AN: Jessica's outfit is the same as the last chapter.

I'm SO excited for this one, guys.

✧

Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, Marchessa Stark and Sam Wilson were all quiet in the back of the Hydra van they had been taken into, thoughts going a million times a minute.

However, one mind was reeling in particular, and it belonged to that of Steve Rogers.

Jessica was alive.

Those three words were the only ones he could think, memories of her laugh and smile invading his head.

"It was her," He whispered, blue eyes looking down at the restraints around his hands, "She looked right at me like she didn't even know me. Bucky, too."

Sam shook his head beside Chess, who was looking at Natasha, "How is that even possible? It was, like, seventy years ago."

"Zola," Steve spoke through grit teeth, "Bucky's whole unit was captured in '43, Zola experimented on him. Whatever he did helped Bucky survive the fall. They must have found him and..."

He trailed off, audibly gulping at the thought of Jessica being experimented on like she was always fearful of.

"When Jessica went to find him, he must have done the same thing to her."

Chess looked to him, signing instead of speaking as she didn't want to talk in front of the Hydra agents, "Whatever they did was different. She looked like she remembered him, but not you. Plus, she seemed very chill... it's kind of odd."

"Whatever it may be," Natasha spoke hoarsely, eyelids fluttering, "It wasn't your fault, Steve. There was no way you could have known."

"Even when I had nothing, I had Bucky and Jessica... hell, she even moved next door to make sure I wasn't lonely when my mom died."

Sam gave him a grim smile, pursing his lips a bit before he turned to look at Natasha, who was on the other side of Chess.

He shook his head, turning back to one of the Hydra officers, saying, "We need to get a doctor here. We don't put pressure on that wound she's gonna bleed out here in the truck."

Suddenly, one of the guards pulled out an electric rod, pointing it at Sam causing him to stiffen. The guard was paused for a moment before they swung toward the other guard beside them, neutralizing  and knocking him out.

The guard took of their mask, everyone's eyes widening when they met the face of Commander Maria Hill.

"Ah," She winced, "That thing was squeezing my brain."

A short while later, Jessica Lynne was sitting on an uncomfortable chair, eyes dull as she was pulled into what seemed to be a memory.

"We looked for you after. My folks wanted to give you a ride to the cemetery," Bucky grinned lightly as he walked toward Steve's apartment, Jessica on the said man's arm.

Jessica smiled at Bucky, bumping her shoulder with Steve's, "He wanted to be alone, but I wouldn't let him be. He needed one of us as much as he didn't want to admit it."

"You never take no for an answer," Steve shook his head. Bucky hid a smile at his best friends, saying, "How was it?"

Steve was quiet for a moment and Jessica squeezed his arm lovingly, giving him a nod.

The man sighed, "It was okay. She's next to dad."

"I was gonna ask..." Bucky trailed off, Steve shaking his head and saying, "I know what you're gonna say, Buck, I just..."

Bucky nodded, watching as Steve reached into his pocket with his empty hand, trying to pull out his key for his apartment.

He licked his lips, "We can put the couch cushions on the floor like when we were kids. It'll be fun. All you gotta do is shine my shoes, maybe take out the trash."

Jessica gave the dark-haired man a look, raising a brow and Bucky playfully rolled his eyes. The man bent down, kicking a brick aside before picking up the apartment key from under it.

He handed it to Steve as the he said, "Thank you, Buck, but I can get by on my own."

"The thing is, you don't have to," Bucky gave Steve a friendly pat on the shoulder, "I'm with you to the end of the line, pal. So is Jess. She kinda likes you."

Jessica's eyes widened before she hardened, giving him a deadly look which Bucky immediately stopped smiling at.

She shook her head, turning and looking at Steve directly, "What Bucky is trying to say, is that we're not leaving anytime soon. We love you too much for that."

"Thanks, Jess," Steve gave her a smile as she squeezed his hand in her own.

Bucky's eyes trailed down to the action and he smirked a bit, saying, "You sure, Steve'O?"

