Hey, all. Sorry it took me soooo long. I don't know why it had been taking me so long lately.

I hope you enjoy this chapter.

And disclaimer: No, I don't own Marvel, through I wish. I also used some of the lines from movie (I think you can pick out those lines :p).

Chapter 17:

The Nightmare

Toni's head was spinning and she had no idea of where she was or what was going on. All she knew was that she was tied to a chair, unable to move, and the ropes and handcuffs were digging into her. It was hard to breath, but that wasn't what worried her. What worried her was the last thing she could recall, which was Barnes being ambushed by hydra Soldiers. She had tried to help him, but she was grabbed from behind, and no matter what she did, she couldn't break free. Before the man had knocked her out, she watched as Barnes was taken to the ground unable to fight the men off. She had no idea what happened after that. He could be seriously hurt or worse dead, but she did know that if one of those asshole hydra soldier hurt him, she was going to beat their asses.

Feeling a cold draft, she broke from her train of thought and forced her eyes open. She was alone in a dark room, which looked like some kind of a lab, and it looked relatively used. Blood strained the floor and walls, and there were large scratches on the tables. What were they doing in this lab?

Toni didn't know, but she didn't like the idea of being in this Frankenstein lab, and she really didn't like that her shirt was opened, exposing the arc of her boobs and the arc reactor. Though she wondered what sick fuck unbuttoned her shirt, she was worried about what they were going to do to the reactor. She couldn't let them have, but there was nothing she could do. If I can hold out until Rogers gets here, it'll be fine, she thought.

Leaning her head back, she focused on freeing her hands from the ropes, though it took only a few seconds to realize that she wouldn't be able to break free of her restrains. It didn't mean she wouldn't look for a way out, because there had to be a way. She refused to believe that there was none. If she gave up, she wouldn't be a Stark.

Shaking her head, she glanced toward the door, but she could barely focus. Her head was still spinning. As she closed her eyes, the door to the room opened and two people walked in. She waited until they entered and the door closed before she opened her eyes. Johann Schmidt didn't take any introducing to know who he was, though it took her a few seconds to realize who the small man. It was Dr. Arnim Zola, the master mind behind the hydra weapons.

"She's awake," Schmidt stated. "I was worried that my soldiers had hurt you. We can't have that now."

Toni glared, not liking the look that he was giving her. Why in the hell was he looking at her like that?

"You do not speak," Schmidt said as he stepped toward. "You have nothing to fear, Corporal Sark, well as long as you tell me what I want to know. I promise I will not hurt you."

Annoying her hatred at being called Sark, Toni snorted, because she knew the bad guy handbook. She knew he was lying; no matter what she said or what happened, she wouldn't be safe. He would kill her after he was done with her.

"I just want to know what that device does in your chest." He paused and looked at Zola. "He believes it would be fatal to remove it." He turned back her. He stared at her as she glared. "You're quite interesting I must say."

She totally did not like the way he was looking at her. It looked like he wanted to eat her. Shaking her head, she turned to Zola, who looked like he was about to crap his pants. Toni could probably yell boo and he would jump; how did that man last long with Schmidt, who looked like he was ready kill at any second? That was the issue with bad guys, you never knew when (not if) they would kill you. She kind of felt sorry, just kind of since they were holding her against her will and all.

Suddenly, Schmidt harshly grabbed her face and forced her to look at him. "It's such a shame." Toni gave him a questioning, narrowing look. "Such a shame that the Americans would send a beautiful woman into the battlefield." He had a hard, bruising grip on her face that she couldn't break. "Are they afraid to face me themselves? I suppose so as much as they sent a woman." He studied her face. "It will be easier to break you, though"

She struggled against him as anger filled her. She wanted to say something smart back but she didn't want to give him the pleasure, though it was so hard to remain silent; she did have a big mouth and all. So hard. Why was every man in this time a sexist pig? Even the criminals were sexist. Where were the nice, non-sexist people of the 1940's?

"Don't you want to save yourself? The Americans will not last against me." He let go of her face. "Tell me about that device is in your chest. I promise I will not hurt you."

Unable to control herself, she opened her mouth. "Repeating your promise won't help! That's what all of the bad guys say before they kill you." She glared before turning to Zola who was staring at the ground. How dare he not look at her when she was held hostage? If he was going to do this, he was going to look at her.

Schmidt turned back to her with a smirk on his face. "She speaks."

Toni narrowed her eyes. "Oh, yes, I do, you asshat."

"And a mouth."

"I'm proud of my mouth." She paused to catch the look in his eyes. "And I won't tell you anything, so do your worst."

"You have faith in these Americans," he stated.

"Well I am an American," she snapped.

Schmidt chuckled at her before he crossed to the door and called for two Hydra soldier. "I am not your enemy, and you will learn this."

"By torturing me? Interesting." Toni replied as she gave him a look. "Very interesting."

"I have never met a woman like you," he stated.

"Which is a shame," she said as she continued to struggle against her restraints.

