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sjsmith56 · 2 months

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On the Run, Chapter 4 - Eyes of the Father

Summary: Bucky successfully eludes ship’s security on the cargo ship he stowed away on. After sneaking into Greece he gets help from two elderly ladies, sisters in different villages, and a British truck driver who recognizes him.

Length: 4.7 K

Characters: Bucky Barnes, two Greek OFC (sisters, grandmothers), British OMC (truck driver).

Warnings: elder abuse

Author notes: Greek words mostly from Google Translate: yiayia - grandmother, argótera - later, arketá - pretty, toualéta - toilet, patéra - father, na proséhis - take care

<<Chapter 3

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It had been almost two weeks since Bucky stowed away on a container ship in a Baltimore shipyard. During that time he played a cat and mouse game with the ship's security who knew he was on the ship but hadn't been able to find him. They did find the other three people who were already hiding on the ship when he snuck onto it. Alternating between staying in an empty passenger cabin and a shipping container that he was able to break into he had so far succeeded in keeping hidden. He even managed to find food, enough to keep him functional. Whenever he could he would look at Lacey's book, reading and re-reading it. He had also taken a picture of her from a photo album, using it as a bookmark since no one should dog ear the pages of a book.

He wished he'd had the time to properly say goodbye to her, giving her more than that kiss in the bedroom to remember but he was damn sure he wasn't going to do anything more within earshot of the mobster trash that were trussed up in her living room. Even though he had only known Lacey for a day and a night Bucky had been touched by her kindness and generosity to him, not to mention her trust when she allowed him into her bed. He thought about their lovemaking, remembering how she raised herself into him as she came. She was the first woman he had slept with since his escape from HYDRA and he couldn't stop thinking about her face in the throes of passion. He thought of sending her a postcard once he landed in Europe but remembered he told her it was better and safer if she moved. If she was smart she wouldn't have a forwarding address. It was better for both of them to accept it couldn't continue, as he had hinted on the origami heart he made her. Still, he couldn't keep the thought of his time with her out of his mind.

An alarm sounded on the ship and the captain announced over the PA system that they were performing a rescue of a small craft that had lost power. Bucky put the book and picture back into the plastic bag he had to protect them, then packed them into his back pack. Holding his ear to the door he didn't hear anyone approaching and opened it a crack to make sure before leaving the empty cabin. If they were rescuing someone those people would likely be put into an empty cabin and he wasn't going to risk being found in this one. Quickly he moved down the hallway, always checking around corners before moving on. From there he went down a gangway and out onto the deck. Bucky could hear some of the crew talking just ahead so he ducked into an alcove, waiting for their voices to fade away before he moved on. As he got closer to the shipping container he had broken into he could hear more voices and realized they found the broken lock. Security was being called to check the inside of the container and he grimaced, trying to find a way out of the maze of metal sea cans. In desperation he jumped up and wedged himself between two containers that had a narrow gap between them. It actually gave him a good view in two directions and he could hear everything that was said for some distance. Staying in that narrow space he listened to everyone walking nearby, hearing the crew discuss the stowaway they were still looking for. That was when he heard the ship would be picking up a pilot soon, providing him his exit strategy. If he could get on that pilot boat he could disable the boat captain and any other crew then take control of the pilot boat until the nearest landfall. It would be risky but he would have more control over where he landed.

The rescue itself took about an hour and the ship was soon on its way. As the early evening turned dark he took the chance of going to the railing looking for the pilot boat approaching the cargo ship. He finally spotted it and watched it intently as it pulled up next to a hatch opening in the side of the cargo ship just above the water line. He watched as the pilot stepped off the smaller craft and into the hatch. The captain of the pilot boat then started to pull away and Bucky leaped over the railing, landing and rolling on the much smaller boat's deck. A deck hand looked at him in amazement at the height he had jumped from then ran inside to tell the captain. Bucky followed him, pulling the radio out before they could report a problem. He recognized they were speaking Greek and asked them haltingly in what Greek he could muster to take him to land. The captain looked at him coolly.

"Are you taking my boat?" he asked in English.

"I just need to get to land," said Bucky. "I'm sorry about the radio and I promise I won't hurt you if you drop me off and forget you saw me." The captain kept looking at him. In desperation Bucky said a proverb that he had heard once. "It's sweet to view the sea when one is standing on the shore. I just have to get to land, please."

