Okay, so maybe you underestimated them. Or perhaps you had overestimated yourself. Hydra was gaining strength again, and all you wanted to do was stop them while you had a shot; you wanted to stop history before it repeated itself and there would be more who would suffer as you and Bucky had. It sounded easy in your head, but as the plan came to fruition, things got a little bumpy. Bucky was the last person you wanted to see right now, but you sure wouldn't turn him away if he suddenly showed up; especially if he brought the entire Avengers team with him.

~~~

The jet was eerily silent as the team closed in on Washington, and no one had said a word since departing New York. Steve fastened his helmet and leaned back into his chair, closing his eyes and sighing deeply; his mind was moving faster than he could track, and he was worried that going in without knowing what was happening and without a plan would get his team hurt. He knew in his heart that there was no way that you would defect to Hydra after all they had done to you, at least not knowingly. He would be a fool to not admit that he considered your state of mind when you left, and that you could be under their control again.

"Are you ready for this?" he whispered to Bucky.

Bucky only shook his head, staring at his metal arm with a look of disgust on his face. His opposite hand grazed over the cool metal of his fingers, then across the palm, and up the forearm as if it were the first time he had experienced it. The arm was seemingly foreign to him, and it was making him angry.

"Promise me that we're gonna stop them, once and for all."

Steve nodded and cleared his throat as he replied, "I think she's giving us a head start, Buck. There's no way she's on their side. She can't be...right?"

The jet shook slightly as it landed, calming as the engines quieted and the rear door opened for their arrival. As the rest of the team gathered their gear and moved to the exit, Bucky stood and clenched his hand into a tight fist and sighed, watching the joints of the metal shift and connect. "Right," he mumbled absentmindedly, pausing at the door to take a breath and look back at the Captain. "Could you do it, Steve? If she's...if she's not herself? If it came down to a choice of life or death? If you knew you could release her from that hell?"

The look of shock that crossed Steve's face flashed quickly before it changed to one of determination. "No. Never." He stood up to stand behind his friend, hesitant to hear the answer he might receive from him. "Could you?"

The answer never came before Bucky disappeared into the building where you were last seen, and Steve had never been more afraid of anything in his life.

~~~

"Buck, we're never going to get away with this," Steve whispered in a harsh tone. "This is the worst idea you've ever had."

"If you could shut up about it for a minute, we won't get caught."

"This is illegal."

Bucky let out a heavy sigh, looking down at Steve and using his best sarcastic tone in his reply, "No shit? Stealing street signs is illegal?" He laughed and continued to remove the sign from the pole, Steve trying to support him so he didn't slip. "It's one little sign. They can get a new one. Do something adventurous for once in your life!"

Steve looked around nervously, knowing that his luck would never hold out for something like this, even though it really was a pretty low-risk crime. "Buck, if we get arrested, we'll never be able to enlist. Not to mention what (Y/N) will do to us. It's not worth it."

"Settle down, ya punk. I'm done."

Steve stepped out of the way just in time to miss Bucky's foot as he jumped down, cursing under his breath as he regained his balance. "Can we get the hell outta here now?" They turned to walk away but froze in place when a spotlight hit them and a yell to stop came from behind.

"Run!"

They both ran, side by side and laughing as they made their escape. Ever the worrier, Steve kept looking over his shoulder for the police to give chase, even long after the spotlight was gone and the alleyway looked clear. It wasn't long before he was getting tired and his body had done enough.

