Natasha panted again, for the third time James had gotten under her skin. She got off him and knelt next to him. Now more than ever needing a shower. She was tired but didn't want to close her eyes. Not while he was there.

The first rays of sunlight were peaking in the sky. "You'll have to go soon, right?" She asked. Daylight meant what she had spent all night getting James to distract her from was here. Graduation.

"Soon." He concluded after a glance at the clock. He got up and grabbed his clothes from the floor.

Natasha threw her clothes in a basket and turned on her shower. James enveloped her in his arms. "It's going to be okay… I'll figure out a way to find you later."

A wild sort of feeling burst into her chest. His words didn't soothe her. "Run away with me.. Right now. We can get a head start…" She whispered.

James looked defeated, his hand bushed down her cheek. "You know we can't."

She shook her head, "We could. We can live off the grid. Somewhere no one will look for us."

James stared at her, "That's no life, Tasha and you know it. If this is a prison here, hiding in constant suspicion and paranoia... It's not a life to live." He pushed her toward the shower, "Get in the shower, Natasha... You're better than this." He said firmly. He couldn't cave to her fear, he had to force her to be strong.

"I'm not better than this… I'm human." She breathed, tears washing down her cheeks. She gasped for air, panic setting in. She couldn't breathe, her hand pressed against her chest. "I can't… I… can't breathe…"

James dropped his clothes near the basket and ripped the shower curtain aside. In a swift tug he pulled her into the hot spray of water and watched her gasp. He reached behind him and turned the water to cold, pushing her into the cold water.

Natasha had a vice like grip on his arms. He held her, not that it was too difficult, in the direct spray. She sputtered and gasped before eventually she calmed down.

"Better?" He asked softly, his hands brushing the plastered red hair from her face.

Natasha breathed shallowly, her skin flat white, shivering beneath his hands. He sighed and wrapped his arms around her, dialing the water back towards warm. Several moments passed, Natasha buried her head against his chest.

"Natasha!" Came a voice from outside the bathroom.

Natasha gasped and pushed James into the wall as if to hide him. He looked as concerned as she was. While the blue curtain shielded them, this was not good.

"Who?" He mouthed to her.

"Natasha." Madame's voice came closer.

"Y..Yes, Madame?" Natasha called. Her hand pressed against James' chest as he shrunk down.

Madame stood in the doorframe of the bathroom, "I am glad you are up. The doctors are waiting for you in medical. They have tests to run first. No breakfast until after the procedure."

"Yes, Madame." Natasha said quickly.

"Do not keep your doctors waiting, be prompt Natasha." Madame left with a click of a door.

Natasha stared wide eyed at James, trying to comprehend just how close they were to being in serious trouble. James got back up, and started to laugh.

"Not funny!" She snapped and swatted him. She hurried for the shampoo and worked it through her hair. She dipped her head into the water. In a flurry she washed up and ducked out of the shower. A minute later James emerged. They were silent as he dressed and she dug through a drawer in her towel.

Light was peaking higher in the sky, James lingered at the window. "You can do it, Tasha. Just like you did everything else." He smiled and swung out the window.

By the time she dressed in her boots, leggings and sweater the sun was high in the sky. The bright morning light meant the halls would be filled with girls going to their first classes or trainings. Breakfast would be ending soon. She toweled her hair dry and ignored the lump in her throat.

The walk to medical was gut wrenching. She wordlessly did as the doctors said. Blood tests. Measurements of her height, weight, and muscle mass were taken. A doctor gave her a gown and instructed her to change.

Ice flooded her veins. Was it happening now? She felt dizzy,

"Miss Romanova the procedure is not happening right now, we need you to change." He repeated and pointed her towards a partition.

Natasha changed, her stomach clenching painfully as she returned. The gown made her feel vulnerable. She hated it the stiff fabric that made her fidget. An hour she sat motionless on the hospital bed. Doctors coming and going discussing results of her tests. Natasha heard none of it. A constant buzzing filled her ears. She didn't move, didn't dare to let herself think anything. If she thought about it then she felt she'd never stop.

Swallow the fear, Natasha. She told herself repeatedly. A doctor grabbed her arm, his voice buzzing. She pulled away and gasped, "What?" She asked.

The doctor mistook her actions for resisting. Two soldiers hauled her off the bed their hands gripping her arms tightly.

"No... You're not understanding..." Natasha breathed.

Madame snapped her fingers towards a gleaming metal table. The soldiers pushed her towards it. In a split moment of panic she slipped her arm from the soldier on the right. Instantaneously her elbow connected with his face. He recoiled to stem the blood from his broken nose. She dug her foot and rolled the second soldier over her shoulder. Three kicks to the face, ribs, and stomach sent the first soldier back to the ground.

The second soldier caught her foot mid kick. In a second she adjusted her weight broke the hold. Her hand connected with his jaw and sent him spiraling backwards.

The commander ran into the room with two more soldiers. Madame was furious as the commander grabbed something from her hands. In her momentary distraction the soldier got up again and grabbed her from behind. His arm trapping her head, immobilizing one of her hands. She clawed at his hands trying to break the impossibly tight hold.

"Enough." The commander barked. It wasn't clear if he was talking to the soldier or her.

The soldier was a better listener than her, though. The boy let go of her and Natasha wasted no time breaking his nose too.

"Why is it always you creating problems? Do you want them to kill you?" The commander said to her softly only a few inches away from her. With one look to his fallen soldiers, they both scattered.

Her expression broke, "There's no different between that and what they're doing to me." She breathed.

He nodded, "There's no way out of this Brave One." He admitted, "You can get on that table yourself or I'll help you do it."

Natasha looked at the table with disdain. Traitorous tears leaked from her eyes. She almost didn't see it coming. She managed to move at the last second but the commander was quick in his movements. A syringe sank into her arm. The effects were instant. Natasha staggered, her knees buckling.

The commander lifted her off the ground. The metal table was like ice against her exposed skin. The thin gown offering no protection from the shock.

"Restrain her." Madame said quickly.

The room spun and whirled. Her wrists were cuffed to the rails of the table. She wasn't quite unconscious. She was aware and not at the same time. The fluorescent lights flew by as she was wheeled to an elevator at the back of the medical wing.

She shut her eyes momentarily as they raced downward. In a chilly basement she woke up again. The wheels of the table rattled on the cement floor as they traveled to a door at the end of the hallway.

The table stopped moving and she turned her head, spotting a tray of instruments. The sight of them made her heart stop. She felt her breathing quicken.

Someone held her head still, a sharp scream escaped her lips. The shock of it, had they no thought about trying not to traumatize the girls who had this done to them?

"Enough, Natasha. You did not come this far to be so weak." Madame said harshly.

A sharp sting of a needle against her neck made her jolt. She felt tears wetting the hair under her head from rolling off her cheeks. Suddenly she felt the comfy sort of warm that you'd feel moments before sleep. Her eyes fluttered shut, opening no more.