A/N: Here is the long awaited next chapter! We meet a new Avenger this chapter and this will be the only chapter this Avenger appears until later. I hope you all enjoy it! Please keep reviewing, adding my story to your favorites, and following, all of that means the world to me to read them!
Later that day, Pepper had gone out to get ready for the Benefit for the Firefighters Family Fund and didn't bother Emma much. She kept to herself, letting the depression sink in but then she thought, she couldn't let this get to her. She had her grieving, she needed to move on. But grief is different for every person.
"Hey Emma! Come on down, I want to show you something." Tony came over the com.
Emma rolled her eyes and got out of bed and headed down to the garage.
"What's up Tony?" she glanced at the news which was on the red carpet for the benefit.
"Take a look at these renderings of the suit." She leaned over his shoulder and liked the red and gold design, sleek yet flashy, perfect for Tony.
"Very nice, I like it a lot."
"You heard the lady Jarvis, fabricate it. Paint it."
"Estimated completion is 5 hours." Jarvis announced.
"Don't wait up for me honey!" Tony said as he took Emma's hand and led her upstairs.
"Where are we going?" Emma asked.
"You need a night on the town. And you are going to be my gate crashing date to the benefit."
"Wait, you didn't get an invite?"
"Nope." He bluntly responded as they headed up to his room.
"Oh, I feel so special, I'm in the infamous Stark bedroom." Emma teased.
"Nice to see you are in a teasing mood," He smiled going to his closet.
"Well, I am trying. I already grieved once, now it's just like re-opening a wound. It hurts but I can't let it stop my life. It's fact, I'm going to have good and bad days." She walked towards his closet. "Am I going to wear one of your suits? I'm afraid they won't fit."
"Well, I'm happy to hear that. And no, you are not wearing one of my suits. But over the years, I've learned to keep some things in stock back here for the ladies."
Emma made a face and rolled her eyes but then gasped at the gown Tony held out for her. "This dress was given to me by some hot shot designer in London. She thought it would look great on my girlfriend." He rolled his eyes, "But it should fit you, if not, I got a tailor nearby who can fix that in a pinch. It reminds me of you, a little 40's glam, with the gold and sequins." Emma touched the delicate beading on the short sleeve v-neck gown and felt tingles. It was perfect. "Well, aren't you going to try it on or keep drooling over it?" Tony teased and Emma ran into his expansive bathroom and tried it on.
"It fits!" She exclaimed excitedly.
"Good, now go take it to your room and get properly dressed up. I have a stylist on call who will be here in 10." Emma ran out of the bathroom, careful not to trip in the dress as she carried her clothes back down to her room.
After showering and changing into the gorgeous gown, a knock was at her door and a woman with ebony black hair and black horn rimmed glasses came in with a large duffle bag and Tony trailing behind her in his nice tux.
"Nothing too flashy, just a nice chignon with a few loose curls. Simplistic make-up, she's a simple gal and has such a nice natural beauty."
"You are trying to butter me up," Emma said as she sat in her desk chair and the woman got to work.
"Maybe but you need a nice night out."
"I'm really surprised this dress fit since I'm not a sample size girl."
"No, it's strange. The designer gave it to me about a year ago and said it was custom made for my girlfriend and that I need to keep her around." Emma gave a laugh.
"What?" He asked.
"Nothing, just wait until you figure it out." Emma said trying to being careful around the stylist. Who now had finished her hair, with her magic fast fingers and turned her around to do her face.
Emma watched Tony's face as he sat at the edge of her bed and the lightbulb went off and his face was comical, "Oh!"
"There ya go." Emma smiled.
"But you…"
"Nope."
"Eventually…"
"You two talk in the weirdest code," the mysterious stylist said.
"It's our sex games we like to play." Tony commented nonchalantly and that shut her up.
"Finished." She said moments later. Emma got up and looked in her mirror and was surprised at how good she looked. Tony handed her shoes he brought in and she slid them on as the stylist left and Tony slipped her some rolls of cash.
"You weren't kidding at how fast she was," Emma commented as her and Tony headed to the car.
"That's why I keep her on call, for any times Pepper might need her or my-"
"Women?"
"Yes, to put it bluntly. Anyone who goes out with me needs to look good." Emma just shook her head as they headed off to the benefit.
