Evelyn had gone to bed after hearing nothing from Bucky. She had tossed and turned, not really sleeping. Instead she spent the majority of her time rolling over to press the unlock screen on her phone, hoping to see some message or something from him. But there was nothing. She groaned loudly as the clock struck four and she realised she wasn't getting anymore sleep. Instead of stewing in bed, she climbed from beneath the covers, tossing them back and grabbing her glasses. She sat up, leaning against the headboard and turning the light on.
Turning her gaze to the side, she looked at Bucky's bedside table and thought about the ring that was hiding in it. She did her best not to go and take it out, wanting another look at it. She held her hand up and wondered what it would look like on. Of course, she knew that she could be getting the wrong end of the stick completely. It might not even be an engagement ring. It might just be a ring. It might just be a family heirloom. But why hadn't he told her about it if that was the case?
It was as she reached for her book when her phone rang. She kept her knees bent, the book resting there before she grabbed hold of the mobile, seeing Bucky's face on her screen as she swiped to answer the call.
"I've been worried sick," Evelyn said to him. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Bucky said to her, promising her in that soft voice he used whenever he needed to reassure her. "We tracked down the Flag Smashers just outside of Munich. They were stealing vaccines…but they're all super soldiers, Evie. They've taken the serum."
"Shit," Evelyn mumbled, pushing her hand through her hair and closing her eyes. "What does that mean, Bucky?"
"It means that I'm going to be away a little while longer," he said and she could almost hear the disappointment in his voice. "There's someone who I have to go see who might be able to help or know someone who can. I…I've never told anyone about him because he went through enough, but he's a super soldier."
"Who is he?" Evelyn wondered.
"Isaiah Bradley," Bucky said to her. "I fought him during the Korean War…he…he was imprisoned by the government because of his super soldier status. He was freed in the '80s and since then he's lived a quiet life in Baltimore. I never told anyone about him because he's been through enough. He…the idea of going to prison after your own government created you is terrifying."
"Christ," was all that Evelyn could whisper back to him.
"I know," he agreed with her. "I'm only going to him because I know that Sam should meet him."
"Okay," Evelyn said, nodding her head. "But what happened to him…being imprisoned…Bucky, how can people be so cruel? How can people be like that? And the government..."
"I tend to find it's the people with the most power who are the most corrupt," Bucky said to her. "But I'm hoping that we might find something out. If not, I think that Sam deserves to meet him. He deserves to know the truth about everything."
"Okay," Evelyn said again. "So is that where you're heading to now?"
"It is," Bucky said to her. "We're on a flight right now."
"And you're calling me?" Evelyn questioned him. "On a flight?"
Bucky chuckled at her. "I wouldn't worry about that. We're fine, don't panic," he promised her. "But I do need to tell you that Walker showed up, Evie. He got his ass kicked, but we all did. Not going to lie though, it was quite nice watching him getting beaten up for the short time I saw it."
"You're a terrible person," Evelyn chided him, but she heard him chuckle back at her.
"You don't mean that, sweetheart," he responded.
"No, I don't," Evelyn agreed with him. "And is Sam okay?"
"Sam's fine," Bucky told her. "He's been pretty annoying, though. He's constantly bugging me about details of our relationship."
"Hmm," Evelyn hummed, laying down on her side and tossing her book onto Bucky's side of the bed. "What does he want to know now?"
"Our first date," Bucky said to her. "I caved in and told him that we went ice skating, but that was all he got from me. He kept inventing all of these scenarios in his head about it. Not going to lie, it was pretty entertaining for a while."
"What like?" Evelyn asked, wanting to keep him on the phone for as long as she could. She didn't want him to hang up. Instead she moved her free hand to his pillow and wished that he was next to her instead.
"He thinks that I would be the terrible skater," Bucky scoffed. "His logic is that he's seen you walk elegantly in shoes that are far too high and that you couldn't fall over."
Evelyn scoffed. "You know, I'm going to let him keep thinking that," she said. "And don't you dare correct him either. I quite like the thought of you not being perfect at some physical activity because honestly, exercising with you is complete and utter hell."
"Just because I'm quicker."
"Well, you do have an advantage," she pointed out, fingers running over his pillow. "So how long until you land in Baltimore?"
"A few more hours," he responded to her. "What time is it in D.C. anyway?"
"Just gone four," she responded.
"Oh, shit, Evie, I should be letting you sleep," Bucky said.
"No," she said quickly, not wanting him to feel any guilt. "I wasn't sleeping anyway. I was waiting for you to call so I've been up half the night."
"Well, are you sure?" he asked her.
"Yeah, it's Sunday anyway so I can just lay in," she replied.
"So, if you don't want to sleep, what do you want to talk about?" Bucky wondered from her.
"Well, I can tell you about my day," she responded. "Because, surprise, my parents are in town."
"What?" Bucky asked her.
"I know," she responded, reaching for the stuffed penguin in the middle of her pillows, laying it on top of Bucky's pillow. "I had no idea that they were coming into town. They just surprised me this evening when they turned up on my doorstep. Anyway, we drank wine and mum made grilled cheese sandwiches and I hate to say it, but they do rival yours."
