Bucky Barnes had found refuge on a small farm in Montana two years ago.
It was there that the Winter Soldier seemed to disappear from his mind and Bucky was able to be himself again.
He fell in love with a young woman. Ray introduced him into a wo...
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chapter thirty seven handcuffs
Ray had been in surgery for nearly four hours. She was immediately taken to the closest hospital where the best doctors could operate on the damaged leg.
Meanwhile, everyone else was immediately handcuffed and brought into custody. Every Avenger was held captive by the United States Government, and were brought to one of the most secure levels of the Capitol building, far below the surface. Ray and her father being the only exception. Bruce had managed to get away.
It had stayed that way for hours, they were locked in a small room; crowded and everyone on edge. Anger was radiating in the room at the failure of the last part of the plan. They needed to get out just as quickly as they came, but after the unexpected explosion their escape was not likely.
So now they sat and waited. They worried for themselves and for Ray, who no one know of her well being.
Bucky had put up a fight when she was taken from them. Because of this, while everyone else wasn't handcuffed, Bucky sat strapped to a chair. His thoughts were only of Ray and he prayed that she was okay.
"So what do you think is going to happen?" Natasha asked. She sat on the cold floor with her back against the wall. Steve stood above her.
"We wait. We just saved the damn country, maybe even the world. HYDRA could've easily gotten to those nuclear bomb codes if we weren't there to stop them." Tony said from his spot at the table.
"And what happens if they don't care?" Sam was leaning against the wall. His arms were crossed and an angry expression on his face.
"You all knew the risks. You could have opted out."
"That's easy for you to say. I'm sure Pepper is working her ass off to get you out of here." Sam countered.
"If you think for one second that I would let any of you rot in a jail cell, you don't know me very well. I fought like hell to get Wanda out. I will do the same for each and every one of you if I need to." Tony nearly yelled.
"Calm down." Natasha said; tired of the fighting. "Things will work out."
"And what about Ray?" Sam asked. "She could be sent off to a regular prison. Hell, she could be dead."
"That's enough." Steve spoke harshly at everyone. He saw how much his old friend was in pain and couldn't bare to see it. "Rhodey is working on it now. And Ray will be fine."
They sat in the small room for a few more quiet hours. The angered tension soon fell away into boredom, and then finally, one of almost friendship. It had been a long time since any of them got along so well, not really since Sokovia.
But in the privacy of the room and their lack of anything else to do, they shared stories of old times and laughed about nearly everything. They didn't let their dark thoughts get in the way. Instead, they took the small amount of time they had and decided to get along. None of them knew how much longer they'd be able to, anyway.
Across the city, Ray lay in a hospital bed. Her father sat beside her. He had not been seen in the events of earlier, and was safe for now. Though his biggest concern right now was his daughter; whose surgery was a success.
Though due to bone loss, metal stunts were put into her leg. Bruce knew it was only temporary, they would get her to Wakanda and Shuri would help her in more ways than any doctor in DC could.
Ray had only been awake a few minutes before she realized she was handcuffed to the bed and there were FBI agents outside her room.
"Hey Raybay." Bruce smiled when he saw that his daughter was awake.
"Hey dad." She blinked. The pain she had felt earlier was not as strong; her body healing her quicker than medicine.
"How are you feeling?"
"Sore. Where's Bucky?" Ray looked around the room. Her memory was foggy after the heavy drugs she had been on. "How long has it been?"
"Almost twelve hours. You had surgery on your leg. You probably won't be able to walk for a couple weeks. It's really bad."
"Am I going to prison?"
Bruce sighed. "I don't know yet. I've been trying to think of a way to get you out of here but... there's agents all over."
"It's okay. I'm sure that Bucky will break me out of wherever I'm sent to."
Bruce smiled at his daughter. "I like him, by the way. I think you two make sense."
Ray rolled her eyes. "I'm not talking about my romantic life with you, dad."
"Either way."
Ray smiled for only a second before a frown took over her face again. "Thea's dead. She saved my life. She jumped in front of me. I would be dead right now if it wasn't for her."
Bruce nodded slowly and took his daughter's hand. "I'm sorry. I know you two got close."
Ray nodded very slowly as she thought about her friend who gave up her life this morning. She knew she would always carry the guilt in her heart for what had happened this day. But she also knew that Thea was ready. She didn't belong in the world today. Ray found peace believing that Thea was with her family again.
Back in the Capitol building, after hours of waiting, Rhodey walked into the room. Everyone stood at the entrance of the War Machine. He stood tall and proud, much like Tony did.
Rhodey went to Tony first and gave his old friend a hug. Then he looked around the room and let out a sigh. "You guys sure made a mess."
"How bad is it?" Natasha asked.
"Well, you destroyed the emergency exit of the building and the two bases connected to it. Scared the hell out of some birds and other animals. But you stopped the beginning of what could have been a global catastrophe."
"So what does that mean?"
Rhodey smiled. "It's complicated. The UN needs to be involved, naturally. But the US is pushing to pardon you of your crimes. Though, there is a catch."
