Ever since coming to our new secret base, I've done some exploring, mostly out of curiosity. That's what I tell people, anyway. I know why I roam the halls and take interest in knowing the layout of the place: I want to find Jessabelle and Bucky.

I don't worry about Jessabelle, as my worrying isn't worth it for her. I always mess with the dog tags around my neck when his name comes to mind. He's still with me, even when he's not. You saved me, it's only fair that I save you now, I think. Saving him from Agent Romanoff isn't enough to repay him. Bringing him back to his old self, that may just do it. It'll give me satisfaction, for sure.

Agent 13—who's name I finally understand is Sharon—and I get along really well. She takes away the seriousness of being a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and sometimes babbles on like we're friends. She talks about normal stuff, stuff that distracts me from the plan in my head. But sometimes, I welcome it.

I can't remember the exact month we're in, I lost track of time since June really. I know it's still 2015, so that's something. My cast is long gone and now my wrist is only in wrappings just as a precaution. I was glad the day I got my cast off, I felt like I was carrying unnecessary weight around.

I walk around with my head held high, trying to keep a calm air. I know where my destination is today. I've made them think I won't do it for long enough. It's time to move in. I know where my first stop is.

She'll give me information that I need. I don't think anybody has gotten to her yet. I'll be the first. I'll make her tell me. She owes me that much for murdering Vanessa, for standing by and watching me be injured. She should owe me a hell of a lot more for attacking me during my rescue mission.

I find the room she's confined in, notice the hand scanner as the key. I purse my lips. Will I be able to access her room? I give it a shot.

I've got clearance. My brows rise in surprise. Huh, guess I really fooled them. I hesitate momentarily on the handle before I enter.

Jessabelle isn't shackled to a wall, nor is she gagged. I wish she was both. She has a blank stare on her face. Some life comes back into her when she notices me. She gets off the cot she was sitting on but doesn't come any further.

"You're missing the orange jumpsuit," I joke snidely.

"I'm glad you don't issue one," she says. "What happened to your wrist?"

"None of your business."

"Barnes did it, didn't he?"

I scowl.

"He's ours, Danielle. Hydra will come looking for him and me."

"Well, they'll have to search the whole damn planet. They weren't smart enough to put trackers on either of you," I say proudly. "You've disappeared off the grid."

Jessabelle doesn't react with fear, she just looks at me. "I don't understand why you treat prisoners well."

I shrug. "I can't tell you, I'm not in charge of that sort of thing."

"I'm flattered," she says dramatically. "They're actually letting someone visit me."

"Don't you get food?"

"They don't hang around. They drop the food and walk back out." She moves hair away from her face. She's lucky she looks decent. She's lucky her room even has a bathroom. "I should be so blessed." She tilts her head. "You came alone. No bodyguards?"

"I would have had one, but you put him out of commission." I cross my arms over my chest. "He's why I'm here."

"Damn, I was hoping to talk with my little sister."

"I'm never going to acknowledge that I'm related to a monster like you."

"Need I remind you that you were once a monster along with me?" I cringe inwardly at the reminder. "I won't give you anything, Danielle, so you might as well walk out that door right now."

"Really? You're willing to send out your best chance of survival?" I chuckle. "Jessabelle, I don't think you realize what's going on here."

"Humor me."

"They sent me in here as a gift to you, that way we can get what we want without having to resort to violence." The lie flies out of my mouth smoothly.

"And just what is it that you want?"

"Information."

"On what?"

"Anything secret that we don't know about. However, I don't think you'll take advantage of this." I purse my lips. "I think you'll want the torture."

"I'd sooner die than give up anything." She holds her head up defiantly. "You can starve me and put me through hell and back, but you won't break me."

"Surely you know something behind the memory wipe," I say coldly. "You must have some idea as to how to reverse it or cure it."

"You honestly believe I'll spill my heart out to you? Do you think I'm a moron? Actually, I think S.H.I.E.L.D is full of morons." She comes to me. "They think it's a good idea to leave one of their own with someone like me in the same room?"

I don't give her a chance to taunt me further or attack me—I attack first. I tackle her, shove her into the wall, and press my forearm as hard as I can against her throat. Her eyes widen in surprise, but she still laughs like a lunatic.

"You're not messing around," she breathes. "The old you is still in there."

"How do we cure him?" I snarl, my blue eyes cold.

"You expect me to know everything? I'm not a scientist, Danielle. You're asking the wrong person."

