*Appears around corner* Don't shoot me!

Guys, I am so sorry I haven't updated in such a long time. And now, I'm finally uploading but it's not even on the right day *facepalms*. I do apologize.

At least I'm back, right?

And here is the new chapter! It's a bit longer than usual, my meagre way of saying sorry.

There are just a few things you should know: (1) There are some triggers in this chapter. Nothing that I haven't talked about before in this story, but just thought I would mention that. (2) I jump POVs a lot in this chapter. I wrote a scene and couldn't decide who's POV to put it in, so I just kind of jump around. It should be pretty easy to tell when things overlap.

Thanks so much for your patience!

But now, without further ado, Chapter 23

~TH~

Day 16

Steve

They knew he was there. That was the only explanation. There were too many Hydra agents for it to have just been a coincidence. The bullets exploded around him, causing him to dive to the ground. He noticed the blood dripping to the floor. That must have been what Tony was talking about. He vaguely remembered getting shot. He wished he hadn't noticed it. It didn't start hurting until he noticed it.

Steve picked up one of the computer screens, using it as a shield. The glass shattered as it was pelted with bullets. He through the screen and slid underneath one of the tables, knocking out multiple agents. He was outnumbered. So terribly outnumber.

He leaned down behind a fallen table and picked up one of the now ownerless guns that had skidded across the floor. He may prefer his shield, but he could use a gun. He had used guns long before he had his shield. Thankfully, these were normal guns. Hydra often had advanced technology of some kind, but this was a simple handgun. Likely an extra weapon someone had been hoarding before the fight began. It didn't matter.

He stood up from behind the table and fired rapidly, but accurately. The gun was empty all too soon. He quickly scanned the floor for another free gun. He rolled into a position next to an unconscious, agent. Or maybe he was dead. It didn't matter. Steve found the man's gun, a black pistol he had seen many S.H.I.E.L.D. agents use before. He easily picked off the last Hydra in the room.

An alarm was sounding more would be coming. He grabbed yet another gun. Bullets ran out too fast. He needed to find his shield.

He held the gun in his hand as he slowly made his way out of the room. He quietly made his way from room to room. Several times he barely avoided enemy agents. He may not be a spy like Black Widow, but he knew a thing or two about stealth.

He eventually came to a hallway that the very entrance of made his head hurt. He must've been on the right track. From the way the Doctor was talking made him think he had some form of memory prohibitor. Something to keep him from realizing what had happened and who he really was. Obviously hadn't worked as well as hoped. But it did hurt. Especially now.

He kept moving down the hallway, trying to ignore the way his brain felt like it was buzzing. There was one door at the end of the hallway. He attempted to kick open the door, but it was built too sturdily. He took the pistol and tried to shoot the lock. He missed. Twice. His hands were shaking profusely now and the buzzing just wouldn't stop. Finally, he managed to effectively shoot off the lock and open the door. There were two guards in the room, they were at a table playing cards. He took them out easily. Soundproof. He mused silently. He shut the door and checked his gun. One bullet left. Sighing, he stuck the gun in his belt.

He then took the time to look around the room. There was a lot of random equipment in the room. Steve couldn't think well enough to recognize any of it.

Except for one thing.

One thing stood out among the rest.

A red, white, and blue shield.

~A~

Tony

It was raw anger leading the Avengers. Tony had played the video of Steve on the quinjet. Tony thought Bruce was going to Hulk out before they even got there. Natasha had a glint in her eye that revealed just how much she was going to enjoy this. Clint broke one of his arrows in half. If he was angry enough to break one of his precious arrows, he was murderous.

Tony was the angriest. His hatred of Rubrem and everything that had happened mingled with his guilt and produced pure rage. Tony would kill them. He would kill every single one of them.

As soon as the quinjet set down, the battle was on. They had had the sense to contact Fury and let him know what was going on. A hellicarrier would arrive with reinforcements soon enough. Not that they were going to wair.

Tony went through, blasting agents left and right. "Hey J, remember that Rubrem guy I've talked about so much?"

"Of course Sir," The AI responded.

"Find him."

"Already scanning Sir."

