So close to being done!

Chapter Quote:
“Then finish it. 'Cause I'm with you 'til the end of the line.”
~Steve Rogers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier
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Chapter 15

Annabeth 

I felt lightheaded seeing Bucky in the courtroom, standing up for the whole world to see him.  When the judge asked him who he was, he smiled and simply said, “I’m the weapon.”

“Excuse me?” The judge asked, looking dubious. 

“I’m the weapon,” Bucky repeated.  At that point my stomach was on the ground, but while fear for him racked my body, I was also extremely angry.  He started walking up to the gate that led into the actual court area with Steve, Sam, and Natasha following him.  I stood up to meet him.  My lawyers attempted to pull me back down in my chair but I yanked my arms out of their grasp.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I whispered frantically.

“I couldn’t leave my best girl,” he said, giving me a smile. “You’re not doing this alone.”

“I told you not to come!” My eyes narrowed in on Steve.  Glaring, I pointed at him and added, “You and I have some talking to do.”

“I didn’t let him convince me into coming here,” Steve defended.

“So who did?”

“Me.  Listen, you helped me.  Now it’s my turn to help you.”

“You’re our mission,” Bucky said gently.

“We’re with you ‘til the end of the line,” Steve added.

“You can help me by getting him out of here!” I exclaimed quietly.  The whispering of the crowd drowned out our hushed voices so no one could really hear us.

The judge banged the gavel, switching our attention over to her.  She gave Bucky a hard stare and asked, “What do you mean you’re the weapon?”

“May I?” My friend motioned at the floor in front of the podium.  Hesitantly, the judge allowed him to.  Steve, Sam, and Natasha came to stand next to me with Steve gently grabbing onto my arm.  The message from him was clear: Let him do this.

“My name is Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes, affectionately called Bucky by my friends.  I was born in 1917 and was Steve Rogers’ best friend until I was captured by Hydra forces near the end of World War II when one of Hydra’s weapons knocked me off a moving train into a ravine where I was found by Hydra forces and taken to a secret base.  There, a scientist by the name of Arnim Zola tested on me and turned me into something I wasn’t.  I lost my arm in the fall, and therefore, he gave me this.” Bucky shrugged off his jacket, revealing his metal arm.  He held it up so the court room could see.  “This is the weapon.  For seventy years, I was Hydra’s top weapon.  They brainwashed me so I wouldn’t remember who I was or who I knew so I would have no strings to my former life.  I had no strings on me as the Winter Soldier.  That was until a couple months ago when Steve took down SHIELD, which had been severely infiltrated by Hydra.  I started gaining memories back when I saw him.  Deep down, I knew that I knew him.  And even with my shaggy hair at the time, he recognized me, and he tried to get me to realize that.  I nearly killed him in the process, but he reached out to me.  I’m no longer a weapon.  But to Hydra, that’s all I was.  I was an asset, a thing, a weapon.  So when Annabeth tells you that she fell in love with a weapon, she’s not lying.  She’s protecting me, like she always has.  She’s willing to let herself go to prison, when she knows she could have a strong case to prove her innocence, because she’s protecting me.  She’s been doing so for a decade.  I’m the reason she stayed on with Hydra.  She wanted to take care of me.  And she did.  The only mistake she made was that she treated me like a human instead of a weapon, and Alexander Pierce didn’t like that.  He ordered her killed while she was taking care of me.  Even after I almost got her killed, she still yelled out to me that she wanted to help.  That if I ever wanted to know who I was, to come to her.  Annabeth is one of the most selfless people I have ever met.  And she does not deserve to go to jail for trying to help a man who couldn’t help himself.”

The crowd fell silent.  I heard one girl behind me whisper, “No wonder she fell in love with him.  Just look at him.”  I barely refrained from laughing at that.

“So when she was saying that she fell in love with a weapon-” the judge began.

“She was using Hydra terminology.  She didn’t want Hydra getting their hands on me again and if she mentioned my name, that would lead to a barrage of questions about where I was.  She was afraid I would be captured again.  She’s just trying to protect someone she loves.  Annabeth didn’t want me to come here because she knows that there are some Hydra people in the building, possibly and probably in this very courtroom.  She didn’t want them seeing me.”

“So why did you come?”

