A/N - 09/15/2013: I wrote a brand new scene for those of you that have gone back to read all the chapters. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original dialogue

Director Fury left soon after he collected me from the bakery, claiming he had one last person to collect. He swiped a cookie from the large box when he thought I wasn't watching and climbed into a small chopper.

The drive to the airport was quiet. I was squished in the backseat of an unmarked black SUV between two hulking S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. They both wore sunglasses even though the moon glowed high above. I didn't pretend to understand the odd Midgardians. When I glanced through the back window, I saw that there was a convoy of identical vehicles following us. I sighed before turning to face the front again. All of the men carried loaded firearms which were either holstered or draped across their laps in a silent threat.

The procession of SUVs pulled into a dimly lit airport on the outskirts of the town. A large jet sat in the middle of the runway. Agents poured out of the vehicles like ants from an anthill. Four of them quickly surrounded me- not quite touching me- before ushering me efficiently up the stairs. I climbed them quickly and ducked into the aircraft. At first glance, I knew the jet was years ahead in technology capability. It had a powerful build yet a sleek aerodynamic shape for speed and agility. I was ordered to take a seat. I complied. A young agent took out several zip ties from his pants pocket. I arched a brow.

"Is this really necessary?" I asked, gazing up at him innocently.

"T-the orders came directly from Director Fury. Apologies, Ma'am," he stuttered, as he crouched down.

"Do I really look like I could hurt any of you?"

He swallowed, wide eyes taking me in. "Well, no..."

"-And there are so many of you compared to me..." I exhaled shakily, punctuating my words.

The young man's eyes softened. He reached forward for my hand. "Hey, it will be alright-"

An older agent walking past snatched the man's hand back before I could move. "Don't you touch her, kid. She killed eleven of our guys back in '08 on the Budapest mission."

My wrists were immediately restrained against the armrests with the plastic zip ties. His eyes avoided mine. I expelled a loud sigh.

The jet took off. None of the men spoke. I gazed dejectedly out the small window, watching as the lights on the ground faded away. It was hours later when I heard some of the men chattering at the front of the plane. Stretching my neck, I saw the majority of the agents were sitting around a small table, playing poker. In the middle of the table was the box of cookies from the bakery. They munched on the baked goods, letting out little sounds of pleasure at the taste. I smiled.

My fingers finally twisted a screw free from the side of the armrest. I made quick work of the zip ties. Watching the men carefully, I slipped into the bathroom.

I used the facility quickly and washed my hands. When I opened the door, my eyes widened. All of the agents were surrounding me; their guns drawn.

I chuckled lightly. "I went to the bathroom. It's not illegal, boys."

Their formation broke. The men placed their guns in their holsters.

"You should've asked," one man said, walking forward.

"Would you have let me if I did?"

No one said anything.

Sighing, I crossed my arms. "Alright, here's how this is going to go. For the rest of the flight, I'm going to lay down on that couch," I pointed to the one at the front of the aircraft, "-and take a nap."

"Why would we let you do that?"

I rolled my eyes skyward. "I could've escaped at any time. I could've jumped from the plane, but obviously I haven't. Why do you think that is?" At their silence I continued, "I'm coming in as a favor to Fury. Do any of you really think you would've found me if I didn't want you to?" When I finished, I walked past the men. They let me.

I flopped down on the couch and quickly relaxed. The vertebrae of my spine popped and cracked. Sighing contentedly, I fell into a light sleep.

I was fully rested by the time the jet landed. I hopped down the stairs in high spirits onto the deck of an aircraft carrier. I was flanked by five armed guards. I hummed lightly as I turned and looked all around. We were in the middle of the ocean. There was beautiful, glimmering water in every direction. The sun was high above.

The message the carrier provided was clear. There's no escape.

"Hell, Ella. I want to thank you for not killing any of my men this time." I turned to see Fury watching me. He finally smirked.

"Well, they were lovely men. Very thorough. The zip ties were a nice touch."

Fury snorted waved forward the five soldiers. They followed the two of us. "You escaped, didn't you?"

I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from grinning. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

The man rolled his one good eye. It was obvious that he didn't believe me in the slightest.

My gaze strayed from the director. I glanced across the deck. My eyes went wide. Looking ridiculously nervous was Bruce. He was still wearing the same clothes from India. Fury had at least let me change at my apartment before heading to the airport. I was now dressed a tight black long-sleeved shirt and a pair of thick black leggings. Bruce looked around as he wrung his hands anxiously. Soon he was approached by a red head and a wide-shouldered blond man. They conversed for several minutes before I recognised the redhead. It was Agent Romanoff.

