Wanted

Bucky had his phone to his ear before Anna had even finished uttering the words which were still playing over and over again in her head... She looked down at the page and read it for the fourth or fifth time:

'Anthony Edward Stark is not excluded as the biological father of Annabelle Kate Pierce'
'Based on the genetic testing results, the probability of paternity is 99.99%...'

"Yeah, I've got her... We're on the road heading East, have you got a lock on my cell?" Came Bucky's no-nonsense voice, interrupting her train of thought.
"Okay good, and how far away are you?" He asked, glancing at his watch for a moment, giving a nod, "Got it... No I don't think so, but when they come to, I'm sure word'll get out... Yeah, will do... See you soon"

Anna blew out a breath as she watched him hang up and slip his phone back into his pocket, his eyes intense as he glanced in the rear-view mirror before locking back onto the road. He put his foot down even harder, urgency in his expression as the car accelerated again. Anna resisted the urge to glance at the speedo, the car going fast enough now to cause it to shake. She jammed her eyes shut and breathed deeply, the reality of everything finally sinking in.

Jesus Christ, this is really... Well, REAL... He wasn't bullshitting... People really ARE after me, and Tony Stark really IS my Dad... Oh my god... Oh my-

"Anna!" Came Bucky's frustrated voice, having called out to her several times to get her attention.

Dazed, she turned to face him, ears ringing and vision hazy. Her lips parted to speak, but no matter how hard she tried, nothing was coming out. She swallowed hard as she jammed her eyes shut for a moment, trying to shake off whatever had come over her as she did her best to slow her breathing down.

"You alright?" Bucky asked, Anna nodding in response.

She opened her eyes, blinking several times as the world slowly materialized around her again. Her hands gripped her upper arms as she hugged herself, not sure if she was shivering from shock or the cold - hardly surprised if it had've been either or both...

Bucky peered over his shoulder again, eyes darting back and forth from the rear-view mirror and the road. His jaw was clenched, tension rippling from him as his fists tightened around the steering wheel.
He glanced down at the speedo, cursing under his breath, catching Anna's attention again...

"Hold on..." He said, reaching over and yanking her seat-belt tight.

Anna gasped at the sudden change, feeling constricted and unable to move. Bucky shot her a warning glance, Anna's stomach turning over as she shoved her paperwork into the glove box and obediently hung onto the door handle.
She looked over at him for some sort of explanation, and when none came, she peered into the wing mirror out her passenger window to see a car gaining on them.

Her chest tightened as Bucky cursed at the old car, infuriated that they'd reached its mediocre top speed. Their situation wasn't made any better by the height of the road compared to the fields either side of them, meaning escape options were extremely limited. Bucky pulled a pistol from his waistband and flicked the safety off, watching the rear-view mirror as the car behind them got closer and closer...

They both let a sigh of relief out collectively as the car overtook them, accelerating away. Bucky glanced in his mirror again, completely wired still as he scrutinized every other car on the road.

"I think know that car..." Anna suddenly spoke up, her voice low and hoarse.
"-Who is it?" He demanded abruptly,
"A woman gave me a ride into town... It looks like her car"
"Looks like, or IS?"
"Is."
"Shit..."

Bucky's hands tightened around the wheel as he let a breath out, Anna not sure if he was frustrated or worried...

"Do you think she's one of them?" She asked, going back over the car ride from the morning in her head, searching for any clues... Were there any weapons or anything suspicious in the car? Ropes, handcuffs, anything that could be used to capture or disable a person?

He opened his mouth to speak, instead shaking his head at her, deciding it wasn't worth it. He narrowed his eyes, keeping his focus ahead- where it should be.

"She didn't have a gun, there was nothing in that car aside from a small handbag... There was a car seat for a little kid, she was just a Mom..."
"-And I bet the car was spotless. No toys, crumbs, window shades - any evidence of a kid being in there whatsoever... I bet she didn't have a hair out of place or a care in the world about picking up a hitchhiker."

Maybe she was just really meticulously clean? Maybe the car had just been detailed?

"It never occurred to you that it was pretty coincidental, that the most non-threatening option was the first on the scene when you needed a ride? Within minutes?" He asked with a more condescending tone than she liked, "It's a wonder you lasted this long on your own, you're so naive..."

