Chapter 15

"Who did you contact?" Burnow bellowed as he stormed into the room Tracey had been occupying for the past half day. He slammed his fist onto the desk. "You contacted the Avengers didn't you?"

Tracey only glared up at him in response. It was silent between the two. Eyes glaring daggers at each other. Neither one moving. Slowly a grin grew on the scientist's face that sent an uneasy feeling throughout Tracey's body. She kept her glare, refusing to waver in the slightest.

"Good," was all he said before he grabbed her arm and yanked her out of the chair.

He nearly dragged her out of the room and down the hall. The hacker struggled as best as she could to get out of the man's grip, but he kept a vice on her arm. She tried digging her heels into the ground, but it only slowed the man down (barely) and wore the heels of her shoes out. The man ignored her struggles and yanks on her arm as he pulled her to a new room. He shoved her inside and slammed the door shut.

The blonde woman stared at the man as he passed her and headed to something behind her. She raised a brow as he walked up to a chair. Her eyes widened. She had seen that chair before. About a year ago in a Hydra base back when she had taken the Project Insight file from Hydra. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of it. She didn't know what it did exactly, but she knew what it was for. Wiping the Winter Soldier's memories.

"Sit, Miss Madison," Michael Burnow said calmly, a smile on his face. Tracey shook her head as she took a step back. It only made the scientist laugh. "Don't worry, Miss Madison. I'm not going to use it on you. I still need you. I just need you to stay here in the chair until I come back for you. Think of it as a timeout in a corner for a child for disobeying their parents. When the blonde didn't move he went up to her and snatched her arm again and forced her in the chair. "Just stay calm. Nothing will happen. I'm a man of my word," he said as he headed over to a control panel off to the side. "Now, I assume your little super soldier will be coming to save you, yes? Perfect." Clicking some buttons he watched with a smile as the arm and leg restraints snapped into place and Tracey's eyes widened in fear. "I'll be back, Miss Madison," he said as he walked out with a quick wave of his hand.

ooOOoo

Bucky stared out the window, a scowl on his face. His eyes scanned the ground below the jet as they flew over them. His mind was buzzing. Was this the actual location? Was it Tracey who sent it? Or Burnow? Was Tracey alright?

He took a deep breath and slowly let it out. If that man hurt her in any way he was going to rip his head off. Why her? Why did it have to be her? She didn't deserve to be pulled into this mess. Sure, she helped gather the information on the man, but she didn't deserve getting involved to this point.

He was going to get her back. He was going to fix this.

The super soldier's attention was brought out of his thoughts when he saw that they were landing. He looked over at Steve and Coulson, watching as they got ready to head out. He followed their lead.

"Do you understand the plan?" Coulson asked as he, Steve, and Bucky prepared to exit the jet.

The three had reached Michael Burnow's base in a matter of, at most, an hour and a half. Thanks to the signal from Tracey that released the coordinates, the two super soldiers were able to locate her in no time. Now they were standing at the hanger, ready to storm the hideout. Bucky had a grip on one of his guns in his left hand; his right hand was at his side clenched in a fist, his knuckles turning white. He was going to kill Michael. Once he got Tracey out of there and safe he was going to kill the scientist.

The dark haired soldier turned to his friend, nodding his head. "Yeah. I've got it," he said flatly.

"She'll be fine, Buck," Steve said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We'll get her. Just stick to the plan, okay?"

"Right," Bucky said, turning back to the hanger as it lowered.

The two soldiers and S.H.I.E.L.D. director rushed off and towards the building a good number of yards away. Taking extra careful to not trigger any possible sensors, they made their way through the forest. Stopping at some trees a few yards away from the building, Bucky, Coulson, and Steve scanned the front of it, looking out for any possible hidden guns or traps. Steve pointed out a few cameras in the corner on the front. They took off, charging towards the building with Steve throwing his shield and Coulson and firing their guns taking out the cameras. Once they successfully reached the door, Bucky quickly kicked it down and scanned the main room. Giving the okay, the three men made their way through the building.

"The only way to find her quickly is to split up. Once one of us finds her we contact the other two. Got it?" Steve explained.

