new york

"She could easily get out of that," Sam called out to Bucky, who was gently tying the woman to a chair.

They were in an abandoned warehouse, 50 miles outside of the city.

"There's three of us and one of her, we'll catch her if she tries to bolt."

"No no, there's two of you," James 'Rhodey' Rhodes said, walking into the warehouse. "I've already stuck my neck out too far to get her here, if she runs I'm not chasing her."

"We appreciate the help, Rhodey. Seriously," Sam said to him.

Rhodey put his hands in his pockets, rocking on his feet as he looked at her, "everyone at the Capitol already knows. They're all over Glasgow right now. You guys got to her just in time."

"What are their orders?" Bucky asked.

"Delivered. Alive. It's a good sign. Wasn't the same for you."

Bucky nodded, "I remember. How much longer will she be out for?"

"Another hour or so... this last tranquilizer hit her about... three and a half hours ago or so," Sam replied, checking his watch.

Bucky sighed, sitting back in the chair that was a few feet away from her. Rhodey carefully eyed him, "you sure you're up for this, Barnes?"

"Yeah."

"We already know the obvious, no need to pretend like we don't," Rhodey said, "if you need to step out-"

"You think I'm gonna let her out of my sight?" Bucky snapped, glaring at Rhodey, "you don't even need to be here anymore."

Rhodey sighed, "I'm already gonna get my ass kicked back in D.C. once they figured out I organized a flight to get her in the states in secret. You are still on thin ice dealing with a very... sensitive topic. I think I do need to be here."

That next hour went slow. Bucky didn't move an inch, keeping his eyes on her and the door. Sam and Rhodey came and went, he could faintly here the two conversing outside.

His ears perked up at the sound of a sharp intake of breath. He looked at her intently, watching her eyes flutter open. He couldn't help but smile, all he saw was his sleepy girl.

She jerked her arms gently, eyes focusing on him.

The door to the warehouse opened again, the other two walking in. She looked at the two men approach, Bucky holding out a hand to signal them to keep a few feet of distance.

"Nobody's here to hurt you," Bucky gently said.

"You were located by a unit, they reported back to their superiors and word got out. People are looking for you in Glasgow. Here with us is better than there, I can promise you that," Sam said, crossing his arms.

"Who is looking for me."

"The United States Government," Rhodey said, "I'm part of that, you're lucky it's me and not-"

"I really don't give a fuck who you are," she cut in, staring at Rhodey blankly. She looked at Sam and Bucky, "or why you brought me here. Just please let me go and I'll go find somewhere else to hide and not bother anymore."

"I can't do that," Bucky said, "because somebody else will find you, and that somebody will probably be someone who wants you dead."

"I'll take my chances."

"Listen... Mrs..."

She stared at Rhodey again, watching him struggle on which name to use.

"What do you prefer..." he asked carefully as Bucky looked at her pleadingly.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

A look of realization hit Bucky and Sam both. Sam took a few steps forward while Bucky leaned in on his elbows, "what's your name?" Bucky quietly asked.

"I've been going by-"

"No. Your real name," Bucky asked.

She stared at him, her shoulders giving the lightest shrug.

Bucky and Sam shared a look of horror. Even Bucky was able to eventually work his name out after some time with minimal help. "What all do you remember?" Bucky asked.

"I remember the assignments. I remember the blood... the cries... I remember you cutting me open and leaving me for HYDRA to find," she snapped as Bucky looked away in shame. "I remember you having half a mind to break from what they were doing, and in doing so you decided to save yourself."

"Do you know who we are?" Rhodey asked.

"Not you," she said to Rhodey, "I know your names," she said to Sam and Bucky.

"How?"

"I watch the news."

"If you do then you'd know your name."

"It hasn't been very long for me," she replied to Bucky, "since I've had my freedom."

"What..."

"You left me, have I not said that enough times?" she asked Bucky, "you left me for the dogs to come and find."

"And they did..." Bucky trailed off, face paling.

"Who?" Sam asked, "HYDRA?"

"No," she quietly said, "I don't want to go into detail about what all happened. Please," she said.

"You're gonna have to answer to Congress with details. Might as well get your story straight here," Rhodey said.

"I'm not answering to Congress," she scoffed.

"You are. I'm not letting you walk three, that could get us all thrown in jail and you killed. If you just answer their questions, let them do their evaluations, you'll walk free and with protection I imagine. You'd have a chance at a life."

"I know a place, to get your memories back. To heal from what happened-"

"I don't want my memories," she said to Bucky, "that is the very last thing I want."

She didn't know why, but she could see clear as day that her words pierced his heart. He lowered his head, taking in deep breaths. Sam and Rhodey took that as their cue to leave. When Bucky heard the doors shut, he carefully raised his head back up to look at her.

"Your name is Isabella Frances Barnes," he gently said to her, waiting for the dots to connect in her head.

And slowly, she did. Bucky hated her reaction, but he didn't know what he thought she would do or say.

"No..." she shook her head, "there's no way-"

"Years ago. Years ago. Before we were both messed up."

Now it was Isabella's turn to take her deep breaths. She watched him reach into his shirt, pulling out a golden chain with a ring around it. She looked at it with wide eyes, "this does not change the fact that I'd like to see you dead in a ditch. Did you think that would just jog my memory?"

"I thought it would make you hate me less..." he sadly said, "Bella, you have to know I didn't think you'd be picked back up- but I couldn't take you with me. I didn't trust myself."

"That's not an excuse," she said, "I don't know you the way you say you know me but... we went through decades of pain and manipulation and I really thought that through all of that... you'd find a way to get me out as well."

"Before I got real help I had dreams of you, of our life. I thought it was fake, my mind playing tricks on me. I didn't know what and wasn't real and I..." he paused, letting himself take a breath. His eyes met hers, and he reached behind him, taking his knife that was on his belt loop. Isabella jerked back when she saw it. "Relax," Bucky gently said, cutting her ropes with slow movements. 

She slowly moved her arms, stretching them out. She rested her hands in her lap, deciding against running. 

"Tell me what you remember from that day."