James was uncharacteristically silent for most of their drive back to the cheap hotel. "You still in there?" Barnes asked.

We almost killed him. Again. The Soldier just... took over, didn't he?

"Not quite. He heard you tell him not to shoot. I could feel his confusion over conflicting orders, couldn't you?"

To be honest, I was too damned scared to notice. It's crowded enough in here with the two of us... we really don't need that guy around, on top of it. Any ideas?

"Let's do some research once we get back." They read about desensitization techniques used in therapy to deal with phobias, and hoped they would apply for their situation. They spent the next several days watching every video they could find of Captain America. Steve Rogers was more elusive; apparently he kept his private life private.

So, how in the hell do we test to see if this exposure therapy is working?

"Good question. I've set up a Google Alert for both Steve and the Captain, so if he pops up around the city, maybe we can do some covert surveillance."

I knew I kept you around for some reason or another, buddy. Add "Peggy Carter" to that alert list, wouldja?

On his return to DC, Steve discovered that Peggy had come down with pneumonia and her health was quickly failing. Instead of good days, the best they could hope for was a few good hours at a time. He spent as much time with her as possible, trying desperately to make up for the decades he had missed.

He told her the true identity of the Winter Soldier, and she cried, vowing that if they had known, SHIELD would have moved heaven and earth to rescue the Sergeant. On another, happier day, Peggy shared a little story. "You know, Steve... James pulled me aside once and said "Agent Carter, you know I'd never hit a lady, but if you break Stevie's heart, you ain't no lady." Steve laughed - yeah, that sounded just like Bucky.

Peggy continued. "I told him not to worry, that I would take good care of you, if I had the chance. I do believe he was a bit jealous, Steve. He was afraid I was going to take you away from him."

Steve shook his head. They would have found a way; maybe living side by side in Levittown, or sharing a rowhouse near Coffey Park. He couldn't have imagined a world that didn't have Bucky in it. Which was why putting the Valkyrie in the the ocean hadn't been so difficult, though he would never tell Peggy that.

"Don't let him go again, Steve. You mean too much to him, even if he might not know it right now."

The entire team came to town for Peggy's funeral, courtesy of Stark's private jets. Even Pepper, Jane and Maria made the effort, and Steve appreciated it. He considered them the closest thing to family he had now. They all stood outside, in a brilliant autumn afternoon, waiting for the procession to the cemetery to start. Steve suddenly had the oddest feeling that he was being watched. He quickly scanned the area, and thought he caught a flash of movement in the landscaping on the edge of the parking lot, but then it was gone.

"Oh no... Peggy's passed." They read the online obituary with heavy hearts. She'd gone on to have quite the full life, after the war. She'd been married, with two children, and still managed to have a distinguished career at SHIELD. James wasn't surprised; that gal had more spirit than many of the men he'd served with. She'd as good as been a member of the Howling Commandos; not only could she fight with the best of them, but drink, gamble and swear in several languages as well.

Here's our chance... Steve will definitely be at the services. Time to see if that therapy did us any good.

They erred on the side of caution, finding a spot in the bushes on the edge of the funeral home's parking lot. It was difficult at first to spot any one person in the large crowd of attendees. It seemed the entire agency had come out to pay their respects to one of the co-founders of their organization. Barnes was mildly annoyed that there wasn't better security; if he'd been in charge, he wouldn't have been able to hang around this close.

There he is...

Steve had exited the building, surrounded by his new teammates. They recognized the flying man, and the redhead from their previous encounters, and the others from photographs.

James found himself lost in newly-recovered memories for a moment, just long enough to feel the Soldier suddenly appear and take control. The Target had been reacquired. Weaponry was limited. Strategy: isolate from allies, then engage in hand to hand combat. Allies... hadn't the Target once been an ally?

Taking advantage of the Soldier's momentary loss of focus, Barnes stabbed a knife into his own thigh. The sudden pain let them push the Soldier back under before fleeing into the surrounding cityscape.

Now that Peggy was gone Steve had no real ties to DC. He couldn't bear to stay at his apartment. The bullet holes in the wall might be patched, but the memories were still raw. His whole world had turned upside down ... again... starting right there in the living room. He needed to figure out what was next, and New York City seemed as good a place as any to start.

He also held out hope that someday, he would be able to bring Bucky home, and for them, home was Brooklyn. So he imposed on Sam once more, the two of them packing up what few belongings he'd accumulated over the past few years and stashing them in his friend's spare room.

Steve had reached out to Stark for help in finding somewhere to stay. Not surprisingly, Miss Potts took the task on instead. In her usual efficient manner, she had three different options for him to check out on his first visit back to the city. He was pleasantly surprised that she offered to show him around herself; he figured she was much too busy as CEO of Stark Industries to have the time for him.