Everything about that man had been seared into the billionaire's brain. He hoped it was enough for Jarvis to be able to locate him amongst the other heat signatures. Not likely, but worth a shot.

"Sir, there seems to be some sort of meeting taking place in a secluded room. One of the men may be Rubrem." the light British accents suggested.

Tony smiled a murderous smile as he followed the map in his HUD. He burst into the room. There were two men talking to a much older man on a screen. He didn't know the man on the screen. He didn't know the well-dressed man sitting calmly before him. But he knew one man. The man who had haunted his dreams. Mori Rubrem. He flung himself at him, bullets uselessly pinging off his iron suit. He pinned Rubrem to the wall. "How does it feel, huh?" He said his metal hand around Rubrem's throat. "To not be able to breathe? To slowly feel the life being sucked out of you but not being able to do a thing about it?"

Something hit the back of his helmet, causing him to let the now unconscious man slide to the floor. He turned around and saw the smartly dressed man smiling. Screen guy was gone.

"You must be the great Tony Stark," the man smiled, "what a pleasure."

Iron Man levelled his repulser at him, but the man shook his head, "I wouldn't if I were you, not yet at least." He stood perfectly still as if the repulsers pointed at him didn't phase him at all. "I am Dr Leon Zuger, a, well, shall we say, friend, of Steven. Perhaps I should begin to call him Captain Rogers." he smiled.

"What did you do to him?" Tony growled.

The ZuZu guy laughed. "Ah, they told me you were quite protective of him. Should have known you would find this place eventually. Such strong loyalty you people." he continued to chuckle, Tony knew that he should take this guy down, but he couldn't, not yet. He needed to know about Cap. About Steve. "It wasn't as hard as you may think, though he is quite a fighter. He was already worn down enough physically that it was much easier than it otherwise would have been."

"What are you talking about? Do what?" Tony didn't know if he was scared or angry or both.

"Why reprogramming his brain of course! A few minor surgeries along with various forms of shock therapy made him quite susceptible to us. It was quite easy to turn him on you. Granted, we should have realized that between his enhanced healing and his close work with the Asset he would eventually remember. But, alas, perhaps we were always meant to fail."

Something wasn't right. He glanced behind him, Rubrem was still out. Where was this conversation going?

"But, of course, that is why I put in a fail-safe." The man smiled such a gleeful smile that Tony felt he was going to be sick. The Doctor hit a small button in his hand. Tony panicked and sent a repulsor blast enough to knock him out. He needed them alive.

But, what was that all about? Minor surgeries? What kind of shock therapy? Who was the Asset? The Winter Soldier? and most importantly, what had the button been?

The answer to the last question came as a panicked voice over the comms.

"Rogers is down," came Natasha's voice, "Cap's down."

~A~

Natasha

It hadn't taken long for Steve to join the fight. He hadn't said much, but he did give a nod of reassurance to Natasha. It was the most she'd gotten in two weeks. She would take it.

The fight was surprisingly quick. Cap seemed to be on an adrenaline high. He was more powerful than she had remembered seeing him since New York.

Hulk was going around rampaging even after the fight was over. Clint followed the raging beast. She began to walk over to Cap. He was breathing heavy and leaning against the wall, but as she got closer he looked up and smiled at her. She even smiled back.

But then something happened. He gave a short scream, falling to his knees. His hands pressed at his ears like was trying to block something out. His breathing was coming in short gasps and he was shaking. She dropped to her knees beside him.

"Cap, Cap," She said touching his face, "Steve, can you hear me?" He didn't answer. He just began to shake even harder.

"Rogers is down," She said trying not to panic, "Cap's down."

There was an angry mutter from Clint as he promised to make his way there as soon as he could. Hulk didn't respond, but she didn't expect him too. Tony also remained silent. That was the real surprise. She briefly wondered if something had happened, but Steve's continuous shaking caused her to refocus. She layed her hands comfortingly on him.

Iron Man took down the door. Tony's urgency was clear despite the mettle mask hiding his face. The suit suddenly went still and Tony stumbled out.

