No More Pain

Chapter 27: Lay 'Em Down

THE OUTSIDERS LYRICS

"Lay 'Em Down"

Come down to the river
Come and let yourself in
Make good on a promise
To never hurt again
If you're lost and lonely
You're broken down

Bring all of your troubles
Come lay 'em down

All you sinners
And the weak at heart
All you helpless
On the boulevard
Wherever you are now
Whatever evil you've found
Bring all of your troubles come lay 'em down
We're all tied to the same old failings Finding shelter in things we know We're all dirty like corrupted small towns
Bring our troubles
Bring our troubles
And Lay 'em down
All you rich men
And the high above
All those with and without love
All you burdened, broken down

Bring all of your troubles
Come lay 'em down Come lay 'em down Come lay 'em down Come lay 'em down
Come all you burdened
Come all you helpless

Bring all your troubles
Just lay 'em down
Come all you broken
Come all you helpless
Bring all your troubles
Just lay 'em down
Come lay 'em down

The Soldier stood on the balcony connected to the common room in the Avengers' tower. The sun hung low in the sky and he closed his eyes as he let the evening breeze caress his face. He and the Avengers had arrived back at the tower less then an hour ago after a leisurely morning at the beach complete with hour long massages. He knew his time was drawing to an end and he sighed, swallowing down his disappointment as the ever present voice of Sergeant Barnes reminded him of his promise to step down and let the forgotten consciousness take control. He looked up as Natasha casually joined him on the balcony, a soft smile as she looked out over the city. She spoke to him in a soft, gentle tone, her Russian whispered but pronounced.

"It is good you are letting Barnes wake up,..... Steve really needs him and he has been kept silent for too long...... But...." She turned and faced the consciousness known as the Winter Soldier. "I am glad that you have been with us,..... that you have been able to know what it is to be human!" The Black Widow smiled at him and caressed his face as he leaned in, and rest his forehead on her Shoulder, arms hugging himself against the chill that ran down his spine. They remained in the comforting embrace for some time until the Soldier pulled away and looked at her with a sad but determined expression.

"I have done bad,....... hurt so many,........ killed........ I know I need to go away,...... but,........ I am...... I don't........ I want to live,....... but I can't!" The Soldier stammered and he looked back at the horizon as he sighed. "I am tired,...... and I can not be a person,..... cannot be a whole man,...... I am ready to rest, but I........... I am afraid....." The Soldier hung his head and looked away with a sense of shame. Natasha stroked his face with an understanding smile.

"You will never go away,...... you will rest but you will be there,..... in the shadows of his mind,..... you have helped Barnes survive by taking on so much of the pain during programing and conditioning. You are a hero for helping him survive. We all thank you!" She offered with a patient sigh. They both turned as the already present Avengers were joined by three new arrivals from another team of heroes. Natasha took The Soldier's hand and guided him inside.

The Soldier took slow, cautious steps as he studied the strangers who were exchanging introductions and greetings with the Avengers. There was a bald, older man in a strange, high-tech wheel chair that Stark was talking with as he admired the device. Another man, or rather, creature appeared next to him, big and covered in blue fur like an animal yet he was in a tailored suite and glasses. The Blue Beast man was in a conversation with Dr. Banner who seemed very interested in what he had to say. Sam and Steve hovered near by and spoke to each other in hushed tones as they glanced at the Soldier and Natasha and then over to the third man who was speaking with Clint. Hawk Eye laughed and patted the muscular man on the back as the other shook his head with a snicker. The Soldier's eyes fixed on the man who wore a plaid shirt and had thick side burns and a cigar in his mouth. There was something familiar about his face and it reminded the Soldier of a wolf as glimpses of pine trees and the shine of metal claws flashed through his mind's eye with a flash of pain. He stopped, grabbing his head before stiffening as he narrowed his eyes on the man's face. His entrance and abrupt stop drew the attention of the room and the wolf man met his gaze with his own steady look of recognition and wariness.