Yay! Another! I also put out the sequel to Broken, kinda, if you're interested in that, or read the first one. If you didn't, go do it because it's a great story. Just gonna toot my own horn there. Toot toot.

Tiphanie: No. It's very normal to be curious about that. And who knows, we might! If I decide to go that route. They're getting closer. One of them is going to crack very soon. ;)

ks90: Aww thanks! Glad you're enjoying it!

inperfection: Aww thanks! And there really aren't! I love this baby bird, and so I wanted to write a story for him. And it's okay! Read it at your own pace! Your health should come first. My story isn't going anywhere, I can assure you of that.

Hannah: Oh yeah, a lot is happening! It's gonna be a ride until the end! And I can just picture Bucky being a puppy around Steve. Just following him everywhere, making sure he's okay, cuddling with him, greeting him when he comes home. I've put too much thought into that.

Enjoy!

Steve and Bucky stood in the lab, staring down at Anna. She was curled up under a table, her skin glowing, gripping the leg of the table. Her eyes were distant, delirious. Bucky was holding his metal arm to his chest, after he'd been shocked by her. He felt funny, his brain hurting, like there was something inside trying to get out.

"Why didn't you say anything, Buck?" Steve asked after Bucky finished telling them about what he'd felt the night she'd had a panic attack.

"I didn't think it was that important." He said, shrugging. "How did I know it was her and not just the arm malfunctioning again?"

"He's got a point." Bruce said.

"So now what are we going to do? None of us can touch her." Tony said.

"Sam." Steve said. "Maybe Sam can get through to her."

"Why Birdman #2?" Tony asked, looking up at Steve.

"He's her soulmate." Steve said, looking down at the poor girl on the floor.

"Soulmate? Why doesn't anyone tell me anything."

"I just found out yesterday when he told me."

"JARVIS, get Sam down here. See if he can crack this puzzle."

The four men waited for Sam to enter the lab, the look of worry on his face telling them he already knew something was up.

"Whoa…" He stopped in his tracks, staring down at his glowing soulmate.

"Yeah. We've tried everything. So now it's your turn to take a crack at it." Tony said, clapping him on the back before heading towards the door, and safety.

"Anna?" Sam asked, taking a step towards her. "Anna, can you hear me?" Anna didn't show any sign of noticing him, not moving an inch. "Baby girl?" He asked, stepping up in front of her.

He set his hand down on the top of the table, only to yank it back like he'd been burned. It felt like he had been burned. His hand was throbbing as he looked at it, no sign of any malady at all. He shook it off, squatting down in front of her.

"Anna. I need you to look at me." Nothing. "I know you can hear me, baby girl. You're safe. HYDRA isn't after you." When he said HYDRA, her eyes snapped to his. He could see the fear, the unease in them. "You're in Avengers Tower, Anna. In Tony Stark's lab where you work as his assistant. I'm Sam. I'm your soulmate."

She reached her hand out hesitantly, fingers trembling. Sam could see the yellow glowing at her fingertips, and was slightly afraid. He didn't know what she could do, but the small dose he'd gotten said this could possibly hurt really bad. But the need to help his soulmate ruled out, and he stayed still, letting her fingers touch his face. He braced for pain, but none came, her palm flattening against his cheek. The glowing slowly disappeared, and he brought his hand up to hers, laying it over her warm skin. She felt feverish, and looked like she was going to be sick.

"Sam." She breathed, her voice cracking.

She threw herself against his chest, nearly knocking him back. He stilled for a moment, before wrapping his arms around her, holding her tightly. He heard the doors slide open, ignoring it as he held his soulmate. She was like a heater, and he could feel sweat start to form on his back, but he didn't care. His soulmate was his first priority.

Sam got her up on a lab table so Bruce and Tony could check her over. She still seemed slightly delirious, not quite completely aware of what was happening around her. Sam stayed by her side, comforting her.

"Why didn't you tell anyone about this? It is a potential hazard, as we have just witnessed." Tony asked, standing, facing her as Steve braided her hair from behind, Sam at her side, holding her hand.

"I thought I could control it." She murmured, avoiding his gaze. "I have for this long."

"And? There's always the risk of losing control! Of someone getting hurt." Anna flinched and Steve looked at Tony over the top of her head.

"Tony, that's enough."

"For now." He said, crossing his arms. "And, you know how to braid hair?"

"I worked for the USO. 'Lotta show girls around." Steve said, shrugging.

"Don't even say it." Bucky said, pointing at Tony from his spot near the doors.

Tony just held his hands up innocently.

Anna slid from the table when Steve had finished the braid, swaying slightly before Sam caught her. "I need to lay down."

"I'll take her to her room." Sam said, guiding Anna from the lab without waiting for approval. He wasn't in the mood to argue.

He sat Anna down on her bed, watching as she ran a hand down her face.

"Sam." She whispered

"I'm here, baby girl." He said, kneeling in front of her.

"I'm sorry. I didn't tell you."

"Is that why you said you were scared of hurting me? Because of your powers?"

She didn't say anything, just looked to the floor.

Sam sighed, using a knuckle to lift her chin. "If I were afraid, do you think I'd be here right now? That I would have stayed by your side?" She shook her head. "I'm not afraid of you, Anna. I have no reason to be. Do you know why? Because I trust you. You're my soulmate. We're supposed to watch out for each other. Care for each other. And I'm willing to do that for you. You don't have to trust me. You don't have to care for me. But I won't stop. I'll break you down eventually." He smirked at her. "Be it by my will power, or my good looks."

A ghost of a smile crossed her face, that corner of her lip tilting up for a half a second. He counted his second victory, mentally high-fiving himself. He'd break her down eventually. Even if he had to die trying.

He tucked her into bed, knowing she wouldn't sleep, but it made him feel better knowing she was resting. He knew Tony would want to talk to him, but he didn't want to think about that in that moment. Anna had hugged him. Clung to him like he was the only thing keeping her grounded. She'd let him hold her hand, help her to her room and tuck her in bed. Granted she had been slightly delirious, and probably still was, but it was progress. She was going to be a tough nut to crack, but he was determined. He'd get through that hard clam shell eventually, and find the pearl hidden underneath.

Anna didn't sleep. But she laid there nonetheless, thinking about what had just happened. She'd been weak. She'd shown her emotions. She didn't understand why they weren't punishing her. Tony had looked like he wanted to, and she had prepared for it, but it had never come. Steve had braided her hair, Sam had helped her to bed, helped her out of her daze. He'd told her he wasn't afraid, that he'd break her shell. He'd made her smile. She couldn't let that happen. He couldn't find out what was hidden under the protective barrier. It would only destroy him. And she didn't want to destroy him. He was too nice to her. Too caring. Too much her soulmate. She didn't want to hurt anyone anymore, much less Sam. She couldn't put him through that. She couldn't put herself through that. She knew what losing a soulmate did to a person. And that was something she was determined to avoid. But if she could just tell him, he could keep himself out of danger. But if he knew he'd try to play hero and save her. He'd get hurt or worse, and she'd be back at square one. But if she tried to hide, he'd find her and put himself in even worse danger. She didn't know what to do. If she got close to him, he'd get hurt. If she avoided him, he'd get hurt. Everyone around her gets hurt, and that was a fate she was trying desperately to keep Sam from.