"Nah, not possible," Bucky retorted with a chuckle.
"I think it might be," she replied.
"Well, tell your mum that we'll have a cook off or something," he said.
Evelyn laughed at that. "Oh, I don't know if you want to challenge my mum, Bucky. She takes these things very seriously."
"Well, I take my grilled cheese sandwiches seriously," he told her. "So let's go for it."
Evelyn continued smiling as she listened to him. "Anyway, my mum's grilled cheese sandwich aside, I did go and pick some new furniture. The bed and the mattress is coming next week some night, but they sent me the bedside cabinets today. Dad insisted on assembling them considering I'm terrible with flat pack furniture."
"Have you put them in the bedroom or are you waiting until all the furniture comes?"
Evelyn knew that she had to play this bit calm. "Well, I left yours for you to move your stuff into. I haven't had chance to do it yet," she said to him.
"Good…excellent…" he almost sounded relieved and Evelyn's lips curled and she bit down on her tongue, unable to stop herself. She wondered if she had gotten it right in the first place. "I mean, I need to sort those drawers out anyway. They're a mess. I may as well clear them out and then kill two birds with one stone."
"I'll leave it be then," Evelyn said to him.
"Good, thanks," Bucky responded. "So is that all you've done?"
"Pretty much," Evelyn said. "I'm going for a walk with mum and dad tomorrow after we grab brunch. They're here all week so I mean…I don't know if you'll be back, but I'm sure they'd love to see you."
"I'll see what happens," Bucky said, knowing that he couldn't make any promises to her. And she understood that too.
"I know," Evelyn promised him. "It's weird not having you here. This bed feels really massive without you."
"Missing my presence?" he asked.
"No," she responded in jest, "it's actually really nice having all of this space to myself. I might have to send you out on missions more often."
He chuckled at her sarcastic tone and she let her own lips arch at hearing him.
"I'm trying to get home…as soon as this is done…I'll be back there," Bucky promised her. "Can't exactly leave my girl alone for too long, can I?"
"Well, your girl will survive until then," she promised him and he could hear the sleepiness in her tone. She had closed her eyes after removing her glasses and folding them onto the bedside table.
"I know she will," Bucky whispered. "Evie, sweetheart, get some sleep. I'll call you after we have seen Isaiah, okay?"
"No, I'm fine," she protested.
"Your voice tells me otherwise," he said. "I'm fine. Sam's fine. We're all fine. Just get some sleep and I'll call you soon."
"Promise?"
"Promise," he responded. "Goodnight, Evie."
"It's technically morning," she responded.
"Don't get pedantic on me, sweetheart," he said to her.
"But you still love me, right?"
"Always," he said to her.
She smiled at that. "Love you," she said.
"Love you too," he responded and she hung up, tossing the phone into the empty space next to her. She reached behind her body to take hold of her lamp, finding the switch on it and bathing the room in darkness. Closing her eyes, she reached out and grabbed Bucky's pillow, holding it to her body and swearing she could smell his aftershave on it.
….
Evelyn had waited for Bucky to call her on the Sunday. She had slept in until gone eleven and woken up, finding her phone tucked into her quilt. She picked it up and saw that she had no missed calls. Moving from bed, she climbed into the shower and dressed in a long red floral dress that came to her ankles, two slits up each leg to her calf. Tugging her ankle boots onto her feet, she brushed her teeth at the same time, realising that she was running late to meet her parents. She had text them to tell them, but they had said they had already held a table at the restaurant round the corner from her.
Grabbing her bag, she checked her purse was in there before tugging the comb through her hair, grateful it looked somewhat presentable before she picked her phone up with her keys. She tugged at the belt around her dress and shrugged into her thin mac, letting it hang over her frame.
She rushed from the apartment, quickly bidding Boris a good morning and taking off in the direction of the restaurant. She found her parents tucked away in a corner, the restaurant making it difficult to spot them. It was completely busy with people waiting for tables, sitting at the bar. Evelyn loved coming to this place, but she always struggled to get a table. Her parents, on the other hand, were there at opening time to secure one. She waved to them as she moved forwards and settled into the seat across from them.
"I'm sorry, I slept in," she said to them.
"We had to order for you so they didn't kick us out," Sarah informed her daughter. "We got you waffles and pancakes. We didn't know which one you would want."
"I can't eat both."
"I'll help you out," Alistair promised his daughter. "I went on a run this morning so I am completely famished."
"You do exaggerate," Sarah rolled her eyes.
"I managed ten miles, I think I deserve two breakfasts," was all that he said and then looked to his daughter. "I was hoping that we might get out for a run one morning before work this week if you fancy it?"
"Sure, sounds good," Evelyn nodded her head.
"And why are you late? Did you not sleep well?"
"I was waiting for Bucky to call," Evelyn said, taking a sip of orange juice that her parents had ordered her. "He called me at four to say that he was okay and safe. He is with Sam."
"I still find it strange that you're dating the Winter Soldier and you consider the Falcon a friend," Sarah said with a shake of her head. "So what is going on? Did he find the Flag Smashers?"
