Evelyn awoke the following morning with a headache. Her throat ached and her eyes stung. She managed to open her eyes eventually, sniffing and managing to sit up. She adjusted herself on the bed, looking for any sign of Bucky and wondering if the day before had really happened. She longed for none of it to have happened, but then it came back to her. Verity had attacked. Lisa and Maria had fought with her. She had walked away from them last night. She had walked away for Bucky. The man in question wasn't even in the bed next to her but she heard voices in the living room.
Pulling herself from bed, she looked down and saw that she had fallen asleep in her dress from the day before. No doubt her face was red and blotchy and she could feel her hair askew on top of her head. She moved slowly to the door, not entirely caring about her appearance. Instead she found Bucky's blazer at the end of her bed and took hold of it, shrugging into it considering it was the nearest option.
Padding to the kitchen, she kept the blazer tight around her and she saw Bucky with Sam. Bucky was already dressed, a bag near the door. No doubt he was ready to go as soon as possible. Sam was wearing a light red jacket over a blue top, his jeans hanging on his hips. He looked to Evelyn over Bucky's shoulder and it was only then when the super soldier turned around.
"Hey," he said to her.
"Hey," she managed back to him. "Hi, Sam. How you doing?"
"Better than you I'd guess," Sam responded.
She chuckled darkly at that and nodded. "I imagine so," she responded, coming to stand beside Bucky at one side of the island while Sam remained stood on the other side.
"We've got somewhere safe for you to hide out at," Sam said to Evelyn. "I'm going to drive you to the airport and the CIA have been kind enough to loan a private jet to take you there."
Evelyn nodded, struggling to come to terms with that. She still couldn't believe that it had come to this. She couldn't believe that she was being forced to go into hiding because of this. Bucky looked to her as she went silent and he moved his hand to her back, running it up and down, scrunching his blazer that she was wearing as he made the motion.
"My parents," Evelyn managed to speak. "If she wants to hurt me to hurt Bucky then…then my parents have to be safe too."
Sam nodded. "I'll make sure of it," he told her.
"Thank you," she said, her voice full of gratitude. "And the CIA are involved now?"
"Verity took the serum," Bucky said to Evelyn. She had guessed that much by the way she had picked her up like a rag doll and strangled her with no problem. "The CIA had been invested in a program to recreate the serum, but they backed out of it. They want to know who has been doing it."
"Yeah, this is big," Sam confirmed. "If she had the serum then who knows how many more vials there are of it? How many more super soldiers there could be? Who is the doctor recreating this?"
Evelyn gulped at the thought and Bucky watched her nod her head thoughtfully.
"You said that she was in Mardipoor, right?" Evelyn checked with the both of them. They nodded their heads at her. "And you said that a lot of shady behaviour goes on in Mardipoor, didn't you? Whose to say there isn't someone there funding it? It would make sense…that's why she went there. She went there to get the serum."
Bucky nodded thoughtfully at her comments. "That would make sense," he said to Sam.
"Yeah," Sam agreed, "but let's leave that for the CIA. Right now, finding Verity Mardox and getting her to talk should be our number priority before she does something again."
"You should pack a bag and change," Bucky informed Evelyn. "We need to leave sooner rather than later."
"Yeah," Evelyn nodded.
The two men watched her head back into her bedroom and close the door. Bucky sat down on the bar stool, head going into his hands. He did his best not to let everything get on top of him, but he was struggling with that. Sam leant on the other side of the counter, staring at Bucky and wondering what was going on in his brain.
"If there are more super soldiers then you know that we have to find out who has recreated the serum, don't you?" Bucky checked with Sam.
Sam nodded his head. "Yeah," he responded, "but for now, we take things one step at a time, okay? We deal with this and we then look for the serum."
"Agreed," Bucky said. "So where are we going?"
"California," Sam responded. "There will be a car waiting once you touch down to take you to a hotel. I'm going on the hunt for Verity, but…you know that she's good, right? She has money. She has contacts. She is part of the Flag Smashers and they have sympathisers in nearly every city. They might be small, but their movement is growing."
"What are you saying?" Bucky enquired as they heard the shower begin to run in the bathroom.
"I'm saying that she has found you at every turn before now. She's been watching you…I'm wondering if she might be able to find you again, no matter how well we hide you."
"Then I'll be ready for her," Bucky said.
"That's what I'm saying," Sam said. "I'm wondering if it might be…well…if we could somehow lure her out of wherever she is hiding. Give her bait."
There was silence then. Bucky shook his head, hand hitting the worktop. "Absolutely not," he snapped at Sam.
Sam held his hands up defensively. "I'm not saying that we use Evelyn to lure her out," he said. "I would never even suggest that, Bucky. She'll be as safe as we can make her, I swear it. But a decoy…something that makes her think Evelyn is in one place but isn't."
"Do you think she would fall for that?"
Sam shrugged. "I don't know," he told him. "But desperate times call for desperate measures, Buck."
