Chapter 6: Road Trip

"Time to say goodbye, Peter," Zola was ready to flip the switch, and permanently erase everything that Peter was.

Peter's eyes were closed. He was so focused on preserving his memories he almost missed the sound of the door being kicked open followed by a hail of gunfire. His eyes shot open just in time to see what looked like a homeless man in a dark green cargo jacket, and wielding two machine guns take out the two remaining goons in the room.

The crazy homeless man fired straight at Zola who had to jolt away from flipping the switch on the controls to avoid being hit. Peter figured it had to be his leftover human instincts causing him to shy away from the bullets or maybe his metal form was just really fragile.

"Sergeant Barnes, so good to see you again," Zola greeted in a placating manner.

The gun toting homeless man who was possibly Bucky Barnes didn't even respond he just open fired on Zola. Peter's second theory was proven correct when the deluge of bullets literally tore Zola in half, and just like that Zola crumbled into a pile of scraps. Peter knew better than to think that Zola didn't have a back up.

Possibly Bucky Barnes turned to lock eyes with Peter. It was a bit of a surreal moment for him. It was more than a little bizarre to find himself looking into a pair of eyes that were the same as the ones he saw in the mirror every day just set in a different face.

"She was right," Peter mumbled, after spitting out the rubber mouth guard in his mouth.

There was no denying that Peter had inherited his eye color from his biological father, which meant that underneath all that long, dark brown hair and tangled, bushy beard was Bucky Barnes.

"What did you say?" Bucky demanded.

There was no hint of recognition in his eyes, which was a bit of a disappointment but not completely unexpected. After all they'd only met once. There had to be a lot more important things for him to remember then their one time meeting.

"Can you get me out of here?" Peter asked.

He was surprised that he could even speak considering how shaky he felt at the moment.

Bucky stared at him for a moment, weighing him as friend or foe. He seemed to make up his mind, and strode across the room. Bucky hit the release button on the control panel. As soon as the restraints popped off, Peter leapt up from the chair as fast as he could. He staggered a bit. He was almost lightheaded with the relief he felt at being able to get up from the chair with his mind fully intact. He'd come so close to losing everything.

"Thank you," Peter said gratefully, smiling at Bucky.

Bucky nodded absently he wasn't looking at Peter. His eyes were locked on the chair, gaze intense.

"I've looked everywhere for it. Now I can destroy it. They'll never control me again," Bucky muttered to himself.

He pulled out a bunch of explosives, and started sticking them around the chair.

"Do you need any help?" Peter offered. It was only the polite thing to do after he had saved his life, and Peter wouldn't mind having a hand in the utter destruction of the foul device.

Bucky gave him another considering look before handing some over. Peter was pleased to pass inspection, and more than happy to help Bucky blow the mind erasing chair sky high.

Once everything was in place the two of them made their way out into the hallway to take cover. Bucky had the trigger and pressed the button. The explosion was a bit of an overkill but when they peeked back in it was obvious it was worth it. The chair was utterly destroyed, and Hydra wouldn't be piecing it back together anytime soon as there weren't any pieces big enough to piece together. It also had the added benefit of destroying all the blood samples Zola had taken from Peter.

"We should get out of here," Peter prompted when Bucky continued to stare blankly at the room the chair had once sat in.

Bucky didn't answer. He just turned and started charging down the hallway. Peter followed him, uncertain of his welcome.

Bucky had left a trail of destruction in his mission to get to the chair. At least it made it a bit easier to get out of the facility. They only ran into one small group of henchmen. Peter was all prepared to fight them but they took one look at the crazed, murderous expression on Bucky's face, and turned tail. It was a wise decision.

Peter was just grateful that Bucky seemed to think he wasn't a threat, and hadn't turned the murderous expression on him yet.

Once they were outside Peter took a moment to breathe in the fresh air. It was day, and Peter had never been so happy to feel sunlight on his face. The facility they had been in was an old, abandoned castle. They were completely surrounded by forest, blocking any other views of distinguishing landmarks that might have helped Peter identify his location. There were a couple of black jeeps waiting in the parking lot.

The moment the two of them started moving towards the closest jeep a hail of bullets rained down on them. It looks like Hydra had taken off the kid gloves and didn't want to let them go without a fight.

