Winter Wolf *Bucky Barnes Fanfic*

2:New Home

Once Steve and Bucky were in the Car, they went to a pet store near by. After they were parked, Bucky helped Lupo out of the car and let her rest in his arms. Lupo seemed to be excited! Her tail was wagging, hitting Bucky in the shoulder and sometimes Steve in the face which made Bucky laugh. The smile on her face even made it better. The three walked in and grabbed a cart near by. Steve put the soft jacket he was wearing in the bottom of the cart to make the hard plastic a little bit more comfortable to the wounded dog. Even though she didn't seem to mind. The big smile on her face was the only indication of her current mood.

Happy puppy.

"Okay Buck. Food, I'm guessing you'd like a new leash and collar. New tags. We definitely need a dog bed for her. Toys if you'd want. Then we can go home and have her meet everyone."

Bucky only nodded to what Steve was saying. His ungloved right hand running through the fur of Lupo's head. He just wanted to get the stuff and go back to the tower. Sensing Bucky's anxiety, Lupo licked his hand. Wanting him to feel better and seeing his small smile after she did it, made everything better. All Lupo could think was that she was going home to a new family. People that cared about her and wanted her. Just like the family she used to have. She wasn't staring through the chain link fence anymore. No more sad sounds of animals being left behind. No more getting sad when she saw another dog getting adopted, leaving her there without knowing what would happen to her. 

It was bliss.

The young dog was so far inside her thoughts, she didn't notice that things were being put in the cart. She was also thinking about how the feeling of Bucky's hand through her fur was bliss. She did notice when Bucky's hand moved away from her though. Looking at him while he moved, she realized that he was looking collars. He was getting her a collar? Her new owner was taking time out of his day to pick out a collar for her? Lupo couldn't help herself, a loud howl left her muzzle. Her tail thumping against the cart wall. The two men looked back at her and couldn't help but laugh. People turning their attention to where the noise was coming from but smiled when they saw it was just coming from a very happy puppy with her family.

"Seems she likes that you're picking her a collar Buck. Also seems like she's going to be a talker.", Steve knew that Lupo was a perfect addition to the Avenger family. There were still some things they were going to figure out about her with time. Get her used to everyone. Get her healthy again. But, she will be a perfect addition none the less.

The small smile hasn't left Bucky's lips, he hated to say it but Sam was right. A dog was perfect for him. Would he tell Sam that? No way in hell. His mind was brought back to the large amount of possible collars that were in front of him. Bucky did not realize that trying to find the right collar was difficult. He didn't want to throw away her old one, that always going to be special. But he did want her to have a new collar for her new life. A new beginning. It took a few minutes to find one but there was one that stood out. A thick black collar with gold spikes around it. He thought that it would fit Lupo. Taking it off the hook, he turned around and put the collar around Lupo's neck. Bucky thought the collar looked amazing with her coat, really brought out the colors of her fur.

"Looks good. Don't you think Stevie?", when he got no answer, Bucky noticed that Steve had walked off somewhere in the store. Looking back to Lupo, the smile on his face widened seeing the smile on hers. All he could do was smile back. "Let's go find Steve, then go home."

Bucky was finally able to find Steve where the dog beds are. After finding a huge extra plush bed for Lupo and grabbing a few for around the tower, they decided to get the tags with Bucky's information and then they had everything they needed and headed home. As the trio pulled up, Natasha Romanoff and Wanda Maximoff were out front waiting for them. Wanda jumping up and down on the balls of her feet. More people? Lupo didn't think that there going to be more people! She was excited to have more people to be around! The two women looked excited to see her. Maybe, this would be like the large family she used to have? She sure hoped so. Lupo could hear the four people talking. Bucky and Steve were getting the bags out of the trunk. The two women grabbed a couple so Bucky could grab her. Opening the door, he couldn't help but smile. "Hey doll. Let's go meet some people and let you see your new home." Bucky gently pulled her into his arms. Wincing and profusely saying sorry when she yelped in pain.

Both of the women gasped at the new addition. Her markings along with her wounds were astounding. Natasha was the first to talk. "Wow Barnes. She's...Unique. Her eyes are beautiful. Don't you think Wanda?", all while Wanda is trying to keep her excitement to a minimum. Trying not to scare the animal. Natasha and Wanda grabbed a couple bags and followed Bucky inside. Steve walking behind them with the bag of food and the dog bed.

Lupo couldn't stop the smile on her face. Her tail hitting Bucky as it wagged. A new home that actually wanted her. Wanted to take care of her. She would do anything to keep seeing the smile on everyone's faces. Laughter could be heard from everyone as they walked into the tower. Everything was okay until they got to the elevator. Lupo couldn't see the silver doors of the elevator as they opened. All she could see, was being trapped under the truck. Her handler being stuck beside her. Hearing the screams, gunshots, and explosions. Smelling the gunpowder, blood, and sweat. Seeing her handler die when she couldn't do anything about it.

Everyone was taken back when Lupo starting screaming. Bucky almost dropped her when she started. It was never a pleasant sound when an animal screamed. While everyone was trying to figure out what was going on, Steve seemed to understand why she was freaking out. "Buck! The elevator. It's a enclosed space."

Bucky nodded to his answer and tried to get her to look into his eyes. Trying anything to calm her down. He backed himself against a wall and slid down it. "Come on doll. It's okay. You're not over there. You're here. Right here.", Bucky knew better then anyone how horrific flashbacks could be. How they can drain you of every emotion. Bucky sat down on the floor, taking the large dog into his lap. Running his hands along her body. Trying to get her back to the world around them. It took a couple minutes of hushed talking before the screams turned into soft whimpers. Taking the large head into his mismatched hands, he bore his blue eyes into hers. Seeing the glazed look fade to her normal bright blue. A sigh escaped everyone as the air calmed of the tension. 

Soft whimpers were heard from the injured animal as she could now see her new owner in front of her. The silver walls of the building, the new smells of her family and the worry they had for her. Shoving her large head into the super soldier's chest, Lupo didn't want to look at anyone. Embarrassed about her flashback. Calming her shaking down as she inhaled his scent, letting that and the feeling of him petting her ground her to the present and not the past. Lupo didn't listen to the people around her, didn't lift her head when Bucky stood up, didn't register that they were suddenly walking.

Steve had decided that him and Bucky would climb the large amount of stairs to get to their destination. Trading Lupo to the other so the other could rest for a minute. He had put all of Lupo's necessities in the elevator with Natasha and Wanda, telling Friday to have the other Avengers help get all of it off on their floor. The two super soldier's climbed the stairs. Loosing count of how many floors they passed. The climb and added one hundred pounds of dog, truly testing the super soldier serum they were given if you could even imagine it. The two walked in the living area, both saying a prayer that the long trip was over. Bucky smiled seeing that the dog bed had been already laid down on the floor near the left side of the couch. Full food and water dishes close enough so Lupo didn't need to get up to get replenished, just shuffle over.

Wanda was on the couch flicking through the channels. Natasha had two cold water bottles waiting for the two. Only a smirk on her face. 

Bucky went and gently put Lupo on her bed. Giving her a small pet before going to retrieve the water. Staying in her line of sight. Lupo had a big smile of her furry face. Everything was going to be okay.

This was the beginning of something incredible. Everyone knew that