Hello! I just wanted to thank everyone who has been reading this and encouraging me to go on! I do know where this story is going but I have been having a hard time getting there without making it SO BORING. So thank you again for all the help and constructive criticism with this!

Steve ignored the surprised gazes of the others in the camera room as he ran out the moment he saw Bucky leaving Rumlow's smug glare. Steve eyes practically stayed glued onto Bucky as Barnes rushed out of the room equally as fast. Rumlow's a possessive stare was a glare that had Steve let out a small growl as he was leaving the room to reunite with Bucky; in Brock's own strange way, Rumlow did care for Bucky. Steve couldn't find it in himself to feel any sort of soft emotion for him despite that. It was well past any sort of genuine love.

Running past the door, Steve was able to make it to Bucky just as the dark haired man slammed the metal door that lead to Rumlow.

Raising his eyes past his dark locks, Bucky's eyes landed on the sight of Steve who's stern expression seemed like an overprotective big brother who leanred his kid brother was being bullied. "Oh thank God." Bucky sighed at the sight. It took three steps from each man before bother practically fell into the other's open arms with what would have been a bone snapping hold for anyone who hadn't a super solider serum running through their blood.

Steve's right hand was running through Bucky's hair at a soothing rate as the pads of his fingers threaded through the hair, while his left hand was wrapped around his friend's shoulder firmly. Bucky buried his head in the crook of Steve's neck as his arms were glued to Steve's waist, inhaling the familiar scent that proved he was safe. Bucky knew that later he would be furious at himself for allowing Rumlow to affect him so easily. He thought-truly hoped- that he was getting better at controlling his emotions from at least the outside but from his trembling breathe and rapid heartbeat, he was failing.

God, how the hell was he supposed to see a shrink on top of all this? Bucky leaned impossible closer in the embrace, squeezing his eyes shut to push away at the intruding thought.

Steve carefully placed his hands on either side of Bucky''s shoulders and pushed him back to examine him more fully. Cupping a hand on Bucky's cheek, Steve examined him with concern evident on his face. His thumb pressed and moving back and forth against Bucky's pale cheek. "You okay?" He questioned him.

"No." Bucky answered, shaking his head slowly. Don't lie to Steve, never Steve. It still felt odd and nerve-wracking to speak honestly about how he was feeling, and felt odder still to know that with Steve, he would actually try and help anyway he could.

Steve's eyes narrowed attentively and opened his mouth to speak when both men turned towards sounds of footsteps of a man walking briskly down the hallway towards them. He seemed to walk with a hesitant step as he gained ground near the two soldiers. As he stood in front of them, the man held his hands in front of him and mumbled apologetically" I'm here to escort you to the therapist."

Bucky didn't stop his groan of frustration.

Steve nodded his thanks to the man who's body relaxed instantaneously at Captain America's approval.

"Would you like me to go with you?" Steve questioned, his blue eyes soft as they stared at Bucky.

Bucky's face heated question. Not out of embarrassment but because he wanted to scream "yes". Instead of answering quickly like he was trained to do for decades, Bucky settled for lowering his head as he processed what to do.

Logically, Steve knew he couldn't protect his friend from everything, but when it came to Bucky, Steve through logic to the wind.

Bucky swallowed as he felt the gaze of the unknown man and Steve staring at him. How was Bucky supposed to allow himself to be vulnerable with a complete stranger? To act like talking to Rumlow wasn't making his insides twist and tense like a knife was shoved in his gut? Act as if his head wasn't shoving scrambled memories at him standing silently in front of a snarling Rumlow acting like the Solider was his property? Without Steve it would just be a nightmare.

"No, it's okay." He finally answered. "I mean," He amended quickly don't lie to Steve. Steve deserves the truth. "I should be okay."

Steve had little control here, and Bucky suspected that he wasn't not originally allowed to be by Bucky's side in the first place. He needed to make this as easy for Steve as possible. Steve wasn't supposed to come into the session, and if he did he would be in the perfect position for Ross to prove that the great Captain America couldn't be trusted since he was refusing to listen to their precious rules. Steve deserved so much better than to be forced to walk over fire again and again to prove what he would do in order to fight against injustice.

The look on Steve's face was full of enough crushing protectiveness that Bucky looked away, reminding himself that Steve couldn't be there for him all the time.

In the back of Steve's mind, he knew Bucky was trying to make this easier for Steve. Of course he was, freaking jerk was still thinking of how to help Steve was it was Bucky who was the one in need.

The man in the dark suit cleared his throat and Bucky sighed. "It'll be quick." Buck offered helpfully, a small smile that looked only half real grew on his face.

Steve bit his lip hard from trying to persuade his friend to not go alone. Instead, Steve nodded, moving his hand to rest on Bucky's shoulder as they both followed the man in suit.

