The move to the safe house went well enough. After clearing it with Agent Hill, Steve text Sam their location and a rundown of what had happened, to keep him in the loop.

Bucky was sullen and silent the whole trip. Steve knew he couldn't control everything, but he had hoped they wouldn't have to disrupt the routine they had set up too much. This definitely could be classified as a disruption. With Bucky's arm damaged and HYDRA looking for him, Steve couldn't blame him for being on edge.

As she was leaving, Agent Hill signaled Steve to meet her outside.

"We've got a team searching for the other HYDRA agent." She told him once they were out of earshot. "Without a description there wasn't much to go on though."

"Yeah," Steve said regretfully, "I know.

"So…how are things?" She asked.

"Other than being attacked in the "safe" house, things were great." Steve said. It came out a little snarkier than he meant for it too, but he couldn't bring himself to be too sorry.

She nodded apologetically. "I wanted to talk today about Sargent Barnes' progress and a few other leads, but when I got here I figured you would want to wait until things have had a chance to settle again."

"That would be better." Steve cast a glance back at the house. "He's a rattled."

"I'm sure."

"When can we get out of here?"

"You have some other place to be?"

"Not necessarily, but as long as we're in S.H.I.E.L.D. safe houses, Bucky's essentially in your custody and I'd just like to change that status at some point."

"I understand, but we need to know he's safe. Safe from people who wish to harm him, like HYDRA, and safe for others to be around. Mr. Wilson's assessment would go a long way with that. I'd like to speak to him about the work you all have been doing. We're also running down some of the intelligence Sargent Barnes gave us. Give us a few more days and I'll give you a better timetable."

Steve knew that was the best he was going to get at the moment. At least he didn't have to worry about the report Sam would give them. Things had been going well, really well until HYDRA came along and Steve cursed the setback.

Despite Bucky's insistences, his arm did not get better and in fact seemed to be getting worse. Several time throughout the day Steve observed him attempting to manipulate his arm, always with a slight grimace. After the third time and the third glare, Steve stopped bringing it up. A couple of times he would have sworn he heard a slightly electrical crackling coming from the arm, but Bucky would never let him get close enough to look. In fact, since they arrived at the safe house, it was like Steve and Bucky were back to square one.

Bucky generally steered clear of Steve and Natasha, staying in his room or in the only chair in the living room that faced the outside. Steve missed him.

At lunch, when Bucky would only reach with his right arm while keeping his left unusually still beside him, Steve could keep silent no more.

"We need to deal with your arm Bucky. I know it's hurting you."

Bucky continued to pick at his food, ignoring him.

"We could still call Tony." Natasha said. Bucky glared at her.

"We don't want to do anything you don't want." Steve pacified. "But you have to be reasonable. It hasn't fixed itself and the chances are that it won't without some type of help."

"Why do you care?" Bucky muttered bitterly.

Steve was a taken aback. "You're my friend and-."

"Wrong!" He slammed his hands against the table as he stood, startling Steve and Natasha. "Your friend fell of a train in 1944 and died. I'm what's left. You're just going to have to get used to that." He whirled around and went into his room, slamming the door behind him.

For all his bravado at the table, he barely made it to the bed before his legs gave out from under him. He sat down heavily and let his pounding head drop in his hands. He knew Steve hadn't deserved that outburst but when did people ever get what they deserved?

He was exhausted and his head had been aching for hours. His shoulder hurt worse than he could ever remember and the pain was sending cold shivers through his body. He could never remember HYDRA letting it get this bad. His comfort had never mattered to them but they did want him in top form for missions so any damage was quickly repaired. Now, without someone to fix it, he didn't know what he would do.

Everything was spinning out of control. The Captain frustrated and unnerved him. He didn't know, had no frame of reference as to how to react to the kindness Steve showed him. To make matter worse, the Captain's safety was beginning to concern him. He couldn't remember every feeling afraid for someone. But last night, he had been genuinely troubled by the thought that HYDRAs agents would attack Steve while he slept. It was an absurd idea really, Captain America could take care of himself; he certainly didn't need an assassin to look after him.

