The D in Apartment 23

“You sure about this?” Harry asked Bucky who nodded without hesitation. He looked over at the woman he loved and could see the fear in her eyes as she nodded slowly, her smile trying to hide her true emotions.
“Doll look at me.” He sat up, taking her hands in his gaining her attention fully as he stroked over her knuckles. “I trust you. You’ve got this.” He whispered as she nodded slowly taking a deep breath. “Are you scared of him?” He asked her thinking he had got the source of her fear wrong as she shook her head.
“No. I trust you and him. I just scared I’m wrong and putting you through this for no reason.” She whispered as he smiled leaning forward to kiss her lips softly.
“Then at least we will know for sure.” He whispered resting his forehead on hers as she nodded slightly. “I love you.” He added as she smiled.
“I love you too Bucky.” She whispered pecking his lips once more as she gripped his hands tighter. She took a deep breath closing her eyes as she slowly started to speak the words in a language she didn’t even know. She felt his hands twitch and his grip get tighter the further into the sequence she got.
“Stop.” His pained voice came out as Harry fought against her instincts to call the whole thing off. It felt like a lifetime before the last word was spoken and instantly his grip dropped, the chair flying back as he stood up to attention. His Russian response of ‘ready to comply’ sounding out in the room. She looked up at him noticing the change from the soft Bucky she knew. His eyes were focused and lost all at the same time, his posture was stiff and his fist were clenched along with his jaw. She remembered Natasha’s warning not to mention the name Bucky as this sent the soldier into overdrive.
“Mission report: July 15, 2012.” Her stern voice sounded out as his gaze flicked to her direction.
“Target eliminated, witness eliminated. No information found.” His emotionless voice rang out.
“Talk me through your movements?” She asked again standing in front of him, trying to hide her fear. She noticed him frown as he tried to think back.
“Surveyed the house until daughter had left. Male target remained alone. Entered through rear downstairs window, target and witness in front room.” He paused, his frown getting deeper as his breath got heavier. “Woke up, both dead.” He spoke out, Harry’s eyes flicking up to the security camera she knew they were all watching from going back to him quickly when she heard his metal plates shifting as he unclenched his fist to wrap around her throat pushing her into the wall. “What have you done to me?” His rough voice came out as she held her hand up to the camera telling them to stand down.
“Trying to help you remember. I’m Dr Harriet Fitzpatrick, I want to help you to be free from them. Help you remember who you truly were before HYDRA took you to the chair.” She spoke calmly to him as he watched her intently, his grip getting tighter at the mention of the chair.
“Who are HYDRA?” He asked.
“An organisation who used to commanded you to attack people. Your safe now.” She told him as his grip loosened. “What is your last memory?” She asked softly, as his hand dropped from her throat.
“A containment chamber, he said those words. Asked for mission report December 16, 1991. Told me to kill Captain America.” He told her as she listened carefully. “I know him.” He looked up at her, stepping back as his memory flooded him of broken pieces of the blond hero.
“You do, that’s right. His name is Steve Rodgers; you grew up with him in Brooklyn. You fought with him in the Howling Commando’s in the war.” She told him grabbing her phone as she showed him pictures of them both together.

For the next 40 minutes Harry spent time with the Winter Soldier piecing together his few memories. It had been well over the time required for him to go into freeze or the chair and slowly pieces of Bucky started to filter through. She had managed to help him recognise the members of the team he has encountered.
“I know you.” He surprised her by saying as her glance flicked to him quickly.
“Excuse me?” She asked, she understood he would recognise the Avengers having fought them as the Soldier, however, he hadn’t ever met her in this capacity as the soldier.
“You live across the hall from me. You made Chiffon Cake for me.” He commented as her mouth fell open, she quickly blinked back the tears threatening to spill.
“I did that’s right.” She told him as he stared at her for longer. “Do you remember who you are?” She asked hopefully.
“The Winter Soldier.” His response came back with no emotion behind it, as Harry felt her heart break.
“You are Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes, Bucky for short. You are a member of a team with all those other people, the team is called the Avengers and you help make this world safe from threats.” She told him as he stared off into the distance.
“This isn’t me, is it?” He asked as she shook her head sadly. “You need to bring him back don’t you? This Bucky?” He carried on as she nodded, her hand going to his flesh shoulder.
“You can let go of the Winter Soldier now. You’re safe.” She whispered as he stared at her. “I need you to go to sleep, it’ll ease the transition for you.” She smiled sadly at him. She noticed his eyes search her face for any hint of a dishonesty, but, he couldn’t see any. He backed away from her walking over to the bed and settling down on it with a thump. “I’ll be right here when you wake up Bucky.” She whispered once his eyes closed.

It had been several hours and true to her word Harry was lay at the side of him. During one of the hours he had become restless and to settle him down she ushered him to rest his head on her chest, her soft heartbeat soothing him as she gently stroked his hair cooing slightly. She felt him stir as her hand slowed slightly scared that he’d wake up in limbo, she felt his hand grip at her waist softly before he turned to look up at her soft smiling face. “How long have I been asleep for?” He whispered, his voice hoarse from the few hours resting it had had.
“About four hours.” She whispered back watching as he bit his lip. “Are you okay? What do you remember?” She asked him carefully watching as he sat up running his hand through his hair. Leaning forward she kissed the shoulder of his metal arm softly.
“I’m okay, are you okay?” He asked her turning to look at her as she smiled wrapping her arms around his waist.
“I’m fine.” She whispered.
“Did he have the answers?” Bucky asked carefully, he turned in her arms so he could look at her properly.
“Yeah he did. Bucky I’m so sorry what they did to you.” She whispered her eyes filling with tears. He frowned watching as she got upset; pulling her to him he held her tightly as he felt his t-shirt get damp with her tears.
“Hey what’s brought this on?” He asked stroking her hair softly.
“He was just so lost, you looked so vulnerable and it broke my heart to see it.” She whispered holding tightly on to him as he kissed the top of her head.
“Hey I’m me now, I’m Bucky. Your Bucky.” He tried to reassure her, feeling her nod slowly. “We should watch the footage yeah?” He asked after a few moments of Harry calming down. Pulling away from him she grabbed her laptop loading up the video as they both sat together, Bucky leaning his weight on his metal arm, his chin resting on her shoulder. “Where’s your gun?” He asked when he saw the frown deeper.
“I didn’t bring it. I trusted you.” She whispered, she felt his jaw clench when he saw her pinned to the wall. “It’s okay, he didn’t hurt me.” She whispered stroking his thigh.
“I don’t understand, how did he remember?” He asked once the video was shut down.
“I think it is like Natasha said. I’ve never seen you in your Winter Soldier state so he shouldn’t know me, but, deep down your still Bucky so some part of him has access to those memories and feelings. Both Bucky and Soldier have so much history with the others; both good and bad that it clouds your judgement. Whereas, we both only have fairly positive history with each other meaning he can trust me. I mean that’s just my theory, but, it makes sense. The same way Hulk trusts Natasha.” She whispered, Bucky nodding.
“I like that idea.” He whispered kissing her softly. “I didn’t kill your parents.” He looked at her and she noticed that emotion, it was relief.
“You didn’t. I think they caused you to black out so that you think you would. A common feature amongst killers is they have periods where they black out when they cause their crimes and it’s when they aren’t fully aware of their actions, I think they used a similar theory with him. If that’s the case with my parents, there could be so many out there where you’re not responsible for.” She told him as he nodded understanding what she was saying.

Notes