Bucky takes her hand, lacing his fingers with hers the same way he had the first time here in the lab, and forces himself not to think about the way her hands had felt last night - any part of it. He offers her a quick, reassuring smile.

"Here we go," he says, dryly, as Howard counts off and the switches flip.

"Resonance rate seems stable at first glance," one of the assistants offers, uncertain. Howard's gaze snaps up and he glares at them. "Ask it or state it, don't dither about it!"