He was dragged from his room as he didn't have the strength to walk. He knew where he was going. This was the message, the signal his family, his parents had been waiting for. To his disappointment he was shackled back to the rack, his shirt removed.

It was the first time Thomas noticed the large screen in front of him and no sooner did his eyes land on it the screen lit up with the team, his family. He quickly looked away not wanting to see the emotions he knew where in his mothers' eyes. He did notice the only family member missing was his dad. Maybe that was a good thing.

"I demand your full cooperation or the boy dies."

"What is it that you want?" Captain America asked.

"The boy's parents."

"See that may be a bit difficult seeing as they died 12 years ago, however I'm sure we can find the bodies…the government may ask questions though…" Thomas couldn't help but smile at the metallic sound of Tony's Iron Man suit. The smile was gone when the whip hit his back. He made no sound.

"I want the ones he calls mother and father. Adopted parents if I remember correctly…"

"We will come…"

"NO!" another whip cut off his mother. "I want just the two"

"Why?" Clint asked, though Thomas was pretty sure he already knew.

"What other reason would there be. Here I thought this brat would have the mixture of both but he has nothing!" Another whip Thomas stayed silent for. "If I could get both… the things I could make… They must be willing…"

There was a long pause and Thomas couldn't resist, he looked up and the looks on their faces told him they already had their answer. He has to warn them.

"Don't do it. It's a trap" Crack "Please, I'm not…" Crack "I'm not worth it." This time he was lashed until they felt he would stay silent, the sound of the whip filling the otherwise deafening silence.

When the cracks stopped the sound of soft whimpers were heard and he was thrown to the floor. He couldn't look up now that they saw his back. He couldn't imagine what it would have looked like. How many whips had he endured? They would scar surely as he had no time to recover. So he lay on the floor as he softly wept. He didn't know if his family was still watching, but for one thing, he was glad his dad hadn't seen.

"YOU!" Before he could move there was the sound of a gunshot and his left should stung. "You are of no use to me now. You little…" The old man couldn't seem to find a word which only added to his rage more. The pistol was pressed against the back of his head causing his face to be pressed to the floor. He waited for it. He was concentrating so hard he didn't hear the sirens going off or notice the lights go off. He didn't even notice that the pistol was no longer pressed to his head. It was the loud rawr that shook him to his senses. He knew that sound.

Rolling over onto his good shoulder Thomas took in the sight of the Hulk. How did he get here so fast? Was the rest of the team here too? Thomas couldn't supress the grin on his face. If the Hulk was here, so was the rest of the team. If the creepy old guy wasn't here, he was safe.

"Hey big guy." Thomas cringed at the sound of his voice, it sounded weak, broken, almost a whisper.

The Hulk looked over and at the sight of Thomas lying in a pool of his blood had several emotions flash through his eyes. Thomas could recognise anger, though it was almost always there as the Hulk, but also grief. It was gone before Thomas could clearly comprehend it and with the room dark but now empty, the Hulk sat himself beside Thomas. Looking up Thomas noticed he had his hand out. A lullaby? Why was the Hulk looking for a lullaby? Seeing the world spin around him as he sat up, he was starting to understand why. The Hulk couldn't help him, Bruce could.

Thomas obliged and ignoring the pain of his back and shoulder, hugged Bruce. He couldn't help but notice how tired his father seemed. Did that happen because the Hulk took a lot of energy from him? He didn't remember it like that last time. He shook the thought off, they had to move.

"We need to round up the others and go. I don't know what trap this guy set but he seems a little too confident it'll work." Thomas tried pushing to his feet.

"I'm here on my own Thomas. The rest of the team is still on their way. I…"

"No they're not." Thomas paled. Only Natasha would come to their aid and by the time she got there this creep could have Bruce.

"What do you mean no they're…"

"You have to go right now. You're in danger here. GO!"

"Thomas I'm not leaving you here…"

Thomas used whatever strength left to push his father away. "He wants your blood and he knows he can't get it when you're the Hulk. You're vulnerable here…"

Before he could finish his father collapsed on to him and he noticed the tranquilizer dart in his back. Quickly Thomas pulled himself to his feet and started to drag his father to get somewhere, he didn't care. All thought process left his brain and he just pulled his father down endless hallways leaving a trail of his blood. His knees gave way, but he didn't seem to notice he just continued crawling down the halls his father in tow. He wasn't surprised he was pulled from his father by large guys with guns and it didn't surprise him the only way he was separated from his father was for him too, to be tranquilized. Everything went dark, the last image he remembered was his father being pulled the opposite direction he was being taken.