“Because I’m not watching the girl I love be imprisoned for something she shouldn’t be.”

“You love me?” The question escaped my lips before I could stop it.

Bucky grinned at me. “I planned on telling you at a more romantic time and place but then you decided to up and leave me to come to your trial.”

“You know I had to come,” I said. “I’m sorry.”

Bucky kissed me, leaving me gasping for air when he was finished. “I’m not losing you again, Anna.”

“Miss Drew, is what he saying true?” The judge inquired seriously.

“Yes, Your Honor.  I understand that my terminology use could be considered lying, but I wanted to protect him.  He’s been through enough.  Hydra has put him through enough and I couldn’t risk his safety.  Especially not after he saved my life.”

“Your Honor, this is ridiculous.  For all we know, they could be lying.  She’s been out of prison for over a month ‘helping Captain America.’  What exactly did that mission entail?” One of the prosecutors pointed out angrily.  His name was Schmidt.  I didn’t like him.

“It entailed me tracking Bucky down, but Bucky found me instead and I’d promised him before that I’d help him find out who he was when he wanted to know.  He wanted my help and my help only at first.  Bucky wanted to get to know himself and his past before he met Steve.  I lost contact with Steve and Sam because my cell phone died, I didn’t have a charger, I didn’t know their emails, and I could not find either of their numbers for the life of me.  My sole purpose was to help him get his memories back.”

“How do we know that you two didn’t plan this whole scene to help her get exonerated?”

“I didn’t even know she had a trial to go to until the day she left me.  She never told me,” Bucky remarked.

“Why was that?”

“Because I could never find the right time to tell him,” I replied.

“I’m sensing lies here.”

“I beg your pardon?” I demanded.

“Who gives you the right to determine that?” Bucky growled.

“Hey, easy,” I consoled, grabbing onto his hand.  He backed off but continued glowering at the man.

“This man is dangerous.  He needs to be in a prison cell,” a man next to Schmidt declared heatedly. “And she needs to be in a psychiatric ward.  They’re both hazardous to society.”

I stared at him.  He looked familiar to me and I couldn’t place why.  My mind started running through all the people at SHIELD that I knew, but he wasn’t one of them.  My next guess was Hydra.  He hadn’t been one of the scientists that had worked on Bucky after I was allowed to but I’d seen him before I left one time… his name hit me.

“You’re Hans Abend.  You were on of the scientists who did the mind-wiping procedure on the Winter Soldier,” I said.

“I am not!” Hans protested but his expression gave the truth away.

“You did this to me?” Bucky snarled.

“What-no!  I’m not that person!  That little vixen is lying-” Before I could process what was happening, before anyone could, Schmidt was thrown clear across the room, Hans was pinned down to the table, and Bucky was most definitely not holding my hand anymore.

“What did you do to me?!” He shouted.  “Why did you do this?!”

“Pierce ordered me to!  He was going to kill my family if I didn’t!”

“How many more of you are here?!”

“No!  I’m not saying!”

“NOW!”

“Bucky!  Stop!” I said.  His head snapped up, eyes skewering me.

“Who the hell is Bucky?” he demanded.  Without averting my gaze, I told my friends, “Get everyone out of here.  Now.”

Panic started ensuing in the crowd, everyone clamoring over each other trying to get out.  When Bucky made a move for them, Steve, Sam, Natasha and I blocked him.  His fist went flying towards Natasha’s head.  She ducked out of the way.  Steve and Sam grabbed onto his arms; I grabbed onto him from behind.

“Soldier, stand down,” Natasha said firmly. “We’re not here to hurt you.  We’re trying to help you.”

“I don’t know you!” He roared, struggling out of hold.  Guards came over trying to help us restrain him but that sent him into a frenzy.  He nailed Sam in a really bad place, knocking him to the ground, out of commission.  Bucky proceeded to punch Steve off of him and kicked any guards near him twenty or more feet away.  That left little me to try and constrain him.  Quite a few people remained in the crowd but a handful looked like they had no intentions of going.  When they pulled out guns (first of all how did they even get those in here?), I screamed for Steve to throw his shield at me.  I barely caught it and blocked me and Bucky with it before the Hydra agents started firing at us.  Bucky elbowed me in my stomach before hitting me with his metal arm and sending me flying into the judge’s podium.  I heard myself groaning, but mostly I heard a fight breaking out between a shield and a gun followed by a massive grunt and a lot of yelling.  I peered around the podium.  Bucky had disarmed one of the Hydra agents and was firing the gun at the others, shield in hand.  Natasha crept up behind an agent in the far back so no one would see her approaching.  With a well-aimed kick to the back, she took him down and took his gun.  She began firing at the agents along with Bucky.  Sam and Steve followed in suit once they got their breath back.  With the four of them fighting, the remaining five Hydra agents went down quickly.

