After a few hours of travelling and napping, Sam became curious and asked him where they were going, "I was thinking of going back to Brooklyn, to see whether it would help refresh Bucky's memory."
"Good idea, although I might need to see a medic as you call it before hand."
"Of course, and I have no idea how I'm going to get Bucky treated. I can't go to a normal hospital and I can't trust SHIELD, I don't know who to trust and anyone could be HYDRA."
"We will find someone, what about that Banner guy? You said that he was good with technology and stuff."
"That would be okay if I could trust Buck enough with someone else and if they both loose their tempers the consequences could be terrible. And anyway Bruce has gone under cover with the whole HYDRA thing, he didn't want the hulk to get into their hands."
"He seems to be a good guy, you should introduce me sometime."
"I'll do that."
The miles slipped away as they got closer and closer to Brooklyn, The winter soldier hadn't woken and seemed to be as unconscious as ever. Sam was resting with his eyes closed and the Captain was forming a plan to who could help him and his friend. Who could manage with the technology that they had fused to him, who did Steve himself trust.
There was only one man and Steve didn't especially want to be in his debt, especially after what happened to his father, but he was going to have to do it. Tony Stark was the only option.
That was in New York and they had a long journey to reach the now rebuilt city, Steve was concerned that the wouldn't be able to sidetrack to Brooklyn, although both of his friends health came before his own.
...
Arriving in the big city, Steve slotted the car into the multi coloured streams of traffic and set the directions to the new and improved Stark tower, which was now completely running on clean energy. The journey took only a few more minutes compared to the hours on the open road, in which time the Captain hadn't slept a wink, driving in all that time to ensure that they got to Starks as quickly as they could.
Steve pulled the car into Tony's extensive garage, filled with posh and powerful sports cars and trucks. The battered rv looking like a piece of scrap metal between two bright red convertible Ferraris.
Within moments of them pulling in, Tony came tearing down the elevator with concern in his eyes. Steve and the other passengers remained in the car, Bucky had still not woken up and the Captain was feeling extremely worried about his friend.
"Steve, are you ok?" Tony asked racing around to the driver's side of the car and peering in the window. Steve's head was resting on the back of the headrest and for once he looked his age. Opening the car door, he attempted to step out only to almost fall to his knees, however he grasped Tony's shoulder, which was the only thing that was keeping the heavy Captain upright.
"Not really. Tony I have an enormous favour to ask you. You are the only person I can trust with this. Please can you help."
Tony's face looked shocked but when he replied his voice was confident, "Of course, what do you need?"
"Its not me that needs it, he's in the back."
"He?"
"Bucky, my closest friend from before I became this." Steve vaguely indicated to himself before releasing Tony and with an enormous amount of effort straightened up, standing to his enormous height and stepped around to the back door of the car.
Slowly opening the door Steve revealed the curled up Bucky, who was frowning in his dreams. His metal arm was on display and looking at Tony next to him saw an interested gleam in his eye.
"Can you fix it?"
"I'll have to see the true extent of the damage to the circuits but yes. I can do that for you Steve."
"Thank you so much Tony." Steve replied his shoulders sagging in relief, gratitude showing in every line of his aged face. "Oh and then there's Sam, he's not as bad as Buck but he still needs medical attention."
"I'll sort it all out but lets get you all upstairs first. No offence Steve but you look terrible."
Steve laughed without humour and started to fetch Bucky out from the back seat of the car,
"Could you get Sam please Tony?"
"Sure thing Capsicle"
Using the all of the remaining energy Steve had left he hoisted the Soldier over his shoulder and began to trudge towards the elevator, glancing behind him he saw that Sam had insisted on walking himself but was leaning heavily on Tony who was considerably smaller than the Falcon.
"Easy big guy," Tony said to Sam who's muscled arm had formed an inescapable grip on his arm. Steve could see Tony wincing in pain but didn't complain as he moved Sam along.
Steve had reached the lifts and was finding it difficult to press the button,
"Jarvis can you get the elevator please" He called vaguely upwards.
*You only had to ask Mr Rodgers* The AI seemed to chide him. The lift opened up and Steve stepped into the large gold coloured elevator. Waiting for Tony to come in and tell JARVIS which floor where they going.
Moments later they were all walking out of the elevator and into the adjoining room. It was a hospital room filled with screens, monitors and equipment,
"Put him on the bed" Tony commanded, placing Sam in the opposite bed. Steve did as he was told and gently placed Bucky onto the bed, putting his head onto one of the goose white pillows.
The next few hours passed in a jumble of meaningless medical words which Steve didn't understand, however Sam was all fixed up and was sleeping peacefully.
