POV: Mrs. Barnes

"You traitor!" I yell at the smirk on Sharon's face.

"Take her back to her room." She orders her men before walking away.

I'm not going to let them take my son. They have no idea what a mother is capable of when it comes to her child. They have no idea what I'm capable of. As they escort me back to my cell, I kick one of my jailers in the shin and headbutt the other in the nose. They loosen their grip and I take the opportunity to run away. I must find my son. I hear angry shouts behind me, but I stay focused on my goal.

I turn into another corridor to discover they've called for backup. I find myself trapped in the middle of a group of too many strong men for my self-defense skills. But that doesn't mean I'm going to make it easy for them. I struggle as best I can, throwing blind punches. I think I hit a nose, a chin and maybe even an eye. They end up tying me tightly to a chair in a poorly lit room.

"My son! Where is my son? Give me back my son!"

They are about to gag me when Sharon enters the room. I make sure to shoot her the deadliest glare I can muster.

She lets out a chuckle. "I've heard you've managed to give them a run for their money. I see your skills have improved."

"I've had a good coach. The same one you want to turn into a killer. But this isn't about him, is it?"

"I needed to keep him away, and it was doing my friends a favor while creating a nice diversion." She shrugs. "Just a fair deal."

"How could you betray Bucky? We trusted you! How can you do this to us? To think that at first I thought you were interested in him for a completely different reason. Were you after his blood the whole time? Just how long have you been planning this? Sam and Bucky value you. They've helped and supported you while you've been using them all these years!"

"I ain't gonna waste my time answering your questions. Answer mine instead."

"Dream on!"

She leans towards me with a condescending smile that sends shivers down my spine. "You're not used to interrogations, so I'll take it easy—for starters. I've heard your son has certain abilities. I need more details."

I stare at her furiously, keeping my lips sealed.

"Sure you don't want to cooperate?"

Silence answers her. Her hand slaps my cheek, and my teeth clatter from the violence of the blow. She pulls my head back by the hair and moves closer to my ear.

"I need your son, but I don't need you. I'll get what I want one way or another, even if it's not from you."

"So why bother wasting your time on me?"

"Because no human being can withstand torture. And you're anything but superhuman, little thing." She nods to a man standing in the corner of the room. "He's going to take over from here."

Sharon's questions alternate with her henchman's blows. Soon my lips are as sore as my temples. The iron taste of blood fills my mouth. The blows keep coming, leaving me no time to wonder why she's so interested in my pregnancy, my baby's first months or his abilities. It's only when he's about to drive his knee into my stomach that I give in, curling in on myself as much as I can with my limbs tied.

"No, stop!" I cough, struggling to catch my breath. "Please don't!"

"I don't see why I should care about your comfort if you won't answer any of my questions." Sharon shrugs.

"Please, I beg you. I'm... I'm pregnant." I let out in a desperate sigh.

"Now that's interesting." She says, gesturing to her henchman to pause.

I wanted to keep this information a secret, but I can't put my child in danger. I found out last week. According to the doctor, I'm already more than eight weeks pregnant. My plan to tell Bucky when he got back has been cut short by all the commotion. I'm now dreading the consequences of this confession. Especially when I catch Sharon's gaze on my stomach.

Someone knocks at the door. Not without an annoyed sigh, Sharon walks out the room, leaving me alone and terrified.

She comes back a moment later, visibly upset. "We'll continue this conversation later. Come with me."

I watch her men untie me in confusion. They hold me firmly as they lead me to a new room. A window separates us from a blinding white room. My son is sitting in the middle, his cheeks reddened by tears. His toy is lying a few feet from him. Around him, several men are hesitantly trying to approach him. Here are some who have experienced his strength, more than unusual for a two-year-old. He's too young to be able to control it yet, and that's the hardest part to deal with.

The sight could be funny if the situation wasn't so serious. I can't help but feel a hint of pride for my sweet boy who manages to intimidate guys who are decades ahead of him.

"Get your Winter Soldier junior to calm down and be helpful if you don't want us to use the hard way."

The nickname makes me wince.

"It looks more like he's the one using the hard way on you." I dare say, before deciding that it would be wiser to be a little more careful. "What do you want to do to him?"

"Just a few tests and examinations, nothing too serious. Now that I know about your little secret, I'll need some samples of your blood too. You're going to meet a friend of mine. He's a great doctor."

So we've gone from hostages to guinea pigs. I have to buy some time before Bucky comes to our rescue, but I also have to protect my children. After all, whatever information they obtain, there's still a hope of deleting it or making it unusable later.

"You haven't always been like this, I know that." I say, turning to Sharon. "You helped Bucky, Sam and Steve, you were fighting the good fight. You used to have values. But somehow that changed."

"That was before I had to fight for my survival and give up my principles. Judge me if you want to, but you have no idea what it feels like. This is my life now. I've gotten used to it, and I must say I rather like it."

So this is what a fallen hero looks like? Embittered beyond belief at having given so much without being helped in return? Poor Sharon. I could be more compassionate towards her if she wasn't threatening my entire family.