Steve looked up at his best friend. Or, rather, the man who had once been his best friend. Now, he was the cause of every ache and pain, emotionally and physically, currently trying to kill him.

But he refused to fight for his life.

The Winter Soldier – no, Bucky – stared at him in utter confusion and disbelief. Steve could almost see his questions flickering in his eyes. Why isn't he fighting? Why is he talking like I'm his best friend?

Because you are my best friend, Steve responded silently.

"Cause I'm with you to the end of the line," he rasped instead.

Bucky stared. His fist froze before slamming into his swelling face again. His weight shifted ever so slightly, but it felt to Steve like he was about to get off. His heart lifted.

Just then, another explosion rocked the helicarrier. The glass Steve had been lying on shattered.

He fell.

Bucky grabbed a solid bar and did not fall.

Debris fell with him as he fell into the water for the second time in his unnaturally long life. He felt oddly at peace, despite knowing death lurked only minutes away. He closed his eyes, all too ready to embrace it.

The Potomac River wrapped around him and sucked him down. The icy water stung at first, but he soon grew too numb to care. Exhaustion and agony made it impossible to even try to hold his breath. Blackness edged into his vision.

And then there was a hand. As cold as the water was, the hand was colder. It gripped the fabric on his shoulder and began to tug. A moment later, he found himself sucking in air rather than water. After another few moments, he dropped down onto dry land. He cracked open his eyes, still coughing up water, to see a familiar figure walking away.

Bucky had saved him.

Then he found himself alone again, too weak to call for help, if his coms even worked anymore. He was helpless and dying.

But Bucky had saved him. It was all he could really bring himself to care about just then.

"Steve!" someone shouted. Sam? How had he found him? Knees hit the ground beside him and a hand pressed against the gunshot wound in his gut. "Stay with me, Steve," Sam hissed. Probably into a com of his own, he shouted, "I found him! I need a med team NOW!"

"What happened?" he asked, talking to Steve again.

"He saved me," Steve breathed.

And that was all the strength he had to give.