Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to the characters involved in this story, only my original character. All rights to their respected owners.
Author's Note:
Hey Guys, I haven't really been focusing on Fan Fiction for a good year now. Too much has been happening since I was in Texas last year and since I've been home I've been swept up in planning my wedding since I got engaged just before Christmas! Since I have some time now before I have to put in my immigration papers to go join my fiance and my dog overseas at the end of the year I thought I might as well go back to some of my old stories and get back into it.
I will be updating this story leisurely so hopefully that should be often enough to keep you guys interested in it! I am also updating it as I go along, so brace yourself for any random changes!
Please be patient with me!
:)
Underground Base
Present Day
Outside Washingon D.C
Her cell was dark. It was always dark. She was the only one inside hidden off in some back corner of the facility where no one would find her unless they knew exactly where to look. The cell was basic. Too basic. There was a tiny window just above her head that at least let her see when it was finally morning. Her head was chained down to the floor by a rusting chain leaving her bound to the cot they had set up in the corner. She tugged the blanket up over her legs to keep in some of the heat that had spread through her cell for once. The guard they had stationed outside her cell had long grown tired of watching her just stare at the floor and had walked back to the control room. She sighed closing her eyes for a moment as she listened to the screams that resonated down the corridor to her.
"Open the bars.."
She looked up boredly at the men who had been keeping her for so long - or at least the ones for this decade - She didn't move or even acknowledge him as they opened up her cell door.
"Good morning Cassandra," He grinned, "Can I call ya' Cassie?" She growled at him eliciting a chuckle, "Of course not.." He clasped his hands together, "Although if you play nice today.."
Cassandra's eyes grew wide as she stared up at him. "You mean-" She stuttered, her voice having grown hoarse from the dehydration. "You'll let me see him?" She asked. "Alone?"
He smirked, "If you cooperate," He shrugged as if it wasn't a big ask. "We'll let you see him - alone - and let's just hope this time he doesn't try to kill you."
She frowned looking down at her bruised hands, however, her simple gold band seemed untouched after all this time on her finger. "Whatever you want." She offered, "I just want to see him."
Rumlow turned to the guards and gave a sharp nod, the men moved hesitantly towards her. She watched them carefully, the largest of the three crouched down beside her cot to unlatch the chain from the floor whilst the other two stood not too far behind with their guns trained on her. "We have another test for you today" Rumlow announced as she was hauled up to her feet. She let out a hiss as her wounded feet hit the cold ground, "Boys.." He droned, "Perhaps our lovely nurse here would be more comfortable if she had some shoes?"
"Sir.." One of them protested, "The last time she had shoes. She - She broke my nose." She hid the smirk behind her unkempt hair as he laughed.
"So you harmed her?" He questioned. "God damnit! You heard what the boss said." He scolded. "We do not harm her or we risk losing the asset." The guards nodded. "Good." He smirked. "Go get the damn woman some shoes."
She rolled her eyes as her worn-out old army boots were thrown down at her feet along with a pair of socks. She arched her brow up at Rumlow. "Thanks.." She muttered crouching down to pull them onto her feet. "Can we get this over now?"
"Now there's that military can-do attitude.." Rumlow commented as he led her out towards one of the largest rooms in the entire facility. She looked around confused. This wasn't normally where they would take her. She would just be held in a small cramped room. The room looked like it was encased in 24-carat gold and was oddly warm - as much as she didn't care to admit it she welcomed the warmth. Then her gaze landed on the chair. "Strap her down." He instructed as she was forced down. She stared up at the contraption above her and she felt her blood run cold. This was where they wiped him.
Cassandra took in a deep breath before she spoke. "What am I testing for you delightful assholes today?" She held her breath as they moved to strike her only to have the Physician interrupt.
"We need her stress levels to be relatively stable for this procedure to work." He spoke. She shivered at the accent that came along with his instructions. She did not need to be poked and prodded yet again by another Dr. Zola wannabe. "Miss.." Her eyes flickered up to look at him. "This won't hurt if you don't struggle. "She rolled her eyes without another word. "Prep her.."
She kept her eyes trained on the door trying to focus on any other noise than the machines that were beeping and whirring behind her. She sat perfectly still as they begun applying the receptor pads onto her skin just as her heart rate appeared on the monitors. They had set up the IV off to her left, the bag full of startlingly white liquid. The physician grabbed her arm gently rubbing down the crease of her elbow before slipping the needle into her vein. She let out a small breath as she felt herself unable to bring air in. "What-" She struggled to find her words as her breaths turned into pants. "What did you do to me.."
