Chapter 6

Brooke watched the shock and then anger rise in Bucky. She saw the way his eyes flickered over her, connecting dots in his mind. Then as if almost to confirm with himself that what he was thinking was correct, Bucky doubt-checked what floor they were coming from—the lab.

"Hi." Brooke smiled at the boys. "You guys going to the gym?"

Steve and Bucky were dressed in casual workout attire but their daily workout was the last thing on Bucky's mind.

"I told you 'No' Stark." His voice was deceptively calm.

The billionaire shrugged, "Brooke wanted to, she passed each test without fail. Not that you asked."

"What tests?" Steve asked frustrated.

Tony kept his eyes on Bucky but answered Steve. "Bruce and I tested Brooke for any abnormalities, just to make sure Hydra or the red room didn't corrupt her DNA."

Steve balked, "You already had Wanda check her memories."

"Doesn't mean they didn't knock her out and do something to her. She didn't remember she had a betrothed, she might not remember everything."

"That's enough." Bucky stepped out of the elevator forcing Tony to back up. "Fury cleared her she doesn't need to jump through your hoops."

"Fury wanted these tests done after what she did to Buckett. I saw the street footage, she dropped him like Romanoff would have."

"That doesn't mean she's advanced." Brooke placed her hand on Bucky's bicep, he huffed a breath, taking a step back.

"Despite whatever is happening here," she gestured between the two men. "I'm happy I know there was at least one thing they didn't do to me."

"Come on, let's go down for breakfast. Clint was going to make waffles." Bucky held his hand out for Brooke to take.

With one last look at the three men, Brooke took Bucky's hand letting him lead her into the elevator to join him and Steve. The boys had been planning on working out before breakfast, but Bucky no longer wanted to leave Brooke to her own devices. Not with Tony lurking around.

When the doors opened Steve walked ahead of them, leaving Bucky and Brooke to talk.

"You're mad."

"Stark took advantage of the fact that you don't know how things run here. I assume he came to your room? I don't like that he waited until you were alone to pull you into the lab."

"He asked, I agreed to it. It's not like he tied me up and forced me."

"He owns the building, he doesn't have to force things when you feel like you don't have any other choice but to comply."

Brooke stopped walking taking hold of Bucky's arm to stop him too. "You guys aren't exactly friends I take it."

"We have a complicated history. He's learned to accept that I will be around and save as many lives as possible to atone for the ones I took. And I accept that he's an ass to everyone and that's not going to change."

Brooke bit her bottom lip in thought, "Did you try punching him in the face? Seemed to work for Steve."

At the absurdity of her comment, Bucky scoffed. "I did actually. It didn't work a second time."

"Third times the charm." Brooke started walking again, "I know why you're so against all the testing and jumping through hoops and after everything with Kai this last year, it's not like I'm not hesitant or that the sight of Doctor Banner's lab coat doesn't freak me out. But I can understand why they need to do it and how having those results makes them feel better about having me around. Or that eventually when my probation is over they won't feel like they are releasing something dangerous into the public."

"You've been through enough."

Brooke tucked her chin, hiding her smile. "I don't need you to worry about me."

"Tough, because I'm going to."

"Whatever you say, Sargent."

Their conversation came to an end as they entered the kitchen dining area. Clint and Steve were chopping up fruit and flipping waffles.

"Hey kid, we have a lot of breakfast here. Eat up, you'll need the energy if you plan to go work out with these two."

Brooke chucked, "Yeaah, I think I'll pass on the ego hit and spend some time looking around the grounds today."

Natasha dropped into one the of seats along the island countertop. "I bet you could take them on, they aren't as tough as everyone thinks they are."

Steve shook his head at the redhead's sass. Bucky snorted getting plates and cups down from the counters, an image of Brooke standing on a countertop, waffle batter in hand flashed through his mind.

"I'll wait another couple of decades then shoot my shot." Brooke teased.

