The next morning dawned foggy and cold. Both men had their own rituals when it came to mission and assignment days. Bucky worked out to steady his nerves, pass the time, and get warmed up before sitting in silence and brooding reflection for a while. Sam never liked working out before a mission. He felt it wore him out and spent energy he may depend on later. For him, the mission was the workout. So, he usually did crossword puzzles or number games until it was time to report.

Sam and Bucky made their way to headquarters to fill in on what their assignment would entail. Since they were set up in an apartment just a few blocks from SHIELD HQ, they usually walked. Upon arrival, they were soon filled in on everything they would need to know to carry out this particular mission.

It wasn't set to be anything super difficult. More of the same as they had been dealing with pre-Flagsmashers. Chatter had been intercepted that HYDRA had a new training facility in an old warehouse complex in downtown Detroit. Their objective was to observe, report, and if need be, break it up. Just another day at the office.

Bucky never really liked missions that focused more on the reconnaissance aspect than anything else. He felt he was of little to no use to the mission as Sam and Redwing were the ones who did all the recon work. He just sat back and kept his eyes open for things he did not need penetrating visual technology to see.

He secretly hoped that this would lead to the 'break it up' portion of the assignment. Then he would be able to have a little bit more fun.

Once they were on the quinjet the thought occurred to Sam that they would be missing the woman in the park for an undetermined amount of time. He wondered to himself if Bucky had given her any more thought after his obvious interest the morning before. Sam was looking forward to watching Bucky's reaction the next time they saw her. If he had one. Knowing him he might not have one. Or he would be insanely good at hiding it. He looked over at Bucky to see him looking out the window.

Bucky was contemplating different plans of attack of the facility they were headed towards. Now that they were up in the air and he had turned on the autopilot function, he had time to think. If the need were to arise, he was prepared for the 'break it up' portion he was most interested in. He had studied the plans of the buildings and complex before they had left and had taken a copy with him to study on the flight over.

Sam watched as Bucky pulled out the building's blueprints and began to study them with a furrowed brow. If he had given that woman any more thought, it certainly wasn't right now. Part of Sam was glad Bucky's head was in the game. The last thing either of them needed was distractions. And here he was thinking about Bucky and a strange woman.

Good Lord, why was this such a thing for him? Sam thought that he really needed to get a grasp on himself and find a new hobby that wasn't revolving around Bucky getting a date.

For now, getting his head in the game and on the assignment was of paramount importance. Everything else could wait until they were back in D.C. after debriefing.

Another day, another successful mission. Not only had they gathered enough valuable intelligence to last the analysts a while, but they also captured two high-ranking HYDRA operatives to bring in for questioning and detainment. They also managed to take down the training facility.

As well as all of the buildings surrounding it.

From leaving D.C. to touchdown back at SHIELD HQ, the assignment had taken over a week. Longer than what either Sam or Bucky was currently used to. Bucky was used to long missions more than Sam, but it had been a while since any of their missions had lasted more than a few days. A week at most.

After debriefing and a lengthy scolding for burning down the entire warehouse complex, they were free to head back to the apartment. Both were looking forward to some much-needed downtime and time to heal from some semi-serious injuries.

For the next few days, both Sam and Bucky laid low and nursed their wounds and a few burns gained from their latest assignment.

Sam had it the worst due to the fact that he did not have the super-soldier healing factor that Bucky did. Bucky, however, managed to come out worse for wear in the fight so they were both in a decent amount of pain and stages of healing. Both men agreed it would be best to keep out of the gym for the next few days.

Bucky was the first to make it back to the gym and back to training. It took Sam just a little while longer, about a week, to fully recover. Enough to resume physical activity again at the very least.

About another two weeks after coming back from their assignment Bucky was ready to start running again. He urged Sam to come with him, that the fresh air would be good for him. But Sam passed this time. Bucky thought he had been pushing himself too hard in training. Yet again. So, he went on his own.

It was a nice, cold morning. The sun was coming up even earlier now so there were more people out than before. Bucky remembered this happening the previous year as well as the seasons changed. He really did enjoy the changing of the seasons. The transition into spring when everyone started coming out after the winter hibernation.

Spring into summer. Summer was always the most active. Sunrise and sunset seemed to be the two times of day that anyone and everyone wished to be outside. Then came the slow slide into autumn.

The colors of the trees changing. The storms of falling leaves. The days slowly growing shorter as the temperature continued to drop. Then right into the bitter white of winter. The season in which most spent as little time outside as they could. Only very few people braved this season in order to continue their outdoor activities.

Bucky and Sam were part of that group of very few people.

As Bucky jogged through one of his favorite neighborhoods, he waved at a few familiar faces. Faces with no names, but faces he had seen on this run many, many times before. This strange feeling of normality never ceased to amaze him.

