Sheila came home from work, exhausted. Her roommate, Brynn Chester, was sitting on the couch since she left. Brynn was an Australian girl who was living her on a visa. She often annoyed Sheila with her antics like eating her food, leaving a mess all the time, and not paying her share of the bills. Often Sheila was stuck with all these responsibilities.
"Hello, love!" said Brynn, munching on some Doritos. "How was work today?"
"Long. I'm going to sleep," Sheila murmured sleepily. "Please keep the TV down. I have to be up early tomorrow."
Sheila looked at the mail, seeing PAST DUE on the utilities envelopes. She sighed in exasperation. She had an inkling Brynn once again didn't pay the bills for this months' utilities. It was the same old bullshit-Brynn would lie about paying the bills, Sheila would call the companies to confirm if payment had been received, to which they would say that no payment was received and then Sheila would have to apologize and pay for it as she didn't want to lose their electric and internet-and paying late fees, which was a LOT of money out of her paycheck. This was why she couldn't afford a lot of things.
"Brynn, did you pay this month's utilities? It's your turn to do so," she said.
"Yea. I did," Brynn said, eyes glued to the TV. "Check's in the mail."
"Uh huh. So if I call them, I won't be getting a 'no payment has been received' response?" Sheila said skeptical.
"Nope. It's definitely in the mail. I just mailed them out today."
"Sure you did. Say, aren't you supposed to be at work?"
"Nah, called in sick," Brynn said. "I'm binge watching The Bachelor today."
"Oh Jesus Christ," Sheila muttered before heading into her room. "I'm going to sleep."
Sheila pulled off her scrubs and kicked off her sneakers. She grabbed a towel to shower—only to find it had cold water. Shivering, she bore through it and washed herself as quickly as possible. Once all cleaned up, she pulled on a pair of sweats and a Michigan U shirt, collapsing on the bed, not bothering to put the blanket on her. She was too tired to care at this point. She had done a double shift, barely ate anything, only drank coffee. Then once her shift was over, she got on the bus to her apartment. She wished she had the money to buy herself a car. She drifted off to sleep, getting herself comfortable.
"C'mon! What do you mean he's out?! You stupid arse!" Brynn yelled.
Sheila snapped awake, annoyed that her sleep was disturbed. God! She wished she didn't have to share an apartment with an awful roommate. She groaned, grabbing the pillow and covered her head in hopes to drown out Brynn's yelling.
She was starting to regret coming home-at least the on-call rooms were quiet and she got a decent night sleep. But she had to. She couldn't leave her apartment because she knew none of the bills would get paid on time. She would give anything to be able to find an apartment she could share on her own if it wasn't so expensive. She was so fucking tired of this, but had no way out.
Steve and Sam arrived at Ideal Federal Savings Bank later that evening. There was a chain on the front door, which Steve used to break with his shield. Upon opening the doors, they surveyed the abandoned building. There was scattered papers on the ground. A layer of dust covered the surfaces. Cobwebs hung on the ceilings and light fixtures. It was silent as a tomb. Steve had read the file-it contained everything on the Winter Soldier. It had every name, location, notes of progress and targets. Steve felt sick each time he read about what Bucky had gone through. His best friend was alive all this time and he had gone through hell, HYDRA had turned him into a cold-blooded assassin.
"You sure this is the right place?" Sam asked.
"The file said this was the last known location where HYDRA was keeping the Winter Soldier," Steve said. "There's another facility located in Siberia."
"Right," Sam said nodding. "It would be a perfect place to do a secret operation."
Steve continued to look around. The only sounds that could be heard were their own footsteps echoing in the dark building. Steve wondered where Bucky was being kept. Hopefully he could get him out of there. He had read the file (which was all translated, thanks to Nat)-Bucky had been undergoing torturous experimentation by the Soviet Union and HYDRA. He could not imagine what Bucky had gone through. It made him sick. Then again, HYDRA had always been evil ever since he fought during World War II.
As Steve walked through the empty building, looking around. He wondered where HYDRA would hide in this abandoned building.
"You know, if I was going to do some kind of covert operation undetected," Sam said, putting his hands on his hips. "I'm gonna guess it'd be downstairs. Out of sight."
"Right," Steve said. "Lights on would attract attention. Let's go find the basement."
