A/N: Welcome back everyone! This came in a bit earlier this time, yay. Thank you all for those of you who took the time to leave a review. It is always much appreciated. Without any further ado on the show!

Chapter Twenty-One: Point of No Return

Over the next few days Steve meandered throughout the top two floors of the tower looking for anything he could use to make his escape. He had decided eventually that it really was the best thing is friends could have come up with in regards of containing him. He was high up enough that simply jumping out of a window would either be lethal or immensely painful. Also being so high up meant even if he could trick his way past his team he'd have to find his way through security on over a hundred different floors.

This wasn't like the compound. Avengers tower was infinitely more secure because this was where Tony housed a lot of his developing projects. Not just anyone could walk or hack their way through here. This was Tony's domain; he'd have to get extra crafty if he wanted to find a way out of there. Tony even revoked all of Steve's clearances and overrides.

Dick.

As he was looking for escape routes, he carried his sketchbook around sketching out the cityscapes. As he looked out the windows down and around for anything he could use, he sketched interesting details of various things in his site. He was pleased to note that his misleading tactics were more or less working. Natasha, he was sure, suspected something, but the others were none the wiser. He was going to red herring the fuck out of this.

He saw how they would sneak glances at him of varying levels of relief. Relieved that he was being so complacent. Natasha still eyed him warily. That's okay, he wasn't too worried.

Scott, Johnny and Ben made a complete recovery and the only thing they had to report was funny dreams about prancing pink bunny and unicorn hybrids that liked to eat people. Other than that they were perfectly healthy.

He hadn't seen Tony much the last few days. The genius was working on a whole shit ton of things at once. He was still deciphering the code among other things. Tony did manage to find time for Pepper, however, when she came to visit. One of the hardest things he has ever done was to plaster a kind smile to his face and accept her well wishes.

A well-wisher's lament, pah! He would have rather blown the place skyhigh. Each time she entered Tony's personal quarters and left he felt a piece of his already broken heart chip away and die. It just made him want to carry on with his plan all the more.

He made sure to spend time with each of the remaining members of the Avengers. He roped Johnny, Scott and Sam into making desserts with him. He forced everyone into a movie night and somehow a game of Pictionary charades. They were quite gung-ho about doing things he wanted. He almost felt bad about deceiving them, almost.

It paid off however, when he finally came up with a plan. Very stupid plan, but a plan nonetheless. He was 90% sure it was going to work. Good enough. The only thing was he needed to execute the plan at just the right time. He also needed the right conditions.

Firstly, there were too many people in the tower and if any realized what his movements equated to they would stop him instantly and it would be game over. He has to play this real carefully now. One mistake could lead him to being strapped into the steel straitjacket that Fury was happy to fashion for him.

Horrifyingly enough the opportunity had arisen later that afternoon. It was breaking news over every channel, network and station. The vice president had been assassinated along with his entire family. The shooter had been identified as the very same assassin that took out Senator Wolfram and Colonel Nick Fury Director of Shield, the Winter Soldier.

Well fan-fucking-tastic!

No! Bucky wouldn't! Unless he was made to forget again… No! He could see it; he was becoming himself again.

Dammit!

They weren't going to let him live after that. He knew exactly what everyone's orders were going to be.

"Shoot on sight."

He had to find him first! He just had to. Steve was just about to go into panic mode, but he could sense everybody getting ready to take him down. He saw the glint in a Natasha's eyes. He had to remain calm and come up with a plan.

Before he knew it Tony was grabbing his face.

"Hey, hey look at me!"

He did.

"You're going to trust me right?! Steve, please trust me. I will bring him back." Tony pleaded with him. "Please, just stay here please."

God why does this hurt so much? Tony placed his forehead against Steve's.

"Only if you bring him back alive." Steve whispered. "I promise I'll behave if you bring him back alive." He said a little more firmly.

"I promise. I swear I will!"

Steve nodded forlornly.

"I trust you Tony." He lied.

He could see his team relax significantly in the corner of his eye. Even Natasha was standing down. His full attention was brought back to Tony as the genius began to kiss him, in front of everyone!

Wait! Perfect!

Whatever perverse game Tony was playing was just about to backfire. Steve kissed him back fervently hoping to convince everyone of his supposedly complacency once more.

