Never Surrender // TFATWS

02

A man laughed as the door was opened by an employee, and said, "I mean... Thank you." Three people walked through the door. "Oh... Well, that's done."

"Yeah," the woman agreed, glancing at her watch. "Half hour before last call?"

The man turned. "I can't, guys. I have to prep for tomorrow's session."

"Really?"

"You..." the other man began. "Ooh!" He chuckled.

A man grunted as he was yanked through a wall of art from behind.

The Winter Soldier burst through the hole in the wall and the man grunted.

Men grunted, groaned and spoke in Russian as the Winter Soldier killed them with a knife and gunshots rang out as they were shot.

The Winter Soldier grabbed a man by the throat and walked forward.

"Hail HYDRA," the Winter Soldier said as the man slumped to the ground.

The man who had tried to leave earlier glanced back to see the Winter Soldier. He tried unlocking the door as he muttered, "Shit."

The man's hand was shaking, and he couldn't get the key into the keyhole.

The Winter Soldier sauntered toward the man.

His breath trembled before he said, "Please." He panted and stuttered, "I didn't see anything. I didn't see anything. I didn't see anything."

The Winter Soldier shot him point blank.

---

Bucky's eyes shot open and he breathed heavily as he sat up. Mirna stirred and called, "James?"

Bucky looked away. "I'm okay, doll."

She ran her fingers through his hair. "I know you're not. All your wakings in the middle of the night worry me. I wish you'd talk to me."

"I can't, Mir. It's... It's too much."

"All I want to do is help, and I don't feel like I am."

Bucky took her hands, bringing them close and kissed them. "Mirna, you've helped more than you'll ever know. Just by being here your helping."

She sighed. "It doesn't feel like it. But I promise you, whenever you are ready, I'm here."

He nodded and kissed her forehead. "I love you, Mirna." He smiled at a softly snoring Nicola. "And our little girl."

"I love you too, James." She placed her hand on his and the two shared a soft smile as they looked at their sleeping daughter.

---

"So, Mr. Barnes, are you still having nightmares?" Dr. Raynor asked. Bucky stared at her blankly. "James, I asked you a question. Are you still having nightmares?"

"No," Bucky replied in a deadpan tone.

"We've been doing this long enough that I can tell when you're lying. Well, you seem a little off today. Did something happen recently?"

"No." Bucky shook his head slightly.

She looked at Bucky. "You're a civilian now. With your history, the government needs to know that you're not gonna..." She balled a fist and shook it slowly. Bucky nodded, understanding. "It's a condition of your pardon. So, tell me about your most recent nightmare."

"I didn't have a nightmare," Bucky retorted.

Dr. Raynor breathed deeply, pulled out her pen and clicked it.

"Oh, come on," Bucky said. "Really? You're gonna do the notebook thing? Why? It's passive aggressive."

Dr. Raynor looked at him. "You don't talk, I write."