Bucky Barnes' Daughter

Chapter Fifteen

I drifted in and out of consciousness for the next couple hours.  Every time I thought I was finally falling asleep, I would manage to move and aggravate one of my injures.  No one came to check on me and I thought, for a moment, that I would actually pull through all of this.  But then I would end up either puking up more blood or coughing up blood . Either way, it wasn't pleasant.

When help finally arrived, I wasn't even conscious enough to realize I was being saved.  The explosion made the ground shake which caused me more pain but I didn't realize what was making the ground move.

I didn't even register the voices of the Avengers as they finally found me in the dungeon of the warehouse where I was raised.   Bucky kneels next to me and gently touches my shoulder which makes me wince but I don't open my eyes.

"Is she alive?"  Nat asks worriedly.

"She's still breathing."  Bucky informs her before trying to take my pulse.  "Her pulse is weak but she's still holding on.  I'm afraid to move her though."

"We can't leave her here."  Nat replies as they hear more voices down the hall.  "You know what, I'm calling SHIELD for backup.  If we can hold our ground here, we might get backup."  I hear her pull out her guns.  "Coulson should bring a medical team."

There's a roar upstairs.

"Was that what I think it was?"  Bucky asks as he pulls out his guns.

"The big guy has joined the party."  Tony's voice comes over their headsets.  I hear Bucky groan, but I didn't realize they were talking about Banner.  "Have you found the kid yet?"

"Yes.  She's not doing so great.  I called in backup and hopefully Coulson will send a medical team."  Nat replies and then I hear someone's gun going off.  At that point, my body decides that I can have control of it again.

"Bucky?"  I whisper before coughing up blood.  I feel tears slipping down my cheeks as the pain gets unbearable.  "Make it stop."  I beg in my mother tongue.

"I'm not ready to lose you yet."  Bucky studies me sadly.  "You need to hold on for us."  I barely nod before closing my eyes again.  "Stay with me."

"Я очень устала.  I'm so tired."  I couldn't hold on any longer.

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

Nat's POV:

"We're losing her." Bucky cries as he tries to convince Serenity to stay awake.  Judging from the amount of blood coating the floor, she should already be dead by now.  But, the little girl kept holding on.  She was probably waiting for us to come save her and if not for HYDRA to finally end her.

"Bucky, I need help."  I tell him as more guards appear.  Bucky hesitates before standing up to help me.  Coulson comes in over my ear piece telling me that help was on the way.  They couldn't come soon enough but then Banner appears out of no where. 

I push Bucky inside Serenity's cell and I close them in.  Hoping that the big guy would protect Serenity and not harm her.  When the big guy finally takes out all the guards he glances our way.

"She's safe now."  I tell him and he nods before running back upstairs.  I take this time to check on Serenity and my heart aches as I study the wounds on her body.

"I can't lose her, not like this."  Bucky moved to hold Serenity's hand but thought better of it.  I could tell he was afraid of hurting her more.   I grab his hand and I put it gently on Serenity's.  The girl winces at first but relaxes under his touch.

"We won't lose her."  I promise him knowing that it wasn't within my power to promise that.

It felt like eons before the medical team got to us.  I pulled Bucky out of the way so they could save his little girl.  We found out from Banner the morning after Serenity was taken that she was in fact Bucky's little girl.  It made the kidnapping feel even more personal since HYDRA knew Bucky was her father.

"We lost her pulse."  The paramedics shout and Bucky tries to step forward but I hold him back. My heart went out to him but he would only get in their way.  "She's back." They say after five long minutes.

Bucky and I sigh with relief before they move Serenity onto the stretcher.  We follow them outside and into the light where we finally see the full extent of her injuries.  It was a miracle she was still alive but it wouldn't be long before she coded again.

"Meet us in Germany."  One of the agents tells us knowing we would want to be with Serenity.  I pull Bucky towards the jet and the rest of the team.  Captain comforts his friend as I lean against the wall. Tears threatened to fall down my cheeks but it's been years since I actually cried. 

"She'll be okay." Clint tries to tell me but my friend didn't see the full extent of her injuries.  "She's Bucky's daughter, she'll pull through."

"After the hell she's experienced, I wouldn't want to live."  Tony adds. Bucky lets out a strangled cry and we all flinch.  "I know she's your daughter Buck, but think about all that she's gone through."

"Actually, think of what she has to live for."  Clint corrects Tony.  He was probably thinking of his own kids back home.  "We need to take Serenity to Disney world when she recovers."

"I think that sounds like a great plan."  Captain says as he pulls Bucky into a chair.  "Everything will be alright."