Frostbite: Blood in the Winter// Third Book of The Frost Bite Series.

Plan for the Fall of HYDRA

We sat at a round table and Nick Fury held a photo of Alexander Pierce. My stomach had been stitched up, gauze had been wrapped around my torso and I was given a new shirt. The doctor told me that I would heal faster than Natasha because of how clean the cut was, but I was still in pain. 

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

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

"I don't think the Council's accepting my calls anymore." Fury said, opening a case that contained three blue micro chips.

"What's that?" Sam asked.

"Once the Helicarriers reach three thousand feet, they'll triangulate with Insight satellites becoming fully weaponized." Maria explained, turning a laptop to show us a map on the screen of a helicarrier connecting with five satellites.

"We need to breach those carriers and replace the targeting blades with our own." Fury added as the screen showed the inside of a carrier that held a chip port.

"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 going to die." Maria said.

"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." Fury finished.

I chewed on my inner lip. 'Salvage what's left.' My brows lowered on my forehead and I shook my head. 

"No," I said and Fury looked at me. "We can't salvage anything." 

"We're not just taking down the carriers, Nick." Steve agreed. "We're taking down SHIELD."

"SHIELD had nothing to do with it." Fury argued.

"HYDRA is SHIELD, there's nothing we can do," I said. "They both go." 

"You gave me this mission, this is how it ends," Steve began. "SHIELD's been compromised, you've said so yourself. HYDRA was right under our nose and nobody noticed."

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

"And how many paid the price before you did?" Steve's voice had raised.

"Look, I didn't know about Barnes." Fury looked down.

"Or Ellie for that matter?" Steve pointed at me to make a point. "Even if you had, would you have told us? Or would you have compartmentalized that too? SHIELD, HYDRA, it all goes."

"He's right," Maria looked at Fury, who then looked at Natasha, then at Sam.

"Don't look at me," Sam said. "I do what he does, just slower." 

Fury looked at all of us once more before chuckling.

"Well, looks like you're giving the orders now, Captain."

~~~

Once our plan had been devised we all split up for a bit to catch ourselves, to think, to have time alone. Steve took me up to the bridge above the facility for fresh air. He stood at the railings and stared into the forest while I sat on the ground with my back to the concrete, my eyes closed and my head tilted up to let the sun shine on my face. 

"You're going to get sunburnt." Steve said.

"You're right, but I've never done this before and it kind of feels nice." I replied, smiling.

"You never knew it was Bucky?" He asked and I opened my eyes.

I looked at Steve and my forehead creased. That sympathetic look switched to an irritated gaze. He should know better than to ask that question. 

"If I did, we would have been long gone out of that HYDRA facility and running towards freedom." I answered and I pointed my gaze downward. "They wiped our memories Steve, he was a stranger. I wish I had known it was him." 

Sam began walking towards us from the end of the bridge. I got off the ground and stood next to Steve. 

"He's gonna be there, y'know?" Sam said as he approached.

"I know." Steve nodded.

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

"I don't know if I could do that." Steve sighed. 

"There's still some Bucky in him, he can be brought back, I'm sure of it." I said. 

"Well, he might not give you a choice." Sam replied. "He doesn't even know who Steve is."

"He will." Steve looked at Sam. "Gear up, it's time." He began to walk down the bridge and I had no choice but to follow.

"You going to wear that?" Sam asked us and I turned and shrugged.

"No. If you're going to fight a war, you got to wear a uniform." Steve smiled at me and I knew where we were headed.

~~~~

"Steve, they even included the gauntlets!" I said, looking down at my old uniform as Steve and I were changing in a coed bathroom at the Smithsonian. "Man, I missed this suit!"
I still was wearing my skate boots, so I wouldn't have to wear my old ones.

"Shh, we might get caught." Steve's back was turned to me as I changed.

We left the bathroom and hid behind a pillar as an old Smithsonian guard stared up at the Howling Commandos exhibit, noticing that Steve and I's uniforms were gone.

"Oh, man. I am so fired!"

~~~~

Steve, Sam, Maria and I walked up a hill leaving the forest and looked at the top of the Triskelion that peaked over the trees.

"You ready?" Steve asked me.

"If I wasn't, it'd be a shame." I answered.