Chapter 21. The Truth
Content warning: Contains violence and emotional trauma.
As planning continued Majel brought up a news report about a dramatic escape by a prisoner being returned to lockup from the courthouse. Her dulcet tones were ignored at first until the AI used a siren noise to get everyone's attention.
"Majel, what is so important that you're interrupting us?" asked Barton, who had taken on the role of coordinator since Fury was still en route from Alabama, while Torres and Thor were still driving from Florida.
"You may want to see this news report," she replied. "I think it relevant as it points to how Brock Rumlow escaped and who helped him."
They all turned to the screen and watched while Majel rewound the footage.
BREAKING NEWS
The general public are asked to be alert and on the lookout for escaped prisoner Brock Rumlow, pictured here. Rumlow, currently on trial for many charges including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, drug trafficking, and kidnapping was being escorted back to lockup after his trial appearance today when he escaped from custody with what appears to be the assistance of an armed group of men. The armed men, spread between two armoured SUVs cornered the vehicle carrying Rumlow and began shooting at the other inhabitants. Two prison guards and Rumlow's lawyer, John Vincent, were killed in the exchange. After careful viewing of security camera footage which showed the encounter police believe the armed men are members of the Escorpion Rojo, or Red Scorpion cartel. If members of our viewing audience see Brock Rumlow they are asked to phone 911 immediately and report his location. Under no circumstances should he be approached.
"Majel, please tell me if the Red Scorpions have a connection to the building where Mrs. Barnes phone call originated," said Bucky quietly.
After a few moments the AI spoke. "There are several shell companies that are listed as owners of the building and all have associations with the Red Scorpion cartel," she said, almost sounding apologetic. "It would appear Rumlow intends to give you and Mrs. Barnes up to the cartel."
"No doubt blaming you for the heroin supply drying up," said Steve Rogers, who had just walked in. "You've located her?"
"Yeah, we think she's in this nightclub next door to the Nighthawk Cinema," replied Bucky. "She gave me a line from Casablanca which is playing there. The nightclub doesn't open until midnight. Rumlow wants me to show up to a place in Bushwick Inlet."
Steve shook his head grimly. "Buck, you have to let us handle it," he said. "I've got the SWAT team on notice. We can go in and get her."
"He said I come alone or she dies," replied Bucky. "We're trying to figure out a way to get eyes inside the nightclub but Peter already sent a drone over and it looks like the vents are too small. You send a SWAT team there he'll kill her."
"Then what do you suggest?" asked Steve.
"I go to the nightclub and give myself up to him," said Bucky. "In the process of surprising him with my appearance there someone can break an upper window giving access to the drones. Tony has some drones that can take out an army."
Both men looked at Stark who nodded his head. "Non-lethal projectiles," he said. "Rubber bullets but they sound like firearms so there will be confusion as they let loose. That gives time for an armed crew to get in there, either ours or yours."
"And if he kills her while that's happening?" asked Steve. "Or shoots you as soon as you enter?"
"I won't leave her alone in there," said Bucky. "No matter what. If he kills us both then I die with the woman I love but I won't let her be there alone. Let's face it, it's what he's always threatened to do, kill us together. I'm just forcing his hand as to when and where, hoping that will throw him and the others off enough that you and your SWAT team can do their thing."
Everyone looked at the two friends, both desperate for the other to trust their judgement. Steve finally put his hand on Bucky's shoulder.
"Okay, I'm with you," he said. "You go in. Who is going to shoot out the window?"
Barton put his hand up. "Once Bucky enters the building I'll shoot out the window and the drones will enter," he said. "As soon as they're in position Peter will cut the exterior security camera feeds and your SWAT team can get into position to storm the building. Bucky will be on a two way comms. He'll tell us when he has Natalie safe. Then we hit them. As much as all of us here would like to be going in the Red Scorpions are lethal. I think your SWAT team has a better chance against them."
"Alright," said Steve. "Let me set this up. We're also going to quietly evacuate around that building and close the cinema. What time will you go in?"
"What do you think? 9 pm?" said Bucky. "Earlier?"
