I was lucky enough to work in an area where I could kind of space out today. So I had approximately eleven hours to think up how I want this story to go. I'm pretty excited. XD But skipping sleep for story-writing might kill me. So. Hopefully I can finish this bit tonight but we'll see! P.S. Thanks for the reviews! I was grinning at work. XD Enjoy! P.S. I'd forgotten about Sam, so we'll...conveniently have him be conveniently...elsewhere. XD For now. Enjoy!

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Sam had taken a bit of 'me-time' in lieu of the fact that the hunt was over and there was little he could do to assist in Bucky's recuperation. Tony and Bruce seemed to keep their own counsel, and let Steve have the run of the place provided he didn't 'let the Hobo-soldier out of the 'big bubble''. He had gone to bed at some point [yet another facet of the apparently endless Stark tower-opulent guest rooms], but he only slept a few hours. There was too much on his mind, and when he did finally sleep, his dreams were filled with a motley assortment of memories ranging from those of the fond past and those of the grim present.

In either case, although he knew Bucky would be nowhere near 'fixed', he had expected to see some slight improvement given the little break through the night prior.

His expectations were in vain.

Bucky was wide-awake when Steve entered, and in as much as he could given the restraints, his gaze locked on to Steve and followed him eerily as he approached. There was a manic look to his eyes that hadn't been present before, and he felt a trickle of dread at what new side of psycho Bucky might reveal to him now. If Steve had dreamed of memories, perhaps Bucky had too; he shouldn't have left him alone.

"Morning, Buck." Steve adopted a cheery tone as he smiled. It wasn't like he could do much else. "Brought you some breakfast. Toast and eggs, even got you some bacon." he offered.

Bucky continued to stare at him silently, eyes wide and fixed.

Steve swallowed and after a moment, inclined his head as he kept up his smile. "Well...okay, I'll take that as a 'yes'..." There was a small keypad attached to a pole that controlled the entry to the bubble, a thin doorway in the doorway that was sealed completely when it was closed to prevent interior escape. There was a panic button inside the room in case of an emergency [i.e. some stupid intern locking themselves in-according to Tony] but it only sounded an alarm, it still didn't open the room.

Steve therefore left it open as he made his way to Bucky. Tony and Bruce had given him permission [like he needed it] to visit without supervision since Bucky was thoroughly bound. He couldn't hurt himself if he tried.

"Got some orange juice too, pal." Steve tried to keep the conversation normal as he moved beside Bucky's bed and set the tray on the small, round table beside the bed. No sharp edges on anything, all rounded corners and plastic just in case. Same with the cups and silverware. All the while, Bucky just kept up his silent stare. Steve tried not to let his apprehension show. He wasn't afraid of Bucky, he was afraid of screwing up fixing Bucky. He couldn't fail him again, Bucky needed him, and he was going to pull through, damnit.

Somehow.

"Juice."

Steve nearly jumped, taken aback by the sudden sound of Bucky's voice. It was low, almost monotone, but he'd spoken. "Y-Yeah, you got it, pal." he stepped over with the juice and started to bring it to Bucky's lips. No sooner did the cup touch than Bucky's metallic arm swung up from the left side and slammed into Steve's head with impossible force. Steve stumbled back in surprise and a bit of disorientation as Bucky jumped out of the bed. Apparently the bindings hadn't been as super-soldier proof as he'd thought despite testing them. He didn't know if that meant that Bucky was actually stronger, or he'd gotten an adrenaline rush from a fit of rage or something similar.

He didn't give Steve a chance to so much as straighten as he slammed another fist into his head, followed by a knee to his gut. When he doubled over slightly, Bucky used his free hand to pull Steve down the rest of the way by the neck where he rammed the knee into Steve's chest, followed by a metallic punch to the throat that would have certainly broken a normal man's neck. As it was, even for a super soldier, a punch directly to the throat was by no means pleasant and Steve choked as his breath caught for a second. Pain assailed him. Super-soldier to super-soldier upped the ante, and more than a super-soldier, Bucky was the Winter Soldier. Captain America was trained to fight, the Winter Soldier was the fight.

