"It's going well here." Natasha remarked. She and Nick Fury had been in Eastern Europe for the last three months with the sole mission of stamping out HYDRA bases where they found them. Since they left, Natasha had been checking in via video at least every 2 weeks. Steve wasn't quite sure of the purpose of these video chats. It wasn't like he was very involved with taking down HYDRA in the U.S. Since his release from the hospital, Steve's only focus had been to find his friend and bring him home.

"We flushed out two more HYDRA hideouts in Moldova." Natasha continued. "There are two more in this region we'll hit before deciding if we want to tackle Russia. It would be a good time. HYDRA's running scared. Their data going public plus losing a valuable asset they've had for 70 years really shook them up."

Steve's jaw tightened at the mention of his former friend and the predicament he'd been in for more than half a century.

He didn't think Fury liked his plan of going after the Soldier and Natasha outright declared it a bad idea. He had asked Tony Stark if there was some way to track him, but his inquires had been oddly deflected. Then Tony stopped taking his calls and Steve was too worried with other things to pursue it.

Sam was careful to stay neutral. He might be able to come the closest to understand how Steve felt losing a friend to war. But he'd also worked PTSD enough to know his experience probably wouldn't even be able to touch the issues of a 70 year prisoner of war whose will and self had been violated over and over.

"How's it going on the home front?" Natasha's question brought Steve back to the present.

"Another HYDRA base went down yesterday." Sam commented. "Papers, identities, even targets were found. Winter's knocking them down."

"Don't call him that." Steve snapped. Sam opened and closed his mouth before looking down. Natasha cleared her throat.

"Anyway, we think we've broken the back of the organization in Eastern Europe, it will be a long time, if ever, they can rebuild to their current level. The initial intel really helped us target key people and facilities."

"We can't afford to let them grow so large again." Steve said almost to himself.

"No arguments here. Keep me updated and I'll talk to you again when I can." Natasha said preparing to sign off.

Seconds ticked by in uncomfortable silence.

Sam looked down again. "Look, man I'm sorry, I-."

"No, don't apologize." Steve rubbed a hand across his forehead. "I shouldn't have snapped at you. It's just…it's been 3 months." He turned away from the map they had been studying as though it were too much to look at. "Three months and…nothing." He ran a hand though his hair and let out a frustrated sigh. "I can't believe with all this information on HYDRA we can't find him till after he takes down a base. We've been playing catch up for weeks."

"I guess they didn't call him a ghost for nothing." Sam commented. "We'll find him, don't worry. Although to be honest I'm more worried about what happens when we do find him." He added.

"He's taking down HYDRA. As far as we can tell he hasn't killed anyone else." Steve defended. "That's got to mean something."

"I just don't want you to get your hopes up. I don't know if you can help him." Sam started gently.

"Sam I have to help him."

"He seems to be doing fine on his own."

"He shouldn't have to do it alone. He's been doing it alone for 70 years. Bucky was my best friend and a war hero and we left him in a canyon during the war. I didn't know he was alive then but I do now. He's not going to be left behind again."

"Man, I understand that, but you have to understand the issues he's going to have. We're talking POW times a thousand. We don't even know if the guy you knew is still in there."

"He didn't kill me." Steve stated resolutely. "He had a chance and he didn't. Then he saved me from the water. He's still in there." Steve turned back to the map and Sam let it drop.

Steve felt like he was at his wits end, but he couldn't quit, would never quit. When anyone even suggested Steve give up it was like he was immediately transported back to Brooklyn when he was a kid. He and Bucky had been inseparable friends even at times when Steve was sure it was a burden on Bucky. He remembered the older boy pulling him from fights, checking on him after school to make sure he was doing ok after another bout with pneumonia or other ailments. After his mother died, Bucky was constantly over with some excuse or another but Steve knew the real reason was to check on him and make sure he wasn't alone. Bucky had always stood by him, been his friend though thick and think. Steve would be damned if he would abandon Bucky now, after the most horrific time of his life.

Bucky had taken out every nearly HYDRA base in the country. A few they knew about and more they didn't. They were always just a little too late to catch him. Steve would never say it but he secretly worried who would be the focus of his wrath after he'd extinguished all of HYDRA he could find.

Sam didn't think they would ever really find him, he had too much practice and experience disappearing. Although, his last few hits lacked their usual tidiness, it was as though the Soldier was tired, injured or just didn't care anymore. Steve had thrown his heart and soul into the case for months and just kept coming up with dead ends. Sam knew the toll that could take on a person. He would often think of Riley and what he would do, the lengths he would go, to get him back if he found out he was alive.

Steve's phone started chirping suddenly jerking them both out of their thoughts. Steve flipped it open.

"Hello?"

"Steve Rogers?"

"Who is this?"

"Maria Hill. I have some information that I thought you would want to know."

"What's that?"

"One of our data analysts has been combing though HYDRA records and we've come up with someone we believe may have been a former operative. His name is changed of course and he lives in Austin now, but all trails seem to lead to him."

"You think Bucky will hit him next."

She paused. "Right now it's the only lead we've got."

"How have you had time to fine tooth comb through HYDRAs records? I though rebuilding S.H.I.E.L.D. was all you had time for these days."

She let out a bitter laugh. "As far as Director Fury and I are concerned, rebuilding S.H.I.E.L.D and taking down HYDRA are one and the same. S.H.I.E.L.D wouldn't have been fractured if it wasn't for them so we consider their decimation goal number 1. Anyway since I've heard you've had no luck targeting the Winter Soldier, I thought you might like to come along."

"Name the time and place and I'll be there."

"0600, we'll pick you up." There was a hesitation. "Just a heads up, note everyone is thrilled with you going, but-."

"Who, why?" Steve demanded.

"They think you're too close to the Winter Soldier and-."

"His name is Bucky and yes I am."

"Think you're too close," she continued, " and you won't do what needs to be done if the situation gets messy."

"You mean I won't kill him on sight." Steve challenged.

Agent Hill sighed. "Captain Rogers, we want to bring him in alive, he'll have valuable information on HYDRA, but if he starts threatening the lives of agents…their safety will have to come first."

"Then maybe you shouldn't send anyone to Austin but me."

"You need back up to bring him in. Will you even bring him to S.H.I.E.L.D. if you manage to get him in your custody?"

Steve went silent.

"0600 Captain. Don't be late. Sam Wilson is invited if he wishes and we will use every available measure to bring your friend to S.H.I.E.L.D. alive and unharmed. I brought you into this because I know how much he means to you. Please don't make me regret this decision." With that she hung up.

Steve slowly lowered the phone. Sam stepped up behind him.

"Where are we going?" Sam asked quietly.

"Austin."