CARTER

Sharon couldn't move. Her limbs felt like lead and her head was a cloud of confusion. She didn't know which way was up or if she was even conscious. The cold surface beneath her cheek was the only thing letting her know that she was indeed alive. Feeling was slowly spreading back into her limbs. Her fingers curled and scraped at the floor beneath her.

"Agent Carter, just in time." The voice was tinny as if coming through an intercom and not standing in the room with her. She blinked, slowly bringing her world into focus. She was laying on a dirty concrete floor. In front of her was a gray painted cement block wall. She groaned and tried to push herself up on shaky arms.

"Time for what asshole?" She assumed if they were talking to her, they were also listening somehow. Her eyes flickered to the corner where a security camera sat high to the ceiling.

"Turn around." Sharon wanted to tell the voice to fuck off and she'd do what she wanted, but she refrained. Her head turned slowly and she was met with more cement wall before it turned to glass at about waist-height. She stumbled to her feet and her knees almost buckled underneath her at the sight of Bucky, strapped to some sort of upright table. He was struggling violently against his metal restraints. Sharon pressed herself to the glass.

"JAMES!" She shouted as she slammed her fists against the barrier. It wasn't true glass, it was some sort of solid plexiglass, most likely bulletproof. And from the way Bucky continued to fight his restraints there was a strong possibility he couldn't hear or see her. "JAMES!" Her voice sounded manic in her ears. His head fell back and eyes slipped shut as he submitted to defeat. Sharon stared at him. His body tensed when his eyes finally opened again and met hers. He could see her. She could see her name leave his lips, but couldn't hear it.

"What are you going to do to us?" She asked the faceless voice, her eyes never leaving Bucky's.

"I'm going to unleash the Winter Soldier back into the world. My work from before is still unfinished." Sharon's eyes shut as she fought to keep her swelling tears from falling. She knew that accent. She knew exactly who was on the other side of the intercom. Zemo.

"It won't work. They fixed him in Wakanda."

"We shall see."

Sharon's eyes opened to find Bucky's looking more and more defeated by the second. She heard a click on the intercom. "And if it doesn't work? What are you going to do to us then?" There was a shuffling of some sorts. Bucky perked up. Zemo must have flipped the intercom so Bucky could hear him as well now.

"Then I'm going to reprogram him." Bucky's face paled as his eyes bore into hers.

"And what about me? You're just going to make me watch?"

"You, Ms. Carter, will be our test subject. I know how important you are to him. My associates have been watching you for months." Warm tears spilled over onto her cheeks. "I'll know Sergeant Barnes is gone from his mind when he destroys you."

Bucky's blue eyes were boring into hers through the glass. He looked absolutely devastated at Zemo's words. She could see his eyes filling with tears. The world was crumbling around them. Every nightmare was about to become a reality. Her jaw clenched. She wasn't going to let Zemo destroy Bucky's mind, not again.

Sharon moved to the door in the corner and yanked on the handle. She thrashed and kicked and did everything in her power to pry it from its frame. Her knuckles were bruising and bleeding from her attempt to get out.

"It won't budge Agent Carter." She screamed, pulled her boot from her foot and knocked the camera off the wall with one throw. She collapsed to her knees as a sob escaped her lips. She knew she needed to be rational, but every fiber of her being was panicking. She was terrified. Terrified for what Bucky would do to her if the Winter Soldier took over. And terrified for Bucky in general. He didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve any of this. He deserved peace and love. He would never forgive himself if he hurt her. He would never be able to come back from this.

Her whole body was trembling against the dirty concrete floor. She blew out a long deep breath and clenched her fists so tight her nails bit into her skin. She needed to get it together. She needed to be strong. She stumbled back to her feet and pressed herself back to the glass. Bucky's face was pure terror and sorrow all mixed into one.

"Because I am a reasonable man, is there anything you'd like to say Agent Carter before we get started?" Sharon didn't know what to say. Nothing would fix this. Nothing would bring comfort. She opened her mouth, but her voice died on her lips.

"Sharon?" Sam's voice crackled in her ear. The idiots forgot to take out her comm. Bucky's eyes furrowed slightly at the look on her face. She closed her eyes and focused on neutralizing her expression. "Sharon, can you hear me? Sharon? Can she hear me? Is there any way of knowing? Fuck, I knew this was a long shot."

