A/N: Thanks to CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur for the Beta, and the brainstorming. And to Lady Pandora for additional brainstorming.

Footfalls echo in the memory, down the passage we did not take,

towards the door we never opened, into the rose garden.
― T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets

Namaste,

Sunny

Captain America

Echoes in the Memory

Chapter 21

The alarm went off, jerking Bucky out of a sound sleep in which he dreamt of being covered by layer upon layer of sentient fuzzy blankets. When he tried to move, he found that his dream had bled into reality, sort of. The cats were sleeping on him, all but Ryder, who was stretched out on Natasha's side of the bed, the ten-pound cat somehow taking up the entire space. One by one, he moved the cats off to the accompaniment of grunts and meows of protest, especially Archie, and got out of bed.

On the bathroom mirror, he found a note from Natasha saying she would be back by dinner time. Her being gone worked in his favor. He had to go to the office for a meeting with Steve, Gail, and Max regarding continued publicity for the exhibit. Meet and greets, photo ops, autograph signing, Q&A. It had taken all Bucky's persuasive power to convince his friend that it would be of benefit to the museum by bringing in donors as well as increasing attendance.

When the meeting was over, Bucky had paperwork to catch up on then he could take the rest of the day off. He made a note to stop at the grocery store. It was his turn to make dinner, and though he hadn't slept well during the night, he refused to order out again, or ask Natasha to take his turn.

After his shower, he dressed, checked that the cats had been fed, got in the SUV and headed into town. He stopped at the Java Junction near the museum, going inside instead of waiting in the long drive-thru line.

Bucky picked up his order, two vente dark roasts, no cream or sugar, one for him and the other for Steve. As he headed for the door, he saw a familiar face come in and take her place in line. Holding the cup carrier in his left hand, he tapped her on the shoulder. "Excuse me."

The woman turned an unreadable light blue gaze on him. "Yes?"

"We have a mutual friend. Steve Rogers." Her eyes didn't leave his face, yet Bucky got the impression of having been given the most thorough once-over even. "You were at the exhibit dedication. Steve pointed you out, but didn't introduce us." He extended his right hand. "James Barnes."

Though small compared to his, her grip was strong. "Maria Hill. Captain Rogers and I are co-workers."

"Yes, he told me." In Maria's eyes, Bucky saw that she knew he knew of their other, more personal relationship. "I believe you may know my girlfriend, Natasha Romanoff."

"I do."

Bucky nodded. "Natasha and I are hosting a Fourth of July barbeque at our home. It's also a birthday party for Steve. Would you like to come?"

The line moved, and he followed along, awaiting her answer. She nodded. "I would, General Barnes."

He took out his phone, and beamed the address to hers, gripped in her other hand. It beeped, and she looked at the display.

"Arrive any time after ten. We usually start eating around noon or so, and don't stop until we run out of food. But don't worry. That never happens."

"Looking forward to it. Can I bring anything?"

One shoulder twitched up a fraction of an inch. "If you have any special dietary needs, or want something to drink besides beer, soft drinks, juice, milk or water, feel free to bring it. Otherwise, the pleasure of your company will do. We play outdoor, board, and video games, do a sing-a-long in the evening, and watch fireworks after dark. You can see them from the back yard. Somewhere in there, we'll have Steve blow out the candles on a cake, and open gifts."

"I'll keep that in mind, General. You do know Captain Rogers doesn't like a big fuss?"

Grinning sheepishly, Bucky shrugged again. "What's a best friend for if not to embarrass you now and then?" The line moved again, and it was Maria's turn. "We'll see you on the Fourth then, Ms. Hill."

~~O~~

On his way to the door, Steve slipped into his jacket and grabbed the bike keys off the table. He switched out the light, and stepped into the hall just as Kate was locking her door. She had a purse hooked over one shoulder, and a lunch bag dangling from the other hand.

"Morning."

Her smile, usually somewhat welcoming, held a touch of wariness today. "Morning. You're out and about early today."

"Meeting downtown." He gestured for her to go ahead of him and came along side as they descended the stairs. Not once had he seen anyone entering or leaving her apartment, male or female, aside from the super. To him, she seemed lonely, and that gave him an idea. "Kate, what are you doing for Fourth of July?"

"Not much. It's my only day off that week, and my family lives too far away to drive down for the day. You?"

Steve opened the front door, and followed her out. "My friend is hosting a barbeque, and I was wondering if you'd like to go. Just as a friend."

Kate seemed about to refuse then she smiled. "Then as a friend, I accept."

"We can ride together, if you like." Her car was parked next to his, and they stopped between them. "Kate, about the other morning… That wasn't what it looked like."

