Chapter 3
All I could find about him was from the museum exhibit from when he was in the Army and a couple of press releases in some newspapers. Looks like I only got to know Bucky and not James.
Bucky walks out of the bathroom with the clothes I’ve given him. The jeans fit him nicely and the shirt? It’s just a little too small but I’m not complaining.
“Hey. Are you feeling better now?” I smile at him but all I get is an empty stare.
“A little.” Bucky uses the towel to dry his hair as he ideally stands in the doorway awkwardly.
“Are you hungry? I can heat up some leftovers for you.” I toss my computer onto the bed and lead him back into the kitchen. I grab a plate and scoop some sheppard pie onto a plate and heat it up in the microwave. I place a kettle of water on the stove and wait for it to boil.
“So. How did you end up in Pennsylvania?” I set down the plate of shepherd's pie in front of him and started making him some tea.
“I don’t know. I…..Last thing I remember was my fight with Steve and then I just fled. There’s no way I could stay in D.C knowing what I did.” Bucky rubs his temples with his eyes squeezed shut. This is obviously going to be a long and difficult road ahead of us.
“How’d you know I know who you are?” I set two cups of tea on the table. One in front of him and one in front of me.
“I could hear you in the bathroom. Super soldier hearing.” Bucky stops talking after that and starts eating the shepherd pie. I silently watch him trying to figure out what is going on. How the hell did the Winter Soldier end up in Pennsylvania, on my property, in my house?
“You’re scared of me aren’t you?” He looks at me with a pained expression and places down his fork.
“No. No I am not scared of you Bucky. Nor will I ever be.”
“Liar.” Bucky goes back to eating his food while I stare at him a little hurt.
“You don’t know me so don’t call me a liar when I’m not.”
“And you don’t know me so why should you be helping me?” He challenges back.
“Are you kidding me? You’re a national hero, Bucky! You lead the Howling Commandos, Stever Rogers best friend and protector all his life and then you were Captain America’s best man!! You protected this country more than any other man on the field!”
“I’ve also killed a lot more innocent people than any man on or off the field.”
“No you didn’t.”
“Yes I did. I’m held accountable for hundreds of deaths of innocent people.”
“No you are not. He is. The Winter Soldier. Not James Buchanan Barnes.” I narrow my eyes at him, waiting for him to challenge me again. All he does is sigh, roll his eyes and go back to eating his dinner.
What am I going to do? How am I going to explain this to the kids? The boys are old enough to know who he is but I don’t want Katie going to school talking about her new friend with the metal arm. That’s a sure way for the FBI to show up and take him. Are the kids even going to be ok with him here? How am I going to explain things so they understand he’s not who they think he is?
“What?” Bucky asks as he takes a sip of his tea.
“Just thinking.” I shake my head and reach for my own cup of tea.
“About turning me into the police?”
“No you idiot. I’m not about to turn some innocent man into the police because they’re not telling us everything. It’s not your fault that Hydra kidnapped you, tortured you and brainwashed you!” I yell a little too angry. I didn’t mean to yell but all of sudden this huge amount of anger comes boiling out of nowhere.
Bucky stares at me with cold, empty eyes. “I’m not innocent.” Is all he says.
“James Buchanan Barnes is an innocent man who served the country. The Winter Soldier is not an innocent man. To me you’re James Barnes. End of story.” I slam my hand down and leave the room. Yea I’m a little scared but it’s not fair what they did. It’s not fair that they did all those things to him. I found out a whole lot more about him then the government was putting on the news. There were little reports in the newspaper, but none of it was publicized on the news.
I sit in the family room watching some tv as I wait for him to finish his dinner. By now it's already two in the morning. I hear the sound of water running and a dish being placed in the drying rack. His footsteps are silent and his presence has a sense of loneliness.
“You can stay in the guest room. It’s right next to mine.” I get up and lead him back upstairs to the guest room.
“My siblings will be back tomorrow except Austin. I’ll have a talk with them about the situation so don’t worry.” I stand in the doorway getting ready to close it when his voice comes out softly.
“Are you going to report me?” He asks with his head hung low, sitting half in the bed, half off the bed.
“No Bucky. I’m not going to report you. I’m gonna try my damn best to help you. Even if that means dragging Steve Rogers ass here myself.”
“Thank you.”
“There’s no need to thank me. I’m only doing what’s right.” When I look at him my heart nrealy shatters. His smile isn’t bright, but there’s something about it that makes me want to cry. Some kind of relief, as if weights have been lifted off his shoulders.
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight Bucky.”
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Word Count: 1010