Chapter 11
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At Melinda's words Steve is completely shocked and he isn't sure what to think.
"Steve?" Melinda says when after a minute he hasn't said anything.
"Are you sure?" Steve asks, not letting himself hope.
"Not entirely." Melinda admits, "But I'm pretty close." Melinda says, "Let me explain." Melinda requests and Steve steps aside and let's Melinda into the rooms.
"So last year my team managed to get access to Hydra's systems." Melinda explains as she walks over to the couch.
"How did you manage that?" Steve asks as he walks over and sits next to Melinda.
"A Trojan horse, and some intel that a prisoner gave." Melinda explains, "Using that Intel Skye was able to get into basically all of Hydra's past systems."
"Not there present?" Steve asks because if they had managed to get into them then that could be very useful.
"No." Melinda confirms.
"Then how can that help me find Bucky?" Steve asks confused.
"The Winter Solider project is a past system, one that hasn't been used since S.H.I.E.L.D. fell." Melinda explains.
"Are you saying that you've found everything that they did to Bucky?" Steve asks, not sure if that is something he want sot know in complete detail.
"Yes." Melinda confirms, "But that's not all." Melinda says, swiping across screens until she finds the screen she wants to show Steve, "There is this too." Melinda says and Steve takes the tablet so that he can read. As Steve reads he becomes more and more shocked.
"A way to remove the walls placed, it will give him all his memories back" Steve says shocked.
"Yeah, it seems like Hydra set it up as a failsafe." Melinda explains.
"Do you think this will work?" Steve asks, looking at Melinda.
"I don't know, but it's worth a short." Melinda admits as while she has a doubt she also knows that there is a chance.
"Thank you Melinda. Thank you." Steve says gratefully, "Now all I need to do is find him."
"There is something that might help with this." Melinda says, swiping to another screen.
"Winter Soldiers tracking system." Steve says shocked, "Is it active?"
"I haven't tired, I just found it." Melinda says as she thought she should get the information to Steve as soon as she found it, "There's only one way to find out." Melinda says as she reaches over and presses the track button."
As soon as Melinda presses track Steve closes his eyes, not sure he can face it if it is just another disappointment.
"It's okay, Steve, open your eyes." Melinda says placing her hand on his thigh.
At Melinda's assurance Steve opens his eyes and when he does he sees that there is a marker on the map.
"That's only a few hours away." Steve realise when he sees it, "I can be there by midnight."
"I'll prep the Quinjet." Melinda says.
"You're not cleared to go on missions." Steve says, not wanting Melinda to hurt herself because she is trying to help him.
"I know, which is why I'll just be the pilot." Melinda tells Steve, "I want to help you get your friend back, Steve, and being a pilot is the only thing I can do." Melinda admits as she knows that if this goes badly or even if it goes well then Steve isn't going to be okay so she wants to be there for him.
"Okay, but you're just flying. I don't want you to get hurt." Steve says, knowing Melinda's stubbornness, but not wanting her to be hurt.
"I can live with that." Melinda says, "When do you want to leave?" Melinda asks.
"I just have to get Sam then we can go." Steve says.
"I'll get changed and meet you in the hanger." Melinda says getting up and walking to the door.
"Melinda." Steve says when she is nearly there and she turns around and faces him, "Thank you." Steve says before kissing her.
"You don't have to thank me, Captain." Melinda says once they break apart after about a minute.
"Yes, I do." Steve says and after giving him a smile Melinda walks out.
After leaving Steve's rooms Melinda heads straight back to hers and Natasha's rooms so that she can get changed.
"Finally. What is going on?" Natasha asks as Melinda walks in.
"There was something that I had to show Steve." Melinda says as she heads to the bedroom.
"What?" Natasha asks as she gets up and follows her, "Were are you going?" Natasha asks she notices Melinda search through her stuff.
"I'm flying the Quinjet to where, it seems, Bucky Barnes is." Melinda reveals and Natasha is shocked.
"Are you sure that he is there?" Natasha asks, once she manages to get over her shock.
"Pretty sure, yeah." Melinda says.
"Okay. I'm coming." Natasha says and Melinda isn't surprised by that as she knows Natasha's history with the Winter Solider.
"I thought you might." Melinda says as they both start to get changed.