"I wouldn't consider that a shame," he stated. "Last chance, Corporal Sark. Tell me what this device is and I'll let you go."

She hated that god damn name. She wasn't a Sark, but revealing her real name wouldn't be wise. He wouldn't let her go if he knew she was a Stark. Then there was also the fact that she was a time traveler. "I won't tell you anything."

"Why back a losing team? My forces are far superior in every way," he stated as he stepped back. "You seem to be highly intelligent. I could use you." He paused. "We'll just need to control that mouth of yours."

She so badly wanted to tell him that he was going to lose, that Rogers was going to kick his mother fucking ass, but no, she couldn't say that. She couldn't say anything. She had to sit there and take it, which was extremely difficult considering who the hell she was. Banter was in her DNA. "Don't lie, you totally love it," she responded.

Schmidt looked at her. "You don't know when to be quiet. Maybe, that's why the Americans sent you in. A way to silence you?"

Toni stared at him, because she wouldn't put it pass Salty; however, he was against it. He didn't want her anywhere this man, as he didn't believe it was worth the risk, but it was. She needed one of those hydra cores. They were the only thing in this time period that would be able to power the device, being created from the Tesseract. She knew she couldn't get the cube, but those cores might be close enough. "You could be right," She stated as she watched him cross to the door. "But that isn't it."

"Maybe so, but it does not matter. You will break," he stated as he waved his soldiers forward. "And you will tell me everything. No woman can outlast me."

Toni couldn't watch Schmidt and Zola leave the room as her head was forced back and a bucket of ice water was poured on her face. The water flowed into her nose and mouth, and her eyes were forced shut as the ice pelted her. She let out a sigh of relief when the water stopped; however, that was short lived. She was ripped from the chair and thrown face first into a hot tub of water, which singed her skin.

In her surprise, water surged into her mouth and down her throat. When they pulled her up, she coughed up water and…blood, but before she could gather her breath, they forced her head down again and again. There was no stopping them and Toni lost count of how many times they had dunked her. She struggled, trying to break their grip, but they were too strong. She put her arms out to push against the sides of the tub, but she wasn't strong enough. They dunk her each time without any trouble.

In her struggling, the water rushed into her nose, taking the breath that she was holding. Scared, she tried to take a breath, but the water rushed into her lungs. Panic flew through her because she had no idea if they were going to pull her out of the water that seared her throat. If they were, wouldn't they have done so already? Didn't they know that she couldn't breathe? Did they know that everything was fading? She was starting to lose the feeling of her body.

Worst of all, her panic had started to disappear, and she started to forget why she was scared in the first place. Why was she fighting if her pain was gone? She was free and was no longer scared, so why was she fighting? If she just let go, she would be able to rest. She would be freed of the worry and stress of being alive…wait, why was she feeling this way? She shouldn't be feeling like this. She should be fighting…but she didn't have the urge to. Why? Because she was… Wait, what was her name? She couldn't remember. Why was she here? The last thing she-

The next thing she knew she was being pulled from the hot water and thrown to the ground. Though she was dazed and confused, her body shook, and she coughed painfully as she tried to fill her lungs with air. She choked up the water in her lungs, but she couldn't catch her breath. However, she wasn't able to understand that yet. Her brain didn't start to focus until the Hydra Soldier picked her up and slammed her down on a table, and she couldn't truly understand what was happening until she was strapped.

Toni, whose eyesight was foggy, glanced up at her torturer. His face was blank as if his mind had been wiped and some kind of operating system had been put in its place. It frightened her to think about how he got like that. What kind of thing would do that to another human being and it was that idea that got her scared again. She struggled weakly with the restrains, but her strength was gone. She was unable to anything except to look into the blank face of the soldier, who was checking the restrains.

At the same time, the other one had gone to get a wet clothe and another bucket of ice water. She glanced at the bucket, knowing what was going to happen next. They were going to water-board her, and that stole her breath, which she was struggling to hold anyhow, away from her. Her already weak heart was beating way too fast and she wondered if she was going to have a heart attack; however, she wasn't going to give in. "I won't tell you anything," she croaked. Her voice sounded like someone was stepping on her throat.

"Please, tell them," Zola responded when he stepped toward her. "Tell Schmidt what he wants to know."

Toni turned her heavy head toward him and she stared shocked. She didn't realize that he was in the room; she had thought he had left with the crazy one. "He wants too much," she stated weakly.

Zola crossed to the table and stared at the Arc Reactor. "I do not want to see a woman tortured like this. Please tell us what we want to know." There was some hesitation in his voice.

She tried to laugh but it just sounded like a frog, when it came out. "I won't tell you anything." She paused. "Besides, you can't kill me until I talk and I won't," Toni stated with her voice almost nonexistent. She just had to hold out until Rogers came and saved the day. She knew he was coming; she just have to last that long. She knew she could because they wouldn't kill her…Or maybe, they would…But would it matter if they did?