"Yeah, but they got away," Evelyn said. "Turns out that they're like Bucky, but you really can't tell anyone else that."
"Consider our lips sealed," Alistair said to his daughter. "So…they've had the serum?"
"Seems like it. Bucky is trying to find out where the serum came from. He said that he would try to come home soon, but he can't make any promises so you might not see him this time while you're visiting," Evelyn said to her parents.
"Shame, but we understand," Sarah said and the food was then delivered.
Evelyn shared both the pancakes and the waffles with her father while her mother ate salmon and eggs. They talked about her father's lectureship and her parents informed her that they were busying making plans for their trip to London that summer, asking Evelyn if she had started planning considering she was bringing Bucky and her grandmother was desperate to meet him. Evelyn was about to insist on splitting the bill, her father protesting as usual, before she saw her phone begin to ring on the table. She looked down to it and saw it was Sam.
"Do you mind?" Evelyn asked as her father waved his hand nonchalantly and her mother shrugged. Picking the phone up, she placed it to her ear. "Hi, Sam."
"Evie, you okay?"
"Yeah, fine," she said. "What's going on?"
"Listen, Bucky's been arrested. He skipped his court mandated therapy session yesterday and there was a warrant out for his arrest."
"Shit," Evelyn said and her parent's eyes widened at hearing her. "What do you mean he's been arrested? Can you not bail him out? Tell them what happened?"
"I'm at the station and I'm trying to," Sam said to her. "But this is serious, Evelyn. I am trying to get hold of his therapist to see if she can figure something out, but they're saying that his pardon could be in danger for this."
"No," Evelyn said. "No…he can't be…where is he?"
"We're still in Baltimore," Sam said.
"I'm coming," Evelyn said. "It's just over an hour away and I'm coming to you. Can you keep me updated? I totally forgot he was supposed to have his session yesterday…completely and utterly forgot…I should have called the office."
"This isn't your fault," Sam promised her. "I'm going to do what I can to get him out, but I'll keep you updated. I'll text you the station."
"I'll be there soon," Evelyn said and she hung up, looking to her parents. "Bucky has been arrested for missing his court mandated therapy. He's in Baltimore…I need to get there…how much would a cab cost to get me there? Christ, it's going to be ridiculous, isn't it? Doesn't matter. I have my bank card."
"Evie, slow down," Alistair urged from his daughter.
"I need to go," Evelyn said. "I need to get to Baltimore."
"Can they not explain that he was on business?" Sarah asked.
"Well, I don't know…but I have to go…I'm sorry," Evelyn said, pushing herself to her feet and grabbing her bag. Alistair stood too, shrugging into his coat as her mother did the same.
"We'll get you a car, don't worry about the cost," Alistair urged his daughter. "I have the number of a private car company that the university uses. Give me a moment to call them and I'll take care of everything."
"Thank you," Evelyn said as her father pulled his phone out, squeezing her shoulder. He headed outside with his wife and daughter in tow, talking down the phone quickly as they came to the sidewalk and saw the long queue to get into the restaurant for what was now lunch.
"Five minutes," her father said to her. "Are you going to be okay going to Baltimore?"
"I'll be fine," Evelyn said to him with a nod. "Hopefully this will all be some misunderstanding and Bucky will be fine, but I just want to be there. I might not be any use, but I have to be there."
"I understand, sweetie," Sarah said. "And call us as soon as you have news, okay? We need to make sure you're both okay."
"I will," Evelyn said.
She paced nervously back and forth until the car arrived. It pulled up and Alistair held the back door open. Evelyn hugged her mother before kissing her father on the cheek as she climbed into the back of the car and she told the driver the station she needed to go to. She prayed that traffic would be kind. It was Sunday afternoon so it surely had to be. She tapped her foot nervously all the way there, thanking the driver for taking her such a long distance before she climbed from the car and headed into the station, looking around for any sign of Sam. She saw him sat on a seat and he stood up as soon as he saw her approaching.
"Evie," he called over to her.
"Hey," she said, slightly breathless from walking so fast, her dress almost catching around her legs and threatening to trip her up. "I haven't heard anything yet. I got hold of his therapist and she's on the way here."
"Dr Raynor is coming?"
"Yeah," Sam said with a nod.
"Did she say if she could get him out?"
"She said that she would try," Sam said to her. "He's in a holding cell. I haven't seen him since he was arrested, but I tracked him down to here. Anyway, I'm hoping that Dr Raynor will be able to work some magic."
"I hope so," Evelyn said to him. "He…I don't even want to think about his pardon being taken back."
"Hey," Sam said, a hand going to her shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze. "You don't need to think about that, Evie. You don't need to think it because he'll be fine. We'll do what it takes to get him out. Listen, let's get a coffee…well…I'll get you a tea…and we'll just sit tight."
Evelyn nodded and he smiled to her before running a hand up and down her back, guiding her forwards to the vending machines. They drank their hot drinks and Sam filled her in on what had happened in Germany. She sat and listened intently, constantly looking to the corridor and waiting for Bucky to be released.
