The weekend has arrived and I’ve gotten no where with James Barnes; no where at all. I’ve tried giving him space, but he’s not going to open up to me like the other soldiers did. It’s time for me to bring out the big guns; I’m gonna have to find out anything I can about him before he became the Winter Soldier.

It’s Memorial Day Weekend and I should have having fun. I’m trying to. I’m at my eldest brother, Malcolm's house, watching my niece and nephews running around with squirt guns and water balloons, but my nose is also in a couple fines I managed to get my hands on that involve James. Most of the files come from the SSR and a few from the Army. I had to practically beg my brother Trevor to allow me access to old files; especially soldiers that were assumed to be missing in action over 70 years ago.

“What’s the point of being here if you aren’t really here?” I hear Malcolm say. I look up from the file I’m reading and see him standing at the grill, grilling up some hot dogs. “And why are you suddenly interested in an old Howling Commando that died over 70 years ago.”

“Long story.” I mutter, knowing where this conversation could lead to.

“This has nothing to do with whoever attacked SHIELD does it?” He questions, angrily. “You’re not an agent anymore Erin. You don’t owe them shit.”

“This has nothing to do with SHIELD, Malc.” I sigh, putting down the file onto the wooden table I was sitting at. “You know Captain America is still alive, right?”

“Yea, he was involved in the battle of New York.” He replies, “what does this have to do with whatever interest you have in the old Commando?”

“The person Hydra hired to do their dirty work was a friend of Captain America; he was a Howling Commando.”

“Granddad never mentioned any of them going rogue, so that must be a mistake.”

“None of them went rogue, this one was presumed dead; well missing in action.” I tell him, “the Winter Soldier was Bucky Barnes; Steve Rogers’ best friend.”

Malcolm’s eyes widen as he steps away from the grill and sits down in front of me, “this must be some kind of joke.”

“It’s not.” I sigh, “Hydra kept him brainwashed, programmed to be the assassin they needed him to be. Without that programming, he’s gonna start to remember.”

“And what does this have to do with you?” He asks, softly. “I never liked you working for SHIELD, not now nor before.”

“I quit SHIELD three years ago, remember?” I ask. “I’m not looking into things for SHIELD, Steve asked me to do this.”

“And since he’s Captain America, you couldn’t say no, could ya?”

“Sam gave Steve my name, saying I was the girl to help his friend. You can’t say no to Captain America.” I smile. “I didn’t tell you, Trev or Trav is because I know you guys would disapprove. Steve and Sam both don’t know my background with SHIELD and it’s going to stay that way. Yes, I’m looking into what he knows about Hydra for them, but I want to help him regain his memory and help him get past this; get past what he’s done.”

“He get the credit for two dozen assassinations, he’s not going to get past that easily.”

“Did you get past killing all those people in Iraq?” I question.

“They had semi-automatic rifles, they were trained to kill us. I was doing my job. There is no way you can compare the two.”

“James had to have amnesia, a bad cause of it, in order for Hydra to program him the way they did. He was vulnerable as a child when they found him. He’s not the bad guy in this; he’s the victim. He had no idea what he was doing. I can’t hold him accountable for those killings, just like I can’t hold you accountable for insurgents. I don’t expect him to easily get past what he’s done. But, like you, he will. I’ve got faith.”

“Sometimes your faith gets you into trouble.” He points out. “Just look at Ben and your faith in him.”

“Some people are just born rotten, what happened to Ben wasn’t caused by being on the frontline. He was just born this way.” I mutter just as Daisy, Malcolm’s eldest daughter runs up to us.

“Aunt Erin, will you please come out and play with us, Uncle Trevor isn’t fun.” She laughs just as my other brother comes up with his water gun in hand.

“I’m fun,” he scoffs, “just tired. Uncle Trevor isn’t as young as he used to be.”

“Of course, I’ll join you.” I laugh, taking the gun from Trevor. “Let’s show those boys who’s better behind a gun.” Daisy squeals as she drags me away from her father and uncle and towards the water hose so we can get armed and ready to show her brother and cousins who’s boss.

Steve Rogers

“How’s James doing?” Sam asks over a beer. “Has Erin got him talkin’ yet?”

“Nothing yet.” I sigh, taking a swig of my beer. “How do you even know Erin? Family friend or something?”

“No, she was my shrink.” He chuckles, “when I said she was the girl to go to, I wasn’t just saying that because she’s my friend. I was telling you that from a patient’s standpoint. She’s good at what she does, trust me you’re leaving him in good hands.”

“What’s your relationship with her?” I ask, “friends? more than friends?”

“Just friends.” He laughs, genuinely. “She’s like a little sister to me. Plus she has 3 older brothers, all in the military. They’re extremely protective of her and they scare the living shit out of me. Why you looking? I can totally hook you up.”

“No, I’m not looking.” I honestly reply, “not for me anyways.”

“You think James needs a girlfriend?”

“Bucky was always his happiest when he was with a girl; dancing, taking them out on dates. The whole nine yards.”

“Erin doesn’t date patients,” he tells me, “not anymore at least.”

“What happened?”

“That’s a story for her to tell you.” Sam replies, “ask her tomorrow when you go see her with James. She might tell you, might not. It’s a sore topic for her to discuss.” A silence crashes over us as we continue to drink our beers, not speaking much other than awkward small talk...

Notes

Erin

Again no action with Bucky and Erin. But that'll come in next chapter. Just wanted to show more minor characters instead of only focusing on the main.