Stairway to the Stars

05

BUCHAREST

Phillip was in civvies at a fruit store. He bought some plums while Bucky spoke in Romanian.

(assumed translation: How are they? Are they good? Give me six, thank you.)

In a black cap and casual jacket, Bucky and Phillip walked along, scanning around. Across the street, they spotted a twenty-something vender at a news-stand watching them, mainly focused on Phillip. Phillip glanced away, then looked back at the vender who was still watching him. The vender ran from his kiosk. Phillip went over and picked up a paper. On the front page there was surveillance-photos of a man and the headline: 'Winter Soldier cautat pentru Bombardmentul din Viena'. Phillip glanced around tensely.

"Buck, this wasn't me," Phillip said. "You and Bea can vouch."

Bucky nodded. "I know. Let's get back to the apartment and figure out what to do."

---

In his dark blue armored suit with his shield on his arm, Steve was in a small apartment. He looked around. There was a mattress with disheveled covers and various bits of cheap looking furniture. The kitchen and bedroom were in the same room. Steve found a notebook on top of the fridge. He picked it up and opened it. There were tabs of varying colors sticking out from amongst the pages.

Bea walked up and crossed her arms. "Steve? What are you doing here?"

Sam over the radio said, "Heads up, Cap. German Special Forces, approaching from the south."

"Understood," Steve replied. Bucky and Phillip were standing behind them.

Steve and Bea slowly turned to face them and he focused on Phillip as he asked, "Do you know me?"

Phillip stared at him as he replied, "You're Steve. I read about you in a museum. I know my girl and my brother."

"They've set the perimeter," Sam warned.

"I know you're nervous. And you have plenty of reason to be. But you're lying."

"I wasn't in Vienna. I don't do that anymore."

"They're entering the building," Sam informed.

"Well, the people who think you did are coming here now," Steve told him. "And they're not planning on taking you alive."

"That's smart," Bucky said. "Good strategy."

"They're on the roof," Sam informed. "I'm compromised."

Armed cops ran upstairs.

Steve shook his head and said, "This doesn't have end in a fight, Phillip."

Outside the door, a cop readied a battering ram.

"It always ends in a fight," Phillip replied in a tired tone.

"Five seconds," Sam warned.

"You pulled me, Bucky and Bea from the river. Why?" Steve asked.

"I don't know," Phillip answered.

"Three seconds!" Sam cried.

"Yes, you do," Steve said.

"Breach! Breach! Breach!"

A grenade crashed through the window. Phillip grabbed Bea, who grabbed Alpine, while Bucky kicked it to Steve who smothered it with his shield.

A GSG-9 Soldier yelled, "Schieß die Tür auf!"

(Shoot the door!)

The cop slammed the battering ram against the door. Phillip shielded himself, Bucky and Bea with the mattress against an attack that came from the window. He blocked the door with a table as cops swung in on cables. Steve pulled the rug from under a policeman, sending him flying. Phillip slammed another policeman into the wall while Bucky shot at them.