When they arrived, cameras went crazy and women tried to come up to Tony and reporters were calling his name. He kept Emma tight on his arm and smiled and waved.
"What's the world coming to when a guy has got to crash his own party?" Tony said going up to Obadiah in the middle of an interview.
"Look at you! Hey, what a surprise!" He said greeting Tony and then glancing up and down at Emma like she was meat, "And Miss Walker, you look stunning."
"Obie, that's disgusting, stop salivating over her." Tony put a protective arm around Emma's shoulders. "I'll see you inside."
"Hey look, take it slow okay? I think I got the board right where I want them." Obie whispered to Tony.
"You got it, just cabin fever. I'll just be a minute." And Tony walked off with Emma on his arm.
"He's such a perv," Emma hissed as they entered.
"If only the great Captain was still alive, I'd like to see him beat him to a pulp." Emma smiled at that. "Let's get some drinks."
They walked to the bar and Emma noticed Coulson leaning against the bar and he smiled at them.
"Give me a scotch. I'm starving, and a white wine for the lady," Tony ordered to the bartender.
"Mr. Stark? Miss Walker?" Coulson came closer to them.
"Yeah?" Tony turned to him.
"Agent Coulson."
"Oh yeah the guy from the…Emma's boss…" He pointed to Emma and she rolled her eyes.
"Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division."
"Why don't you use your shorter name more often?" Tony said taking a sip of his scotch.
"Because he likes to show off," Emma said taking her wine.
"Listen, I know this is a trying time for you but we must debrief you," Coulson said and nodded to Emma and she gave him a look of confusion.
"Emma's talked to me about a lot, what else is there?"
"There is still a lot of unanswered questions and time can be a factor with these things." Coulson continued.
"Let's just put something on the books," Tony said distracted and Emma looked towards his line of vision and there was Pepper in a stunning blue gown.
"How about the 24th at 7pm at Stark Industires?" Coulson suggested.
"Tell you what, you got it. You are absolutely right. I am going to go to my assistant and we'll make a date." Tony said to Coulson and he left to go to Pepper.
"What are you on about 'debriefing'?"
"Like I said, there is some things that don't make sense about his survival." Emma tried to keep her calm and did the only thing she knew to do.
"I need to be taken off the mission."
"Why?" Coulson asked surprised.
"I feel I will compromise the mission with my feelings. I saw Steve for the last time last night, my emotions are clouding my judgement and I'm getting too close to Stark."
Coulson nodded his head, "Understandable and very responsible of you to do. Fury will be pleased with that. I can take over from here."
"Thank you Coulson, I will leave to get packing now."
"Emma?" Coulson stopped her and she turned back to him.
"You look beautiful. I know it's been hard lately but your first solo mission has been successful. You need some time to yourself now. Natasha has been working on a project that I think you will like when you get back."
Emma walked over to Coulson and hugged him, "Thanks Phil." She then went off to find Tony and Pepper and found them on the terrace and looked like they had nearly kissed. She waited a moment and saw Tony turned to leave and they both saw her.
"Emma! It's nice to see you out! You look wonderful." Pepper complimented her.
"Thanks but I need to quickly talk to both of you. I need to leave. And before you say anything Tony, it's for your own good. I will be back but Coulson being here and sniffing around, he can't know I'm hiding your project from him. Thank you both for everything, it means the world to me. I will see you soon." Emma said and Tony just nodded his head and hugged her.
"Thanks Em, you are the best. Take care, call me when you land in the morning. I will call Happy to pick you up." Tony said and he kissed her on the cheek.
"Please Emma, call me as well. I worry about you. It's been so nice having you here, I will make a write up about your leaving for the office." Pepper said hugging her and Emma turned her back and left.
She was doing the right thing on both accounts, she had to protect Tony and herself, she knew she needed this time away. She walked out on the steps and found Happy at the bottom waiting with the car. He took her back and Coulson text her with the flight details about the private jet and when it was leaving. She didn't have time to change but just to pack all her things up in the room and take her bags and her trunk with her to catch her flight.
Once on the plane she felt her self dozing into a sleep. Then her recurring nightmare came back in full force. The cold tundra, finding Steve's helmet and screaming for him until she couldn't breathe. But this time she heard a response back.