Bucky had been placed under anaesthetic to make sure that he didn't wake up during the process. There were wires and tubes streaming from his normal arm and pipes were inserted into his nose to help him breath, whenever Steve looked at his friend Tony could see the sorrow and pain that it caused him. Since they had been at Stark towers Steve hadn't left Bucky's side and was sat on an armchair beside the clinical bed.
The next day and night passed extremely slowly, and both men were continuously working on Bucky. Steve had just sat back down and had started to drift off to sleep for the first time in many days, Tony was getting more and more concerned about his friend and considering Tony didn't usually notice things like that, it was a shock.
*Sir, your package has arrived.*
"Ah brilliant, send it up could you Jarvis." The package contained new stronger parts for the Winter Soldiers arm and parts that had taken them many hours to track down, all this had to be done without Shield's knowledge which was making things take a lot longer. Moments later the lift dinged and Tony ran to get the equipment, there were components with names so complicated that Steve would look at him as if he was speaking a foreign language.
...
When Steve finally awoke he had a pain in his neck and side of his arm where he had slept funny and enough sore spots to pain an entire army. Yawning and stretching his arms up, he realised that someone had put a blanket over him whilst he was asleep and felt touched by the small but meaning full gesture. Standing up he went over to Bucky and touched his forehead gently, he felt slightly feverish and as Tony and Sam were nowhere to be seen he called up to Jarvis quietly.
"Where are Tony and Sam Jarvis?"
*Master is in his laboratory running some of Mr Barnes' blood over and Sam is in the living room watching television. Shall I inform them that you are awake?*
"Not quite yet thank you Jarvis. Was I asleep for long?"
*As you wish Captain and for around 19 and a half hours sir*
Groaning internally at how selfish he had been, Steve sat in the comfortable armchair placed beside the bed and took Bucky's hand.
"Come on Buck, I need you. Please wake up and get better, you wouldn't believe how hard it was being reawaken from the ice to remember that you weren't here beside me but now that I have you back I am never going to give up on you again. I promise on everything I have left that I will never abandon you." Sighing deeply in desperation, Steve continued to talk. "You told me to keep talking so I will. This is the story of James Barnes, my best friend Bucky. From infants in Brooklyn we grew up together through school, you could've had such better friends than me then as you were always the popular guy but you seemed to be happy with me-"
For a moment Steve closed his eyes and missed the slight flickering of Bucky's but when he started to move his fingers, Steve jumped from his skin and tore his eyes open. Bucky had started to mouth something.
"Y-your wrong... you were—the best friend I ever could wish for." Bucky said almost silently but thanks to Steve's enhanced hearing he heard every word.
"I'm starting to realise that now so thank you Steve Rogers, you punk and I'm sorry for attacking you those last few times."
Tears started to pool within Steve's eyes he couldn't remember being this happy in over 70 years but he pushed them back abruptly, "Don't apologise for that ever Buck, it wasn't you. You were being controlled by Hydra."
*Pardon me Mr Rogers but Sir is coming this way, his machinery told him that Mr Barnes was awake.*
"Thanks Jarvis"
Steve saw Bucky glance around slightly looking for the ominous speaker. "Don't worry that's Jarvis. You'll get used to him". Bucky started to look more and more wildly around for a way to get up and into a position of safety and the wires in his arms started to tug and pull causing them to bleed.
"Bucky, look at me."
Bucky did so but very begrudgingly, "Now focus on me. You are in a hospital of sorts with a man who is helping you, you need to calm down or you will injure yourself further."
James nodded slowly and took a deep breath. "When did you become so wise?" he tried to mock Steve.
"I always have been." Steve replied winking at Bucky.
"Now I know for a fact that is a lie." Bucky said with a small chuckle, he looked shocked at Steve for a moment. "That's the first time I have laughed for as long as I can remember!"
Steve smiled in reply and turned his head slightly as the elevator pinged and the doors opened. "Glad to see your finally awake Old man, I thought you were in a coma at one point. That is until you started to snore." Tony said jokingly as he walked over to the pair, he clapped Steve on the shoulder. "I will have you know that I do not snore." Steve replied resisting the urge to stick his tongue out.
"I know that face." Bucky butted in, "That means he's trying not to stick his tongue out at you."
"Is this how its going to be then? Two against one! Hardly fair." Steve complained lightly.
"Well of course Cap, that's what we do. Tony Stark, nice to finally meet you Mr Barnes." Tony held out his hand for the Winter Soldier to shake, Bucky did so but with horror in his eyes. How could this man stand to be near him he thought in shame, he must realise what happened with his parents. It was all his fault.