"I'm sure," Steve nodded, making Bucky do the same. He took a single step back, "Then I'll see you tomorrow. Jess, need a way home?"

Jessica shook her head as Steve opened his apartment door, smiling, "Thank you, Buck, but I'll be okay on my own."

"'Till tomorrow then," Bucky nodded, nodding his head before turning on his heel and walking down the stairs.

Jessica turned back to Steve, who was already looking at her, and sniffed, saying, "Um, I wanted to talk to you about something, if you didn't mind. I know it's probably not the best time, but-"

Steve cut her off, grabbing her hand once more, "Brooklyn baby, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Jessica shook her head, "But it's... important. Bucky already knows."

Steve nodded and moved to the side, allowing Jessica to step into his small apartment before following and shutting the door.  The man began kicking the trash around the house under tables, causing Jessica to chuckle under her breath.

"Steve, stop. You're perfectly okay. Don't worry about it, okay?"

He grinned lightly, "Thank you, Jess."

Jessica simply winked at him and walked into the small kitchen, saying, "Can I pour you a glass of water?"

"Please."

The redhead poured their drinks and walked over to the small yellow couch, handing Steve his before joining him on the next cushion. Steve noticed her look as she sipped on her drink.

"Jessica?"

She hummed, "Yes?"

"Is something wrong? Are you okay?"

"I'm moving, Steve," She finally met his eyes that widened. Steve shook his head, sadness paling his skin, "No. You can't leave-"

She cut him off, saying, "Steve, I'm moving next door."

"What?"

"I decided that I'm moving in next door," Jessica repeated, grinning a bit, "This is a hard time for everyone and... I want to be there for you."

Steve's chin moved a bit at that, blinking away his tears, "Thank you."

"You say you want to be alone, but I know you Steven Grant Rogers. All you want right now is a shoulder to cry on."

Jessica was snapped from her thoughts as Bucky grabbed a doctor that was helping fix his metal arm, slamming him against the wall. She immediately stood, going over to him and grabbing his shoulders, causing him to go to grab her as well.

Her eyes flashed green and so did his arm, pausing mid-air as she said, "Stop. You will not touch me."

Bucky grit his teeth, meeting her eyes that were obscured slightly by her long red hair. She simply narrowed her eyes, lip twitching into a snarl before she let him go, his arm falling to his side.

"Stand down, assholes," Jessica clenched her jaw, looking at the Hydra agents surrounding them with guns, "He's fine."

A moment after, the doors opened to the lab they were in, Jessica rolling her eyes at the sight of Alexander Pierce and Rumlow walking through.

"Mission report," Pierce simply stated, looking at Bucky. The man's expression fell blank and he repeated himself, " Mission report, now."

Bucky only continued to give him the same look, making Pierce look at Jessica as he took a step toward her. A loud crack echoed through he air as Alexander's palm met her cheek, Jessica growling as a burning sensation spread across her skin.

She licked the blood on the corner of her lip, moving her jaw slightly as she looked back at them, "I would recommend you don't do that. I may be being held hostage, but I will fight back."

"Speaking of," Alexander narrowed his eyes at her, "You killed a dozen of our men today, soldier."

Jessica shrugged, moving to sit back in her seat. She crossed her leg over her knee, resting her arm behind her slightly as her head tilted to the side.

"And I would have killed a dozen more if I had the chance."

Rumlow suddenly made his way toward her, "You little bitch-"

Jessica rolled her flashing green eyes, waving two fingers causing the man's legs to fall underneath him, sending him to the floor with a loud thud. All guns were pointed at her and she made an impressed awe, chuckling to herself.

"I'd like to see you assholes shoot me. If you wanted me dead, you would have killed me a long time ago," She looked to Rumlow, who was standing, "It never ceases to amaze me how stupid you all are. Steel toed boots? Guess I kinda swept the rug from under you, huh?"

