Time Will Tell

06

Bucky sat in silence, trying to forget what had happened to him. Connie walked into the bar and looked around. As soon as she spotted the man who'd grown dear to her, she walked up and sat next to him.

"Hey, Buck," she greeted.

Bucky turned to her and a small smile formed. "Hi. How are you?"

She nodded. "I'm well. But I'm more worried about you."

"Connie, I promise, I'm okay."

"Physically, you are. But what of your emotional state?"

He stared at her a moment. "Are you really asking how I'm feeling deep inside?"

She nodded. "Yes."

He glanced away as he said, "I'm okay, Connie. I promise."

She studied his expression, quickly coming to the realization that he wouldn't say more. "I'm glad you're here, Bucky. When I heard you'd been captured..." She trailed off and shook her head.

Bucky gave her a teasing smile. "You were worried about me, Connie Donovan?"

"Yes, I was. You're my friend, Buck."

"One dance and we're friends? Hell, if I knew it was that easy, doll, I'd've found you sooner."

Connie's cheeks flushed and she turned away.

"Hey, Connie?" Bucky called. "I was curious, and you don't have to answer if you don't want to. Why do you refrain from a drink?"

"From alcohol?" she asked, facing him once again. He nodded and she let out a shaky sigh. "Uh, whenever my mother had a number of drinks, she got violent."

"Did she ever hurt you?"

Connie didn't give confirmation or denial to his question, but one look into her eyes told him the answer he was looking for.

Bucky took her hand and said, "I'm sorry you had to bear that, Connie."

She looked down at their connected hands. "It's all right. I got me and my sister out as soon as I could." She pulled her hand away and clasped them together, resting them on the countertop.

Steve watched his friends for a moment, then joined them as people sang There's a Tavern in Town.

"See, I told you," Bucky said. "They're all idiots."

"How about you two?" Steve asked. "You ready to follow Captain America into the jaws of death?"

"Hell, no. That little guy from Brooklyn who was too dumb not to run away from a fight. I'm following him. But you're keeping the outfit, right?"

"You know what? It's kind of growing on me. Connie?"

Connie gave a small smile. "After what you pulled, I'd follow not Captain America, but Steve Rogers."

The singing in the bar ceased as Peggy, in a tight-fitting, deep-red dress, walked in. "Captain."

"Agent Carter."

"Ma'am," Bucky greeted.

"Howard has some equipment for you to try," Peggy told Steve. "Tomorrow morning?"

"Sounds good," Steve replied.

"I see your top squad is prepping for duty."

"You don't like music?" Bucky asked, earning a light smile from Connie.

"I do, actually," Peggy answered. "I might even, when all this is over, go dancing."

"Then what are we waiting for?"

"The right partner. 0800, Captain."

"Yes, ma'am," Steve said. "I'll be there."

Bucky, referring to the rejection he got from Peggy about going dancing with him, said, "I'm invisible. I'm... I'm turning into you. It's like some horrible dream."

"Don't take it so hard. I'm sure Connie would be happy to dance with you."

Bucky turned to Connie and offered his hand. "May I have this dance?"

Connie smiled and nodded, accepting his offer.

As they danced, Bucky said, "Connie, you gotta promise me one thing."

She nodded again. "Anything."

"Dangerous word, doll. Connie, I haven't know you long, but you already mean so much to me."

She stopped dancing and stared at him. "I do?"

"Yeah. I can't explain it, maybe it's some cheesy soulmate stuff, but you mean a lot to me."

Connie smiled softly. "You mean to me much more than I'd ever thought too, Bucky. Come home. Please."

"Connie, I can't promise that. I can try my hardest, but I can't promise to come back for sure."

"Then lie to me, Bucky. Ease my worries and doubts."

Bucky took her hands. "Connie Donovan, I promise I will try my damndest to come back to you. And maybe we can start something."

"Courting already?"

He gave a small nod. "Maybe."

Bucky looked down at her, as though he was taking in everything he could. Her long brown hair was in a tight, neatly wound bun. Her chocolate brown eyes were closed as she danced. Her hands were lightly calloused, but surprisingly not rough to the touch. Not yet at least.

A soft smile crossed her lips as she danced in the arms of the man she'd come to hold dear in a matter of months. She didn't know how dear the steel-blue eyed Sergeant would become to her. It had merely started as a dance to a scientific expo. Life really was a funny thing, and only time would tell how their futures would come to pass.

Connie, feeling a sudden need to step out and get some air, excused herself. Bucky offered to follow her, but she wanted to be alone. It was a choice she'd come to regret.

She stepped outside and walked a short distance away. As though she sensed she was being followed, she turned around and came face-to-face with a man clad in black.

Connie started running back towards the bar, but was grabbed. She screamed, but quickly fell silent as a cloth was placed over her mouth. She fought as hard as she could, but ultimately fell into unconsciousness.

Bucky and Steve, who'd heard a woman's scream, ran outside and looked for the source of the cry.

Steve frowned as he looked around. "I don't see anything."

Bucky's eyes slowly widened. "Connie was out here. What if that was her? Where is she? Connie? Connie! God, I should've insisted on going with her."

"You can't blame yourself, Buck. We'll find her. I promise."

"I hope so."

"We will."