The aftermath of chapter three as well as the matter of trust. All errors are my own and unintentional. Would love to hear what you think.


Trust Issues.

"Quit fussing, you know I heal quick," Bucky tells her.

Corrie glares at him.

"Twelve stitches Bucky, that scratch as you called it, has twelve stitches holding the edges together. It may very well scar," she retorts.

"It won't because I heal quick and I don't scar," he answers calmly.

"The ones on your shoulder beg to differ," she retorts and he falls silent. She quietly sighs. She hadn't meant for that to slip out the way that it did but there is extensive scarring around the left shoulder joint courtesy of God knows how many surgeries he went through decades ago.

"I'm sorry," she sighs.

"It's fine. You're right but they're the only scars that I have."

Bucky is sitting on the edge of a gurney in the medical wing. A very capable doctor has stitched the edges of the wound together and bandaged fresh gauze padding into place. He's been offered painkillers as well as instructions to keep an eye open for infection. Bucky only nods, too tired to explain that regular painkillers have next to no effect on him and the super-soldier serum coursing through his blood means that he doesn't really get infections either. It stings a little when he takes a deeper breath, the stitches pulling but that won't last for long.

"I've had worse. It may not look like a scratch but it feels like it. How's Annie?"

"How should I know? Sam and Fury have taken her to interrogation. Her phones are in the lab being picked apart. I'll find out more when I get back." She's still testy. He can see the strain around her eyes, in the purse of her lips. She's most definitely pissed off.

"I'm okay, there's no need to worry," he tells her in a lower voice. She looks into his eyes but doesn't immediately answer.

"I vetted Annie myself. As far as I was concerned, she was perfect for the job."

"And she was. It was after she started work here that she was approached. Family is a weak spot for some." It's something he's still thinking about, "It's not your fault."

"Yeah, if that's the case then why does it feel like it is?" Her voice lowers, as does her head.

"Because you're a perfectionist and you rely on the people around you to do their very best at all times too. You feel let down. I think we all do." He watches how she slowly lifts her head and looks into his eyes. He realises hers are a distinctive shade of green and right now they're so sad.

"I didn't think anyone noticed," she murmurs.

"We'd noticed." Her lips tilt with the faintest of smiles at his confirmation.

"You didn't sleep so good last night, huh?" he asks.

"Did you?" Her tone is slightly tart.

"Not particularly. It's not exactly a comforting thought wondering if there's something in your arm monitoring your every move. I mean, if that's what it is, it's been monitoring us for the last, how long?, four, five months? And if it is a bug, what else is it apart from a tracker?"

"That's what I'm worried about," Corrie admits, swallowing slowly. "If it has listening in capabilities, I dread to think what kind of information has been accessed. I should've been more careful, more observant, more…"

"Hey. No, you don't get to do that. You're a perfectionist, yeah. You're hard working and you are observant and careful but what you're not is psychic. No one knew this was going on. Nobody. Not even me."

Another faint smile. "You're good for a girl's ego, Barnes,"

"Just telling you how I see it, that's all. Are we done here?"

"Yeah, I think so. I'm also thinking it's a good idea that you head back to quarters and rest up, quick healing capabilities or not."

There's a tap on the med bay door and both of them look to see Sam standing in the entrance.

"Has she told you who told her to plant the bug yet?" Corrie demands. She watches him slowly shake his head.

"She's shut down. She saw Bucky bleeding and went radio silent."

"Damn it," Corrie hisses. In the meanwhile, Sam and Bucky exchange a single look.

"Do you think she'll talk to me?" Bucky enquires, ignoring Corrie's look of wide eyed surprise.

"No, you're heading back to quarters, remember?" she reminds him but Bucky ignores her and continues to stare at Sam.

"That's the thought Fury had and it's why I'm here. She's still in interrogation. Will you talk to her?"

"Gimme a few, I need to change my shirt but I'll be there soon," Bucky replies.

"I'll let Fury know," Sam confirms and heads away.

Corrie turns and she glares at Bucky.

"What happened to heading back to quarters and resting up?" she demands.

"Hey, that was your suggestion, not mine. I keep telling you I'm fine so I'm going to change my shirt and go and see if I can help out," he answers calmly.

"That's not part of your job!" she hisses at him and he goes very still.

"Yeah, because my job is to act tough and take out the bad guys with guns and fists, right? No, my job is to help where I can and if that means sitting and talking to Annie to get any piece of relevant information I can, then I'll goddamn do it. You can't stop me." He glares at her and his eyes seem to glow with determination.