Bucky whipped his machine guns back out, and returned fire. Peter decided he would try to be helpful, and get the two of them out there before Hydra backup arrived. He darted into the closest jeep, and hot-wired it.

"Come on, let's get out here!" Peter called to Bucky as he pulled the jeep up beside him.

At first Peter didn't think that Bucky would listen to him. Peter didn't want to leave him so he had been trying to come up with a plan on getting Bucky into the jeep. Bucky surprised him by jumping into the jeep on his own.

Peter didn't hesitate. He hit the gas, and tore down the dirt road leading away from the facility. About five minutes in they had company. To Peter's complete shock and amazement Bucky leaned half way out of the window and started firing at the jeeps behind them.

Peter did his best to focus on driving. The ricochet of bullets hitting the back of the jeep had Peter flinching. His fingers were leaving indents in the steering wheel from where he was gripping it so tightly. The road was rough and winding. There was a steady decline, steep drop offs, and large rock formations leading him to believe they were on the side of a mountain. Peter hadn't actually ever driven a car before but he supposed driving down a mountainside while being shot at by Hydra goons was as good a time as any. He was very thankful for his quick reflexes in that moment.

The sudden explosions had Peter risking a glance in the rearview mirror. Bucky had taken out the tires of the lead jeep. It careened into a wall of loose rocks, and made some of the large rocks tumble down, blocking the road from allowing the other jeeps behind them to pass.

Bucky remained vigilant in his place out of the window but after another five minutes, and no one else showing up, he slid back into the car. They drove in complete silence. Peter was focused on getting off the mountain. He had no idea what Bucky was thinking about.

It was only when Peter hit a road that was actually a road that Peter breathed a sigh of relief. He'd done it. He'd escaped. He'd gotten away from Hydra with his life and his mind intact.

Peter had also picked up an unexpected accomplice. He chanced a glance at his passenger. Bucky was looking between the side view mirror, and Peter. His hands, both the metal one and the flesh one, were tightly wrapped around one of his guns like it was a security blanket. His entire body was tense, and his brow was furrowed in confusion as he looked between the mirror and Peter.

"I know you," Bucky blurted out suddenly, causing Peter to jump and nearly swerve off the road.

"You do?" Peter was surprised. As far as Peter could remember the two of them had only met once before. But maybe like Peter, seeing things helped trigger Bucky's forgotten memories.

"Yes," Bucky nodded firmly, looking confident. "I know I know you."

"You do. We've met before," Peter ventured, wondering how someone went about explaining that they were your father. It was a reverse Luke and Darth Vader situation. Peter was tempted to blurt out 'You are my father' in his best Darth Vader impression. But he didn't want to further confuse his memory challenged father.

"You have my eyes," Bucky pointed out.

"Yeah, I do," Peter answered cautiously. Should he just blurt it out or try to let Bucky come up with the answer on his own? Peter decided to give him a moment to think it over.

Bucky closed his eyes tightly but it didn't look like he was trying to sleep. He was far too tense for that. Fifteen minutes passed like that, and Peter was working on a way to gently explain the situation to him.

"You're my son," Bucky whispered, opening his eyes to look at Peter.

"Yeah, I am," Peter nodded, pleased that he had remembered on his own.

"I remember you, but you were smaller," Bucky murmured.

"I was a kid then," Peter smiled encouragingly.

"And you're not anymore. You're not a kid anymore. How old are you?" Bucky looked over at him.

"I just turned seventeen," Peter told him.

"Your name… it's Petrov?" Bucky guessed.

"It was. I sort of go by Peter now," Peter explained awkwardly.

"Peter," Bucky tested it out.

"That's me. What should I call you?" Peter broached the subject.

"The man on the bridge called me Bucky. Hydra called me Soldier or the Asset. The museum said my name was James Buchanan Barnes. They called me Bucky too. I don't know which name feels right, right now," Bucky shifted uncomfortably.

Peter was at a loss for words. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to not even be sure of your own name. To imagine such a thing had almost been his fate made him shudder.

"So your memories haven't been coming back?" Peter questioned.

"What do you know about my memories?" Bucky demanded, suddenly defensive.

"I know what they did to you. I can't imagine what it would be like. It was bad enough almost having it happen," Peter whispered.

"They wanted to do you what they'd been doing to me," Bucky realized.

Peter nodded.

