Bell found herself awake in the middle of the night, sitting up in bed and sighing deeply.

She had not a clue on why she was awake. The day before was exhausting, and Bell was sure the sleep was beneficial.

Not only that, the dream she had was going so well. She dreamt that she was never brainwashed, and her and Adler never had a singular conflict. It was a nice scenario to ponder about, but Bell instantly felt guilt whenever she remembered it just wasn't true.

Bell so badly wanted to believe that Adler had changed. It's almost as if she needed to strongly convince herself that he changed.

But in all reality, he's still the same Russell Adler.  Minus the brainwashing. Well, at least of what she knows so far.

Bell laid back down on her back, gazing up at the ceiling while rain hit the window pane.

How could it be that the man she so dearly is still infatuated with is also still the same person who brainwashed and practically tortured how?

How is it so that despite all of this turmoil he put her through, she still withheld such a soft spot in her heart for him?

It's almost as if everything had never happened. Either that or he completely had her under his spell and he knew it.

Bell's head kept spinning with thoughts, taking deep and slow breaths to try and calm herself down. She felt so confused about everything in her life right now, as if the whole universe did it's best to work against her.

Finally settling down, she opened her eyes and found a tired Adler standing right in her door. Bell jumped, holding her hand to her chest as she instantly shot straight up.

"Okay, seriously, why do you keep doing that?" Bell said with exasperated shock.

"Quiet down. People are sleeping." Adler hushed her without shame. Bell despised how serious and demanding he was, but she also loved it. It was something about him she couldn't deny that she admired, Adler taking control whenever it needed be.

He sat himself down in a chair beside the bed, settling down while he lit himself a cigarette. Bell tried to keep her focus away from the man, holding a pillow close to her chest.

The silence was almost deafening. Between the flicker of his rusted out zippo and the quiet chatter of the rain, she couldn't tell whether speaking was right to do.

Then she heard his low, soothing voice.

"What are you doing awake?" He took a long drag from his cigarette as he sat up. Bell had noticed that  he was in just boxer shorts and a long, dark red T-shirt.

Bell let out a soft chuckle as she glanced away from his seemingly flawless image. "I could ask the same for you."

Adler simply just sat there, gazing out the window and letting his mind wander to free places. He studied the rain as it fell in such an organized, fashioned way. He admired something about the rain and how quickly it came down from the sky. All the while, Bell gazed over him without even noticing. She swiftly looked away when his gaze met hers.

"Got something on your mind?" He pointed out, cigarette resting between his lips. Adler was analyzing her expression, trying to figure out what was going on inside of her mind.

Bell denied exposing any form of vulnerability and gave him a look while shaking her head. She couldn't reveal the main motivation behind her suffering.

Could you really blame her though? Perseus was on a rampage again, and different organizations were out for Bell now more than ever. Adler mentioned before how several terrorist organizations, some not even originating from the Soviet Union, were out to get Bell, wanting to capture her and interrogate her for all of the things that Adler's team attempted to do with her. Especially ever since the Western world had captured some of the Nova 6 toxins which would absolutely change the path of the Cold War, igniting even more unneeded conflicts across the world.

Bell needed to be careful and persistent, carefully avoiding any sort of communication or connection with the Soviet government and Adler knew that. So it would be understandable on why she maybe needed to stay quiet and avoid engaging in any sort of providing unnecessary information.

She simply stated, "It's nothing," shaking her head while speaking. "It's just that I didn't quite expect involving myself in this shit-storm again, Russ."

Adler carefully stubbed his cigarette into the wall, able to see through Bell's feeble lies.

"You're barely speaking. You don't have to hide from me, Bell." She still stayed quiet, despite Adler obviously seeing through her fibbing.

"I just don't want to get us into anymore trouble than we're in." Glancing over at Adler, she gave a gentle shrug. "I want you to know that my association with Perseus or the Soviets have nothing to do with you or the CIA, Adler."

They made intense eye contact. Then Adler responded with a slight jab back. "I've already gotten you into this meddled military mess. It's my turn to do what's right for not only you, but for the sake of America itself."