"I…" She closed her mouth again.

"Wait, I hear her. Sharon? Sharon, I can hear you. We have your location. Can you hear me?"

"If you don't have anything to say Ms. Carter."

"I do." Sharon said firmly. Her eyes flickered to the camera pointed at Bucky. Bucky was watching her intently. He still couldn't hear her, but he was attempting to read her lips. She needed to be subtle. She couldn't let Zemo know Sam was in her ear.

"You do? You can hear me? We're coming to get you." Sam was barking orders to someone on his end.

"It was all a set up, wasn't it? Ross' men found you so quickly after your break-out because you wanted to be found. You were two steps ahead the whole time. You knew exactly where we'd be."

"Yes. How does it feel to fall into a trap so easily? I thought you were better than that Agent Carter. Or should I say Agent Thirteen?" She let out a long slow breath through her nose at his words. She was a fool. They all were. They should have known better. She should have known better.

"Destroying us won't bring your family back." She might-as-well throw salt in the wound if they were going to go out with a bang.

"Shall we begin?" Zemo's clipped voice came over the speakers. The intercom clicked off and silence met her ears. She spread her hands against the glass as she stared forward at the man she loved. His lips were moving but she couldn't hear him. Tears were streaming down his face and she wished she could reach through the glass and wipe them. She set her forehead to the glass and let her eyes fall shut.

The intercom scratched and then Zemo's voice rang out again. Her blood ran cold as he slowly began speaking in Russian. Her eyes flew open. Bucky was thrashing wildly, trying to free himself of his restraints. His mouth was open wide in a scream she couldn't hear. A sob escaped her throat at the sight of him. She pressed herself further to the glass, willing it to shatter so she could go to him.

"Sam." She choked. She didn't care if Zemo heard her. "He's trying to activate Bucky." Sam didn't respond. Zemo continued the slow words. Sharon held her breath when silence met her ears. Bucky stopped struggling against his restraints and his eyes finally met hers again. He gave his head a small shake as if to tell her that it didn't work.

"Again." Zemo's voice stated. Bucky's head fell in defeat. Russian words filtered through the intercom causing Bucky to start up his futile struggle again. Sharon watched helplessly as the words were repeated over and over. Each round Bucky's struggle was less and less. The look in his eye was slowly changing and he was seeming more and more agitated. His body convulsed on its own accord as he began to struggle internally. His eyes were desperate every time they met hers. It was working. Slowly, but surely, the trigger words were working. Bucky had been right all along that maybe Shuri hadn't fully cured him.

Sharon almost wished they would haul him off and wipe his brain and reprogram him, it would be better than watching his slow descent out of control. She could see him mouthing her name, but the sound never reached her ears. All she could hear was Zemo starting those horrid words again. The glass before her was a mess of smudges, tears, and blood from her leaning against it and bashing her hands to the surface in an attempt to break through. All she wanted to do was collapse on the floor, but she held herself firm. She had to be there for Bucky. She refused to leave him. She'd never leave him.

Zemo's words continued on. Bucky was once again struggling in his restraints, but his movements were jerky and uncoordinated. His eyes were squeezed shut and he looked as if he were fighting an internal battle. She rushed to the door and began assaulting it again, trying to pry it open and get out. The intercom cut off just as Zemo finished his final word. Bucky had gone completely still. His head was bent and Sharon couldn't tell if he was speaking or not. She moved slowly back to glass.

The door to her room burst open and four men stormed toward her. They grabbed her by the arms and forced her out of the room. She planted her feet, trying to pull away, but they just lifted her up so her toes skimmed and dragged. They hauled her straight into the next room where Bucky was imprisoned. Her hands were zip-tied behind her back and a chain latched to one of her ankles before the men finally put her back on her feet.

"Sharon." Bucky's voice was quiet and hoarse as his broken eyes met hers.

"James." She stepped as far forward as the chain would allow her. "No matter what happens, I need you to remember this isn't you. When you come back to yourself, you have to remember that this wasn't you. I forgive you for what ever happens because I know you would never hurt me. And you won't want to, but you'll have to forgive yourself too."

"Sharon-" She cut him off.

"James… it won't be you. I know you. You are a good man."

"Sharon…I…" His voice was a desperate sob.

