Steve spent the whole night holding Natasha as she slept. He didn't move, and couldn't fall asleep. There were a few times where her nightmares made her shift and begin thrashing, when that happened, he just held her tighter, gently rubbing her back to calm her down. At one point she thrashed so much one of her arms freed itself and landed a vicious punch to the left side of his face. To his credit, he took the blow and barely flinched. He was going to have one hell of a black eye, but he didn't care. All that mattered was having her there with him. When morning came, she slowly woke and as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes was immediately disoriented at her unfamiliar surroundings. The spy felt warm and comfortable and as her memories refined themselves, she remembered she was in Steve's quarters. Extricating herself, she saw him sleeping and quietly moved away. The next realization that she had was that she was still in her clothes from the day before. Hoping to keep from waking him, she silently slipped off to the bathroom for a quick shower.

When Steve finally woke up, he found himself alone. He was sitting on the floor, and couldn't even remember falling asleep. Knowing that he had to meet with Sam and Natasha about the file, he slowly got up and stretched to regain the feeling in his legs, and started looking for her in the room. He knew she had woken up because she wasn't with him, but she wasn't in the bed, and for a brief instant, he thought she had left again without saying good-bye. It wasn't until he passed the bathroom door that he heard the faint sound of water running, and knew she was still there. One accommodation he had yet to take advantage of in his quarters was the small kitchen. This became more evident as his stomach growled loudly reminding him that he hadn't eaten since before leaving Venice. While he was preparing coffee for the both of them, Natasha had finished her shower and entered the kitchen wrapped in a towel. With his back to her she wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned her head against his back.

"Feeling better Nat?"

"Somewhat. I'm sorry about…,"

"Don't apologize. There's no need for it. If anyone needs to apologize, it should be me."

"Why? I read the letter you wrote. We both did what we thought was right."

"No, not for that. Sam and T'Challa suggested I shave before coming to see you. I was just so anxious, if I'd shaved you might have recognized me."

"Sure, but I hope you're not going to."

Steve paused for a moment and shifted his position so he could be looking at her. When he did, he saw a mischievous smirk on her face and a gleam in her eyes that made him smile as well.

"You mean you like the beard?"

"It's different, I'll admit that. But it does make you look more handsome. And it would be great for undercover work since we're still fugitives."

"Yeah about that…,"

"Unh-uh. Business talk after breakfast, so you want to tell me how you got that black eye that you didn't have yesterday?"

"Actually, you did that."

Natasha tilted her head to the side in confusion. She remembered that she hadn't landed a hit to him when she attacked, so to hear that she did hit him at some point during the night was concerning.

"It's nothing to worry about Nat. You fell asleep in my arms. You extricated an arm and slugged me. It was a bad nightmare, that's all."

"It's been a long time since I've had a nightmare. And then I slug you? Let me get a closer look at your eye."

"Nat, it's not that bad…,"

"Shut up and let me see it."

Before Steve can reply, Natasha grabs the front of his shirt and pulls him closer. The skin around his eye is blueish-purple and slightly puffed up. Normally the serum would have already healed the injury, but all the signs are there and she knows something is wrong.

"All right Steve, what is it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Really, do I have to remind you again that you're a terrible liar? You haven't been sleeping; you're stressed over something, that's why your eye looks so awful. Even though I didn't know it was you in Venice, I could see that you hadn't been sleeping."

"It's just…it's Bucky. We worked so hard for the past two years to find him, and now that we have, he made the choice to go back into cryogenic sleep."

"So that's what's bothering you? I thought it would be worse than that."

"It is worse than that. He made the choice because he doesn't want to hurt anyone."

"I don't see how that's worse."

"T'Challa told me his Doctors would do whatever it takes to help him. But they can't. Sam called me and told me they can't figure any of it out."

"So they're not sure they can fix anything. And you're worried you may never get your best friend back. Is that all?"

"No, there's only one way that we can see to fix it right now. And it involves putting all of us in danger again. We have to…,"

A knock on the door interrupts Steve's train of thought, mindful of Natasha still being in her towel, he moved to open the door to see one of T'Challa's guards standing outside.

"Captain Rogers, His Majesty King T'Challa has requested your presence and that of Miss Romanoff in the royal dining hall in half an hour. Breakfast is being prepared as we speak."

"We'll be there. What about Sam?"

"I have also informed Mr. Wilson that his presence has also been requested. Please feel free to make any preparations you need."

"We will, and once again please thank King T'Challa for his hospitality."

"Certainly Captain, is there anything else you need?"