The Soldier would always be an assassin. There was no way to quell the darkness coursing through him. When he saw the HYDRA agent last night, a murderous rage threatened to take over. If he had been alone he would have killed him, just like he'd been killing HYDRA operatives for the last three months. Just like he'd killed dozens of people in the last 70 years. No remorse, no mercy.

When he had grabbed Natasha by the neck, it took every ounce of his will to set her down even after he recognized who she was. He'd been stupid to think the programming was gone. It was only barely hidden.

He laid down, hoping he could get a couple of hours of sleep and wouldn't feel worse. He pushed down the rising guilt and shame of snapping at Steve, the only person to ever see good in him. He was who he was, Steve was holding onto someone that no longer existed and that was hardly the Soldier's fault.

He drifted into an uneasy sleep. He wasn't sure if he was awake or dreaming, when he felt a jolt. He scrambled into a sitting position with a yelp. The room slowly faded and HYDRA's lab surrounded him.

No! no, no, no! He was back; they had gotten him back and were going to wipe him. All the memories he had regained, would be gone. Every precious one he'd fought for, sitting and thinking until his head ached, just waiting for a sliver of a memory. They would be gone and only the emptiness of HYDRA would be left.

His arm might prevent him from fighting but he could escape until he was able to fight.

Steve looked crushed as Bucky's door slammed shut.

"Buck up, Cap. He's probably still freaked out by HYDRA and, well…me. Just give him some space."

"Yeah." He said absently, still staring at the doorway. "You're right." He didn't feel that way though. It felt like he was watching all the progress he had made in gaining Bucky's begrudging acceptance slipping through his fingers and he couldn't stop it.

Deep down he knew Bucky's actions and reactions at the moment were probably due to being shaken by HYDRA, but that didn't necessarily make it easier. He sighed and looked back at Natasha who was patiently waiting.

"I'm glad you're here anyway," he smiled sadly, "even if it is freaking Bucky out."

"I bet a lot of things are freaking him out." She said dryly

"He wasn't thrilled when he heard you were coming. I was afraid he would hurt you last night." Steve admitted.

A strange look crossed her face and she paused. "I wasn't."

He gave her a quizzical look. "What do you mean?"

"When he looked at me," she explained, "I could his eyes were different. Last time, it was like a robot, going through the motion. No one at home. Dead, like I could have said or done anything, begged him and he wouldn't have blinked."

Steve flinched.

"Sorry. Anyway this time he looked…angry, really angry…but scared too." She stopped and stared in her coffee. She stayed quiet so long Steve wasn't sure if she was finished. Then she stared speaking again. "He knew HYDRA wasn't coming to kill him." She looked Steve in the eye. "He knew they were coming to retrieve him and take him back and I think he was afraid."

She shrugged. "I guess he still could have hurt me but I was prepared to disable him if I had to. I didn't really want to hurt him either though."

"He's been doing pretty good." Steve said quietly. He felt a twinge of pride at all Bucky had endured but he hadn't given up. He hesitated and rotated his coffee cup in the hands.

"Look…Nat, I know you were trying to help by suggesting we take him to Tony, but I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"Because of Tony's parent." Steve almost smiled. Whatever else anyone wanted to say about Natasha, they could never accuse her of beating around the bush.

"You know he wouldn't purposely hurt Barnes." She said..

"I'm not afraid of that." He said quickly. "Well I am a little. Not physically, but you know how snarky he is. I don't know if Bucky could handle his humor, or whatever he calls it." He let out a breath through his nose. "It's just…I don't blame Bucky for anything he did with HYDRA, but I also figure Tony has a right to be upset. They were his parents. And he made it pretty clear he didn't want to help. He stopped answering my calls when I was looking for Bucky. I would like his help but I understand too. Bucky's been through hell but that doesn't give me a right to override Tony's feeling either."