I was just about to step forward when Fury placed a hand on my shoulder. "We should head below deck. It's going to get difficult to breathe."

I looked up at him questioningly.

At that moment, the carrier let out a thundering noise and shuddered beneath my feet. Enormous fans kicked into motion and moments later the craft began to rise.

"Ah. It's a Helicarrier."

He walked me inside. We passed through a long hallway before it branched out into a large room. Many people were calling out orders and statuses of the ship as they read system updates. At the back of the room was a glass conference table. Sitting me down in one of the chairs, Fury handcuffed me to a metal bar under the table.

I rolled my eyes. "What is it with you Midgardians and bondage?"

"Give me a minute, alright? Play nice with the others," he growled before turning to five armed soldiers. "Make sure you watch her. Shoot her if she runs," he finished, eyeing me knowingly. The soldiers stood at attention and saluted him.

"Others?" My brow creased as Fury left with a flourish of his black coat. I sighed and propped my head up in my hand. I tapped my fingernails on the glass.

Several minutes later, I heard a couple of people walk into the vicinity. Raising my head, I saw Bruce accompanied by the blonde man.

Bruce's eyes went wide when he saw me. "Ella!" He attempted to rush forward but was stopped by the guards around me. Two of the man placed their hands on Bruce's chest in a silent warning.

I smiled feebly.

"What the hell are you doing here?" The usually calm doctor hissed accusingly at me past the wall of emotionless guards.

"I could ask you the same thing," I drawled, raising a brow.

The blonde man gazed about in childlike awe at the sheer size and appearance at the room.

The soldiers running about the deck looked mostly identical with navy and black skin-tight suits and black combat boots.

"- S.H.I.E.L.D. protocol 193.6 in effect. We're at level, Sir.," a pretty brunette soldier listed off for Fury as he approached the deck.

"Good. Let's vanish," he ordered.

"Reflection panel engaged."

Fury turned back to address the three of us.

"Gentlemen."

I scoffed. I glared up at Fury. He rolled his eyes.

"-and Lady," he amended.

I watched with calculating eyes as Blondie slipped the Director a dollar bill. Fury paused a moment before continuing toward Bruce. He shook his hand good-naturedly.

"Doctor, thank you for coming."

"Thanks for asking nicely," Bruce replied quietly.

"You know what'd be really nice?" I began, "If somebody could take these cuffs off me." I yanked at the metal, causing it to clang loudly against the metal bar.

Fury sighed as he dropped Bruce's hand. The Director turned to face me.

"Those are just a precaution."

"Precaution against what?" I raised a questioning brow.

"You."

I could tell he wasn't trying to be funny. I grumbled as a leaned back in my chair. I guess that was fair.

Bruce glanced at Fury in alarm. The Doctor spoke carefully. "So-um- how long am I going to be staying?"

"Once we get our hands on the Tesseract, you're in the wind."

"And where are you with that?" Bruce seemed interested to get started immediately. Probably so he could get back to India.

"We're sweeping every wirelessly accessible camera on the planet. Cell phones, laptops. If it's connected to a satellite, it's eyes and ears for us." This was Agent Coulson. His hairline had receded farther back and his suit was more tailored and expensive.

"It's still not gonna find them in time," Agent Romanoff stated, crouching in front of a computer screen with Agent Barton's profile on it.

"Where's Agent Barton?" I asked. My brows knitted together. Romanoff glanced at me but didn't respond.

"You need to narrow your field," Bruce stated, "How many spectrometers do you have access to?"

"How many are there?" Obviously Fury didn't know everything as he would try to have others perceive.

"Call every lab you know. Tell them to put their spectrometers on the roof and calibrate them for Gamma rays. I'll rough out a tracking algorithm with basic cluster recognition. At least we can rule out a couple places." As Bruce spouted off the information, He took off his navy blazer, leaving him standing in his wrinkled eggplant-hued dress shirt.

Fury nodded, gazing at Banner as if he was thankful he brought this man on to help.

"Wait, wait, wait. Gamma rays? Is that why you brought me in?" I demanded, my voice rising. I tried to stand up, only to be yanked down by the handcuffs and sat forcibly by two of the guards. I saw one of them reach for their guns. I glared viciously at them.

"You have somewhere for me to work?"

"Agent Romanoff? Can you please show Dr. Banner to his laboratory, please?"

"You're gonna love it, Doc. We have all the toys," Agent Romanoff said in a monotonous voice.

I watched as they left the room, Bruce glancing worriedly at me before following her out.

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