Before the Morning // TFATWS

16

The four made their way to the street hoping Zemo wasn't too far gone. As they searched the streets, Sam's phone began ringing and he answered. "She said what? Right. Hold on, hold on. I know, I know. Listen, pack an overnight bag and take the boys."

"What happened?" Bucky and Dorothy asked.

Sam lowered the phone. "Karli called Sarah. She threatened my nephews." He spoke into the phone again. "Okay. Go somewhere safe. Only pay cash. All right? Let me know when you get there. I know. Look, I love you. I'll never let anything happen to you and the boys, you know that. Okay. Bye." He hung up, looking at Bucky, Dorothy and Josiah. "Karli wants to meet. She left a contact number." His phone chimed. "She said come alone."

"I'm coming with you."

---

The four made their way back to the house and the two Avengers changed into their uniforms.

Bucky said to his daughter, "Stay back and stay safe. I can't lose you too."

Dorothy frowned. "Dad-"

"No. I need you to listen to me. I need you safe." He looked at Josiah. "Keep her back and keep her safe."

Josiah nodded. "I will."

Dorothy frowned. "I see how it is. Don't you trust me?"

Bucky raised a brow. "No, not really. But disregarding that, if something goes wrong... Just stay back and stay safe. Please."

Dorothy sighed and nodded. "Okay."

---

They made their way to the address Karli had sent.

"Karli!" Sam shouted, looking up to see her leaning over a railing. They walked up the walkway and around the area, Sam leading. "You called my sister? That's how we're gonna play this?"

"Sam, I would never hurt her," Karli replied. "I just wanted to understand you better." She glanced at Bucky who stood further behind Sam. "I see you, um, didn't come alone."

"You have to end this now."

"I don't wanna hurt you. You're just a tool in the regimes I'm looking to destroy. You're not hiding behind a shield. If I were to kill you, it'd be meaningless. I was gonna ask you to join me. Or do the world a favor and let me go."

Sharon, over the comms, said, "Hey, Sam, new Cap is moving, looks like he's found them, or maybe they found him."

"It's Walker," Sam informed.

Bucky jumped off the balcony, but Karli hit him halfway down and he groaned.

Sam glanced at Bucky. "I'll send you the location. Go!"

Bucky ran off.

---

Bucky jumped off a building ledge and ran through the streets, being chased by Karli.

Sam got to the building the Flag Smashers were hiding in, just in time to see John send a man flying through the air and over the stairs with one punch. The pipe the man was fighting with was bent and was thrown down. The man got up and ran away.

Sam stared a moment and asked, "What'd you do?"

"They've got Lemar," John answered, not slowing his stride as he walked past him.

Bucky ran in and attacked the Flag Smasher. The Flag Smasher wrapped an arm around Bucky's neck and Bucky used a foot to push off the wall before knocking the Flag Smasher back into another wall. Bucky managed to free himself and grunted as he kicked the Flag Smasher, knocking him down the stairs.

He leapt from the stairs over the railing and landed on the ground. Bucky kicked the Flag Smasher, knocking him through a wall.

Bucky walked closer to the unconscious Flag Smasher and said, "Stay there."

John, Bucky and Sam followed the Flag Smasher into a large with windows covering the ceiling and most of the walls. When they got halfway into the room, they turned to see two more Flag Smashers jumping down. John sent the shield flying into both, but it did nothing to stop them, just knocked them off balance. Bucky twirled his knife in the air.

John fought another who pulled out a knife and asked, "What's with all the knives?"

He punched a Flag Smasher back, ducking before another could hit him.

John and Bucky continued fighting. The Flag Smasher he was fighting pulled out a knife. Bucky grabbed his wrist and threw the knife to the side.

They continued fighting and one of the Smashers grabbed him from behind. Sam turned to see another running directly for him.

Bucky punched them in the face, knocked them down and said, "You're welcome."

Karli kicked Lemar, knocking him into a pillar.

The sound of breaking concrete caught their attention and they turned to see Lemar laying in front of a pillar, his body still and his head leaning to one side.

John rushed towards his friend, trying to wake him up. "Hey. Hey. Hey. Lemar. Lemar." He repeated his friend's name, unable to wake him.

Sam and Bucky ran after the Flag Smashers.

John got up and ran towards one of the windows. He jumped out of it and landed on a van. John looked around and shouted, "Where is she?!"

John caught the shield and used it to knock down one of the Flag Smashers who wasn't wearing a mask.

"It wasn't me!" the man cried from the steps as he tried defending himself. "It wasn't me!"

Dorothy, who was in the crowd, pulled away from Josiah's hand, moved in front of the man, and yelled, "Stop!"

John stared at her. "Don't make me hurt you. Move, Dorothy." He pushed her out of the way.

Dorothy stood with a determined look. "No. He's an innocent man."

"He's not innocent. You didn't see what happened."

"He's literally saying he didn't do whatever it is!"

He pushed her back again and she stumbled. Her head hit the concrete and she let out a pained groan as her vision began to blur.

Josiah rushed to her side and pulled off his plaid shirt and held it to her head. "You gotta stay awake, okay?"

John turned to the man and used the shield to stab him, killing him. The crowd gasped and John yelled.

Sam and Bucky ran up, looking in horror. The two stared at the crimson tainted shield.

Bucky noticed Josiah kneeling with Dorothy's head on his lap and rushed up to them. "What happened?"

"Walker knocked her down," Josiah said.

Bucky lifted Dorothy's head, causing her to let out a pained groan and he said softly, "Sorry, kiddo. I think you've got a concussion. I thought I told you to stay back and stay safe."

Dorothy met her father's eyes. "I couldn't let him hurt that guy. I guess I failed. Dad? What was with him? He was different."

"I'm not sure. But we gotta worry more about you."

"I'll be fine, Dad. I've had worse."

"Dorothy-"

"We need to stop Walker." She tried to stand and wavered. Josiah put a hand on her back to steady her.

Josiah picked her up as she held the cloth to her head. "If this doesn't improve, your dad and I are taking you to the hospital."

"I'll be fine."

Bucky looked pointedly at his daughter. "No arguing, young lady. He's right. If you continue on this way or it gets worse, to the hospital you go."

Dorothy rolled her eyes. "There's no other way, is there?"

"Nope," Bucky and Josiah replied.