The Song Of The Broken

6.)

A few weeks later, I found myself back in the compound, standing in the meeting room.

The past few weeks had become draining. Things between Bucky and I were growing worse by the day.

It was causing me stress. Too much of it.

I ended up in the hospital after I began to cramp and bleed after we had had a fight.

This prompted me to make a decision. One that I knew the team wouldn't be happy with because I had been helping them with on missions via comm.

I had been informed of a new situation that was occurringg in Lagos, Nigeria.

"I can't help." I finally said.

"Beth, please, I'm begging you, we need you. Without you, there's no telling what will happen. It'll save many lives." Steve told me.

I scoffed, wiping away the stray tears that fell down my face before placing a stoic expression on my face.

"Funny, how you say 'we need you' and expect me to just run to your aid. But where were you while I was bleeding out in that ditch? Where was he? Huh?! Where were you? " I asked, wiping my face again. "I almost died that night and would have if Rhodey hadn't found me." I added.

"I am sorry..." He said as he looked down at his hands.

I scoffed before turning to look at him. "I suppose a 'sorry' will fix everything, right? Especially when I know you stood aside and watched my world cave on itself just so you could preserve your precious little elite team. Don't act like you weren't all there, especially when you were one of the many that stood aside, watching as I almost destroyed myself to keep you all happy." I snapped.

Tony reached over and squeezed my arm in a comforting gesture.

"We failed you. All of us. You're supposed to be a part of this team. This family, and we failed you." He finally said.

I sighed, "That's besides the point now. It's in the past." I replied, defeated.

"So, what are you going to do?" He asked me.

I shrugged, "Probably what I should have done five years ago. Take my position in London..." I finally said as I looked down at my lap.

My bags were already waiting for me downstairs by the door.

"What can I say to fix this? What can we all do?" Bucky finally asked, no begged, as he looked pleadingly at me.

"You can't." I replied, stoically, as I looked away from his gaze.

The gaze that's always held the power to make my knees go weak, and my heart stutter.

It was amazing how he could make me remember our time together by just looking at me.

"No. Don't say that this can't be fixed. We- we need to fix this. For us. For- For that baby you're carrying. Please, I'll do anything to gain your forgiveness." He pleaded.

I shook my head and stood up to get away from his stare.

"I waited a long time to hear you say that. To beg, to plead, to fight for us. Now, I realize that it was all a childish dream, " I replied, stepping back as he looked down sadly. "I can't give you what you want. Not after how you acted. Not after all your insinuations." I added, swallowing thickly.

"What happened to never giving up? To you never leaving your team behind?" He asked challengingly.

I turned and glared at him, "Yeah, well, what happened to trust and honesty?!" I shot back as angry tears began to spill onto my cheeks.