As I woke, I slowly opened a reluctant eye. The shining sun blazed down on me blinding me. Had I walked outside? Did Bucky actually bring us out when he had just gotten better? Only one problem with my theories, there was no sun in that miserable world. I tore myself off the floor, finally able to observe my surroundings. I was back in my hotel room! Looking myself over, I realised I was wearing the same clothes I had worn in that mystery world. They looked as brand new as the morning I put them on.

I checked my arm, it was healed. I ran my hands across my scalp. Not even a scar was left. It was like nothing had happened. But, how? How did I get out of that orange hell? And...

"Where's Bucky?!" I gasped, searching my room.

Only moments ago, I had been in the arms of the man I loved. And I hadn't even gotten the chance to tell him. Now, I was standing in a bare hotel room, and Bucky was nowhere to be found. How was I back? Why was I back? Where was he?!

Panicked, I searched for my phone. To my surprise it was back in my pocket. I scrolled through my contacts until I found T'Challa's office number. Bucky had been with him before, so with some luck, he would be back with T'Challa. I was falling apart at the seams as I hit send and waited for an answer, chewing my thumb nail ravenously. After the tenth ring, someone finally picked up the phone.

"Hello, this is the office of the Wakandan Relief Services. How may I help you?" A kind female voice answered.

"Hello, my name is Caroline Smith. I'm with the U.N.'s Defense Team. I must speak with King T'Challa as soon as possible, it is a matter of urgency." I inquired, trying to stay calm.

The women sniffed, and said, "The King has gone missing. It has been some time since anyone has heard from him, ma'am. I can't give you any further information."

"I understand. I need to speak to the leader in charge, then. Like I said, it is very important." I huffed.

She let out an annoyed breath, and said, "His sister, Shuri is here. She is head of tech and engineering. If you are in defense, you'll talk to her eventually."

"Yes, thank you!" I exclaimed, yelling into the receiver.

Automatically I was put on hold. A song played quietly, soothing my mind a bit with its gentle but spirited beat. After a few tense moments, the woman came over the phone, panting.

"Ma'am! It is the most extraordinary news. King T'Challa himself has returned! I will give him your name and number, and he will return your call soon..."

"Wait! Please, tell immediately! I was taken too and I'm back in Wakanda. I need him to help me get in contact with a mutual... friend. Please..." I begged the woman.

"Of course. I will give him your information the moment he comes in..."

As I hung up, I looked around the room, just then realizing my things were nowhere to be found. Of course. We had been gone for months or maybe even years. I'd be lucky if it was even still around.

Heading downstairs, I searched for my small travel wallet with my cards and ID, finding it in my back pocket. I sighed, thinking that I couldn't actually be so lucky. Quietly, I approached the desk, and waited my turn. A pair of newlyweds had come to take a tour of Wakanda's wonders, so I waited my turn. They seemed unphased by the attack that had occurred there in the, hopefully, recent past. As they left with a pamphlet on the local hiking trails, I approached the desk.

The man gave me a wide smile, and said, "Hello, ma'am! Do you have a reservation?"

I smiled nervously. while rubbing my neck.

"So, I visited here a while ago. Strange as it may sound, I was taken suddenly, and I left all of my personal belongings here. I was in room twenty. My name is Caroline Smith. Would you happen to have my things in a lost and found or something?"

He rubbed his chin, and looked towards a back room. I followed his gaze, as he stared into the dark room. As he glanced back at me, I gave him a confused smile. He was hiding something, I could feel it. He walked to the back, and came forward with my bags. By the looks of them, they had been ransacked. He coughed, and handed them over to me.

"I'm sorry for the appearance of your bags, ma'am. Many people disappeared suddenly. Literally, people just disappeared into dust. We are very sorry, but much of your valuables were taken. Again, I'm sorry." He said, trying to keep his voice steady.

I sighed, but placed my bags on the ground. "Listen, I understand, it was an insane situation. Who knew what had happened to us. I didn't. I just want to take a rest. So, I need a room. Do you have one available?"

He nodded, and got to the computer. He almost immediately handed me a key, and said, "I gave you the top floor with a view of the beautiful landscape. Sorry again for the loss of your items."

"Thank you. It's all good. I'm grateful for the hospitality. I'll let you know if I need anything else."

With that I grabbed my bags and headed for the stairs. Climbing to the fifth floor, I looked out on the nearby forest, wondering where Bucky was. I couldn't help but sense he was out there. If I appeared where I had left off, generally, maybe he did the same. One could only hope...

Walking into the hotel room, I felt heavy, weighed down with anxiety and fear. Immediately, I dropped my bags, and shuffled to the bed. Kicking my shoes off, I fell onto the mattress, face first. It felt like clouds compared to the uneven stone I'd been sleeping on since April, however long ago that had been. I felt stupid now, not asking. Suddenly, I was fighting to keep my eyes open. Breathing in the gentle scent of detergent, my eyes fluttered shut, leaving me in a dreamless darkness.

The shrill ring of my phone woke me from my deep sleep. Quickly, I reached for it, knocking it off the bedside table. I launched from the bed, picking it up off the floor. The number was encrypted, which I hoped meant it was someone important, someone who could help me.

I answered my cell, mumbling, "This is Caroline Smith."

"Caroline. This is T'Challa, I am glad you are safe. I hear you appeared back here in Wakanda."

"Yes! I did. Um, I'm glad you made it back as well. How are you? Did Bucky return with you?"

"I'm not sure yet, it's very strange. And yes. Bucky has returned, I knew he was why you've been eager to get in contact me."

Breathing a sigh of relief, I sat down on the bed. "He was part of it. I'm just glad we made it back. Is he alright? Did you inform him I'm in Wakanda?"

"Caroline, listen..." He hesitated, sighing, "When he came back, something happened to him. He's physically healthy, his wound is gone and everything. The problem is, his brain received some kind of trauma, my sister is trying to figure it out. Bucky... Bucky has reverted back to the Winter Soldier. We had to sedate him."/

I jumped up off the bed, and started pacing. "Um, I need to be there, even just to observe him. I can't sit here, waiting to hear if he's getting better. Please, let me join you, and help him."

"Alright. I will send a car for you immediately. And Caroline?"

"Yes, T'Challa?" I replied, timidly.

He laughed softly at my tone of voice, "I'm really happy that you're safe."

Smiling, I said, "Yeah, I'm glad you made it back as well."

Hanging up, I tossed the phone on the sheets. Realizing how bad this was, I rubbed my face, and sighed. Of course we couldn't catch a break. Maybe this wasn't meant to be. Maybe I should just do my job, and take him in. Only, I didn't know if I had a job anymore. Where were my other coworkers?!

The sudden realization that none of my coworkers had returned hit me like a ton of bricks. We hadn't died. We had been taken to an alternate dimension, it had to have been, and they had died there. I stood up, and paced the room, looking for something to break. My eyes landed on the bed frame. Kicking the bed, I cried out in pain. God that had hurt. I dropped to the floor, staring out the window. Surveying the streets below, I watched a sleek black car approach, and remembered the mission at hand.