The signs were everywhere. Stay. Home. Lyudmila. But nothing could deter her from her her job. Boarding the plane to Frankfurt was the beginning of what would be her biggest dream. A complete summer to research WWII. Adjusting the weight of her carry on bag she tried to ignore the discomfort in her stomach. Spending the last week with the flu and getting her identity stolen were just some of those signs. She checked her bag for her journals and laptop. Everything ready to go.

Mila didn't particularly like public places, like this. The Smithsonian was different, the artifacts and exhibits gave her something to talk passionately about and distracted her from being so close to so many. Her last job for the museum she was chosen to collect artifacts for an exhibit, but this time she convinced the curator to let her get new research for the museum and had an idea for an exhibit. Hesitant at losing his most knowledgeable worker her boss almost made her stay behind. However she knew how to read people and this trip was happening. Nothing was going to ruin this for her. Except that her flight left in a half hour and she was still not at her terminal. She tried to pick up her pace and looked around but this was giving the wrong signals to some. She had caught the attention of two TSA officials. Shit. Apparently she looked like a terrorist today.

"Ma'am can you come over here for a moment." One with a blond buzz cut said. She noticed these men were pretty well built for airport security staff, but then again with the latest in terrorist threats, one couldn't be too careful in hiring men like this. Begrudgingly she complied. This was the last thing she wanted to deal with. Only 15 minutes until her flight would leave with or without her and she could just see her gate across the way. She just wanted to get on the damn plane already. The man with dark hair looked her up and down suspiciously as though he was waiting for a bad reaction from her. He came around and began to pat her down while the other checked her bag. Blondy pulled out a blue leather bound journal that had shown use but it was tied shut. The label 'do not open until christmas' was on it.

"Bit early for christmas huh?" He commented. The man patting her down stopped for a moment at her ankle where her high top converse stopped. He looked at his partner while Mila was too concerned about her journal.

"I celebrate Christmas in July." Her tone indicated that his jokes were on the bottom of her list of things to deal with.

"Sure have a lot of stuff packed in here ma'am." The darked haired man patting her down stopped and nodded to his partner. "Bet you do great at tetris."

"It's my favorite pastime." She said getting her bag was mildly annoyed that the man couldn't put the stuff back right and so she wasted time to repack the top of the bag.

"Enjoy your flight to…"

"Europe." She said remaining vague and walking off. She didn't bother to notice that darked haired man spoke into a walkie that was not official for the airport staff.

"We found her." He said in a thick Russian accent.

Over the intercom the attendant called for Mila's flight and as she walked onto the plane she checked her ticket trying to find seat 1C. The window seat as she requested however, was being occupied by a very well built man hiding under a ball cap and heavy jacket. His arms were crossed as he looked out the window. Mila coughed and got his attention and looked at her ticket showing it to him.

"That's my seat." He looked at the ticket and his seat. "I'll throw up if I don't have a window seat, 14 hours smelling barf is not a pleasant way to travel." She added frustrated that she was letting little things annoy her. She could feel the weight in the middle of her spine begin to push her forward. She did not want to have an anxiety attack right here. The man grabbed his backpack and stood up.

"Sorry." He mumbled keeping his head down. Mila took her seat and placed her backpack between her legs. The man sat beside her and she almost wished she had taken the aisle, if only for the fact that with her sitting between this man and the window this plane seemed too small all of a sudden. She glanced over at him and noticed he had lovely blue eyes hiding behind the shadow of his cap and long dark hair. The stranger took notice of her and looked back at her. A sense of familiarity hit them when they looked at each other.

"Hey, weren't you the one at the Smithsonian?" She asked looking at him. She tried to be friendly. Fear crossed his face for a moment before surprise.

"My tour guide?" He asked smiling a bit.

"Yeah! How did your research go? You said you were writing a biography over the Howling Commandos."

"Alright." He said keeping conversation short.

"Well I still have access to the Smithsonian's databases if you want to look at those sometime."

"Maybe later." Just as she remembered him. Man of little words.