Anna looked away, surprised with how offended she was from his words. She clenched her jaw, swallowing back the urge to cry, his disapproval of her and insinuation that she was some sort of an idiot hitting her like a punch in the gut.
She wanted to hit back at him and argue that she was desperate - she would have gotten into a van full of gunmen if that'd come up first. Any human option would have been better than 'angry half-bionic super soldier'...

"Shit... HANG ON!" Came Bucky's abrupt warning, snapping Anna back into reality with a gasp.

The car in front hit the brakes hard, Bucky swerving into the left lane to avoid impact. Gunshots rang out, Bucky catching sight of an SUV that had snuck up behind them seconds before the back window blew out.
He threw the car back into third to take off again, looking up for a moment amidst the chaos at the car beside them. The middle aged 'Mom' looked back with a smug grin on her face, a gun in her hand ready to fire at them.

Thinking quickly, Bucky swerved hard, aggressively sideswiping her car. The impact was almost deafening between the two older cars, Bucky having to hold on tight to the wheel as they fishtailed, wrestling it to keep them on the road. The sound of screeching tyres reverberated through the air as he watched her car over-correct and roll over, disappearing into the ditch alongside the road with a shuddering crash.
He planted his foot again, the engine of his car roaring as it took off, Bucky trying to get as much distance between them and the SUV which was now catching up again.

Gunshots rang out, Bucky ducking to avoid them and putting his flesh arm out to shield Anna, who was slumped unconscious in the seat beside him.
He turned back to return fire, still trying to cover her as best he could, suddenly roaring with pain as he took a bullet in the shoulder. The SUV swerved defensively when Bucky started pulling the trigger, obviously unaware they were dealing with a talented marksman with over seventy years experience... He managed to take out the driver with a clear head-shot, the car swerving out of control behind him as it began to tip.

He took a second to glance over at Anna, her head resting against the pillar and broken glass in her lap, guilt hitting him like a truck... The sound of another unexpected gunshot rang out before the final thunderous crash of the SUV as it violently slammed into the embankment. Bucky gasped as he lost control of the back of his car - that last gunshot in the back tyre a parting gift from the passenger of the SUV... At the speed they were going he didn't have much hope of holding them straight, instead trying to slow them down as the car began to spin.
With wide eyes he watched them careen towards the ditch, tyres screeching loudly as he desperately tried in vain to save the situation. He reached over to cover Anna, both bracing himself and protecting her the best he could as the car left the road...

He held his breath as the car flipped, glass flying through the air as time seemingly slowed down. Thinking fast, he pressed his metal hand against the roof like a brace to keep it from caving in with the impact, holding Anna still with the other. There was a violent jerk and a loud crunch as the car came to rest on the drivers side, muddy water coming in through the broken windows.

"Anna!" Bucky called out, trying to rouse her as he freed himself from his seat-belt, looking up at her hanging from hers... "Anna!"

He managed to stand, taking her weight in his arms as he effortlessly broke her belt, and untangled her from it. He forced the door open with his metal arm, snapping the whole thing off at the hinge and gently lifted her out of the car through the opening. He found his gun and tucked it back into his waistband and pulled the glove-box open, remembering to take the DNA paperwork with him.

He reached up and pulled himself out of the wrecked car, climbing off it and picking Anna up as gently as possible. He winced with pain, trying to ignore the bullet still wedged in his shoulder as he carried her up out of the ditch.

He turned, looking around in every direction as he took the scene in around him. Burned rubber and broken glass on the road, the SUV smoking in the ditch and the old car belonging to the woman on its roof about half mile back... He glanced down at Anna, thankful she was still breathing as he turned her head to inspect her injuries, finding blood in her hairline and a big graze on her temple where she'd hit her head. He brushed the tiny fragments of glass from her cheek and picked a couple of pieces from her hair as her eyelids began to crinkle, fighting consciousness. She let out the faintest hint of a whimper, stirring a little in his arms as Bucky surveyed the area again.

"Shhh... You're okay..." He soothed, holding her protectively against his chest as he started walking.

