A/N: We're nearing the end, dear readers! Only 2, possibly 3 chapters left to go. Thanks for sticking with me on this crazy journey, and I hope you've enjoyed reading as much as I have had writing it.

For inspiration, I listened to the song "Judgement Day" by Stealth on repeat while writing this chapter.

XOXO - Presephone

The door burst open, and a hail of bullets rained into the hallway before the dust had time to settle.

The team swarmed the hallway and eliminated the remaining HYDRA agents before silence filled the area. Clint and Sam moved to each body and removed any weapons and ammo they could find, quickly redistributing them as the team caught their breath.

"Can't believe that son of a bitch brought 'er back here," Gerry growled as he loaded a fresh magazine into his gun.

"This place means something to her?" Steve furrowed his brow, "We thought they chose here because of Bucky. This is the HYDRA base where they first tested him. Where they—"

"Before Emmaliene moved to DC and opened her business," Fury cut in, "A group of mercenaries kidnaped her; supposedly, to use as leverage against Pierce. This is where they held her for two weeks until we found her."

"Where did they keep her?" Tony asked as the face mask of his suit slid up.

"Basement room," Fury pointed down the hallway.

"Alright," Tony sighed and glanced around at the team, 'we should split up. We're here from Emmy, but we also have to contend with Pierce, Rumlow, and who knows what else. Robin Hood and the retirement couple are with me," He waited for any objections and continued when none arose, "Pigeon, Barnes and Noble, You clear out the basement. We meet back at the quinjet in ten minutes. Agreed?"

Everyone silently nodded and moved to the stairwell, weapons ready for whatever they may have come across. As the group began moving their separate ways, Tony heard an unmistakable plink as he looked down to see a metal pin land next to his foot. Realization struck him like a blow to the chest, looking back up just in time to see the small cylinder rapidly falling.

"GRENADE!"

Tony's metal-encased hand struck the grenade and sent it hurling against the wall on the flight of stairs below him. Moving quickly, Steve slammed his shield on top of the grenade as it detonated. The ground shook around them as several pieces of the wall fell to the ground.

"Do these idiots know that they are also in the building?" Sam asked no one in particular.

"HYDRA always had a problem with hirin' the duller cray'ns in the box," Gerry called back.

The lights flickered and an agonized scream emanated from the basement floor. Bucky felt his heart stop. Not only did he recognize the voice, but he could also only think of one thing HYDRA could do that would cause such pain. His gaze shot up to where Nick Fury stood and met the former director's stare. Through clenched teeth, he demanded, "Do they have a chair?"

Nick looked back with a stone-faced expression, but there was a hint of fear in his voice, "We weren't able to confirm if—"

"Ебать! (Fuck!)" He hissed.

"Buck! Wait—"

Steve started to speak, but the former assassin had already jumped down the center of the stairwell, landing four flights of stairs below them; the cement under his boots cracking around him as he hit the floor.

"Ten minutes!" Tony called after the Captain and Sam as they followed Bucky's example and jumped the railing. The Iron Man mask slid back into place without another glance, and Tony turned around to catch up with the rest of the group that was ascending the stairs.

The two HYDRA agents on the other side of the metal door found themselves crushed beneath it as the former Fist of HYDRA punched the door entirely off the hinges. Bucky kept his left hand raised as bullets ricochet off his palm, embedding deep into the cement walls. A shield flew past him a moment later, knocking down the agents who were firing at him. They dropped to the ground, leaving one agent alone at the end of the hall.

"Well, well, well," Rumlow sneered at the trio facing him before his eyes settled on Bucky, "Look who's finally decided to come home."

Bucky gritted his teeth as he growled, "Where is she?"

The lights flickered as another scream filled the air, and Bucky's veins froze over as if he had been put back into cryofreeze. His eyes snapped back to Rumlow just as a smirk spread across the HYDRA agent's scarred face, "She's a little busy."

Bucky released a guttural yell as he raised his gun and fired at the man who had once taken great pleasure in torturing him. Now he was torturing her.

Rumlow dodged the swing of a metal arm towards his face, spun around, and delivered a harsh punch to Bucky's side, causing him to grunt in pain. Bucky lifted his arm, bringing his elbow down on the back of his neck. Rumlow fell to the ground, and he felt a chilling grip like a vice at the back of his neck.

