"Did she remember the night she was kidnapped?" asked Rumlow.
"No." said Kruetz.
"So she doesn't remember it was him." he said.
"No. Not yet." he said.
Ella slept nightmare free for 10 hours. She was awoken by Steve.
"Ella?" he said "Ella."
She stirred and groggily opened her eyes. "Can I bring you some lunch?" he asked.
"No." she answered then shot up from her bed and grabbed his arm. "You haven't told anyone about our discussion did you? Did Bucky ask?"
"Woah, calm down. No, we have all just been resting. Why don't you want him to know?" asked Steve putting his hand on hers that held his arm. "He should know what happened. It will make him feel better to know you can handle him."
"I told him that much. I mean, that I can handle him. Just not the details." she said rubbing her eyes "Not yet." she said yawning. "Excuse me." she said feeling slightly embarrassed. He just smiled at her. She realized she had showered and dressed and then passed out from exhaustion in the bed.
"So lunch?" he asked.
"Oh yeah, that's why you're here." she said teasing him.
He just shook his head and extended a hand to help her up. She took it. "Tony said to meet him down the hall. Bucky's meeting us there."
"Wait, Steve?" she said hesitantly.
"Yeah?" he said.
"Has Bucky been ok since the," she paused, "thing?"
"Yeah, he's ok. He's been talking a lot about you. He has confidence in you helping him." he said.
She just shook her head. They made their way to the room. There was an array of sandwiches, soups, salads, desserts, and drinks.
"This all for us?" she asked. She saw Bucky enter from another door on the opposite side of the room from them. He saw them and walked to them.
"What's all this?" he asked.
From the same doorway Bucky walked through came Tony. He rushed towards the three and without a word led then hurridely back out into the hallway. "Get to your rooms now!"
They all looked at him confused. Ella sensed no threat. Steve and Bucky looked at her. She shook her head to let them know she sensed nothing.
"I don't have time to explain now. Some gentlemen from the State Department want to talk about a mission." he said sheeplishly.
Steve grabbed Ella's hand. Tony didn't notice but Bucky did. "We'll get out of your way." The three hurried back to their rooms. Ella looked back at Tony. He looked at her and motioned to his wrist. He wanted to remind her to use it. He didn't seem to trust Bucky very much.
"Ella, why don't you hang out with us." said Steve still holding her hand. She saw Bucky looking at their hands. "Ok." she said as he released her hand as he opened their door. Steve went in first, then Ella, and then Bucky.
"What do you think that is about?" she asked.
"My thoughts exactly." said Bucky looking slightly irritated. She questioned if they were talking about the same thing.
"I don' know. Tony signed the Accord. It most likely has to do with that." he said sitting on the couch. Ella sat on the couch opposite him while Bucky took a seat by her.
"So what now?" asked Bucky looking at her. His eyes seemed to suggest he was directing the question to her. Ella was unsure if he meant with the current situation, counseling, or something else. She was beginning to fear the kiss on her cheek was creating what she had hoped it would not.
"I'm not sure." she stammered as she looked in his eyes. She turned to look at Steve seemed to be picking up on her uncertainty. "Steve?"
"We lay low and wait." he said getting up and walking to the kitchen that was open to the room. As he did Bucky took her hand. She looked at him and his face softened. She was beginning to feel uncomfortable. She stood up removing her hand from his.
"I have some chicken in my refrigerator. We can at least eat lunch until we know what's up. I'll bring it and some salad." she said, "Least I can do to fix you lunch."
She walked across the hall. As she entered her room she became aware Bucky followed.
"I can handle getting the food." she said.
"I'm sorry about all that." he started.
"So it wasn't my imagination you were getting territorial about Steve taking my hand?" she said to him. "Is this because you kissed me on the cheek?" she sighed, "Bucky, we need to focus on getting your mind back before you even add thinking about a relationship." she said. "You think I followed you two because of your muscular physiques and cute smiles? I followed you two because you needed my help and maybe, just maybe, I needed yours." she scolded. "So let's not get ahead of ourselves and cause unneeded awkward moments." she said ended her tyraid.
He looked at her and said, "So you think I have a cute smile?"
She looked at him sternly and said, "We're you even listening?"
"Yes, I'm sorry. I meant to come here and tell you that I probably should not have kissed you on the cheek. You're right. I need to get better before I kiss you again." he said with a smirk.
She threw the bag of salad at him and grabbed the chicken. He chuckled as he could see he threw her off guard. He thought it was cute and encouraging. She headed to the door without a word. He worried he had upset her.
