Awaking

The next morning Bucky had to have a few more tests done, so Steve decided to give Bucky is privacy and that also gave Steve time to talk to T’challa before the procedure started that afternoon. Even before Steve could get a word out about Bucky and his encounter the king cut him off. “I know it must have been hard seeing him that state” T’challa spoke sadly. “ It was a bit shocking but he sounded more at peace and relaxed than I thought he would be,” “He spoke to you!” T’challa replied with urgency. ‘Yeah?” replied Steve slightly confused. “He hasn’t said a word to any of the doctors since he got out, he hasn’t physically responded in anyway,” “Oh” Steve said quietly. Steve didn’t know what to think. Did Bucky only respond to Steve, was in Winter Soldier mode for the rest of the time.
Steve went back to his room to prepare for the procedure. When it was time he threw on some sweatpants and an underarmour shirt. Steve didn’t know how hard it would be to get his Bucky back. When Steve entered the room he was surprised at what he saw. There was Bucky strapped down strapped down to a chair that looked a like the one they saw in Siberia. Even though Steve himself was starting to getting nervous and stressed out just by looking at it, Bucky seemed fearful but made no attempt to escape. All the sudden T’challa’s voice came over a loudspeaker “Captain Rogers, to ensure the procedure targets the brain correctly the setting must reflect the setting Sergeant Barnes was originally put in” and with that Steve understood what T’challa was saying but still didn’t like to. Bucky gave Steve a small reassuring nod as too it is ok. “Are you both ready?” spoke T’challa. Steve and Bucky both nodded; there was no going back now. A robotic voice started speaking Russian and suddenly the calm expression was ripped away and replaced with a painful distorted face full of fear. Steve could have closed his eyes but he could not block out the horrible scream. The screams, oh the screams they sounded like a tortured animal. Steve couldn’t take the pain in Bucky’s was going through. It wasn’t just Bucky being tortured it was like Steve was being tortured himself.
As soon as the last word was spoken the screams ended and the blank expressionless face of the Winter Soldier appeared. The restraints were lifted and Steve brain almost didn’t register Bucky getting up. In a quick desperate dodge Steve barely missed Bucky or the Winter Soldier's punch. Steve was unbalanced and the Winter Soldier took that to as an opening to knock Steve on the ground. The Winter soldier strangled Steve and although unbalanced by the missing appendage still had a wicked strong grip around Steve’s neck. Steve knew he stood no chance against his best friend and used his last energy to say one simple thing “I'm with you till the end of the line,” The Winter Soldier's eyes widened and he stumbled to his knees. “Bucky?’ Steve gasped. “Yeah,” and with that Bucky passed out. Steve couldn't imagine how much energy that must have took. Steve still breathing heavily crawled over to his limp friend. Before he could wrap him in his arms like he did the night before T’challa came bursting through the door. “Don’t wake him yet!” “why?” question Steve backing away from his friend with surprise. “We have to scan his brain activity to see how it reacts to the trigger words” T’challa answered a bit nicer. “ Your friend should be awake in a few hours to do repeat the procedure.” Steve watched helplessly as more doctors came in to take Bucky away. What Steve couldn’t get out of his was the sight of Bucky realizing what he had done. Steve wasn’t mad at Bucky he was just more upset with himself that he hadn’t saved Bucky sooner.