Caught In The Widow's Web

Ch 18

Hill leads us through this secret facility. I have an arm around Steve's shoulders as he helps me walk and a man runs towards us, I assume he's a doctor.

"GSW. She's lost at least a pint." Hill says referring to Natasha's wounds.

"Maybe two." Sam adds.

"Let me take her." The doctor says.

"She'll want to see him first." Hill says and leads us to a different room.

We then see Nick Fury lying in bed as we look at him shocked.

"About damn time." He says.

Steve guides me to sit down and gets me some ice as Natasha's wound starts to get treated.

"Here." He says and I nod appreciative.

"I didn't know girls are in that much pain when they get kneed down there too." Sam says and I sigh.

Steve looks over to me and I shrug and nod.

"Well uh, J.D. is different, so technically-

"I have a dick. Rumlow found out and used it to his advantage." I say bluntly and pat Steve's stomach as he was standing next to me.

"Took too long buddy." I tell him shifting in my seat.

I then start to get up but Steve stops me.

"Where you going?" He asks.

"Bathroom." I mumble and walk away slowly.

I do my business then start to feel better and am able to walk normally. That fast healing factor from the serum comes in handy at times like these. I wash my hands then look in the mirror and down sadly holding back tears. I walk out with a sigh and make my way back to the others.

"Lacerated spinal column, cracked sternum, shattered collarbone, perforated liver, one hell of a headache." I hear Fury say.

"Don't forget about your collapsed lung." The doctor adds.

"Oh, let's not forget that. Otherwise, I'm good." Fury says.

"They cut you open, your heart stopped." Natasha speaks.

"Tetrodotoxin B. Slows the pulse to one beat a minute. Banner developed it for stress. Didn't work so great for him, but we found use for it." He shrugs.

"Why all the secrecy? Why not just tell us?" Steve asks.

"Any attempt on the director's life had to look successful." Hill speaks.

"Can't kill you if you're already dead. Besides, I wasn't sure who to trust." Fury adds.

~

We are now sitting around a table and Fury is looking at a picture of Pierce.

"This man declined the Nobel Peace Prize. He said, "Peace wasn't an achievement, it was a responsibility." See, It's stuff like this that gives me trust issues." Fury scoffs.

"We have to stop the launch." Natasha says.

"I don't think the Council's accepting my calls anymore." He say and then goes to open a case containing three chips.

"What's that?" Sam asks confused.

"Once the Helicarriers reach three thousand feet, they'll triangulate with Insight satellites becoming fully weaponized." Hill informs.

"We need to breach those carriers and replace their targeting blades with our own." Fury says.

"One or two won't cut it. We need to link all three carriers for this to work, because if even one of those ships remains operational a whole lot of people are gonna die." Hill explains.

"We have to assume everyone aboard those carriers is HYDRA. We need to get pass them, insert the server blades, and maybe, just maybe, we can salvage what's left." Fury sighs.

"We're not salvaging anything. We're not just taking down the carriers, Nick, we're taking down SHIELD." I break my silence making everyone turn to me.

"SHIELD had nothing to do with it." Fury tells me.

"You gave me this mission, this is how it ends. SHIELD's been compromised, you said it yourself. HYDRA grew right under your nose and nobody noticed." I shake my head.

"Why do you think we're meeting in this cave? I noticed." He says.

"And how many paid the price before you did?" I grit.

"Look, I didn't know about Barnes." He shakes his head.

"Even if you have would you have told me? Or would you have compar- com- comarp-

"Compartmentalized." He nods.

"No! Don't! Don't do that!" I point at him.

"I'm starting to think SHIELD stands for Secrets Have Integrated Every Lying Director. I always knew something was up with this place." I scoff.

"Then why do you stay?" Fury asks.

"To protect people like them." I motion to the others.

"But I didn't accomplish anything if I couldn't even protect my own brother." I shake my head then go to grab my shield.

"Do what you guys want. The Winter Soldier, is mine." I say then head outside.

~

I'm standing on the bridge looking down at my shield. The similarities it had with Buck's arm. I then take out a picture from my wallet of him and I when I hear footsteps. I turn slightly to see Steve and Sam. I sniff softly not looking at either of them.

"It's okay to cry. You need to release all these emotions." Steve tells me softly but I ignore it.

"Remember that." I say showing with the worn out picture.

"Yeah, high school. You and Buck on the baseball team after you guys won the championship." He smiles.

"Bases loaded, bottom of the ninth. And it's up to me to win." I chuckle softly.

"People thought I was gonna choke. I look over to third base where Bucky stood, ready to run home. We make eye contact and he nods, having complete faith in me. Not a single look of doubt in his eyes. I miss the first two times. People already starting to heckle. I look over again to Bucky and he still has the same look in his eyes. Never given up in me. I look over to the pitcher and he throws the ball and I knock it out of the park." I smile.

"Brought everyone home." I add softly.

"He's gonna be there you know." Sam says.

"I know. I'm counting on it." I say.

"Look, whoever he used to be, the guy he is now. I don't think he's the kind you save. He's the kind you stop." He adds.

"He's my brother. He's always the kind I save." I state.

"Well he might not give you a choice. He doesn't know you." He tells me.

"He will." I nod.

"Gear up. It's time." Steve speaks up and I nod.

"Y'all gonna wear that?" Sam asks.

"No. If you're gonna fight a war, you gotta wear a uniform." Steve says as we leave.