Steve, still choking from the crushing blow to his throat, lifted his arms to defend himself and tried to land a firm kick and then punch. He expected the Winter Soldier to make good on his attempt to kill him. But instead, he heard the click of buttons and clash of doors as Bucky escaped and locked him in the bubble-room instead. His eyes widened. "N-No!" he wheezed as he gripped his throat while he ran to the entrance. "B-Bucky, stop!"

Steve coughed and winced as he met Bucky's gaze. For some reason, the Winter Soldier had paused and watched Steve with the first hint of expression he'd shown that morning. It was a frown. "You know me...you know I'm telling the truth...you are Bucky Barnes. You were born in Brooklyn. We grew up together, you're my best friend, Hell, you're like a brother to me. Those Hydra creeps messed with your head. I'm begging you, please. Please don't leave. I can't lose you again, Buck." He didn't want to call it a last resort, but he hoped the sincere plead might reach something in the other man. Despite his threats, he hadn't tried to kill Steve. That had to mean something, right?

Something unreadable crossed Bucky's expression for an instant. And then there was a look that Steve might have called temptation as Bucky's hand hovered above the keypad. But then his hand lowered. "I am the Winter Soldier. Bucky Barnes is dead." Whether that was him or not, that much was true. "Try to find me again, and I will kill you." Bucky turned to leave but Steve spoke quickly.

"Why didn't you?" Steve asked. "Just now. You said you would. Maybe you even could have. But you're letting me go, why?"

Bucky's back had already turned to Steve, but he'd paused mid-step and after a split second, his gaze slid back to Steve. "I don't know." he said simply. And then he ran, he disappeared into the doorway and Steve stood stunned a moment before he cursed and hit the panic button.

...

The Winter Soldier raced through the hallways. A limited portion of his training had involved a study of layouts. He always knew the exact layout for a job, but just in case, he'd been trained based on architecture to have a general idea of how a place was set up. It made for more efficient escapes and searches in the potential [but unlikely] case that a target somehow eluded him. He took the first flight of stairs he came to and continued downward, all the while thoughts pecked at the back of his mind. Thoughts about what the man had said, and the fact that he truly didn't know why he hadn't completed his mission and killed him. To say that it was a feeling he had would be a foreign concept to him. Feelings, desires, wants, fears; they weren't necessary in a weapon and that was all that he was. Even if on some vague chance that he had somehow been that Bucky Barnes once...he was that man no longer, and it no longer mattered.

He knew of curiosity at least, enough to blame it for why he'd gone to the Smithsonian, but he'd had enough. Every time he tried to think too hard, to remember, to think about that damned Captain America or Bucky, he lost control. It was better to be empty.

...

It didn't take Tony long to make his way to the room, and he quickly assessed the scene as Bruce came up behind him. "Get Captain Idiot out of there, I'll deal with Hobo Soldier." he growled. He had determined that Bucky had escaped, and it was imperative that he be re-captured quickly. Not because of Steve, because that was just a secondary matter as far as he was concerned, but because the Winter Soldier was a highly-skilled, unhinged mercenary, and too dangerous to be allowed to let roam. Tony suited up and from a balcony took to the skies. He had to find him.

Bruce opened the room and Steve shouted a quick thanks as he ran past. He, like Tony, was aware that time was of the essence because true to his reputation, the Winter Soldier would disappear like a ghost. And Steve wasn't sure he'd be given a second chance.

...

The Winter Soldier had made it outside, although he was a little bloodier for it since he'd burst through a window and garnered a few scrapes. He had on a shirt and baggy pants that had been altered to allow for the urinal device during his restrainment, and socks. He would correct that later, but the priority was escape and he filtered his potential options. His run was cut short however, as the sound of an approaching blast caught his attention and he jerked and rolled sideways just in time to avoid an energy explosion from...Ironman.

"Going somewhere, Hobo?" Tony's voice was slightly tinny through the suit, but the Winter Soldier had known his identity anyway.

