Second Sphere

Queens

While we are running I crumple to the ground, I can feel Bucky in pain and fighting off mental torment. Steve and Sam turn back to me, "No! Go! Help him! They're doing it again."

They turn and keep running. Stark catches up to me. "Get up feathers." He grunts helping pull me to his feet.

I steady myself on him for a moment. "They did it again, he's not him. I can feel it they use the mental manipulation again."

When we get to one of the main levels Bucky is fighting. One by one Stark, Shannon, and Natasha go down.

I fly up the flight of stairs taking after Bucky but T'Challa gets to him before I can. I pull him away from Bucky. "Stop! This isn't him! The doctor did something."

T'Challa grabs me by my wing and tosses me against the wall and I can feel the breath get knocked out of me.

By the time I get back up I can see Steve heading up the staircase to the roof and I follow after. The bright light blinds me for a second but I see Steve holding the helicopter and the roof before it crashed into the pad. Both of them get sent careening into the water below and I dive off the side.

"Magdalene! Over here!" Steve calls from behind me.

Turning, I see him treading water with Bucky passed out in his arms. I sigh in relief.

"Give him to me, I'll help get him to the shore." I say and Steve is happy to hand over the body. I gingerly lay Bucky on the shore in a more hidden spot while Steve clambers out of the water.

I turn to him, "I can't go with you."

He sighs, "I know."

"Take care of him for me. Please" I beg Steve.

He puts a hand on my shoulder, "I will."

I make my way back into the building with Tony and the others. He immediately comes up to me. "Could you find them."

I shake my head no. "I couldn't I'm sorry." I'm hoping no one could see through the lie.

I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. It's from Steve. 'What do you know about other winter soldiers?'

'Not much, I know they existed. We did training with them in Siberia. I never worked with them aside from that. I was designed for Bucky, not them.'

Back in the conference room everyone is trying to do damage control. I'm sitting listening to the Secretary of State and tony talk.

"And I don't suppose you have any idea where they are?"

"We will. GSG 9's got the borders covered. Recon's flying 24/7. They'll get a hit. We'll handle it."

"You don't get it, Stark. It's not yours to handle. It's clear you can't be objective. I'm putting special ops on this."

"What happens when the shooting starts? What, do you kill Steve Rogers?" Natasha asks.

"If we're provoked." Secretary Ross says. "Barnes would've been eliminated in Romania if it wasn't for Rogers. There are dead people who would be alive now. Feel free to check my math."

I want to say something but Tony shoots me a warning look to keep my mouth shut for now. "All due respect, you're not gonna solve this with boys and bullets, Ross. You gotta let us bring them in."

"How would that end any differently than last time?"

I can't take it anymore. "Because you have me. I'm the one person that can control Barnes. I'm case you forgot Hydra designed me to do so if he ever got out of control. I just need to be near enough to touch him, and just like that he is down. You can't control him, Steve can't control him but I can. More than whatever influence he is under from Hydra." My voice speeds up as I continue, "that doctor did something, I could feel it. He put in place old programming. It's mind control, he didn't have a choice."

Tony stops me, "This time I won't be wearing loafers and a silk shirt either. 72 hours, guaranteed."

"36 hours. Barnes. Rogers. Wilson." Secretary Ross says before walking out.

"Thank you, Sir." Tony says giving us a grim look. He sighs. "My left arm is numb. Is that normal?"

Natasha pats him on the shoulder, "Are you alright?"

"Always. 36 hours. Jeez." Tony sigh, this is all taking a toll on him.

"We're seriously understaffed." Natasha states. Yes thank you for the obvious.

"Oh yeah. It'd be great if we had a hulk right about now. Any shot?" Tony looks up at her.

She shakes her head, "you really think he'd be on our side?"

"No." Stark sighs.

"I have an idea." Natasha adds.

"Me too. Where's yours?" Stark asks.

"Downstairs. Where's yours?" Natasha asks confused.

Stark smiles. "Come on feathers, we're going to Queens."