Bucky Barnes' Daughter

Chapter Eight

I sat up in bed quickly.  I wasn't sure what woke me up but I knew something was terribly wrong. My feet slip into the slippers by my bed and I quickly put on the robe hanging behind my door.  Soundlessly, I crept down the hallways and towards the living room.  Natasha was sitting in the living room watching the news.

"Couldn't sleep?"  She asks as I take a seat next to her on the sofa.  There was a terrorist attack in St. Petersburg.  I recognized the exact location.  My stomach lurches but I try to hide the worry from Natasha.

"No, not really.  What's happening?"  I glance at the TV trying to act like I didn't know what had happened.

"Three mutants attacked a nightclub killing thirteen and wounding twenty others."  Natasha studies me as I watch the story unfold.  "You know something."  She doesn't ask because I couldn't help the fear that was taking over.

"I was supposed to be there."  I inform her.  "It was supposed to be my mission.  That's why I ran away that day.  I couldn't kill innocent people...not again.  I thought that if I wasn't there, they wouldn't go but I was wrong."  A single tear falls down my cheek.

"It's not your fault."  Nat tries to reassure me.  "You were trying to save their lives."

"But I didn't!"  I argue.  "I ran away like a coward.  I should've been there.  Maybe I could have saved someone but no I ran.  Now people are dead and I can't do anything to make it better."  I stand up trying to ignore the ache in my chest as I watch them bring out the bodies.  I couldn't watch this.

I ran back to my room and I slam the door.  I quickly lock it hoping that I could keep them out.  Natasha knocks on my door trying to get me to answer it.  I needed to get out of here.  I shove some things into a backpack before changing into a pair of jeans and a long sleeve shirt. 

The windows only open a little bit, but it was enough for a small animal to get through.  I push a chair towards the window.  Then I push my backpack through the opening before shifting into my cat form.  I slip through the opening and grab my backpack in my mouth.  I run towards the forest not bothering to look back.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Natasha's POV:

By the time I managed to break down her door, Serenity was already gone.  The window was opened and a chair was pushed up against the wall.  There was no way the girl could slip through the opening.  I search the room frantically.  Serenity was a flight risk to begin with and now I said the wrong thing and sent her running.

"What's going on?"  Bucky appears in the doorway.  "Where's Serenity?"

"I scared her off."  I couldn't believe I had made that mistake.  "We have to find her before someone else does."

"What did you say that scared her off?"  Wanda appears behind the winter soldier.  She looked exhausted as she pulls her robe closer around her body.  "She's a little unstable."  I wanted to tell her that I know that but it wouldn't help, not now.  I push past them so I can suit up.  We will find her before anything happens.

"Everyone suit up.  We have to find her."  Wanda gives the command before racing into her room. 

We were out searching within minutes.  Wilson took to the sky searching from the air, along with War machine and Iron man.  Hawkeye tries to track the girl but she disappeared without a trace.  There were no footprints to follow and by the looks of it, she vanished into thin air.

"FRIDAY saw a cat leave Serenity's room but no girl."  Iron man tells us over the radio.  "Bucky can she shape shift into an animal?"

"I don't remember.  It's entirely possible considering she has countless powers."  It wasn't much help but maybe it was something to go off of.  We start searching for a small animal, but it was no use with the sun finally rising.  If it had been daytime, we would have found her already but in the dark, our search was hopeless.

~*~*~*~*~*~

My paws were soundless as I raced through the trees.  I didn't dare turn into a human again.  I would be easier to spot.  I manage to make good time before exhaustion starts to take over.  My body starts to force itself back into it's natural state as I become too tired to walk anymore.  I feel my body slide from feline to girl within seconds.

I lay my head against the ground hoping that I would have the energy to move in a second.  In my exhausted state, I didn't have the energy to keep my mind from wandering to my brother.  The walls do their magic but sometimes I feel myself tearing them down in an effort to connect to my other half.  I wanted to fight the itch to see if he was okay but it was no use.  I can't fight it forever and right now I need his strength.

I slip into his mind but I feel nothing, almost like he turned me off as well.  I feel my energy drain further as I pull myself out.  I shove another wall up in my mind as I close my eyes.

Maybe one of these days, I'll forget I even have a brother but my strength depends on his.  He never lets on that he needs me but I know the bond works both ways.  I close my eyes searching for some hidden strength that could get me away from here.