I don't know how much time has passed. Probably only an hour but it feels like ten. My body is covered with bruises and cuts, Rumlow... Crossbones certainly has had his fun. Staying awake is tiring, I keep drifting off but the stab wound and the fresh cut on my collarbone hurt too much to fall asleep. My whole body is still shaking like hell, I feel drained and weakened. But I can't let this defeat me, they need more time.

"D-don't you have to be a leader of a Nazi organization or something?" I pant, the scar still stinging like hell. His name is branded in my skin and just the thought of it makes me cringe in disgust, a friendly reminder that his dreadful name will forever follow me. The tears threaten to leave my eyes but I squint them away, refusing to cry.

"Aw, already tired? The fun has just begun and it's going to get even better." Crossbones promises and a scoff leaves my bloody lips. How much longer do I have to endure this?

"At least answer me the question why you believe in this. The whole Hydra thing." If I make him talk, he may torture me less.

"Hydra is about so much more than being superior. There's more coming towards us and if it arrives, we prefer to be prepared."

"What do you mean with 'it'?" I frown in confusion. We have survived an alien army from outer space and a killer robot, so what could possibly even scare Hydra? What does he know?

"Doesn't matter. You won't be alive anymore." He shrugs. "I'd really like to break your wrists, just to find out if your electricity will still work then but I think it's funnier if someone else does it. Bring him in!"

The door gets opened and I hold my breath in shock, my eyes widened as I stare at him. The Winter Soldier. His facial expression is blank and cold, no signs of emotions visible. A red shape is left on his face, especially on his cheekbones, as if something was pressed against his head, branded by the torture. I press my lips together and my eyes burn, the pain is more unbearable than any torture could be. I lost him again.

"Stop." I blurt out, my voice trembling as a tear rolls down my face, burning into the cut on my cheek.

"Stop what?"

"Stop hurting him. Stop killing him piece by piece. Please, stop." I beg desperately for mercy for the monster that was created.

"You're begging?" Crossbones snorts and turns to the Winter Soldier, chuckling in amusement while Bucky's expression doesn't change a bit. "She's finally lost it."

I swallow, ignoring his comment. "Whatever you do, don't make him do it. He's not gonna survive the burden, the guilt will kill him when he comes back."

"You still think he's there somewhere?"

"I know it." I nod with determination. Crossbones rolls his eyes, not really caring about my faith in Bucky and he impatiently slams the door close, glancing at the soldier.

"I have enough of waiting. Screw the wrists, just break both of her arms." He orders and the soldier nods, walking towards me without hesitation. My breath quickens and I mentally prepare myself for the upcoming pain. I already broke my arm in D.C. and it was painful as hell, but I survived. I should be able to get over this too.

His ice blue eyes are solely focused on me, watching me like a predator watches prey. The coldness on his face tells me how much blood he has on his hands, victims that he killed beyond his control. And I'm gonna be one of them. Yet, I stare intensely at him back, facing the danger. Suddenly, he turns around and his metal fist roughly connects with Crossbones' face, knocking him against the wall and leading him to the ground.

My eyes widen as I slightly flinch at the nasty crack of the bone structure of his face, watching how Crossbones lies unconscious on the cold ground. Bucky turns back to me and rushes towards me, concern written over his face as the evidence of the Winter Soldier vanishes.

"Oh, my god, what have they done to you?" He asks me softly with a hint of shock and panic whilst kneeling down and eyeing my wounds, especially Crossbones' name on my collarbone. He breaks the chains, freeing me from the chair. "I'm so sorry, so, so sorry. I had to pretend, otherwise they would've continued."

"B-Bucky...?" I almost don't dare to let this name slip through my dry lips, afraid that my fragile hope will break. That this is only a bad dream, a sick mind game.

"It's me, Eve. I'm back."

The words hit me unexpectedly as a wave of emotions overwhelms me and I break out into tears, my heart tearing apart of pure relief and gladness. It feels so unrealistic, I thought I had lost him. But he's here and knows who I am, he remembers. He's back. Bucky's back. Every fiber of my body craves for his arms, to hold onto him and never let go again. My injuries stop me, but he luckily carefully lifts me up and I throw my arms around his neck.

"It's been so long." I sob into his shoulder, my tears wetting his leather uniform. Even though he smells different, a smell of metal and leather, the familiar feeling of home returns on my chest and settles down in my stomach when I feel his arms around me. "So damn long."

I don't know if it's my sweat from the torture or his tears from his face buried into my hair that make it wet, but I don't care at all. Only the way how he says my name after all these years echoes through my mind until the happiness stops numbing my pain and I let out a pained noise.

"We need to get you help or you'll bleed out." He carefully places his arms beneath me and lifts me up, carrying me out of the room while my head rests on his chest. My heart still races like hell, not believing that it's real. I'm still feeling dizzy though, just now noticing the alert of the facility.

