Hell and the Antartic
According to Bucky, his version of bringing John Walker on the team was by dumping the task on Sam.
Allie had frowned at him from across the kitchen when Sam told her that he had found a way to at least get John to speak to her. While she wasn't exactly thrilled at the notion that she would be seeing the man that once attempted to put his hand on her belly when she was heavily pregnant with Steven, she was relieved that John would even entertain the concept of talking to her.
As it turned out, John wasn't going to know much of anything until the afternoon that all the newest recruits were brought together for Allie to explain the entirety of the Annika situation. In the back of her mind, she seemed to pray that nothing bad took place during that first meeting. She had already known that she was playing with fire, and not the kind she created, by bringing in the people that she was bringing in.
The afternoon that Allie had called for the first meeting with the newest recruits was even later in November. Thanksgiving had just passed, although the Barnes family barely celebrated with anything more than a typical dinner and a few desserts. It was almost December, something that Allie could barely believe was true.
She and Bucky had dropped the kids off with Grace on their way to the compound and lab that she and Peter had been using for her tests and training. Bruce was the only person that she knew wouldn't be there, but promised that his words from their previous conversation still rang true.
The moments leading up to the meeting seemed to fill Allie with a mix of emotions. There was a bubble of excitement that settled deep in her stomach. It was something new and exciting for her. She was leading a team of enhanced and skilled human beings. She briefly remembered her meetings that she led with the Commandos where she gave them brief first aid training and the meetings she'd had with her nurses.
Then there was a sense of dread at putting John Walker in the same room as both Bucky and Zemo. That dread seemed to be reduced to a minuscule thought as she realized the level of competency her husband and friends had, and the motivation that would, hopefully, keep Zemo in line.
When the time had finally come for the meeting, Allie had dismissed herself from Bucky, Sam, and Peter and made her way to the conference room. The three men had stayed behind to keep an eye out for their friends and to guide those that had never been in the building to where they would be going.
In the conference room, Allie sat at the head of the conference table as each new recruit walked in and took a seat. From Clint and Scott she received warm greetings, including a warm embrace from Scott and a pat on the shoulder from Clint. T'Challa gave a bright smile to both her and Bucky before taking a seat of his own. Zemo had been brought in by a guard that Allie dismissed to a neighboring room. Rhodey made his way in as he spoke to Sam, giving a nod of his head to Allie before taking a seat beside Clint.
Peter and Wanda made their ways into the room, taking their seats across from each other and glancing around at the people that were in the room. Peter seemed to almost scoot his seat slightly away from Zemo who sat next to him. Allie hid her grin as she watched Zemo look Peter up and down, having noticed Peter's actions.
Sam took one seat beside Allie as Bucky walked in and stood beside his own seat. His eyes were trained on the doorway where John Walker himself walked in. John's eyes settled on Allie for a moment, unsure of how she was going to react to him. Allie simply let her eyes flit to the unoccupied seat across from Zemo, a simple nod in its direction to direct John to it.
He followed her silent instruction and for a brief moment, Allie thought that the beginning of the meeting would be fine. She could introduce the team to one another before sitting alone with the newest recruits to fill them in on what was going on before a short dinner break and bringing everyone together to brainstorm ideas. That would work. At least, she had hoped that would work. All it took was one man opening his mouth to place doubt in the back Allie's mind.
"Why do you have a criminal here?" John turned his head in Allie's direction, an accusation in his glare.
"John," Sam said his name in a flat, warning tone. His arms crossed against his chest, he kept his gaze trailed on Walker.
"I find your accusation interesting," Zemo had his ghost of a smirk painted across his lips as he looked to John. "Considering your history."
"I'm not the one who killed people," John spat out. "You killed King T'Chaka."
"And what do you call Latvia?" Zemo taunted. "Child's play? I'm sure that young man would say different."
"That was entirely different," John glared.
"How so?" the challenge in Zemo's tone could be heard around the table.
