Chapter IV

"She has a man who's tall dark handsome large and strong
To whom she used to sing this song." -Daddy, Sammy Kaye, 1941


47°41′11″N, 15°4′31″E

Austrian Alps

October 1943

He gently shakes Daniela's shoulder, but she doesn't move to wake up. "Daniela? Hey, there's food." Bucky doesn't remember hearing the hatch open, but the smell of food woke him up. The only answer he gets is silence, "I'm gonna eat then. And if you wake up, your bowl is right here."

Bucky waits for something, any sign that she at least was disturbed by the sound of his voice, but hears nothing. He rips the edge of his shirt and dips the fabric in the cup of water by his knee. Bucky reaches for the bowl of food somewhere in front of him. He alternates between shoveling spoonfuls of the food in his mouth and draping the soaking rag on Daniela's forehead.

He doesn't know how long she's been out like this, but it feels like it's been days. Bucky hopes she wakes soon, he's looked in the latrine for the notes but he can't find them anywhere. Maybe it's one of the other outhouses, but he's had no luck.

Zola has taken him out twice, injected him with something that made him feel cold, like ice was growing in his veins. Bucky keeps powering through it and keeps an eye on Daniela. The door slides open, Bucky gently sets Daniela's head on the ground and climbs over her to the guard.

Bucky furrows his brows, Zola stands outside, a guard a distance behind him. "How is the girl?"

"She's fine." Bucky could make a run for it, give Zola one solid punch to the jaw and run. However he'd have to outrun bullets, and the guard seems ready for an escape attempt. Bucky sighs, he can't leave Daniela behind, she has information he needs. Besides she's kind of growing on him. Kind of. Bucky tries not to be too sentimental, especially when women are involved.

Zola nods, "you two have made it farther than any of my other patients. You only have one injection left and then the two of you will be ready for the next phase. She should wake up soon, I hope."

"What do you want?" Bucky's tone stings, hate is dripping off every word. "If you have nothing to say-"

"I wish to...Enhance your accommodations. Maybe a window. You can have some light, I need you to regain some strength... I am glad you two seem to have grown close, it will help you in the next phase."

Bucky stares at this little man in front of him. His eyes trail to an open door across the hall with maps strewn on the walls. Maybe there is something he can use for an escape route. Bucky needs more eyes. An idea forms in Bucky's mind, maybe Daniela can talk to her father and use him for information.

Zola clears his throat, "I won't have to waste a guard on checking on you. Well...a window you will receive and your latrine visits will remain the same. As will your meals."

Bucky nods, "fine." Sounds like they don't know about the communication through the outhouses. A shiver of hope runs down his spine, they have a chance.

Zola smiles and the guard gruffly pushes Bucky back into the cell. Bucky turns to see bars of light appear in the room and a guard standing on the other side removing the metal plate that was keeping out the light.

For the first time Bucky can actually see the mystery woman he's been trapped in a cell with for a week. She has olive skin and dark hair that curls around her face, she looks strong. He can see it in her face, even in her sleep. Bucky sees the fight in her, like he sees it in Steve and in himself. Bucky settles back into the corner, staring at her. Daniela could be a valuable ally if she learns to fight. They could be friends if she would let him, maybe he would have to initiate that. Bucky always does better with friends, allies change their sides with ease. With light in the cell he can make good on his end of the bargain. If she wants to fight, he'll teach her.

Bucky leans his head back against the rough cement wall and shuts his eyes, it's too quiet without Daniela talking. He never does so well with quiet, always talking to himself or whistling to fill the emptiness silence created. Bucky whistles to a song he's long forgotten the words to and slumps against the wall.

"Quiet." Daniela presses her hands to her head and moans.

Bucky turns his head to the girl resting beside him. "What?"

She grits her teeth and presses her lips together. "God, it hurts." Daniela sits on her elbows and rubs her head before resting on the concrete. "How long?"

"How long?"

"How long have I been sleeping?" Daniela bites her lip, and screams in a closed mouth.

"I don't know. Zola gave us a window." Bucky smiles at her hazel eyes, "you'll be fine."

"I know," Daniela cringes at the light, "you're next. I've been asleep a few days, maybe?"

