"Wakey, Wakey sleepy head." Someone nudged my arm. I kept my eyes closed - my limbs were stiff and sore. I'd fallen asleep in a chair with my cheek resting on my hand. Damn, I bet that had looked attractive... Aha, not.

"Are you even listening to me, doll? Or are you too busy posing for next top model?" Another poke.

My eyes fluttered open. I scanned Bucky's face before I let my lips part into an "o" as I yawned. My vision was blurred but I could see enough. We were in his room where he was resting after I finally persuaded him to rest.

"What have you been doing while I've been out, doll?" Bucky smirked at me, his brown hair messy and ever so slightly wavy.

"Watching you." I stretched, my shoulders clicking. "Sleeping."

"Did I go anywhere?" Bucky sat up in the bed, raising an eyebrow at me.

"Only to the bathroom." I played along, of course he hadn't actually gone anywhere. He'd fallen asleep as soon as his head had hit the pillow.

"Oh really?" He swung his legs over the side of the bed. "Which reminds me, I need the loo." He stood up. Bucky's face paled, as he swayed.

I quickly stood up, wrapping my arm around his waist to steady him. "Whoa, wait a minute speedy. You got shot, remember? Twice."

Bucky looked down at me. "You're not gonna drop that, are you? Little dictator." Bucky smirked. "Which way now?"

"This way, this is your room you should know where to go." I pointed to a door in front of us. Bucky leant on me more than I expected, his was definitely not light that was for sure. I stopped at the door. "You're on your own from here." No way was I going into the loo with him.

"Into no man's land I go." Bucky saluted to me with his left hand before opening the bathroom door.

I just laughed, slowly letting go of him, making sure he didn't stumble. Not that he would, he was mostly healed now anyway - benefits of being a super soldier I suppose.

Bucky walked out of the bathroom, did I forget to mention he was in a hospital nightie. His long legs were extremely toned and his abs clearly visible under the light weight material.

I looked back up to see him raising an eyebrow at me. "Like what you see?"

I held my arm out for him to take. "Shut up, James."

"Why thank you, dear lady." Bucky bowed slightly, taking my arm. It only took a few seconds to get back to the bed.

Bucky collapsed back into bed, staring up at me. "Thanks."

"No problem - now be careful or you'll pop your stitches." I sat back in the chair, the back of my left knee aching. I rubbed it as I readjusted my position in the chair. Loundlow had kicked me hard - hard enough to leave a purple bruise anyway.

"What's wrong?" Bucky leant on his metal elbow, blue eyes watching me.

"Nothing." I put my hands in my lap.

"Loundlow kicked you in the leg, didn't he?" Bucky reached for the red cord which would summon Bruce. It had been installed in his room when he'd first moved into the tower. It was for the use of the other Avengers if Bucky had an episode and they needed Bruce to sedate him.

I took his right hand, careful not to move it too much. "I'm fine, it just aches."

"Didn't you get shot?" Bucky asked me, holding my hand in his.

"No, I cannot apply to be a colander today." I smiled, picking at a fray on my ripped jeans.

"Lucky." Bucky squeezed my hand, lying back in his bed. "You know I would kiss you, but there's a camera in here. Tony turned it on once you fell asleep."

I looked over to where Bucky was gazing. Sure enough a black circle winked at us. I knew which one of us they didn't trust: me.

"I can take care of that." I let go of Bucky's hand and walked over to the camera. I stood directly in front of it, waving, and mouthed "Bye." The camera's red light went dark.

"Help me get dressed, doll."

I turned to look at Bucky, raising my eyebrow. "Manners?"

"Please?" Bucky smirked, widening his eyes and tilting the corners of his mouth downwards - he somewhat resembled a puppy now.

I went over to a drawer and pulled out a top and a pair of jeans. Turning around my nose came into contact with Bucky's chest. "Damn it! Don't you know not to sneak up on people?"

"Sorry." Bucky shrugged.

