Eminence Front // TFATWS

02

A man laughed as the door was opened by an employee, and said, "I mean... Thank you." Three people walked through the door. "Oh... Well, that's done."

"Yeah," the woman agreed, glancing at her watch. "Half hour before last call?"

The man turned. "I can't, guys. I have to prep for tomorrow's session."

"Really?"

"You..." the other man began. "Ooh!" He chuckled.

A man grunted as he was yanked through a wall of art from behind.

The Winter Soldier burst through the hole in the wall and the man grunted.

Men grunted, groaned and spoke in Russian as the Winter Soldier killed them with a knife and gunshots rang out as they were shot.

The Winter Soldier grabbed a man by the throat and walked forward.

"Hail HYDRA," the Winter Soldier said as the man slumped to the ground.

The man who had tried to leave earlier glanced back to see the Winter Soldier and the Impossible Girl. He tried unlocking the door as he muttered, "Shit."

The man's hand was shaking, and he couldn't get the key into the keyhole.

The Winter Soldier sauntered toward the man.

His breath trembled before he said, "Please." He panted and stuttered, "I didn't see anything. I didn't see anything. I didn't see anything."

The Winter Soldier shot him point blank.

---

Bucky's eyes shot open and he breathed heavily as he sat up. Mary stirred and called, "Bucky?"

Bucky looked away. "I'm okay, doll."

She shook her head. "I know you're not. You keep waking up each night in screams or heavy breaths. I wish you'd talk to me."

"I can't, Mary. It's... It's too much."

"All I want to do is help, and I feel like I'm not."

Bucky took her hands, bringing them close and kissed them. "Mary, you've helped more than you'll ever know. You help just by being here."

She sighed. "It doesn't feel like it. But whenever you are ready, I'm here."

He nodded and kissed her forehead. "I love you, Mare."

"That's oddly sweet. Dean called me that when I was little."

"Is that okay if I call you that?"

"Almost ten years after knowing each other?"

"Yes?"

"You can. Like I said, it's sweet." She took his hands. "Try to get some sleep. I'll be here."

---

"So, Mr. Barnes, Miss Winchester, are you still having nightmares?" Dr. Raynor asked. Bucky and Mary stared at her blankly. "James, Mary, I asked you a question. Are you still having nightmares?"

"No," Bucky replied in a deadpan tone while Mary shook her head.

"We've been doing this long enough that I can tell when you're lying. Well, you seem a little off today. Did something happen recently?"

"No." Bucky and Mary shook their heads slightly.

She looked at Bucky. "You're a civilian now. With your history, and Mary's, the government needs to know that you're not gonna..." She balled a fist and shook it slowly. Bucky nodded, understanding. "It's a condition of your pardon. So, tell me about your most recent nightmare."