He had no desire to engage the iron giant, and promptly took off again.

Tony kicked the jets into gear and blasted ahead where he hovered in front of the Winter Soldier. "Hey, you know, it's rude not to answer when someone talks to you. Especially when it's me. Guess I need to teach you some manners." And so saying, he made as if to blast the Winter Soldier, who ducked accordingly and he attempted a high-powered kick.

But to his surprise, the Winter Soldier had apparently predicted...his prediction. He caught the kick easily with his metal arm before he yanked Tony towards him and used the same hand to deliver a punishing punch to his face mask. Tony was sent flying back a good few paces, and the Winter Soldier was off again. "Son of a-" he kicked the jets into gear and again headed after the Winter Soldier.

As he rounded a corner, he found the street empty save for the usual passerby who immediately burst into shouts of, "It's Ironman! Look! Ironman!"

Generally one for applause, Tony kept his focus on finding the soldier. Unfortunately, said soldier was a step ahead.

Less than fifteen feet away, an SUV exploded and the force was enough to send it slamming upside down into the asphalt. It was also enough to jar Tony and send him clattering to the ground for a moment. He cursed as he pulled himself up. The guy had made a home-made car bomb out of who-knows-what in maybe a minute and a half, and got a clean get-away to boot. The Winter Soldier was more than dangerous, he was a freaking evil genius and Tony was going to enjoy locking his psycho-a** up. He prepared to continue the chase when he realized a woman was crying, and found that a light pole had fallen from the explosion and pinned a child's leg. However much he wanted to pursue the Winter Soldier, the girl took priority.

"Hold still, kid, I gotcha." Ironman lifted the pole, and the relieved mother and child cried and hugged each other. The girl was otherwise unharmed and he resumed pursuit, made all the easier by the shield that went whizzing past his head before it ricocheted back.

...

The Winter Soldier, now shirtless as he'd used his shirt as fabric for the bomb ignition, pounded pavement secure in that he'd managed to elude Ironman. What he didn't expect was the sudden body in his path as Captain America, wearing civilian clothing save for his shield as he hadn't had time to don his suit, whirled said shield at him. Winter dodged and the shield flew past as he scanned the area for his options. But it didn't seem like the man wanted to talk any more, because he charged Winter and began an assault.

They were evenly matched for the moment, until Steve landed a firm kick on his gut where his stitches were. But super-soldier healing came in handy, and it wasn't as painful as it had been. Winter jerked slightly, but delivered an immediate punch back that forced Steve to take a step back. The pair regarded each other for a moment.

"I'm taking you back, Buck...you need help."

"I told you what would happen if you came after me." Winter said lowly.

Steve smiled, and Winter was confused because he thought smiles indicated pleasure. He couldn't gauge how sad that smile was, and took it to mean that Steve wanted to fight him. "Sorry, Buck. But I'm not ready to die, or to let you go."

Winter had no response to that, other than to launch an attack of his own. The match was too even, they matched hit for hit with both having super-human pain threshholds. Right up until Winter was blasted in the side and hurled into a building, courtesy of Ironman.

Steve looked angry with Tony, but it seemed that Captain Crunch knew better than to argue because it had needed to be done. And when the soldier got back up, a little shaky but otherwise no worse for wear, he was a bit relieved. Because he kind of wanted to beat the snot out of the other man. He understood the other's tragic backstory and all that, and he was Steve's BFF or whatever, but something about the man ticked him off. Tony couldn't explain it, but when he looked at the Winter Soldier, his gut just twisted.

The Winter Soldier looked between them a moment, and it seemed he was well and truly backed into a corner until there was a gasp in the bushes behind him. As it turned out, a pregnant woman who had been too slow to flee had taken refuge in the bushes, but a sudden contraction in her stomach caused the audible gasp of pain. This next bit was a human reaction that Winter understood would work, even if he couldn't grasp why it did.

Steve and Ironman both seemed to understand his intent, but they were too slow and Winter grabbed the woman up as he held his metallic hand on her throat and kept her arms behind her back with his free hand. "Attack, she dies." Winter said simply.

