The song for this chapter; Pieces, by Red. P.S, the intro to this song is SUPER long, so I would skip to about 1:30 seconds in. Let me know what you guys think of the chapter!

Nicolette had seen many different types of injuries in her career as a army nurse, but she'd never been one to suffer such things

Until now, Nicolette had never had a cracked rib, or had to rub her own blood out of her eyes just to see. Or not be able to move her right shoulder out of pain.

While she was reflecting on her injuries, she failed to notice the door open.

"Get her dressed. She is to see the other Asset before we move along with our plans." She was startled to hear Zola's Swedish accent ring out in the tiny, dirty cell, he hadn't visited the room since she was locked up, about twelve days ago

Nicolette was yanked up from her place on the floor, where she was leaning her naked back against the dirty wall, her feet still in the puddle of bodily fluids. And they dragged her into the center of the room, where she was than shoved into what could barely be considered clothes. A large men's button up shirt and a pair of slacks that were obviously too long for her short body.

She was shoved into the shirt first, but it seems that Hydra does not have much patience, after she got four buttons done, the guards grabbed her. Not giving her the change to finish or put the way too big pants on.

And so Nicolette was dragged down the hall in nothing but a half button up-ed shirt, the top three buttons open, exposing the top of her stomach and bruised chest. She was weak and tired from how little food they gave gave her and how they beat her, so weak that her legs collapsed underneath her weight and she fell to the floor harshly. She wasn't there long though, two guards seized both of her bruised arms not-too-gently, and dragged her forward, feet scraping the cold floor behind her.

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JAMES' POV

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My everything hurt. My arms and legs. My back and chest. My head and my heart. It's been roughly two days since I was forced by those Hydra bastards to listen as my wife. MY WIFE! Was raped and beaten to the point of unconsciousness. And that is what hurt the most; being unable to protect my family.

Hydra had just finished an experiment on me. After I had attacked the 'doctors'. Hey, they were the one that had injected me with some sort of paralysis agent that took a while to kick in, soon after that happened I was forced listen as my beautiful wife was hurt and abused by Hydra for the sake of punishing me for what I did.

3RD PERSON POV

The door to James room, if you could call it that, Cell would be more accurate, opened, dragging his attention from his thoughts to the entryway. He was both shocked, disgusted and relieved to see Hydra agents, Zola, and his wife respectively.

James watched as his Nikki was dragged into the room, wearing nothing but a large button-up shirt with the top three buttons undone. Barely even covering her shaking and tiny body

"Congratulations, Sargent. We have decided to allow you to...properly embrace the married life, seeing as you have been without each other since you decided to be a hero. To join the army." Zola simpered

One of the guards roughly grabbed and shoved a beaten, bruised, bloody and tired Nicolette into James' strong metal and weak flesh arms, before turning to leave the prisoners alone with Zola

"We will begin our tests and experiments in three days time. I should suggest that you make up for lost time. One of you might not survive."

James glared as Zola strode out of their cell, before turning his attention towards his shaking wife.

He held her tightly as she clung to him, trying to get a close as possible, though James wasn't sure if she was seeking comfort or warmth. Either way, he wrapped his arms around her, protecting her from the outside world as best he could in this evil and twisted torture chamber known as Hydra

"I'm so cold." She shuffled closer, plastering herself to james' front, coiling her arm around him in what would have been a death grip were it not for her weak state

James leaned down and kissed the crown of her head, his lips lingering for a moment "I know. I'm sorry. This is all my fault. I-" He cut himself off, his voice shaking.

"It was not your fault, James. Don't say that." "But it was my fault. I lashed out and attacked one of the doctors, and to punish me...they- they...did that, to you." Nikki shook her head "James...they would have done it with or without using you as an excuse. Hydra is evil. Hydra raped me. Not you. Please mon amour, don't blame yourself."

James scoffed "How can I not? You're my wife, Nikki. I should have protected you."

Nikki pulled her head back, looking up at her husband she shook her head once more "You did not know what Hydra would do. I would rather take any punishment over knowing that Hydra has inflicted even more torture on you." "But I-" "James, please. Just...hold me."

James nodded, laying his cheek on the top of her head and rocking back and forth.

TWO DAYS LATER

Two men, one quite short and the other of average height walked down a long hallway, stopping at a single door with seven locks on it.

"And this is where you keep the 'guests'?" The taller man asked, looking approvingly at the cell door.

"Yes, we have the two subjects just inside."

The door opened with an ominous hiss, the light from the hallway illuminating the dark cell, as well as the two prisoners in it.

On top of the metal cot at the end of the cell, the two men saw a sight that garnered two very different responses. The first was of irritation and annoyance. The second-that of the taller man, was intrigue and fascination.

Laying on the cold, hard metal cot was their two test subjects- James and Nicolette Barnes, sleeping. With Nicolette on top of James, and James' metal arm wrapped around her shrinking waist, and his right hand intertwined with Nicolette's left. Her face was turned to the left, buried in James neck. Facing away from the door.

"They are constantly...comforting each other? Dr. Zola?"

Zola nodded his head, his beady eyes narrowing at the couple "It seems that when they are together, they are less frightened, scared, and anxious. They are sickeningly loyal to the other. Perhaps, it would be wise to separate them in the future? To make them more susceptible to Hydra suggestion with the promise of...shall we say...visitation rights?"

The man shook his head, voicing his thoughts "No. With this level of loyalty would only cause them to choose to not see each other, to not see the other's pain that they inflicted on the other. No. Don't reward them for being good, punish them for being bad.

"Use their loyalty against them, keep them together, make the other watch as their resistance gets their love hurt." The taller man smirked evilly, excited at the thought of a new experiment to test.

Zola nodded, leading the man out and locking the door behind them, "An excellent idea, Dr. Menkalm. An excellent idea, indeed."