Allie looked to the different faces that surrounded her. Sam and Bucky both had narrowed eyes as they looked between the two men. Clint, Scott, and Rhodey all glanced at each other. Staying silent, Scott's eyes flicked to Allie in concern. Peter's mouth was just barely opened in a confused expression, clearly having not expected an argument to break out. Wanda looked over to Allie, the silent request for interference clear.
Allie's gaze turned back to the two men arguing. Zemo's voice stayed eerily calm as he spoke. It was almost as if he felt no threat coming from Walker. Walker, however, had risen his voice as if to be the loudest one in the room. It was accusatory. It was an attempt to throw verbal daggers to pull a rise out of Zemo.
"You intentionally murdered someone and framed another man for it," John continued. "You have no qualms about killing people. It's evil."
"And what do you call taking a serum and murdering an unarmed man?" Zemo cocked his head to the side. "Is that something different? Your ambition to be better than others, is that somehow admirable?"
"I do what is right," Walker spat.
"Is that what you call it?" Zemo smirked.
"You listen here," John rose from his seat to lean across the table. "I'm half tempted to leave right now. No turning back. And you," he pointed at Zemo. "You'd be lucky. Without me here, you'd be able to escape."
Zemo let out a small laugh as the others turned to John with glares etched on their faces. Noticing their expressions, the anger was visible in his tightening jaw. Turning to Allie, he pointed his accusing finger at her.
"You have no business leading a team," he spat. "You pick your favorites. A witch. A child. Murderers. You have no concept of how to lead a team."
"You better watch your mouth, Walker," Bucky spat. "That's my wife you're talking to."
"That proves my point," John glared at Allie. "You aren't even speaking to me. Your husband is there to protect you. Like a little boy running to his mom, you run to him."
"That's enough," Allie warned.
"Is it? Because how in the hell is a group like this supposed to take down a threat? These people you chose?" he glared.
"Walker, you better sit down and shut up," Sam warned.
John Walker did not sit down and shut up. Instead, he continued his verbal attack on Allie's leadership. Bucky and Sam continued to try and get him to silence, all the while Zemo sat back and watched with a smirk. The tips of Allie's fingers began to warm as she became agitated. It wasn't until Peter jumped to her defense, angry at someone doubting her, that Allie had decided that words were no longer going to work.
In an instant, Allie was stood from her seat at the head of the table. Clapping her hands, she raised them and conjured a small but violent flurry of snow and ice that fell on the arguing men in a harsh, but nonlethal manner. The table was coated to look like a winter scene as the men began to shiver. Widened eyes looked over to Allie who narrowed her own.
"That is enough," her voice was low and cutting. "John, you're not leaving. Sit down."
His face read that he was no where near being pleased, but he did as Allie instructed. She continued to watch him with narrowed eyes, not letting the doubt that had been placed in the back of her mind show. She hadn't let it show all those years ago on the battlegrounds of the war when all she had was her throwing arm and firearms, and she certainly wasn't going to let John Walker of all people see any sliver of doubt in her now.
The room settled into a silence as the others carefully watched Allie to see what she would do. Sam and Bucky looked to one another and back to her. Peter and Wanda seemed to sit on the edge of their seat, waiting for Allie's instruction. Before she could even think of something to say to the group sitting around her, she heard a seat down the table shift slightly as someone moved in their chair.
"He is right," Zemo shrugged, breaking the silence. "I could betray you at any moment. I could escape right now."
"You're not going to betray us," Allie's voice was sharp as she turned to face Zemo with narrowed eyes. "And do you know how I know that you won't betray us?"
"How?" he seemingly taunted and Allie stood closer to the table. Placing her hands down on the surface, she leaned forward, eyes still narrowed in a sharp glare.
"Because you've dealt with my brother. You've dealt with my husband. But you have never dealt with me. You betray us and I will not hesitate to burn you," her voice cut in a sharp threat. "And Hell will look like the Antarctic by the time I'm done with you."
