Connections

8: Last Mission

The last two days spent with Bucky passed quickly. Way faster then I wanted them to. I spent the time not worrying about finding my way back to my time. I just wanted to enjoy these last few moments together. Just us.

We arrived back at the base. I took my place with Peggy for most of the missions. Helping Steve, Bucky, and the rest of the Howling Commandos plan out their attacks on Hydra's bases. Every now and then I'd join when needed, however most of the time it was suggested I stayed back. When I did I'd just wait for Bucky's return. Hoping he made it back safely.

One by one the bases were taken down, causing Hydra to fall behind. Steve's new shield was proven useful. I couldn't help but smile whenever I watched footage of him using it. That was the shield that was going to go down in history with him. He had no idea how big of a deal it was.

Finally, I was take out on a mission. I stood next to Bucky as Falsworth kneeled in front of a group. We stood on top of a mountain. The snow had fallen around us, covering the terrain in a blanket of white. I thankfully was kept warm with the new outfit provided for me by Howard Stark. I kept the hood up on my head from my cape to block the wind blowing around us. I put together my gun as the rest got ready. Falsworth stared into his binoculars, looking for our target.

I stood up and looked down the mountain. A railroad track laid empty as the wind blew around us. Steve and Bucky followed a zipline that crossed the mountain and to the ground bellow. Both of them had worried faces.

"Remember when I made you ride the Cyclone at Coney Island?" Bucky asked Steve. I clutched tightly to my gun, remembering the story Bucky had told me.

"Yeah, and I threw up?" Steve remembered.

Bucky looked up at the zipline, "This isn't payback, is it?"

I chuckled a bit. I could tell this type of thing they weren't used to. I looked over at Bucky as he looked at me concerningly. I smiled and grabbed his arm, squeezing it before letting go again.

Layla...

The voice rang in my head. I quickly turned around as I looked at the group behind me. It was quiet and distorted. Yet, almost familiar. I looked at the boys as they continued working on things. Not even paying attention to me. It wasn't them that said my name...then who was it? I felt a hand land on my back. I quickly turned to Bucky as he looked at me concerned.

"What wrong?" He ask quietly. I looked over the mountain. Trying to see if I could find where the voice was coming from. I couldn't see anyone though. It must have just been my imagination. I shook my head and stood up straight.

"Nothing...I'm just hearing things in the wind." I answered.

"We were right. Dr. Zola is on the train." Jones said as he sat with the radio, "Hydra dispatcher gave him permission to open up the throttle." Bucky, Steve and I turned around fully to listen to him, "Wherever he's going, they must need him bad."

Steve nodded to us and quickly put on his helmet. Bucky and him both grabbed onto the metal hangers, getting ready to zipline down.

"Lets get going because they're moving like the devil." Folsworth said quickly. I looked over as a train began to move quickly down the tracks. I nodded as everyone began to get into place. One after the other, I watched Steve and Jones zip down and land on the train. Bucky was last one to go. He quickly set his hanger on the zipline and looked back at me.

"Just like Coney Island." He whispered to me. I let out a small smile and nodded.

"I'll meet you down there, Soldier." I said. I watched as he quickly zipped down.  He landed on the train. I took a deep breath as the train moved closer.