One side of her mouth turned up. "It looked like a friend stayed the night because you were up late watching a movie."

Crossing his arms, Steve tried to determine if she was being sarcastic or not. "So you don't think…"

Her hand went into a pocket, coming out with her keys. "That you're sleeping around? Of course not, Steve. Men and women can be friends without sex being involved." Kate jabbed a thumb over her shoulder. "I gotta go, or I'll get stuck in cross-town traffic."

Relieved, Steve waved as Kate pulled out of the parking lot. When he and Bucky were teens, his friend always said that women and men couldn't be friends without sex. Steve never believed it himself. The best part of any relationship is learning about the other person, being a friend, before becoming more, if the two of you were headed in that direction. And that brought Joi to mind. He hoped having Kate there wouldn't create an awkward situation between them though he didn't see how it could. The split with Joi was mutual and cordial. Now if Joi brought her new guy, then it would get uncomfortable.

He kick-started the bike, revved the engine, and pulled into traffic, mentally berating himself for thinking about Joi when he should be enjoying the single life without really knowing what that meant. Maybe it was time to talk to Bucky. He thought about speaking with Natasha, but it was easier for him to talk to a guy about women than a woman.

Up ahead, the museum's imposing edifice loomed, casting a shadow over the front entrance. Steve showed his ID at the security gate, and found a place for the Indian. He shut it down, and took the stairs up to the conference room two at a time. Bucky, Gail and Max were already there. He slid into a seat, and Bucky pushed a coffee cup over to him, whispering, "You're late."

Steve scowled at his friend, and took a long drink while Gail passed out several sheets of paper without leaving her seat.

"Thank you for coming, gentlemen," Max said by way of calling the meeting to order. "In front of you is the proposed dates for the publicity push to increase attendance between now and the end of summer. Let's go over it, and choose which dates and times work out best for everyone. The dates highlighted in yellow have already been approved by security. Now all we have to do is get everyone on the same page. Questions before we begin?"

Office of Dr. Edgar Heath

Psychologist

Heath settled into his chair across from Bucky, adjusted the glasses he didn't really need while going over his notes from their previous session. The recording of what had transpired would never be seen by Bucky, or any court of law. Only the official text would see the light of day, and law enforcement would have to supply a subpoena to get them. "How have you been feeling, Mr. Barnes?"

He rubbed his forehead. "So-so. The headaches are coming more frequently-got one now, and my girlfriend says I'm sleepwalking. Never did it as a child. Why would I do it now?"

"That's what we're here to find out." From the side pocket of his chair, Heath took out a stuffed grey wolf. It had a round body, pointed ears, and four paws hanging from the body, with a star-shaped patch on its face in lighter grey. Heath had it especially made to be unique. There wasn't another one like it in the world. "James, do you want to see the wolf?"

Bucky reached for it, hugging it to him like a child with a favorite toy, his eyes drifting shut as soft music played in the background. The same tune over and over.

"Breathe in deeply now, James, filling your chest and lungs," Heath breathed in as well, followed by an exhalation and the words, "Slowly let the air out of your chest, completely emptying your lungs." Bucky did as requested.

A Mexican politician known for his stance of zero tolerance for the drug cartels running rampant in his country had become popular with the citizens, and during the campaigns for the upcoming presidential election, he led with 52% of possible votes.

Needless to say, this did not set well with the cartels, or those high-ranking officials who counted on payoffs to keep their lifestyles intact. And to keep those addicted off balance, the drug had to continue to find its way into the U.S. Or that had been the next mission. Heath's superiors made the decision to eliminate two of the few people who might be instrumental in thwarting their plans.

Holding up a photo of a man, he spoke softly, "When you receive the signal, you will locate and eliminate this target." Bucky said nothing, though his brow furrowed, fighting him again. It began happening not long after the announcement of Rogers' plane being found, and only got worse after Bucky became involved with the Black Widow. Each time he'd been programmed to carry out a mission, he fought against it to the point that the headaches had started. The dreams began to manifest at that time as well.

Heath grabbed the stuffed animal and pulled it from Bucky's grasp. He whined like a child, reaching out for it. "You will do as you're told, or the wolf will go away, and you'll never see it again."

Bucky lunged for it, clutching it to his chest with a defiant glare. Heath held up the photos once more. "What will you do when you receive the signal, James?"

He squeezed his eyes shut, shaking his head. "I-I…" His arms tightened on the wolf to the point that Heath thought it might burst, considering his impressive strength, spewing the stuffing all over the room. "Locate and eliminate the target."

