Winter's Lost Gem - A BuckyBarnesxOC Story

Chapter 3

Haleigh walked with another woman, laughing about small talk they had been making, until she saw the small crowd surrounding the conference room she had set aside for them to meet up with Steve. She frowned, pushing past Sam to look into the room's window. "What's going on?" She asked, watching Steve fend Bucky off while trying to stay between him and the door.

"Steve says the arrival alarm set Bucky off. He can't get him calm." Sam provided, glancing at her.

"Son of a bitch. What the hell were they talking about?" She muttered to herself. She turned to her companion. "Stay here with the others."

Crystal blue eyes were looking past Haleigh at Bucky but she did manage to nod. "Yes ma'am."

"Sam, she's friend. Play nice." Haleigh mused as she slipped into the room.

Sam glanced at the woman next to him. "You the new recruit?"

She looked up at him briefly. "Seems so."

"Where're ya from?"

"Originally? Manhattan, New York."

"Really? Pegged ya for a southern girl."

She laughed a bit. "I've lived for several years down south in Georgia and Florida. Spent most of my time traveling to other countries. Must have picked up an accent somewhere along the way."

"Must have. Crazy way to start your first day, don't ya think?"

"I've seen worse." She said softly, returning her gaze to Bucky.

"Yeah? I suppose so have we. At least this time it's contained. Last time three people ended up severely injured and neither of them were the one attacking. But that was almost a year ago. Haven't had this problem in awhile."

"How'd you get him to stop?" She asked curiously. Not that Sam was noticing, but she was quite quick with calculating Bucky and Steve's next moves. "That man, the blonde, is going to lose the fight if he doesn't put more weight on his back foot."

"Heavy sedative." Sam grunted. "How do you know?"

"Really? I never had that problem." She mused. "He isn't getting full velocity out of his blocks because he isn't balanced. So each hit teters him side to side. If the other is smart, he'll take the chance to wipe his feet from under him."

"Hey, you really know your stuff, don't ya? You and Nat will get along great if that's the case. She's like that, planning moves, knowing where to aim... Wait.. You know Bucky?" His gaze snapped to her face a little surprised. "Not many people outside of here know him."

"Bucky.. So that's his name?"

"That's what we call him. His nickname, I guess. He's got a long ass name. You know, one of those righteous oldest son names from way back when. But you didn't answer my question."

"A long, long time ago. He was different then." She smiled softly.

"How long is a long, long time?" He cocked a brow.

"Oh... I'd say about six decades."

"Six?! That's... 1950s. What? How're you-?"

"Sorry, Sam, was it?" At his nod, she continued, "At the moment that's still top secret until I've been debriefed. Ask me afterwards when we meet with the team." She smirked.

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Steve glanced at his wife, almost missing the hit aimed for his face. "He hasn't been this bad since last year. What do we do?"

She frowned. "Bucky.." She said gently, stepping towards him.

"Haleigh don't." Steve warned. However it was too late. Bucky had thrown a punch towards Haleigh which thankfully she blocked. "Get out of here. We've been trying-"

"Not helping!" Haleigh frowned, concentrating on her defense. "Bucky, try to think. Remember the day you went and picked wildflowers with Sarah? You said it was the most relaxing day ever. The soft breeze. Warm sunshine, Sarah giggling as she tried to put flowers in your bun." She said soothingly, dodging a kick to her abdomen. She heard Steve audibly wince as he tried to step in.

"Damn it, Haleigh, you can't risk getting hit. That isn't going to work. He's too-" He heard the door click open and turned to see someone he didn't know. "Who're you? You shouldn't be in here!"

Haleigh looked up before moving to step between Bucky and the newcomer in order to block if he chose to attack her as well. "She's friend, Steve. New recruit I picked up. I told you to stay outside." A soft click was heard from the door shutting behind her.

"I know but I can help." The woman said taking Haleigh's place in the fight against Bucky with ease. "Besides, it sounds like Captain would prefer you to stay out of this one. Protect that abdomen of yours, Haleigh."

"My husband is a tad overprotective. I was fine." She rolled her eyes.

"Help? Help how?" Steve asked, confused, blocking Haleigh from the other two.

The woman met each of Bucky's blows as if she could read his every move. Finding the weak point, she swiped his legs out from under him and pinned him in place.

Steve cocked a brow. "How long was that?"

"Forty-five seconds from start to pinning." She answered, struggling to keep Bucky in place.

He whistled softly. "Damn. What're you going to do now?"

"Sing." She smirked at the confused captain before looking at Bucky. Softly, she began to hum.

"See the pyramids along the Nile

Watch the sun rise on a tropic isle"

Bucky blanched, attempting to lift his head off the ground to look at her. Something about her voice and that song hit a familiar chord with him. The tension started to ease. He stopped struggling against her strength and the hold she had him under.

"But just remember, darling, all the while

You belong to me."

A sense of peace and clarity shimmered in Bucky's eyes as he looked over her incredulously.

"Bucky?" Steve asked softly, receiving no answer. He glanced at Haleigh. "Who is she?"

"Our new recruit, but an old SHIELD agent. Seems there's a good reason for her being here." Haleigh smirked.

"And not a moment too soon." He nodded, watching the woman stroke Bucky's cheek gently.

"You alright now, Odinokiy Soldat?" The woman smirked.

Bucky tensed slightly, looking over her face.

"What'd you just call him?" Steve questioned, noticing the slight panic on his friend's face.

She pulled herself to her feet and to the side of Bucky. She offered Bucky her hand, dragging him to his feet. "Lone Soldier." She supplied, meeting Bucky's gaze.

"You speak Russian?" Bucky asked.

She nodded. "I'm full of surprises and we're just getting started."