It has been a while since I've updated. A lot of things have been going on. My younger brother broke his collarbone playing basketball last Saturday. I've had to help him out. I also was busy with running and a surprise birthday party for one of my cousins. I also got Confirmed yesterday, so I'm really tired of socializing. I finally had time to lost today since I had the day off from school. Please read and review. I'd greatly appreciate it.

Disclaimer: I hold nothing against Russians or anyone else. I'm just basing it off of the time period this story is set in.

Chapter Ten: No Rest for the Wicked

The war continued with really no change. Suzie's mood also didn't improve. Richard had kept his promise and never told anyone about Suzie. Missions came and went, and Suzie followed orders without much question.

Everyday, Suzie prayed that her family was alright. She knew that the only way that she could ever see them again was to meet them in heaven. Richard tried his best to cheer her up, but Suzie couldn't get over the fact that she was the last member of the Barnes family who was alive. Everything got worse when the news of Captain America's sacrifice struck the Allies particularly hard. Not only was it tough to lose a strong leader and hero, it was worse to lose a friend. Suzie had locked herself in bathroom for an hour and only came out after Richard told her that she had to come run with the group. Suzie's morale declined as the deaths of her brother and friend mixed in with the already hard conditions of the war.

One day, nearly a year after Bucky's death and Steve's plane crash, the 100th Regiment got a specific order to raid a Nazi base in Russia. Suzie and Richard started to prepare for the raid early that morning. The crisp winter air of mid-December bit at exposed faces, but the sun was shining brightly.

Suzie checked her sniper rifle. She had gotten used to the weight of the gun and hardly went anywhere - outside of camp - without it. The other members of the 100th prized Suzie; she was an essential sniper and everyone was glad that she was a part of the their regiment. Despite her popularity, Suzie mostly kept to herself and only talked with Richard.

The two snipers slung their backpacks on their backs and climbed into the fighter plane.. Other members joined them and the 100th took off.

"I heard that this one is going to be harder than most missions," Richard whispered into Suzie's ear.

"They're only saying that so we try harder. It'll probably be just like any other mission," Suzie replied.

"I hope you're right. I really don't want to get hurt before I can go home," Richard said. Only a few soldiers were allowed to go home during Christmas, and Richard had told Suzie that he was selected to go. He was going to go home and marry his girlfriend, Helen.

"You sure you don't want to come back with me?" Richard asked quietly.

"I wasn't chosen, Richard. I'm not allowed to go home. Besides, where would I go? I don't know what I'm going to do after the war," Suzie muttered.

"You can come back to New Hampshire with me. I bet Helen would love you."

"I wouldn't want to miss your wedding, but I don't think I can just leave."

"Maybe if you ask. I'm sure the general will let you go."

"Yeah, maybe."

The rest of the ride was quiet except for the sound of the engine. Suzie looked out the window and watched as the clouds drifted by. It wasn't the first time she was in a plane, but the excitement was still there. She liked the feeling of flying and how free she felt. Then Suzie remembered that Steve crashed in a plane, and her excitement disappeared.

The plane touched down in an open field a few hours later and the 100th piled out. The building could be seen over the hill, so the group crept slowly towards it. Suzie stayed close to Richard's side as they trudged through the snow. The sun had disappeared behind the clouds, and a slight fog hung in the air.

"Feels creepy, doesn't it?" Suzie asked.

"Just like Russia. All evil and what not," Richard replied.

"Yeah," Suzie said. They had reached the top of the hill. There were trees behind the building and the land was set in the valley of a few mountains. Suzie and Richard laid down on their stomachs, away from the others, and made themselves as small as they could.

Looking through her scope, Suzie watched a watchguard pace back and forth in front of the gate. The other soldiers in the 100th crept forward. A few tanks had joined the group and they waited for the signal to attack.

"Wait for it…" Richard whispered. "Wait for it…"

An American tank shot at the building, causing an explosion.

"Now!" Richard shouted. Suzie and Richard aimed their sniper rifles and shot at the Russians. The enemies fought back. A tank exploded in a shower of fire and debris. A few 100th soldiers made their way inside the fence and slowly gained control of the building.

"It looks like a science-y type building," Suzie commented as she reloaded her gun.

"Russians," Richard complained. "Always trying to prove their strength."

Suddenly, American soldiers started dropping like flies as someone unseen started raining bullets down on them. Another tank was blown up. The battle quickly shifted toward the Russians.

Static crackled on the radio. "We need reinforcements. All units, come in…."

The two snipers glanced at each other. "Do we go in?" Richard asked.

"I think they want us too." Suzie shrugged.

"Looks risky," Richard said.

"When have we ever not done something just because it's 'risky?'" Suzie asked.

The radio crackled alive again. "All...units...help...back-up...special...enhanced...rein-"

The radio cut off just after a shout was heard.

"I think we should go in now," Suzie suggested, and got up. The fighting had stopped outside the fence. A few shots could be heard every once and while.

"Hey." Richard grabbed Suzie's arm. "Be careful. Don't do anything stupid."

"I won't if you won't."

The two made their way down to the building. A few more soldiers joined them and they snuck in. It started snowing and the wind picked up. Suzie shivered more in nervousness instead of being cold. This mission was harder than the others. Most of the 100th Regiment was either injured or dead. Something was wrong. The Russians were outnumbered and outgunned. Then why was practically everyone dead?

Suzie stepped inside the barbed fence. The building was at least a hundred feet tall and was probably a lot larger than it looked. Nobody alive was outside the building.

