Steve knew that Bucky would not stay in town if he wanted to do away with MacGyver. As he was pretty sure that was what Bucky planned to do, Steve steered his motorcycle away from the bustling city and onto the highway that appeared to stretch away into the middle of nowhere. The many buildings which had abounded now thinned out into trees and long stretches of flat, desolate fields. Steve drove for many miles, but when he failed to see any signs of Bucky and MacGyver, he turned around and took another route.
He drove down every main road he could find. He then began to drive down some small and winding backroads in search of the two men. Turning onto one, he thought he saw tire tracks that didn't appear to be very old. He kept his eyes open and watched carefully as he continued on the road. After he had driven on it for nearly half an hour, he realized that there was no one as far as the eye could see. This has to be the way he came, thought Steve. There's no better place to kill someone without any witnesses.
He continued driving along the deserted backroad, until a sudden movement caught his eye. A man was limping along on the side of the road. He looked as if he was trying to hurry but was unable to do so due to his injury. When the stranger saw Steve, he waved his arms frantically for him to stop. Steve slowed to ask the man what his predicament was, but even as he slowed down the man jumped behind him on the motorcycle and shouted,
"Go! I don't care who you are, just get out of here as fast as you can!" When Steve hesitated, he shouted again, louder, "GO!" As realization hit him, Steve hit the gas pedal and zoomed back in the direction he had just come.
Though conversation was difficult in such a situation, Steve yelled at the man behind him,
"Are you MacGyver?" This caught the man behind him by surprise, but finally he answered,
"Yeah! Who are you, and how do you know me?"
"I'm Steve Rogers." Now MacGyver grasped the situation, and he chuckled, then winced as the act shot pain through his body.
The two men drove until they began to re-enter civilization, and Steve stopped at the first telephone so he could contact Pete and update him on the most recent development. Pete was ecstatic to learn that MacGyver was safe. MacGyver, waiting at the motorcycle, heard his joyful voice through the phone. Smiling to himself, he warmed at his friend's concern.
Presently, Steve hung up and they made their way directly to the Phoenix Foundation. Pete was waiting for them with a smile and a careful hug for MacGyver.
"Mac! I'm glad to see you safe, and relatively unharmed. You had me worried there for a while! Before I get Steve to take you to the ER, let me ask you just a few questions." MacGyver limped after Pete to his office. Steve tagged along behind.
Once all three were seated and as comfortable as they could be, Pete began by asking,
"So who was the guy that kidnapped you? Did you get to see his face, or did he talk at all?" Shaking his head wearily, MacGyver answered,
"He covered his face with a mask, and he never said a word." Steve was nodding his head in agreement.
"That's Bucky." Pete was typing furiously, occasionally asking MacGyver for specifics on this mysterious soldier and Steve for reinforcement. Eventually, out of the corner of his eye, Pete saw MacGyver swaying wearily. Steve caught him as he fell, and Pete immediately stopped what he was doing.
"I've got to get him the hospital," he said.
"I can take him for you, Mr. Thornton," commented Steve. Hesitating for a moment, Pete finally nodded and answered,
"Could you do that for me, Rogers? I have a lot I need to report to the director of the U. N." Steve nodded without a word and carried MacGyver out to his truck.
"And be sure to give me an update on him!" Pete called as he left.
The night outside was dark. Pete had been working for hours on his report on the Winter Soldier. The document was almost completed; there were just a few more things that had to be done to it. But Pete was still curious about this Soviet soldier, and he decided to do a little research on his own.
Pulling up some of the records on his computer, he began to scan the list of national enemies. Most were criminals who had already been arrested, tried, and convicted. Some had already served their time. Many were people that MacGyver himself had helped to locate.
Then one name suddenly jumped out at Pete. It was James Barnes. He was listed as incarcerated, but Pete knew after the day's events and Steve's knowledge of the secret soldier's habits that that couldn't be right. In order to learn more about him, Pete clicked on his name.
Immediately, all the lights in the building went out. The computer's screen shut off. The phone line went dead. Pete was genuinely alarmed and waited to see what would happen next. After many minutes went by, though, and nothing happened, he began to feel around in the dark for a light switch, or flashlight, or anything. Nothing was on his desk, so he began to feel around the room. And that's when his hand brushed against something hard. And cold. And metal.