"Well, you have 14 hours to figure out the time and place." She said opening up a black journal that had a list of names on it. Looking at it the stranger was concerned.

"Is that a hit list?" He asked. He was more concerned for the third name. James Buchanan Barnes. She laughed.

"No it's-"

"Welcome to United Airlines flight 304. I'm you're attendant Kelly…" On with the routine speech that Mila had heard a few too many times before. She just let it fill the air between them as she followed directions she didn't need to and buckle up. She grabbed her ipod and some gum and offered the researcher a piece as well. He looked confused before accepting it. The plane took off and the music was on. Mila watched out the window as the plane ascended. Once everything was stable she turned the mini tv on and flipped past all the movies and tv shows to have the map on. She hated not knowing where she was. She looked over her journal some more and would occasionally look out the window as she read. Nothing to see but clouds, and that made her at peace with the fact she was very susceptible to death flying like this. Her neighbor was also looking out the window but what kept his attention more was the journal. Why was his name in it? Figuring she wouldn't stay awake the entire time, he would snag it when she fell asleep. Mila however, ruined those plans an hour into the flight. She closed the journal and put it in her backpack and leaned her head against the window frame noting how much colder it was. Bucky sighed and turned on his own tv trying to find something to keep him awake for the flight. He didn't know what this girl was doing or who she was working for.

Walking around with a group of people Mila commanded their attention as their tour guide. "Rogers was of course not always this size, but one thing that remained with him before and after the serum was his friend James Buchanan Barnes. They were inseparable on the school yard and on the battlefield. Bucky, as he was called, was drafted into the service and later captured by HYDRA only to be saved by his friend Steve. After the pair reunited Bucky became a Howling Commando serving side by side with his friend. He is the only Howling Commando to have given his life in the line of duty." Mila loved sharing her knowledge. She noticed two high school girls pointing and giggling over the monument with Barnes' face. Then she sighed. Why couldn't people respect and love the past like she did. When she turned to move to the next exhibit she heard a voice from the group.

"How did he die?" Facing the group she couldn't figure out who exactly asked the question but she was happy to answer.

"The Commandos were on a mission to extract a german scientist from a train. Bucky and Captain America got into a fight and Bucky fell off the train and into a ravine. They were unable to locate his body." Her heart felt heavy saying that. But this is why she loved this exhibit. She cared about those who served. Her family was loaded with men willing to give their life for this country.

"On that plaque it says he's got siblings. They still around?" Mila smirked. She found the man in the back ball cap and jacket on. Looking at his face she caught her breath and then she seemed to be at a loss for an answer before snapping out of it. "Yes. His sister Rebecca and I talk often actually." She used her often for interviews and worked with her on this part of the memorial. Granted the woman was 84 she was still spirited and loved talking about her beloved brother. "Any other questions?" She waited the trained six seconds before continuing her tour. When it was over she gave her concluding speech and waited outside the gift store. The capped man didn't go through the shop like everyone else though. He went back into the exhibit and she followed. She wasn't going to leave him alone. He just kept staring at the memorial of Barnes.

"You know, we close in thirty minutes right?" She said stepping beside him.

"I'm doing research." He said without emotion. She couldn't read one single emotion on his face. The darkness of the museum and his shadowed face weren't exactly helping, but Mila knew she recognized him.

"About the Serg? His sister will tell you everything if you just ask." She pulled out a pen from her hair and her business card. She jotted the number down on the back of it that would lead him to her. "She's really nice. Lives up in Brooklyn though, you'll have to take a drive." She handed the card over and he took it looking at the with precision. "Good luck on your research." She said unable to wait for her shift to be over so she could chat with Rebecca herself about the visitor.

Turbulence woke her up and she looked at the map. They were flying over Iceland now. She then saw her neighbor asleep beside her. She wondered if he ever called Rebecca. Not being concerned with that she kept her gaze on the blinking lights on the wings. It was dark now meaning they would be landing in the early morning hours. Jet lag wouldn't catch her though, she never had a problem with it. She just adjusted well. Plus a few extra hours of sleep on the plane couldn't hurt her. Then the stewardess' began to patrol asking if anyone needed any blankets or if they would like dinner. Mila looked at the man and didn't know if she should wake him or leave him. She decided he would need to eat. She lightly tapped his shoulder. He awoke with a jerk and seemed very afraid of something.