"Miss Morris, I hadn't thought to see you here."
Evelyn turned her head over her shoulder to see her therapist stood behind them. She stood up and Sam followed her, guessing that this must be the therapist. "Dr Raynor," Evelyn greeted the woman. "I am so sorry. I should have called you yesterday and explained that Bucky had to reschedule. It totally slipped my mind."
"Well, it slipped his as well," she responded with a shrug of her shoulders. "But he should be free in a few minutes."
"Oh thank God," Evelyn whispered. "Thank you."
"Hi, Dr Raynor," Sam introduced himself, offering her his hand. "Sam Wilson."
"I've heard a lot about you."
"Thanks for getting him free," Sam said and Evelyn nodded her agreement.
"That wasn't me," she responded.
Sam frowned. "Then who was it?"
It was then when they heard a familiar voice enter the room. "Christina!" he called over and Dr Raynor waved over to him and Evelyn felt her lips purse, seeing John Walker stood there, talking to people who were asking for photographs and his autograph.
"You know him?" Sam asked from her.
"We did some field ops back in the day," she responded, a look of delirium on her face, as if she couldn't believe she was seeing Captain America. Or more like she couldn't believe John Walker was Captain America.
"It's good to see you," John said when he finally stood before the three of them. "And Evelyn, you're here too."
"Yeah," was all she offered him.
"So, listen, Christina, Bucky's not going to be able to attend these fixed appointments anymore. We need him on a more flexible schedule," John said and Evelyn bit the inside of her cheek and she swore that she could taste blood. But she kept her cool as John looked to the therapist.
"We've hardly finished our work, who authorised this?" she asked.
And then he pointed to himself and Evelyn wondered just how much power came with being Captain America these days. It was then when a loud buzz echoed through the room and Evelyn turned her head over her shoulder to see Bucky being led out of a door, flanked by two officers. John continued talking as she looked to him and he found her gaze, slightly puzzled as to how she knew where he was. But then he guessed Sam had told her. She gave him a soft wave as John continued talking.
"He's too valuable an asset to us for him to stay tied up here," John spoke. "So just do what you have to do and we'll be on our way. We've got some unfinished business, him and I…you too, Wilson…and Evelyn, I'd like a word. But I'll be outside."
Evelyn turned her head over her shoulder when he spoke her name, but he was already holding a hand up and heading to the door. She rolled her eyes at his back and she knew that Dr Raynor had seen. She didn't comment or she just didn't care to comment. Instead Evelyn turned back to look to Bucky, but before she could move to him, Dr Raynor was taking the lead.
"James, condition of your release session now…you too, Sam," she said. "Evelyn, you stay here. We already have sessions."
"I'm fine as well," Sam said.
"That wasn't a request," she commented and began walking away.
"Do I follow her?" Sam whispered to Evelyn.
"I would. She scares me and she's my therapist," Evelyn said and Sam groaned, but followed her.
Bucky managed a nod to Evelyn and she mouthed that she would be waiting for him to get out. She could see that he looked annoyed as he followed Sam back down the corridor. Evelyn contemplated what she should do before she went outside, knowing that she had to confront Walker sooner or later. Besides, she would rather do it while Bucky wasn't there, knowing that tensions could run high. She found him leant against a cop car with another man next to him. Heading over to him, she kept her bag over her body and her hands stuffed into her pockets. The night had already fallen and she wondered how long she had been in the police station.
"You're welcome, by the way," John said as he saw her approach. "Your boyfriend in there was in a lot of trouble for skipping therapy."
"Then thank you," Evelyn said, able to rise above everything and thank him for getting Bucky out of that cell. "But we have no air to clear, John."
"Told you she was a spitfire," John said, looking down to his friend who didn't return his smirk. Instead he offered Evelyn his hand and she took hold of it after a moment of hesitation.
"Lemar Hoskins," he said to her. "I work with John."
"Evelyn Morris," she said.
"Yeah, I've heard a lot about you," Lemar admitted to her.
"That sounds ominous," Evelyn commented.
"You have a very protective boyfriend, let's just say that," Hoskins said to her.
"He's…yeah…" Evelyn could only say on that point. There was no point denying it. She rocked back and forth on her heels for a few moments before looking between the two of them. "So what is it?" she asked John. "You said you wanted to talk."
"Yeah," he said to her. "I just want you to know that I took care of things…the fact that I know you broke your NDA to tell Bucky about me before it went public. But I handled it. I said you'd never risk your job."
"Thanks," Evelyn said again to him.
"And I get that you're still angry," John said, "but I genuinely did enjoy researching with you and spending time with you. I didn't just want to get to know you because of Bucky. I…I was just interested…and I know you think that I can't be another Captain America, but I can be. I have it in me."
Evelyn shrugged. "I don't know," she said to him. "I just think that there's a lot of pressure. One slip up…one little thing to ruin that image…the image of America's hero…I think that pressure on any man would be too much. I don't doubt that you're a good man, John, not really. I just don't know if you can handle the weight that is on your shoulders."
"Well, I've done a good job so far," he said with a smirk.
