Tearing Relationships Apart (Book Eleven of The Bad Wolf Chronicles)

Chapter Twelve

Man, it's hard to believe this book is already nearly done! Let me tell you, it is a blast writing this and getting chapters up this fast. Everyone's reactions to the last few have been awesome. :)

Tony makes it to the Raft, where Team Captain America has quite the bomb to drop on him. Enjoy chapter twelve!

***

Steve took a look behind him to see Bucky had strapped himself in next to Jessie, her cheek against his metal arm, his hand curved so it rested on her other cheek. "You know, the Doctor might kill you if he saw that," he remarked, trying to lighten the mood.

It worked. He saw the corners of Jessie's mouth lift in a small smile, and Bucky chuckled. "He didn't hurt you, did he?" he asked.

"No," Jessie shook her head. "It was mainly just to put on a show."

Bucky nodded, absently running his fingers down her cheek, Jessie's eyes sliding closed, relieved to have the cool metal dull down how hot she felt. "What's gonna happen to your friends?" he asked. "To your wife?"

Steve closed his eyes. He shouldn't have left Martha, and it had practically killed him. But she had been the one to insist that they run, to protect Jessie at all costs. And just like Jessie, when Martha made up her mind, she planted herself like a tree and refused to move. "Whatever it is, we'll deal with it," he answered.

"I don't know if I'm worth all this, Steve," Bucky shook his head. "What they did for Jessie, yeah, she is, she's a rare diamond in the rough. But me . . . "

"What you did all those years, it wasn't you," Steve said firmly. "You didn't have a choice."

"I know," Bucky mumbled. "But I did it."

Jessie lifted her head up his arm. "It sticks with you," she said bluntly. "And you hate yourself for it all, even when everyone tells you it wasn't you, that it wasn't your fault."

Bucky blinked, looking at her. "Exactly."

"Because that was me, once," Jessie admitted, looking out the window, knowing Steve was listening as well, though he was paying attention to piloting them safely. "I was in a bad place, so that didn't help any . . . but the Doctor and I have these enemies, men made of metal, their hearts and emotions removed. And they needed a new leader, a Cyber-Planner. They chose me. They sent their little bugs into my head and brainwashed me. I wrestled with control for so goddamn long, and I nearly won, too. Then the Cyber-Planner took over. I nearly killed one of the kids Clara nannied for. And if the Doctor hadn't stopped me, I nearly would have killed him, too. It wasn't me, I know that. It was Miss Clever – or the Mad Wolf, as we call her. But still . . . I did it anyway." She looked up at him, Bucky staring at her in shock. "That's why I knew you needed a second chance," she smiled. "You were a good man in World War II. I saw the good in the Doctor when he didn't know if it was there. I can see it in you, too."

Bucky just gaped at her, stunned into silence, before he turned to Steve. "And you let this doll go to the alien?"

Steve just laughed. "It was because of said alien I met my wife!"

***

The members of the Avengers on Team Iron Man gathered in the medical bay of the hospital, watching Rhodey be checked out. "How did this happen?" Tony finally looked at Vision angrily.

"I became distracted," he answered simply.

"I didn't think that was possible!" Tony snapped.

"Neither did I."

Tony shook his head angrily, storming out of the room. The Doctor clapped Vision on the shoulder before following, Clara right behind him, leaving Saleen and Vision to watch Rhodey's examination be finished.