A/N:

I know its a little later than normal but here is Chapter 5, enjoy, and as usual feel free to review, favourite and follow!

~Ladieesailor

CHAPTER 5

.*.

"What she didn't expect to happen next was for Steve and Tony to come bursting through her front door."

.*.

Everywhere you look, everywhere you go, there's a heart, a hand to hold onto!

Bucky inhaled a sharp breath, lunging forward as the thrum of the opening credits from the show Iz had forced him to watch jolted him awake. He had seemingly begun to nod off despite his best efforts. Not long after stuffing their faces, they both wordlessly made themselves comfortable on the sofa, Iz had slowly descended into her sleep and Bucky hadn't been long behind her until the music had awoken him. Just as well, as he had struggled - yet succeeded - in remaining awake for the past three nights, preferring the sleep deprivation to the unthinkable alternative of a nightmare. Rubbing his eyes with one hand, he took his phone out of his pocket with the other and checked the time - it had just gone 9pm. Relieved, he let his body fall back against the back of the sofa. The last time he had checked his phone it was just after 8.30pm, so even if he had drifted off it couldn't of been for long.

Glancing up across the room, he couldn't help but smile at Iz's small form on the other end of the large 'L' shaped sofa. He didn't think it was possible for someone to physically become part of the furniture and yet she had managed to completely embed herself into the corner of it, cocooned in the blanket she had wrapped around herself earlier. He noted that she looked completely peaceful in her slumber - an emotion he hadn't seen on her face before. The knitted eyebrows, the odd bite of her lip, the turned down frown when she appeared to be thinking of a possible solution to all of their impossible problems – all those expressions were gone, and in her sleep she looked completely at ease. He couldn't lie to himself, when she had begun to freak out earlier he was completely at a loss as to what he should do. The first thing that came to mind was to get her away from the knives and get help. He knew if he contacted Steve she would flip, which left him with one option - Dr Cho, who had appeared close to Iz before at Stark Tower and she was his only option.

It was only when Iz had calmed down from her panic attack and they were sitting there so comfortably in close proximity, that he allowed himself a minute to enjoy the human touch – to have someone so close. He hadn't felt a close connection with another human being in decades, even now, when Steve would clasp his shoulder or briefly hug him he would freeze, uncomfortable with the touch. And yet with Iz it almost felt natural, he didn't hesitate to hold her close when he needed too to help her. It was only when she spoke his name so softly - he almost believed he had imagined it - that he realised he was stroking her cheek with his thumb, their foreheads touching, his mouth so close to hers. He felt foolish, she had just had a panic attack and all he could think about was that it had been a long time since he had felt human contact like that - to almost feel wanted and needed as she gripped onto his arms so tightly as if her life depended on it. He was only used to people fighting against his grip as they screamed for mercy.

He glanced down at his phone once more - Tony had given him one, claiming that it was how they all kept in contact with one another, but he knew fine well that there was a high chance that a tracking chip and a hundred other things that enabled the Avengers to keep a close eye on him were disguised in the modern day contraption. But he didn't mind all of that, not when he had nothing to hide, and plus, it also enabled him to keep in contact with Steve. He had debated all evening on whether he should make Steve aware of what had happened to Iz, what with her mentors not being there he felt someone should know, someone who could do a better job of helping her in the future. Making his mind up on the spot he carefully typed out a message, and within seconds he had a reply.

It was always going to happen. She's a tough one, but even the tough ones can't hold it together forever. Bucky smiled as he read the message, Steve hadn't changed at all in nearly seventy years.

His phone vibrated in his hand, Steve's caller ID flashing at him on the screen. Getting up, he creeped down the hall and into his room, shutting the door carefully behind him and accepting the call.

"A bit of pre-warning would have been nice, Iz is asleep." He hissed down the phone.

"Hey to you too." Bucky could envision the smile on Steve's face as he spoke. "Dr Cho debriefed us on what happened, she commended you for the way you got her to calm down."

Bucky was silent for a moment, he had overheard the conversation between Iz and Dr Cho, with the latter promising not to tell anyone what had happened. As if reading him, Steve carried on. "I learned pretty quickly there's no such thing as medical confidentiality within SHIELD or the Avengers, if Izzy can't cope we have to know, although thankfully her little hiccup today in her recovery will work in her favour. She needed to get all that pent up emotion out of her system or it would have eaten at her."

Bucky found himself feeling strangely protective of Iz, almost infuriated that Dr Cho had lied to her and went straight to the Avengers about her panic attack. But then, that would be preposterous, so he buried the sharp words that were forming on his tongue and decided to change the subject.

"Any more updates on Sokolov we need to know about?" he queried.

"Nothing more as of yet although Nat and Clint are expected to make contact any day now."