"My memories have been coming back in bits and pieces. Things are jumbled inside my head but I'm remembering. The memories come back better if I have something to trigger them. Seeing the pictures in the museum of Steve, and…me. I remembered him. I know him. I recognized you, and it triggered a memory of meeting you. I know I know you. I remember you're my son. I remember seeing you. Hydra had you didn't they? Have they had you all this time?" Bucky's hands were shaking.

"No, they haven't," Peter reassured, hoping to calm him down.

Peter gave him a quick sequence of events of his life so far.

Listening to Peter seemed to calm down the former, unwilling, Hydra assassin. His hands stopped their shaking, and the grip on his gun grew less tense as they talked.

"I'm glad you grew up away from them," Bucky finally murmured.

"Me too," Peter fervently agreed.

The two of them lapsed back into silence. They had finally left behind the back roads, and had reached a more populated road. Peter only knew that they had to be in Europe somewhere since everyone was driving on the wrong side of the road.

"So this is awkward," Peter tried for a joke to break the silence.

Bucky glanced over at him.

"I mean you're just my father who I've only met once. Then the second time we get to meet is thirty years later while we're breaking out of a Hydra base. But even though it is thirty years later neither of us look a day over thirty. Not to mention we look more like brothers than father and son," Peter's chuckle was slightly manic. The events of the day were starting to catch up with him a little bit. He'd almost been turned into a Hydra weapon.

"Are you going to be all right?" Bucky asked, uncertainty flickering over his features.

"Oh, I'm fine. Peachy. How are you? What have you been up to?" Peter questioned, trying to keep his mind occupied.

"I've been trying to piece together my memories, and I remember enough to know I hate Hydra. They took everything from me. My memories, my freedom, my life. My most recent mission was to take out the device they were using to erase my mind," he snarled.

"That was a mission I can wholeheartedly get behind. But now that it's been accomplished, what do you plan to do next?" Peter tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, trying to hold himself together.

"There are more Hydra cells still out there," Bucky growled.

"You could come back with me. I know there are people who are worried about your safety, and want to make sure you're okay," Peter mentioned.

"Steve," Bucky shifted, and glanced out the window.

"Yeah, I've never met him but Natasha said he's been trying to find you. He wants to help you. You were best friends," Peter emphasized.

"Natasha? I know her?" Bucky questioned, only half certain.

"You do. She's my mom," Peter explained.

"Oh," Bucky's eyes widened then unexpectedly he grinned. "So I guess I know her pretty well then, huh?"

Peter snorted out a surprised laugh, and grinned back, happy to see this side of Bucky. "You could say that. The two of you had a run in more recently too."

"Natasha…" Bucky closed his eyes. "Natalia, the Black Widow. Red hair, and an incredible fighter. I do remember her."

"Will you come then?" Peter wanted to know.

Bucky didn't answer. His gaze locked on the scenery passing by outside their window. Peter didn't push the issue. The man was still confused, and hurting. Peter wasn't going to make it worse by badgering him about doing something he obviously wasn't quite ready to do yet.

"I'm starving, and I need to get in touch with my mom. Do you have any idea where we are?" Peter asked.

"Saarland, Germany," Bucky answered.

"Okay, well, that doesn't exactly make things easier. But okay," Peter sighed.

"We're right on the edge of the German/ French border. Just keep following the road. We'll come to a small town soon enough," Bucky assured.

Bucky was right. They drove for another half hour before coming to a small town called Blieskastel. They ditched the jeep, got Peter a new pair of shoes, and stopped at a small tavern for something to eat. Bucky even helped him get the collar and the metal cuffs off by using his metal arm.

Peter didn't call Natasha the moment he found out they had a phone. He knew he should let her know he was all right but he wanted to spend some more time with Bucky first. Bucky was already twitching at the mention of Natasha coming. He'd probably take off the moment she said she was on her way.

They sat at a table. Bucky inexplicably had some German cash on him, and they bought lunch. The whole situation was surreal. He'd never been out of the country before, and here he was in Germany having lunch with his ex-assassin father.

He waited until they both finished their lunch to bring up Bucky returning with him again.

"I can't just yet," Bucky admitted.

"If you want to wipe out the rest of Hydra, the Avengers would be a huge help," Peter offered, thinking that Bucky's revenge against Hydra was what was keeping him from coming home.

"No, it's not that. Being around you is nice. You don't have any preconceived notions of what I should be like," Bucky explained hesitantly.

