The Red Star

Chapter 9

It was early in the morning and Jay had just gotten up to make breakfast. She was trying to do it as quietly as possible to let Bucky sleep because of what happened the night before. She was currently looking for eggs and milk to make scrambled eggs and bacon when she heard a noise near her.

"What's for breakfast?" Bucky's voice startled her and she spun around to see him opening the fridge and leaning in. Jay stared a moment at the fact that he was shirtless then said,

"Scrambled eggs and bacon."

"Sounds good." Bucky replied with a yawn, seating himself at the table.

Jay wanted to ask him about what had happened that early morning, but decided not to. Instead, she grabbed a glass and the milk carton and turned asking,

"You want some milk?"

Bucky shot her a look that would have terrified her if she knew what it meant. His pulse quickened as flashes of memories shot through his head, Alexander Pearce's words "want some milk?" and the pain of the machine.

Jay noticed his quickened breathing then set the glass and milk down, walking up next to him. Hesitantly she reached out and touched his shoulder, the cuff of her Captain America jacket brushing against his skin.

"Bucky?" she said.

The next thing she knew, was that his metal hand was gripping her by the throat and she was shoved hard against the fridge. Bucky's stare was hard, and his expressions were twisted into a mix of hate, rage, sorrow and pain.

"Buck..." was all she managed to wheeze as his cold, metal fingers wrapped tighter around her neck. Her toes were barely touching the floor and her hands gripped his wrist, trying to pull away. Tears were forming in her eyes as she realized that this may be the way she dies. She looked Bucky right in the eye and noticed his fazed look, like he didn't even know what he was doing.

"Bucky." she finally was able to say.

It was then that she began to feel her body go into convulsions from lack of air and she managed to say,

"James. Please."

Bucky's eyes suddenly grew wide and he gasped as he tore his hand away, stumbling back into the table. He had blacked out and didn't come to until he heard his name said.

"Jay!?" Bucky dropped beside her crumpled figure as she coughed and hacked, curled up on the floor.

"Jay." Bucky said.

She flinched.when she felt his hand on her and she pressed herself hard against the fridge, her hand touching her neck. Tears were in here eyes and on her flushed cheeks as she breathed harshly, watching him.

Bucky was staring at the choker of black and blue skin around Jay's neck. He reached out to touch her neck, his fingers running over the bruise.

"Jay?" he said.

Her bottom lip began to tremble when Bucky added, "I'm sorry."

He then snatched her into his arms continuing, "Oh Lord, I am so sorry."

Jay could feel his heartbeat as she was pressed against him. She looked at him. It was beating just as rapidly as her own. She pulled away and looked at him as he stared at the bruise he gave her.

"Bucky." she said as softly as she could. "Bucky I'm alright."

He still could not remove his stare from her neck and she took his face in het hands gently.

"Bucky please."

He then looked at her, his hands covering hers.

"You're shaking." he said.

"I'm fine Bucky." she said. "Are you alright though?"

"You're shaking and your pulse is erratic." Bucky said, " You need to lie down."

Before she could protest, he had scooped her up into his arms and she was being laid down on her bed. The moment his arms let her go, her arms wrapped around his neck. He tried to pull away once or twice, but Jay held tight saying,

"It's not your fault."

Fighting to escape Jay's embrace and the tears that burned his eyes, Bucky surrendered the fight when she said,

"It's not your fault."

He was kneeling on the hard floor and she was at the edge of the bed as his arms wrapped around her torso and he hid his face, almost like a child and let out silent sobs as his shoulders trembled as much as Jay was as she held him close. She laid her cheek on the top of his head and wove her fingers into his hair gently saying,

"It's not your fault."