Suzie heard Richard take a deep breath. "Are you sure we have to go in there?" he asked.

"I think so," Suzie whispered.

Richard glanced around. "I'm not too sure about this…"

"What the hell did you expect when you signed up for the army?" Suzie questioned. Her nerves made her seem rather rude, but she brushed it aside and focused on the mission.

"Something a bit different than this," Richard replied. "What were we supposed to do again?"

"Rescue those we can rescue and try to grab as much information as possible. I bet the United States would love to get their hands on some of the Russians' technology."

"I thought that this was a raid."

"Yeah," Suzie said. "A raid for information. Didn't they tell you?"

Richard shrugged. "Mustn't have been listening."

The two fell silent as they searched the building. Lights flickered above them and small fires burned in every direction. A metal staircase led down to a lower level. The area that the two were in was a large garage containing everything from Jeeps to small fighter jets. A door near the back of the garage led to a hallway filled with small offices and laboratories.

"Maybe we should split up. Cover more ground," Richard suggested.

"This is a raid, not a suicide mission. If we split up, there's a higher chance of dying. I doubt Helen would like that," Suzie said.

"Guess you're right." Richard glanced down the stairs. "So, downstairs or to the evil-doers' labs?"

"Downstairs," Suzie replied. "That's where most of the fighting seems to be coming from."

Richard glanced tentatively down the stairs. He took a deep breath and descended slowly.

"Stay close to me," Richard ordered Suzie.

"Don't worry. I've got your back."

Richard nodded and led the way down. With each step, Suzie anticipated an attack, but none came. Once the duo reached the bottom, Suzie stepped in front of Richard and looked around. It was eerily silent.

"I thought they were fighting down here," Richard whispered.

A groan rang out through the silence. An American soldier lay on the ground, clutching his side.

"Help...me," the soldier said.

Richard dropped down next to him and took off his backpack. He pulled out medical bandages and started wrapping the soldier's bullet wound. Suzie stood scouting the area through her scope. She noticed more soldiers laying on the ground, most of them dead.

"What the actual hell?" Suzie muttered to herself. The downstairs opened up into several large rooms that looked like they were designed for some sort of training. Bullet holes and shattered glass were scattered around with the bodies. It was complete carnage. Someone, or something, had done this. What exactly did the Russians have that could do something like this?

"Come and get me, bitch," Suzie threatened quietly.

Richard helped the fallen soldier up. "What are we going to do?"

"You go and get him back to the medics. I'll stay here and find more soldiers," Suzie ordered.

"There's no way that I'm leaving you alone! Do you know what's out there?" Richard questioned. The soldier leaning against him groaned.

"You can't leave him here. He needs medical attention as soon as possible. I can handle myself. I'll be fine," Suzie stated stubbornly.

"You could die!" Richard complained.

"Then I'll die protecting my country."

Richard huffed angrily and helped the wounded soldier towards the stairs. "Be careful," he called. "And come back to me."

"I promise," Suzie replied. She watched as Richard and the soldier slowly disappeared upstairs. As soon as they were gone, Suzie's stubborn resolve melted and she took in a shuddering breath. Nerves got to her, but she pushed it down. It was now or never.

Suzie explored the area as quietly as she could. It was quiet, almost too quiet.

"Where are you?" Suzie murmured softly. As far as she knew, she was the only one still living down there.

Then, a flash of metal went by less than an hundred yards in front of Suzie. The flash disappeared behind a stack of crates. Suzie peered through her scope. She couldn't see anything out of the ordinary…

A blow so hard that it knocked her down, hit Suzie square in the back. Suzie yelped in pain and landed hard on her right arm. Her gun was knocked out of her grip. Suzie tried to get back up, but pain made her vision go blurry.

"What the hell?" Suzie grunted. She could barely make out a pair of boots standing in front of her. The person picked up her gun and...snapped it in half.

Suzie struggled to her feet and pulled out her pistol that she kept on her in case of emergencies. She pointed it at the person, but she was shaking so badly that her aim was going to be off if she shot.

"Who are you? What do you want? I'm Riley Barnes of the 100th Regiment of the United States Army, and I'm here to take control of your base. Surrender or I will shoot," Suzie commanded.

The man said something in what Suzie guessed, was Russian. She couldn't see the his face since it was so dark, but something about the man seemed familiar.

"Surrender or I will shoot," Suzie ordered again. The man said nothing. He suddenly charged her and knocked her pistol out of her hand. A cold, metal hand wrapped around her throat. The man slammed her up against the wall and held her there with incredible strength.

Suzie tried to free herself, but the man's metal arm was too strong. She gasped for air and choked out, "Let me go!"

The man stared at her with intense, blue eyes. Blue eyes? Something hit Suzie harder than anything physical could as she recognized the man who was choking her to death. His chocolate brown hair that had grown since the last time she saw him. His familiar facial features. His usually twinkling blue eyes were full of so much anger. She had never seen him look so intense and heartless before in her life.

Suzie took a deep breath to try and calm her racing heart. The pain and agony of seeing him again almost broke her. The man she knew all her life didn't recognize her, but she knew him…

"Bucky?!"

Cliffhanger! Yeah, more chapters coming soon. As I keep writing this, I realize that there might be a very happy ending. Oops. :/ My stories just seem to turn out sad. I guess I'm not that good at writing happy or funny stories. Oh well. If you have a question, comment, or concern related to this story, feel free to leave a review. I'm not forcing you to, but I would like to hear what you think about this.