No More Pain

Chapter 16: Sweet Dreams

EURYTHMICS LYRICS

"Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)"

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree
I travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something

Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree
I travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something

Hold your head up, keep your head up, movin' on
Hold your head up, movin' on, keep your head up, movin' on
Hold your head up, movin' on, keep your head up, movin' on
Hold your head up, movin' on, keep your head up

Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused

It was hours after Steve had said good night, tucking his best friend into the warm, possibly too soft bed and turned out the lights, before The Soldier had actually closed his eyes and scrummed to unconsciousness. But while the Soldier slumbered, James Branes awoke and lived vividly in his dreams.

* He was dancing. Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes was dancing to something fast and full of colorful sound. All around him were beautiful women in bright flashy colors, red lipstick and bright smiles, eyes flirting and swooning. Barnes was laughing, spinning one girl then another. He was surrounded by dames as if there wasn't another fella in the place. The music was becoming louder and began to drown out the sounds of laughter and the sounds of women speaking his name. The lights were flashing and the room was spinning. He felt a growing sense of dizziness, as if he had been drinking too much. He needed air but he couldn't steady his vision to see where the door was, There were so many people crowded around him, almost swarming him as the frantic music was blaring and distorted, the beat of the drum becoming bomb shells and the blast of the horns, wailing sirens. He was still surrounded but by panicked men in shabby uniforms being herded through prison doors, armed guards all around him. He felt so sick, too hot as sweat dripped down him and he stumbled. Someone caught him and mumbled to the others, they had to keep him upright. Friendly hands held him up, guiding him as they made their way out into the Hydra facility to work as slaves. He could barely stand and his knees buckled again as he coughed and wheezed for breath. There was an ordered shout and new hands were on him, not friendly, rough and jarring, dragging him away from his comrades in arms. They strapped him to a table and he struggled before a face appeared that turned his stomach into ice. Zola smiled down at him and his face distorted as his glasses and eyes morphed into large, demonic black orbs and his stubbing little fingers became needles and knives stabbing into Barnes' flesh and ripping apart his body and soul.

The Soldier cried out as he thrashed in his bed, fighting with the sheets that ensnared him. Steve had awoken moments ago to the sound of moaning and had just stepped up to the side of his friend's bed when he saw his body begin to thrash and his voice cry out in desperate fear and pain. Steve did not know what he was dreaming but could tell the sheets felt restraining and so quickly pulled them off the bed before calling his friends name and attempting to shake him awake. The Soldier had fought back wildly, eyes still closed as he screamed with panic and desperation. Steve ignored the blows that landed on his face, arms and chest as he continued to try and wake his distressed friend.

"JARVIS!...... LIGHTS!" Steve demanded as he managed to wrestle down and pin both of the Soldier's arms and continued calling his name. "BUCKY!..... WAKE UP!" Steve shouted and as the lights came on the Soldier's eyes shot open full of fear and panic. Steve let go of his arms and jumped off the bed and out of his frantic friend's reach. The Captain moved toward the door that lead to the hallway in case Bucky tried to bolt and held his hands up, palms out toward him and open. "Easy Bucky!....... Just breath!"