8-1-0-9

Chpt. 5

Bucky

     "Who's the crazy girl, Buck?" Sam groaned as he got to his feet. "You called her name like you knew her your whole life. I ain't seen her before."

     "You have, actually," I answered, holding out a hand when he struggled for a moment. I hauled him up until he was stable, rolling my eyes when he dramatically let go of my hand. "I was the Winter Soldier then, she was simply Eight-one-'o'-nine. Hydra didn't bother giving her a title," I explained, rushing over to where I had accidentally let her go.

Sam was hot on my heels, standing off to the side as I dropped down to a knee. Gale was out cold, the tiniest hint of a bruise on her cheek fading as she lay sprawled on the edge of the road, half in the grass. Looking down at her gave me the same rush of guilt when I first encountered her within the truck. I carefully lifted her by the shoulders, grimacing at the traces of blood dotting the pavement. Her weight kept shifting awkwardly in my hands, so Sam stepped in to hold her up by standing over her and keeping her upright with his hands under her arms. I got a good look at the back of her head, her dark hair tainted with spots of blood.

I sighed, wrapping my left arm under hers and slid my right arm under her knees after Sam moved away, cautiously standing up. "You say they didn't name her, yet you called her 'Gale', Buck."

     "Because that's what I decided and what she let me call her," I mumbled, shifting my hold on the brunette before beginning to walk down the road. I huffed a mildly disbelieving laugh. "Makes me wonder where she got 'E-Z' from."

Sam chuckled along side me. "So what's her story, then?"

I sent him a stern glare, and he raised his hands in surrender. "It's not my call, Sam," I sighed, casting a glance at the woman in my arms. I hoisted her up a little until her head was rested against my shoulder, feeling a little relieved as her gentle breathing brushed against my neck. "It's not my place to tell people she doesn't trust what she's been through."

     "Fine," he resigned, but I could still see the curiosity in his eyes. "But you're saying this is the same chick who tried to kill Steve, Nat and I in D.C.?"

Another breathed escaped me as I sent him another look, though a little more guilty this time. "Yeah."

Silence fell over us, and I couldn't decide if I was thankful for it or not. It let me think, though, over everything that had just happened within the last twenty minutes. Eight super-soldiers, besides Gale. Eight new super-soldiers. Which meant there was a replica of the serum somewhere, and that someone had decided to make such a horrendous thing. The only good thing that ever came out of it was Steve, and he wasn't here to help out anymore. He would have a plan, a great one at that, and would figure out where to start. Hell, I miss you, Pal.

If I could somehow get through to Gale's mind that what she was doing with the Flag Smashers wasn't all that heroic, perhaps she would've liked Steve. Maybe, if I had found her under different circumstances, she'd be on our side and not knocked unconscious in my arms. But I know I couldn't change that. Couldn't change anything, now. Though, if things turn out alright, I can let her meet him. Better late than never. Besides, it was a piece into my past that she doesn't know about, I think.

     "I'm sorry about Redwing," I muttered out loud instead, my gaze locked on the slow-rolling pavement in front of me or straight ahead toward the distance.

     "No, you're not," Sam accused, and I knew he was right. I'd laugh if I didn't want to remain serious or admit that I truly wasn't pitying him. He paused, sparing the two of us a glance. "What's going on in that big cyborg brain of yours?"