"That's not the answer I wanted to hear."

Toni snorted. She wasn't known to give the responses that people wanted. "Just do it," she muttered. The thought of it the act had to be worse than the act itself she thought. She was getting herself too worked up and she was losing her breath just thinking of it. At this point, she wanted them to do it.

"Very well," Zola stated as he waved forward the soldier with the bucket and cloth.

Toni didn't have time to think or do anything as the wet cloth was placed over her face, and the bucket of cold water was dumped on her. She tried to scream as the ice water strung her burnt face, but nothing came out; instead, the water filled her mouth, choking her. This time, she thought she was going to die.

*O*O*

Colonel Phillips wasn't a fan of war, but there were parts that he enjoyed more than others. What he was working on was not one of them. He was writing letters to the loves one of the soldiers who were MIA or killed, and it was a draining experience to say the least. Though he knew they couldn't win them all, it cut at him to write these letters. These men were someone's sons. How could he tell someone that their son was dead? What could he possibly say to make it better? There was nothing. Nothing at all. To him, they were an insult…but they had to be done.

He had to write them, but what would he do about Corporal Toni Sark, or rather Toni Stark? She was gone like the rest, except she was different than the others. One, she wasn't supposed to be here. She was a civilian in every sense. Two, she was from the future, and three, should he tell her father? How could he tell her father? He couldn't go up to Howard Stark and tell him: "Hey, your daughter from the future is dead." But he deserved to know, right? His daughter was dead. How did he start that conversation?

Phillips took a deep breath as he stared at the typewriter. Normally, he would have someone else type it up as he spoke, but he couldn't, not with this one. He had to do this himself, because he was only person who knew the truth. However, he wasn't sure why he had to write it, since she knew this was going to happen. She had to have known that his forces would be taken, that his forces couldn't last against Hydra, so why did she go? Was the item she needed so important? It had to be if she needed it to get home, but why would she go on this one? Did she know something he didn't? If he thought about it, her just being here told him too much. They had to have won this war somehow.

Shaking his head, he focused on the letter that he had write. She deserved that much; her father deserved it was well, but he was unsure of how he would give it to Howard Stark. He didn't, however, have time to think about it as Steve Rogers busted into his tent.

"Colonel Phillips," Rogers stated as he busted in.

"Well, if it isn't the star spangled man with a plan. And what's your plan for today?" Phillips asked, annoyed. Why was he here? He didn't have time for this. He had condolence letters to write and he had to figure out what he was going to tell Stark about his daughter.

"I need the casualty list for Rosano," Rogers stated, firmly.

Phillips stared at him for a second, wondering about that tone of his. He didn't like it too much; it had a command tone that he couldn't understand as Rogers had no authority even if he had the title of Captain. "You don't get to give me orders, Son."

Rogers looked taken back. "I just need one name. Sergeant James Barnes from the hundred and seventh."

That stroke Phillips as odd. Did he not know about Toni? Maybe, he didn't know, or maybe, he didn't care, though that would be out of character for the choir boy. He turned to Peggy, wondering if this had anything to do with her as Toni and she didn't get along. "You and I are gonna have a conversation later that you won't enjoy." He was tired of their fights, though it seemed like he no longer had to deal with them.

Rogers took around step toward him. "Please tell me if he's alive, Sir. B-A-R-"

"I can spell," Phillips stated quickly. Though he didn't like to be ordered around, he understood where Rogers was coming from. "I have signed more of these condolence letters today than I would care to count. But the name does sound familiar. I'm sorry." Though he had used Barnes to spy on Toni, he didn't know the man well, but Phillips did feel sad about losing a soldier like that.

"What about the others? Are you planning a rescue mission?" Rogers asked.

Phillips could tell Rogers didn't like the idea of leaving a man behind, but they had no way to save them. "Yeah! It's called winning the war."

Rogers looked at him shocked. "But if you know where they are, why not at least…?"

Phillips knew where Rogers was coming from, but they didn't have the man power for that, and Rogers was too emotional to see that. Maybe, it was a good thing he didn't know about Toni, though he wasn't too sure of their relationship. It seemed like he had a thing for Agent Peggy, which just annoyed him. "They're thirty miles behind the lines through the most heavily fortified territory in Europe," he answered. "But I don't expect you to understand that, because you're a chorus girl."

"I think I understand just fine," Rogers replied, clearly annoyed as he turned to leave.

His mind turned back to Toni and her plan. Why did she go out with the 107? Was this whole thing planned? "I'm surprised you didn't ask me about Corporal Sark," Phillips stated as he ignored the look from Peggy.

Rogers turn back with a confused look in his eyes. "Corporal Sark? I don't know who he is." eHe He

"It isn't a he," Phillips stated as he pulled the fake file that he made for the woman. "You just know her as Toni." He handled it to Rogers. "I'm surprised she didn't tell you."

Rogers narrowed his eyes as he opened the file. His eyes widen at the sight of the picture. "What is this?"