"That's very Captain America of you," she said dryly, "but I've taken care of it. Tony said anything you need, to let him know."

"How did you pull that off?"

"Trade secret."

Steve still looked unsure.

"Look I didn't force him either. I just talked to him. He made that decision himself."

Steve finally nodded. "Thank you. That would be helpful. Bucky's going to need to have his arm looked at sooner or later. The problem will be getting him to admit it."

They were still sitting at the kitchen table when they heard a sharp cry from Bucky's room. Natasha had reacted quicker but Steve was faster and reached the bedroom door first. He knocked sharply.

"Bucky? You ok in there?" The room behind the door was now eerily silent. Steve hoped Bucky had only had a nightmare and was working to compose himself.

He gave it a few more beats and then knocked again. "Bucky?"

No answer. "Bucky I'm coming in." He called. He hated to do it, but he hated the thought of Bucky being alone in pain or distress more.

The door swung wide to an empty room.

He heard Natasha curse behind him as he rushed forward, jumping out the open window. Horrible scenarios swirled in his head. What if HYDRA had come for him again? What if someone else did? Any number of agencies were bound to have him on their list? What Bucky fled on his own? And if he did, was Steve's the cause?

Outside there was only one set of footprints leading from the house. That only fractionally eased Steve's mind that HYDRA or another outside group wasn't involved. Which left the possibility that Bucky had left of his own accord.

The footprints led to the highway where they disappeared. Steve stood looking up and down the road at a loss as to which was to go. There was no sign of Bucky and no traces of where he might have gone. A chill settled over Steve's heart. He hurried back to the house to form a plan with Natasha. When he got there she was just getting off the phone.

"Yeah, got it." She hung up, her mouth a narrow line.

"S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

"Yeah, the tracking device is in arm was disabled. S.H.I.E.L.D. is sending out a unit." She nodded toward the outside. "You think it was HYDRA?"

"I don't think so. I don't know. It doesn't add up. There was no struggle in this room, but we both heard him yell. There's only one set of footprints outside though. I think we need to consider the possibility that he left on his own. But why would he yell and alert us?"

Steve stared hard at the room like if he looked long enough Bucky would appear.

Natasha cleared her throat. "What's the plan?"

"I need you to do me a favor." Steve said turning to her.

"Anything."

"When we find Bucky, you can't tell S.H.I.E.L.D." A look passed over her face that he didn't want to acknowledge as sympathy. "They'll take him back and that's the last thing he needs right now."

"Steve," she said slowly, "maybe some people can't be rehabilitated. I'm not saying he wasn't a good friend to you and I'm not saying he probably wasn't HYDRA's greatest victim in all this. But he's been stripped down to nothing for years and filled up with HYDRA. You don't get rid of brainwashing overnight. Believe me."

Steve shook his head furiously. "He was doing good." He argued. "He really was. You said yourself he looked different. Hell, he's been fighting HYDRA on his own for months. He's running now because something's wrong I know it. If you don't want to be involved I understand but if that's the case I'll have to go by myself."

She smiled slowly. "Who am I to say no to Captain America? I feel like I sort of owe you. Where do you think he's heading?"

"I have no idea. I don't even know why he ran." Steve tried to think about where Bucky was likely to go, but since he had no inkling of what drove him to leave, he wasn't really sure what he was thinking.

"Maybe he went after the other HYDRA agent." She suggested.

"Maybe." Steve said absently. Something was nagging him at the back of his mind. He could almost touch it but not quite.

"When you found him the first time, what did you say to make him come back with you?" She asked suddenly.

"I told him I would help him. He would be safe and I would help him get his life back." Steve couldn't believe that had only been a week ago.

"I'm surprised that was enough." Natasha mused.

"He was tired." Steve remembered. "And rundown when we found him. I think he was just tired of running."

"I see."

"He wasn't brainwashed permanently you know, HYDRA had to rewipe him a lot. They speculated it was because of his regenerating brain cells. They didn't think it would ever be permanent."

