Begin Again | Sam Wilson

Chapter Thirty Nine

Waiting. It wasn't something Brianna was particularly good at. She wasn't inpatient. She just didn't enjoy being a sitting duck. Their mission had been pulled due to the actions of John Walker. They were awaiting to see the results of his trial. It didn't matter though. Trial or no trial, the Flag Smashers had been spooked. There was no chatter. There was no sighting of them. There was nothing. They had nothing. So, she went back to his family home in Louisiana.

She wanted to visit her family, but at the same time, she knew Sam still needed her. Him taking up the mantle of being Captain America was a big deal, even if he hadn't fully made his mind up yet. In her heart and after the conversation he had with Isaiah, she knew he would become Captain America when he was ready. And she would be there to support him. She needed him too.  The image of the shield dripping with blood was ingrained in her head.

"Call me that again." Sam spoke softly as he drug his lips against the bare skin of Brianna's neck.

"Call you what?" She said with a teasing tone as she looked up at him.

He kissed her mouth tenderly. "You know what."

"Hmmm...Captain." She said with a low voice. She reached up to steady him. She wanted to look into his eyes when she uttered her next words. "Hey, I'm proud of you. I mean, I'm always proud of you, but I'm extra proud of you."

"I know you are, baby." He said and gently rubbed the tip of his nose with her's before pressing another kiss against her lips.

There was a soft, but firm knock on the door. "Hey, you two, it's time to wake up!"

"Go away, Sarah." Sam groaned. "It's been a long few days."

They heard Sarah huff. "You know I don't give a crap about you two being heroes. Get up."

Brianna suppressed a giggle. "Go. I'll meet you down at the dock in a minute."

"Promise?" Sam asked.

"I mean, unless I meet some hot fisherman on the way down there...."

"You'll never leave me. You know you have it good." Sam said as he got out of bed to slip his clothes back on.

"I do." She said with a smile.

Brianna watched Sam leave with a smile on her face.  She wanted to lay in bed all day, but she promised Sam that she would help him with the boat. She wasn't the most mechanically abled person, but she had picked up on a few things since the last time she helped him. She got out of bed and brushed her teeth before trying to find something to wear. She settled on a pair of jeans shorts, a tank top and one of Sam's flannels. She pulled her hair up before walking downstairs.

She found Sarah cleaning up the kitchen. The older woman didn't say anything. "There's a biscuit wrapped in a paper towel on the table."

"Umm, thank you." Brianna told her. She eyed the biscuit. She was starving, but she also didn't want to leave Sarah alone to clean up. So, she began to put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher.

"You don't have to do that." Sarah told Brianna.

"I know," she said with a smile. "But I want too."

"Well, thank you." Sarah said.

It didn't take them long to clean up. Maybe ten minutes. After they cleaned, Brianna took a moment to eat before joining Sam at the dock. Sarah sat across from her at the kitchen table.

"Is he okay?" Sarah asked, breaking the silence.

Brianna stopped eating and looked at her. "If 'he,' you mean Sam, I don't know. We're all...a little shaken up. It was not good. Sam...you know him. He wants to help everyone and he's kind of blaming himself right now. I keep saying he shouldn't. It wasn't his fault. And then there's the whole Captain America thing. I try not to-I know I can't fully relate, but he wouldn't just be doing it for him or for the title. He would be giving hope to others like him."

"He never really talked about what happened during the war. Not until years later. I don't expect him to talk about this for a few years." Sarah joked, but then she turned more serious. "He's lucky to have you though. Not everyone is as supportive as you. I hope you decide to stick around for a while."

"I think I might." Bri said with a smile.

"Now come on. Let's go out to the dock."

Brianna stood up and slipped on the rubber boots she had bought. They were a little safer than just wearing tennis shoes on the boat. She could see him talking to a few other fisherman, but stopped when he saw Brianna standing there with his sister.

"You two look like you've been in all sorts of trouble." Sam teased and let his eyes wander over Brianna. She was wearing one of his favorite shirts, unbutton to where he could just make out the tops of breasts. He licked his lips and just as he was about to say something smart and that would probably get him hit by both Bri and Sarah, one of the fisherman pulled up with a boat part.

"Not sure how we're going to get it off the truck." The older man said.

The last person she was expecting to show up was Bucky. She raised an eyebrow up at him as he picked the part up and put it on the boat and replaced it with a large case. Brianna eyed it curiously and walked over to stand next to Sam.

"You can sign for it and I'll go. I called in a favor from the Wakandans." Bucky told him.

Sam tapped his hand against the top of it, but stopped as something hissed behind them. They all turned to see a pipe had burst. Sam ran over and attempted to stop it with a wrench, but wasn't able to stop it until Bucky stepped in.

"Why didn't you use the metal arm?" Sam asked.

Bucky lifted his hand up to look at it. "I don't always think of it immediately. I'm right handed. So, this is the boat?"

"This is it." Sam said.

"It's nice...want any help?" Bucky asked.

"Sure." Sam said and motioned for them to follow him.

Bucky looked up at the dock and smiled at Sarah. "I'm Bucky."

"Sarah." She introduced herself.

Sam shot Bucky a death glare. "Don't flirt with my sister."

"Why?" Brianna asked and she gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "It might be fun. We could go on double dates."

"I hate you." He mumbled. "Now go get that fine ass to work."

Brianna chuckled and shook her head. For hours they worked on the boat. Removing pieces. Fixing pieces. Painting. Cleaning. She worked on scrubbing every inch of the boat, so they could be able to distinguish between what was dirt and what needed to be fixed. She didn't mind the work. She actually found it enjoy and a distraction from everything that happened. Eventually, though, they needed to take a break. She thanked Sam as he handed her a beer.

"Well," Bucky said as he stood up. "I've got to catch my flight tomorrow. Get a hotel room for the night. Crash, you know?"

"You just gonna set me up like that?" Sam asked.

"I don't want to make it weird for your family." Bucky told him.

"Why? We let Brianna stay with us." Sam teased her.

Brianna took a sip of her beer. "That's because you're sleeping with me."

"True. Just stay here. The people in this town are the most welcoming people in the world. They don't care if you wear small T-shirts or if you have six toes or if your mom's your aunt." Sam turned his attention back to Bucky.

"Okay, okay. Fine. I'll stay." He said.

Brianna looked down at the case that laid in front of Sam. "Are you going to open it?"

"Not yet."

"Damn." Brianna said as she stood up and extended her hand out for Sam to take. "I was really hoping to see what was inside. I mean, it's from Wakanda. It has to be cool."