Wires

PenPatronus

Chapter Nine

Phil Coulson did a slow sit up and waited for the inevitable headache. When it didn't come he carefully plucked the electrodes off of his scalp and forehead. "You look better," Thor diagnosed from where he stood leaning against the doorframe. "At least you're not sweating as much."

Phil rolled his sleeves down and buttoned the cuffs. "I didn't expect it to work," he admitted. "I wonder if we can use Dr. Hanson's EMP generator on the other agents that the Council brainwashed."

The Asgardian shook his head. "Brain – wash – ed," he said. "Peculiar language you people have."

Phil stood up and put his suit jacket back on. "Peculiar clothes you people have," he said with a playful smirk. Thor glanced down at his robes and returned the smile.

"Thor!" a voice bellowed. Maya and Steve appeared in the hallway. "Out," Rogers said, his face and voice iron. "Evacuate now!"

"What's going on?" Phil asked as he jogged out to meet them. "Captain—?"

"There's going to be an explosion any second," Maya explained.

Thor slowed down. "Stark? Banner?"

"Get in the car," Steve snapped. "Get…" Captain America slid to a stop, his boots squeaking on the cement. Suddenly he grabbed Maya's forearms and pulled her face-to-face. "You said it's down to will. He's weak, his body's failing, but Tony can will himself to live – that's what you said, right?" Maya nodded her head. The movement loosened the tears in her eyes and they fluttered down her cheeks. "Thor, get them to safety."

Without explanation, Steve pivoted and ran back inside.

If he'd stayed for even ten seconds longer he might have seen the shadow rise from behind the SUV and raise a weapon.


In an invisible Quinjet a thousand feet above Milwaukee, Nick Fury and Maria Hill stared at a jumble of symbols that they couldn't make heads or tails (or elbows or horns) of. "The hell…" Fury muttered for the eighth time. "How many S.H.I.E.L.D. agents have access to this particular folder, Hill?"

Maria used her fingers to count, and the count didn't go any higher than ten. "Eleven if you count Stark," she said. "These days I just assume he has access to everything." The proverbial light bulb went off in her head. "Wait… this is Stark's – this is Stark's!"

"What? His code?"

"Not Tony, his father! This is one of the first encryptions S.H.I.E.L.D. ever used. Howard Stark invented it." Maria leaned forward until her nose almost touched the screen. "I took S.H.I.E.L.D. history 101 my first semester at the Academy. God, it's been so long…"

Fury pointed at the non-existent watch on his left wrist. "Tick tock, Hill. We have to find the Avengers before the Council does."

Maria's lips moved silently as she interpreted the symbols. "It's a mayday signal. There are map coordinates, something about Loki and… The message is from White Wife. Who the hell is—?"

Fury's white teeth flashed. "What's the opposite of "white" and "wife," Hill?"

Simultaneously they said, "Black Widow."


As a man, Bruce Banner was a genius. As the Hulk, he was strength. All of that intelligence and all of that power and all he could do was watch helplessly, hopelessly, as Tony Stark writhed in pain from the Extremis fires burning him from the inside out. When Tony screamed Bruce did, too. He had to be strong for his friend but the grief he felt also had to come out.

"Tell Pepper – tell Pepper she's the only woman I ever loved." When Tony spoke, smoke smoldered out of his throat. "Tell Maya 'thank you' for trying."

"Shhh," Bruce soothed. A tear slid off his chin and immediately evaporated from the heat rolling out of Stark. "That vision you have – Avengers living and fighting together – I swear, Tony, I swear I'll make that a reality. And every time we assemble we'll think of you."

Tony opened his mouth to respond but footsteps caught both of their attentions. Steve barreled into the room and slid the last few feet to Tony's side on his knees. Both Banner and Tony started shouting at him at the same time but Steve's voice carried higher and louder than theirs. "Listen to me – listen to me!" Sweat immediately accumulated on his forehead and he had to wipe it away before it reached his eyes. "Dammit, Tony Stark, you listen to me right now! I have two things to say. First, I am not leaving. Second, if you explode you will kill me. Do you understand?"

"Cap, have you lost your mind?"

"If you explode, I will die," Steve repeated. "I'll die, Tony."

"Yes, you will!" The flames that were Tony started to turn white. "Banner – get him the hell out of here!"

Bruce was pale. His fingers twitched as he looked back and forth between Steve and Tony. "This is a big risk, Cap," he whispered.

"Bruce!" Tony sobbed.

"Look at me – hey! Hey!" Steve leaned in as close to Tony as he dared. The Iron Man armor was almost molten lava – completely useless. "You got this. You can will yourself to live, Tony. You just need a little extra motivation."

"Please," Tony begged. "I-I can't."

"You can. If you explode, Tony, you'll kill me. Do you want me to die?"

"No. No!"

"Then live."

Bruce sensed it coming before any of them did. Instantly he unleashed the Hulk, who covered Steve with his body the split second that Tony erupted like a star.

To Be Continued