"Let me think about it," Bucky said. "For now, the number one priority is getting out of here."
"Agreed," Sam responded.
Bucky went to finish checking that he had everything in his bag, his gun sat on top of his clothes. He had enough money required if they had to run and his passport was there too. He moved his phone into his pocket at the same time Evelyn came out of the bedroom. She had a small case by her side and she wheeled it into the kitchen. Her hair was pushed back into a ponytail and she wore a pair of jeans with a mustard coloured jumper, her mac over her arm and satchel on her shoulder.
"You ready?" Bucky asked her.
"I think so," she said.
"Do you have your passport?"
She furrowed her brows. "I thought we were flying domestic?"
"Just in case," Bucky encouraged her.
She went to grab her passport from the drawer in the sideboard, stuffing it into her satchel. Sam finished using his phone and looked to her.
"I have someone watching over your parents," he told her. "They should be safe."
"Thank you," she said again.
"No problem," he said. "So are you two ready to go?"
"I think so," Evelyn said.
Bucky slung his bag onto his shoulder and took her case from her, carrying it with ease by his side. Evelyn looked around her apartment, eyes wide and threatening to brim with tears. She sniffed and tried to keep her emotions in check. She would be back soon. She was certain of it. Closing the door, she locked up and deposited her keys at the bottom of her bag.
Following Bucky and Sam to the elevator, the three of them remained silent. Evelyn told Boris on reception that she would be away for a few days, saying that she was just taking a break. She reached for her phone once they were in the car and she dialled Rebecca's number. Bucky placed her case and his bag in the trunk before he climbed into the front passenger seat and Sam took a moment to stand on the sidewalk, talking to Torres about his plan. Evelyn sat in the back, looking out the window as she spoke on the phone.
"Hi, it's me…yeah…not really," Evelyn spoke into the phone. "I just need you to tell Kerry in HR that I'm having to take a few personal days…yes…he is…I will. Thanks, Rebecca."
"Alright?" Bucky asked, turning to look at her as she continued tapping on her phone. She nodded, not meeting his gaze as he observed her face. Lowering his eyes, he saw that her finger was hovering over Maria's number, but she clicked off of it and locked her phone, tossing it into her bag.
"Evelyn! Get the hell out here!"
Evelyn startled, wondering what the noise was before she saw Lisa storming down the pavement towards her. Evelyn climbed from the vehicle as Bucky did the same, Sam hanging up his call and looking at the scene before him.
"What do you think you're doing?" Lisa demanded from her. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going away for a while," Evelyn said to her friend.
"With him?" she pointed at Bucky. "Evelyn, I thought that after yesterday you'd change your mind…see sense…I know that Maria was harsh, but she was right."
"I haven't changed my mind," Evelyn said firmly. "I'm sorry about what happened yesterday. I honestly am so sorry and I feel horrendous…I never wanted Maria and Daniel's day to be ruined like that. But I'm not running away from this."
"Has he brainwashed you?" Lisa asked her friend. "Because the Evelyn I knew would never be so impulsive. You sit and make pro and con lists about everything. You're rational. You're measured…but you're willing to risk everything for him…for some guy."
"Is that what you think I'm doing?" Evelyn demanded from her and Bucky remained silent, loitering by the front of the car as Sam stood behind him. Sam kept his glance on Bucky, noticing how he was struggling to look composed. He had his stare fixed on Evelyn as she spoke to Lisa.
"I think you've known him a few months," Lisa said. "I think that in those months, yes, he has made you happy, but he's dragged you into so much shit that I seriously don't think he is worth this. We're your friends, Evelyn. We're looking out for you."
"And I appreciate that, honestly, I do," she said, "but I'm not leaving him. I'm not doing that."
"You have no idea what you're doing," Lisa said with a shake of her head. "Is this what your life is going to be from now on? Running away and hiding because of people he wronged?"
"No," Evelyn said, knowing that Bucky was doing what he could to make things as safe as possible. She appreciated that more than he could know. "But I have to go, Lisa."
"Tell her," Lisa demanded, turning her attention to Bucky while Evelyn pulled the door to the back seat open again. She didn't climb in as Lisa glowered at Bucky. "Tell her that she doesn't need to do this…that you want her to be happy and safe…"
"You think that I don't want that for her?" Bucky asked.
"If you really wanted it for her then you would have stayed away," Lisa responded. "You would never have come back here and ruined her like you have."
"Stop it," Evelyn demanded from her friend, the anger now clear in her face. "Don't talk to him like that, Lisa. This isn't his fault and he doesn't need you going on at him."
"So that's it? You're turning your back on your friends for him?"
"Why do I have to choose?" Evelyn flapped her arms by her side. "Who is making me choose between you? I'm not making that choice."
"You already have," Lisa responded. "You made that choice when you left Maria's house last night."
"Maria wanted me to go."
"She wanted you to go because you refused to walk away from Bucky."