Thomas bolted up, regretting it as his back and shoulder protested. The room swayed as he tried to refocus. He had to inform his mom. Struggling to get the ear piece out of his pocket as he needed to use his right hand to get into his left pocket, he slid it into his ear.

"Banner's caught. Abort."

He was relieved to hear his mother respond back.

"I know. He's with me."

Thomas couldn't help the silent 'no' slip from his lips. This was exactly what this guy wanted and now that he had both it was only a matter of time before he would get shot and now, he no longer had a way out. He also knew that if an escape plan was made, the Hulk would be out of commission. No doubt his father was constantly put out to prevent the risk of the Hulk stepping in.

"When I tell you, you get yourself out okay? Don't come looking for me or your father."

Knowing he couldn't argue with his mother he instead asked. "When?"

"You'll know."

The sirens made him jump. He hadn't realised he fell asleep as he spent most of his time angry with himself for letting things get this far. It was his fault they were all here and they were paying for it. He knew he wouldn't follow Natasha's orders.

Was this what Natasha said would be the signal? Even if he did run he had no idea how to get out. Not wasting another minute Thomas jumped up and to the door. It was unlocked. He bolted from his room and ran down the hallways that he knew lead to the little doctor room he was tied up in.

Thomas searched every room he passed hoping to eventually find at least one of his parents. He continued running finding he was in a part of the building he had never seen before. The halls were white and seemed to stretch on forever. They were wide enough for more than three people to walk beside each other with little darkened window halfway up the walls. He didn't stop running long enough to comprehend anything more.

He sprinted past a large window and a flash of red caught his attention. He halted and pressed himself against the glass. On the far end of the room he could see his mother tied to a chair next to man with his head hung down of whom he assumed was Bruce. He also noticed they were both hooked up to a machine that was drawing their blood. His mother's face has been beaten.

How was he going to get them out of there? Brute force was not an option. Although, the only other person on the room was the creepy old guy who was distracted with Bunsen burners, microscopes and what he assumed was his parent blood. Maybe he could sneak in.

Thinking that was the best he could come up with at the moment, Thomas reached the door and slide in unnoticed. He kept close to the outside of the room slowly working his way to the back. There was a crunch under his foot and he froze. Silently cursing himself he looked down to find broken glass. A small smile slide its way onto his face. He had a plan. Sort of.

The Old man was working on a raised platform that overlooked the rest of the room. If Thomas could get himself underneath it, he could at least cut some of the binds his parent's had with the glass. So Thomas set forward making sure he was completely silent.

"You know, it was almost too easy to get you."

Thomas froze his heart hammering in his chest. He was caught. How would he get himself out of this one? He was about to step out when a voice stopped him.

"If you wanted a challenge you should have taken us both on at the same time."

Thomas cringed at how raw and hoarse Natasha's voice sounded. She didn't even look up, just continued to keep her head hung down in defeat. Thomas continued forward.

He made it to the platform but there was one thing Thomas didn't account for, his injured arm. He would have to crawl on his stomach to reach where his parents were and with a bad shoulder he wouldn't be able to cougar crawl. He looked around for some other sort of route, but the next best thing would be to crawl over the platform across the old man's shoes and down. Not a plan, needless to say.

Shaking his head Thomas slid on his stomach and lamely pushed himself forward. He held his breath to keep from crying out and even moved slower as he passed underneath the old man. He could be seen through the floor of the platform however it was so dimly lit, he had no fear of being spotted. He was however, open to the little drops of whatever the scientist above him was doing, it slowly soaking his back and stinging as it reached the skin.

Finally after what seemed like forever had made to his mother and quickly went to cut her feet lose. She opened her eyes than, shock apparent on her face that quickly switched to anger. Of course she'd be angry; you totally ignored her instruction to leave. Quickly he moved to hands and his father feet, his hands stayed tied to keep him from falling out of the chair.

Thomas slide back under the platform and watched as his mother continued to sit as though she was tied.

"Tell me Strucker, what it is you are desperately trying to make?"

"A person that could put you both out of business. The hulk's immunity with your regenerative gene… this person would be unstoppable."

"Doesn't sound too exciting."

"I'm closer than you think." That got Natasha to her feet and she swung through the bars and kicked the old guy, Strucker, in the face.

"Not if I can help it."

It was at this point Thomas was pretty sure Strucker noticed him sitting underneath the platform.

