We Have To Work Together

Chapter Thirty: Rain

Even after Mac and Jack leave I still make sure James can't shoot anyone.

"James," I say again.

He still stares at me with eyes that hold no emotion. I can only see the pain he's gone through as he's had his memory wiped time and again, like clockwork.

"James, do you not remember me?" I ask as I feel another tear run down my face and collect around my chin.

"How do you know my name?" he asks accusingly as if it is an insult for me to know it.

"You're my brother," I manage to choke out through the tears.

Maybe that statement will bring his memory back and we can get out of here together. Brother and sister. Him never to be taken from me again.

"I don't have a sister," he states. Suddenly, he bursts forward and tries to punch me with his metal arm.

I stop it with metal bending then do a spinning side kick to his stomach which he blocks with his free hand.

We exchange blow after blow, both of us evenly matched, neither of us overpowering the other.

Until he catches me by surprise and kicks me across the room.

I hit the wall and sort of bounce off of it and land with my back on the ground.

He snatches his gun off of the ground and sits on me. He's turning the barrel towards my temple when I reach up, grab it, and turn it toward me myself.

This surprises him and he sits there with a cold face but not pulling the trigger.

"Go ahead. . .shoot me. .me," I state with as much force as I can muster. It hurts to talk with him on me.

I hear shouts and footsteps coming from down the corridor. Hydra agents are coming.

"Please. . .I would rather. . . .die by my. . .brother's hand than. . .anyone else's."

That's when I see his eyes widen with a knowing look and I hear a word that is music to my heart making me smile.

"Rain?"

"Hey," I say, more tears welling up in my eyes. I've never cried more in my life than I have today.

"Was I about to shoot you?"

"Probably."

"Oh. Sorry about that."

"It's fine. But we should probably get out of here. Hydra agents are coming."

"Good idea," he states while quickly lifting himself off of me.

He grabs my hand and pulls me down the hallway until I feel the warmth of the sun on my face and grass under my feet.

I feel Mac, Jack, and a ton of other people walking towards us.

"Rain!" Mac yells and waves.

I wave back, smiling as if I had just won the lottery.

And I did. Because I got my brother back.