Long Ago and Far Away

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.

Louise noticed a picture of herself in Steve's compass. Colonel Phillips and Peggy glanced at the blonde and Louise looked away with a flush of her cheeks.

---

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

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

"Yeah, and I threw up and she screamed bloody murder?" Steve replied.

"This is payback, isn't it?"

"Now why would I do that?" Steve answered in a smug tone.

Bucky closed his eyes, silently praying he'd come back to his sister. He pulled a letter out from his pocket and turned to his friend. "Steve, if I don't make it back, I need you to give this to Louise."

"Buck, you're gonna make it. We all are."

"Take the damn letter Rogers, and give it to my sister if I don't make it back." He nearly forced the letter into Steve's hand.

Steve's fingers curled around the paper as he met his friend's eyes. There, he found a foreign gaze of a frightened boy masked with false confidence.

He nodded. "Okay."

"Promise me you'll give it to her."

"I promise."

Bucky gave him a small smile and closed his eyes for a brief moment, uttering another silent prayer to see his sister again.

"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. 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 shot the man coming for him. He continued shooting and soon ran out of bullets. He ducked behind a pile of crates, deciding in that moment to embrace death as an old friend rather than a bitter enemy.

Steve opened the door, nodded to his friend, and tossed Bucky 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.

The robotic man fired again and he was blasted through a hole.

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

Steve rested his head on the side of the train, fighting against the forming tears. His best friend was gone. He knew he had to be the one to tell Louise, no matter how painful and difficult it would be.

---

The Howling Commandos gathered together and Dugan asked, "Where's Barnes?"

Steve glanced down before saying, "I-I couldn't save him." He walked away, tears stinging his eyes.

Louise ran up with a smile which quickly turned to a frown. "Steve, where's Bucky?"

"Lu, I'm so sorry."

"No. Please. Steve, where is he?!"

"I couldn't save him. I tried. But the bar gave way and he fell."

She stepped back, shaking her head as she whispered, "No. You're lying to me. He's gonna come strolling in. He'll be here."

"Louise, no. He won't. He's gone. I'm so sorry."

Tears stung her eyes as she said softly, "Can you please go? I need to be alone right now."

Steve nodded. "Sure. I'll be here when you're ready to talk."

LONDON - BAR

Steve made his way to the bar where he had enlisted his Howling Commandos.

Peggy followed the voice of a radio through the rubble.

A man on the radio said, "Blackout is still in effect throughout the London area. Please wait for the all-clear. Your attention, please. All citizens shall remain indoors until further notice. Blackout is still in effect throughout the London area."

Peggy found Steve pouring himself a drink.

Steve glanced up and said, "Dr. Erskine said that... the serum wouldn't just affect
my muscles, it would affect my cells. Create a protective system of regeneration and healing. Which means um... I can't get drunk. Did you know that?"

Peggy looked at him before saying, "Your metabolism burns four times faster than the average person. He thought it could be one of the side effects." She changed the subject. "It wasn't your fault."

"Did you read the reports?"

"Yes."

"Then you know that's not true."

"You did everything you could. Did you believe in your friend? Did you respect him?" Steve looked at her as if to say yes. "Then stop blaming yourselves. Allow Barnes the dignity of his choice. He damn well must have thought you and Louise were worth it."

"I'm goin' after Schmidt. I'm not gonna stop till all of HYDRA is dead or captured."

"You won't be alone."