Phillips wondered why he was showing Rogers this folder as it would just make him want to go more. Maybe, that was what Phillips was trying to do, though he wasn't sure why he was doing that. He just couldn't help but think this was Toni's plan to begin with. "I just thought you would like to know. I thought someone would want to know," he answered as he glanced to the letter on the typewriter. "I'm not sure who I should address her letter to. She doesn't seem to have anyone."

Rogers, with an unreadable look in his eyes, tossed the folder back to Phillips. "I think…" He drifted off.

The Colonel glanced at him and decided to let it go. "Well then think it somewhere else. If I read the posters correctly you got some place to be in thirty minutes." He turned his back as to escape the look that Carter was giving him.

"Yes, Sir. I do," came Roger's slow response.

With his back to him and the agent, he didn't watch them leave. He stepped back to the typewriter and stared at the paper for a few seconds before he glanced up in the direction of Carter and Rogers. He did feel bad, but it wasn't anything that he hadn't felt before.

*O*O*

Toni Stark had been tortured before; it wasn't anything new, but this was different. When she was held hostage in the desert being tortured to build weapons, it was nothing like this. They wanted her alive, so she could build the weapons, but this time, she wasn't so sure. Schmidt had said he didn't want to hurt her, but she doubted he would care if she was. He didn't want her to build him anything; he had Zola for that. He just wanted to study her reactor dead or alive, which she couldn't have; however, she doubted if anyone could figure it out.

Once again, she was tied to a chair as her torturers had taken a break, which she was grateful for. She didn't know how much longer she was going to last. She wasn't going to tell them shit, but she didn't know if she could last anything else. She ran out of the energy to fight a while ago, and her body had become a rag doll. She lost count to how many times they had dunked her in hot water, dumped ice cold water on her, and water boarded her. She didn't know what they were going to do, but she would never looked at water ever again. The very thought of water freaked her out.

Her flight impulses started to kick alive, and she fought against her bindings with a surge of mysterious energy. Her head bobbled as she struggled to keep it up. Leaning her back, she opened her eyes and tried to focus on her surroundings, but everything was in a daze. She couldn't make anything out, only seeing shadows. Trying to focus, she tossed her head around as if shaking her head would jolt it awake. For a while, Toni stared blankly at ceiling as she moaned lightly. Her body didn't want to move, but it had to. She had to get out of here; however, even with her fast beating heart, she couldn't muster anything.

"She lives," Schmidt stated as he pushed himself off the wall. "I was worried."

He was still a fuzzy shape for Toni, who could only recognized him by his voice. What's he doing here? She thought. He had never watched, always leaving the room whenever they started. She wasn't sure of his reasons, and she didn't really care for his reasons. She just wanted him to die in a blaze of fire.

"I had to remind my men that I do not want you dead," he spoke as he walked to her.

His voice made her tremble, because she could tell he was serious, and there was no doubt that they had almost killed her a few times.

"I am impressed by you, Sark," he stated as he grabbed her bobbing head. She did not have the strength to do anything, even to keep her eyes opened not that she wanted to look at him. "I have not seen many men, who can last through that torture, but you have."

In her exhaustion, his words stared to blend together, and it was getting hard to understand what he had said. His fuzzy shape started to fade into the complete darkness and the feeling of his hand started to disappear. She wasn't sure if it was because he removed his hand from her face or if she was losing feeling of her face. She was voting the latter, because she was fading quickly, and that worried her. Was she dying?

*O*O*

The next time that Toni woke, she was alert, which was surprising. She was expecting more torture, but she was alone in the room. The only thing she could hear was her own breathing and the rattling of the chains, and that was a scary thing; she didn't know how to handle this. What did it mean? Were they done with her? Did she tell them something in her haze? She hoped to whoever the hell was upstairs that she didn't, but if she did spill her guts (something she would never ever live down), why was she still live? Surely, she wasn't needed anymore, though she did have a boat ton of future information to give. Or maybe, they were going to drain her dry, and if they did that, she didn't know how, but she knew one thing: they would not be gentle.

Still fighting her sore muscles, it hurt every time she struggled with the chains, and her wounds had reopened in her efforts. "Bastard," she cursed as nothing worked. Only, the chair bobbled in her feeble attempts. "Fuck," she yelled as she couldn't even tip the chair over. She didn't even know why she tried, because she was wasting her much needed energy. She could already feel herself drift and that wasn't good.

"Your resistance is futile."

Toni's head snapped up at the voice; her heartbeat raced as she noticed Schmidt, who was staring at her with such a look that she felt her soul shake. "Are you a Borg now?" She asked.

His eye brow rose. "What is a Borg?"

Shit, she thought. She couldn't believe that she just said that. "Just my term for an idiot," she answered, trying to cover up the fact that she just referenced a TV show that didn't exist yet. It was a good TV show though.

"Only a fool would mock their jailer," Schmidt stated.

