Chapter 13. Trust No One

They arrived at the airport just before lunch the following morning, each bringing a suitcase with them. They already said their goodbyes to Marty Berenger and Paul Decore, thanking them for their protection. Erin would be in hospital for a few days but Marty had already put in for a transfer to a regular detachment. The others would be reassigned to another protection unit and the house rented out to the local population. Tierney drove them to the airport and met Superintendent Matthews there who was just as breezy and friendly as he had been when they arrived four months previous. The jet landed and CBSA processed the two Marshals. Bucky and Natalie returned their Canadian passports, driver's licenses, health care cards and Social Insurance cards and were told that an accountant would take care of their tax returns the following year. After the debriefing Tierney shook their hands and left with Matthews. When the jet was fuelled they boarded with the Marshals who unsealed the bags with their personal documents and possessions, including the envelope with cash in it. The plane took off and like before they weren't told anything except that they would be returned to Philadelphia and be further debriefed there. As they sat beside each other holding hands Bucky noticed Natalie's opal ring was gone from her right hand and asked where it was. She lifted up her left hand where it was on her ring finger.

"You're not getting rid of me," she said. "We're partners, for life."

Bucky kissed her hand and they sat quietly. The co-pilot came back and gestured to the two Marshals for a private conversation. They stood at the cockpit door speaking quietly, then the Marshals came back and sat across from the couple on the seats facing them.

"We have a situation," said the one. "Apparently yesterday before the four people attempted to take Natalie another four visited the home of your friend Detective Steve Rogers. They took his wife and children hostage and are holding them at an unknown location. Rogers has gone underground but he did leave a message for you, saying you would know what it meant. If I'm not mistaken it's a line from the X-Files. "Trust no one." Do you know what that means?"

"Not really," said Bucky. "I have to think on it."

"We really don't need a rogue cop on this," said the Marshal. "As soon as you figure out what "Trust no one" means you tell me. Let the professionals handle it."

The Marshal returned to his colleague, both standing near the cockpit door quietly talking. Bucky leaned close to Natalie.

"Don't say anything," he said in a low voice. "I know what it means but we can't do anything until we land. When we do I want you to go back into custody. I'm going to take my car and find Steve."

"No," said Natalie. "We're partners. Where you go, I go. I can handle it."

"Baby, I need to know you're safe," he said earnestly. "If you're in custody then I'll know for sure."

"The safest place for me is beside you," she declared. "Not with strangers. With you."

"Okay," he said quietly. "But you do what I say without question. Understand?"

"Absolutely," she said kissing him.

When the jet landed they were transported to the Federal Marshal's office. A supervisor gave them all the information that Tierney gave him the day before and reiterated what was told to them on the flight. Bucky asked about Ebrahim Gaba but they refused to tell him. A new protection plan was offered to them both but they refused it. Bucky's car needed the battery boosted as it had sat for so long but once it was running he signed for it and they got inside. When he was sure they weren't being followed he pulled over to the side of the road.

"Barton and Thor both referred to themselves as no one," Bucky stated. "Steve said to trust no one. So I have to trust Barton and Thor. We have to trust the new agency."

He pulled out Barton's card from his wallet and looked at it in the light. There was a pattern on it that came and went depending on how the light hit it. A couple of words popped out at him.

"Son of a bitch," he muttered. "Look carefully. Trust no one."

Natalie looked and sure enough the phrase was visible only if it was held at just the right angle to the sun. A slow smile hit her face at the simplicity and complexity of the card. Bucky dialled the number and put it on speaker. It answered on the second ring.

"You're back from your holidays!" said Barton's sarcastic voice. "Nice takedown of Rumlow, by the way. We tapped into the security system on the dock. The Coast Guard crew is replaying it over and over again. Must not get much entertainment there. We're meeting in Brooklyn in three hours. I'll text you the address. Take the toll roads, they're faster. Bring Natalie. She has qualities we're interested in. Lots to tell you both. Welcome to the team."

"I haven't decided yet," said Bucky dryly.

"By making this phone call you have," said Barton. "You trust us. Oh, you don't have to call anyone extra. They'll be there."

He hung up and looked at Natalie, who shrugged slightly. When they stopped to get gas Bucky wondered if his bank card would work but there was no problem. They grabbed some drinks and snacks and were soon on their way.

There were several vehicles in front of the warehouse when they pulled up a few hours later. He recognized four of them and chuckled. Taking Natalie's hand they walked through the door to an empty reception area displaying only a security camera.

"Face the camera please," said a female computer voice that came out of nowhere. "Individually. Face forward, left profile, right profile."

Bucky did as he was told. Then the voice asked him to state his full name and birthdate. He complied.

"Your security question is who directed the remake of The Killers that featured a future president of the United States?"

