A/N Sorry it's been so long, I promise that there's more (and longer) chapters to come :)

It had been a fortnight since Alex had handed herself over to Hydra and there still hadn't been and word from her. Suffice to say, this made Bucky nervous. Every day that had gone by since she left was another day that he got more worried about why there hadn't been any news. 'No news is good news' Sam had repeatedly told him, but that wasn't any comfort. With Hydra, no news could mean that she was dead and the thought of that was something he was desperately trying to suppress, but with each day she was gone the thought was creeping ever closer to the front of his mind.

"Still kinda weird seeing you like that again," Steve said, coming to sit next to Bucky on the couch. Since Alex had gone, Bucky was busying himself with different missions, trying to keep his mind active and away from his missing piece. But there was one very personal mission that he had started himself on – to try and change himself back into the man he used to be before the fall and before Hydra. He started by making himself look the part. A few days after the drop-off he had decided to cut his hair back to the length it used to be. At first it had felt weird – he looked the part, same as the guy in all the pictures and the museum displays, but he was different. Deep down he wasn't the same – everything he'd been through had changed him. But still, he took a deep breath. I am James Buchanan Barnes, he said aloud to his reflection as if to reassure himself.

"I like it," Steve continued, nudging his friend, "But it's weird." Bucky smiled a little, but it quickly disappeared.

Fury walked into the room, and Bucky leapt to his feet, "Did you hear something from Alex?" he asked hurriedly.

"Since you asked me an hour ago?" Fury sighed, his annoyance evident from his voice. "No, Barnes. I haven't heard anything."

"Well, have you seen anything? Movement from Hydra or any of their affiliates?" Bucky's tone was panicked. "Anything?"

When there was no reply from Fury, it only angered Bucky more. "What are you even doing? Sitting there?" He yelled, the sound of his arm recalibrating putting the other men on edge.

"Sit down, Barnes," Fury said in a level voice as Steve put his hand on his friend's shoulder, forcing him to sit again. "We have eyes on Hydra, waiting for them to make a move. Until Alex gives the signal, we can't afford to rock the boat – it could do more harm than good. I understand how hard this must be for you, but all we can do is wait it out." He got up again, leaving Steve and Bucky alone again.

"Why haven't we heard anything, Steve?"

"I don't know," he sighed. "But remember, Alex is strong, Buck. She's going to be okay."

"But what if she's not?" His mouth set a grim line.

"I promise you – she'll get out of this. Hydra wouldn't kill her, Buck – they need her."

Bucky nodded a reply, he still didn't quite believe what Steve was saying – he couldn't, he couldn't get his hopes up just in case Alex didn't come back.

She was tired. Two weeks, two dosages and Alex had barely felt any changes – except that she was tired. Apparently, the 'doctor' had told her (she wasn't sure whether he was an actually doctor so she used the term lightly) that tiredness was a side effect of the serum – her body had to shut down in order for it to take effect.

However, the fact that this was easily explained didn't stop Alex from feeling like crap. In fact it only made her feel worse, serving as a reminder that the serum was a part of her now. Something that could kill her, destroy her inside and out. But so far they hadn't noticed anything to be worried about, so at least she had something to be thankful for.

She still had one dosage left and she was focused on getting through it. One more injection and she could signal Fury. One more injection and she would be able to see Bucky again. One more…

But what would happen when she got back? How would they get the serum out?

And if they couldn't, what would happen to her?

But Alex couldn't think about that right now, it was too much.

The 'doctor', whose name she had absolutely no interest in learning, opened the door. "Ready for the final dose, Alexis?"

Just one more, she thought, getting to her feet.