How To Mend A Broken Soul-Avengers RP

Steve nodded, as he took another bite of his food. Conversation settled a little to the excitement that had happened the previous day. By the time their plates of food were finished and in the sink, Natasha poured them another round of coffee and said bluntly. "Slate Tucker and the Companion are siblings." She heard Steve choke. "But Jayden Tucker was declared dead years ago. So, whose Angelina Jones and what family does she have?" She looked at Bucky. "I'm giving you the highest possible leverage I can. This is just one angle we can fight from."

Embry must've given Slate her name, Buck concluded. He set his coffee down, "Robert Jones was the name of the man who got her out of the Cage when she was about eighteen. She told me his wife lived here in New York and they were going to adopt her and she was super excited to try New York pizza when we got closer, but then we were caught."

"I recognize that name." Natasha mused as she took out her cell phone and typed in the name. She sent it to Slate and slipped her phone back into her pocket. She knew Slate would appreciate the lead. "I think it was in the newspapers. Jones was former FBI. Found shot dead in a witness protection safe-house. The girl who was with him disappeared. Police suspected it was a kidnapping, others suspected the girl couldn't shake her background. It was very up the in the air."

"We're not going to ruin her any further." Steve gave Natasha a look. "She goes home to her family or stays here with us. It's her decision, but I'm not going to let S.H.I.E.L.D or anyone question her about that. How would this help us get her here?"

"We play the "who misses Angelina more" game. Fury can't go up against the F.B.I even if S.H.I.E.L.D is a division of the homeland security. We deal with unknowns and anomalies. We don't deal with missing persons. F.B.I would want the daughter of their unit home safely. It's very much a political war. S.H.I.E.L.D can't claim her as any type of anomaly." Natasha informed softly, gently. "But that depends if that's the game Slate plays. Slate's our wild card right now. We just have to make sure that whatever move he makes, we follow and cut Fury off."

"Sounds like Slate has his own ideas. I hope he doesn't get his hopes up about Angelina.," Buck hummed softly. He looked at Steve, "What are you going to do about me in the meantime? I have immunity here...but would you have to be my escort of something if I want to go anywhere?"

"Nope." Steve said cheerfully. "We just have to give Pepper some prep time for a press release, announcing you as our new Avenger."

"Which is going to cause issues on many public relation standings, but, lucky for us, we know a lawyer." Natasha said as she took a sip of her coffee. "We can play your POW status so high, they can't dispute it. Even if they wanted to."

"Mental illness is a thing, and a lot of people are going to be wanting to stand behind you. Veteran as well. It'll hit them home that if Hydra can do that to an ordinary vet, what can they do to normal citizens. As much as I hate the scare factor tactic, Sam thinks it'll be good. It might also be a good idea to go down to the V.A. I know you don't want therapists, but it's group talk." He said quickly. "No therapist is there besides another older veteran whose licensed to do the talk. We do that, public loves us."

"So we hope. Steve's putting too much faith in the public, but I think that it's a good start." Natasha mused. "As for the politics, you let the rest of us worry about that." She tapped her finger to her chin. "You know, we could use Angelina in the politics."

"What do you mean?" Steve narrowed his eyes at Natasha.

"The Winter Solider abandoned his mission and saved a young girl." Natasha held her hand up. "Saved the F.B.I's daughter."

Steve's widened his eyes. "We play him up as a hero. He basically already is one, but..."

"Technically this would give people pause. Angelina's legally insane. To keep her around and not kill her?" Natasha shrugged. "It's another angle to think about."

"I read that...the other Bucky...from before, was a hero..." Buck murmured softly and looked down at his coffee mug, "It...would be weird, to be known as one. I'm so used to being a villain, but...you've done alright so far, Natalia. Do you...think I can do it?" Steve would stand by him through anything, but Natalia had been through both sides of the spectrum.

"I think you can." Natasha said softly. "I think as long as you want to, as long as you don't want to go back to Hydra, you can."

~*~

Back on Slate's side, he'd taken over for Wicker in protecting Angelina in the gardens so the boy could get some /sleep/, but as soon as he was well rested, he set off on his hunt. He avoided Fury, and other Agents got clear out of his way when he gave them his crazy coyote look. Robert Jones. Thank god for Natasha. He'd give her a nice big bottle of her utmost favorite vodka when this was all said and done. Maybe he might even take her to the bar and just pay for all her drinks. She'd clear his bank if she had the chance, but he had enough in savings to make up for the hit.

