Again guys, I'M SO SORRY FOR THE WAIT!

I'm back from studying abroad and have around a month at home before I go back to school so I will have more time to write! That said, this is the last WS chapter! :D From here on out I will be following my timeline and we will get to see more of Steve and Charlie and others ;) I will give you guys more updates with the next chapter after I plan a few more things out. Thank you thank you thank you for sticking with this story even though I've been horrible with updating. I really appreciate all of your reviews and suggestions and favorite/follows. You guys ARE THE BEST! I love you all and thank you so much! I hope you enjoy the last installment of the WS :D

Charlie stared out her back window, fingers tapping against the windowsill. Her thoughts wouldn't stop. They were constantly chasing each other in circles, yelling and whispering to be heard. Was Steve alive? Was he hurt? Did he trust her? Could she trust him? Why had she offered to give him her name? Why had she gotten so close to him, so quickly? What was different about Steve? Was it time to run again? Charlie breathed out in a huff, just wanting her wheels to stop turning. She hadn't been this anxious or confused or scared for a long time. Her life had been happily melancholy for several years until Steve came along. Charlie had convinced herself that she was becoming normal, that her past wasn't affecting her anymore. Until Steve came along. And he'd opened up a whole new door to thoughts and experiences she never thought were possible. What she'd said was true, he was her first ever friend. She had never realized how much she needed a friend, someone to talk to, until Steve. Never knew how heavy her past was until she'd given it to someone else. And she never expected how much it hurt to have her trust thrown back into her face.

Charlie looked to the kitchen table at the three tiered, delicately decorated cake. She'd added fondant yesterday along with edible sugar flowers. When she was stressed or trying to push her past away, she baked. But there was nothing more she could add to the cake and she couldn't make another one. That was just wasteful. She needed something, an outlet for all her emotions but she was running out of options. Except, running…she hadn't run for a long time. Charlie's mind was made up as soon as the thought crossed her mind. Without thought to proper shoes or that the temperature had dipped in the last week, Charlie opened the back door and ran for the woods. Because that's what she did best. She ran away.

"Did you write that down first, or was it off the top of your head?" Sam said, amusement seeping from his tone. Steve gave him a look but couldn't help the wry smile that formed on his lips. He liked Sam. He offered an element of humor to life and death situations that Steve had been missing. Missing since Bucky. Steve's heart thumped painfully. He could save Bucky. He could. Couldn't he?

Pushing the thoughts and emotions away, Steve and Sam went to accomplish their mission. Stopping the helicarriers. The speech had been an attempt to stop the helicarriers from even being initiated or at least stalled. It was also a call for help, for SHIELD to fight back. Steve needed all the help he could get and although he knew the helicarriers would be launched, maybe he could inspire some resistance. Steve buried the emotions that rose with the adrenaline. He focused on his objective and became numb to all else.

It was almost easy. Easy to beat up more than twenty agents to get to the control center. Easy to install one chip, making the helicarrier theirs. Steve went through the motions. He could see the threat and neutralize it without a second thought. Maybe he should be worried about how fluidly he moved to kill someone or how it was second nature to kick a person off a plane. But not right now. Steve had two objectives: get the helicarriers hooked up to their chips and find Bucky. But he knew he wouldn't have to find him. Bucky would find Steve. He just had to be ready.

Two helicarriers down and one more to go. Steve called for Sam's help and then jumped off his helicarrier. Sam caught him moments before Steve fell to the pavement and yelled with exertion. He hadn't really thought about the strain his weight would put on Sam's wings.

"You know, you're a lot heavier than you look," Sam grunted after setting Steve down.

"I had a big breakfast," Steve sighed. He had a moment to try and think of an apology before he was shoved off the helicarrier. Steve saw a flash of Bucky's face and then he was hitting metal and scrambling not to fall. He heard Sam's shout and the mechanics of his wings starting up. Steve heard the entire fight over the roaring wind. He knew that Sam was out of the fight the moment it started. It wasn't his fight. It was Steve's.

"Cap? Cap, come in. Are you okay?" Sam's voice crackled through Steve's ear piece.

"Yeah, I'm here! I'm still on the Helicarrier. Where are you?"

"I'm grounded, the suit's down. Sorry, Cap."

"Don't worry, I got it," Steve reassured. He took a deep breath and headed for the control center. Maybe if he got the chip in before Bucky found him again, he could figure out a plan to get Bucky back. Maybe he could save Bucky, bring him back. But as soon as Steve stepped onto the platform, he knew it had just been a hopeless wish.

Bucky stood in front of the chip console, glaring at Steve. He was in full armor and there was an empty, deadly look in his eyes. This was not the Bucky Steve knew. This wasn't his best friend. But he had to try.