He's still a little angry as he heads to their living quarters and to his room. He peels off the ruined shirt and dumps it onto his bed. He heads to his closet and opens it and rifles through the items of clothing he has hung up and pulls out a navy blue t-shirt, pulling it on, ignoring the pull of the stitches across his ribcage.


Bucky taps on the door and waits for Fury to invite him in. He then goes inside.

It's a little room with a small table and four chairs and a two way mirror gracing one wall and that's pretty much it.

Fury sits at the table but he's alone. Bucky sees Annie seated on a chair that's been placed beside the mirror. She's curled up, her knees beneath her chin, her head bent, hair hiding her face. He looks at Fury.

"She's been like that for the past hour. Hasn't said a damned word."

Bucky looks back at Annie and he sighs. "Okay. Can I try?" he asks, keeping his voice low.

Fury holds out a hand, "Be my guest."


Bucky picks up one of the chairs and carries it over to where Annie is huddled. He glances up at the ceiling and sees the camera there, a single red light glowing steadily; recording everything in high definition and Dolby surround sound.

"Hey Annie," he greets quietly as he places the chair down beside her. Her head twitches to the side a little but she doesn't look at him or even acknowledge his presence. Slowly Bucky lowers himself onto his chair. He then leans forward a little, resting his forearms on his thighs, ignoring the sharper pain that dances across his ribs.

"Hey. You wanna look at me?" he requests, still keeping his tone quiet and somewhat light. Friendly almost and after a moment she lifts her head and she looks at him. Bucky gently smiles. "Hi."

She doesn't say a word in response, just stares at him with glossy dark brown eyes.

"You want something to drink? Coffee, tea, soda or water?" he asks. She shakes her head. "Okay but let me know if you change your mind."

"Are you okay?" Annie's voice is mouse quiet and barely audible in the room. Bucky sits up a little straighter.

"Yeah. It was just a scratch, it'll heal, won't even leave a scar."

"There was so much blood. I'm so sorry I hurt you," she whispers.

"You didn't hurt me." He watches her lower her head again, resting her forehead against her upturned knees.

"I shouldn't have done what I did." Her voice is still a little muffled.

"It was an accident. You were scared and you lashed out. You're worried about your sister. I get that. You'll do anything for her. You were trying to protect her." He watches as once more she lifts her head from her knees and she regards him.

"You have sisters?"

"Two." He doesn't tell her that they're no longer around, he's not sure how much she knows about him.

"And you'd do…anything… to protect them, right?"

"Anything and everything." He hears the long ragged sigh that escapes from her lungs. She straightens up further, uncurls her legs and places her feet on the floor. Bucky watches as she wipes her eyes. It smears mascara or something beneath them, making her look all the more fragile and vulnerable. He wonders how old she is.

"You said that they made you plant the bug in my arm. Who were you talking about?" Bucky enquires. For the longest moment Annie just stares at him.

"If I tell you, they'll kill her."

"Not if we get her out of wherever they're holding her, first."

Annie just shakes her head. "You'll never find her. No one can."

"You've tried?" A nod.

"Why don't you let us try, huh?" he suggests. "How about you give me a name and let's see how far we can go from there?" He sees how she stares at him. She so badly wants to trust him. He takes a slow deep breath.

"For years I was made to do what other people wanted. For their own gain. Over and over. In my case, I didn't know any different. The people who were holding me made sure of it. I just did as I was told because the consequences if I didn't were much worse than what they wanted me to do in the first place."

"How…"

"Did it stop? I managed to get away. Then I trusted someone."

"And they didn't let you down?"

Bucky shakes his head. "No he didn't." He regards her for a moment and he tilts his head to the side.

"The hardest thing a person can do is decide to take a chance and trust someone. I can see that you're not a bad person Annie. I can see that you're scared. You're doing this to save your sister. I understand that, I do. We can help you and her. Right now the tech geeks upstairs are taking both phones apart and I guarantee you they'll find something that will reveal her destination to them. The moment they do, me and the team will go in and get her out. We'll get you both somewhere safe where they can't get at you or her. You just need to take a chance and trust someone."

Annie stares at him as if transfixed.

"You'll keep us safe?"

"We will. Will you tell us their name?"

After another long second that feels incredibly stretched out, Annie nods.


He emerges from interrogation to see both Sam and Corrie in the corridor.

"You waiting for me?" he enquires as he begins to walk. He's exhausted. His ribcage is really sore now and the bandage feels like it's wound too tight. They fall into step beside him.

"So, we have a name," Sam begins.

Bucky huffs out a sigh, "Yeah. No idea who it is though, which isn't a stretch for me so I'm hoping the people upstairs will have a better idea."

He then glances at Corrie, who hasn't spoken.

"I thought you would be hunting down the name Annie gave up. Isn't that your super-power?"