"So there we have it," Evelyn said, tossing her head back and cheeks tinting red as Lisa bit down on her tongue, his glare remaining on her friend. "You were the ones who wanted me to make a choice and I'm not doing it. I am going away with Bucky because I need to be with him. I need to be with him because this woman knows that if we split up it would just be for show. She isn't stupid."
"Perhaps she isn't, but I'm wondering if you are."
Evelyn shook her head. "I'm not standing here and being insulted again," she said. "I have to go. Take care, Lisa."
"You're making a big mistake," Lisa protested.
Evelyn climbed into the car and slammed the door closed. She looked the other way. Sam clasped Bucky on the shoulder and urged him to get back into the car. Bucky moved to the passenger side door and opened it up again. He stood there as Lisa called out to him.
"You're going to get her killed," she said and he met her gaze, seeing the tears now falling down her cheeks. "And we'll never forgive you."
Bucky swallowed hard, but said nothing. He simply climbed into the car and shut the door. Sam started the engine and began to drive away. Evelyn didn't even look back at Lisa as they went. Instead she turned her gaze out of the window and watched the passing buildings. Bucky turned his gaze back to her, seeing the look on her face. She was quiet and pensive, but he knew that behind the anger in her glare there was sadness. But she wouldn't show it, not yet. She was too stubborn to cry openly in front of other people.
…
Evelyn had been quiet the entire journey to California. She had almost been in a daze, not eating anything on the flight and spending it curled in a ball, staring out the window. Bucky was sat next to her, hands clasped together in his lap and gaze set on them. He didn't know what more he could say to her, struggling to come up with the right words.
It was evening by the time they arrived at the hotel and Bucky took the lead, using the aliases they had been given and conversing with the agents who were watching the building. Evelyn had stood back, looking around and considering what was going on. The hotel was large, marble floors and expensive furniture dotted around. They were booked into a suite on the twelfth floor and had been told to stay put. Evelyn didn't like the idea of being locked up in some hotel suite, but she guessed there was no other option for the time being. Bucky had to admit that he had been thinking about what he could do. He wanted this situation to be over sooner rather than later. He wanted things to be sorted quickly. And so he had considered if it would be possible to lure Verity out.
Once they were in the suite, Evelyn removed her jacket, tossing it over the chair at the desk there. The room had plush beige carpets and two large double beds in the middle of it, a set of drawers between them. A sofa sat at the end of the beds by the window with a TV hanging on the wall. There were bottles of water in the mini fridge under the desk and a kettle on top of it. The wardrobe was next to the door and there was another door opposite it that led to the bathroom.
"It's pretty big," Bucky commented, needing to say something to fill the silence. But Evelyn didn't respond. Instead she was staring outside of the window, peeling the curtain back to look to the street outside.
"You know, I'm usually the one who keeps things bottled up and I've gotten pretty good at the silent treatment," Bucky commented, reaching for a bottle of water and taking the top off. He took a swig and still Evelyn kept her back to him. He sighed in exasperation, wondering just what was going through her mind. "So is this it? You're just not going to talk to me?" he demanded, voice slightly harsher then. Still she remained looking out of the window. "God damn it, Evelyn, would you say something?" he finally demanded from her, unable to take any more silence.
And then she turned around and he saw her openly crying. Tears covered her cheeks and her face was blotchy. Bucky sighed, regretting letting his temper get hold of him. He moved towards her and saw that she was once again letting out all of the emotions that she had been keeping inside. He reached out for her and she moved her arms around his waist, burrowing against his chest before sobbing against him. He kept his arms around her, moving a hand to hold the back of her head, his fingers running through her hair.
"I've got you," Bucky whispered, chin sitting on the top of her head. "I've got you, Evie."
He didn't know how long it was until she finally calmed herself, managing to take in deep breaths. She stopped shaking and realised she had to untangle herself from Bucky, but she had to admit that she was embarrassed. She was embarrassed that she wasn't able to be stronger and keep herself composed, but she was finding it hard.
"Sorry," she managed to whisper.
"You have nothing to apologise for, Evie," he responded to her.
"I do," she said. "You don't need to deal with my mess. You have enough on your plate without me adding to it."
"Don't think like that," he urged from her, voice dropping to a soft whisper. He pulled back just enough for him to curl his finger underneath her chin and tilt her gaze up to meet his.
"But it's true," she said. "We have bigger problems to worry about and me crying every two minutes isn't going to help anything."
"You can cry if you want to," he said. "You don't have to hide how you feel, not to me, Evelyn…never to me."
She moved to embrace him once more and Bucky kissed the top of her head.
….
"You could have killed them!"
Verity rolled her eyes as she sipped on her champagne in her private jet. She was on her way to California after having found out from an agent in the CIA that was where Evelyn Morris had been taken with Bucky Barnes. She frowned as she continued sipping on her champagne, but it didn't do anything to her. Instead, she knew that she now couldn't get drunk.
"You know, I wonder if there is anything I can do to get drunk?" she considered and the woman across from her began fuming, her cheeks turning red as she pointed to her.
