Chapter Text
It was almost 4pm.
Steve was uneasy, every tiny part of him wanted to leave, to get on the road and search for his friend, but Jefferson had asked him to stay for a few more hours so he could take care of some things.
He understood that, but he felt the urge to move nonetheless.
Especially since Natasha’s call only twenty minutes ago. There had been reports of an explosion near Portage Lake in the north of Maine. Nat had linked the location to a former S.H.I.E.L.D. research base – now most likely Hydra.
It was a long shot, but maybe Bucky was connected to the events there.
He really needed to get going!
At least the day had gone by surprisingly quick. He’d spent the morning with a long and curious stroll through town, keeping his eyes open for anything odd. Anything that might tell him something about the special history of this town and its inhabitants.
But there wasn’t much to go by, or at least nothing obvious.
After a lunch at the diner he studied his map of Maine, not sure what exactly he was looking for. It couldn’t hurt to get a feeling for the area, though. The waitress never let him out of her sight for long, scrutinizing him skeptically.
Red Riding Hood.
It still sounded strange, even just thinking it – but it somehow seemed fitting as he looked at her now, knowing. She certainly loved the color red judging by her outfit. There was, however, something fierce about her. Something that refused to correspond with the naïve and innocent child he’d always imagined when hearing the story.
Afterwards he strolled back towards a shop he’d found earlier. It was a biker-shop. Some motorcycles were out front on display, others inside, but mostly they sold equipment of all sorts. The name was odd, though: The Flying Carpet.
Steve had sorted it as strange but it didn’t ring a bell with him.
He’d just purchased what he’d needed, chatting a bit with the cheerful owner who looked Arabic if he hadn’t been mistaken.
He was looking at his watch again when a car stopped only a few yards away.
Jefferson and Grace emerged from the back while a middle aged couple got out of the front. Jefferson turned to them and said something. The woman hugged him fiercely while the man only clapped his shoulder as if to wish him luck.
Grace followed him as he headed towards him, a backpack on one shoulder.
Steve cringed. This guy really had no idea what he was getting into. He was still wearing his shirt-vest-cravat combo instead of something more practical. At least something that looked like a leather jacket was pinned against the backpack at one side and he’d changed into sturdy looking boots.
Jefferson stopped in front of him, Grace on the other hand stepped past her father and fixed Steve with her blue eyes. “Keep him safe, okay?”
Only a slight hitch in her voice betrayed her feelings. That and the pleading in her somewhat red eyes.
Steve nodded solemnly. “I will. I promise!“
„Good,“ she nodded.
Jefferson gently pulled her away and leaned down a bit so their eyes were level with each other.
“I don’t have to do this, Grace. Say just one word and I’ll stay.” His voice sounded strained, leaving his daughter behind was hard on him. Harder than Steve had thought. After the determination Jefferson had displayed this morning he was surprised to hear that he would call this off for Grace. It must be hard to be trapped like this between two people that you love.
The girl shook her head vehemently. “No, Papa. You have to go! He’s your brother. He’s family! And I…“ She swallowed. „I know you’ll come back for me. You will come back!“
„Oh Grace,“ he sighed, voice almost breaking. With one quick motion he straightened and pulled her close. “Of course I’ll come back! I failed you once. I won’t fail you again.”
Her arms held him tightly as she pressed her face against his chest. Jefferson buried his nose in her hair, his fingers clenching and unclenching before he could bring himself to let her go again. They both had tears running down their cheeks when they parted.
“Find him! I wanna meet my uncle!” With a last wistful smile on her lips she stepped back, away from his embrace and back towards the couple that was waiting at the car. Most likely the people that would take care of her while her father was gone. “Love you, Papa!”
“I love you, Grace!”
The man squared his shoulders as he turned around, steeling himself for actually leaving. With a jerky motion he wiped the tears from his face and released his breath, as if he could expel his doubts and uncertainty at his actions that way.
“Let’s do this!” Despite all the emotional turmoil on his face the determination was back in his voice.
Steve stepped up to his bike and as he saw the other man coming close he held out the motorcycle jacket he’d bought earlier.
“I won’t let you hop on without at least some kind of protection. I know it’s not your style but it’ll do the job.”
The black mesh looked a bit bulky and grey and white lines run from the shoulders down the sleeves. But given the circumstances it would do quite nicely.
