A/N: Thank you readers and followers for your support :) This chapter's pretty intense and I must say it was incredibly fun to write with Miss Animation. Girl you've got my thanks for all your participation in this crazy story ;) would love reviews and support from my readers!

Bruce dodged pieces of the crumbling structure that was falling around him. He cringed, his head pounding viciously with every forceful intake of breath. The smoke filled his lungs, making his breathing far more difficult. He heard a subtle roar in the back of his mind and his gut stirred in recognition of the rage held within.

"Come on big guy don't let me down now," he panted, startled when a section of rafter swung over his head, narrowly missing the physicist.

Banner redirected his path, his thoughts staying fixed on his friend as his heart rate slowly but surely began picking up speed. His lungs ached from the bitter smoke, the man cringing when stray debris knocked into his weakened frame. His closed his eyes, a deep animalistic growl forming in the back of his throat. Then his eyes flashed open with a vibrant green behind them. Bruce's head started throbbing in a different and much more familiar way.

He inhaled a deep yet shuddering breath, the doctor's muscles contracting and expanding in rapid motion as a deep green flooded over his skin. Alone in the smoke-filled and flaming building, Bruce doubled over, coughing and struggling to control his breathing to make the transition as controllable as possible. There was a rush in his skull as he slowly slipped from reality and allowed his alter-ego to take over. The last few threads of Bruce's thoughts strained to recall the cell number where Natasha had said Stephen would most likely be in.

As the now green giant completely took over Banner's psyche, all sensibility slipped from him as he ran forward, his roars of outrage echoing off the walls and ceiling. He knocked every door off their hinges, dimly remembering he was looking for someone, that someone needed his help. The Hulk remained focused and alert, a small amount of Banner's determination still lingering at the back of his mind. He knew his mission was to find and rescue that 'Sorcerer'.

…

A violent crash from overhead startled Stephen enough to rouse him from his delirium. His eyes cracked open, barely lifting his head to peer through the haze. Something big was forcibly pushing its way into the cell, the creature giving off growls of discontent until at last the door and wall gave way. Pieces of plaster and broken ceiling rained down on the sorcerer's fallen form. The smoke cleared just enough for Stephen to see a monstrous face glaring down at him before the creature was engulfed in shadow again. Stephen's head sagged once more in resignation. So Mephisto had sent his hound of death for him after all, Stephen thought vaguely. The creature shuffled closer, crouching slightly to find purchase on the uneven surface of the floor. In his delirium the sorcerer was hardly aware when the monster lightly touched his shoulder, rumbling incomprehensibly under his breath.

Hulk lowered his eyebrows and tilted his head, his agitation mounting as he picked up on the danger all around them. His large build bent down to try and encourage "puny Bruce's" friend to stir, humming with a deep-throated tone in an attempt to get some sort of response. The giant jerked his head up, eyes narrowing over the roiling smoke in the air and the nearing flames. His large arms carefully wrapped around Stephen, lifting him gently before he made his break and pushed through the debris.

The Hulk's strong muscles took down the metal doors, his head up and his gaze alert as he cradled Strange in his arms. He continued pushing his way through the alleys to escape the fire and unrelenting smoke. The Hulk cringed angrily over feeling as though he were trapped, roaring out of frustration when he hit a dead end and had to turn back. The monster's massive size trampled over pieces of shrapnel and broken ceiling, his thick hide barely flinching from the shimmering heat of the nearby flames. His emerald gaze narrowed over an area that appeared relatively free of smoke and falling debris. There he forced his way through, gritting his teeth in determination as he took the first opportunity to leave the current area.

The Hulk's bright green eyes glanced around the seemingly quiet corner of the Helicarrier, double and triple-checking to ensure the safety of the area. Carefully he laid Stephen on the ground, circling closely around the sorcerer's limp form while he searched for a safe exit and a better way of escape.

