WASHINGTON, D.C. - SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
Natasha meets Sam at the cafeteria inside the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum. Sam's wrapping himself around a giant hamburger, listening to Natasha make snarky comments about his eating habits. "Yes I'm eating again. Yes a hamburger. Mind. Your. Own. Business." he growls, eyeing her small salad.
Natasha gives him a satisfied smirk. "Have you heard anything from Tony?"
He shrugs. "Only that I'm not welcome in the Tower anymore. Which is fine with me, I was getting tired of watching crazies in his basement." He grins as he leans back in his chair, wiping his hands on a napkin. "Have you found him?"
Natasha's quiet for a few moments. "Sam, I can't ask you to go on with this." Watch his smile fade as he looks at her with no expression. "I'm going to do what I can to help Barnes, but I don't want you to get mixed up in what might have to be done."
Sam looks down and takes another bite of his hamburger as he thinks. "Nat, sure I should go home, but I can't leave this, Cap…Barnes needs help. Tell me your plan, there's got to be something 'legal' I can do?"
Natasha frowns at him. "Sam."
Frustrated. "Look Nat, you asked me to help, and I'm already an accessory before and after the fact, after finding that video."
Natasha remembers what she'd done that night, after going through Karpov's luggage. Now, his luggage and his body will never be found, thanks partially to Sam. Sigh. "Barnes is being held in solitary confinement in the basement of the county jail. There's nothing you can do for him." She looks at him, sitting there with his muscular arms crossed and a stubborn look on his face.
"Look, Nat, I've come this far, I owe it to Steve to help Barnes. You know that." He leans forward and looks into her eyes. "Tell me what I can do."
She considers his offer quietly, picking at her salad. "Sam, you know you'll be the one I go to if I need anything, right?" She glances at him and gives him a little smile. "I do know where you live."
That fact should be alarming, since he knows more about her now, but he just stares. "Nat, come on. Don't do this to me."
"You're done?" Natasha says, gesturing at the remains of his hamburger. "Come on, let's see this exhibit."
Sam sighs and rolls his eyes as he gathers the wrappers from the table. "Alright, but promise you won't disappear?"
Nat just lifts an eyebrow and quirks her lips at him as she puts a hand under his arm to walk to the black-draped Captain America exhibition.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - NATIONAL MALL
They walk through the exhibit, mingling with the crowd. Sam had read about these events in history books, but seeing some of the actual items really brings the reality home. "That's him alright. He just looks so…happy." Sam says, watching the short black and white video showing him laughing with Captain America, playing on repeat.
Natasha looks over the display devoted to Sergeant Barnes. "I heard that, in return for using his face and name, and some of his things, Steve requested that this be done for Barnes. So he wouldn't be forgotten." In a softer voice, Natasha says, "I wonder what the museum would do if they knew."
They finish and leave in silence.
"Maybe there is one thing you can do." Natasha says, as they casually walk down the edge of the reflecting pool. "Try to see Barnes. They won't let you but keep trying. Make a noise in the Governor's office. Get some attention on him. I can't do that, because Ross, but you can."
He glances at her. "I'll try, but he's already got more attention than he needs. How's more gonna help?"
They stop to watch two squirrels on the path fighting over popcorn, perhaps dropped by a child. Natasha turns to face him. "That's it, it's all negative, the trial is just a show. Barnes needs some attention drawn on how he's being treated. He's tied down 24/7, has no human contact, he isn't allowed to talk to his lawyers, innocent until proven guilty, that sort of thing. Say you'll go to the national news if they don't listen."
"Perhaps Maria can help." They continue walking, dodging playing children, it's a nice day, the sun is shining, the water in the WWII memorial fountain sparkles.
Natasha casually works them around the water feature to sit on the granite bench along a curving wall. "I need to tell you," she pauses, looking Sam in the eyes, "I went inside the prison and talked to Barnes."
Sam looks at her, his eyes widening, "Oh, wow." The implications are staggering. "I guess you had your 'get out of jail free' card."
She smiles and leans back. "No, but there's nothing the proper application of high explosives can't help." Sam's roar of laughter draws attention from nearby tourists, but they go on their way as Natasha calmly watches them. "He still wants us to kill him."
Sam's laughter dies, his face falling as he looks at Natasha. He sighs and turns to sit on the bench beside her. "He's still suicidal."
They watch the people and the fountain for a minute, the peaceful sound of the water and the kids playing conflicting with their disturbing thoughts. Natasha remembers the pain in Barnes' voice. "I'm sorry Ross has him. Barnes said that he'd already killed a HYDRA agent there, in the jail."
"Great. Not only another murder charge, but HYDRA's still has its tentacles in everything, evidently." Remember fighting Rumlow, who had been a trusted member of Steve's STRIKE team. There's no way to know who's loyal and who's not. Sigh. "What are you thinking?"