"Don't change the topic," she demanded, her voice full of annoyance as she brushed a hand through her curly hair. "The fact is that we said we would help you find this woman and we did that…but you…you went to that party and you could have killed someone. What were you thinking?"
"Lighten up," Verity demanded. "It's not like anyone got hurt."
"But they could have," the woman responded.
Verity arched her brow. "Is this sentiment that I hear?" she wondered from the woman. "Are you beginning to feel bad? Because do I need to remind you that we have a deal? You help me find him and I give you my family's resources…our transport…our property…do you think that you would be able to ship vaccines without me? Do you think that you would be able to fly food supplies out without me?"
The woman remained mute at that. She knew it wasn't possible.
"In turn, I gain access to those who sympathise with your cause who can tell me what I need to know," Verity responded. "And do I need to remind you of the strength that I now possess? I have the ability to snap your neck in two…because you don't have the serum…not yet, anyway."
The woman gulped at hearing that. There was a brief moment of silence between the two of them before Verity continued talking.
"This will all be over soon enough and we can both go our separate ways," Verity confirmed.
The woman nodded her head once. She thought that this had been a small price to pay for what they needed. She knew about the Winter Soldier and she knew of the crimes he had committed. He had killed Verity's mother and she was now living her life seeking revenge. Bucky Barnes wasn't a good man and she had told herself that.
But she had spent some of her time watching the woman he was dating. Her colleagues had managed to hack into the CCTV to see what was going on, but that hadn't been enough for her. She had spent some time in D.C. and had walked around, following Evelyn Morris. She had seen her at work, giving tours to schoolchildren with enthusiasm. She had stayed in the shadows and watched Bucky meet her after work. She would see her face light up at the sight of him, always embracing him enthusiastically and taking his hand. She would go running with him, nudging him whenever he teased her about his speed. She had even seen them ice skating together, Evelyn completely helpless and Bucky helping her stay upright.
She was just a woman. She was just an ordinary woman who happened to have feelings for a man with a history. And the more she watched her, the more she wondered if they really did need Verity. She thought that it had been a small price to pay initially. The life of one woman and the Winter Soldier to save countless other lives with medicine, water and food.
But, no matter how much she cared for her cause, the guilt of knowing that one life could be taken was beginning to eat her up. She was struggling to come to terms with it.
And as Verity continued smirking on the flight, she realised that she couldn't do this. She couldn't let Verity have her way.
…
"You parents are fine," Bucky said to Evelyn as soon as he was finished on the phone. He looked over to her and she arched a brow, nodding her head over to him. She was sat on the bed, wrapped up in Bucky's blazer after having changed into her pyjamas as the night fell over them.
He wore his grey top, his vibranium arm fully on show. He had taken to pacing in the room, talking with Evelyn and trying to devise a plan. Evelyn had then gone to shower, changing into her pyjamas and complaining that she had been cold once she was back in the bedroom. Bucky had handed her his blazer, despite the fact she had her own jumper. She had taken it anyway, something comforting about wearing his oversized jacket.
"Good," Evelyn responded to him. "Is there any other news?"
"None at the moment," Bucky responded.
It was then when there was a knock on the door. Bucky instantly reached for the gun that he had placed on the top of his bag. Evelyn had freaked out at the sight of it there to begin with, but she had soon gotten over it when Bucky insisted that he needed it for safety. He kept it by his side and moved to the door, holding a hand up to Evelyn as she stood from the bed and he urged for her to keep still.
Looking through the peephole, he saw no one there. He pulled the door open tentatively and looked up and down the corridor, but it was silent. It was then when he noticed the brown envelope by the door. Bending down, he picked it up and backed into the bedroom once more.
"What is it?" Evelyn asked as he opened it up.
"A phone," he said and pulled it out.
Evelyn moved to stand by his side, peering over his arm as he pressed the unlock button. He went to the contacts and saw that there was only one number.
"What's going on?" Evelyn wondered.
"I have no idea," he said to her. "Only one way to find out."
He pressed the call button and put the call onto speakerphone. Waiting for someone to pick up as it rung, he kept his gaze on the number on the screen, Evelyn doing the same. The call connected after a few moments and Bucky remained silent. He waited for the person on the other end to make the first move.
"James Barnes?" she spoke.
"Who is this?" Bucky replied.
"Consider me an ally," she said to him. "I know where Verity Mardox is and I know what she has planned."
Evelyn narrowed her gaze and wondered who this woman actually was. She had a distinct accent and her voice was low, almost as though she was whispering.
"What do you want?"
"Verity gone," the woman said, her tone honest. "She's become deranged with needing revenge and I don't agree with what she has planned."
"And that's your only reason for helping me?" Bucky asked. "Why would you even help me?"
"It's not just you, is it?" she responded. "Verity has been helping us with her family's wealth for our cause. In return she wanted access to our contacts…sympathisers…when she had them, she could find you. We have moles and informants in every government branch."
"So you're part of the Flag Smashers," Bucky concluded.