The room was silent once more as everyone looked to one another before looking to see Zemo's reaction. He sat with his head tilted to the side as his eyes narrowed at Allie, as if he were studying her. Allie didn't back down as she kept her eyes narrowed at Zemo. The tension in the room was thick before Zemo finally took a breath and looked at Bucky.
"I like her," he approved. "I see why you chose her, James."
Bucky's jaw was still set firmly as he glared at Zemo. Allie was still standing as she made sharp eye contact with each person in the room. Several pairs of eyes flicked to one another, but no voices could be heard as Allie slowly sat back down in her seat.
"Alright then," she said as she broke the momentary silence. "Those who know what we're facing may leave the table. I'd like to speak to those that are new to the team."
"I never said that I'd be on the team," John began, but was quickly silenced by one look from Allie.
"Buck, Sam, Peter, Wanda," Allie acknowledged them. "You may leave the room. Get something to drink or eat."
Sam and Bucky stood together, walking to the nearest lounge after Bucky paused to kiss Allie's temple on his way out. Shutting the door behind him, Sam let out a soft whistle before looking at the other three.
"She is scary when she's pissed," he grinned over to Bucky. "Does she do that at home, too?"
"Sam," Bucky rolled his eyes and walked to the fridge, grabbing a bottle of water for himself.
"Come on, man," Sam grinned. "You're married to her. Are you trying to say that you haven't pissed her off enough to do that?"
"We don't fight," Bucky shrugged.
"Yeah, yeah. You bicker, you don't fight," Sam rolled his eyes. "So she really hasn't done anything like that?"
Bucky didn't dignify him with a response. Instead, he opened his bottle of water and took a drink. Peter looked to Wanda and gave a little clearing of his throat to grab Sam and Bucky's attention.
"Do you think she'd mind if Wanda and I went to the store and grabbed something to make for dinner?" Peter glanced in the direction of the conference room.
"Why?"
"Because the food we have here isn't great," Peter's nose scrunched. "Trust me on that one. After being here pretty much everyday, I've realized we need to stock this kitchen."
"And he can swing and I can fly," Wanda shrugged.
"No, you don't fly. I fly," Sam crossed his arms across his chest and narrowed his eyes a touch. "You do that weird witchy thing."
"Witchy thing?" Wanda asked, amusement lacing her words.
"Yeah," Sam nodded.
"Well, then I'll do my 'weird witchy thing'," Wanda smiled as she gently pushed Peter's shoulder forward.
"We'll be right back," Peter called over his shoulder.
Sam and Bucky both shook their heads with soft laughs before Bucky looked back in the direction of the conference room. Allie was in that very room conducting an official meeting with people who knew very little of what was going on. He was proud of her.
"She's really able to do this," Sam smiled as he noticed Bucky's gaze lingering.
"You and I both knew that she could do it," Bucky's eyes still hadn't left the direction they were facing.
"Well, it is the first time she's leading a team," Sam shrugged.
"That's not true," Bucky finally brought his eyes away from the door to look at Sam. "She headed the medical squad that aided the Commandos towards the end. She had to ready nurses for what they'd be seeing out on the field. She did an amazing job with them."
"Well, it's her first time leading a group of superpowered people," Sam shrugged.
"I can agree with that," Bucky smirked. "But I still knew that she could do it."
"I've never seen you not trust her," Sam noted. "That doesn't have anything to do with you being in love with her or anything, does it?"
"No," Bucky laughed. "It has everything to do with having always trusted her. She's the only girl I knew growing up that would have been willing to fight a boy in defense of her brother. Being socially inappropriate be damned, there'd have been hell to pay if you messed with her big brother."
"So you've never doubted her?" Sam asked in amazement. "Never questioned her?"
"Hell no," Bucky shook his head. "Even if a plan doesn't work out, her intention is there. That's what I follow wholeheartedly."
"I can agree with that," Sam nodded. "I've never seen her have a bad intention. Only pure."
