Resilient

Chapter 39

After hearing Natasha over the comms Bucky and Steve had made a bee line for their location. Fighting towards the room where Bucky didn't know the state Evelyn was in was making his hits more and more brutal. As they arrived at the door they saw Natasha and Wanda trying to help Evelyn to her feet.

"About time you guys showed up," Natasha said, nudging Evelyn to look towards the door.

Evelyn looked up and met Bucky's eyes and felt her legs give way and a moment later he had taken her out of the women's arms and into his. She leaned her forehead to his and felt the cloud in her head dissipate.

"Took you long enough Sarge," Evelyn said, taking in a breath to steady herself. Knowing Bucky was there put her at ease she didn't think she'd find again.

Bucky took Evelyn's face in his hands and searched her eyes; looking for the demons lurking he knew all too well. When the only thing looking back was his Evelyn he smiled, "If you wanted out of the date all you had to do was say so."

"There's others here." Evelyn said, looking Bucky in the eye, "we have to get them out before they can give them the new dose and take them."

"Or worse," Natasha said gesturing towards the man on the ground, "this one was given orders to kill rather than have Evelyn rescued''.

"We have Evelyn but she said there are more hostages. Be on the lookout and be careful when engaging to make sure they survive," Steve said into his comm. "Nat and Wanda get Evelyn to the Quinjet."

Wanda and Natasha walked forward and each gently took the arms of Evelyn and allowed her to lean all her weight on them. As soon as she was out of Bucky's arms she felt the cloud in her head again and then a wave of power pushed through her making the women stumble backwards and Evelyn slump to the floor.

"I got her," Bucky said, helping Evelyn up and nodding at the women. "Go find those other hostages"

Steve looked at Bucky and nodded his understanding and the three left the room and cleared the way for the pair.

"Can you walk?" Bucky said, finally looking over Evelyn's injuries

Focusing on her breathing; Evelyn nodded and gave him a grim smile, "I'm not sure how long or how fast but I can for now - just stay close."

Bucky started to switch his gun strap to his left shoulder and Evelyn put her hand on his chest and gave him a questioning look. "What are you doing? You're right handed?"

Looking down to his left hand and then up to her. Without questioning it Evelyn grabbed his left hand and interlocked her fingers to his and tapped her hand on his chest over his heart. "This is what matters Sarge - now shoulder your gun and let's go home."

Giving her hand a squeeze, Bucky carefully led Evelyn down the hall. He didn't care what it took. He was going to get her back to the Tower.

"Wait, I need your knife," Evelyn said her hand outreached

Bucky raised his eyebrow and slowly removed one of his knives from the sheath on his right leg, flipped it and held it to her. Evelyn took the blade and with a steady breath cut just below where the doctor had pressed on her arm and gritting her teeth forced the implant out of her arm.

"I don't know what this is but it's important to Hydra in some way and I'd rather not have it in my body anymore," Evelyn said, investigating the small object.

Bucky took the implant from her and put it in his pocket. "I'll hold onto it then. Let me bandage your arm before we go." Ripping the sleeve off of his shirt he wrapped it around her bicep as a makeshift tourniquet.

As they cautiously weaved through the hallway Evelyn felt a presence pushing against her mind. As they turned the last corner leading to the quinjet there was a small explosion that rattled the building and the presence hit against Evelyn's mind so hard she was forced to the ground.

"Evelyn!" Bucky yelled, as he tried to catch her weight.

"Something wrong - something pressing against my mind," Evelyn said, looking into Bucky's worried eyes. "What if it's one of the other prisoners?"

"What if it's something more dangerous and it's trying to trick you?" Bucky asked, searching her face.

"I can't risk it. If they need my help then I have to try Buck," Evelyn answered. Bucky nodded and stood to take defense as Evelyn took a deep breath and opened up her mind to the presence.

She let the fog leave her just like Wanda had taught her. She thought back to her lesson that was only a couple days ago but felt forever ago. This power felt different that the power Wanda had started to help her wield. She used her hands to direct the fog through the hallways trying to find who was calling to her.

Bucky watched Evelyn out of the corner of his eye while keeping up defense in case someone came up to their current hiding spot. He watched her movements her eyes were closed and she was moving her hands in front of her and her brow was scrunched.

"Evelyn?" Bucky said as the brow furrowed.

"I found them - I can't see who it is but I sensed their fear. Someone is with them," Evelyn looked at Bucky "It was the Doctor - he's going to give them the second dose and wipe their memories like he wanted to do to me."

"Not if I can help it Evelyn. Lead me to them," Bucky said grabbing her hand and they bolted down the hall.