The captain laughed a hearty laugh. "Alright American," he said. "I will drop you off away from the authorities and then you are on your own. Have a seat." Bucky nodded and sat where the captain indicated. The deckhand kept talking and the captain looked back at him. "Is it true you jumped from the cargo deck down to my boat?"

Bucky nodded. "I know how to do it without injury," he explained. "Security had discovered my hiding place on the ship and I was desperate to get off when I was so close to my destination. Don't ask where that is as I don't want you to tell the police when they come looking for me."

The captain smiled. "I would have liked to have seen that jump," he quipped.

Bucky smiled nervously and continued to watch both men as they approached land. The captain beckoned to him and pointed out a rocky shoreline.

"There is a path on top of the rock where the lighthouse is," he said as he pointed out the lighthouse in the distance. "I can't get too close but if you could do a jump from a cargo deck you should be able to jump from this boat to the rock below the lighthouse. It's an automated lighthouse so there won't be anyone there. Follow the path past the village. It's rocky country but there are many small villages. With your smile and blue eyes you may be able to convince an old yiayia to feed you. Good luck, American."

"Thank you," said Bucky, sincerely, extending his hand which the captain shook.

As he deftly maneuvered the boat closer to the lighthouse the captain yelled at Bucky that he was as close as he could get. Bucky backed up to one side of the hull then put all of his energy into the three strides he took before launching himself up in the air. He landed cleanly on a large rock and turned back to salute the captain before scrambling over the other rocks towards the lighthouse. The path was right where the captain said it was and Bucky followed it towards the small village that was still active as people were eating their dinner. When the path split, he took the one that led away from the village and into the mountainous region beyond. Bucky settled into an easy pace as he ran on the path in the light of the full moon. He would run for as long as he could then find a place to hide and sleep before sunrise. Once he was rested he would try to find food.

➿ ➿ ➿

It didn't take long for Bucky to find one of those grandmothers the captain told him about. Two days after he jumped off the pilot boat he hid in a garden shed behind a small house to sleep. He had gone without food the entire time and was almost at the point where he was considering breaking into a house to steal food. As he rested in the increasing warmth of the shed interior he could hear an argument outside and roused himself to peek out the door as he opened it a crack. A young man was pushing an old woman around, yelling at her. She was defending herself as best she could but when the man slapped her and brought tears to her face Bucky had enough. Quietly he stepped out and approached the pair. The old woman saw him but said nothing after Bucky put his fore finger to his lip indicating she should stay quiet. Tapping the man on his shoulder to make him turn around Bucky hit him, knocking him out. In the best Greek he could remember Bucky asked if she was okay. She nodded and began to speak rapidly. He didn't understand most of what she was saying but figured out the man was her grandson and he wanted money. She spat on the young man as he lay on the ground then looked at Bucky and gestured to him to tie up her grandson then follow her. Leading him into her small house he could smell food cooking and commented how good it smelled. Smiling broadly, she patted a chair for him and proceeded to dish out some of the food which he devoured quickly. The more he ate the more she cooked until he finally put his hands up in submission having reached his limit. He smiled his thanks and she patted his cheeks. Then she looked seriously at him.

"You ... in trouble?" she asked in halting English.

"Yes," he answered. "Police are looking for me."

"You good boy," she said, smiling. "I help you."

"You've already helped," he replied, patting his stomach. "Good food."

"You sleep," she said, opening the door to her bedroom. "You wake ... argótera."

She pointed at an hour on the clock and Bucky nodded his head. He was still very tired and her feast made him drowsy. Standing up and towering over her he bowed his head to get through the door. She kept telling him to sleep as he sat on the bed, pulling his boots off. When he laid down on top of the bed she put a blanket on him.

"Good boy, arketá," she smiled, then patted him on the cheek and closed the door.

Bucky was asleep in minutes. He woke later with a start, at first not remembering where he was. It was still light out but the sun was low and he figured it would set soon. Sitting up he pulled his boots on and listened at the door before opening it. The old woman was cooking and she smile at him as he came out of her bedroom.

"Good, you up," she said. "Toualéta outside."

