Your Ivy Grows

Chapter 18

Bucky

As they walk out of the police station together, Bucky is more than happy to let Sam believe the Flag Smasher mission is the reason he forgot about his court-mandated therapy. It seems better than admitting that Alexis Walker has him so distracted that he can't focus on much else. The only thing making this day worse is the fact that John was the one who got him out of trouble. John is leaning on a police car outside, Lemar beside him, waiting for them. If he thought he could get away with it, he'd turn and walk in the opposite direction.

"There you are." John calls out to them.

Sam stays as silent as Bucky; neither of them wanting to deal with him.

"We've got some information you guys might be interested in." Walker looks between them. "About the Flag Smashers and where they might be headed next."

Bucky glances briefly at Sam, they've made little progress on it themselves so they could use all the help they can get. Even if the last person he'd ever want to work with is John. It's probably better than the only idea Bucky has come up with, a plan he knows Sam won't go along with.

"What've you got?" Bucky caves and asks him.

"Not here." John says, looking around them at the busy street. "Come out tonight, we'll tell you everything. It's about time we got to know each other better, don't you think?"

No, not particularly; Bucky thinks, but says nothing. The last thing he wants to do is get to know John Walker in any capacity. It's bad enough that he now feels like he owes the guy for helping him. If he was a better person, maybe he'd feel bad about the fact he fucked his wife.

"Is that really necessary?" Sam asks. At least he seems to dislike the guy as much as Bucky does.

"Yes, if we're going to be working together, I think it is." John looks between them and then over at Lemar. "It'll be fun, just a few drinks. I'll bring my wife, bring your partners if you want to. I'll tell you everything we know tonight."

Neither Sam nor Bucky answers at first. What he should do is tell John that he'd rather eat glass than spend a night out with him, but he can't seem to bring himself to do that.

"You're right, that's a great idea." He can't quite believe the words are coming out of his mouth. Sam can't either, judging by the way his head swivels to Bucky and the incredulous look on his face.

He ignores how Sam is eying him suspiciously while he finalises the plans with John. Agreeing to meet in a few hours at a local club, they part ways. Bucky gets out of there as quickly as he can before Sam has time to question him on what the fuck he just agreed to and why.

He's sat in a booth facing the door to the club and nursing his drink when Sam arrives. Sam slides in next to him, drink in hand, and looks to Bucky expectantly.

"What are we doing here, man?" Sam takes a swig of his beer, waiting for an answer. But he doesn't have one for him, so he shrugs. He can barely admit to himself why he's here, let alone say it out loud to Sam. "You hate the guy. So, I'll ask again, what are we doing here?"

"He helped me out today. I felt like I owed him." It's not even close to the truth. He doesn't care what John had to do to get him out today. "I don't have any intention of working with him. But this might get him off our backs for a bit. And we need the information he has."