"Just wanted to let you know that Wilson and Barnes will be leaving this afternoon for an undetermined amount of time," Fury said immediately after Alex answered her phone.

"Undetermined?" Alex asked. "Any way to narrow that down a bit?"

"Barnes won't be making his session this week. Next week is undetermined. You knew this going in."

"Knowing ahead of time doesn't make my job any easier. I take it your plan worked."

"What plan is that, Alex?" Fury said.

"The one where you let Walker do the legwork and act as bait."

"All these years, I thought you were a therapist."

"I've just been working with all of you way too long," Alex replied. "The therapist will still certify that Walker is still not stable."

"Is Barnes good to go?" he asked.

"Don't you think it's a little late to be concerned about his mental health? He's already on a plane, right?"

"Alex," Fury cautioned. After an exasperated breath he admitted that they were scheduled to depart within the hour. She echoed his breath and told him that while she believed that Bucky was for the most part fine, they had barely begun diving into things.

Alex went onto share that her presence at the briefing didn't help their progress. Fury asked for further explanation and she stated that her sudden appearance was not conducive to building trust with Bucky. Fury reminded her that he ran the operation and if he wanted her there, she would be there... without question from anyone. After all, he reasoned, Bucky Barnes was not her only assignment.

"Things are never easy with you," she said.

"No, but I know you're up for the challenge," Fury replied.

Shaking her head, she hung up with Fury. Alex moved onto the texts that had come in while she was on the phone. In the list was one from Bucky and she immediately went to read it first.

Won't be making my appointment tomorrow

We can reschedule

He replied back quickly: Not sure when I'll be back.

I'll be here. If you need; call, text, whatever.

Got it

I mean it

Bucky entered the carrier as he was tucking his phone into his jacket pocket. Sam noticed and casually asked if there was a problem. Bucky replied he was just letting Alex know he wouldn't be making therapy. He pointed out what happened last time he missed a session. Sam remarked that he didn't think he would end up in handcuffs now and then inquired how therapy was going. Bucky half-heartedly shrugged.

"We're not going to have to look into each other's eyes again because that was...um… awkward?" Sam asked. Bucky stared at him across the plane's interior for a bit before answering.

"Yeah. No."

"You asked?"

"No, I didn't ask, but we are not doing that again," Bucky stated.

As the plane took off, Sam repeated his question regarding Bucky's therapy. Slightly annoyed, Bucky replied that it was fine and went silent. They looked at each other for a minute or two before Sam began tossing out some ideas of what they would do upon landing. Bucky listened and shook his head at each one. After his third suggestion was shot down, Sam told Bucky to come up with something better. Soon the conversation devolved into good-natured bickering.

Bucky and Sam's undetermined return turned out to be four days later. Once he got home, Bucky sent a text to let Alex know he would be able to make their usual time that week. She thanked him for the update and asked if an outdoor session would be acceptable. When he agreed, she told him that she would meet him at the entrance to the building.

At their assigned time, Alex walked outside the large glass entry doors and found Bucky leaning against a concrete pillar already waiting. She gave him a once over carefully noting his attire and told him that it was good to see that he didn't get himself hurt. Once they began walking, she asked if they had run into John Walker. The question caused Bucky to look at her warily and after a pause he asked why she was interested. Alex told him she had concerns about innocent people getting hurt.

"The more unstable he gets, the more likely he's going to make a mistake... and a big one," Alex said.

"I'm pretty sure killing that guy with his shield was a pretty big mistake," Bucky said.

"Well... I did see the official report. Walker thinks what he did was justified. I'm sure he wishes it wasn't caught on so many cameras but that was all retribution, not mistake."

"And he's still walking around acting like a hero," he muttered.

"Could be worse. You, Sam, Walker; working together," she pointed out.

"No. Not happening ever again."

"Why not? You'd be kinda like the three musketeers," Alex teased and received a scathing glance in return. "Let's move on. I have a question for you."

"Of course you do," Bucky snarked back.

"Tell me why you insist on wearing gloves and a jacket at all times," she said with a wry smile. If he could cop a bit of an attitude, she could ask questions he'd rather not answer.

"Why do you think?" he said.

"What I think is not your answer," she replied and stopped walking. Bucky didn't say a word but the surly look on his face spoke volumes.

"Do you hang out like this at home? Gloves, jacket... just in case it snows in your living room?"

"No," he admitted while doing his best to suppress the slight smile that was forcing its way onto his mouth.

"Didn't think so. Take off the gloves," she ordered. When he didn't move immediately, she continued. "Don't look at me like that, you agreed to do the work."

"Now the jacket," Alex said after he removed the gloves. Without comment, Bucky took off his jacket and slung it over his arm. She then turned to walk back in the direction they had come from.

"Since you didn't go up in a puff of smoke, I'll assume you're not a vampire. I was beginning to wonder," she said.

Alex looked out of the corner of her eye at him and asked how he felt. The long sleeves of his shirt covered his arms fully; the only part of the cybernetic arm visible was his hand.

After Bucky quickly responded that he felt fine, Alex told him he had to get used to walking around people without the coat and gloves. "I get it; it's your security blanket. But as much as they keep people from seeing or questioning, they're also keeping you from a lot."

She led the way back into the familiar office and asked if he wanted the oversized beanbag. When Bucky declined and took his usual seat, Alex expressed delight, pulled it closer, and settled into to the chair.

"How do you feel about your vibranium arm? And don't say fine," she said.

"It's better than not having one."

"Push your sleeves up," Alex told him and watched as he hesitated.

"Sleeves up or take off your shirt. Either works for me." Bucky's eyes narrowed at her request and Alex gave him a wide smile. She was sure given the options he would quickly comply with her initial request.

"And?" he asked after pushing his sleeve up past his elbow.

"Exactly," she said. "It's an arm. Me, along with most people, might notice it, but don't really care much."

"It's not that," he said. After a bit of prompting on Alex's part, Bucky told her some of the things he had done with that arm.

"Okay," Alex said. "Hydra gave you an arm. You've done some horrible things with it. That arm is gone. Now, you have what they gave you in Wakanda. You've done great things with it: fought battles, saved lives... including your own. If you want to get mundane, you probably held a door open for someone with it.

She reached into her tote bag that sat nearby and ripped a piece of paper out of her notebook. Bucky watched as Alex crumpled it into a ball. She tossed it at him, far enough to the side that he could only catch it with his left hand.

"You can catch things, tie shoes, get dressed easily. Flip the dialogue you have about the arm and its history. Instead of remembering what you've done, look at your possibilities," she said as he looked at her skeptically and dropped the paper ball.

"From now on when we meet… no gloves, no jacket," Alex said.

"What if there's a snowstorm?" Bucky asked with mock seriousness. Now it was her turn to try to hold back the smile, as she picked up the crumbled paper and tossed it at him again.