Amends (Sambucky)

Chapter Fourty-One

All eyes fell to the pair that stumbled into the room with laughter. Both tried to push the other back while out of breath, like they had raced there.

"Nice of you to join us...." Sarah glanced at the clock, "...fifteen minutes late."

Bucky's head bowed despite the ghost of a smile on his face, "I'm sorry, Sarah. That was my fault."

"Yeah," Sam laughed quietly as he waved not-so-sneakily at his nephews, "It was his fault."

Sarah rolled her eyes, "Both of you sit down. You're lucky he isn't here yet."

"Wow," Bucky muttered to himself as he went to take his seat, "Smells amazing."

"Who is this mysterious man, anyway?" Sam questioned, a lot more vocal now that he was surrounded by his family. Bucky never noticed how control-oriented Sam usually was, until he wasn't. Until he was back home.

"An old family friend. Said he remembered you from camp."

Sam's joking immediately seized, his demeanor more defensive, "Who?"

"I don't know. I can't remember his name," Sarah admitted, "I never really met the guy. To be honest, I don't remember seeing him at all, but he seemed so genuine that I believed him. He asked about you a lot, wanted to know how you were doing. Said you were like the son he never had."

Sam's stomach dropped, "Coach Johnson?"

"I already told you, Sam, he wasn't memorable. We'll just have to see when he gets here."

Sam pushed himself out of his seat, drawing all eyes towards him, "I can't do this."

"What? Sam-,"

Bucky was a quick second behind him, wasting no time despite Sarah's confusion. He followed Sam onto the deck, deciding to address it, "Sam."

"No. No, I can't see him, James, I can't! I'll-,"

"You don't have to," Bucky spoke softly, allowing Sam a moment to compose himself before he spoke again.

Sam's grip on the wooden pole eventually loosened as he took a couple deep breaths. The memories were barely there, almost completely done with. He had made peace with them many times, but there was something different about the idea of seeing his abuser in the flesh. New emotions that he couldn't handle as well.

He tried to sort them out, thankful that their silence wasn't awkward. For Sam, it was sort of a safe place. It was Bucky letting him know that he wasn't forcing Sam to do anything, that he could guide the conversation with no judgment.

"I thought I'd never have to see him again," Sam admitted, "I'm not afraid of him anymore, but...I'm afraid of what I might do."

Bucky shifted, "So don't see him. Shouldn't he be in jail?"

Sam avoided his gaze, "I didn't say anything when it happened. I didn't want anyone to know because i was humiliated and embarrassed."

"Oh," Bucky tried to maintain his composure, but it was hard. He couldn't understand why Sam wouldn't get justice, but he also knew it was not his place, "Maybe it's not him. Maybe it's someone else."

"Who else could it be? No one else at that camp-,"

Bucky waited for Sam to finish his sentence, but he never did. Instead his jaw dropped, causing Bucky to follow where his gaze was directed. However, Sam's face wasn't one of fear or anger, but one of realization.

~~~~~

"REPEAT: LOCK, LIGHTS, OUT OF SIGHT."

Sam ran through the halls of the elementary school, all of the other campers tucked away for the night.