"Don Siegel," said Bucky. "It really was a bad imitation of the 1946 original with Burt Lancaster, Edmond O'Brien and Ava Gardner."

"I agree with you, Mr. Barnes," said the voice. "I look forward to having more conversations about films in the future."

"Sure," said Bucky, shrugging slightly.

The computer voice asked Natalie to do the same poses then asked her a security question.

"Using the numbers of the Dewey Decimal System tell me where games and puzzles would be placed."

"793.73 although I believe board games have now been moved to 794," replied Natalie.

There was a pause then the voice returned. "Thank you. I had to check my sources for the 794 reference and you are correct, Mrs. Madison," said the voice. "You may both enter the secure area."

A buzzer sounded on the security door ahead of them and they pushed through. The outside of the building and the reception area were all basic warehouse, plain and utilitarian. The inside was something else, looking like the insides of a Fortune 500 company. Everything from the lighting to the flooring was high quality. They kept walking down the corridor looking at the various rooms off to the sides until Barton waved at them from the end. He was in a large briefing room with several large viewing screens mounted on the walls. As they walked further into the room they became aware of several other people sitting at a large conference table; Thor, Stark, Parker and Torres. Then Steve stood up and walked over to Bucky, giving him a hug.

"I was hoping you would figure it out," he said to Bucky. "Took me a while before I realized when Barton approached me and gave me the card last month. I placed the call after they took Peggy."

"So you're the guy in charge, Barton?" asked Bucky.

"No, I'm just the recruiter and jack of all trades," said Barton.

"I'm the man in charge," said another voice and a tall, bald black man with an eyepatch stepped into the room behind Bucky and Natalie. "Sergeant Barnes, glad you're with us. I've wanted you on this team for a long time but you couldn't join until you trusted us."

"Colonel Fury," said Bucky, surprised. "If I had known it was you behind all of this I would have joined up immediately. This is Natalie."

"Mrs. Madison," said Fury, bowing his head slightly. "You have impressed me as well. I know you are experiencing some PTSD after Rumlow's actions but your research skills and white hat capabilities are high level. I think you would do well here, at our central office. We can discuss further training if you wish to be out in the field with Barnes."

"This agency," said Bucky. "What is it exactly? Is it official, or what?"

"It's completely off the books," said Fury, motioning for them to take a seat. "We call ourselves "no one", because no one is above the law, no one gets away with murder, and no one is more important than the common good. Like most of you I had a less than satisfactory experience with the army in Afghanistan. Pierce seizing the opportunity to set himself up as a drug lord was really the last straw, especially after Barnes' conviction, which quite frankly should have been thrown out on the first appeal if your lawyer wasn't so incompetent. We don't answer to any government agency, although I have back door access to various high ranking officials in many governments, including our own. Whenever we go up against profitable criminal organizations we take their proceeds to fund our organization."

"You're the Sea Dogs," said Natalie out loud, then looked embarrassed as everyone looked at her. "Like Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh. They were the most famous of the English privateers. They operated with the consent and knowledge of Queen Elizabeth I, skirting the legal definition of pirates, attacking Spanish ships and taking their cargo. It made them and the Queen very rich but they also policed the oceans as they did it and it made England master of the seas for a long time. I did research on them for a writer once."

Fury smiled. "I like that," he said. "Very apt. We are the people going after the criminals who have wormed their way into relative safety by bribery, corruption and intimidation. We take their proceeds to fund our next mission, and to pay you. Let's face it, most of you are here because you're not in it for the money. You're in it for the satisfaction of getting a criminal into jail."

"Speak for yourself," said Stark. "I'm already rich. I just like blowing things up."

Everyone laughed, except Fury. "This case has stretched us," he said. "Pierce has shown almost phoenix like qualities in managing to get his men out of jail, off of the Most Wanted lists, all while continuing to import heroin from Afghanistan. But now, thanks to the attempt to take Mrs. Madison in Canada we finally know who number 2 is."

Fury pressed an icon on an iPad. The face of the blond woman appeared on the screens above them. Bucky still couldn't place her but the familiarity of her face was certain. Fury looked around at everyone, seeing the same expression on their faces.

"You all know you've seen her before," he said out loud, "but you just can't place her or think of her name. That's by design and reflects her CIA training. Even Barton didn't know her name. Her legal name is Sharon Carter, a distant relative of your wife, Detective Rogers. So distant, she's probably not even aware of it. Mensa member at 14, law degree at 19, PhD in Political Science at 21, psychopathic tendencies. She was the special assistant to CIA director Walter McKenzie when she was in Afghanistan as a young woman of 25. While she was there she was having an affair with General Alexander Pierce, not for love but for information and access to power. Pillow talk being what it is she learned of his plans to import heroin and she went all in with him. The idea to set up a patsy to take the blame for the death of the Gaba boys was hers, meant to focus attention away from their operation. The affair fizzled out but Pierce trusted her and made her his number two. He liked her decisiveness and amorality. She's ruthless and doesn't mind getting her hands dirty."

