Natasha slept on the couch. He used his jacket as a blanket for her. Steve sat at his desk with the desk light on, his sketch pad out, and a pencil in hand. He started to sketch the Winter Soldier. Before the serum and vita rays, he had an excellent memory, but after them he had an edetic memory. Closing his eyes he summoned the Winter Soldier into his mind then he started to sketch. First he sketched him standing then he sketched him aiming a weapon at him, and finally he sketched just his face. Using that edetic memory he out as much detail into his sketch as possible – shape of the eyes, forehead, nose, and cheekbones.
Steve placed the pencil down and stared at the Winter Soldier's face. He stared at it and that feeling that he knew the man got stronger and stronger. Reaching into his bag he grabbed colored pencils then he colored in the Winter Soldier's eyes. Those blue eyes he knew those blue eyes. They were Bucky's blue eyes. Not meaning to do it he crushed the pencil in his right hand. His stomach knotted and he started to breathe heavily.
Natasha woke up. She sat up and looked at Steve, who looked like he just saw a ghost. He was staring at his sketch pad.
"Steve, what's wrong?" she asked.
"Bucky. Bucky is the Winter Soldier," he stated.
He stood up and looked at Natasha.
"I need all the intel we have on him, including rumors," he said. "I need to talk to Fury."
"Steve," she tried to stop him, but he was out of his office and the door shut behind him. She closed her eyes and exhaled.
"This could be a problem," she sighed.
Steve strode down the hallway towards the elevator banks. He passed agents in their uniforms, while he wore jeans and a black tee shirt. They gave him a wide berth. Steve got an elevator.
"Fury's office," he ordered.
The elevator's doors closed. With a slight jerk it started its ascension. Steve couldn't think about anything except the Winter Soldier as James Buchanan Barnes, his best friend, his brother. He doors opened and Steve continued his journey to Fury's office. Walking past Fury's secretary, he opened the door and entered. Deputy Director Hill was seated in the chair in front of the desk nursing a large cup of coffee, while Director Fury sat at his desk eating a bagel and cream cheese and drinking a coffee. They both looked at Steve as if he was crazy.
"You didn't know," said Fury.
"I know who the Winter Soldier is," Steve stated.
Both of them looked at him as if he must be joking. Steve glared at them then he walked to the desk and placed the sketch of the face with the newly colored blue eyes down. He pointed to it.
"That's Bucky. James Buchanan 'Bucky' Barnes," he told them.
"Cap, you got to be kidding. Bucky died falling from mountain into a river," said Fury.
"Bucky had been experimented on by Zola. God knows what he did to him," said Steve.
"We never had a photo of the Winter Soldier before," said Hill. "This is photo realistic quality. I could run this through facial recognition, including James Barnes face."
"Do it," Fury said then he looked at Steve. "You're sure about this."
"He was my best friend. We grew up together. After my mother I had Bucky and no one else," Steve said.
"Run it," said Fury.
Hill grabbed the sketch and her coffee and left the office. Steve looked at Fury.
"Can I have my breakfast now?" he asked.
"Um.. Sorry," said Steve.
He left the office and returned to his own office to find a dressed Natasha. She looked at him with concern.
"Hill is running the sketch through facial recognition," he said.
"Let's get breakfast," she said.
He nodded yes.
AVENGERS
Natasha convinced Steve to workout rather than sit and wait for answers. He stood in front the heavy bag with his hands tapped and pounded it. Natasha got a couple of wannabe field agents to spar with her. Three on one, the odds were in her favor. As she dismantled these agents, out of the corner of her eye she kept an eye on Steve. He was about to punch a hole in the heavy bag. It would be the first of the day for him. She turned her head to defend herself and heard the sound of a heavy bag hitting the floor. Natasha sent the agent to the floor then she turned to see Steve picking up the damaged heavy bag.
The last agent tried to attack her from behind. She ducked under his attack, gave him a hi throw then stopped short of landing her knee on his throat. He tapped out. She stood up, walked over to the ropes, slipped out of the ring, and joined Steve.
"Fury will take those out of your pay," she said.
"That reminds me. I need to talk to my landlord. I think he wants me to move out," Steve smiled.
