Hello, everyone. Here is a fresh installment for this little series that we have going. Atleast, we get to wrap up the mission and we can move onto the next phase. Yes, the lips are still sealed for now. Currently, it seems that I may another story in the pipeline that is something a little AU but we'll see where and how that is developing. I may also be writing a one-shot as well but from something earlier in their partnership. So yes, I have ideas buzzing around in my head currently. I have also started a new course which could affect my writing time but considering that I have started to write chapter 8. I don't think we have to much to worry in that department. Please sit back, relax and enjoy the ride!

Patty cake rocks: Hopefully, this will fix that impatience to see more. Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing and making absolutely no money from these characters. It is reasonable to believe that they will be returned to their original owners in slightly more used condition than I got them. They may or may not have grown as human beings, billionaires, demi gods and The Other Guy. Time will only tell.


Chapter 7: Action!

"That just sounds so messed up." Fury shook his head in disbelief as he made a mental note to evaluate his intelligence department because it was just plain embarrassing to be out thought by Tony Stark, himself. Clearly, someone had something to hide or this was a genuine rookie mistake which he did not really need. "And you think that your plan will work?"

"Most definitely. We need all the intelligence we can get if we are to take it down." Steve piped up as he shifted forward upon his seat to rest his forearms against the desk.

"Well, this does change the game. You sure you're up for the challenge, Agent Romanoff?" Nick studied Natasha as she leaned back within her chair.

"Easy." She shot him a tiny smile as she waited.

"Though her role in the capture has been altered slightly enough." Steve ventured on bravely.

"And what do you mean by that?" Fury glanced intently at each team member as the continued to shot weary looks towards Natasha. "You have something to tell me, Agent Romanoff?"

"Not until the mission has been completed, sir." Natasha stated calmly enough for Fury to continue to watch her.

"You know I could ground you." Fury held a poker face as he gaze shifted.

"That would be unadvisable." Bruce rubbed his forehead as he spoke quietly into the tense atmosphere.

"And than would you care to explain, Doctor Banner?" Fury finally snapped out.

"No, I can't." Bruce hardened his eyes as he stared down the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. "Atleast not yet, anyway." He muttered in an after thought tone.

"So let me get this straight." Fury could feel a migraine coming as he mentally shifted through the facts that had just been laid bare to him. "It's pivotal that Natasha take down Simon Huftun as a prisoner to be interrogated instead of being buried six feet under the cold hard dirt."

"Yes, sir. It is." Steve straightened his shoulder as Director Fury turned his one eye upon him. Disbelief warring within his mind as Fury finally gave a nod in understanding.

"So be it." Fury acknowledged before he stood up. "I have an organisation to run. Agent McCall will be left here as you, clowns, can fill him on the details. I will be expecting results." He glanced at each one before turning upon his heels and stalked from the room.

"Right, we need to finalise the details as the gala is in two days time." Steve ran a tired hand down his face.


Clint swore long and hard as the rest of the pack made their presence known. It was becoming painfully obvious, well to him anyway, that his life was turning into one big tangled ball of drama. And that was putting rather nicely as he shifted his rifle into the air and fired off a shot, in the hopes that the pack would turn tail. It would seem that his luck had ran out today as the ears laid flatten against their heads and they took a step forward with teeth bared.

"Well, it's been nice knowing you." A smirk pulled at his lips as he quickly counted the wolves that he could see; twelve. He had known that it had been a hard winter for the region as he scanned for a branch low enough for him to grab onto and haul his backside to safety. He was also not stupid enough to believe that he could fight them all off.

His body broke out into a sprint as he spotted the tree that would serve his purpose. He would give the pack a hour or two to clear out before he started target practise. He launched himself to reach the lower branches as the alpha male sprung forward into motion as well. Clint wrapped his fingers and pulled himself up, using his upper body strength to heave his weight onto the branch before he started the climb higher into the tree. Grunting as he felt the sharp teeth sink into his right ankle before he used his left foot and kicked down to remove the male from his leg.

He could feel the trail of wetness pool within the heel of his boot. It was going to be a problem when he needed to remove the article of clothing. He climbed upon the was perched near the middle of the tree where the foliage was good and acted as a shield against the bone chilling wind that was blowing. Thankfully, the temperature had not started to drop as yet to indicate that a blizzard was on its way. He unlatched his fingered gloves before peeling the fingerless ones off and shoving them into his jacket pocket as he straddled the branch. He pulled them on and turned his eyes once more to the circling pack below. He settled down and started to mentally mark the time off.


Natasha rubbed her forehead before she closed her eyes briefly to the bickering that was happening around her. Her stomach was deciding that it might be the best time to make itself known as it slowly churned with an unnamed emotion.

