Chapter Text
~~~***~~~***
Hydra facility Krauseberg October 1943
Bucky leaned against the bars of the small cell that he and some of his men had been dumped into. All around them other circular cells filled the large room. He could only guess they had been there a couple of days, a week at most but it was hard to tell. Hydra as they had learned their captors were a part of, kept the men working well past their limits and sleep was rare. Sometime during their rest time the night before some Hydra men pulled two of the soldiers in the cell next to them out. Rumor was that there was some medical testing facility somewhere in the warehouse that no one returned from.
He knew looking around that he wasn't the senior office or NCO there but Bucky was also aware that some of the senior personnel didn't seem to want to stand up and do anything. Bucky wasn't sure if he was braver than them or just plain stupid for putting himself out there. Already he had tried to step in when one of the Privates in his company was getting beat up by Hydra. Shifting a little more against the bars, Bucky tried to ease the slight pain in his side. "Dum Dum," Bucky whispered to his Corporal. The two had been trying to keep track of anything the facility had from manpower to weapons to trying to keep track of how many men made it through the day and night. "Did you catch a look outside? Looks like they are moving some of the weapons out of here."
Dum Dum nodded with his head down knowing that they had to pretend to be sleeping if a Hydra agent looked over at them. With his helmet covering his eyes, James Dum Dum Dugan was always on the watch. "Yeah, no clue where they are taking em though. Looks like we have another group of workers coming in."
Gabe who was resting on the ground between the two men shifted slightly. "Heard one of the guards talking about clearing room for some English guys." One of the other soldiers in their cell warned them of the coming Hydra agent and all immediately pretended to sleep. When the coast was once again clear, Gabe rolled over slightly so he could look at the other two men. "So what's the plan, Sarge?"
Bucky took a deep breath and let it out slowly. It was still strange that these men were looking toward him for answers, for a way out. He wasn't made for this, he wasn't a leader. He was just a damn sniper and the NCO who made sure the men were where they were supposed to be. But that didn't matter, he was the one the men were looking toward to get them out, so Bucky would do what he could and only hoped that no one would pay the price for his ignorance. "We need to know what were up against. Would be too stupid to try anything only to get shot as soon as we got to the open yard." Bucky closed his eyes briefly trying to get everything in order in his mind. "We need numbers -- both ours and theirs, weapons, distance. Hell we need to know where we are and how far it is to base camp. Last thing we would need is if we can get out of here to get lost in the damn wilderness and end up in another camp."
"We'll get some of the other men involved," Dugan replied. "The more we know the better chance we have."
~~~***~~~***
Bucky was silently kicking himself, repeatedly and hard. It was his own damn stupidity that got him here and he knew Dugan would never let him live it down. That is if he got out of this place. The words 'no one ever returned from the testing room' rang in his ears and that is most likely why Bucky was here instead of that Englishman. Bucky tried to think of why he decided that he had to step in, the other guy was some major or something and yet Bucky couldn't stand back and let him be dragged off to who knows where. He only hoped that they would continue to plan an escape without him. God knows he wasn't sure he would be making it out now.
What is Steve gonna think, passed through his mind. He could practically see Steve giving him that look, the same one Bucky had received often in their youth that told him that he was in way over his head.
Yeah being strapped to some damn medical table with machines all around him told him he was in over his head for sure.
" James Buchanan Barnes, Sergeant US Army, Three-two-five-five-seven-zero-three-eight," Bucky stated as he watched some short stocky doctor come into the room. He knew the rules -- when captured give your name, rank and service number. Nothing else. He could do this, no problem.
"Why hello, Sergeant Barnes. My name is Dr. Zola." Bucky wanted to slap that damn smile off the doctor's face but his arms and well the rest of him was tied down. Dr. Zola checked his vitals and then moved off to the side to read something that Bucky couldn't see.
Bucky wanted to ask but knew he couldn't. " James Buchanan Barnes, Sergeant US Army, Three-two-five-five-seven-zero-three-eight."
"Yes, such a good soldier. But we will fix that." Bucky watched as others came in and started to stick IVs into him. Bucky tried to move away, tried to bust lose and fight but he couldn't budge. Bucky could only lay there name, rank and service number coming out of his mouth. Suddenly he felt like his whole body was on fire -- he wanted to scream, oh god how he wanted to scream but nothing was coming out of his mouth. All he felt was fire moving through his veins and through every part of his body. "We will make you so much more."
" James Buchanan Barnes, Sergeant US Army, Three-two-five-five-seven-zero-three-eight," Bucky tried to concentrate, everything stated to get fuzzy. The fire he felt changed and now he felt like he was floating. He didn't notice when he was hooked up to one of the machines until he felt like he was struck by lightning which caused every muscle in his body to tighten immediately. He couldn't move, he couldn't breathe. " James Buchanan Barnes, Sergeant US Army, Three-two-five... AHHHHHHH," He screamed. They weren't asking questions, this was torture plain and simple.
"Leave him for now, tomorrow we will see if he survives and proceed with phase two," he heard the doctor state as if he was from a million miles away. All Bucky knew was if whatever this phase two was if it was anything like this one was, Bucky could only hope that there was a God up there who would at least take care of Steve. For all Bucky knew he may not make it.
