The Price of Freedom

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.

Chava noticed a picture of herself in Steve's compass. Colonel Phillips and Peggy glanced at her and she looked away with a smile.

When the movie ended, she noticed Steve walking up to her.

"What are you doing here?" Chava asked.

"I couldn't leave without saying goodbye to you," he replied.

She smiled and kissed his cheek. "Come back to me. Each of you."

Steve nodded. "We'll do our best."

---

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?" Steve answered smugly.

Steve gazed out across the white mountainous valley. He had promised to come back to Chava, and he wasn't about to break that promise; not now or anytime soon.

"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 noticed he had run out of bullets. He ducked behind a pile of crates.

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.

Steve shot the robotic man, knocking him down.

He ran to the hole in the train.

"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 against the side of the train in shame.

---

"Where's Barnes?" Dugan asked.

Steve looked down as he said, "He fell and I-I couldn't save him."

Chava ran up to Steve and hugged him tightly. After a moment, she pulled away and wiped his tears. "Oh, Steve, I'm so sorry."

Steve nodded and pulled her into his arms again, holding her as tight as he could, as a fresh set of tears fell down his cheeks. Chava struggled to keep hers in, barely managing to do so.