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Chapter 36

A/N: thank you guys for your patience. as the story is coming to a close, its getting difficult trying to plot out how to end it. so thank you for bearing with me. <3 

"Tell him that you're seeing ghosts, Josephine." Steve's voice hissed in her ear. Jo winces, shrugging her shoulders away from her brother's voice, crawling off her spot on the bed.

Bucky watches as she shy's away from nothing. A mixture of confusion and worry seep over his features when her eyes met his.

Jo takes a deep breath, wringing her fingers together before pulling the sleeves of his Henley down over them. "When I was on the boat, I was stuck in that room the entire time—" She began, her voice shaking softly. "—I couldn't tell how much time had passed. Everything felt...foggy. At one point, the door opened with that horrible screeching sound it made and when I looked up, Steve was standing in front of me."

Bucky scoffed, "What do you mean?"

"I was seeing Steve, alive, standing in front of me. But not the Steve from the lake, not old Steve."

He closed his eyes, shaking his head. His hands waved in front of him to get her to stop. "I'm confused, Jo. There's no way—"

"I'm still seeing him." She blurts.

Bucky's jaw dropped slightly; eyes wide as he stared at her.

Jo exhales. "Or whatever version of him that my mind is forcing me to see. He's not the same, Buck. He's cruel and this ghoulish version of—"

"I'm not that bad..." She hears Steve counter in her ear.

"Stop." Ice blue eyes caught her own, filled with pain as he stares at her.

"I should have told you." She whispers.

He was quiet, staring at her and she could tell he was trying to figure out what to say. A part of her expects him to turn around and walk out of the door, leaving her with phantom Steve.

"Yeah. You should have."

"Well... He doesn't look happy." Steve whispered.

Jo grimaced, biting her bottom lip. He caught the slight movement, narrowing his eyes.

"Is he here? Now?"

An echo of Steve's laugh filled her ears as she looked up at Bucky, scared to answer.

"Don't lie to me, Jo. Is he here?" Flesh and metal fold across his chest asking again. Jo didn't miss the agitation in his slightly raised voice. Granted it was deserved, it didn't help the sting in her chest as he spoke.

She nods, wrapping his shirt tighter around her. "I hear him, but I don't see him—Not right now at least."

Bucky ran his hands down his face, "Jesus Christ, Jo." When they fall to his hips, he sighs, pausing for a moment before speaking, "I want to know everything. If Shuri is going to help you, we need to know everything that happened." His voice slightly harsh. Jo winces as he took a step towards her. "And no more fucking secrets." He snarls, looking down at her. He was pissed and she felt it radiate off of him like body heat.

"Okay." She says meekly. He brought his hands up, hesitating for a moment before cupping her face, tilting it up to meet her eyes.

"No more, secrets." He breathes, his voice low and gentler than before. It was then she could see the hurt in his eyes. She fucked up and she knew it.

Her sleeve covered hands rested on his biceps, "No more. I promise." She whispers. Bucky pulls her into his arms, her own arms snaking around him. The embrace was timid, and she could feel the distance growing between them. "Bucky," she uttered, lifting her head to look up at him. "If you want to leave...If this is too much—"