Clint chuckled, sliding waffles onto her plate, Brooke smiled at him but was curious that he had served her and not everyone else.

"You're a guest until that probation runs out at least. So until then, Waffles."

"Thank you." Brooke took a whiff and her mouth started to water. "I don't have many recipes on retainer but I am pretty good in the kitchen if you'd like help."

"That would be great." Clint smiles. "The only thing Cap knows how to make is eggs and grits. While delicious, it got old."

Steve balked. "You try growing up in the great depression. See how fancy your cooking is."

They continued to go back and forth, Natasaha jumping in here and there.

Bucky slid onto a stool beside Brooke with his plate placed down beside hers. "I can show you around today."

Shaking her head, Brooke chewed, "You leave in one day. You have a lot to do before then."

"And?"

Sam came storming into the kitchen. "Are you guys kidding me? I've been downstairs for twenty minutes waiting for you two and you're here stuffing your faces."

Brooke smirked at Bucky, happy her point was made without her having to lift a finger. Bucky gazed back at her, swallowing the bite in his mouth.

"We got distracted," Steve said, noting that Bucky was occupied. "But we'll head down there now."

The stool next to Natasaha dipped. "I don't think so, we're here now. I'm eating. Clint man, when are you going to open a kitchen?"

"I thought about it but figured I'd never make any money. You lot would take up half the seats and expect to be fed for free."

"Fair enough." Sam loaded up his plate.

From what little she had gathered. Sam, Steve and Bucky were a team. They worked with each other mostly while Natasha was usually solo and Clint while he worked most of the time seemed semi-retired. Banner manned the lab and Tony did whatever he liked, but he seemed to almost be the boss, under Fury that is. Everyone had a job to do and they all played their part.

"I finished all the paperwork and boring stuff last night, you three are all good to go tomorrow," Natasha told him, a strawberry making its way to her mouth.

"Thank you for that." Steve smiled at the spy. "You could still come with us, we could always use you."

"Fury's got me working something else. I leave around the same time you fellas do."

"Stay safe out there."

"I always do Captain."

Brooke looked at Bucky then between the blonde and redhead. Bucky smirked at her, subtly shrugging his shoulders. Brooke raised her eyebrows up and down quickly.

Even if there was nothing official between them, the chemistry between Steve and Natasha was obvious. They both leaned into the flirting and it made Brooke's heartache, it was so sweet. Almost like a young teen romance, stealing glances across the halls, flirting at the water fountain.

"So Brooke, I was thinking of making some chicken-a-la-Broccalii tonight. Do you think you'd want to help me?"

"That sounds great." Brooke wondered if Clint had kids, he had definite dad energy. "Actually, if you are free until supper, do you think you could show me around, and make sure I don't go anyplace I'm not supposed to."

Clint nodded, "I'll go clean up and meet you back here in a little bit."

"Sure, I'll wait here." Brooke felt Bucky's knee nudge hers, "He's not busy is why."

"We won't be training all day," Bucky told her.

Steve cleared his throat, "Actually everything we had scheduled yesterday has been moved to today. After training, we'll be in the conference room till tonight."

Bucky's jaw clenched, he wanted to spend his last day stateside with Brooke, not stuck in a room with Sam and Steve going over logistics they already studied and knew by heart.

"Guess I'll be seeing you at Diner." Brooke smiled hopping off her stool.

She wanted to clean her plate and all the bowls in the sink before Cint got back.

Steve shoots Bucky a look and he shoots one right back at him. "We'll start downstairs, I could use a run."

Rolling his eyes Sam scoffed at Steve, "Oh, I'm sure you do."

"I'll meet you guys down there," Bucky told them, his eyes flicking toward Brooke.

"Don't push me, Wilson, I'm going," Natasha grumbled grabbing her plate.

Guess she was going to finish her breakfast in the elevator, Sam sure had her up and on the move.

