I just have to say how happy I am to see so many people seem to enjoy this story! Again I thank everyone who has reviewed, followed and favorited this story, you guys are the best! Also a quick warning for this chapter—it deals with the subject of a possible RAPE so if anyone doesn't want to read that part I'll put an exclamation mark (!) where that part begins and ends.

Chapter Nine~

When the door to my quarters opened again I had done thirty pushups, taken a shower, sharpened my daggers and had braided my hair anticipating the next mission. Rumlow stood in the doorway though he said nothing as he allowed me to exit the room. I followed him to the Leaders office where Soldier was already inside. His back was ridged and stiff making me know he hadn't gotten any sleep or even a catnap. With arms crossed over his chest, he didn't even turn to look at me as I entered the office. The Leader was leaning against his desk when I entered and gave me a look that I knew all too well, he was beyond disappointed in us.

"We've been able to gain Intel recently that the Target has moved locations, more than once I should add. In the file you'll both find the address and meet-up location for pick up." at that I took the file from a silent brooding Soldier and opening it found both the street address, layout of the apartment and picture of our pick up location.

"Neither of you can fail again, there is too much hanging on this mission that would either destroy HYDRA's noble work, or help HYDRA create the world it deserves." the Leader said before looking at both of us then waved his hand allowing us to leave. After leaving the office, Soldier and I headed straight to our Locker Storage where inside we got whatever was necessary for our mission. As I checked my gear one last time I notice Soldier was watching me.

"What?" I snapped making the corner of his lips turn in that hardly there smile before it vanished for him to say,

"You've remembered something." swallowing hard, I looked away from him though knew he would wait as long as it took for me to tell him. Finally turning to face him fully, I said shortly,

"There was a snowy mountain range, a speeding train zooming along a track, someone shouting a name before we were both falling."

"We?" he asked in a sharp tone making me flinch just enough for him to notice as I nodded and told him,

"You where there too, in the memory." looking down at his combat boots so that I wouldn't have to look him in the eye, I watched them move closer towards me before he was standing just in front of me. With his metal hand Soldier picked up my braid and let it run through his metal fingers as if seeing it for the first time.

"You're not allowed to remember," he said in a gruff voice before I just managed to catch,

"I won't lose you." making me look up into his bitter blue eyes just as a knock sounded on the door, or more like a banging thud. Letting my braid fall from his metal hand, Soldier turned towards the door allowing me a moment to collect myself. Seeing the door open, I followed the only person I've known all my time in HYDRA. Someone I would follow to the gates of Hell and back again. Storming towards the parking lot, the two of us got into a black van with Rollins and a driver waiting for us. As we left the base I discovered it was nighttime and watched the lights of the city pass by, trying to forget what Soldier had said. The drive seemed longer than normal as we sat in silence so that upon seeing the drop location up ahead I put on my half mask. Exiting the van behind the office building that was right across the street from the Target's marked location, Soldier and I made our way inside. On silent feet stalking up to the roof the two of us met with no problems, the whole building was empty. Upon reaching the rooftop's edge the two of us set up our gear; Soldier with his sniper rifle and I would be his scout for the Target. Lying flat on my stomach just brushing against the edge of the roof, I kept glancing at Soldier before he finally said,

"Am I that interesting that you're not paying attention to the mission?" mock laughing as if he'd told a terrible joke, I looked away and back through the binoculars. I watched the figure belonging to the Target sitting in a chair then noticed another figure entering the apartment.

"Second figure inside, unable to make out details yet it seems to be a man." I told Soldier who laid on his stomach next to me, our arms touching as he aimed through the scope of the sniper rifle. Narrowing my eyes through the binoculars, I waited for the Target to stand before saying,

"Target ten degrees to the right and three degrees up higher, take your shot whenever ready." only I didn't even have to say that because as soon as I gave Soldier the information he was already shooting, several times for good measure to remove the Target. By the time he stopped firing I was sure the second figure in the apartment would have figured out we were across the street. And apparently I was right because Soldier hauled me to my feet saying,

