Familiarity

Chapter 4

"Emilia," Madi called knocking on her door, "Em, I thought I'd come earlier today just to make sure you aren't going to have to brush your teeth in a cab again," she chuckled raising her mad to knock again.

Emilia flung the door open scaring her assistant, "Come in," she whispered, opening her door wider, avoiding the vomit she has neglected.

"Oh my god, what is that smell?" Madi asked looking around the room before stepping into the apartment, her heels squishing in the thrown up pizza. "What the hell?" She exclaimed gagging at the sight of her shoe, as she slipped it off.

"He came," the woman answered looking out her kitchen window. "He knows where I live, I'm probably going to die." She whispered over her cup of coffee, breathing in the steam.

"Did you not sleep last night? Or shower?" She asked looking over Emilia's wrinkled clothes from the night before and her knotted hair.

"I've been busy. I have to protect myself."

"Emilia, what are you talking about?"

"Him. He was waiting for me," she said still talking in a whisper.

"Who?"

"The Winter Soldier," she yelled, as if it wasn't obvious. Her sudden change in volume made Madi jump. "You might want to wash your shoe." Still dazed by what her friend said she just nodded heading for the bathroom.

"So, the Winter Soldier attacked you last night, in your own apartment? And you called the cops?" Madi asked trying to speak over the running water.

"Of course I called the cops, I'm not stupid. They checked the windows, and my more expensive possessions. He didn't touch anything, the only trace of him being here is my lock," she explained as Madi walked out of the bathroom putting her shoe on. "I didn't sleep all night," she said heading for the bathroom.

"Where are you going?" Madi questioned raising an eyebrow at her.

"To get a shower," Emilia answered pointing towards the bathroom.

"No, you're going to clean that up," she stated nodding at the vomit. "You can go another day without showering, without people questioning your sanity, that vomit though, can't stay on your floor another minute."

"But it's gross," she whined walking to the kitchen to grab a bucket, filling it with water and disinfectant.

Leaving the mess on the floor all night was not Emilia's smartest decision, it had started to harden, making it even more disgusting trying to clean it up. While cleaning, Emilia had thought about telling Madi about her grandmother and how he had asked about her, hell, even thought she was her; but she opted out, keeping that part to herself, not wanting to have her friend freak out. She finished cleaning quickly, just wanting to leave her place. She got dressed, in less professional clothes than the day before, throwing her hair up in a bun for the second day in a row.

"It's nice to see you know how to be punctual," Riz scoffed as the two entered the building.

"Yesterday was the first time in forever, okay. So screw you," Emilia said without looking at the man as she entered the elevator.

"I'm going to take care of some paperwork upstairs," Madi stated as Emilia exited the elevator into the labs.

Emilia walked with her head high down the hall towards her office, trying not to think about the last twenty-four hours. "Dr. Hate," a woman called out behind her, chasing her down the hall, "do you want us to start serum three point seven one today?"

Emilia looked over at the woman, recognized her as Dr. Morgan. "No, I want to try a few things before we start to alter the formula," she explained, entering her office.

She held her face in her hands, her exhaustion catching up with her. She ran the numbers for serum three point seven through many different programs, through her head numerous times, trying to find the fault in her work. After hours of getting the same results the doctor decided to put the project on hold, not wanting to think about it anymore.

She opened the internet, continuing her search for the Winter Soldier, when nothing new came up her curiosity took over, and she searched James Barnes. There was very little about the man, but she managed to find out that he had an exhibit dedicated to him, or well to Captain America, but he had a section of it.

Emilia was heading out for the day, and was almost out the door when Director Riz called her back in.

She rolled her eyes turning around on her heels, "Yes?"

"I need your report from yesterday."

"Right, and you'll get it, I have just been extremely busy."

"I need it now."

"Look, Madi is waiting for me, so I really have to get going," she lied just wanting to get to the museum before it closed.

"Now," he ordered crossing his arms.

"Oh, fine," she spat jogging toward the elevator. Stupid Director, and his stupid files. What a jackass.

Emilia grabbed her report, running it back up stairs to Riz. "Happy?"

"Very," he smirked, opening the folder and glancing at it. "You know, serum three point seven is a good thing, even if what happened did happen."

"Please don't try to make me feel better, Riz."

"Okay," he said in defeat, "enjoy your evening."

"Thanks, you too," she smiled exiting the building.

She walked down the sidewalk, making her way to the Smithsonian quickly. When she arrived she had an hour to get in, find the exhibit and get out.

When she found it, there was a memorial dedicated to James. There was a biography about him and a few pictures of him, "Best friends since childhood, Bucky Barnes and Steven Rogers were inseparable on both schoolyard and battlefield. Barnes is the only Howling Commando to give his life in service of his country."

Emilia closed her eyes at the recording, it pained her to think he died in battle. She didn't even know the guy, couldn't have, but he was so different. She read the paragraphs on the wall, and how he went missing in action, and his body was never found. His life fascinated the woman, and she didn't want to leave, she was connected to him.

She left the museum with tears in her eyes, "Jesus," she muttered, wiping at them, "you don't even know the guy." She was getting increasingly tired as she walked to her apartment, her eyelids were getting heavy, and every step felt like she was lifting weights attached to her feet.
When she made it to her building she took her time walking up the stairs and getting to her number. She pulled her key out, out of habit, and chuckled at herself when she remembered what had happened. She opened the door and made it to her bedroom. She fell on to her bed and crashed, not being able to remember the last time she slept on something so soft.