~~~***~~~***
Italy 1943 - five miles from the front November 2nd, 1943
Steve had been searching for Bucky, hoping to get a glimpse of his friend but after a day on this base he hadn't seen him. Knowing Steve's luck Bucky was either out on the front lines or was at a totally different base. Standing in his costume, Steve tried to put on a brave face. So far these overseas USO shows weren't going the way he had hoped. The girls were a hit, of that he knew but most of the men he could tell were tired. "How many of you are ready to help me sock ol' Adolph on the jaw?" Steve looked out at the men gathered and felt his heart drop. At least the other shows he would get cheers everyone wanting a piece of Hitler. Taking a deep breath, Steve thought quickly on how he could turn this around. "Okay. I need a volunteer."
Shouts from the group of men gathered started to filter though and Steve tried not to cringe. "We already volunteered! How do you think I got here?"
"Bring back the girls," another yelled to cheers of all.
"I think they only know the one song, but um... Let me...I'll see what I can do." Steve was glancing back to his 'manager' and tried to get him to see he needed help out there. Steve could only sigh as the men started to cheer and make rude comments, this was not turning out well. He wasn't sure what he had expected but this was not it. "Come on guys. We're all on the same team here."
"Hey, Captain. Sign this," one of the soldiers yelled as he stood up dropping his pants. Others started to call for the girls again as they began to throw rotten food at him. Steve had never felt so ashamed before in his life, never felt as worthless as he had at that moment. All of Bucky's and Dr. Erskine's hopes for him were for nothing. They were the heroes not him, all he was was nothing. The men in the audience were heroes and Steve just needed a break.
Steve made his way over to his bag and grabbed his sketch pad and jacket and just sat behind the stage trying to get his mind off of it all. The world started to fade away, allowing Steve some respite from this insanity. What good was he? He had hoped for so much, tried to be a good son, a good friend, a good soldier and all he ended up being was a failure. He was now glad that Bucky hadn't been in the crowd, Steve wasn't sure that he would have been able to handle seeing the disappointment in his friend's eyes. Cause he was a disappointment.
Steve didn't notice how much time had passed as he continued to draw, he wasn't sure he really cared. If they really needed him they could find him he knew. "Hello Steve," came a voice from behind him. Steve was shocked to see Agent Carter standing there drenched from the rain that had started when he was drawing.
"Hi," he smiled. He had almost forgotten what it was like to have someone know HIM, the real him around and seeing Peggy was like a breath of fresh air he didn't know he had been missing. "What are you doing here?"
"Officially I'm not here at all. That was quite a performance," she told him, and Steve could only cringe.
Shame filled his heart again, knowing what he had become but he just shrugged and glanced out around him at the lines of tents and trucks. "I had to improvise a little bit. The crowds I'm used to are usually more, uh...Twelve."
" I understand you're America's new hope."
"Bond sales take a ten percent bump on every state I visit," he quoted from memory. Heaven knows he had heard that enough times in the past year that he could quote almost anything they said about him. America's New Hope indeed, Steve though. Steve could tell that Peggy didn't like that idea with how she had said the Senator's name, he could almost hear the curse in her voice. Steve was no big fan of the Senator, he knew he was slime and only cared about money and power. But he had given Steve a chance, one that he couldn't deny now. "At least he's got me doing this. Phillips would have had me stuck in a lab."
"And these are you only two options? A lab rat or a dancing monkey. You were meant for more than this, you know." And boy did she hit it right on the nail, Steve thought. He could practically feel the welts of her words forming and the blood drip out of them. He could only look down at his drawing and sigh. "What?"
Steve had wanted so much. He remember the time he had told Bucky that he wanted to be in the Army because he had no right to not lay down his life like the rest of the men going off to war. He had always dreamed of following in his father's footsteps, to do what was right and to help make the world a better place. "You know, for the longest time I dreamed about coming overseas and being on the front lines, serving my country. Finally got everything I wanted. And I'm wearing tights." Steve tried to hid the same he felt when he heard the horn of a truck and the yells for a medic just past the stage. "Looks like they've been through hell." Steve could only watch as they pulled stretcher after stretcher out of the back of the truck and carried the injured in for treatment.
"These men move the most. Schmidt sent out a force to Azzano. Two hundred men went up against him and less than 50 returned. Your audience contained what was left of the 107th," Peggy said and Steve felt that his heart stopped in his chest. It couldn't be, he thought. "The rest were killed or captured."
Quickly he looked at her hoping beyond hope that he had heard her wrong. It couldn't be "The 107th?" Seeing the confirmation on her face, Steve quickly stood and started to run toward the tent where the Colonel was at. "Come on." Quickly Steve and Peggy arrived in the command tent and Steve stood in front of the Colonel who had turned him away. "Colonel Phillips."
The Colonel didn't even look up just continued to read through the documents in front of him. "Well ...," Steve could almost hear the disgust in the man's voice as he continued to 'greet' Steve and he wasn't sure if it was because of him or because of Senator Brandt. "What is your plan today?"
Steve didn't care about any of this petty BS, he just needed to know. "I need the causality list from Azzano. I just need one name. Sergeant James Barnes from the 107th," he said. He didn't want to get into a pissing match with the Colonel and Steve would ask first before moving to plan B if need be. He heard the Colonel say something to Peggy and Steve tried not to let his temper get the better of him. He knew he was Bucky's Next of Kin and if something happened he should have been informed by now, right? "Please tell me he's alive, sir. B-A-R..."
"I can spell," Colonel Phillips interrupted upset with Steve's persistence on something Steve knew he had no right to know. "I've signed more of these condolence letters today than I would care to count. But, the name does sound familiar. I'm sorry."
