Bucky and Sam walked through the front doors of the lab early the next morning. They found themselves in front of the same guard they had spoken with on their previous visits. He stopped them at the desk and began asking the usual questions.

"You know who we are," Bucky protested while shaking his head, cutting the guard off in the middle of a question.

"Can't be too careful," the guard replied sardonically and then repeated his questions.

Sam cut in front of Bucky and answered the inquiry curtly. The guard made no attempt at hiding how extremely satisfied he was with himself. Instead of pointing them down the hallway, the guard stood up and instructed Sam and Bucky to follow. As they walked behind the security guard, the pair exchanged a confused look. The uniformed man opened the door to Sciple's office. It was empty.

Sam and Bucky took a few steps inside and looked around. All the computers, lab equipment, boards and other supplies were gone. Aside from a few tables and a chair the room was bare.

"What the...? Where'd they go?" Sam asked the guard.

"No idea," the guard replied dryly.

"Would you tell us if you did?" Sam said and the look he received from the guard plainly said that the man wasn't going to share any information he had.

"Is everything else gone, too?" Bucky interrupted.

After giving them a prolonged irritated look, the guard escorted them to the other areas they had visited. This included the observation room and the conference room where they had spoken to Ryan Sciple a few days earlier. When Bucky asked where Sciple and his assistant were, the guard shrugged.

Despite their frustration, Sam and Bucky stayed in town the rest of the day trying to gain some information as to where everyone went. After coming up empty and a quick call to Fury, they were on their way back to New York.

Sam tried to engage Bucky in conversation on the plane. He received half-hearted mumbled answers as Bucky looked out the window, his mind clearly on something else. Sam finally asked what was bothering him.

"My entire life feels like I'm always chasing something. Just when I think it's in my grasp… it disappears," Bucky said.

"You're overthinking it. We are talking about Zemo, right?" Sam said.

A few days after Bucky got back, he met with Alex for their scheduled session. She hadn't said a word when he walked in the door even though he was five minutes late. In fact, she had hardly acknowledged his presence. He sat down on the couch without a word and waited. When Alex did look up from her notebook, her expression was somber and her eyes tired. Bucky swallowed the acerbic remark about the notebook and asked how her week was as nonchalantly as possible.

"Fine," she said curtly. The lack of sleep over the past few nights along with a couple of conversations with Fury had left Alex a bit cranky.

"Have you heard from Sciple?" Bucky asked. His mind quickly drifted back to their first conversation when he had told her everything was fine.

"I'm getting that question a lot lately," she said. "Why does everyone think he's gonna call me?"

"I don't know who else asked you that, or why," Bucky said slowly and looked at the floor. He had been totally unprepared for the sharpness in her tone. He picked his head up and tried to explain. "I asked because you look exhausted and you defined fine as totally sucks. He seems like a good candidate for both of those."

"Sorry," Alex said sincerely when she saw his hurt expression. She went on explain that she had a lot on her mind and wasn't sleeping well. Alex deliberately didn't mention her dreams or any feelings she might have for him.

In an attempt to get things back on track and direct the conversation away from herself she asked, "How are you? Any more nightmares?"

"Here and there."

"Have you killed me yet?" Alex held her breath as she waited to hear his answer.

"No!" Bucky exclaimed. "I shouldn't have told you about that."

"It's important," she told him.

He again assured her that he hadn't hurt her in his dreams and the last nightmare he had consisted of one of his targets as the Winter Soldier. Alex watched him closely and listened carefully to be sure Bucky wasn't just saying it to avoid the conversation.

"What's your biggest fear?" she asked.

"I think you know that."

"I think your biggest fear is having to sit through dinner holding a stuffed bear," Alex said. Bucky narrowed his eyes at her and pursed his lips as he shook his head.

"What's your biggest fear?" she repeated.

"That I'm not fixed and he comes back."

"Why?"

"You know that, too," he told her.

"I need an answer, James. Why is the Winter Soldier coming back your biggest fear?"

"Now we're back to James?" Bucky asked in disbelief and leaned back into the couch as he waited for her to say something.

"I'll hurt people," he said when it became obvious that Alex was serious about him answering.

"Why?"

"That's what I do when I'm him, Alexandra. That's what they programmed me to do."

"Why?"

Bucky exhaled loudly. "To complete the missions."

"Why?"

"That's what Hydra wanted. Do you think I would do that if I was in control?"

Alex was quiet for a minute. Bucky tilted his head waiting for the nagging question. "So, your biggest fear is not being in control?" she said.

He thought about it for a second. "Maybe. I like the staring thing better."