He picked up the pace, worry setting in as there was clearly nowhere safe to hide out in the open, leaving them both completely vulnerable to attack. His phone had gotten wet in the crash, so of course that was of no use to him anymore either. He hoped that Steve had been able to pinpoint them going by their last known location - not that they'd be hard to spot out here.

Anna snuggled into his chest, the wind whistling up the road making it feel even colder than it already was. She shivered in his arms, Bucky trying to keep her as warm as he could as he hurried along, looking over his shoulder periodically as they went. He glanced down at his watch, the time making him anxious as he peered into the sky, checking for any sign of a quinjet...

"Great..." Bucky muttered under his breath when the first droplets of rain started coming down. He grit his teeth and trudged on, his clear view of the road ahead now obscured by misty rain being blown in sideways by increasing gusts of wind. He glanced over his shoulder again, relieved to see the road empty, giving him one less thing to worry about for the moment...
The hint of a smile crossed his face when he looked ahead, relief flooding over him when a quinjet materialized in front of him. Steve's face was full of concern as he looked down at the trail of destruction along the road, and then at Bucky holding an injured young woman. He set the jet down on the road, the door already open by the time he touched down.

Steve was quick to reach down and help Bucky up into the jet, and wasted no time in raising the hatch and getting them airborne and invisible. He set a course back towards base, flicking a few switches to ensure they'd stay off any radars before opening his mouth to speak.
"Are you both okay?"
"Well... We're alive," Bucky said, almost in disbelief that they'd made it to safety, "I've got a bullet in my shoulder, and she's got a bump to the head and maybe a couple of broken ribs... I think we'll be fine"

Steve let out a sigh of relief, giving a nod of acknowledgement before getting back down to business.
"Where the hell have you been, Buck? You disappear without explanation, and suddenly call me to bail you out of trouble a month later - with a girl..."
"It's kind of complicated"
"Well start talking" He said, raising a brow as he looked over at Bucky and the girl in his arms...

"Okay..." Bucky began, letting out a long breath, "I don't even know where to start, so here it is... This is Annabelle Pierce. She's Stark's daughter" He said, Steve's expression going from shock to amusement as he shook his head.
"I have the DNA results to prove it..."

Steve sat in stunned silence as he took it in, his brows furrowing as he went over it in his head...

"Okay... I'm listening..."
"Her Mother's Caroline Pierce, ex wife of Alexander Pierce" He started, Steve looking uneasy at the mere mention of the name, "She dated Tony for a while a few years before she got married... From what I heard, they broke up after she found out she was pregnant..."
"Oh..."
"Alexander unofficially adopted Anna as a baby, and they raised her together until she got to sixteen, overheard a few things she shouldn't have, and ran away. She changed her name and hid out until Caroline found her years later, wanting a DNA sample in exchange for a payout."
"To go after child support?"
"That's it... Legally you can go after it until the kid turns 21. The pre-nup meant she got nothing when she divorced Alexander, and because he covered his tracks and didn't legally adopt her, he didn't have to pay that either."
"But she had his name?"
"Pierce made sure he wasn't financially responsible when he had the papers drawn up. The change of name was legal, but the adoption wasn't. If Caroline disputed it, all he had to do was publicly out her for going after his money which meant she'd be jailed for fraud... Which is why her next port of call was to go after Tony - she was desperate"
"Jesus Christ..."
"I told you it was complicated..." Bucky said with a shrug, Steve shaking his head, bewildered. 

"...Tony never mentioned any of this" Steve pointed out, still trying to wrap his head around the whole story.
"-That's because he doesn't know about it... Alexander had her assassinated before anything eventuated"
"Why would he do that?"
"She knew too much, and that's reason enough... But she was also in the public eye, and it would have gotten messy dragging Stark and Pierce into the spotlight - especially when he was about to launch the helicarriers..."
"...Project Insight"
"Exactly... And with the ex wife and daughter dying in a 'tragic car accident', it would have gotten him the sympathy vote with the public"
"Daughter!?"
"Yeah, Anna was in the car with Caroline"
"Oh my god..."
"I know, what are the odds, right?" Bucky quipped, shaking his head, "She wasn't supposed to be there. Nobody knew but me..."

Bucky bowed his head, letting out a breath as he looked down at Anna...

