"I've got time and patience," Steve said with a bit of a grin. "I'll figure out how to make you believe me."

"I look forward to that," Hillary said. She squeezed his hand a little bit and grinned.

Two weeks later or so, Liz was in the apartment again trying to keep track of Hillary while she shed. But she had worked out the steam shower so that it worked.

Of course, that also meant that she heard the news story before anyone could warn her about it, since she was sitting watching TV to pass the time. She went absolutely still when the reporter went into a story about two of the Avengers seeing ladies. A bad cell phone picture of her and Bucky at the diner was shown, the photographer obviously on the other side of the glass outside diner. And next went up another bad picture of Hillary and Steve in the tea shop, along with their names and some tidbits the reporters had managed to dig up on them.

Liz went cold and very, very still. This was bad. Very, very bad.

Hillary went very still as well when she saw the news report.

"This is bad," she breathed, unable to look away from the grainy, badly-shot photos on the screen. "This is so bad."

Back at the tower, Bucky froze when he saw the news cast. His expression went blank and cold, and his shoulders tensed so much that the socket housing for his metal arm pulled at the flesh where it connected. He was definitely not happy about the news report.

It was very bad, and not just for the reasons of the press getting into them. It also meant that anyone who had known her from before she left the Extremis program knew where to find her, and that would be very, very bad.

"Well, shit."

Steve's eyes narrowed and his hands balled into fists. Oh no, he was not happy about this at all. "Tony?" he asked, his voice far too even.

"On it," Tony said, already digging in to see if he could find out who got the girls' names and the pictures, and to see what kind of damage control he could do. Or, more likely, his press team could do, because they were so used to running damage control it wasn't even funny.

Bucky could feel Liz's distress, and was already preparing to go to her apartment and take her somewhere safe. Nobody threatened what was precious to him, and he was going to make sure she stayed safe.

Liz wasn't going anywhere, not while Hillary was shedding. That didn't mean she wasn't distressed and freaking out, but she wasn't going to leave Hillary.

"I'll keep an eye on this, you need to eat something, you haven't eaten since yesterday."

"Not hungry," Hillary muttered, watching the news cast play again. It seemed to be a very 'important' segment, since it was being touched on several times. She glanced at Liz. "You should go, before anyone tracks you down. Text Barnes, let him know where you go. I'll be alright on my own for a bit."

"I'm not leaving you on your own here," Liz said stubbornly, crossing her arms over her chest. Dammit, she hadn't had to run in a few years, she hated it. And she hated leaving Hillary, especially like this.

"You might not have a choice," Hillary pointed out. "I can take care of myself, it's not like I'm incapable of moving. It won't be comfortable, but I can get out of here on my own and hide somewhere until I can look more normal."

Liz ran a hand through her hair. She knew that Hillary was right, but she didn't like it.

"I don't like leaving you when you're like this," she said. "Besides, it will take them a few days to track me down to the apartment, and you should only have a day of shedding left, maybe two."

"Which is why you need to get out while you can," Hillary said. She shifted so she was sitting on the arm of the couch. "Contact Barnes. Maybe he knows of somewhere you can lay low for a while. I'll be okay for a couple of days, until I'm done shedding."

Liz finally gave in with a sigh. "Fine," she said. "But you're texting Steve to ask him to keep an eye on the place. He doesn't have to come in if you don't want him to, but I don't want to leave you here unprotected if they do try to come after me, okay?"

Hillary nodded.

"Alright," she said. She was a little apprehensive about Steve seeing her like this, but she knew for a fact she would feel safer if he was around. "Go call Barnes and see what plan you can make."

Liz made a face but pulled her phone out, calling Bucky and waiting for him to pick up. She moved back to her room to pack up a bag.

Bucky barely twitched when his phone rang. The ice of the Winter Soldier cracked a bit when he saw Liz's name.

"Are you okay?" he asked, struggling to get the Winter Soldier back under control.

"Yeah. Thinking I should probably vanish for a little while, until things calm down." Liz licked her lips, nervous. "I... may have gotten lax in keeping safe houses."

That made Bucky's expression frost a little again.

"I know of some places," he said. "I can make sure you're safe."

"If that's..." Liz swallowed, closing her eyes briefly. "If that's okay. If you can. You don't have to, I can still hide myself well enough."

"I refuse to let something happen to you because I wasn't there," Bucky said flatly. He wasn't even going to consider leaving her to handle it on her own. "Be ready to leave." Even if he had to stash her at the Tower for a few days while he found a suitable safe house, he would look after her.

"I'll be ready in half an hour." It would only take her that long to pack the things she'd need and make sure that Hillary was taken care of. "I'll see you then."

"I'll be there," Bucky said. As soon as he hung up, he glanced at Steve. "I'm going to go get Liz. You want to look after your girl, now's the time."

Steve nodded. "Deep breath, Buck. She'll be okay." He could tell that Bucky was less Bucky and more Winter Soldier at the moment.

Liz finished throwing things together and headed back to the living room. "I'm heaving in a little under half an hour."

"I need to make sure she's safe," Bucky said. "Then I'll relax." Because he knew that's what Steve wanted him to do.

"Alright," Hillary said. "I'll be alright. You worry about yourself for now. Let me know when you make it somewhere safe."

"Just let me know that you're both fine once you've settled in," Steve said. He knew asking for more than that was useless, but that much Bucky should be able to do.

Liz nodded. "I'll let you know. Not where, but when we've settled in." She could do that much. "You want anything before I go?"