"Get off me!" yelled Bucky thrashing against Steve's hold. Steve kept him pinned to the ground. The shock Tony gave him to subdue him was wearing off.
"Dammit, Bucky." exclaimed Steve as he pressed his friend to the ground.
"Language." said Tony pressing his armored hand onto Bucky's back sending a jolt to his system. Bucky lay unconscious.
"Was that necessary?" asked Steve.
"Which part?" smirked Tony.
Steve ignored him. "I need to find Ella." he said walking out into the hallway.
Tony called out to his system, "Friday, locate Ella."
The voice stated, "She is gone."
"What?" he asked. "As of when?" he asked panicked.
"She left in a black car approximately 8 minutes ago. New York plates KR7865. They headed north."
"How did she get out of the building?" he said.
"You downgraded security levels when you left in the suit to save Ella."
Tony sighed as the realization of his slip up sunk in, "I did, didn't I."
Steve checked several floor before checking the foyer leading to the front doors. There he found an envelope. He grabbed it and headed back to Tony and Bucky. He found Bucky lying still unconcious on the floor pinned down by metal restraints as Tony worked on his arm.
"Just plugging in a new fail-safe and I'm not telling him how to remove this one." said Tony closing the small area on his prosthetic tech arm.
"I couldn't find Ella." said Steve trying to restrain his panic.
"I know. She's gone." he said standing. "According to security she left."
Steve's mind raced, "Rumlow? Bucky said the doctor was with Rumlow." he was mad at himself for not keeping Ella closer.
"That's my guess." said Tony.
Bucky began to wake up. He fought against the restraints that pinned his wrists to the floor. He managed to free his right hand and using his free hand pulled off the other. He rushed to his feet. Tony readied himself, still in his armor, to fire.
"I'll give you that." said Tony referring to his escape from the restraints. "Now, just give me a reason to fire."
Bucky clenched his jaw knowing they had reason to restrain him but in the process of doing so lost Ella. The anger and guilt tore at him. He said nothing and rushed to his room grabbing his backpack to head out. Steve followed after him.
"Bucky, are you alright?" asked Steve wanting to make sure which Bucky was before him.
He grabbed his jacket. "Just peachy." he grumbled walking past Steve. He grabbed his friends arm to stop him.
"Ella's gone." he said.
"Yeah, and so am I." he said trying to leave. Steve held his arm.
"I found this by the front door." Steve said handing it to Bucky. He took it and opened it. A note read 'she won't be needing this' inside he saw her ring. He closed the envelope and shoved it in his pocket. He was impatient to find her and punish Rumlow and whatever accomplices he had with him.
"We need a plan." said Steve to Bucky.
"Yeah, well, seems like you guys could've handled that while I was unconscious shackled to the floor." he said.
Steve knew he was mad. "We just discovered it."
Bucky pulled his arm from his friend's grip. "Great job." he said walking into the hallway. Tony blocked his path.
"You're not the only one who cares about her so if we are going to rescue her then we're working together to do this right." said Tony. "I already completed step one by installing your fail-safe."
"Tony's right." said Steve standing next to his friend. "Rumlow and the people he's working with know how to reset you. You need us there if it happens again."
Bucky looked at Steve with sadness and confusion as he realized what he'd done. "I threw her off the balcony?"
"Yeah, you did." scowled Tony. "Lucky I'm a good catch."
Bucky looked at Tony, "Thank you." he said looking him steadily in the eyes.. Tony could sense his sincerity and gratitude.
"So, the plan." started Tony.