Author's Note: Here were are finally with the prologue for part four! It's a long one too. We get to see Steve in the 40s. Sorry it took me so long to get this up. Speaking of the 40s, I've been working hard on my 1940s story where Aspen and Steve meet during WWII. It's coming along really well. I was almost done though when I realized it would be so much better with Steve's point of view too. So even though I'm almost done and like on page 60, I'm going back and adding in his point of view. So we'll get a closer look on pre-serum Steve and some of the 'montages' that the movie doesn't go into detail with. (Like all the missions he and the Howling Commandos go on that we see for like two seconds.) I will also be giving you some insight into the next story in my Avenger's series starting with the next chapter. I haven't got a whole lot planned yet, but I hoping to get my WWII fic out first. (I seriously had originally intended it to be like 30 pages. It's probably going to be like 200.)

So I got my Winter Soldier copy the day it came out. Fred Meyer falsely advertised that the DVD had a digital copy though, so even though I had a code inside my DVD, there was no digital copy. I was sad. But then my best friend came to the rescue and gave me a copy of her digital one. So now I have that on my computer. I've watched it three times since it came out a week ago. And that's just not enough. I finally went to go see Guardians of the Galaxy and LOVED it! Starlord is so Andy from Parks and Rec. (Burt Macklin, FBI). Anyway, I laughed so hard. It was just so well done. I also watched The Fantastic Four movies which were not so fantastic, but Chris is so hilarious in them! It was worth it for him. I have also got into reading comics. It's a whole new world I had not yet discovered. I'm acquiring the cheapest used copies I can find on Amazon and Hastings's website cause they are really expensive new! But there are some really good series out there. I love seeing the different interpretations of the characters and getting background details on some of them that the movies don't show.

So as you can see my life has been very full of Marvel lately which is not a bad way to be. I'm finally down to working three days a week again now that tourist season is over, so I'll have more time to write. Although I do need to take some substitute teacher jobs to fill in the paychecks, but I'm making sure I have plenty of time to write too! Alright, here you go. Enjoy!

Part Four: Second Chances

Prologue – April 27, 1944

Steve Rogers had never been in a castle before but he had been in a Hydra base before. They were easy to spot with their banners bearing the red Hydra symbol of a skull-faced sea creature. The advanced weaponry gave them away too. The Howling Commandos had infiltrated the castle over an hour ago, but he had found himself getting lost in the labyrinth of corridors and rooms. He soon realized that there was more than one lab and that the building was overrun with both Hydra soldiers and Nazis. This was a place of nightmares, but he needed to keep focused on the mission. There were three cannons that were aimed at the skies right now preventing the planned Ally air raid. He'd radioed in to warn the pilots but they couldn't take the entire castle from the ground. Bucky, Dernier, and Dugan had gone to eliminate one cannon while Falsworth, Morita, and Jones had gone after the second. Steve was taking the third.

It had been a definite change turning from scrawny Steve from Brooklyn into Captain America, the symbol of hope, but he'd been under the serum's effect for a little under a year now. He'd gotten his feet and learned how to use his new abilities and strengths. And his shield. He'd been instantly drawn to the sleek silver design, much simpler than Howard Stark's other inventions. And the suit…he had to admit it was growing on him. At first it had felt like too much, but now it was an icon, one he had finally earned not through movies or bond sales but through real action and saving lives. He'd finally gotten the chance to prove himself and to help his country.

He heard shuffling up ahead and silently paced forward and waited at the edge of the corner. Two Hydra soldiers passed him, their arms relaxed at their sides. So far they had managed secrecy, but he had a feeling they weren't going to stay unnoticed for long. As if in response, an alarm began to blare deep within the castle. The Hydra soldiers' hands flew to their guns, but Steve had already moved, walking up behind them and bringing his shield down on both their heads. The resounding clang made him wince as the soldiers slumped to the ground. He moved on, working his way up toward where the cannon was housed. It should have been a simple in and out job, but the Hydra soldiers were on alert now, and those he came across were well prepared.