Bucky nodded and headed down a hall opposite of the directions the other two took. He peered through any and every door he passed, praying Tracey was in one. He went down two halls when he was beginning to hope that Steve or Coulson was going to find her when he tried the last door at the end of the second hall. Looking through the door's window he spotted a head of blonde hair. His heart jumped. He swung the door open, running into the room.

"Tracey," Bucky breathed, but his face fell when he saw what she was sitting in. His girlfriend was in the Winter Soldier's chair. The straps were around her arms and legs keeping her from escaping – let alone moving. His heart fell. No. She was in one of the things he hated most. Not only was she in the clutches of Hydra, but they had her strapped to that thing. He had to get her out. He rushed over, desperate to get her out, and fast.

Tracey's head snapped up and her eyes widened when she found Bucky standing in the room. Her head shook back and forth furiously. "Bucky! No, you have to go!" she demanded.

Bucky's brow knitted as he approached the hacker. What was she talking about? If she was even thinking of sacrificing herself for his safety she was insane. He took another step towards her only to stop when he heard the door slam shut. He whipped around to find Michael Burnow standing in front of the door, a smirk on his face as he stared at the couple.

"So glad to see you made it, Winter Soldier," he spoke smoothly as he made his way further into the room.

"It's Bucky," the super soldier spat as he stepped in front of Tracey, blocking her from the mad man in front of them.

Michael laughed. "Cute. Protecting her with your own life? I admire that. But you should have listened to her."

"What are you talking about?" Bucky said, eyes narrowing as the scientist made his way to another corner of the room. His heart skipped a beat when he saw the controls to the Winter Soldier's chair. Why didn't he think about the control panel? Of course he'd have a replica of the chair. He's an ex-Hydra agent! But why have Tracey in the chair and possibly wipe her memory if he needed her for whatever plans he had in mind. What was his game?

"Miss Madison is here only for a trade," Burnow said, flipping a few switches and hitting some buttons.

"Trade? What are you getting at?" the super soldier said, his hand gripping the gun in his side holster. He was ready to shoot this man in the head and end it all. But he couldn't. He had to follow the plan.

"I will release Miss Madison, if you agree to work by my side," he said coolly.

"What?" Tracey exclaimed. "You said you needed me to get you the information from Hydra! You never said anything about Bucky!" she yelled, glaring up at the man.

Things changed, Miss Madison," Michael said sharply. He turned back to Bucky. "I need your skills to help me break into more Hydra bases. It's a lot easier than taking days to break into their systems one by one. Those people think they're able to stop me from getting the information I need. But now I have their weapon to use against them." He grinned maliciously at Bucky and it grew when he saw Tracey struggling in her seat.

"Bucky, don't! Just go!" she pleaded.

Bucky turned around, staring at his girlfriend in shock. He shook his head. "No, I'm not leaving you, Tracey." he said firmly. "I'll get us out of here."

"Noble words, but the only way out is to do as I say and join me," he said as he approached the two, making his way around the chair. He pulled a gun from his coat and pointed it at Tracey. "Or she dies."

In a split second Bucky's hand shot up, gun aimed at the scientist. His teeth were bared as he glowered at the man. "I will kill you before you hurt her."

"Bucky…" Tracey begged, staring up at him. "Please, just go. I don't want you to go through anything as the Winter Soldier again."

"Isn't she the sweetest thing?" Michael said gleefully, a bright and malicious smile on his face as he gripped her face in his other hand, forcing her to look at him. "She's brave enough to take her own life in exchange for yours." He roughly turned her head to face Bucky again. "She's got fire. She put up a bit of a fight earlier. I can see why you love her so much."

"Don't you touch her!" Bucky snapped, gun still aimed at the scientist.

"Alright, I'm not touching her," Michael said, holding his hands up. But a few seconds later he held the gun next to the blonde woman's head again. "But I won't be afraid to shoot if you don't hurry up."

"Get away from her," Bucky growled, eyes growing dark as his finger rested against the trigger. He wanted to shoot this man down. He wanted to blow his head off and leave him to bleed out on the floor.