"It's okay." She gave him a watery smile. "It's all going to be okay. You could never hurt me."

The door opened and the couple tore their eyes away from each other as Zemo stepped into the room with a sadistic smile on his face. "Gag her."

"NO!" Two pairs of hands grabbed her roughly while a third forcefully wrapped a cloth around her mouth. She struggled in their grasp, but it was useless.

"Hold her steady." The hands holding her arms tightened as Zemo rounded on her. Bucky's eyes followed his movements until he was standing just behind Sharon's shoulder. She felt the press of a gun to her back while his other hand firmly held the familiar red book. Zemo must have had it all this time.

Bucky's face fell as Zemo started up again in Russian. Sharon refused to look away from him. She didn't care if she saw the light go out and the Winter Soldier take over. She was going to be with him until the end. Tears flowed freely and she desperately wished she had told him she loved him. Why didn't she ever tell him? She hoped with all her might that he knew. That he could see it in her eyes.

Bucky was the first one to break their gaze. His body was reacting as he tried to fight for control. The phrase continued three more times before Zemo finally stopped. Bucky had stilled completely and his head was bent. Sharon's stomach plummeted when Bucky responded in Russian.

"Release him." The metal restraints unlocked and Bucky dropped to his feet.

"Kill her." Sharon stumbled back straight into Zemo, gun in her back be damned, when Bucky's head lifted. His eyes were devoid of emotion as he stepped toward her. Zemo sidestepped her with his gun still raised as his men forced her to stand in place. She shook her head as she desperately tried to relay who she was to the blank stare of the man she loved. He stopped mere inches in front of her. His flesh hand came up slowly to grasp her neck.

Bucky's face contorted and for a moment she saw a flash of that day at the market: she could hear Bucky telling her he liked her, she could see his radiant smile, and feel his warm lips against hers. His grip lingered, but never tightened, instead, his metal arm was sprung forward to clamp down on the neck of the man to her right. Suddenly his hand on her neck was dropping to her chest and shoving her backward and out of the way. She stumbled and fell over the chain around her ankle. She stared up as Bucky took out all four men before they could defend themselves. The click of a gun came to her ears and her eyes fell shut at the feeling metal pressed against her head. Bucky dumped the last man on the floor at the sound. Zemo pulled the chain from her leg and tugged her to her feet. His voice was coming out fast and angry as he repeated the trigger words and used Sharon as a shield to ease his way toward the door.

Bucky's hands were over his ears and he was shouting as his control began to wane again. His eyes were murderous as he tried to come at them. Zemo repeated the phrase and Bucky stilled just before them. Zemo continued to back them up until they were at the door.

"Open it Agent Carter." He cut the zip tie from her hands. She raised them cautiously. They were both eyeing Bucky in fear. Neither knew which man was before them. All they knew was that they needed to get out of there. Her hand reached for the door handle blindly and eased it open quietly. Bucky was still standing rigidly to the spot. His face was a blank mask and eyes closed. Zemo's gun stayed pointed to her head as he began to back out of the room.

A shot echoed loudly and Sharon froze. The gun on her head eased and Sharon turned just slightly to see Zemo's surprised face before he crumpled to the floor with unseeing eyes.

"Sharon." She looked up to see Sam on the other side of the doorway. Behind him was Torres, bruised beyond belief, but alive. Sharon had never been so happy to see the men in her life. Sam's eyes moved to Bucky behind her. He made a move to step forward but she held up her hands for him to stop. She pulled the gag from her mouth.

"I don't know if it's him." She said quietly. Sam nodded in understanding and backed up slowly and motioned for the arsenal of men behind him to do the same. Her eyes flashed to the red book peeking out from under Zemo's lifeless form. "Get the book." She whispered.

Sam's gaze followed hers before he slowly reached down and grabbed it. He said something quietly in Torres' ear and passed it along to him. Sharon bit back a protest. Sam and Torres had some sort of growing mentor relationship. He trusted Torres. He must trust him enormously to give him the book that controlled Bucky. Sharon preferred the book stay with her or Sam, but she wasn't going to argue that now. Instead she was going to have faith and put her trust in Torres too.

Sharon moved slowly back into the room and toward Bucky. He was standing rigidly with his head bent and eyes downcast to the floor. His only movements were the deep rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. His hands were clenched so tight the knuckles on his flesh hand were white.

