"I told you I didn't want the Avengers involved," Tesla hissed. She leaned close to Bucky. "Did you know about this?" she asked through clenched teeth.

"No," he answered, trying not to laugh.

"Barnes!" Clint called. "Are you hurt?"

He shook his head.

Clint looked towards Natasha and she nodded wordlessly. He reached behind him into his quiver and produced an arrow, nocking it carefully.

"If you think I came here alone, you're wrong," Tesla warned, tapping a button on her wristband. Within seconds, six armed guards appeared.

"Neither did we," Natasha said with a grin.

Bucky's mouth fell open when Joe Robards jumped out of the helicopter.

"What do you think you're doing?" Tesla asked, narrowing her eyes.

Joe shrugged. "Setting things right," he said with a wink in Bucky's direction.

At Tesla's command, her guards charged and she locked Bucky into place with her psychic shield. He looked on helplessly as his rescuers fought her guards.

"I have a clear shot on the Electric Ghost," Clint informed the others. "I'm taking it." He drew his arrow back.

"Don't hurt her!" Bucky shouted, but it was too late.

The arrow sailed through the air directly at Tesla, then veered slightly to the left, piercing Bucky's right side. He howled in pain as he collapsed to the ground. Tesla sank down with him.

"Shit!" Robards yelled. "You won't be able ta hurt her as long as she's wearing the shroud."

"That information might have been helpful before we just disabled our man," Clint said sarcastically.

Natasha ran forward. "Step away from the Winter Soldier," she said authoritatively.

"No," Tesla retorted. "I can heal him."

"Fine," she replied with a frown. "But do it quickly."

Tesla looked down at Bucky's injury, reaching to pull the arrow out and he groaned. "Relax," she said, pulling a glove off. She pushed his shirt up to inspect his injury and placed her bare hand over the wound, smoothing his hair back gently with her other hand.

"Tess…" he moaned as the heating sensation radiating from her hand began to spread through him.

"It's alright," she said soothingly, her hand lingering on his bare skin.

"Enough," Robards interjected firmly. He aimed his gun at Bucky's head. "I have nothing to lose. And as far as anyone else knows, he's a dead man anyway. You better do as the lady said and step away from him, sweetheart."

Tesla slowly stood with her hands raised and backed up a slight distance.

Natasha rushed forward and bent over Bucky, reaching out and touching his cheek. Bucky's eyes widened.

"Trust me," Natasha whispered into his ear. "And just play along."

He nodded slowly.

"Thank goodness you're okay," she said, her voice nearly a whimper.

"What?" Tesla said angrily.

The momentary distraction was all she needed. Without warning, Natasha whirled around and ripped the intangibility shroud off of Tesla, shooting multiple widow's bite doses at her until the other woman fell to the ground in a heap.

"No!" Bucky shouted, his metal arm outstretched.

Natasha turned back to him and crouched down beside him. "Relax, it was just a tranquilizer. Can you stand?"

He pulled himself up on his elbows. "I think so."

"Take it easy," she said softly, reaching down to help him up. She nodded to where Clint and Joe had already disabled Tesla's men. "We have as much time as you need."

"Nat… I don't understand," he mumbled.

She smiled. "Robards came to S.H.I.E.L.D. and told Commander Hill what Tesla had done. It wasn't that hard to find you after that. We can't have the Winter Soldier falling under our radar, after all."

Bucky turned his gaze to Joe.

"What can I say?" Robards said with a shrug. "I guess I've always been good at playing both sides." He clapped Bucky on the shoulder. "It's good ta have ya back, kid."

Bucky frowned. "What's going to happen to her?"

"Obviously we have to bring her in," Clint said.

"Right," Bucky muttered.

Natasha's eyes narrowed. "What allegiance do you have to her? She's the enemy here, Barnes."

"She's not… evil, she's just…. really mixed up," Bucky told her. "Not unlike the rest of us."

Clint nodded. "Don't worry, she won't be harmed. In fact, I'm sure S.H.I.E.L.D. will be more than willing to reach a satisfactory agreement."

Bucky raised an eyebrow. "What does Hill have in mind?"

Clint grinned. "You'll see."