The Physician stood in front of her, clipboard in hand as he watched her. "This concoction will enhance what the serum has already accomplished.." He explained proudly. "Your strength and endurance will match that of the asset, your speed and agility that of a medal wearing gymnast.." She waited for the catch. "Your fertility should become that of a medical wonder."
"My-" She paused confused, "Why would you need to do that?"
"That is none of your concern." Rumlow snapped as the Physician yanked the needle out from under her skin. "Take her to the asset."
Cassandra was hauled up from the seat yet again, her muscles screaming as they forced her walk down the hallway toward the barred doors at the end. The thought of what was swimming through her veins made her feel sick as she was made to wait outside. She sighed before her impatience got the better of her. "Why can't I go in?" She demanded. "You said-" She suddenly gripped her signs as she felt as if she had been tased. Her fist flew out to collide with the door, a fist sized dent appearing in the metal. "Let me go in." She ordered. "Now."
She could hear him breathing softly as she forced herself to rush in through the now open door. He was straight back against the wall on one of the spare benches that surrounded the room, of course, nailed to the floor. He kept his eyes trained on her as she forced her way across the room only for her knees to give out and end up at his feet. His arm shot out to help her up but she just held her hand up. He had seen her a few times, he could remember that much. They only seemed to let her stop by when someone had to die or when he had got hurt during. He could never understand why. He didn't know her.
"James?" She questioned bringing him out of his jumbled up thoughts.
Bucky sat perfectly still staring at her as she looked around the room and he took in every inch of her face. One thing was clear to him. She was very much a prisoners here. He guessed that maybe an hour or two before she had been dragged from her cell that she had been beaten. Her lips were still sporting some fresh blood, a bruise was forming across her pale cheeks and her fiery red hair was tangled up in dirt and what he assumed to be more blood.
"James." She spoke again. He watched the way the name fell from her lips but he didn't recognise it. She was from New York. She leaned forward a little just so she could be closer to him. He tensed however seeing the desperation in her eyes he stopped. "I need you to answer a few questions for me." Brooklyn. "Since I've never been allowed to speak to you alone I doubt it's going to happen now.." She'd spoke to him before? "Try blinking for yes and tap for no?"
He blinked.
She smiled. "Are you hurt?"
Tap.
She rolled her eyes at him. "I need you to be honest with me." She warned. He huffed but blinked anyways. "Are you hurt?"
Blink.
"Do you know where we are?" She questioned.
Tap.
She frowned a little, even she didn't know exactly where they were - although they hadn't let her go above ground as much as they sent him. They were somewhere in mainland America. She suddenly drew in a breath and bit her lip which drew his attention back to her. "Do you know who I am?" She watched him carefully as he studied her face. She was pretty. Although, under the bruises and the blood, he knew she'd be more than pretty. Early 20's maybe. Nurse. She asked the question again. "Solider." She smiled. "Do you recognise me.."
"I don't know.." He spoke up. Her heart clenched as she let out a soft sigh. He watched as tears begun to well up in her soft green eyes as she turned away from him. She was frightened and that question had meant a lot to her. "You stitched my wound up before.." He spoke, something in him wanting to at least give her something. "Who are you?"
She sighed wiping away the tear that had rolled down her cheek. She didn't have time to cry. She knew that if he was in his Soldier mode that he would recognise his 'handler' but the jumbled mess that remained of James Buchanan Barnes had no idea. "My name is Cassandra-Anne Barnes.." She sighed with small shrug. He didn't say anything. He simply stood up from the bench as she rose up from the floor. He noted that she was at least a foot and a third smaller than him, she held an athletic yet broad-hipped figure.
He towered over her. "Are you a nurse?" He questioned. She nodded. "They're keeping you here?" She nodded again. "What do you want from me?"
"What every woman wants." She replied taking a bold step towards him, their bodies almost touching. "For her husband to recognise her face." Her temper flared feeling the rejection course through her. "Is that a problem Soldier!"
Before she had time to even think about fighting back, he had her pinned to the wall. His metal hand clenched around her throat as her feet dangled a few centimeters away from the ground. "I used to tell you stories!" She told him. "About a boy from Brooklyn who enlisted after a drunken bet." His grip started to slacken off as he took in the need and desperation in her face. "He proposed the night before he was shipped out because he had upset his gal' so much she near enough hooked his handsome face."