"Do you have... Urrrr..." I trailed off, well this was awkward.

"I have boxers on underneath this lovely gown of mine," Bucky laughed.

I felt my cheeks redden."Turn around." I ordered before he could see my cheeks.

"Yes ma'am." Bucky did as I said but his smirk had widened telling me he'd already seen my blush.

I started undoing the bows at the back of the gown, exposing smooth skin. I had to resist the urge not to trail my finger down his spine, to feel the smoothness of his skin underneath my hand."Alright, all done." I tapped him on the shoulder.

Bucky took off his sling, turning around and started shrugging off his gown. It fell to the floor, leaving behind a finally toned six pack and chest. His face, just keep looking at his face, I persuaded myself. "Your top." I handed it to him. It was rather challenging to keep looking at his face.

"Thanks, doll." Bucky took the sleeves and slid the top over his head.

Man, did he have nice v-lines. Wait, what? The face, Zoe, the face before you get any further...Bucky slipped the shirt over his head. 

"Here's your trousers." I handed him the jeans and turned around. I could at least attempt to be polite even though it was a little late for politeness now.

"Thanks." I kept staring at the wall.

"You can turn around now, I don't see why you turned around though, you saw the main part of the show." Bucky chuckled.

"Oh shh." I turned around, punching his metal arm. Bad idea, it was really hard. I tried not to flinch. "Let's go and see the others." I motioned for Bucky to go first.

"Why me first?" Bucky watched me, mouth forming into a smirk.

"Because I think Tony's going to kill me." I motioned again.

Bucky put his arm over my shoulders, wincing slightly. It was the arm that got shot. "I'll jump in front of bullet for you again, doll." He smiled down at me.

"Thanks for that -" I smirked "- But you were an idiot for doing it."

"Well thank you too." Bucky laughed, the sound causing goosebumps to appear on my arms.

"It's alright." I shrugged as we neared the living room.

"Her blood is amazing, it's encouraged cellular growth from cells which were destroyed." Bruce was sitting making notes, his glasses half way down his nose. "We need to get a sample of it."

"Bruce," Sharon warned as we entered the room. "I don't think Zoe will take kindly to being a pin cushion. She doesn't like needles."

"Right, right, only if she wants to," Bruce sighed, pushing his glasses back up his nose.

An amused look crossed Bucky's face as Bruce examined a container of blood.

"She won't want to, trust me." Sharon laughed.

"The maiden seems very brave, she would make a great Asgardian warrior," Thor said after a mouthful of pop tarts.

"She saved our lives." Pepper smiled before glaring at Tony.

"I don't like her," Tony mumbled.

"And I thought it was just Sam who didn't like me." I laughed, taking a seat next to Sharon, Bucky by my side.

Fury laughed. "Now, now people."

"I understand where you're coming from Tony." I nodded at him, catching his gaze. "I'm glad you're sticking to your guns."

"Mr Stark, Miss Frost has a phone call." Friday.

I tensed. "Where can I answer it?"

"Over there." Stark pointed to the corner of the room where an old fashioned phone hung on the wall.

"Thanks." I quickly stood up, walking over. Shit. No one called me. Everyone had gone silent behind me, the mutters which had echoed around the room had now stopped.

The phone was heavy in my hand. "Hello," I whispered unable to produce a barely audible noise.

"Hello soldier," a cold voice sounded. HYDRA.

"Can I help you?" I gripped the phone tighter, turning my back to the Avengers.

"Yes, yes you can. You're coming home, where you belong, my miracle."

I stood straighter, closing my eyes. "No."

"Yes, we will have control of you in half an hour, my dear. I look forward to seeing you again," and with those chilling words, the person on the other end of the line hung up.

I had to leave. It turns out HYDRA hadn't given up, they'd only just started.

I placed the receiver back, turning around. "I have to go. Now."

"Wait, what?" Sharon stood up, blocking my exit.

"Look, I don't have time to explain." I pushed past her. "I have to go."