"Wear the mask. Do not allow yourself to be seen. If there are witnesses, eliminate them as well. Do you understand?"

"I understand." Bucky's voice sounded distant, as if heard through a door slightly ajar.

The next step was the orders from his superior regarding the girlfriend. "Your woman has been lying to you. She is being unfaithful with someone close to her, a co-worker perhaps. Remind her, and the men in her orbit that she is your woman, and no one else's. Monitor her comings and goings closely, and draw your conclusions from there. When you bring it up, she will deny everything. But don't believe her. She's done nothing but lie to you from the beginning. Remember that."

Bucky became agitated at the thought that Romanoff would be untrue, and Heath rushed to calm him. "I'm going to count from five down to one. When the count reaches one, you will be feeling wide awake, fully alert, and completely refreshed, and your headache will be gone."

The Barnes Residence

Washington, D.C.

Saturday Morning

The doorbell rang, and Natasha rushed to answer it, knowing who it would be. She let Bruce in, taking one of the cases he was carrying. He followed her to the kitchen where she had coffee ready, sliding into one of the seats at the counter.

"Thanks for coming, Bruce." Natasha poured coffee, and pushed the cup over to him.

The scientist sipped from the cup, and returned it to the counter, turning it side to side. "It wasn't easy getting out of Stark Tower without Tony finding out."

"How did you?"

One side of his mouth turned up. "I had someone on the inside."

"Jarvis?"

Silently, Natasha offered Bruce something to eat. He shook his head. "He's also doing the labs for us. The information will be encrypted for my eyes only." He took another sip of coffee. "Wanna tell me why I'm here?"

"James has been having headaches, nightmares, and bouts of sleepwalking." Natasha came around the counter to sit next to Bruce. "His doctors haven't found an organic cause. I'm hoping you'll find something they missed."

"We could do a sleep study. I have prototype equipment with me. No techs going in and out of your room all night long." Bruce stopped with the cup almost to his mouth when Priscilla and Penelope loudly announced their presence. "What the hell? You didn't tell me you had a couple of cats."

Grinning, Natasha reached down to pick up one of the cats, and rub her neck, making her purr. "I don't have a couple of cats."

Bruce held out a finger, letting the calico take a sniff. She must've found him acceptable because she wiggled until Natasha loosened her hold, and walked onto his lap, pawing his hand until he stroked her under the chin. "Then what's this?"

"These are two cats. We have five. You're holding Priscilla." Natasha picked up the ginger. "And she's Penelope. They're sisters. The others are Archie, Ryder and Rufus."

Bruce had no comment. He just held Priscilla while rubbing her ears as if he'd forgotten she was there. "O-kay. Back to James and his problems."

"Why not go to the source?" Natasha and Bruce turned at the sound of Bucky's voice coming from the stairs. He came to her side, gave her a kiss, and ran a finger between Penelope's then Priscilla's eyes.

The rest of the cats stopped at the bottom of the stairs to give Bruce a long distance perusal. Bruce put the cat on the floor, and stood to shake Bucky's hand. "Bruce Banner."

"James Barnes."

"Glad to finally meet you, General."

Bucky nodded with a smile. "And you, Dr. Banner."

Natasha backed up and faded into the background while the men talked. She gathered the food bowls, and went to fill them with the dry nuggets recommended by the shelter.

Once the men had gone upstairs and closed the bedroom door, the cats ran to her clamoring for attention, and she gave it to them. As always, Ryder hung back until Natasha brought his dish to him. Each day, she set it a little closer to the others. In a week or so, hopefully he would join his siblings at meal time instead of acting like an outsider.

When she'd seen him on the cat patio at the shelter staring out the window as if waiting for his former owner to come back, Natasha knew she had to give him a loving home, to let him know that not everyone would abandon him. In doing research on tuxedo cats, she found that they were considered aloof. The same had been said of her at one time. If she could change, so could Ryder. James helped her. Now she would help Ryder.

~~O~~

Bucky had moved the items on the vanity out of the way so Bruce would have plenty of room for his equipment. He slipped on a pair of wire framed glasses, and opened the cases, taking out what he needed to take Bucky's vitals, temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure.

"Have a seat, General," Bruce told him, nodding at the foot of the bed.

"Please call me James, Bruce."

Feeling he was being watched, Bruce glanced over his shoulder, and nodded. "Take off your shirt, please."

While Bucky did that, Bruce went into the bathroom to wash his hands. He dried on the hand towel, and returned to put on gloves. "I've had a look at your medical history. Impressive."