He glanced back into the incensed gaze of the Winter Soldier and gritted his teeth, "Do it."

Bucky's grip tightened as he watched Rumlow begin to struggle under his grasp. He set his jaw tight as the vessels in Rumlow's neck began to bulge; he had every intention of finishing the job when he felt a hand grasp his wrist. He looked up and met the gaze of his best friend.

"Let me go, Steve," Bucky gripped.

"Bucky," Steve leveled a sympathetic gaze, "this isn't you."

"The things he did to me," A tear slipped down Bucky's cheek as his grip remained firm on Rumlow's neck, "God knows what he's done to Emmy…."

"I know, Buck," Steve pulled at Bucky's wrist until he felt his grip begin to waver, "But she needs you more right now." Bucky choked back a sob as he fully released Rumlow, staggering backward. Steve sighed in relief and jerked his head towards the end of the hallway, "Go get your girl, Buck."

With a nod, Bucky turned and sprinted down the remaining length of the hallway.

Alexander holstered his gun onto his hip and zipped up the extra ammunition clips into the pockets of his cargo, put his tactical coat back on, and lifted the messenger bag over his head. He knew the helicopter would be leaving soon; he needed to get Emmaliene and get out before—

He stopped mid-stride at the sound of a gun cocking.

He glanced over his shoulder and let out a heavy sigh. He rolled his soldiers back and stepped over to where a glass bottle and two cups rested. He poured the amber liquid into a glass and calmly took a sip as he turned around. He raised his glass in greeting, "Care for a drink?"

Gerry's grip on the gun tightened as his eyes narrowed,"'Bout time you and I had some words, friend."

Bucky kicked the metal door in as if it were made of paper and instantly froze.

Emmaliene was curled up on the ground, wrapped in a blanket and gripping her legs close to her chest. She sobbed quietly at the sound of his soft footsteps, and she flinched when he reached out to touch her. Bucky knelt, moving slowly as he cradled her head in his hands. He ran his fingers gently along with the red circular marks that marred her temples.

"Oh bambola (doll)," Bucky breathed, allowing his despair to seep into every syllable he spoke, "What have they done to you?"

Trembling, Emmaliene lifted her head, her brow furrowing as she met a gaze of steel blue. She saw a flash of adoration across his features as he softly spoke again, "Do you know me?"

"Emmaliene took a ragged breath, "JB?"

"I always wondered what it would take to get The Inquisitor back in the saddle," Alex mused as he took another idle sip of his drink.

"Did ya ever care about any of 'em?" Gerry incredulously asked.

"In my own way," Alex answered honestly, "I never intended to take to Lienie as I did. But, that girl can warm the coldest of hearts." He took another sip and smirked, taking on his facade of arrogance once more, "Just ask the Sergeant."

"Let's get you out of here, sweetheart," Bucky helped Emmaliene stand up, wrapping the blanket tighter around her shoulders. He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, "Let's go home."

Just as her grip tightened around him, gunshots rang from the hallway, and she jerked backward out of his reach. He raised his hands to show that he wasn't a threat to her, "It's okay. It's probably Steve." He glanced behind him at the open door again before looking back to her, "Just wait here, bambola (doll)."

James cautiously made his way to the door; but, before he could reach the threshold, a clear wall slammed closed, blocking their only means of escape.

James spun around and saw Emmaliene remove her hand from a button that had been on the wall behind the chair; He watched her slowly turn back around as the blanket she had clung to fell to the floor.

She was dressed in full tactical gear, several guns strapped to her thighs and at least two knives that he could see clearly. His face scrunched in confusion, "Emm?"

Her green eyes snapped up to meet his, and he took a step back. This wasn't the gaze of his bambola (doll). The gaze of the woman who had pulled him from darkness and help him to feel human again. These eyes were cold and emotionless.

These were the eyes that he had seen back at her parent's house in Maryland. A wave of ice shot down his spine as she silently removed one of the knives from its holster. She tilted her head slightly, assessing him before whispering a single word that struck dread into Bucky's heart.

"желание (Longing)."