"Are you alright, Natasha? You don't look crash hot?" Steve's voice held certain gentleness to it as she cracked an eye open marginally to search his expression for falsities that laid there. She knew that she would not read any because this was Steve Rogers, Captain America; the good boy next door. She snorted at her own reasoning.

"No, I am fine." Hints of her accent bleed through the obvious lie as she closed the eye that she had been looking through.

"What do you think, Banner." Tony jumped to his feet. "That everyone gets their medical evaluations done now."

"I'm right." Aaron held his hands up as the others just stared at him. "Just had mine done last week."

"Ha, nice try." Tony barked before levelling a telling smirk at him.

"I need something to begin with if you are to join us." Bruce just reasoned as well as he stood up as well. "Are you coming?" He glanced at Steve and Natasha as he turned to leave the room and head towards the medical lab.

"I keep telling you, Bruce." Natasha mumbled as she slowly raised herself to her feet and the headache increased.

"You have a new name for the other guy?" Steve looked faintly surprised at this.

"Yeah, Doctor Vampire!" Natasha snickered as she moved forward and turned at the doorway. "Come on; let's get this over and done with." She held her hand up to her mouth as she yawned into it. She was feeling more tired these days.

"Natasha." Bruce groaned as Tony laughed at the expression that Bruce was wearing. "It's a necessary evil."

"I know." She shrugged her shoulders as they stepped into the elevator.

"I have sent a request through for your medical record from S.H.I.E.L.D, Agent McCall." Bruce spared the other man a look before turning back around when the ding of the elevator indicated that they had reached their designated floor for the medical lab.

"Why?" McCall tensed up as he swung his gaze towards Bruce.

"I need to know that there is nothing that could impede your performance with this operation." Bruce stared at him with such a serious expression that Aaron backed down and settled back into his corner as he waited for them to disembark from the elevator. "I need to draw blood from you, Romanoff."

"Someone annoyed Bruce." Tony snark as he glanced at Natasha.

"Wasn't me." She held her hands up before making her way over to the chair and held her arm out as Bruce got the equipment ready. She grimace a little as he tightened the belt and it pinched her skin. "I'm not going to lose feeling in my arm permanently?" She arched her eyebrow as he gave her a sheepish look and released the pressure slightly.

"Sorry." Bruce murmured an apology before he slid the needle in to draw the needed amount of blood. Natasha did not flinch from it as he tapped a cotton ball to the injection site. "This will take a couple of moments to analysis". Natasha nodded her head before she got up and removed herself from the room.

"What's wrong with her?" Tony thumbed in her general direction as Bruce stared at her for a moment.

"Loneliness."

"That's a tough one." Tony murmured as he clapped Bruce on the back before turning back. "Just remind me to kick Barton's backside when I see one." Bruce rolled his eyes as he shook his head. He needed to get this done before they went onto the next phase of the preparation for this mission.


Two hours, twenty three minutes and a handful of seconds. That is how long he had been up that blasted tree. He needed to get down and make his way back to the cabin. That was if he would be able to move his semi frozen limbs again. He could not feel the flow blood as he slowly shifted his body weight. The pack had decided to leave the vicinity as they figured that he would not be coming down anytime soon and they were hungry. He had proven to be difficult prey but that did not mean that they were not watching and waiting from a distance. That false sense of security, that could lure him in.

Clint slowly made his way down the tree before landing in a crouched position on the ground as he jumped the last ten feet. Swinging his head around as he searched the area for any threats. He quickly readjusted the rifle strap upon his shoulder as he made his way back to his lodgings. He knew that he would have to forgo fresh meat tonight and try his luck again tomorrow.

A quick glance towards the darkening sky allowed him to see that he did not have much light left and he would need to get indoors before the temperature dropped much lower. He still had a little over two miles to trek as he sunk up to his knees; growling low in his throat as he felt the cold and wetness seeping through his pants. He hoped that the fire was roaring by the time that he had arrive because he knew that he would need to be defrosted in front of it.


Natasha was feeling overwhelmed as she held her head in her hands. She took a deep breath before she turned her gaze out over the skyline of the city. Her body shivering slightly as the wind blew against her exposed skin. A soft shuffling of feet drew her attention as she sat slumped over the safety rail.

"I thought I would find you here." Steve approached her before he squatted down next to her. His blue eyes staring out over the horizon as he waited patiently, taking in the peaceful surroundings around them.

"Wasn't really trying that hard to hide." She sighed as she closed her eyes.

"It is abit to take in." Steve breathed as he draped his forearms over his knees. Natasha just shook her head at the understatement of his sentence. "You know that it is perfectly fine."

"I don't know what you mean by that." Natasha raised her eyebrow as she pierced him with her intense gaze; holding no malicious intent in them.

"I think you do but you just don't want to name it." He slid a small smile at her sharp intake of breath.

