Broken Together

Chapter 26

Cassie's POV (A week after the last chapter)

    For the past couple months I have been going on walks in the mornings and evenings. Bucky usually joins me for the evenings but after the fight we just had, I wouldn't blame him if he dumped me on the spot. He has been spending a lot of time with Steve and Natasha, but especially with Natasha, and it has gotten me concerned. I know that Natasha wouldn't hurt me like that, but it scares me.

    He had just come back from another excursion with Natasha and they were laughing up a storm. I went to the room and sat there thinking of the possibilities of why they are hanging out so much, but the same thought keeps entering my mind. Bucky came in and smiled, "Hey, babe. Whatcha been up to?"

    I ignored him and he got really concerned. I turned away s he wouldn't see my face, but I know he has already seen it. he knows I'm in a bad mood. I keep my back to him as he keeps trying to talk to me. "What's wrong? Are you okay? Talk to me." His voice, his eyes, his smile, it all seems so real. I keep trying to reason with myself that he is not unfaithful. He is as loyal as they come. "Cassie, please, you are scaring me. Talk to me before you burn the place down."

    I turn slightly and see my hair is ready to flame up. I've never been this conflicted and mad. All reasoning with myself is out of the question and I explode in his face. "Why don't you just go back out and talk to Nat. I'm sure she will cooperate with you. Just leave me alone."

    He backs away, shocked at my words. "Cassie, what's wrong? Why would I go to Natasha?"

    "Never mind it doesn't matter. go hang out with Steve or something. Just leave me alone." I get up as he tries to lay a hand on me, and I storm over to my jacket.

    "Cassie, don't walk out that door."

    "Or what? I'd just love to see you try to talk some sense into me! The girl with fire in her veins!" My voice raises and I had not intended for it to happen. Everything is burning within my skin and I just want to stop, cry and fall in his arms, but I am so furious I may accidentally send a fireball in his direction.

    "Cassie, we need to talk about this. I don't understand what's wrong?" Then it seems like a light goes off. "Wait, are you accusing me of cheating on you with Natasha?! I know I am a lot of things, but a cheater is not one! I would never! I can't believe you would accuse me of going down so low!" Now it's his turn to raise his voice.

    "Well with all the time you have spent together, I wouldn't expect any less." I grab the door and begin to walk out.

    "Cassie, wait." I stop and look at him. "Let's talk this over, okay? Eight o'clock on the roof? I promise once you cool down we will be able to talk things out." The sadness in his eyes rip through my heart, but the rage takes over and I walk out the door.

    That's how I ended up here in the park, walking my usual pathway. I am cooling off, thinking of what I wanted to be a lifetime with Bucky. I wanted him to be mine forever and I thought he was in for that too, but I guess not being strong enough to provide that kind of love can affect a man's love for a woman.

    I feel so stupid. Clearly Natasha would know what to get me if Bucky was looking to surprise me. I work out the reasons in my head and start to feel so bad that I could think of Bucky doing such a horrible thing. It hurt me more to think that he still wants to have a date with me after I accused him of such a thing. I feel warm tears run down my face and I know I need to cool down a bit more and then go apologise for everything I said.

    I am so lost in thought that I don't hear the footsteps behind me that are just slightly out of sync with mine as they hurry towards me. I stop for a minute and feel my heart break at what I have done when a set of hands grab me and pull me away from the crowds. I feel the gloves on my mouth and waist and I know the material well. they are fireproof gloves, made of the same material that HYDRA would use to contain me for weeks at a time.

    "You will do as I say, or let your friends die for your stupidity. Understand?" A deep voice whispers in my ear and I contemplate how to get away from this guy, but then he answers my thoughts. "Don't bother trying to escape. See I have a button strapped to my back that will send a missile to the tower, and if that fails I have a witness that will push their button if needed. You can not escape and save your friends. Are you going to listen?"

    I realise that I have to go with these guys. I nod my head  I look down at my hand and think of anyway to let Bucky know I have been here. I see his class ring on my finger. we found it amongst some stuff that was left in his tent on the night he died and was kept by Steve. Bucky wanted me to have it so that I could always be close to him in some way.

I push the ring off into the sidewalk as I am jerked away from the alley, and leave signs of someone being here. I know that Bucky will search my usual evening route for clues. With his keen sense of sight he or Nat should be able to spot the difference in the little bit of dirt on the sidewalk. They will see the ring however.

I am dragged into a car that appears out of nowhere and pushed in by the guy behind me. I have yet to see the face of my captor, but I know he is part of HYDRA. Unless someone else has found that material, I don't think of anyone else but HYDRA coming for me after all this time. It makes perfect sense. I feel a rag pushed into my face and then the world feels loopy.

I hang on as long as I can but fail to find myself capable of holding on. I black out in peace, knowing Bucky will come for me. He said he would protect me to the best of his ability and I trust him. He will come for me, because he loves me. Even after I accused him of such a terrible thing.