"Then you keep doing you," Evelyn said to him. "I'm going to head back in and wait for them."
"We'll be here," Hoskins said to her. "It was nice meeting you."
"You too," Evelyn said and headed back inside.
She took to pacing along the lengths of the seats before they came back out. Sam walked by her, talking to her as he went. "I'll be outside, okay?"
"Yeah," she said, suspecting that the session hadn't gone too well. Bucky finished filling in some paperwork at the front desk before he headed towards her. She struggled to restrain herself from running at him and enveloping him into an embrace. She met him half way, arms moving up to wrap around his neck as he took hold of her by the waist, letting her hold onto him and kissing the top of her head.
"Don't ever do that again," she demanded, whispering hotly into his ear before pulling back, running her fingers along his cheek and then kissing him. He pulled back after a moment and kissed her on the forehead before pulling her to him again, her cheek against his chest and his hand holding the back of her neck.
"Try not to," he promised her. "You didn't need to come anyway."
She scoffed and pulled back to look up at him. "Did you think I would just sit at home? No chance," she responded with a shake of her head. "So are you free to go?"
"Looks like it," Bucky said to her. "Is Walker waiting outside?"
"Unfortunately so," Evelyn said.
"Best go and face him then," Bucky muttered.
Evelyn nodded and he offered her his arm, feeling her lace hers into his and he looked down to her as she walked by his side and they headed outside. The night air was cool and Bucky found Sam just by the entrance.
"Ready for this?" Sam asked him.
"No," Bucky complained as they headed towards Walker and Hoskins.
Bucky stood at one end of the police car they leant again, Evelyn still holding onto his arm as he folded his other arm and rested it on top of the police car. Sam stood to the side of them, arms folded over his chest.
"Gentlemen," Walker greeted them. "Look, if we divide ourselves then we don't stand a chance against these guys and you know that."
"So what have you got?" Sam asked and Bucky looked down, Evelyn looking back and forth between Walker and Hoskins as they continued to lean against the car, arms folded over their chests as they spoke.
"Well the leader's name is Karli Morgenthau," Walker said. "We've been targeting civilians who have been helping Karli move from place to place."
"They geotag the location and then scramble the signal," Hoskins said. "But our satellites have found their symbol popping up in a number of communities in central and Eastern Europe."
"We think that she's taking the medicine she stole to one of the refugees camps," John said.
"Well, there are hundreds of those around the planet since the blip so I guess you'll have to look real hard," Bucky responded and Evelyn picked up on the snarky tone in his voice.
"Good job I have 20/20 vision then, huh," Walker responded, giving him attitude straight back.
Bucky balled his hand on the car into a fist. "Then where is she now, Walker, do you know?"
"No, we don't know, Bucky," Walker snapped back at him, voice terse. "But it's only a matter of time before we find out."
"Things are really intense for you, aren't they, Walker?" Bucky asked, unable to help himself. John turned his glare onto Bucky and Evelyn squeezed his arm tightly with hers, urging him to be more cautious. Looking down to her, he shrugged his shoulders and she gave him a wide-eyed stare, her face scrunching up and her head shaking slightly. Thankfully, Sam cut in before John could say anything.
"Easy," Sam said. "Listen, you're right, we do have to find her and stop her, but you guys have authorisations you have to get…rules you have to follow. But we're free agents. We're flexible. It wouldn't make sense for us to work with you."
Sam began walking off then, Bucky following him and Evelyn tagging along.
"A word of advice then," Walker called out and they turned to face him. "Stay the hell out of my way."
"Come on," Sam said to Bucky and he agreed, walking away with Evelyn keeping hold of his arm. They headed around the corner, moving to another block and Evelyn wondered if they had any idea where they were going. "So…what do we do now?" Sam wondered.
"You heard what Isaiah said," Bucky said to him. "He said my people."
"Don't take that to heart," Sam urged from Bucky. "That's not what he meant."
"No, he meant HYDRA. HYDRA used to be my people," Bucky said.
"Hold up," Evelyn said, interrupting them and looking up at Bucky. "How did HYDRA get involved in this all of a sudden?"
"Isaiah said that he had been…experimented on…had his blood taken," Bucky said and Evelyn almost blanched at the thought of that. Had he not suffered enough? Sam shook his head, hands in his pockets and his eyes downcast. "He said that the US government had taken it and so had my people. My people means HYDRA. I…I think that his blood was taken long before mine to start making the serum before the Mardox's got involved."
"So…what?" Evelyn asked from Bucky. "HYDRA's disbanded."
"Supposedly," Bucky agreed with her, "but there's one man who knows all of HYDRA's secrets and will be able to tell us more."
"Oh, no," Sam said with a shake of his head. "I know where you're going with this."
"So do I," Evelyn responded and she stopped walking as Sam did the same, the two of them turning on Bucky. "Do you seriously think this is the best idea?"
"It's the only option we have," Bucky responded with a shrug of his shoulders. "Walker has no leads. If we're going to stay one step ahead of him then it makes sense to go him and see what he knows. You know that…you both do."
