A/N: Soooo...here's an update? I know its been a bit, but I am working on another story that was started back '09, but here's this! Things are starting to get intense...I would love to hear what you all have to say or are thinking about this...Much love once again to yagalinus0420...she's my beta, my friend...and you should be mad at her for this! More at the bottom!

Paige POV

Sitting in my room and thinking about all the possibilities that the procedure tomorrow would hold and I hadn't even realized that someone had entered my personal space.

"What are you doing hiding in here?" Lorraine asked me as she stood staring at me with her arms crossed over her chest.

"I'm not hiding, I'm thinking." I responded quietly. I didn't look up to her but I felt her move to sit next to me on my bed.

"What are you thinking about now?" She asked as she leaned back against the wall.

"Lorraine, I know it took some time, but I agree with what we're doing here, but..." I trailed off and my mind wandered to my former life.

"You miss them don't you?" she asked surprised. I looked over at her finally and rolled my eyes.

"You seem surprised. I spent over two years of my life with them." I said pointedly. She just shrugged and turned her direction away from me.

"It's just so strange that we never heard of them looking for me. I mean, it's not like this facility is really hiding under the radar or something." I sighed, "I just thought that...that maybe one of them would have found out where I was." I finally spit it out.

My mind wandered to Captain America as it often did when I was feeling like this. He would have been the ideal person to speak to while I was going through this metamorphosis.

"Would you have let him take you if he found out where you were?" Lorraine asked me quietly.

I knew who she meant; we had talked about Steve numerous times before. How I had always felt drawn to him and how I felt that if all the puzzle pieces would fall into place, that maybe I could make him happy.

"No, I wouldn't have. But that's not really the point though." I said as I stood to pace the room.

"I don't know why you don't talk to Dr. Banner. He's been injected with the serum, and even if it didn't go as planned, Paige, he has personal experience with it." Lorraine said as she stood and moved back to the door.

I stopped abruptly in my tracks. Not Bruce Banner...

"There's something about him I don't trust, Lorraine." I explained for the umpteenth time.

"It doesn't matter to me if he's in charge here or that he has never done anything to me personally...I just don't trust him." I said feeling defeated.

Lorraine stared at me for a moment before I resumed my pacing and she left.

I moved back to my bed and sat restlessly, my knee bobbing up and down in a frantic rhythm. I chewed on my thumb nail.

Truth was I was feeling paranoid; if any members of The Avengers had found me, I would have left with them without a second's hesitation.

My brain was fuzzy and I had suspected for some time that I was being manipulated. I stood and resumed my pacing; trying to recall anything that would be important later on, when there was a knock at my door.

I froze and watched the handle turn. I saw a head of moppy, dark brown hair pop through the small opening.

"Paige? I was wondering if we could talk before the procedure tomorrow." Dr. Banner said as he smiled at me. I nodded fearing my own voice.

"Nicole! Nicole, are you ok baby?" I could hear Steve yelling at me, but something told me to keep my eyes closed and play opossum for the time being.

I felt him cradle my limp body in his arms as Fury told Agent Hill to get a medic. I could hear murmurs and scuffling.

I listened intently and heard Natasha and Clint convincing Bruce to wait in the holding room. That triggered a memory in me, but I couldn't remember what it meant.

Steve was still hovering over me, but I was confused. He wasn't calling me Paige.

I heard someone enter the room and tell Steve to back off so he could look me over. I'm not sure how I did it, but when he shined a penlight over my eyes, I did my best not to react. It obviously worked well enough.

"She's unconscious. Did she hit her head?" I heard the medic ask.

"I caught her just before she hit the floor." I heard Steve answer quickly. In my mind I could see his blue eyes clouded with worry, and I wanted nothing more than to open my eyes and kiss his concern away.

Wait...not kiss him, reassure him...but why would I want to kiss him?

My head was swimming and I was feeling incredibly confused.

"Take her to the medical quarters and put her under observation." I heard Director Fury order.

"Please, can we put her in a private room?" Steve pleaded. "She'll be scared if she wakes up there."

I didn't hear an answer but I felt Steve lift my body up in his powerful arms and begin to walk. All along the way I heard Pepper mumbling to Tony about how worried she was. I never heard a peep out of Stark.

We came to a stop and Steve whispered to me, "I promised nothing would happen to you. I'm keeping that promise."

We moved into a room that was unearthly quiet.

I couldn't hear the hum from any computers or electronic equipment. Even with my eyes closed I could sense the room was small.

I felt Steve lay me down on something soft and I assumed it was a bed of some sort.

"Why here?" I heard Pepper ask.

"All of Paige's things are here. She'll probably feel more comfortable." Tony answered and I knew where I was.

My personal quarters; my home aboard the Helicarrier.

"Captain Rogers, you and Mr. Stark come with me." I heard Director Fury's voice again.

"I'm not leaving her alone." I heard Steve say from next to me as he gripped my hand.

"It's not a request Captain." Fury said and I heard the distinct sound of the doors opening and closing as he left.