"Perhaps," she said, not giving everything away. "And it sounded simple to begin with, two lives for who knows how many?"
"And did you help her find the serum?"
"Yes."
"And are there anymore of her?"
"No, she is the only who took the serum," she responded. "But I don't have time to tell you everything. I called you because some part of me knows that this is wrong…I've seen you with Evelyn. I've seen Evelyn and she's just…she doesn't deserve what Verity has planned."
"And what is that?"
"Tonight," the woman said. "One of the agents is going to call you away from the room, claiming that they have news. Once you're out the way, he's going to go and take Evelyn. He'll take her to Verity…she's hiding out in an abandoned warehouse. She…she was going to torture Evelyn…break her…have her call you and listen in. She would only kill her once she had finished torturing her."
Evelyn felt her blood chill at that. Bucky also felt sick, his stomach churning and he nodded his head. He had her plan. He knew what was coming.
"Where is the warehouse?" he asked.
"She didn't tell me that. That's all I know," the woman responded. "I have to go. Destroy this phone. You never spoke to me, do you understand?"
"Do I have another choice?"
"Not if you want to walk out of this alive with your girlfriend," she responded and hung up the call.
Bucky looked at the screen and pushed his gun into the waistband of his jeans. He destroyed the device with a closed fist around it, squashing it instantly and tossing it to the side. "Get changed, we're leaving," Bucky demanded from Evelyn.
"No," Evelyn said with a shake of her head.
"No?" Bucky echoed back. "Did you hear what she just said?"
"I heard it," Evelyn said to him. "And I also know that we can find out where Verity is if you just calm down for one minute and stop freaking out."
"I can do that without you being present," Bucky said.
"No," Evelyn retorted. "If she gets wind of something being wrong then she will flee. We can have her right where we want her, but we just need to think about this. If we leave right now then this rogue agent will just tell her and she will know something is not right. So we play along…we play along and we get her."
"Absolutely not," Bucky snapped. "I am not letting him take you anywhere."
"No," Evelyn said with a shake of her head. "I'm not talking about me being taken or tortured. Funnily enough I don't fancy going through that."
"So what?"
"Leave the room when the agent calls…if he calls," Evelyn said to Bucky. "But don't go far. Come back before he can do anything or get through the door. We can threaten him to give Verity's location, can't we? He'll talk, surely?"
"I don't even like that idea," Bucky complained.
"I knew you wouldn't," Evelyn said, "but this is the only way. You'll be gone for a few seconds and I know that you'll be back before anything could even happen to me. I know that."
Bucky sighed and Evelyn reached for his shoulders, squeezing them. "We can do this," she said with a firm nod. "We can do it, Bucky."
"I'll be down the corridor," Bucky said firmly. "I will not go any further and I will not leave you alone with him for more than a second. He won't lay a hand on you."
"I trust you."
"Even after everything that's happened?"
"Always," she promised, standing on her toes to kiss him. "But I am going to get changed."
She grabbed some fresh clothes and dashed into the bathroom. Bucky called Sam to tell him what had just happened. Sam had asked if he was sure that this woman who had called could be trusted. Bucky said that he would only know for sure if the rogue agent did call them. He would soon find out, but he was willing to see what happened. Evelyn left the bathroom, dressed in a black shirt tucked into her jeans. She still wore Bucky's blazer, her hair once again tied into a ponytail.
"So what do we do now?"
"Wait," Bucky said.
Sitting down on the end of the bed, Evelyn tugged her ankle boots on and Bucky sat next to her. They lapsed into silence before Bucky's phone began to vibrate. He took the call and sure enough, it was Agent McDowell calling him. He asked him to come and see him in reception, claiming that he had some new information. Bucky said he would be there in a minute and hung up.
"She was right," Bucky told Evelyn.
"Looks like it," Evelyn said and stood up, eager to get things moving. The sooner this was done then the sooner they could move on. Bucky stood too and grabbed hold of his gun in one hand and took Evelyn's hand with his other.
"Have you ever held a gun?" he asked her.
"No," she said to him.
"Right, we have to be quick," he said to her. He pressed the gun into her hand and stood behind her. He moved his hands to her elbows, raising her arms so that she was pointing the gun straight ahead. "Make sure you're steady with it. You won't need to shoot because I will be back, but this will keep him away from you. The safety lock is on, but if you need to take it off then do this," Bucky said to her and showed her exactly how to do it. He moved his hands over hers, noticing that her fingers were shaking. "You'll not have to use it, but this is a precaution…okay?" Bucky checked with her.
"Okay," Evelyn agreed.
"I'll be back in minutes," Bucky said to her. "Nothing will happen."
"Go before he gets suspicious," Evelyn encouraged him.
Nodding, he reached for his jacket and shrugged into it as Evelyn lowered the gun and held it by her side. Bucky quickly kissed her before he left the room. He moved down the corridor towards the stairwell and waited there for a few moments, listening for any footsteps that came from the elevator. It took a few minutes before he heard them and he knew that it had to be him.