"Hey, just letting you know dinner is coming around." He calmed down a bit and put his head against the rest.

"Thanks." When the cart came their way Mila selected water and the cajun tilapia. Seafood reminded her of home. Her neighbor seemed to have more difficulty choosing between the fish or salad.

"Do you ever get to choose anything?" She said smiling a bit. He gave her a sideways glare before picking the tilapia as well.

"What would you like like to drink? WE have coca cola products." Kelly said.

"Coke?" He asked more so trying to figure out if it was the same thing. They always just called it coke in his day. Handing him the can he looked at his meal and tried to figure out the can. Then the stewardess put a glass of ice in front of him and went to the next row. Mila was already eating and looked over at him.

"So have you talked to Rebecca? She really helped me with that Barnes exhibit." She watched for his reaction.

"No." He spoke picking up the silverware. It's not that he didn't know how to eat, it had just been so long. Bucky jumped a bit when the person beside him opened their pop can.

"You ok?" Mila could tell he was uncomfortable. "Have you ever flown before?"

"What yeah." He pulled the tab of the can and poured it into the glass taking a drink he nearly spat it back up choking on it. This was not the coke he was used to. It was too sweet, and something else was off. Mila put her fork down and patted his back.

"Geez, I shoulda let you sleep." She said once she was certain he wasn't choking.

"That tastes terrible." He said. She grabbed her bottle of water and offered it to him.

"This one doesn't have a flavor." He grabbed it and chugged down enough to get the taste out of his mouth.

"Thanks." He offered it back to her and she nodded.

"Just keep it, I'll take your coke." She pulled it from his tray and on to her own.

"So why are you going to Frankfurt?"

"No reason." She raised an eyebrow not believing him.

"Strange we end up side by side on a trip to the same place." She said stuffing a bite of fish in her mouth.

"Pure coincidence." He said following suit. The pair looked at each other both with suspicion.

"Or is it fate? Two people looking for answers from the past on the same flight." She took a drink from his coke and smiled.

"What's in that journal?" He said cutting to the point. Alarmed that he may have meant the blue one she played dumb. In her back she could feel the pressure climbing up her spine knowing she was on the break of anxiety.

"What?"

"That journal with all the names." Her anxiety left her. She was still safe.

"That's what I am working on for the Smithsonian. I had an idea to do an exhibit dedicated to the P.O.W.'s and those M.I.A. when we switch out from the Captain America exhibit." He watched her carefully as she spoke not wanting to miss anything. She could be lying and could be out to kill him, there was just no telling. But he did see her in the museum working so there was a slim chance.

"Sounds like an honorable idea." He said turning back to his food. He couldn't remember how long it had been since he had the luxury of eating a hot meal.

"I think any man who would give his life for his country deserves better than his forgotten death on enemy lines." The way she said it made him second guess her intentions but he tried not to show it. Did she recognize him from the exhibit. He looked so different from that James Buchanan Barnes. Yet, that was the man he seemed to be at one point in this long life. The pair ate the rest of the meal in silence letting the perfectly timed steward take their plates away. Mila put her headphones back in and tried to get a little more sleep before they landed. She closed her eyes again falling into a dreamless slumber. Bucky looked over at the woman but couldn't find anything about her that seemed threatening. He took a deep breath in hoping that he could just for the remainder of the flight get a smidge of sleep. Sleep that would offer no nightmares, no memories, nothing. When his head hit the seat it was dark long enough for him to think he would escape it but no, memories came back to him with a vendetta.

He was running in the forest. He wasn't running after a target, he was the target. He noticed a cliff in the distance that would be too risky for even him to jump. However he was out of options, he just knew he couldn't get caught by this person. He pushed himself harder and gained the momentum and leapt from the edge to the other side. He landed rolling onto his back. Looking across the cliff he couldn't see the figure who was chasing him but he should have looked up because that figure was nearly putting him to shame in the jump. They landed in front of him and kneeled down to where his body was.