Natasha freed Bruce and proceeded to the door with him as Thomas shuffled out of his spot. He couldn't help but look back as Strucker grabbed two little syringes with blue liquid in it, before hurrying out a back door.

Thomas followed his mother and ended up being the one to carry Bruce as Natasha cleared the way ahead. He remembered the wide white hallways on his way to find his parents however he had no idea where in the building he was. Sirens were going off and lights were flickering but they pressed on. He couldn't ignore the sounds of gunfire behind him knowing, they would eventually catch up.

Natasha returned to help Thomas saying the next bit was deserted. It was at this time she scolded him.

"I told you go."

"And now I am, with the whole family. I got us stuck here; I'm not leaving anyone behind."

She muttered something about sounding like Steve before continuing. "Let's just hope Bruce comes too before we get in a pickle."

Thomas was going to say he hoped it was before he got too tired to carry him anymore but a loud bang from behind them had Natasha gesturing for them to stick to the wall. "I'll be right back." And she left Thomas with the unconscious Bruce yet again.

Thomas laid Bruce on the floor, his arm getting tired of carrying the weight, and sat down beside him. His hand went to his pocket where he realised he still had the small vial. He was pretty sure he wouldn't need it.

"I never wished for any of this to happen." Thomas spoke to no one in particular. "If I had known from the start…The people I could have killed… The guilty it would have left you…" He looked over to his dad.

"I know you may not like the other guy, but I feel like…" Thomas paused looking for the right words. They're connected? Of course they're connected they share a body. "…he makes you complete." Thomas concluded.

Bruce stirred and Thomas was ready to help him up when someone pulled him back.

"Where are your mommy and daddy now?" Strucker's, thick accent giving him away. Looking up he found that Natasha had rounded the corner and froze as she saw Strucker holding him in a choke hold.

"You were supposed to be willing subjects to keep the boy alive. You don't seem so willing now."

Thomas felt the arms tighten around his neck. His hand slipped into his pocket.

"Let him go."

"No, he will stay here in front of me; you can't touch me without hitting him. All I need is this…" He waved one of the syringes at Natasha. "…and the Hulk will be the least of your problems."

It was at this moment Bruce came to and it only took a few seconds to understand the situation and unfortunately freak out the other guy.

His mother had dropped to Bruce's side glancing up and Thomas every so often but focused more on keeping the Hulk at bay.

It was something Thomas hadn't seen before. All the other times the transformation happened in a matter of seconds but what he was watching showed otherwise. It seemed even Strucker had stopped to watch.

His father's fingers broke though the tile floor, clutching to it for dear life as the shirt on his back seemed more likely to rip off as the muscles strained against the fabric. His skin was going green and the shade only getting darker as time passed. He could hear his mother ranting about breathing, and this not being a good place, but it didn't seem to have any affect.

It was almost like watching the transformation in slow-motion the only thing keeping it from feeling so was the grunts, murmurs and cries of something that wasn't quiet human but not animal either.

Natasha seemed to give in and instead murmured things like "just let it happen" and "let him go". And it was at that point the rest of the change happened in a normal speed, almost seeming like he needed the approval first.

Thomas took this time to swing his arm and knock the syringe out of Strucker's hand where it fell and shattered on the floor. Again the grip around his neck tightened.

The longer they stayed in the position the more angry the Hulk seemed, the brown eyes slowly going green. Thomas had no idea what that meant but he had a feeling it wasn't good.

Strucker had pulled out the final syringe and had it positioned to enter his vein. Thomas knew he had only two options.

Natasha, busy trying to keep the other guy calm saying he couldn't get Strucker without hurting Thomas, but by the looks of his eyes, he almost didn't care. Thomas couldn't let Strucker take whatever was in the syringe, but he couldn't just sit there, knowing the Hulk would step in and he couldn't let his dad know it was he who killed Thomas. So with and iron grip on the vial, he moved so Strucker missed his arm and hit Thomas' instead.

The liquid felt like fire burning through his system and as he started to panic the blood pushed it through his system faster. Foxgloves had many possible side effects if too much was taken, however Thomas didn't care and he drained the vail knowing the world would slip away. The sound of his name was ripped from his mother's mouth, but it seemed distant. Even the cry from the Hulk and the sound of walls being destroyed seemed to be farther away than he knew they were. Everything was black as he heard his rate slowly decrease.

Fingers were pressed to his neck than felt weightless. Maybe he had been picked up or maybe it was the combination of chemicals slowly killing him that made him felt weightless, but he knew his parents would end up fine and he remembered nothing more.