"O-okay...let me get this straight: you want me to help the Winter Soldier who is actually your long-lost buddy from the WWII time to regain his memories that were suppressed by the serum that turned him into a superhuman and torturing of the Soviets and HYDRA. Am I covering everything so far?" Steve couldn't place the undertones of Jamie's voice as she summarized the conversation of the last twenty minutes, it was hard for him to interpret whether the young scientist was gravitating to accepting the offer or not.

Next words though were Tony's and there was no misunderstanding there: he did not like the idea in the slightest.

"Yeah, darling, they want to put you in the cage with the lion. How many people did this guy kill? O don't answer that! We're all disposable to SHIELD after all!"

He was loud and obnoxious as always but this time there was some distant despondency in the billionaire's voice.

"It's not like that..." Steve sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck with one of his calloused hands. "He..."

Director Fury was still to offer his input.

"He is...lost. He remembers pieces but they are too insignificant and too...far away. He wants to know who he was and doesn't want to be HYDRA's weapon anymore." Captain said firmly but words were wavering.

"This is ridiculous! Why don't you just put an apple in her mouth and serve her on a big plate with sprinkle of spices?" The genies almost yelled, gesturing with his hands.

"You're the one who's being ridiculous, Stark!" Steve was losing his patience, as it always was when his fellow avenger was involved. "Dr. Banner?"

"Sorry, Captain." Bruce who was standing at the window the whole time turned to the crew in the room. "I'm with Tony on this one. It's too dangerous."

"And Sticks here is not a SHIELD employee, may I remind you. She's Stark Industries' one. And I as her boss tell you that she's SUPER MOSTROUSLY busy at the moment and for years to come." Tony said determinedly.

Steve sighed again, greeting his teeth together.

"We know that, Mr. Stark." The Director finally said, his voice calm but full of authority. The authority he knew wouldn't help him at the moment. "That's why we are asking this as a favor."

"A favor to me." Captain looked at Jamie again.

She hasn't said a word yet. The young woman seemed to be deep in thought. She was listening, searching Steve's words, searching the Director's silence.

"Why me?" She asked at last just before Tony was about to throw one more tantrum.

"You're developing a memory drug. We think it could help." Fury answered, crossing his hands once more behind his back.

"Just the drug would not help because he's had too extensive memory fracture. He needs the therapy, he needs to speak and he needs something constant. In his case drugs are just a side-treatment." Jamie explained.

"Then treat him." Steve asked again, this time Jamie could clearly see how desperate he was.

She caught a sight of Bruce pinching the bridge of his nose and shaking his head disapprovingly.

"Try, Miss Loeb. You can always get out of it." The Director said. "Anytime."

"And I am the princess of England! He's lying. You can't honestly be considering this." Tony was standing in front of his protege as if shielding her from the two men who were trying to pursue her to help the ex-assassin.

"Tony.." He almost didn't want to turn and look at her because he already knew what was to follow.

"You can't honestly think about accepting." He did turn around eventually. "He's a deadly weapon."

"But he's also a man that needs help." She answered quietly but with certain determination. Then a slight one-sided smile appeared on her face. "I know some people that are...pretty deadly when they are angry. And I'm still proud to be their friend."

Tony shook his head. Then turned to look at Bruce who was in turn looking at the scene.

"Are you sure?" The good doctor asked.

Jamie nodded then added:

"Even if I was solely looking at this as a scientist: he is a damn challenging case."

Tony still wasn't happy but he knew that she's already made a decision.

"But I have some rules. First, SHIELD does not interrupt or control my therapy." Jamie looked straight at the older man.

"Granted. But we are keeping the Winter Soldier in the guarded area."

"No." The owner of the Tower said.

"Why..." Steve was about to counter him when Tony continued dismissing the soldier.

"He will be staying here. These are my terms or I will not let my scientist work with the subject. I will put him on one of the floors. He will be under my surveillance 24/7, and if I see him going Rambo even for a second, I will personally make sure to turn him into a puddle of melting ice with one of my new Ironman suit toys."

Steve and the Director shared a look.

"And I have Hulk." The billionaire added.

"Okay." Fury said curtly.

"Good." With that Tony left, slamming the door after him.

"We shall take our leave as well. Agent Hill will contact you about the time of transporting and will send over all the files essential for you on your patient." Director Fury informed Jamie and turned to the door Tony disagreed behind previously. "Dr. Banner."

"Director." Bruce acknowledged.

"Thank you, ma'am. I'm in your debt." Captain America told the young doctor.

"Don't thank me yet. It's a very long and possibly unsuccessful journey." She said softly, massaging her neck trying to relieve the stress from the face-off.

"You agreed to try. And for that I'm forever thankful."

He bowed and took his leave, nodding to Bruce on his way out.

"You are against this." Jamie stated as soon as she was sure they were alone with Bruce.

"I am." He confirmed.

She was about to say something but he didn't let her:

"But this is not about me. And not about Steve, or Tony. And probably this is not even about the Winter Soldier. It's about you. You've been craving for more lately. That's what we, scientists, always do: we want more."

He was right...as always. She did want more: more experience, more work, more different unlikely cases. She wanted to make the difference.

"I just hope you know what you're getting yourself into, kid." He finished with a sigh.

Jamie was silent for a while. Then she got on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek lightly.

"Thank you." She said with a small smile.

The young doctor left her friend to stay after that to go and find her overprotective boss.

The most important question being if he was too overprotective or if she was nuts getting herself in what she was sure was going to turn into one hell of a mess.

-/-/-/-/-

Sooooooo? Any suggestions\thoughts...anything?

I swear Bucky will show up next chapter!

RoadwayFox