He understood that and found the outside toilet relieving himself then washing in the basin that was on a table beside it. Looking around he didn't see her grandson and he entered her kitchen asking about him. She smirked.

"I tell my son, his patéra," she explained. "Dimitri in big trouble for hitting yiayia."

She cackled then gestured to Bucky to sit. Once again she fed him a feast until he couldn't eat any more. Some of the leftovers were wrapped up in a bag that she gave them him to take. It was almost dark and Bucky stood up.

"I have to go," he said.

Her eyes filled with tears but she nodded then grasped his face with both hands and pulled him down, kissing him on both cheeks. She pulled out an atlas and opened it showing him where he was on the map. He looked intently at it committing it to memory. She pointed to another village a considerable distance away.

"My sister," she said. "She help you. Maria Stavros my name. Eleni Drakos her name. You find her. You good boy."

"Okay," he nodded. "I find Eleni Drakos."

"You good boy," she whispered again. "Na proséhis."

"Thank you yiayia," replied Bucky, sincerely.

He lowered his head and stepped out the door, taking in the twilight. Maria followed him and watched him leave then wiped the tears from her eyes. If only her grandson could be like the blue-eyed man she could die a happy woman. Out on the path that led away from the village Bucky was feeling good. His sleep had re-energized him and the food had restored his stamina. He began running on the path and thought about the atlas that Maria had shown him, helping him decide his final destination. It was going to take a while to get there, especially on foot but it would be worth it. He could go to Bucharest, in Romania. There were some abandoned HYDRA safe houses there where he could live. He spoke the language fluently and could likely pick up enough odd jobs to make a living. It would give him time to organize his memories and keep him hidden from the authorities. At least it was a plan.

It took Bucky another two days to get to the village where Eleni Drakos lived. As soon as he saw her he knew it was her as she looked exactly like her sister. Also a widow, she lived in the smallest house on the edge of the town. She had a small but abundant garden and she was working in it when Bucky approached the house.

"Eleni Drakos?" he said hesitantly, watching her intently as she stood up. "You speak English?"

"Little," she replied. "What you want?"

"Your sister, Maria Stavros, said you would help me," he began.

"You have trouble?" she asked.

"Yes," he nodded. "Police look for me."

"How you know Maria?" she asked, still suspicious.

"I hit her grandson Dimitri after he hit her and made her cry," replied Bucky. "He wanted money."

Eleni swore a blue streak in Greek, surprising Bucky with her vehemence. "Dimitri bad boy," she spat. "What your name?"

"Iakobos," he replied, knowing his name in Greek. "I'm American."

"Okay," she replied. "You help me and I help you. You hungry?"

He nodded and she motioned for him to follow her into the small house. She pulled some cheese and bread out of a cupboard, cutting him thick slices of each and slathering butter over the bread. From her small refrigerator she pulled out a chunk of cured meat and cut slabs off of it. Putting it all on a plate she laid it in front of him then poured him a big mug of tea.

"You eat," she said. "Then I feed you later, big food. You need sleep?" He nodded, his mouth full of the fresh bread and a slice of cheese. "Okay, you sleep then you do work for me, yes?"

"Yes," agreed Bucky. "Thank you."

"You good boy," she said, patting him on the cheek just like Maria had. "Nice blue eyes."

Bucky smiled, somewhat embarrassed but the pilot boat captain had said he could probably get fed by the older grandmothers because of his eyes and he wasn't going to complain about it. He ate everything she laid out for him and drank his tea as she watched him. Then she showed him a ladder and he went up finding a bedroom in the attic. She stood at the bottom, watching as he went up.

"You sleep," she said, motioning with her hand. "You safe."

Slipping his boots and jacket off he laid down on the bed and pulled a blanket over his shoulders. Within minutes he was asleep. When he awakened some time later he could hear Eleni talking to someone in her kitchen, a man by the sound of the voice. He couldn't quite make out what she was saying but heard his name mentioned several times. At first he was concerned that she had turned him in but it didn't sound like she was asking the man to arrest him. Slowly, he came down the ladder and stood before Eleni and the middle aged man.

"Jesus, you're a big one," said the man, who had an English accent. "Eleni said you're in trouble and you need transportation. I'm Jerry, a truck driver and I stay with her when I come through Greece. You were sleeping in my bed."