Steve's shaking stopped. She looked up at him. Is eyes had clouded over. He grabbed her wrist and flipped her slightly, effectively pinning her to the ground. Steve slowly stood up. He placed one foot on Natasha's chest. Enough to make it difficult to breathe but not to kill her. She clawed at his ankle, but it did no good.

She moved her head slightly, glancing at Tony. He had his hands raised slightly as if in surrender. His lips were pulled into an indifferent mind, but his eyes spoke of terror. She glanced up at Steve and found the reason.

A black pistol was pointed directly Tony's chest.

"Hey, Cap, you, uh, wanna put the gun down and talk this out," Tony said, his voice nearly squeaking.

"Нет, месть, мне нужна месть. (No, revenge, I need revenge.)" He whispered.

Natasha nearly felt her heart skip a beat. Russian. He had been trained, likely brainwashed in Russian.

"Нет, Стив. Мы твои друзья. Тони твой друг.(No, Steve. We are your friends. Tony is your friend.)" she answered back.

He shook his head slightly. "Нет, месть. Должен, должен завершить миссию. Миссия мести. (No, revenge. Must, must complete the mission. Mission of revenge.)"

"Что тебе нужно отомстить за Стива? (What do you need revenge for Steve?)"

He had begun to shake again. "Я не знаю." he whispered, "I-I don't know. The-they said..."

He lowered the gun slightly, very slightly. But, he did not let up on Natasha.

Steve whispered something to himself that not even Natasha could hear. He looked down at her for a second.

Then she saw what he was thinking. What he was planning. She began to panic. She renewed her attempt to get free.

~A~

Tony

Tony didn't wait to rush out of the room. He found Natasha's coordinates and took down a door in his panic to get there. He found Steve on the floor, covering his ears and shaking rapidly. Almost as if he was having a seizure.

"Let me out," he said stopping.

"I'm sorry, Sir?" Jarvis questioned.

"I said let me out, I need to see if I can help him."

"I don't think that's very wise-"

"I don't care! I said let me out."

Jarvis made a noise that some might consider a sigh and the suit opened. Tony stumbled out. He took about three steps before he saw something change in Steve. Cap straightened and suddenly had Natasha pinned. Tony began to walk backwards. He stopped when a gun was pointed directly at his chest.

He raised his hands slowly, trying to school his features. He was panicking, pure and simple. He was so sure they had him back. Their Steve. The real Steve. Captain America, Steve.

And they had until he showed up. It was like he had triggered something. No, not him. That doctor. The buzzer. He had mentioned a failsafe. Was this it?

"Hey, Cap, you, uh, wanna put the gun down and talk this out."

Tony heard the man mutter something quietly. Natasha's eyes widened and she whispered something back. He could be wrong, but he didn't think they were speaking English. This went on for several minutes.

Then Steve's eyes cleared. Not completely, but enough to let Tony know that their Steve was at least in there. Somewhere.

The gun lowered slightly. Tony did the same with his hands. Then Steve glanced down and Natasha began to claw at the super soldier's leg.

Steve shook his head at Natasha. Then he looked. He made eye contact with Steve. His eyes seemed to convey a silent apology.

Tony had no idea where this was going.

The gun was no longer pointed at him.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

For a moment.

Only a moment.

Then Tony saw where the gun was pointed.

Steve had turned the gun on himself.

~TH~

Well... That happened. And the reason I say that is because I had no intention of leaving this chapter like this. It just kept going, and going, then poof! Here we are.

Like I said at the beginning, I'm really sorry it took me so long to update. I will do my absolute best to have a new chapter up next week.

Only one more chapter until the end of part two!

I don't know about you guys, but I'm excited!

ShadowedRose17: Thanks SO much!

Lillliterra: I know! He deserves so much more :/

Scarefan: As I'm sure you now see, I do intend to continue. It was an unplanned hiatus and I apologize. I do, however, plan on completing this story.

Oh! And I wanted to let everyone know that I am hosting the 2019 Marvel Whump Madness (on Wattpad at www. wattpad story/178190618-marvel-whump-madness). Be sure to join us! It's lots of fun.

Until next week!

God bless,
Trekkiehood