The old woman in the porch swing on her front porch was back outside enjoying the nicer weather. She gave him a warm smile. One which he returned. Not feeling awkward like the first time this exchange had happened.

As he made his way through the neighborhood, back in the direction of the apartment, Bucky thought to himself. He thought about how far he had come with basic human interaction. Just in these times jogging in these different neighborhoods alone. The difference from the first time he and Sam ran this route to now was staggering.

He had to say that he was proud of the strides that he was making. Even if he didn't see much of a difference in the short term. In the micro, he didn't see any changes whatsoever. But in the macro, there were multitudes of changes that astonished him.

He smiled to himself just a bit at the thought. Feeling proud. He thought to himself about how this was something he was going to bring up with Dr. Fitzpatrick in their next meeting. He was supposed to have met with him this past Monday. But since both he and Sam had been in Detroit, their appointment had been pushed to the following Monday. Keeping up with their every other week schedule that Bucky had agreed to almost two years ago when he had signed up with SHIELD. Minus the times in which they were deployed out on missions and assignments.

Soon he found himself jogging through the park he and Sam always made their way through at the end of every run. Regardless of which way they went or the neighborhood they visited. This was the signifier that he was a block away from the apartment.

Bucky picked up the pace a bit to finish out his run on a high note. Normally he wouldn't do this on account of the fact that his version of picking up the pace a bit would mean outrunning the current Olympic gold medalist. Doing this when anyone else was around would definitely cause some very unwanted attention.

Sometimes being a super-soldier had its downsides. Notwithstanding the reputation or history of being the Winter Soldier, of all super soldiers. He thought about how Steve would have been able to run full tilt and not have to worry about anything or anyone. Because he was Steve Rogers. Captain America. A hero. Not some HYDRA science experiment turned assassin. But this morning there were not very many people out and the park seemed to be completely deserted at the moment. So, Bucky felt safe to let loose. Just a little bit.

About a little more than halfway through the park were some sets of concrete benches and tables. Set off to the left side of the running trail, under the cover of a small thicket of trees on the other side of them. At one of the tables sat a woman.

The second Bucky saw her he slowed his pace and was more than thankful that she did not seem to notice him. If she had, she did not look up. He thanked his lucky stars as he got closer to her. He realized that this was the same woman who was sitting at this bench looking over all of that paperwork. On that day she had had her back towards him and Sam. Today she was facing him coming up the trail. All of the paperwork was splayed out in front of her again.

She was the one he had noticed sitting at these tables in the previous seasons; except in the winter. He thought back and remembered that she was usually there, but he never paid her that much attention. At that time, he had been more acutely aware of his surroundings and more alert to potential threats. Not paying attention to anyone he deemed of little to no threat.

Needless to say, he had other things on his mind. But now he was taking notice. Something just seemed… off. Bucky couldn't put his figure out what it was. He wondered why he had never noticed this little quirk before. Whatever that may be.

Maybe it was the fact that, once again, she had a whole mess of papers spread out in front of her. Maybe it was the fact that despite being the only other person in the park at the time, she did not even look up as Bucky approached. Even though it was obvious she was not wearing any headphones of any kind.

Bucky took a second to really look at her as he passed.

She was wearing a black leather biker jacket with a black hoodie underneath. She had one of the strings of the hoodie between her lips as her teeth worried it. She had on fitted black leather gloves that were holding onto a rather large open file folder of papers that she was reading through intently. She was wearing dark blue jeans and black boots that looked almost military-like.

She had one leg pulled up to her chest, her boot perched on the edge of the concrete bench. Her chin was resting on that knee as she put down the folder and reached for a notebook and pen and took some notes. All the while still chewing on the drawstring of her hoodie.

She had long wavy brown hair. It was down and hanging around her shoulders. It was longer than shoulder-length, it probably came down to about her mid-back. It was hard to say as it kept picking up and swaying with the slight breeze. A few stray strands flew in front of her face, which was caught by her fingers, and twirled absentmindedly around them. The rays of sun that had succeeded in reaching this spot of the park caught the red and golden tones in it.

Bucky had been right. When she wasn't scowling, like she had been the other day, she was indeed very pretty. As he finally passed her and turned to keep looking, he realized that she was not just pretty, she was beautiful.

She had a heart-shaped face. Long eyelashes that almost touched her cheeks as she looked down at her notes and examined them. Defined cheekbones, a cute almost button-like nose. A strong yet soft jawline that ended in a sharp chin with a slight cleft. Her lips were currently pursed in concentration, but they were full and shapely with a sharp cupid's bow.

Whoever she was, she was stunning.

And from what Bucky could tell, she was not wearing a stitch of makeup.

He quickly turned forward and kept going. Resisting the urge to look back at her. She was familiar yet entirely alien at the same time. He knew that they had never met before. He knew he had never seen her before outside of this park. But he still could not shake the fact and the feeling that there was something so recognizable about her.