"People are gonna die, Buck. I can't let that happen," Steve said. Does he recognize his nickname? Does he register the people that he's killed? That he's going to kill? What have they done to you Bucky?

Bucky just stared back coldly.

"Please, don't make me do this."

Steve barely registered the words as they passed his lips. He didn't-couldn't fight his best friend, childhood playmate, practically brother. He couldn't-

Bucky glared and Steve knew. This was an assassin. This was the Winter Soldier. I don't this he's the kind you save. He's the kind you stop. Steve forced his mind not to recognize Bucky. He saw the Winter Soldier and he had lives to save.

Steve threw his SHIELD and engaged the Winter Soldier. Bullets flew. Punches were thrown. Every time Steve saw the Winter Soldier's face, his resolve weakened. He's an assassin. He's an assassin. I need to protect people. I need to protect people. The constant avoidance of his instinct not to fight made Steve's movements slower. Maybe that's why one of the shots connected. Steve grunted in pain as the bullet grazed his side. The pain helped him refocus. The console and the chip. He could do this.

Soon, the gun was out of Bucky's-no, the Winter Soldier's hands and a knife replaced it. Steve hated knives now. A few quick rounds and Steve pushed him aside.

He typed in the code for the chip he needed. The console moved and Steve turned around to face his attacker. A few more hits, a few more struggles and he was able to kick him aside.

Steve grabbed the chip placing it in a holster at his hip. He went to grab the replacement but he was there. Fighting, punching, kicking, a whirlwind of black and steel.

And then they were flying off the railing. Steve landed hard, the chip skidding across the metal. More fighting, more attacking. He couldn't keep doing this. It was Bucky-no it was the Winter Soldier. But-no! He had to think of him as the Winter Soldier to fight him. There was no other way. No other- Steve was thrown backwards but he picked up the chip. Bucky came at him again and again and the chip flew out of Steve's hand. Focus on the chip, not on Bucky. He had to get the chip. Steve slammed his fist into Bucky and jumped after the chip. People were going to die. If I can just hold out and get the chip in, everything will work out.

Steve had forgotten about his shield until it smacked him in the back. Steve rolled and grabbed the shield in time to protect himself from the bullets. Where had he gotten another gun? A well aimed throw and there was no longer a gun. Just another knife. Oh come on. More fighting, more struggling and then the knife sunk into Steve's right shoulder. Steve yelled in pain and used his head to make Bucky get off of him. Dang, it hurt to get stabbed. Steve pulled out the knife and then realized where Bucky was. No, the Winter Soldier. The Winter Soldier had the chip. No.

Steve reacted on instinct and pulled him up by his throat. Bucky gave a strangled cry as Steve held him a foot above the ground. Looking at his wild face, reddening face, Steve couldn't do it. With a yell, he slammed Bucky into the floor and took his arm. Steve held the arm in a tight grasp and pushed against Bucky's head.

"Drop it." Bucky struggled wildly.

"Drop it!" Steve shouted. Bucky wasn't letting go. So Steve dislocated his shoulder. Bucky's scream of pain tore through Steve's defenses. He couldn't do this. He had never hurt Bucky in his life. Until now.

Steve flipped them over and brought his arm around Bucky's neck. Maybe it would be easier if he couldn't see him. Maybe it would make the fight easier. But Steve could still see Bucky's contorting face. The metal arm came up to try and tear Steve's from his throat. Steve forced the arm down and pinned it with his leg. He tightened his hold and tried to ignore the way Bucky's face was turning red. How he was struggling to breathe. Please pass out. Please pass out. Please pass out.

Bucky began to still.

His grip loosened.

The sound of the chip falling onto the glass was like music to Steve's ears. He quickly let go of Bucky's limp body and scrambled for the chip. He flipped himself onto a metal platform and ran towards the console. He just needed to climb up and put the chip in. Steve faintly heard Hill's minute warning and tried to pick up the place.

The bullet through his leg pulled that thought up short. Steve whirled around, grimacing to find Bucky not unconscious and pointing a gun on him. Stupid. Steve was so stupid for thinking he would remain unconscious. But he didn't have a choice. He couldn't-

Steve ignored his instincts that said not to turn his back. He started climbing, stopping when a bullet ricocheted near his hand. But he kept going. He kept going until he reached the right platform. He rolled and then hobbled to the control console.

"Thirty seconds, Cap!" Hill shouted in his ear.