Bucky took off just as he saw McDowell enter the suite. Running down the corridor, he caught the door before it could shut, storming into the room. McDowell had no time to act before Bucky had his arm twisted behind his back. The man yelled in pain as Bucky rammed him against the wall, winding him with the force. Evelyn was stood on the other side of the room, holding the gun in her shaking hands.
"Where is she?" Bucky demanded from him.
"How did you know?" McDowell demanded, his black hair falling into his face and his cheeks puffing out as he tried to gather his breath.
"Irrelevant," Bucky snarled, "now where is she?"
"I won't turn on her."
Bucky nodded once and he let go of McDowell before grabbing him by the shoulder. He pushed him towards the bed, forcing him to sit down on the end of it. He took the gun from Evelyn's hand and aimed it at McDowell's temple. Evelyn watched on as Bucky made the movement and she knew that this would be the only way to make him talk.
"Do you think that she'll care if you die?" Bucky demanded from him. "You know who I am. You know what I have done."
"You're a changed man...you were pardoned...everyone says as much."
Bucky fired a shot behind him, the bullet going into the mattress. Evelyn inhaled a sharp breath at the noise. She remained still as McDowell began trembling.
"I was," Bucky said, "until Verity threatened the woman I love. So talk or I'll use other methods to get it from you."
Bucky reached into his pocket, finding the knife he had kept there. He flipped it in his hand and McDowell's gaze widened as Bucky continued watching him, refusing to back down from staring at him. The atmosphere in the room was tense, both men stubborn. But eventually McDowell gave in as Bucky pressed the gun harder to his forehead.
"The address is in the Sat Nav system in the car," he finally said to Bucky. "She had it sent there."
"When is she expecting Evelyn?" Bucky continued.
"Another hour," he said.
"And did she give you any instructions?"
"Just…not to hurt her…she wanted to be the one to do that."
"Right," Bucky said and he used the butt of the gun to hit McDowell around the head, knocking him out cold. He moved to the headboard of the bed, snapping off the metal decoration easily as Evelyn watched him. He had placed the gun back in his jean waistband and his knife in his pocket.
Using the metal, he wrapped it around McDowell's wrists and ankles, keeping him incapacitated. He searched his pockets and destroyed his phone before finding his car keys.
"Come on," Bucky said to Evelyn.
"Coming," Evelyn said.
She grabbed hold of his outstretched hand and followed him from the suite. He called Sam to tell him that McDowell was the mole and he was on the way to find Verity. Heading to the underground car park, Bucky pressed to unlock the car, looking around for any sign of it. The lights flashed on a sleek looking black Mercedes and Bucky headed towards it. He held the door open for Evelyn to climb in before moving to the driver's side.
He started the car and turned on the Sat Nav, seeing that it did have directions already installed into it.
"I'm dealing with her," Bucky said to Evelyn. "I need you to stay in the car, Evelyn. I need you to stay here and away from her. Sam is on his way…and she won't get away this time."
"But staying in the car-"
"-Is the only option," Bucky interrupted before she could protest. She could hear the anger in his voice. She remained silent then, burying her hands in her lap. Bucky let out a deep sigh and he shook his own head, pinching the bridge of his nose before reversing out the bay and driving to the exit, following the directions he had been given.
"I didn't want you to see that up there."
"It's fine," she promised him.
"No, it's not," Bucky said. "I don't want you to see that side of me…"
"You've seen every side of me, Bucky," Evelyn said to him. "You don't need to hide from me, okay?"
"Still doesn't mean I want you to see me when I'm like that," Bucky said.
"You did nothing wrong. You did what was needed to get him to talk and that's it," Evelyn informed him.
"I know," Bucky said. He would have done what was necessary to get the information. They drove through the streets quietly and Evelyn looked out the window, feeling Bucky's stare move over to her every now and then. She tried to remain as composed as possible, knowing that things would soon be over if everything went to plan. Bucky began to drive slowly as he approached the warehouse. He turned the engine off and looked to it, noting a window with a light in it on the first floor.
"Stay here," he said to Evelyn. "I need you to call Sam and tell him where I am."
Evelyn nodded, taking his phone from him. Bucky began to climb from the vehicle, but Evelyn reached for his arm, stopping him for a moment. He looked back to her as she leaned across her seat, kissing him and tangling her fingers into his hair. Bucky gave himself a few seconds of pleasure as he brushed his fingers against her neck, tickling her collarbone. He pulled away reluctantly as she whispered to him.
"Be careful," she demanded.
"Will be," Bucky said and he moved from the car.
He headed to the building, stepping into the warehouse and following the light upstairs. He moved up the steps, pulling his gun out and holding it in front of him, ready to take aim if necessary. His footsteps were light and he could hear humming coming from the room he was moving towards.