"Choose now, Winter Soldier," Michael said, moving the gun until it was closer to Tracey's face. He smirked when he saw Bucky's eyes widen. "Choose now, or I will shoot her."

"Bucky, please! Just go!" Tracey begged, eyes pleading up at him.

Bucky's hands clenched into fists. The plates in his metal arm shifted as he glared at the scientist. His face scrunched up in fury as he looked at the man in front of him. He had to get Tracey out of here. He knew there was a way to do it too.

"Choose quickly!" Michael Burnow said, voice raising in warning. "One." The gun clicked as the safety was switched off. "Two." He pointed it at Tracey. "Thr-"

"Stop!"

Tracey's eyes widened as she looked over at Bucky. She watched as he dropped his gun, kicking it away from him. She shook her head, struggling against her restraints. "Bucky, do-" She stopped when the rogue Hydra scientist pointed the gun at her again, pressing the gun to her head.

"I wouldn't make another move if I were you, Miss Madison," the scientist threatened, glaring down at her as she shifted her eyes up to glare at him.

"Stop!" Bucky shouted again, fists clenching once more. "Let her go…" he said in defeat.

Michael glanced at the super soldier, a smug smirk on his face. "I will if you join me."

The super soldier's face made a snarl. "How do I know that you won't go against your word if I do join you?"

Burnow's smirk grew. "I am a man of my word. That I can guarantee."

Bucky took a breath, closing his eyes. He opened them and glared at the man. "I'll go with you. Only if you swear to let her go."

"Of course," Michael said, lowering the gun. He walked over to the control panel in the corner across from the chair and punched in some keys. The straps around Tracey's arms and legs quickly released. She jumped out of the chair and ran to Bucky, who grabbed her in his arms, holding her tightly to him as he buried his face in her hair. Michael smirked at the two. "See? I told you, I'm a man of my word. But I'm going to need to you to get in the chair," he said, using the gun to point at Bucky then to the Winter Soldier's chair. "Now."

Bucky snarled at the scientist as he slowly let go of his girl. She frantically shook her head at him, grabbing his arm, pleading to him as he made his way to the chair. Sitting down he glanced at Tracey, who was being pushed to the side by Burnow. His eyes locked with hers as she stared at him. He pursed his lips before giving her a sad smile.

Tracey turned around when she saw Michael at the control panel's switch. "No!" she cried out, running over to the man.

He pointed the gun at her, glaring at her. "I suggest you step away."

"Tracey, please!" Bucky begged, tears welling up in his eyes.

His eyes widened as the straps wrapped around his arms and legs. Memories of his time with Hydra, as the Winter Soldier, flashed through his mind. All the pain and punishment he went through after every mission in those days. All the horrible memories and feelings. He squeezed his eyes shut as he heard the zapping of the headpiece. He looked to Tracey one last time and felt tears in his eyes as he saw the scared look on her face. He hated that look in her eyes. And he hated the thoughts running through his head. He was going to forget Steve again. He was going to forget Tracey. He was going to forget his life. He was going to forget all over again. He took a deep breath, squeezing his eyes shut as the headpiece lowered, getting closer and closer. But it was going to be worth it if he could keep Tracey safe.

Tracey couldn't do anything as she watched the headpiece lower towards Bucky's head. She shook her head. This couldn't be happening. He was sacrificing all he worked for over the past year and a half to get back. All his memories, gone once again. She couldn't believe he was going to lose it all. It was her fault.

Her eyes widened as the headpiece attached itself to Bucky's head. She stared in horror as it turned on and the flashes from the electricity brightened the room, if only for few second intervals. Her breath hitched and her heart sank as she heard the pained screams coming from Bucky. His attempts at clenching his teeth to stop the screams only failing and the veins in his neck popping as he strained to stop them. Tears slipped down her face as she watched. This was never how she imagined him getting his memories erased was like. It was worse.

"Bucky!" she cried. "You son of a bitch!" she shouted as she quickly turned to Michael and pushed him away from the switch. Flipping the machine off she moved to run to Bucky only to be grabbed by the scientist.