Not even ten minutes later Melinda and Natasha are walking into the hanger where Steve and Sam already are, Steve holding the tablet as well as his S.H.I.E.L.D. When he sees them walk over Steve isn't surprised to see Natasha with Melinda.
"Before we go I need to make one thing clear." Steve says looking at Melinda, Natasha and Sam, "No one is to hurt Bucky, no matter what happens. Melinda found something that may give Bucky his memories back but even if that doesn't work he is not to be harmed in anyway, we're bringing him in safety." Steve says, "And if you don't think you can do that then you can stay here." Steve says, there being no room for questioning in his voice.
"I know the drill Captain, I get it, and I'm coming." Sam says, knowing that without a doubt.
"Natasha, Agent May?" Steve ask.
"Okay." Natasha says and Melinda gives a nod, neither of them are very happy with it but they both know that there is no way of talking Steve out of it so they are going to do things his way.
"Good. Let's move." Steve instructs and the four of them head into the Quinjet.
Unknown to everyone at the Facility it has been not even an hour since Natasha, Melinda, Steve and Sam left the facility. Wanting to talk to his friends Clint just walks into Natasha and Melinda's room without knock and he is surprised to find the rooms empty.
"Nat? Mel?" Clint questions as he walks through the various rooms and finds no sign of either of them, "Okay, where are you two?" Clint asks, before leaving the rooms planning on going to check all the most likely places.
After he leaves Natasha and Melinda's room Clint heads to the gym which he finds empty and then he checks the living area where he once more sees no sign of them and so getting worried Clint heads to the action centre where he finds Fury and Maria.
"Finally, a place that isn't empty." Clint says when he sees them.
"Is there a problem?" Maria asks.
"Maybe." Clint says as he sits down, "I can't find Nat and Mel anywhere." Clint reveals, "Do either of you know where they are?"
"They left on a Quinjet with Steve and Sam about an hour ago." Maria explains.
"What? Are you sure?" Clint asks surprised.
"Positive, we saw the footage." Fury answer.
"Were they wearing tactical gear?" Clint asks, trying to figure out what is going on.
"Mel was wearing her flight suit, but Steve, Sam and Nat were in casual." Maria explains.
"What the hell is going on?" Clint asks confused, "Mel isn't cleared to go on missions yet."
"We all know that never stops her." Fury points out.
"Yeah, but Nat and even Steve probably would." Clint comments as there have been times in the past where Natasha has managed to convince Melinda not to go on a mission when she was still healing.
"Unless there was a very good reason." Maria reminds him.
"Yeah, it's what that reason is that interests me." Clint admits and the three of them drift into silence. Clint not being able to help the worry he's feeling.
It has been a couple of hours since Steve, Melinda, Natasha and Sam left the Facility and they haven't reached the location where Bucky is yet.
Melinda is in the cockpit of the Quinjet flying when she hears footsteps and she turns just in time to see Steve sit down in the co-pilot's seat, still holding the tablet.
"How far away are we?" Steve asks as he sits down.
"About half an hour." Melinda reveals, "I'm going as quickly as I can."
"Half an hour, okay, good." Steve says with a nod, as he flips the tablet over and over, not sure what to think.
"Have you checked the tracker again?" Melinda asks, in an attempt to try and distract Steve.
"Yeah, he hasn't moved." Steve says, "I don't know whether that is a good thing." He admits.
"He could be lying low." Melinda tells Steve, trying to make him feel better.
"Or we could be going on a wild goose chase." Steve comments.
"That's a real chance, but there is a chance that he could be there." Melinda tells Steve, "Don't lose hope, not now." Melinda says as she reaches over and takes Steve hand.
Not sure what to say Steve just gives a nod, trying to focus on Bucky being at the location and not the very real chance that he's not.
After Steve left the back of the plane Sam and Natasha are left alone in the back of the Quinjet.
"How do you think this is going to go?" Sam asks Natasha curious.
"I honestly don't know." Natasha admits as she knows that the Winter Solider can be un predictable.
"Yeah, me either." Sam admits, "What if Steve can't get through to him, are we going to go against what we agreed to then?"
"Only if we don't have another choice." Natasha saying it being clear that she doesn't like that but it is what she will do if it comes to that.
Ever since Steve sat down next to Melinda to talk about how far away from Bucky they were Steve hasn't moved and Melinda hasn't let go of his hand.