Steve felt like his whole world had just ended. Bucky was dead, or at least believed dead. Steve didn't want to believe it, he couldn't. Bucky was one of the strongest men he knew, one of the bravest, Bucky was his constant in the crazy life he had lived. Bucky couldn't be gone. "What about the others? Are you planning a rescue mission," Steve was now determined. No matter what, even if Bucky was gone as the Colonel believed it was up to Steve to bring him home. Either his body so Steve could take him home to be buried and save the men that Bucky had come to know and want to have them all get home safe. Or to find Bucky and simply bring his friend home. He wouldn't accept just leaving him behind for Bucky had never left him fully behind. Steve had to find him.
"It's called winning the war."
"But if you know where they are, why not at least..." Steve began. He couldn't believe that they weren't planning some rescue mission. Isn't that what the Military was about 'Never leave a man behind'? How could they just leave those men behind enemy lines to who knows what type of torture and suffering.
Steve watched as the Colonel walked over to a small map which showed where the Allies were and where the German's were. Steve began to try and memorize it, and paid as close attention to every tiny detail. "They're thirty miles behind the lines. Through some of the most heavily fortified territory in Europe. We'd lose more men than we'd save. I don't expect you to understand that, because you're a chorus girl."
"I think I understand just fine." If the Army wouldn't plan a rescue mission, Steve sure as hell would. Steve knew when he was dismissed, Colonel Phillips effectively reminding him of where he was supposed to be, but Steve wasn't about to have any of that. Steve took one last look at the map and nodded. "Yes, sir. I do." Quickly he exited the tent and made his way to where he had all his stuff. He wasn't about to leave those men, Bucky's men alone in the enemies hands. Not if he could do something about it. Peggy came and Steve knew she was going to try and talk him out of it, no matter how much she tried to tell him that the Colonel was planning a mission or how much trouble he would be in, Steve knew that by the time anyone else got their heads out of their asses it would be too late. He threw his shield into the back of a truck and looked at Peggy. She was one of the few who knew him before, one he felt he could trust and who wouldn't let him down. "You told me you thought I was meant for more than this. Did you mean that?"
"Every word," she said with conviction.
Steve was grateful and nodded. Hoping into the truck he ran things over in his mind, "Then you gotta let me go." He watched as she told him she would help and he had never felt so glad to have met her. She was almost as determined as him, a true friend. If she could help him, Steve knew he would be a fool not to take her up on her offer. He just hoped it didn't blow up in their faces.
~~~***~~~***
Hydra facility Krauseberg November 3, 1943
Steve was trying to figure out just how in the world he had gotten here. He knew why he was there and the events which lead him to be sneaking through some secret Hydra base in the middle of Europe, but there was still a part of him in the back of his mind that was telling him how stupid it was. He was one man with no back up, surrounded by the enemy in hopes that he could find Bucky and his men alive and well. Well no one ever said he was smart about these sort of things. Bucky had always made him do some really dumb things growing up.
Slowly he made his way through the main part of the facility having grabbed a small weapon of some sort and quietly came up behind one of the Hydra agents. All around Steve he saw men in cages, hundreds of them. Bucky's men, and Steve could hope Bucky as well. Tapping the Hydra goon on his shoulder he punched him out and looked around as he bent to get the keys off of the man's belt. Luckily it didn't appear that he had attracted any attention, that was until someone in the cage below him called out. "Who are you suppose to be?"
Steve looked down and saw and looked right at the black man below him. He remembered Bucky had mentioned that they were working with some of the segregated units and Steve could only hope this man was a part of that unit. Of course, Steve wasn't quite sure how to answer the man's question so he fell back on what he has been used to for the past year. "I'm Captain America."
"I, beg your pardon," an Englishman in the same cage replied. Steve quickly made his way to the lower level, thankful that he had dispatched all the Hydra men in the room and started to unlock each cell looking at every face for Bucky's.
He could hear a few of the men talking and Steve could only make his way toward the front of the group. "Is there anybody else," he asked hoping and praying it wasn't. He hadn't caught sight of his friend and had to know. "I'm looking for a Sergeant James Barnes."
The same Englishman from before looked around and shrugged. "There's an isolation ward in the factory, but no one's ever come back from it."
Steve had caught sight of a small sign on his way in that pointed to that very ward and Steve knew where he had to go. If Bucky was anywhere he would be there. "All right. The tree line is northwest, eighty yards past the gate. Get out fast and give them hell. I'll meet you guys in the clearing with anybody else I find."
As Steve made his way back through the factory, the men quickly busted through the doors and began to raise hell. Fighting with their fists and any gun they could pick up. Bombs, and the strange Blue lasers they had seen before going off all around them. Dugan spotted one of the assault jeeps and quickly jumped into it quickly followed by Gabe. "Hey. Not exactly a Buick," he said as he tried to find the starter or something to get this damn hunk of junk moving.
Gabe Jones quickly looked over the dash before them and pointed to one of the buttons and calling it out, Dugan pressed the button and was happy to hear this beast come to life as Major Falsworth jumped in and behind the gun.
"I didn't know you spoke German," he stole a glance over at Jones. They had worked together a couple of times over the past few months and not once did he know the man spoke anything other than music and English.
"Three semesters at Howard, switched to French, girls much cuter," Gabe said with a smile. Many would think he wasn't an educated man and didn't know what he was talking about because of his color so it was always good to be able to prove that he was just as good as the rest of them, no matter what color his skin was.
