Hello Sergeant (Bucky Barnes)

Bearer of bad news

Steve's POV

It was good to see Thor again – I just wish he had better news for us. After a video conference with Fury, I learned Shield had been trying to locate the missing scepter since the battle of New York. Unfortunately, since the battle had taken out a majority of the cameras in the area, the trail was stone cold and we didn't have a single lead.    

"I'm going to go get something to drink," Sarah murmured after we'd been talking for a while. "I need to get up and move around."

"Take Clint with you to carry everything," I suggested, removing my arm from around her and letting her get up. She signed something to him and they headed for the kitchen, hands flying.

Natasha grabbed Bucky's shoulder and kept him from following, shoving him back into his seat. "Let her be, Barnes. It's bad enough she's upset she pretty much lost her freedom for the next month, don't make it worse for yourself by being so overprotective."

While Sarah was out of the room, we finished filling Thor in on the threat she was under (he offered to fight with us), telling him of her relation to Tony (which we weren't entirely sure he understood) and about the baby we'd lost.    

Thor looked at me with sympathy. "I am heartily sorry for your grievous loss; you would make an excellent father, Steve."

"Thanks, Thor. I'm just glad that she's okay."

"I'm given to understand that your betrothed is a skilled warrior, like the Widow?"

"She's a little better, Thor," Natasha said with a grin. "She's a gal after your own heart. The next time you come you should bring Sif with so we can train with her."

"Lady Sif did indeed wish to accompany me this time, but I needed her to stay and keep an eye on Loki. She's wise to his ways; he has been too quiet lately, making not the slightest bit of difficulty for his jailers."

"It's still him in his prison, isn't it – not a hologram... errr – magical construct?" Bruce asked nervously. "He's not known as the God of Mischief for nothing."

"I assure you, he is indeed confined," Thor replied seriously.

Clint and Sarah came in with drinks – handing them around to everyone. I decided Sarah was looking quite pale again; I could tell she'd been on her feet too much today. She sat back down between myself and Bucky, letting me put my arm around her. Natasha stayed perched on the end of the couch next to Bucky, murmuring in his ear in what I thought was Russian for a couple minutes before he finally started to relax, starting to accept Thor.

After a while, Sarah reached out and took Bucky's hand, not looking at him, but clearly done being upset with him. I didn't know what'd happened this time, but it was fine now. They butted heads often, neither willing to back down and both of them convinced they were right, which amused me almost as much as it frustrated me. She finished her drink while she listened to the conversation, putting her glass on the coffee table and then curling up between us, her head resting on my shoulder for now.

"You can take a nap if you want, doll. We've got a lot to fill Thor in about before Jane gets here," I said quietly, kissing her temple. "You look beat."

"I am a little tired," she said with a yawn. "Wake me up when it's time to eat?"

"Of course. You think Marco would let you skip a meal?"

She snorted quietly. "Nope, he thinks I'm too skinny for my own good," she said with a smile. "He won't be happy until I gain like 20 pounds and can't fit into my catsuit anymore."

*         *        *

James' POV

I pretended not to notice when Sarah reached out and took my hand in hers, lacing her fingers with mine. She wouldn't meet my eyes, but I knew this was her way of letting me know she wasn't angry with me anymore. Natalia – Natasha – was right; I was being a little overprotective.

This was a big change for all of us, but even more so for Sarah. Her parents and Tony were in complete agreement on the matter of her security, but until recently, she'd almost always been able to do whatever she wanted whenever she wanted.

Given Hydra's marked interest in our whereabouts, her every move was watched by highly trained operatives – and leaving the house was strongly discouraged for the time being. If she did leave the house, she had to take at least two guards with her – even if Steve or I was with. I'd wanted her to have a guard near her at all times in the house, but she'd vehemently protested that, only acquiescing to having them within earshot of a conversational tone and wearing a com if she wanted alone time.

The next time I looked down, her eyes were closed and she was asleep. I shared a smile with Steve - if I had suggested the nap, we'd still be arguing about it. Since Steve suggested the nap, it was suddenly a great idea and she'd give it a chance. I knew she wasn't trying to be difficult, but I was going to be ecstatic when I got my regular, snarky Sarah back again. It was unsettling to see her weak like this and it made me even more afraid that I'd hurt her accidentally somehow.

Natasha handed me a light blanket and I spread it over her, shifting her so she'd be laying in her normal position across our laps. Somehow Tony managed to get Thor to speak in a regular voice instead of what I'd determined was his normal teeth-rattling volume, so she stayed asleep for a while.

* *

We'd just finished eating when I heard Darcy's distinctive voice coming from the entry. "Kill me now, Tasha," I begged, reaching for my drink.

"No can do, Buckaroo," the redhead said with a smirk.

"I hate that nickname," I said from behind gritted teeth. I tossed back the rest of my vodka and refilled my glass.

"I know."

"Mr Stark, Jarvis said to show these ladies in here," Jake said, standing aside so the women could walk in.

"Thank you, Agent," Tony replied, standing up to greet them. "Jane, Darcy – how nice to see you again."

"Hey Tony," Darcy said with a grin, still eyeing Jake like he was a particularly tasty treat. He retreated hastily, much to my amusement. I just wished I could follow him. "Thanks for picking us up – for the record I love it when I get to ride in the limo!"

"Anytime, Louie the Lightning Bug," Tony replied with a grin.

"Ooh! I like that nickname better than the last one you used," she laughed, taking the open seat next to Steve while the woman I assumed was Jane was occupied greeting Thor.

"They haven't seen each other in a while," Sarah said in my ear. "You've met Jane before, James. She was at the Halloween party."

I turned to Sarah and gave her the puppy dog eyes that Lucky used on me when he wanted a treat. "I don't care where I'm sleeping as long as it's with you," I pleaded.

Sarah snorted. "Where else would you be sleeping? She's not that bad, James. She's not really after you - she just does it to push your buttons."

"You're sure about that?" I asked skeptically.

"Positive. Ask Nat if you don't believe me."

"<Natalia, is that true?>" I asked, turning to the redhead.

"<You really need to ask that? She's Sarah's good friend – you don't think she knows about your little triangle?>"

"<How would she?>"

Natalia gave me a condescending look. "<She saw you and Sarah making out and then saw you and Steve together a while later the last time she was here.>"

"<Then why does she flirt so obviously with us?>"

"<Because of how poorly you take it. Try flirting back and see what she does.>"

I raised an eyebrow at her, but Clint spoke up. "<She's right, James. Speaking from first hand experience – Darcy only does that because she knows you're taken, therefore you're safe. Plus, when you're riled, you give her as good as you get. Not many get the upper hand with her.>"