-PAST-
They walked for hours in the woods beyond the facility they had just escaped. Bucky knew they could not stop until they were far away. They needed to create distance. They came across a small cabin that looked abandoned. He could tell Ella was exhausted. He pried open the door. It was full of cobwebs and unfurnished. He checked the sink. There was no running water.
"We should stay here and rest." he said.
She shook her head in agreement. She sat down shivering in the corner. There was a small wood stove. He went out and gathered some sticks to burn. He brought them in and shoved then in the stove. She knew the smoke could give them away but he didn't care. He knew she needed to get warm and he could handle whatever search party came their way. He used some rocks and got the fire started. She huddled near the stove.
"What if they find us? They'll kill us?" she said.
"Not if we kill them first." he said looking out the window.
-PRESENT-
They all went up to Tony's office to discuss the events. Ella still had butterflies. Bucky kept close to her but not in a way that made Steve or Tony suspect anything. Ella was paranoid. They needed to talk. After the meeting she was going to talk to him. She wasn't sure if they could work in the way that was needed if he was pursuing her. She could not clear her head of the emotion. She was constantly at war with herself. Her heart wanted to pursue him but her head reprimanded her as a parent with a naughty child who just wanted their way. It would complicate everything they were trying to accomplish. If they had these feelings for one another then decisions could be made that would be based in the wrong thought. Bucky had enough going on and she now had the knowledge that she was part of an experiment and had worked with the monsters who did this to Bucky. Neither should be thinking of each other in any way other than platonic. She just needed to make that point to him.
"Ella, is that correct?" asked Tony.
Ella was pulled from her thoughts, "Uh, sorry, is what correct?"
"Bucky said that you were able to pull him from the Winter Soldier mode somehow?" he asked. Ella looked at Bucky who was staring at her.
"Yes. It's true." she said.
"How?" asked Tony.
"I'm working on that. I have a theory. In simplest terms, their control involves the rational mind but the emotional mind is what seemed to cause him to awaken, in a sense." she said looking at him as she spoke then turned to Tony.
Tony watched the interaction between Ella and Bucky. He wasn't sure what was going on exactly. "Ok, how did you override it?"
Ella looked at Tony across from her and then to Steve next to her, "I told him I forgave him. I thought he was going to kill me. I knew he remembers everything so I wanted to make sure he remembered my last words to him were that." she said feeling the emotion rising up, she took a deep breath to calm herself. Steve took notice and put a comforting hand on her back. Ella felt it and refused to look at Bucky.
"Ok." he said. "What happened after that?" asked Tony.
Ella finally turned to Bucky. He could tell by her eyes she wasn't up for this. He took her hand. "Kruetz sent his men in. I took them down until Rumlow grabbed Ella. I surrendered. They took us both to adjacent cells. I broke us out. Then we both fought our way out."
Tony sat back and looked at both of them. "Ok, well, tomorrow I'm looking into this Kreutz and see if we can track anything down from that location. Ella, we need to look closer at you and your past. I need to get fingerprints, DNA, etc."
"Tony." said Steve feeling his friends had been through enough.
"Steve, I said tomorrow. Tonight we are celebrating you guys are back so go shower, nap, whatever you need. At seven o'clock this evening we are going out." said Tony.
"Excuse me? Uhm, no. We just got back from hell and I really need to talk to Bucky about some things." said Ella.
"Sure. You can talk it over on the dance floor." he said smiling.
"I don't dance." she said.
"Well, then you're in for treat!" he said leaving the room.
Ella just shook her head. Bucky squeezed her hand before letting go. They all stood up and walked in silence to their rooms.
"Did you want to talk now?" asked Bucky. Ella turned to face them both as they all stood outside their rooms.
"I think it can wait. I'm really kind of tired and you should rest too." she said opening her door. "But we will have words, you're not getting off that easy, Barnes."
They both smiled at her. "Good to see someone keeping him on task." said Steve patting Bucky's arm as he walked into their room. Bucky lingered. Once Steve was out of sight he whispered to her.
"Am I in trouble?" he asked.
She smiled at him, "That will depend on your answers later." she teased. "For now, just rest easy and help think of a way to get us out of this dancing thing?"
"I might not be much help. I'm kind of looking forward to it." he said.
"Well, that makes one of us." she said walking into her room. "Get some rest."
Ella showered and had a nice long solid nap. She woke up with an hour to get herself ready for the evening out. She toyed with telling Tony she was sick. She knew it would be rude so she forced herself to pick out a dress from the closet. Tony had stocked it with every available outfit for any occasion. She picked out a black dress with a black shawl to cover her recovering gunshot would on her arm. He also had provided jewelry so she picked a pearl choker necklace to cover the healing yellow tinge still on her neck from bruising. For a moment she flash backed to Bucky's hands tightly on her neck. She quickly brushed the image from her mind. The decided to wear her hair down in soft curls pulled to the side slightly. She wore the basic makeup of mascara, blush, and lipstick. She was not one for a lot of makeup but tonight would be an exception. It wasn't really a lot of makeup but felt like it to her. She grabbed a black clutch and threw in her lipstick, a small notebook, and pen. She wanted to be prepared in case Bucky shared any details that may give her insight for their session tomorrow. Her mind raced wondering if she still had time to get out of this. A knock at the door told her, no, it was too late. She opened the door and saw Tony, Steve, and Bucky staring back at her in tuxedos.
"Wow, you guys look great. Tuxedos suit you." she said smiling. She wasn't feeling so out of place now. They all smiled.
"Well, let me be the first to say you clean up very nicely." said Tony.
"I showered." replied Ella.
