Hey, so Captain America saved the world twice, and it only cost him two Bucks.

I'm sorry.

I don't know what came over me to make that joked.

Read on.

Chapter Quote:
"I thought the punishment usually came after the crime."
~Steve Rogers in Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Chapter 2

Steve

The maximum-security prison definitely lived up to its name as Sam and I received permission to go visit Annabeth Drew. Security gave us multiple screenings to make sure we had no weapons on us. They reluctantly allowed me to keep my shield with me. I didn't like to part with it. It had saved my life, and others, too many times.

Four guards led us to an isolation bay that was in the center of the prison, in the most guarded section. I learned, surprisingly enough, Annabeth, despite being imprisoned here, was treated rather nicely. I mean, all the guards thought she'd "lost her marbles" (I still didn't know why), but overall the girl was apparently respectful and quiet. They didn't deem her as a threat herself; they deemed her HYDRA affiliates as the threat, therefore keeping her here in a max-security prison to prevent her old employer from bailing her out or killing her.

"Miss Drew, you have visitors," the guard announced. I peered into the cell. It was very drab and plain, which was to be expected; however, the occupant had made use of most of the space by putting books on almost every available surface. I raised my eyebrows at the sight.

"The books are my only form of entertainment," Annabeth said. She must've seen my face. She stood up, smoothed out her uniform, and introduced herself. "I'm Annabeth Drew. You're Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'd shake your hand, but there's a door blocking my way."

The guards opened the door and escorted her out. Annabeth was tall, curvy, blonde-haired, and had sparkling hazel eyes that told me her brain was working a mile a minute about… well, everything. Her face seemed haggard though, like she'd been spending countless, sleepless nights.

She offered her hand out for me and Sam to shake. We did, not wanting to be rude. This girl hardly seemed like someone who would work for HYDRA, making me wonder if she'd worked for them willingly or against her will. I was certainly going to find out.

"I have an idea about why you're here, but would please enlighten me on your reason?" Annabeth asked politely, seeming actually nervous. I didn't want her to be. I wasn't here to make fun of her like the others did; I was here to find out information. That was it.

"Is there a place we can sit down?" I questioned the guards politely. They nodded and led us to a small room. The guards stood outside on my orders. I worried Annabeth wouldn't want to say anything in front of them seeing as how she knew what they thought of her sanity.

"We were told you could give us information on the Winter Soldier. I'm searching for him and-" I began.

Annabeth interrupted me. "His name is James Buchanan Barnes. He was your best friend growing up. You're searching for him because he's your best friend. Am I right?" When I simply stared at her in relative shock that she knew so much already, she blushed and added, "I did some reading when I was in HYDRA. I was your friend's doctor, nurse, technician, whatever you want to call me. I'm the one who made sure he was in top condition for the past ten years. HYDRA used him a lot in the past decade."

"Did you know you were working for HYDRA?" Sam queried curiously. "You don't strike me as the type of person who believed in what they did."

Annabeth sighed. "No, I didn't know I was working for them. Not at first at least. They recruited me when I was eighteen. I'd already accumulated a lot of medical knowledge. I'd graduated high school early, went to college over in Scotland, and studied medicine. My mother was a doctor and she taught me everything from an early age. My father worked for the CIA and was the person to go to when you wanted to hack into some database or fix some machinery. They taught me everything they knew. HYDRA wanted me badly, but they lied to me, saying they were recruiting bright young minds to serve as nurses on the battlefronts. They fooled me and my parents. I agreed. For the first six months, they had me tend to… normal human beings, meaning people that didn't have a metal arm or people who didn't have superpowers. But one day in December, they called me in, saying that they had a very important job for me. I accepted it. It was the first time they introduced me to the Winter Soldier. I'd heard stories about him, but I thought he was just a legend. When I saw him though, it was rather frightening to be honest, and I don't get scared easily."

"Why were you scared?" I asked.

"Because of three reasons. The first being it was at that moment I realized I was working for HYDRA, second because I knew I was trapped into staying there, and third, the Winter Soldier had seriously maimed the previous doctors that had tried to help him. Now they were sending me in there. You could imagine I was rather apprehensive, but I had no choice in the matter."

"How did it go?"

"I'm here, aren't I?" She chuckled lightly. Her eyes went down to the table, refusing to meet mine or Sam's.

"Why didn't you try to get out of HYDRA once you found out you were working for them?" Sam inquired. At this, Annabeth bit her lip.

"Why do you want to know? You wouldn't believe me if I told you," she grumbled, slouching back in her chair.

"Because what you know could help us in searching for him, and I'm curious to know why you stayed with HYDRA."

She let out a deep breath. "I got attached to my job."

"Helping out a secret society hell bent on destroying the current order of the world?"

"No," Annabeth snapped, "I hated them. I hated what they stood for."

"You got attached to Bucky," I stated. The idea seemed far-fetched, but he had been her job. He had been what she was supposed to take care of. It was the last, logical answer.

And I was right.

Annabeth nodded her head, looking defeated, waiting for me and Sam to tell her how crazy she was, to tell her it was impossible for her to get attached to a person that couldn't remember anything about his past, let alone a nobody that he only saw when she had to check on him. But I wasn't going to do that, and apparently neither was Sam (although I believe he was too stunned by the idea to say anything at all).

"I got attached to him, all right?" Annabeth confessed. She still refused to look at me. "HYDRA treated him horribly. I was the only one who showed him kindness."

"You pitied him?" I asked hesitantly.

"No, I didn't pity for him. I cared for him. I… no, that's all I'm saying," she declared.

"Please, what were you going to say? I'm not going to judge you, and neither will Sam. We're here because we need your help. Any information you can give us is greatly appreciated."

"No, you'll call me a psycho, a lunatic."

"Why would we call you that?"

Annabeth gave me a pained face. "Because like everyone else has said, how can you fall in love with a weapon?"

"You fell in love with Bucky?" I hid the disbelief in my voice, because she appeared to be completely serious.

"To HYDRA, he was an asset, a weapon, a thing to be controlled," she said bitterly. "I saw a person who had been beaten into submission, a person who had been trained to follow orders and never stray from what he was told to do, to pretty much not have his own thoughts. It pissed me off, and I set out to find a way to free him, some way, somehow. Obviously I didn't succeed or else I wouldn't be here and he wouldn't be missing."

"Why were you trying to find him? I'm not meaning any offense here, but he hardly remembered who Steve was. HYDRA brainwashed Bucky. Why do you think he'd remember you?" Sam asked gently.

"It's a long story…" Annabeth muttered.

"Why don't you tell us? There's a reason you were going after him, and I don't think a simple response will suffice in explaining the importance of it."

"Do you have time? Because it's a long story if I'm starting from the beginning."

I didn't have a lot of time, but I wanted to know her story. To be honest, I believed she needed someone who would listen to her without criticizing what she had done. If what she was saying was true, she'd stayed for Bucky. She'd stayed to take care of him. I owed this girl for keeping my friend alive. This was the least I could do for her.

"I have plenty of time," I said, giving her what I hoped was an encouraging smile.

"Then make yourselves comfy. This might take a while."

For the next few chapters, the font style will be in italics to represent the memories of Annabeth. When the font style goes back to normal, it'll be the end of the memories :) Other than that, I have nothing else to say, so review!