"I have room for you, Rogers," she said.
"But do you want me full-time?" he asked.
"Yeah, I think I do," she smirked. "Now, let's go find Hill. She has to have something by now."
"It's Bucky," Steve stated.
The two of them made their way to Hill's office. When they arrived Steve was struck at how different it was from Fury's. It wasn't luxurious like Fury's, but a worker's space with no room for sofa or armchairs. They entered her office. She was on the phone.
"I know. I know," she repeated and then rolled her eyes. "I will."
She hung up then she looked at Steve.
"86% match that the Winter Soldier is James Buchanan Barnes. Nose, ears, eyes, forehead are all a match," she stated.
"You were talking to Fury," Natasha stated.
Hill nodded then she looked at the two of them like her life had become infinitely more difficult.
"His orders are simple. He wants Shostakov dead and he wants Barnes in custody so he can be hospitalized and helped. We are treating him like a victim," said Hill.
"Thank God," sighed Steve.
"And protection for Steve?" asked Natasha.
"We are working on that," said Hill.
"I'm it," said Natasha.
"I'll do it, too," added Clint, who just walked into the office.
"Do you know what you are volunteering for?" asked Hill.
"Hell no but if Nat is up for it then I am," he smiled.
"I'll talk to Fury," she said.
AVENGERS
Coulson's team were added to the mission to capture the Winter Soldier. Clint as a sniper himself would hunt the Winter Soldier and take him down with a powerful sedative before he got his shot off to kill Steve. Natasha would act as his spotter. Coulson and his team would set up a parameter around Steve. If the Red Guardian got through then Steve was to deal with him, but if the Winter Soldier tried to take Steve down up close then it was their duty to stop it. Steve agreed to be the goat tethered to a stake – the bait.
AVENGERS
Steve went for a Sunday morning jog. It was his usual jog around the Potomac. First, he get up early and go to Sunday Mass then he'd take his fifteen mile jog. His headed over the Memorial Bridge breathing in the cold air when Steve caught out of the corner of his eye a van pull over and the side door slip open. A sniper's rifle's nozzle stuck out the van aimed at Steve. Steve reacted immediately and dove over the side of the bridge and into the river below.
Before the van door could shut, a stealth Quinjet appeared and Clint kneeling on the ramp fired three shots. One hit the sniper, one hit the driver, and one ht the passenger. He hit them with a sedative that would make the Hulk groggy. The Winter Soldier stepped out of the van. He looked as if he was fighting the sedative, so Clint put another dart into him.
Natasha, who was acting as Clint's backup, noticed Steve swimming in the Potomac. The river was cold enough that a normal person would freeze to death in the water in six minutes. She had no idea how long Steve could last.
"For God's sake," she growled, as she turned and yelled at the pilots, "Lower this thing."
As the Quinjet lowered, four SHIELD SUVs pulled up beside the van. The put adamantium cuffs on the Winter Soldier's wrists and ankles and dragged him in one of the SUVs. The other two Hydra agents were handcuffed and out in a single SUV. They sped away.
The Quinjet almost touched the water. Clint lower his rifle for Steve to grabbed then he pulled him onto the Quinjet. Steve was shivering, as Clint and he entered the Quinjet and the ramp was raised. Natasha had two Mylar blankets waiting for Steve. He sat down on the bench and she covered him.
"What were you thinking driving into the Potomac?" she asked him.
"Didn't want to give Bucky the chance to shoot me," he answered.
"Well, I nailed him twice," said Clint. "He didn't get a shot off."
"Good," Steve shivered.
Natasha took his right hand and started to rub it.
"With the Red Guardian I get to use bullets instead of sedative darts," smiled Clint.
"Take a hot shower once we get to the Triskelion. Bucky will be out for hours," said Natasha.
Steve smiled at her.
AVENGERS
Steve took a hot shower and changed into his stealth suit with his shield on his back. He had no intention of letting anyone but him interview Bucky once he came out of his stupor. Natasha and Clint could interrogate the other Hydra agents, but Bucky was his and his alone. He marched down the hallway towards medical to take on Bucky's state. Fury was talking to a doctor.
