till the end of the line

44 What's Happening

I walked to the seats and sighed as I leaned back into the chair.

"Mommy..."

I looked up and noticed Lina sitting up in her bed as I walked over to her, "What's wrong, baby?"

"Where did Bucky go?"

I smiled as I met her eyes, "He's out on a mission. Don't worry, he'll be back. Come here."

I pulled her into my lap as I hugged her tightly before I put on a cartoon as I put her down in a seat before I stood up. I walked away from her before I grabbed my head. Pain shot through my head as I looked up at the building.

I watched as the roof came down on one of the towers. I immediately turned and walked over to Lina, "Angelina, you listen to me. Stay here, and do not leave."

"Okay."

"Lina, whatever happens, I need you to stay here. Just know that I will always come back for you." Tears watered in my eyes as I gave her a hug before running off the jet. I ran towards the towers and flew up towards the painful feeling.

I used my powers to levitate myself up and I landed as I saw Steve sitting over Tony as he held his shield above his head.

Shaking my head, I hurried forward, "Steve!"

Dropping his arms, he threw the shield down as he hit the chest of Tony's suit before he fell over.

Steve sat up as Tony laid still. I helped Bucky up as I held in my tears from seeing their state.

I looked over at Steve as he grabbed the shield and walked over to us before Tony spoke up, "That shield doesn't belong to you. You don't deserve it. My father made that shield!"

Looking over at him, Steve sighed and dropped the shield before helping me walk Bucky back to the jet. When we got back, I laid Bucky down as Steve sat down nearby.

I quickly walked to the front of the jet before starting it and setting it to autopilot.

Turning back around, I saw Lina starting to cry as she crouched down over Bucky.

"Kat, love, please."

"Buck?"

I walked over and knelt down as his hand grabbed mine, "Don't let her see me like this."

I nodded as a tear slipped down my cheek before I picked Lina up and strapped her in a seat with her teddy, "It's gonna be okay, baby. Just stay strong and look at the sky."

She wiped her tears and nodded before I used my powers to lift Bucky onto the spare bed.

I then watched as the jet came to a stop before Steve left and soon returned within minutes of leaving. We took off again before leaving it to autopilot as I walked over to Bucky.

Looking up at me, I brought a wet towel to his face as I cleaned off the blood.

"How did you know?"

"After being on Asgard for about seven hundred years, they changed me and enhanced me in different ways. They gave me powers. One is where I can sense things. Danger, familiarity, safety. I could sense that you were in pain. And all the other times, I could sense it too."

He closed his eyes as he took in a deep breath before a tear slipped from his eye, "I'm so sorry."

"Hey, hey... no, don't be. This is not your fault. Look, I know you did it, but you weren't yourself. People always blame themselves for something others pushed them into doing. But I forgive you for everything."

After I finished cleaning the blood off, he met my eyes and gave me a subtle smile, "I don't deserve you."

I smiled back and shook my head as he brought his hand to mine, "I love you, Katerina. And because I love you, I have to do what needs to be done."

I looked at him confused as we then landed. I turned and looked to see Steve piloting before the jet's doors opened.

T'Challa then stood at the entrance and gave us a smile, "Welcome to Wakanda."

Bucky stood up as Steve walked out before Lina followed behind.

"Bucky, what are you going to do?"

He said nothing as we then reached a lab where everyone was cleaned off and healed before Bucky turned to me. "I love you, and I still want our family. It just can't happen right now. So if you'll wait, I'll know I have something to come back to. But I also understand if you find someone else and move on."

"What do you mean come back to? Bucky?"

Steve walked up and then sighed, "You sure about this?"

Bucky met my eyes and then nodded, "I can't trust my own mind. So, until they figure out how to get this stuff out of my head I think going back under is the best thing... for everybody."

I bit my lip as tears flowed down my face, "Bucky..."

He sighed and pulled me into a kiss before we pulled back as I wrapped my arms around him as he whispered, "Till the end of the line."

I pulled back, "Till the end of the line."

He knelt down to Lina who gave him a hug before he whispered in her ear. She smiled and then nodded before he gave me another soft smile as he stepped into the cryo chamber.

I watched as they froze him before I turned to Steve who held me tightly, "It's like-"

"Losing him all over again, yeah."

Wiping my tears dry, Steve let me go as he picked up Lina before we were approached by T'Challa as we both gave him a soft smile. "Thank you for this"

T'Challa smiled and sighed before looking out the window, "Your friend and my father, they were both victims. If I can help one of them find peace..."

Steve glanced at me before looking back to the king as he let out a sigh, "You know, if they find out he's here, they'll come for him."

"Let them try."