"Bastard." Tony hissed beneath his mask.

Steve's eyes widened. He knew what the Winter Soldier was, but to see Bucky standing before him saying those things, threatening a pregnant woman...it cut him to the quick. It wasn't Bucky, Bucky would have died first. They had twisted his friend so terribly, and in that moment, he wondered if there really was a chance. Even if they could bring back Bucky's memories...what would be left to save?

...

Bruce, slower than his comrades in his human form, had chosen to come prepared. He had a tranquilizing agent that while not quite strong enough to work on the Hulk, would probably leave even a super-soldier out for a couple of days. Bruce loaded the tranq gun and got in the car. It didn't take long to find them, he'd just had to drive where throngs of people were running away in terror. He arrived in time to see Tony blast him into a wall, and as he left his car and prepared to shoot, he saw him grab the pregnant woman.

The woman sobbed. "Please, let me go...please." She gasped suddenly. "My baby...my baby, please...something's wrong...!"

Winter's expression didn't so much as flicker, in fact, his grip on her neck seemed to tighten slightly as if in annoyance.

That was all it took.

"Tony." Bruce's voice was a hoarse shout above the receding din. Ironman whirled around in time to see Bruce's body clench, and he could see the flash of green in his eyes even from a distance. "Get every one to run."

"Aww, s***." Tony addressed Steve quickly. "As soon as you can, grab the girl, then get the Hell out of dodge." And with that, he jetted off to clear the remaining passerby and those even at a distance. The Hulk was too unpredictable, and while he wanted to make sure the woman was safe, he'd have to trust Steve to it because his jets would be faster than Steve's footwork.

Winter looked between them and seemed to realize suddenly what was about to happen. There was no guarantee that the Hulk would balk at attacking just because he was holding the woman. Perhaps he would, but he couldn't take that chance. He shoved the woman forward, and she would have hit pavement had not Steve run up to grab her. "Hold on, ma'am." And with that, he picked her up as gently as he could and ran her to safety at the same time a fully-emerged Hulk roared and charged the retreating Winter Soldier.

"Here you are, ma'am." Steve said, when they'd reached a safe place. "Are you alright, can you call someone?"

The woman nodded shakily, sobbing before she embraced Steve and thanked him profusely, before she headed off phone in hand.

Steve started to leave to head back to the fray, but when he turned, he was faced with a woman who looked entirely too calm for the situation.

"That was kind of you. Thank you. Children are so very important." The woman said. She was tall, lithe and leggy with a loose, tan dress and straight, long brown hair nearly to her waist. She had luminous blue eyes, and for some reason, Steve found himself feeling a little muggy looking into them.

"I'd like to do something for you...you must have a desire...name anything, and it shall be yours." she took a step closer, to which Steve took a step back.

He had somewhere he needed to be, didn't he? Why-

"There must be something." she continued as she took another step forward and set her hand on his bicep. She tilted her head and then smiled. "Ah...there we have it...consider it done, hero." The woman leaned up and kissed his cheek suddenly, and Steve jerked away. Whatever strange haze he'd found himself in cleared and as he went to explain that he needed to leave, he found the woman was gone.

"What the...?" But he didn't have time to dwell on it, he couldn't afford to leave the Hulk alone with Bucky any longer.

By the time Steve got back just a few minutes later, there were several broken cars, a piece of building missing, and Bucky-being slammed on the ground like a ragdoll. "Wait! Stop! That's enough!" he ran forward, and the Hulk whirled around to face him. "Good Hulk. Bruce. Stop. We don't want him dead."

The Hulk's nostrils flared and he let out a roar as he slammed a hand into Steve and sent him flying back into a wall. The super-soldier crumbled with a groan before he stumbled to his feet. The Hulk was just about to slam Bucky again when Ironman zipped up.

"Hey! Jolly! Put him down. Drop it."

Steve was sure Tony was about to get smacked out of the air, but instead, the Hulk let out a snarl and spoke. "Not...Jolly! Hulk!"