"Yes? ...I don't know... it's hard to tell. It was a while."

"You've received your other treatments, then?" Daniela runs her fingers through her dark tresses, her eyes sharp and steady on their surroundings.

Bucky nods, "yes. I have one more left, at least that's what Zola said."

"Yes," Daniela nods. "That means it is my turn to care for you then."


Daniela waits for Bucky to fall asleep before allowing her eyes to do what they've wanted to since she received light, study the man in front of her. He is not what she expected, she imagined someone smaller, perhaps a blonde. She's grateful to him for taking care of her in her induced sleep. Daniela sees the strip of fabric that he used to cool her fever, sitting in a cup of water the guards left them. He is smart too, that kind of action meant he knew how to bring her temperature down. Perhaps, Bucky would make a good ally later on. He was a little flirtatious at first, but she's beginning to see that it's simply who he is.

Bucky seems a loyal man, his devotion to his men a prime example. She heard the way his voice caught when she told him they were leaving notes behind. He cares about those close to him. Daniela's mother taught her that, to be loyal. Always be loyal.

Bucky came back from Zola much earlier, and he passed out seconds after falling onto the concrete. She checks his fever and lays the damp rag on his forehead.

Bucky has been out for a while, maybe a day. Dusk has begun to set outside, the cell bathing in warm orange light. She stares at his sleeping form, the pain etched into his features. Daniela hums a lullaby her mother used to sing to her when she was small, she runs her fingers through Bucky's hair like her mother used too, knowing that this is in some of the worst pain of his life.

"Mm," Bucky's voice is deep with sleep. "Thanks, doll."

Daniela pulls her hands away, a blush sweeping her cheeks.

Please don't think anything of that. I'm just being nice, nothing more. He should've been asleep for a few more hours at least.

"You've been asleep for a day now."

Bucky keeps his eyes closed, but nods. "What's your favorite color?"

"Why?" He must have read too much into what I did. I'm not looking for love. I'm looking to escape.

Bucky shrugs, "look, I'm gonna be trapped in here until I finish teaching you how to fight. And until we can escape, I might as well get to know you."

Daniela hears her mother's warning flash in her head, 'do not trust an American, Daniela, they will break your heart.' "Like friends?"

Bucky frowns, "if you're not comfortable with that.."

"Friends is fine. But we are allies first, then friends."

"Hm," Bucky looks at the ceiling, "why?"

"Because if we don't get along as friends, I need to know I still have your help...you asked me my favorite color? It's the color of the sunset, it's a combination of colors, really. But the dark orange of the sky. What is yours?"

"Not sure, I used to say the color of the girls eyes I was on a date with, but now that I'm thinking about it. I don't really know...look, there's something I need to ask you."

"Yes?" Please be something about escape. I'm starving for a good meal.

"Do you think you could get your father to tell us what's on those maps in the room across the hall?"

Daniela shakes her head, "no. It's too risky, my father's nerves will get the best of him."

"Are you sure? I could use another pair of eyes."

"I will peek inside." Daniela twists her fingers together, "when they come to take me. You will need to sleep while I'm gone."

"I'm thinkin' about that, you're not going alone again."

The woman's hazel eyes widen and she looks down on Bucky with the tips of her lips turned down. "What?"

"I'm not lettin' you go alone, we go together or not at all. We are allies, right? That means we're team. We've been in here for a little over a week. And who knows how long we'll stay. I've got your back...Zola sends the guards away when he works on us, right?"

"Yes." Daniela bites her bottom lip, "what does that have to do with it?"

"While Zola's experimenting on me, demand to use the outhouse, refuse to go unless your father takes you. On the way there you might be able to steal a glance."

"Perhaps," she smiles slowly. "My father has been looking to speak with me since we spoke last. Even if I can't get into that room, I can force some information from my father."

"Perfect," Bucky opens his eyes and stares at her. "We have a plan, I can trust you?"

"You can trust me. We are a team, equals. Correct?"

"Correct." Bucky sits up and winces holding his side, "I'm honored to have you on my team."

"Are we friends now, Bucky?" Daniela shifts her gaze from him and draws her knees to her chest.

