Open Wounds - A Bucky Barnes Soulmate AU

Chapter Eighteen

Bucky woke to find himself on the jet. His head throbbed and his ears ached. It took him a moment longer than he liked to recall the grenade. He looked around for a dazed moment until his gaze fell on the group gathered a short distance away. "What's going on?"

Everyone fell silent and turned their attention to him. It was then he noticed you were nowhere to be seen. He pushed himself to his feet immediately, ignoring the headrush he got when he did so. "Where is she?"

No one answered as they exchanged glances with each other.

Bucky clenched his teeth. He stepped closer to Steve and grasped his upper arm. "Where. Is. She?"

Steve sighed. "We had to leave her behind."

Anger and fear shot through him in equal measure. "You did what?" His voice was low, hard and far more terrifying than if he'd been yelling. His attention shot to Natasha and Clint. "You can't be okay with this."

"Calm down, Barnes. We haven't actually left her. We're still on the ground," Clint responded. "We need a plan. It's more dangerous since they know we're here, but we won't let them keep her."

That eased some of the tension in his chest. Made it a little easier to breathe.

"How's it looking, Bruce?" Steve called to the scientist who was watching the monitors showing the area around the jet.

He shook his head. "Nothing yet."

Cap nodded. "Just keep watching." He gestured to the map of the area that was spread out on the table. "Go on, Pietro. What were you saying?"

The blond pointed, indicating an area away from the main entrance. "There is another way in here. They use it for supplies."

"Okay," Steve said. "That's our entry point. Tony, Nat, Clint, we need a distraction at the main entrance. Bucky and I will go in the side."

"What about us?" Wanda asked, sounding vaguely insulted they hadn't been included in the plans.

"You're staying here. The both of you. There's too much risk of you being recaptured," Steve answered.

"Don't be stupid," Pietro snapped. "Your friend was taken because she helped us. Now, we will help her in return."

There was a pause as Steve looked over the twins. "Fine. You two are with me and Buck. Let's go."

Irritation and worry flowed through Bucky as he followed his team out of the back of the jet. They were no more than ten feet from it when an explosion rocked the area causing the ground beneath them to tremble. His face went slack as he shifted on his feet and he paled. No.

He repeated the word, out loud this time, as a glow lit the sky in front of them. Smoke poured into the sky. He ran forward, ignoring the shouts of the others. When he finally confirmed that the facility was gone, destroyed, he dropped to his knees. Closing his eyes, he buried his face in his hands. He reached out, searching for any sign of you. Any hint of your emotions. Nothing. There was nothing.

He refused to believe you were dead. That he'd lost you already, but he felt empty just the same.

***

You weren't certain how much time passed before you woke. It seemed as soon as you'd lost sight of your team, Hydra had knocked you out to keep you from resisting. That was probably smart on their part. If they were that intelligent, it was unlikely you were in the same base. Too much risk of rescue. Damn it.

When you tried to lift your hand, you discovered you were bound to a metal table. And didn't that bring back memories? You stifled the jolt of fear that slammed through you at the thought and focused on assessing your current circumstances.