"Skipping cardio?" Brooke tisks. "If you stop taking care of yourself, you'll get old."

"I don't think that's physically possible, at least not for a long, long time." Bucky looked her over. "We are heading out before sunrise tomorrow morning and won't be back for a couple of days. Barton and Banner will be your best bet if you need anything."

"I'm sure I can keep myself entertained, but I'll make sure to recruit them if I plan on getting into any trouble." Bucky shot her an unimpressed look. "Which I won't be doing, though I think I'll see if Doctor Banner needs help in the lab. He looked like he was working on a lot of stuff earlier."

The lab was one of the safest places in the whole compound. Bucky was happy Brooke was interested in spending a lot of time there, but he was also considered all the medical equipment could trigger her.

While he knew she could handle it, he did not like the thought of not being here for her if she couldn't.

"I'm sure he could use the help." Bucky sighed, "I should get out to the track before Sam starts bitching."

"Have fun."

"You skipping out on training Barnes?" Clint teased, appearing freshly showered and dressed for the day.

Bucky rolled his eyes, leaving Brooke with a lingering look.

"You didn't have to wash all those bowls, we have an industrial washer machine over there."

Brooke shrugged. "I don't mind. Gave me something to do."

"You ready for a walk around?"

Drying her hands Brooke nodded, "Definitely."

.

The compound was huge and since Clint was going to be staying around the compound for the next however long with her, they decided to split up the tour. He showered her outside, all their training areas specifically the Avengers training area, which she should use if she decided to work out. The other side of the building was for their agents and trainees.

The next day or two they were going to go through the interior. Make sure Brooke was familiar so she did not feel so trapped while she was here. She would be able to find her way around well enough in the next couple of days.

.

"It's crap, Steve," Bucky argued.

"Brooke agreed, why are you pushing back against her so hard."

"Because she's an optimist and wants to believe the world isn't as fucked up as it is. Despite all the proof she has that it's gone to crap. Why is everyone so convinced I'm wrong for that."

"I don't think you're wrong Buck. I just think that Brooke had her life on hold and now she's still in a holding pattern, a nicer one but still not back to her life. If Bruce is offering her a space in the lap and she's interested, what's the harm?"

"You know Stark tested on her this morning," Bucky ground his teeth together. "Brooke working in the lab just seems like a trick."

"Clint will be here and you know he won't let her be taken advantage of. And I'll make sure I mention something to him after supper."

"Ok." Bucky pinched his nose, "Let's get back on topic before Wilson gets back."

Steve nodded, looking back down at the map of the landscape they would soon be in.

This mission was a routine one, something they had seen a thousand times. Go in rescue their target and take out anyone who poses a threat, otherwise, tie them up for the authorities to deal with.

"Sam will take care of the runners from above and you and I will go tactical on the ground. There is an estimated twelve workers at a time patrolling the bunker."

"What about tech?"

"We will use one of Stark's gadgets to block their in-going and outgoing signals. The only thing we should have to worry about are guns."

"Ok. Are we taking a vehicle in? It's not exactly a remote location."

"We'll take the jeep and come in from the south, the most tree coverage is there and then we can make our way east and make entry."

"Walk right in the front door. That's old school." Sam chuckled rejoining them.

"You would know."

Bucky sent a glare his way. He and Sam had a strange relationship. As much as they bitched and went after one another, they had each other's backs. At the end of the day that was all they could ask of each other.

"You needed a calculator for a basic math equation last week."

Sam's eyes widened. "I'm sorry I was using the tools available to me. Should I have dusted off my great-grandmother's abacus?"

"You should just know-"

"Oh, here we go man's man. I can do mental math just fine, but it doesn't hurt to double-check your work."

"Oh double-check your work, that'd be a first."

"You want to go Ro-Bo cop?" Sam straightened in his seat, ready to stand.

Bucky remained leaned back and relaxed. "Let's go."

Sam glared at him and the two fell into a starring contest across the table. Steve watched them, this was not new behaviour for them.