…

Natasha Romanoff leaned her back against the wall, her chest heaving slightly as she struggled to catch her breath. She'd made it back to the top floor in one piece, having to dodge the other agents in their rush to get to safety. Orders had been given to land the ship as soon as possible before the fire ate its way through the hull. This was certainly a sound idea, but knowing that Bruce was down there alone searching for his friend did nothing to ease her conscience. She'd heard the roars announcing the Hulk's breakout and hoped that he'd find his friend in time for them to get out of there. The whole place was a bomb about to go off. If they didn't land soon and get the fire out then they'd all go down in flames.

"Hurry Bruce," she urged, nervousness causing her to pace and wring her hands.

The assassin kept glancing at the clock, dissatisfied with how long her friend had been gone. Romanoff remained hidden in an anteroom, waiting things out while the rest of SHIELD was scrambling outside. She hated waiting around, not knowing what was happening or if her friend was even still alive. After 20 minutes had passed the agitated woman abandoned her hide-out, opting instead to go and search for the Hulk, or Bruce, whichever she found first. Hopefully the physicist had succeeded in freeing that 'Strange' friend of his. Surely they'd be somewhere safe by now. They had to be.

…

Hulk's roars of discontent lessened some, his heavy panting growing more steady as the monster calmed, circling his friend protectively. His eyes stayed soft as his focus looked over the doctor's still form. He cocked his head slightly, concern crossing over his large features. The rage monster was almost afraid over how still Stephen had been. He whimpered in the back of his throat while he watched, waiting for a reaction, a movement, some sign of life.

The sorcerer stirred, blinking as consciousness returned for a moment. His gaze swept the new and unfamiliar surroundings. Stephen glanced upwards, squinting slightly in the brighter light to see a familiar figure looming over him. How the Hulk had gotten here was beyond the sorcerer's comprehension at this point. He swallowed thickly and tried to speak, but nothing more than a dry murmur escaped his lips. Stephen shifted his position, uncomfortable with his wrists still bound behind his back as mutual feeling returned to his sore frame. The Hulk visibly tensed over his movements, and though Stephen couldn't speak he had to wonder how his friend had gotten here and what he planned on doing next.

Hulk made a noise when he saw Stephen's eyes had opened, and then abruptly ran towards the metal walls of the room. His fists pounded into the metal, the monster already planning his escape to avoid heading in back in the direction they had come from. The Hulk winced, screaming through his deep growls as he punctured a large enough hole in the wall for him to step through. He then lifted Strange back up in his arms before pressing onward in a mad dash. The giant planned on getting them out of there, no matter what.

Stephen grit his teeth and bit back a whimper as he was jostled about, being forcibly removed from the ground. His head was throbbing and the rough treatment sent a stabbing pain through his chest and abdomen. He gasped, involuntarily curling in on himself, his upper body straining to protect the wounded area despite his shackles.

"Not so rough Hulk," he mumbled, his eyes slowly drifting closed again as he slipped back into unconsciousness.

The Hulk grunted in response to Stephen's request, trying to loosen his forceful hold on him. He shifted, holding his friend in a manner that the Hulk considered to be 'gentle'. He roared in agitation when Strange slipped from reality once more, desperate when he finally managed to break free and make it out onto the deck of the Helicarrier.

…

Romanoff had just descended to the second floor, having taken a longer route for safety's sake, when she heard the familiar roars of a certain rage monster coming from somewhere overhead. She couldn't help smiling in relief, knowing that the sound meant Bruce had made it out okay. Her hand gripped the cool metal rail as she practically flew back up the stairs.

The assassin ran through the hallways, her hazel gaze searching anxiously for where the Hulk might have gone. She silently prayed that she would be the one to find them before SHIELD did.

…

Hulk's eyes glanced around frantically, feeling more confined on the abandoned deck than he had in any cell he'd explored only moments earlier. His strong arms supported the limp man tenderly while he searched. The Hulk looked out over the edge of the 'carrier, then he hurriedly backed up when he heard approaching footsteps. His gaze went softer once he saw the distant red-head making her way towards them.