~~~***~~~***
Bucky wasn't sure what he was feeling, he wasn't sure if he was even alive or dead -- all around him was in this haze and he couldn't focus. It had taken three days for the burning to stop flowing through his veins but the electroshocks kept up for a little longer. The doctor was a regular visitor, and Bucky wasn't sure why they never asked him questions. Not once did they ask him anything only poked him with some damn needle, ran some test or hooked him up to one of the machines. Bucky wasn't even sure if he had slept since they brought him in here, hell he wasn't sure how long he had been there or if his men were still alive. Was he even at the same base or did they move him? Was he even alive? Bucky wasn't sure of anything except for once although he didn't feel right, he didn't feel the burn which was a drastic improvement.
He thought he heard some explosions going off and heard some movement in the next room. Silently, Bucky prayed that they wouldn't come into the room and try for another round. He wasn't sure he could last much longer. "Sergeant. Three-two-five-five-seven..." He tried to get out.
Steve came into the room after hearing a voice he would know from anywhere and almost froze in his spot upon seeing Bucky strapped to a table. "Bucky. Oh, my God," Steve tried not to curse and scream. What had they done to him?
Bucky tried to look up and see who was there. The voice sounded familiar but he couldn't place the face. "Is that..."
Steve could only look down at Bucky as he tried to hold back tears that he felt starting to form in the corner of his eyes. As he had been dancing around on stage, pretending to be some great hero, Bucky had been subjected to God knows what. Taking a deep breath to ease his mind, he smiled down at Bucky. "It's me, it's Steve."
As Steve quickly grabbed a hold of the straps that held Bucky in place, he used all his strength to rip them off and free Bucky from the damn bed "Steve," Bucky asked as he lifted his hands to touch Steve's face. Man if he was dead or dreaming, Bucky didn't want to wake up . Steve was there.
Steve grabbed a hold of Bucky's shoulders and lifted him off of the bed. As soon as Bucky's feet hit the ground, Steve quickly had to catch him before we went face first onto the floor. "Come on." Steve could only look at Bucky, so thankful that his friend was alive. He wasn't dead as he had feared or as the Colonel believed. Bucky had survived the one place that everyone had told him never returned from. Placing his hands on the side of Bucky's face and neck, Steve took in his friend making sure that it really was Bucky. "I thought you were dead."
Bucky's vision cleared enough and the first thing he noticed was that Steve was his height. No that couldn't be right, could it? "I thought you were smaller." Bucky tried to wrap his mind around the fact that Steve, who wasn't Steve but was.. was there carrying him out of that place. Steve gave Bucky a small smile as he placed Bucky's arm around his shoulders. They were getting the hell out of there no matter what. And heaven forbid anyone who stood in their way "What happened to you," Bucky asked still not believing his eyes, and definitely not sure that this wasn't a dream.
"I joined the army."
Bucky knew now that this wasn't a dream. Only Steve would be so calm about all of this and try and deflect. Bucky knew he would get answers. Something had happened to Steve and damn it all if Bucky wasn't going to tear down the whole damn government if he had to in order to get some answers. "Did it hurt?"
"A little."
Bucky swallowed down his irritation at Steve as they made their way through the hallway. "Is this permanent?"
"So far." Bucky shook his head, Steve was hiding something but he knew enough as the sound of explosions going off closer to them now, that now was not the time. He would corner Steve if he had to once they got clear and he would get the answers. Steve had done something stupid and Bucky was determined to get to the bottom of it.
Once they reached the main floor they were surrounded by flames as the remaining weapons exploded around them. Steve directed Bucky up a set of stairs looking for a way out of the compound which unfortunately the ground level was no longer an option. They rounded a corner and Steve spotted a walkway so he pulled Bucky along toward it. It wasn't until they reached it that Steve found their path blocked. Before him was who Steve believed to be Schmidt and that strange little man he saw coming out of the room where Bucky had been held. "Captain America. How exciting. I am a great fan of your films. So Doctor Erskine managed it after all." Steve didn't have time for this, he had to get Bucky out of there and meet up with the rest of the men so he tried to fight Schmidt off to get him out of the way. It was then that he realized that Schmidt must have been the one that Dr. Erskine had talked about, the one who had the serum before him. The platform began to separate them as Steve watched in horror as Schmidt pulled at his face revealing his true identity behind.
Bucky stared on in horror, he picked up enough that some Dr. Erskine had done something to both Schmidt and Steve and he could only hope that Steve wasn't like ... well that. "You don't have one of those, do you?"
Steve didn't answer as they watched Schmidt and the doctor make their way toward a small elevator. "You are deluded, Captain. You pretend to be a simple soldier. But in reality you are just afraid to admit that we have left humanity behind. Unlike you. They embrace it proudly. Without fear."
Steve watched as the coward ran and all he could think of was getting them out of there. Quickly looking around he spotted a thin bar across to the other side so he lead Bucky that way. The two quickly ran up the stairs to the top level as the explosions continued to go off all around them. The whole damn place was going to collapse on top of them if they didn't get out of there soon. Once they reached the beam, Steve helped Bucky over the railing. "Let's go. One at a time." He watched as Bucky slowly began to move across the beam, stopping only when they both saw the end give away slightly. Steve could only hold his breath as the end gave way and Bucky jumped to the other side.
