CHAPTER NINE

Bye Soldier

- - - - -

After dropping off some food for Sam at the hospital, Ana took a walk in the park. Steve was still recovering from his injuries, Natasha was at the Department of Defence, Maria took a job at Tony's company, and Nick Fury was somewhere unknown to her.

She smiled at a few kids running around in Steve's uniform, their little hands holding plastic shields. She sat down on a bench at the quieter end of the park, looking at the water fountain in front of her. Ana had no idea what she was going to do now. SHIELD was gone, she was no longer an agent, therefore no longer apart of something.

She always had the idea that she was meant for something greater, joining SHIELD did it for her because she was helping people. Her abilities, she still didn't know how the hell she got them, maybe it was genetic or a mutation. Now that she was no longer busy, she could look for answers. She heard of a school for gifted youngsters, maybe she'd stop by and look around.

Ana felt the weight of the bench lower, signalling someone sat next to her. She looked over to the right side, widening her eyes. Bucky was sitting down with a cap over his head and he was wearing normal clothes, a backpack at his feet.

"What the hell? What are you doing here" She asked, keeping her voice down, "You're supposed to be half way to Australia by now."

"I couldn't leave, not yet." He replied, shuffling closer to her and putting an arm on the back of the bench, behind her head. He had to seem as normal as possible.

Ana looked at him, frowning slightly, "Is this about Steve?" She asked.

"Captain America believes me to be someone I'm not," Bucky said, "But he doesn't know all the things I've done, the horrors I've committed." His metal arm creaked as he pull his hand into a fist.

Ana put a hand on his arm, "It's not your fault, that was all Hydra. You were brainwashed by them, constantly being put away like a toy until they had use for you." She told him, "Steve wants to bring you back, the real Bucky Barnes. His best friend." She whispered, removing her hand to place on her lap.

"I should punish them, every man that did this to me." Bucky said, "They made me do terrible things, they're responsible." Ana's eyes darted to his bag and looked back at him, "You know where they are." She stated.

He nodded and she turned to face him, making him look into her eyes. Ana gave him a look, "Bucky, you don't need any more blood on your hands." She said, "I was thinking about leaving to find some answers, find someone who can help me with recovering my own memories. You should come with me." She said.

Bucky stayed silent, he then sighed and shook his head softly. "Looking for answers would only invite trouble, Ana. I have my own path I need to take. And I can't have you with me when that trouble comes." He told her.

Bucky stood up and grabbed his bag, placing it over his back. Ana went to her feet as he held out a hand. She took his and held it, looking at him. "This isn't goodbye, soldat," She smiled at him, and he let out a small chuckle at his nickname.

"I know." He smirked, "We have a tendency to cross paths."

Ana gave him a smile, lifting a shoulder. "Hey, not all of those times have been bad. I did enjoy that time in-"

"Dubai?"

Bucky smirked when she blushed. She shook her head, "Uh, no, I don't remember Dubai." She cleared her throat awkwardly.

Bucky nodded his head, "Really? You sure?" He asked, stepping closer, letting their chests touch. Ana tried to look anywhere but his blue eyes when he started to lean in.

Ana smacked his stomach making him wince at her strength, "In my defence I had no idea you were the Winter Soldier. You didn't wear your mask. It was really hot and have you seen your face? It's-" Ana started to move her hands over his face, "Great."

Bucky gave her a smile before stuffing his hands in his pockets and dropping his head when an officer walked past them, "Is he looking?" He asked quietly, clenching his jaw and avoiding the suspicious gaze of the officer.

Ana lit up with an idea and grabbed Bucky's face and crashed her lips to his. He widened his eyes in shock, but soon enough he returned the kiss, closing his eyes and pulled her closer to him. The officer scrunched his face and walked off uncomfortably.

Ana pulled away first and checked behind him, seeing the officer long gone. She grinned and gave him a wink, "Public displays of affection make people very uncomfortable." She quoted, remembering the way Natasha kissed Steve to avoid them being caught by Rumlow. And it never fails to work.

Bucky fidgeted, giving her a strained smile, "Yes, they do." He agreed and Ana flushed pink,

"Oh my God, Bucky."

