Chapter 9

By: MysticFantasy

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Bruce couldn't help but feel that Clint had been right about Ross. There was definatly something off about this whole thing.

He was more sure of his spy friend's suspicions when he was asked to go to Fury's office. He became more certain of that when he saw General Ross standing in the office along with the SHIELD director.

"Dr. Banner, come in." Fury said.

Bruce did so, shutting the door behind him.

"What's all this about?" the doctor asked.

"Well, Fury knows why I'm here." Ross stated. "I made an immediate request to have you locked up."

"Excuse me?!"

"You heard me Banner!" Ross declared. "You need to be locked away for what you did to Captain Rogers!"

"D**n it, Ross! I didn't hurt Steve!" Bruce declared, trying to keep his temper down. The last thing he needed was to give Ross a reason for him to be put in that cage.

"There is a video showing the Hulk attacking the man who is a national icon and greatest hero this world will ever know." Ross stated.

"How do you know it wasn't some kind of trick?" Bruce demanded. "Everyone here, including Captain Rogers, knows that I would never hurt him."

"How in the world can you explain someone making another Hulk and sending it to attack Captain Rogers?" Ross asked.

"I don't know." Bruce answered with a defeated tone. "All I know is that I did not attack Steve Rogers."

"Banner, the evidence is against you and I'm sure that, if he coud, Captain Rogers would admit that he was attacked by your little split personality." Ross said.

"If you recall, you were the one who asked me to try to make more super soldiers." Bruce replied. "If it hadn't been for you, the Hulk wouldn't even be around in the first place."

Ross and Bruce then entered a heated staring contest that was interrupted by Fury.

"General, I've read your request and, although I admit there is a lot of evidence, I have to agree with Dr. Banner about not harming his teammates. He hasn't so much as raised his voice towards any of them. This is a confusing situation for all of us. Captain Rogers is the only one who can confirm if it was Dr. Banner or not. Obviously, he can't do that right now so we really don't have much choice on anything right now."

"Director, if you don't lock this man up right now, who knows what else he can do?" Ross said. "Going after Captain Rogers like that should mean that he should be locked up for good for the rest of his life."

"Why don't you let us decide that general?" Fury said. "I'll keep you updated on everything that happens."

The general nodded, sent one last glare to Bruce and left the office. Once Ross was gone, Fury turned to Bruce.

"Banner, I know that you wouldn't willingly hurt Rogers or anyone else."

"So where does that leave us?" Bruce asked.

"I'm leaving this to you." Fury said. "Until Rogers wakes up, everyone is going to believe that it was you that attacked him. He's the only one who can clear you. We both know that Ross isn't going to give up trying to pin this on you."

Bruce sighed heavily as he sank into a chair.

Fury was right.

Until Steve woke up from his coma, everyone is going to think that he was the one who hurt the captain. Fury and the rest of the Avengers were the only ones who believe that he was innocent.

"Put me in the cell." the doctor finally said.

"You're sure about this?" Fury asked.

"Yes." Bruce answered. "Until Steve himself can say that it wasn't me who attacked him, it would be better off if I was away from him and anyone else who thinks I may hurt him or everyone else who's around. Besides, maybe this way the real culprit will reveal himself."

"Smart thinking." Fury said. "I'm not going to like putting you in that cage but you do have a good point. I'll tell the other Avengers to keep you updated on anything that happens. When Rogers wakes up and he's able to talk, we'll get the information we need most and let you out."

Bruce nodded as he stood and right away felt like he was walking the long mile.

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Clint and Natasha didn't like that Ross was watching Steve as he slept. The general came to see him claiming that he wanted to give his wishes for a quick recovery.

Both spies weren't totally buying his story.

They were sure that he hoped that Steve would recover quickly but they believed that he had another reason for being here.

"We heard you managed to talk Banner into turning himself in." Natasha said.

"About time if you ask me." Ross said. "It should be a federal crime and treason for anyone who tried to attack Captain America."

Clint raised a brow at the general. It almost seemed like the older man really was a bigger fan of the captain than Coulson. The only difference was that Coulson had his head straight.

The general was hell bent on making sure that no one overpowered the American army. That was basically the reason that he wanted Bruce contained since the Hulk first made his appearance.

When the general had seen the power that the Hulk possessed, he wanted to make him the next nuclear missle. When that plan failed, Ross had been determined to give Bruce the option of joining the army or bring locked away.

"That man in there is the reason I joined the army." Ross said as he continued to watch Steve. "I heard stories about him when I was a kid and tried to be like him growing up."

"Sounds like you went a little too far." Clint remarked under his breath but the general heard it.

"Say what you want agent." Ross said. "None of you are soldiers like me or Rogers."

"Hate to break it to you buddy, but I did serve." Clint replied. "I know what it's like to give you're all for your country. Just like Rogers. Further more, I think you have something to do with what happened to him."

"What?!" Ross exclaimed. "How in the world can you accuse me of something like that?! I am an army general and Captain Rogers is a great icon. Why in the world would I want something like this to happen to him?!"

"I don't know yet but I will." Clint replied. "I'll find out what really happened and when I do, if I find out that you had something to do with it, you will go down."

"The real crook behind all of this is finally in a cage where he belongs." Ross said facing the two SHIELD agents. "Real soldiers look out for each other. Brothers in arms. You'll see for yourself when Captain Rogers regains consciousness and tell you that it was Banner that attacked him."

With that, Ross turned on his heel and walked away.

"He's tied in with this. I know it." Clint declared angrily under his breath as he leaned against the window and stared at Steve.

"I think so too but we have no way to prove it." Natasha said as she too looked at their captain. "Steve is the only one who knows for sure."

"If only we could get him to give us some kind of sign." Clint said.

"I know." Natasha said, wishing for the same thing. "But he's healing quickly. It's only a matter of time. We just have to try to be patient."

Clint sighed with a nod.

"Yeah." he agreed. "It just feels wrong. Steve's in a coma, I really feel that Ross has something to do with all of this and now Banner is being locked away for something he didn't do with his only chance to be cleared waiting to heal enough to wake up."

"Something will turn up." Natasha said. "We know that Bruce wouldn't hurt Steve and we'll have proof eventually."

"But not soon enough." Clint said with a defeated tone.

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A/N: Not sure if Clint really served in the Army. I'm hearing he did and I'm hearing he didn't. So I'm going with he did. Sorry for any confusion.