Fury cleared his throat, they pulled away quickly.

"If you want to keep that promise Mr. Stark I suggest getting a move on."

"Right, yeah!" He croaked out as he bolted out of the room.

Steve excused himself swiftly. He resolutely avoided his team's shocked faces and desperately pretended not to notice Clint fork over a large wad of cash to Natasha.

-0-

For the next hour Steve mentally prepared himself for what he had to do. Most of his team left on the mission to capture the Winter Soldier.

The only people left on the top two floors with him were Jane, Darcy, Coulson, Scott and Natasha. Nat was going to be the hardest by far. If Jarvis realized the connection between his movements, then hello steel jacket.

Over the last few days he had gotten to know the ins and outs of the top two floors thoroughly, using the activities with his team to do so.

He had gathered a few paint bottles and a water bucket and set them on the window seal of his chosen room. He set up his easel and a blank canvas. He quickly painted a rough blue background. Jane and Darcy had always been fascinated and drawn to this painting. This time was no different. They slowly approached him to see what he was working on. He smiled gently at them.

"The next part is always the hardest. Where to start after the basic background is layered on." He sighed.

"Hell, I don't even know where to start period." Darcy replied.

"Well, I'm going to take a tea break to think it over. You want to join me?" Steve asked to them both.

"Only if you make that raspberry herbal one, I can never do it the way you do." Jane replied.

Darcy nodded vigorously in agreement.

"Of course."

Hook, line and sinker.

He knew they would agree, anything to make sure he was "okay."

He put the teakettle on the stove to bring to a boil. Little did they know he had slipped in a few sleeping capsules into the water. They were rather tasteless, they tricked Tony enough when he had to drugged him, so he wasn't too worried. He prepared the tea pods while the water boiled. He participated in idle chitchat with them while he prepared the tea.

Apparently Jane was rather annoyed with Darcy because she had created a very provocative and popular fansite online centered around Thor. Darcy, as usual, was rather unrepentant.

Steve smiled and nodded along. He silently begged for their forgiveness as he watched them sip eagerly at the tea.

"Oh, I almost forgot!" He pulled out a small batch of tea cookies and set it before them.

"Oh, you're so sweet!" Jane gushed.

"Yeah, it's too bad you're banging Tony now, and here I still thought I had a shot." Darcy replied mournfully.

Steve nearly choked on his own tea at Darcy's vulgar statement.

"It's not like that, really." Steve coughed.

"You know I lost a hundred bucks today?"

"Well that happens when you bet on yourself." Jane smirked.

"Yeah, well a girl can dream." She replied wistfully.

"How many people were betting on that?" Steve wondered shocked.

His attention was brought back to the girls fully when Jane began to yawn. Darcy followed soon after.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Steve, I think I'm going to lie down for a little."

Darcy merely nodded absently in agreement.

"No, it's fine. It's been a long crazy day." He said softly.

She smiled apologetically at him. Steve watched with mounting tension as they left. Now that the two non-fighters were out of the way he could get this party started.

He did another sweep making sure everything was in its proper place.

Scott and Coulson were in the rec room in a deep discussion about a movie series he hadn't seen yet. He quickly knocked out Scott first. If he had time to get into his suit and shrink he'd never catch him. Coulson drew his gun quickly but paused when he realized the threat was Steve. The Captain used his confusion to his advantage and knocked out Coulson. He grabbed Coulson's shield radio to tune into any updates on the team going after Bucky. Jarvis sent out an alert. He quickly meandered through the halls and grabbed his shield from the specific place he left it and took his emergency backpack and headed back to the room that he set up his easel.

Natasha was back near the window looking at his painting that he started.

"You know," she started. "Tony believed that you really intended on behaving."

"And what do you believe?"

"I knew you were planning something." She turned to him. "If you go through with it, you'll lose him." She uttered just above a whisper.

"I already have."

"It doesn't have to be this way." She said evenly.

"It's my choice."

"Why don't you have faith in us to help you!? You can trust us!"

Suddenly the radio in Steve's hand crackled with an update. It was in code.

"26-Bellum-TennerChief-Subquest-B-Viacom-2474"

Steve slowly looked from the little radio in his hand up to Natasha's shocked expression.

