"What made you choose me?" I ask leaving the facility with Natasha

"You're a protector. You always have been." She answers

"What do you mean always?" I ask

We climb in her black sports car. My body is sore from the injections. I have a big bottle of ibuprofen waiting for me at Tonys.

"We know you were abused when you were little. Your sister wasn't."

Natasha says

"So?" I ask frustrated with wondering how she knows this about me.

"So. Obviously you were protecting her."

"How do you know about the abuse?"

"S.H.E.I.L.D. knows everything. You had a few teachers that tried to help you. They didn't seem to get very far with their reports."

I sigh. I hate being haunted by the past I try to get so far away from.

"I never told anyone. I didn't know any better than to not be with my Mom. No matter how horrible she was all I knew what this is my mother."

"Well we see it. You try to protect and fight for everyone around you. It was Steve's idea."

Steves? My eyebrows raise. The one I jumped on.

"I've worked so hard to protect my sister and there she is. She shows up at the bunker and I've failed."

She starts the car. It roars to life.

"You haven't failed yet. We don't intend to let you." She says

I give her a thankful smile and groan with soreness as I pull the seatbelt across my lap.

At the house I find James and Steve in the living room. Both are laughing. I kiss James finding him drinking a beer.

"You are old enough right?" I ask

He shakes his head. "I should think so. I'm over 18."

"The legal age is 21." I say taking the beer from him and taking a large gulp. He laughs.

"I'm going to shower." I say and kiss him again, and again for good measure. I catch Steve's eye and he shakes his head.

In the shower I find myself worrying about my sister. I want to call her but there is nowhere I can where the call won't be traced. It would put myself and so many other people in danger. The only thing I can do is keep training and keep trying. She's the only reason I have for being here and I need her for that reason.

I stare in the mirror and see the bruises are fading. The doctor said I would heal quickly. I am only slightly sore from the injections. In the past more injections were given and the injections were stronger. Most people rejected so much serum at one time. I would need more as time passed if I wanted to continue along the same path as Steve or Natasha.

My head hangs low. I am not sure I'm up for this new life. I just want Ally back.

I run the blow dryer through my hair and change into the yoga pants and a T-shirt. I head back to the living room and hesitate to listen to James and Steve talking to one another. They are laughing. It brings joy to my heart hearing this from someone who was once so broken down from personality.

I make my way to the kitchen and pour a large glass of white wine. After a few quick gulps of that I pour another. I remember the last time I had a drink and it sends a shudder through me. I shake the feeling off and make my way back to the living room. I smile when I see them and they return the smile.

James grabs my hands and pulls me down next to him on the couch. He puts he arm around me and squeezes me tight. I am so relaxed with him. I can't fully understand this feeling yet. He makes me warm and makes me content. I have never felt this way about a man before.

"We were just about to watch Terminator. Have you seen it?" James asks

"Neither of us have seen it." Steve adds.

"No thanks. I've seen it. Once was enough." I answer with a smile.

I finish the wine quickly and leave gathering a few beer bottles. James promises to find me when the movie is over.

I put some dishes in the dishwasher but find I am easily preoccupied with the thoughts in my head. I want to relax. I want to find some peace within my brain but there's too much wandering through. Another glass of wine will help I decide.

An evening stroll through the garden and a bottle later I am in bed. The room is shaking but not like the night I was poisoned by Pierce. I am hot so I turn the ceiling fan on and strip out of my clothes. I am finally feeling tired. The men can be heard across the house making comments on the movie. I smile hearing how happy James is with his friend. It is chilly again so I slide under the covers and fall asleep quickly. Or maybe pass out.

There is movement in the dark room and I wake up. I listen and turn over to see James changing.

"Hi." He says softly.

I groan "Hey."

"I'm sorry I woke you." He says

"S'okay" I mumble. My head is fuzzy from sleepiness and alcohol. I feel the bed move and James pushes himself against me. He spoons me and wraps his arms around me.

"You're naked." He says softly

"I'm sorry." I say

He laughs in my ear. "No apologies necessary."

He kisses my ear and my neck. My head still feels sleepy but he is waking my body up.

He breaths in and the feel of his exhaling breath on my neck make my loins ache.

"Your hair smells amazing." He says

I smile but he doesn't know it. His hand trails from my arm, to my hip, to my stomach.

"I just want to feel you. Okay?" He asks and nibbles on my ear. I giggle I can't help it. His hand put a slight amount of pressure on my tummy and he presses himself against me. I am shocked by the feeling of pleasure. I move my hand behind me where I find his hip. He is wearing the cotton drawstring pants. I grab him and do my best to pull him into me again. He breaths heavy in my ear and pushes again. A short burst of breath that I have been holding escapes my lips.

My conscience takes over and I realize I haven't told him about my previous lifestyle. I turn over quickly and face him.

"I have to tell you something." I say

He is quiet. He knows I'm serious.

"My life before…well before I met you…well my sister." This is frustrating. "My sister needed money to help get her through college so I decided to become a whore. Which is what I was doing when Pierce found me and brought me to you. He wanted me to sleep with you but you were never interested and here we are."

He doesn't say anything. I sit up and turn the lamp on I want to see his face. The face that holds his telltale expressions. I hold the blanket around me and wait for him. He runs his fingers through his hair and I see him frown.

"You were a hooker? Sold your body for money?" He asks

His eyes close and he looks away from me. I hate the look on his face.

"Yes but I hadn't been doing it for that long and I didn't sleep with many men." I say.

"That's really a sad life choice." He says

Anger builds up in me quickly. "You're so much better? You're a murderer!" I say with my voice raised.

He is hurt. I see it in his eyes.

"I was brainwashed." He says furious with me "You chose to sell yourself!"

It was my turn to be hurt. "I did it for my sister." I say and climb out of bed. I throw my clothes on and storm out of the room. If it weren't for staying in someone else's home I would try to slam the door off its hinges. I am fuming. I find my way outside and sit on the front steps. It's a cool night but not too cool to be out in the T-shirt I was wearing.

His words hurt. Part of me thinks I deserve it. It's what I tell myself everyday anyway. Too stupid for college and too impatient for a real career. I wouldn't be doing it if it weren't for Ally. My tight muscles remind me that what all this was for. Her. And I would get her back if it was the last thing I did.