"That's why you don't want to see the Captain," Peter realized.

"Yeah, he wants his friend back. He wants Bucky. And, yeah in a lotta ways I am Bucky. I remember being Bucky, mostly. But I don't think I can ever go back to being just Bucky. I'll always have a part of the Soldier inside me. I don't want to disappoint him. Steve is the one who helped me remember in the first place. He helped me break through the Hydra conditioning," Bucky ran his left hand over his face.

"I think he's more worried about you than anything else. I don't think he'd be disappointed if you were a little different. I'm sure he expects it. I think he'd just be glad to know that you're okay," Peter insisted.

Bucky didn't look convinced.

"At least let me give you my number before you disappear again. You know, incase you need something or whatever," Peter offered.

"I don't need help," Bucky growled.

"Okay, then call me incase you get bored in between kicking Hydra's butt. We can chat or if you're in the area we can hang out. You know you can tell me all about how the old days were way better, and I can pretend I care about how you walked to school uphill both ways," Peter grinned.

Bucky let out a reluctant chuckle. "Are you calling me old?"

"Oh, you're not old, you're ancient. You are pushing ninety, old fellar," Peter was pleased that the two of them bantering with each other.

"Uh huh, I'll show you old, kid," Bucky smirked, and to Peter's complete shock he flicked a chip at him.

Peter burst into laughter. It was like the guy sitting in front of him was a completely different person than the guy who'd burst in firing machines guns all over the place. This Bucky had emotion in his tone. He was smiling occasionally, and there was some light in his eyes. It was a complete turn around from the monotone, blank faced soldier who kept a tight grip on his guns.

The carefree Bucky didn't last. It seemed that all it took was someone slamming a door a little too forcefully, and Bucky was back to being a soldier. He sat up ramrod straight, and his face shuttered back to the inscrutable expression Peter didn't have a chance of deciphering.

"So, I really should call Natasha. Let her know I'm alive and everything," Peter brought up.

"I have a phone you can use," Bucky fished a battered flip phone out of one of the many pockets on his green jacket.

"Thanks," Peter took the phone.

Feeling a little nervous he typed in the number. It rang twice before Natasha answered.

"What?" Natasha demanded, there were sounds of gunfire going off in the background and she sounded like she was out of breath.

"It's me," Peter choked out.

"Peter," Natasha breathed.

"Yeah," Peter replied.

"How are you? What happened? Where are you?" she questioned rapid fire.

"I'm fine. Hydra kidnapped me but it's all-good because I escaped. I'm in some town called Blieskastel, Germany in the local tavern," Peter responded.

"I'm in Italy. Don't move unless you have to. I'll be there in an hour and half," she sounded completely confident despite the sounds of explosions going on behind her, and the fact that Italy was quite a distance away.

"Okay, sounds like a plan, I'll see you then," Peter agreed.

"Be safe," Natasha commanded.

"You too," Peter responded before they ended the call.

Peter handed the cellphone back to Bucky.

"I'll stay until your mother gets here," Bucky informed him gruffly.

"You don't have to," Peter offered him the chance to escape.

"There's always the risk Hydra might catch up. It's better if the two of us wait together," Bucky responded firmly.

"All right," Peter couldn't argue that point.

About forty-five minutes had passed when Peter's luck made its appearance known.

Two men entered the tavern. Peter wouldn't have thought anything of it but Bucky immediately tensed in his seat. He'd carefully scanned everyone that had come in and out of the tavern since they'd got there but so far everyone had passed inspection, except for those two.

"Hydra," Peter guessed.

"They'll be a lot more than just those two sniffing around. We need to get out of here," Bucky murmured.

Bucky caught Peter's eyes and glanced towards the door to the kitchen. That was all Peter needed to understand what he needed to do. At Bucky's nod Peter stood up, and casually made his way to the kitchen. He just passed through the door when he heard the shouts. Peter sprinted through the kitchen and out a back door just as gunfire broke out. A part of him felt guilty about running away from the fight but he knew what Bucky wanted him to do.

Once he was outside he found the nearest car. It was small but sturdy looking. Peter felt bad about what he was about to do considering he webbed people who did this. But he knew it was necessary at the moment. He punched out a window in the back seat. He slipped in, and easily maneuvered himself into the front seat where he set about hotwiring the car.