"Wait, Ella." he said gently grabbing her arm. "I know the priority is to get my memory back and try to undo whatever they did. I want that. That's priority. You're not safe with me until then. No matter how I feel. That is reality."
She sighed, "Bucky, I'm safe with you."
He narrowed his eyes ready to disagree but she stopped him. "No."
"Bucky, listen. When you had your nightmare and attacked us. You went after Steve and then me." she said. "When you strangled me Steve didn't shock you, I actually kicked you across the room. You got up to come at me again and I knew how to counter you. That's when Steve shocked you."
He looked at her confused.
"My abilities are more than sensing a threat. I dial in to the attackers thoughts and then their abilities. So I am able to hold my own if you were to have a glitch. I'm safe wih you. Steve took my hand because he thought it would give me strength in case there was a threat, but it doesn't work that way. It's only when defending myself."
He looked at her, "That's how you drop guys twice your size."
"Yeah." she said. "I didn't want you or Steve to know for your safety. Guess it doesn't matter now. Rumlow knows. He was part of it."
"I will do everything to protect you." he said. "Steve too." he added.
She softened her scowl. "The priority is the get back what they took from you." she said smiling. "Youwork with me and we do that and maybe I let you buy me a drink." she said continuing out the door and back to their room.
"Deal." said Bucky as they walked into the room,
"Deal?" asked Steve.
Ella looked at Bucky.
"A promise to Ella to behave myself." he said.
"I thought that was an understood." he said grabbing plates.
"I'm sure it is." she said setting out the chicken.
They ate their lunch and waited to hear from Tony.
An hour passed and no word from Tony.
"Bucky, how about we talk about where to start?" she said.
"Ok." he said.
"Steve, would you excuse us?" he asked.
He nodded.
"Bucky, let's use your room." she said as he walked in. She went across the hall and grabbed her notebook Tony had supplied and a pen. When she came back into the apartment Steve stopped her, "Ella, if you need to use it," he said gesturing to the tech on her wrist, "use it. I'll be right here."
"Thanks." she said smiling at him. "Could you put some music on for privacy? I think it would be best for confidentiality and to get him to open up without fearing he's being heard."
"Sure." he said. "You're sure you're up for this?"
"No." she said honestly, "but I'm sure that time would ever come."
He chuckled slightly as she walked into his room. She shut the door behind her.
"Where should I sit?" he asked. She took note he seemed nervous. She heard Steve playing some music. A familiar tune she remebered hearing at an old diner.
"Wherever you are most comfortable."she said. "You can lay on the bed if that makes you comfortable?"
He shook his head and propped some pillows up and sat up against the headboard. She took a seat next to his bed in a chair from the desk.
"Ok, well, is there anything you want to start with?" she asked.
"Well, is there a way to erase the memory of everything they made me do?" he said.
"No, Bucky." she said.
"But they took all the good stuff, ya know? The memories of my parents, my family, Steve? They're all fragments. But every," he paused, "killing they made me do. I remember." he said looking at her with tears in his eyes. "Every detail." he said clealry angry.
"Are you angry about that? Sad?" she asked.
He was looking down avoiding her gaze. "Very angry."
"You deserve to be angry. What they did to you isn't right. Do you want to work with the anger or try to focus on the happy memories?" she asked.
"Fragments," he said, "there are no memories." he said looking up at her. "I think if you help me. If you hear what I've done you will never want to come near me again."
"Bucky, don't." she said. "Don't speak for me. If I wanted to stay away I wouldn't be here with you."
Bucky gave a slight smile.
"So tell me about your parents?" she asked.
He looked at her at a loss for words.
"What is your earliest memory?" she asked.
He looked down again. He seemed upset.
"Bucky, we don't have to do this." she said.
His head snapped up, "No. I want to. I have to."
"Ok, I think we need to go slow." she said. "And maybe even a type of relaxation? Hypnosis?" she suggested.
He seemed irritated.
"Maybe I can't be helped." he said. "I'm not sure there's enough of me left?" he dropped his head into his hands and quietly sobbed. She got up from her chair and sat next to him on the bed. She put her arm around him and pulled him into her chest and held him tight. She could tell he was restraining his sadness but at leaat he was allowing himself to cry. She held him for awhile until he slowly lifted his head. She just held his gaze. He looked so helpless, scared, and fragile. She'd never seen him in this light. She pushed the hair away from his face as he sat up next to her.