"Are you calling me a coward?" Her face morphing with disbelief as Steve threw his head back and laughed deeply. It quickly switched through different expressions before settling into a blank canvas.

"Actually, far from it!" He still guffawed with each peek at her face. A silent tear sliding down his cheek before he settled back down. "I firmly believe that you one of the strongest people that I know of." He tilted his head before shaking it sadly. "But don't allow it to kill you." He patted her on the shoulder before straightening to his full height.

"How can you be sure?" She softly questioned as she turned her head to search his features; noticing the lingering sadness and immanence strength that his eyes held. The knowledge of having something close to you lost forever.

"I don't." He stated simply before walking across the roof to the door. "I can see why this was his favourite place." He turned the door handle as she spoke softly into the atmosphere.

"He could always see better from a distance."


He could just make out the flickering lights through the windows as he slowly approached the house. It had grown darker quickly and with that, the temperature had dropped to somewhere just pass freezing. His muscles were starting to cramp up as he got to the stairs and pulled his weight up and through the door. His teeth clattered within his skull as he stomped the excess snow from his feet. He made his way over to the fire and stood in front of it as he rubbed his hands together. The warmth slowly defrosting his frozen limbs as the blood circulated sluggish around his body.

"You're back?" Sarah exclaimed as she looked up at him. "Did you get much meat?" Clint just shook his head as he blew into his hands.

"No, got stuck up a tree." Clint grimace as he said it. He mental slapped himself because it sounded like a weak excuse if it had not been the truth.

"Why were you stuck up a tree?" Her voice carried a hint of something. Something, that he just could not place his finger on it. It did rather sound like she was suspicious, but that would make no sense at all.

"I had a pack up my ar . . ." Clint stopped and blinked at her as a horrified expression crossed her face. He rubbed his hand down his face.

"Hello James." Misha offered a small smile before he walked into the bathroom which Clint returned with a small nod of his head.

"So, do you have an estimation of time when you are leaving?" Clint asked as he slowly made his way over to where his cup was and poured himself a cup of coffee.

"Why are you so determined to push us out into the cold?" Her voice dripped with sugary intent and Clint had to fight the urge to roll his eyes at her attempts.

"I'm not but you did mention that you had to find someone." Client watched her face closely. He had his doubts but he wanted them confirmed. "You never did say who the person was?" He tilted his head for a moment in thought as he brought his mug to his lips.

"Strange how you as a lonely man live out here," Sarah stepped forward as she placed a hand between his pectoral muscles. "With no one but himself for company." She licked her bottom lip as she peered into his stormy eyes.

"Who said I was lonely?" Clint hiked up an eyebrow as his gaze switched between her hand and her face. He could not say that he was surprised by her forwardness. It almost reeked of Natasha, early on in their partnership. "Sorry, sweetheart but I'm not interested in what you have to offer." His hand closed over her wrist to remove it from his chest.

"Don't I do it for you?" She pouted as she peered through her eyelashes at his face.

The harsh bark of laughter he let loose as he turned harden eyes upon her. "I have just buried my wife. There is nothing that you can offer me." With that statement ringing in their ears, he turned around and stalked to his bedroom before slamming it with such force that it left jarred teeth in the aftermath. His back teeth grinding together as he pushed the pain aside. He may have not spoken the proper truth but that was how he felt.

"What is wrong with him?" Alec asked as he came out of the guest bedroom.

"Nothing!" She scrunched her nose up in distaste as his rejection leaving a bitter taste behind.

"Do not worry, love." He dropped a chaste kiss upon her forehead as he rubbed the back of her neck. "We are closer to our objective."

"Yes patience. I know." Sarah breathed in deeply as they stood in the kitchen.


Natasha's green eyes swept around the room as she smoothed her gown down over her hips before making her way over to the bar and ordered her drink of choice. She felt nervous at present, which she should not have been. Considering this type of mission was catered to her specific skill set. She drew a deep breath before allowing it to exhale softly between her slightly parted lips. She spun around to continue watching the room; the tip of her tongue touching briefly upon her top lip.

"I don't think he'll show." Tony sounded bored as he continued to work the room.

"Still early in the night." Steve fidgeted as he stood on the edge of the room; his blue eyes scanning all the faces that they touched upon.

"Just keep your eyes peeled for him." Agent McCall growled through the earwigs as he shifted in his place.

"He will keep a low profile when he enters the room." Natasha offered into the conversation as she smiled at the gentleman in front of her; shaking her head when he offered to refill her beverage.

"Tony," Pepper walked up and feed her arm through. She looked up at him with a soft smile upon her face, tugging gently as she manoeuvred him away. "I want you to met Mr Kratter."

"Okay, Pepper." Tony smiled down at her as his hand cupped over hers.