"Emma"
It was a faint whisper but it was Steve's voice and Emma looked around through the blinding snow and no sign of him.
"Emma"
She heard it again and cried out his name. She cried it again to no avail but felt a force pulling her out of her dream.
"Agent Barker!" A voice shouted and she awoke to someone pushing her shoulder. Her eyes flew open and the flight attendant was standing over her with a worried expression. "Are you alright?" She asked.
"I'm sorry, dreaming. Was I shouting?"
"Yes, you were. You had us all frightened. Glad you are alright Agent." She said and she left back to the front of the plane. Emma shook her head and looked out the window at the rising sun. It was morning and they were just about to land in DC.
Once landed, Emma got off the plane and was greeted by the two smiling faces of her best friends. Natasha ran up and hugged her as Clint swaggered behind and then hugged her close as well.
"You look fancy and classy," He commented as they pulled out of their hug.
"Ya know, I try to keep you two on your toes."
"Well, we are glad you are home and ready for some rest. Do you know what you are going to do with your down time?"
"My first down time in a few years? Well, I don't know, you two got any bright ideas?"
Nat and Clint smiled at each other, "Well, we have been working on a project just for you. Come with us."
They hopped in Nat's sports car after her luggage's had been placed in the trunk and drove into the city. They pulled down a residential street in the city and stopped in front of some brick colonial style 3-4 floor buildings.
"Where are we?" Emma asked looking around and feeling very out of place a jogger ran by and looked at her strangely in her fancy dress.
"On 16th street, not too far from The Triskelion, your car is parked in the back." Nat said opening the wrought iron gate in front of Emma.
"Okay, still confused. What is this place?" Emma asked.
"You are smarter than this Emma," Clint said coming over with her bags and going through the open gate up the steps into the building in front of them.
"Is this…did you guys buy me a house?!" Emma asked shocked.
"No, it's a Condo. And Fury bought it. It's decked out with all the SHIELD tech and security that you need. It's a 3 story Condo with an attic. The front level which can be accessed here or in the back, is a den and bar. It has hidden closets and doors down their filled with any emergency things or supplies or weapons you need for your missions." Natasha explained as they walked up the front steps through the double doors and into the second level living room.
"You second level is for entertaining, it enters in the Kitchen and living room, normal house stuff but we decorated it with you in mind, taking all the stuff out of your live in apartment at the Triskelion base. Fury thought since you had your own solo mission now, it was time for you to move out and get your own place. We've been working on this since you left." Natasha said and Emma watched Clint carry her bags up her wrought iron spiral staircase. SHE HAD A SPIRAL STAIRCASE!
"So this staircase leads to the first floor den and bar and SHIELD closet?" Emma asked in shock
"Yes but to your neighbors and any non-SHIELD agents, it will look like a normal den, everything is security tech to your fingerprints and facial recognition and etc. It also has a nice patio, with a table and chairs and some couches, for entertaining, even a grill. Clint added that. You also have access to your car on that floor."
Emma went into the kitchen loved the black and white kitchen which had accents of red throughout, fully decked out with her personal style. Even the kitchen balcony had wrought iron outdoor furniture and fairy lights wrapped on the wrought iron railings and flower pots overflowing with hydrangeas and roses. Natasha knew her very well.
"Coulson, Clint, and I have been working hard to get this ready for you. We took all the things you loved and knew would want, and put them in your home." Natasha said as Emma ran her hand over the dark cherry wood dining table as she came back in from the balcony.
The living room was similar, with photos and paintings that were her personal style and a huge entertainment system with all her favorite films, television shows, and music. Touches of her life were scattered throughout, photos of her and her SHIELD family. Emma went up the stairs and entered straight into the master bedroom, which was perfect, everything she wanted.
The Master Bedroom had a large queen size bed covered in a flowered print duvet and lots of pillows, she had a bench at the foot of her bed, a fireplace, a master bath and even a little reading nook area with all her books on an old bookshelf. Throughout the master bedroom was some art work that matched and her personal photos, her family, her parents with her from the 40's, pictures of her and Steve, her and Howard, her and Peggy, her and Bucky, and her and the USO girls. There were even the rare personal photos of her with Nat, Clint, and Phil; her SHIELD family.
