James Buchanan Barnes: The Chronicles (Complete)

Killing Hydra

Jane woke up from her nightmare once again, for the 10th night in a row. It was horrible, she was seeing the faces again and the death of her loved ones. All she could do was watch, in her dream they were all dying for her, to protect her. Jane couldn't bare that. All she wanted was to not be useless and not be so afraid. Jane got up and ran to the dresser that has her phone and called her caretaker. She was gasping for air, she was in a state of absolute panic, "Pastor Chris?" She was barely able to breath, "Yes, another nightmare."

The pastor was speaking calmly. "You're alright, Jane. Remember what I taught you? Take deep breaths; instead of focusing on the fear, focus on the promises God has given you." His voice was calming to hear, Jane picked up her Bible and turned to the pages dog eared and read the highlighted verses.

"OK...I got them."

"Good, now, go over them, breath and be still, and know-"

"That I am God." Jane finished the verse that Pastor Chris was quoting. "Alright, I think I got it now..." Her breathing was becoming stable. "Thank you, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Goodnight, Jane. I'll be praying for you to be covered in peace tonight. And I know you will be." He remembered something, "Try doing what you do when you perform surgery. Play some Jesus music." Jane whispered a soft 'OK' and nodded. "Good, God bless you, goodnight and see you tomorrow, Jane."

"Goodnight, Pastor Chris, see you tomorrow." The phone made a beeping noise to let the person know that the call has ended. Jane looked over her notifications and saw she had 18 unread messages from Bucky. He had texted her throughout the 10 days she had been gone. Jane fiddled with her phone, debating if she should reply. She decided to text him to let him know she's alright.

'Hey Bucky-Bear. I'm doing alright, I am learning how to battle this fear from Hydra. I love you, I'll talk to you soon.' Her message was short and sweet, letting him know that she still needs help, but will be alright. But she turned off her phone after she texted him and crawled into her bed with the lamp on, reading the Bible's promises about breaking fear and other promises of strength. She stayed up reading it for about another hour and then she fell asleep with the Bible in her arms and the promises in her mind.

"Good morning, Jane!" Pastor Chris stood in the middle of a field, full of flowers and had a river flowing behind the meadows. "Ready to begin today's lesson?"

"Yes." Jane had her Bible in her hand and was in clothes fit for training.

"Good. Follow me." Pastor Chris turned and started walking down towards the river, "What did Jesus do when He was seen by John the Baptist?"

"He was baptized in the Jordan River."

"Correct, although this isn't the Jordan, it is a river. Now, when I baptize you, the old you is being washed away." Jane nodded in understanding. "Now I want you to think hard about what that means." They arrived at the bank of the river. Jane noticed two towels sitting on a log. "That means, not only the sins, but your fears, your anxieties, your scars, your torture, and the dark hold that Hydra had over you. Once you rise out of that water, you will no longer have them according to the scriptures, once we choose to follow Christ, everything of our old selves is dead and gone and we are born again." Pastor Chris walked forward into the river, he waded in the water and motioned for Jane to join him.

Jane walked forward, leaving her shoes and Bible on the log on the river bank. She stepped into the water and walked to Pastor Chris. Jane began to feel something new inside of her, it wasn't fear or a panic attack...it was something light. "I feel-"

"That's the Holy Spirit." Pastor Chris smiled and took her hand and placed his other hand in the small of her back to keep her from sinking or slipping. "Now, Jane...I know you are a Christian already, but this baptism is different, you need to believe in what I have told you before. You have a strength in you that is stronger than anything on earth. Do you believe?"