"What- what's happening?"

"That Vision guy." He answers, his fast steps strengthening my pain but we don't have time. "He and Wanda got to the meeting point."

"They made it?" A weak smile graces my lips and he nods, stopping at a corner to wait for the Hydra troop to pass. "Wanda's okay? The plan worked?"

"Never do this again. Why are you being so reckless while I'm gone?" He sighs, a hint of the old Bucky from the forties shining through which makes me want to tear up again. Moving forwards, he runs through the corridor. "And Wanda is... she could be better, they electrified her and she's not feeling well. But she still remembers and can walk."

"How-how could you remember?"

"She helped me and gave me a sort of dream or vision during...", Bucky pauses and struggles to find the right word, "... the procedure. It didn't work but I'm sure that she can't do it every time."

We finally spot Vision and Wanda from the distance, surrounded by dozens of Hydra agents. While Wanda sits on the ground, pale and weakened, Vision covers her, standing in front of her whilst fighting against Hydra. Bucky puts me safely down and grabs a gun from his pocket, supporting Vision and defending us.

"Oh, god, Eve..." Wanda mumbles when she sees my injuries while I check on her. Torture with electricity barely leaves anything but pain in the nerves.

"I'm so sorry that I couldn't save you." I pull her slowly into a hug, mostly because of the wounds. Pure relief spreads through my chest, now that I'm sure that the sokovian girl is safe. My breath is still heavy and I keep losing blood, turning me pale. "Thank you for Bucky. I really appreciate it."

"Let me help you somehow." She offers kindly after a proud smile appears on her lips while Vision creates a force field around us.

"Give me some cloth, I need to cover my collarbone." I demand, refusing to reveal the brandmark any longer.

Wanda shakes her head. "We need to press something on your thigh, that's more important."

Before anyone of us can say more, the ceiling suddenly starts falling apart as a familiar monstrous roar echoes through the area. The Hulk. Four hours are over. Bucky and Vision quickly help us to protect us from the rain of components as the Hulk tears the building apart, fighting violently against Hydra. Screams and bullets fill the air while we escape from the building, dodging every danger or staying behind Vision's force field.

The heat greets us outside and immediately coats our skin, making us sweat beneath the burning sun of Mexico. My head leans tiredly on Bucky's chest, the pain getting worse with every second and the look at my bloody leg doesn't make it any easier. With an exhausted sigh, I motion for Bucky to stop and put me down when we reach the tree. "I-I can't anymore... We need to wait for the Hulk... we need Bruce."

"You sure?" He questions insecurely, his blue eyes looking at me with devotion but also a slight fear of the green monster.

"I won't leave Bruce behind." I insist and glance at Vision. "You and Wanda get to safety, trying to get help meanwhile, got it? No protest. I'll calm down Bruce."

"Understood, Miss Farrell." He nods and carries Wanda, flying away. I look back at the facility that shatters down while jets leave the sinking ship, Hydra escaping once again. The Hulk jumps towards us, landing directly in front of us, causing the ground to tremble. A roar leaves his mouth, his fists hitting the ground and Bucky tenses up.

"I- I need Bruce." I try to talk to him but he only answers with a more furious yell. Bucky's eyes widen and quickly pulls me away before Hulk's gigantic fist manages to crush me. Something's wrong, he's never been acting that blindly brutal towards me.

"Eve, we need to leave!" Bucky urges and tries to lift me up but I refuse to leave.

"Hulk, I'm your friend, remember? We went through the same experiment, the same pain- " I get interrupted by a roar that even makes me anxious, the whole place shaking. It usually works, why doesn't it work anymore? Tears fill my eyes because of the pain and desperation runs through my voice. "I need Bruce now! Do you hear me?! I need a doctor, I need my friend Bruce Banner or I'll die!"

Just now the Hulk calms slowly down, his breath slowing while he stares at his hands. Actually, Bruce should show up by now, yet the green monster is still here. A realization hits me, clicking in my mind and I stare at him. What if he can't transform back into his human-self? Ever since Wanda messed up with his mind, he was scared of being the Hulk. With an apologetic look, he runs away, taking a huge jump to disappear.

"No! Bruce!" I shout in despair but only the swirl of dust stays. He's gone.

"What'll we do now?" Bucky asks and glances at my leg. "I'm not letting you die here."

"I won't die, I've just got you back." I manage to smile but it already fades as I now remember something that I hoped I would never have to do. The baby. I had lost our baby and he doesn't know anything, doesn't even have the slightest idea. A nauseous feeling grows in my stomach until we suddenly hear familiar noises, a jet and a certain suit. The Iron Man suit.

"Guess who negotiated with the government to save your asses."

A/N- And that's how Bruce leaves for Thor Ragnarok in this book :') I can't wait for this movie!