"Let's get this briefing done. We still have a couple of things left to talk about."

Sam smirked. "Yeah let's get this done so Bucky can get back to his girlfriend."

Bucky rolled his neck and stared at Sam. The man was not wrong and they all knew he would rather be giving her a tour than sitting in here with them.

Clint was not around the compound as much as the others, but Bucky knew he was a good guy, someone to be trusted. He was happy he would be the one staying behind with her while Bucky couldn't.

"So." Bucky turned back to Steve. "Who's the target?"

.

Clint had run out to the garage to help Natasha with something, leaving Brooke to watch over the pasta, chicken and veggies. Once everything had cooked and boiled enough all she had to do was combine them in the big gumbo pot.

So she sat herself on a stool and pulled out the book she had been reading that morning. Only got a couple of chapters in before Bucky joined her.

"How was work?"

Bucky bumped his shoulder against hers. "We're prepared. Steve likes to run through things a couple of times, so it's ingrained. Hasn't changed much since the war."

Brooke turned to look at him, "He wants to keep everyone safe."

"He does. Even though I'm back, I know he doesn't forgive himself for my accident. He thinks he got cocky or too trigger-happy to catch Zola, but I remember, he's as meticulous back then as he is now."

"You're like his brother, he watched you die and he had the extra weight of losing not only his friend but his sergeant."

"No one blamed him."

Brooke smiled sadly." That doesn't really matter when you blame yourself."

Bucky rubbed her lower back knowing she was still blaming herself for the young boy's death. Still depleted and suffering after the events of yesterday, she did a good job of hiding it, but he knew better.

"How was your tour?"

"Good." Brooke sighed. "We cover the outside, all the training areas. We're going to focus on the inside tomorrow so I can actually walk around without getting lost."

Bucky smiled. "FRIDAY is always around if you need some extra assistance."

"FRIDAY?"

"Guess Clint didn't want to ruin the surprise. Hey FRIDAY, where is Steve?"

"Steve is in the shower located in his apartment," Bucky smirked as Brooke flinched eyes darting around the space.

"You can ask FRIDAY anything, he can lead you anywhere inside or answer general questions."

"Big brother is always watching then." Brooke joked. "That's going to take some getting used to."

"Mainly we use it to find each other or send messages to each other. He's harmless, mainly."

Placing her book down, Brooke slid out of her seat and went over to stir supper, the warm stew smell was starting to permeate the kitchen and it was making her mouth water.

"I want some free time with you later," Bucky said, leaning against the island.

Brooke smiled to herself but put on an innocent voice. "Whatever for?"

"Make sure you're ok after everything that happened yesterday."

"That's a lot less sexy than I thought that was going to be."

Bucky cocked his brow at her, "I meant it when I said I wanted to be someone that you can rely on, not just someone you roll around in the sheets with."

"What if that's all I want?" Bucky smiled softly, she was testing him.

"If I was less secure I might be tricked into believing that."

Brooke turned around, lowering the temperature of the stove, "Things are really uncertain right now."

"Let me be constant."

"Famous last words." She teased.

A silly smile crossed Bucky's face, "I'm pretty durable."

Brooke snorted shaking her head, he was something alright. While he may have been made to be hard to kill, this man was not indestructible.

"If I give you my time later, what do I get?"

"What do you want?"

"Yeeeess." Sam exclaimed jogging into the room. "That smells delicious."

"Clint made it, I'm just stirring it for him till he gets back."

"He's not here Babe, you could have taken the credit." Sam teased.

Brooke smiled, "I'd be found out fast enough. I don't cook much, not sure I could pull something like this off."

Bucky had taken a couple of steps back when Sam had barged in, they had been standing a little too close to be casual. Bucky did not want Sam to start making any jokes, the man was not as funny as he seemed to think he was.

"Steve finally let you go?"

"You forget something one time and he never forgets, he's like an elephant."

