Magnetic lock in the steel door tinkled. Everyone in the room looked towards it. Even though guards should not leave the Soldier out of sight. They have kept them in here too long with the Asset.

The most stressed out guard sighed quietly when he saw a tall man with definitely better rifle than his. Whoever were these guests, they were professionals. The new guard gave them indifferent look, shortly glancing over the Winter Soldier who was sending him one of his deadly looks. The Soldier was becoming bored by now...

The tall guard smirked discretely and stepped to the side to let in a...

"I'm taking him over, you can dismiss." Said shortly an average height, blonde woman in a lab coat. she could not be more than thirty. Her green eyes were self-confident, although a bit tired. Her hair was tied up in a bun, now partially distorted. She was holding a small, black box in her hands.

Another guard shoved up from behind the door. His look was even more inert then the first one's.

Guards looked at each other in confusion, totally ignoring the Soldier, whose eyes seemed to gleam all the sudden. His lips slightly open, messed-up hair covering his eyes, he froze as if wating for something.

"I told you, you can dismiss, soldiers." She repeated in the face of the one on the left, that seemed to have the biggest problem with the order.

"Women are not allowed here..." Said the one on the front and swallowed, seeing who is protecting her. "I'm sorry ma'am but-"

"Clearance rank five! Do you understand?" She raised her right hand and presented her pass, which showed as clear as day, that this is a very important person. And you don't discuss with this pass. And though, they have never seen her here...

"Y-yes ma'am!" Saluted startled guard.

Her two sentries added their five cents with their dirty looks. Six men slowly marched out of the sickly green lab. The last one scowled at the newcomers.

"Madame is the supervisor of all of the technicians, do you want to be reported to your supervisor then?" Tall guard replied to this offensive look.

Suddenly scared man just nodded in a total denial. He quickly ran away from that shit. Who know what the hell that Missy was suppose to do with the Soldier?

"Always the same!" The woman rolled her eyes.

Two tall sentinels took their positions on the sides of the Soldier, facing him, but their rifles weren't aimed at him. They stayed unexpectedly relaxed. Quite surprised, he looked at the woman in a lab coat with big eyes of a lost puppy.

This was new, but felt so familiar, so warm... Like nothing here.
She smiled to him with a slight vibe of pain.

"The Asset... we meet again." She said to him with a soft voice and gently touched his hair. He didn't react, except staring at her with even more affection.

"Do you remember me?" She asked.

His lips were open but no sound left, except of a stifled gasp. Something was swirling in his chest. He felt completely dazed.

"...that's alright." She responded to his helpless gaze. "You may not exactly remember, but you do have this feeling in you. That's good. She pointed her finger in his chest, where his heart was beating so hard and fast... He just followed her palm with confused eyes. "That means you're still a human." She took the hand away and then slowly opened the black box and reached inside.

A yelp left Soldier's throat. Her guards raised their guns. He shifted on the chair.

"No need for panic, guys, it's something he remebers" The supervisor placed a small plate in Asset's hands. He was slow but she steered his hands to grab it.

There was a short pause, when he was examining the object in his grab, feeding his mind on it, smelling it.

"C-cake..." He mumbled finally."Carrot cake..." A faint smile showed on his face covered with stubble. He raised his head and sent the woman a look of happiness. Her heart almost cracked.

"Happy birthday, Asset." She said through weeping growing in her chest. "That's all I can do..."

He kept on staring in her face, not exactly understanding why she's crying. He got a cake, a carrot cake. This was the best day of his life. He couldn't remember other days too well, so what. This was much better than going in the field and killing people. Shooting and hours spent on waiting for the right aim felt boring compared to this.

Without much more waiting, he clutched the piece of cake in his right hand and took a bite. It was delicious, exactly as he remembered.

"I baked it myself... like the last time." She continued, aware that he's too occupied with tasting the best thing he had for over a year. "I'm not exactly a cook type, you know, but for you..." She took a deep breath and tried not to sob.

He barely ended chewing the first bite, when the second and last chunk went into his insatiable mouth. He sent her a simple look, while munching.

"Oh my god, boys, would you say now that this man is a cold, trained assassin...?" She asked her two guards, quite amused with the view.

His face softened, previously lost eyes lighten up with bright-blue joy. His muscles were relaxed, suddenly he was a man that chose to be there, instead of being a slave.

He swallowed the last pieces, not aware of crumbs stuck on his face and chest. He still felt happy but his gaze became more foggy.

"Like a kid..." She commented and approached him, to collect the crumbs, proof of a serious break in the protocol. "You know, it's not your birthday exactly, but I can only visit you... when it's possible." The supervisor glanced down in sadness.
When she finished cleaning him, she put her hands on his arms. He didn't oppose, he was hypnotized. "Now listen, whatever happens.. me, my guards, and the cake, are your secret. You know what a secret is, Asset?"

"Yes." He said quietly. His blunt eyes fixed on hers. She knew that look, she remembered very well.

"Nothing from this event leaves your mind. It stays buried, until your next... birthday.

He blinked almost unconsciously and gasped, still looking in her eyes. "You will come back?" His voice was so thin.

"When I can." She said with a heavy heart.

She let him and took the black box. "I have to go now... I'm sorry Asset, this always has to go like that... this is all I can do... for your soul."

His breath quickened from a sudden realization. He shook his head, now in an expression of fear and loss.

"Will I remember you?" He uttered, feeling deeper and deeper that this memory is coming to an end, like the heavenly taste of cake on his tongue... "Don't go!"

She turned to him, trying to smile through tears. "I have to. You prefer this or if I have never ever showed here?"

He didn't reply immediately. His eyes slowly getting hollow, his mouth closing. "No..." He lowered his chin, covering his reddish eyes behind dark hair. "Just come back again."

"I'll do everything to bring you cake." She said with shaky voice.

"Madame, we have to go! Soon you'll not be safe." Said one of the guards.

"I know, Ivan! Just a moment!"

She sent the Soldier a playful look, took a leap towards him and kissed his cheek.

His eyes widened in a shock.

"Goodbye, Soldier."

The door closed and he was left alone in twilight, with his chest clenched, hands shaky and mind whirling. "Just come back..." He whispered, staring motionlessly at the spot where she disappeared behind the steel.

The supervisor squeezed her eyelids and stopped the tears. Why did it hurt so much every time? He always remembered, always. Since she became the boss of Technical Division, she knew the Asset needs more than just brainwashing to stay alive, to survive. She hoped that one day this poor man will be free. She stood against the torture machine with a silly platter of carrot cake.

"Prepare him for wiping in thirty minutes. Maximum anesthesia." She commanded the Winter Team.