"So am I the most hopeless client you've had?" he asked.
"No. Just the opposite." she said smiling at him.
They both sat on the bed with their hands in their laps. She reached over and took his hand.
"We take it as slow as you need. We work on the memory fragments. If you only remember the fragment then we stick with that. We bring those to the forefront of your mind, not the killings." she said playing with his hand.
"Ok." he said. She turned to look at him. "Thank you. I don't think I could do this without you." he said studying her face. "I feel comfotable with you. You put me at ease."
"You're a good man and you think they took that from you, but they didn't. They can't." she said. She got off the bed and headed for the door.
"Ella." he said standing and walking to her. "I plan on buying you a drink real soon."
She smiled, "Me too." and walked from the room.
As she walked into the living area Steve stood up. "Ella?"
She continued walking out the door and to her room. Steve followed her.
"Ella, are you ok?" he asked.
She couldn't speak but just sat on the couch. She didn't feel like talking. He sat next to her and put his arm around her. "Ella, are you ok?"
She shook her head yes.
"Ella." he urged.
"Steve. I'm fine. I just need some time." she said. She desperatley needed to change the subject. "Actually, I have to ask a favor and I want you to hear it out before you say no." she said. "There's a bookstore just around the corner and I put in an online order to hold the books I need. All I have to do it take the cash and get the books."
Steve hung his head and sighed. "This will be quick." said Steve obviously not happy wih the plan. They went back to Steve and Bucky's room. They each put on caps to keep their face as hidden as possible. As they walked out the door Steve placed a cap on Ella's head.
"No." she said trying to remove it.
"Yes." he said keeping it in her head.
"A hat is not a disguise. It draws attention." she argued. He just looked at her.
"Humor me." said Steve.
She looked to Bucky who nodded agreement with Steve. She dropped her hands leaving the hat in place. Bucky just looked at her and smiled. He mouthed the word, "cute" to her. She ignored him.
They made their way quickly through the back alley to the bookstore. Steve and Bucky hung back as she approached the cashier. "Hi. I am here to pick up an order for Pepper Potts." she said. The lady wet to the back to gather the order.
Steve watched as a lady approached Ella. Bucky and Steve moved closer to her.
"Ella?" she said. Ella turned to see a blonde young woman next to her.
"I'm sorry. Who are you?" she asked.
"Ada Stevens. I am a cousin of Sam's." she said.
Steve and Bucky saw Ella's face go white. Steve nodded to Bucky as he started towards Ella.
Ella searched for words, "Oh, have we met?" she asked feeling sick.
"No. I was hoping I would run into you one day. What's it been? Five years now?" said Ada. "I was just arriving at the house when the explosion occured. I'm so sorry. I know he loved you very much." she said. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"
The lady returned from behind the counter. Ella gave her the money in exchange for the books. "Uh, sure." she said following her to a small table. She felt in a daze as she followed him.
"Excuse me, honey." said Steve approaching.
She looked at Steve still in her daze. She saw Bucky in the corner watchig her intensely.
"Honey, are you ok?" asked Steve taking her arm. Ada turned and looked at the two.
"Uh, yeah, just give me a minute. " she said. He leaned in to look as though he was kissing her cheek and whispered, "you sure?" he pulled back to check her expression.
"Just a few minutes." she said smiling.
Steve smiled at Ada and stepped a few feet away to look at a magazine. "It's good to see you've moved on."
The two took a seat at a small table. "That day. The explosion. I saw you taken." she whispered leaning in. "A man in a mask with a silver arm. He grabbed you and threw you into a van. I tried to tell police but they didn't believe me. I just thought you should know. I knew you wouldn't have left or had any part in it."
Ella was finding it hard to breathe. She needed to fake it until she could get out of there. She had to pretend she was ok. Steve felt the woman was upseting Ella. He decided to interupt.
"Honey, we better get back or we will be late for our reservation." she looked up to see Steve standing by the table. "Hi." he said to Ada. "I don't mean to interrupt. "
Ada smiled, "Oh, no problem. We are done. Here is my number is you ever want to meet up for coffee to talk."
"Thanks." said Ella weakly.
Ada left and Steve took her seat. "Ella, we need to go." he said as she stared off into space.
"Yeah." she said slowly standing. Bucky went out ahead to make sure it was clear as Steve put his arm around Ella and carried the books in the other hand.
"You're not ok." he said as they exited and met Bucky.
"Who was she?" asked Steve.
"I'm not sure." she asked.