Me, her, and You

14

    Slowly you pushed your face off the rough cement, your eye sight swam in and out focus. The pounding at the back of your head was overwhelming, the ringing in your ears were deafening. You blinked hard a couple of times, willing them work properly. Your chest was on fire as you inhaled deeply, a chalky taste of cement dust filled your mouth.
    As you eyes focused you looked around, your heart rate kicked up a notch, rubble was cast all around you. Chunks of pavement, bit of trees blasted everywhere, other people slowly picking themselves up from the ground. You felt water trickling down your forehead, you reached up to wipe it off. You whirled around looking for your daughter.
    You pulled your hand away from the water, it was warm, looking down at your hand you saw the bright red blood. That's when it finally sunk in, when it really sunk in. You yelled hoarsely not being able to hear your own voice over the ringing still. You pushed yourself to your feet, pain seared in your left ankle, you hissed through gritted teeth.
    "Kayla!!" You screamed again, your own voice coming out hollowed to your ears. It sounded like you were so far away. "Kayla!"
   You stood in your spot looking around the destruction. A heaviness fell upon in you, you know knew who was responsible for this. Out of the corner of your eye you see a heavy cement slab push up and down. You limped over, grabbing on to it, trying to pull it off.
      In one last heave the cement toppled over, Steve stood up, his eyes connected to your's. He had a nasty gash on his own forehead, he looked around as well his jaw slack.
    "Steve." You breathed, panic slowly starting to fill you. "Kayla.. I don't know.. where..."
    You had trouble collecting your thoughts, fear etched across your face as you looked around again. Not seeing a sign of her, nor a sign of Bucky. Your breathing started to become labored, short breaths, your entire body started tremble. It was like gravity started to pull you down, the heavy sensation of knowing your entire world was starting to crumble down around you.
    The first tear slipped out before you knew it was there. You had messed up, you let your guard down. The tears that slowly started to flow left clear streaks a cross your dust covered face. You had been out to much with her, and now they had her. You crumbled to your knees, as suddenly the full weight of reality struck you. The bomb, everyone here, Kayla and Bucky gone, all because of you because you wanted something normal.
   "Y/n." Steve's soft comforting voice, came from behind you. "We'll find them."
    "How?" The word came out strangled and choked, he knelt down in front of you grabbing your hand.
    "We will, I promise you." He replied, slowly you lifted your tear streak face to his.
   "This is my fault." You whispered, looking at the scene unfolding behind him. Sirens wailing in the distance.
   "No, it's not. Come on." He stated, standing, pulling you up with him. "We have to get back to tower."
   You let him lead away from the zoo, your thoughts only on your daughter, your body had be come numb. You didn't even realize when you were back at the Stark Tower or when Steve had placed a phone call to Tony. Explaining what had happen and to gather everyone into a conference room once he was there.
    "Alright, y/n, why don't you go take a shower and get changed. I'll be back in a bit, I have to talk to everyone." Steve broke your trance, his hands on either of your shoulders. You nodded lightly as he turned and left.

      Bucky shook his head, looking around. He had been thrown in the blast, over the wall and into the pen. His eyes landed on the dead tiger, he could tell from this distance as a piece of broken rebar stuck out from the animals side. He rolled to his feet, Bucky looked at the wall, he jumped up grabbing the top and pulled himself over the edge.
    His jacket caught on some ripped fence tearing the shoulder of his left sleeve. He reached over and ripped it off in one solid movement. His quick observation told him that you, Kayla and Steve were were gone. His face set as stone as he made his way back to the Stark Tower.

    "So what's our next play?" Tony asked, standing next to Steve, who was staring at the map of the city, rubbing his chin.
    "Tony, can you get in the traffic cams?" Sam asked, standing on the right side of Steve.
   "Already doing it. Started running them right after Cap called." He replied, "it's going to take a bit."
   "Our next play is find out where they would of taken them." Steve announced, growing frustrated at his lack of keeping the two of you safe.
   "To our knowledge there isn't any Hydra facilities anywhere near here." Natasha added, leaning against the wall looking at three men.
   "That you know of." Sam stated, looking at the red head.
    "My intel is good Wilson." She snipped, a small argument ensuing.
     "I know this is out of place, but did you tell them?" Tony asked Steve, in a hushed tone.
    "I didn't have the chance." Steve replied.
    "I'm telling you there is no facility in the state." Natasha's voice rose.
    "You're wrong." Your voice came out weakly. At some point you had entered the room and now you were standing directly behind them. You clothes still ripped, blood crusted to your forehead and hand. Dust still streaked your face, but you steeled yourself. You no longer held a thousand yard stare and body no longer shook.
     "Y/n" Steve started in, you held up your hand, a fire in your eye. You stepped between him and Tony, reaching up you pointed to a section in up state.
    "There is a medical facility owned by them up here. That's were they housed her after they stripped me of custody." You took a deep breath before continuing. "I followed them one time, it's a massive compound. And has armed guards, also from the way she explained it to me it heavily armed on the inside."
    "How many people do you think we should take?" Sam asked over the top of your head to Steve.
   "Go see if Wanda and Vision are up for a mission. Natasha get the quin-jet ready." Steve barked orders, Tony turning and leaving with them.
    "Steve." You grabbed his hand, making him stop. "What didn't you get a chance to tell us?"
    "Y/n," he sighed, slowly looking away at the floor before looking at you.
     "Tell me." You tone was serious.
     "I had Tony do a DNA test." He stated, looking up at the ceiling, his own nervousness was starting to show. You waited, knowing he wasn't done. "You have to understand, the only reason I did it was cause Kayla looks so much like Bucky when he was younger. I had to know, especially after I found out that no one knew her actual father was."
      "And?" Bucky's voice startled both you from the door way. Steve's eyes landed on his best friend.
     "It came back a match. You are her father." Your heart skipped a beat, as your brain registered the information that the hundred year old man dropped on you. Slowly your eyes went to Bucky. The mixture of confusion, pain, sadness, anger and hope crossed his face all at the same time.
      That's when you saw what Steve did, the way Bucky's mouth set into a thin line, brows punished together while deep in thought. Those intense blue eyes focused into nothingness, his dark hair framing his face. You let out the breath you had been holding, you couldn't believe you never saw it before. They were one and the same. Suddenly Bucky's eyes lifted, a cold look to him as his body went ridged.
    "Up state, right?" Bucky knew on thing was for certain. Each and everyone of the people in that compound were dead men walking now.