Chapter 6
Warnings: swearing, violence, angst
When Bucky's cab pulled up across from the Pierce's house he saw multiple cars in front. He wasn't expecting a crowd and started second guessing himself. If John was there, that would mean at least 2 more armed bodyguards. While he was thinking, he heard a motorcycle pull up and turned to see Nick Fury.
Bucky nodded "Nick"
Nick looked him over "Barnes. I figured you'd be getting yourself into trouble when Rogers told me where you had gone." Nick turned and pulled a helmet from one of his saddlebags, offering it to Bucky.
Bucky shook his head "Nick, I need to-"
Nick shut him down "No, you don't need to nothing. You go in there with Rumlow, Rollins, Barton and whoever else is watching Walker and your girl and you'll only get both of you hurt and you will end up in jail. Then Stark pulls out of your deal and you're just another criminal while Star suffers even more at her husbands hands and you can't do nothin about it."
Bucky sighed and went to pull the helmet on.
Nick continued "You gotta wait for your moment, the opportune time, if you will. Otherwise you'll just make things worse for all involved. I know you haven't spent the last 3 years working and planning your return so carefully to fuck it up now."
Bucky nodded and climbed onto the back of the bike. "I know, I just.....fuck. It's all such a mess and Star has had it worse than I imagined. Why didn't you tell me, Nick?"
Nick scoffed "You think I have access to Congressman John Walker's personal life? Like I could just drop by for tea? If I had known, and I told you. What would you have done? Raced back here for a confrontation before you were ready? Put a price on his head? You know as well as I do that her father would have just found someone worse to marry her off to. She's never been anything but a pawn to him.
You should have taken her with you when you left but you made your call and now you have to see your plan through to the end."
Bucky grunted, thinking to himself about his next steps when Nick asked
"Buy you a drink?"
Bucky sighed, frustrated but stuck for now. " Yeah, sure."
They stopped by the bar where the club went when they needed a change from the clubhouse. Peter was tending bar and Wanda and Pietro were playing darts. The place went silent when the regulars realized who came in with Nick.
Suddenly it became raucous with cries of 'welcome back' and 'hey, Bucky"
Bucky felt a warm feeling of belonging and chatted with the people he knew.
Wanda came up and gave him a hug "It's about time Barnes. Your Star is in bad shape. I've tried to talk to her but she kinda hates all of us since you disappeared and no one would tell her anything."
Bucky hugged her back, fighting back tears "I know, fuck I know. I'm gonna get her back."
A familiar voice that didn't belong in their bar spoke up "Over my dead body"
Bucky turned towards the door to see John Walker, Clint at his side. Bucky gave him credit for bravery but took it back for plain arrogant stupidity.
He smiled widely "That's how this ends."
John laughed "I'm sure you think so but the arrangements I've made will end her life if anything happens to me. I don't know if Brock will actually go through with it but if he doesn't kill her he'll keep her for himself. He's gotten her well trained over the years. She thinks I don't know about her drug problem or unapproved visits to her horses but Brock tells me everything. Your Star is very talented." He grinned wickedly.
"I'm honestly surprised you didn't hurt Brock when you had the chance. I mean considering what he did." John paused like he was thinking "Oh. Right. You weren't here so don't know what he did."
He chuckled "Did you know she was pregnant when you left? She cried so prettyly to her daddy about how she loved you and wanted to have your baby."
Bucky's eyes grew huge before John tossed out his zinger "Brock took care of that, at her father's orders."
Bucky doubled over and exhaled painfully, like he had been hit.
John laughed at his distress "I think Brock might have gotten carried away because she hasn't gotten pregnant yet." He shrugged.
"You sonofabitch." Bucky seethed, jaw clenched, left arm whirring as he opened and closed his fist.
Nick placed a hand on Bucky's shoulder and spoke softly so only Bucky could hear "Now isn't the time or place, Sarge, too many innocents, too many witnesses. I promise we will get to him but you need to be patient."
