Riley's Girl

That Day

A few days had passed since you and Y/N had your less than joyous reunion, you were still struggling to track her down, she was using her military training to the max, infuriatingly. So you had to resort to measures you wished you'd never have to do.

You had to ask your sister for help.

"Sarah please, I need to find her." You plead as you walk alongside her in the street, you had difficulty getting ahold of her too lately, you told yourself it wasn't related but you knew it was. Girl code and all that.

As if resorting to these levels wasn't bad enough, you had to do it during the day, in the middle of the high street where you grew up, whilst she was running errands. This being the only time she would give you the time of day.

"Sam, I cant help you. I don't know where she went." Sarah let's out exasperated.

"You talk, I know you do." Your frustration was evident "just tell me.'" You were begging at this point.

"Sam drop it." Sarah's voice was harsh. "I don't know and I've got stuff to do." She spits back at you.

Both of you equally frustrated with the other, but ultimately you knew in your heart you both wanted the same thing - the best thing for Y/N.

Little did you know, she wasn't as far as you thought.

-Y/N's Perspective-

You're hiding nearby, close enough to hear and see, but far enough you wouldn't catch their attention or be caught.

Your heart ached for Sam, you wanted to reveal yourself and talk to him, let him help you, work as a team again, but you couldn't bring yourself to be around him.

You're watching Sarah and Sam approach the back of Sarah's banged up pick up truck. An sunset orange colour. She'd had it since you could remember, but money being tight, she always put the house and kids first. "It still runs. I do t need a flashy car, I need a practical one Y/N." Is all you'd ever hear from her if you ever suggested buying a new one.

It made you chuckle.

You watch them carefully, the anger and frustration  was written all over them, flailing arms, furrowed brows, scoffs, the whole nine yards of sibling annoyance.

"Sarah, she's in trouble." You now join in furrowing your brows. "I need to help her, please. I'm begging you." Your eyes instantly go wide.

He was desperate. Now you were flooded with guilt.

Sarah spreads her arms out to the sides as she takes a half step backwards "have you ever thought that maybe she doesn't want your help. That she doesn't want to be found." You smile... smugly. She got it. "To have you there as a reminder of what happened." She continues, but this hits you deep.

After the conversation you had with Sam, the guilt, the pain and fear you'd suppressed for years, that re opened the wounds you spent so long healing.

Sam seemed to have the Sam reaction as he steps backwards, his chest rising snd falling as he shook his head.

Your eyes fixated on him, as they filled with pools of tears.

-Flashback-

Riley is flying through the air, manoeuvring himself in turns, loops, zigzags to shake the plane that was hot on his tail.

"Riley they're on your six." You inform him through comms.

Then the command centres screens light up, beeping, an officer shouting "impact in 10-9-8-7"

The adrenaline takes you over, you stand from your seat hitting the transmission button "RPG, RPG, RPG, SAM, RILEY, FIRE, FIRE." The shakes in your voice ringing true.

"IMPACT. IMPACT. CONTACT LOST. SIGNAL GONE." the officer utters through the command centre.

You see the plane, spin and dive, before going super sonic and fleeing.

"I ca-i can't see him. Control do you have eyes on Riley?" Sam panicked voice comes through the speakers. "Y/N where is he?" He asks, you could practically hear the tears rolling down his cheeks.

The room was filled with shouting, printing, typing, beeping, phones ringing, alarms, co-ordinates, transmissions being attempted.

You were froze. Stood looking at the screen on the back wall that last showed your boyfriend doing a rescue mission. Standard. Rescue. Mission. Disappearing in an explosion.

The lump in your throat, felt like it stopped you breathing. Your heart was pounded so heart you could feel your veins pulsating against your skin. The tears pooled for that long, begging to fall they stung your eyes, you couldn't answer Sam.

Another officer reaches around you foe the radio transmitter "Stay on course soldier, we're searching for him now."

You finally take your headset off, placing it on the table and slowly back yourself against the wall, your eyes not leaving that screen, listening to them all scramble to find answers, to find Riley. The longer you sit there, the duller the noise gets and the more it merges into one deafening ringing in your ears.

-Present day-

You were rooted to your spot, your memories rubbing salt into that wound Sarah opened. Was it really a good idea to be around Sam? Did you actually mean what you had said to him those few days earlier?

"Think we need to have a chat Y/N."

The sudden voice behind you made you jump, you clutch onto your chest, breathless, you gasp turning around to see a very stern and serious Bucky.

You gulp, you had no idea what was coming, but you knew it couldn't be good.

"Dammit." You utter as you turn to walk with him.