Bucky was itching to get out of the apartment, any lead at all would at least enable him and Izzy to take a small venture outside where he could stop feeling like a caged animal.

"Anyway." Steves voice rang in his ear. "Less about everyone else, how you holding up Buck? Are you sleeping at all?"

"I think its better for everyone in this apartment block if I don't sleep." He replied grimly.

"If its Izzy your worried about, don't. She's dealt with a lot worse. You can't evade sleep forever Bucky, just try and get some sleep tonight – if it doesn't work out I'll force Fury to let you both return here."

It wasn't Iz that he was worried about. It was the chance of him slipping back into the mind of the Winter Soldier again, with each new nightmare he could feel the pull of his darker side getting stronger. He was worried that one night he would fall asleep as Bucky and become trapped once again. But Steve was right, his body was struggling and he wasn't going to make it through another night with no sleep.

"Yeah, your right. Speaking of, I think I'm going to head to bed now. Just stay close to your phone Steve."

"I always do."

The phone line clicked at the other end, signalling to Bucky that the call was ended. Sighing, he left his phone on the bedside table before wandering back into the living room. Iz hadn't moved a single inch since he had been gone, gently he shook her shoulder, not wanting to scare her, but she only let out a massive sigh before rolling over and away from him. She clearly needed sleep just as much as him. Carefully, he scooped her up into his arms, her small form fit perfectly against him as he carried her through to her room and placed her down on the bed, still wrapped up in her blanket. She let out another deep breath as she subconsciously curled back up into a ball, Bucky caught himself smiling once more and admonished himself. It was neither the time nor place, and to say Bucky was rusty on the etiquette of dealing with women was an understatement. He could only put it down to the fact that they were cooped up in the apartment together, all of these weird feelings and amusements would soon come to pass. He wandered back into his own room, removing his top before climbing into bed and turning off his lights.

"Well, lets give this a go." He muttered to himself. No sooner had the words left his mouth than he was already slipping into a dreamless state. Or so he thought.

o.0.o

"Comply." The hooded man that stood before Bucky slammed another well-placed punch into his right kidney, causing him once more to buckle forward in pain – the only thing stopping him from crying out was his own gritted teeth. This stranger had him strung up by his arms – his toes barely scraping the ground – and had been beating him for hours, simply stating this one word. Comply.

"No." he hissed between his teeth, spitting out the blood that had been forming in his mouth.

"The Red Book and its knowledge may be lost, Sergeant Barnes, but we have other ways to persuade you." A faceless grin peaked out from underneath the hood as he clicked his fingers - a door off to the right of them slowly opened.

Bucky knew he could outlast this man and his punches, no matter how painful. He had been trained for it – as the Winter Soldier of course – but he knew his body could endure it. He couldn't go back to being the Winter Soldier - he couldn't hurt people the way he had been - but most importantly, he couldn't lose himself again. So he would endure the pain.

Just as he ascertained his mindset and prepared for the next elevated step of interrogation, two cloaked figures suddenly appeared through the door that had opened moments before, carrying a limp body between them.

His blood turned cold. Anybody could wear the suit that the limp body was wearing, but no one else but him could own the shield that was carried in behind him.

Steve.

"No." his voice stammered. "It's not possible."

"Oh but it is Sergeant Barnes, I have thee Captain America within my grasp!" the hooded man approached Steve's limp body - which was now supported between the two hooded figures that had dragged him in, right in front of Bucky - and pulled his head up, showing his bruised and swollen face to the room. "So let's try this again, either you comply and tell me the contents of the Red Book, or America loses their famed, darling hero!"

Bucky's resolve was weakening, Steve would of course understand if he refused to divulge what little he knew from the Red Book. It kept a lot of people safe. But it was Steve, his best friend, his saviour from his life as the Winter Soldier. If he succumbed to the hooded man and gave him what he wanted he could break the hold on himself again. The Avengers would stop who ever this mad man was and they would either make Bucky snap out of his brainwashed state or kill him. If he could save Steve…

"Bucky…don't." the words that left Steve's lips were barely more than a whisper - as if he knew what Bucky was thinking. But it was enough to snap him out of his crazy thoughts.

"Go to hell." He spat in the direction of the hooded man, who in turn, as if anticipating this answer slammed his fist into Steve's face, rendering him completely unconscious.

Bucky pulled against his restraints as he lunged forward, roaring obscenities at the hooded man. He yanked, harder and harder - he swore he could feel the concrete above him give a little. Ignoring the maniac laughs around him he kept yanking, screaming as the chains cut into his wrists, but he didn't care. Only he could get himself and Steve out of this situation. If he didn't escape now, Steve would die.

"Oh Sergeant Barnes!" The hooded figure called out in a sing song voice, capturing his attention. He ceased the yanking of his chains and looked up.

