First We Were Friends - A Bucky Barnes Novel

Chapter 11. The Life

Julia pulled into the covered parking garage of her high rise condo and parked in her spot. She looked at Jasper in his cat carrier and stuck a finger in that he rubbed against. She wasn't going to miss this drive, or the traffic in San Francisco. When she first fled to Lake Tahoe after her divorce was granted it was just to get away from anything that reminded her of Mason. There had been no plans to find someone else. All she wanted was some peace and quiet and a chance to think of what she would do next. Then she met Bucky and it was like a different path had suddenly appeared. After a disastrous beginning she saw qualities in him that Mason never had. Bucky's emotions had been under tight control and his stoic nature could be mistaken for indifference but he had a strong core of decency that shone through, once they got past each other's defences. His own introverted nature had helped him respect her boundaries until she was ready to open herself up to him. That first kiss, then their first night together had proved to her that this was a man to hold onto. But that meant sharing him with the Avengers and letting him go when he had to leave for a mission. That he would come back was certain and she looked at the pictures in her phone of them together, smiling at the memories they evoked. Taking a deep breath she opened her car door and pulled Jasper's case through from the passenger seat. Time to begin letting go of her life before Bucky.

After picking up her mail and sorting through it as she stood waiting for the elevator Julia realized someone was talking to her. Looking up she was startled to see Rick Garcia, Mason's former partner. "Hey, Julia, you okay?" he asked. "I've been trying to get a hold of you but I never had your cell number. Did Mason hurt you in Lake Tahoe?"

Julia smiled. "Hi, no he didn't," she said. "A couple of friends took care of him and got him under control before phoning the police."

"So, the rumours are true?" he asked. "Captain America and Bucky Barnes were the friends, weren't they?"

Julia coloured. "Yeah, they were staying next door and we became friends," she replied. "They had been out fishing and Bucky heard my cries. Why don't you come up and I'll tell you everything while we have a coffee."

Rick picked up Jasper's cat carrier and together they went up in the elevator to her condo. She unlocked the door and began to make a pot of coffee. Jasper was let out of his carrier and made a beeline for the litter box. As they waited for the coffee Julia told him what happened with Mason. Continually shaking his head in disgust at his former partner's behaviour Rick took a deep breath when Julia handed him a mug of coffee.

"One of the reasons I've been trying to get a hold of you is that the Captain wants you back as a consultant, working cold cases, and reviewing evidence on current cases we're having trouble with," he said. "You've been missed and in retrospect, it seems you were the much better detective."

She smiled. "I would like to but I'm leaving San Francisco," she said. "I like the peace and quiet of Lake Tahoe. I'm living at my parent's place until I sell my condo and buy my own place there. Plus, I kind of fell in love with a guy and he moved to Tahoe to be with me."

Rick's eyebrows went up. "Not one of the Avengers?" he asked.

She nodded with a soft smile. "Bucky Barnes," she said. "He wouldn't like it here. I know that for a fact. So, unless the Captain is willing to ship me the evidence boxes of cold cases or send me digital files of ongoing cases I'm going to have to decline."

A big sigh escaped Rick's lips. "Well I'm happy you found someone," he said. "But dammit, we need you. I'll talk to the Cap and see if he'll go for it. You're never coming back?"

"I might visit when Bucky's on mission, like now," she replied. "As devastated as I was when I lost all my contracts being with Bucky just put things into perspective. I can take it or leave it now. I'll give you my cell number so you can phone when you find out."