Chapter 4
Flinging the door to Steve’s room open, TJ’s eyes remained locked on Steve as Thor carefully set him in the chair. He wasn’t sure whether to be more concerned that Steve didn’t seem to be conscious or that he had evidently been dumped in a freezing cold sea. TJ could only imagine how this would mess with the nightmares Steve already suffered from.
“TJ,” Thor’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “Can you help me with his uniform?”
Not trusting his voice, TJ nodded as he closed the small distance between them.
“Sam will be here soon, but for now we should get him out of these and warm him up.” The pair worked quickly to remove the soaked uniform trying to ignore the numbing chill of the material against their hands.
“I should get him something to wear.” TJ mumbled as they finished stripping him down.
“Perhaps,” Thor hesitated only briefly. “In Asgard we’ve found that body heat is more efficient at warming another being.”
“He’s right,” Sam’s voice interrupted. “If you’re okay with it I’d suggest the pair of you strip down and get him under the covers. Aside from what looks like a bullet graze on his side, and a boot print on his stomach, it looks like he only has a few small bruises aside from the cuts on his face and I can clean those up once you’re situated.”
Forgetting any hint of self-consciousness he might have otherwise felt in front of the God of Thunder and Sam, TJ pulled his shirt over his head as Thor lifted a still naked Steve and placed him in the bed. Within a second TJ was curled around him on the side that didn’t have blood.
Sam sat on the edge of the bed, cleaning the bullet wound. “Lucky bastard. Whatever damage is caused is largely healed already. Either someone had a really bad aim or they were trying not to kill him.” Once the wound was cleaned, Sam slid off the bed so Thor could take his place and help keep Steve warm.
TJ couldn’t help but feel a bit insecure about having naked in bed with them. The thought that perhaps the Asgardian might have some interest in Steve beyond just friendship barely had time to register before he realized the god was speaking.
Managing to focus on what the other man was saying, TJ found his words rather comforting. As Sam climbed onto the bed behind him, leaning over TJ’s back to clean Steve’s face, Thor regaled them with a tale of him and several other Asgardian warriors being thrown overboard from a ship in some other world and falling into a freezing body water.
Forcing himself to look away from Steve’s face, TJ glanced up to find Thor watching him. The look in his eyes made TJ swallow. Thor understood and was making it very clear that he was no threat.
Mustering a small smile of thanks, TJ’s attention was quickly drawn back to Steve as the other man let out cough.
“TJ?” Steve’s voice was quiet and uncertain as his eyes blinked against the light of the room.
“I’m here. You’re okay.”
“Bucky …” Steve choked on the word, making TJ’s heart stutter.
“What about Bucky?” TJ asked, sharing a concerned look with Thor as they watched the blond.
“Alive.” Steve whispered. “I need …” He faltered, clearly not sure exactly what he needed. “Natasha?”
“Bruce and Clint are taking care of her.” Sam offered realizing TJ was struggling to respond. “If you’re properly thawed and up it I can see if they want to reconvene downstairs for a debrief.
“I believe they are amenable.” JARVIS intoned. “Natasha just suggested the same to Clint.”
“Please.” Steve all but pleaded, eyes full of so many emotions TJ wasn’t sure what to think.
“Of course. I’ll grab you something to wear.”
“We’ll meet you downstairs.” Sam nodded toward the door as Thor slipped out of the bed and hastily dressed.
A moment later TJ handed Steve the warmest sweats and socks he could find before turning to put his own clothes back on. He could feel the panic bubbling up inside him. There was so much he didn’t know, but the one thought that wouldn’t stop rattling around was where it left him if Bucky was indeed alive. Even worse he felt like a total ass for even worrying about that given Steve’s state and the nightmare his current state implied Bucky was caught up in.
TJ jumped as he felt strong arms wrap around him, pulling him into Steve’s chest. “I’m okay. I promise. Just got a bit cold and wet.”
Taking a deep breath TJ reminded himself not to borrow trouble. Steve told him once that he and Bucky had never been romantically involved, so he really shouldn’t panic yet. Relaxing into Steve’s hold, TJ wrapped his arms around the other man’s waist.
“You gave us all a good scare.”
“I’m sorry. As much as I’d like to crawl back in bed and snuggle for the next couple of days we should probably go down so Natasha and I can fill you all in on what happened and figure out a plan.”
TJ nodded against his chest. “Fury arrived while you were gone.”
Hand in hand the pair headed down to the main floor, following the sound of those already gathered in the living room.
They’d barely made it through the door when Steve collided with Tony’s smaller frame. “Don’t ever do that to us again.” Looking over the billionaire’s head, he saw Pepper and Natasha shake their heads.
“He did the same to me.” Natasha’s smile gave away just how much she didn’t mind this more affectionate turn Tony had taken since they’d all gathered in DC.
“We heated up some food in case you’re hungry.” Pepper motioned to the coffee table. “And there’s coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. Wasn’t sure what you’d prefer.”
Steve gave Tony a tight squeeze before the shorter man finally let go, moving back toward Pepper.
