I am publishing a little early this week as I am going away for a few days. I'll return to the regular schedule next week. I would like to take a moment to thank all the people who have added this story to their "follow" and "favorite" lists. I appreciate it. I would also like to take a moment to express my thanks for all those reviewing and taking time to PM me, comments, suggestions etc. Thank you all for reading, even if you did not leave reviews. It does my heart good to connect in this small way. Enjoy.

The Curse of Dr. Zola

Chapter 37

Odin's hand went to his chest and he sat back down.

Thor went to Heimdall. "Where? Where is it?"

"Midgard." He simply stated. "Earth."

Thor turned to look at the King. "I must go Father."

Odin nodded solemnly.

Thor turned and left the palace with Heimdall.

Odin instructed a guard to fetch Lady Sif, and once she arrived, she was charged with a mission to go to Midgard and find the woman who wielded the Soul-stone and protect her at all costs.

"Yes, my King."

"Only a woman can wield the Soul-stone, only a woman of Norse descent can control it….only a woman with Asgardian blood in her veins can use it to save her world."

"An Asgardian? On Midgard? How has this come to be?"

"I was young once, dear Lady Sif, young and in love once; once, before I fell in love with Frigga. You must understand the stone. It will only work for someone of perfect strength and purity of heart, someone who has sacrificed everything for the one they love. Only then will their soul be deemed worthy. You must hurry, there isn't much time."

Sif hurried from the palace, as Odin looked sad in his throne-room; his eyes seeing a distant place in the past.

Mary was ushered to a seat, tears of emptiness running down her face. Bucky's anguished cry echoed in her head. She felt it would haunt her forever.

Underneath her clothes, the Soul-stone began to glow softly.

"You're not going to cry now, are you?" Pierce chided her. "Crying is weakness. HYDRA doesn't tolerate weakness."

Mary's eyes flashed anger. "You push me and I'll show you what it's like to be on my bad side."

Pierce chuckled. "It's your bad side that I want."

"Good luck with that."

"We need you to activate the stone."

"I hate to disappoint you, but it doesn't work for me. It never has, so you're out of luck."

Pierce frowned. "You say that now…"

"No, I'm not kidding you. I don't know anything about how to make it work. My mother kept it all my life. She never taught me anything about it. I only just found it recently."

For the first time Pierce fell silent. Clearly this was not what he was expecting. "Well, you'd better figure it out, and fast."

Mary just glared at him.

"Don't worry; we'll make sure you have some incentive." Pierce took a second to glance at Shawn. "Won't we?"

Shawn said nothing. He knew he wasn't expected to answer. If Pierce had expected an answer, he would have stared Shawn right in the eyes as he asked.

Shawn looked Mary over. She is fragile, weak. She would not survive much in the ways of HYDRA. He wanted to be the one assigned to break her. The other woman, though strong, was no match for Shawn's strength. He was rewarded when she failed. He secretly hoped this one would break quickly. It was time to be rewarded again. It would be the best reward to take this woman from Barnes, and then she would know the Curse of Dr. Zola.

Somewhere deep in his mind he thought she looked familiar to him; the blonde hair, the shape of her face. He thought maybe he'd seen it somewhere before, as he studied her features. He mentally shook it off. Pierce would not approve, and Shawn knew better than to ask. It would only gain him a visit to the chair. He would obey. He would comply. It was his duty to wait for the next assignment.

The jet flew them to a secret base and they arrived several hours later.

"Take her to the infirmary. Do not damage her." Pierce stared at him firmly. "You damage her, and you will be punished severely."

Pierce left by way of the elevator. Shawn grasped her wrist and tugged her towards the infirmary.

Mary was very uncooperative for the doctor until Shawn backhanded her. She fell off the exam table, crying and bleeding.

"Now, now, there is no need for that! I'm sure she will comply." The medical staff got Mary back up on the table. "Back up or I will call Pierce."

Shawn hesitated. He was not used to the doctor giving him orders, but the threat of Pierce made Shawn step back a couple of feet. The doctor did what he could and then a nurse escorted Mary into the back to change into a hospital gown.

"Remain here!" The doctor commanded firmly. He went to the back to finish up the exam.

When it was over, the doctor called Pierce on his office phone, and reported to him. He nodded several times and hung up.

"Pierce said you are to escort her to guest room 1 and stand guard outside until you are relieved. Understood?"

Shawn nodded and grasped Mary by her wrist and took her to her quarters.

He opened the door and pulled her inside. He let go of her and closed the door behind him as he left. He would stand there until was ordered somewhere else.

Mary laid herself down on the bed and cried. The orange stone's glow had long faded and now was dull in color.

Steve helped Bucky get some food into him. It had been some time, but still Bucky's stomach reacted badly.

He vomited into the toilet, unsuccessful in keeping it down this time.

Bucky wiped his mouth and got up from his knees, with Steve by his side. Steve could feel how much weight Bucky had lost and he was angry; angry that Bucky had been taken, that Steve couldn't find him sooner, and angry because he let Mary leave.

"I'm sorry Buck, I'm so sorry."

"I need more food."

They went back to the kitchen and Bucky started again to eat.

"He should start with something lighter, otherwise he's going to be kneeling in front of the toilet again." Sam remarked.

"I need food!" Bucky growled at him.

Sam put up his hands in surrender. "I'm just saying…"

Bucky had glossed over what had happened while he was away, but they all knew he wasn't telling them everything. But Bucky was determined to eat. He had to get his strength back to go after Mary.

Bucky sighed at last. "You're right. I'll start with some toast or eggs."

"Now, you're being sensible."

"They've got Mary!"

"We know Buck. We're going to get her back, but you need to recover. She'll be safe for a while at least, they won't risk hurting her."

"You don't know that!" His right hand banged on the table.

"Look man, we can argue the point all day, but you need to get your head straight, let your stomach adjust slowly, and get better. That's the only way you'll have what it takes to go rescue your girl." Sam told him.

Bucky sighed. "I know, but it's hard to relax when they've got her, and you don't know what The Curse is capable of."

"Here, start with the toast." Steve put the plate down in front of him. "I'll be over with the eggs in a minute."

The doctor knocked lightly at Pierce's office door, and waited. Pierce made everyone wait.

"Come in."

The doctor opened the door and came in and closed the door behind him, something he rarely did.

Pierce looked at him in surprise. "You are here to give me the report on our guest?"

"Yes, sir. She seems pretty healthy…"

"Excellent. " Pierce cut off the rest of his sentence.

"But…" The doctor looked around nervously. "We have a problem."

Pierce stood up. "What sort of problem?"

"She's pregnant."