Bucky nodded curtly "Fine, Colonel but I ain't waiting forever." And knocked back his drink before sitting down in his seat, arms crossed across his chest. His emotions were overwhelming but he plastered a stoic mask over his face and stared coldly at John.
John laughed again but it sounded more nervous than before "Just stay away from my wife Barnes. Final warning" and quickly left.
Nick looked at Bucky grimly. "Let's get you back to your hotel. I hear you've got a big morning planned."
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At her fathers house, after John left, Y/N was locked in her old bedroom laying on the bed with an ice pack over the Right side of her face, hoping to stop the swelling. She had a meeting with her father's attorneys in the morning and John would blame and punish her if any blemishes were visible. Dr Zola had come to the house after John left and put her left wrist in a cast, flesh colored so hopefully no one would notice. He expected a perfect and polished wife at all times no matter what he did to her.
She took a drink from the bottle she grabbed from her fathers bar, not even caring what it was, pulled a shoe box out from under the bed and set it on the bed next to her, pulling the lid off. She had grabbed it from her old house after Bucky left her stable earlier. One at a time she pulled items out and carefully examined each one.
Ticket stubs from Lost Boys, pictures from a school carnival upstate, a playbill from an off, off Broadway play they went to, pictures from the weekend in a B&B upstate. All the little pieces and memories from the happiest time in her life.
She took an oxy and a xanax, washing them down with a long pull from the bottle. She didn't even realize she was crying until a tear fell on a picture of them.
The first few months after Bucky left, she hoped he would come back or contact her to explain and save her somehow. Once she was married to John she gave up. She accepted that this was her life and had no hope of any relief until she turned 30 and had her own money. Then she would disappear to another part of the world, where John Walker and her father didn't have any power.
"Fuck! Why did he come back?" She yelled. Until she realized why. That million Her father gave him must have run out by now. Her inheritance from her grandmother would make her independently wealthy in her own right. Not to mention her fathers money, once the will was settled.
Too much of a coincidence, she scoffed angrily, convinced that he was here to see how much more of her money he could get his hands on. She promised herself he wouldn't get anything from her before she passed out from the alcohol or maybe the drugs or all of the above.
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The next morning Bucky woke up with a hangover, he wasn't used to drinking like that anymore. He sat up slowly, going over what he could remember from last night. He definitely remembered John Walker and felt his stomach seize up at the memory of what he said. Hoping it wasn't true, that John just said it to hurt him more but accepting it very well could be.
He was starting to feel like he should do what he could to help Star and step out of the way. How could they be happy again when his actions had brought her so much pain. Did he even deserve to be happy with her again?
As he stepped into a hot shower he decided to take it all one step at a time. Today was for celebrating with Steve and Sam. Once the groundbreaking was done, he would be able to figure out what to do about Star.
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Star woke abruptly when cold water hit her face and chest.
"Come on you lazy whore, time to get up."
She looked up through bleary eyes, substances still running through her system.
John was standing over her with a big smile on his face. "We're going to the lawyers but after I have a surprise for you. Official congressional business" he laughed. "Make sure you cover up those bruises and cast. Long sleeves would probably be best. Shame because it's supposed to be warm out today." He grabbed her arm, not caring about the pain from the fracture he caused last night, and pulled her off of the bed onto the floor.
"Ok, ok. I'm up. I'll be ready in 30 minutes." And groaned as she climbed up the bed till she was standing and limped towards the bathroom. Once inside the bathroom with the door closed she took her drugs and finished what was left in her flask, making a note to refill it before she left the house.
After a quick bath and some creative make up she stepped into the bedroom and released a sigh of relief that John wasn't there.
At the attorneys office Star was shocked and angry at what she was hearing.
"Your father contested the terms of your grandmother's will and made it clear that he expected Mr Walker to pursue it if anything happened to him. That money is expected to go to Mr Walker when everything is said and done. In addition, Mrs Walker, you only get your father's inheritance as long as you stay married to Mr Walker and have a child. If you leave him or haven't at least gotten pregnant within the next 2 years the money will revert to Mr Walker."
"What right did my father have to contest the will? It wasn't his mother. I can't believe he is still trying to control me when he's dead." Star fumed.
