Troubled Mind | Bucky Barnes

Part 10

A/N - Really curious how you all imagine Alexi's appearance. Comment what you're picturing! 

Also, I tend to write to music. Sometimes a song will inspire a scene or a chapter and I listen on repeat until I get it all out. This chapter, especially the last half, goes well (in my mind) with "What If You" by Joshua Radin.

STOP!! - 2023 update (I wrote an extra chapter a year after publishing this story that goes between 9 and 10. It's all the fun, dirty, spicy bits so if you want to read that first, skip to the last chapter called "BONUS (Part 9.5?)" and then come back to Part 10. Happy reading!

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Alexi opened her eyes. It was dark but she could still see Bucky's face next to her, fast asleep. She could tell by the low moonlight coming in through the window above them that the sun would be coming up in an hour or so.

She slowly moved his arm, which lay warm and heavy across her torso, and slid out of the bed, grabbing some shorts and a t-shirt that sat on the chair in the corner. She got back into bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. She was about to close her eyes when Bucky made a small sound.

"Are you getting up?" he croaked, his voice a little hoarse from sleep.

"No, it's still too early. Go back to sleep," she whispered. He adjusted his head and closed his eyes again, looking peaceful. He rolled over towards her and put his arm back from where she had removed it on her torso, gently pulling her in closer. She hoped he couldn't see just how wide she was smiling. God, he's cute. She sighed, closing her eyes when suddenly a low, but distinct, creak came from a floorboard downstairs. Both Alexi and Bucky's eyes flew open. They looked at each other, silently communicating. Another creaking sound came. 

She gestured to the closet with the hidden gun compartment, closest to Bucky's side of the bed. They both got up slowly and carefully. She grabbed her bag from the chair, slipping on her shoes, while Bucky put on his pants, shoes and t-shirt, opening the closet. He grabbed three guns and the satellite phone.

Stuffing the phone into her backpack and taking one of the guns, she moved to one side of the open doorway on the side opposite the opening, so anyone who entered would look the other way first. Bucky looked out the window to the rear of the house. There was some movement in the trees beyond meaning at least one person was watching the back door in case they escaped. He positioned himself on the other side of the door behind a panel.

Suddenly a series of machine gun rounds went off, blasting through the night's silence. They could tell it was aimed at the lower east corner of the cabin where the first floor bedroom sat. Alexi looked at Bucky and mouthed "Told you!" Bucky rolled his eyes. When the shooting stopped, she held up 5 fingers, indicating she could hear at least 5 different voices. They weren't being silent now as there was no point.

Two sets of footsteps were heard climbing the narrow staircase. Bucky held up his hand pointing to himself and then to the bedroom across the hall. Then he held up three fingers and started counting down, three, two, one. Alexi dropped low, pointed her gun out the door and firing down the staircase to create some cover while Bucky moved to the other room. She managed to hit both men who dropped. She immediately spun back inside the room and nodded to Bucky.

The remaining three men opened fire, up the staircase and from the floor underneath. The floors upstairs were in fact reinforced like she thought, but some came through very near her, as she dodged out of the way. The three men rushed up the stairs. The first, Bucky grabbed and pulled in the other room, giving him an elbow to the face knocking him out. The second, Alexi shot from her lowered vantage point. The third opened fire as he entered the room where Bucky was waiting. They fought but Bucky landed a blow that knocked him back and he crashed into the wall knocking him out. Climbing over the bodies, they went downstairs, carefully listening for any others. They knew there would be at least one or two men hiding amongst the trees waiting for them. Bucky grabbed his bag from its hiding spot.