Bucky grabbed a hold of the railing on the far side and pulled himself over turning to see what happened to Steve. "Gotta be a rope or something," he cried out as he saw that Steve was trapped. He couldn't leave Steve there, he had to find a way to get him out too.
"Just go, get out of here," Steve yelled back. He didn't come all this way to get Bucky out only to have him stay behind and get killed along with him.
Bucky glared at Steve, not believing that Steve would ever think that he would leave without him. "No, not without you!" It was like a dream all over again, as Steve bent back the railing and jumped. All Bucky saw was Steve flying toward him, the flames from an explosion erupt all around him. Bucky could only reach out and hope that he could reach Steve, that Steve could make it. Feeling Steve's arm, Bucky quickly pulled him over the railing and they both collapsed onto the deck below. "Don't you ever think of doing anything that stupid again," Bucky cursed as he started to run his hands up and down Steve's back. "Do you hear me?"
Steve slowly got up off of Bucky and smiled down at his friend. "Yeah, Buck. Now let's get out of here."
~~~***~~~***
Once they made it outside where the rest of the prisoners were Bucky walked over to one of the trees and collapsed down on the ground. With the adrenalin finally leaving his system from the escape, he only felt sore tired. Carefully he lifted himself up enough so that his back was against the tree and he looked out at the men gathered smiling as he saw both Dugan and Jones make their way over to him. They could hear their rescuer call out orders but Bucky at the moment didn't care, he was just grateful that some of his men had made it out ok. "Well, well, should have known no damn quack doc could end you, Sarge," Dugan joked as he sat down next to Bucky. "You look like shit."
Bucky could only laugh, but cringed slightly as he felt like his chest was ready to collapse in on itself. "Yeah, good to know I look as I feel. How many men did we lose when I was away?"
Jones sat down next to the two and looked out over the group. "Only three, thankfully. Guess you're little show if nothing else motivated the rest to cover for who wasn't doing well. Not sure how many didn't make it out in the escape though. Did see a few get shot."
Bucky could only nod as he watched Steve, or at least the guy he thought was Steve come their way. "You doing ok, Buck?"
Dugan looked between the two trying to figure out how they knew one another. As far as he knew the Sarge didn't know Captain America, he would have said something or at least hinted in all the times they spent together in a damn foxhole. "You two know each other," he asked.
Bucky ran his hands over his face and looked up at Steve, the fog had lifted from his mind, but everything was still confusing. "Right now, Dum Dum, I aint sure of anything," Bucky stated shaking his head. "Now let's just get the hell out of here, I need a damn shower."
Steve watched as Bucky stood carefully and picked up a gun from the ground before making his way to where the majority of the men were at. "All the wounded being loaded up on the trucks, you sure you will be ok to walk," Steve asked. He wasn't sure Bucky was ok at all, but he knew well enough that to force Bucky to go with the wounded would end up in a fight.
Bucky nodded to some of the men as they were being loaded and turned to Steve. "How far is the base camp from here, Captain?"
Steven closed his eyes briefly and tried not to let the sadness at Bucky's words show on his face. He knew Bucky wasn't happy and that htey would need to hash all of this out, but first he had to get him somewhere safe. And if Bucky was determined to pretend he was ok and walk the whole way, well Steve would just have to keep a close eye on him. "About 35 miles right down this road."
Bucky nodded, his mind going a million miles a minute as he tried to calculate how long it would take them. Giving up on his mind coming up with anything that made any sense for a while, he could only fall back on what he knew and what he had been trained too. "Hostiles?"
Steve shrugged slightly, not entirely sure. "I was dropped about two miles out, I didn't see any in that area but with the explosions you can bet we may run into some stragglers."
Dugan stepped up to the two and laid a hand on Bucky's shoulder. "Well then what are we waiting for. I hear a damn beer with my name on it calling me from here."
Steve turned toward the men behind him and nodded. "All right men, we're moving out. If you are able to walk grab any weapon you can find and keep an eye out. We'll take this nice and easy but expect to run into some hostiles on the way. I want you all to keep an eye out and watch the guy next to you. If anyone needs a rest we have room in the trucks. We'll stop at nightfall and see where we are at. Let's move out."
Bucky could only watch as Steve took charge of the whole group and was unsure how to feel about it. He couldn't get his mind around the fact that the man beside him was Steve. Little Steve, his best friend. The very man who he had left in New York last year. He had so many questions and he wasn't sure where to start. He knew that if he started however he wouldn't be able to stop, both would get angry with each other, both would be stubborn. It was just their way.
Bucky was determined that for the time being, the man beside him was his CO and he would follow whatever order he had. Well except one that told Bucky to go and sit in one of the damn trucks. He would bide his time and when he could come up with just what he wanted to know and how he could ask -- plus how to keep his temper in check, he would confront Steve.
They marched for what seemed like forever throughout the day with no sight or sound of friend or foe. Bucky could only shake his head for it all seemed almost too easy. "So where is the extraction team, shouldn't we have run into them by now?" Steve could only shrug and the look on his face told Bucky everything. There was no extraction team. They were on their own. "Pal, I tell you we are going to have one hell of a talk when we get out of this mess."
"I know, Buck. I know," was all Steve could say as they all continued to march along the dirt road. Looking around Steve found a small clearing, enough that they could use the trucks and tanks they had stolen as cover from the road and a place where they could rest for the night. Immediately he directed everyone to fortify the location and try to get some grub and rest while they could for at first light they were moving out. As the men started to set up a perimeter, Steve watched as Dum Dum and Bucky started to set up the lookouts for the night. Steve was grateful that the two were helping and taking charge as he went from group to group to check on the men.
