Sentimental Journey

11

Fury looked at a photo of Pierce. "This man declined the Nobel Peace Prize. He said, "Peace wasn't an achievement, it was a responsibility." See, it's stuff like this that gives me trust issues."

"We have to stop the launch," Natasha said.

"I don't think the Council's accepting my calls anymore." Fury opened a case containing three chips.

"What's that?" Sam asked.

"Once the Helicarriers reach three thousand feet, they'll triangulate with Insight satellites becoming fully weaponized," Hill answered.

"We need to breach those carriers and replace their targeting blades with our own," Fury said.

"One or two won't cut it. We need to link all three carriers for this to work, because if even one of those ships remains operational a whole lot of people are gonna die."

"We have to assume everyone aboard those carriers is HYDRA. We need to get pass them, insert the server blades, and maybe, just maybe, we can salvage what's left..."

"We're not salvaging anything," Steve argued. "We're not just taking down the carriers, Nick, we're taking down S.H.I.E.L.D."

"S.H.I.E.L.D. had nothing to do with it."

"You gave me and Lisie this mission, this is how it ends. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s been compromised, you said so yourself. HYDRA grew right under your nose and nobody noticed."

"Why do you think we're meeting in this cave? I noticed."

'And how many paid the price before you did?' Anneliese signed furiously.

"Look, I didn't know about Barnes."

'Even if you have, would you have told me or Steve? Or would you have compartmentalized that too?'

Steve glanced at her, then turned back to Fury. "S.H.I.E.L.D., HYDRA, it all goes."

"He's right," Hill agreed. Fury looked at Natasha, then Sam.

"Don't look at me," Sam protested. "I do what they do, just slower."

"Well... Looks like you're giving the orders now, Captain, Miss Schulz."

---

Steve  stood on a bridge next to Anneliese and had a flashback to the time they spent with Bucky after his mother's funeral.

"We looked for you after," Bucky said. "My folks wanted to give you a ride to the cemetery."

They walked toward Steve's apartment.

"I know, I'm sorry," Steve apologized. "I just... kind of wanted to be alone."

"How was it?"

"It was okay. She's next to Dad."

"I was gonna ask..."

"I know what you're gonna say, Buck, I just..."

"We can put the couch cushions on the floor like when we were kids. It'll be fun. All you gotta do is shine Lisie's and my shoes, maybe take out the trash." As they got to the apartment door, Steve tried to find his keys, Bucky kicked a brick aside, picked up the apartment keys from under it and gave them to Steve. "Come on."

"Thank you, Buck, but I can get by on our own."

"The thing is, you don't have to." Bucky gave Steve a friendly pat on the shoulder. "I'm with you until the end of the line, pal."

Anneliese flashed back to a conversation she'd had with Bucky after a rude experience.

'You okay, Lisie?' Bucky asked.

Anneliese shrugged. 'Why are people so mean to those who are different? I mean, this is exactly how I was treated in Germany.'

'What exactly do you mean? Surely it wasn't that bad?'

She met his eyes. 'Why do you think I escaped to America? I would have been sent to a work camp at the very least.'

'Because you're deaf?'

'Yes. In the Führer's eyes, I'm inferior. And what those boys said about me... I don't know what they said, but they were pointing and laughing. It's not hard to put two and two together.'

Bucky cupped her face a moment. 'Anneliese, no matter what people say, because some will never be nice and make fun, you're worth so much more than they say.'

'I still don't understand how you accept my disability without fail.'

'Because, Anneliese, like me, you're a person worthy of the utmost respect.'

Steve and Anneliese's thoughts of Bucky were interrupted as Sam joined them on the bridge.

"He's gonna be there, you know?" Sam said.

"I know," Steve replied.

"Look, whoever he used to be, the guy he is now, I don't think he's the kind you save. He's the kind you stop."

"I don't know if I can do that," Steve admitted. "I doubt Lisie can."

"Well, he might not give you two a choice. He doesn't know either of you."

"He will," Steve replied in a determined tone. "Gear up, it's time." He turned and started to walk off.

"You gonna wear that?"

"No. If you're gonna fight a war, you gotta wear a uniform."

Anneliese followed her friend with a hopeful expression. She would save the man she adored, no matter how long it took.

---

As a guard walked in the Smithsonian Museum, when he looked over to the Captain America exhibit, he noticed the Captain America WWII uniform that was on the dummy had been stolen.

"Oh, man. I am so fired!" the Smithsonian Guard said.