"So what?" Sam asked. "You're going to just go and sit in a room with him?"
"Well, yeah," Bucky said awkwardly.
"Isn't he in some prison in Germany?" Evelyn asked. "And do you think he'll talk?"
"I think it's the best option," Bucky said to her.
"So we go see Zemo," Sam said, giving in and knowing that he might have a point. Zemo did know all of HYDRA's secrets. There was a chance that he might have his use. Evelyn shook her head and Bucky watched her chew down on her bottom lip.
"I don't like this," she muttered.
"It'll be fine," Bucky promised her.
"Yeah, he's got me looking out for him," Sam said to her, trying to keep the tone light. "Did he tell you how I saved his life in Munich? Saved him from falling from a truck."
"You fell from a truck?" Evelyn snapped at him.
"You couldn't resist, could you?"
"Even worse, Evie, he got his ass handed to him by a little girl," he said.
"Enough," Bucky said and Sam continued chuckling.
"Listen," Sam said, turning more serious but keeping the grin on his face. "We need to get a good night's sleep. I don't know about you, but I get jet lagged and I need some shut eye. So we head back to D.C. for a night or two and then catch a flight to Germany, okay?"
"Fine," Bucky said. "And how do we get to D.C.?"
"I can find a cab company. It'll cost a fortune for the trip, but I don't care, I just want to get home," Evelyn said, tugging her iPhone out of her pocket and searching up cab companies as she spoke to Sam. "Sam, do you have a place to stay in D.C.?"
"I'll get a hotel," Sam said.
"Nonsense," Evelyn said, still looking down at the phone, "you can take the sofa in our apartment…or we have the blow up bed. Don't waste money on hotels."
"You're sure?" Sam asked and she found a number.
She went to call it, placing the phone to her. "Positive," she said as it rang and she took a few steps away and spoke down the phone as Sam looked to Bucky.
"Looks like we're roommates," he commented, "and now I get to see Prince Charming in action."
Bucky rolled his eyes as Sam chuckled and he knew that he had a long few days ahead of him.
….
Evelyn had practically slept walked into her apartment once they had gotten back. She was glad that she had tided up on the Saturday so that everything looked presentable. She went into the linen cupboard and pulled out the spare pillows and bedding that she kept there, laying them out onto the sofa after Sam insisted he would be fine there. She grabbed him a fresh towel in case he wanted to shower and placed it on the sofa too.
"Feel free to help yourself to anything in the cupboards…food…drink…I have a spare toothbrush in the bathroom too…just whatever you need," Evelyn said to him.
"Thanks for this, Evie," Sam said, "I might need to go clothes shopping in the morning. I don't have enough for a flight out of here. So…you at work tomorrow?"
"I am," Evelyn said, seeing that the clock had just struck nine. "But I'm going to get an early night. I hardly slept last night and I could do with a good nine hours. I'm sure you're feeling the same."
Bucky continued to lean against the breakfast bar, one foot kicked against it and his hands on his hips.
"Most definitely," Sam agreed with her.
"Well, as I said, just make yourself at home," she said to him. "Bucky, what are you doing?"
"I'll be there in a minute," he told her and she nodded.
She gave a soft wave to Sam with a smile. "Goodnight, Sam," she said.
"Night, Evie," Sam said and she left to go use the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face. Bucky pushed off from the breakfast bar and looked to Sam for another moment.
"You know that Walker is going to be following us, right?"
"Yeah," Sam said with a nod.
"Then we need to move as soon as we can," Bucky said to him. "We book flights tomorrow for the first flight out of here to Germany."
"Agreed," Sam said.
Bucky nodded. "Good, then I'm off to bed."
"Keep the noise down, lover boy," Sam joked with him and Bucky rolled his eyes, leaving Sam chuckling in the living room.
Bucky headed into the bedroom while Evelyn was still in the bathroom. He moved to his bedside drawer and opened it, digging underneath his socks to see that the ring was still there. He gave out a sigh of relief that it looked untouched and closed the drawer once more. Stripping from his jacket, he placed it on the chair in the corner and reached for a clean top. He changed into it for bed and pushed his jeans off of his body along with his boots. He kept his socks on as Evelyn came back into the bedroom, her dress over her arms and she was already in her pyjama bottoms, wearing one of Bucky's grey tops, the locket he bought her dangling over it.
"You alright?" she asked him, keeping her voice down so as not to disturb Sam.
"Fine," Bucky said with a nod. "You?"
"Just glad you're back for a couple of nights," she responded and he smiled at that, watching her hang her dress up in her half of the wardrobe before she went to her side of the bed. Tugging the quilt back, she climbed into bed and Bucky followed suit. She leant against the headboard and sighed, removing her glasses and then placing her hands in her lap. Bucky laid down on his side, his elbow bent and hand propping his head up to support his weight. He moved a hand out, letting it rest on top of her hands, his thumb running over her knuckles.
"I know you're worried," he commented.
"Just…I don't like the idea of you being near a man who controlled you…who used you like he did," Evelyn admitted, shifting uncomfortably.
"Those days are long behind me," Bucky promised her. "He can't control me now."