Before him stood Agent Sullivan – Iz. And behind her stood the hooded man with one of her own knives against her neck, her teeth gritted in a soundless pain. Looking down, he was horrified to see the cause of that pain. Just below her waist, one of her own small throwing daggers was lodged in the top of her thigh, keeping her immobilised against the man. Her eyes shimmered with pain, but when they met his it was like an unspoken language transpired between them.

She was willing to die to prevent another person falling victim to the Winter Soldier.

It should be easy for him to ignore this, he barely knew the woman held before him, and yet there was a tug against his heart, a tug that wanted to make sure no harm came to her. His chest was already flaring with rage at the fact they had already caused her pain.

"Comply, Sergeant Barnes." The knife was dug in deeper against her neck, causing a thin line of blood to appear, but it barely registered in her eyes as they stayed locked with Bucky's, begging him not to.

"Get fucked." came his answer, although he soon regretted it.

Her proud smile only lasted a mere second before the hooded man, screaming in anger, grabbed her by the hair and threw her against the wall behind Bucky with such force that a slight dent had appeared in the concrete where her torso had connected - she crumpled to the floor on the spot. He strained desperately to look round at her limp body - her chest wasn't rising.

"NO!" he roared once more. He threw his body forward, again and again as he screamed until he felt the concrete above him give way and he collapsed forward onto his knee's. Rolling over instinctively he positioned himself better to deal with anyone coming towards him, but when he looked up the room was empty, the door that was off to the right was closed once more. No Steve, no Iz and no hooded man with his hooded goons. Undoing the chains from his wrists he ran at the door, grabbing the door handle and ripping the door from its hinges. The hall before him was poorly lit but he could see the hooded figure running away. He was upon him within seconds, it didn't take much to have him pinned up against the wall, gasping for breath.

"Leave them alone, they have nothing to do with the Winter Soldier, they are innocent." He growled, raising his metal arm as he intended to end the life before him. But he was stopped by an unknown force, his body went rigid as he felt a sharp stab in his ribs. Collapsing backwards, the last thing he saw was the hooded figure standing over him, cackling as he taunted him. "Until next time, Sergeant Barnes."

o.0.o

A long, gut wrenching scream filled the quiet night air, startling Isabelle from her dreamless sleep. Falling back on her natural instinct she was on her feet with a knife in her hand within a matter of seconds. It was Bucky, and she would happily bet that he was in the throws of one of his infamous nightmares. She looked to her bedside table. Shit! She thought to herself, the darts were still on the kitchen counter. Wasting no time, she ripped her bedroom door open and ran to the kitchen just as another scream filled the air, accompanied by a loud crash as the door leading into Bucky's room was ripped off of its hinges and thrown back. Within a matter of seconds Bucky was upon her, but not before she grabbed the little black box.

"Bucky wai-" her words were cut off as he grabbed her by the throat and shoved her up against the wall, bringing his face mere inches from her own. As her eyes focused on his she was met with only unfamiliarity and anger, completely void of any emotion that was there only hours before. Now she understood what Steve meant when he spoke about his pain of not being recognised by his best friend – it almost crushed her hope of getting out of the situation.

"Leave them alone." The words came out of Bucky's mouth in a low growl. "They have nothing to do with The Winter Soldier, they are innocent." As if to make his point he pulled her closer and then smashed her back up against the wall even harder than the first time. Through the haze now clouding her vision thanks to the lack of oxygen from his choke hold - she remembered the box. With one slick, small movement she removed a dart and jabbed it between his fourth and fifth rib on his right side, within seconds his grip loosened as he collapsed to the floor, completely unconscious. She sucked in the air as she collapsed forward beside him, holding her neck where the grip of his hand still burned.

What she didn't expect to happen next was for Steve and Tony to come bursting through her front door.

"Hey, Izzy, are you okay?" Steve rushed over to her, but she waved him off as she pushed herself back and slumped against the wall that she had been pinned against moments before.

Tony had gone straight to Bucky, giving him a quick check before nodding to Steve. "He's completely out, I say we got just less than an hour."

Isabelle watched as the pair of them set about pulling Bucky up onto one of her dining table chairs, before Tony pulled out a mean set of handcuffs.

"What are they for?" Isabelle's voice broke as her throat slowly un-crushed itself from Bucky's grip.

"Designed specifically for good ol' Bucky here, once he's in them, he can't get out of them until we know he's safe again." Tony, a little too happily, pinned Bucky's limp arms around the back of the chair and clicked the handcuffs on.

Now the shock had settled and her breathing had returned to normal she focused on the real issue in the room.

"So, want to tell me how many camera's there are or do I have to go around smashing them myself?" she pushed herself up off the ground, slightly regretting it as the lightheadness returned, but she stood her ground.