"So what now?" asked Torres. "We get the Roger's family?"

"Yes, we do," said Fury. "But we imbed Barnes with Pierce first." Bucky started to protest but Fury raised his hand. "Pierce still believes that the way to bring you in is by dangling your pardon in front of your face. It's through, by the way, thanks to your new lawyer, Phil Coulson, who is also a no one. He's also negotiated a sizeable settlement for you once you sign for it. Pierce's sources are still telling him otherwise. That and a huge salary are supposed to tempt you into being Rumlow's replacement and possibly Carter's as well. So foolish of her to shoot an undercover police officer. Our Canadian friends will be holding on to those four for several weeks, although if Pierce bribes the right people..."

"So you want me in there while he's short staffed," said Bucky. "Okay, how do we do it?"

"I'm supposed to take you in," said Steve. "Meet up with you and force you to come with me. I think he wants me to replace Sam."

"Do I have time to go home and change first?" asked Bucky.

"Actually, you don't have an apartment anymore," said Steve, trying not to smile. "You were evicted for non-payment of your rent, although someone broke in and stole your movie collection first."

Bucky scowled. "Relax Barnes," said Barton. "We got all of your stuff out of there. It's in your apartment here. This isn't just headquarters, it's a residence as well. Warehouse loft living at its finest."

"Doesn't seem very secure," said Barnes. "I mean if that camera at the door is it then anyone could come in."

"Majel wouldn't let them," said Parker, looking sideways at Bucky. "She's kind of protective of all of us."

"Majel?" asked Bucky. "As in Majel Barrett Roddenberry? What...?"

"My AI / security program," said Parker. "Tony helped me with some upgrades since we blew up that warehouse in Baltimore. Since Majel Roddenberry voiced the first AI on TV as the computer voice on the original Star Trek we decided to give the new version her name. That bit at the door was her registering your biometrics, voice imprint, facial recognition...everything she needed to finish your profile in her system. She already had everything else inputted from your online presence, government records and such. Just from us unpacking your DVDs she got a sense of your movie preferences. She'll give you and Natalie privacy though. You just tell her."

"You're shitting me," said Bucky, looking at everyone else to see if they were kidding. "Majel, what's my favourite movie?"

"I would say Casablanca," said the computer voice. "Based on the number of searches about it on your computer search history. It is a good choice." She started playing As Time Goes By from the soundtrack. "There's nothing like a romantic song in a movie about spies, World War II, and starring Humphrey Bogart."

Everyone, including Natalie, started chuckling at the look on Bucky's face. "Thanks Majel, you're right," said Bucky. "It has the perfect combination of everything."

"Okay, Majel that's enough," said Fury. "Since this is just the debriefing I'll let you get into your apartments and make yourselves at home. Mission planning is in one hour. Majel can give you the rundown on the features in the building. Barnes, were we right in assuming you and Mrs. Madison wished to share an apartment?"

"Yes, but please just call me Natalie," she said, interrupting Bucky's reply. "Mrs. Madison makes it sound like we're having an affair."

Bucky went out with the others to park their cars inside the building's parking garage. He got their suitcases, smirking when Majel opened the elevator door automatically for him. She informed him which floor and door number was theirs. That door also opened automatically for him when he got there with Natalie already in there. She turned to him when he entered.

"Look at this!" she exclaimed. "We have our own little kitchen, a bathroom to die for, king sized bed, living room, big screen TV, dining room...this is a real apartment. Majel, darken the windows."

Every window turned black as if a switch had been flipped. "Majel, make the windows translucent."

The darkness disappeared but the windows had a frosted look on them, giving them privacy. Bucky dropped the suitcases inside the bedroom, came back out and picked Natalie up, kissing her as he carried her into the bedroom.

"Majel, privacy," he ordered, and he closed the door.

For the next twenty minutes they didn't ask Majel anything instead using the time to find out how comfortable the bed was. Afterwards, they laid facing each other, with Natalie's head nestled on Bucky's shoulder and their legs intertwined.

"This is a comfortable bed," noted Bucky, playing with her hair. "I think I can sleep in it. This is a much nicer place than my little flat."

"I sold the house after John died," said Natalie. "I lived in a rental after that because nothing felt like home. This could feel like home, especially with you."

He smiled then looked at her left ring finger and took her left hand in his. "I meant what I said. As soon as I get the ring I'm proposing."

"Or you could just propose now and I'll keep this one," she said. "It's kind of grown on me."

"It's not much of a ring," admitted Bucky. "It's silver, didn't cost me much."

"I don't care," said Natalie, putting her hand on his cheek. "It came from the heart and I love it. I love you."