Rumlow went to say something when Bucky interrupted him, saying, "The man on the bridge... who was he?"

"You met him earlier this week on another assignment," Pierce explained, sitting on the doctor's stool beside the man.

Bucky shook his head, "I knew him."

He turned to Jessica, "You did, too. You were there."

Jessica remained silent as the men looked to her, not meeting their eyes as Pierce began speaking to them.

"Your work has been a gift to mankind. You two shaped the century and I need you to do it one more time," Bucky shuddered at his words, "Society is at a tipping point between order and chaos. Tomorrow morning we're gonna give it a push. But, if you don't do your part, I can't do mine and Hydra can't give the world the freedom it deserves."

Jessica scoffed, lucking forward as she said, "Fuck you with your false freedom bullshit!"

"Step out of line once more, Ms. Martin and you will face the repercussions."

"What else do I have to fucking lose?" Jessica shook her head, raising her hands in the air a bit, "Kill me! I'm sure you'd still find a way to use me then."

Pierce turned to Rumlow, "Take her away. Wipe her again."

Rumlow walked past him and grabbed onto Jessica's arm, throwing her to the floor.

"Get up."

Jessica looked up at him from the floor, jaw clenched as she said, "Well, I would have been if you didn't throw me on the fucking floor."

She stood, walking through the door as she knew where she was going. No fear struck her as she entered the room, eyes on the syringes of bright liquid serum.

Jessica inwardly seethed, the dark circles under her eyes twitching as her jaw became tight. Pain spread throughout her temple at the movement, the woman not moving as she looked down at the ceramic table she was meant to lay on.

She grunted as Rumlow pushed her against the table, grabbing onto her hair and saying, "Get on the table."

"Fucking touch me again like that and I'll find a way to kill you in your sleep."

Rumlow smirked, saying the same statement he always did, "Remember what happens when you retaliate. Your little friend gets hurt."

"You're going to fucking wipe him anyway. I'm so fucking tired of hearing you threaten me with Bucky."

Jessica climbed onto the table and said, "You think you scare me anymore? I'm tired of being scared. The only person I'm scared of is myself. So don't piss me off. I don't know what I might do."

"You and I both know that's a lie. You're afraid of him."

"Him?" Jessica rose a brow, lips pursed.

Rumlow hummed, leaning over her, "You know who I'm talking about. You remember but you're afraid that you do because you don't understand. What do you know?"

Jessica smirked, "Bits and pieces. The blond man? I knew him. I just don't know how."

"Think harder, Jessie," Rumlow pressed his fingers against Jessica's temples, "I know it's in that pretty little brain of yours."

"And why would I allow you the pleasure of knowing what's in my head?"

Before she could say more, Rumlow grabbed her hair and slammed her temple against the ceramic table, body twisting off of it from the force. Jessica let out a cry, pain spreading throughout the side of her face as blood pooled in her hair.

Rumlow grabbed her head again and Jessica's jaw clenched as her eyes glowed a bright blue. The man made a disappointed sound as he brought something out of his pocket, causing her to let out a growl.

She looked down at it, taking in the device that controlled the tracking on her neck that was also tangled in with her sternocleidomastoid muscle. Her eyes hardened at the sight, remembering that Chess had deactivated it.

Jessica thought for a moment before Rumlow hummed, running his finger down her bruised cheekbone and jaw, "It is a shame. You're quite beautiful. Which is why I need you to remember so I don't hurt that pretty head of yours anymore."

"I don't know what you want," Jessica shook her head, eyes finally meeting his, "Why're you so afraid of what I can do with this knowledge of this man?"

"You're a ticking time bomb, Jessie," He growled her name, "He makes you ruthless."

Jessica smirked, "But here I thought you would have liked that. No, he doesn't make me ruthless, does he?"

When he didn't say anything Jessica rose a brow, saying, "He makes me weaker in your eyes. But for some reason I know in my heart he makes me ten times stronger. Which is why you guys are trying to get rid of him more than ever now."

