When we got back to base, we were brought to the briefing room. I paced while Bucky sat in the chair and let the engineers fix his metal arm. Steve had damaged it with his shield.

I looked over to Bucky to see him staring into space. He looked like a ghost... pale... confused. I snapped to get his attention.

'Quit thinking about it!' I signed quickly. Bucky only looked at me. His eyes were no longer cold, they were lost and confused. 'Remember what I told you!'

Bucky nodded once before focusing back on the wall. My heart was going a million miles per minute. I was terrified of Bucky being wiped again. Everything I did would be for nothing if he was wiped. I started pacing again as I thought of my options. If this didn't go to plan, I could call for Loki and we could always try to fight our way out. But what if we couldn't... what if we can't make it out...

I continued worrying as the engineers finished fixing Bucky's arm. I continued worrying as they left and we were alone with the guards. I continued worrying as Secretary Pierce finally showed up for the mission report.

The door was unlocked and opened and Secretary Pierce walked in. I stopped pacing in front of Bucky to try and shield Pierce's view of him.

"Mission report." Pierce demanded angrily. I took a deep breath before answering.

"On the twelfth of March, 2014, the Winter Soldier and I were sent to eliminate three targets. Two level sixes and one level four. The targets were in a vehicle, which we stopped. The first and only target eliminated was Jasper Sitwell. The Soldier and I attacked the last two targets and the Soldier managed to shoot Natasha Romanoff through her left shoulder, but ultimately unit three had to take over for us when police and news vehicles were called on scene." I finished.

Pierce nodded and took a slow step towards me before backhanding me across the face. I squeezed my eyes shut against the sting and turned my head back to look at Pierce.

"You had one job." Pierce said. "Ten hours to take out three targets. What went wrong?"

"They had help, Sir." I responded.

"Oh, did they?" Pierce asked mockingly. "And what about you?" Pierce looked behind me and asked Bucky. My fear spiked again as Pierce pushed me aside with the backs of his fingers to see Bucky. "Did you see your partner hesitate at all when fighting today?"

I turned to look at Bucky, afraid at what I might see, but when I looked the cold death stare of the Winter Soldier was back... and directed at Pierce.

"No." Bucky answered through gritted teeth.

"No?" Pierce asked and looked back to me. "Are you sure about that?"

"Yes, she never hesitated, even after she was injured." Bucky responded.

"Injured?" Pierce repeated while still looking at me. "You were injured?"

"Yes, Sir." I nodded tightly.

"How?" Pierce asked.

"Steve Rogers found an opening in my defense that resulted in a hit to my left side." I explained.

"Interesting." Pierce commented and walked up to me slowly. He reached out and placed his hand on my suit, over my left side. "Here?" Pierce asked me.

I nodded before gasping as he squeezed my broken ribs. A strained cry left my lips and I saw Bucky move in the chair. I quickly looked to him as Pierce finally released me. I collapsed to my knees and signed the word 'no' as I did. To anyone else it would look like a normal hand gestures as I caught myself, but to Bucky it was instruction.

"The only reason you're not dead right now is because of your usefulness. You bring results. Stop bring results and we stop having a use for you." Pierce told me. "Get up."

I got back to my feet and held my side as Pierce looked back between me and Bucky.

"Society's at a tipping point between order and chaos. And tomorrow morning, we're going to give it a push. But if you don't do your part, I can't do mine. And HYDRA can't give the world the freedom it deserves." Pierce told us. "Understand?"

"Yes, Sir." I said.

"I understand." Bucky told him.

"Good." Pierce told us and turned to walk out the door. "Let them go back to their room." Pierce told the guards before leaving. "But don't let them leave until it's time to start."

When we got to our room, I collapsed on the bed with a loud, pained sigh. I bit my lip at the pain and sat up some to lean against the pillows.

Bucky was quiet and stood, staring at the locked bedroom door.

"It's not going to magically open if you keep staring at it." I teased to try and lighten the mood. Bucky turned and looked at me on the bed. He walked over to the chair and dragged it over to the side of my bed.

"Why?" Bucky asked.

"Why, what? You're going to have to give me more than that, Buckaroo." I smiled tiredly and turned my head to the side to look at him.

"Don't." He frowned. "Why is my... why can I... my mind-"

"Stop." I told him. I could tell that he was struggling and it hurt to not help him through it, but we were being watched. "Did you hear what Pierce said?" I asked. "It's almost over. We just need to get through tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Bucky repeated. I nodded. "And who will I be after tomorrow?" He looked at me seriously. I bit my lip and sighed.

"My family." I responded. "That's who you'll be. If you still want, that is." I told him. He watched me for another few seconds before taking a deep breath and nodding.

"Ya," he said and lowered his head. "I can be that."

"Good," I chuckled and then grimaced at the pain it caused. Bucky looked up, concerned.

"Let me see." He said and gestured to my ribs.

"No," I protested, "I'm fine." I told him.

"Sammee, let me see." He said more sternly and reached for the zipper of my suit. I didn't even stop him. I was too stunned by the fact that he said my name. "What?" He asked annoyed by my staring as he unzipped my tactical suit and pulled my arm out of the sleeve.

"That's the first time you've said my name." I told him and smiled. My smile turned into a wince when his fingers touched my ribs.

"Sorry," he mumbled as he examined my side.

"And that's the first time you've apologized to me." I said in faux amazement.

"Shut up." Bucky grumbled lightheartedly. I laughed and rested my head back onto the pillow.

"So, whatcha think, doc?" I asked. "Am I gonna make it?"

Bucky sighed before turning to my nightstand and grabbing me a shirt.

"I think you have at least one broken rib." He said as he handed me the shirt. "Probably more." He mumbled and helped me sit up to put the shirt on.

"Yay, me." I sarcastically laughed. "That's going to hurt like hell tomorrow." I sighed.

"Leave tomorrow to me." Bucky offered.

"No," I shook my head. "Tomorrow is too big of a day. Too important." I told him. "I need to be there."