As he approached, he looked horrified at what he saw. There was a wooden table with rope laid on it. Next to it, however, was another table. It contained a range of knives laid out and Bucky realised just what it was that Verity would have done to Evelyn. He saw her toying with the edge of a knife, looking at its blade gleaming in the light.
"Looks like your plan wasn't that fool proof," Bucky said, making his presence known.
Verity looked up at him and she had the decency to look shocked at what she saw. Her eyes widened and her nostrils flared with rage. She threw the knife then, aiming straight at Bucky. He stepped to the side, catching the knife before it could fly past him. He tossed it to the ground, letting it impale on the wood beneath him as she reached for the other knives, grabbing two at a time and lobbing them towards Bucky. But Bucky was quick. He dodged the knives easily, still holding his gun in his hand.
"And now you're out of knives," Bucky said to her. "And you're not getting out of this."
"How did you find out?"
"That's not for you to know right now," Bucky said to her. "All that you need to know is that I know what you had planned for Evelyn and you're not getting anywhere near. You're not getting anywhere near anyone, is that understood?"
"You think that's true?"
"I know it is," Bucky said.
Verity smirked and shook her head. "Then let's settle this," she snarled. "You and me. Right now."
Bucky watched her with intrigue. She drew her own gun from her jeans then, aiming it at him as he kept his gun trained on her. They circled each other and Bucky knew that it would end there and then.
…
Evelyn had climbed from the car but had stayed next to it, looking at the warehouse and silently longing for Bucky to come out. She heard a sudden noise whirling above her and almost jumped. Looking up, Evelyn saw Sam flying towards the building. He landed in front of her and she pointed to the warehouse. "He's in there," she said. "He told me to stay out here, but I…I need to know…"
"I'll go in," Sam said. "You stay here."
Evelyn groaned in frustration as Sam flew into the building. She paced up and down, hands going through her hair. She knew that she would be useless in there. She couldn't fight and she would just get in the way. But she hated not knowing. It was only when she heard a gunshot did she make her mind up. Running to the building, she felt sweat pool on her forehead out of nerves. She looked around and heard the sounds of panting and a woman screaming loudly. Evelyn took the stairs up the building, coming to what looked like an empty office.
She looked around, seeing Verity there on the floor, Bucky knelt over her and pinning her down, hands around her neck. Sam was knelt next to Bucky, restraining her with him. She took a deep breath and stayed back, watching the sight in front of her. Bucky's hand was around Verity's neck and she was trying to push him from her. There was blood dripping from her shoulder and Evelyn wondered what had happened. As Bucky's grip on her increased, her screams died down and Bucky released her, content that was unconscious.
He collapsed back onto his heels and Evelyn saw his hands hold onto his thighs. Sam did the same, taking deep breaths. "Back up will be here soon. Restraining her will be the hard part."
"She should stay unconscious for a while," Bucky spoke. "But I'm going nowhere until backup is here."
"Agreed," Sam said.
"Did she hurt you?" Evelyn finally made herself known. She stepped further into the room and Bucky climbed to his feet, Sam doing the same. Bucky moved towards Evelyn, arm stretched in front of him and she looked over him, trying to see if he was injured.
"I thought I told you to wait by the car," Bucky snapped.
"I did, but then I heard the gunshot."
"So you decided to run up here and investigate?" he demanded from her.
"Yeah," Evelyn said and Bucky took hold of her waist, trying to get her to leave the room. She didn't need to see the sight in there. But her eyes were already scanning over his shoulder as he tried to get her to turn around and move out. He watched as she took in the knives that were scattered around everywhere, the rope on the table. And then she saw the open toolkit. Her stomach churned as Bucky heard the noise of approaching cars outside.
"Come on," Bucky urged from her. "Evie, sweetheart, come on."
He was slightly stronger than he had been before with her, urging her to turn around and leave the room. Her face paled and Bucky guided her back down the stairs and outside as he looked to the agents rushing ahead, telling them that she was upstairs. He took Evelyn off to the side, seeing how her eyes were darting around. She felt woozy, replaying the images in her head.
"Hey," Bucky said to her, taking hold of her by the cheeks and bending down so that he was her height. "She didn't get close to you, okay? She never got close to you."
"I know," Evelyn said to him. "But did she hurt you?"
"Didn't get chance to," Bucky promised her.
Evelyn nodded and embraced him tightly. He held her back, keeping her firmly against him until he heard Sam approach. Evelyn pulled back from him and moved over to Falcon. She didn't even bother standing on ceremony. She embraced him as well and he hugged her back, looking to Bucky who nodded over to him.
"Thank you," Evelyn said. "For everything."
"My pleasure," Sam said, running a hand up and down her back. She pulled away from him and he ran a hand down her arm. "She's going to be locked away for the rest of her life, I can guarantee you that. You're safe…and this is over…"
Evelyn began crying once more and embraced Sam again as his own lips quirked up and Bucky folded his arms over his chest, watching her with relief. She finally pulled back and rubbed her eyes with the backs of her hands.
"Do you need anything from me?" Bucky asked him.