"No, it won't be that way! Think it through!" She whispered pleadingly.

His glare turned to ice.

"I have…" His response was laced with cold venom. "I can't trust any of you!" He roared.

He crushed the device in his hand before throwing it to the floor and watching in bitter satisfaction as it shattered into thousands of tiny pieces. It must be what his heart looks like.

Without any warning he grabbed Natasha and threw her against the wall opposite of the window. He pinned her with his shield.

"Please don't do this." She had tears in her eyes.

It felt the same way the first time he saw her cry. It was almost enough to sway him. But he thought back to why he was doing this. He shook his head.

"I am not your pet, I am not a toy to be manipulated! I will not spend the rest of my life getting my heart ripped out over and over again. This is my life! My choice, and I choose to save my brother!" He shouted at her as he yanked a concealed device out of his pocket and pressed the button.

The paint bottles he had placed by the window exploded in a dazzling blaze of color. He made sure to shield Natasha from the blast the best he could by using his shield already pinning her to the wall and his own body.

Perfect. The blast shattered the windows just enough for him to barrel through them. He had to move fast. The whole building would be on alert now.

"Steve, please… You'll break… His heart." She huffed disoriented.

"I doubt it." He replied coldly before breaking through the glass and diving out of the window.

He could barely make out Natasha screaming his name as the wind raced past him. He angled his dive to hug close to a major support beam. The only one remotely accessible from his descent from the top floor and the odd shape of the building. He had to time it perfectly or lights out.

As he got closer to the ground below he pressed his legs to the side of the support beam and launched himself away from the towering structure in something like a horizontal jump. It altered his trajectory enough to reduce his agonizing impact with the asphalt. He landed nearly clear into the street. People around him started screaming.

Wow, ouch, that hurt a lot more than he thought it would. He shook it off quickly. He knew security would be coming to catch him shortly. He had to keep moving.

He almost screamed getting up off the ground. He popped a few stitches.

Crap!

After a very idiotic crossing of the street, he made it to the other side and began darting through alleyways and sidestreets. He had to get as far away as he could from the tower.

When he felt far enough away he hid behind a dumpster and he pulled out a ball cap, hoodie and a pair of aviators out of his pack. He also pulled out a blanket and set it aside. He put on the hat, shirt and glasses before wrapping his shield in the blanket. He squared off the edges making it look like it was neatly folded up, then he strapped the shield to his pack, it rested right against his back. He walked past an old shop window and was glad to note that he looked like an ordinary transient. Easily overlooked. He did not know exactly where he was going to go next but he definitely knew he had to get out of the city.

God he hated himself so bad right now for destroying that radio. It was a significant piece of his plan. Now he could not use it to know what Shield was up to.

Dumb ass!

Then again they probably would have found a way to track him using it. He was probably better off, but now he had no idea how he was supposed to find Bucky or keep track of how close the others were to. Whatever, he had to keep moving.

-0-

About four hours later he made it out of the city south towards the coast. He navigated his way through Brooklyn getting lost in nostalgia along the way. Despite the long years since he had traveled those streets some things never changed.

When he hit the coast he quickly found an abandoned factory to lay low in. It was old and constructed out of bricks. Most of the windows were shattered and graffiti covered many of the walls. But it was empty and secluded.

Night had fallen and the cold was starting to set in. Now that he had settled down between a few wooden crates he had time to really think. His ideas were impulsive and mostly irrational. He ran the last several days over in his mind. He shuddered thinking how close Natasha had been to dissuading him. She probably would have succeeded if he hadn't received that transmission. He cringed at the thought. He had to get his head in order.

The vice president was in Texas during the assassination. Shield and other special forces units were on a trail heading east.

But what about the siblings?

The report said a solitary gunman. As far as he knew, Harker was in control of the siblings and Bucky. But he's dead now. The Rhododendron was his right-hand man. But from what he had managed to glean the last several days the crazy dude in the bunny suit had escaped sometime during his rescue. He was sure Quicksilver didn't pick him up too… Wait…

Bucky was with the siblings. If they were no longer under anybody's command he was sure they would not let Bucky assassinate anyone. Those kids weren't wicked inherently, just misguided. Especially if he was with that mind reader. She had the power to stop him.