"Alex French? I'm going to get on to that shortly. You are definitely going to rest up now, right? I can tell that your ribs are hurting."

"I'm okay, Corrie, please stop fussing," he sighs.

"Listen to her man, you're tired, even I can see it," Sam interrupts and Bucky all but glares at him.

"Does the name mean anything to you?" he asks Corrie, deliberately ignoring Sam and his concern. "Because I remember Fury saying a name was interesting but would only share it if it checked out. Is it the same name?"

"Not at liberty to say right now, Barnes. You'll be the first to know when I am," she answers coolly and Bucky rolls his eyes.

"Is it the name you and Fury were investigating earlier?" he perseveres. Corrie doesn't answer and her expression is carefully blank and it irritates him.

"Right. Need to know basis. I don't need to know. Message received and understood."

"Hey now, everyone is just trying to do their jobs here. Why don't we all just calm down and see where Annie's information takes us?" Sam suggests. Bucky looks at him again.

"Yeah, why don't we? Right now, I'm going back to the complex to get something to eat. I skipped breakfast this morning. Let me know when I can be of further assistance, supposing you decide that I need to know." He heads off without saying goodbye and Sam and Corrie pause and watch him walk away.

"Damn Corrie, what the hell did you say to him? Apart from that?"

"What makes you think it was something I said?" Corrie answers. Sam notices that she doesn't deny it outright.

"Because he's usually a pretty calm dude all things considered. Today? Not so much."

Corrie sighs and she starts to walk again leaving Sam with no other option but to follow.

"Well he did have a bug in his arm, Sam. Chances are he's cranky because of that. Or because of the scalpel that sliced him open."

"Maybe but I've seen lack of sleep level of cranky from him and I've seen him in moderate pain kind of cranky and this is not that. He is most definitely pissed off kind of cranky. So? You gonna fill me in?" he retorts.

A moment passes before Corrie sighs.

"We may have had a difference of opinion in the medical bay earlier," she admits.

"About what?"

She stares at him, biting her lower lip contemplatively and Sam rolls his eyes.

"Corrie. About what?" he demands.

"Bucky's job description. I told him talking to Annie was a bad idea. That it wasn't part of his job." She glances at him. Sees how his eyes widen at this piece of information.

"He's more than just muscle and a top grade sniper, Corrie. Surely you know that by now."

"If you're asking whether I read his file, you know that I did. I read yours too."

"Then you should know that part of his personal mission is to begin to make amends for what he did as the Asset. He wants to make things right. In whatever way he can. Not just this mission. His personal mission."

"But talking to Annie? Why?"

"God Corrie, you really don't see it? Because he identifies with what that girl did and why. You watched their interview? You saw what I saw? He was great with her. She opened right up to him and he got the information that we needed. Now you're keeping potentially important information away from him and why? You still think he's just the muscle in this operation? Do you really not trust him?"

"I'm still getting to know him, Sam."

He rolls his eyes at this. "Pardon my language Corrie but that's bullshit and you know it. It's been six months. Six months. He's always had your back as well as mine. He's never once given you a reason not to trust him, not once, so what's really going on here?"

Corrie huffs out a sigh and then just shakes her head.

"I don't know Sam," she admits.

"You honestly think he'll betray you, us? For real? I'll let you into a secret. I didn't trust him for the longest time. I thought he was nothing but bad news when Steve was looking for him after Project Insight. Then the stuff in Vienna, Bucharest and Berlin happened and I was pretty convinced I was right about him and that Steve was just chasing a memory. Then I got to know him in Wakanda. I got to see more of who Steve remembered, who he knew. Underneath it all, he's a decent guy. Yeah, a bit fried around the edges but since the battle of Wakanda and the fight at Avengers HQ, he's a guy I'd want at my back, every single time. Give him a chance, that's all I ask. Just a chance. He won't let you down. He hasn't yet, has he?" He sees the thoughtful expression that crosses her face.

"And if you tell him I said any of that, I'll deny it, to your face and his," he tacks on and smiles when Corrie quietly chuckles.


The complex is blessedly silent. Bucky sighs quietly as he heads to the kitchen area and spends a couple of minutes hunting through the cupboards, searching for something to eat. He finds the makings for a decent sandwich and spends a few more minutes putting one together, throwing in a handful of potato chips as accompaniment. He rescues a can of soda from the fridge and goes to sit at the large table. Before he eats, he pulls his phone out of the back pocket of his jeans and finds Katie's number and calls it.

He's almost disappointed to get her voicemail.