"I'm sorry," said Bucky. "She didn't tell me."

"It's okay," said the Englishman. "She has a heart of gold and you've obviously touched her. What kind of trouble are you in, son?"

"I'd rather not say all of it," said Bucky nervously. "I did some terrible things for some bad people until I got away from them. They're still looking for me and will force me back to working for them if they catch me. If they find you they might force you to tell them where I am."

Jerry looked at him. "That sounds like the mob," he said. "Nasty bunch. I'm headed back to the UK and have to stop in Pristina, Kosovo for a shipment. I can take you that far. You have no ID, do you?" Bucky shook his head. "Shouldn't be a problem unless they set up check stops if they're looking for you. Then you would have to jump out of the truck and head out on your own."

"I'm okay with that," said Bucky. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Son, I fought in Afghanistan," he replied. "I was captured by the Taliban and beaten to within an inch of my life but an older woman, much like Eleni, helped me when I escaped. I don't judge a book by its cover. You're soft spoken, polite and you've been as truthful with me as you can be. Eleni said you helped her sister with that little bastard grandson of hers and that counts. So yes, I'm sure I want to help you."

Bucky felt a lump of emotion in his throat and it must have shown because Eleni suddenly put her hand on his arm and smiled kindly at him.

"Eleni said she had some work for me to do," said Bucky. "Can you find out what it is so I can get it done?"

Jerry spoke to Eleni in Greek and listened patiently then he turned to Bucky. "She wants to enlarge the size of her garden but there are some big rocks that have to be moved," he repeated. "She wants us both to move them to the side. I know which ones she's talking about it as she's asked me about them before."

He led Bucky out to the garden where several large boulders were. Jerry figured they could undermine one side of them and roll them over wooden logs to a place where they would be out of the way. Bucky looked at them intently then kneeled down before the first one pushing it to get an idea of its weight. Carefully he placed his titanium hand under it and with great effort lifted it up, cradling it close to his body. Both Jerry and Eleni looked at him with amazement as he slowly walked it over to where she indicated. When he dropped it the force cracked it into two pieces.

"Sorry," he said to the others. "I hope she didn't want to keep it intact."

"Bloody hell!" exclaimed Jerry. "How strong are you? That must have weighed several hundred kilos."

Bucky shrugged then went over to the second boulder. It wasn't as heavy and he was able to carry it easily to where the first one was. He went back for the third and easily transported it to its new location. When he was done he looked at Eleni.

"More?" he asked.

"No," she smiled. "You good boy, Iakobos."

She went back inside and began to make dinner for them all. Bucky sat on one of the boulders, looking steadily at Jerry who was trying not to make eye contact with him as he considered what he had just witnessed.

"You're in no danger from me," said Bucky, calmly. "I don't kill anymore, not for them, not for anyone."

"What did they do to you?" asked Jerry. "Really, how did they make you become ... him?"

Bucky sighed. "They tortured me, injected me with super soldier serum, and wiped the memories of my past then created a personality that could be controlled to do whatever they wanted," he said. "Originally they had to use a machine to do it then they found a way to use verbal commands. If they catch me they can still use the commands so I can't allow myself to be caught. There are some places I can hide and get my memories sorted out. I just have to get there first. Some of the things they programmed me to do have come in handy; languages, stealth skills, staying under the radar. But my physical presence is too noticeable. I think you began to realize it was me when you saw me lift that heavy boulder."

Jerry nodded. "I heard of the Taliban trying to brainwash captured POWs," he said. "Saw some of them when they were repatriated. They were broken men. How do you stand it?"

"Sometimes I don't," replied Bucky. "I have nightmares of the kills. They made sure I remembered them. Everyone I ever cared about from my past is dead, except for one person and I almost killed him. I know he wants to help me but I'm afraid I'll succeed the next time I see him because the command is still there. Are you going to turn me in?"

"Hell no," declared Jerry emphatically. "I was a POW. They keep after you and at some point you just want to give up, stop the pain, stop the assault on your senses. If Miriam hadn't helped me I would have been one of those broken men. Bucky, that's your real name, right? I'll still take you to Kosovo. Don't tell me where you're headed to after. If I don't know I can't tell them, right?"