She had been called a fool before, and she would be called a fool again, no doubt by Rogers, but she didn't think being a fool was a bad thing. She was quite proud of her foolishness, and she would never stop. However, the look he was giving her could scare the fool right out of her. "What do you want?" she asked. "If you think you're going to get anything out of me, don't. I won't tell you anything, and you'll be wasting your time." She tried to emotionally ready herself, even if she knew nothing she would do would be good enough.

"I am not going to hurt you," he stated as he stepped toward her.

Toni would've snorted if she could've mustered it. "You and your men had already," she coughed out. Her throat was starting to hurt from all of the talking. When Schmidt reached down to her chains, she almost flipped out of her chair, scared. "W-What are you doing?" she shuttering, annoying herself. She hated how weak she sounded.

He looked at her as he unchained her from the chair, but her hands were still tightly chained together. "I would like to show you something," he stated as he grabbed her by her forearm.

She winked in pain as he pulled her to her feet. With her Jello legs, she didn't think that she would be able to stand, but Schmidt's painful grip kept her on her feet. "What would you like to show me?" she asked as she felt her legs shake.

"Once you see it, you will change your tone," he stated as he was forced her forward. He was half-dragging her as her legs didn't want to work. "You will understand your mistake."

Toni didn't respond as she was too busy trying to keep up with him. He was dragging her faster than she could keep up with, and she kept tripping over her own feet. He didn't say anything but she did catch him looking at her from the corner of his eyes and she could have sworn that he was laughing at her.

*O*O*

Toni fell to her knees as her legs finally gave out. She was surprised that her legs had lasted this long as Schmidt had painfully forced her to walk. Every step hurt and it threatened to overtake her, but the insane crazy man seemed to enjoy her pain. She should've suspect that from him, but she didn't think he was that much of a sadist. She was dead wrong, because he was a sadist in every sense of the word.

She didn't have time to catch her breath as he pulled her back to her feet. "Look at my power," he ordered as he made her look at the glowing weapons that Zola had designed. As his hydra soldiers were creating even more weapons, she wondered how anyone could last against him. How did Rogers beat this man again? "Are you doubting your choice?"

She tried to jerk her arm away from him as she could feel her arm start to bruise, but she couldn't break free from his grab. "Why are you trying so hard?" she snapped. She was too exhausted to be friendly, not like she would've been friendly in the first place.

"You have a bright mind. I hate to see it go to waste," he answered as he pulled her toward Zola who had popped out between two large glowing towers.

Toni stumbled a few steps as pain shot through her legs. She was drained and she could barely keep her eyes open. They hadn't let her sleep and her mind had started to slip; it wouldn't be long before it was gone. "You have no idea of my genius," she mocked.

"Well tell me then," he replied.

"Just kill me then," Toni retorted. It would make it so much easier if she was dead. She wouldn't have to worry about getting back to the future and she wouldn't have to worry about accidently changing the future.

"Not yet." Schmidt dragged her toward Zola, who was checking out one of the glowing cores, which Toni eyed. That was all that she needed.

Zola, who was holding a clip board in his hand, glanced up at Schmidt. His hesitation was clearly visible in his eyes and Toni almost felt bad for him; however, that went out the window in seconds as she remembered that he had helped to torture her.

Schmidt dragged Toni behind him as he stepped toward Zola. "The Americans cannot compete with this!" He stated.

Toni glanced around the room, and she sweated a bit, because Schmidt's forces were impressive. If she didn't know the future, she would be nerviness, but knowing he would fail kept her strong. "Go fuck yourself," she hissed at him. She wasn't going to give in. She promised herself that.

He gave her a look, clearly not happy with her tone. His grip on her hand tightened, but he turned to Zola.

Zola looked up. "As you can see, production and the work here is progressing on schedule even with components of this size." He shuttered it out.

A look of happiness appeared on Schmidt's face. "Increase the output by sixty percent. And speak with our other facilities to do the same."

With each passing second, Toni felt herself get anger. Why was he forcing her to listen to this? It had to be a show, an attempt to get her to see he was superior in every way, but that would not change her mind. Surely, he knew this, because if she didn't bend under torture, she would not bend to his words.

"But these prisoners, I'm not sure they have the strength," Zola stated.

"Then use up what strength they have left, Doctor."

Toni snorted. "And you want me to join you after you said that, Asshat." She wondered if she would turn out like these mindless idiots. She would rather die than be one these thing, because they weren't human anymore.

Schmidt glance down at his prisoner, and squeezed her arm tightly, making her scream. "I did not tell you that you can speak."

"I don't need your permission to speak. You aren't a god," she responded back, but she regretted it a second later as he slapped her hard in the face.

*O*O*

The next thing she knew, she was being slammed down into a chair, but it wasn't in the torture room. Instead, Schmidt had her tied to a chair in the control room as he looked over what he considered to be his masterpiece. He had a sickeningly smiling on his face as he looked over his creation. "Do you now see how foolish your choice is now, Sark?" he asked with her back toward her.