The cocky patriotism once again. Bell let out just a gentle chuckle and shook her head.

"You never fail to amaze me with that confidence, Adler."

He tilted his head, sitting up taller and glancing over at her. "You never fail to amaze me with your stubbornness, Bell."

She felt a blush arise on her face. He knew she was hiding something but she wouldn't admit it. How could she admit that one of the main problems was with him? And plus, wouldn't it be obvious it could have something to do with him considering what he had done with her in the past?

"Well, Adler, I hope you know I can't exactly move on so easily from our past circumstance." Bell nervously spoke, glancing around the room as an attempt to avoid any sort of confrontation. She heard a quite aggravated sigh escape Adler.

"You're really bringing this up again?" He spoke with a tired expression. You could really tell Adler didn't exactly enjoy this topic, it being really frustrating for him to look back upon.

Bell decided to change her gaze over to him again, turning to face him. "It's just I-.." She stumbled over her words, letting the blanket fall from her thighs while also letting out a nervous sigh. "I still am not entirely sure if you've changed Russ. I don't know whether you're using me again to your own advantage or if you're genuinely trying to help me out."

He stayed there for a few moments, studying her in silence and gritting his jaw. It's as if he didn't have the words to explain what he was thinking or more so feeling right now.

Adler stood up, walking over to sit beside her and look into her eyes, nonchalantly resting his calloused hand on her shoulder. She couldn't help but gaze back.

"Tell me what I can do, Bell. What I can do for you." His words spoke so caringly and kindly to her, and she felt as if she were trapped in a spiderweb trance once more.

Bell reached up to touch his hand, gazing deeply into his eyes. Goodness, he was so beautiful. Adler's eyes were a shade of oceanic blue, a tint that she had never forgotten during their departure. The scar that graced his stubbled jaw and gave him his unique characteristics was something that Bell could never let slip from her mind.

But still. She lowered his hand from her shoulder, realizing their faces had gotten extremely close. Bell's voice whispered to him as quietly as she could. "Not this."

It pained her to turn him away like that. Of course, it's fairly hypocritical for her to push him out after just whining about not being able to trust him, but she had to be so careful. Engaging with Adler like they used to in the past would be dangerous, especially if she didn't know his intentions.

This was the first time you could see actual physical pain on Adler's face. It hurt her so much. He finally opened up to her and became vulnerable for two seconds, yet her selfishness still took her over. She looked down at her lap as Adler rose from the bed and strode back to his room.

Bell sat in complete silence. She knew she really outdid it this time, and Bell didn't even know if retribution was possible at this point. All she knew was that Adler couldn't even stand to look at her right now, considering how she completely turned down his absolute vulnerability and kindness. She lied awake with this remaining in her mind, it haunting her for hours until she finally fell asleep. The phrase repeating over and over in her head, even lingering in her dreams.

Believe me when I said I've had my fair share of anxiousness during these missions, Bell. You won't be alone in this.

---

Bell felt the sun's warmth as she woke up the next morning. The weather completely altered from raining to this, and it was so nice for her to see something actually change and become something so much better. A relief for her mind, so to say.

Sitting up slowly, she stretched out her arms wide and stood up to get ready for the day. After putting on a pair of dark skinny jeans, she threw on a black tank top and looked in the mirror as she ran her fingertips through her hair, clearing any knots.

Bell made her way downstairs, walking over to the counter-top to brew herself some freshly made coffee. As she stood there, the door opened and two gentlemen walked in.

It was Woods and Mason.

"Check it out, it's the one and only Bell." Woods teased as he strut over to pat Bell's back, giving a playful shove.

Bell responded with a roll of her eyes, leaning back against the counter top while she poured herself a fresh and awakening cup of coffee.

"You guys want some?" She looked towards the two pals while they glanced at each other and agreed in synchronization. Bell grinned with enthusiasm. The habit of drinking coffee every single waking morning originated from Adler's advice.