“Annabeth?!” Steve called out for me.

“I’m here!” I replied, standing up.  People were cowering in corners and against walls.  Sam ran over to me to check to see if I was okay. “Listen, we need to get him away from the other people.  Leave that to me.  While I’m distracting him, get everyone out of the building.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.  It’ll be fun.  Go.” Sam ran over to Steve and Natasha.  I could tell they didn’t like the plan but that they weren’t going to argue.  I slipped off my heels so I could run faster if need be.  I faced the Winter Soldier and said, “Hey!  You want a Hydra agent?” Bucky’s nostrils flared as he looked at me. “Then come and get me.”

He stalked towards me and I bolted out of the room, trying to lead him as far away as possible from other people.  I could hear the pounding of his shoes catching up to me.  When guards started coming out of rooms, I yelled, “Get out of the way!  Get back inside!”

For some reason, they listened to me.  I accidentally took a corner too fast and since I had panty hose on, I slid onto the ground with a thud and crashed into the wall.  I quickly scrambled up when I saw Bucky charging at me.  I was totally winging this so I quickly entered the first door I could stop in time for.  The room was a room full of cleaning supplies.  Probably not the smartest place to be with a deadly assassin on your trail who was wielding a gun.  We may cause an explosion of some sort.  I wove my way between the shelves as quietly as I could, keeping low to the ground.

“Where are you?!” Bucky demanded in rage.  For the first time in my time of being with, I was terrified of him.  It was one thing to have him turn on you because you’re the only one there.  But to have you be his target?  I shouldn’t have done this…

“I just needed to get you away from the crowds.  I didn’t want you hurting them.  I used to be Hydra but I’m not anymore.  The only reason I worked for them was because of you.  Bucky, please listen to me,” I begged.

“My name isn’t Bucky!” He roared before sending a barrage of bullets in my direction.  I dropped to the ground covering my head.  When it stopped, I started crawling between the shelves again.  I needed to find a hiding place, or maybe another door.  That would work as well.  Luck was on my side.  I saw a door on the other side of the room.  I started making my way towards it.  That’s when I heard the crashing.  It took me a second to actually figure out what the crashing was coming from but it only took me a split-second to dive out of the way of the falling shelf.  My ankle got caught though and a cry was ripped out from my throat.  I struggled to free it but no luck.

“There you are,” Bucky growled, holding his gun.  For the time being, it wasn’t pointed at me.  He knelt down next to me, grabbing onto my neck and forcing me down onto the ground; his grip wasn’t choking me, only meant to keep me in place. “Who are you?”

“My name is Annabeth Drew.  I was hired to take care of you.  You were my mission, soldier.  You still are.  I want to help you.”

“I don’t know you,” he snarled.

“Your names is James Buchanan Barnes.  You served in the 107th in World War II.  You were captured by Hydra and given that metal arm.  You’re considered one of the most deadly assassins in the world.  I’ve been helping you gain your memories back for the past couple months.  You’ve done this twice before, where you slip into Winter Soldier mode and forget everything you know.  I don’t know what triggers it, or what makes you come out of it.  But I’ve always trusted you to come out of it.”

“Why should I trust you?  You’re Hydra,” he said, his grip tightening on my throat.

“I used to be.  I only worked for them because of you.”

“Is that why you’re here?  In court?  Because you worked for Hydra?”

“Yes.”

“And they know about me?”

“They didn’t until today.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because I told them I fell in love with a weapon.  I didn’t tell them you were the weapon.  I used Hydra terminology so I could still tell the truth and protect you.  I didn’t want Hydra getting their hands on you again.”

“You fell in love with me?” His grasp started loosening.