After getting some men together to pass out the few rations they had, making sure the wounded were taken care of first, Steve made his way over to the are Bucky was at. The older man was once again leaning against a tree just staring out into the forest, gun in hand with his 'team' close by also keeping watch. "Eat up, men while you can," Steve handed them each a small ration and sat down next to Bucky. "I know it isn't much but..."
"How much farther do you think we have to go," the Englishman asked as he looked down with a slight frown at the ration bar in his hand.
Steve looked around and tried to calculate how far they have come. "Most likely one at most two more days. We'll need to conserve the few rations we have for now. But the plan is to be back at base camp either late tomorrow night if all goes well, or early the next morning. If we don't run into any resistance that is."
"How rude of me, Captain. I am Major James Montgomery Falsworth, at your service," the Englishman held out his hand and shook Steve's. "As crazy as it was for you to come all this way to rescue us, I must say it was absolutely brilliant."
"Gabe Jones, and this here is Jacques Dernier," one of the two men that Steve had remembered seeing with Bucky when they had gotten out of the complex.
The Asian looking man off to the side, only nodded in acknowledgement and waved. "Jim Morita."
"And I'm Timothy Dugan known to everyone as Dum Dum. That was one hellova rescue if I say so myself. No backup, no extraction team. Either you are insane, or just one of the bravest most idiotic men I have ever met," Dugan laughed as he held out his hand.
Bucky could only shake his head, "I'll agree with idiotic," he quietly said as he placed his ration down on the ground and stood up. "I'm going to check the perimeter. Think if I eat that I'll lose what little bit I have in my stomach. Excuse me gentlemen, Captain." With that Bucky walked off leaving Steve to wonder just what was going on.
Dugan looked between the two and let out a deep breath. "You'll have to forgive him, Captain. I can only guess you two know each other but the Sarge has been through hell the past couple of weeks. Sure once we get back to base camp and gets some shuteye, he'll be better."
Steve could only nod even though he knew that it will take more than just some rest to clear the air between them. Steve stood and began to walk in the direction that Bucky went to. He knew they wouldn't be able to talk about everything they needed to, but he also knew he had to at least make an effort. "If you ask me if I'm ok, I'm gonna punch you - Captain bars or not," Bucky simply stated as he heard Steve come up behind him.
Steve held his hands up in surrender, not sure what else he could do what he should do. "Look, Buck. I know we have a lot to talk about..."
"You got that right... Just tell me one thing, Steve. Just one," Bucky began. He didn't want to get into anything now, but he had to know. "When? When did this...." he asked waving his hand at Steve's body. "When did this happen?"
Steve leaned against a tree, folding his arms across his chest. He knew that Bucky was angry and no matter what knowing the answer to even this question would cause an issue. But Steve never could lie to Bucky when asked a direct question, and he didn't want to start now. "Remember the World Expo."
"My last night before shipping out," Bucky ran a hand through his hair and had to bite his lower lip from saying anything he knew he would regret. "Well that answers a lot. Explains why you never wrote. Did you even get any of the ones I sent or are they in some damn box at some base?"
Steve could feel the anger raging and he felt he deserved some of that anger. None of this past year had been fair to Bucky. It had been Steve who had volunteered, and he didn't regret it if it had helped him free Bucky and the other men. But it had directly affected Bucky as well, and that was something he wished he could take back and do over. It had never been his intention to cause Bucky any pain, but he knew it had. "I got em, every last one. I tried to write you back but..." Bucky could only nod, fully understanding what wasn't being said and Steve was grateful. "I know you have questions and I swear to you I'll answer every one of them. But I want you to know, you're still my best friend and I'll do whatever you decide."
Bucky closed his eyes and lowered his head to the ground. "Steve, this isn't going to destroy damn near 24 years of friendship. It just takes some getting used to is all. But if you think for one second that I'm gonna not bust your chops for doing something stupid you better think again."
~~~***~~~***
Once they all arrived at the base, Steve made sure that Bucky was taken to the medical tent to be checked out for despite his arguments that he was fine, Steve knew that something was wrong. He couldn't put his finger on it yet but he was determined to find out. Something happened to him in that facility, something that Bucky had yet to mention. He hoped for the chance to corner him and find out. After giving his debrief to the Colonel, Steve offered to debrief some of the men, Bucky included and the Colonel agreed. They had about 400 men to interview and anyone they were able to help conduct them would make things go a lot faster.
Steve started down the list, leaving Bucky for last to allow the other man to be checked out by the medics and hopefully get some rest. As night began to fall, Steve made his way over to the medical tent and looked around. "I'm looking for Sergeant Barnes," he asked not seeing Bucky anywhere.
One of the nurses looked up from the small desk she was sitting at and gave Steve a smile. "Sir, Sergeant Barnes was released shortly after he came in."
Steve could only stare at the young woman in shock. "How could you release him? He was injured, shouldn't he be here resting or something?"
"Sir, Sergeant Barnes checked out with no major injuries and he said he felt fine. We needed the space for the other men so we told him to return to his quarters and rest. He promised if he had any issues he would return. I am sorry if this is a problem, sir but..." She tried to explain.
