**This story is a sequel to my first story, Reluctance. I do not own any of these characters and could not find a listing for a character I am borrowing for this story-Doctor Strange (whom I know very little about but thought it would be fun to throw in). And if you have not seen Captain America: Civil War-AVOID THIS DUE TO SPOILERS-fair warning**
**Apologize to those who already read my first version of this-I had to revise to take it in a different direction. I'm odd that way Thanks for reading**
Steve sat in the car as Bucky went in for his appointment to the therapist Tony had found for him. He was thankful that Tony was looking after him since the loss of Ella. Even though he didn't quite grasp Bucky and Ella's true connection, he knew his friend was devastated. Steve's phone rang.
"Steve, did he go?" asked Tony over the phone.
Steve still sat in the car waiting on his friend, "Yes, he's in there now."
"Good. You might want to be ready." Said Tony.
"For what?" asked Steve.
"I'm not sure." Said Tony realizing he wasn't really sure how this was going to go.
Inside the office Ella sat holding the ring. The woman who had just confessed not knowing who Ella was and claiming to be a Katherine Wolmur now proved what he knew to be true. It was Ella. She wasn't dead. She still remembered him.
Ella sat holding the ring.
"Ella?" asked Bucky needing to know for sure it was her.
She looked up at him. "Where are we?"
"We're at your practice. Well, the practice of Katherine Wolmur." He said.
"Who?" she asked. She shook her head and stood up.
"I thought they killed you." he said choking up.
Ella tried to remember. "Stahl?
Bucky wiped his eyes, "Listen, no more of this delusional behavior of trying to save my hide, alright. I'm not letting you out of my sight." he said.
Ella remembered the gunshot, "He didn't shoot me. It was one of the soldiers. They had more there for the experiment. I thought I sent them all with you and Steve. He used some type of hi-tech mask that mimicked my features so you would think he shot me. They weren't happy with me. They tortured-" she caught herself. She couldn't go further with the memory. It was too much. "They reset me. I guess?" she said looking at him. Her mind was speeding with thoughts and images. She looked at Bucky. She had missed him. Staring in his eyes her mind quieted. He walked to her taking the ring from her hand. He slipped it onto her finger. "Wouldn't want to lose this." He said staring into her eyes as the ring came to rest on her finger. He kept hold of her hand. She stared into his eyes. She felt her cheeks flush. He leaned towards her and she brought herself closer wanting to kiss him but instead she embraced him. He held her tight as she buried her head in his shoulder. She wanted to stay in his arms.
A knock came at the door. The two quickly separated.
"Ms. Wolmur, your boyfriend is on the phone and says it is an emergency." she said. "So sorry." she said leaving.
They both exchanged a confused look. Ela picked up the line.
"Hello?" she said.
"Hello, honey." came the voice. "I'll pick you up at 8, ok?"
"No." she said shrugging at Bucky as she played along.
"Are you ok?" he asked.
"Yes, it's just that I have a client and was told this was an emergency. I'm not sure this qualifies." she said.
"Well, I just like to know you're ok." he said,
"Thanks, but I think we should break up." she said.
"What?" he asked.
"Good bye. " she said hanging up the phone.
"Smooth." he said smiling at her.
"We just broke up. I forgot to add the thing about 'it's not you, it's me." she said shaking. She had no idea what she was doing. Someone had constructed this life for her as Katherine Wolmur. It was most likely Stahl. She remembered his anger at her after she sent Tony the files and released the soldiers that were to be his experiments.
"He'll be up all night now wondering." said Bucky smiling as he pulled her close snapping her from her thoughts. He held her face in his hands and stroked her hair. He still seemed in disbelief she was here. She grabbed his hands holding them in hers. "Bucky, I'm not going anywhere."
"Damn right." he said.
"How do we get out of here?" she asked. "I can't just leave with you. They think you're my client."
"And they think you're Katherine." he said.
"Listen, you go out the front as if the session is done. I'll go out the back door. Just meet me in the alley." she said.
"No." he said holding her hand tightly. "You're not leaving my sight. We both go out the back door and we'll walk to the car out front."
Ella could see there was no point in arguing. "But they'll think Katherine went missing. They'll know you were the last appointment. If you go out first-"
Bucky just started at her. She was fighting a losing battle. "Ok, I'll leave a note?" she said knowing she had to do something to buy them time. If this was Stahl, they would be after her.
"Taking the afternoon off. Please cancel my appointments." she wrote on the note.
Ella led as Bucky followed still clutching her hand. They walked out to the alley and Bucky directed them to the car.
