Stealing Winter

Chapter Two

Charlie rubbed her wrists, fixed her pants and untucked her shirt. It had taken a few minutes to get her restraints off seeing as there were so many. She had even convinced them of removing her handcuffs.

"What do you want to know? What did this to me? 'Cause I honestly don't know. How old I am? Very old. Who are my known associates?" She took a seat, and attempted to mask herself with a serious façade. "Who am I working for?" She whispered harshly to the air. Don't crack, do this for Travis.

"No, Miss Foreman." Charlie cringed.

"Charlie." She corrected Steve. "I don't use that name anymore. To formal."

"Well this is a formal meeting." Fury's eye narrowed and he leaned on his hand. Charlie narrowed her eyes, unknowingly mocking him.

"Well, I don't usually wear handcuffs during formal occasions. My name is Charlie, and I'm not going to answer to anything but." Charlie announced, sitting back. She looked at the reflective window. "I wonder how many scientists are behind that? Hm? Two? Three? Fifteen?"

"Miss Foreman." Fury sounded as irritated as Charlie was bored; which was very. She stood up, and began to pace the small room.

"And how many guns are being pointed at me? Because you've seen what I can do already, and I'm not so sure you guys want me on your bad side." Charlie knew she was giving herself too much credit. Immortality didn't come with super strength of super speed or anything super - except, maybe, super old age. She traced her neck gently, as sometimes the worst deaths left scars. As far as she could tell, there was nothing new. She continued her pacing.

"Charlie," Steve tried the different approach. She huffed, and took her seat again, staring ahead at Captain America.

"What?"

"Look, we already know who you are." He began. That's obvious. "We know your associate." You know my brother. "And we know you're not working for anyone." You got me there. "But we have something else we would like to discuss with you."

"Well that's sort of obvious, don't yah think?" Charlie voiced her thoughts while drumming her fingers against the table absentmindedly. "I don't have money if that's what you're asking for - not that you guys need it. Not gonna give you any blood either; I would like to keep my DNA to myself, thanks."

"We don't need your DNA, Charlie," Steve pulled the stack of folders Fury had brought towards himself. He selected one of the dark red folders and passed it to Charlie.

"You've heard of the Avengers, correct?" Steve asked. Charlie peered at him over the top of the folder and glared. "Sorry, protocol says I have to ask." He shrugged. Fury grunted in annoyance, reminding the two that he was still there.

"Yes, I have." She mumbles. Charlie proceeded to read the file. "James Barnes? Sorry, don't know him." She sets the folder back down.

"We didn't expect you to." Fury said. "We want you to find him."

"That's a bit hard without a picture." Charlie pointed out, reopening the folder. They hadn't bothered to add a photograph of this 'James Barnes'. "Besides what makes you think I'll agree to help you? I mean, you did kill me."

"If it's anything, we can pay you for your troubles." Charlie scoffed, and tossed the folder. She looked at the two men sitting across from her and frowns. Acting, you're just acting Charlie.

"I don't want your money." She said. She sat up, flattening out her blood-stained shirt and jeans. Wow, didn't even have the courtesy to get me a change of clothes. "I'm not someone you can bribe into doing your dirty work." Charlie stood up, hands clasped behind her back. Please don't see through me.

"We could just lock you away for life for attempted theft." Fury said. Charlie laughed, using one hand to cover her mouth. "What's so funny, Miss Foreman." Charlie cut off her laughter and glared in his direction.

"Just the fact that you think yourself so above me that you believe empty threats will scare me into helping you." She leaned over the table, never breaking the eye contact. "And, my name is Charlie." She finished. The looks they gave her drained her confidence quickly. Will they really lock me up?

"Director could you step out for a moment, please?" Steve requested. The two men stared at one another in a silent conversation before Fury stood up and swiftly left the room. Charlie took a seat again and drummed her fingers against the table again. "You're nervous, aren't you?" Steve asks, motioning to her hands. Charlie realizes what she's doing and stops. Well he isn't wrong.

"Wouldn't you be?" She replies, leaning back. "Tell me, Captain, what would you do if you were asked to bring in a guy you don't know, most likely because you can't die? Wouldn't you be a little scared?" Steve's face goes blank, then his brow furrows. She stares at the folder again, and sighs. "Who is he?" Steve clears his throat, taking the folder. He flips it open, gazing at where the picture should have been. Charlie wondered momentarily what had happened to it.

"James Barnes was my best friend. He was like Travis, a brother." He said quietly. "Back in the 40's, Bucky and I were on a mission that went wrong, and he supposedly died." Something clicked inside Charlie's head.

"I..." She leans forward. "I think I remember hearing a news story about that," She laughed. "When I was young." Charlie found it somewhat odd. Two 90 year olds, who look so young, talking about the old days.

"Yeah, well a year or so ago, I found out that he's still alive." Steve fiddled with the papers inside the folder. "He had been captured by Hydra," Charlie's stomach dropped at the name. Years ago they had attempted to capture her, and try to harness her powers. They eventually gave up, but she knew they were still out there. "Have you ever heard of the Winter Soldier?" He said the name like it was poison on his tongue. Charlie shook her head. "A member of Hydra." Steve's fists tightened and Charlie got ready for the worst outcome she could think of - Steve going berserk.

"Is Bucky the Winter Soldier?" She asked gently, trying not to set him off. Steve closed his eyes, and took in a few deep breaths before nodding. He looked like he was in pain. "Look, Steve." She gently reached over and took his hand. Charlie had a lot of experience talking to people and calming them down, all to much for one lifetime in her opinion. Steve looked up almost surprised, and Charlie sighed. "I'm sorry that all of this happened to your friend..." Charlie looked down and shook her head. "But what will I be able to do? Honestly, do you expect me to fight him?" She held up her free arm and flexed what little muscle she had. "The best I could do is give a roundhouse kick to his crotch."

"We can train you," Steve insisted. The desperation in his voice pulled at the strings inside Charlie. She let go of his hand and took the folder back. Her eyes skimmed the pages. Was she really willing to do this? Give up not only her own safety, but the safety of her family?

"I..." She choked. Could she really? Charlie took in. Deep breath before she nodded, and handed the folder to Steve. "Travis can sketch him if you can tell him what your friend looks like." She says, then leaned back and said shakily, "Well than, Captain. When do we begin?"

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Dedicated to WinchesterShepherd for being with me since 2012, when I began my 'Fanfiction.net' account! You rock Scar.

Edited 11/25/17