"I'm on approach. We'll be landing in a few minutes." Melinda informs Steve, breaking the silence that they have been sitting in.
"How far from the location?" Steve asks.
"A few blocks away, it was the closest I could get." Melinda explains.
"Okay." Steve says with a nod, not sure what else to say.
"Okay, we've landed." Melinda says a few minutes later.
"Right." Steve says as he stands up, "Keep the Quinjet on lockdown until we get back."
"I will." Melinda says as she stands up, "I hope this goes well, Captain." Melinda says it being the best thing she can think to say as she doesn't feel like 'good luck' is the right thing to say.
"So do I." Steve says and Melinda hugs Steve and stands up on her tippy toes so that she can kiss him.
"If anyone can get through to him it's you." Melinda says when they break apart.
"What if I can't?" Steve asks.
"I don't know." Melinda admits, "But I do know that you're not easy to forget and I know that below the torture and brainwashing there is a small part of your friend still there, there always is, you've just got to get through to it." Melinda says as she has had enough experience with brainwashed people to know that, "It's not going to be easy, but if you try, if you're the you that he knew then you might be enough to get through to that part of him that's still there." Melinda says, "There is a chance Steve, you've got to focus on that." Melinda says, trying to be reassuring to Steve, but she doesn't want to lie to him.
"Thank you Melinda." Steve says before hugging Melinda again, "Thank you."
"Go save your friend, Captain." Melinda says and as they hug.
"Okay." Steve says as they break apart and he gives a nod. After giving Melinda a smile Steve heads out to the back of the Quinjet, "Let's move out." Steve tells Sam and Natasha and the three of them leave. As Melinda watches them go she desperately hopes that they this goes well, for Steve's sake.
Since leaving the Quinjet Steve has been quiet which worries Natasha and Sam, but they both know better than attempting to try and force him to.
"We're here." Steve finally says about ten minutes, when they arrive at a building.
"How are we going to do this?" Sam asks curious.
"I'm going to go in first, alone." Steve explains, there being no room for argument in his voice.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Natasha asks, very much doubting that it is.
"Probably not, but it's what I'm going to do." Steve says.
"Any sign of trouble and we're coming in." Sam says and Steve gives a nod, before he pushes open the door and enters.
Ever since Steve, Natasha and Sam left the Quinjet Melinda has been getting into every local system she can to do what she can to help Steve without leaving the Quinjet. Thanks to the systems that Tony put in the Quinjet Melinda is able to get into all camera's in the area with a few touches of buttons which means she is able watch as Steve enter the building and Natasha and Sam stay outside. To Melinda's annoyance she isn't able to find camera's that give her an inside look at the building and so she just waits, hoping that Steve is able to get through to Bucky and worried about whether he will be okay.
(Line break)
Moving slowly and keeping his eyes open at all time Steve makes his way through the building, keeping an eye out for any sign of his best friend.
After Steve has checked through the bottom floor he decides to check the basement feeling like there will be a better chance of Bucky being down their than upstairs. When he walks near the stairs Steve checks for a light and when he doesn't find one he walks down anyway.
When he reaches the bottom Steve starts to have a look around when suddenly he feels a gun against the back of his head.
"My name is Captain Steve Rogers, I'm not here to hurt anyone." Steve says, raising his hands in surrender.
"Steve." The voice that Steve will never forget says and he feels the gun move from the back of his head.
"Bucky."
"What are you doing here?" Bucky asks as Steve turns around and faces him. When Steve sees looks at his oldest friend he sees that Bucky as the same long hair he had in DC, but his eyes aren't blank anymore, they are hunted.
"You know who I am?" Steve asks, feeling hope that maybe things aren't as bad as he imagined they would be.
"Yeah, I do." Bucky says and feeling so much joy Steve just pulls his friend into a hug, being so glad that he is okay.
"I'm sorry Buck. I'm sorry that I didn't look for you, I'm sorry for everything you've been through." Steve tells him.
"You don't have anything to be sorry for." Bucky assures his friend a she doesn't blame Steve for anything, he never could.
"Let's get out of here, Buck." Steve says as they break apart, "Let's go home."
"I'm sorry Steve, I can't do that." Bucky says causing Steve to be shocked into silence.