"Well, when you get in to see him, tell him..." she pauses. "Tell him he must be calm at the trial, to not even move no matter what they say or do. I think Ross is planning for the Soldier to attack someone on the live broadcast as an excuse to put him in the Raft right now. But with HYDRA involved, I bet he won't make it there."
"In other words, give him...no, Ross would sell him to HYDRA. That bastard. Even if innocent people die." Sam leans back and crosses his arms. "But couldn't he just do that? Why can't he just hand Barnes over?"
"Because he wants to show the world how much we all need his new international crime agreement. Dangerous people need to be kept under control, and he can do it. Basically, power."
The fountain splashes, children wade in, laughing. "Do you think Barnes can do that? Stay still and not kill anyone?"
Nat stands and stretches before sitting again, crossing her legs and leaning against him. "He didn't kill us." At Sam's snort, she adds, "He can control himself. Barnes learned to do what his handlers wanted or he was hurt for it. You should read some of the reports." She can't stop a little involuntary shiver. "I think that's why he didn't kill me in Odessa, I wasn't on his list."
Sam feels her shake and puts his arm around her. "Odessa?
"I was escorting an engineer Fury was trying to get away from HYDRA. We were on the highway close to Odessa, when one of our tires was shot out. We went off the road, over a cliff. I got him out of the wreck, but the Winter Soldier was there. I put myself between the engineer and the Soldier, but he shot through me, and killed the engineer." She raises her top just enough to show him a puckered scar on her side.
"Damn, girl."
"He could've killed me easy. I almost didn't make it, but backup found me in time."
As they talk, they watch a family escort an older man, obviously a veteran, over to one of the granite pylons. The old vet slowly places a bent, trembling hand on it. Virginia, it says. The family proudly takes pictures, taking turns standing with the veteran for photos, all hugs and smiles.
Sam thinks about the video of Barnes and Rogers, laughing. "What did they do to turn him from that happy man in the video, to the Winter Soldier." Sam carefully lets go of Natasha and stands up. "Barnes…he didn't deserve what they've done to him. Any of it. I wish…" He looks at the happy family taking pictures of the proud veteran. "I wish he had…" Sam stops and rubs his face, swallowing hard. "I wish Steve was here."
Natasha looks up at him and says calmly. "Steve died trying to get him back. Now Barnes is back to himself, but all we can do is help him escape HYDRA," she pauses and takes Sam's hand, "and help them be together again."
Sam looks down, blinks, takes a breath. "Nat, he could have a life, maybe we can get him help. Show what we've found to the judge."
"You don't think he wouldn't take his own life, as soon as he was left alone?" Natasha rubs her fingers over his hand. "And do you think the government would let a perfectly good asset go to waste, even without HYDRA constantly trying to get him back."
Sam rubs his face. "So, how do we…help." his voice low and rough.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - D.C. CENTRAL DETENTION FACILITY
He can't move. He's tied down. On a… bed. Bright light. Hear faint sounds, doors slamming, voices, far away. No pain. Cold, still wearing the same shorts. Where. Think. Turn head to look around, see gray walls, gray door with small window. Sigh. Wait. Blank your mind, relax and wait. Sleep.
Jerk awake to the door's loud KA-LANK. Food. One guard makes the back of his bed rise so he's sitting up, the other stands by the door with a bowl. It's easy to tell that they're scared. The guard with the bowl comes closer, stands beside you and dips a spoon into the bowl and raises it in front of your face.
Look at him and don't move. The guard gently shakes the spoon and says "Open." Just look at the wall.
"Come on, man, eat. It's stew." Glance at him, look back at the wall. The guard puts the spoon back in the bowl and turns to the other. "Okay, what now?"
The other, older guard steps forward, looking at you. "We can't force him to eat. But know this, if you don't eat, we'll be forced to feed you through a tube. Your choice."
Just look at him through your hair.
"Ok, take it away."
They leave and the door slams and locks. Hear one say "Damn, he's one scary f***."
Waiting. I don't want to eat. I don't want to be here. Time passes. Remember being confined to other tables, chairs. Wonder how Natalia is going to help. So tired of waiting. Steve. I'm sorry. Think about Steve. Remember fighting him, he was good. How did he get so big? He was too small for the army, but we fought together? See other men's faces, drinking together, friends. Surveilling with a scoped rifle from a high place, as they advance beneath you. How Steve carried a .45 but only used the shield. Where did it come from, he didn't always have it. Before. Before the war. Then he was big. With soldiers… until? Think. When? When is it now? Think…
KA LANK – Jerk awake. Squint in the bright light…a doctor... oh no… Hydra?! Throw your body weight against the straps desperately, put full strength into left arm…come on…break… see the doctor get close, a needle! Oh no no…
The doctor rubs the back of your right hand with a wet cotton patch. Snarl at him. One of the guards holds your hand down and presses your fingers flat, while the doctor takes a breath and slides a needle under your skin there. Fight to move, even try to slam your head into his, but the straps…the left ones gives, just a little. Put more energy into it, the doctor notices and backs up.