"Great, Buck! Take the asthmatic for a run! Real smart!"

~~~

"You're making a ridiculous mistake, (Y/N). You can't seriously think you'll get out of here alive, do you?"

"Funny, I was just about to say the same to you."

You had worked your way through dozens of Hydra guards, leaving a trail of bodies behind you, just to get to this place. This had been your goal since the first day, standing with your weapon drawn on the younger Pierce; the son who was destined to carry on his father's terrible legacy. You had rapidly earned his trust, learning how to gain access into their systems, retrieving their information on you, Bucky and the team while leaving a program behind to wipe out the rest before they could figure out what was happening.

This was your final task, to cut off the head once and for all.

"You see, here's where you have it wrong," you said, tightening your grip, "you're afraid to die, and I'm not. We've been to hell and back because of your family. I've done things that I can't even say out loud; things that have hurt people in my own life. I'm not afraid to be released from the nightmares that haunt me every time I close my eyes."

"Then by all means," he sneered, "allow me to release you." Before he could connect with the trigger, a repulsor beam shattered the window and knocked him across the room and into the far wall, where he slumped to the ground unconscious.

"Hail Hydra?" Tony laughed as he landed, opening his suit and stepping out next to you. You could see his hesitation as he moved, his hands raised cautiously in front of him and unasked questions lingered in his expression. "Or yay, the Avengers are here?"

You finally lowered your gun and holstered it, keeping your eyes on Pierce. "Hey, Tony. Did I make too much noise?"

"Nah," he said with a smirk, "I like a girl who knows how to party." Tony took a few steps away to look out the window, seeing Steve and Bucky below. "Fellas, I've got her, top floor if you care to join-"

Tony's voice was cut off as you slammed your body into his, knocking him out of the path of a bullet meant for him. Pierce had woken up, just as you had taken your eyes from him for only a moment. You both hit the ground hard; so hard that you didn't realize the pain you were in until you came to rest against the wall. Tony stood and leapt into his suit, easily restraining the man until Steve and Bucky could arrive and to help.

"Tony," you groaned, holding your chest, your own blood spilling between your fingers. "Tony...I need...I need Bucky."

He quickly spun around towards you, his eyes wide with shock. "Shit! Barnes, you need to get your ass up here now!" Tony yelled into his comm, "Rogers, we gotta move, she's hurt!" Once again, he left the suit, leaving it to guard your assailant so he could help you. "(Y/N), what the hell did you do that for?" He pulled your hand away to see the blood soaking your shirt and your face becoming pale.

"Tony, come on...you...you know why. For your mother..." It was becoming harder to breathe and it felt like you were taking breaths under water, your chest growing heavier and tight with a crushing pain. "Where is he?"

"I'm right here, (Y/N)." Bucky ran into the room and dropped to the ground next to you. He pushed his hand firmly against your chest to try to control the blood loss, but it was happening too fast. "It's okay, baby. Steve is coming for us. You're gonna be okay, just stay with me."

~~~

"I'm sorry, Bucky, but (Y/N)'s very sick, and needs her rest. I think you should come back again tomorrow and see how she's doing."

"Are you sure, ma'am?" he said, trying to convince your mother to allow him passage into your room. "I'll only stay for a minute, and I promise I'll stand by the door."

She looked like she wanted to let him in, knowing that he wasn't likely to give up, and that it would probably make you feel a little better to see him, but the flu this year was one of the worst, and she worried about spreading it beyond the house. "I'm sorry, Bucky. I can't risk it."

"Okay," he sighed, turning to walk back to his house under the cool night sky, his hair peppered with new fallen snow. Once he had cleared her line of sight, he carried out his plan to see you, creeping slowly and quietly up to your window.

You heard the gentle tap on the glass and smiled between the harsh coughs that tore at your chest. You signaled him in but held your hand up to keep him back, worried the same as your mother was, not wanting to get him sick too. "You're either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid, Barnes." The words took all of your breath and you coughed until you were lightheaded.

"Probably both." He sat on the edge of your bed and held the back of his hand to your forehead. "You're on fire, (Y/N). I'm worried about you, and I'll take my chances." He leaned forward and softly kissed you where his hand had just been. "When I said I would promise you 'till death do us part' one day, I didn't mean now, alright?"

"Old and gray, that's the deal," he said with a quiet laugh, pulling you against his chest and kissing your hair.

"And not a moment before," you agreed.

~~~

"(Y/N)?" Bucky gave you a small shake, but there was no reply. "(Y/N), come on, you can't do this to me. Not after everything..." His voice trailed away and he pulled you closer to hold you tightly to his chest, his face in your hair and his tears now running freely. "No, no, no..oh, god. Oh, I love you, baby," he whispered, "you did good".

Tony slumped back against the wall and hung his head, not sure what to do or say in this moment, worried about how Steve would react as he heard him running up the stairs. When he entered the room, Steve stopped abruptly at the scene and stared at you with disbelief. He wouldn't approach for several minutes, completely unable to move.

"Buck..." His voice was shaking and unsure. He could feel his knees weaken beneath him and he stumbled enough to catch Tony's vision.

"Woah...woah, Cap, keep it together." Tony jumped up to steady his friend, leading him to sit next to you on the floor. "I'm just gonna get the others so we can get outta here, alright? We can take her home."

Steve nodded as he put his hand on you, tears now wetting his face as his brain began to understand and accept what his eyes were seeing as a reality. He raised his other hand to Bucky's shoulder, not knowing what else to do.

"I promised her she wouldn't have to make it on her own," Bucky whispered, "on that very first day. Do you remember?"

"Yeah," Steve said, his voice failing him, "I remember."

"I wasn't here. I didn't protect her. I've failed her." He wiped the tears from his eyes as he still held you to him, his voice growing deeper with anger and resolve. "I won't stop until they're all dead, Steve. I won't."

Your best friend closed his eyes and filled his mind with memories of you, and a small smile crossed his lips. He gave Bucky's shoulder a squeeze, sealing his determination to stand by him no matter what would lie ahead of them.

"So, when do we start?"

The End