Tony had found the scepter, and by the sound of his voice, plenty more. Mission complete. Steve knew they needed to get Barton back to the tower for medical care, but he just couldn't leave yet. He felt to his very core that there was something more here. Something he was missing. He had told himself he wouldn't leave until he found a clue to lead him to Norah, but now he had the responsibility of taking care of his team. He couldn't put them in danger for the sake of his search.

"Ok everyone, draw back to the jet. Tony and I will meet you there."

Bucky, who had been playing sniper and keeping quiet during the battle, was the only one willing to ask - "Nothing about Norah?"

"No. Meet us at the jet." Steve's voice was grim, and back at the jet, everyone shared a glance at the sound of the barely concealed frustration and pain in their leader's voice. Then the com crackled back to life "Wait. I hear something. I'm going to check it out."

Norah's legs were shaking, her arms felt like they were tied to cinderblocks, and her breathing was ragged. She felt like she had been walking for hours, stumbling along in the dim underbelly of the Hydra base, long hallway after long hallway all leading to nowhere. Finally she found something that gave her a little hope.

Stairs.

Norah knew that Hydra must have pulled out, but her heart still pounded at the thought of being found by any of the agents or doctors from the past months. The sounds of the battle had ended, and the hallways were deserted, that had to mean that whoever had attacked the base had won - right? That, or all of the Hydra agents were upstairs celebrating their victory. Upstairs, waiting for her to come stumbling out of some hallway and end her escape. She shook her head, trying to clear some of the fog that had clouded her mind for what seemed like forever. Between the drugs and the pain and lack of sleep, Norah could barely think - but she knew that she was underground, which meant that stairs were the way out - even if Hydra was waiting above, she had to try.

She half climbed, half crawled up the dimly lit stairway, stopping to rest every few minutes. The adrenaline coursing through her could only do so much to counteract the sheer exhaustion her body was battling. Finally, she reached the top of the stairs to find a dead end. Literally, a brick wall. Even in her fogged up brain, Norah knew there must be a door, but no amount of pushing or searching could get her through. Suddenly she just couldn't take it anymore. All of the pain of the past welled up, her hope to escape, everything came crashing down on her. She pushed and beat the wall, sobbing and kicking and throwing herself against it before finally collapsing in defeat - all of her hope and effort ending up on the floor with a loud thump.

Steve had heard something - a soft thump. He couldn't be sure, but it was coming from inside the walls - probably nothing, an animal or falling rubble, but he had to know - and he was determined to find it. Even if he had to send the others home without him. This was more than just his heightened senses, it was something he felt in the core of his being. This was the same thing he had felt when fighting Bucky on that carrier, that sense that Bucky was still there - inside the winter soldier. He had to trust it.

Wary of the possible enemy agents that might still be hiding in the base, Steve edged his way down the hallway toward the sound. Behind one of these walls, he knew he would find something - he just wasn't sure what. "Stark" he said into his com "can you get to me - I could use your suit's sensors about now."

"Already here" Tony replied, before entering the other end of the hallway behind him. "What did you hear?"

"Over there - on the other side of that wall. It could have been something falling or dropping. Maybe a door shutting, but muffled. Think you can scan for any warm bodies?"

Stark took a brief scan of the room to ensure they were alone, "Huh - well your ears are pretty good for a nonagenarian. That far wall is definitely reinforced."

"Finding anything?"

"Not yet, let me enhance it - yep. There!" Tony pointed to the wall as Steve rushed over "What is it? A person? A room?"

"Someone - still alive, but they're down. Can't tell much more. I think they're starting to move around."

Steve was at the wall. His heart pounding with the knowledge that everything he had been looking for might be right on the other side of that wall. He pulled back his fist to crush through and paused. What if it was nothing? Just another prisoner of war, or a civilian, or an agent? How much longer could he endure the constant disappointments? He took a deep breath and shook his head slightly. As long as he had to in order to find her. He wasn't giving up. Now or ever.

Norah thought she heard something - a voice maybe? She groggily pushed herself up again, steeling her resolve. She had held out for this long under torture and pain - she wasn't the type to give up. She wasn't going to let them break her. Gritting her teeth, Norah pushed herself to stand, and backed away from the wall, scanning it for any type of lever, catch, or keypad. Anything that might open the door. There! Up in the corner, she saw something - some sort of security lock - but how was she going to open it. She stood on her toes to inspect it closer, and reached up, tapping it with her fingernail. Then the wall exploded.

Steve punched through the stone wall with one blow, pushing his way through the opening - eyes frantically scanning for movement. The dust created a dim cloud, difficult to see through. "There's nothing here!" He called back to Tony in frustration. Then he heard a cough.

"Was that really necessary?" Whispered a tired voice from his left. He felt like his heart had stopped. No. For the first time in months - he felt like his heart had finally started beating again. He knew that voice. Tired, raspy, cracking, it didn't matter. He knew that voice. His fists un-clenched and he rose from a defensive crouch, turning toward the voice. Turning toward her.

"Sorry about the mess." He said, one side of his mouth quirking up in a smile. He reached a hand toward her. "I knocked, but you didn't answer."

She just smiled at him. And collapsed.