"But you're one of Hydra's finest. Surely you know a lot about what goes on."

"Not in lengthy detail." She grunts and frowns. "You've been a liar, sis."

Shit. She knows. I press my forearm harder into her throat. "How. Do. We. Cure. Him?"

"Catch a scientist and they'll tell you. I...I can't give you what you want."

"Look who's the liar now," I hiss. "Tell me!"

I hear the door fly open behind me and hurried feet come towards me. Two sets of hands pry me away from Jessabelle, but I still try to go for her. A figure blocks my way, helping their assistant herd me out of Jessabelle's room. The Hydra agent is on the floor, rubbing her throat, a maniacal grin on her face.

"She knows!" I screech, fighting against my captors. "She knows how to cure him!"

Once I'm out of the room and her door is shut, I realize Agent Romanoff is half of the team. No doubt Agent Barton is the one restraining me right now.

"What the hell was that in there?" she demands.

"I was authorized to try and get information out of her."

"No, you weren't. Don't try to lie to an assassin, Danielle. It doesn't work unless you know how to outsmart one."

"You have to let me back in there," I plea. "She—wait. You were an assassin?"

"Danielle."

"She knows how to help him! She grinned behind your back like a cat that ate a canary!"

"You don't need to be involved with her anymore, Danielle. It's not good for you."

"H-how did you even know?" I pant.

"Cameras. You forgot." She smiles thinly.

I curse at myself mentally for forgetting such an important thing. "Who saw?"

"Fury."

"Shit." I groan. "I'm in trouble, aren't I?"

"Just a little. But you're not being dealt with by him. He sent us down for that."

"What, is he too busy?"

"He figures you'll listen to us more than him."

"I don't understand what the big deal is about me trying to help," I whine. "I just want to help Bucky." I feel the tears start to pool.

"And everyone knows that," Agent Romanoff says thoughtfully.

"Can't I convince Fury to reconsider? I know Bucky better than anyone here at S.H.I.E.L.D."

"I know someone who blows you out of the water on that."

I clear my throat. "Can I have my arms back now?"

I lean against the wall once I'm released. Agent Barton stands beside Romanoff, like they're my parents all of a sudden. I'm pissed for all sorts of reasons.

"Look, we'll try and weed answers out of her, but it's going to take some time. If she knows something that can help us, she does. If not, we'll see what else she's got in her head."

"Please, you guys," I murmur. "I want to help him since nobody seems to really want to."

"Danielle." This time Agent Barton finds his voice. "He's dangerous right now. If you go to him, he can easily kill you."

"But he won't," I say defiantly.

"You think so?"

I rub my wrapped wrist. "When he did this, nobody but me saw the look in his eyes afterwards. I saw pure, unadulterated remorse for it. He's still in there."

"It could be an act. They could have tweaked him."

I shake my head. "No. It wasn't an act."

"Did you ever maybe think that taking him with us was a bad idea? Did you think that maybe it's what Hydra wants?"

"N-no."

"You may be confident that he's still in there, Finley, but what if you're wrong and I'm right?" Barton raises an eyebrow at me.

"You're not."

"What if I am?"

"You won't be." I sniff. "And I'll prove it to you. You can keep scolding me like a child all you want, all of you, but unless you hogtie me or lock me up somewhere, I'm going to get Bucky back."

"Careful what you say, you give ideas too easily."

"Look," Agent Romanoff says wearily. "From this point on, you aren't to be anywhere near this room. I'll see if I can try and convince Fury to trust you." Agent Barton looks at her in surprise. "You need to focus on trying to help Barnes in a way that doesn't involve Jessabelle Finley. Understand?"

"But—"

"If we have to, we'll have you shadowed so you don't come snooping around again," she says sternly. "If it becomes an issue, I'll do it myself, or I'll have Clint do it. Now, come on." Agent Romanoff grabs my arm and pulls me away from Jessabelle's door. I guess it's for the better, I might've tried to go back inside.

Energy radiates off me. I felt a little bit of pleasure attacking Jessabelle. The old you is still in there. Sure, she may still exist, buried, but she's never coming back out. She can remain a part of me, but she'll never rule me again. I won't let her.

I'm a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent now. My mission: save the man I love. 

**So, I know I might be way too late to ask this, but, I guess I can take a poll.

Anybody have a favorite character throughout this book? Doesn't matter if they're alive or dead.**