"I know," Evelyn said to him, "but he still hurt you."
"He won't get a chance to again," Bucky promised her in a gentle whisper, not wanting to attract Sam's attention. "You don't need to worry."
"I feel like you need to understand that I'll always worry, super soldier or not," she responded to him.
"Come here," Bucky urged from her and he moved his arm out. She laid further down in the bed and slipped into his grip, moving to let him hold tightly onto her. She felt him kiss the top of her head and he brushed a hand down her hair, the motion soothing as he felt her run her fingers over his dog tags on his chest. "What did Walker want from you anyway?" he asked her.
"Nothing," she said, "well, he just said he never meant to use me to get to you, but that was it."
"Yeah, I kind of had a go at him."
"What did you do?" Evelyn wondered, her hand going to rest flat on his chest as she peered her head up to look him in the eye.
"Just told him not to try to get to me through you," Bucky said. "He was giving us a lift back to the airport after the fight with the Flag Smashers, but then he started going on about you…how he defended you for breaking your NDA…how he just wanted you to see sense…I lost it and got out the car. Ended up walking the twenty miles back to the airport."
"You walked twenty miles back to the airport?" she asked from him.
"Yeah," he nodded his head.
"All for defending my honour?"
"I'd walk a lot further than that for you, sweetheart," he promised her.
"You know your flirting isn't going to get you anywhere tonight, don't you? Not with Sam in the next room and I'm on the verge of exhaustion."
"Can I cash it in another night?"
"Hmm…I'm not sure, Mr Barnes, you defend my honour and you think I'll swoon over you?" she asked from him and mocked a fainting motion, hand on her forehead as her back fell to the mattress and Bucky was instantly hovering over her, a hand gripping her waist and his thumb running over her hipbone.
"I quite like the idea of you swooning over me," Bucky admitted.
Evelyn laughed at that, trying to keep the noise down as she moved a hand flat against his chest. "Well, I don't think I'm the swooning type," she said to him.
"Challenge accepted," he responded and bent down, kissing her slowly. Evelyn moved a hand to his hair, her other hand holding onto his shoulder as she continued kissing him. It was only when he bit down on her bottom lip when she moaned into the kiss. She pulled back after she made the noise and chewed the inside of her cheek.
"Okay, that's enough excitement for one night with Sam next door and these walls aren't exactly soundproof."
"Spoil sport," Bucky complained.
"You'll get over it," she promised him, patting his chest.
"Doubt I'll ever get over wanting you," Bucky said to her and she rolled her eyes.
"Do you ever stop flirting?"
"Hard not to when it turns you so red," Bucky responded and she reached up and kissed him one final time. "But if you insist on sleeping then we'll go to sleep."
"I do insist," Evelyn said. She rolled over and reached for her lamp, turning it off and bathing the room in darkness. She rested on her side and Bucky shifted his pillow for a moment, frowning as he felt an unfamiliar object. He pulled out what felt like a stuffed toy and saw that it was the penguin Evelyn usually had on her side of the pillow.
"I think you've given me your old penguin," Bucky said to her.
She turned her head over her shoulder and reached a hand behind her. "He's called Percy," she said to him in a mutter. He handed her the penguin and she put it in its rightful place. "And he kept me company while you were gone."
"A pretty poor substitute," Bucky said.
"I don't know, he doesn't talk as much," Evelyn said and Bucky chuckled.
He kissed her on the side of her head as he wrapped his arm around her and pushed an arm under her pillow as he felt her fingers tangle into his, playing with them gently. "Goodnight, Evie," he said to her.
"Night," she muttered back and he felt her drift off in his grip as he stayed awake, thinking of what he would find when he came face to face with Zemo.
….
Evelyn groaned loudly as she reached for her alarm clock. She hit at it, stopping it from making that loud buzzing noise she detested. Silence engulfed her and she kept her eyes closed, rolling onto her other side and reaching for Bucky, but he had already gone. She groaned again when she felt the empty space and rolled back. She grabbed hold of her glasses and gave her eyes time to adjust to the light coming in through the curtains.
She pushed the duvet from her body and reached for Bucky's sweatshirt at the end of her bed. She shrugged it over her top and moved out of the bedroom and to the living area, hearing voices talking quietly.
"I'm just saying that if you have money then why can't we go business class?"
"Because it is just over a nine hour flight. You can manage in economy."
"But why should we not travel in style?"
"Because it's a waste of money."
Evelyn saw Bucky and Sam sat next to each other at the breakfast bar, Bucky's laptop open in front of them. Evelyn slowly walked over to them and Bucky turned his head over his shoulder as he felt her approaching. He smiled to her, seeing that she still looked pretty sleepy, wearing her blue and white striped pyjamas bottoms and his oversized sweatshirt, her glasses askew on her face and her hair ruffled on top of her head.
"Morning," she yawned.
"Good morning," Sam said to her. "I've made tea…and I even went out and picked up croissants."
"Hmm," Evelyn hummed in contentment and kissed Bucky on the cheek as she headed round the island/breakfast bar. "You know, I'm beginning to wonder if you're better boyfriend material than him."