"Exactly," Bucky sighed. "She and Steve are both like that. Their intentions are always for what's right, even when it may seem like it isn't. It must be a Rogers thing."
The two settled into seats in the lounge as they waited for either Allie and the new recruits to walk out of the conference room or Peter and Wanda to return with their groceries. Peter and Wanda were the ones to return first, placing bags on the counter and looking to both Sam and Bucky.
"I hope you guys like pasta because it's what we're making," Peter shrugged and looked over to Wanda.
"What sauce?" Sam asked as he peered over at the grocery bags.
"Alfredo," Wanda shrugged. "Peter insisted on making his own alfredo sauce."
"I thought it might cheer Allie up with everything that's been going on today," Peter shrugged. "Besides, she and I cook all the time and I know this recipe like the back of my hand."
"What about like one of your webs?" Sam smirked.
"Shut up," Peter glared and Bucky shot him a look. "I was teasing back!"
"Still," Bucky took a drink of water. "Be nice."
Peter sighed and turned his attention back to Wanda and the bags that sat in front of them. Taking a breath, he turned for a moment and pulled out the pots and pans from the cabinets that he knew he would need. Walking back over to the counter, he looked over to Bucky and Sam who were silently chatting. He looked over at Wanda.
"Have you tried to talk to Steve?" Peter asked her as they stood and emptied the grocery bags.
"I have," she nodded. "Twice. No answer either time."
"I couldn't get through either," Peter sighed and turned on the stove. "I figured that maybe he'd answer me, but I was wrong."
"You've tried to reach Steve?" Allie's voice rang through the kitchen setting and the four turned to face her.
No one had noticed her emerge from the conference room. She stood with a shocked expression as she looked past Sam and Bucky who still sat down and to Peter and Wanda. Wanda seemed to almost look sorrowful as she noticed Allie, but Peter's eyes were widened.
Peter and Wanda both slowly nodded and watched as Allie's face dropped even further. Walking in, she went directly to the refrigerator and took out a drink for herself. Pausing for a moment, she looked to each of them before her lips parted slightly in confusion.
"None of us can reach him?" she asked and once more, everyone shook their heads. "And we've all tried?" A chorus of nods. "Shit."
"Allie?" Peter took note of Allie's heartbroken expression.
"Buck, come on," she said as she held on to her drink firmly. "We need to go."
"What? Where are we going?" Bucky's brows furrowed.
"His apartment," she sighed. "Sam, make sure they all get some dinner. I can trust them with you guys?"
Sam, Peter, and Wanda each nodded as Allie marched over to grab her jacket and bag, took Bucky by the hand, and walked down the corridors of the compound they were in. Looking at one another, they each took deep breaths as Sam separated himself from the others to keep an eye on the newest recruits to the team who were spread amongst the conference room reviewing videos and news articles about the Annika situation.
Somehow he knew that it was going to be a long evening.
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Bucky had barely had time to park the minivan when Allie had hopped out and was on her way up to Steve's apartment. Parking and sprinting in the direction that she had gone, Bucky slowed as he reached her side.
"This is Steve," she seemed to mutter to herself before looking at Bucky. "He doesn't just disappear."
"I know he doesn't," he agreed. "I mean, apart from when he left our house."
"But Peter was right. That whole night was our fault," Allie brought a hand up to pinch the bridge of her nose. "I've never fought with him and I don't blame him for being mad. He can be mad. I just need to know that he's okay."
As they rounded a corner and walked up to Steve's apartment, Allie took in a deep breath and crossed her arms across her chest, only bringing one hand forwards for a moment to knock on the door. No response sounded from the other side of the wood. Allie and Bucky shared a look before Allie knocked once more.
"Steve? It's me," she sighed. "It's Allie. You don't have to open the door, but we've been getting worried."
Silence still sat in front of the two. Bucky frowned and knocked on the door himself.
"Come on," he sighed. "Steve, just let us know that you're in there."