Steve could only shake his head and nod his thanks. Heading out he began to try and hunt down Bucky. He found him in one of the NCO tents with some of the other men from the facility and Steve felt his own blood begin to boil slightly. There was Bucky sitting on one of the racks playing cards with some of the other men, a small glass of something on the floor by his feet. Steve heard one of the other men in the tent all out 'Officer on Deck' and Steve quickly waved them all to be as they were. "Sergeant Barnes," Steve began as he looked over at his friend.
Bucky glanced up from his cards and gave a small salute. "Captain, to what do we owe the honor of your company?" Bucky took a closer look at Steve's face and immediately knew what this visit was about. This was completely official which meant it was time for his debriefing. Silently Bucky had hoped it would have been anyone but Steve that would have been conducting his but knew in the back of his mind Steve would not have allowed anyone else. Throwing down his hand, Bucky stood and waved toward Steve. "Sorry boys, I'll just have to clear you out of house and home later. Time for my interrogation."
Steve lead the way toward the small tent he was given and sat down at the desk in the corner. "You know this isn't an interrogation right," he asked not wanting to have Bucky think that this was anything other than two guys talking, or at least covering the basics.
Bucky sat down on the bed in the corner, resting his elbows on his knees and let out a deep sigh. "Steve, look. Right now we're not friends ok. I know this is the normal debriefing, been through quite a few in the past year. But for all intent and purposes you are a Captain in the US Army and I am a lowly Sergeant. This is all official, as long as we can keep it that way..." He stole a glance at Steve trying to convey his feelings. He didn't want to get personal, didn't want to get into anything that may or may not need to be discussed between them, he just wanted this to be over with.
Steve looked into Bucky's eyes and saw how tired he was, even if he was trying to hide it. Nodding his head in agreement, Steve pulled out a piece of paper and took a deep breath himself. "Ok let's start with Azzano. What happened, what did you see?"
Bucky ran his hand through his hair trying to keep his thoughts straight. "It looked like it would be pretty simple to start off with. We all bunkered down in our foxholes just waiting. We knew that the attack would happen as soon as night hit and we were right. It was just total SNAFU, one minute it looked like we may have em. One of the other units reported the German's were trying to flank us so we moved men in that direction to stop em." Bucky could see in his mind just go from bad to worse. "My LT took a hit, never had a chance. I called a retreat, hoping we could regroup at the secondary location try to force our way back up." Bucky could see the men falling to grenades and some from bullets. "We tried to regroup but our radio was dead. The next thing we saw was the damn Germans were being taken out by some damn blue ray or something out of a damn science fiction novel. They just ... I don't know they just scattered into ashes. The guys all thought it was something that Stark fellow had created for us, but then this damn tank came over the east ridge and pointed to us.
"Next thing we knew we were in this cage who knew where. We were forced to help them make ... I don't know bombs or something. They called it V alkyrie or something like that." Bucky stood from the bed and started to walk. He needed to move to clear his head so he could get it all out. "I don't even know how many we were working on but it was a lot. Guys were exhausted, falling down, unable to continue. They didn't exactly let us sleep normal hours, you know. We were working around the clock. Think they were on some sort of schedule."
"Do you know if there was any idea on a deadline or anything," Steve asked. He hated this, hated the pain he was seeing in his friend's face but he knew he had to ask. He had to get the information out, and as Bucky said now was not the time for them to be 'friends', now was the time for information. The healing could start once this part was over.
Bucky paused in his pacing and glanced down at his hands as he tried to remember what they had discussed when they were allowed 'rest'. "I had a group of guys trying to get whatever information we could. Locations, number of men, distances, weapons... I don't even remember if we were able to find out just what we were doing. My main concern was getting us out of there."
Steve wanted to reach over and lay a hand on Bucky's shoulder but knew it wouldn't be welcome at that moment, so he just moved on to the next part. "Then what happened?"
"We got word that more men were coming in. We lost a few between them being taken to the 'research' area and others who just couldn't handle it and were beaten for not producing what they wanted us to. We tried so damn hard to cover for those who were too hurt or sick but we couldn't get to everyone." Bucky sat back down on the bed and stared down at his hands. "Well one day, the damn Hydra goons were trying to take one of the guys off the line to 'research' and I guess I lost it. Stepped in and started to beat my way out of it, tried to get their attention off of him and onto me." Bucky could only laugh slightly knowing where it had ultimately ended him. "Guess it worked too. Next thing I know I woke up on that damn table you found me on."
Steve felt his heart break a little at hearing the tale so far, but he knew even though he wanted to call it all quits to allow Bucky the chance to stay silent he couldn't. "What do you remember of your time there?"
Bucky closed his eyes and leaned back slightly. This was the part he couldn't get his mind around, couldn't understand. "They never fucking asked any questions. I was the leading NCO but not once did they fucking ask me anything. I just kept giving them my damn name, rank and service number you know. But not once..." Bucky took a deep breath and stared at the far wall of the tent. "They injected me with something. What I have no damn clue." He began, the whole time and pain running again through him as he felt himself start to shake. "I fucking felt like I was on fire. I have no clue what they were trying to do, or what their end game was, but ... not once did they ask me anything. Just going on about phases you know? Time for Phase two, or whatever."
Steve watched as Bucky tried to calm himself, as he tried to come to terms with whatever they had done to him. Steve wasn't sure he wanted to push the issue yet. Maybe one day, but for right now he had learned enough to satisfy he higher ups. Bucky had given no information, he had not betrayed his country for they had not even asked him anything, of that Steve was sure of. "Is there anything you remember overhearing, anything at all that would be of interest?" Steve asked trying to bring Bucky back from his memories. He knew that Bucky would suffer for a while from whatever they had subjected him to in that small room, but Steve couldn't in good conscious make Bucky relive it. He had to bring him back, back to the present.