"Leaving behind a weapons bag is not a little something that should be forgotten. And we shouldn't be discussing missions at supper."

"We aren't eating yet." Sam mocked.

"I hope you are hungry because I made lots," Clint said, coming back into the room.

Natasha followed him, smiling at Brooke as she sat down.

"Sam's always hungry. He could probably outeat Steve."

"None of you can cook." Sam complained, "The only time we eat well is when Clint is here."

Steve scoffs, "Is that so?"

"You make toast man." Sam continued on. "I need sustenance."

"Then maybe you should learn to cook," Natasha said.

Sam grumbled, "I know how to cook."

"Children, please." Tony sighed. "Brooke I would hate to drag you away from all this. I was hoping you could look at something, it'll only take a moment."

Bucky's fingers twitched, "What is it?"

"It's classified." Tony snapped dryly.

"Sure." Brooke turned to Bucky, "Relax."

He sucked in a deep breath, rolling his sounders as he watched Brooke follow Tony out of the room.

Steve was watching him, he noticed the way his hands flexed and shoulders tightened.

"He'll have her back soon. Peppers has been on him about working long hours, he's out of the labs and home by eight. It's already 7:36."

"I don't trust him." Bucky hissed sitting next to Steve.

"What do you think he's going to do?" Steve leaned in closer to not be overheard by the others. "He could have waited to talk to her once we left tomorrow, but he didn't. This is his way of apologizing and being more transparent with you."

"I should have gone with her."

"No, you shouldn't have. Do you remember how much it bothered you when you first returned and I followed you everywhere?"

"You were just trying to help."

Steve laughed, unable to hold it back, "At the time you didn't feel that way, you're only saying that now cause it's you on the other side. I was just trying to help, but you needed to do things on your own, maybe Brooke does too."

He knew what Steve was saying made sense, and he hated the hypocrisy of it all. Bucky wanted to chase off after Tony and Brooke, demanded to go with her. Tony said it would only take a minute and if Brooke wasn't back in the next twenty he would go looking for them.

She was, just like Tony promised, back after only a little time away. Bucky immediately straightened hearing light footfalls coming down the hall, Brook walked into the kitchen.

She smiled at Bucky coming to sit beside him, "You can relax now."

Steve cleared his throat to hide his chuckle, Bucky definitely had been tense since she had walked out of the room.

"What did Tony want?"

"I'll tell you later."

"Brooke," Sam called for her attention. "What did you do before all this?"

"I'm a vet."

"Funny, so am I." Sam teased, "I flew in the army."

"Right, I saw how you fly in the paper. You ever let anyone else take a spin on those?"

"No." Sam tensed up, he glared at Natasha. "I do not."

"I took them out one time." The spy complained.

"You dinged them, it takes actually training to fly those, you can't just try them on."

"I said I was sorry and I got them fixed."

"Tony fixed them."

"I told him to do it, quit being a baby."

"Both of you quit it, we have a guest." Clint scolded them.

"Oh please, what do you think that meeting was about, Stark was giving her the recruitment speech."

Natasha kicked Sam's shin under the table, her eyes shifting to Bucky.

"Ow," Sam said sternly.

"I thought we agreed on no more work talk at the table."

Sam noticed the way Bucky was now motionless and Brooke was frowning at him.

"Well now that it's on the table." They all turned to look at Brooke.

"Tony asked if I would help him out looking into my father's work, see if Kai and he managed any successes before he died."

Bucky's stool scrapped against the tile, he was on his feet and headed out of the room. Steve was up and on him step for step. Brooke stood but did not follow them.

"Steve will talk him down," Clint told her.

"Sorry," Sam said, "I wasn't thinking."

"Clearly." Natasha scolded.

"What's the deal with those two, Tony and Bucky?" Brooke asked.

Clint exhaled loudly. "There is a lot of bad blood there, it goes deep. But I think this is more about protecting you than it is about their fude."