He vaulted up a set of spiral stairs, coming closer to where the cannon was stationed. He kicked the door in and sent his shield ricocheting off the wall. It hit the two guards on the left while he kicked the third in the head. He caught his shield as the fourth guard swung his gun toward him. The bullet ricocheted off, and Steve bashed the metal into the man's head. He turned to the cannon. It was large and looked like any other Hydra weapon – advanced and complicated. He wasn't sure how to disarm it. Dernier had explosives, but Steve was no expert in that field. The more he studied the cannon, the more he grew frustrated. Finally he swung his shield up and slammed it down on the control panel of the cannon as hard as he could. A small explosion sent him flying backwards into a table. Papers flew, and the wood cracked under his weight.

"Not, I think, a very good idea," a voice said from the doorway. Steve scrambled to his feet as a tall man wearing a purple veil stepped into the room.

"Who are you?" he asked, trying to ignore the singed feeling that lingered in his fingers and chest.

"The owner of this castle. I am Baron Zemo." His accent was German, and Steve was willing to bet he was deeply invested in Hydra if this was his castle. "Before you use that shield on me, you should know that the use of my castle was not my idea. I disapprove of what experiments go on here. They're bumbling fools the lot of them."

"Are you a friend to the Allies?" Steve asked cautiously.

"I do not pick sides."

"That's not really an answer."

"No. I suppose it isn't. I can help you though. No one knows this castle better than me."

"Why would you help me?" It wasn't that Steve didn't trust Germans. It was that he didn't trust Germans in a Hydra base offering him help. He considered it highly unlikely that this man would count himself a friend of the Allies.

"I am a prisoner in my own castle, but I am still free to walk the halls. I can get you to the center of the operation. I can get you to Hydra's secret weapon."

"You still haven't answered my question."

"Suspicious you Americans. I do not want these experiments going on in my castle," he elaborated. "It is time they learned that they do not belong here."

"So I get the Hydra soldiers out of your castle and destroy their research and you get your castle back, is that how this works?" He frowned. It bothered him that he couldn't see Zemo's face. The purple veil moved ever so slightly as Zemo took a step forward, but only the faintest outline of features could be seen. Steve took a step back on impulse. He didn't trust this man, but he couldn't deny that he wanted Hydra's research destroyed.

"That sounds like the sum of it to me. Shall we begin?" He said, bringing the tips of his fingers together.

"Where do I go?"

"At the very center of the castle lies a courtyard. This is where they receive deliveries – equipment and supplies. You take the doors to the right and you will find yourself at the very center of the operation. Destroy this and you destroy Hydra – at least here in this castle. I will send out my own special weapon to take care of the soldiers. They will not stand a chance."

"How do I get to the courtyard?"

"I hope you have a good memory. Right and then left, right again then straight, up the stairs, around the bend and through the doors on the right. Down the stairs and to the left until you come to a set of doors. There you will find the courtyard. Be careful."

"How do I know you're not going to send Hydra soldiers after me the second I leave this room?" Steve asked.

"You don't." He held out a hand to Steve, and he saw that there was a small device sitting there. "You will need this. Once you turn it on, it will detonate in ten seconds. Good luck, Captain." He stood still as Steve took the bomb and skirted around him, instructions thrumming around in his memory.

He was halfway through the instructions when he realized he hadn't told Zemo who he was and yet he had called him 'Captain.' He supposed a Hydra soldier could have told him, but if he was a prisoner why would they tell him anything? He shook the thought from his head, focusing on the task at hand. He hoped that the others had managed to take out the other two cannons. He'd given them a rendezvous point to meet at and then they'd radio in their success. He wasn't sure what Zemo had meant about his own secret weapon, but he knew it couldn't hurt to be careful. When he came to the doors that lead out to the courtyard, he carefully pushed them open. Large metal containers like the kind that were carried on trains lay strewn about the yard. Some held ammunitions, others explosives. Steve darted behind one to get a better look at the courtyard.