"Not surprising," Alex said and went on to connect the dots between his nightmares and the fear of not being able to control his actions. She pointed out that he hadn't hurt her in his dreams; he was in control. When he reminded that he woke up before he could do anything, she shook her head in frustration and asked if he could try to see the glass as half full. Bucky rolled his eyes then reluctantly admitted she might have a point.

"What's your biggest fear?" he asked not really expecting her to answer.

"Losing Olivia," Alex said.

"Why?"

"For five years, she was pretty much all I had to keep me going. It'd be like losing my heart."

Bucky knew it wasn't the time for another why. Fury's voice repeating the warning of not telling Sciple anything else about Alex echoed in his head. Now that the scientist and everyone from the lab suddenly vanished, Bucky was also concerned about Alex. He told Alex that he'd make sure nothing happened to Olivia. Alex wistfully smiled at the sentiment. She knew if another Snap happened, neither of them could prevent the effects if they were even there. Bucky returned the smile and wondered if she knew how serious he was about his promise.

As they looked at each other in the ensuing silence, Bucky decided he didn't like the staring thing as much as he thought. Not only was he wondering what Alex was thinking, he was also forcing himself to stay seated and not take her in his arms in the hopes of erasing any sadness.

Alex did her best to maintain her composure. She was trying not to get lost in his eyes nor read too much into what he had just said. Losing his battle, Bucky leaned forward just as Alex's phone rang. She looked at it and quietly cursed. When she looked up, Bucky raised his eyebrows and gave her an amused look. "Excuse that," she told him.

"Problem?"

"Something came up with Olivia's sitter. So much for working late today. I need to leave and get her."

"Let me go with you," he said and stood up as she grabbed her bag.

"What? No."

Bucky asked if she was aware that the lab and everyone in it had moved without warning. Alex nodded and said that Fury told her.

"We don't know where Zemo, Sciple, or anyone is. Your files were broken into. I'm going with you," he stated firmly putting an end to her protests.

After making sure she parked where he could see her at all times, Bucky waited in the car while Alex went to get Olivia. The girl was so engrossed telling Alex about her day that she didn't see Bucky until she was ready to climb into the car. Olivia gleefully called his name and asked if he was coming to their house again. Bucky told the girl that he was and that they were going to have pizza, too. He had managed to talk Alex into that on the drive over. Upon hearing Olivia's delight, Alex was glad she gave in to Bucky's repeated request.

With the pizza box on the table between them, Bucky and Alex sat at the kitchen table talking while Olivia went to play in front of the television. Alex handed Bucky another bottle of beer and thanked him for making sure they got home okay. He took a sip and made a half-hearted joke about not looking forward to having to get another therapist if something did happen. When Alex asked if he really thought something might occur, he nodded and told her something felt off about everything suddenly being gone.

"You think Ryan would do something?"

Bucky shrugged and said it was just a feeling that something wasn't right. Alex nervously took a gulp of water. He tried to reassure her and explained the serum made him hyper aware and it was probably nothing.

"Things didn't end well between us but it's a little extreme."

"Does Olivia know you saw him while you were away?" Bucky asked.

"Olivia doesn't remember him. To her, Ryan's a face in a photo, there's no real connection," she replied shaking her head.

"He didn't get in touch with you after the Blip?" Bucky said.

"He found us... and thought that everything was going to pick up right where it left off."

Bucky grimaced.

"Five years is a long time. A lot had changed, especially me. When we saw each other, we argued more than ever and Olivia was scared of him." Alex looked across the table at Bucky. She wanted to see his reaction, good or bad. To her surprise, his expression remained neutral.

"People can judge me for not trying longer with Ryan but Olivia is happy. I think I'm doing okay," Alex said.

Bucky nodded in agreement and remarked that Fury seemed to think so, too. Alex told him Nick Fury had some definite feelings regarding Ryan that she wasn't going to share right then. Bucky reminded her that he had already heard her extensive vocabulary earlier and wouldn't be shocked.

Alex chuckled and then looked around. Sensing her concern, Bucky asked what was wrong. Alex told him it was too quiet. They found Olivia asleep on the couch. When Alex considered waking the child up, Bucky volunteered to carry Olivia to her room. He placed her on the bed and Alex removed the girl's shoes.

With some reluctance, Bucky decided it was time for him to go home. Although deep down she didn't want him to leave yet, Alex knew he was right. She nodded and thanked him for the pizza. In a serious tone, he told her to let him know if she heard from Ryan. Her eyes widened and Bucky quickly theorized that he was probably just thinking too much in attempt to ease her concern.

Shortly after Bucky left, Alex's phone rang causing her to jump. The number was unfamiliar but she decided to answer anyway. It was Fury telling her that he and Maria Hill were leaving. Alex was surprised at the news but grateful for the familiar gruff voice in her ear.