Right now he was driving his truck to the address he had scrounged up. Uptown and rich. He felt out of place with his jeans and blue plaid shirt, but that was normal. He /usually/ felt under dressed since he'd never wear the Agent uniform. If he felt like being stylish, he'd throw on a button-up and slacks, maybe his leather jacket, but not much else.

Taking a breath, he parked his car in the driveway and hopped out, ringing the doorbell once he reached it. He didn't have to wait long. A dog barked and he saw a grey Great Dane through the window next to the door, it's huge paws on the ledge, being careful not to disturb the chubby Siamese cat there as well.

"Duke out of the way!" A woman, possibly no older than in her early thirties opened the door. The Great Dane wagged it's tail, but stayed close to the door, barking again before she shut it. Her brown hair was tied up in a ponytail and she wore slippers, jeans, and a tank-top. A sheen of sweat could be seen on her skin, so she was either interrupted from exercising, or she had been outside working on something or another. The woman looked back up and blinked at the young gentleman who was standing before her. "Yes?"

He expected her to be wearing a white skirt and cardigan. If she was wearing jeans, too, that made him feel a lot better. "Slate Tucker, Ma'am..." he cleared his throat so he could drop the accent by getting serious, though still had the drawl, "Are you Lydia Jones? I am here on behalf of your late husband and his last assignment. May we go inside so I can speak to you privately?"

Lydia's face paled. She looked hesitant, only for a moment before she steeled herself. She nodded her head and she allowed Slate to step inside first. She knew better than to have him at her back. Robert's death had been suspicious and cruel. "Tea? Coffee?" She asked as she lead him to the kitchen. Her home was...huge and lonely. It was two stories and the living room was spacious, with a small nook for a piano and some sheet music. The kitchen had tons of windows, really giving it a natural light. There was an long island counter, and marble counters. There was also a dining room that was a comfortable space away from the kitchen, not too huge, but just right for a family of about five. Maybe six. "How do you know Robbie and what division are you from?" She asked, keeping an eye on Slate and where he was in the room.

"I'm an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., not the F.B.I., though lately I could probably say I am an Avenger instead and they wouldn't dispute me," Slate sat himself on a bar stool at the island, lacing his fingers together and keeping them in plain sight for her, sensing her distress, "Tea is fine by me, Ma'am. I had plenty of coffee already. Anyway...Robert...you know he was protecting a young girl, at the time eighteen? Angelina?"

"I remember." Lydia sighed as she placed a kettle underneath the faucet. Once it was filled up, she placed it on the stove and clicked it on. She walked around the island counter and towards the pantry, looking for her box of earl grey. "The case was confidential, but what little I know of it..." She walked to the island counter. "I know that Robbie was planning on bringing up a very tortured, and very scared girl. I know that she was an adult at the time, but she was going to have to have a guardian. Someone with a strong spirit and stronger sense of self." She smiled sadly. "He sent me a picture of her once. Just once. She was...the moment I saw her, I knew. I knew that we were going to bring her home and treat her right. I knew it was going to be the hardest thing I'd ever do...and I knew that people were going to wonder if I was insane myself. But that girl...she deserved a chance. She deserved a family. Robbie was in love with her almost instantly. It was going to be near impossible taking that away from him."

Slate's throat tightened. He couldn't tell her she was his sister. That would break her heart all over again and she'd tell him to take her back. She didn't identify as a Tucker anymore, though. Jayden, maybe, but...A.J. sounded better to him, anyway. So, instead he smiled, "Well...I need your help, Mrs. Jones. Angelina is at our headquarters and she is being treated unfairly. Our director...while not a bad person, has his own agenda and that's hurting more than it's helping because he wants revenge, and she has answers. She is considered a missing person by the F.B.I. and needs to be claimed by someone who will care for her. She considers herself a Jones very strongly, even four years later."