John smiled "No sweetheart, he knew you needed a strong hand to keep you from doing anything stupid, like run off with some biker."
She glared at him "This isn't over, John." She spat and left the office.
John smiled at the attorney "Women. Think they can take care of themselves. Silly" and left chuckling.
He grabbed her arm when he caught up with her and shoved her into the SUV Clint was driving. "I told you I'm not going to put up with that kind of behavior, sweetheart. I don't want to have to punish you again, we have too much to do. Maybe you'll feel better when you see my surprise." His grin made her stomach drop, it wasn't a good surprise but nothing ever was with him.
After a short drive the SUV pulled up to an empty lot near Nick's shop. The area was crowded with people, news crews and balloons everywhere.
Star looked at him nervously "What is all this, John?"
He gave her a wide grin "Just political kissing babies kinda stuff. Make the people believe we care about them and their lives."
John helped her out when they stopped, gently taking her hand, knowing there were too many people around and he had to be careful.
He kept Star tucked into his side so she couldn't see the people at the center of the excitement. Then she heard a voice welcoming everyone, a voice she knew,
Tony Stark. She tried to look past John but still couldn't get a clear view.
Tony boomed "I'm so pleased to welcome back some hometown heroes who are going to make a positive difference in this community. James Barnes, Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson who will be running their new garage BRW Harley Davidson sales, repair and customizations. Today marks one of many steps that I have watched these boys make to improve themselves and their hometown, since they left the military. I'm proud to be a partner to their business and look forward to a prosperous future with them."
Steve stepped up and made some comments about coming home and making it better. Sam and Bucky tossed a coin and Sam won so he took the fancy honorary shovel and made the fist dig. The audience cheered and the sound of champagne popping filled the air.
Tony stepped back up "I've been notified that we have a special guest today. Congressman John Walker and his lovely wife Y/N. Please welcome them up here."
The audience cheered but Bucky and his friends felt a chill seeing Star trailing behind John like an abused puppy. She didn't look at anyone simply murmuring "thank you" and shaking Tony's hand after John.
Bucky stared at her, willing Star to look at him but she kept her eyes on the ground. She barely looked like the beautiful carefree woman that he had fallen in love with. In the sunlight it was easier to see how much she had changed. Dressed in a long sleeve, high collar dress that wasn't her style at all, with big sunglasses on her pinched face. When she smiled it was forced and it broke his heart even more.
He promised himself he would do everything he could to help her and then back off if that's what she wanted.
Star looked over at Bucky, he was so handsome even with the specks of grey in his stubble and his suit fit him perfectly. She felt an ache that she hadn't felt since her wedding. A longing for the love they once had. She forced herself to stop that train of thought and remind herself that he was only after her money. Not that she actually had any but he didn't know that. Star straightened her shoulders and looked straight in his eye with all the hatred she could muster.
When Bucky saw the look she was giving him he turned away, the guilt was too much. He spoke softly with Sam and Steve, trying to figure out how to get Star alone with Bucky and get her to listen to him.
Steve saw John deep in conversation with Tony and went to do what he could to keep John occupied. Tony picked up on what was going on and insisted on telling one story after another without letting John get a word in.
Sam went up to Rumlow and Rollins to talk about bikes and show them a couple that they had worked on.
Bucky followed Star as she found a quiet spot in the alley behind the building next door, without all the attention on her.
He called to her softly "Star. Please can we talk? Everything isn't as it seems. I really do want to help."
She looked at him warily, exhausted from recent events "Not here, Brock will be looking for me soon. Tonite, at my parents house. Brock always checks on me at 11pm when he locks up. I'll meet you on the corner at 1am."
She sighed "I'll get my ass kicked if I'm caught so it better be more than another lame apology."
She quickly turned away and headed back towards the crowd, hoping no one noticed.
Bucky sighed, at least she was giving him a chance. He would deal with her husband and body guards once he had set everything straight with her. He headed back towards the crowd, accepting a glass of champagne from Steve but his head was swimming with thoughts of Star.