It's Been A Long, Long Time ; Bucky Barnes

Chapter Six

2014 - The Interview

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Warning: This chapter contains slight SA.

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The note Bucky had left was in Cara's pocket at all times, she was staying in Steve's tiny New York apartment after they left Washington DC a couple months ago. She was okay with the small living space though, it reminded her of their life before the war. Steve offered to give up his bed but she just ended up sleeping on the couch. Every morning however, she found herself on the floor next to the coffee table with a pillow at her head and a small blanket wrapped around her body.

One particular morning, Cara woke up to the clanging of pots and pans. Cara sat up and walked into the small kitchen where Steve was making scrambled eggs, or at least attempting to make scrambled eggs. She sat on the stool next to the bar and watched as he scooped her the runniest eggs she'd ever seen.

"Oh, wow," Cara said, "You really butchered these poor eggs."

"If you're such a good cook, why don't you try?" Steve said.

Cara jumped from the stool and pushed him aside, she cracked a few eggs into a bowl and grabbed the milk from the counter, pouring it into the bowl. She shook the salt and pepper into the mixture, stirring all of the ingredients before pouring it into the pan.

"How'd you sleep?" Steve asked. Cara just shrugged and mumbled indistinctly, "Nightmare?" Steve already knew Cara was having nightmares but this was the third morning in a row he tried to get her to talk about them with him, he really did care about his little sister.

Nothing but a sigh left her mouth, every night since she'd been released from Hydra had been nightmare after nightmare. The worst part is that the nightmares were the closest she'd gotten to Bucky in months. Cara reached for an empty paper plate and put the scrambled eggs on it, they were perfect scrambled eggs. Steve ate every bite.

"I have to get to the Avengers' tower," Steve said, breaking the silence, "Would you like to come with me?" Cara was worried to be near his friends, they were all considered superheroes and she wasn't sure any of them would trust her, given her past. At least Natasha did, "Meet the gang?"

"Did you just say 'gang?'" she replied, "Steven Grant, you've been here much longer than me and even I know nobody says 'gang' anymore."

"Ha ha, very funny," sarcasm rolled off his tongue.

"No, you know what's really funny? The fact that you are a stereotypical old man," she said, laughing, "Anyways, I think I'll just stay here. Maybe look for a job or something to carry my weight."

"Cara, I'm happy to pay for everything. You're my little sister,"

"That's not very 'independent woman' of me, now is it?" she replied, "Besides, I need to get my mind off of things."

"Okay, I'll send Sam over to check on you,"

Cara rolled her eyes but realized it would be nice to have some company with her. Steve left after giving her a hug, a kiss on the head, and grabbing his coat. The phone given to Cara by Natasha was sitting on the counter, she picked it up. Looking at the small box she tapped on Sam's name.

The line rang a few times before the phone clicked and Sam answered Cara's call, "Hey Cara."

"How do I get a job?" Cara asked. Sam was confused on the other side of the call, he checked his calendar and saw he had nothing to do that day.