The two supersoliders caught up to Bucky quickly, and slowed their pace enough to keep him with them.

They had fallen into a trifecta, with Steve at the head, and Bucky and Adeline by his sides. As they approached the front gate they slowed.

"We have to break it open and charge straight through to meet up with the others in the main warehouse. It's reinforced but not enough to keep us out." Adeline spoke quickly and quietly, eyes on the top of the gate, where soldiers would usually be patrolling. Because of the distractions of the others, they'd fallen back. "The second we start to attack it, they'll come back. When it cracks it'll be open fire. Sergeant, stay back and out of sight until the fire lessens. Captain, keep your shield up and head down."

"What about you?" Steve asked.

Adeline realised he wasn't aware of her healing ability. "I'll be fine. And I'll explain why later."

He looked annoyed, but nodded. "Stay covered, Buck."

The two blonde supersoliders started to ram the door.

Steve held his shield out in front of him as a barrier, but he could still feel painful vibrations up his arm as he collided with the heavy front gate.

As she had predicted, the noise had already started gathering men back to them, and German yelling had preceded the gunshots that had started. The fire itself couldn't hit them because of the angle, but if they backed up anymore for a run-up, they'd get hit.

A spotlight had been turned on, though it couldn't reach them from where they were.

Steve could feel the door weakening – though it would be quicker if they had more momentum. He paused for a moment, breathing heavily. What could they do?

Behind him – Adeline threw herself against it, hard. The door shuddered, the wood splintering, and the yelling increased. The blonde woman growled, and pushed against the door. "Get ready to go through." She said.

Steve shook his head, "No. What are you going to do?"

"I'm gonna get a run up. Move out of the way." She panted. When he didn't move, she bared her teeth at him like an animal. "Move."

She turned, took a deep breath, and flung herself forwards, sprinting towards the tree line, before the fire could focus itself on her. He could only just make out her form, crouched and low to the ground. A few stray bullets sailed past her – the men atop the wall wouldn't be able to see her.

He could almost feel her breathing, feel her muscles tensing like it was him in the snow – waiting to make a move.

Finally, she moved.

Steve felt like he was watching in slow motion.

She looked like a silver wolf – eyes luminous and wide – teeth bared, as the snow exploded around her with the force of the bullets.

He had an odd swoop in his stomach as she looked through him, like she couldn't tell who she was. She was wild.

With a crash, her body collided with the door – the straw that broke the camel's back – and the gate splintered, falling open. He made to move-

Gunfire exploded past him, and he ducked back behind the shield instinctively.

Adeline-

Then a different kind of screaming started, and the fire lessened. It was enough for him to start moving forwards – and he ran blindly into the hailstorm of bullets – until he collided with someone. He knocked the man clear off his feet, turning and swinging the shield – catching another man near him. There was no time to take stock. He fought blindly – and his automatic response combined with his super strength was enough to keep him winning. But he was panicking – and his head was buzzing and he couldn't stop fighting.

He couldn't focus.

Where was Buck?

A hand touched his shoulder and he turned, and saw a German uniform. He swung out with his fist wildly.

His punch was stopped in mid air, and he faltered at the strength of the person's grip.

"Steve."

He blinked, breathing heavily.

He stood in the middle of an empty courtyard, his shield by his side, surrounded by felled men.

Bucky was talking to someone on a walkie-talkie, face set and pale. He had blood on his face. Steve blinked. He felt strange.

Adeline was watching him carefully, though her arm was shaking under the pressure of his own. He hadn't realized his body was still reacting.

Quickly, he dropped his arm, and his shield. It clanged as it hit the ground.

"What happened?" he asked breathlessly.

"You forgot your training, and panicked. It's understandable, Steve. This was your first real mission. We'll talk about it later." Adeline said smoothly, and stooped to pick up his shield. "But we're not done yet. Are you okay to keep going?"

"More of them are headed our way." Bucky's voice made him. He had re-slung his gun over his shoulder. "We gotta keep moving if we wanna hit the rendezvous point before we blow the joint."

Adeline's face had grown hard again, and Steve had a sudden awful realization that she was soaked in red. Her shirt and her pants were torn and hanging by threads. But her skin seemed unblemished. More questions he didn't understand the answer to.

"I'll go ahead. Follow behind me." Adeline said, still looking at Steve.

"Okay, Commander." Bucky placed a hand on Steve's shoulder.

Adeline tore her eyes away, and jogged off. He followed her form with her eyes until she was out of sight.

"Stevie. Are you alright?"

Steve looked down at Bucky. "I don't know."

"You don't have to know. Hell, I wasn't sure if I was alright after my first fight for a good month. All I know is, we gotta keep going. We gotta keep fighting. Okay?"

Steve offered his friend a smile. "Yeah, I know, pal."

"And we'll be backin' you up, Stevie. I'm with ya till the end of the line, you know that."

Steve felt warmth bloom in his chest, despite the strange remoteness he felt. "I know, Buck. Come on. Let's get it done."

The two men followed after Adeline, finding a few more still men along the way. It looked as if Adeline had already gone through them. They rounded another row of smaller barracks, and found her with her back to them. Steve couldn't quite make out what she was doing, but as her arms jerked sharply, and a man slumped forwards, head at a strange angle, he took a guess. Adeline braced herself against the barrack with one hand, and with the other, threw down a knife she'd pulled from somewhere. He frowned.

"Adeline." He called uncertainly.

She stiffened and turned, hand covering something in on her stomach. The knife. Had she been stabbed?

He was at her side quickly, and pulled away her hand to see-

Nothing. Just unblemished skin through a tear in her shirt.

She pulled away from him. "Quickly. The others are already setting up the explosives. We need to hold the perimeter while they do that."

Steve nodded, feeling another pang of unease. "Are you sure you're alright?"

She was paler than he'd ever seen her, and her elbow was jutting out strangely. She swayed as she held his gaze. "Yes. We all have to be ready. You can bet they'll be sending in the rest of the troops to our locatio-"

Her eyes rolled back, and she faltered, body falling forwards. He caught her easily. "Adeline!"