"Yeah, yeah. Just put the guy down and let Captain-Crunch-For-Brains hold him."

"Crunch Brains..." Hulk repeated slowly.

Steve was stunned. What the Hell was with these two? Did their bond as Tony and Bruce influence Ironman and Hulk's relationship, or was he missing something?

"Down, Hulk. There's a good Hulk." Tony coaxed.

Hulk seemed reluctant, and more than a little annoyed, but with a huff he hurled Bucky to the ground.

Steve winced as he was sure he heard a bone break somewhere, or perhaps it was just Bucky's skull cracking pavement, either way...he came forward cautiously just in case and surveyed the other. He seemed well and truly unconscious, and his already beat-up appearance was positively frightening now. He looked like a Halloween monster, and there was no humor intended in that thought. Steve cast a hesitant glance at the Hulk who huffed again, and then he pulled the other man up into his arms. He was struck by memories of times Bucky had done the same for him.

Their attempt to climb the roof and star-gaze had gone swell, right until they were climbing down and Steve slipped about halfway. Thirteen-year old Bucky plum hopped off the rest of the way as he began to look over Steve anxiously. "Hey, you alright, pal?"

"M-My leg...I think it's broken..." Steve moaned. They would later find out that he'd only sprained his ankle.

"S***." Bucky swore, as he was wont to do whenever his mother [or Steve's] wasn't around. He stared a moment as he considered their options. It would take too long to try and hobble Steve home by just giving him a shoulder, and he didn't want to make it worse... And if he had the other piggy-back him, he wouldn't be able to grab the other's leg to keep him up, and then his leg would still be wiggling... "Well, Hell..." The boy suddenly arranged himself at Steve's side, and started to slide his arms under the other.

Steve stiffened. "What are you-hey-wait, you can't!"

Bucky went for it and grabbed Steve as he struggled to pull him up. Steve was slight, but Bucky was only thirteen and not exactly developed. Still, after a great deal of red-faced effort, he got straight up on his feet and after a long breath, started walking.

"Bucky! You can't carry me all the way home!" Steve protested. "I'm fine, my leg's just-aghh." Steve cut off as his attempt to move it proved painful.

"Hold still, Steve." Bucky snapped, and then his voice became playful. "Besides, a runt like you doesn't weigh anythin'. I got ya, pal."

"But, Bucky..."

"No buts." And despite Steve's doubts, around an hour later, a very tired Bucky made it home with Steve in his arms.

Later, when they realized it was only a sprained ankle, Steve had been sheepish and figured Bucky would be mad. But instead he'd just laughed, whacked Steve on the head, and informed Steve that he owed him a soda.

"Typical." Steve murmured at the thought as he carried the battered body of his best friend. But would he ever really be his best friend again? Would he ever hear that laugh again? Him singing? Hell, he'd even be happy to hear some of his corny pick-up lines, if it just meant that Bucky was himself again.

...

Several hours later, Bruce was back and a bit sheepish when informed of all that had occurred. Tony seemed thoroughly annoyed about something. And Steve was miserable.

Because Bucky was now beyond being allowed in the bubble room. There were a few holding cells in the basement of the building, one in particular which had been designed for Loki just in case. Asgardian god-proof meant super-soldier proof. Bucky had a single cot bed on the wall, his hands and legs were manacled by several inches of iron and a plastic compound like the one used for the bubble room, and a chain connected them. There was one on his neck as well, attached from a chain at the same source. And beyond that was the chain that connected his ankle manacles to the iron mount on the floor. There was no comfort possible in that condition, but it was the only condition that Tony would accept for not keeping Bucky under constant sedative.

Steve peered into the cell through the single window, and he winced as he saw Bucky toss and turn. Was he having a nightmare? But he couldn't do anything, for now, he needed to give Bucky space on Bruce's orders. Being re-captured and beaten to a pulp by the Hulk was not going to have led to improvement, and seeing Steve could further incense and upset Bucky. The other's fists clenched as he jerked suddenly, and Steve looked away with a pained expression.