Rumlow scoffed at that before she lurched her leg over, kicking him in the kneecap harshly causing him to let go of her. He fell to the floor, his jaw hitting the concrete, and Jessica's face tingled with anger as a blind rage shook her body, eyes flashing between green, blue and white in one sudden motion.

The woman let out an ear piercing scream causing the room to vibrate with her fury. The ceramic table beside her cracked in half, the man below her covering his ears as he tried to stand straight.

"You bitch!" Rumlow growled, spitting blood onto the floor as he retrieved a taser from his belt.

Jessica's body felt as though she wasn't in control as Rumlow pressed the button to the taser, hand in front of her as she grunted. The Hydra agent's eyes widened as the electricity from the taser seemingly stopped mid-air, Jessica's eyes and hands illuminating a vibrant orange-red.

"Funny thing about electricity, dickhead," Jessica's voice was hoarse as she shook from the force of her power, "It's a form of lightning, that is also a part of fire. Meaning it's an extension of what I'm able to manipulate."

When Rumlow didn't say anything she smirked, "Which also means you just fucked with the wrong woman."

Jessica moved her wrists together, circling them over the other as it the electricity from the taser. Her chest was heaving in a passionate rage, eyes so dark they looked as though they were bleeding.

Rumlow's eyes stared into hers, the man swearing he could see the flames in them, fear creating a sheen layer of sweat on his palms as he tried to stumble back.

"I am not your play toy anymore," Jessica's voice vibrated his ribs, "I'm done being manipulated. I'm done being watched. I'm done having people tell me what to do."

Rumlow fell back into the wall, sliding down it as her hands still circled, fingers curled into a talon-like shape.

She smirked menacingly, suppressing the chuckle that hung at the back of her throat at the sight of his fear, knowing that had only been her days before.

"I'm done being yours."

She brought her hands into the air, electricity sparking up her arms as she pushed her arms toward him. The destructive and electric concussive burst of air hit Rumlow, the man screaming in pain as the muscles in every part of his body spasmed.

Jessica felt no regret, knowing he had done so much worse to her as she watched him spasm on the floor.

"I hope you go straight to hell, you fucking asshole."

Jessica stepped over the man, finding his gun a few feet away from him. She leaned down and grabbed it, placing it behind her waistband on her trousers.

She left the room, leaving Rumlow unconscious on the floor. Jessica resisted the urge to kick him as she walked down the dim-lighted hallway, eyes moving back and forth in thought of where she was going to go.

The redhead suddenly stopped, eyes glancing down at her pocket as her hand rested upon it.

"I guess I do know where."

✧

Steve Rogers was looking out onto the bridge of the secret facility that they had been taken to by Maria Hill, thoughts reeling his mind.

One, Nick Fury was alive. The man had taken Tetrodotoxin B before he was at the hospital, the serum Bruce Banner having created slowing his pulse to one beat a minute.

Two, Jessica was alive. His wife was alive.

His partner was live. His everything was alive.

And three? She had been imprisoned for years, tested on.

Steve couldn't help but think of the moment he had met the woman, a small grim smile coming to his face at the very thought.

Steve Rogers shook his head at the sight of thirteen year old Bucky Barnes kneeling in the sand beside a redhead, sunglasses perched high on her nose as she laid on her stomach.

The teenage girl looked to be listening, her lips moving after a moment. Steve furrowed his brows as Bucky smirked at her, the girl pushing him over with a small laugh.

He sighed.

"He always gets the girls," He thought to himself, watching as Bucky stood and put a hand out toward her.

The woman looked to be staring at it for a moment, lightly pressing her hand in his as she stood on her knees. Bucky pulled her up and Steve's heart stopped in his chest, the girl bringing the glasses to rest on her head.

Bucky pointed toward him and Steve's breath labored as the woman turned to him, bright green eyes meeting his blue. She gave him a small smile, her rosy cheeks from the sun  making him melt.