"Bucky." Her voice was quiet. She had no idea if she was talking to him or the Winter Soldier in this moment. She tried to control her rising fear that she may have to fight him. Her hands came up in a quiet surrender.

"James." Her hand was visibly shaking as she tentatively reached out to him. She gasped when his hand struck out and grabbed her wrist so tightly she thought he might snap it. But then his grasp slowly loosened and her hand slipped into his. She closed the gap between them, her free hand reaching up to cup his cheek.

"Sharon." His voice was hoarse and strained as if he was trying to fight for control over himself.

"Hey, look at me." She instructed softly. She released his metal hand and brought it up to cup the other side of his face. Her thumbs stroked along his cheeks, catching warm tears as they went. "James." His head finally lifted and eyes opened to look at her. He looked so defeated, so broken. So scared.

"I almost hurt you." A fresh round of tears fell at his words.

She shook her head. "You could never hurt me. You saved me." She brushed a piece of hair back into place.

"I could feel my mind trying to comply."

"But you didn't. You're here and aware and in control." She planted her hands on his neck. "You are in control."

He nodded in response, letting his eyes slip shut and his forehead fall against hers. "I am in control." He repeated roughly. Her hand stroked his cheek as he repeated the phrase quietly to himself once, twice, three more times before he felt satisfied that what he was speaking was true. His tears dried and his hand came to cover hers on his cheek. He leaned into her warm touch before he finally opened his eyes to look at her properly.

BARNES

"Hey you." The small smile she was giving him was relaxing him in ways he never knew possible. Her eyes were glassy with tears and worry. She was afraid, but not of him, she was afraid for him. Her thumb smoothed over his lips before brushing a tentative kiss to them. He sighed into her touch. His fingers curled into her hair and pressed her lips more firmly to his. Her warmth and scent were grounding him. His mind was clearing slowly and he felt his body slip back into his own control. The Winter Soldier was retreating back into a dark corner of his mind.

He dropped his head into her crook of her neck. Her arms were secure around him as she held him steady. Time stood still for them. He could hear or see nothing as he lost himself in her presence. All he was aware of was her warm body in his arms and her hand stroking through his hair in comfort.

"Share?" It was Sam's voice that pulled him back to reality. He pulled from Sharon to see Sam standing in the doorway. "It's time to go." She turned back to him and swiped a thumb under his eyes to dry the fresh round of tears he didn't realize had fallen. His hands came to cup her face slowly and he dipped his forehead to press to hers once more. She was so patient and trusting.

How did he get to be so lucky? How did he get to have Sharon in his life? A woman who would go to the ends of the Earth to keep him from ever experiencing the nightmare of The Winter Soldier again? Even when she was potentially facing her own death by his hands, she was trying to comfort him and reassure him it wasn't going to be him. Her world was shattering around her and all she wanted to do was be strong for him. She was an angel. She was too good for this world and for him.

"Let's go home." The simple phrase had never sounded sweeter. She pressed a soft kiss to his lips in reassurance before pulling back. His body and mind were exhausted. It felt like the world was bearing down on him and trying to crush him. She wrapped an arm securely around his waist and led him out of building.

CARTER

Sam had a jet waiting and helped Sharon usher Bucky into it. Bucky fell asleep with his head in her lap not long after they were in the air. There was so much they needed to talk about, her and Sam especially, but neither spoke a word the entire flight. A car was waiting for them on the tarmac and Sam helped a drowsy Bucky into it and drove them the rest of the way home. It was well into the night when they pulled into the garage. Bucky woke in a haze and seemed to be mentally struggling with himself.

Sharon lead him straight to the bathroom to get him cleaned up. He collapsed onto the toilet and stared blankly ahead as Sharon began peeling his shoes and clothes off and Sam started up the shower. Sam silently excused himself and let Sharon pull Bucky's pants and boxers off. Tears were silently cascading from his eyes. Sharon pressed a hand to his cheek lovingly while the other gently grasped his metal arm. She kissed a salty tear from his cheek and helped him pull the appendage from his torso. She slowly helped him step under the hot water of the shower.

Sharon left him long enough to exchange his arm through the door to Sam for fresh clothes and a towel. Sam caught her arm and pulled her forward so he could place a kiss to her forehead in comfort. She leaned into his touch. She wanted nothing more than to wrap her arms around him and let her own tears fall, but she knew she couldn't. Not yet. She had to be strong for Bucky. They could grieve together once he was taken care of.