"Are you in trouble?" There was doubt in Sharon's voice as she followed me.

"No, but you will be if I stay here." I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote on it, handing it to Sharon: "I'm back in business. They've found me. Must leave now."

Sharon grabbed my bicep. "We can-"

I looked away from her, pulling my arm out of her grasp. "No, you can't."

"But-"

"But what Sharon? If HYDRA find out I've told you that they've got control of me, they'll wipe me right here." I dared HYDRA, if they could hear me.

"H-How?" Sharon stuttered.

"That signal Stark found, it's them. The only way to get it out is for me to go under anaesthetic, which would..." I shook my head. "Be bad."

"What aren't you telling me?" Sharon reached out to touch my shoulder, her voice holding a tone she normally reserved for giving orders.

"I won't have any control if it goes wrong, there will be no me left." I stepped away from her touch. "I suffered from something called Red Vision before, the device controls it. The serum enhanced my most prominent features and one of those was anger."

"But-"

"There are no buts, it's over." I spun round on my heel, heading for Fury.

I hugged him, reaching into his pocket and taking his phone, slipping it into my sleeve. "Goodbye." He tensed when I touched him - out of everyone I should have been hugging Bucky, not Fury but Bucky didn't have a phone.

"What does that even mean?" Sharon yelled after me as I headed to the balcony.

"It means Sharon -" I spun around at the door. "- That a winter soldier mark two is going to be hunting S.H.I.E.L.D down. With no mercy or recollection that she is doing anything wrong. I'm so sorry."

Sharon stood speechless as I glanced around the room.

"Don't hesitate to kill me, because the other me won't hesitate to kill you. It's over." I let my eyes linger on Bucky before turning around and walking out onto the balcony. Rain drenched me and bit into my skin. The cold seeped through my clothes making me shiver.

"Wait, doll." It was Bucky.

I didn't turn around, speeding up my walk to the railing.

"Zoe!" Bucky yelled as the rain lashed at us.

I didn't answer, climbing onto the railing. It was slippery under my feet but I'd didn't wobble.

"Look, I won't kill you, okay. I spent so many nights wondering who the hell you were when I first remembered you and I just got you back." Bucky spoke to my back but I didn't need to see his face to know his emotions. "I will find you, the you I love, doll. I don't care what they say in there, what orders Fury give me - I won't kill you."

I froze on the railing and turned to look at Bucky as he swept his sodden hair off his forehead. "If any of her is left." The words were painful for me and no doubt painful for Bucky too. I leant forward and pressed my lips to his - wet and harsh. This could be the last time I saw him. I let my lips slowly come away from his before I stood up, looking down at the Sergeant. "Goodbye, James." I gave him a small smile - remembering his eyes, his lips, his jawline, the beautiful intricate details of him before I fell backwards off of the railing.

"No!" Bucky yelled into the night as the wind rushed past me. He stared down at me as I fell. It was a peaceful decent - slow - and it gave me time to think...

I twisted in the air, landing in a crouch, a small crater in the ground. I couldn't leave them like that. I couldn't leave Bucky like that. I pushed my damp hair back out of my face. I didn't have long. But I had enough time. I looked up at the tower. I could climb it. I walked to the side. Here goes nothing...

***

I gripped the power cables attached to the building as I watched through the window, in the darkness. An air vent blew warm air onto my face from my right - a source of sound for the room in front of me. Sharon stood watching Bucky, her bottom lip trembling. Most of the other Avengers hand left the room yet a few remained. S.H.I.E.L.D was probably on high alert.

"I want to know where she is," Fury demanded, pacing in the middle of the room.

Bucky walked in from the balcony, blue eyes trailing the floor. Rain fell in beads from his hair onto his shirt and the floor. Why had he only just come in?

"Any idea where she is, Barnes?" Fury asked.

"The phone call indicated that HYDRA was going to pick her up." Friday commented.