She waved, only turning back to Bucky when he spoke once more. She licked her red stained lips, nodding before she gestured toward her belongings scattered across the sand.

Bucky immediately bent down and began picking up her items, folding up her beach towel and placing it in her bag. She smiled, giving him a slight nod before she followed him through the sand, meeting Steve.

She smiled at him as Bucky said, "This is my best friend Steve. He and I were going to go get some food like I said."

"Hello," Her grin was bright, Steve's heart thumping in his chest as she brought her hand out to shake his, "My name is Jessica."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, miss," Steve coughed, looking down at his bare feet in embarrassment. Jessica chuckled, "Pleasure is all mine, Steve. Your friend here invited me along if that was okay?"

Steve nodded, meeting her eyes once more, "Um, yes, of course. I- I mean we would love to have you come along as long as you were comfortable."

"As long as your friend here doesn't try it," Jessica turned to him with a raised brow, "I think we will be okay."

Steve was taken from his thoughts as Sam joined him on the bridge, saying, "They're gonna be there, you know?"

"I know," Steve's eyes stayed straight ahead. Sam sighed, "Look, whoever they used to be, the people they are now, I don't think they're the kind you save. They're the kind you stop."

Steve turned toward him, feeling the need to defend his wife, "You're wrong. You weren't there the entire time. She told Bucky to stop. She didn't want to fight anymore."

Sam went to say something when movement behind Steve caught his eyes, a gasp escaping his lips.

"Steve!" He yelled, taking a gun from his waistband, "They're here!"

"No, no, please!" Jessica rose her hands in the air, Steve immediately turning at her voice, "I don't come for Hydra, please put the gun down."

Sam shook his head, "How'd you find us?"

Jessica went to answer before footsteps were heard, Chess, Nat, Maria and Nick coming outside from their hidden facility from SHIELD.

"I'm sorry," Jessica looked at Chess, "At the mall... I slipped a tracking device on your collar. I just..."

She trailed off as Chess reached for the collar of her suit, ripping the tracking device off herself.

Jess looked back to Steve, hands still raised, "I know you and I don't know how exactly but I do. I need your help."

"My help? You led Hydra right to us, Jess," Steve's eyes were wide.

She shook her head, "No. It's only connected to the device in my pocket. No one knows that I know where you are. I didn't tell anyone."

"How can we trust you?" Nick Fury questioned, walking up beside Steve.

Jessica sighed, "I have a gun in my waistband, knives in my boot and ammo and more tracking devices in my pocket. Search me if you must. I escaped and need your help."

"You and I both know that you don't need a weapon to do anything," Steve whispered, slowly walking toward her.

Jess gulped, biting her lip, "I'm tired of hurting people. All I want is Bucky safe, too. All I ever did was because they threatened him."

"I believe her," Chess spoke aloud, something that made Nick Fury look to her for. Nat turned to her as well, "What?"

"She had every opportunity to hurt me at the mall. While you were lip-locking Steve she actually comforted me," Chess made her way over to Jessica, who gave her a thankful smile, "I believe you."

Jessica nodded, whispering, "Thank you."

"She could be useful," Maria spoke up, everyone looking to her, "Her powers, her inside knowledge of Hydra... we need her."

"I'll do anything," Jessica almost pleaded, meeting Steve's eyes. Her expression broke his heart as she continued, "Please, Steve. I promise I won't do anything."

Steve was quiet for a moment before he walked over to her, saying, "I need your gun. You're going to stay with Chess in the control room. I want to trust you... but I can't yet."

"I understand," Jessica whispered, reaching behind her and handing him her gun.

A gasp escaped her lips as the two touched, a shiver running down their spines. Steve dropped the gun on the ground, the woman looking up to him as she took in his face.

"This is different," Jessica murmured, "With Bucky it's different. Why?"

Steve thought for a moment, deciding what he should say.

"Because you're my wife, Jessica."

✧

AN: I have waited for this chapter from the moment they were separated in act one *cries*