"You look beautiful." said Bucky staring at her.
She smiled at him taking notice that his hair was pulled back. "Thank you." she said stepping towards him and pushing a stray hair behind his ear. He looked down at her smiling.
Tony looked at Steve. "Ok, well, now that we agree we all look great and Bucky has every hair in place we should get going."
They took the elevator to the street where a limo awaited.
"Isn't this a little high profile?" asked Ella.
"Yeah, I'm not so sure this is a good idea." said Steve.
"I rented out the back area and have security all over the building inside and out. However, it is still mandatory we travel in style." said Tony.
Steve opened the door for Ella and they all climbed in. They arrived in a short time at the restaurant. It was beautiful. An old historic building. As they made their way inside the interior was marble with gold and red tapestry. It was lit with a warm golden glow. Tony extended his arm to Ella. She took it as Bucky and Steve followed.
They sat at a small secluded table in the corner of a large hall. They were served several courses. Ella had never eaten in such a fancy establishment. They had a polite meal outside of Tony's teasing comments to everyone.
"Well, I'm ready to dance." he said looking at Ella.
"Why are you looking at me?" she asked. "I'm digesting."
Tony smiled and stood extending his hand to her. He wasn't taking no for an answer. She looked at Steve and Bucky then stood talking Tony's hand. "I don't know how to dance." she tried as a last resort. He guided her to the dance floor.
"I think we should get her out of here." said Bucky. Steve looked at his friend. He knew he didn't care of Tony but he swore his friend was almost sounding jealous.
"You know you could go rescue her." said Steve.
Bucky felt tense at his words. His actions at the facility still heavy on his heart. "You're more of the hero than me."
"I don't care for that attitude." said Steve.
"We haven't had time to process anything that happened and I'm really missing the effects of alcohol right now." said Bucky.
Steve laughed. "Well, you always loved dancing." Bucky ignored his comments. Steve stood up and began walking to them on the empty dance floor. He tapped Tony's shoulder. Bucky could see them talking as Ella stood. She looked at him and shrugged. As the two talked Ella looked out to the long hall that led to the other part of the restaurant. She saw a man that seemed to be staring at her. Her heart sank. He looked like the doctor from the facility. He quickly hurried away. Ella walked towards the hall as the two men talked. Bucky saw her moving towards the other area of the restraint. He stood and walked towards her catching her before she walked down the hallway.
"Ella, where are you going?" he said grabbing her arm. She turned to face him.
"Bucky?" she said as if waking from a dream.
"Ella, did you see something?" he asked. Tony and Steve walked over to them.
Ella looked at Bucky. Her head hurt. For a moment she forgot where she was.
"Everything ok?" asked Steve.
"Yeah, I had to get Bucky over here somehow. " she said pulling him to the dance floor.
He rested his hands on her hips and she placed hers on his shoulders as they dance to the slow melodic music.
"Ok, you lied to them. Why?" he asked.
"Can't we just dance?" she asked.
"Sure, we can dance while you tell me what you saw to turn you white as a ghost." he said.
She looked at him seeing he was not going to give up on this. "I thought I saw the doctor from the facility but that's not possible. He's dead?"
She felt him grip her a bit tighter. "He should be." said Bucky. She saw his jaw clenching. He looked around the room as they danced.
"Bucky?" she asked to bring back his attention. She was beginning to panic slightly. The memories of when he attacked her. His tightening grip and distant stare.
He finally made eye contact. She let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "Maybe Steve and I should check it out."
"Maybe you should stay right here in my arms." she said.
"I think you're in my arms." he said.
"Now who's delusional. " she joked. He rewarded her with a big smile that calmed all her panic. Bucky looked at her knowing that he couldn't risk them getting their hands on her or using him against her. This was their strategy and always had been. To draw her out. To separate them, take her hostage, and when he came to rescue her, she was used as leverage for his compliance. Then the experiments would begin again.
"Do you sense a threat?" he asked her.
"No." she said.
"Well, if that is the doctor then he knows your ability has limits." he said.
"You had to bring that up?" she said.
"You don't have my healing anymore." he argued.
"I have my own version." she said.
"I can't let anything happen to you." he said looking into her eyes and pulling her gently closer to him. His tone made her wonder exactly what he was talking about. "I have a session with you tomorrow." he said smiling.
"Yeah and you need it." she said smiling back at him.
"Yes, I do." he said. He had a way of saying things that made her wonder if they were on the same page or if he was implying something else. Ella and Bucky walked off the dance floor over to Tony and Steve to fill them in. Tony proposed they go back to the tower and he could tap into the security footage and they could watch from a safe distance. They all agreed and left. At the tower Tony brought up the live footage but the man Ellla saw was not there.
"Can you pull up footage from earlier?" she asked. Tony quickly pulled up the security footage of the main hall.
"There." she said pointing to the screen. She turned to Bucky in disbelief as Tony froze the image and enlarged it. Bucky continued to stare at the image.
"Please tell me I'm wrong." she said to him. Bucky continued to stare at the image.
Ella touched his arm. He put his hand on top of hers. "It's him."
"The doctor from the facility?" asked Steve. "I thought there were no survivors?"
"Maybe that's what they wanted you to believe." said Tony.
"Why be so bold to show yourself in such a public place?" asked Steve.
"We need to get out of here. They know we're here. We can't stay." said Bucky.
"I agree. I need to work with Bucky though, somewhere where they can't locate us." she said.
"I have a few places off the grid, as the kids say." said Tony. "I can set you guys up there until you get him free of this control. One, condition, Steve comes along."
Bucky nodded at Steve. "The sooner we go the better."