~*~ BACKUP~*~
Day 2, 7 pm
"Steve, you shouldn't be here."
"I'm not leaving you here, Buck."
"I don't know how you found me, Punk, but ya gotta get outta here before they come back."
"Bucky?"
"They'll kill you, Steve. Ya gotta leave me; you gotta look out for my folks and my sisters. Take care of them. Gotta keep battling bullies without me. But not this fight, they'll tear you apart. From the inside out. Please, Steve," the desperation in his old friend's voice nearly broke the super-soldier.
Steve chanced going up to Bucky and kneeling before him. He put a gentle hand on his friend's flesh shoulder and pushed back hair from his friend's face with his other. He swallowed the sick feeling of where Bucky's head might be at, currently locked in the 1940s. Pre-fall by his best guess.
"I'm not leavin here without you, pal. You 'member what ya told me after Ma died."
Bucky only looked up at him, his sad blue eyes filled with pain and delusion.
"To the end of the line, Buck. You meant it and now I mean it. I lost you twice before. Not going to keep the habit."
Tears started to fill his friend's eyes, "I'm scared, Steve, I don't want to go back. I don't want to forget."
Carefully Steve hugged Bucky, mindful of his metal shoulder and arm. The other tensed at first before wrapping his arm around Steve.
"I won't leave you, Buck. Not without a fight," Steve vowed carefully and sincerely while silently seeking comfort in his old friend's embrace. He couldn't do this on his own.
It was time to call for backup.
Day 2, 7:37pm
"Sam?"
"Oh, hey Cap, where did ya disappear-"
"I found him, Sam," Steve slumped against the wall a little while later. Bucky had reverted to hostility again after Steve had tried to pry one of the clamps off only to nearly get a knife in his gut for his troubles, "I found him and oh god..."
"Steve? What's wrong? What happened? You hurt? He hurt? Talk to me Cap," demanded Sam's urgent voice.
"We're okay. It's his arm, his arm… it's caught… I can't get him out of it."
"The metal one? What's going on?"
"Some Hydra agents must have trapped him in some kind of vise. I tried to free him but- he's in bad shape, he's delirious. I gave him water and a bit of food but-"
"Tell me where I need to be."
"5953 Concord Ave, Detroit, Michigan. There's a fire escape across from Medbury Street along Concord."
"Be there in a jiff."
Steve pocketed his phone as he turned to gaze at Bucky and in his ever weakening state. He swallowed down his tears and helplessness. He sat close to his old friend and began to tell stories from their childhood to keep Bucky calm. To pass the time Sam would take to get here.
"Remember when we first became friends in that alley fight behind the bakery?" It didn't matter if Bucky could or not, Steve continued on with his stories.
Day 2, 9pm
It was dark out now and for the last few hours Steve had been anxiously pacing and scouting the area, careful not to drift too far from Bucky, whose condition was going downhill at a steady rate despite the aid Steve had been able to give to his trapped friend.
Bucky could barely find the energy to talk and every once in a while he would weakly pull at the arm when he thought Steve wasn't looking. Steve had asked him not to in case Bucky seriously injured himself.
Steve heard Sam before he saw the flyer. He saw Bucky tense up and shake a little when they heard Sam mumble to himself as the flyer ungracefully made his way to them.
"It's okay, Bucky, Sam's a friend," Steve whispered softly from where he had been pacing, "remember Sam the flyer?"
But Bucky just stared blankly in the direction Sam was and shivered.
Day 2, 9:05pm
Sam called out to Steve before he entered the room, giving a solid verbal warning to both super-soldiers just in case. A trapped Bucky Barnes, looking worse for wear, shifted from where he was sitting by a large rusty machine. He moved sluggishly and stiff and Sam silently vowed to himself that he would just help not because Steve had asked but because this ragged man before him needed it.
A short glance around and Sam spotted Steve near a wall where the soldier's shield was leaned against it.
Steve himself looked worn and had oily stains on his clothes. Maybe from the vise machine? Highly possible if Barnes allowed him close enough.
"This would have been a lot easier a week ago," Sam said softly.
Steve's eyes were on the vise, he was good at holding on to the slimmest bit of hope. "If we call Tony-"
"Nah, he won't believe us," Sam replied with a hit of annoyance at the billionaire.
"Even if he did-"
"Who knows if the accords would let him help…"
"We're on our own," Steve's voice didn't break and Sam silently wondered if it had before he had arrived. And Sam didn't want to be the one who cut the last of Captain America's hope out.
But then an idea started to form.
"Maybe not," Sam offered hesitant at first. "I know a guy."
Only to have Steve glance at him, unsure.
"A while back, a new superhero popped up. He can literally shrink to the size of an ant. He might be able to give a different point of view on what's keeping Barnes' arm locked in that thing."
The look of uncertainty grew on Steve's face.
"Is he trustworthy?"
"I've talked to him on several occasions. I think he is."
"Call him."
So Sam called his contract and explained the situation and the need for discretion.
Steve silently wondered if Sam should warn the new hero about just who he would be helping but decided Sam knew what he was doing.
Author's Note: Fun fact- 5953 Concord Ave, Detroit, Michigan (Packard Automotive Plant) is a real place.
About one day left until Hydra comes, will Steve and Sam be able to free Bucky with Scott's help in time? Stay tune :)
