They safely made it back to the tower. Bucky was not there. Several hours went by and he didn't return. Ella couldn't sleep.
"Tony, use your technology. The facial recognition? His arm, didn't you put something in his arm like a homing device?" she said panicked.
"Ella, I have scans running constantly and alarms to go off when we have a hit. Get some rest." Said Tony as he walked from the living area of his main room. Ella headed back to her room. She took the elevator down to the main floor. It had been four hours since they split up. As the elevator opened she found the front door blocked by Steve and Tony. She hurried and hit the button to close the elevator doors. The two men caught it before the doors shut.
"Mind if we ride with you." Said Tony.
Ella sighed.
"I hope you weren't trying to leave the building." Said Tony. "Ella, Bucky will be fine."
"That's a nice sentiment but I think we all know what Hydra's or their sympathists are capable of and he is still at risk for mind control. They know it and they will use it. We're wasting time waiting for him to show up." She said.
Steve looked at Tony. "I understand your concern but you know that he has overcome the control."
"Only after he nearly killed people he cares about. Not the best contingent plan." Said Ella. "Why should we put him at risk for more regret?"
The elevator opened and Ella stormed out heading to her room.
"I'll let you handle it from here." Said Tony hitting the button for his floor. "Have fun." He said to Steve as he got out and followed after her.
"Ella." He called out. She ignored him and walked into her room slamming the door.
Steve opened the door and walked in.
"How can you be so calm? How can you let this go on?" She challenged. She turned to face him. If he was going to be bold enough to come into her room, then he was going to meet this head on.
"Ella, you're being a little irrational." Said Steve.
She glared at him, "Really? Irrational about his safety?" she was trying to calm herself but she found it impossible. "You don't' know what they did to us. We shared the surface of the true details with you two."
"Ella, I'm sorry. I know— "started Steve but Ella cut him off.
"You don't know!" she said angrily. She felt the tears welling in her eyes, "Where the hell were you?" she exclaimed. "All of Tony's technology and it took you two 48 hours to find us? Do you know what hell those 48 hours were? Hell that we could've been spared?"
Steve just stared at her, "We did our best."
"And that wasn't good enough. I'm going after him." She said walking past Steve towards the door.
"No." said Steve as he grabbed her arm. She tried to pull away from him but he kept his grip firm.
"Let go!" she said struggling against him. She pounded her fist against his chest. He caught her fist and held it to his chest.
"Ella, I know my friend. He asked one thing of me and that was to keep you safe. If I let you walk out that door, then I fail you both." Said Steve. "I'm not letting go."
She stopped fighting against him.
"I also know that if my friend's not back by morning." He paused looking her in the eye, "I'm going after him."
She nodded to him. She was angry at the situation, not Steve. She knew he would do anything for his friend.
"I'm sorry." She said.
"No." said Steve taking her hand. "It's good to know someone else is looking out for him too. I knew from the first day we had picked the right person to help him. You don't' have to apologize for that."
"Yeah, well, don't thank me just yet." She said as she remembered the choice Rumlow left her with.
Steve insisted on sleeping in her room. Ella protested. They compromised and stayed up watching TV on the couch. They both drifted off. Ella woke up around 4:00am. She got up and Steve woke up too.
"Where you going?" he asked.
"To Tony's." she said.
"I'm coming with you." He said.
"Seriously, guys. There's been no hits on facial recognition or locating the tech in his arm. I don't know what to say. I'm trying. I swear." Said Tony groggily.
"I'm not waiting any longer. I'm heading out." She said.
"Ella, give him time." Said Tony.
"Tony, you really think with every moment that passes that this will turn out positive?" she said looking right into his eyes. He said nothing. She made her way to the elevator with Steve following.
"Wait, Steve." Said Tony motioning for him. "Ella, just wait. If you two are going, you'll need some things."
Ella stood by the elevator as it closed. Steve and Tony moved into the next room. She turned and stared out the large windows that lined the wall. The city was so peaceful in the dark early morning. Her mind raced where he could be. Was he hurt? Did they get him? If they hadn't caught him then why wasn't he here? They had to have him. She mentally prepared for a fight. To go after him. That when they find him, he might not be him. They may have to fight him. If the tech could not be located maybe Rumlow had him and already removed it knowing it was traceable and a fail-safe to take him out of commission. The elevator ding knocked her from her thoughts. The doors opened. Bucky walked out of the elevator as Steve and Tony hurried from the room at the sound of the elevator. Ella stood in shock. He looked bruised and battered. She was relieved and angry.
"Bucky, are you ok?" asked Steve.
Bucky looked at Ella, "Yeah."
"Ok?." She said coldly. He put his hand gently on her arm.
"Maybe you prefer the term fine?" He said referring to her answer at the doctor's office. "We need to talk."
"We just did." She quipped. "Glad you're safe." She said to him pulling her arm from his hand. "I think I'll head down to get some rest now." She said to Steve and Tony. "Welcome back." She said to Bucky as she walked past him in to the elevator.
Bucky watched her go. He knew she would be mad, but it was a risk he had to take. He looked back at Steve and Tony. "I'm sorry. I had to chase something down before I could come back. I had to remove the fail-safe and tech to make sure you couldn't follow me."
"What?" Steve asked.
Bucky threw a file on the table. "Ella's file."