"No thank you."

As the door closed, Natasha had a curious look in her eyes as Steve turned back toward her. He could already tell what she was thinking and put it to words.

"It's a little unconventional for one of the King's guards to be sent to us, but T'Challa values a warrior who met him in combat. He was impressed with my skill and the craftsmanship of the shield."

"You still know what I'm thinking before I say it. If I didn't love you so much it would be kind of creepy. Well, I'd better get dressed, and you should hit the shower. It wouldn't do for you to be wearing the same clothes from your flight back. Go on, I'll find you something presentable."

"Yes Ma'am."

Natasha glared at him when he called her ma'am again. Upon seeing his snarky grin, she grabbed one of the pillows from the bed and threw it across the room. It just missed him and hit the bathroom door with a satisfying thud. With Steve unable to see her, she cracked a small smile as the action helped ease the tension she was feeling after finding out she slugged him during a nightmare. When they were both dressed, Steve grabbed the file and called for the guard and he escorted them to the royal dining hall where T'Challa and Sam were already waiting.

"Good morning Captain, Miss Romanoff."

"T'Challa, thank you for all you've done for us."

"It is my pleasure. Breakfast is ready, but perhaps we should get down to business."

"Before we do, Sam, Nat, I think the two of you should see this."

Steve slides the file to Natasha first and she quickly reads through all of the information. She's not surprised that Fury would have planned all of this out, but her instincts tell her there is more to the file than just what she read, and even if they aren't fugitives according to this, the U.N. might disagree. While she mulls it over, she slides the file over to Sam.

"Does mean what I think it means?"

"We're free Sam, on Fury's orders. This was apparently a mission he assigned to us."

"So does that mean you will be leaving Wakanda?"

"Well…,"

"No. We need to think about this for a minute Steve. Are we sure this file even came from Fury?"

"It's got his signature Nat, mentions the possibility of his death; you don't trust it, do you?"

"No, I don't. There's too much at stake. And the U.N. won't just roll over for a supposed order from the 'dead' former Director of SHIELD. Where did you even get this file?"

"From Sharon, she tracked me to Italy."

"Carter? I know Nick wanted her to help us out, and she was briefly at the Compound before the Accords actually hit. But something about this just feels wrong."

Steve would argue that Sharon was just trying to help, but he trusts Natasha with his life. She's never let him down in their partnership, and has saved him on more than one occasion, even before they started exploring their relationship.

"Okay Nat, so what do you think we should do?"

"Carter has to prove this is real. I want to trust her Steve, but we need to be cautious. Meantime, tell me about what's going on with Bucky."

"What more is there to tell? We know why he felt the need to go under, because he can't trust his own mind."

"And from what my doctors have been able to gather Miss Romanoff, the level of control HYDRA had over his mind will not be easily broken. I fear the only way to truly help Sergeant Barnes is to find anyone else who may have been involved in his torture."

"Won't be easy, most of them are dead by now. Alexander Pierce, the HYDRA doctors, Arnim Zola, all of that supposedly died with him when Camp Lehigh was destroyed."

"Then what would you suggest; Captain?"

"It's not a what that Steve is suggesting T'Challa, it's a who. We're going to need to bring Bucky out of cryo, and hope she's up for the process."

"Who is this she you speak of Miss Romanoff?"

"We need Wanda. Her powers aren't just telekinetic, she can read minds. It's how she…,"

"Nat you don't have to…,"

"It's painful Steve, we both know that. She showed us all of our mistakes and our fears, until she realized what ULTRON was really trying to do."

"But the question is, who will go get her? She's with Clint in Iowa. And we should let her make the choice."

"She went with Clint after…; he didn't tell me that on the phone."

Natasha isn't surprised that Clint didn't tell her about Wanda, understanding that it was only to keep the girl safe. She also knows Steve is correct in being sure to let Wanda choose, the last time she used her powers in that way she was just learning to control them and was unconscious for three hours.

"We'll let her make the choice Steve, but I should be the one to go get her."

"You don't think that's too risky Nat?"

"Risky or not, someone has to go. She's probably the only one who can help in this situation. If she does read Barnes' mind and finds something, anything helpful, we can undo the damage."

Sam and Steve both agree with her, because they both know that when Natasha sets her mind on something, she won't back down. But before either of them can reply, T'Challa's head butler arrives with a tablet bearing some more unexpected news.

"Excuse me your Majesty, but I feel it is important that you and your guests see this."

"It can wait. We are…,"

"Sire, it is of dire importance that you see this immediately."