"I can take care of this," Sam promised him. "Head back to the hotel. We'll talk in the morning."
"Sounds like a plan," Bucky agreed.
He moved to wrap his arm around Evelyn's shoulders and Sam watched the pair of them walk away.
…
Evelyn was tired, but she couldn't sleep. She was running on adrenaline. They had returned to the hotel that night and had taken a new suite, collecting their things from the other one. Evelyn had climbed into bed, the mattress comfortable and enveloping her body. Bucky soon followed once he had removed his jeans and jumper. He sat up in bed and Evelyn was instantly by his side, his normal arm wrapping around her shoulders as she rested her head against his shoulder.
"I don't believe it," she said in a whisper. "I just don't believe it is over."
"Believe it, sweetheart," Bucky urged, his hand moving to brush her hair from her forehead. "She's gone and as far as I know…Sam's finished looking into my past."
"When did you find this out?" Evelyn wondered, closing her eyes.
"He's had to do a lot of digging on this case," Bucky said to her. "He called me while you were changing and said that he can't find anyone else who might hold a grudge…no one who would come after me, anyway. And no one who looks like they're coming after me."
"So what are you saying?"
"That I hope this is it," Bucky said in a whisper to her. "It's going to take time for me to go back to how things were before all of this…to not be so overprotective of you…but hopefully time will prove that we can breathe freely…that we can move on."
Evelyn nodded against him. "I would like that," she said.
"So would I," Bucky responded. "But there are still some loose ends to figure out."
"Such as?" Evelyn asked.
"Who our guardian angel was," Bucky said. "And whether or not anymore serum has been created."
"The woman on the phone said that Verity was the only one who had taken the serum," Evelyn recalled. "I guess that doesn't mean that there isn't anymore."
"Exactly that," Bucky mumbled in agreement to her. "And that's something that both me and Sam agree on…and if he needs my help finding it…well…I kind of owe him. I owe him for everything he has done to help me and to keep you safe."
"We both owe him," Evelyn said. "I should maybe invite him for dinner when he is next in D.C."
Bucky groaned and Evelyn tilted her head up so that she could look at him.
"What was that for?" she asked him.
"You know that he'll just mock me and comment on our relationship, right?"
Evelyn chuckled and shrugged. "Well, I think he gets a free pass on that. Besides, Sam has always been great with me."
"Lucky you," Bucky muttered. "But fine. I guess I can humour him for one evening."
"Good," Evelyn responded.
There was a moment silence between them and Bucky had a suspicion where her mind had gotten to and what she was thinking of. He had heard her call her parents after they had left her numerous voicemails following a call from Lisa to them about what had happened the day before. Evelyn had assured them that everything had been fine and that she was okay. But Bucky had a suspicion that her parents might not be too happy with him once again.
"They're your friends," Bucky told her. "They'll be there for you. They're just angry."
"We've never argued like that before," Evelyn admitted to him, moving a hand to his chest, feeling his dog tags beneath the material as she played with the material of his grey top in her fingertips. "I never thought that we could argue like that, but…they…they were going to make me choose and I wasn't going to choose. I did what I thought was right. I came with you because I knew it was the right thing to do."
"You're sure? Because-"
"-Stop it," she interrupted him. "Don't do that thing where you question me and ask if I'm sure I want to be with you."
"It's hard not to," Bucky said to her, "because I still don't get why you want me."
"I want you because I love you," Evelyn said to him. "And I wasn't going to leave you over this. If I did that then Verity would have still come for me anyway and we…I wasn't going to let some psychotic bitch with a vengeance drive us apart."
Bucky sighed, moving to kiss the top of her head. "You know when they say that couples face challenges?" he asked her. "I don't think they mean these kinds of challenges."
"Well, most people don't date a hundred and five year-old super soldier," Evelyn retorted.
"Touché," he responded.
"So…can we fly back home tomorrow?" Evelyn asked from him.
"Yeah," Bucky said. "Besides, didn't you have something planned for tomorrow night?"
"I did," Evelyn said. "And I'm still not telling you, so you'll just have to wait and see."
She reached to turn the lamp out and she moved to rest on her side. Bucky smiled as he watched her lay down. He copied her movements, wrapping his arm around her and dragging her back to him, hearing her laugh lightly as his fingers tickled her sides. Whispering into her ear, he breathed; "You're such a tease, sweetheart," he said.
"All good things come to those who wait, Mr Barnes," she retorted.
"Had to wait over a hundred years for you, didn't I?" he responded and he saw her redden as he moved to kiss the corner of her forehead. She said nothing back to him on that, instead she took hold of his hand and held it tightly. It was only once she was on the verge of sleep did she whisper to him and Bucky wondered if she even knew she was talking.
"I do love you, you know?"
Bucky heard her breathing shallow before he responded to her. "I love you too," he replied to her.
...
A/N: Slowly moving onto new things in the next few chapters! Thanks to everyone reading and following - do let me know what you think, love to know your thoughts/if you're still interested in this continuing on!