"You have a way with men, Finley," Sharon tells me. She hasn't really asked about my progress with Bucky up until today since she's been so busy with sharpening her skills. I told her almost all of the details that I could, even the most recent development of actually having him and Rogers being in the same room together. It's because of me that Bucky cooperates.

I'm almost on my way to go see him, I know Rogers is with him now. When I'm not there, he is. I know Bucky secretly enjoys it, he just won't admit it. Thank God he listened to me to give Rogers another shot.

"I guess you could say that." I ruffle out my hair so that it falls into gentle waves. "But I'm not the only one."

"What?"

"Don't think I don't hear you talk to yourself sometimes. You let things out in your sleep too." I grin mischievously.

Sharon turns pink. "You won't tell him."

"What if I do?"

"I'll make you pay."

I laugh. "Sharon, no worries. I won't tell him."

Her face softens. "Thank you. I'm hoping once things settle down I can try to get a date out of him."

"It'd do you both some good," I say.

"Hey, when you get him all fixed up, we should double up."

"We're in Europe, hiding, and we're seriously discussing this?" I ask.

"We need to have some normalcy, don't we?"

I can't disagree with her. And I notice how she says "when" not "if". She has confidence in me. But I know she's just hoping that she doesn't have to be alone on the date she's making up in her head. Though Sharon is a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, she's still a young woman who wants nothing more than something stable in the chaotic world she lives in.

"Are you sure you don't want me to push him in that direction?" I ask her as I'm near the door. "I'll be going down there, and I know he'll be talking with Bucky. Maybe I can slip in a good word."

"I appreciate the help, but it won't be needed."

I wave goodbye to her before I go down the familiar halls to Bucky's room.

I've spent so much time with him lately that I haven't really seen Natasha, or Agent Barton, or Agent Hill, or Director Fury. They must have important things to tend to, so that's why I don't see them around a lot. What if one of the important things is Jessabelle?

I still love it, how she's in our care now. She's not escaping. She's got to get through a lot of top agents here to get out alive. I wouldn't be too upset if they killed her. There's only a small part that would hate it just for the sake that she's my sister. My sister who murdered Vanessa, my other sister.

I shake my head. I'm glad my parents haven't joined either cause. They're still unaware of what their daughters have undergone in recent months. They're living a normal-as-can-be life. But what if Hydra finds them and uses them to get Jessabelle back from us?

I erase the thought immediately. I'm sure S.H.I.E.L.D. hid my parents well enough. I trust them with that.

I'm about three-quarters of the way to Bucky's room when I hear frantic footsteps galloping behind me. I spin around to see Sharon, running as though her life depends on it, towards me.

"What's wrong?" I ask. "Are we under attack?"

"No. Get to the room, now!" As she passes by me, she grabs me to get me running again.

"How do you know?" I pant.

"Barton was observing the cameras, saw what was going on. One of the cameras got knocked out."

"I'll go in first." I throw myself ahead of Sharon.

We stop in front of the mirror, and both of our jaws drop. Something set Bucky off, he's throwing Rogers around like he's a Frisbee. I don't pound on the glass like a maniac, I run for the door. Sharon wields her gun as she sticks close to me.

I shake my head frantically. "You'll make it worse. Stay out here until I give the order."

"No, we need backup in there to calm him down."

"Sharon, I can do this. No backup. I swear if you do, you won't like what'll come next."

She gives me a stern, brown-eyed look, but backs off slightly. Her gaze goes through the window as I get the door open.

I'm seeing the Winter Soldier again, not Bucky. He's mercilessly attacking Rogers, and Rogers is doing as much as he can to do damage control. Neither has noticed my presence. I jump as Rogers is thrown across the room, towards the window. He coughs, trying to get back up. I see Bucky stalk to him, see his pace increase.

I intercept him just before he can strike at Rogers again. It's like he forgets who I am. I'm seeing the Soldier again as he swings for me. My training kicks in, and we engage each other. I mostly deflect his blows, but he does strike in one. As he's successful, he makes me take a step backwards.

His arm takes me off my feet and makes me hit my back against the window. I'm surprised I didn't break it.

I let out a terrified gasp as he lands a hit on Rogers, just as he's trying to get up. I crawl to shield him from more blows. I'm not terrified of Bucky, but I am slightly afraid of the Winter Soldier. I don't move under his intense gaze, I stand my ground.