How positive of an ID did the authorities provide? How was it that they were so sure it was the Winter Soldier when it took till now to even recognize that he even existed?

Something's not right. The footages from the newscast were hardly discernible. What if Bucky was being framed to pull him out of hiding? The assassination of the vice president and his entire family would definitely turn a lot of powerful heads. Now here's the question, who wants him found? And why?

Why is it this on top of everything!?

Oh hello headache, welcome back.

Steve sighed.

If Bucky was being framed, then he was likely not in East Texas. At least there's that. That means the others were nowhere close to finding him. That also means he could be anywhere in the world. Steve groaned in dismal abandoned.

'Great!'

How on earth was he supposed to find him now before anybody else does?

He laid back dramatically over his little makeshift nest and look at the moon in the sky through a broken window. He wished he had someone else with him so he wouldn't have to do all this alone. His stupid masochistic mind thought that Tony would be the perfect partner in his asinine self-appointed mission. But no, he had to be against him in this.

He could not help but think that things would be significantly different if he weren't the Keystone. Hell, a lot would be different if Calamity hadn't shown up at all.

"Uh oh." 'Oh no… No no no…' Steve thought pleadingly.

He had just come up with the most insane and stupidest idea by far. Seriously, he should get an award for coming up with the stupidest solutions possible in any given situation. He must be half crazy or delirious considering he began to agree with the others that he should have remained locked up. Why did they not do a better job?!

He sighed. He tried to will the idea away but now that he had thought of it the more he realized that this was the next best course of action. He hated himself so much right now. But if it got him closer to Bucky before the others, well, then whatever.

He stood up and began to pace around the crates trying to build up the nerve to execute his utterly idiotic plan. Finally, he took a deep breath and thought, 'Here goes nothing.'

"Calamity? If you can hear me, please, come to me. I need your help!" He shouted out loud berating his foolishness every step of the way.

He got the impression that she was the all-knowing and all-seeing type. So he hoped uttering his plea once was enough. He absently rubbed the markings on his wrist. He looked around but he was still alone. He turned to head back to his nest only to find it already occupied. Calamity sat upon his blanket examining his shield.

"It is fascinating, is it not? The properties of this particular metal." She said turning it over in her hands. "You could not have received a better weapon, nor a better symbol." She mused.

"You came." He did not know whether or not to cheer or berate himself more.

"Indeed. You are the first Keystone to call upon me for genuine assistance."

He stood stiffly not knowing how to proceed.

"Come, sit next to me. Relax my love." She told him as she set his shield aside.

He nodded mutely as he made his way to sit next to her.

"It pleases me profoundly that you have requested my assistance. To be perfectly honest, it surprised me. That truly does not happen often." She admitted staring at the moon.

"Honestly, I surprised myself." He replied.

"Indeed." She laughed.

"Yeah well, I somehow have found myself in this really stupid situation and I need information."

"Ah, information. One of the most valuable of paragons."

"Yeah," he cleared his throat. "Do you know where Bucky is?" He asked finally.

"Ah yes, James Buchanan Barnes. That one is quite the beacon. I do know where he is."

"Will you tell me where?" Steve asked quickly.

"I will not." She said firmly.

Steve groaned and dropped his head back against the crates. She laughed.

"So dramatic, love. I will not tell you because you already know."

He perked up at that and gave her a questioning look.

"How?"

"Love, it is all right here." She pointed to his heart.

Steve still looked at her questioningly.

"Come, let us figure it out together."

He nodded eagerly.

"Tell me, if you had just been accused of a heinous crime and the entire world is looking for you, what would you do? Where would you go? You have two mutant kids with you, who cannot control their abilities properly. What then? Where do you go? The kids are foreign, they know nothing of these lands. Where do you hide?" She asked, re-creating the scenario. "You're scared, you have no idea who to trust… Think my love, put yourself in his shoes."

So Steve did. He thought about how he would find a way to ensure the safety of the kids. He would have to find someone who he could trust. Being targeted by the government made him a huge liability. He would want to ditch the kids but they are foreign here. But they had extremely useful abilities. He'd be able to avoid detection with them by his side. So he could travel nearly anywhere almost unseen. But where would he go?