"Cap, he'll be awake in two hours," said Fury. "Once he's awake we'll have him brought to an interrogation room for you."
"Thank you, sir," said Steve.
"Clint and Natasha are interrogating the Hydra agents. They'll have everything worth getting from them shortly," said Fury. He looked at his watch. "Have you had breakfast?"
"No, sir,' said Steve.
"Join me. The cafeteria actually makes a pretty good eggs Benedict," said Fury.
"Never had that before," said Steve.
"You'll love it, Cap," smiled Fury. "I'll make sure they give you a double order."
Steve and Fury walked down the hallway towards the elevator banks.
AVENGERS
Natasha and Clint nursed coffee as they sat in the observation room and waited for Bucky and Steve to start their reunion. Besides coffee, Clint had a hot dog he got from the cafeteria. Natasha looked at it and scowled.
"How can you eat that?" she asked him.
"I'm America. The hot dog, especially the chilly dog, is part of the culture," Clint smiled. "I used to live off of these in the circus."
"It's not real food," she said.
"And Buffalo wings are?" he asked her.
"Chicken wings. Real food. Hot dogs, God knows what they are made of," she said.
"Cats and baby chickens," he said then he took a bite and smiled.
"Hamburgers I can understand. Sausages I understand, but hot dogs are just too American," stated Natasha.
"Steve ate fifteen hot dogs at our last cookout," smiled Clint. "Do you give him shit?"
"I do a lot things to him," she smirked.
"Okay, okay, don't give me images in my head. I won't sleep for a week," Clint teased her.
"Steve is beautiful naked," Natasha teased back.
"Okay, way too much information, Agent Romanov," Deputy Director Hill called from two rows back. Natasha laughed, while Clint chuckled.
Suddenly, Fury entered the room. He joined Hill sitting beside her. In the interrogation room James 'Bucky' Barnes was brought into the room by four guards. They handcuffed him to the table and left. Bucky tried to break the cuffs but he couldn't, even though his bionic armed did put a strain on them. Finally, he gave up and sat back in the chair.
Steve entered with two cups of coffee. He placed one his front of Bucky and took a sip from the other one then sat down. Bucky glared at him.
"Where am I? Who are you?" Bucky asked in Russian.
"You are at SHIELD Headquarters. I am Captain Steven Grant Rogers and you are James Buchanan Barnes. We grew together. I used to call you Bucky and you called me Punk," said Steve.
"I am the Winter Soldier," he said in Russian.
"You are James 'Bucky' Barnes," Steve corrected him.
"You are my assignment. I was sent here to kill you," Bucky stated.
"We were best friends. We are best friends," Steve stated.
"I have no friends," growled Bucky.
"Remember the Howling Commandos. Dum Dum Dugan. Sergeant Fury. Izzy Cohen, Gabe Jones, Dino Manelli, Rebel Ralston, Junior Juniper, Percy Pinkerton...," Steve started.
"Pinky," Bucky used his nickname.
"Yeah, Pinky. You and he liked to hit on women wherever we went," said Steve.
"I am the Winter Soldier," said Bucky.
"I led the Commados. You were Sergeant Bucky Barnes. You were our sniper and my best friend," said Steve.
Bucky started to pull at the chains. The coffee spilled. He pulled harder and harder but they wouldn't break. Finally, he calmed down. He sat there breathing heavily.
"I am the Winter Soldier," he stated.
"No. You've been brainwashed and used by the KGB and Hydra. You aren't some killing machine, but you are James Buchanan Barnes," Steve stated.
"I have a headache," Bucky growled.
"Do you want water or maybe some food?" Steve asked.
"I want to kill you," he answered.
"No, you don't, Buck. Remember, I'm with you until the end of the line. I'll never give up on you," Steve told him.
"Punk," Bucky growled.
Steve smiled, "Yeah, that's me, Buck. Steve. Punk. You started calling me that when I'd get into fights with bullies bigger than me. Actually, everyone was bigger than me."
"I don't know what you are talking about," growled Bucky.
He rubbed his forehead like he was getting a headache.