Toni, even at the point of sheer exhaustion, struggled in her bindings as his very voice was annoying the hell out of her, and she couldn't fucken take it anymore. She couldn't understand why he thought talking to her would change her mind. Maybe, he thought talking to her would work better than torture, and…it might. His voice was so much worse, and his 'I am mightier then you' tone was pissing her off. Beside the fact that she was the only one who could use that tone, how could he talk to anyone like that? He wasn't a god. He was nothing.

To make things worse, she hated the name Sark with a passion, and she couldn't wait to be herself again. "No."

He crossed back to her and grabbed her face again. He had thing about grabbing the face, didn't he? "I'm sorry that I struck you. I forget my strength at times," he stated as he rubbed the huge black bruise on her face. It was surprising that he didn't break her jaw. "Maybe, you will learn to obey."

"I won't obey," she stated as she tried to pull away from him. "I would rather die."

"You impress me, Sark," he said. "I do not wish to break you and make you into one of these mindless fools." He let go of Toni's face and crossed to the control panels.

Toni's head bobbed in her exhaustion, and it hurt like a bitch. She so wished Roger would come soon and beat his ass, because she couldn't deal with it anymore. "Why would you need me?" she asked.

"I don't need you. I want you. With those Americans, that mind of yours is going to waste," he stated. He turned to Zola who was working on something.

"T-that's creepy when you say it like t-that," she replied as she was fighting to stay awake. Her eyelids felt like they weighted a tone.

"That tone-" Schmidt started but was interrupted.

"Sir," Zola called. "We have an intruder." He pointed to a video feed. Schmidt glanced at Toni before crossing to Zola.

Knowing that something had to be happening, she forced herself to awake. She didn't know what it was, but Schmidt was flipping switches. "What's going on?" she asked as she started to hear a racket outside of the control room. The louder the sounds were, the more she was convinced it was Rogers.

"Sir," Zola uttered as he watched Schmidt flip every more switches. Toni didn't know what these switches did, but she could hear a clicking sound.

"They are clearly outmatched," the insane freak stated as he pointed to the screen. She couldn't see, but it had to be Rogers.

"But Sir," Zola questioned.

Schmidt stepped to Toni, snapped the restrains that held her to the chair, and pulled her to her feet. "We're leaving, Doctor. Gather your things and let's go." He pulled Toni toward the door, causing her to trip over her own feet.

Toni could feel his glare on her back as she struggled. Her bruised body felt like it was on fire each time he forced her to move, and to make matters worse, she was having a hard time breathing. She didn't know if one of her ribs was broken, but it hurt. She hoped Rogers would sock him one for her, because she knew she would break her hand if she tried.

"Let me go," she begged. If she didn't get away from him now, they would take her and there would be no end. If she wasn't saved, she knew she would cave and tell him everything.

Schmidt forced her to her feet again. "Why would I do that? With Zola and you, there's no stopping me."

That took her breath away, because that was the last thing that she had expected. She wasn't quite sure what she was expecting, but that wasn't it. She wasn't sure what he was judging her genus on, because he only saw her reactor and heard her smart ass mouth. Maybe that was enough. Whatever it was; it didn't matter. What matter was getting away, though she was beginning to wonder if she could.

*O*O*

Barnes had lost track of time and what was happening to him, but he could tell that someone was standing over top of him. The shadow started to take shape after it had started to shake him. "It's me, Steve," the shadow stated.

That name sounded familiar to him. "Steve?"

"Yes, it's me," the voice stated as he pulled Barnes into a sitting position. "Let's go."

Barnes narrowed his eyes and the shape started to morph into his best friend. What was he doing here? "Steve."

"I thought you were dead," Steve replied as he helped him to his feet.

Barnes knew he had to be losing it; he had to have gone crazy. There was no way Steve was that big. The Steve he left at the apartment wasn't even half the size of the man in front of him. How could he have possibly gotten that big? If he believed in magic, he might've believed that Steve was a witch doctor of some kind. "I thought you were smaller," he finally said as Steve came into focus.

Barnes was amazed to how easily that Steve had picked him up and how unaffected he was by his weight. How did this happen? "What happened to you?" he asked, unable to help himself.

"I joined the army!"

Steve was never one for long explanations, but Barnes expected something more from him. "Did it hurt?" He wasn't sure what else to say.

"A little."

He was a man of little words and it annoyed Barnes. "Is it permanent?" he asked, trying to get something out of him.

"So far," he replied as he helped him to the door. "We have to get going, Bucky."

Steve's nickname for Barnes snapped him out of his fog; he had completely about Toni. How could he forgot about her? It should've been impossible with that loud snarky mouth of hers. "Toni," he stated. He wasn't sure how Steve would react to this, but he had to know. "She's here. Schmidt has her."

"I know," he stated through his teeth.

"Steve," he uttered as they stepped out of the room.

"How could you let her come?" he snapped.