"If being Spider-Man doesn't pan out I suppose I can always turn to a life of crime as a car thief," Peter muttered to himself as the car started up.

He'd just gotten the car started when a very angry German man came tearing out of a building.

"I'm sorry, sir," Peter tried to placate. Unfortunately, German was not a language Peter could speak so the apology didn't really help.

The man was approaching the driver side when Bucky appeared. He grabbed hold of the man with his metal arm, and tossed him safely onto a patch of lawn just before he was almost hit by some stray bullets. At least ten Hydra agents were making their way from the nooks and crannies of the small town.

Bucky didn't waste time in returning fire, and jumped into the car. Peter's foot had already hit the gas before Bucky even got a chance to close the door all the way. Peter weaved in and around the winding streets. For the third time in his life he was being chased by Hydra goons in black vehicles. Peter was sick of car chases. More than anything he wanted to be back in New York City, on his turf where the skyscrapers were his playground, and he knew exactly how to use them to his advantage.

Bucky was once more out the window firing at the Hydra cars behind them. Peter did his best to use evasive maneuvers to lose them. Natasha and he had briefly touched on evasive maneuvers, and he was doing his best to complete them. Bucky did his part by shooting out the tires of the SUVs behind them.

They managed to escape the small town with only one SUV behind them. They had lost the others in the winding streets of the small German town. The Hydra goons used Bucky's tactics against him, and shot out the tires of their small stolen car.

Peter did his best to control the car as it careened off the road now that it didn't have wheels to propel it. Eventually they came to a harsh stop. The SUV stopped beside them, and several goons in the car jumped out with guns raised.

"We need to get their car. I'll cover you, and you get to car," Bucky stated glancing at the approaching goons.

"Sounds like a plan," Peter nodded taking a couple of deep breaths.

Bucky shot out of the car, using the side for cover as he open fired on the Hydra agents. Peter got out too, creeping along behind the car to wait for the best moment to sprint to the SUV. There was still one goon waiting in the car so Peter would have to take care of him before Bucky, and he could gain possession of the SUV.

"When I break cover, go for the SUV," Bucky ordered.

Peter nodded.

Bucky leapt over the top of the car, and straight towards the goons. Peter was momentarily frozen in awe as he watched Bucky tear into the goons. Bucky expertly dodged their bullets until he was within striking distance. His metal arm was used to send powerful punches at the goons, and crush the weapons they held in their hands.

Peter got himself together once he saw that Bucky had things under control, and sprinted towards the SUV. He shot a string of web at the goon still in the SUV, and one hard yank had him flying out of the driver seat. Peter knocked him out with a sharp right hook to the jaw.

He jumped into the SUV, and made sure that everything was ready to go. He glanced up to check on Bucky's progress, and to see if he needed any help. The ex-assassin was just finishing up with the last goon, and then went about riffling through their pockets for weapons and ammo. Once he was finished he joined Peter in the SUV.

"Where to now?" Peter asked.

"Paris, it's a couple hours away. But we have a better chance at keeping our anonymity in a big city. Call your mom to let her know the change of plans," Bucky handed him the phone.

Peter called Natasha. She was worried about the attack but Peter assured her that he was all right, and that he would meet up with her in Paris.

"Someone's with you. Who is it?" Natasha demanded.

"Well…" Peter glanced uncertainly at Bucky.

Bucky gave him a short nod.

"I'm with…" Peter didn't know what to call Bucky. He'd been calling him Bucky in his head but Bucky himself didn't know what to call himself. He settled for, "I'm with my father."

"And you're safe?" Natasha demanded.

"Yes," Peter was one hundred percent certain that he was safe with Bucky.

"Good, I'll meet you two at..." she rattled off the name of a café.

Peter relayed the information to Bucky who nodded. He looked a little uncomfortable but resolute.

"You don't have to come with me to meet with Natasha," Peter offered.

"No, I think it will be good to see her. I can't avoid my past forever," Bucky shrugged.

"Okay then," Peter turned his attention back to the road.

He was glad that Bucky was sticking with him. He just hoped Bucky and Natasha's reunion would go smoothly, and without any interference from Hydra.

Thank you for everyone's reviews, and reasons for pairings. They helped me with my decision. For now Natasha won't be paired with anyone. But if I eventually do decide to pair her with anyone it will be Bucky, and their relationship will take a backseat to rebuilding their relationship with Peter.