"I was the one he sent to take Caroline and her driver out, and it went perfectly... Until I saw her... I don't know what came over me, but I couldn't let her die, but it wasn't like I could walk into a hospital with her or anything... So I pulled her out of the water, called for help, and left her on the bridge." Bucky explained, his face solemn, "That's when my head started getting messy... Later that week I recognized you on the bridge in D.C, and I ended up back in the chair. Couldn't have their master assassin getting feelings now, could they?" He added with a melancholy chuckle, Steve letting out a sigh as he was hit with a pang of guilt.

"I can't imagine how tough that must've been, Buck..."
"Yeah, well" Bucky started, shrugging it off, "I guess I did the right thing, but it didn't save her from being hunted like an animal all these years"
"...With Pierce dead - and Caroline, why would anyone be after her now?" Steve asked as he reached to flick a few switches overhead, the jet beginning to slow down.

Bucky stopped to take a breath, pushing the wet hair back from his face as he glanced down at Anna, eyes closed and still curled up in his arms.

"Long story short, rumor got out in a few low places that Stark had a daughter. Between Caroline, and those she had working with her, it's gotten out after she died. Someone's decided she'd make a powerful piece of leverage over Tony, and all they had to do was find her, confirm her identity, and take her." He explained, looking back up at Steve, "And I beat them to her... By one day."




The jet hovered above the landing pad, Steve lowering it like the seasoned pilot he was. They touched down, Steve flicking a few more switches and powering the engine down before turning to Bucky. He lowered his eyes, scanning over Anna for any visible injuries, brushing her hair from her face to check her graze out.
"We'd better get her inside..." He said, looking back up at Bucky, who nodded in agreement.
"Who's gonna tell Stark?"
"I think it'd be best if I did - he'll probably need to sit down for this one, and you guys don't have the best track record..."
"Agreed"

They gave each other a nod and stood up at the same time, Steve opening the hatch and following Bucky down the ramp. The walk to the entrance was a quiet one, the drizzly weather not setting the heart-warming 'meet your Dad' scene that Bucky had envisioned in his head.
Sam appeared at the glass door, concern on his face as he hit the button to open it for them. He stood back as Steve and Bucky hurried in, Sam following them wordlessly as they made a beeline to the infirmary.

"Who's the girl?" He finally asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
"Someone that needs our help" Steve answered diplomatically as they arrived at another set of glass doors, hitting the buzzer, "Shit..."

"Language" Came the taunt through the intercom, Steve rolling his eyes as Tony opened the door for them.
"What are you doing in here?" Steve asked, caught off guard.
"Nice to see you, too... Don't you know there's a 'no bringing your girlfriend to work' policy here, Barnes?" Tony sassed, cocking his head at Bucky, "Not that you really work here... Or contribute anything useful to the team"
"Enough, Tony" Steve interjected, direction his attention back to Anna, "She needs help"
"What happened?"
"Car accident"
"And she's not at a hospital, why?" Tony asked, gesturing for her to be placed on the empty gurney despite himself.
"Because she's in deeper trouble than that... Trust me on this one" Steve said, his face serious as he set her down.

Tony blew out a breath as he tilted her chin, checking her injuries. Anna flinched at his touch when his hand went to her ribs, catching Bucky's attention.
"She's waking up" He said, relieved.
"Come up with that, yourself?" Tony muttered, Bucky rolling his eyes, "Dr Cho's still around, she can patch this cut and she'll need a scan... Head and chest."

Steve nodded, glancing over at Bucky who was still watching her intently, her eyelids crinkling as she stirred.

"So who is she?" Tony asked, pulling his phone out and sending a message, "...Nobody?" He prompted when no answer came, Bucky and Steve exchanging glances.

"It's kinda a long story... I think we should go sit down and grab a coffee" Steve suggested, his face kind and reassuring.
"She enhanced?"
"No" Bucky answered flatly.
"I wasn't asking you" Tony snapped back, not bothering to look at him as he spoke, "She involved with Hydra?" He added, turning to Steve.
"No"
"Shield?"
"No - Tony" Steve pushed gently, "Lets go sit down in private, and I'll fill you in?"



The room fell silent, Tony looking around at everyone for a moment before looking back at Steve. He let out a breath, and gestured towards the door.

"Fine... This ought to be good..."