Steve felt very much out of place in Williamsburg. The majority of the young people were something Miss Potts called "hipsters". They looked like refugees from the Depression to Steve - wearing knit hats and scarves even during these few days of Indian summer. The dungarees several sizes too small for them and scruffy beards and moustaches on the guys just added to the whole "hobo" look, in his opinion.

Vinegar Hill was promising, even if it looked nothing like he remembered. It certainly wasn't Irishtown anymore; instead a kaleidoscope of skin tones, languages, cultures. Fulton Landing felt like it could be home, too, even if it now went by the rather silly name of Dumbo. He needed some time to think and reflect.

"Any recommendations for a hotel?" Steve asked, as Hogan handed Miss Potts into the back of the towncar. "It's a little late to head back to DC tonight."

"You know there's guest suites at the Tower - you're welcome to borrow one of them for awhile." she offered. Steve was a bit dubious. He still wasn't sure what to think of Stark; they'd gotten off on the wrong foot and he still felt a little off-balance around him. He hated the idea of oweing that man (or anyone, really) anything.

"Thanks, ma'am. But I'm not sure it's such a good idea."

"Nonsense. I know you two butted heads at the beginning, but give Tony a chance. He's not so bad; I think he could use a little company. Besides, Bruce is there already - he and Tony are collaborating on a couple of projects. Think of it as a favor to me." She fluttered her eyelashes and tilted her head in an exaggerated flirt, which made Steve laugh.

"Okay, okay, I give up. Thank you. But just for a couple of days."

They read through the article that had triggered the Google Alert - "Captain America Takes a Bite of the Big Apple" There were photos of Steve in costume at a children's hospital, accompanied by a Miss Potts, the CEO of Stark Industries. The article went on to speculate that the two Avengers - Captain and Iron Man - were collaborating on a project at Avengers Tower.

"Time to make another road trip?" Barnes asked.

Hopefully this one will involve fewer explosions. But there is a mission I want to run once we get there...

Barnes, masquerading as a bike courier, had just stepped away from the reception desk when the phone in his pocket buzzed. He expected it was a news alert, but the message icon showed a 1 next to it instead.

What the hell?

They opened the text app and read the message.

Greetings, Sergeant Barnes.

He stopped dead in his tracks, scanning the room without moving his head. It shouldn't even be possible... no one had this number, could have put two and two together so quickly.

We are in deep shit, sunshine.

The phone buzzed again, with another message:

I am JARVIS, the artificial intelligence in charge of the Tower and the safety of those who work and reside in it. As it seems you do not appear to wish harm to anyone here - I will return the favor. Forgive me for invading your privacy. Should I summon Captain Rogers?

Not here... not now...

Barnes wrote back: "Can't trust myself around him - last 2 times I saw him, the Soldier came out to play & I had to bug out. "

I admire your restraint. May I ask a favor before you go?

What possible favor could a talking building want ?

"What's that?"

Perhaps you could provide visual proof of your present condition to Captain Rogers via the camera above the exit?

Steve had just returned to his suite after a morning workout when JARVIS addressed him. "Captain Rogers, a letter arrived for you this morning."

"This morning? I thought the mailroom took a day or two to process fan mail."

"I believe this item may be of special significance - it is being held for you at the main security desk." Steve headed down to the lobby.

The envelope was simply addressed to "Captain Steve Rogers" but the handwriting looked eerily familiar. He was walking back to the elevator, about to open the letter when his phone buzzed in his pocket. JARVIS had sent him a text. "You may wish to read that in private, Captain. I have a video clip for you to view as well." Steve shrugged, but waited until he was back in his suite.

He was glad he had waited - by the time he was done reading the letter, his hands were shaking and his eyes were wet.

"Stevie -

I saw the news about Peggy. She was a hell of a gal. I'm so sorry. I tried to come to the service" - the next line was scratched out, but if Steve squinted and held the paper just right, he could see something that looked like "Soldier" and "target" and "mission". That didn't sound good.

The letter continued:

"I'm not safe to be around you right now and don't know when I will be. In the meanwhile, I'm trying to make amends, but I can't do it by myself. You might wanna check these places out."

There was then a list of about a dozen sets of coordinates - longitude and latitude.

"Since I can't cover your six at the moment, your other pals damn well better. Tell your flying friend thanks for being a lousy shot.

I miss you, punk.

Bucky"

"JARVIS, was he really here?" Steve's voice was hoarse.

It appears so, Captain. There was a delay in processing the surveillance footage through the facial recognition program Sir set up, but I did isolate some video of the Sergeant. Would you care to review it?"

"Yes, please."

The screen showed a figure in a hooded jacket walking towards the main entrance to the Tower. Steve didn't quite recognize him at first, but then he dropped into a familiar gait, with just a touch of swagger. As the figure approached the door, he pushed the hood back from his head, looked directly up into the camera, and with a wink and a sad smile, Bucky saluted his Captain.