"Remind me again on why you are here?" Steve gibed as he caught the attention of a woman in red. It was just beyond cliché that it was not funny.

"Because I could realistic get in here since it was a charity ball." Tony laughed boisterously at the joke that he was told. "It really doesn't matter if I am here or not because this is were the filthy rich are. You want money for funding and than this place is where you need to be. Connections are everything in this world."

"I can see your point but. . ."

"It's that basic, Cap." Natasha made another sweep of the room before she sucked in a sudden breath. "He's here."

"Roger that, Black Widow. Proceed with caution." Aaron acknowledged as he spied through the binoculars to the room below his position.

"Where?" Steve craned his neck to search the room.

"Good way to make yourself to stand out." Tony snarked. "Try to be a little bit more subtle in the situation."

"I'm going to engage him." Natasha suddenly decided as she tuned out their bickering. She took a sip from her glass as she made her way over to the man that stood at the doorway; his cold hazel eyes briefly flickering down onto her before he dismissed her.

"Oh, that's got to hurt." Tony crowed as he continued to glance around the room. "He might not be that into you."

"Tony!" Steve reprimanded while feeling slightly embarrassed from the conversation. He knew about such things but they were never openly discussed about like they are in public, in this new modern age. It was one of the few things that he was still getting use to.

"Stop the radio chatter." McCall was getting a headache and a touch of whiplash.

"Yep, you have got to love Bluetooth technologies." Tony sing-sang as Steve shook his head.

"You never can shut him up on a good day." Natasha muttered as she reworked her plan of engagement. "Now, hush. I'm thinking."

"Now, don't think too. . . Oomph . . . Pepper!" Tony whined as he had his fun taken away from him; a very telling expression in her eyes that had warned him to play nice with the others.

Natasha drew closer to the bar as she eyed her quarry. Signalling for the bar keep as she placed her order in for a strawberry spritzer. Allowing a mysterious smile to curl her lips as an idea formed within her head. She made her way slowly to Simon Huftun as she sipped at her refreshing drink.

"These things can be quite boring?" Natasha asked in an upper class accent as she slowly scanned the faces around her.

"I concur with you, Miss?" He lifted an eyebrow up.

"Winters, Naomi Winters." Natasha purred as she held her hand to be shaken. "And you are?" She licked her bottom lip.

"Simon Huftun." He grinned slightly at her.

"Sorry, I am not very familiar with your name. What do you when you are not at these gatherings?" She shifted closer to him, tilted her head with interest.

"A bit of this and that." He smiled down at the lovely red head upon his arm.

"Not a very good description if you want to make an investment." Se shrugged her shoulders as she pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"How about we get somewhere more private and I tell you exactly what I do?" His hot breath brushed passed her ears as he leaned down slightly to whisper into them.

"Sure, why not." Natasha discreetly signalled the others that she was leaving the room, walking down a corridor as they glanced at the paintings upon the wall. "This should far enough from prying eyes and ears." Natasha heard the tell tale scoff within her ear piece.

"It's really quite simple, my dear Miss Winters." Simon's normal cordially tone changing to a more sinister and far more worrying voice. "You would make the perfect addition to my collection." He stated as he sprung forward with a closed fist aimed at her head.

"I wouldn't say that." Natasha deflected the blow before going in low with a swing of her own. She had to concentrate as she deflected and retaliated with her own swings. She sucked in a deep breath as she took a hit to the side of her ribs. That one was going to bruise as she took another punch to her stomach, making her double over as a sharp pain ripped through her body. Already she was tired of him as she jumped up and wrapped her thighs around his throat and forced his body to the ground, before knocking him out cold from the punch to the jaw.

"Remind me never to get on the bad side of you." Tony grasped as he stepped forward to help her up from the ground. Natasha stumbled slightly when she reached her feet, her world spinning around. "I got her. Gag and bag him."

"Rear exit. Due east." Natasha breathed out through her nose as more pain wracked through her body. "We need to get him to S.H.I.E.L.D for the information that he carries."

"He is one sick and twisted individual." Tony murmured as he carried most of Natasha weight. "You sure that you're fine?"

"Just peachy with a side of cream." Natasha deadpanned before a minute grimace touched her features briefly.

"Yeah, right." McCall echoed across. "I would be very surprised if you didn't have a shattered rib or two."

"It's alright. Bruce can look at you when we get back to the tower." Tony muttered as he shifted her weight. The rear exit came into sight as several agents stood at the door and waited to receive the package. Looking everywhere but at the beaten-up Black Widow who was almost be carried out by Ironman, himself.

"Here is the package." Natasha gritted out through her clenched teeth as Steve dropped the unconscious man into the nearest agent's arms.


So the mission is over with and some of the pieces are in place for phase two. Makes me wonder what will happen when Nat gets to Bruce? So until next time, have a good one! ;D