He could see the pain in her eyes as she struggled to breathe. The sense in her keeping the triggered feeling locked away in her mind. She forced her hand on top of his letting the gold band catch his eye. She belonged to someone. He couldn't remember her stories and it only made him angrier as he suddenly let her go sending her down to the floor.
"I used to tell you about how his gal packed her bags and got herself shipped out to the front line to look after her idiot fiance because she knew they couldn't be apart for too long without him getting injured." She whispered watching him turn with his back to her as the guards stormed the room. Bucky turned suddenly to see them roughly haul her up from the floor and something clicked.
"You're a good man." She told him as they slowly dragged her towards the door although she didn't really put up much of a fight. "Don't let them turn you into a monster."
Brooklyn, New York
1943
With the American war-efforts building up from state to state, another recruitment drive had been set up outside Brooklyn General, in the hope that more men would sign up to be sent off to fight in Europe. Nurses had been 'borrowed' from their normal posts to help with checks on their potential soldiers, which meant that Cassandra had been taken from her ward for the day. She stood in her uniform, clipboard in hand as she took the names of the different men who came into the office. She arched her brow slightly as she moved down the line to face the skinny blonde who had his head buried inside the morning paper.
She crossed her arms looking down at him. "Steve?" She asked. The man in question looked back up at her warily, having seen her coming. She shook her head. "Where are you from this time sweetheart?" Steve reluctantly handed his form over, "Paramus?"
"You gonna throw me out Cass?" Steve questioned with a small sigh ready to grab his jacket. Cassandra laughed a little, as she rested her hand on his shoulder causing him to look up at her surprised.
"I'll let you apply one more time Steve," She told him, "-as long as you promise me this is the last time I'm going to have to endure your physical," She whispered winking at him causing the man to blush. He hadn't been too fond of her carrying out his exam, especially without his shirt on. "I'm only teasing you sweetie,"
Cassandra stood not too far from the door as Steve walked up to the desk to hand in his forms to the recruitment officer after he had been called. She handed her clipboard over to one of the other staff nurses as she waited for Steve to have his application processed. Although, she didn't need to see his face to know the officer had marked him down as an 4F invalid. He was a five-foot, 90lbs asthmatic after all.
"Steve," She smiled softly as he walked back down towards her, tucking on his shirt angrily. "I'm sorry," He huffed at her as she playfully ruffled his hair coaxing a small smile out of him. "Come on then tough guy," She bumped his hip cheekily, "Let's go see a movie or something"
Steve looked at her watching as she pulled on her jacket with his brow raised. "Don't you have to stay and finish up the drive?"
Cassandra shook her head with a meek shrug as she grabbed her purse, "I do.." She replied smiling, "-but I'd much rather spend my time with my best friend if that is quite alright with you?"
Steve hid his frown by chuckling halfheartedly, "Better not let Bucky hear you say that,"
She laughed softly hooking her arm through Steve's. "Bucky wishes I wasn't as mad at him so he could have that title back," She told him as they walked down the empty street towards the movie theater only a block or two away.
The nurse was beyond fuming with said man, considering he had enlisted himself after a drunken bet with the boys at the bar - and unlike Steve - was accepted. Steve bit his tongue slightly, "You still mad at him huh?" She nodded, "He's uh-" She turned to look up at him with her eyebrow raised wondering why Steve had suddenly gone so red. "Did you know he got his orders today?"
Cassandra stopped walking to stare at Steve as if he had grown another head. "He's got his orders?" She asked wondering how she hadn't figured that out, she was after-all one of the head nurses for the home-battalions , she would have been notified of the battalions heading out. "Why didn't he-" She paused giving Steve the chance to see the hurt in her eyes. "How long have you known about this Steve?"
"Cass," He sighed, "It wasn't my place to tell you," He tried, "I only found out this mo-"
"You tell me everything Steven Rogers!" Cassandra suddenly cut him off, her hands planted firmly in against her hips as she eyed him. Both men had jokingly called Cassandra Steve's mother in disguise, and Steve could see exactly why as she eyed him. "What makes this any different?"
Steve moved quickly pulling her into as tight of a hug as he possibly could, keeping her close as she rested her head against his shoulder as they stood in the middle of the street. "I'm sorry Cass," He whispered, knowing one of the men should have told her what was going on. "Believe me I am.."
"Can we-" She sighed pulling away from him meaning he reluctantly let go. "Can we just go see the damn movie now Steve?"
Cassandra sunk down into her seat, pulling her jacket up to her chin as the recruitment video began to play. "War continues to ravage Europe," She let out a soft sigh as the video changed to show some of the many battalions that were already shipped out over seas. "-but help is on the way, every able bodied young man is lining up to serve his country." Her thoughts went straight to Bucky. "Even little Tommy is doing his part, collecting scrap metal-"
"God! Start the movie!"
