Haunted || Bucky Barnes

Chapter 16

A/N: So... I'm back! Sorry for the EXTREMELY long hiatus! I lost inspiration for this story and got stuck on this chapter so I had to take a step back. Then of course life got busy, but I'm back! I can't guarantee there will be consistent updates, but I'm going to do my best to finish this thing! Also, thank you for 8.6K READS?! What!?! That's crazy to me that people are actually reading this. Okay, long rambling Author's Note is over now! Enjoy this chapter! 

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"The GRC is conducting raids to try and find Karli, but so far they've only found her followers. They've searched this camp, and just like the last camp, nothing. She's gone. We'll never find her." Sam filled them in. He was frustrated, that much was obvious.

Alyssa nodded her head slowly from where she leaned in the doorway with her arms crossed. Bucky was actually in the room, leaning on some railing, staring Sam down.

"Hey, you got your sleeve back!" Torres pointed out as he walked in causing Alyssa to smile.

"Hey Torres! How have you been?" She asked from her spot causing Bucky to shoot her a warning look.

"Not too bad. How about yourself?" He replied, surprised that she was starting a conversation with him.

"Eh, I've had better days." She shrugged, gesturing to the bruises and bandages on her body. "Can't complain though."

Bucky started moving towards her slowly to make his exit. He motioned with his head for her to go ahead of him but she stayed put.

"Are you off to take care of Zemo?" Sam questioned. Bucky just turned around and gave him another glare. Turning back and noticing Alyssa still hadn't budged he simply shrugged and picked her up, throwing her over his shoulder.

"Oh, okay. This is what we're doing now? Alright. Bye Sam! Bye Torres!" Alyssa called as Bucky walked out with her.

"Good to know you survived!" Torres called after them causing Alyssa to chuckle.

"That was really rude, Buck. You didn't even talk to him." She commented as he put her down. She immediately struggled to keep up with his quick pace down the street.

"You should talk to him," She pushed. "It might be good for you." Still no answer. She stopped walking next to him, not that he noticed as he continued on.

"James." She called, causing him to turn around. He had an unreadable expression on his face which made her let out a huff. He was being guarded once again.

"What?" He asked her calmly. He walked back over so he was standing on front of her. "I'm going to find Zemo. I know where he's going to be."

"I'm not coming with you," She told him quietly. "I think you should do that on your own." He tilted his head and looked at her with a frown.

"Why?"

"In the little time I've had to think during this whirlwind, I think I need to go back to New York for a bit." She admitted. "Please don't take it the wrong way."

Bucky took a deep breath, taking in the information. He slowly nodded, eyes focused on the ground at their feet.

"Hey," she said softly, placing a finger under his chin and forcing his gaze up. "I know what you're probably thinking. I'm not leaving you forever. I promise. It's not like last time."

He gave her a small nod in understanding. She took a deep breath before continuing.

"Back in that fight with Walker, when you were knocked out, it freaked me out. All of that fear came rushing back and I froze. I can't have that keep happening. Do you know how bad that could be? I gotta go talk to Stevie, work through some of what I've been running away from. You know how to reach me if you need me though."

"Okay." He whispered. He pulled her into a tight hug which she quickly reciprocated. She whispered more reassurances to him, though she wasn't sure if it was more for his sake or hers. She hated doing this, but ultimately knew it was for the best.

The two pulled away and gave each other the best reassuring smile they could muster.

"Don't do anything stupid until I get back, okay? And be careful!" She called after him as he started to walk away.

"How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you." He smiled back at her over his shoulder. It was a small smile, borderline forced, but she'd take it. "Tell the punk I say hi and please be safe while you're gone."

She watched him disappear around a corner before walking down the street in the opposite direction. She hated leaving him, but she knew that she needed to start coming to terms with her past. Sam was right when they'd had that conversation on the plane. It was time for her to do something about it. The only way she and Bucky could work is if they both started dealing with their demons so they could be there for each other.

Arriving in New York, she shot Sam a quick text informing him of her whereabouts as she once again walked up to the familiar apartment.

She stood in front of the door and took a deep breath. She had to do this. No turning back now. She quickly knocked and took a step back.

"Hiya, Stevie!" She greeted when he opened the door. A look of surprise spread across his face, but let her in regardless.

"Is the mission over? Doesn't seem like it from the news." Steve commented as he sat down on the couch with her.

"No, we're still working on it. Sam's going to keep me in the loop. Buck says hi by the way." She updated him, kicking her feet up on her bag which she threw on the floor.

"He's back to Buck now?" Steve raised an eyebrow and shot her a knowing smile. She blushed at the realization of what she had said.

"Let's just say that I have a lot to fill you in on." She admitted before diving into all of the details from her trip with the boys.

"So wait, wait, wait," Steve said as she finished catching him up to speed. "He jumped out of a plane without a parachute?"

"That's what you got from that, Rogers?" A look of disbelief was clear on her face. "I tell you about Sharon, me making out with your best friend whose heart I shattered, and almost dying multiple times and that's the part you're hung up on? Which was towards the beginning of it all I might add. You're unbelievable."

"You're right. Sorry." He replied. "So you're finally ready to face your past?"

"Is anyone ever truly ready to do that?" She asked him.

"No, but admitting that you need to and seeking help to do it is a good step in the right direction." He replied with a small smile which she returned.

"So how do we go about this?" She had zero clue how to go about this situation after avoiding it for so long. "I'm on a bit of a timeline here. Walker's not going to stay out of trouble forever, clearly, and I've got work to do."

"I could lecture you about recovery not being on a timeline and being a process," Steve started. "But I won't. How about we go for a walk and talk it out like we used to? Maybe grab some coffee while we're at it. How does that sound?"

"Aren't you supposed to be on the moon? Wouldn't want you to blow your cover because of me." She told him.

"Do you actually think that I just stay in this apartment all the time now?" Steve asked with a laugh. She shrugged. She really hadn't thought too much about it lately.

"Come on," He said, standing up. He grabbed a ball cap and his keys from their spots by the door. "Let's go to that coffee shop you like that's a few blocks from here."

"That baseball cap is the worst disguise. I want you to know that." She teased, knocking it off his head. He readjusted it, smacking her lightly in the back of the head in return.
"Could I interest you in a fake mustache too? I feel like that could be more effective."

"Shut up, Lawson." He ushered her out the door fighting back a laugh. "We've got work to do."