappointment deep inside of me. There was nothing I could do about it until Bucky woke up but that was a conversation I didn't look forward to having.