She stepped back into the bathroom and shut the door quietly behind her. She stripped down to her underwear and stepped under the hot stream. Bucky was standing numb before her. She slowly began washing him, taking her time to swipe away all the dirt and blood from his skin.

His hand caught her arm to inspect the bruise that was forming. "I hurt you."

"I'm okay."

"I'm not safe." Her heart was breaking at his sorrowful eyes.

"I'm not afraid of you." She kissed the corner of his mouth.

She continued on with helping him wash. The hot water was working miracles because she could see him visibly relaxing. His eyes were more focused and he even brought his hand to encircle her waist. His forehead met hers and then his lips. It was short and soft and hesitant. It was his way of reminding himself that he was here and in control and real.

After he was clean, Sharon wrapped him up in a towel and lead him to bed. He put on his own boxers and pajama pants while Sharon changed out of her soaked undergarments. They crawled under sheets and Sharon let him curl up into her. She ran her hands through his hair and stroked his cheek. It didn't take long before he was asleep. She waited a long while before she gently slipped out of the bed.

Sam was still awake when she knocked on his door. He patted the spot next to him on his bed and she sat down with a sigh and put her head in her hands. His hand came to her knee in an act of comfort. Her tears flowed freely in the silence of his room.

"Sharon." Sam's voice was rough with emotion. Her hand dropped to meet his on her knee. "He needs help."

"I know."

"We aren't prepared to handle this. The trauma of almost being triggered again and feeling it trying to take over…"

She wiped her tears to finally look at Sam. "I know. I think we should call King T'Challa and see if they'll let him come back. Shuri was able to help with his programming before, maybe she can again. We have the book now to send with him."

He nodded in agreement. "He needs someone to talk to and somewhere to heal away from the fight." Sam looked on the verge of tears. "Away from us." A tear slipped down his cheek. "Do you think he'll go willingly to Wakanda?"

"I think so, yes. He did the first time. He doesn't feel safe here with us. I think he'll want to go."

The look of anguish in Sam's eyes at her words triggered her tears again. "Did he say that to you?"

"Yes." Her voice cracked and she brought a hand to cover it. Sam's arms came around her and pulled her in. She sank into his embrace. They sat there for a long time, holding each other as they silently wept for their friend.

Sharon considered making her way back to their bed, but decided against it. She knew when Bucky woke up he would prefer to be alone. She felt in her bones that he would want it. She knew him well enough to know when he needed space to process his thoughts and actions. Tomorrow morning would be one of them.

Sam could see her hesitation to go back to her lonely room and she could see his to be left alone. Neither were ready to face how close they were to losing their friend earlier. And Sam was not ready to face that he could have lost both of them. So he opened up his arms and let her curl into his side. They both needed the comfort of a friend to make it through the night. Bucky would understand if he found them sprawled out together in bed, he knew their friendship was purely platonic. She relaxed against Sam as he held her. They quietly hashed out a rough plan on what to do next until neither could keep their eyes open any longer and sleep consumed them.

Sharon sat up straight at the sound of footsteps thundering down the hall and to the living room. It took her a moment to realize she was still in Sam's room and alone. She threw off the blankets and opened the door just as Sam called out her name. Sam was standing in Bucky's doorway, devastation on his face.

"He's gone." Sharon strode forward and stepped past Sam into the room. She needed to see the empty room for herself. The drawers of the dresser were left open in his haste to grab his clothes. She ducked under the bed to find his emergency bag missing next to hers. The case for his arm was on the bed and open. His arm was missing. She shoved her hand down into the pocket and felt her heart shatter. The bracelet and envelope of photos were gone, all except one. She shakily pulled out the lone photo of Bucky kissing her cheek and stared at it.

He was gone. He left them. He left her.

Tears welled in her eyes as she turned to Sam. His face was one of sympathy. "He left me."

"He left us." He emphasized and took a step toward her and put his hands on her shoulders. "He's afraid. That's all this is. We'll find him."

Sharon took a deep breath to steady her tears. "He's afraid. He's trying to control the situation." She tried to convince herself.

"I think I know where he might have gone." Sharon didn't like the look on his face when he said it.

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