"Don't make me go against my word, Miss Madison," he said, pointing the gun at her chest as he held her arm in a vice grip.

She turned her head to Bucky, where he was breathing heavily in the chair. The chair slowly moved to a sitting position, facing the other two. Tracey struggled against Michael Burnow and fell forward when he released her.

"Go to him if you'd like. It's pointless. He doesn't remember you," he said, grinning wickedly.

She glared at him before rushing over to her boyfriend. She grabbed his face in her hands and stared at him as she gently ran a hand over his cheek. "Bucky, sweetie…" she whispered out in a whimper. Bucky's eyes shifted to hers which only made her heart break. They were vacant, dark. The Winter Soldier's. They weren't the same eyes of Bucky Barnes. "Bucky?" she said, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Bucky. It's me…Tracey…"

The super soldier's eyes scrunched up, glaring at her. He grabbed a hold of her throat in his metal hand, slowly standing up and bringing her with him.

"Bucky! Please!" Tracey pleaded. "It's me, Tracey! This isn't you! Bucky!"

"I swore I wouldn't kill you, Miss Madison, but your 'Bucky' never promised," Michael said, chuckling as he watched the couple. "Winter Soldier, dispose of this nuisance."

Bucky threw Tracey to the ground, picking up his earlier discarded gun as he approached her. He glared down at the hacker as he raised the gun to her. However, before he could do anything the door burst open and Coulson and Steve stormed in, the super soldier throwing his shield at his best friend as he did. Bucky quickly blocked it with his metal arm, sending it back to his friend. The two friends glared at each other for a few seconds before Steve threw his shield towards Burnow, who luckily dodged it. But it only smashed into the chair's control panel.

In that moment of disarray, Coulson grabbed Tracey, even against her protests, and pulled her to the door with Steve running behind them.

Michael's face grew into a snarl as he whipped his head around to the retreating trio. "Stop them!" he commanded.

Bucky bolted out of the room, course set on the super soldier, director, and hacker a few feet in front of him. He raised his gun, firing at them, only to have the bullets reflected off of Steve's shield. He picked up his pace when he saw the three reaching the elevator. Coulson pushed Tracey forward after saying a few things to her before he turned to Bucky, gun up and ready as Steve held his shield up just as ready to fight. The dark haired man glanced at Tracey as she began to mess around with her phone by the elevator, he moved to head in her direction, but was stopped by Steve slamming into him.

"Bucky! Snap out of it! It's us! It's Steve, Coulson, and Tracey!" the blond shouted.

Bucky threw a punch at Steve, hitting the shield with his metal fist and creating a resounding metallic ring. Steve quickly pushed his best friend away when he heard Tracey calling out to him and Coulson. He ran down the hall, grabbing Tracey as he jumped into the elevator after the S.H.I.E.L.D. director.

Tracey stared at Bucky as she saw him charge at them. She quickly punched some keys on her phone and soon the doors began to close. She stared at Bucky as the space between the doors grew smaller and smaller. She wanted to reach out and grab him, bring him with them, but she knew she couldn't. Once the doors were closed and the three had reached the jet outside the base she broke down. She fell to her knees as Coulson ran past her, putting in coordinates at the front of the jet. Tracey fell to the floor on her knees. She wanted to scream. Even as Steve placed a hand on her shoulder, calling out to her only to have it fall on deaf ears, she couldn't. Her voice was gone. She didn't move. She only stared ahead, unblinking, with a blank look. Her eyes glazed over as the scene played over and over in her head. She was motionless.

"It's all my fault," she whispered, barely audible. "It's all my fault."

She repeated it over and over again, deaf to the hushes and soothing from Steve.

Bucky was gone. He was the Winter Soldier again. He lost all his memories. He didn't remember Steve. He didn't remember her. He didn't remember James Buchanan Barnes.

Okay, NOW ya'll hate me.

If you'd like to ask the Avengers, Madison twins, Coulson's team, and anyone else in the tower any questions, feel free to message me on tumblr. If you have a prompt for Life at the Tower/AUs, feel free to message me on tumblr, PM me here, or leave it in a review.

My tumblr is winter-is-ending

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