"But where?" Fury slammed his hands on the table. He reached into his pocket. "God dammit, where's my other phone?"

Sharon smiled. "Zoe must have it, she's helping us find her. That's why she hugged you, I thought it was odd that she went to you..."

"You sure she's not helping them find us?" Coulson stepped out of the lift. They'd obviously called him - the Calvary.

"I'm sure." Sharon tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. "She made a promise to me that she'd always protect me, she never breaks her promises."

"That's all well and good Miss Carter but what happens if she's not her when she sees you again?" Wow, Fury just drive the dagger in why don't you?

My gaze flickered to Bucky, he was at a computer. He was tracking me. His blue eyes met my green ones. "I've found her."

I shook my head. Please say he understood. Bucky gave me a small smile before looking back to the computer screen.

"She's nearby," Bucky announced. "She'll be leaving soon though. HYDRA won't leave her in the open much longer as they won't want us bringing her in."

Sharon's face lit up. "Maybes we can get to her before-"

"We need to figure out where they're going first, find HYDRA's base." Fury was using me to help him find the last few pieces of HYDRA. Bastard. Then again... A smart bastard.

"And let her suffer for the sake of you finding out where HYDRA is?" Bucky stood up, his arm muscles flexing.

"And let millions of innocent people die when we don't know where they are and could have stopped them?" Fury snapped.

"You really can't see it can you." Bucky shook his head before walking up to Fury. "She will be the one murdering the innocent."

"Then we'll address that problem when it happens."

My head began to buzz. Time to leave. I let go of the glass, sliding down the tower. I had to keep running, I couldn't stop. I had to get far away from the Avenger tower, away from them. My head had started to spin. My footsteps crashed through puddles as I pushed my way through the crowds of people on the streets. I skidded to a stop as my phone rang. An unknown number.

I pressed the phone to my ear, stepping back into an alley where no one could see me. "Hello?"

"Stay there, we'll collect you," was all I heard before my head was filled with pain. I bit down on my tongue to hold back a scream before my knees hit the floor. It was all going to be gone when I woke up, I would remember nothing...

***

I was bound to a table, I knew that much. Pain was coursing through my veins, (and if you want to be scientific arteries, capillaries, etc...) Where was I? No clue. What were they going to do to me? No clue. What were they going to make me do? No idea. Who the hell was I? I really didn't know.... That really wasn't important at the moment.

"Ahhhhhhh, soldier you're awake."

I opened my eyes to see... I didn't know who he was. I made no comment, watching him.

"Longing." He paced around the room reciting words which made my head tingle.

"Pain."

"Ninety-six."

"Daybreak."

"Ice."

"Nine."

"Cold."

"Homecoming."

"One."

"War."

I blinked, anything I had been thinking of instantly gone.

"I have your first orders, soldier." He looked around the room - a small tiled place which had dirt covered walls. We were surrounded by scientists. "Stop the pain."

I instantly felt relief. "Ah."

"Now if you follow through with this mission I'll keep the pain away. Is that understood, soldier?" The man's face broke into two, I think he was smiling. "I'll help you. We'll help you. But only if you help us. Are you ready to comply, soldier?"

"Yes, sir."

"Go and get changed first." The man stepped back from me.

A young woman came up to me, handing me a set of black clothes. "Follow me."

We came to a room. I got changed. I was in a pair of leather trousers, a long sleeved black shirt. It was better than the jeans. Why the hell had I been wearing a jeans in the first place? I was then given a leather jacket. My ballet pumps having been replaced by a worn out pair of black doc martens. Had I done this before?

"Good. Now put these on." The man was handing me a mask and sunglasses. When did he appear?

I took them without a word and slipped the sunglasses on with ease. He also handed me a earpiece which I put in.

"Your mission is to kill Nick Fury." He began to walk away. He turned around again. "And soldier?"

"Yes sir?" I asked, reaching for a gun.

"Make sure he's dead. The guy has a funny habit of not dying."