Sam and Steve went towards the back of the bank, looking for some stairs. They found it eventually and it took them deeper inside the basement. There were sounds coming from the vaults. The two men approached the finding two scientists on the ground, beaten up. Steve felt rage-these people had done something to Bucky. He saw the machine that had spikes and a rubber mouthpiece on a nearby table. This had to be where Bucky was tortured. He couldn't imagine what his friend went through-memories flashed through when Bucky had been captured by HYDRA during the War. Rage boiled inside the blond super soldier and stalked towards the scientists who were cowering in fear. He grabbed one of them by the collar, sitting them up.
"Where is he?" he demanded.
"Who?" the scientist said.
"You know DAMN right who!" Steve growled.
Sam had to do something before Cap lost his mind. If anyone found out Captain America had hurt someone, this would be bad for his reputation. While he had every right to be angry for what these people had done to his friend, he couldn't risk his reputation. He had to talk him down and fast before Steve lost his temper.
"Steve, calm down," Sam said. "Remember the mission."
Steve heard Sam's voice pulling him back from his rage. He shook it off and took a breath, focusing on the task.
"Where's Bucky Barnes?" he said.
"I...I don't know..." the scientist dithered. "He just showed up, said you were dead and then he...he beat us up and he left. He didn't say where he was going."
Steve felt his frustration and rage boiling up. Dammit! He had just missed him! He let go of the scientist. He had to figure out what to do with them. They had to face justice for what they had done to his friend.
"What do we do?" Sam asked.
"I dunno," said Steve. "We can't leave them here. We should get them to the hospital. They're pretty hurt."
"Sounds like a plan," said Sam. "Then what?"
"I'll call in a favor," said Steve, taking his phone out to dial Sharon Carter's number. She was a former SHIELD agent. Perhaps she could help with this situation.
Sheila was too annoyed to deal with Brynn as she continued to yell at the TV. She grabbed her coat.
"Where you going, love?" asked Brynn.
"Out," Sheila said annoyed.
"Can you pick up some food? I'm starving."
"Make it yourself," Sheila muttered, slamming the door behind her.
Sheila walked towards the bus stop to just go wherever. She didn't know where else to go. Most of the places were closed at this hour. She would've gone to the hospital to sleep but by then she would have to be ready for work. She saw a man with a baseball cap on. He had rather long hair. She swallowed, trying not to stare at him. She would keep this man in mind as he looked suspicious. She whished she hadn't left her pepper spray and personal alarm at home.
Shit.
Bucky Barnes tried to stay out of sight, not letting anyone see his face. He had to stay under the radar. He finally broke free from HYDRA. He wore a long jacket and a glove to hide his metal arm and a dark baseball cap to hide his face. He couldn't remember a lot of things. But that blond man-the one he fought on the bridge and on the helicarrier-he knew him.
I'm with you til the end of the line.
That line always stuck with him. The blond man-he had said his name was Bucky Barnes. His memories were so damaged that he refused to believe anything the man had said. But that thing the man had said to him. It meant something. It woke him up. Once the explosion had happened, he watched the blond man fall into the river. Something compelled him to save him. He may not have known who this man was, but he had to do it.
There was a redhead glancing at him cautiously on the bus. She looked afraid. He didn't want her to see him. She was staring at him. The sooner he got off, the better.
Bucky had to find out where the man was from. He held the advertisement in his hand that he found in the newspaper. His name was apparently Captain America. He remembered hearing that name somewhere. He wasn't sure where. The exhibit was the only place that could give him answers. He approached the redheaded woman.
"Excuse me, ma'am?" he said.
Sheila looked up at the man, feeling her heart pounding. She saw the face-there was no doubt about it. It was the one she saw at the Captain America exhibit. The memorial. Her mouth went dry. Her heart was pounding.
"Where's this?" he asked, showing her the Captain America exhibit advertisement.
"The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum," she squeaked in fear. "It's...on 600 Independence South West." Stupidly she spoke again. "Y-you're him...Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers' best friend."
The dark haired man glared at the nurse fiercely. He wondered who had told her about him. He hoped nobody found out who he really was. He was held prisoner by HYDRA as the Winter Soldier for a long time. His memories were fractured. Now this lady had recognized him-what if she turned him in? He got in her face. Sheila squeaked, terrified. The man bared his teeth, staring at her with cold blue eyes through his lank dark hair.
"Who told you that?" he demanded.
"N-nobody...I saw it...at the museum," Sheila stammered fearful. "There's a memorial...it said you were dead. I swear!"
Bucky frowned. They thought he was dead? He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Silently, he pulled on the cord to signal the bus driver to let him off. Sheila watched as Bucky got off the bus and disappeared into the night-her heart was pounding. She wondered if Steve should know she had seen his best friend. She noted the time once he was gone.