"So the longer he's out of cyro and the less he was wiped, the more he remembers?"

Steve nodded. "I think so. I can't give up on him, Natasha. I just can't."

"I know." She said quietly.

"Let's take a drive and see what we can see." Steve suggested.

It turned out there was not a lot to see. Steve was getting frustrated when his cell phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and flipped it open.

"Did you find him?"

"No," Agent Hill replied, "but the police scanner is reporting a man matching his description running in the area heading north. He was alone. We're sending a team that direction to find him and intercept him before he goes much further."

Something clicked with Steve just then as she continued. "You're welcome to meet us there, but Sargent Barnes will be coming back to S.H.I.E.L.D. with us. I'm sorry but you both knew the rules." She said apologetically.

"Thanks for the heads up." He replied.

"Are you coming?"

"We called Sam, waiting on him. We'll catch up."

"Fine."

Steve hung up and turned to Natasha, who was looking at him strangely. "What was that about?"

"I know where he is…sort of…I hope."

"Ok."

"We do need to call Sam though."

Sam answered on the second ring. "Hey man, everything ok?"

"Not really, Bucky left."

"Crap, what happened? Was it HYDRA?"

"I'm not sure, I don't think so, but I don't know why. I think know where he might be though. Are you somewhere you can look up something for me?" Steve relayed the information.

"Got it. You need me there?"

"I don't want to put you out; it's a drive from DC."

"I'm off today, drive might do me good. Sounds like you could probably use the help."

"I would love the help, especially when we find him. Thanks. I'm not 100% sure why he ran so if this plan doesn't work, we'll need all hands on deck looking."

Steve hung up and parked the car to wait for Sam's reply.

Natasha turned in her seat to face him. "Explain. What's the deal with asking Sam to look up old car places and garages and junkyards?"

"Did you know Bucky escaped from HYDRA three times while he was with them?"

"I knew about two."

"Three times with HYDRA, he went out on a mission and didn't come back. Each time they found him, less than 10 miles from his extraction point, holed up somewhere. A warehouse full of tires, a junkyard and a garage behind a mechanics house."

"So he likes cars."

"It's more than that. I think you were right before. He was afraid. And if there something wrong with his arm, running would expose him. I think he would try to find a place to hunker down. Somewhere he felt safe. Safe and familiar."

"So cars…"

"Bucky's dad was a mechanic during the war, when he got back he was able to get work in a garage. He and his dad were close and Bucky spent a lot of time at the garage, doing odd jobs and helping. He loved it there; it was like a second home."

Natasha seemed skeptical. "Are you sure? That seems like a pretty small connection to get through years of brainwashing."

"It is what it is. I doubt he knows why he does it. And I can guarantee you HYDRA and S.H.I.E.L.D. don't know. They're looking at him like he's a robot without a past, the Winter Soldier. I'm looking for Bucky Barnes."

"The person he is now is probably somewhere in between." Natasha reminded him.

Steve was saved from reply by his phone beeping with a text from Sam. He had found several locations that fit the description and relayed the address to Steve. It would take Sam a couple of hours to get to them but he would meet them when he could.

Steve pulled out onto the road. After several miles he noticed Natasha staring at him.

"What?"

"You know a lot about his time with HYDRA don't you."

"I looked at those files every day for three months. I think I read through them completely four times at least. Stuff I needed to know to find him and understand him and for situations like this." He didn't mention that he had read enough of the scientific reports to fill his nightmares for ten lifetimes. Bucky endured procedure, training and experiments that Steve wouldn't wish on his worst enemy. Reading those reports had become a morbid obsession for three months. Steve searched them fervently to find anything that could help them find Bucky or know how to help him once they did.

Natasha was smiling at him, her slow indecipherable smile like she already knew anyway.

"You're a good friend Steve."

Thank you to all those who have reviewed. Your kind words brighten my day! Have a good weekend everyone! :)