"Steve, I'll go to her apartment and get some of her belongings." Pepper said quietly.

I didn't hear Steve respond, but I felt his fingers brush my hair away from my forehead.

"I love you Nicole." He whispered softly, "I'll protect you."

My heart swelled at his simple, soft admission but I was confused about why he would say that to me.

I felt the mattress shift as he removed his weight from next to me.

I had the feeling that someone was up close to me and staring. I remained as still as possible.

"What did he do to you? Hmm?" Tony Stark asked me quietly before he sighed.

"Tony, let's go." Steve urged. "The sooner we're done, the sooner I can get back."

Again, I heard the distinct sound of the doors opening for the three of them to leave and then close again.

I waited, breathing evenly and not moving. I wasn't sure if anyone else was in the room, but if there was it would only be a matter of time before they made some noise.

When I felt a significant amount of time had passed, with only me making any noise, I sat up slowly from the bed.

I took in my surroundings and immediately felt comforted. This was my room on the Helicarrier...I remembered it.

I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood up to take a look around. It seemed that every surface was covered in a thin coating of dust.

I moved to my desk and saw that my laptop was sitting where I usually kept it; files were still on the table tucked into their folders.

As I looked around, I got the feeling that while most things hadn't been disturbed in some time, someone had been in here recently.

I sat in the desk chair and slowly looked around at everything. The shelf above my desk that held a few precious pictures and knick knacks. The bed and side table that I had just been laying by. I could even see into the bathroom. I couldn't remember how I had left everything, but I knew something was out of place.

My gaze traveled to the door. When should I leave? Should I just go out and into the corridor and make my presence known?

That's when my gaze met with a side table that was fuzzy in my memory at best. I walked to it and found that it was tall enough to hit my hip.

It was a beautiful cherry stained wood, but otherwise very plain and simple. It had no drawers in it and the tabletop itself did not lift up. I took a few steps back feeling lost. It was familiar...but not.

That's when I saw it; something hanging down from underneath it. I dropped to my knees to find a small envelope taped to the underside. At one point all four sides had been taped up, but over time the tape had become loose on two sides and it hung down slightly.

I stepped back and looked at the table again. It wasn't very noticeable; in fact, if I hadn't been studying everything so closely, I doubt I would have seen it.

I went back and snatched it from the table, peeling the tape away.

The front of the envelope had one name written on it: SMITH.

I turned it over quickly to find that it was still perfectly sealed. I stared at the envelope for several minutes before finally opening it.

When I started to read what was there on that page before me, I almost screamed.

Paige,

Do you remember what I made you promise me? That if something should ever happen to me and your questions weren't answered, that you would wait to hear something from me?

Well, here I am reaching out to you. Although at this point, with your disappearance who knows if you'll ever get this.

The battle of New York was a turning point for The Avenger's Initiative. Without going into too much detail...my death was a necessity.

Everything that happened wasn't planned, but we needed a way to bring them together to fight for the bigger picture.

I wish that I had been able to tell you what was happening, but it all came about so quickly.

Paige, I can't tell you how worried I am for you. I have information for you and the team, but it's sensitive and not everyone can be trusted.

Knowing you as well as I think I do, I can tell you this...whatever you thought about Bruce is true. I know somewhere deep down you'll understand this. Be careful around him.

I have been keeping tabs on you and hope that you are the one reading this. It means that you've come back to the team; they need you.

You are the missing puzzle piece. That's all I can say at this point, until we are face to face.

I left a small trail, not big enough for anyone except Stark to find.

Find me. Bring the one you can trust and leave the others behind; things are in the works that need to be stopped.

I apologize that this sounds so cryptic; but in case this gets into the wrong hands, well it's just safer this way.

SHIELD recruited you because of what your parents set into motion all those years ago.

That's all I can tell you now.

Paige, I hope you are alive and well, and I hope that this letter from me doesn't cause you any additional pain or anguish. I promise when you find me you can yell at me all you want.

I'll be looking for you.

Phil

I sat and read the letter over and over. Phil was alive! Well, at least when he wrote this letter. Fury and he had used his death as a catalyst.

I knew that's how the team saw it, but to learn from Phil that they used the opportunity as an advantage...I wasn't surprised.

Phil had never been shy about his faith in the Avengers team. I had always been proud of him for that.

His letter confused me though; he wrote about my disappearance.

I could tell by looking around this room that I had been gone for some time, but I couldn't remember where I was.

I needed to talk to Fury. I folded the letter and slipped it back into the envelope and stood up. Phil told me to trust my gut and only share this with the people I trusted.

I wasn't sure that Fury was one of those people.

I went to the door and pressed the panel to open it. Before I could step out into the corridor I was met by two nameless guards.

"Dr. Smith, Director Fury has ordered you to stay in your quarters until further instruction." Guard number 1 told me as he and his sidekick tried to force me back into my room.

"I'm going to see Fury. Move out of my way!" I said forcefully. The guards didn't respond and continued to push me backwards into the room.