"Um.. yeah." Bucky took another deep breath and let it out slowly, reminding himself that he wasn't in that small room, that he was safe back at home base. "I overheard them talking about moving the weapons. They didn't say where but once the weapons we were helping them put together that damn V alkyrie thing were done they were moving them to another location." Bucky let out a long sigh as he once again bent forward to lay his elbows upon his knees. "The only other thing I remember before you came was some talk about a special project, something called Soldier something. I don't know. I was a little out of it at the time."
Steve stood and walked over to Bucky to place his hand on his friend's shoulder. He had enough to please the senior staff and now it was time to stop being a superior officer and start being a friend. The type of friend that Bucky needed. "That's good enough for me. Interrogation over," he said with a small smile as he sat down on the bed beside Bucky. "Do you want to tell me how you feel or are you fine," he said and a part of him wanted to demand to know what Bucky was feeling for just getting a good look at him Steve could tell he wasn't.
"Is this Steve talking or.."
Steve reached over and grabbed a bottle of whisky off of the side table he had - a gift from the Colonel for a job well done. Pouring two cups he handed one over to Bucky with a small smile, then got up and removed his uniform jacket. "There, Captain Rogers just left. It's just me, Buck."
Bucky looked down at the amber liquid in the cup, trying to find the answers he needed in there. But Bucky knew from experience that alcohol wouldn't have the answers, it only caused problems. "You know for the first time in my life, I can understand the appeal my dad had to this stuff," he cringed as he downed the little bit in his cup and set it to the side. He couldn't stay still, especially not with Steve so close. "I feel... I don't know... off, like I'm not really here. Like I'm not really me. I feel like I'm ready to jump out of my own skin and... even my damn hair feels funny," he cursed running his hand through his hair. "They could have shot me full of damn morphine or penicillin for all I know but... I don't know, Steve."
As much as Steve wanted to go to Bucky and pull him into a hug he knew it would not be welcome, so he just leaned forward hoping that Bucky would understand. "We'll get to the bottom of it, Bucky. I swear. They will pay for what they have done and tell us what they did to you if it's the last thing I do."
Bucky could only laugh and shake his head. "Because you're Captain America, America's new hope."
Steve shook his head staring at Bucky. "Because I'm Steve Rogers, kid from Brooklyn and best friend to James Bucky Barnes. We're in this together, Buck. This," he said as he waved his hand down his body, "doesn't change that."
Bucky reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of smokes he luckily had been given by one of the guys and lit one up. He figured it was better than grabbing the bottle from Steve and drinking the whole thing. He couldn't allow himself to go there, he wanted to keep a clear head at that moment, well as clear as he could with the constant fog in his brain. "So... this," he asked waving his own hand to Steve. "I can take a guess. When I was in training, I heard things. A Super Soldier experiment. Never put much faith in it, figured what stupid idiot would subject themselves to testing by the government?"
Steve had to look away from Bucky, knowing he was just that idiot. "It wasn't like that, Buck. I knew what I was getting into. Dr. Erskine explained it all to me, I went into it with my eyes wide open."
"And they knew everything," Bucky tried to explain. "It was a damn experiment, Steve. Somehow I don't think they knew everything. I mean hell, look at the last person who went through it. You remember him right.. damn Red Skull?"
"Bucky..."
"No, Steve. I... shit," Bucky sat down on the chair at the desk and looked his friend over, trying to find anything that showed signs of the same thing he had seen in that factory. "You said it is permanent, right? I mean are we sure. You're out here fighting now, I don't see them letting you go back to whatever it was you were doing. What if all the sudden it goes away, and you go back to what you were. It's not safe, Steve. You could be hurt or worse killed is that what you want?"
"That won't happen." Steve had known that Bucky would look to a possible bad side of it all, that he would worry about what the side effects would be. "This didn't change who I am, in here," Steve said placing his hand on his heart. "Or in here," pointing to his mind. "It just changed the outside. I'm still Steve, the one you've known all your life. Just... Well at least I won't have to worry about another asthma attack."
"Well at least there's one plus," Bucky replied in a way grateful that Steve wouldn't have to deal with all of that anymore. He wouldn't have to see Steve struggle to breath, and hopefully Bucky wouldn't have to watch as the last rites were read on his friend. But he still wasn't sure if it all wouldn't come back. "It's just that we don't know Steve. What did it change? I mean really? I guess I have seen enough since being in, that I can't be sure that I can trust what they say."
"If that happens, we'll deal with it. Together just like always. You're stuck with me, pal. If you want," Steve asked for that was the whole point of it all. He wasn't sure what he would do if Bucky decided it wasn't worth it, that Steve had lied to him and went behind his back. It was his main fear since becoming what he was now, that Bucky would feel so betrayed that he couldn't be his friend anymore.
"You said I was taking all the stupid with me, but let me tell you, this tops the cake," Bucky shook his head and laughed. "You go and do that, then decide that it is an ok idea to go behind enemy lines without back-up or extraction team," Bucky swallowed the rest of his drink and stood. He needed sleep, they both did. "Till the end of the line, pal. It's what we always said. Besides, someone has to make sure you don't do anything stupid again. Just know that first damn sign of an attack or another dumb rescue mission, I'm kicking your ass."
~~~***~~~***