Bucky smiles, "I would like to think so...I feel like we crossed that line when you woke me up when I snoring too loud."

She laughs at that. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Being a friend. I haven't had one of those in a long time."

Bucky winks at her, "pleasure is all mine."


Daniela regains her strength quickly, she sets her jaw and stares at the man across from her.

Bucky holds her wrists loosely, "okay twist out of my grip and send your elbow to my gut. Don't hold back, Princess."

Daniela frowns, "princess?"

"What?" Bucky raises his brows and tightens his grip on her wrists, "don't like nicknames?" Bucky snickers at her expression and Daniela takes the opportunity. She wrenches her wrists free and sends her elbow into Bucky's gut and throws a solid punch to his eye. Bucky groans and stumbles back. "Nice punch, Princess."

Daniela rolls her eyes and looks at his face before cringing. "Oh, Bucky." She reaches out to him and softly presses the pads of her fingers to Bucky's brow. "That's going to leave a bruise."

Bucky winces, "yeah, I'll have a real nice shiner. We'll have to tell the guards you and I got into a fight." He frowns, "we can't let 'em figure out what's happening."

"I'll be more careful," Daniela brushes her thumb along his cheek bone beginning to tinge purple. "You'll heal up fine, Charming."

Bucky rolls his eyes at her, "oh you're real cute. If you think that nickname is going to embarrass me, you're in for a rude awakening."

"Good because two can play at this game, Charming." She cracks her knuckles and winces at her right hand.

Bucky drops his smirk and takes her hand in his, "that's going to bruise too, you hit me pretty good. That's a nice hook you got. Save that for when we make a run for it."

Daniela nods and sits down, she wipes some of the sweat on her forehead. "The notes have been hidden on the inner side of the hole in the latrine. It's disgusting and you should be careful of splinters."

Bucky scrunches up his face, "that is disgusting. They're hidden in the second one from the left, its the dirtiest. Least likely to be checked by the guards."

"What were you even doing in there?" Bucky stares at the woman sitting across from him. Daniela shifts her eyes from his and looks out into the dark window. There's a sliver of moon out tonight, the kind of night where they can get away with sparring and be unseen. She can feel his eyes still on her, "I figured a lady would try to avoid the most populated outhouse."

"I'm not most ladies, Bucky." She looks at her shoes, with hardened little bits of vomit still speckled on them. "It was an accident the first time I went into that one, as a matter of fact, I only went in because I was trying not to vomit all over myself. These are the only clothes I own." Daniela looks at the knee-length cotton undergarments and the rough undershirt. "The stench made me sicker, when I bent over I saw some paper wedged directly under the rim."

Bucky nods, "that's a lucky accident."

"I choose to believe it was fate," she shrugs. "They seem to be keeping track of the guards shift changes during deliveries."

He smiles, "thank you. That's very helpful. We should try to sleep. Who knows what time they will come banging on the door to wake us."


Daniela's eyes flash open and the guard stands at the opening with a tight grimace painted on his face. Zola smiles at her, standing right beside the guard. "Are you ready, Waltz?"

"No," Daniela kicks Bucky in the leg and he wakes with a start. "We go together or not at all."

Zola looks intrigued, "why?" He dabs at his forehead with a handkerchief, adjusts his round glasses with his fingers.

"We do not leave without the other, we go to your lab together and return together."

The guard tenses his muscles, "you are in no position to make demands, woman."

Bucky pulls himself up and rubs the sore bruise of his eye. He looks down at her, she gives him the tiniest smirk. The edge of her lip tilts up just the slightest, Daniela turns her attention to Zola. "Together, or not at all, Zola."

Zola stares at the two of them, "if one head is cut off, two more will take its place."

Daniela stares at Zola with her brows raised, "what?"

"Nothing, my dear. Just fate lending a generous hand...Come, if the two of you wish to remain together than you shall..." Zola stands aside and the guard pulls Daniela out and aims his gun at her back before pushing Bucky ahead of her. Daniela stares at Zola who has a satisfied smile on his pale face. Something inside her drops as she hears Zola whispering just loud enough for her to hear. "Fate lent us a generous hand, indeed."

Something about that makes her sick, she just isn't sure why.