Things were already different. Captain America faced not only Red Skull but about a dozen soldiers as well. Trapped between HYDRA and a blazing inferno below, the situation was getting direr by the minute. So much so that our hero only saw one way out.

The heat was becoming unbearable. Steve frantically searched for an escape, but there was nowhere to run. Had it only been him, he would have tried to fight his way out, or he would have attempted to reach that window five feet above him. But he wasn't alone.
Steve threw a worried glance over to his pall. Bucky stood unsteadily on his feet. Whatever HYDRA had done to him had shaken him up. There was no way Bucky could fight, let alone jump or climb up. 

Dammit, I have to do something, thought Steve desperately. I didn't come all this way to rescue Bucky and then watch him die at the hand of this scum in this godforsaken furnace! 

The fire crept higher. Steve noticed some of the HYDRA soldiers wavering in their approach. And Arnim Zola, the little weasel, was practically pressed against the wall, his beady eyes bulging out in fear. All these men were just as terrified and eager to escape as Steve was. Their lives were on the line here too, but Red Skull had no problem sacrificing every one of them if it meant he got rid of Captain America. That was abundantly clear.

"Give up, Captain." The red-skinned monster smirked. "What point is there in prolonging the inevitable?"

Steve's jaw clenched, and he lowered his head. He had no choice. His shield, that stupid propaganda prop to which he had actually grown attached, dropped to the floor with a loud clang. Bucky's head snapped toward the sound. He stared at Steve, eyes wide with shock and confusion. 

"Steve? What are you doing?" he demanded.

"End of the line, Buck. I'm sorry."

Steve moved faster than the human eye could perceive and knocked Bucky out with a single punch. His friend's body hit the ground, and the HYDRA soldiers froze. 

"Promise me you won't harm him." Captain America's voice rang loud and clear over the raging fire as he spoke to Red Skull. "Take him to safety and then leave him the hell alone."

The demon snickered viciously. "My word is my bond, Captain. Is yours?"

Steve pressed his lips together. He wanted to fight on. He wanted to destroy HYDRA and end this damn war, even if it meant he died. But he refused to sacrifice the only friend he ever had along with him. He owed Bucky Barnes so much. So this time, he was the savior. 
His balled fist unclenched as Steve gave in to anger and defeat. He met Red Skull's dark and soulless eyes and whispered, "Hail HYDRA."

⭐⭐⭐

A constant, annoying beeping pulled Bucky out of his sleep. He groaned as he blinked against the light. He felt tubes or cables on him. Was he hooked up to a machine? Was this a hospital? Or was he still at... HYDRA! Steve! 
Bucky jolted up, regretting it instantly as his body screamed in agony. Why the hell did it feel like a freight car had hit him? Oh, wait...

"Dammit, Steve," Bucky grunted as he fell back on the pillows. "What did you do?"

"Well, look who's awake. Took you long enough. You were out for almost nine days."

A black-haired man with a neatly trimmed mustache appeared by Bucky's bed. Coming up next to him was a young lady with wavy brown hair and a kind face. She smiled at Bucky. He didn't fail to notice the sadness behind that smile. 

"Good morning, Sergeant Barnes," she said in a delicate English accent. "How are you feeling?"

"Um... okay?" Bucky frowned at the pair. "Don't take this the wrong way, but who the hell are you people? Where am I?"

"Howard Stark." The man introduced himself. "This delightful creature beside me is Peggy Carter. You were found unconscious in the woods near the encampment. We immediately shipped you back to the States when we realized who you were. Some soldiers who were imprisoned with you told us HYDRA took you away for..."

The end of that sentence lingered in the room. It took Bucky a moment, but then, he remembered — HYDRA experimented on him.

"What... What did they...?" Bucky gripped the sheets in fear. 

"We don't know yet," answered Peggy, a slight quiver detectable in her voice. "The doctors are running some tests, but everything appears to be benign so far."

"Seems Steve saved you just in time before they could do any real damage to you," added Howard.

At the mention of that name, Bucky saw Peggy avert her eyes. Fear crept up inside him. He took a quick scan of the room, but there was no one else. 

"Where is he? Where's Steve?"

He looked back up at Peggy. Was she... crying? 

No...

 Howard put a comforting hand on her shoulder before meeting Bucky's gaze. "I'm sorry. Steve didn't make it back. We couldn't find his body anywhere, so... we think that... maybe..."

Bucky's breath caught as Howard's words trailed off. Tears stung his eyes, but he bit his lip to keep himself from weeping. It couldn't be true.

Steve... Why?