"There's only one, directly above Bucky's bed." Steve glanced at Tony who continued.

"And before you start getting all upset saying that we undermined you by setting up a camera that alerted Jarvis to any high pitched noise or insane body heat and that we didn't trust you to deal with the situation yourself then I just want to save an argument and completely disagree with you." Tony pulled out his phone and replayed clear images of Bucky slowly descending into a nightmare before giving a pointed glance at Steve. "El Cappo over there only decided to inform me yesterday that our delightful new Hulk hasn't been sleeping a wink for fear of causing damage," he stepped closer with the phone so Isabelle could see very clearly the moment Bucky's eyes adjusted into nothingness as he screamed that gut wrenching scream that had awoken her.

"So, I activated the camera in his room and sure enough-" he turned and rather flamboyantly indicated to Bucky. "We had another Hulk moment. Now obviously I understand you completely dealt with that situation alone, but you got to understand Iz." Tony walked back over to her now, placing a hand on her shoulder and giving it a tight squeeze. "Although it doesn't seem like it I care about your welfare, it was better for everyone if-"

Without thinking she brought her fist up and connected it, hard, with his left cheekbone.

"Ow, shit! Izzy what did you do that for?!" Tony proclaimed as he steadied himself against the kitchen counter top, holding his jaw in his hand.

"You kind of deserved that." Steve shrugged over at him, winking at Isabelle as she walked past them both.

"Yeah, I know." Tony murmured.

Walking away from them she grabbed her knife that she had dropped on the floor when Bucky had lunged for her, and walked into Bucky's room.

Son of a Bitch! She thought to herself as she spied the tiny micro camera, barely visible to the naked eye. Using her good arm she sent the knife spinning at the ceiling, landing it with a resounding thud on the camera, destroying it whole. Satisfied, she returned to the living room, beaming at them both. Tony had sourced a bag of peas to hold against his swollen cheek, Isabelle was happy to find her fist didn't hurt one bit, even if it did - it would have been worth it.

"If I need you next time, I'll call." She signalled to Bucky's prone form. "I took care of him, not everyone in this world needs the Avengers for every tiny problem they face."

Steve walked towards her. "Look Iz, we're sorry we were just worried-"

She held her hand up, cutting him off. "Worried or not you broke the terms of our agreement and my privacy. I nearly get killed once and now suddenly no one thinks I'm capable of being an Agent?" she glared at them both, who smartly avoided her eyes.

Just as she went to launch into a lecture on exactly how much they had pissed her off a low groan caused them all to turn to see Bucky slowly stirring.

"Shit, too soon." Steve rushed over to him, placing a hand on Bucky's shoulder before turning to Tony. "That stuff kept him out for five minutes max what the heck?"

Isabelle picked the dart up off the floor to see that more than half the liquid still remained.

"Next time, try a downward motion on a fattier body part and leave it in." Tony grumbled as he dropped the bag of peas and snatched the dart from her hand, moving towards Bucky. Just as Isabelle opened her mouth to protest Tony darting him again Bucky's head rolled back, his eyes fluttering, fighting the tiredness, before looking up at the three of them.

"What damage did I do this time?" his eyes flitted between them before settling on hers. She went to cover her neck but it was too late. "Did I do that to you?" she could see the pain in his eye's, the disappointment in himself.

"Clearly it's Bucky we are talking too here so how about we take your fancy cuffs off of him?" she cocked her eyebrow at Tony.

"Ah Ah, not until he answers the question." Tony waggled a finger at her before bringing it to his lips, signalling for her to be quiet.

Steve walked around in front of Bucky, levelling himself with him. "What was my Mom's name."

Bucky chuckled. "You really need to start asking a different question." His smile seemed to set Tony and Steve at ease. "But your Mom's name was Sarah, she's buried next to your Dad and she had a fondness for clipping me around the ear when I was younger for no good reason at all."

The handcuffs beeped and fell off, releasing Bucky from the chair.

"Oh, there was always a reason." Steve smiled as he took Bucky's hand and pulled him back on his feet.

"Well, whilst you three catch up and clear up this mess," Isabelle signalled around her and to Bucky's room. "I'm going back to sleep. If you Avengers could give me a day completely free of drama that would be great, thanks." She ignored the three of them as they all moved to speak to her, but a quick flash of her palm - signalling for them not to come any closer to her - stopped them all in their tracks. "I'm okay, but if you don't remove absolutely every little gadget from this apartment and clean the damage before I wake up I'll send Bucky back to you and then he can smash up your Gin collection next." she aimed that last remark at Tony.

Without giving any of them a chance to reply she stalked down the hall and into her bedroom, closing the door behind her and falling back against it.

She was not okay.