Living Nightmare ~ (Bucky Barnes) COMPLETED

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The group were stood around, making last minute checks and arrangements before setting off. The three teams all had the same objective - get in undetected, search the place for any sign of Sarkov or any information that could lead to him or the missing girls that had got them this far.

Team One was Tony, Bruce and Natasha. They took the first location and after a quick goodbye they set off. Next was Team Two; Wanda, Clint and Steve. They took the second location and followed Team One out. Before they left Wanda gave Maddie a tight hug, reassuring her that everything would be over soon. Wanda could tell better than most what Maddie was going through, her mind was reeling with thoughts and Wanda had a hard time tuning it out.

Steve spoke quietly to Sam and Bucky as Maddie said her goodbyes to Wanda. Maddie wasn't aware that Wanda could see how much was going on in her mind but she knew something was bothering her. Maddie tried her best to clear her thoughts and turned away from Wanda just as Steve released Bucky from a hug and walked back towards the two girls.

"good to go?" he asked.

Wanda nodded and the two made their way across the hangar to join Clint in the jet. Sam cleared his throat and Maddie sighed as she walked towards the last quinjet. Sam hadn't exactly been thrilled to hear that he was partnered with Maddie and Bucky. He always complained about Bucky's so-called staring problem and although he respected Maddie and knew how capable she was, Sam wasn't sure about her having his back on this particular mission. He knew that Maddie was focused on finding Sarkov and making him pay for the hell she had endured and he was completely on board with that, but he would prefer if she was more focused on the rest of the mission. Usually him and Bucky were pretty decent partners. They complained a lot and bickered incessantly but at the end of the day they got the job done. However, this time, with Bucky's feelings for Maddie clouding his judgement, Sam was worried he was the only person actually committed to the mission.

The group set off, Sam sat in the cockpit and Maddie and Bucky sat opposite each other near the back of the jet. Sam inputted the coordinates Tony had given them and put the jet on autopilot.

"we should get to the drop site in a couple of hours" Sam announced as he climbed out of the cockpit and came to sit near the other two.

"sounds good" Maddie responded.

Bucky simply nodded, not taking his eyes off Maddie. Worry was clearly etched on his face and Sam wasn't getting involved.

"if you two need to talk, talk" he said gesturing at Bucky and Maddie, "just do it quietly I'm not in the mood for a lover's quarrel"

With that, Sam moved back towards the cockpit leaving Maddie and Bucky alone. Maddie shifted uncomfortably in her seat and Bucky leaned forward.

"hey," he said gently, "you can talk to me, it's gonna be fine"

She lifted her head to look across at him, his blue eyes full of worry.

"I'm fine," she said quietly.

Bucky reached out and grabbed her hand, not believing her for a second. Maddie flinched slightly at his touch and Bucky began to release her hand but she stopped him, interlocking her fingers with his and pulling him closer. Bucky now sat next to her and Maddie turned to face him, pulling her legs up onto the seat and crossing them.

"okay, I'm not fine," she said, letting out a sigh, "I'm worried that I'm not gonna be able to pull off this mission, that I'm gonna see him again and it's gonna throw me off. I want to be here, I really do, I want to play my part in bringing him in but I don't want to risk you two because of my own issues"

Bucky sat silently just listening as Maddie carried on speaking. Sam was listening in too and he felt bad about not trusting her to have his back hearing how worried she was about screwing up. Bucky gently pulled her in for a hug.