********had to tweak this chapter slightly from original posting, sorry, I have quirks***********
Bucky looked down at her with his fist ready to crush her skull. He stopped. He looked at Ella beneath him bruised and bloodied. As if a switch went off and the painful realization this was was him. She was bruised and bloodied by him. By his hands. Her eyes closed in fear. Fear of him. He carefully lowered his hand to touch her cheek. His hand trembled. Ella cautiously opened her eyes as she felt his touch. He looked down at her with tears in his eyes.
"Bucky?" she asked unsure of if it was him or the programmed version of him.
He said nothing but lifted her up and wrapped his arms tightly around her. She returned the embrace burying her head in his neck. She could feel his rhythmic breaths and the sorrow behind it. "It's ok. I'm ok." she said holding him tighter. They heard the door open behind them. Bucky's head slowly lifted from her shoulder. As she lifted her head she placed a soft kiss on his cheek. He carressed her hand resting on his chest.
"Ostavaysya zdes" he said as he looked at her as she still clung to him. When he spoke the words she understood, "Stay here." It would not be until later she realized he spoke to her in Russian. He gently let go and stormed towards the guards pouring through the door. He knocked the first two guards head together and they fell. Ella slowly stood just as five guards rushed in and pinned Bucky to the wall. She tried to run to help him but was grabbed. Her exhaustion and pain clouded her abilities to warn them of the coming attacks.
"Enough!" shouted Rumlow holding a gun to Ella's head.
Bucky froze as the remaining two guards knocked him to the ground while three others brought in a mechanized restraint. His eyes were crazed as he looked at Rumlow holding Ella.
"Nice work, soldier. She seems to have lost her fight." said Rumlow wrapping his arm around the front of her torso slowly to anger Bucky. Bucky yelled as he fought against the restraint encasing his arms and chest. Ella suddenly became aware of Rumlow's thoughts. She was disgusted. She spun around pinning her forearm into his windpipe as she shoved him into the wall. "You may not feel pain but you still need oxygen to live." she said shoving her forearm further to his windpipe. "Clean up your thoughts." she said giving one final shove. "Or I take then from you." she said releasing him and standing with her arms in the air to show her surrender. She was exhausted. Her attack on Rumlow took all she had left in her. Rumlow choked and coughed rubbing his throat. She looked at Bucky and gave a slight smirk. Two guards stepped away from the restrained Bucky to grab Ella..
"Leave her alone!" shouted Bucky.
Kreutz walked in as Ella was handcuffed.
"Well, this has been enlightening and disappointing all at the same time." said Kreutz. "Ella, why did you not counter his moves?" he asked stepping to block her view of Bucky.
"Because I would rather let what you started with me end with my death." she said hoping her words did not cause Bucky further injury but for now, she had to lie.
"Take them to his their cells and let the doctor know she needs examined" said Kreutz. Sam walked in and took her arm. She tried to pull away but the guard held her in place. Kreutz watched Bucky closely. Ella looked at Bucky and nodded to try to let him know she's be ok. As the door shut behind her she heard the echo of Bucky's words, "I'll kill you!"
"I've got the location and the visual feed they are getting is a loop of the footage since they hacked in. That will buy us time to get to Ella and Bucky." said Tony.
"How many men?" he asked.
Tony pulled up satellite footage of the structure. "Thermal imaging shows about 175 between interior and exterior."
"How about our way in?" he asked.
"There is an entrance to the south and north." relayed Tony.
"Then I'll get in the south entrance and sweep the floors. I'll call you in once I locate them." said Steve.
"Sounds like a plan, but what about a suit?" he asked.
"Not necessary. " he said.
"Humor me?" said Tony walking to a closet and tossing a bag at his feet.