“Yes.”

He paused. “Did I love you back?”

“Well you sort of announced it to the entire court room that you did before you became the Winter Soldier so unless you’ve changed your mind in the past ten minutes… I think you still do.  You could kiss me and see if that helps you out.  Helped out before,” I suggested, not thinking the suggestion would actually work.  It didn’t, but he let go of my neck.  I groaned and sat up.

“How do you do it?” Bucky asked.  His voice was still hard, telling me that he still was in Winter Soldier mode.

“How do I do what?”

“Stop me from killing you.  You said I’ve done this before.  How do you do it?”

“First time I ever did, you didn’t even know me well.  Pierce ordered you to decide whether or not you should kill me.  That was a plot of his to see how much influence I had over you.  I talked you out of it somehow.  The second time was a couple weeks ago.  I just repeated what I used to say to you when I took care of you.  The third time, I got desperate and kissed you.”  Bucky backed up against the wall next to me and ran his hand through his hair, mumbling something to himself. “You okay?”

“No, I don’t remember any of this that you’re telling me but it feels familiar.  This is driving me insane.”

“If you help me get out from underneath this shelf, I’ll help you get to a person I know who can help you even more than me.”

Bucky nodded.  He came over as he was bending down to lift the shelf up, multiple gunshots rang out.  Bucky yelled out in pain as he collapsed.  His gun clattered to the ground.  I snatched it up and fired blindly at the person, not caring if I hit them or not.  I just wanted to get them away from us.  A body thudded to the floor.  It was Schmidt.  His eyes were glazing over but he was still alive.  Almost moving mechanically, he pulled something out of his jacket pocket.  When he turned it on, terror crashed over me.  He threw the lighter into the fallen shelves with all the chemicals.  We had very little time if we were going to escape out of there alive.  Unable to get myself out from underneath the shelf, and not having a phone on me to call someone, I tried another form of communication: screaming.

And I scream loudly.  It only took a few moments before Steve came barreling into the room.  He instantly found me and Bucky.

“Steve, get him out of here.  He’s been shot multiple times and needs medical attention as fast as possible,” I ordered.

“What about you?”

“I’m fine, I’ll find a way out.  Go, just get him out of here.  We don’t have much time.  The Hydra agent just threw a lighter into the fallen shelves.  There’s going to be a fire soon.  I’ll be right behind you.”

Steve nodded, and lifted Bucky up.  He left the room and I worked on getting my ankle free.
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Steve 

Holding Annabeth to her word, I carried Bucky out of the court building.  Sam and Natasha were there, telling people everything was okay, that there was nothing to worry about anymore.  The danger had passed.  When they saw me, I had them call an ambulance immediately.  We propped Bucky up against a nearby tree.  He was murmuring stuff under his breath.

“Bucky, can you hear me?” I asked.

“Steve?  You okay?” he whispered.

“I’m fine.  Sam and Natasha are here.  Annabeth is coming.”

Bucky eyes met mine. “She got free from the shelf?”

“What shelf?” I queried.

“The shelf.  I- I knocked it over and it trapped her foot in there.”

“Bucky, I’ll be right back,” I said.  I ran back into the building.  Black smoke was wafting through the hallways now.  I worried for Annabeth’s safety.  If that fire was where I thought it was…  I called out her name and she didn’t respond.  I entered the room I’d found her in before and was greeted by flames and smoke.  When I called her name out again, she gave me a frantic answer.  I made my way over to her.  The flames were getting closer and closer to her.

“I thought you said you’d be right behind me!” I shouted over the noise of the fire, lifting up the shelf.

“I had to get Bucky out of here first.  I thought I could get myself free.  I’m sorry Steve, I’m sorry,” she said, pulling her foot out from underneath.

“When are you going to get it through your head that you’re a part of our family now?  We’re not leaving you behind.  Come on.” I scooped her up in my arms and carried her out of the building.  The ambulances were there.  Five EMTs were surrounding me in seconds.  Sam came over to us, informing me that Bucky had been taken to the hospital and that Natasha was with him.  I nodded and set Annabeth down on the stretcher.  She was taken to an ambulance.  Sam said he would meet me at the hospital as I jumped into the ambulance with Annabeth.
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