Barnes was beating himself up over that, but there was no way he could've stopped her. Toni had a mind of her own and there was no telling her anything. "She wouldn't listen," he replied. "I tried, though I wish that I had tried harder." The image of her being grabbed from behind and knocked out by a hydra soldier was burnt into his mind. He couldn't get rid of the feeling that he failed as he watched her be taken. He felt like shit and he couldn't get rid of that feeling.

"I'll save her," Steve stated.

"We'll save her," Barnes corrected

Steve glanced at him as they made their way through the rumbling base. "No, I'll save her; you just need to get out of here."

Barnes did not like his tone at all; he made it seem like it was all his fault. Sure, he had some part to blame in this, but he did try to talk Toni out of this. She wouldn't listen to him and he couldn't stop her. "I'll leave when we find her."

He stated at him for a few seconds. "Fine," he agreed as flames started to engulf the base, which signaled that they did not have time to fight. They had to get the hell out of this place.

*O*O*

The flames and smoke forced them to the rafters as the entire building was being eaten by the flames. Barnes had wondered if they would ever be able to find Toni and get the hell out of this place. With each passing second, the flames had gotten worse, and the building started to shake and fall apart around them. As they stepped onto a higher level, another rumble echoed throughout the base, sending Barnes to the knees. Steve was able to stay on his feet. "Are you okay?" he asked.

Barnes pushed himself up. "Yea," he stated. Steve had been awkward with him since he had found him in that room. He didn't know how to handle Steve when he was like this. "Let's keeping going," he said as he used the railing for support. Steve nodded as they continued down the long rafters.

It was only a few minutes later, when the control room came into sight, but it wasn't the room that caught his sight. What caught his eyes was Toni, who looked like hell even from this distance. Schmidt had a firm grip on her arm as he held her close. He couldn't even see space between them, and that pissed off Bucky. He didn't care that he was the enemy; he shouldn't be holding her like that. In her struggling, he could see multiple bruises on her body, but it was the black eye that stuck him hard. How dare he touch her? He was going to hit him for each mark on her body. No, wait, he was just going to kill him just for that huge bruise on her face.

Barnes glanced toward Steve, who stiffed at the sight of her as well. Steve's hands were balled and they were shaking. "Schmidt," Steve called. Anger was presented in his voice.

"Captain America! How exciting!" He stated as his grip on Toni's arm slipped, sending Toni to the ground hard. It was clear that she was unable to stand on her own.

Barnes's glance went back to Toni for a second before turning back to Steve, whose nails were digging into his skin as he watched her struggle in pain. It was clear that she was hurt worse than she appeared, which pissed them both off.

Steve and Schmidt walked toward each other on the long bridge. "I'm a great fan of your films." He paused as he looked him over. "So Dr. Erskine managed it after all. Not exactly an improvement, but still impressive."

Steve glanced at him for a second before turning to Toni. His eyes focused on her bruise, an unforgivable bruise.

Schmidt smiled as they came within a few feet of each other. "I see."

"You see what?"

"Your affection for this woman," he waved back toward Toni. There was a sick look on his face when he looked at her.

Steve's shoulders tensed.

"You believe-"

The Super Soldier didn't let him finish as he punched him in the face. "You got no idea." His eyes went to Toni for a split second; however, in that second, Schmidt struck. Steve threw his shield up to block but his weak shield was no match, and Schmidt's fist indented Steve's shield, shocking Steve. He was no weakling.

"Haven't I!" Schmidt kicked Steve, knocking him to the ground. Steve reached for gun, but it was knocked away leaving him defenseless. "Your humanity makes you weak." He reached down to Steve.

Barnes couldn't take his eyes off the fight between Schmidt and Steve, who seemed to be losing this fight. It was shocking to Barnes because he didn't think it was possible for Steve with his new strength to lose. If Steve did lose, he had no idea of how he would get out or save Toni. Toni, he though as he turned toward her, but she was gone. Where did she go? He thought franticly as he tried to look for her. He didn't have the time to look as the rafters shock, almost shaking his legs out from underneath him again. The building was about fall.

"No matter what lies Erskine told you, you see I was his greatest success!" Schmidt yelled as the rafters were suddenly pulled a part, separating the two from each other. It wasn't the rafters that startled Steve and Bucky, it was Schmidt, who had peeled off his skin on his face to reveal his red skull.

Barnes stared. "You don't have one of those, do you?"

"You are deluded, Captain. You pretend to be a simple soldier, but in reality, you are just afraid to admit that we have left humanity behind. Unlike you, I embrace it proudly. Without fear!" He yelled.

Steve narrowed his eyes. "Then how come you're running?"

Schmidt crossed to the door. "I do not have the time to waste. Zola, Sark, and I have things to do."

At hearing that, Barnes' heart raced. "You aren't going anywhere with her," he snapped. He didn't care that he was hurt; there was no way they were taking her, but he had to find her first. She was gone, which was a good thing, as they couldn't hurt her anymore. His only hope was that Schmidt wouldn't find her.