"Then Natalie Madison, would you marry me?" asked Bucky, solemnly. "Would you be my wife?"

"James Barnes, Bucky...yes," she replied, kissing him softly. "I'll marry you."

Tenderly they kissed and began making love again. They became so caught up in each other they didn't hear the reminder out in the living room area about the mission planning meeting. They did hear the sound of a cough in the bedroom. Bucky stopped kissing Natalie and raised his head.

"Who's there?" he said, looking at the door.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Barnes," said Majel, with an apologetic tone to her voice. "Mr. Fury has overridden the privacy command and demands that "you two get your asses down here."

The final part was said in Fury's voice. Bucky looked at his watch and swore. "Tell him we need ten minutes," he said, then he looked at Natalie and kissed her again with a big grin. "Already in trouble with the boss."

They both quickly showered, dressed and ran down the stairs to the main floor into the conference room.

"Sorry," said Bucky as they ran into the conference room. "We were celebrating. She said yes. It won't happen again."

Fury said nothing but there was a subtle smile to his lip. There were murmurs of congratulations and the planning began, going well into the late hours. Majel placed an online order for Chinese food that was delivered part way through. Barton and Thor brought it in from the reception area and passed out the paper plates and chopsticks. Majel reminded everyone to clean up their mess and put the leftovers in the fridge in the common room. When the planning session was ended for the day, she turned out the lights as everyone went to their apartments and made the announcement that the building was secure.

The next morning everyone made their own breakfast. Majel reminded them if there was any particular food they wanted to let her know and she would order it to be delivered with the next food order. Steve, Bucky and Natalie got dressed in comfortable clothing since it would be a long day for them. Bucky and Steve were told to wear shirts with buttons. Then they went to a room that was set up like a lab. Parker and Stark were already in there and asked for their watches. Natalie didn't wear a watch so Parker went to a drawer and took one out. Very carefully he inserted a small dot on the inside of the strap of their watches before handing them back.

"These are trackers," said Parker. "Majel can tell where you are to an accuracy of about ten feet."

Then Stark came with what looked like a slip of paper with dots on it. He slipped a dot off and placed it behind their ears.

"These are also trackers," he said. "In the event they take your watches away these will do the same thing but they are more accurate."

He looked over at Parker with a smug look who just smiled. "We're having a bit of a contest to see whose tracker is better," said Parker. "I intimidate him being so young and all. Natalie, do you have pierced ears?"

She nodded and he brought out a pair of pierced earrings. One of them had a false back which he flipped open and with tweezers placed what looked like a black grain of rice in it, locking it into place, then replacing the back into it. He handed her the earrings to put on then told her to speak, to say anything.

"This is Natalie Madison and I'm not really sure what I'm about to get into," she said.

"Majel, did you pick that up?" asked Parker.

"Loud and clear, Peter," she said. "Mrs. Madison, you are wearing the latest trend in earring fashion, the remote comms pierced earring. It will transmit and receive in real time. It should also give us a blueprint of the building you're in. Please tell me you heard that in your ear."

Natalie verified that she heard it. Stark went into his drawer, pulling out two small discs. He peeled the back off of one of them and very carefully fastened it around the back of one of the buttons on Bucky's shirt. Then he did the same to Steve's. He asked them to say something. They both said their full names, serial number and rank. Stark nodded his head as if he had something to prove and asked Majel if she picked those transmissions up. She answered in the affirmative. Then Parker and Stark looked at each other and Peter opened a final box on the counter. There were three pills. He gave each one of them a pill.

"In the event they find the trackers and they find the comms pieces this is also a tracker," said Stark. "You swallow it, it stays in your system for about 24 hours and then you ... you know, excrete it."

Peter gave them each a bottle of water and they swallowed the pill down. They went out into the conference room which had it's glass wall slid open between it and an area that looked like operations. Fury was already there with a headset on.

"I don't give inspirational speeches," he said. "You're going in as the prisoners of Steve. Bucky you're going to tell Pierce you're in. Steve, I'm guessing Pierce is going to say you're in as well, whether you want to be or not. Natalie, I'm hoping they put you in with Peggy and the kids. You tell her we're on the way which we will be as soon as we determine your location. As soon as any of you say "Trust no one" we're coming in. Stay low. If the shit hits the fan the drones will find you and lead you out. The rest of us will be there fully armed."

They went down to the parking garage, approaching Steve's personal car. Bucky would drive, while Natalie would sit between the child car seats with her hands in cuffs and Steve would hold a gun on Bucky. After Steve cuffed Natalie, Bucky took her in his arms and kissed her passionately, noting it was their first time using cuffs. Then he winked. Bucky got behind the wheel while Steve made the call to Pierce's number. Directions were texted to him and the three began their drive to Pierce's hideout.