If anyone doesn't know where the term Retrieval Specialist comes from it's from the TV show Leverage. Which I do not own. (: Please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I only own Rory.

~R~


Tony stood in his penthouse at Stark Tower trying to get a hold of Rory. She hadn't met him for their little 'talk' as promised and now she wasn't answering his calls.

"Sir, there is a Nick Fury on the line for you."

"I'm a little busy."

"He's persisting, sir. Says it's urgent."

"I can't catch a break…Put him through."

"Stark, we need to talk."

"Really? I thought you just called to say hi."

"This isn't time for jokes, Stark. I need you on the helicarrier in fifteen minutes."

"What's happened this time, Nick?"

"It's Hayes."

Tony's smirk dropped upon hearing Rory's name. He furrowed his brow and headed for his Iron Man suit while hanging up on Fury.

"Tony, is everything alright?" Pepper asked stepping off the elevator.

"I'm not sure…"

"The Tony Stark isn't sure about something? That's a first. Just take care of yourself." She said giving him a quick kiss before he took off.

When Tony landed on the flight deck of the helicarrier he was greeted by Steve, Bruce and the two assassins. The group turned around at his arrival, each of them confused as to why they were there.

"So much for our time off." Barton muttered crossing his arms.

"I know this is supposed to be your time off, but a situation has come up." Fury said walking up behind them.

"What's the situation?" Natasha asked.

"Follow me."

~R~

Everyone sat at the table as the video of Rory breaking into a high security vault undetected shut off. The room was silent as they took in the images. Steve leaned forward in his seat slamming his fists on the table.

"Rory wouldn't do that unless she had a perfectly good reason to."

"Hayes never told you what her real job is now did she?" Fury asked.

Steve's blond brows furrowed in confusion, "What?"

"She's a retrieval specialist." Fury answered.

"Retrieval Specialist?" Bruce asked.

"A thief, but slightly different. Thieves take items for their own person gain whereas a Retrieval Specialist is hired by a client. They do it for money." Fury explained.

The room fell silent again. First it was two assassins' they had to worry about and now this? What type of group did Fury put together? Steve looked up and leaned back in his chair.

"Why didn't she tell us?"

"Because she has been trying to get out." Barton said. Everyone turned to look at him. He sighed and pulled the video back up and rewinds it a little bit and paused. The part he stopped at was of Rory entering the safe and looking at the camera.

"See here, she wouldn't deliberately look at the camera. She's better trained than that. Now look at her expression." He paused the video again.

"It's blank." Bruce said.

"Exactly, but look closer at her eyes." Barton tapped on Rory's picture and increased the size.

"I recognize that look. She's being forced to do this." Steve answered staring at her picture. "Do we know where she's at?"

"Sir, we got her." Sitwell said from a computer.

"Where is she?" Steve asked jumping up.

"Milan."

~R~

The taxi pulled up in front of Sforza Castle. Rory climbed out and paid the driver before walking inside. The museums inside were being used as party areas for their newest item the Banshee's Bracelet of Screams; the item Rory was asked to retrieve. Her black heels clicked as she walked through the museums. People turned to look at her as she entered the Museum of Ancient Art, her blue bodycon sweetheart dress accentuating her figure; and why the bracelet was in here Rory didn't know. She grabbed a champagne glass from one of the waiters walking around and took a sip.

She moseyed around and looked at all the different collections. When she spotted the bracelet she mentally cursed. The bracelet was in the center of the room so everyone could see and guards were stationed all around. Rory walked over and inspected the bracelet. It was intricately designed, but what caught her attention were the faces of screaming skulls surrounding the bracelet. Rory turned from the case when people started whispering to each other and two names had her spinning around; Tony Stark and Captain America.

When Rory turned around her eyes widened. Standing at the front of the room was none other than Steve Rogers and Tony Stark, each dressed in a tailored tuxedo. They quickly spotted her and headed in her direction. Rory scanned the room for an exit and found one to her left. She danced through the throngs of party guests. She passed through the exit only be grabbed from behind and lifted into the air.

"Put me down!" she exclaimed fitting against the person.

"Rory, Rory calm down. It's me, Steve." Steve set her down once she calmed down.

"What are you guys doing here?"

"What, you're not glad to see us?" Tony asked standing in front of her.

"You two can't be here. It'll ruin everything."

"We're all here, Rory. We're here to help you."

Rory harshly ran a hand through her hair. "If he finds out I'm even talking to you then he'll…"

"He'll what?" Steve asked.

"…He'll kill my father."

Steve and Tony looked at each other then back at Rory. She peered around the corner at the bracelet then at the guards.

"Tony, don't take what I'm about to do serious."

"What are you talking…?"

Rory spun around and punched Tony sending him reeling back. Steve helped Tony stay on his feet.

"What are you doing?"

"Saving your lives. I'm sorry, Steve." She said grabbing his hand and slipping something into his palm. She gave Tony an apologetic look before taking off.

"She sure packs a punch." Tony massaged his cheek.

Steve uncurled his fist and looked at the folded piece of paper. He unfolded the paper and furrowed his brow. It was blank. Tony took the paper from Steve's hand and looked over it. He brushed a finger over each side before pocketing it.

"I need a black light."

~R~

The museum was shrouded in darkness. A lone dark figure stalked through the halls toward the bracelet. Rory emerged from the shadows and peered through the glass box. She pulled out a small glass cutter and cut a circle. She gently placed the piece of glass on the floor and reached into the case. Rory grabbed the bracelet and set it in her bag before getting up to leave. When she turned around she froze; standing behind her was Steve.

"Steve, you have to get out of here."

"I'm not leaving you here."

"None of us are." Tony said entering the room with the others.

Rory looked between everyone, clutching the strap of the backpack tightly. Steve slowly inched toward her holding out his right hand. Rory shook her head and backed up as Steve got closer.

"Please Steve; I don't want him to hurt you or anyone else. You have to let me do this…"

"We can't just let you leave with that bracelet." Natasha said keeping her gun trained on Rory.

"Do you want my help?" a man with a German accent said.

Steve and the others looked around the room for the source. The room lit up as a man wearing a monocle and dressed in a pinstripe suit with red hair and a beard walked up behind Rory. Another man stood beside him wearing a black suit and black sunglasses. Steve glanced at Rory and saw her shoulders tense at the man's appearance.

"Get out of here now!" she exclaimed just as the man turned her around. He lifted a small dispenser up and sprayed its contents in Rory's face.

"My greatest weapon has always been my voice…so well-modulated and pitched that my very word can either be totally consoling…or destructively jarring!" the man said.

"Who the hell are you? And what have you done to Rory?" Steve asked.

"My name is Johann Fennhoff, but you may call me Doctor Faustus. As for your friend, she is under my control. I gave her a dose of hallucinogenic gas and she will do anything I tell her to. Rory, Errol, how about we show our guests what happens when they crash the party." Dr. Faustus said moving to stand behind Rory with the bag in hand.


~R~

This one actually took me a little longer to type than I originally thought. I'm not too familiar with Dr. Faustus from the comics but hopefully the research I did helped. Don't forget to review! I've already started the next chapter so there shouldn't be a long wait! :D

Oh and I know the SteveXRory is taking awhile but don't worry it is subtly there, especially in the next chapter. :D