Cassandra and Steve looked at each other with their eyebrows raised before they both turned to look over their shoulder at the boy who shouted, sitting two rows behind him, his arm thrown lazily around his girl.
"Hey," Cassandra warned, "Show some respect,"
"Just roll the cartoon!"
The same boy shouted a few minutes later, even louder, only this time it was Steve who turned round to snap at him whilst Cassandra growled into her jacket. "Hey," He snapped angrily, "You wanna shut up?"
The boy suddenly stood up from his seat abandoning his girl, who arched her brow as she locked eyes with Cassandra. The sheer height of the boy alone caused Cassandra's eyes to widen as he walked down to stand beside the pair of them, his arms cross across his chest as he spoke. "Want to settle this outside?" He asked eyeing Steve.
Out of impulse, Cassandra reached out taking a grip of Steve's arm to keep him from moving. The blonde just turned to her flashing her a sheepish smile before standing up and following the idiot outside.
"Well shit," She grumbled under her breath as she gathered up her bag and jacket before rushing off after the pair in the hope that she got there before the boy could cause any serious harm to her less than skilled friend. The rest of the people in the theatre didn't even bat an eye at the nurse as she burst out the back door to see Steve lose his balance and fall into the trash pile.
"Hey!" She growled catching the boys attention. "Leave him alone asshole!"
"Or what doll-face?" He sneered, his eyes roaming over the white and blue form-fitted uniform she was wearing, a smug look appearing on his face. Cassandra rolled her eyes as she stood with her arms crossed across her chest. She let out a small sigh of relief as she noticed the tall, blue-eyed man standing behind the bully dressed in his uniform. He was watching as his girl didn't even flinch when the man took a threatening step towards her. "You gonna punch me sweetheart?"
"No." Bucky finally spoke up grabbing the man by his shoulder and bringing him round to face him. "I am." His fist made contact with his jaw with a thud, sending the boy to the ground in a heap. He looked round with a smirk. "Pick on someone you're own size." He warned as Cassandra pulled her jacket over her arms. "Oh." He gestured over to her, "Don't threaten my lady."
Bucky reached out to help Steve up from the ground as Cassandra watched the bully scuttle away clutching his jaw, she rolled her eyes before joining the two men. "Sometimes I think you like being punched," He chuckled as Steve brushed off his jacket.
"I had him on the ropes," Steve protested as Bucky plucked his forms from his grip beginning to read them. Cassandra quickly took Steve's face in her hands, as gently as she could, so she could check out his injuries. Lucky for him that he only had a bloody nose and maybe a few bruised ribs - if he was lucky.
"How many times is this then?" Bucky asked looking over the edge of the papers at the pair.
Cassandra rolled her eyes looking over at Bucky with a heated glare, "The third.." She replied bluntly, the look on her face made Bucky arch his brow confused - that was until she looked him up and down. "Paramus this time.."
"You know it's illegal to lie on your enlistment form?" Bucky questioned as Steve grumbled under his breath at the taller man, "Seriously?" He looked over at Steve who was beginning to blush at all the attention as he tried batting Cassandra's hands away. "Jersey?"
"You get your orders then Buck?" Cassandra suddenly interrupted as she let Steve be for a moment to stand in front of him, her hands on her hips as she looked up at him.
Bucky glared over at Steve annoyed, the blonde simply held his hands up in surrender causing the brunette to sigh before he looked back down at the redhead. "Sergeant James Barnes," He muttered, "Shipping out for England first thing tomorrow morning."
"You should have told me James," She whispered no longer able to meet his gaze, the hurt evident on her face. She turned to look over her shoulder to look at Steve, who stood frowning down at his shoes - feeling just as guilty as his friend. "Enjoy your night boys,"
"Cassie-" Bucky tried as he reached out to hook his arm around her waist pulling her back to him. She stood pressed against his chest motionless. "Please don't go home mad at me sweetheart," She looked away from him as a tear rolled down her cheek. "Please.."
She simply ignored his pleads and pulled out of his grip before walking off as fast as she possibly could, fully intent on just going home and spending her night alone in a mood instead of going to the Stark Expo with them that she had excitedly planned out.
Steve frowned as he walked over to Bucky, who was now holding the small battered box in his hand. "It could have been worse," Steve suggested as Bucky looked over at him with his brow raised, "-at least she didn't punch you?"
