When It Rained

Chapter 13 -I'm No Bucky

Steve opened the door to the bar. The heavy wood swung open with his touch and the familiar creaking sound filled the empty building. Originally, he was supposed to be here every morning to help clean up. Recently though, the past few times, it had been done for him.

"Morning Steve." Jackson's voice called out from behind the counter. "What are you doing here so early?"

"I ugh..." he looked around. "Came to help clean up."

Throwing his bag over his shoulder, Jackson locked the gate to get behind the bar. "Well son, you're a little late. Your friend Barnes already stopped by. They're downstairs."

It was a little surprising that Bucky was willing to let Steve walk alone. Normally they did everything together. So, why he was here, he wasn't quiet sure. "Oh and Steve?" Jackson turned back towards him before exiting the bar for the day. "Try not to wake them up? Okay?"

At this, the owner left him to attend to his own business. The silence immediately flooded the boy's mind, and at first, his words didn't make sense to Steve. Don't wake them up? Don't wake up who? 

Then quickly, the realization snapped inside his mind. He didn't believe it, he couldn't believe it. In order to, Steve needed to see it for himself. Within seconds he was reaching the door for the basement and barreling down the stairs. There was no grace whatsoever in the actions he took. 

Once at the bottom, he froze where he was. Bucky had his hand extended in the air motioning for his friend to stop. 

The room was silent, all that is- except for her steady breathing. 

Finley was out-cold, shoulders slumped and face pressed against Bucky's stomach all while curled into a ball. Cautiously, Steve stepped towards them. "She just fell asleep..." He whispered. 

Almost amazed at how still she was, Steve knelt before her inspecting the girl. Her face was pale, long, drawn out; dark rings resting beneath her eyes more visible now that she wasn't conscious to hide it. "You here all night?" he nodded towards his friend's shirtless body. 

Nodding yes, Bucky sat forward trying to look at her. That's when Steve saw them though, the fresh set of bruises that he had plastered across his arms, chest, and back. "You guys practicing?"

"Yeah." He muttered. 

"And you're about to get some too if you don't pipe it Rogers." Finley's voice suddenly cut into their conversation. 

Frustrated, Bucky threw his head back and sighed. "how long have you been up?"

With tired eyes, the woman sat up and pulled her pony tail tighter on her head. "Ever since short-stack here opened the door upstairs."

Steve immediately felt responsible. "I'm sorry. I didn't think- I just thought that I had to help pick up this morning- I-"

"need to take a breath." She chuckled rising to her feet before turning to help Bucky up. "You boys only have so many days to go, we need every second." His hand interlocked in hers, and Finley sucked in a tired breath helping him up. 

"You sure you're good?" Buck gave her a questionable look before she turned away and grabbed a backpack off the bench that he had seemed to miss all night.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'd be more worried about yourselves." Somehow she had pulled out another one as well.

Both boys stood confused before her. Then, as she plopped them into their hands, Steve was sent to the ground and Bucky had to grab ahold with two. "What's in these?!" Steve called trying to support the weight.

Grinning, Jack grabbed her jacket off of the hook and swung it over her shoulders. "Enough rocks to equal the amount of an average wounded soldier."

"And just what are we doing with these wounded soldiers?" Bucky set his on the ground watching her move towards the stairs. 

She stopped at the beginning, head on a swivel as she gripped onto the railing. beside her. "We're going Hiking." 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finley grabbed a hold of the tree in front of her; and with the little momentum her tired body had, she hoisted herself upwards to stand tall above the ridge-line. Behind and below her, Bucky and Steve were struggling to keep up. 

She had her own backpack, it was packed just as heavy as theirs. "Come on boys!" 

Bucky panted, hair falling in front of his sweaty face. "Just what are you?" 

A chuckle sounded from her lips. "A mix of scotch and bad choices sweetheart!" 

Steve's feet slipped out from beneath him. The muddy surface wasn't firm enough to hold his ripped up boots. "I can't do this Finn." Steve heaved with all his might.  

"You can Steve."

"I can't!" 

"It's because it's a bag of rocks!" Her voice sounded a little short and irritated. "If that was Bucky on your shoulders your adrenaline would be taking care of it no problem!" 

"Yeah-" He panted falling to one knee. "-my imagination isn't that great." 

"Well, I'm no Bucky- but how about some inspiration?" 

Steve looked up just in time. She had shifted sides of the Ridge so she was closest to him, backpack set firmly on the ground beside her; and just as he looked up, her arms had spread out wide and her feet were leaving the ground. Finley was falling off the side of the ridge. "Finley!" Steve sprinted forward as fast as he could, arms wide and eyes panicked. 

She didn't flinch, didn't flail. The woman just fell, eyes closed and a deep breath leaving her lungs. 

Just as her body was about to meet the ground however, two things caught her attention. The first being the sound of Bucky's voice: her name pouring from his lips in such a desperate tone. The second however, was the small pair of frail arms grasping her just before she hit the ground. 

Steve let out a grunt- his body hit the ground first. The bag of rocks spilled out as he did so, and Finley rolled off of him laying beside him. The pain from the impact left both of their lips as Bucky sprinted to their side. 

"Are you crazy?!" Bucky yelled down to her from beside them. 

With a painful grin, Finn allowed him to help her up, and she turned doing the same for Steve. "See what I mean? I'm no Bucky, but you just scaled 20 yards without breaking a sweat." 

"Never said anything about bones." He grunted wiping off the dirt from his pants. 

"Pick em up." She motioned towards the rocks. "You boys still got two miles to go."