Bound By Purpose

They Called Me Lonely Patriot

"Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth?" I look up from my folded hands in my lap. I know I don't look confident right now, I know I seem tired and scared. The last two days have been a whirl. A SHIELD agent believed dead, back in the spotlight. I look around at all the government officials, all of them know every bit about me now, well almost everything.

"I do." I know there is nothing to hide here that they don't already know. Natasha had been questioned before me and had not particularly left them in the best spirits, but I can't blame her. The fact that she isn't seen as a hero today is concerning to me.

"Agent Moore, these files that have come to our attention in the wake of the DC incident have not painted you in the best light. Your missions are all now common knowledge, your relationship with previous United States soldier James Barnes, have also concerned this council, on the fact that Mr. Barnes is now known as The Winter Soldier... What have you to say about this?" Looking around I see all the cameras and reporters bursting with excitement. I continue to look until my eyes settle on the man making the accusations.

"Everything I did, was for this country and it's well-being."

"And what of the Winter Soldier?" I stare at him, I'd given my statement before the questioning on this matter, I was told it wouldn't come up again.

"James Barnes," I say looking at the cameras now. "pulled both Captain Steve Rogers and I from the Potomac. Saved both of our lives, and then disappeared." This statement causes a bit of an uproar. I'm not asked a follow up until the room has quieted.

"You're saying that The Winter Soldier, is indeed James Barnes and has been in command of his own actions?" They've begun to twist my words, and we've just begun.

"I'm saying that Barnes is still there. I'm saying that 80 years in the hands of Soviets who fry your brain is a tough thing to overcome within a few days back with the people you once knew. No one here, and I mean no one, can know what that's like." Sensing I might have him beat on a subject, he changes direction.

"This has not been the first time that you've had an encounter with this man..."

"We were engaged to be married during the war..."

"It says here..." He holds up a printed copy of my file and drops it onto the desk in front of him reverting attention back to his authority over the room. "You've been deployed to Russia twice, once for the search of enhanced human beings that may have been employed by the Soviets, and in 1991 you were deployed with three other SHIELD agents to track down this rogue element. Please tell the council how your path entwined with Mr. Barnes during these two deployments."

Situating myself I sit up straighter, and put my hands on the table. Though it's all there in black and white, I will tell it with pride and passion. "In 1963 I was sent to the Soviet Union during a group effort by the CIA and SHIELD in the effort to find what advancements had been made in Soviet soldiers since WWII. I had no knowledge that James was alive at that time. I was however caught and tortured over the next few weeks... I do not wish to state those details now, they're in my folder if you truly want them. The Winter Soldier was there, and he broke me out, got me to safety. That was the first time I'd seen my fiance in nearly 20 years, of course I thought I was seeing a ghost, probably a lot how you all are feeling looking at me now." Looking around the room I see the majority of the people tearing through printed copies of my file searching for the details of my capture, torture and escape. There are, however, one or two people who are looking me straight on with compassion. I continue, hoping to drive more towards having a heart. "The second deployment was taken in pursuit of the killer of Howard and Maria Stark and what that killer took from their car. We still don't know who did the killing but we did find evidence of enhanced individuals and that Bucky Barnes had a hand in transporting the serum in the car to a Soviet base." I stop here thinking back, if only I'd found him then... I could've saved him, and we could've ran.