Who the hell is Peggy?

Chapter five | 2011

"Director, they found him!" One of the employees of SHIELD ran into his room. The director stood up with a confused look on his face. "He's alive?" "Yes, sir. He's been found in ice. Fury wants an emergency meeting as soon as possible, mr Barnes." He stood up. 'Dear god, who would have thought.' "I'll be right down." When the employee left, Bucky sat with his hands in his hair. This news hit him like a rock. All these years they assumed he was missing, he had already given up his hope years ago.

"Barnes." "Fury." Bucky nodded. "Is it true? Steve has survived?" Fury gestured Bucky to sit down. "A week ago. That super soldier serum you guys used back in the day really did miracles." Bucky laughed awkwardly. "Blame the Stark family for that, I have enough on my plate." He laughed. "So, where is he?" "He's under supervision. They recreated a hospital room from the 40s so he can wake up in a comfortable way. Before... he realises he's 70 years ahead of time." Bucky nodded. "Good idea. Do you mind if I'm there until he wakes up? I know it's against protocol-" "the protocol you wrote..." Fury reminded him. "Anyways, I know that when he sees me, I can break the news to him. Slowly, not in a rush. I know Steve, he will freak out." He laughed. "I'll take over the meeting this afternoon, if there's anything, just hit me up. Take all the time you need." Fury said. "Thank you, Nick. Honestly, this means a lot to me." Fury only nodded and left.

It felt like hours that Bucky sat next to Steve's bed. He needed to be the first one Steve would see when he woke up, that is if he ever woke up. To brighten up the mood he turned on the vinyl player with Steve's favourite songs. He always had a good taste of music, Bucky wondered what he would think of the music nowadays. The latest release of Rihanna S&M was not Steve's taste at all. Bucky stayed till late at night. "Mhmm." He looked at Steve, he moved his finger in a circular motion. Bucky put down the newspaper and put his chair close to his bed.

One eye slowly opened, then the other eye. Steve woke up with a massive headache. He looked around carefully and noticed his best friend. "Buck?" He said quietly but felt happy he didn't woke up all alone. He knew quickly enough he was in a hospital but that wasn't in his interest at the moment. Bucky felt a huge amount of stress off his shoulders. "You're not getting rid of me that easily. You promised me and the guys the next round is on you." There was a shy smile spotted on Bucky's face as well on Steve's. Steve looked around in the room and his eyes landed on the vinyl player. "Since when have hospitals vinyls?" He asked. "Oh- this one's mine. I thought you might like some music when you would wake up. Do you know why you're here?" Steve nodded. "I defeated Johann Schmidt and I flew his plane and from there I don't really recall. Did we win the war?" Bucky told him the good news, how they and the howling commandos fought until the very end and how they managed to find Steve in the ice. The only thing he didn't knew yet was the slight change in time. "Get some rest, I'll tell the doctors you're awake. Good to have you back man." Steve flinched when his headache got worse. "Thanks Buck. Maybe next week i can buy you and the boys that round?" Bucky laughed. "Yeah... just get better first."

—

Bucky hadn't even left the hallway or Fury came rushing towards him. "Barnes, meeting now." He looked at his watch. "It's 11pm? The wife would worry why I'll be so late at home again." He got no response from his co-director and so he followed him. When they arrived at the meeting, Bucky saw the theory board filled with messy post-its and blurred pictures. There was no time to ask questions, the meeting started immediately. "2 hours ago we picked up a signal from a robbery of a safe not far away from here. 6 costumers held captive, both owners shot. One in the shoulder, the other less fortunate. They're currently in the OR. The reason why SHIELD has gotten this case is because of its assassin. Their identity is unknown-" Fury got interrupted by a woman in the room. "That's not entirely true." Natasha stood up and walked to the board. "There have been rumours, rumours I strongly believe are true since I have experienced this myself. We are dealing with a woman, highly skilled, super strong." Sitwell, sitting in the corner of the room, sighed. "Mrs Barnes, we've been over that rumour for years. What you're telling us is a ghost story of at least 50 years old. This woman you're referring too must be 90 by now." Natasha got annoyed and rolled her eyes, ignoring Jaspers comments. "She is a highly skilled assassin, Russian. I heard it myself." Bucky cleared his throat. "Have there been more casualties like this in the past?" Everyone in the room looked at Fury who lead this meeting. "Classified until further details are known to us. I need a team on it. The Barnes' lead. I want this woman in custody within a week."

The meeting was wrapped up not long after that. Bucky and Natasha made their way to their car. "Are you assuming this is the same assassin as Budapest?" Natasha nodded. "She was reason why our mission failed. She does everything under the radar and when you think you got her, she's 10 steps ahead. Clint had never seen anything like it." She laughed softly. "If I'm right about this and this is said rumoured woman, SHIELD won't hesitate to shoot to kill."