"Enough," I spit. My entire body quivers, my back has a mild ache.

"Out of the way," he snarls.

"No." I stand up, still protect Rogers. "We're trying to help, to fucking help, and here you are, beating him senseless! How's that any way to treat someone who's dedicating their time and energy to help you?!"

He doesn't seem phased by my rant.

"What can't you understand about this? What don't you? He"—I gesture to Rogers—"is not the enemy, contrary to what Hydra made you believe! I'm not the enemy, and neither is S.H.I.E.L.D." Hot tears fall down my face. "This isn't you, Bucky."

"Why do you insist on calling me that?"

"Everyone who knows you calls you that. Why you want to be called that, I don't know. I wasn't around to hear the explanation behind it." My voice is losing its ferocity. "We're not giving up on you, Buck. You've been through this before, with him. You just don't remember it."

"Danielle—" Rogers rasps.

"Shh. Let me handle this," I hiss out of the corner of my mouth. I raise my voice back to its normal pitch. "You don't remember that this man is your best friend, that you and I know each other. That's the whole point of us being here with you! To help you remember.

"We're with you, Bucky, whether you like it or not. We're with you until the end of the line."

He takes a step back, eyes widen. Rogers had told me the time he'd said this, he'd seen the gears in Bucky's head moving. I wonder if his reaction will differ from the first time. It's better that Sharon's not in here. I wouldn't have this chance right now.

"What did you just say?" Bucky asks quietly.

"I know you've heard that saying before, Rogers told me it triggered something the time before when he said it. We're on your side, Bucky. Now, please, fight this urge to hurt those who are trying to help." I take a step forward. "If you cooperate, you'll be saving everyone from a lot of pain." I have my hands out in front of me. "It's your call."

There's inches separating us now, his eyes are back to their normal size. He's not focused on Rogers, who's recovering from the beat down. He's solely focused on me. I need to keep it that way.

I see him visibly shake. I want to embrace him, tell him that it's okay, but I don't in case something goes wrong.

"Sharon!" I call without taking my eyes off Bucky. "Come in. Get Rogers out and to the infirmary. He's a bit banged up."

I hear the door open, hear Sharon's voice as she helps Rogers out of the room.

"Come on, Danielle, you too," she says.

"I'll stay here for a little bit."

"Suit yourself. Just be careful." Once the door closes, I know it's just the two of us.

"What did he say to you?" I ask quietly, searching Buck's eyes for the answer.

"Actually, nothing. It was a random trigger." I'm surprised he's being open so quickly. "I don't know why or how. It just...happened."

I nod in understanding. I feel like this has turned out to be a therapy session. "You realize you took out a camera, right?"

"Yeah."

"You're going to get in trouble for this."

"I don't want to be like this."

"That's why we're here. Right now, I'm here."

I know that I didn't want to try anything earlier, but I can't help the feeling inside me. The pity.

He actually lets me do it, hug him. He's not sure what to do, I can feel the tension. I'm almost taken aback by how he's changed. How noticeable it is. I inhale his scent, not that he notices.

I don't flinch as I feel the arm around me. Just the one arm—the flesh one. His bionic arm is straight at his side. I scowl.

"Both arms, Buck," I whisper.

"I'd rather not."

"A hug doesn't count if it's got one arm."

"If it's a one-armed one it does."

"Both. Arms."

I see him try to move it to rest around me, but he draws it back. He sighs heavily.

"I can't do it." I let him go as he backs up. "Why should I use something that's caused so much damage in something like that?"

I swallow. I bet my heart breaking can be heard in the room. I'm sure Bucky can hear it. Has he felt this way before about his arm? I think back to the first time he embraced me, back when we were on the Helicarrier, back when I was just getting used to S.H.I.E.L.D. He only used his flesh arm.

Yes, he'd felt that way before. Felt that the arm Hydra gave him didn't deserve to participate in good things.

"You have before," I murmur gently. He steps back as I advance towards him.

This is my cue to leave. I know progress won't be made at this point. I turn on my heel and head for the door.

"You're coming back, aren't you?" I hear the trace of worry in his voice.

"Not today, but yes, I'll come back. I'm not giving up on you, Bucky. Nobody is."