And it was completely and utterly unsettling.

Bucky let out a breath that he had not realized he had been holding.

When Bucky made it back to the apartment Sam was sacked out on the couch watching some shoot-em-up movie. But as he glanced over and got a look at Bucky's face, he paused the movie, a concerned look on his face.

"What's up with you, Buck?"

"Nothing." Bucky replied too quickly. Not even noticing the use of Steve's old nickname for him.

Sam looked puzzled for a moment. Bucky didn't even tell him off for calling him 'Buck'. Sam thought for a moment and realized where Bucky had just come from. Comprehension seemed to dawn on him like an ocean wave.

"It was the girl from the park, wasn't it?"

"No." Bucky said. Only this time his voice wavered just enough for Sam to notice. Giving him away.

"I knew it! What's her name?" Sam asked, almost too eagerly.

"I don't know." Bucky deadpanned, staring at Sam blankly.

Sam just looked at him with a 'come on. Really?' look on his face.

"I didn't talk to her." Bucky now had to look everywhere but at Sam.

"What? What happened then? You were white as a sheet when you walked through that door. Come on man, you can tell me." Sam seemed sincere. Bucky felt like he had no choice but to oblige. Sam would bug him to death if he didn't give him some information. This was worse than an interrogation.

"I was running through the park. No one was around so I picked up my pace until I saw her. She was the only one around. I slowed down. The table was covered in papers again. She was busy going through them and taking notes. She never even looked up."

Sam waved a hand at him as if to wave away a fly.

"She must have had earphones in or something."

"She didn't. Nothing that I could see."

"Then what has you so hot and bothered?"

"I am not hot and bothered."

Sam raised his eyebrow and gave Bucky a disbelieving look.

"I'm just bothered. There was something familiar about her. I cannot put my finger on it, but something was really off about her."

Sam suddenly turned serious.

"Do you think you remember her from your past? Could she be a possible HYDRA agent? Someone we may need to worry about? What about her was familiar?"

Bucky sighed heavily.

"No. She wasn't from my past. I have never seen her anywhere but at that park. And no, I don't think she is or was HYDRA. I would have recognized anyone I had worked with or had contact with. I was brainwashed. Not clueless."

Sam stood there waiting for Bucky to continue.

"There was just something about her. I feel as if I've seen or experienced it before, but I know I never have. It's just a gut feeling. Like a memory that's missing and trying to resurface. But I am sure I have never seen her before."

Sam paused for a moment to think. Every time Bucky mentioned a gut feeling he was usually right. Right about something. Sometimes it wasn't exactly what he thought, but his gut was something that Sam had come to trust. He looked at Bucky seriously before he spoke.

"Do you think we should call this one in and see if we can find out who she is? Make sure she really is just another random civilian and that there is nothing to worry about?"

Bucky looked pensive but did not speak. So, Sam continued.

"Look, Buck. You have had gut feelings before. And usually, your gut feelings mean something. I personally would also feel better knowing that there is no actual threat here."

Bucky looked up at Sam.

"So, what do you suggest, Sam? We arrest her, kidnap her, and take her to SHIELD and have them do a full background check on her? Just because I have a feeling?"

Sam put up his hands in defense.

"That's a little drastic don't you think? Maybe you can give a description and they can search their databases for possible matches in our 'Persons of Interest' folder. Then have you review the ones they come up with and see if she's anywhere to be found. If she's just a civilian, nothing should come up."

Bucky did not say anything for a good few minutes as he thought this over. It was tempting. But it was also a drastic measure for something that seemed so insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

"How about I talk about this with Dr. Fitzpatrick when I see him in a few days. It will give me time to mull this over and determine whether I think this is something we should genuinely be worried about or not. If he agrees it would be best to follow up, we will come up with a plan then."

Sam slowly nodded his head as he processed what Bucky was getting at.

"Sounds like a plan to me. We could also sneak a photo of her as one of us pretends to tie our shoes or something to make the search a little easier. That and we cannot just show up with a description or photo without probable cause. SHIELD will not do that search for no reason. And unlike me, your gut is not enough for them. The good doc, however, might be of help if he agrees."

There was silence in the air as both men pondered over the possible issues they were facing. As well as the fact that there was just as good of a chance of this being absolutely nothing. But Sam had a point. It was better knowing there was no threat than having a real threat be right under their noses.

Sam spoke up again.

"Did you manage to catch what she was working on? I didn't get a good look last time."

Bucky sighed. "No. I didn't."

"But you did get a good look. Didn't you?"

Bucky looked up at Sam's change in tone to see him wagging his eyebrows at him suggestively with a big old smile across his face.

Bucky sighed heavily and stalked off to his room.

As he walked away Sam yelled after him, "I'll take that as a 'yes."