She poured them both a cup and handed it to them. Leaning against the countertop, the boys once glanced at each other, then Mason asked Bell with anticipation.

"So, what's the agenda on missions? Has Adler updated you at all?"

Bell silently cringed at the mere mention of him. Then memories and remembrance of last night flooded back to her. The idea of her actually rejecting him like that pained her to simply think about, but she felt that it had to happen to keep them both safe. He knew that secretly, too, as much as it hurt him to admit it.

She shrugged a little bit and took a very deep breath. "Something about Perseus. He has another operation going on yet this time, Park believes there's more people he's working with this time." Bell folded her arms, taking slow sips at her beverage. "They're also believed to be way more skilled. We need to be prepared for this. Way more than last time."

She set her cup aside, Woods letting out a soft laugh. "Who knows this time? Those fuckers might just have a nuke filled with Soviet pigs this time." 

Mason and I didn't really see that as a joke. The Soviets could come up with anything at this point. Anything could happen and we would be absolutely unprepared for the event. That's why we needed to act fast.

"Yeah. You're right, my friend. Anything could happen this time considering our circumstances." Bell spoke, walking over to the meeting table and spreading the files across the tabletop.

Bell sat down at the table, opening those spread out files and searching through different sections of small scattered photographs. These different photos portrayed several figures who the team were now lead to believe were Soviet secret spies still venturing out throughout the world, obtaining any kind of information to lead them to their new objective. Some snapshots were blurry, some were as clear as day, but what mattered was that these agents were most significantly out there.

"I have absolutely zero idea what these agents are up to, but they're definitely planning something. Every single moment, they're looking for something." Bell let out an exasperated sigh, running her fingertips along the portfolio of photos. "Something is going to happen. I don't know what, but it's being formulated by the second."

Woods and Mason both could sense the urgency in her voice. The matter was urgent, something really needing paid attention to.

"This'll probably be one of the most difficult missions I have to put you guys on." A voice emerged from the steps, Bell sitting there in absolute, desolate silence.

Woods let out a soft chuckle and walked himself over to Adler, giving the man a small pat on the back. "You know Adler, all these years we've been working together, and every single mission hasn't gone to absolute shit." Adler shot him just a small glance then Woods backed up just a little bit. It was sort of obvious he wasn't in the joking or bantering mood today.

Mason stepped forward, arms crossed over his chest. "What do you have next in store for us, Russ?"

Adler plucks the small cigarette from his own lips and waltzes over to the table. He stubs out the white-stick in the ashtray and begins explaining the next upcoming events.

"Right now, I'm gathering the right supplies to send Bell and Park out on a mission to meet with a secret agent by the name of Yvonne Krause." He pulls out a photo from one of the folders, an image of a young, broad-shouldered girl with brunette hair reaching down to her shoulders. Half of it is perked up into a small ponytail while the rest freely flows down. Her eyes are small, but with a small glint inside of them, while her pointy but proper pixie nose sticks out and frames her face perfectly. Bell is  slightly astounded by Yvonne's bold but subtle beauty.

"Your objective is to meet up with her in West Berlin just like last time. She'll provide details on where different agents are located. Use this information to get back to base and provide us with those details. Fairly easy mission, low threat level." Adler closes the folder containing Yvonne's identification information and tucks it away in a drawer, keeping it safe for now. He hands Bell the photograph and the electricity of his skin touching hers slightly shocks her, but she hesitated to pull back. "Don't do anything stupid."

Taking the photograph and tucking it away inside of her breast pocket, she looks up at him and they make eye contact. "Park will be ready to load up with you tonight. Make sure you're ready. Anything could happen."

Bell swallows fear down her throat. Genuinely, as much as she didn't want to admit it, Adler was right. Anything could definitely happen this time. Who knows what could come across the two? Soviets could be traveling amongst her and Bell would have absolutely no clue.

Furthermore, meeting a whole new German agent to collect Soviet agent intel was intimidating in itself. The mission sounded too good to be true, too easy to finish that simply.

If something were to happen, Bell was going to be ready.

No matter what the cost.