- - -

Director Nick Fury, well former director, stood in front of his own gravestone, wearing a hoody over his head and glasses instead of wearing his eye patch. Ana was a little bummed the eye patch was gone. They was standing with Steve and Sam.

"So, you've experienced this sort of things before?" Fury asked.

"You get used to it." Steve said, reading Fury's gravestone. 'The path of a righteous man. Ezekiel 25:17.'

"We've been data-mining HYDRA's files. Looks Like a lot of rats didn't go down with the ship. I'm heading to Europe tonight, wanted to ask if you'd come." Fury said, glancing at the three next to him.

Ana clicked her tongue and shoved her hands in her pockets, "Sorry, Nick, but I think I need some time off for now." She said, giving him an apologetic smile. Fury just sighed, but nodded his head in understanding.

"There's something I gotta do first." Steve said, glancing at him.

Fury nodded at him, and turned to Sam. "How about you, Wilson? I could use a man with your abilities."

"I'm more of a soldier than a spy." Sam said, glancing between Steve and Fury.

"Alright then." Fury said, shaking Sam's hand and then Steve's. "Anybody asks for me, tell them they can find me right here." He nodded his head at his gravestone before Ana took him by surprise and hugged him.

Ana buried her face into his chest, "I'm going to miss you, Fury." She said. Steve and Sam watched a little amused when Fury glared at them. He ignored them and hugged Ana back. "I might miss you too, Michaels. You can let go now." He said before they pulled away.

Ana nodded at him, hitting his shoulder to get rid of the mushy moment. Fury just smirked before walking away.

"You should be honored, that's about as close as he gets to saying thank you." Natasha said, walking down the hillside to the cemetery. Steve turned to look at her as she joined him, Sam and Ana with a file in her hand.

She looked at Ana, "I'm surprised he didn't chop off your hands."

Ana smiled at her, "I grew on him. It's a habit." She shrugged.

"Not going with him?" Steve asked Natasha curiously.

"No." She said with a smile, shaking her head.

"Not staying here." Steve said.

Natasha pursed her lips together. "I blew all my covers, I gotta go figure out a new one." She said.

"That might take a while." Ana said.

"I'm counting on it." She smiled at her before handing Steve a file. "That thing you asked for, I called in a few favors from Kiev. Will you do me a favor? Call that nurse."

"She's not a nurse." Steve said, taking the file in his hands. He looked at it then at Natasha. She smiled. "And you're not a SHIELD agent."

"What was her name again?" Steve asked.

"Sharon," Natasha said. "She's nice."

Sam and Ana were taking turns in throwing rocks to see who throws it further. Sam picked one up and winked at her before throwing it about ten metres, making it hit a tree and rebound back. He grumbled when Ana laughed at him, looking away when she pointed at him.

Steve smiled at her laugh, glancing at her. He then looked down at the file in his hands and sighed.

Natasha walked up to him, gently held onto his arm and placed a kiss on his cheek before she walked away. Ana yelled out a goodbye making Natasha smile back at her. They both knew they'd catch up again soon.

She turned around slightly, "Be careful, Steve. You might not want to pull on that thread. And Ana, don't get into too much trouble."

"Yeah, yeah." Ana waved her hand.

Steve and Ana watched her leave as he started to pull read the file she got for him. There he was, Sergeant James Buchanan 'Bucky' Barnes trapped in ice. His black and white photograph was attached to the edge of the page. He looked so... normal in his uniform. Ana smiled at his photo slightly.

Ana scratched her neck awkwardly as she peered down at Bucky's photo. When he left her at the park, something inside her felt empty. She just waved it off as worry for him, scared he will just put more blood on his hands. She did tell Steve that she was the last to see him, and also told him she had no idea where Bucky planned on going. But she didn't say anything about a kiss.

"You're going after him?" Sam asked.

"You don't have to come with me." Steve said.

"I know." Sam said, nodding with Ana. They turned to face Steve.

"When do we start?"

- - - - -

And finish! I hope you enjoyed and please tell me what you thought! Now onto the Avengers: Age of Ultron! I've got so much planned it's going to be awesome.

Q- What would you like to see in the Ultron phase?