The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (But Sambucky is canon)

Episode 3 (part 2)

Sam stands outside the building next to a rental car Torres ordered for them, waiting for Bucky.

After a few minutes, the door opens, and Sam spins around as Bucky walks out with an unreadable expression on his face.

"Buck, what happened?" he asks Bucky walking past him, headed for the car.

Sam jogs up to him, grabbing his arm stopping him in his tracks, "Buck... what's wrong?" he asks, eyes searching Bucky's.

Nothing. They are completely unreadable.

"Nothing," Bucky says, walking to the driver's seat, "get in. I need to show you something."

Sam warily gets in the passenger seat as Bucky pulls out of the parking lot.

Bucky doesn't say anything as they leave; he gets in the driver's seat and sets off on the road. They sit in silence, Bucky's eyes never leaving the road. Sam flicks his eyes over to Bucky, silently asking what is going on but not wanting to press since he knows how hard it must have been for Bucky and wanting to give him some space.

That all changes when they pull up to an abandoned building in the middle of a dead town.

"Where are we?" Sam asks, looking around him as Bucky gets out of the car, silently walking into the building.

As they enter the building, Bucky closes the door locking it behind them.

He hands Sam a flashlight, "I think we should break Zemo out of prison," he states, casually walking into the next room.

Sam quickly follows him, turning on the flashlight, "what are you talking about? You want to break Zemo out of prison?"

"And where the hell are we, man? Have you lost your mind, Buck?" he exclaims.

Buck continues walking deeper into the room, flashing his light around, "we have no leads, no moves, no nothing."

"What we have is one of the most dangerous men in the world behind bars," Sam retorts.

Bucky flashes the light at Sam, "and we also have eight super soldiers that are loose," he adds in rebuttal.

"Zemo's going to mess with our minds, especially yours. No offense," Sam argues as Bucky flips a switch.

The lights flicker on, "offense," Bucky quips.

"Supersoldiers go against everything he believes in. He may be crazy, but he has got a code," Buck says, brushing past Sam, their shoulders lightly touching.

"Yeah, and I have been on the wrong side of that code, Buck, and so have you," Sam replies.

"He blew up the UN! He killed King T'Chaka and framed you for it! Do you not remember that! Do you think the Wakandans forgot about that!" he exclaims.

"It's a rhetorical question they didn't!"

"I know why this matters to you but come on; it's pushing you off the deep end," Sam reasons.

Bucky walks up to him, "Sam, we don't know where they are getting the serum. We don't even know how many of them there are!"

Sam sighs, turning around rubbing his temples.

"Look... can I walk you through a hypothetical? Can I do that?" Bucky asks.

Sam slowly turns around, alarms on his face, "what did you do?" he asks.

"I didn't do anything."

"Anyways, the weakest point in any system isn't the software, the hardware, it's the meatware, the human element," he explains, tapping his head, "Now, in this lockup, it's nine to one, prisoners to guards. And if two prisoners start fighting, then protocol says four guards have to respond."

Sam's frown deepens, "So why would two prisoners randomly start fighting at that moment?" he questions.

"Who knows? There could be many reasons," Bucky shrugs, "But the point is, these things escalate. Lockdown procedures would have to be initiated, and with all those bodies flying around left and right, it wouldn't be hard to slip down a hallway or two."

"And then if the fire alarm got tripped while the prisoners were being separated, someone could use the chaos to their advantage," he finishes.

Sam looking at Bucky, impressed, "I don't like how casual you are about this Buck; it's unnatural," he says, grinning at him.

"And where are we, man!" he exclaims, looking around.

The door opens, both men's heads turn, eyes flickering to the shadow walking towards them. The light catches on the man's face... Zemo

"Woah, Woah!" Sam shouts, eyes flashing in alarm, starting his advance on Zemo.

Bucky stands in front of him, putting his hands on his chest pushing him back slightly, "we need him, Sam," he pleads.

"You are going back to prison!" Sam shouts, pointing at Zemo Bucky's hands still on his chest, blocking him from Zemo.

"If I may..." Zemo starts.

"NO!"

"Apologies..." Zemo mutters, looking down.

They turn back, facing each other, still only a foot apart, "when Steve decided not to sign the Sakovia accords, you backed him. You broke the law, and you stuck your neck out for me," he says.

Stepping closer, if that was really possible, gently placing his flashlight on Sam's chest, lowering his voice, "I am asking you to do that again."

Sam looks away, biting the inside of his cheek, feeling the warmth of Bucky's body and his pleading stare.

"I- I really think I am invaluable here," Zemo offers.

"Shut up!" Sam exclaims, his voice going low threateningly.

Closing his eyes, he deeply exhales, looking back up at Bucky, "ok," he whispers.

"If we do this, you don't make a move without our permission," he says, turning to Zemo.

Bucky removes the flashlight, them both turning to Zemo.

"Ok, Zemo, where do we start?"