"Stand by," Steve gasped as he got the chip out. It was in his hand and he was so close-

Steve's breath was stolen as pain exploded in his back and stomach. Gasping for air, he looked down to see a blossom of red on his uniform. He shot me. He shot me in the back. Steve's mind couldn't comprehend, couldn't accept that Bucky had shot him in the back. It's not Bucky. Steve clenched his eyes shut and tried to focus through the pain. He hadn't been shot for a long time. There was something he had to do, people he needed to save-the chip. And he'd had thirty seconds. How long had it been? Was he too late? Steve gathered his strength, pulled himself up, and reached.

The chip locked into place.

"Charlie locked," Steve rasped. It hurt. Everything hurt. But it was done. The chip was in and people were safe. Steve had accomplished the mission.

"Okay, Cap, get out of there," Hill commanded. Steve looked around, grimacing in pain and he knew he wasn't getting out anytime soon.

"Fire now."

"But, Steve…"

"Do it! Do it now!" Steve yelled. He struggled to stand, pain lancing through his body at every step. He had thought he could do it. Save Bucky. But he'd been wrong. He thought maybe his old uniform would remind Bucky of who he was. But he'd been wrong. Nothing had saved him. Steve had truly lost his best friend. As that thought began to sink in, the area around him exploded in gunfire and explosions. The force threw Steve around, debris came too close to comfort. There was nowhere for Steve to go. He didn't have an escape plan. Why should he when he'd already lost everything?

A scream rent the air, one Steve had dreamed he'd never hear again. Bucky's scream. Steve looked over the side and saw Bucky pinned under a metal beam. He was struggling ferociously, in pain, in panic. Steve couldn't just leave him. There's still a chance. A small part of Steve's hope flared to life. He grabbed it and refused to let go. That one spark of hope was immensely better than the emptiness Steve had grown too accustomed to.

Steve made, or tried to make his way down to Bucky. He was thrown about until he eventually landed on the glass. Bucky was still struggling, throwing fearful glances at Steve. He doesn't know me. He thinks I'm here to finish him off. Steve pushed himself over to the beam, wrapped his arms around it, and pulled. His body screamed in agony but Steve wasn't about to stop. He was able to lift it off of Bucky just enough so that Bucky could shimmy out from under it.

There was a moment of panting and gasping from both men. Until Steve couldn't hold back anymore.

"You know me," he accused. He looked at Bucky, pleaded with Bucky to recognize him.

"No, I don't!" Bucky shouted, punching Steve in the face. Steve's mind was becoming blurry but there was one pinpoint of clarity. Bucky. He had to try.

"Bucky, you've known me your whole life."

Another yell and backhanded swipe to the face.

"Your name is James Buchanan Barnes."

"SHUT UP!" Steve reeled from Bucky's next punch but found his footing. He had to keep trying. He had to. Steve took off his helmet and let it fall. He was tired, so tired. And everything hurt. Hurt too much. But he had to try. Because the look on Bucky's face, it was so lost and desperate. He had no idea who he was. And Steve wouldn't be the friend he was if he didn't try and give him back his identity. Because for all the ways that James Buchanan Barnes had helped Steven Rogers through his life, this was the least he could do.

"I'm not gonna fight you. You're my friend." Steve looked Bucky in the eye. He dropped his shield, his weapon, his only form of protection. He never heard it fall. Bucky gave a yell and pushed Steve to the ground.

" You're my mission," Bucky snarled before his fist connected with Steve's face. Steve's had whipped back, repeatedly. Bucky's fist kept coming and coming. By the time he stopped, Steve couldn't feel the pain anymore. A haziness was settling over his mind, his senses. It reminded him of another time that was more cold and more silent and the numbness was bliss. Slowly, Steve's mind registered that Bucky had been shouting something while punching him. You're my mission!

"Then finish it," Steve rasped. Bucky raised his arm.

And stopped.

The flare of hope inside Steve roared. It made him strong enough to fight the hazy, numb bliss for just a few more seconds. It made him strong enough to utter one last sentence…

"Cause I'm with you to the end of the line." Steve watched Bucky's eyes as they changed from confused and lost, to a glimmer of recognition and horror. Steve let his eyes begin to close, satisfied that he had broken through to Bucky. Even if it was small, he'd broken through. He barely felt the shudder as something fell next to them. Barely felt the weightless fall or the cold slap of water. Maybe he should fight. Maybe he should struggle. But he was so tired. And the numbness wasn't really that bad…

The last thing Steve saw was a silver hand reaching for him.

"Charlie! Where have you been? I've been looking for you everywhere!" Betty cried. Charlie took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. She'd made her decision, she'd stick to it.

"I just went for a quick run."

"You've been gone for three hours! And why don't you have a coat on or better shoes? Do you know how cold it is?"