"Run." which I did without any hesitation, just steps behind him as we sprinted across the office buildings rooftop. Once in a while I'd glance down to see the second figure from the apartment was actually chasing us! Coming to the edge of the office buildings rooftop, Soldier jumped first crouching into a roll followed by me doing a front flip allowing me more room to land on the next building's roof. However it seemed I did the wrong move because behind me I heard glass breaking and running footsteps right behind me. Looking to Soldier for help, he grabbed my arm and pulled me forwards before pushing me behind him. At the sound of something 'whizzing' towards us, I turned in time with Soldier as he grabbed something with his metal hand. Something oddly familiar, a red and blue rounded object with a white star in the center. As Soldier threw it back at the person who had first tossed it, he didn't wait a second before taking my waist in his normal arm. Together we leapt off the rooftop with Soldier using his metal hand to grab onto the fire escape below us. Clinging tightly to the wall where the fire escape was bolted to the building, we both waited two minutes before starting down the ladder. Reaching the ground yet staying in the shadow of an alleyway, I was stopped by Soldier who turned me to see him. His black eye paint was smudged around his bitter blue eyes as he checked me over for injuries. I let him knowing he'd need to prove to himself that I was fine, he'd done this before in that overly protective way.

"I'm fine." I hushed out as his metal hand took my chin to examine my face as he said,

"Are you?" it was a question that had so much more meaning behind it than I was expecting as I met his gaze again saying,

"That was the man from my dream, I—I think I knew him." his eyes narrowed at that as he shoved me into the brick wall. Letting out a hiss, he put his metal hand on my shoulder as he snapped at me in a deadly whisper,

"You're not allowed to know anything other than HYDRA!" only somehow I thought he was talking more to himself than to me, which worried me. Trying to shove him off me, he pressed my shoulder harder into the brick wall removing his face mask.

"Don't make them put you back in the Chair Shadow." he snapped making me say right on back to him,

"Why now are you protecting me?!"

"I always have been!" he hissed making me scoff and demand,

"Why now? Why now are you suddenly so hell bent to protect me?!" I never got an answer, instead I found his lips on mine; demanding, needy, borderline begging. He seemed almost desperate to get a responds out of me which I gave him—a hard slap on the cheek. Pulling back from the kiss allowed me to be able to shove him right off of me, glaring at him as I panted for air. I watched an expression cross his face; something so horribly aching that I almost felt sorry—almost. Then just as quickly as it came the emotion in his face vanished and he was storming away from me. By the time we returned to the base, gave our report to the Leader and told him about the second figure in the apartment I had already bottled up any and all feeling about that kiss. Now as I walk to my quarters I sense someone behind me and roll my eyes.

(!) "You can't sneak up on me Soldier." I said turning to find not Soldier—but the last person I wanted to see—Rumlow. However I had no time to tell him off when he came at me with a syringe and needle which I deflected by kicking him in the knee. As he went down I bolted for my quarters yet he grabbed my braid and yanked it back hard. A scream tore through my throat before he jammed the needle into my neck making me feel dizzy instantly. As my body grew limp, Rumlow shoved me into my quarters so that I tumbled onto the ground. Watching him kick the door shut, he leered over me saying,

"Not so tough now are we? Where's your knight in black armor to save you now?" only able to push myself up to glare at him, Rumlow grabbed my arm and literally tossed me onto my bed. Before he could make another move though the door behind him was kicked open. Turning my head towards it, I watched Soldier storm in and grab Rumlow by his throat. Slamming him into the wall with enough force to make a dent, Soldier pressed on his windpipe with his metal hand as he snarled,

"Do that again and I'll make sure no one can call you a man, because you'll be mutilated." then tossing him out into the hallway, Soldier left to do something to cause Rumlow to scream out. (!)Coming back into my quarters, Soldier lifted me up into his arms with the exact opposite amount of force used to strangle Rumlow. Watching his quarters appear, Soldier opened the door then shut it with his foot as he laid me on his bed. Whimpering slightly, I felt his metal fingers trace the slightly raised skin where the needle had been jabbed into the skin.

"I'm sorry." I told him softly closing my eyes and letting my head fall to one side. Feeling lips on my forehead, I heard shuffling and then something hit the side of the bed. Confused, I opened my eyes to see Soldier sitting on the floor with a handgun in one hand. His back was towards me as he faced the door, waiting for someone to try and dare enter.

"I still trust you, I'll always trust you." I murmured before closing my eyes again feeling sleep tugging at my mind. Last thing I heard was him mumbling something, though I couldn't hear what it was.