Schmidt glanced toward Barnes. "He fancies her as well. He might steal her from you, Captain. How do you feel about that?" he asked as he turned to the door.

Steve, almost forgetting where they were, tried to take a step forward in his anger, but he realized when he put his foot down and stumble that he couldn't go after him. "You aren't going anywhere."

"It is not time for our fight, Captain," the Red Skull stated as he turned. "You are not ready. You are foolish for you are controlled by your emotions."

Barnes, trying to ignore the comments of the Schmidt unlike Steve, watched the Doctor, who was trying to get Schmidt out the door.

Schmidt suddenly looked around as he noticed Toni was gone, but they did not stay to look for her, like he wanted. Zola was able to convince him to leave without her, as the flames started to jump higher, almost licking them.

"What are you doing?" Barnes asked, frantically, as he noticed Steve backing up.

"Toni," he said, looking at Barnes.

"She got away when Schmidt was fighting with you," he tried to explain.

"I can't leave her." Steve scanned the room looking for some clue because Barnes was right. Toni didn't leave with Schmidt, but she was still missing and she could be in danger. They had to find her before Schmidt, but they had to get out of here as well, because the building was coming down around them.

Though he was unsure of what exactly Steve was thinking, he knew it had to be the same thing as him. It hurt like a bitch to leave without Toni. He had to watch her be taken, and now he had to leave her. He failed her again.

*O*O*

Toni had no idea of how she was able to crawl away because her body felt like it was on fire. Maybe, it was on fire? Every time she moved, pain shot through her, but she kept going. If she didn't, Schmidt would catch her and she would be tortured again. She couldn't last another round.

She took a painful breath as she continued to crawl. Originally, she never thought she would be able to get away from Schmidt, but she supposed it was Rogers, who made it possible. He had distracted Skully long enough for her to get away, but she wasn't safe yet. She either had to get out of this roasting building or she needed to find Rogers or Barnes, who made her heart skip at the sight of. Though she knew he going to die, she didn't know when he going to die; this could've been the day that he did, and that hit her hard. Man, since when did she become such a girl?

Shaking her head, she continued her crawl as the ground shook below her. "Assfuck," she cursed as another rumble sent her to her knees. "I hate this." Yet another shake rocketed through the building, keeping her still. She closed her eyes as she was hit by the overwhelming heat. If she didn't hurry up, she was going to go down with the building. Toni pushed herself onto her knees and forced herself forward.

To add to her struggle, it wasn't long before she came to a fork in the road. In her daze, she wasn't able to put her thoughts together and figure out what to do; she couldn't wrap her mind around anything. Also, the smoke had clouded her vision and she was barely able to make anything out, though she didn't know it was the smoke or her vision blacking out, but either way, it wasn't good. To make things even worse, her throat felt like it was on fire. She was coughing as she breathed in the heavy smoke. She was losing her energy rapidly.

Toni smacked hard against the ground, and this time, she wasn't able to push herself up. In fact, she couldn't feel her body. Did she even have a body? She couldn't even tell if she was breathing and that should've scared her if she had truly understood what was going on. Her mind, which hadn't been at an hundred percent for a while, had drifted into the smoke, and there was no down or up anymore. Toni, her thoughts, or what she thought was her thoughts. She wasn't sure anymore. At least, the pain was gone thought, right?

Toni! There it was again. Was that her name? She thought it was, but now, she wasn't sure. Why would that be her name? It wasn't a very girly name nor was it pretty…Wait, was she a girl? She could've been a boy, though Toni was not a very good boy's name either. Seriously, who named her? Why would they name her that? It was an ugly name. Could she-

Toni, please wake! There was that voice again, but this sounded closer, like she could reach other and touch it. In fact, someone was touching her, because she could feel something cold around her. She wasn't sure if someone had picked her up or if something had happened and she was dead. Did she move on? She wasn't sure but the person calling her name would not shut up.

"Toni, please wake up. Please," the voice called loudly. She wasn't put off by his voice as she was too busy trying to learn how to breathe again. Then all of the sudden, the air came rushing back to her lungs, almost overwhelming her, and she started to cough violently.

"Toni!" the man, which she could tell now, yelled as he held her tightly. "Breath. You need to breath."

She didn't know why that was so hard to do, but it was. Was it really that hard to breathe? Her mind wasn't kicking back like the pain was. She felt like she was on fire again.

"Come on. Stop being Stubborn. Breath, you fool!" This was a different voice, and this voice annoyed her in less than two seconds. She was no fool and she would prove it.

"Shut it," she cursed out painfully.

"Toni," one of the voices, she wasn't sure which, said. She felt a hand on her face.

She was sick of hearing that name. "Shut it," she cursed again as she drifted over into unconsciousness.

THE END

FOR NOW.

Poor Toni. Do you think she will ever be the same? :( And I so think Toni would be a trekker.

Until the next time! And sorry again that it took me so long.

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