Sentimental Journey

08

Captain America and his Howling Commandos fought HYDRA.

While watching a movie of Captain America and his Howling Commandos, Bucky appeared on screen next to Steve and Anneliese smiled softly.

Peggy noticed a picture of herself in Steve's compass. Anneliese and Colonel Phillips looked at her, the former with a smirk, and she looked away. Anneliese caught sight of Bucky looking at a picture of her and smiled.

---

The next day, Bucky and Steve, after a brief visit, said goodbye to Anneliese, as she wouldn't be going on the mission with them.

Steve hugged his friend. 'See you soon, Lisie.'

Anneliese nodded. 'Be careful, Steve.'

Bucky hugged her and rested his forehead on hers, then stepped back. 'I'm gonna come back to you, doll. I promise.'

'You'd better. I love you, Bucky.'

Bucky smiled. 'I love you too, Lisie. I'll see you soon, okay?'

'Okay.'

---

Bucky and Steve were on a snow-covered mountain while the Howling Commandos prepared to zipline onto the train.

"Remember when I made you ride the Cyclone at Coney Island?" Bucky asked.

"Yeah, and I threw up?" Steve replied.

"This is payback, isn't it?"

"Now why would I do that?"

"We were right," Gabe Jones said. "Dr. Zola's on the train. Hydra dispatcher gave him permission to open up the throttle. Wherever he's going, they must need him bad."

"Let's get going, because they're moving like the devil," James Montgomery warned.

"We only got about a ten-second window," Steve informed. "You miss that window, we're bugs on a windshield."

"Mind the gap."

"Better get moving, bugs!" Dum Dum Dugan said.

"Maintenant!" Jaques Dernier yelled as Steve, Bucky and Gabe ziplined onto the train.

(Now!)

Dr. Arnim Zola, watching Steve on a monitor as he fought his way through the train, cried, "Stop him! Fire again!"

Steve noticed Bucky on the other side of the door. Bucky had run out of bullets. Steve opened the door, nodded to his friend, and tossed him the gun. Bucky caught the gun.

Steve darted forward and pushed a crate, causing the HYDRA soldier to move to one side.

Bucky shot the HYDRA soldier and killed him before saying, "I had him on the ropes."

"I know you did," Steve replied as another trooper with a blaster appeared. "Get down!"

"Fire again!" Dr. Zola ordered. "Kill him! Now!"

Bucky picked up the shield and continued firing before he was blasted through a hole. He was hanging outside the train.

"Bucky!" Steve cried, moving to get his friend. "Hang on! Grab my hand!" Bucky tried to grab his hand, but couldn't and instead, fell. "NO!"

Steve stared after where his friend had gone. He'd failed to save him. And the worst part of it all was that he'd have to tell Anneliese that he wouldn't be coming back. And given what he'd have to tell her, he knew the news would devastate her.