Bucky knew they needed to find shelter. Bucky carried here until they came to a small back road. There was a small rundown motel. He walked in with Ella in arms.
We need a room." he said as the clerk eyed him.
"Is she ok?" he asked.
"Yeah, She's just tired and not feeling well. Our car broke down a ways back and we had to walk." he said.
"Of course." said the clerk. "One room left."
"We'll take it." he said.
"Just a few hours or what do ya need?" he asked.
Bucky didn't care for his insinuation. "The night." he said irritated.
The man slid him the keys. "Credit card machine is broken so you pay when ya turn in the keys."
"Thanks." said Bucky and headed with Ella to the room.
"I finally got a track on Bucky's hardware." said Tony.
They were on their way to the facility thanks to help from Clint who volunteered to fly the jet.
Steve opted to leave the uniform behind. He still had not reconciled the last time he wore the suit. The last battle fought in it. So he wore plain clothes. He dressed in black to camouflage in the dark knight. He was concerned about what they were walking into but determined to get them both back. Ella had come to mean a lot to him in a short time. He was fond of her. He needed her to know.
"Cap," said Tony as Steve shot him a look, "sorry, habit." he said, "How do you want to handle this?"
"I go in and clear the floors then I'll radio to bring you in." he said.
Tony saw the worry on his face. "I'm sure they're fine. They are very capable."
"Yeah." he said. He knew Bucky would keep her safe as long as they didn't try to manipulate him.
Ella shot up. She was looked around. Where was she? She began to panic. The room was unfamiliar.
"Ella." said Bucky sitting next to her. Her head snapped to him.
"Bucky," she said. "where are we?"
"We're at a motel. You passed out." he said.
"We made it out?" she said smiling.
"Yeah." he said smiling. He was glad to see the bruises and cuts healing.
"Thank you." she said. "for getting me out of there.
"Couldn't have done it without you keeping me safe." he said teasing.
"Delusional pays off." she said with a laugh.
She scooted back against the headboard.
"Where are we?" she asked.
"Not sure." he said.
"We have to go back. I need answers. Kreutz." she said.
Bucky just looked at her. "Ella, Kreutz is dead."
Ella looked at him confused and searching her mind for memories. It hit her, "I killed him." she said. "I killed the chance for answers." she said putting her head in her hands. "I'm a killer. At least we settled that."
"Ella, we did what we had to so we could get out of there." he said taking a seat next to her and putting his hand on her back. He wanted to keep a distance. He needed to. She kept her face hidden. He knew she was stiffling tears. It was all he could do not to take her in his arms. He needed to get her back to Steve. Back to safety and away from him.
"He said I helped them. That won't stop haunting me." she said. "They said we worked together on missions. I don't mean to be selfish, but do you remember that? Me on a mission with you?"
He looked at her, "Ella, you need to rest right now, not figure everything out."
She nodded her head. He watched her wipe tears from her face. Her brown hair matted to her face by tears. Her pale skin and green eyes. He was mesmerized by her. She was beautiful. He hated Steve for being the better man.
She took a deep breath. "Is there a shower here?" she asked.
"Yeah. Help yourself." he said remaining on the bed as she walked to the shower.
She walked in and shut the door. He turned on the TV amd walked to the window. He looked out at the parkijg lot surveying the cars and patrons. He couldn't forgive himself. He beat her. That simple. They pulled the strings but it was his hands. He wasn't sorry she killed Kreutz. He was sorry he didn't get yhe chance. t. He was sorry she didn't remember their past. The little fragments of them he held on to so many nights as he struggled with pain. Now she was here and he was trying to forget. He sat down and flipped through the channels. They seemed to be in some part of France. He picked up the phone to see if he could make a call. The line was dead. He didn't even know how to contact Steve or Tony.
"Bucky?" she called from the bathroom.
"Ella, are you ok?" he asked.
"Yes, it's just that we don't have fresh clothes. Are you ok of I come out in a towel and get into bed?" she asked.
He smiled, "Yes, you're fine." he said turning his back, Her modesty always amused him. It was one o the many reasons he was attracted to her.