"You are from Brooklyn, New York," Steve stated. "Brooklyn. Remember Brooklyn."
"No... yes... no," growled Bucky.
"Your father was William Barnes. Your mother was Ann. You had two sisters both of them younger than you, Anna and Mary. Father O'Malley wouldn't let us be altar boys because we laughed too much," said Steve.
"Stop it. I've got a headache. Stop," Bucky pleased.
"Buck, don't let them win. Break through the walls that they put up in your mind. Break through and remember," Steve pleaded.
"Please, stop it, Punk. It hurts," Bucky begged.
"Okay, Buck," Steve reached over and touched his hand. "I'll stop for now. I'll stop. I don't want to hurt you. We are like brothers. I don't want to hurt you."
AVENGERS
After a rest period for Bucky, Steve had another go at him. This time it lasted for two hours and there seemed to be some headway made. At the end of the interrogation, Bucky was led off to a high security cell where a psychologist interviewed him and a medical doctor examined him. Steve watched. When dinner was served Bucky, Steve made sure it was foods that Bucky used to like, so he ended up with meatloaf, mashed potato and gravy, and creamed corn along with milk and coffee. He was thrilled to see Bucky eat the food with gusto.
Around seven o'clock Natasha came to take him home. He was sitting in an observation room watching Bucky.
"Steve, it's time to go home," she said.
He looked at her. The expression on his face was one of sadness. She wanted to take his face in her hands and kiss him but fought the urge.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because you haven't eaten and you need rest. He'll be here tomorrow," she said.
"It's Bucky, Nat. It's really Bucky. I left him behind. I didn't go back to find his body and this is what happened to him. It's my fault," he said.
"Steve, you didn't program him to be a murderer. The KGB did," she told him.
"But...," he started.
"No, buts," she said.
She took his right hand in hers and pulled him to his feet.
"We are going to have food and then a shower. After that we are going to bed," she said.
"I'd like that," he smiled.
AVENGERS
Natasha opened her apartment door. It was dark and she and Steve entered. As she went to turn on the lights, her instincts kicked into gear. Someone was in the apartment. She looked over at Steve, who seemed still to be thinking about Bucky instead of paying attention to his terrain. Out of the dark, a throwing knife hit him in the shoulder. This woke him up enough so that the second knife throw at him hit the wall. Steve hit the floor. He pulled the knife out of his shoulder.
"My wife, you're home," Alexei said.
Natasha pulled her Glocks out. She was ready to get a final divorce.
"Your new man is Captain America," he said. "What is a Russian assassin doing with such a man?"
"Loving him," she answered.
Alexei opened up on Steve with his Makarov pistol. Steve avoided the hail of bullets. Natasha opened up on Alexei, but he was wearing body armor. She heard him laughed as her bullets peppered his chest.
"Darling, you hurt my feelings," he said. "I will have to punish you later."
With those words, Steve growled then attacked Alexei. He had the throwing knife in his hand that was embedded in his shoulder. Alexei took a tactical knife out of its sheath and attacked Steve. The two men began to brutalize each other in the living room, as Natasha took her cellphone out and called for backup.
"I hate you," Alexei said to Steve.
"I don't really care," Steve replied.
Steve kicked him with a push kick that sent Alexei against the wall. He followed this up by dodging the tactical knife then he punched Alexei in the ribs with a punch that held nothing back. With satisfaction he knew that ribs broke. He followed the punch to the ribs with a left to the jaw and another right to the ribcage. Alexei coughed up blood then he caught Steve by surprise with the tactical knife in the side. He tried to pull it out, but Steve grabbed his wrist, broke it and then he kicked Alexei through the wall this time. Steve pulled the knife out himself, tossed it aside, and then attacked Alexei again.
"I was wrong about you," Alexei smiled a bloody smile, "you are a killer."
"How the hell did you think I survived World War II," said Steve. "Hydra tried to kill me everyday."
"I hope they succeed," said Alexei.
He pulled another Makarov out of his vest, put it under his chin, and committed suicide. Steve stepped back and looked at the man then he shook his head in disgust.
"Steve," Natasha came up beside him.
"He's dead," sighed Steve.