Chapter Text
A few days later the war was over. The Howling commandos had agreed to meet at a bar to drink to the ones they lost. “To the Captain” Dugan had said, they all clinked their glasses. “And to Bucky” Vanessa had added as they drank their shots. They mourned their friends while everyone else celebrated the war was won. Vanessa had also taken a private moment to mourn Bucky and Steve alone. She had gone to the church lighting two candles thinking of the two men that came into her world quickly and becoming a big part of her day, just to leave as quickly.
Howard had not stopped looking for Steve ever since the fight. He had searched every grid on a map in the sea Steve crashed. Vanessa and Peggy had to go back to the SSR office next week, and Howard had called telling Vanessa he had not found Steve. “Vee? How are you?” Peggy asked like the colonel had said Peggy had taken Vanessa kissing Steve pretty good. She was mad at first but then she told Vanessa she had kissed someone else, and probably didn’t have a reason to be mad. Plus, The Captain was gone, so she couldn’t have done anything either way. Vanessa was getting ready for the date she had set with Steve just in case he had gotten out somehow. “Yes I am fine. Why?” She said looking over her dress. She had picked her beautiful navy-blue dress, hugging her curves. “No reason” She said but Vanessa could see her look of pity in her eyes. “So where are you going?” She asked knowing exactly where Vanessa planned on going. “The Stork Club” She just said looking at the time and taking her stuff as to not be late. She left before Peggy could say anything. She entered the and saw a lot of people dancing. She looked over the people just in case he was waiting. She then found a table to sit at deciding to wait. As she waited a couple of men asked her to dance but she declined. It felt wrong dancing with someone else. She looked at her watch to see it was almost 9. A throat cleared and Vanessa turned around to see Stark standing. “Hi Vee. I was wondering if you wanted some company?” He asked and she nodded, feeling the tears well up. “He isn’t coming” she said. Howard took her hand “no he isn’t, but I will wait with you for however long you want to” He said sitting down next to her. “Thank you Stark. I just want to give him a bit more time.” She said putting her head on Starks shoulder. “Of course,” he said, and they sat in silence waiting together. As the night grew colder and the people started thinning out Vanessa just sat holding Howards hand waiting for a man who would not show up. There were only a small group of people left when Vanessa moved her head standing up. Howard followed her with his eyes “I think I am ready to go home” she said, and Howard stood up too. He got his coat and offered her his arm. As they got out in the cold night air Vanessa shook, she had not thought to bring a coat. Howard feeling her shake took his own coat and put on her shoulders. “Thank you Stark” she said, lying her head in his shoulder as they walked. “Anything for you my dear” he said. Howard brought her home and Peggy took over tugging her in. As Vanessa fell asleep she couldn’t help but think that even if she didn’t have Steve or Bucky she had two amazing friends who were always there for her. For the first time since Steve disappeared she fell asleep not crying.
2 years later:
Peggy, Howard, Chester Phillips, and Vanessa had founded S.H.I.E.L.D. They had all split up to start different divisions. Vanessa was in the L.A. Division, Howard in the New York Division, Peggy running the London division, and Chester Phillips running the Alaska Division. This they had been apart for the most of first year to start the division up and find someone to oversee division all over the country. Yesterday Colonel Phillips had requested Vanessa’s presence in Alaska, so she had now just landed looking around for someone she recognized. “Vee” someone called and Vanessa turned to see Dum Dum Dugan standing waiting for her. “Dugan” she said hugging her friend. “How have you been?” He asked as he followed her out. “Just working in the L.A. office” she said, “Yeah I heard you guys are doing good, working on training new recruits” He said “We are, and most are doing really good. A lot of them are old soldiers” She said. “So, what have you been up to after the war?” she asked “Well first I celebrated and mourned like everybody else. Then Phillips got me and the rest of the Howling Commandos together last month. We were all training at the New York division. Phillips had picked up on something, but he will explain that. Let’s get to the base he is waiting for you.” Dugan said and they drove to a base. The base had been changed; it didn’t look like the other Shield bases. “What is this?” She asked “This is our Shield facility. I realize it has changed, but our mission has changed, which is why I need you” He said. She saw Colonel Phillips and saluted. “Colonel” she said. “Agent Jones, good to have you back” he said. He Began walking to one of the compounds. “After the war we began training new soldiers like all the other SSR military camps. Just in case. Then we founded Shield like you know and kept training. About a month ago a trainee picked up a radio signal from a dead Hydra base. We first thought there had been a mistake, but soon realized the feed was live. It seems Hydra is still out there, so we adapted and made this a base of operation to capture the last Hydra agents. I don’t know if you have read the reports yet.” He said, Vanessa was a bit embarrassed to admit she hadn’t gotten around to that yet. The colonel continued “We Just picked up a new radio signal by a base in Siberia” he said, “What is different from the others since you called me in?” She asked, Phillips stopped at a table. “This is the latest message we got” Vanessa looked down.