Ella appeared from the bathroom in a towel. Bucky kept his back to her as she got into bed.
"Ok." she said to him.
"I'll sleep here." he said moving an old wodden chair next to the bed.
"No. Bucky. We can share the bed. I'll get dressed." she said.
He walked to her and stopped her from getting up. "No, Ella. You need to sleep and that is fine."
"Well, then you shower up and take the other half of the bed." she said.
"Thought you were old fashioned. I can take the chair." he said.
"I can make an exception for sharing a bed after what we have been through." she said smiling.
He went to the bathroom and showered. She had almost dozed off when he appeared with a towel aroujd his waist. He laid down next to her being careful to keep a distance.
"Goodnigt." she said as she rolled over facing him. He kept himself above the covers so she could be warm underneath them.
"Goodnight." he replied.
"You can be under the covers with me," she said. "I trust an old fashioned gentleman."
He smiled. "I'm fine."
"Bucky." she said.
"I'm warm so this is better." he said.
She watched him as he stared at the ceiling. There was a familiarness being with him but no memeories. He was so kind and she felt so safe with him, She wanted him to understand how she felt but knew had not even begun to forgive himself for the beating he gave her. She had to keep the relationship professional anyway to withhold to the ethical code while working wih him. She did love him.
She couldn't lie to herself about her feelings but she couldn't be open either.
"Guys." said Clint. "I think this is your facility."
Steve and Tony stepped up to see a pile of hot ash and smoldering flames. The building was incinerated. Steve felt like the wind had just been knocked out of him.
"Bucky? Ella?" he asked.
Tony ran scans. "Nothing. I'm not picking up any signs of survivors. I'm sure they got out."
"This is where his hardware traced to?" asked Steve.
"Yes, but-" Tony started but was cut off by Steve.
"We need to land and check it out." he insisted.
Ella tossed and turned. She tried not to disturb Bucky. He seemed to be sleeping. She was glad. She was surprised her gunahot wounds seemed to almost be healed. It was almostmas if she still had healing abilities. When she first met them she seemed to habe accelerated healing but thought maybe it was just an issue of the scrapes being a light wound. This type of wound was different. She thought of Sam. He wasn't dead, but now he was. Why couldn't she remember Bucky? Kreutz. She needed air. She got up quietly. Bucky grabbed her arm.
"Where are you going?" he asked. She grabbed at her slipping towel.
"I just needed to get up. I can't sleep." she said.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"The better question is what's right?" she said. "My mind is just racing." He gently tugged at her arm for her to lay back in the bed. She climbed back under the covers. He pushed himself closer to her and wrapped his arm around her. She looked up and him as he smiled. She moved closer to him and laid her head on his bare chest.
"So what is racing through your mind?" he asked his voice groggy from sleep.
"What we just went through." she said. "Just all of it." It felt so good to be in his arms. "Did we share moments like this?"
She felt his chest rise with a breath. "Just rest." he said not wanting to answer.
"In a minute. I was thinking we can use some cognitive behavioral techniques to undo the reset using the ten words. We can interrupt the mapping and rewire the unconscious reflex reaction." she said.
He began to rub her shoulder. "Tomorrow." he said kissing the top of her head. "Sorry." he said thinking of their conversation about him kissing her cheek.
"I'll allow it." she said. "Just this once."
He chuckled. As he continued to rub her shoulder. She soon drifted off comfortably in his arms.
Steve combed through the area surrounding the facility.
"Steve we'll find them." said Tony.
Steve was silent. They had to.
"Guys, why don't we check out the local towns around the area. More than likely they got out and are on foot." said Clint trying to ease the obvious pain Steve was in.
"Good idea." said Tony. "If he removed the fail safe then that could be why this is the last trace."
"He knew how to remove the fail safe?" asked Steve.
"In case he no longer needed it, yes." he said.
Steve saw Tony in a different light. He was giving Bucky a chance.
"My guess is to get out he needed that gone, Kreutz probably tapped into it." said Tony.
"Thanks, Tony." said Steve.
"Yeah, well, still no promises I won't kick his ass someday." he said, "but right now there are priorities."
Steve agreed and the first was to find them.