"You can't keep me here!" I shouted as guard number 2 started to pull my left arm behind my back to move me into a submissive position.

I knew I had to get in control of this situation, but I would be damned if anyone manhandled me.

I used the momentum of the guard shoving me into the room and spun out with my left wrist grasped in his hand. With two arms length between us he started to pull me roughly back to him.

I used the movement to swing my right fist out and land a right hook on his jaw. His head snapped back and his grip loosened enough that my left arm was free. Guard number 1 started to charge me and I ducked quickly to flip him over my shoulder, his forward momentum to send him easily over my shoulder.

Guard 2 was staggering in front of me while guard 1 was moaning on the floor behind me. #2 put his hand up in a boxing stance and threw several punches that I deftly avoided.

I started to circle him and I was struck with the faint memory of doing this with Natasha. I moved around him and as he tried to follow I launched myself into the air low enough to avoid the ground but forcefully enough to land my foot in the crook of his right knee. He toppled easily and I landed on my knees on his back.

I grabbed a handful of his hair and pulled his head back, just to slam it into the floor. His body went slack underneath mine and I turned my attention to #1.

He had picked himself up off the floor and was looking at the scene that lay between me and his unconscious counterpart.

"What is your deal?" He asked, fear lacing in his words.

I was confused for a split second, but it was long enough for him to try to charge me. He landed a punch into my side, and it knocked the wind out of me. I clutched at my side and tried to catch my breath.

I looked up and he was hovering over me. He easily had 6 inches over me. His fists were balled in front of his chest and his nostrils were flaring as he sucked in air.

"Please...I'm so sorry..." I trailed off and he started to lower his arms when I threw my right fist up and hit directly under his jaw. As his head came back down, I threw out my right elbow effectively breaking his nose and he fell to the floor. I stood gasping for air and looking at the two men lying at my feet.

I checked their pulses and found they were both very much alive. My heart was racing, and I wondered where I had learned enough to defend myself. I shook away the haze in my mind and made my way out of the door and into the corridor.

The hallway was empty and I made my way to Fury's office. I had heard Fury tell Steve and Tony to go with him and I knew they would be in his office. I kept my head down as much as I could and made my way to Fury's office without incident.

I vaguely remembered that Fury had cameras outside his office but that didn't stop me as I pounded on the door.

The door was wrenched open in front of me and there stood Director Fury.

"I see you found your way just fine." Fury said confidently as he stood in front of me.

"You put me on watch?! How dare you?" I shouted as I shoved past Fury and into the office.

I saw Stark turn in the chair he was sitting in and look at me curiously. Steve was on his feet and moving towards me. The adrenaline was still coursing through my body, but when Steve met me, as I was halfway into the room, I was grateful for his hold on me and my body sagged against his.

I clutched his shirt in my fist and looked up at him. He had one arm wrapped around my waist and was smoothing the hair away from my face with his free hand.

"Oh Nicole, are you alright baby?" He cooed worriedly at me. I nodded slightly, ignoring the use of my middle name, and reveled in the intimate embrace we were in.

"What happened to me?" I asked. Steve sighed and pulled me closer to him.

"Nicole, how did you get past the guards?" I heard Stark ask me from his spot in the chair.

"They're both unconscious on the floor in my quarters. They're alive, but they'll need medical attention." I said simply.

Why were they calling me by my middle name? Because that's your name!

My head was swimming with confusion and questions. Steve laid a kiss on the top of my head and I had flashbacks to the night before; hands roaming over slick, naked skin. Moans and screams of ecstasy. Visions of coming undone with his mouth on me; of me bringing him over the edge with his hands in my hair.

But Steve was my patient...at least at one time he was. But things are different now. YOU are different.

My head was giving me conflicting information. Steve and I were closer now. We had just met three months ago...no, we met more than two years ago.

I shook my head and pulled away from Steve.

"What the fuck is going on?!" I screamed as I ran a hand through my hair and stopped abruptly when I realized it was no longer hanging long down my back, but was cropped short.

"What happened to me?" I asked softly. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes.

"We're hoping you can tell us that." Stark said as he rose and came to where I was standing. I had moved a few feet away from Steve and took another step backwards as Tony approached.

"Maybe we should start at the beginning..." Steve trailed off. He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked down at the floor.

"I don't care where we start, but somebody better start talking!" I said as I began pacing. "My room looks like it hasn't been touched in ages, I took out two guards and I have no clue how I knew how to do it." I sighed.

Phil's letter was like a lead weight hidden in my waistband. The three men stared at me, and I could have sworn I saw Steve wiping at his eyes.

"What. Happened."

Stark led me to the chair he had vacated and I sat down with a thud.

"You disappeared over a year ago...Nicole." Fury started. But I held up a hand to cut him off.

"My name is Paige."

A/N: yaggy told me to make it a cliffy! Sorry! If you guys review, you'll get another update later this week! I promise...its already halfway written. Leave me some love folks...I know you want to!