"There's only two ways this can end. Good or bad. I hate it when you go rogue on us." They had a hood on casting shadows to hide the expression.

"You know I hate going back. Just don't take me back." A hand landed on his metal shoulder.

"Now, you know I can't do that." Bucky sighed. He knew fighting would be wasted. This person would out maneuver him and he would lose.

"Please." He begged

"Oh, don't you dare beg. You know that doesn't work with me." The figure pulled him up by the metal arm and made him sit up right. "I have the Soldier." They spoke over a com.

"One day Red Sentinel I will get you back."

"Man, you are 0-8 now. I don't think I have a thing to worry about." The dream faded to him being placed back into the chair to have his brain wiped and be prepped for another mission. He could just see from the shadows of the room the Red Sentinel standing arms crossed. As the machine came to life he shook.

Her neighbor's movements woke Mila and she rubbed her eyes. She looked at the map again and her watch. She had some time still. Taking the blue journal out she ran her fingers over it. She knew she couldn't open it right now, but not because it wasn't christmas but something in her mind told her it was not the time to. She tucked it back in her bag and grabbed her black research journal out and started mapping out her destinations of exactly where to go. Her planning took the rest of the flight. The seatbelt light came on and her neighbor woke up the first time the plane hit the runway. Mila had all of her belongings in her bag and waited.

"I hope you get all the information you were looking for. Do you still have my card?" She asked as the man. He looked a million miles away from her. She just shut her mouth. With the all clear they removed their seatbelts and she waited for him to move. "Well, I hope to see you back at the Smithsonian some day." She said before they parted ways. She offered a warm smile and walked to the baggage claim. Bucky just tried to get his bearings. It seemed like forever before she saw her luggage. But it was unmistakable when it came bright green and hard lid. She pulled the handle out and let it roll behind her. As she went to catch her bus she stopped seeing a sign with her name on it. She looked at the driver in uniform watching for someone to approach him. She pulled out her phone and pulled up her email trying to see if the Smithsonian arranged a driver for her. There was no email. She called her boss.

"Hey Jared, did you get a driver for me at Frankfurt?"

"No, did you miss the bus? Need me to get you a ride? I really want this exhibit to go well so if you need something just call me."

"Well, I seem to have gotten a driver. You are sure you didn't send him?"

"No. I mean it could be for someone else." She really doubted it. Not too many people were named Lyudmila Raden.

"Oh yeah some other girl is getting in. Just paranoid I guess." She lied. She didn't want him to worry about her. "Ok gotta go." She hung up not wanting to talk, just wanting to get away. "Fuck." She mumbled under her breath. She looked at her phone then back up where a form appeared in front of her blocking her view of the driver.

"If you didn't get a driver, I suggest you come with me." It was her neighbor.

"Why?" She said alarmed. He grabbed her luggage and slung it over his shoulder.

"Because I recognize that man and it will not be pretty if you get in a car with him. Let's go." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders trying to make this look as though two friends had met up. Mila could feel her heart beat quicken.

"What do I do?" She asked.

"How were you planning to leave?" He asked looking over his shoulder.

"Bus was going to drop me off at my hotel."

"Well, if we are lucky we can still do that without getting caught." However when he looked over his shoulder at the driver he was speaking into a walkie and walking with purpose towards them. "And there went our luck." He looked around and saw some random civilians grabbing guns out of their jackets and aiming his way. Those who were innocent began running away and the pair was surrounded by five agents pointing guns their way.

"Looks like you got lost, good thing we found you." One said. The man looked around and sighed. He thought he was done fighting.