"If you go in too early they may kill you there," said Steve, "and then they have to get your bodies out. I think the idea of getting you to Bushwick Inlet was to isolate you and kill you with no witnesses. So, 9 pm is probably best."
As the others prepared the drones with ammunition and cameras Bucky sat quietly looking at pictures on his cell phone. Maria Hill sat next to him and watched with him.
"I'm sorry," she said. "They came right out of nowhere. It was obvious they were waiting."
"They wouldn't have known I wasn't in the car with you," said Bucky. "He probably planned on taking us both so I've already fucked up his plans. I just hope he doesn't take it out on Natalie. Her hurt her bad in Baltimore."
She nodded sympathetically. "He let his lawyer get killed," she said calmly. "To me, it means he has no intention of going back to jail. That makes him even more dangerous. You may have to kill him to save Natalie."
He looked at her. "Then I will," he said just as calmly. "It isn't about me. It's all about saving her. It always has been since Buffalo. She was just a job when I picked her up at Yankee Stadium. That first night I had a nightmare and she comforted me, a stranger, in a dark bedroom. We went through so much together, good and bad, and somehow after all that she agreed to marry me. I would kill for her and I definitely would die for her."
"Just be careful," said Maria. "You two are special to this organization. We need you, even if you don't ever do a mission, you're part of the team."
He smiled slightly at her but still sat there looking at pictures of Natalie, committing her face to memory. Peter called to him and jerked his head towards his lab. Tony was already there and took out one of the discs to fit behind a button on Bucky's shirt. Then Peter came with a silver necklace, with a compass pendant on it. The centre of the needle was a black stone.
"It's a camera," he said. "Just to verify who's in there in case there's a problem with the drones. If anyone says anything just say Natalie gave it to you so you would always find your way back to her."
Bucky smiled. "Nice sentiment," he replied. "Thanks, Peter, for everything. You, too, Tony. It meant a lot when you two showed up in Baltimore."
"Sarge ... Bucky," said Peter. "You were the best, man. We never lost anyone with you leading the squad. I was just a kid and I felt safe with you, always."
"Me too," said Stark, putting his hand on Bucky's shoulder. "You'll get her back."
Bucky nodded at both of them and went out to see everyone waiting. Steve had his car keys in hand.
"I'll drive you," he said. "Drop you off at the corner. Barton is already in position. My guys have evacuated almost everyone already and the streets have been blocked. As soon as the drones start firing you get her under cover. Those rubber bullets hurt like hell."
The two friends left the warehouse and got into the car. It was only a ten minute drive to the corner where Steve stopped at the security perimeter that had been set up. There were still plainclothes officers walking the street and sitting on the benches in case the Red Scorpions were monitoring their outside security cameras. Bucky hugged Steve and then started walking to the back door of the night club. He stopped in front of it and banged on it. There was no answer and he banged on it again. The door opened and a dark haired man answered the door. Bucky could hear the sound of music from inside.
"I'm here to see Rumlow," said Bucky.
"No one here by that name," said the man, nervously looking past Bucky.
"Yeah, that's his car," said Bucky, pointing to a vehicle behind him. "The one that was used to take my wife after you helped him ram our lawyer's car. She's inside and I'm here for her."
"Mierda!" said the man, tersely. "Get in here."
He pulled Bucky in, frisked him and pushed him into the interior of the club. Back at the warehouse Peter and the others watched carefully. As Bucky had spoken to the man Barton had shot out a hole in a window with a bow and arrow from a spot across from the other side of the building, away from the back door. The drones, which had already been sent to wait on top of the building began entering the hole one by one. Bucky's necklace camera gave them a close-up view of the people while the drones that entered the building showed the layout. They were entering into an empty office with an open door. Stealthily they exited the room and went up high in the dark ceilinged area of the former warehouse turned nightclub. Peter was able to set up the individual images they each showed into one giant image on the screen so it was like they were hovering over the dance floor looking at the people below them. In addition to Rumlow, and Natalie, were ten men, all armed. Rumlow, who stood up when Bucky came in with the other guy was furious.
"What the fuck," he snarled at Bucky. "I told you where and when the meet was."