One side of Bucky's mouth turned up in a sardonic grin. "Wish I could take credit, but it was Zola's doing. I only remember some of what he did to me, yet I see the results every day when I don't wake up dead, or suffering from a variety of chronic conditions that come with old age."

To make conversation while he affixed wireless transmitters to Bucky's temples and chest, Bruce asked, "How did you and Natasha meet?"

"She came to my office at the museum to bring me something I thought I'd lost seventy years ago."

"Steve?" Bucky nodded, looking down at his lap. "Hold still while I calibrate the sensors." He was quiet while Bruce made adjustments based on Bucky's physiology, creating a program to compare the readings to the information he'd gotten from the VA doctors who'd been studying him all these decades. "Done. Relax, but stay seated."

"How did you meet her?"

The tone of Bucky's voice told Bruce there was more to the question than making small talk. "She found me in Calcutta. Why?"

"Curious."

In the mirror, Bruce could see Bucky eying him. It was almost as if he sensed something more than friendship was going on between he and Natasha. Time to put a stop to that line of thought. He tapped at the tablet, entering his own observations as well as the readings from the sensors. "Natasha's spoken about you. She plays it close to the vest most of the time. It's hard to get a read on what she's thinking."

Bucky shook his head, and chuckled lightly. "Not a minute after we met, she sort of admitted to the same attraction I felt."

"How long before she told you the truth about her job?"

"Our first date." He looked at Bruce curiously. "Have you and she ever…"

Bruce made adjustments on the tablet as he went back to his equipment. He removed the gloves on the way to the bathroom to wash again, speaking as he put on fresh gloves. "Ever what? Talked? Many times. I'm sure she's told you about New York." Bucky nodded. "I didn't agree to help SHIELD find the Tesseract because she used her womanly wiles on me."

Carrying a small case, Bruce dragged the vanity chair over to the bed. When he saw the vacuum tubes, and syringes, Bucky presented his left arm. "You don't think she's attractive?"

"Nothing could be farther from the truth, James. Natasha is stunning. But it was the scientific aspect that convinced me to return to the US." As he wrapped a tourniquet around his left bicep, he noticed faint lines the curved around his arm. The ones on his forearm weren't as noticeable, but they were there. Setting the equipment aside, he turned Bucky's arm over. "What's this?"

"Don't know. They appear every few weeks, and take a while to go away."

Bruce removed his gloves to run a finger over the marks. "Do they hurt? Itch? Scab over?"

"No. None of that." Cocking his head to the side, Bucky turned thoughtful. "Now that you mention it, they seem to appear after I go sleepwalking, but only the times I'm told I was gone for most of the night."

Bruce went back to the vanity. "Do you mind if I take a swab?"

"If it'll help, yeah. And take all the blood you need, Bruce. I want to figure this out more than you do."

Of that, Bruce had no doubt. He replaced the gloves with fresh ones, swabbed the deepest of the grooves then took three small tubes of blood. They went into a case, and the electronic lock was engaged. Not that a mere lock would deter Tony if he really wanted to break in. Bruce only hoped he could get the samples to Jarvis without his friend finding out.

Office of Dr. Edgar Heath

Psychologist

The Following Monday

Heath settled into his chair across from his patient. So that no one would know he'd been here, he had the man come after dark once his assistant had gone for the day. "How have you been feeling?"

"Not bad. Pretty good, actually."

"Glad to hear it." From the side pocket of his chair, Heath took out a stuffed grey wolf. It had a round body, pointed ears, and four paws hanging from the body, with a star-shaped patch on its face in lighter grey. Heath had it especially made to be unique. There wasn't another one like it in the world. "Do you want to see the wolf?"

The man reached for it, his eyes drifting shut, as he held it against his chest.

"Breathe in deeply, filling your chest and lungs with oxygen," Heath breathed in as well, followed by an exhalation and the words, "Slowly let the air out, completely emptying your lungs." His charge did as requested.

Holding up a photo of a woman, he spoke softly, "When you receive the signal, you will locate and eliminate this target. Understood?"

This subject had been much easier to influence than the other, his mind more pliable. He nodded. "Understood."

"And wear the mask you were given. You are not to allow yourself to be seen. If there are witnesses, eliminate them as well. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

Heath held up the photos once more. "What will you do when you receive the signal?"

His arms tightened on the wolf as he took a deep breath and let it out. "Locate and eliminate the target."

"Excellent." Heath nodded, satisfied with the results. "I'm going to count from five down to one. When the count reaches one, you will be feeling wide awake, fully alert, and completely refreshed."

A few minutes later, he watched from the window as the new asset-the one who would replace James Barnes once he was "retired"-got in his car and drove away.

TBC