"Where did you get these pictures?" Emma asked surprised. The one she was holding was from her and Steve at a Pub, from one of the nights she had gone out with Howard, Bucky, and him. They were smiling at each other, not a care in the world. A much simpler time that didn't seem so far away.
"Howard had made a file, he took pictures over the years and saved them," Natasha said.
"I remember he took pictures but I never knew what happened to them."
"There is one more room," Clint said coming out of her walk in closet by the bathroom. Emma turned to the door by the spiral stairs and the fireplace and opened it and it was an office space. It had a little narrow balcony on one side which was open to let the fresh air in and had the same twinkle lights and flower pots on the wrought iron railing as the floor below and the office space had her old USO girl posters, her record player and her SHIELD computer on the desk.
"This desk comes equipped with all the SHIELD tech you will need and on the far wall over here is a pull down bed so you can have guests stay in here. This is equipped with many of the same tech from the first floor but more for your computer system." Natasha explained and Emma just felt tears spring in her eyes and everything finally settle in. She went to her friends and hugged them close.
"This is the greatest gift I could ever ask for." Emma said and felt them both hug her tighter.
"We thought so, it was mostly Natasha's project." Clint admitted.
"Our team had some down time and took that time to take on a personal project. But alas, it can only last for so long. We have to head out and get ready. We both need to get to base and get ready for a mission."
Emma nodded her head and let her friends leave. Once they left, Emma showered and changed into some sweats and laid down on her bed and basked in the early afternoon sun. She soon started to drift back to sleep and fell into her fitful dream. She was in the cold tundra and could hear Steve calling her name again. She walked farther into the snow and stepped on something hard, she moved the snow and found Steve's shield frozen in the ice.
EMMA! Steve shouted much louder in her dream and Emma jerked awake and found her room starting to darken as the sun was setting. She was covered in sweat but could still hear Steve's voice echoing in her head.
Emma needed some fresh air. She threw on some work out gear and plugged in her earbuds and took a jog around her neighborhood. She like the neighborhood, for it being in the city, it felt very suburban. She had a little corner market two blocks from her house, it was quaint and very clean and new feeling to it compared to the old buildings surrounding it. She had a church on the corner of her block, a school a few blocks away, and lots of people out walking, jogging, running, or out with their dogs and waving to her as she passed. Maybe she should get a dog?
Emma shook her head at that thought, with as much as she traveled, who would take care of her dog? Emma arrived back home and went into her kitchen and started to peruse her filled cupboards and fridge to find something to eat. She just stared into the fridge for a good 5 minutes before grabbing an apple. She went upstairs and turned on her shower to let it warm up a bit and started to lay out her clothes for bed. She went to pick a book to read before bed and found herself staring at her bookshelf for a good 5 minutes till the running water snapped her out of her trance.
Being normal for a while was going to be tough, it was as if she felt restless. Emma jumped in the shower and felt her mind racing with thoughts of Tony, Natasha, Clint, Pepper, Steve, Phil, Fury, Howard, and Peggy. She missed her friends and missed her busy lifestyle and it had only been a few hours, she wanted rest but her body felt the need to keep going. If she rested, she would continue to have nightmares. She needed to be distracted.
"Fuck this, I cannot have time off." Emma grumbled to herself. She changed and dragged herself into her office and turned her computer on and contacted Fury.
"Agent Baker, what can I do to help you? Settling in well?" He asked on the video.
"Yes the place is wonderful, thank you. But it seems a little break will not do me much good. I need a mission."
"Are you sure?" Fury asked.
"Yes."
"You leave in 0800 hours. You will be meeting Agent Romanoff and Agent Barton in Brazil, they are mid-flight, I will contact them to let you know you will be joining them."
"Thank you sir."
"Anything else Agent?" Fury asked, he could read her, but she couldn't tell him about her nightmares.
"No, thank you director."
))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
"What happened to some time to rest?" Clint asked as Emma walked into the dingy apartment in the middle of Rocinha Favela, Brazil. Emma placed her backpack down on the ground and took off her light blouse and tied it around her waist, feeling the humidity and heat in full force.
"I was restless, not ready for a break just yet." Emma said brushing her hair off from her face, her whole body already felt sticky. She collapsed on the couch next to Nat who was on her laptop searching for their target.
"Why do you think I took on the battle of painting, decorating, and searching for your condo with Coulson and Barton?" Natasha said not looking up at her.
