Things had cooled off finally. In the months that it took to find Bucky, the mess with SHIELD faded into a distant background noise. People forget and move on. It happens. There had been a few controversial weeks where Maria Hill come forward and relaunched a smaller sect of SHIELD--no doubt with Fury's guidance.

Steve had opted to be just stand-by status. The only reason he should be brought in is if the world might end. He only stays because of Fury anyway. Natasha's a good reason too but Bucky is his priority right now and Fury knows it. He makes it a mission and that's the end of that. The Winter Soldier could be an asset if they get him back on his feet. Steve doesn't like the phrasing but he goes anyway. Brings him back.

Things get better after that. Steve doesn't care that he still forgets things about them, about the world, about anything. He's okay with helping him slowly regain it all and just being there to support him. These are easily becoming some of the happiest days of his life. They get complacent. Happiness does that to people.

It's also when things start to go horribly wrong.