Lydia's mouth dropped open and she placed a hand over her mouth. Tears welled up. She was thankful that the kettle decided to go off, because she couldn't bear to have him see how this affected her. She took the kettle off of the stove and rummaged in the cupboards for some cups. She placed one down in front of Slate, took a tea bag, and carefully poured the water over the bag. She did the same for hers and she let it seep as she gathered her thoughts. "Tell me a little about her." She pleaded after a moment. "Do you know...anything at all about her that you could give me?"

"I...only interacted with her myself for a little while," Slate admitted, "Yet my comrades have looked out for her. A fellow Agent...Dylan Wicker, is a good kid who has been very vigilant in her protection and well-being. There was an incident just last night and he handled things very well, but this can't go on any longer. She's been kept in, for lack of a better term, a psych ward with four white walls and barely enough room to move let alone breathe, for a month. Now she's in my gardens and found a hiding spot I created for protection myself. Her real name isn't known by many, they just call her Companion because of Sergeant Barnes who found her and has been caring for her as well. They are very close...so close, that she risked her freedom so he could leave instead. It's a relationship that I know I would do for a specific someone, but not many. She's dangerous, but not unreasonable. I have heard several call her an animal in the way she behaves, but I also know she can be very civil. Split personalities, for sure."

"Robbie would do that too." Lydia took a shuddering breath. "Oh my god." She nearly burst into tears, but she held herself together, tightening her lips to keep in her sobs as she tried to breathe normally. "Oh Robbie. Our girl..." she wiped her tears away using the back of her hand. "Do me a favor will you Agent Tucker? We finish our tea, and you can take me straight to your director. Then...I'd like to meet the person whose been protecting Angelina. Both Agent Wicker...and if at all possible...Sergeant Barnes as well."

"Sure thing, Ma'am," Slate nodded, pulling out his phone to text Natasha what just happened, then focused on just having a nice conversation with this woman as the cat came and brushed against his leg.

A.J. would love this place for sure.

()

Fury had known that good things were going to disappear. The Companion's outburst and her desperate attempt to save Bucky had been the final straw. Everything fragile that he had worked for, crumbled quickly. The Companion was guarded heavily by two of his agents, and he wasn't in the least surprised. Slate would be attached to the Companion, for losing a sister once wasn't going to be on his agenda again. His hero-complex could rival Captain Rogers.

Wicker had been a surprise. He didn't expect someone so green to be corrupted so easily against S.H.I.E.L.D and into the Avengers. Then again, that could work out in his favor. The Avengers certainly wouldn't go with Wicker. Wicker's betrayal wasn't too bad. He wasn't Hydra in any sense of the means. He was certain of that. Otherwise the Companion nor the Solider would stick with him for very long.

The Solider would have grabbed the Companion and left as soon as they were able to.

But that didn't mean that any of this made him happy. He knew Slate would find a way to bring the Companion out into the light. He had to admit, Natasha and Rogers thought of everything they could. He wondered if they even had a clue of what they were letting out.

He wondered if this woman had an inkling of what she was getting herself into. Lydia Jones, former detective for the NYPD. She had dressed herself in her most professional clothing. Black slacks, a button up blouse, and she carried herself in way that made his most seasoned agents look at her twice.

Slate was ambling behind her, undoubtedly ready to present whatever back up he could. He had no idea this woman didn't need it.

"Mrs. Jones." Fury said slowly.

"Director Fury, I can imagine." Her voice was clipped and steady. He was somewhat reminded of Director Carter back in her days. "I hear that you have someone of mine."

"Not in your jurisdiction."

"I don't mean force wise. Family wise. The Companion I believe you called her?" Lydia raised an eyebrow. "She's known as Angelina Jones. Robert Jones assignment before he passed away. Though, I think the police would know her as "Mary"."

So the F.B.I had been investigating something before the Companion took her turn. Mary. Fury didn't hear that name before and he didn't like surprises. "You know this...?"

"Robert's journals were taken from the safe house four years ago. He was shot and killed in a safe-house all because he sent a picture. Angelina went missing and everyone knew that there was something very, very wrong with this picture. I knew her as Mary, the girl with a missing name, and Angelina, the girl who was going to become our daughter. At the very least get her into our family as one." Lydia folded her arms. "Angelina needs to come home. I don't know what you're trying to find. I don't know if you know what you're trying to find. But it appears to me that attacking a POW and his charge doesn't scream trustworthiness."