Brooke huffed, supper would have to wait. She followed the harsh but hushed voices down the hall to a closed door. Pushing it open Brooke walked inside both boys turned to her dropping their argument.

"Can I talk to you for a sec." Brooke looked at Bucky.

Steve excused himself closing the door behind him to leave the two alone.

"Wanna tell me why you're so pissed?"

Bucky rolled his shoulders trying to relieve some of the tension building in his body.

"I don't need a defender and I am more than able to make decisions for myself. So what about that makes you so mad?"

"You have been here for a day Brooke and already he's pulling you into this mess."

"I'm already in it, James. My father's work, it's my problem and if I can fix it, I'm gonna."

"Just the other night you were telling me you did not want to talk about it."

"The other night I was still in shock from finding Jessie's- finding Jessie. I was tired and did not want to talk about it. You can't tell me that there are some nights you don't want to talk about Hydra or your past. It doesn't mean I can't handle a little blast from the past. I walked back into Hydra after ten years to find you, I think I can look at some files. I'm trapped here with strangers, what the hell else am I going to do?"

"I don't know what to say here."

"I do not need a knight in shining armour." The room fell into silence.

"What did Stark ask you to do?"

"Nothing. He asked if I would be interested in looking into all they could find about my father's files and I do. I was fifteen, which is more than old enough to remember what went on in those labs. I remember you. I want to figure out why I don't remember everything. It can't just be disassociation. Because when I want to, I can remember the red room."

"You deserve to know." He just did not want her to find something that could devastate her more than this situation already had.

Brooke nodded in agreement. "Can you make me a promise?"

Bucky softened, nodding, "Before you get all puffed up and storm off to defend me, stop and ask me what I think first. I mean, did anything on my face make it seem like I was upset?"

"I know Stark, and I knew his father. I don't want you to be taken advantage of."

"I know how to play the game just as much as he does. I wouldn't let him get away with anything that I'm not willing to go along with."

"As nicely as they wanted to frame it, you are stuck here because Stark and Fury allowed it. I am just concerned. I don't want you feeling pressured into pleasing them or anyone else because of that."

Brooke smirked, "Even you?"

"Especially me. I want you to feel safe here, not like you are stuck playing some game until your probation is over."

"Even though this new living situation was forced upon me, it's not all bad. It gives me some time to figure out what I am going to do once I move back home. Yes being here wouldn't be what I would have picked, but it's not exactly like I have people waiting out there for me either. In all honestly, the loft is no good, they know where that is. Once you dropped me off I was going to take what I needed and go live out at my mom's place."

Bucky sighed, "I could talk to Steve, and see if we could work something out so you could go live at your mom's, but then it would be on record where her house is."

"No, I don't want to do that. I want to keep that place under the radar. Living here isn't horrible you know, Tony really dect this place out. My being here is most convenient for everyone, and I don't mind it. I mean you're here, well you will be most of the time. To be honest, it's nice to be someplace I don't have to worry about Hydra attacking, and if they do I'm sure Tony has some boobie traps and failsafe around here."

"This place was built with defence in mind, you are safe here." Brooke nodded.

"And what about that promise?"

"I promise I'll stop jumping in without talking to you first. Steve mentioned to me that I'm acting a lot like he did when I first got back. He reminded me that I wasn't much of a fan of it either. I just couldn't help myself, I'm sorry."

"Thank you. I know you want to think the worst of Tony because of your history together. He may be what you say he is, but he hasn't proven himself to be anything other than concerned for his friends and doing his job. Until he gives me something to be pissed about, let's just cool it with the knee-jerk reactions, ok?"

Bucky nodded in agreement. What Brooke was saying was fair and it made sense, it did not mean it didn't rub him the wrong way. He did overreact a little earlier, he could recognize that, and Steve had told him as much. He just felt the need to protect Brooke trying to force its way to the surface. As he had promised, he would temper that, for her.