Bucky chuckled sourly, "Come on, let's get you cleaned up.."
~Some Hours Later~
The gentle closing of their front door caused Cassandra to stir, when she had arrived home she had thrown her uniform to the floor and changed into one of Bucky's many shirts that she knew he wouldn't mind her stealing before throwing herself under the bundle of blankets. She could hear Steve mutter his goodnights from along the hall before disappearing into his own room as Bucky continued down the hall.
He pushed open the door, with his hat in hand. "Cassie?" He questioned seeing her roll onto her other side so she was facing away from him. He rolled his eyes. "Cassandra."
"What?" She demanded as he took off his jacket draping it over the small wooden desk with his shirt following closely behind. She sat up in bed pulling her knees up to her chest. He frowned before slipping into bed beside her. "You're lucky I'm not going to make you sleep out on the floor the night before you ship out."
"I'm sorry." He whispered pulling her in against him. Even though he suspected that she probably didn't want to be anywhere near him. "You knew I had signed up baby," He told her burying his face into her hair, "I know I should have told you I was shipping out so soon."
"Yeah," She agreed sadly. "You should have,"
He sighed, "I didn't want to see you so sad darlin'" He told her selfishly.
"So what?" She asked tears slowly trailing down her cheeks. "You were just going to up and leave in the middle of the night and leave me a note?" He looked at her sheepishly causing her to glare at him. "You were seriously going to leave me a note?"
He nodded as she suddenly wiggled out of his arms raising her fist as if she was ready to hook him. He pulled out the box from his pants pocket catching her hopelessly off-guard. "I was going to try make it up to you by giving you this.." He handed her the small box, "I didn't want to say goodbye to you without it."
Cassandra didn't utter a word. She was too busy staring at the box. "What?" She looked up at him confused. "James, what is this?" He smiled at her, moving to brush the tears from her cheeks. "I don't understand.."
"Cassandra-Anne Cartwright.." He whispered as she tried her hardest to be mad with him. "I couldn't go off to war tomorrow knowing that I didn't have the love of my life behind me." He told her, "I'm scared Cassie, believe me, but I need you to be my motivation.." She smiled, "If you say yes, I'll fight with everything I've got to make it back to you."
Cassandra smirked, "What if I said no?" She challenged as Bucky's hopeful smile fell.
He stammered looking at her, "I didn't think that far I-" She just smiled opening the ring box to stare at the simple but elegant ring that lay there. Bucky watched nervously as she slipped the ring onto her finger admiring it for a few moments.
"If I agree to this James," She whispered, a bright smile appearing on her face. "You better get your fine ass back here when this damn war is over because I'm going to need my husband,"
"Is that a yes Miss Cartwright?" He questioned grinning as she moved to straddle his waist, clasping her hands together resting at the back of his neck.
Cassandra lent forward closing the space between them to press her lips to his. Bucky let out a small sigh of relief as she melted against him, he pulled her in closer as he moved one hand to rest tightly against her hip whilst the other tangled up into her hair. She smirked pulling back just a little so she could speak. "What do you think solider?"
Underground Base
Present Day
Outside Washington D.C
She tried her absolute hardest to keep her anger at bay as she hugged her knees tightly to her chest. She sat back inside her cell, the bruises around her neck now black and blue from where he had gripped her so tightly. She rest her head back against the stone wall as she let her tears drip down onto the new white t-shirt they had given to her. Ever since she had left his cell, she couldn't ignore the pain that was prodding at her stomach although she suspected it had everything to do with her lovely dosage from the IV.
"That was painful to watch," Alexander Pierce commented as he entered her cell. She chuckled dryly stretching her legs out from beneath her. They had been 'kind' and left her unchained this time. She knew that he had been called in as soon as she had been sent into the cell. He wouldn't dare risk his prized asset. "Did you really think we would let him remember you?"
"Well" She started, "If you want me to keep your best solider in line," She listed, "Be his handler, bear his children.." She growled knowing exactly why there were keeping her around for. She knew they were limited when trying to send her out on missions because she was able to bring herself out of the trigger. "You better hope he remembers me Pierce or you're not getting me anywhere near to producing monsters.."
"Monsters?" Pierce chuckled. "Is that really how you're going to speak about your husband Mrs Barnes.."
"James is a good man Mr Pierce." She told him. "That man in there is broken. You're never going to break me" She smirked pushing herself up from the cot. "-and trust me and this you can take to your grave. He's going to remember me and he doesn't take too kindly to men threatening his lady."