MARVELMARVELMARVEL

It was awkward.

Not that it was the shrink's fault, Bucky tried to reason with himself. Nicole Mendax practically welcomed him into the room like he was an old friend, treating him with a sweet smile on her lips and allowing him to choose where to sit.

Nicole was small-or at least that's how her five foot three frame looked like compared to Bucky's five foot eleven posture. Her brown hair was pulled into a messy bun and her dark, naturally wide eyes were gazing at him with patience as he settled into the chair in front of her tensely; and not once did she look at his dark metal arm that was noticeably more than normal since he was only wearing a dark grey short sleeved shirt.

"How are you feeling?" Nicole's broke the silence first after she saw he was not going to start the conversation. Her tone was quiet, similar to if one was calling out to a scared animal that would run off as soon as it got the chance. Bucky felt like that was accurate to how he was feeling.

"Fine." Bucky lied swiftly, his hands folding in front of him.

Nicole's small smile grew slightly. "How are you feeling?" She repeated.

Bucky shifted slightly on the loveseat, his eyes traveling over the room once again despite the fact that he had already memorized every way to escape and what objects he could use to makeshift a weapon on the spot. True, he could easily do any of these things, but he thought of Steve and how running would affect Steve-giving the government and Ross an excuse to put him behind bars because he put his trust into a crazy assassin that once worked for Hydra.

Shrugging a shoulder, Bucky answered, "I've felt worse." Her disapproving gaze proved it wasn't the answer she was looking for but he didn't care. He despised how she was looking at him, the pitying look that screamed how she looked at him like a victim.

"Asking the man who helped abuse you for decades doesn't seem like something one would be fine with." Nicole pushed on.

Bucky frowned at that before he forced himself to try and put on an emotionless visage. Did Ross already tell her about his past with Rumlow? Was everything already out in the open? What was the point of any of this?

"It keeps him from hurting anyone else." Bucky mumbled, his fingers wrapping around the hem of his shirt and tugging it absentmindedly. His eyes glanced at the clock.

"Can't wait to go back to Rogers?"

Bucky snapped his head back at Nicole, his eyes narrowing. He knew she had a job to do but it couldn't stop him from getting pissed him off that she knew so much. Why were they giving her the information while also making him tell her what she already knew. Bucky shrugged like he didn't have an answer, though all his senses were screaming in delight that when this was over he could go back to Steve.

"Are you uncomfortable with these questions?" She asked, her head cocking to the side.

"I just don't care for talking about what happened today." Bucky replied, biting his tongue to not snap at her.

"I can understand that." Nicole nodded. "It must be hard." Bucky fought to roll his eyes.

Nicole shifted closer on her seat in front of him, her hands folded together on her lap, mimicking Bucky's posture. "But there is nothing wrong with talking about your problems."

"I'd rather talk to Steve about it." Bucky bluntly said.

She smiled her small smile again. "He makes you feel safe." It was not a question.

"He always has."

Bucky thought make to the small amount of personal memories he did have and all of them were of Steve. Steve tried to help him remember at times, but those times usually left Bucky feeling like his head was going to implode on him. But there were timers he did have memories. Like once when Steve was sick and Bucky was able to get out of work at the dock to help him. He covered Steve with every blanket he could find in a five mile radios and clung to Steve, holding him close on the cold nights. When it got too bad, Bucky had prayed that He would take Bucky if it meant that Steve could survive past the night.

"It's good for you to have someone like that." Nicole encouraged him, stopping him from his trail of thought. "Not many people have someone in their lives that they are able to trust so fully."

Feeling awkward with her doing most of the talking and not wanting her to report back that he had done nothing to add, Bucky forced himself to ask "Do you have someone like that?" He quickly snapped his mouth shut at that and ducked his head down. She must be thinking he was an idiot; an insane assassin asking her questions about her life? No one in their right mind would reply to him.

Apparently, she was not in her right mind because she answered in a soft tone, "My brother. He died years ago. He was with three Military convoys that were headed back to their base."

"Oh," Bucky's eyes softened. "I-I'm sorry."

Nicole's smile stayed in place. "I'm glad you have someone like Steve, just make sure if you can't talk to me, you can at least talk to him."

Talk to Steve about how Rumlow treated him like a piece of property to the point that when he got back from missions and Bucky would start to rmemeber his old life, Rumlow would beat him so he'd remember who he belonged to? About how he was trained to have food in his mouth for days at a time without eating as an obedience exercise?

"Not now." Nicole pushed when he didn't answer. "Not until you are comfortable with sharing." She glanced over to her watch. "Our time is up. I'll see you next time."

Bucky barely heard the words as he shot up and ran out of the room.

Thank you for reading! Hope you are liking it!