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

Chapter Thirteen

Welcome to Siberia, everyone . . . and where everything goes down the drain.

Let's see what roles the time travelers have to play! Enjoy!

***

"How long?" Steve asked Jessie as he landed the Quinjet.

"Judging by everything that's happened to me, not long after we regenerated," Jessie answered, unbuckling her harness and standing up.

"You didn't figure it out sooner?" Steve asked in surprise, standing up as Bucky went over to the gun rack.

"In my defense, it seems like the only times we get into massive amounts of trouble are with the Maximoffs and Clara," Jessie grinned at him, finishing pulling on her gloves. "And it's been on those adventures it's always happened."

"Not often enough," Steve translated, nodding. "So about how long, then?"

"With the time the Doctor and I have to ourselves," Jessie thought. "Seven months, maybe? Nearly a third of the way through."

Steve blinked at her, surprised. "A third?"

"I know," Jessie sighed, rolling her eyes. "Twenty-seven months. Lucky me."

Bucky let out a low whistle as he chose a machine gun, walking to Steve's other side. "Long road ahead of you, doll."

"No kidding."

"Worth it in the long run, though, won't it be?"

Jessie smiled softly. "Yeah."

Steve triggered the ramp to land, then asked out loud, "You remember that time we had to ride back from Rockaway Beach in the back of that freezer truck?"

Bucky tilted his head, thinking. "Was that the time we used our train money to buy hot dogs?"

Steve smirked. "You blew three bucks trying to win that stuffed bear for a redhead."

Jessie laughed, but Bucky just grinned and asked, "What was her name again?"

"Dolores," Steve answered. "You called her Dot."

"She's gotta be a hundred years old right now."

"So are we, pal."

"Over one thousand, I beat you both," Jessie smirked.

Bucky snorted, and Steve chuckled, clapping them both on their shoulders. "Thank you," he told them sincerely, then gave Jessie a look. "But I swear to God, things go south – "

"I get out," Jessie finished. "I promise."

"Good," Steve nodded, pulling up his cowl and placing his shield on his arm. "Let's go."

The ramp lowered, and Steve led the trio down. Jessie paused at the foot of it. "The door's open."

Steve looked from the caterpillar truck next to the Quinjet to the open doors in the rock. "He can't have been here more than a few hours," he said.

"Long enough to wake them up," Bucky pointed out.

Steve braced himself, then led them into the bunker. Jessie held out her hand, forming a fireball, Bucky taking off the safety of his gun. Steve called the elevator, and they rode down further into the bunker. He and Bucky pulled up the cage in front of the doors, then Bucky held his gun up, ready for anything as Steve led the way down the corridor. Jessie stopped by an alcove they passed, Bucky moving past her to see what was inside. When he found only junk, he gestured her back in front of him.

The trio was climbing up a set of stairs when they heard a loud thud behind them. Steve instantly spun around, shield raised. Bucky was right behind him, gun aimed, his metal arm forcing Jessie down behind him, the Time Lady dropping to a crouch, her back to them. "Ready?" Steve asked.