"Sam shut your mouth." I grumble as I stagger into an abandoned mechanic shop. He's been laughing like he's high on something since Steve and I arrived. Apparently, he can't comprehend how three waterlogged superhumans, one unconscious and being carried by the infamous Captain America, can steal a car and not be seen by any officials. Though now that I really think about it, I think he finds it humorous that Cap and I are waterlogged. In the background, I can hear quieting laughter as Wilson assists Rogers with clamping Bucky's metal arm within a magnetized vice on the far left side of the building. I mutter under my breath as I shuffle to one of the boarded up windows and sit on the ledge. I untie my ankle high boots and kick them off in hopes they'll dry. My nose wrinkles in disgust at my wet socks but I refuse to take them off considering where we are. I'll just have to deal with having the squishy fabric under my toes until they dry.

A shiver runs up my spine. I give a sigh and run my hands up and down the lengths of my arms to generate blood flow through my veins, though careful of the wound on my right arm that I acquired from T'Challa. I'm rather regretting not having packed a jacket to wear. Nope. I actually wouldn't even mind having the suit Tony created for me, but alas that's in lockup with Steve and Sam's things. Shaking my head, I drop my hands into my lap. At least I still have the clothes on my back. All of which are totally and thoroughly soaked. But still, I have them. 

My head turns to the side as I see an approaching Steve. He gives me a tired smile. I return the gesture and scoot over so he can sit on the ledge next to me. He sits, his hands tucked into the front pockets of his jeans. We remain in silence for a while as we stare at the opposite grungy wall. Sam must be keeping an eye on Barnes, otherwise, Steve never would've left his side. "How're you holding up?" He questions without looking at me. I lift one shoulder up in a half shrug.

"I've been better." I reply as the corner of my mouth quirks upwards. I can feel the heaviness of my eyelids but fight the urge to give in. "Missing home."

"I'm sorry for dragging you into this." Steve says with a regretful smile as he casts his gaze to his shoes.

"Yeah well, what's done is done. You needed my help and that's what friends are for, risky business or otherwise. We get each other out of tight situations and make sure we got each other's backs." I say as a full-fledged smile takes hold of my lips. I reach out and gently place a hand on his shoulder before giving it a shake. "Plus we got him out alive, right? He's safe with us now." I offer and cast a lingering look in the direction of the wing where Bucky's being held. Steve follows my line of view.

"Thank you, Iris, really. I don't know what we would've done without you." Steve states sincerely.

"Oh, you probably would've gotten your butts kicked or something." I joke with a tired chuckle. Cap smiles before throwing an arm around my shoulders before pulling me to his side. I wrap an arm around his back to return the fatherly hug he's bestowing upon me. "But, uh, I'm really glad I was able to help you guys." I say in earnest.

"Go ahead and take a nap. Sam and I will keep an eye on Bucky." Steve says before retracting his arm. I nod as he stands up and moves to talk with Sam. I turn and draw my legs up so I can put my feet on the ledge I'm sitting on, positioning my back against the frame as I look out a crack in one of the boards over the window. The roads are quiet, the air is still, and there seems to be no real big commotion at this moment. A tired smile erupts on my lips as I lean my head back before allowing my eyes to heavily droop closed. A soft, relaxed sigh escapes me as I allow myself to drift into a peaceful nap. 

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"Hey Cap!" I hear the shout as it echoes off the concrete walls. My eyes fly open and I sit jerk upright as I see Steve run past where I'm still sitting on the window ledge. I reach up and rub my eyelids with the back of my hand before swinging my legs over the side. I hop off the ledge and sleepily stumble in the direction of Steve and Sam. I notice as I walk my socks are dry, as are my jeans, shirt, and hair. I give a small sigh of relief and pause before bending over, flipping all my hair over my head before gathering it in one hand. I stand back up and slip a hair tie off my wrist before tying up my hair in a messy ponytail that oddly works for me. I then continue on as a yawn demands to be released. I walk into the side wing where Bucky is, giving small grunts as he begins to sit up.

"Steve." He says.

"Which Bucky am I talking to?" Rogers asks defensively. I walk closer to Cap before standing next to his shoulder, sleep still heavy in my veins. Bucky's face turns upwards as he stares at the wall almost blankly.

"Your mom's name was Sarah." He says, almost unsure. There's a pause before his lips twitch upward. "You used to wear newspapers in your shoes." Bucky says with amusement lacing his words before he gives a quiet chuckle.

"Can't read that in a museum." Cap says with a smile and a nod.

"Just like that, we're supposed to be cool?" Sam asks seriously. Bucky turns his head to look at Wilson.

"What did I do?" He inquires.

"Enough." Steve offers.

"Yeah, like kidnapping Iris over there." Sam grumbles. I lift my hand and give a little wave, a bit disorientated myself.

"Not to mention the mess you made at the Task Force HQ." I add tiredly.

"Oh, God, I knew this would happen." Bucky whispers as he lowers his face. "Everything HYDRA put inside me is still there. All he had to do was say the goddamn words." Barnes finishes angrily as Steve watches on with pity.

"Who was he?" Steve's face grows hard again.

"I don't know." Is James' reply.

"People are dead. The bombing, the setup...the doctor did all that just to get ten minutes with you. I need you to do better than 'I don't know.'" Rogers demands and Bucky seems to be thinking hard as he grows quiet. I shift my weight uncomfortably before looking over at Sam, who shrugs.

"He wanted to know about Siberia." James finally says. "Where I was kept..." He pauses and adopts a thoughtful look. "He wanted to know exactly where."

"Why would he need to know that?" Cap demands.

"Because I'm not the only Winter Soldier..." He says gruffly, looking up at Steve with a hard look. I release a sigh and lift my hands before resting them behind my neck.

"I should have stayed in New York." I mutter before dropping my face to the floor. "This is it, this is how I'm gonna die. Gonna go hunt down a madman who wants a bunch more assassins that he's gonna stick on us...ah, heck no, I am not going back to Russia. Nuh uh. There's nothing but freezing temperatures and bad memories there." I begin to mutter under my breath as I shake my head. I can feel my palms growing sweaty against my neck before they start to shake. "Sorry, Steve, but I think I'm out." I lift one hand into the air without looking up before I turn and begin to walk back towards my window ledge.

"Experiment Alpha 17." I hear uttered behind me. I stop dead in my tracks. My heart thunders against my ribs as I stare at the opposite end of the room with frightened eyes. I drop my hands to my sides and slowly turn back around. My eyes search the face of James Barnes. My mouth is slightly agape as I regard him. One of my eyebrows furrows. Sam and Steve look between Barnes and me with interest. I had never told them anything about the experimentation or what had gone on within that god-forsaken building.

"What the hell did you just say?" I question suspiciously.

"You're Experiment Alpha 17, stationed in Sector 7 in northern Russia." He says almost sadly as he continues to stare up at me. "You were The Link."

"You shut your mouth." I say in a weak tone while pointing at him. My chest feels like it's tightening as I clench my jaw. "Don't you ever call me that." I hiss before backing away with a frown. I had hoped he would know something about me, but not this. I was hoping he'd know where I'd come from. Who my parents were. But if that's the first thing he remembers about me, I'm not too sure I want to tug on that thread anymore.

I refuse to believe my past has caught up with me like hounds in the night.