"I know," said Bucky quietly. "Your car was easy to track. Just another fuck up on your part. When I saw where it was and found out who owned the building it was easy to put two and two together. The police already know the Red Scorpions helped you escape from custody. It's all over TV. Not your finest moment letting them kill the others."
"Pierce said this was a simple extraction and execution," said a man who sat across from Natalie at a small table. "We take you from the armoured car, then take them from their car. Then it was out to the museum sign, put a bullet in their head and leave the bodies. Now this man walks right into our club and tells me the police know we're involved? What the hell is your game?"
"He's lying," said Rumlow quickly.
Bucky shook his head and smirked. "No, I don't lie," he said. "You helped him kill two prison guards and his lawyer in the middle of a street surrounded by traffic cameras and security cameras. Of course the police are going to know. The thing is my wife saw him kill her sister and eleven years ago he set me up for the murder of two boys. In his twisted mind he figures if he kills us he gets away scot free but he has implicated you in the deaths of those two prison guards and his lawyer. I'm just shocked that Pierce set it up. You see, he told me to my face, not once but twice that Brock here had become a liability. Their heroin supplier has probably already found a new distributor. If they sold you some and took your money they can't deliver. If anyone's the liar it's him and Pierce."
The cartel lieutenant came out from the table and stood in front of Rumlow. Despite his lower height the man was in peak physical condition, lean and muscular. Rumlow, without his steroids, was half the man he had been the previous year. Then the cartel lieutenant turned to Bucky menacingly.
"What do you want from this?" he sneered.
"I just want my wife," said Bucky, simply. "We walk out the door, you deal with Rumlow and we keep walking never to see or talk about you again. I'm not even sure I would recognize you in daylight."
"You think you're a big man asking me to let you and your woman go?" asked the cartel lieutenant.
"No, I'm no one," said Bucky. "We have nothing you want, no information, no secrets. I just want her back."
"I don't believe you," said the lieutenant. "I don't trust you. We'll take care of all three of you and then deal with Pierce on the inside."
Bucky nodded his head as if he understood. "Okay," he said. "May I just hold my wife one last time before you kill us?"
The man gave a quick nod and Bucky pulled Natalie up from the chair to hold her and stroke her hair. "When I say the words drop," he whispered, and she nodded before they kissed. He looked at the cartel lieutenant. "I get it. You trust no one."
He and Natalie dropped to the floor and he pulled her under the table for cover as the drones began firing their rubber bullets. As the cartel members scattered, the doors to the front and back of the nightclub broke open and SWAT team members rushed in yelling for everyone to put their hands up. Half did but the other half began firing and were cut down by the police. Natalie screamed in fear while Bucky held her tight under the table. Rumlow reached under the table to try and drag Natalie out to use her as a shield. Bucky repeatedly hit Rumlow in the face with his fist, finally hitting him hard enough that he let go of Natalie and staggered back. Just as Rumlow was about to pick up a cartel gun another gun appeared right beside his face.
"Leave it," said Steve, his gun aimed directly at Rumlow's head. "Or you're dead."
With a look of disgust and hatred Rumlow considered the threat. Bucky pulled Natalie out from under the table and away from their nemesis. The two men looked directly in each other's eyes; Rumlow's eyes full of hate, Bucky's eyes full of revulsion. A SWAT team member dragged Rumlow up onto his feet and cuffed him roughly before leading him out.
"Baby, are you okay?" Bucky asked, his hands on both sides of Natalie's face.
She shook her head no and burst into tears while he held her again comforting her. He looked at Steve and managed a wan smile.
"Thank you," he mouthed and Steve patted him on the shoulder before turning to another SWAT team member who had called to him.
"I thought he would hurt me," sobbed Natalie. "He dragged me out of the car by my hair and pushed me into another car. They brought me here and I saw that Casablanca was on the marquee. I remembered the line and thought it was the only way to tell you where I was. I knew if you came at 10 pm they would kill us both. It's all they talked about."
"We mobilized right away," said Bucky. "Barton knew we had to let the police handle this but he shot an arrow through the window on the second floor that let the drones in. They were loaded with rubber bullets. You didn't get hit did you?"