"Stay low." He dropped her bag and she picked it up. The fire rang out and Mila looked hid behind her bag knowing it wouldn't hold up against the bullets for long but her one ally pulled a gun out and shot two of the agents and one of the others grabbed Mila by the hair and began to drag her way. She screamed and planted her feet grabbing his arms she forced herself up kicked the guy in the face causing him to let her go and he stood back up pulling out a gun at her. She took a split second to decide how to handle this. She punched him in the gut as he fired missing her. watching him double over she grabbed his head and made his face make contact with her knee knocking him out. Turning she saw her neighbor fighting off two men. She ran his way and grabbed her green bag she swung and it extended. Her ally had punched one guy hard enough to send him flying towards her where she hit him in the back of the head with her bag. She looked around there should be another. And there was. He had a gun pointed at her from across the terminal. He shot and she moved to the side. He missed but he kept firing until his gun ran out. She kept moving trying to avoid the hit but the last one grazed the back of her thigh.

"Fuck." She muttered. Bucky looked over at her and saw her bleeding. With one punch placed right he knew he would kill the man with his strike. His arm had too much power to do anything less. He went after the last man who struck Mila. She fell to her knees. Bucky scooped her up and let the last bastard go. He needed to get her safe before he began to ask why HYDRA was after her as well. It was awkward to carry her because of the backpack she had on, but he managed. Mila put an arm around him. "That may sting later." She spoke trying to focus on anything other than her leg. When the fresh air hit her it helped but she was still bleeding out of her leg. he broke into a car and set her in the passenger seat. She looked at the car. WEll if she died of blood loss she would at least die in luxury. A cherry red ferrari wasn't the best getaway car but it would get them away fast. Bucky hot wired it and the engine revved. He drove out of the parking lot and saw two black SUV's following behind. Bucky groaned and floored it shifting through the gears as fast as he could. Police sirens could be heard in the distance but he paid them no mind as he tried to lose the SUV's. Then more gunfire. The side mirror Mila was looking out of shattered and she screamed. "Well now what?!" SHe yelled.

"I'm thinking." He was on public roadways and weaving out of traffic was more difficult than he imagined. The gun fire flew between the pair shattering the windshield. "Shit" He grabbed a gun out of his waistband and looked at Mila. She pieced together his plan.

"Ok shoot them. I got this." She took the wheel and Bucky punched through the soft top of the car and keeping his foot on the accelerator Mila tried to maneuver herself to the driver seat. It wasn't so hard in a small sports car but it really sucked that there was blood all over these italian leather seats. "Move your foot please." She said as he shot at the SUV windshield. His aim was still good, the driver was down and the SUV swerved to the side rolling into a nearby building. Another shot hit the car and and she felt some pain in her shoulder. She tried not to focus on that too much, driving this hot rod was her bigger concern.

"Can you keep it steady." Bucky said aiming at the SUV.

"Sure no problem." She said moving to the side to not hit another car. She heard another shot from the man above her and could see the SUV blow up in the rearview. The man spun back around and sat in the passenger seat.

"Take this exit." He said. She followed his directions. He directed her to a hospital.

"Why are we here?"

"You're bleeding!" She pulled back out of the parking lot and went down back down the road that lead her here. "What-"

"If I am being hunted, they will be checking records. They know I am hurt, first place they will check." She saw a pharmacy ahead. At least that what the sign suggested a green cross was universal across Europe.

"so we ask a random pedestrian?"

"Of course not. I'll just have to do it myself." She made sure there were no suspicious people or vehicles around and turned to enter the building parking lot.

"...Just going to walk in bleeding everywhere?" He asked as she pulled into a spot parallel to the store. She grabbed her wallet out of her jacket.

"It would appear so." She put the car in park and got out. After she took off her backpack She took the jacket off and tied it around her waist. Noting that her shoulder was in a lot of pain when she moved. The back was just long enough to cover the wound in her leg. She felt the pained spot in her shoulder but didn't feel blood, that was at least a good sign. Bucky was going to follow but thought better of it. He just waited outside the door keeping watch. Five minutes she was back out with a paper bag. She saw him standing about a foot away with his back to her. Quickly she grabbed her backpack from the car and made sure there were no other items she left behind. She grabbed his right arm and began walking down the street. He was tense until he looked at who it was. Mila used his strength to gimp around. Her thigh was really hurting. "I figure they are probably looking for our car too. What do we do now?" He looked back at the car that had battle wounds. Shame. He kind of liked it.