As everyone settled in around the room, Fury remained standing in the corner observing the dynamics of the Avengers and their companions. “Who wants to start?”
Natasha and Steve looked from Fury to each other before glancing around the room. “Why don’t we start with the mission and you can fill in any other available details you have after.” Fury nodded at her suggestion.
“I’ll save you a few pieces,” Tony interrupted before she could begin the narrative. “We already know you were on the Lemurian Star in the Indian Ocean.”
Natasha nodded. “As suspected the STRIKE team isn’t on our side of things and the mission was a setup to try and take us out. Sitwell was on board appearing to supervise their mission. Nothing totally unexpected about either of those things.”
“So what was unexpected and how did you end up alive and in the water? I can’t believe they just tossed you overboard and assumed you wouldn’t make it.” Tony asked the questions the rest were wondering. TJ was still trying to figure out how the mission led to Steve knowing Bucky was still alive.
“Apparently HYDRA has taken possession of an asset referred to as The Winter Soldier by those in the intelligence community that don’t think he’s a ghost.”
“You say that like he wasn’t always part of HYDRA,” Sam commented, brow raised in curiosity.
“He wasn’t. I met him during my training in the red room and again a few years while on a mission.” She hesitated not wanting to go into all the details of their time together in Russia and also still curious about the revelation from the ship. “I only ever knew him as James, one of several assets from the Winter Soldier program, but it appears his history may be more complicated.” She looked to Steve, waiting for him to continue the narrative.
The soldier sighed, rubbing his temples as he closed his eyes from a moment. Everyone watched, waiting patiently for whatever revelation was about to come.
“James Buchanan Barnes.” Steve said the name quietly, eyes meeting Natasha’s. “Bucky.” He added a bit louder.
“Is that even possible?” Clint asked, shaking his head.
“Look around this room,” Bruce interjected. “I think we’re well beyond the point where we start questioning possibilities. Instead we need to try and figure out how they turned Steve’s best friend into a weapon and what we do about it.”
TJ noticed the tears welling in Steve’s eyes at Bruce’s words. He could only imagine what must be going through his head, but it was certainly clear Steve needed to hear those words … to know the team was with him on this.
“J, start digging up everything you can find that might help us fill in the gaps.” Tony gave instructions before turning back to Steve. “In the meantime, care to fill is in on just how Bucky fits into what happened on the Lemurian Star?”
Steve nodded. “It appears Pierce and company weren’t arrogant enough to assume the STRIKE team would be able to finish the job. Bucky was on the bridge when we arrived. Once we’d handled the rest of the muscle he was the one that managed to take us. He wore a mask. More like a muzzle really. I managed to tear it off trying to fight him.” Steve took a deep breath. “His hair is longer and he’s got more muscle than used to, but the second I saw his face I knew it was him.”
“Did he recognize you?” TJ managed to speak.
“Not at first. Not even sure he did at the end, but something must have sparked because instead of killing us, he managed to just graze my side with the bullet as he kicked us overboard.”
Sam chuckled. “That explains the boot shape bruise you are … or at least were, sporting and the graze.”
Steve nodded. “How did we end up back here? I mean I remember being in the water for several minutes and being glad it was the Indian Ocean not the Pacific. Next thing I know I’m here and freezing.”
“Sorry about that.” Thor shrugged. “Heimdall was able to assist me in retrieving you, unfortunately that method of travel often makes the uninitiated lose consciousness. It also isn’t always the warmest. Coupled with your drenched attire and the sub-freezing temperatures as soon as we crossed back into Earth’s atmosphere it was unfortunately inevitable that you would be rather cold.”
Everyone nodded at Thor’s explanation. Steve and Natasha both assuring him that a short period of discomfort was worth it to be returned home so quickly.
“The other upside,” Fury began, “is that no one outside of this room knows you’re still alive. Pierce and his cronies can go on believing they succeeded.”
“Looks like we’ll be staying under the radar for a while.” Natasha shrugged. “Not the first time.”
Steve looked at TJ as if he expected some objection. “I’m fine with letting them think they already killed you. Keeps them from trying again.” TJ responded to the unspoken question rather forcefully.
“Okay. So going along with the idea that they didn’t return safely back to us, how long do we give it before raising a stink at SHIELD because they are MIA?” Tony questioned. “We can’t just pretend we didn’t notice.”
“My guess is the quinjet won’t have come straight back to DC. They’ll probably lay low somewhere to avoid raising any immediate flags for us. Which means I have the pleasure of showing up at work and pretending nothing is amiss.” Fury looked rather annoyed.
“Think I should make an appearance in a couple of days to start asking questions?” Clint wondered aloud. “After all, radio silence isn’t uncommon on missions, but I’m usually harassing someone if I don’t hear anything after a few days.”
“Probably best to keep up appearances. In the meantime, I suggest the lot of you keep digging. Pull on enough strings and you’re bound to find the right one to tell us what the hell is going on around here.” Fury pushed off of the wall he’d been leaning on during the discussion. “Now as much as I’d love to stay and enjoy the hospitality here, I better get back before my absence is noted. I’ll be in touch.”