"Mrs. Jones the situation is difficult to explain and extremely confidential."

"If the Companion can break out a POW out of this type of facility how long do you think it'll take for her to do the same for herself? You let her out into my care, you know where I live. Therefore you have the ability to monitor in public. She's not going to show you anything in here, trapped and without anyone to trust. Two agents isn't trust, it's war." Lydia snapped. "As well as your POW from what I understand, is now in the Avengers care."

"They're a type of division of ours." Fury said slowly.

"Just so." Lydia replied, her eyes narrowed. "Why not do the same for Angelina? You have two choices here. My care, or the Avengers. Either way, I'm assured she's well taken care of. She's out of here and she'll begin to recover what little progress she made mentally."

"I know better than to bug your house. You'd find them and Angelina would too. She already found our security cameras and she knew that the room was bugged." Fury smiled a little. "She's good at knowing when the walls are watching and listening."

"Then it appears your choice is made." Lydia replied. "I think that you should pick both. I was told by Agent Tucker that the Companion has made friends with them. Angelina doesn't have many of those and as long as they want to continue that type of relationship with her, I'm not objecting to her seeing them."

"You drive a hard bargain."

"Well it was either solve this with a peace treaty or ask Captain Rogers if he needs another ally on the battle field." Lydia smiled. "So I believe we're set. I'll gather Angelina and whatever belongings she wants to bring with her from this...hell-hole." She turned to Slate. "Agent Tucker, do me the honor of showing me this wonderful indoor garden you were telling me about." She smiled at Slate as she opened the door. "I'm quite eager to see what type of plant life you cultivate."

"Of /course/, Mrs. Jones," Slate grinned widely, giving Fury a friendly wave in spite of the glare he received, and while they meandered down to the basement level, he pulled out his phone and dialed Natasha's number, "Hey, Darlin'," he cooed, his Southern Drawl coming out because he was so damn pleased right now, "How 'bout a good ol' drink in de bar at de Tower tonight? A.J's comin' home, 'er mama's followin' me ta go get 'er right nah."

"I'd love that. Consider it a date, Gunslinger. A.J now? Is she going to be coming by the tower, do you think? I think Bucky would at least would like to say goodbye." Natasha hummed over the phone, clearing no where near the boys this time.

A date! Slate had a new hop in his step, grin splitting his face, "/Actually/, Mrs Lydia Jones told me she would love ta meet Sergeant Barnes," he explained, "So de four of us - Wicker included - will head straight to de Tower an' we can figure out all of de nooks an' crannies." He looked over at Lydia, "That's the plan, right?" he asked just to double check.

"That's the plan." Lydia replied with a smile as they walked to the elevator. Slate pushing the button to go down to the basement level. Her eyes flicked to the level, her face paled, but she kept her mask cool and collected. But the longer the elevator went down, the more anxious she was starting to appear.

"I'll text Steve and have him prepare Bucky." Natasha smiled through the phone. "Stay focused."

"I will, see ya soon, Darlin'," Slate hung up and put his phone back in his pocket. They finished their trip to the gardens and he opened the door, "She's closest to the back," he explained, and saw Wicker reading a manga against a tree, "Hey, buckaroo. Guess what?"

"Chicken butt?" Wicker looked up, a bit unimpressed, then his eyes narrowed at the woman beside Slate, "Who's she? Do you really think Angie can handle new faces right now?"

"Angie, now dat's cute," Slate watched him in amusement, "This is Mrs. Lydia Jones. Mrs. Jones, Agent Dylan Wicker. Dylan, this is Angelina's mother. Well, soon ta be mother, but ya know. Close enough."

"I heard from Slate...I mean Agent Tucker that you're the one that took care of Angelina while she was in here." Lydia took a breath in and out, slow. "I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for looking out for her."

Angelina heard the voice. She recognized it because she listened to Robbie's phone calls sometimes. She peeked from her hiding spot, looking at the woman that wanted so badly to be her mom...and loved Robbie to pieces.

She looked at Slate, curiously. Why did Slate say that? Why did he decide to say that? It didn't make sense to her. Slate was her brother right? Was he giving her to the Jones because he couldn't take care of her, or was this a way to get her out?

She was really confused, but knew better than to ask right now.