"Nana, I'm fine. Is something wrong?" Charlie asked, changing the subject. Betty floundered, mouth opening and closing.

"Steve's on the TV. Everything finally came out," Nathan said. He motioned for her to come inside and Charlie followed. She didn't miss his concerned glance at her flushed cheeks and dirty jeans. She'd tripped a couple of times while running. No big deal. Charlie stood in front of the TV and listened to the reporter.

"Three helicarriers rose into the air from a SHIELD underground facility. It was speculated that these were just a show of what SHIELD has been working on but we now have confirmed information that they were intended to kill millions of people that HYDRA believed were threats to world peace. We also have a confirmed report saying that HYDRA, the old WWII organization that Captain America fought against in the 1940s, infiltrated SHIELD and has been secretly plotting for years. Captain America and some allies gained control of the helicarriers and made them shoot at each other. The helicarriers are now inoperable and part of the massive debris now littering the river. As of now, there is still no sign of Captain America. It was said…" Charlie let out a sigh and placed her hands on her hips.

"Well at least we knew what's been going on now," Charlie said.

"But what about Steve? He's missing!" Betty cried. Both Betty and Nathan looked at Charlie carefully, as if she might break down in tears. Charlie squashed the worry and fear that had blossomed in her chest and replaced it with her decision. It would be fine. Everything would go back to normal.

"He'll be fine. He's nearly indestructible. I'm sure they'll find him soon," Charlie responded nonchalantly. She turned her back on Betty and Nathan's shocked faces and made her way to the kitchen. She did believe what she'd said. Steve would be fine. He might be hurt or in pain but he'd be fine. Right? No, enough. I'm not thinking about him. I'm pulling back. Remember the decision, Charlie thought to herself. She strengthened her resolve and pushed her worry to the side.

"Does anybody want some cake?" Charlie called. She took a knife from the cutting board and plate from the cupboard. She cut a neat slice of her cake and sat down to eat. She was going to pull away from Steve because she'd gotten too close. And when she got close to people, things never ended well. This was for the best. Right?

Steve spent countless days in the hospital. Three gunshot wounds, one stab wound, massive bruising on his face and everywhere on his body, plus wounds from his previous fight. Steve didn't blame the doctors for keeping him in the hospital. Didn't mean he had to like it. He was itching to get out and search for Bucky. Because he had seen the moment of recognition in Bucky's eyes and it had been Bucky's metal arm that had rescued him from the water. Bucky was out there and Steve wanted to reach him before his trail went cold. But he was stuck in the hospital, wires sticking out of him.

It did give him time to think. However, Steve couldn't decide if that was a good or a bad thing. On one hand, he could cross off grieving for Fury because he wasn't actually dead. On the other hand, Peggy was still dead and that hit harder than Fury's "death." Steve had found his best friend after years of thinking he was dead. But, his best friend was a ghost, highly trained assassin, and didn't fully know who he was. Steve had gained a new ally and friend in Sam, the Falcon. But, he'd lost SHIELD's resources and allies. And then there was Charlie.

In all the intensity of the fights and deaths and memories, Steve clearly remembered the hurt and betrayal in Charlie's voice. He had made a mistake in questioning her trust. But was he wrong for doubting in that moment? SHIELD had just become HYDRA and he the only allies at that point in time were a spy and soldier he barely knew. Could she blame him for asking? But how could he have doubted her? She had done nothing, absolutely nothing to make him think she could be HYDRA. Neither had Pierce, Steve thought. He'd been battling with his decision for the last few days. He felt hurt and guilty that he'd questioned her but he also knew he'd make the same choice if the situation were to repeat itself. He'd only known her for a month or so! Still, it was…painful to think he'd hurt her. Why did it hurt him if she was hurt?

Steve sighed and looked at his phone. No new messages. He did have the new Marvin Gaye soundtrack on his phone, courtesy of Sam, but no missed phone calls or new text messages. Charlie hadn't tried to contact him once since their phone call. Steve knew that he'd been all over the news so she had to know what had happened. But there had been nothing. And Steve had meant to call her, really he had. But he didn't want to call her with doctors constantly interrupting him and guards at his door. He wanted a little bit of privacy. Didn't really want people to know about Charlie. Not yet at least. Steve wasn't sure he wanted to share this part of his life with the world and he didn't know the ears that would be listening in such a crowded place. So, he waited until he was out of the hospital, until he'd said goodbye to Fury and Natasha, until he'd resolved to pull the thread and learn about the Winter Soldier Bucky had become to call her. He waited and hoped she wasn't in danger because of him. Hoped she'd forgive him for ever doubting her.