"We need to get you patched up." She looked around and saw an abandoned building ahead.

"That good enough" It looked like a church upon closer inspections.

"It'll do." He said helping her in. She laid down on a pew that seemed to still be intact. She opened the bag and pulled out the things he would need.

"I doubt you have much medical training but there is no way I can do this to myself. I am not that flexible. Help me out." She stood untying the jacket and mentally preparing herself for the fact her jeans would have to come off in front of this man. "ok so, in order to get the thigh stitched up i'm going to need to take my pants off so don't freak out." she said the words more for herself than the stranger. She slipped them off but not without wincing as the material scraped the wound. Feeling lightheaded she held out the peroxide from her medical supplies and laid down. "pour this on it. You'll do it about three times make sure it stops bubbling. Then use the-"

"I have given medical attention before." he said though he couldn't remember who or why, he knew buried deep there was training for this. Was it when he was in the army? Surely the soviets found no need for it. He cleaned the wound being gentle as he could and tried not to focus on the black fabric that left her dignity in tact. Instead he looked at her other thigh and saw a long jagged scar. "what's the other scar from" he said threading a needle. She turned her head to face him instead of the pew that kept her attention through the stinging.

"pissed someone off. They didn't want to listen. They were very stubborn." she said laying her head down. As the man patched her up pulling the thread tight enough to let the skin heal.

"the other guy look worse?" he asked trying to keep her talking to make sure she wouldn't pass out.

"well he didn't listen much better the next time." she said smirking. They looked at each other for a moment long enough for the man to feel awkward. "Looks like I'll have to patch you up to." She nodded her head toward his. He put a gloved hand to his head and sure enough there was blood coming from his temple.

"Not too worried about it. And I shouldn't be too worried about you either. You handled yourself well back there." he pulled the thread and bit it to cut it.

"well i have to close the museum a lot in the summer but I just walk home. I took some self defense classes at the VA when they offered them." the man shook his head it made sense. But why did she think to avoid the hospital. Even he didn't think of that. Well he assumed they were only after him. Why then did she think they were after her? What was she hiding.

"So you think that those men were after you?"

"Why would they be after you?" She retorted.

"Because, I- your shoulder took a hit too right?"

"Yeah nice deflection."

"Well you didn't answer me either." He said looking at her shoulder. He pulled the material down slowly checking to make sure there was nothing wrong. "There's nothing here. It's just bruised." He let the fabric go and stood up. He grabbed her jeans and held them out for her.

"Thanks. I just figured" she pushed herself up hissing when her shoulder gave her more pain. "That when they were dragging me away from the airport it was for a reason." She sat up collecting herself. She really should be resting. She grabbed her pants and put them on carefully. "Why would they be after you?" She said gesturing towards the pew. He sat down and she grabbed a cloth. Quickly and with gentleness that he had not felt in, god he couldn't remember, she began to wipe the blood off his face cupping his jaw tenderly.

"No reason." She put her hands on her hips and raised a brow.

"You just really paranoid huh?" She went back to work and saw that the cut was nothing too bad. SHe could easily put some gauze on it and butterfly bandages.

"So, uh i thought you worked in a museum. How do you know how to do all this if-"

"I was a medical student before I realized I knew more about the past than saving people's lives. I don't think I was too good at it anyway." She said as though trying to hide something. She put the bandage on and a small piece of gauze to cover it. "There you go." She smiled at him and grabbed the supplies not used and stuffed them in the side pockets of her bag. "Now what." She said slinging the bag over her shoulder.

"Now we get you somewhere safe."

"Alright." She looked around the building and saw a door in the back. "You lead." Bucky couldn't believe how quickly his plan of staying low and hiding went to shit. Now he had to protect this girl from HYDRA as well as himself. He didn't know why they would want her though and he really didn't want to be captured by them again, but that little sliver of gentleman officer in him was not going to leave a woman alone to deal with an organization like this. Lyudmila on the other hand was hoping that the man she was helping wasn't working for the bad guys and would get her somewhere safe. I mean who can trust a stranger that much?