Taming The Ghost

Chapter 24

Everything escalated much faster than any of us thought it would. The window we were stood next to dissipated when a grenade was hurled through it. Bucky caught me under his arm and we both crouched, his body over mine, shielding me from the explosion. Steve, with his cat-like reflexes, batted the device away from us and back towards the fire escape, blowing the dilapidated door off its hinges. Suddenly, another came flying through the next window, landing right at Bucky's feet. There was just enough time for him to kick it across the floor to Steve who dampened the blow by slamming his shield down on top of it.

There was no time to breathe before we heard the slam of a battering ram at the front door that coincided with a gunshot that was absorbed by our mattress, which Bucky had flung up from the floor with his left arm.

"Laura, get the door!" Bucky instructed

"Already on it." I said, already running to push all of my body weight against the brittle front door. With every strike of the battering ram my body bounced an inch off the door, but my shoulder remained steadfast, pushing back with as much might as I could muster.

"Get down!" Bucky shouted. I dropped to the floor and before I knew it, our fold-away table was flying through the air towards me. I closed my eyes, pulling myself into the smallest ball I could. A crash above me told me I was still alive. Re-opening my eyes, I looked up to find the table an inch from my face, wedged perfectly in the narrow corridor, blocking the door.

Meanwhile, Steve and Bucky were dealing with the soldiers who had just swung in through the windows.

There was fighting on every side. Fists were flying, carpets being pulled from beneath people. I kept to the side for a moment, away from the action as it seemed the boys had it handled. As the action slowed, at least for now, I emerged from under the lodged table and made a break for the fire escape.

Just before I outstretched my hand to reach the handle, the door was bust down by a soldier who came in gun first. Steve pushed me out of the way and grabbed the barrel of his rifle, angling it slightly upward, allowing Bucky to come in and send him flying over the railing with a kick to the stomach. As soon as he was dealt with, Bucky and I made a break for it. Steve caught Bucky's arm, halting him in his path.

"Buck, stop. You're gonna kill someone."

"No I'm not." Bucky said confidently

"Steve, let him go." I said hurriedly.

"Laura, you don't know what you're doing." Steve replied, looking me in the eyes.

It hurt that I was being doubted, but what hurt more was that it was coming from someone who had been my best friend for years. He should be the first person to know that I can do anything I choose.

"Nobody gets to tell me what I'm capable of."