Present Day
Ella woke up still in Bucky's arms. She carefully looked at him to see if he was awake. His soft blue eyes looked back at her.
"About time." he said smiling at her.
"Sorry, I was a little comfortable." she said.
"We should get going. I'll get dressed." he said. She rolled over to give him privacy as he got up and dressed.
"I hope, you know, sleeping like this was ok?" she said feeling nervous. "I just needed to sleep and after all we've been through-"
"Ella, you don't need to explain yourself. I needed it too." he said. He watched her as she laid with her back to him. The bruises on her shoulders were gone. He was thankful. "Ok." he said to her turning his back. She got out of the bed with her towel wrapped around her and went to the bathroom to dress. She hurried up and dressed in her blood stained clothes. She walked out of the bathroom.
"Here, put this on." he said handing her his jacket.
"You might need it." she protested.
"We don't want to freak people out with your shirt." he said looking at it. She saw him pause. She knew what he was thinking about. The reason for the blood. She hurriedly covered her shirt with his jacket. He took a step closer to her and buttoned it closed. He at her. The sadness in his eyes again. She placed a hand on his arm. She said nothing only smiled. She knew his thoughts. His remorse. She knew there was nothing she could say.
"Ok. So what is our plan?" she asked.
"Well, we're broke, but we need some breakfast. I also found out we're in southern Toronto." he said.
She looked at him confused. "Excuse me?"
"Yeah, Canada. Where every evil is born." he joked. "How are your wounds?"
"All healed." she said lifting the side his jacket she wore. " The healing abilities really came in handy. Thanks for sharing." She wanted to do everything she could to keep him focused on the positive.
He quietly nodded.
"Back in the room. After, things." she paused watching his reaction to what she said. He seeemd ok so she continued, "you spoke a language to me. I understood it."
He looked at her. He wasn't sure if or how to respond. "Ella, the things I do remember, I'm not sure I can trust." he said.
"So you have memories of me?" she asked.
"Fragments." he said. "Once we were in the facility and you snapped me out of that. There were a few things thay came back."
"So, what they said was true?" she said solemnly. She had hoped they were lies.
"Ella, I can't say that." he said. He took her hand in his to comfort her and squeezed it. "We need to go."
She knew the questions were painful for him and the knowledge she gained was for her. She wouldn't let this stop her in her mission to help Bucky. The realization of the heaviness and magnitude of what he is dealing with was evident. They would need to go slow and tread lightly. He guided her by the hand and they snuck out the back door of the hotel. They had no money to pay. They found a small diner a few miles down the road. They bargained to wash dishes for whatever food they could spare. The quaint elderly couple would make no such deal and offered them their pick from the menu on the house. They chose the basic eggs and bacon with toast and coffee. The couple insisted they take their time and eat as much as needed. Ella was the last to finsih as he sipped his coffee and watched her. She took the last bite of her eggs and looked up feeling his stare. She swallowed the last bite as he smiled with amusement.
"Yes?" she asked setting her fork down and grabbing her coffee.
"Nothing, its just you never eat like that when I cook." he said joking.
"Can't recall a time in the week I've known you that you have cooked." she said teasingly back.
"You know they think we're a couple." he said glancing at the elderly couple who stood smiling at them.
"Well, we look good together. Let them stare." she said sipping the coffee. It was a bit chilly out and the coffee warmed her up.
He looked at her surprised. She felt the need to explain as he stare was making her cheeks warm.
"I mean, we're two good looking people. Not, well, not that-" she stopped herself as she began to blush and realize there was no way out of the statement that would wipe the mischievous look from his face.
"It's the cute smile, isn't it." he grinned.
"Don't we need to be on our way?" she said desperate to get in the chill to cool her face down.
"Yes, we should." he said standing and extending his hand to help her from her chair. She took it and just shook her head at him. They graciously thanked the couple for the generosity. They gave them to go coffee cups and food for their trip. Ella hugged them both.
"We have one more favor to ask. Would we be able to use your phone?" asked Bucky.
"Of course, said the older gentleman." he walked him to their office area. Ella stayed with the older woman. Her name was Cecile.
"How long have you two known each other?" she asked.
"Not sure." she said which elicited a strange look.
"Sorry, I mean about a week, well, we may have met years earlier. It's confusing." she said.
"Well, the way he looks at you dear, that's the way my Frank won me." she said. "You're the only thing in the room. That's how he looks at you. Cherish it."
She smiled as the sweet woman. Bucky and Frank reappeared.
"Tony's unlisted" he said. " If you're good we'll keep going?"
"Sure." she said.
Ella hugged Cecile and Frank one more time. Bucky did too and they headed out to the road.
"Why not wait there?" she asked.
"Best to keep moving." he said. He didn't want to concern her but they had no idea who else was out there and might be after them.
Just as they exited the diner Steve and Tony were walking up to the door.
"Well, well." said Tony.
"What took you so long?" asked Bucky looking at Steve. Steve smiled and hugged him. Ella couldn't believe it. She walked to Tony and threw her arms around him.
"Woah, good to see you too." he said hugging her back. She held him tightly. Tightly enough he knew something had happened and it wasn't good. He looked over at Bucky. Bucky looked away.
"Clint has the jet back at the facility. Well, where the facility used to be." said Tony as Ella let go of him. She couldn't look at Steve. He took notice. "Who's ready to get out of here?" asked Tony.
Ella smiled at Tony and walked over towards Bucky. He took her hand. "I think we both are." he said.
They all walked back to the plane. Steve kept a watch of Ella. She kept hold of Bucky's hand. She seemed distant. She kept a watch of either the ground or straight before her. She said nothing. Neither of them did. Tony rambled on about how they tracked them and how they came across the burning rubble. They finally made it to the plane. Steve and Tony entered. Bucky started to but stopped as Ella froze looking at the smoldering rubble. She wasn't expecting it to bother her, but it did. She was angry. She wanted them to die but now that it was reality, it didn't make her feel any better. She had no answers, only more questions. And pain. The pain of knowing she had a hand in what happened and still happens to Bucky. The pain of being beaten by him yet knowing it wasn't his choice. Yet, as he said, he did it. They both have to live with it. They both have the pain. She took Kreutz life. That was her choice. Self defense? Maybe, or vengence?
"Ella?" said Bucky. Her head snapped towards him. She became aware that she was staring out at the rubble for a time. Steve and Tony also looked at her from the entrance to the jet. She didn't want their pity or concern. She let go of Bucky's hand and walked to the plane.
She walked past Steve and Tony and sat on a bench behind the pilot's chair Clint sat in. She rested her elbows on her knees as she sat. She just stared at the floor. Bucky walked in taking a seat next to her. He put a comforting hand on her back. She couldn't look at him. He understood.
Steve and Tony closed the door and watched the two. Tony could see they'd been through hell and it was coming back with them.