He pulled away and began inspecting her for bruises but she shook her head. Then he saw the cuts on her face and head from the broken glass of Coulson's car. A paramedic entered and Bucky called him over to examine Natalie. He got the okay to take her out to the unit and she sat inside as he cleared the rest of the larger shards of glass out of her hair and cleaned the larger cuts on her forehead. She had some cuts on her body as well and he treated them as Bucky watched anxiously. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Barton. Impulsively he hugged him then stepped away.
"Thanks," said Bucky. "It was a good plan. You're an archer as well?"
"I do a bit of bow hunting," said Barton. "You did good in there. Kept your head. Saved your wife. Got them to admit that Pierce set the whole thing up. His world is about to get very small."
As Barton turned away to leave Bucky stopped him. "I'm glad I called you," said Bucky. "Really. Thank you."
Barton nodded and went over to Steve who introduced him to the SWAT team leader. They shook hands and spoke while Bucky turned back to Natalie. She was calmer and smiled at her husband. The paramedic put a blanket around her shoulder and told her to sit for a while in case she felt dizzy. He left and Bucky sat with her, holding her hand.
"Are Phil and Maria okay?" she asked.
"They're fine," said Bucky. "Banged up like you but they showed up at the warehouse ready to be part of the mission to rescue you."
"Can we go home now?" she asked. "I want to get the rest of the glass out of my hair and have a bath."
"Let me find out," he replied and went off in search of Steve.
A detective came over to take her statement and asked where Bucky was to take his. She pointed him out to the man and watched Bucky talking animatedly with Steve until the detective interrupted. Once again Bucky had willingly entered a dangerous situation to get her out and she found herself filling with emotion at the love he felt for her. Then a dark thought filled her head for a moment and she tried to shake it off but like a weed it seemed to take root. Was it always going to be like this? Would they lurch from one extreme situation to another? As much as she loved him could she live like that? It wasn't his fault and it wasn't hers but it just seemed to be a pattern in their lives. She could see him finishing up his statement and took several deep breaths to centre herself. When he got to the ambulance she forced herself to smile happily at him.
"We can go," he said, offering her his hand. "Barton will take us home. Are you hungry? Do you want to stop and pick something up?
"No, I just want to go home," she insisted, getting off the gurney and allowing him to help her out of the ambulance.
When they returned to the loft all three received a hero's welcome. Fury had returned and complimented Barton on the plan. Torres and Thor were still in Florida, having suffered a flat tire that needed repair. They would return when they had originally planned. Bucky excused both himself and Natalie saying they just wanted to relax in their apartment and clean up. They went up in the elevator, darkened the windows in the apartment and Bucky turned the shower on. He undressed, offered his hand to Natalie and assured her he was only going to wash her hair then run the bath for her. She undressed and Bucky gently washed her hair then used a fine tooth comb to apply the conditioner hoping any glass particles would attach themselves to the product. He left her in the shower to rinse while he ran the bath and poured lavender scented Epsom salts in the tub. Then he let Natalie get into the tub while he finished drying himself off.
"Aren't you coming in?" she asked.
"I will if you want," he replied. "I thought you wanted some alone time."
"I'd like the company," she answered back. "Please."
He got in and asked Majel to reduce the lighting to 20% and put soft ambient music on. He leaned back and Natalie, with her hair up in a towel, leaned back on him with her head on his shoulder. They were quiet for some time, both keeping their thoughts to themselves.
"It seems like we go from one extreme situation to another doesn't it," said Bucky, finally. "We haven't had much time for us to have a regular life."
"It seems like it," she agreed. "It's just how it is with the trials and as long as Pierce and Rumlow keep trying to game the system."
"Steve said Sam has pleaded guilty and has agreed to testify to everything," Bucky replied. "His sister has disowned him and won't let him see her sons. They're the only family he has."
"He made his bed in Afghanistan," said Natalie. "I don't have much sympathy but at least it's one less trial we don't have to testify at. Is it true that Rumlow's lawyer is dead?"
"Yeah," said Bucky. "I'm guessing it will be a while before his trial resumes with a new lawyer for him. We should go away."