"Hey kiddo, just me checking in. Hope you're okay. Call me back if you want to, I still owe you for dinner right? I'd like to take you up on that sometime soon, okay? Okay. Talk to you soon. Bye'. He disconnects, putting his phone on the table beside the plate and he sighs again.


He turns his head when he hears the gentle tap on his open door and he sees Corrie standing there. This time there's no beer.

"Can I come in?" she asks. Bucky nods and watches as she does so. Her stride is slow, exhausted and he can see it beneath her eyes and in the paleness of her skin.

"How much sleep did you get last night?" he asks as she slowly lowers herself onto the bed beside him.

"An hour maybe. I'm starting to feel it now though."

"But you're done for today, right?"

She just nods.

"My brain is pudding. I just want to face plant and sleep the rest of the day away. How about you?"

"I've just chilled, caught up with a bunch of stuff. Took that time you recommended I should take."

"Do you feel better for it?" It's Bucky's turn to nod. He then looks away and continues on with the task he'd been undertaking prior to her arrival.

"What are you doing?"

"Taking off the damn bandage."

"Are you sure that's wise?" she enquires and her eyes widen marginally when he looks back at her. "Quick healing. Understood but I didn't think it was that quick."

"It's annoying me." He looks back at it and frowns.

"You want me to help?" she asks. Another look her way. "Unless you're a secret contortionist too?"

Bucky sighs loudly and lowers both hands and his head at the same time.

"Damn it, I knew there was something I'd missed at super soldier school," he mutters and Corrie smiles. "Sure. I'd appreciate it, thanks," he answers. "First aid kit is on the book case beside the pictures, should be some scissors in there." He watches her head over to it and locate it and head back. She sits on his other side as she opens the metal box and sorts through its contents for a second or two before locating the scissors. She looks at him. He sits there, bare chested, seemingly unbothered by the fact that she can see the whole of his metal arm from shoulder to fingertip, including those pink scratch like scars around the shoulder joint.

"Actually, I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to apologise," she begins. She reaches for the bandage that the medic wrapped around his abdomen, slides a finger beneath it and she feels warm smooth skin. She knows that he takes care of himself. Visits the gym daily, works out, keeps the intake of junk food to a minimum and as a result doesn't carry an inch of fat on his torso. She takes a breath and begins to cut away the bandage. She looks up at him to see him watching her, a somewhat wary expression in his eyes.

"Apologise for what?" he eventually asks, voice husky. She holds his gaze for a second longer before concentrating on the bandage.

"For being an unreasonable bitch this morning and for not giving you the credit and the respect that you deserve." She takes a slow deep breath as she continues to cut through the bandages.

"You were fantastic with Annie this morning during her interrogation. I should've realised that you would find a connection with her. I'm shocked I didn't realise that myself." She cuts through the final part and helps him remove the rest of the bandage. She sees what looks like a giant band aid taped across the cut.

"How does it feel?" she asks. He looks down at it.

"Doesn't even hurt anymore," he tells her.

"Really?" She watches as he begins to peel away the band aid, "Oh, should you be doing that already?" she asks, worriedly.

"Really and yeah. Look." He peels the rest of it away and she can see already that the edges have knitted together. It looks like it's a week old instead of hours old.

"Wow. You weren't kidding about healing quickly, were you," she whispers. She goes to touch it but curls her fingers into a fist at the last moment and drops her hand into her lap.

"And I also wanted to let you know that the name Annie gave us isn't the one on the no need to know just yet list."

"Will you ever tell me the name on that list?" he asks her. She looks at her for the longest moment.

"One day."

"One day?"

Her response is just a shrug. He thinks back to the day they met, how she'd looked at him then, how he'd sensed- he doesn't know what to call it exactly, a connection, an understanding, perhaps? Whatever it was, he can sense it now. She's looking at him the same way. There's a reason why she's not telling him the whole story. He's almost sure there's something else going on here but he's damned if he knows what it is.

"Maybe you should upgrade my security clearance here," he half teases and waits to see what she'll say to that, if anything.

"Maybe I should," she replies. She then pauses and looks down at her hands in her lap, clenched into loose fists before she makes eye contact with him again.

"We're good now aren't we Bucky?" she asks.

He holds her gaze for a minute. He wants to say absolutely but something holds him back. For whatever reason, Corrie doesn't completely trust him and the thought of that after the conversations they've shared over the past months, stings a little.

"We're okay Corrie," he eventually replies.

She wishes him good night and he watches her leave. She has secrets. He understands that, probably more than anyone here. He has a few of his own. Some he remembers but he still has things that are nothing more than a grey haze in his memory. He knows he's done a lot of bad things in the past. He wonders about Corrie though. He wonders what it is that she's hiding because he's almost certain that she is.