Chapter 12

Steve set the jet down in front of the large, steel, reinforced doors. There was a snow storm blowing outside and subsequently visual was reduced horrendously in every direction. Abi and Bucky looked at each other uneasily. Neither of them was too thrilled to be stepping back into their past. Still, they got to their feet and followed Steve into the jets armoury. Bucky pulled one of Natasha's assault rifles out of its rack, Abi pulled out her pistol and knives while Steve grabbed his shield.

They were stood watching the ramp lower when Steve spoke. "Do you remember that time we had to ride back from Rockaway Beach in the back of that freezer truck?"

"Was that the time we used our train money to buy hot dogs?" Bucky smiled.

"You blew three bucks trying to win Abi that stuffed bear." Steve reminded him.

Abi laughed. "God, you sucked at carnival games." They all smiled and let themselves feel normal for a moment before realising that they had better get going.

They walked up to the blast door to find it open. Abi glanced around and was shocked by how little it had changed. The rocks stuck out of the snow at jagged angles and made the entrance look like a mouth to hell. That's exactly what is it, she thought. Bucky stayed by her side. He was reluctant to move too far away from her.

"He can't have been here more than a few hours." Steve remarked as they paused before the doors.

"Long enough to wake them up." Bucky muttered.

They walked through the blast doors and were immediately met with an old elevator. The blue paint had mostly rusted off and none of them were eager to get in. it creaked and groaned as they moved down further into the earth. As it shuddered to a stop at the bottom Steve nodded to them. They gave small nods back as they tried to keep their minds away from everything that had happened here. The doors opened and Steve glanced side to side before pulling up the guard shutter.

Bucky stepped out first; gun raised. Abi followed with her hands already glowing and Steve brought up the rear. They walked down checking every space where someone could be hiding. Everything seemed too quiet. Bucky started walking up a set of stairs with the twins hot on his heels.

All of a sudden, the elevator descended again with a bang. They all instinctively crouched as Bucky raised his gun, Abi threw up a barrier either side of them and Steve hid behind his shield. The doors began to rattle and scape as they started to open.

"You ready?" Steve asked.

"Yeah." Bucky said.

"Always." Abi replied.

The doors were forced open and an arc reactor came into view. Abi dropped her shields as Tony walked into the corridor and his helmet retracted. Steve walked down the steps slowly, shield still raised. Abi and Bucky stayed put but Abi stood up to one side so Bucky was still aiming the gun past her.

"You seem a little defensive." Tony said as he walked further in.

"It's been a long day." Steve said with an undertone of anger. Abi lent her shoulder against the wall and scanned Tony's mind.

"At ease, Soldier." Tony nodded towards Bucky. "I'm not currently after you."

"Then why are you here?" Steve questioned.

"Could be your story's not so crazy. Maybe. Ross has no idea I'm here. I'd like to keep it that way. Otherwise, I gotta arrest myself." Tony rambled.

Steve glanced at Abi who nodded. "Well, that sounds like a lot of paperwork. It's good to see you, Tony." Steve lowered his shield.

"You too." Tony nodded at Abi who returned the gesture before Tony looked towards Bucky. "Hey, Manchurian Candidate, you're killing me. There's a truce here. You can drop..." Tony trailed off as Abi rested her hand on Bucky's gun and he finally dropped it.

They started walking again, now with Tony in front with Steve and Abi and Bucky behind. As they got closer to the main room Abi clenched her hands to try and stay out of her own head. Too many memories were threatening to surface.

"I got heat signatures." Tony said as they walked into the main room.

"How many?" Abi asked.

"Uh, one." Tony sounded as confused as they all felt.

The lights came on in the chambers as they walked in. They could make out the outlines of the people in the yellow light.

"Dead." Abi muttered. Everyone looked at her and she pointed towards the soldiers.

"If it's any comfort, they died in their sleep." Zemo's voice echoed through the room over the speaker system.

Abi stayed routed halfway between the door and the memory wipe machine. The other three advanced into the room.

"What the hell?" Bucky muttered under his breath as he looked at one of the dead soldiers. He turned around to see Abi drop to one knee with her hands in her hair. He walked back over to her.

"Did you really think I wanted more of you? What the hell? I'm grateful to them, though. They brought you here." Zemo continued.

As Bucky reached Abi and knelt next to her, the light came on in the blast chamber showing Zemo at the window. Steve immediately threw his shield but it just ricocheted back.

"You okay?" Bucky asked as he helped Abi back to her feet.

"Yeah... Yeah." She took a step forward as Zemo spoke again.

"Please, Captain. The Soviets built this chamber to withstand both your sister over there or the launch blast of UR-100 rockets." Zemo smiled towards Abi and Bucky who walked up until they were level with Steve and Tony.

"I'm betting I could beat that." Tony challenged.

"Oh, I'm sure you could, Mr Stark. Given time. But then you'd never know why you came." Zemo smiled. He knew how much Abi and Tony always needed answers.

"You killed innocent people in Vienna just to bring us here?" Steve walked up to the window until he was face to face with Zemo.

Zemo took a step forward. "I've thought about nothing else for over a year. I studied you. I followed you. But now that you're standing here... I just realised... there's a bit of green in the blue of your eyes. How nice to find a flaw."

"You're Sokovian." Abi spoke up. Zemo's eyes flickered to her and he smiled.

"Is that what this is about?" Steve asked.

Zemo turned his attention back to Steve. "Sokovia was a failed state long before you blew it to hell. No. I'm here because I made a promise." Abi could feel his pain but she tried to shut it out.

"You lost someone?" Steve realised.

"I lost everyone. And so, will you." He pressed a switch and the monitor to the right of Steve came to life. "An empire toppled by its enemies can rise again. But one which crumbles from within? That's dead. Forever."

The video began to play. One look at the date and Abi knew Zemo's plan.