"Hey big guy, take it easy I'm a friend," Natasha said softly, raising her hands slightly to appease the rage monster. Her pulse jumped in her throat, that old fear of the Hulk still burning under her skin. Her gaze roved thoughtfully over the man cradled within Hulk's arms, her look softening as she noticed the worry in the monster's eyes. She hadn't thought the creature was capable of feelings, being only made for rage and destruction. But seeing the tender way in which he held his friend Natasha felt that she'd been wrong about him, about both Bruce and his alter-ego, this whole time. She took a small step forward and gently laid a hand over Hulk's taut forearm. "Don't worry Hulk, he's going to be fine." Romanoff didn't really know that but at this point she'd say anything just to keep the creature calm. "You can relax now," she said firmly.

His emerald eyes stayed fixed on hers. Deep inside he trusted the assassin, really they 'both' did. Hulk whimpered slightly, reestablishing eye contact with the Black Widow. "Spider will help Hulk and friend?"

Natasha set her jaw, her eyes hardening in determination. "I'm going to try my best. Your friend looks to be in pretty bad shape, so I'm going to need Bruce's help in making him better." She spoke slowly, keeping her voice low and yet firm so as not to attract unwanted attention. What they really needed to do was get off the Helicarrier before the place exploded or, heaven forbid, Hill caught them.

The giant lowered his gaze to Stephen as though he understood the import of her words. His eyes closed, cringing as his muscles began to contract and return to normal size. The dizzy physicist took an extra step forward, struggling to balance Strange in his arms as he fell to his knees while the green hues gradually blended back to his typical tan skin tone.

Natasha reached out to steady Banner, slowly easing the wearied physicist to his knees and helping him place his bound friend on the ground. She ever so slightly tousled her fingers through Bruce's hair by way of comfort, but quickly removed her contact when he cringed away. The assassin strode around to the front of the doctor, kneeling so she could get at eye-level with him.

"You did it Doc. I'd say congrats but we're not outta the woods yet." As she spoke she looked over the wounded sorcerer, her brows creasing slightly from the obvious damage and mistreatment done to his body. Her hands found their way onto the loose bandage over his chest, peeling back the material some to gauge how bad it was.

She winced, with the little light she had to see by she could tell the wound was deep. Yet what worried her more was the man's refusal to wake up. She felt at his neck for a pulse and breathed a sigh of relief when she felt its presence, weak but still there. Her hazel eyes found Banner's, her mouth tilting in concern as she said, "We need to get out of here fast Bruce."

"Thanks Miss Romanoff," Bruce nodded over her suggestion, visibly exhausted but determined to help. His eyes expressed obvious fear as he placed his palm over Stephen's forehead, checking for a temperature to treat him for shock. Banner gently took the gauze and rewrapped it tightly over his friend's wound. "Can we get to the jet? I can treat him once we're on board until we get him some proper medical attention."

Romanoff nodded hurriedly, feeling a sense of urgency over this whole situation. Any minute now Hill and her cronies could show up with their guns leveled at them. They were like sitting ducks out here.

"Come on I'll help you get him to the jet, then we're out of here." Natasha looked to Bruce first, then slung an arm over her shoulder to try and balance the weight between them. She heard an audible mumble from Strange upon being jostled, then the next moment he tried weakly pulling from their grasp only to go limp once more. They made their way to the jet as quickly as they were able. Once inside Natasha wasted no time in getting the craft started up, buckling herself in before asking, "Banner, you both secured back there? I'm about to take off and I need you to be strapped down, at least until we're a ways off and the flight gets smoother."

He sighed, holding down Stephen before hopping into the seat he'd previously occupied. "All good Miss Romanoff."

With an angry buzz the jet started up. Natasha skillfully taxied it down the runway, picking up speed before angling the craft upwards and into the air.