A fountain lay in the very center but the water was dry and the stone rim cracked. A few soldiers stood guard, shuffling around nervously. Steve could tell they were new recruits by the way they clutched their weapons as if their lives depended on it and the way their helmets were just a little too big or a little too crooked on their heads. For half a moment he felt sorry for them, but the Hydra insignia blared on the front of their uniforms, and he realized they'd chosen this path. His eyes searched out the doors on the right. Currently the guards were facing the door, so his chances of getting there unseen were pretty slim. If he could distract them though… A well-trained soldier would stick to his post no matter what, but these recruits would probably group together to investigate a threat. He reached down and grabbed a solid stone. Through the open cargo hold, he could see a stack of crates on the other side of the courtyard. He took aim and threw the stone as hard as he could. It splintered one of the crates and hit the side of one of the cargo holds, echoing loudly and leaving a large dent. The guards all jumped to attention, speaking to each other in rapid German. He peered around the side and saw that their attention was solely on the sound. He took the chance to dart across to the right, sneaking around the back of another cargo hold. Another stack of crates afforded him cover. By now all the guards had gathered around the spot where the rock had landed. Steve walked silently to the doors and put his hand on the handle. He saw one of the soldiers lean down and pick up the stone. He slid into the doors and found himself in a long corridor that led straight up a set of stairs. An elaborate set of doors ended the corridor, and he realized that this must be his destination.

He took a deep breath and pushed the doors open. Beyond the doors were innumerable machines each glowing blue with the mysterious energy Hydra had managed to harness. Steve slipped behind one of the machines to get a closer look. Several Hydra guards strode down the aisles between the equipment and frightened looking workers. The workers weren't POWs, he realized, but villagers, most likely snatched from their homes. They had been set to work creating Hydra weapons. Steve looked around for a way to shut down the operation and get the prisoners out. There were eight guards and nearly thirty villagers but no one was standing up to the Hydra guards. Steve saw fear flickering behind their eyes.

He'd need to take out the guards and get the prisoners to safety before setting off the bomb Zemo had given him. He checked the guards' positions and formed a plan in his mind. He readjusted his shield and moved along the edge of the room until he was directly behind one of the guards. One of the workers caught sight of him in that moment, eyes widening. Steve put a finger against his lips and the worker gave the smallest nod to show he understood. He went back to his work. Steve took a step forward, balancing his weight so as not to make a sound. He grabbed the guard from behind and pressed on his windpipes until he lost consciousness and laid the body on the floor. He moved onto the next, punching him hard enough to knock him out. By now he'd been seen and the Hydra guards cried out in alarm. They rushed at him, and he readied himself. The first he thrust aside with his shield, knocking him back into the others. They struggled to regain their balance, but he didn't give them a chance. He struck out left and right with his shield, and it clanged as it met with the soldiers' helmeted heads. A few of the soldiers were thrown backwards into equipment causing sparks as parts of the machines broke.

One of the soldiers fell back and began to fire at Steve. He thrust his shield up and the bullets bounced off. He rushed the firing soldier, knocking the gun from his grip. "Get out of here," he called to the workers, nodding to the door as he took down the last guard. They didn't need telling twice. After the last of them had left the room, Steve pulled out the bomb and placed it on one of the machines in the center of the room. He pressed the button on the top of the device and it started beeping. He turned and ran. The explosion rocked the castle, sending the doors flying off their hinges. Steve ducked, holding his shield out to protect him from the heat. One of the doors flew over his head and struck the wall, splintering against the stone. If they didn't know the castle was being infiltrated before, they definitely did now.

He needed to find the others now. He wound his way through the corridors, keeping a sharp eye out for Hydra soldiers. He realized after a time that he was hopelessly lost. The Serum had given him an advanced memory making it easier for him to remember small details, but he had no sense of direction in this monolithic castle. He finally found himself in a narrow corridor that led past several portraits. Former occupants of the castle? A door at the end of the corridor led him into what appeared to be a study. This wasn't where he needed to go. He turned around to leave and his shield arm struck a bust on the edge of the desk. He reached out instinctively to catch it but instead of falling off the desk it simply fell forward as if on hinges. A panel in the wall slid open. Curiosity got the better of Steve, and he entered another room. It was a lab he realized. A secret lab? There was nothing of Hydra here but it had definitely been used recently. He went to take a closer look at the research and saw a brown folder labeled: Research of Baron Heinrich Zemo, Compound X. He flipped the folder open and scanned the notes.

"Ah, I see you've found my research."

Steve turned around to find Zemo standing in the doorway. He still wore the purple veil over his face and now held a long saber like the one you might find on a coat of arms. Steve tensed. "What is it?" he asked.

"My research? Ah, that is my life's work. A compound to make one immortal."

"Impossible."

"Is it? How unimaginative of you after all Doctor Erskine did for you." He clicked his tongue in disapproval.