"Oh, Evie, we both know that's true," Sam said with a chuckle and Evelyn picked up a croissant, tearing a bit off of it.
"I'll remember that next time I think about making you pancakes in bed," Bucky said to her.
Sam's brow arched on his forehead. "Pancakes in bed?" he asked from Bucky and the older man turned his stare onto him. "I knew staying here would reveal all your secrets."
"You're getting no more."
"We'll see about that," Sam said. "So just book the flight for six a.m. tomorrow morning. It's the only available one if we're going off on our own."
"We also need to get access to Zemo."
"I'm working on that," Sam assured him.
Evelyn picked up the mug of tea in front of her and held it in both hands, feeling the cup warm her fingers up. "How much are tickets?" Evelyn wondered.
"Only six hundred each," Sam said, "but someone refuses to pay for an upgrade."
"Really?" Evelyn asked. "He did pay for first class when we went to Rome."
"Because you deserved it," Bucky said.
"And I don't?" Sam asked.
"No," Bucky said flatly.
"Anyway, I'm going to leave you two to bicker," Evelyn said, downing a few gulps of her tea and placing it down onto the worktop. "I need to go and shower and get ready for work."
"When are you leaving?" Bucky asked her.
"I'm heading in early. I have a conference call at nine a.m.," she said to him.
"I'll walk you in," Bucky said to her.
"You don't need to," she assured him.
"It's fine," he promised her.
"Okay," she said with a shrug, moving back past him and feeling his hand brush against hers as she went, his smile meeting her gaze as he kept it hidden from Sam and she grinned back before turning her gaze to the bathroom.
Bucky watched her disappear before turning back to the screen in front of him, but he instantly felt Sam's gaze on him, an entertained look on his face.
"Shut up," Bucky said.
"Didn't say anything," Sam defended himself.
"You were thinking about saying something," Bucky replied.
"Oh yeah, I definitely was," he chuckled. "Believe me, I am never going to get bored of seeing this."
"Just book the flights," Bucky demanded from him.
He moved around the kitchen and found Evelyn's travel mug. He filled it up with warm tea for her before grabbing her water bottle and topping that up. He found leftovers in the fridge, no doubt from her Saturday night dinner, and he knew that she would take that for lunch. She was always taking leftovers into work. He left them on the worktop for her and grabbed his boots, pulling them onto his feet and reaching for his jacket.
Evelyn took her time in getting ready as Bucky and Sam continued talking amongst themselves. It was only when she came out, wearing a green dress that flared out at her waist to her knees did Bucky pick his keys up. She had tights on her legs and wore her black ankle boots. She reached for her bag and looked at her already made pack up.
"Thanks," she said to Bucky.
"Figured I'd save you time," he said, motioning to the food and drink as she placed them into her bag. Grabbing her mac, she pushed her arms into it and tugged her hair from her collar.
"Sam, feel free to stay here…go out…whatever," Evelyn said and she reached for her own set of keys. Tugging the spare key off, she slid it over the counter. "Here's a key to the apartment…and here's the fob for the main door."
"Thanks very much," he said. "Are you heading out now?"
"Yeah," Evelyn said. "So I'll see you tonight."
"Have a good day," Sam said, giving her a wave.
She pushed her phone into her pocket before looking to Bucky and nodding. "Ready," she said to him and he nodded. He held the door open for her and she stepped out, picking her lanyard up on the way and draping it over her neck. "So," Evelyn said as they wandered down the corridor, "what time is your flight tomorrow? I forgot when Sam said."
"Six a.m.," Bucky said to her. "So I'll be gone early."
"Okay," Evelyn said, pressing the button for the elevator and bending down as she waited for it, tying up the lace on her left brogue that had come undone. "So…I mean…Zemo…what's he like, do you remember?"
"Not much," Bucky admitted as she stood up straight again and they stepped into the elevator. "All I know is that he despises the idea of super soldiers. He's clever…he's had to be to end up where he is."
"I don't know," Evelyn said, pressing the button for the lobby, "if he was clever then he wouldn't have got caught, would he?"
Bucky shrugged at that. "I don't know," he admitted. "I think that he set out to do what he aimed to do. He turned us all against each other for vengeance. I don't know if he had any other aim after that."
"And you're sure you're going to be okay with him?" Evelyn checked. Bucky nodded as the elevator descended.
"I'll be fine," Bucky said, "but you know that I have this one thought that keeps me going…" Bucky admitted to her and Evelyn watched him.
He wasn't going to propose right now, was he? He wasn't going to tell her that it was their future that he thought about? Evelyn gulped as he bent down and pressed his forehead to hers.
"We're still going to the Science Museum in summer," he said and Evelyn let out a sigh of relief while chuckling at the same time. Bucky smirked and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, walking with her out the elevator as it came to the lobby and they left for the walk to her work, Evelyn wondering just if he was ever going to propose.
….
A/N: Thanks for reading and to everyone following and everyone who has reviewed. I love reading your thoughts! Again - let me know any comments or suggestions/things you'd like to see!