"Just get the IV in quick, doc, and he'll calm down. These straps'll hold'im." The guard says with a grin.
As the doctor nervously gets closer, he drops what was in his hand. He bends down and picks it up quickly, and drops it again. He curses and picks it up, holds it and pulls out a line of white tape. You twist your hand away but the guard curls one of your fingers, squeezing it, the sharp pain making you focus and be still. The doctor wraps the tape around your hand and the needle, then hooks up a clear hose, trying to work and ignore you. He backs away and rolls the IV stand closer. "That's got it. Let me out of here." The other guards part to let the doctor out, grinning and joking with him.
The guard lets go of your hand and smiles. "Just relax, I told you what would happen. This is just an IV, for fluids. To feed you, we're gonna have to knock you out and put a tube down your throat." The guard looks him in the eyes. "I'll be back when the bag is empty." He leaves and the door closes and locks. Let out a deep breath. Frustration, anger, the feeling of helplessness making you try to break the restraints again, your face twisting into a snarl.
Fight the straps until you tire of it. This is the same. Why do I fight, I can never get away. He drops deeper into dark thoughts. Steve tried to help me and I... See his body on the muddy shore, the sound of his last breath. Shake your head as you feel your throat tighten. Jerk your arms hard into the straps, throw your head back and inhale a short, gasping breath. Think about being strapped down to other tables. Remember breaking free sometimes, killing everyone you can reach. Continue to fight the damn straps. Time passes.
The guards come back. They don't talk to him, just unhook the bag and lower the bed to horizontal. They leave, the door slamming shut and locking. Sigh. Wait. Sleep.
Wake, no sounds. Bright light. Try to stretch out sore muscles. Waiting, listening. Don't think. Wait. Sleep.
Wake to loud voices outside the door. What. KA LANK, the door swings open and a guard cautiously walks in. Barnes focuses on the second person, Tony Stark. Why.Narrow eyes, tense up. "Hey Terminator, how ya doin'?" a false cheerfulness in his voice. Watch him.
He reaches back to another person, a woman. She sets a silver briefcase down on the floor and hands him a small box. Stark opens it, saying "This won't take a second, just need to see if this works on you." He removes a small device, holding it up. "This shouldn't hurt, but with your wiring, I'm not sure. Let's find out." Glare at him.
He walks to your left side and looks at your metal arm. Takes in the frayed edges of the straps. "Nice. What, vibranium in the threads?" No one replies. Stark touches your arm, try to jerk away but can't move. "Relax, here we go." Jerk again as he quickly sticks the device to one of the metal plates and steps back. The device sparks and you feel a shock…pain...convulse… The device turns dark and the shock ends. Gasp in a deep breath.
You jerk your arms again, to get free, to rip off the device, but your left arm is weak, now with only basic power. "Ok," Stark says, peeling off the now dead device. "Now to test it." He turns to the guards and says "Everyone out." He waits until the guards and the woman leave, and the door closes and locks.
Watch Stark, What. "I'm going to let you out of these straps. But I don't have a death wish." He extends his arm and touches a red and silver bracelet that somehow activates the silver case the woman had set on the floor. It expands into the Iron Man suit, and closes around Tony's body. Watch in amazement. "If you fight me, I'll put you down, and you know it." Narrow eyes at him, but lie still.
Iron Man begins unfastening the straps. "You can talk, you know. It's ok. Tell me how your arm feels. The shock probably hurt, sorry about that, does it still hurt? Can you feel pain in the metal arm? Pressure? Temperature?" Don't answer, just watch him, don't move. You're free of the straps.
Iron Man stands back, watching. Sit up and swing your legs over, stand up. Look down at your metal arm, wiggle your fingers, make a fist. The arm just hangs there though, no power. Need to restart. Iron Man says, "It's not functioning?" He steps closer, reaching out to touch your arm. Narrow eyes and jump back, swinging the metal arm in a big overhand circle to reset it. It whirrs and the plates shift as it starts up and you prepare to defend yourself.
"Ok, well, that didn't last long." The Iron Man helmet tilts to one side as he looks at you and thinks about what just happened. "Let me out." The door clanks open and Iron Man leaves. Sigh as the door closes and locks again. That was an EMP. He wanted to see if it would disable me. Questioning to find weaknesses.