They waited for a beat. Then two. Then a third. Allie swallowed hard and reached into her bag, pulling out her keys. Bucky only glanced over for a moment as he watched her single out her spare key to the apartment.
"Steve, if you're listening to me, I'm coming in. Okay?" Allie's voice was soft as she unlocked the front door. It may not have been dripping from her voice, but her face was etched with the worry that she was feeling.
"Allie, if he's in there and doesn't want us to come in?" Bucky sighed.
"Then he can be mad at me for this," she sighed. "But I'm worried. This is a reason we have spare keys to his place and he has a spare key to ours. I don't care if he's mad as long as he's in there."
Opening the door, Allie quickly took note of the dark interior. It was clear that there were no lights on in the apartment itself. Taking a step inside, she noticed that the apartment looked normal. Nothing was odd about the way Steve's apartment physically looked.
"Steve? Are you in here?" she asked the darkness, a part of her knowing how foolish it seemed to call out to the darkness.
"I don't think he's here," Bucky looked around, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness as he looked for a light switch. Flipping the switch the moment that he found it, both he and Allie continued to look around.
"Maybe he's laying down and sick?" she bit her lip. "Steve?"
Footsteps sounded against the wooden flooring as the two made their ways further into the apartment. Allie's attention turned to the living room as her heart began to pound against her chest, no good feeling settling in her stomach as she inched closer and closer. On the coffee table, Steve's phone sat face down.
Taking in a breath, Allie marched over and picked it up. Bucky noticed what she had found and watched as she put it back down, searching for a charging cable.
"It's dead," she explained. "Steve doesn't leave his phone battery dead."
Pulling out a charging cable from underneath Steve's entertainment center, she quickly plugged it in and connected it to the phone itself. Biting her thumb as she waited for the phone itself to turn back on while charging, she watched as notifications began to flood the screen.
Peter's name flooded the screen with the very same text messages that he had told Allie he had sent in the past few days. A few texts from Sam came through and even a few from Bucky that she hadn't known that he had sent.
"You were still trying to reach him?" she asked as she looked up at him.
"Well, he's your big brother," Bucky shrugged. "It's been a few weeks and no one's heard from him. I figured I'd try too."
Looking back to the phone, Allie went to unlock the screen. Bucky gave a confused grin as he watched her quickly put in the code and the home screen flashed brightly.
"You know his code?"
"Of course I do," Allie shrugged. "It's easy. It's 07-20-30. The day he and Sharon set as their wedding date."
"First of all," he began as he watched her scroll through the missed calls in the phone. "How do you know that?"
"Because he's had me unlock his phone before," she shrugged. "And I know that yours is our wedding date."
"Oh is it?" he was clearly amused.
"11-13-41," she shrugged.
"So if my phone's moved and things are opened, I know it's you," Bucky shrugged as he looked down the hall, hoping for some form of movement but knowing it wasn't much use.
"Mine is 03-10-17," she shrugged. "Your birthday."
"Aw, you're sweet," he teased and sat beside on the couch as she searched for any clues.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm just like sugar," she mused. "God dammit," she muttered. "There's no clue of where he is. He hasn't been answering anyone since that last call that Sam had with him."
"Meaning his phone has been here the whole time," Bucky continued the thought.
"And if his phone has been here off for that amount of time, something could have happened to him," her eyes widened.
Standing up and marching down the hall, Allie checked each room in the house, taking note of the unwashed dishes in the kitchen sink, mail clutter on the entryway's table, the dust settled furniture in each room that was there. When checking his room, she remembered that he normally had a duffel bag in the corner for emergencies and overnight visits. It was gone.
Taking out her own phone, Allie quickly dialed Sam's number, walking back to the living room as the ringing continued for a moment before Sam's voice sounded from the other end.
"He's not here," Allie frowned. "I have no clue where he could be, but he hasn't been here."
As Allie and Bucky looked to one another, they each seemed to have the same thought. Either he had made good on his promise to go and find Sharon or something horrible had happened to Steve Rogers.