Time Bomb

Chapter 37

—A few days later/Dani's POV—

Bucky- "Hey doll, you doing okay?"

Me- "Nope. Not even a little bit. Clint and his wife are wonderful of course but I can't stop looking over my shoulder waiting for my father to be there."

Bucky- "Tony located him in California and we're heading out later today to confront him. I promise I won't let him find you."

Me- "Bucky don't go! He's going to hurt you or worse. I can't live with myself if he hurts any of you. Or worse..."

Bucky- "Dani, I have to figure out what he wants with you. I won't let him have you. T'Challa is coming too in hopes that his royalty rank as King will help with anything."

Me- "If you insist on going, please at least keep your location on so I know where you are."

Bucky- "Of course, love. You know I'll do anything for you. Especially to keep you safe."

Me- "I'd do anything to make sure you stay alive. Just remember that."

I had been texting Bucky all morning but set my phone down to go take a shower. I need to try clearing my head. Showering may not help at all but at least I can cry in there and no one will know.

After awhile of standing in scalding hot water, I got out of the shower and got dressed. My usual outfit choice lately... Black jeans, a shirt of Bucky's, and my combat boots. I applied a small amount of makeup and left the room, making sure to put my phone in my pocket.

"Hey! You hungry? I made waffles for Lila, you're welcome to have some too." Laura said as I walked into the kitchen.
"Thanks, but I'm not really that hungry." I said and grabbed a water from the fridge.
"I know you're going through some tough things right now, but please try to eat something sometime today." She said quietly in my ear. I smiled weakly and nodded.
"Clint out in the shop?" I asked and she nodded.
"Thanks." I said and snagged a waffle from the plate on the table to satisfy her.
I made my way outside and towards the shop. Inside, Clint sits at his desk putting together his trick arrows.
"Morning." I said and sat down on the stool beside him.
"I see you decided to eat something today? That's great. I've been worried about you with this not eating thing." He said and smiled at the waffle in my hand.
"Oh, no. Not actually going to eat it. Laura has been asking me to eat something the last 5 days I've been here and as much as I wish I could, I just end up throwing it up. I can't keep anything down other than liquids." I said and set the waffle down on the desk away from his work.
"The stress must really be getting to you. Dani, hon, it's gonna be okay. The guys, including Thor and surprising even Loki are going to confront your father today. If they succeed in their mission, he won't even come near you." He said and turned to me.
"Yeah well, that whole situation has me freaking out. I told you before, I won't be able to live with myself if he hurts them." I said.
"I know... please just try to focus on something else. Get your mind off of everything. We've got this under control. Here, why don't you try shooting some arrows?" He said and handed me his bow and a couple normal arrows. I sighed and took them, standing and facing the targets placed against the wall behind us.
I knocked and arrow and aimed at a target, pulling back on the string and letting it go flying. I did that with each arrow he handed me and landed a bullseye each time.
"Have you done this before?" He asked surprised, now standing beside me.
"Nope. I just did what I've seen you do." I said and let another arrow fly directly into the center of the last target.
"You're a natural. I don't think I would have expected that." He chuckled and took the bow from me, walking over to the targets and removing the arrows.
"Why not?" I asked and took a drink of my water.
"Only because you've never used a bow and arrow before. It's not common for people to be this good right off the bat." He said and set the arrows down on his desk along with the bow.
"I guess I learned from the best." I said and smiled at him.
"There's that smile I've been waiting for." He smiled in return as his phone and mine buzzed.
I looked at it and it was a message from Bucky along with a pin to his location.

Bucky- "We made it to Cali, looking for your father now. Just in case you don't hear back from me in an hour, here's my current location. Tony says this pin will follow me for the next 24 hours so long as I keep this little chip he gave me on my body. I put it on my metal arm to hide it. I love you, Dani."

"Shit. That doesn't make me feel any better, Bucky." I said quietly at the text.
"What is it? Tony texted me to let me know they made it to Cali." Clint asked and took a few steps towards me. I showed him the message from Bucky and he let out a sigh.
"He'll be okay, Dani. He's a super soldier, not much can hurt him." He said reassuringly but it didn't help.

I walked around on Clint's land for awhile after I left the shop. I needed to be alone while I waited for anything from Bucky. It's been 45 minutes and I haven't heard anything and I'm already worried. I've been worried since I got his message. Clint keeps telling me to not worry, to keep my mind off of it but I can't. Bucky is the love of my life. I lost him once because of Thanos and fortunately I got him back but that was with the infinity stones. I won't get him back if my father kills him.

Another 20 minutes went by without any word from Bucky and I found myself at the quinjet. I checked Bucky's location and it's been in the same spot for awhile now, which means he at least hasn't moved in awhile. But that doesn't mean he's not in trouble. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I quickly typed out a text to Clint saying I'm sorry. I got on the jet and typed in the coordinates for Bucky's location. I pressed the buttons I remember seeing Bucky press when he sent me here and it roared alive.

"Is your mission urgent, Ms. Ackles?" A voice from the jet spoke out like Jarvis does.
"Yes. I need to get there as quick as possible. And it's not Ackles anymore. It's Barton." I said and the jet soared up in the air.
"Please take a seat and secure yourself, Ms. Barton." The system announced and I did as I was told. No sooner did I get the belt buckled and the jet soared incredibly fast away from Clint's home.