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It was a morse code, that much she could see. “What does it say?” she asked. “Well, it is Russian but it translate to “The prisoner is resisting”” The colonel read. “Prisoner? They have a prisoner?” she asked “Yeah, so this has officially gone from a capture mission to a rescue mission. I want you and the rest of the Howling Commandos on it” he said. “Of course, sir, when do we leave?” she asked “Tomorrow morning. Today you will pack, and get some rest” he said, “Why isn’t Peggy here?” She asked “We can’t send out half the heads of Shield on a rescue mission. Plus, it has been a long time since she was in the field. She has become more of a home girl since she got married” he said. Vanessa remembered being invited to her wedding with Agent Sousa. Vanessa nodded and left to help pack the plane they had to use to fly to Siberia. “Vee” the rest of the Howling Commandos greeted. They were already packing the plane “We were hoping you would join us, but we couldn’t be sure” Jim said. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world” Vanessa said, smiling at the men. “Good we are going to need you” Gabe said. “It is not as easy without Captain America” Dernier explained Vanessa nodded and started packing. The next morning, they flew bright and early. “When we land Jim, Vee and I will take the left route, Happy Sam, junior and Dernier you go right. Pinky and Falsworth stay high as a snipers located, here, and here” Dugan said pointing to the map. “yes sir” “When we get to the compound, Jim, Vee, and I will breach. You stand guard. We do not know how this facility outline is, so we will figure it out when we get there” Dugan continued. They started getting ready to jump out the plane. “Here Howard made some smaller walkie talkies that should be able to pick up longer distances” Dugan said giving every member a walkie. When they landed they did as Dugan said. Vanessa covering Dugan and Jim’s right side. “No Hydra agents yet” Vee said. They got to the entrance “This seems too easy” Dugan said. “Embrace it Dugan. They just don’t know we have found them yet” Jim said. They opened the door. “Jim left; I will go right. Vee take the elevator down. We will join as soon as we can” he said and Vanessa went into the elevator. She looked around for a camera but didn’t find any. The elevator started and she readied herself to attack when the doors opened. No one was standing guard. She heard a man screaming, so she followed the sound. “Start the memory wipe” Vanessa recognized the man’s voice, as Dr. Zola, but he was locked up right? She went closer to the door, and the scream became higher. “Winter soldier?” the man that sounded like Zola said. “Ready to comply” A familiar voice sounded and Vanessa nearly fell when she heard it. She knew who it belong to. She would always recognize the voice, as she had hoped she would here it again. She walked a bit faster wanting to see Bucky again. “It is an ambush get out” her walkie talkie said, with Dugan’s voice coming. As he said that the door opened. “Hello Agent Jones” Dr. Zola stood looking at her. “I was wondering if you would come with the others” “Vee do you read me?” Vanessa aimed at Dr. Zola “where is he?” She asked “Who?” “I heard him” she said walking in the door. “Oh, you mean our winter soldier” He asked, he pointed to the corner behind Vanessa and she turned around. She saw Bucky except he wasn’t the Bucky she knew. He had longer hair, and a dead face. His arm was made of metal. “Bucky?” she said quietly. He just aimed a gun at her. “Bucky it is me Vee” she said, as he charged towards her. “Vee come in. Answer now” her walkie talkie said. Bucky got to her and tried to punch her. Vanessa ducked. “Bucky” She said again. “He is no longer your Bucky; he is now the winter soldier. He only listens to me” Zola said “Winter soldier restrain her” Bucky did as he said. He grabbed her arm. Vanessa tried to fight it but somehow Bucky had become stronger. “Vanessa Jones answer your god damn Walkie” she heard. Bucky held her arms behind her back as he dragged her towards a chair with a big machine attached. He buckled her in, so she couldn’t move. “Good” Zola said. “Now, miss Jones try and relax it makes this so much easier”