"So Matt, that's, hey. Are you listening to me? Matt?" Foggy said. Matt looked distracted. It had been over a week since Matt's rendezvous with Natasha, and their lives appeared to have returned to normal. There had been no more packages, no more Avengers, no news, nothing.

"Shh," Matt said, listening as hard as he could, but not to Foggy. He ran out of Foggy's office, almost crashing into the door, and into his own. Foggy followed. Karen was out at an appointment, and wouldn't be back for a couple of hours.

"Matt, what the hell?'

"How do you open this damn thing?" Matt asked, pushing and shaking at his office window.

"What is going on?" Foggy asked.

"I can hear him, Foggy, but glass messes with my senses. Can you open it?"

"Move, before you break it," Foggy said, pushing Matt out of the way and opening the window. "And by him, do you mean…?"

"Shh," Matt said, sticking his head out the window. At any moment, Matt could lose him. The streets were getting busier by the minute as the New Yorkers stepped out for lunch.

"Matt, are you sure,"

"Shut-up, Foggy," Matt said. He sniffed and listened and looked around. He couldn't see Barnes, but he could certainly hear him. Barnes was moving fast, towards the river and away from their office. Barnes's heart was pulsing rapidly. His breathing was jagged, as though he had been running. Matt smelt blood, and the mechanics in his arm almost sounded broken. Barnes was hurt, and this time it was fresh. In the alleyway a couple of weeks ago, those had been old wounds. This was new. He was hurt and bloodied and headed towards the docks.

"Matt?"

"Shut-up!" Matt snapped, and hit his head on the window. He cursed, and tried to find Barnes again, but he was gone. "Shit. Shit, shit, shit Foggy." Matt felt around on his desk. "Where the hell's my phone?"

"It's,"

"Where is it?"

"It's here, Matt," Foggy said, grabbing Matt's arm and placing the phone in his hand. "You want to tell me what's going on? Because right now, you're acting like some sort of lunatic."

"Barnes is out there right now and he's hurt," Matt said, "Call Natasha."

"Wait, Bucky Barnes is in Hell's Kitchen now? What is happening, Matt?"

"Calling Natasha," the phone replied.

"Foggy, just go along, ok?"

"No, it's not ok. It's,"

"Matt?" Natasha answered

"He's in Hell's Kitchen. Right now. Heading towards the docks. He's keeping to the alleyways, out of sight. Off the main streets. He's hurt, Nat, and,"

"Matt, slow down, I can't keep up."

"Barnes is in Hell's Kitchen now, Natasha."

"Just a sec, Matt. Steve!" Matt heard Natasha call. "We got him!"

"I don't have him at all," Matt said, "I did, but I lost him. He's bleeding, Natasha. He was frantic, and,"

"Hey. Calm down, Matt. We got this. We're on our way," Natasha said. Matt could hear movement and voices in the background.

"Put me on," Matt heard Steve say, "Sam! Nat's driving. Grab your gear, but stay in civvies. Hello Matt?"

"He's hurt, Steve. I had him, but I lost him. He was headed towards the docks. I'll pursue."

"No, just hang tight, son. You're in the office?"

"Yes."

"Stay there. Do not go after him. Hang tight. We'll be there in half an hour."

"Doesn't Stark live around here somewhere? Can't you get anyone here quicker?"

"I don't think we can call Stark right now, Murdock, and even if we could, I wouldn't be sending him on this case. Just stay there."

"Just stay here?"

"It's the middle of the day, Murdock," Steve said. Matt could hear him running. "You can't afford to do anything stupid."

"Hill's got the fort covered," Matt heard Sam say, "We're good to roll."

"You hear me, Matt? Stay where you are. I know it's hard, but right now, finding Bucky and bringing him in safely comes first."

"Yeah, I know, but,"

"No 'buts', son. We'll be there as soon as we can."

Matt heard the line click, and Steve was gone.

"Whadda we do now?" Foggy asked.

Matt put his phone down and swallowed. Something wasn't right. Bringing Barnes in safely came first, Rogers had said. So what came second? Matt felt a knot in his stomach. There was something they hadn't told him, and whatever it was, it was important, and likely also dangerous.

"Matt?" Foggy asked, "You ok?"

"They're lying," Matt snapped. "They give me all that shit in those files, and still don't tell me the whole story. How am I supposed to help if I don't know what I'm up against? Huh? Why enlist me if they're going to keep me in the dark?"

"Matt, you've gone all red in the cheeks, and,"

Matt noticed he was breathing too fast. He sat down and put his hands up on his cheeks. He wanted to punch someone, preferably whoever had hurt Barnes. It dawned on Matt that someone out there right now had found Barnes and attacked him. That must have been why Barnes was out of breath, Matt thought, he'd been running from the attacker. Matt fought to control his breathing. Getting worked up wouldn't help anyone. "We have to stay here," he said, trying to keep his voice measured. "They're on their way."

"Who? The Avengers?" Foggy asked.

Matt nodded.

Foggy failed to stop a smile creeping onto his lips. "I know this is serious, but Matt, this is also so cool. The Avengers are coming to our office."

"Some of them," Matt said.

"It's still cool, Matt. I mean, don't get me wrong, I know it's serious, and all that with Barnes super-sucks, but, well, you know."

Matt shrugged and went back to the window, but finding Barnes again would be impossible without leaving the building. He scanned the streets for anyone who might be in pursuit of Barnes, but nothing stuck Matt as suspicious. They'd just have to wait.