As T'Challa takes the offered tablet, Steve can feel the butler's eyes locked on him. The soldier instantly gets a feeling of dread from the disdain in the other man's eyes, and can't help but wonder what could be wrong now. After T'Challa finishes reading the report, he looks directly at Steve with nothing but sadness and a slight hint of betrayal.

"Captain Rogers, I feel you have some explaining to do. These news reports I have just perused paint you in a very unflattering light."

"T'Challa, if it's about the Accords and the…,"

"I'm afraid it has nothing to do with the Accords Captain. From what I can see, you have pulled the greatest con in the world off against your friends, and against your country. However, I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt if you can prove these allegations are false."

T'Challa slides the tablet across the table so Steve can read the information. As soon as he sees the reports his hands begin to shake and the computer falls to the table with a small clatter. Natasha is just as curious to read what the report says, and when she picks up the tablet, she refuses to believe what it says about the man she loves.

"There's no way in hell this is true! Steve; you can't be…,"

"I'm not Nat! I promise!"

"What? What is it?"

"Here Sam, read for yourself."

Steve takes the tablet as gently as he can back from Natasha, but inside he is fuming. With a light toss it flies across the table to Sam's waiting hands and as soon as he sees the headline, he can't help but react in anger as the accusation against his friend.

"Captain America: HYDRA Agent?! It's ludicrous! It's…it's…"

"It's bullshit, that's what it is Sam. You and I know Steve better than anyone. There's no way this could possibly be true."

T'Challa has been listening intently to his companion's conversation. He could only watch as Natasha and Sam reacted with outrage, while Steve sat there, quietly confused and somewhat terrified at this accusation.

"Captain, as I said, I will give you the benefit of the doubt, because the actions I have seen from you in battle do not show any type of deception or want to betray your friends and team. You acted out of concern for your friend, and surrendered when you were outnumbered in our first battle."

"It's all lies; T'Challa. If I was a HYDRA agent, I wouldn't have caught Dr. Erskine's killer back in 1943; I wouldn't have fought so hard to bring HYDRA down."

"Your Majesty, we cannot trust him. He could be lying to us right now."

"SILENCE! I believe Captain Rogers when he says he is not an undercover HYDRA agent."

"But Sire…,"

"That will be all."

Now dismissed the butler departs the dining hall as Steve, Sam, Natasha and T'Challa all share an uneasy silence. There isn't a single one of them who knows where they can go from here with these accusations being leveled against Captain America. Steve is the most distraught, and Natasha and Sam are furious. He may have refused to sign the Accords because it was in his mind the right thing to do, but they know he could never betray his country like that, it's just not in his character. Meanwhile in Vienna, Sharon is briefing her superiors on her mission.

"Agent Carter, you were successful in tracking down Captain Rogers?"

"Yes Sir."

"And the fabricated file we gave you? It is in his possession?"

"Yes, but Sir, I still feel this isn't the appropriate course of action. Captain Rogers only did what he felt was right in response to the Accords. He doesn't deserve to be hunted like this."

"Captain Rogers is a fugitive. I assure you Agent Carter; none of us want to see this end badly. He is an American hero. We just want him to surrender and stand trial for his actions."

Before Sharon can respond, another Agent enters the office with a tablet in hand. He appears to be out of breath seeming to have ran all the way there. As he catches his breath, the C.I.A. agent in charge reviews the report. When he finishes he looks up at Sharon, and slides the tablet towards her.

"This is your friend Agent Carter. Captain Rogers is no longer just a fugitive. He is a terrorist and must be brought down."

"No, no this can't be true."

"It's right there in black and white; Sharon. Steven Grant Rogers is a HYDRA agent. We can be sure he won't go peacefully. Orders are to shoot on sight."

"Sir, before you do this, allow me the chance to find him. It doesn't have to be a blood bath."

"You have forty eight hours Carter. Find him and convince him to turn himself in. If you fail, or you warn him, he won't be the only one we hunt down."

As Sharon and the other Agent depart the office, they don't notice the lead agent pulling a phone out of his jacket. When he is sure that he is alone, he calls his contact.

"Sir, it's done. Rogers has been branded as a HYDRA sleeper agent."

"What about the fabricated file? It's in his possession?"

"Yes Sir, and Carter didn't suspect a thing. She thinks she's going to find him and convince him to surrender. Rogers will fight these accusations, and then we can eliminate him as a threat. And it will be Carter who does it, but she won't even know it until it's too late."

"Excellent, report back to me when she finds him."

"Of course, General Lukin."