Then the answer came to him.

The realization shot through his body like electricity.

"Yes, that is it." Calamity encouraged.

"He'd come for me!" He nearly shouted. "But how would he find me? How would I find him? It's not like they can walk up to the tower and ask for me. It's probably all over the news that I had abandoned ship anyway."

"My dear Steven, you know this answer also." She said softly.

He closed his eyes to concentrate. "It's been almost a week since San Jose. That's plenty of time for them to reach New York. They'd have to lay low but where? Where? What would Bucky deemed safe but obvious enough for me alone to find?"

And then it hit him.

"The Concustodio Catholic Church on Arbor Street!"

Calamity smiled.

"That's only about two hours away on foot from here!" He shouted. "Could it really be that simple?"

"Only one way to find out." She replied mysteriously.

Calamity moved to sit on the crates as Steve began to pack his things swiftly. After he heaved the pack onto his back he turned to her.

"Thank you for helping me. I know you didn't have to, at all."

"No, I did not. However, I wanted to. You are by far my favorite, love." She smiled as she caressed his face. "Which is why I will leave you with this warning. Anthony is furious. And a furious Anthony Edward Stark is a very resourceful one. He will find you. He is utterly hell-bent on it. You do not have much time, love. The end is nigh." She uttered with an air of foreboding.

"You mean…?" He cannot finish his statement.

"Yes, my love, that time is nearly upon us. Go now, find your brother while you still can."

He nodded shakily. He quickly left the factory behind in the dead of night heading straight to that church on Arbor Street.

-0-

He approached the church timidly. He was happy to see that it was the very same one and still standing proudly. He inhaled deeply then exhaled sharply as he reached for the crystal doorknob. He turned it and his heart nearly leapt through his throat when it clicked open. He slowly entered not wanting to disturb any inhabitants seeking solace so late at night.

He walked along a hallway that led to the main mass chamber and followed the gentle glow of light. When he finally walked into the massive room he found that it was illuminated by hundreds of candles along the walls. He looked around the room trying to see what he could see.

There were at least twenty people scattered about within the pews. Now all he had to do was find Bucky. Oh man, he was so close to finding him. He could feel it. He was definitely here.

Steve took a deep breath and centered himself. He took another look around the room this time focusing on each individual. Then he spotted what appeared to be a male and female duo in the middle left pews. His heart shook and shuddered the longer he stared at the male figure.

'Bucky.' He thought. But if that was the girl with him, then where was…

"Don't speak, move slowly." A voice whispered behind him.

'Ah, there he is.'

The brother nudged him forward and led him to the duo. Steve thought his heart was going to beat right out of his chest with every step he took closer. By the time he reached the proper row he was sure everyone could hear his heart beating like mad. The brother nudged him again to enter the row. He counted the distance as he approached.

Twenty feet…

Fifteen feet…

Ten feet…

Five feet…

Four…

Three…

…

He stopped. The closer he got the more he was able to make out the fine details of his long-lost best friend. Like the way he was hunched over staring at his clasped hands in his lap. Steve could see the strain on his face but was happy to note that he was stable and in one piece.

Steve watched as Bucky took a deep breath and slowly turned his attention to him. The moment they finally made eye contact felt like an enormous weight had been lifted and that he could breathe again. They stared like that for some time before Bucky broke their silence.

"You couldn't get here sooner?" He said with a smirk.

Steve broke out into an impossibly wide smile. That freaking jerk. Steve shook his head and plopped down next to him on the pew. He promptly wrapped his arms around Bucky and was delighted to feel him return the hug.

"You're a freaking jerk." Steve whispered.

Bucky chuckled.

"And you're a whiny punk." He replied instantly.

It took everything Steve had not to start laughing like a lunatic. Never in a thousand years would he thought he would ever have his brother back. Now all he had to do was figure out how to keep him alive.

Easy right?

Hopefully he could figure it out before Tony finds him or before Calamity claims him. Which could happen any time now…

Yep, easy as pie…

End Chapter Twenty-One

A/N: Wow, the end is nigh. Have no fear there is still so much of this adventure to experience. Catch you all on the flipside.

Don't forget to leave a review please. All comments and theories welcome.