"How do you know about that?"

"Everyone knows of his research. It was easy to put two and two together. How kind it as of you to get rid of those pesky Hydra weapons. They were such a nuisance with all their noise and clattering. They have no idea of what they're dealing with."

"It's done, Zemo. Now let me finish my mission." Zemo didn't move from the doorway.

"I think not. I can't have Captain America slipping out from under my fingers. Red Skull will not look kindly on me if I let you escape."

"But he'll look kindly on you for destroying his weapons?"

Zemo shrugged. "You destroyed his weapons, not me."

"Don't test me, Zemo. I don't want to fight you."

"Oh but I do." He held out his sword. "A shield is no weapon," he told Steve taking a step forward. "It is something to hide behind."

"Well it's not a fair fight if you have that," Steve said nodding to the sword.

"No? Well, I suppose not. I never was one for following rules." With that he swung the sword at Steve in a wide arc. Steve brought his shield up to deflect the blow and the resounding clang echoed through the room. In the onslaught that followed, Steve could only block the blows to protect himself. Zemo didn't give him a chance to retaliate. He was clearly a skilled swordsman, and Steve realized he was getting backed into a corner. In desperation, he thrust forward, knocking Zemo back a few paces.

"Is that all you have?" Zemo asked in a mocking voice. "I'm disappointed but not surprised."

Steve swung the shield at him. Zemo blocked with the blade. Steve pushed back, trying desperately to get a hit in. Then Zemo feinted, and Steve wasn't quick enough to bring his shield up. The sword sliced his right arm, and he could feel warm blood soaking through his uniform. He couldn't seem to gain the upper hand. Finally he realized he was going to have to cheat. While Zemo was preoccupied slashing at the front of the shield, Steve hooked a boot behind Zemo's right leg and yanked. The baron went down, caught off guard. Steve brought his shield down on his hand, and Zemo released the sword with a hiss. Steve kicked it across the room.

"Ah, I see you have learned something from me after all," Zemo said.

"I don't have time for this."

"Are you going to kill me, Captain?"

"No. I'm not, but I am going to destroy this castle. Hydra's poison has spread too far." He got up, leaving Zemo on the floor. "I suggest you don't get in my way."

He had only gone two steps when he heard Zemo scramble for his sword. He spun on his feet and hurled the shield at him. It struck Zemo in the head, and he fell, unconscious, to the floor. "I warned you," Steve said in a low voice. He turned to leave but then hesitated for a moment before kneeling next to Zemo's prone body. Curiosity got the better of him, and he lifted the purple veil.

Zemo's face was wizened and pocked as if he had barely survived some sickness. Age and disease was taking him. He was clearly desperate to gain immortality, and it looked as if his time was running out. Steve let the veil drop and turned to leave.

When he finally found his way back to the front of the castle, the Howling Commandos were already waiting there looking anxious. Bucky ran up to him. "Where were you, Steve? We were about to call out a search party."

"Sorry. I got sidetracked. We need to get any prisoners out and blow the place. Hydra's too entrenched."

"A group of locals ran past awhile ago. Said some guy in a spangly outfit set them free. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?" Bucky gave him a sly grin. "They said they were the only prisoners. Hydra was bringing in more, but they hadn't arrived yet."

"Then let's blow this place to kingdom come," Steve said pulling out his radio. He contacted the air support and gave instructions. "Okay, let's get out of here."

They were a safe distance from the castle when the planes dropped their bombs. The resulting explosion shook the ground. It didn't take long for the entire castle to ignite. Then Steve saw someone moving in the flames. A man stepped out of the burning front doors. His eyes found Steve though Steve could not see his face behind the veil.

Zemo.

"I will have my revenge, Captain!" Zemo shouted above the sound of the hungry flames. "You will pay for what you have done. My life's work! I did not ask you to destroy it."

"Who is that?" Bucky asked from Steve's side, peering curiously at the shouting Zemo.

"Baron Zemo. This is his castle."

"That would explain the shouting. Where did he go?" Bucky's eyes scanned the front of the castle.

Steve peered into the falling darkness but though the flames lit up the sky like a monstrous bonfire, he could see no traces of Zemo. It was as if he had vanished, leaving his castle to burn in his stead. He had made one thing clear though; he wanted revenge.