The death and return of Hollie Barnes

Part 5

Pops sits next to me, holding me against him gently like I'm still a kid. "He'll be back soon." Dad had gone out about 3 hours ago to handle part of the set up. He was supposedly supposed to get caught up in a shooting. "Pops what if something went wrong-" "He's a trained assassin kid. Jamie will be okay." I smile at him calling dad Jamie, the nickname my father treasures so much from pops.

"Are you positive?" I look up at Pops my eyebrows furrowed. He smiles warmly. "Positive." My face curls up in a comforted grin. "Thank you pops." "Of course kid." He ruffles my hair chuckling softy. As if waiting for a perfect cue, the front door opens dad walking in in his blue jacket and black pants. His combat boots trail in mud and his long hair is messy. Pops and I stand up from the couch my eyes desperate for an answer on how it went. "Jamie!" Dad turns to Pops. "What?!" "No shoes on the carpet!" Dad rolls his eyes. "Calm down Sammy." he removes his boots one at a time setting them down. "Boots are the last thing you should worry about right now." he comes over giving Pops a quick peck on the lips. Panic arises in my chest spreading throughout my body at Dad's words. "Why? What happened?" "Holls-" "Dad. What happened?"

He takes a deep breath looking down. "The kid was shot." My face becomes panicked and surprised. "What?!" Pops grabs Dad's shoulders looking at him lovingly. "Jamie. I thought you said this was planned perfectly..." Dad looks at Pops looking defeated. "I thought it was..." "Dad. Which one do you mean by the kid." "The spiderling." "Peter?!" I dig my hand into the roots of my hair tugging harshly. "Shit. is he going to be okay?" Dad nods his head looking upset. Pops grabs him and pulls him into a hug gently as tears fall down Dad's face onto Pop's shirt. "Dad... it isn't your fault." I join the hug gently and suddenly I'm a kid again. I've just walked into the apartment for the first time, still calling Dad Bucky and Pops Birdy. I chuckle at the memory feeling like I might cry.

Pops rubs my back tenderly as Dad wipes his tears away. "You two leave tomorrow right?" Pops nods his head. "Unfortunately." I look down slightly upset and force a smile. "Well at least I'll see you in Russia." Dad smiles "you always wanted to go to Russia as a girl." "I did." With that I smile clinging to my parents for dear life.
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"You ready?" I look to Nick a silent mixed expression on my face. Am I? Better now then never. It's been a week since dad and pops "capture". They had been transported to Russia safely two days ago. All thats left... is me. "Let's do this." Nick smiles softly. "I'll miss you kid." I hug him tightly tears streaming down my cheeks. "Thank you Nick. For everything. For a family. For freedom. All of it. You've given me my entire life." I swear I see a tear run down the old mans cheek. I smile at his rare tender side. "You've got this kid." I nod getting in my car and starting the engine. Here we go
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     Doctors swarm me checking pulse,heartbeat and health so they can do this carefully. "So here's what's happening Ms. Barnes. We slow your heart rate enough to seem like a flatline. They take you in the medical truck and wake you. The injures will be called out by an inside nurse to seem real"

     Holy shit. This was planned well. Emotions swarm in my chest and a stray tear falls knowing I might never see my friends again. A harsh revolution that seems to keep coming back. But despite it all, I don't regret a moment of choice. I'm doing what's best for my family. They deserve this. They deserve freedom and safety.

"Are you ready?" I nod nervously. Not really, but the longer I wait the worse it gets. There's a prick in my arm and I'm laid down by a doctor. "Count backwards from 10." I sigh. "Ten, nine, eight, seven, s-" everything goes black.
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     I shoot up in a bed with a gasp immediately on defense as always. "Whoa there!" Pops grabs my metal arm with a flick of his wrist. I would expect nothing less from Captain America. "Pops?" "The one and only." I chuckle hugging him with a smile. "If I'm awake, that means-" "It worked. Yes. Yes it did." My face suddenly fills will concern. "How'd they take it..." Pop's sighs softly. "Not well...Gwen was heartbroken but I think Sasha and Peter had the hardest time out of them all." I tear up knowing this pain was on me. It was may fault. My choice. "Hey holls look at me..." I shift my eyes back to pops "They'll be okay. It's your turn to take a break." I nod hesitantly. "Now, I think a few others wanna see you too." I smile stretching and walking outside my room.

    "Holls?" MJ smiles softly from the end of the hallway.  "MJ!" I smile hugging her gently kissing her head. "I missed you." "I missed you too" a small tug comes from the bottom of my pants. "Mama?" My smile grows picking up my small daughter. "Em! I missed you so much" "more than mommy?" She tilts her head gently. I chuckle knowing to go along with it "Even more than mommy." Emily smiles satisfied with my answer. "How's my smallest?" MJ smiles brightly. "Started kicking yesterday. They're quite the fighter. Just like their mama" "O yeah? Are they as stubborn as their mom?" MJ raises a brow. "Hey now. I'm moody and just might jump on you." I laugh lightly my heart filling with joy. "I'd like to see you try." I gently shove her with a smile.

"I see. You say hello to everyone but me." Dad smirks his hair cut short one again. "Dad!" I hug him tightly. "Much better." "So Jamie gets a better greeting hm?" "O shush Sammy she likes me more" I pull away putting my hands up in defense. "Nuh uh. I am NOT getting in this argument."