The Story Book

Cont... "Mission accomplished. We have the doctor. Captain, do you copy?" The radio crackled.  James looked over at the radio that had been lost in the scuffle. He was sitting on his knees staring out the hole. It may have been minutes or hours sitting there, the cold air whipping in. Everything was numb and cold as James slowly got up he picked up the brightly colored shield. In one emotion-filled moment, he almost chucked it out after his best friend. Then everything sharpened for James. Legacy, that was all that was left. Hunting Hydra had been Steve's mission, now it would have to be his legacy. Scooping up the radio James moved into a quieter train car. "Affirmative Gabe. I copy." "Sergeant? Where's the Captain?" Gabe ask clearly confused. James looked back at the gaping hole, "He's gone. Captain down. Stop this train and call in the rest of the Commandos."  There was shocked silence then, "Yes sir." Th...

I came up with this a while ago and everyone I pitched the idea to went OH MY GOODNESS YES! So here it is. This is an AU so the universe is mostly the same.  I am by no means agreeing with this idea or supporting Hydra Cap but I wanted to explore what something like this would do to Bucky. I have already been told this is a less than satisfactory idea, but I felt the need to write it.  I did change some things for story purposes but the bones will stay the same. The French Alps with their sheer cliffs and plummeting ravines were freezing. "Just once, why couldn't the target be in like, Africa?" Bucky grumbled zipping his jacket tighter as the Commandos scaled the thin trail to the ledge that overlooked the train tracks.  "What, your joints freezing up old man?" Steve shot back over his shoulder.  "Is it too much to ask of you to spontaneously combust for warmth?" Bucky shot back standing next to Steve on the ledge. "Love to ...

This is in a split POV mostly Reb    Reb didn't know how long it took for her to stop staring at the sky. They are gone.  She trudged back in the whipping wind. In the warmth of her own home, she sat for a while. Once she was sure she was strong enough she walked over to her printer.  The photo paper was glossy in the gentle light of the tree. Both men had managed to look happy for even a moment. She didn't know their stories but she didn't need to. To help was all that was needed.  Taking the picture she taped it to the inside of one of her hanging pictures. No one outside of her could see it but the two days spent together had been the most fun she'd had in months.  Walking over to her kitchen sitting on her counter beside the two boxes ready for shipping was an envelope with her name on it and Merry Christmas. Opening it, it read: best luck with the treatment. With her account number for her bank account.  She gasped and raced for her c...

This is in Steve's POV   Steve could see as his best friend tried to distance himself from their hostess and the place they had come to enjoy.  "Reb." He called.  She looked up and pulled her earbud out of her ear. "Humm?" She tilted her head.  "Our friend called. He'll be here in two hours." Steve cut to the chase.  She looked surprised, "Your friend had better be a magician to pull that off. Another storm is rolling in about that time as well."  Steve chuckled, "I wouldn't bet against him."  "Well then if you’re leaving then I must hurry up on presents." Reb decided.  "That would be overstepping our bounds." Steve protested.  "Nonsense. If you’re in my house at the time of Christmas you leave with a present." Reb retorted. "Let me finish my letter then I'll get them ready."  Steve forgot about the presents when she mentioned writing, it gave him an idea. ...

This is in Bucky's POV  Bucky processed what the Rebekah had said slowly. He had an understanding of what the word terminal meant. He'd read it in one of the books from her library. Terminal meant deadly and from the looks of it for her it was. She was fighting a losing battle with her ALS. There were footsteps on the stairs promoting both to look up. Steve came down with the tree stand sitting atop a big box of decorations. Reb practically lit up at the sight.  "I think I found the decorations." Steve joked.  Bucky rose and took the tree-stand off. Steve set the box in front of Reb. She dug into it like it was the present itself. She let out a sound of pleasure as she pulled out a box of ornaments.  Bucky couldn't seem to look away as she pulled out the decor with a look of pure joy. She was so happy and yet in so much pain. When she hadn't answered when they'd come in something akin to fear went through him. Finding her on the floor completel...

Reb's POV  Reb had trouble finding the tree stand after they left. She knew she had it somewhere she just wasn't sure where. She was in the garage when the pain hit. She had it before just not this bad. Her muscles had slowly been deteriorating and now it would seem she could no longer support herself.  Her legs gave out, sending her onto the cold hard cement floor. Black spot danced across her vision and she could only pray she didn't pass out. Breathing shifted her spine hurting her doing anything hurt so bad. She didn't even know she was crying until she tasted salt.  Part of her hoped her guests didn't come back to find her like this. The idea mortified her yet she knew she couldn't function right now without someone to help it the next five minutes or she'd pass out. It was like she was underwater so far away from the warmth of her house and the music. This would scare them and she hated to scare them. She heard the door open and commo...

This is in Steve's POV Steve found it endearing how darn stubborn Reb was. It frustrated him to an extent because she was determined to do things that could very well hurt her. He wondered fleetingly if he was finally getting his share of stubborn headaches that he surely had given Bucky all those years ago.  But then she told stories from her life out in the world. Told them with wonder, and joy. She saw the world through eyes that had left him long ago. She saw it as beautiful and new. Brimming with hope and possibility. It was contagious. Then again maybe it was the season. Steve hadn't had a real Christmas since well, the 40's. The last three years had been hard. Natasha and Sam had tried but home was beyond his reach by a few decades. Christmas blurred into just another day. Now with old Christmas music per his request and a house decorated for the joyous season paired with his best friend twirling a woman around her home oblivious to the world he saw, it was ...