-Sorry for the language! Cap would be appalled!-

"Whooooo, It's just me, myself, and I!" sang Bruce as he sang along with his stereo as he worked on his research all alone in Alaska. He heard a dinging noise come from one of his computers. He walked over to it and typed a password in. He was in. The computer was now in his control. He went over to another computer and sent Steve an email telling him of the update. He then strolled back over to his stereo and turned the music up louder. Who knew that Kidz Bop had such great albums?

--------

Back in New York, Sam and Scott had returned to the tower and were talking to Steve and Bucky.

"You're kidding. That isn't humanly possible." said Scott.

"The serum made it possible. Without the serum, I would never have been able to do anything like I can now. I would be dead now if I hadn't gotten injected with the serum." Bucky patted Steve's shoulder.

"Me too, pal, but here we are." Steve heard a noise and looked down at his phone.

"It's Bruce. He's in control of the computer."

"What is the next step of the plan?" asked Sam.

"Bruce is going to run more diagnostics on the computer to figure out where the transmission from (Y/N) came from. Once he figures that out, we strategize and rescue her." said Bucky. They all nodded.

"Sounds like a good plan." said Scott. Just then James and Natasha ran into the room. James ran over to Bucky and sat on his lap. Natasha sat down next to Sam and tried to catch her breath. She then looked around the room.

"Who are these two?" she asked.

"These are Scott and Sam. They are going to help Steve and I rescue (Y\N). " said Bucky.

"Ah..." said Natasha. She then stood up. "Well, then, I'll get going so as not to interrupt you. I have to run some errands, so James will have to stay here with you." She then speedily left the room.

"What's her deal?" asked Sam. Bucky just sighed.

"She is going to be gone when we are going to rescue (Y/N). She was going to be helping us before we called Scott." said Steve.

"Why is she so upset about it?" asked Scott.

"No idea. She's been acting strange around us recently." said Bucky.

"Huh." said Sam.

"She's not usually like that." said Steve.

"Good to know. Anyway, who's up for a pizza? I'm getting hungry. How long is Bruce going to take?" said Scott.

"We have no idea. He never said."

"Well, this is just great. How are we supposed to know how much time we have? He could take days!" said Sam.

"I trust Bruce. He is a very smart man. It shouldn't take him too long." said Bucky. "He knows (Y/N) and understands that it is crucial that we get her back before Hydra does her any serious harm. They brainwashed me and turned me into an assassin. Who knows what they might think to do to her. I can't even imagine." Bucky put his head in his hands, and the others heard sniffling.

"I think we'd better get going." said Scott. Sam nodded, and Steve showed them to the elevator.

When Steve re-entered the room, he saw Bucky wiping tears from his face. James, who had been in his nursery playing, had run into the room, climbed up on Bucky's chair, and was hugging him.

"Is ok, papa. No cry." Bucky gave James a small smile.

"Okay, since my little slugger is telling me not to." Steve smiled from the doorway and walked down the hall to the kitchen. He got a bottle of water for himself out of the fridge. Bucky walked in holding James.

"Can you grab James a juice box?" said Bucky. Steve nodded and got one out for him. He slid it over the counter to where Bucky was sitting on a stool holding James.

"You want anything?" said Steve holding the fridge open for Bucky to see inside. Bucky shook his head.

"What I need right now isn't what I need to be drinking right now."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not going to be like my father." Steve was silent. He knew what Bucky meant. He continued.

"I can't be like him. I'm not going to leave my son, I'm not going to leave my wife, and I'm not going to become an alcoholic like that bastard." Steve's eyes widened.

"Buck! James is sitting right there!" Bucky shook his head.

"I'm sorry, but you know how I get when I talk about him." Steve nodded his head.

"I don't blame you." Steve noticed that there were small tears forming at the edges of Bucky's eyes. "Are you ok?"

"I need her back, Steve. I don't think I can last much longer worrying like this. You don't know what it's like to be without the one you love for so long." There was silence. Bucky regretted what he had said. "Steve, I..." Steve raised his hand.

"It's ok. It's the truth. You were luckier than I was. You got (Y/N) back like she had been. I wasn't so lucky. At least one of us deserves our happy ending, no matter how bumpy the road to get there has been, you are close, and I am going to make sure that you get it."

"Thanks, Steve. That really means a lot to me."

"Buck, you are practically my brother. You always have been. You know that I will do anything I can to help you whenever you need help. I know that you would do the same for me."

"Till the end of the line."

---------------------

Natasha was talking in hushed tones to Fury on her phone.

"Are you sure, Agent Romanoff? That is a very risky accusation."

"I'm positive. I've seen it happen before. They don't suspect it, and he wasn't in his right mind when they took her. It is very likely that he didn't even notice them putting it on him. It could have been as simple as someone touching his shoulder. I haven't seen anything obvious, but technology is very advanced nowadays. It could be microscopic."

"Well, I know one thing for sure. If Barnes does have a bug on him, it needs to become a priority to get it off."

"No can do. He doesn't trust me."

"I didn't say you'd be doing it."

"Well, who is? It's not like you can have Rogers do it. It would blow the fact that Barnes has the bug on him."

"I'm blind in one eye, Romanoff. I'm not dumb. Who would you suggest, since you seem to be making this into your problem."

"It is partially my problem. (Y/N) is my good friend. I want to make sure that she gets home safe. Anyway, I have no idea. Thor would cause too much suspicion, Clint is giving Barnes the winter shoulder after Bucky pulled James out of Clint and Thor's daycare..." Fury cut her off.

"Isn't Thor upset about it too then?"

"No, Thor was only in on it because it let him have a legitimate reason to take naps during work hours."

"Well, then. That leaves Bruce and Tony, and since Bruce is in Alaska..."

"No."

"Why?"

"Do you really think that Barnes wouldn't find it suspicious that Stark would have a new found interest in him?"

"I don't think he'd notice."

"Oh, he'd notice."

"What makes you say that?"

"All Starks have a certain way of going about things. Even though Bucky may not have had much time to adapt to Tony, you forget. He worked with Howard Stark way back when."

"Tony's different than his dad. I say that we let I'm do it."

"Whatever, but if the plan fails, don't blame me."

***********************************************************

Hey, Soldiers!

I just want to tell you guys, that, since it is nearing Christmas, I have a "present" for you all!

What is it?

I plan on updating the story three more times before Christmas. Yes, before 14 days have passed, there will be three new chapters uploaded to this book!

Merry Christmas, Soldiers!

~Peg💚🌹😁🎄🎁🎁🎁🎅🏼🤶🏼🤶🏼🤵🏼🤦🏼🤶🏼