Jefferson took it without hesitation although deep lines marked his brow. “Who said I care about style?”
Seriously? Steve only raised an eyebrow refraining from any further comment.
At that moment a car came around the next corner and stopped abruptly at the side of the street right next to them.
“Jefferson, wait!”
A woman got out of the vehicle, clad in a severe looking black ladies’ suit, rushing towards them. Her dark hair was accurately done even though she seemed to be in quite a hurry. She was panting a bit as she finally stopped in front of them.
“Regina?!” Jefferson exclaimed. „What- what are you doing here?“
“I’m glad I caught you in time. Give me your left hand.”
“Why?”
“Oh, just give it to me!” she snarled irritated.
Jefferson laid the jacket over the bike and held out his left hand for her, his movements hesitant and his gaze wary.
“Regina?”
The woman grabbed his hand in a firm grip as she pushed the cuff of his sleeve back a bit with her other hand until his stone pendant was revealed. With one quick motion she pulled out a very small vial – she must have held it in her palm all the while – popped the lid with her thumb and poured a few drops of something onto the stone.
Jefferson tried to pull back, fear flashing in his eyes for a second and Steve realized – judging by his reaction – that maybe this woman was a threat in some way, even though he had no idea what she’d just done.
Before he could even take half a step towards her a soft white glow settled around the pendant, encircling Jefferson’s whole hand. Then it just stopped.
“What was that?” Steve blinked.
„What did you do?“ Jefferson wanted to know, pulling his hand back hastily as soon as she released it. His thumb started tracing the circular stone shape as if to make sure that it was still the same.
Regina smiled and raised her hands apologetically. “Relax! It’s a memory potion.“
Steve’s eyes grew even wider.
Magic. That light had been magic!
“I managed to… obtain some. It’s the same Gold used when he left for New York.”
Jefferson tilted his head to the side, clearly confused. “But- you said this morning that the town line should be safe. That there should be nothing hindering us from leaving since Snow hadn’t intended it in her curse. Was that a lie?”
Steve wasn’t sure if he was following anymore. What was going on with the town line?
Who was this woman? And why had Jefferson been almost afraid of her actions?
Regina shook her head, slightly exasperated. “No, it wasn’t. But you never know with this town. Something could happen while you’re away. I don’t want you to run around in this world and suddenly wake up without your memory.”
Jefferson looked absolutely taken aback. For a moment he stared down at the pendant at his wrist, before he fixed his blue eyes back on her, swallowing. “Why?”
Now she actually averted her eyes. A moment ago she’d been the one to have things firmly under control, now on the other hand she seemed uncomfortable, almost sheepish. But it was determination and a certain kind of inner strength that lit her eyes when she looked at him again.
“I took your daughter away from you. Twice. And I’m sorry for that. This time, I’ll make sure that nothing from our world will hinder you in finding your brother.”
Steve opted to take a step back. He sensed no threat from this woman and their conversation seemed very personal. They had a history together, he could feel it in the way they talked, see it in the way they tiptoed around each other.
A disbelieving smile graced Jefferson’s lips. “You really have changed, Regina.”
Shrugging his comment off, she nodded her head towards Steve and the motorcycle. “Now go! Get your family back!”
With a last nod he turned and donned the motorcycle jacket.
Finally in his territory again Steve took the second helmet he’d purchased – including a pair of leather gloves inside it – from the handlebars and threw it into Jefferson’s arms. He put it on and shouldered his backpack, as ready as he’d ever be.
Steve slipped his own helmet on and climbed onto his bike, holding it steady as the other man tried to find a comfortable seat with Steve’s bags on each side of it. His shield had still been where he’d left it so unexpectedly: strapped in front of the handlebars.
“Ever been on a motorcycle before?”
“No.”
Steve grabbed back for Jefferson’s hands and pulled them forward over his stomach. “Then hold on tight!”
He started the engine and rolled past Regina, Grace and the other two until they were on the street. This whole last day had been absolutely crazy. Taking a civilian on his hunt for the Winter Soldier was not just crazy, it was outright stupid.
And still, it felt right.
Steve turned his head back to his companion.
“Let’s find Bucky!”
“Where do we start?”
“Portage Lake.”
Jefferson tightened his grip around his middle. “Then what are you waiting for?”
Grinning, Steve let the engine roar and drove them off, taking the turn north.
Hold on, Buck.
We’re on our way.
The End