"Thank you," said Bucky gratefully. "Do me a favour. Don't tell Eleni who I am. I kind of like being called a good boy."

Jerry agreed and the two men were called into dinner by the old woman. Just like Maria had done she had cooked up a feast, pushing dish after dish on them until they both raised their hands in submission. After a quiet evening where Bucky re-read Lacey's book, Jerry did paperwork and Eleni did mending it came time to go to bed. Bucky said he would sleep on the floor as he was used to it. Eleni put up a fuss but he insisted and she finally provided him with several blankets. She went to her room while Jerry climbed the ladder to his attic room. Sleep finally came and he slept until Eleni woke him from a nightmare that he couldn't remember.

"Iakobos," she said softly, touching his forehead. "Wake, bad dream."

He sat up breathing heavily, looking straight ahead as he got his bearings, then he turned to Eleni. "Sorry," he said. "I did bad things before and I remember them."

She nodded in understanding and touched his left hand which had lost its glove. "You not him any more," she said softly. "You good boy." He almost cried when she said that, knowing she had recognized him. "Sleep in my bed, you safe here."

She helped him up and led him to her bed, leaving him there while she went back into the living area where she curled up on an armchair. He slept until the morning when he heard her as she began preparing breakfast. As they ate she made a lunch for both men to take on the road. Before Bucky got into Jerry's truck she pulled a gold necklace out of her pocket and said something to Jerry.

"This was a necklace that was her brother's," he translated. "She wants you to wear it for good luck."

Bucky protested when he saw it was a Greek Orthodox cross. "I'm not religious," he said. "It's gold, much too valuable to waste on me."

"Take it, mate," said Jerry. "She likes you and this is her way of wishing good luck on you."

He consented and she made him lower his head as she undid the clasp and fastened it around his neck. Standing in front if him she kissed both of Bucky's cheeks.

"You good boy," she said, in the same voice as her sister.

She said a prayer in Greek then crossed herself. Jerry shrugged and told Bucky she had prayed for his safety. He smiled then kissed her on both cheeks before saying thank you. She stood outside her fence and watched as Jerry pulled away. Bucky settled back in the passenger side, grateful for the ride. Even though it took less than 8 hours by truck to Kosovo it would shave days off of Bucky's travel time. When they arrived in Pristina, Jerry bought Bucky a meal then gave him some Euros at the warehouse where his next shipment was being loaded.

"I wish it was more," he said. "But you'll be able to keep yourself fed for a few days. Good luck in getting your memories back. Don't let them catch you."

"I'll do my best," replied Bucky, shaking Jerry's hand then he started walking east.

Jerry was distracted by the loading dock supervisor and when he looked back Bucky was gone. Shaking his head he returned his attention back to his truck and was soon on his way back to the UK. Once Jerry turned away, Bucky ran to another truck stop and asked drivers there in English if any of them were driving to Bulgaria. One of them said he was going to Sofia, agreeing to giving him a ride for money. Bucky gave him some of the Euros to pay for it, reasoning that he could always steal food if he had to plus he still had the lunch that Eleni had given him which he could stretch out for several days. Four and a half hours later the driver pulled into Sofia and although Bucky couldn't pick up a ride to Bucharest from another driver he was told the bus was cheap. He went to the bus station, being careful to keep his face lowered wherever there was a security camera. The bus ride was for the next day and he asked if there was a hostel nearby. He spent the last of his money to stay at the hostel, sleeping poorly, while keeping his back pack close. When he arrived at the bus station there were police but after observing them for a while he reasoned it was a normal presence and they weren't looking for him. Acting like he belonged there he boarded the bus. When it finally pulled out of the station he began to breathe normally again. It was an 8 hour bus ride to Bucharest that passed uneventfully. Once he arrived he sought out one of the abandoned safe houses, watching it for several hours before picking the lock and entering it. His lips curled in distaste at the smell in the small flat. It hadn't been used in a long time and food had spoiled in the fridge. He wanted to clean it but he had been going for well over 24 hours and was exhausted. After eating the last of the food that Eleni gave him he opened a window to air the place out, barricaded the door and stretched out on the mattress that passed for a bed. As he fell asleep from exhaustion the thought crossed his mind that this would be his home for the foreseeable future. Tomorrow he would look for work.

Chapter 5>>

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