"A friend is someone who will catch you when you fall."

- Jackie Pisano

"Cause I'm with you 'til the end of the line."

He saw the confusion and anguish on Bucky's face as he froze mid-blow, and then there was a cracking sound as some part of the Helicarrier gave way.

Then Steve was falling.

He had the impression of brilliant light and sound. Then his world went black.

When he woke up, he was in bed in a well-lit room, and Thor was dozing in a chair beside him. The demigod came instantly awake when Steve stirred.

"My friend," he said, a smile spreading across his face. "I am glad to see you wake. I feared that even you would not survive your injuries."

Steve fought to make his thoughts run in a semi-ordered fashion. "I'm in Asgard?"

"Aye, in the Houses of Healing. When you called me, I traveled here at once and spoke with Heimdall. It was he who caught you when you fell."

Steve closed his eyes wearily. "Thanks, Thor," he said. "I wasn't sure I'd need it, but it's good to know you had my back. Falling to my death isn't something I want to repeat." A sudden thought struck him, and he cursed himself that it had taken this long. "Bucky? Did Heimdall bring him too?"

Thor's forehead creased. "The man with the metal arm? I was not sure it was he you spoke of, for Heimdall said it was he who injured you. Yet you also called him friend."

"That's him," Steve said anxiously. "Is he here?"

"He is." Thor shifted his weight to the side. Weakly lifting his head, Steve caught a glimpse of the Winter Soldier in the bed behind Thor. Although Steve couldn't see any injuries, Bucky was still unconscious.

"What's wrong with him?" he asked anxiously.

"He attacked me when we brought him aboard the Bifrost," Thor said. "I was forced to subdue him lest he do you or himself an injury. I thought it best that he should be placed into an enchanted sleep until his fate could be decided." He looked oddly bashful. "I hope I did not choose ill."

"No. Thanks, Thor," Steve said fervently. "I owe you, buddy."

"Well then, you can repay me by healing as quickly as you can," Thor said. "I have sent messages to Midgard, telling your friends that you are safe." He stood, then glanced back at Bucky's unconscious form. "I understand now why you did not simply ask me to take part in the battle. When you are full recovered, the healers here will wake him, and Heimdall will send you to a suitable place." He shrugged apologetically. "I would wait to escort you, but now that you are awake, I must return to Jane. She was most understanding of my need to return to Asgard, but I have lingered here longer than expected."

"Go. You've already done everything I asked and more," Steve said. The effort of talking was starting to tire him. "Tell her I said hi."

"I shall," Thor said gravely. At the door, however, he stopped and turned. "Captain..." he said hesitantly. "This chance you have to redeem your comrade. It is a chance that Loki and I...well, I would have given much to have that chance, not just to be thrown together by circumstance and loss." Pain flickered across his face. "Do not waste it."

Steve looked over at Bucky, and his heart twinged with a mix of pain and terrible hope. "I'll try not to, Thor," he said. "I'll try my hardest."

After a moment, Thor nodded. "Then sleep well, my friend."

He departed.

For a moment, Steve let himself worry. There was no guarantee that his attempts with Bucky would go any better than Thor's had with Loki. And now that Loki was dead, there was no chance to make amends.

Then, with effort, Steve pushed it from his mind. Buck was alive. He was here. With no need to worry here about SHIELD or HYDRA, or the countless questions he'd be asked, Steve Rogers settled back and began making plans.