Steve saw his friend and was shocked to see whose hand he held. He got out and approached them. Ella smiled at Steve.
"Ella?" said Steve in shock.
"You the driver?" she asked. He walked up and wrapped his arms around her. She felt tears in her eyes.
"We should probably go." said Bucky.
Steve released her from his grip and saw the tears in his eyes.
"Guess you two are back on the clock then." she said referring to their promise of protection.
"Never ends with you." teased Steve as they got in the car and drove off.
"Who would've believed listening to Tony paid off." said Bucky sitting next to Ella in her former room at the tower. He continued to hold her hand. It helped the reality sink in that she was here with him.
"Funny, Barnes, I think that's three you owe me." said Tony sitting across from them. Tony took note of the broken wrist. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah." she said.
"Do you remember what happened?" he asked.
"Somewhat. I mean, enough." she said taking a deep breath to stifle emotions. "I sent you the research, right?"
"You did, yes." he said.
"They weren't too happy with me." she said looking her hand entwined with Bucky's.
Tony could see she wasn't up to sharing details.
Ella sat back on the couch. Bucky wrapped a protective arm around her.
"I may have someone who can help you both. He tipped me off on how to find you." said Tony.
"Help?" she asked.
"A therapist? Doctor? Whatever his title he is very good and trust worthy." said Tony.
"Why do we need a therapist or doctor?" she asked.
"Ella, you need to remember." said Tony. "There may be details to all of this that can give us the upper hand in keeping you safe and stopping their plan."
"Ok, but I mean memories are never the same. Your mind fires the memory different ways when it is recalled. There's think I do remember than I would rather not and we're not sure what techniques they employed. It won't-" said Ella.
"It's for both of you." interrupted Tony.
Ella looked at Bucky beside her, "You're on board with this?"
"I think we should try." he said.
"I'm not so sure." she said feeling irritated.
"Why?" asked Tony.
"Because I saw his file and mine was there also." she said.
"We have your files too." said Tony.
"No, you have the files they want you to have." she said taking a deep breath as she fought the memory of reading Bucky's file. "Trust me. I read the file Steve gave me. They left a lot of things out." she said feeling caught between crying and ferocious anger. She couldn't speak about what she read. Bucky squeezed her hand gently. She looked at him realizing that he knew what was in those files. He lived with those memories each day. She was trying to spare him from something she couldn't.
"Ella, he wants to help and he will not push either of you to deal with what you are not ready for." said Tony.
Ella shook her head, "Ok. Just give me some time to think."
"Sure." said Tony.
"You're sure he's not Hydra. You've fact checked a bit more thorough than the State Department goons?" asked Ella.
"I'm sensing some trust issues." said Tony.
"Obviously, their splinters have splinters." she said.
"He's no friend of Hydra. He's actually made their kill list." said Tony. "You really think I'd let you fall into the wrong hands after all this?"
"No, not intentionally." she argued.
Tony sighed, "Steve, want to help me out?"
Steve just smiled, "She's got a right, Tony."
"Well, you've got that weird intuitiony-thing. Wouldn't that tip you off?" he asked.
"It didn't with Stahl after you ditched me." said Bucky still wounded that she willingly went with Stahl to protect them.
Ella turned to him, "I was protecting you and yes it did."
Bucky looked at her surprised, "You weren't even going to fight?"
"There comes a point where if you think it can end with you, you're better off letting it." she said as she saw the sadness in his eyes, "I would've been better off. Maybe you all would."
"Never speak like that again." scolded Tony. "You will not throw yourself away because you feel like damaged goods or because they forced you to damage others. This is not you or him, it's them!" She had not expected such an outburst from him. "This is exactly why you need to meet with Strange."
"Strange?" she said. "Stephen Strange?"
Tony shook his head yes, "You know him?"
"I ran into him after I got away from the experiments. He helped me find a practice to work at." she said.
"See, not so scary." said Tony.
Ella sat quietly. "I still need time to think. I get we need to figure this out but I'm not sure. Strange's methods are, well, strange."
"Take the time you need." said Tony. "Just one question." he said looking at Ella and Bucky. "What's the deal here?" he said motioning to the two of them."
The two looked at each other.
"Let's give them time on that too, ok?" said Steve guiding Tony from the room. "We'll be next door if you need." said Steve.
"Ya know I own this building. " said Tony as they walked out shutting the door.
Ella sat back leaning her head on Bucky's shoulder. "I remember. "
"Remember what?" he asked.
She sat up and turned to look him in the eyes, "Us."