Ella walked down the hall. Strange had left her with much to think about. The problem was she didn't want to think. She needed to talk to Bucky. When he rescued her it was clear his feelings for her and yes, she had feelings for him. The reality was they had no time for feelings. She screwed up and allowed herself to give him hope. She was upset with herself. Her feelings were confused with fear ever since her return from whatever Stahl had done. She just needed to find Bucky and give the ring back. She needed to make it clear that now is time to stop Stahl and nothing more. She wasn't the same person he had kept the ring for, not anymore. She walked to Steve and Bucky's door. She knocked. She heard a click coming from the end of the hall. Her mind raced. She saw in her mind a man, no several, in the stairwell of the hall. Steve opened the door but before he could speak Ella put her hand over his mouth and shoved him back into the apartment locking the door. Steve looked at her confused.

"Stahl." she whispered motioning to the hall.

Bucky walked out of his room. Ella signaled him to be quiet. "They're coming down the hall." she said?

Bucky's face became fierce as he readied to attack. "Get in the room, hide." he said to Ella.

"I'm not hiding. There are ten men in the hall and twenty more downstairs. S.W.A.T team inside and out. It's Stahl. They're here for me under the pretext of Katherine Wolmur's disappearance." said Ella. She took note that her abilities seemed enhanced. Stahl was not on the premises yet she knew his plan.

Bucky stood glaring at the door, "The bedroom now." he said without looking at her.

She looked at Steve pleading with her eyes. She shook her head. Bucky looked at her, "I can carry you if you like?" he said locking eyes with her.

"No time." she said as the door was splintered. Bucky and Steve ran towards the approaching men. They easily took out the first four as they squeezed through the doorway. The six remaining in the hall, once seeing the four taken down easily, began to fire. A bullet flew between Bucky and Steve in direct line towards Ella. On instinct she raised her hands to shield herself. The bullet pierced her hand held in front of her face. She saw in slow motion the bullet emerge from her hand. She closed her eyes as she braced for the bullet to strike her head. She dropped to the floor. Bucky ran to Ella as Steve fought off the six men.

"Ella!" he said running to her. Hovering over her he saw the blood on her face.

She looked up at him. "Bucky, I'm fine." she said bewildered. He looked her face over for the wound. His hands wiping the blood frantically. She grabbed his hands. Her right one searing in pain with a fresh bullet wound. "Stop." she commanded. "Help, Steve, I'm fine. Go!"

He looked as confused as she felt.

"Stay down." he said. Bucky ran to help Steve knock the remaining men unconscious. Ella got to her feet. Still confused as to where the bullet strayed. It must have ricocheted upon exiting her hand. She searched behind her.

"Ella!" shouted Bucky snapping her from her thoughts. His heart sank as she turned to him. Her face smeared with blood. Her eyes frought with confusion and fear.

"They're coming. They won't stop." she said breathing heavy with fear.

"Neither will we." said Steve nodding to Bucky. Bucky moved towards Ella and took her hand.

"Which way are they coming?" he asked gently. She looked at him trying to refocus as a wave of pain hit her. "The north stairwell." she said.

Bucky saw the pain and the bleeding hand at her side. He grabbed a nearby towel and wrapped her hand.

"Thanks." she said.

"Don't thank me. I should've stopped them before they could shoot." he said securing the towel.

"I should've ducked." she said forcing a smile wanting him to know she didn't balme him.

"Or got in the bedroom as I directed." he said looking up at her letting go of her wounded hand.

"And leave you two unprotected? " she said hoping to make him smile.

"Still delusional." he joked taking her good hand in his. Steve peered out the doorway signaling it was clear.

They raced down the hall to the south stairway and made their way to Tony's floor.

"What the hell guys?" asked Tony.

"Has FRIDAY detected anything? We just had ten men ambush us." asked Steve.

Tony looked at Ella.

"I'm fine." she said as her breath was shakey. Bucky wrapped a supportive arm around her. "The flesh wound to the hand." she said holsing up her towel bandaged hand to reassure him.

Tony looked to Steve and Bucky with concern. "Ok." he said attempting to process. "Where's Strange?:

"I last saw him in your study." said Ella.

"FRIDAY, what is going on, Lockdown all floors. " said Tony. FRIDAY did not respond.

"Tony, we don't need FRIDAY, we have you. What do we do? There are twenty more men currently at the tenth floor heading to us now. They are here to rescue Katherine and arrest each of you on kidnapping charges. What the hell do we do?" she said feeling panic.

"You know what to do." said Strange appearing in the study doorway.

"Who?" asked Tony.

"Ella." answered Strange looking at her. Ella looked at him and to the others around her.

"No, I don't know what to do." she said not understanding what he was trying to do. "There is no time for your cryptic pep talk part two. We need to act now!"

"Then tell me, Ella, where is the bullet?" he asked.

She glared at him. "I don't know. It must have ricocheted. It doesn't matter."

"It's all that matters now." he insisted.