Bucky headed to meet Tony in his office.
"Ah, there you are." said Tony as Bucky walked in. He knew before he left he needed the fail-safe. "This shouldn't take long." he said grabbing a few items from a metal cabinet.
Bucky took a seat.
"Just roll your sleeve and extend your arm. This is a different fail-safe with a bit more protection from hackers." he said as he set it in place inside his arm and using a small device fastened it. He then proceeded to place a smaller device inside directly next to the fail-safe. "This is a little item that should you ever need us, just press the red button next to the fail-safe and we can track you." he said closing the small hatch on his arm and securing it closed.
"Thanks, Tony." he said standing.
"Going somewhere?" asked Tony.
Bucky looked at him wondering how he knew. "Yeah." he said. "Ella will be safer if I'm not here."
"Is that what she said?" he asked.
"It's what is best for her." said Bucky.
"How so?" asked Tony leaning on his desk.
"At the facility, they programmed me to kill her." he said.
Tony looked at him confused. His heart raced at his words but he kept calm. "So what stopped you? I thought Winter Soldier mode was unstoppable?"
"She stopped me." he said.
"Then why leave?" he asked. "She seems able to hold her own with you two."
"She's better off with Steve." he said.
Tony watched him. "Seems to me you're controlling the situation. I would venture to guess if I asked Ella she would want you to stay, so she could help you. You're taking that choice away by leaving."
"I'm taking the threat away." he said.
"No, see, you know what it feels like to have no choice. That's not freedom. It's control." said Tony.
"It's what I have to do." he said feeling the sting of Tony's words.
Tony realized there was no point in arguing. "Ok, well, if you need us, you know how to call us up." he said shaking his hand. Bucky nodded and walked out. He left knowing she would hate him. Maybe that is what she needed to move on. He wasn't sure where he was going, but he needed answers.
Ella laid on her bed. Her wounds hurt but were healing. Her emotional wounds were raw and fresh. She knew she needed to talk to Bucky. She walked over to their room and knocked. Steve answered.
"Ella. Hi." he said.
"Hi." she replied. "Is Bucky here?"
"No, he's actually with Tony repairing his arm." he said. "You're welcome to wait here."
She walked in and sat on the couch. "I need to leave here. I can't stay."
Steve looked at her shocked, "No, our job's not done."
"It's more complicated than you two being my bodyguards, Steve." she said.
"Bucky told me what happened to you two at the facility." he said.
"Then you know I'm no solution." she replied.
"Solution?" he asked.
"I helped them. The monsters that did this to him. I'm one of them." she said.
"Unwillingly." he argued.
"Does it matter?" she said.
"Yes." he said.
"Not how I see it." she argued back.
"No matter what they said. He needs you. We need you." he said.
"We? No. No one needs me. I don't even know who 'me' is? A week ago I was a psychologist working in a simple private practice out for coffee. Now? Now I'm part of some Natzi sympathist group?" she argued.
"That's not who you are." he said.
"No, see, that's his story." she said referring to Bucky.
"They messed with your head, Ella." he said.
"That's an understatement." she said rubbing her arm. The injury still sore. "What did he tell you." she said curious as to their conversation.
"Enough." he said.
"Yeah, the secret of me that everyone else is in on but me." she chuckled.
"Then we help you find out. It'd be the best way to protect you. You can still help Bucky and I'll be there to handle things if anything is triggered." he said.
"You really think I should stay?" she asked.
"Yes." he said standing at the kitchen bar and crossing his arms.
She let out a long sigh, "Then I need some space." she said standing and walking to the door. He put a gentle hand on her shoulder as she walked past him. She winced.
"You ok?" he asked concerned.
She ignored the question, "Tell me, how do you trust someone you don't know?"
"You trusted Bucky and I? Did you know us?" he asked.
"Not fair. I wanted to help you." she said.
"Helping requires a level of trust." he said trying to get her to understand. They trusted her and she trusted them.
"Then I trust you to not kidnap me and let me make my own decision about leaving." she said.
"Ella, you're the best chance Bucky has and I'm asking you as a preliminary friend to please stay." he said.
Ella smiled at the term. She extended her hand. He took it and pulled her into him to embrace her. "Ok, now your space." he said letting her go. Steve gave her a smile as he left the room. Ella waited for Bucky. He returned within 10 minutes of Steve leaving. He looked at her and smiled walking into his room. Ella stood and followed him. "I wondered if we could talk." she said as he grabbed his backpack and began to pack. "Excuse me, where are we going?" she asked.
He turned to look at her, "We, are going nowhere."
"You think you are?" she asked.
"I'm looking out for you." he said.
"Seems contradictory." she said.
Bucky stopped packing and turned to look at her. "In light of recent events, it's in your best interest."
"Maybe you are my interest?" she said realizing it may have come out wrong. "I mean I'm here to help you and you're staying. We had a deal. It still stands."
He turned back to his bag and zipped it up. "You're still delusional."
"Maybe." she said.
Bucky stepped past her to the door. Ella looked at her wrist and placed her finger on the device Steve gave her. Bucky seized up. She ran to him as he fell unconscious. She didn't want to do it but she couldn't let him leave. She caught him and gently brought him to the ground. The device on her wrist flashed on and off. Steve busted through the door in a panic. He looked at Ella as Bucky laid in her lap on the floor. "He wasn't as easy to persuade to stay as I was."