Twelve-year old Bucky had been fast asleep in his and Steve's makeshift fort when he found himself kicked in the stomach. He awoke angry, and started to huff at Steve when he realized the other wasn't awake and was in fact muttering frantically and squirming. A nightmare.

"Steve...Steve, buddy." Bucky mumbled sleepily as he shook the other's shoulder. "C'mon, wake up, Stev-"

Steve jolted upright and whipped his head around, straight into Bucky's.

"OW!" Bucky shouted, more in surprise though pain was involved as well. He rubbed his head as Steve did the same.

"B-Buck? Sorry! Ow.." he added with a wince as he rubbed his head. "Was I...uh..."

"Nightmare.." Bucky confirmed in a grumble before he added more softly. "Do you remember it?"

"Not really..."

"Figures." Bucky muttered as he yawned, and Steve berated himself mentally for being such a baby. But then he found an arm draped over his shoulder as Bucky pulled him a little closer.

"Buck, uh, what-"

"Read somethin' about how heartbeats make you sleep better or somethin'."

"That's babies, Buck."

"Yeah, and you're a crybaby, so shut up and go to sleep." Bucky was grumpy when he was tired.

"I am not." Steve grumbled, and he wanted to move away. This was embarassing enough, but...in truth, he remembered his nightmare. He was in the center of a group of kids, they were taking turns ripping at his clothes and hair, hurling insults as well as injuries, and crying-he looked to Bucky for help. Bucky walked away.

Losing his one and only friend was a nightmare of the highest degree, and he didn't want Bucky to know that. He'd probably think it was weird. Bucky couldn't understand, he had lots of friends besides Steve.

But there was one thing at least, Steve noted as he relented and snuggled up into Bucky's side, relieved when the warm arm came around him and Bucky began a familiar snore by his ear.

Steve was the only friend Bucky ever let sleep over, so he was sure he was the only one whose nightmares Bucky chased away. And once or twice, though Bucky never said what it had been about, Steve had done the same for him. That was something, right?

"Night, Buck." Steve whispered into the dark before he eventually let sleep take him. He didn't awake again until morning, still tucked up against Bucky and not bothered by that at all.

Steve felt like he'd been reliving his childhood strictly with Bucky. Even before Bucky had been found, he'd dwelled on every memory, every moment. He'd clung to them desperately, afraid they might disappear along with the man who'd made them.

"Another nightmare, huh?" Bucky yawned, fourteen years old.

"It's fine.." Steve hedged, but Bucky shook his head and blinked blearily.

"Don't gotta be afraid when I'm with ya, Steve. I won't let anythin' hurt ya, not ever. You know that. I'll protect ya, so go to sleep." Bucky yawned again.

Steve did, and as always, Bucky chased the nightmares away.

Steve had thought when he'd become Captain America, things would be different. He wouldn't feel like their relationship was so one-sided [although Bucky always reassured him that Steve gave him more than he knew]. He could protect Bucky, fight beside him as an equal, chase his fears away.

But as he looked at the broken man in the cell before him, and thought of the proud, happy man he'd been, so full of life and spirit, all he could think about was the fact that it was his fault. If Bucky were lost, it was only because Steve had lost him. And if Bucky found himself, where would that leave them? Even if Bucky still wanted Steve in his life, he doubted Bucky would still want to be in the fray, and Steve wasn't even sure about his own life situation at this point now that Shield was disbanded and the hunt was over, so...where did they go from there? What came next?

Would Bucky be beside him to find out?

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Still going to bed late, dangit! But once you're [almost there-as you keep telling yourself], it's hard to stop. And you get all caught up, and gahhh. Mini-fight scene. I hate writing fight scenes. XD But it's kinda fun when Hulk can just come in and school them. Tony and Bruce's quirky friendship continues. And next chapter...little Winter Soldier? Dun dun dun! And probably more sappy flashbacks. Because they're fun and have a point and I can. So there. XD Reviews are hugs to my soul. Just saying. Enjoy!~Witchy~