Stand up and breathe. Look at the needle in your hand, pull it out and drop it on the floor. Suck on the wound until it stops bleeding. Relieve yourself in the corner toilet. Stretch and do a few push-ups. Feel better. Look at the bed, with the straps. Give a little smile and start field-stripping it your way, pulling and breaking it into little pieces.
Work for awhile before someone pounds on the door. "Stop that." A guard is looking in the window, angry. Stare at him and snap a piece of the frame in half. The guard disappears.
Later, more voices at the door. KA-LANK – the door opens and guards slowly come in, more and more of them, wearing black body armor, forcing him back into a corner. What. Watch them, prepare to fight. The guards don't try to touch you, they just stand there, between you and the door. Hear the bed and its parts being taken away. One by one the guards back out until you're alone in the empty room.
Sigh. Sit down on the floor, back against the wall. Think about where you are, who has control. I was in Iron Man's Tower, now I'm in… a prison. A trial. I'm going to go to trial for completing my missions. Steve. Frown. Remember killing, obeying orders, pulling the trigger on so many. They said I was saving the world. They made me kill and not care.
Get up and pace back and forth. Drop and do more push-ups, the physical exertion helping you calm down. Why is HYDRA here? They're not running the trial. They want me back, but how will they get me out of here? Maybe they want me dead. I guess I shouldn't have killed that one here, I might be finished by now. Grunt. I can do it myself, while I'm free.
A guard opens the steel flap in the door with a clang and lays some bottles of water on it. "Here ya go." Ignore him. The guard watches you for a minute. "Come get some water or we'll put that IV back in." Keep ignoring him. The guard takes the bottles away and closes the door.
Flex the fingers of your left hand. I can do this. Did I do this before? HYDRA wouldn't let me. I can lock my fingers so they won't come loose when I pass out. Use your metal hand and stroke your neck, feel the pressure in your scruffy beard. Feel your heart beat.
KA-LANK– Jump up, ready. Four guards in black tactical uniforms press into the small room and force you into the corner again. They don't close the door. "Calm down, you have a visitor." Frown. Not again. Another man comes in, Sam. Before you can stop yourself, you smile. Just a small one, and Sam smiles back. "Hey man, good to see you." There are more guards behind him in the hall. Sam doesn't move. "They said I couldn't come in all the way." Sam glances around the cell, noting the lack of a bed. "Are they treating you ok?"
Breathe out, relax a little. Hold out your right wrist, still showing red cuts from your struggle with the straps. "I was tied to a table, until Stark came and put an EMP on my metal arm."
Sam's eyes get big. "What! He hit you with an EMP? Are you ok?!" Sam shoots a glare at the guards, then takes a deep breath, calming himself down. "Did you get medical attention?" Sam leans forward, trying to see around the guards. "The doc put an IV in my hand, but that was before."
Sam shakes his head, looks concerned. "I'm trying to help you, but our friend," he pauses, looking pointedly at you. Natalia, you think. "says to say we know who you killed here. And that you're going to trial soon, and it will be rough," He takes a small step forward. "but you must stand down. Can you do that?" His eyes are questioning, anxious.
Stare at him. He doesn't want me to hurt anyone, even if HYDRA is there. Nod.
"Our friend also mentioned that you asked for something, the same thing you told me," Sam grimaces, and tilts his head. "is that really what you want?"
To die. "Yes."
Sam sighs, looks serious. "Do you still want that if you can go free?"
Think of escape. Always running. Steve. "Yes."
Sam just looks at you. "We need more information, about your past."
What. Think. Sam is staring at him. "Try the combination 3895-7708." Pause. "Be careful."
One of the guards outside says time's up, everyone out. Sam gives him another smile before being forced out. "Talk to the lawyers that come, and hang in there, ok?"
A thought. Call out before the door slams. "Sam! What year is it?"
From down the hall - "2014!"
2014!
The sound of the group fades away down the hallway. 2014, 2014, how?! Stand still and think. I was put in the freezer tank between missions, I know I missed some years, things changed. Cars. Weapons. But Steve was here, it can't be. It can't be that long. Steve wasn't old, he was here. Confusing thoughts run through your head. How was Steve in 2014? Steve…
Hear footsteps getting louder again, they're coming back. Hear the now-familiar KA-LANK and the door slams open. The tactical team rushes in and forces you back into the corner again, but this time they have a syringe. NO… Shove the nearest guard into the one with the syringe. It's too close in the cell for the guards to do anything but try to pile on and hold you, but with your skill and strength it's easy to knock them all down, one at a time. Stand in the center of the downed guards, look at the open door. Remember the last time you tried to escape. The alarms are going off again, more guards will be here soon.
Eyes narrow. Gotta do this now… raise your metal hand and clamp it around your throat.