Natalie turned over so she was facing him. "Will you take me to Paris?" she asked.
"Baby, I'll take you anywhere you want to go," he replied, smiling softly. "But first I want to take you on a date, and see Casablanca with you."
"Not at the Nitehawk," she cautioned.
"No," he said pulling her closer to kiss her. "I have something else in mind. Let me arrange it."
They kissed and caressed until it was obvious what would happen next. Bucky got out of the bath, offering Natalie a hand, and dried her off before drying himself. Taking the towel off her hair he gently finger combed it out while looking at her softly. Leading her back to the bedroom he opened the night table drawer.
"Don't," said Natalie, quietly.
"Are you sure?" he responded. "You know what it could mean? Our life has been kind of hectic."
"I know," she said. "Maybe this will bring some normal back into it. I was a good mom and seeing you with Jimmy and Sarah ... you'll be a good dad. I think it's time you were for real."
"Natalie," he whispered, enclosing her in his arms and kissing her tenderly.
Laying her on the bed they began to make love slowly at first then with more passion. It was probably the most satisfying sexual encounter Bucky had ever experienced, knowing they were trying to create a new life. After they both came and were holding each other something occurred to Bucky. At first he dismissed it in his mind but it just wouldn't go away and he finally voiced it.
"Why now? You've been held hostage since this afternoon, by a man that terrifies you. This isn't the reaction I was expecting from you. I want to know why you chose now for us to make a baby."
She said nothing at first but she tensed up and he could tell she was hiding something so he asked again.
"Bucky ...," she became upset as she tried not to cry. "It's not what you think ... he tried ..."
"He tried, or he did. Which is it?" said Bucky, letting go of her.
"He tried," she stammered. "But he couldn't ... you know. He was going to do it to hurt you, throw it in your face when you showed up."
"Then why seduce me to make a baby after a day that could trigger your PTSD, Natalie?" he cried, standing up beside the bed.
She said nothing and he asked again. She still said nothing and he yelled at her to answer.
"So that I would have something of you when I leave," she finally said, her eyes full of tears. "I can't take this going from one extreme situation to another life we have. I love you, I really do, but if this is how we have to live ... constantly beating off people who hold a grudge against us then I don't think I can live like that."
Bucky stood there looking at her as if she was a stranger. "But you can get pregnant, leave me, then go off and have our child without saying anything?" he said in a voice full of disbelief. "You would do that to me?"
"Yes. No ... I don't know," she admitted. "I hadn't worked that out yet. I'm sorry, Bucky. I'm so so sorry."
"Don't," he said, holding a finger up against her. "Don't you dare. I committed to you fully and completely. I was willing to die with you today, so that you wouldn't be alone, and you made a decision to leave without even trying to work it out. Did you ever really love me? Did you ever even care that I loved you so much I was willing to walk into a room full of armed men so we would be together if today was the day we died. Did you ever care about us Natalie?"
He was yelling by the end of his tirade. Then he turned around and went to the closet, pulled out a suitcase and threw some clothes into it. Natalie sat in the bed, crying, asking him not to leave, but he kept packing. He got dressed, pulled on his jacket then looked at her, before pulling his wedding ring off and dropping it on the bed in front of her. He also took his watch off and dropped it.
"I'll save you the trouble of leaving," he said. "Don't try to track me this time. We're done."
He took the elevator down to the garage, looked at his car and told Majel to open the garage door. He walked up the ramp and went out to the street where he hailed a cab. By the time Natalie had dressed and asked Majel where he went he was gone. She went down to the common room where the others were still sitting and talking about the day. One by one they noticed Natalie, her tear stained face, and knew something had happened.
"He's gone, for good," she said, in a dull voice. "It's my fault. He said not to look for him. I'm sorry."
Then she turned around to return to their apartment, took two steps and collapsed. As most of them gathered around to help her Fury asked Majel where Bucky Barnes was. Her response was that she didn't know as he had gone dark. With a sigh he told Majel to start looking for him then he looked at Natalie. Whatever had happened had affected Bucky deeply to make him react this way. It was time for a talk.
