"I wish you were coming with us tomorrow," Denise said to Bruce.

"In a festival that big, I can't risk the big guy coming out," Bruce said honestly, "as much as I would love him to after watching that tape...I just can't."

"I understand," Denise said sadly.

"You've got a team of superheroes behind you, not to mention a super soldier who loves you and will do anything to protect you," Bruce assured her.

"That's what I'm worried about," she said distractedly.

"No...there's more," Bruce commented carefully, "what is it?"

Denise sighed, she had been trying to push this thought from her mind. The more she tried the harder it broke to the surface. "What if they have something on me I don't realize," she said quickly before her courage left her.

"What do you mean," Bruce asked confused.

"All it took were a few words to make James the Winter Soldier," Denise explained looking at the floor, "what if they programmed me like that and I turn on everyone. What if something in me snaps and there's something more dangerous there than a good memory."

"A perfect memory," Bruce corrected, "and because of that I think you would know."

"James didn't," she snapped turning her eyes to look at him, "it was like he was trapped in his own body and out of control of what it was doing. What if they make it so I don't have control of my mind."

Bruce couldn't answer her. The possibility had definitely crossed his mind before, but none of his research had pointed to anything of that nature. Then again there were no absolutes when it came to these types of situations.

"Do you want to stay back and let the team handle it," Bruce offered.

"No, the smart move is for me to be there. This creep won't run if he sees me," she shuddered before continuing, "I need assurances."

"What do you mean," Bruce asked warily.

"If I feel myself start to lose control, I want to stop the problem before it starts," she said carefully.

"No," Bruce said as he walked away and around to his desk, "not happening. If anything like that happens we can bring you back. We brought Bucky back."

"Their purpose for me is insurance for James, I will NOT be responsible for forcing him back into that life," she argued.

"Denise," Bruce said restrained, "we won't let it get that far. Please."

Denise took a long, deep breath and looked around the room. She calmed herself quickly and walked over to Bruce. "You're right," she smiled, "I'm just being paranoid. It's all going to be okay."

"Hey," he said soothingly, "it's understandable. Don't worry I know what it's like to be paranoid for good reason. You and I are okay, and you are going to continue to be okay."

She nodded and pulled him into a light hug. As she pulled away with a smile and turned to leave, he didn't notice that she grabbed a small vial from the shelves behind him.

"Goodbye Bruce," she called back.

"There's one thing I've gotta know and then I'll stop," Tony said badgering Bucky.

"Tony, that's enough," Steve warned.

"Come on," Tony continued, "come on, come on, come on..."

"You know he's not going to stop," Sam advised.

"Sam Wilson is correct," Vision concurred, "perhaps it is best just to at least hear his question."

Bucky sighed, "What is it Stark?"

Tony smiled triumphantly and asked loudly, "When you climaxed did you scream out Winter is Coming?"

A chorus of, "Aw come on Tony," rang out amongst the other guys.

"What it's a legitimate question," he defended, "if he didn't that's a golden opportunity missed, my friends."

"Hey Denise," Clint said while elbowing Tony to shut up, "you look like you're walking with purpose. Everything okay?"

"Yup," she said as she walked to Bucky.

Without saying a word she grabbed his shoulder, and he willingly got up as she pulled him. She grabbed his hand and stalked back towards the door.

"What's going on," Steve asked concerned.

"I'm going to make love to him like it's our last night on earth," she said matter-of-factly, "so make sure to have your noise cancelling headphones, Steve."

Bucky stopped, threw her over his shoulder, and lightly smacked her butt, "Why didn't you say so, doll? I can get us there much faster."

The guys cat called the couple as Bucky ran out of the room with her. "Can I stay over your place," Steve asked Sam.

Sam threw his head back and laughed. He clasped a hand on his shoulder and said, "Sure man, no problem."

"Remember you don't have to do this," Bucky reminded her for the millionth time.

"We're already in the quinjet," she laughed, "it'll be okay."

"We'll be in your ear," he said as he brought his fingers to her ear, "and we can hear you too, okay?"

"I remember how everything works...it's the only thing I do amazingly if you recall," she joked.

"Well," he said smirking as he grabbed her hips and drew her to him, "maybe not the only thing."

"You're right," she smiled as she brought her lips to his, "I also kick your ass in Mortal Kombat."

"Okay lovebirds," Natasha laughed, "we're about to land in the field right outside the festival. Tony, Vision, and Sam are already in the air scanning for your not-so-secret admirer in the video."

Denise suppressed a gag and nodded seriously. She turned to Bucky and gave him a final kiss. "I love you, James."

"I love you too," he smiled, "this will be over and we'll be back together in no time."

"Yea, sure," she said as confidently as she could.

"After all, we have a wedding to plan," he said as he stroked her hand before letting her go.

"Once I think I've gotten all the information I can out of him, I'll call you guys to come get him," Denise said turning back.

Natasha nodded and said, "And if it seems to be going south or he starts to get handsy-"

"I'll kill him," Bucky finished seriously.

Denise felt naked and exposed as she made her way to the festival grounds. This was the first time in two weeks she had been without Bucky and her new friends. She wasn't without some hand-to-hand training thanks to Natasha, and she certainly had her brain to rely on.

As she entered the festival she became distracted. There were red, blue, and yellow balloons all over the place. People of all ages were in Wizard of Oz costumes. Vendors were selling themed snacks and souvenirs; even the rides and attractions were themed. There was a small rollercoaster was named The Cyclone, a corn maze called Scarecrow's Path, a section with animals called Cowardly Lion's Tame Petting Zoo, and so many more things she could barely keep up.

She jumped at the sound of Tony's voice in her ear. "Creeper McCreepyson is over by Tinman's Charging Station - it's to your left and straight ahead about 100 feet."

Following Tony's instruction she moved left and forward. It wasn't long before she saw his face. He hadn't noticed her yet, but his face struck her.

She knew him.

"We told you to stay put, Jonathan," a harsh male German voice yelled, "now look all your crying has broken Plan Z's concentration."

"Her name is Denise," a little boy's voice said defiantly.

"Leave him," a woman's voice yelled, "and help me clean up this mess he made. There's broken glass everywhere and I don't want him to get cut."

"You coddle him too much," the man snapped.

"Just help me," she yelled back.

"You," the man said as he glared at the little boy with unforgiving eyes, "don't move a muscle. I'll deal with you later."

Denise looked up from her index cards the older couple gave her to memorize. She saw a little boy with white blonde hair crumpled on the floor rubbing his eyes. Her heart broke, in a way he reminded her of her best friend Steve. She stood from her seat and walked over to the boy. Without hesitation, she sat on the ground and gathered her in his arms. Rubbing small circles on his back she sang to him, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." The song made her think of James and wonder how the people this couple work for must be treating him. She found herself crying a little as she sang. When she finished she wiped his face, "There. No more tears. Now chin up and everything will turn out all right."

The boy nodded as she got up and went back to her seat to memorize more before his dad came back.

He had grown up from the broken little boy, but this was definitely him.

"I know him," she breathed and looked to the ground, "I know him."

"What," exclaimed everyone simultaneously in her ear.

"Ah," a slightly German accented voice rang out in front of her, "there she is, my sleeping beauty!"