"Yeah, but you hired people to paint and all," Emma teased, "You didn't do much more than search and decorate."
"I painted." Clint piped up from the floor where he was working on his bow.
"Bull," Emma said reaching into her bag to pull out her pistols and started cleaning them.
"Nope, I did. Me and Coulson."
"So is that why there was still blue painters tape in the bath?" Emma asked and Clint threw an arrow head at her. "Hey you could've injured me!"
"It's nice to have the Alpha Team back together but can the Tweedles keep the shenanigans down for a bit," Nat said annoyed. She gets that way when in deep into her tech work.
"Sorry," Emma and Clint said in unison.
"Did you hear about Stark?" Clint said tossing a tablet at Emma and she looked at the Washington Post front page on the digital paper. The front cover showed Tony and Obie from the banquet the other night and read: Stark Industries Under Fire: Weapons Found Being Used By Terrorist Groups
"I knew Obadiah was up to something," Emma commented.
"Yeah but then look at this surveillance footage from a US Air Force flight training," Clint reached over and tapped on another box and opened up video of a man dressed in a red and gold suit flying and avoiding US Air Force pilots. Crap…
"Is that Stark tech?" Clint asked, "Because if so, I don't think Tony is the one causing the weapons deals. That suit came to protect the Middle East towns, destroyed his own weapons. That someone fight against Stark Industries. It looks similar to the suit he created to escape."
Emma went silent and handed the tablet back to Clint, "It's why I left, I was getting to close to Tony and could ruin my job and his life. Coulson is on it now and that's for the best."
"You have to forewarn Coulson if this is all Stain's doing though and not Starks!" Clint protested.
"Coulson already knows! I sent him my files and findings but Stain is smart, too smart. I just hope Tony is going to be alright."
"Enough catch up time, now for debrief. Here is the file on what and who we are dealing with." Clint swiped on the tablet and showed her the file.
The target was a Threat Level Red, surveillance only type. Keep a distance from threat as much as possible. The man was Doctor Bruce Banner who had gone into hiding after a Gamma Bomb some time ago. The Gamma Radiation had caused him to turn into a green rage monster otherwise known as The Hulk.
"Surveillance only? So are we just watching him?" Emma asked.
"Sort of, it's kind of good you came on the project. We need your talents to get close to him, find out if he has found a cure for his problem or if he is something we need to keep an eye on. The US Government, or more like, General Ross are on the hunt for him and it's like a sick obsession of a man hunt for him. We must keep a low profile and keep a safe distance unless in contact with the source, we don't want any of this to get back to Ross. We are trying to keep Banner safe."
"What were you two going to do if I hadn't come along?" Emma asked.
"We were going to wing it, we were kind of hoping you'd come along."
"Found him!" Nat exclaimed excitedly.
"Where is he?" Emma asked.
"He knows how to hide himself well. He has made no waves but he had an incident a few days ago which spiked my search. It was a small one, nothing big. Just a local alley fight but he changed for a few moments and beat the kid to a pulp. Kid woke up and kept saying 'Verde! Verde!' he had some head trauma obviously, but wasn't dead. There is one photo from the scene and shows Banner fleeing. It was only reported in local papers, so no national or bigger coverage for anyone to find him."
"Except you genius," Clint teased.
"Well no one is smarter than me."
"Okay give me coordinates and I can travel there."
"Two days ago, this location," She pointed to the picture of the bar on the screen, "At 8pm as the man claims the attack happened."
"Wear this," Clint put a pin of a butterfly on her tank top and patted her shoulder.
"Okay, travelling a few minutes early. See ya soon."
Emma closed her eyes and focused and felt the rush of her travels and the adrenaline kicked in, she felt the excitement of a mission, the feeling of traveling. She was getting back to herself.
She opened her eyes and found herself in the alley by the bar. She heard scuffles inside and opened the side door and found her target in a conversation with the young punk.
"Look, I apologize but my Portuguese is very, very rusty. I don't understand what happened!" he said holding his hands up in a defensive mode.
"Hey honey!" Emma rushed over tried to calm the situation down. She kissed Banner on the cheek and he looked at her with wild and confused eyes.
"Hi?" He said.
Emma spoke Portuguese swiftly to the kid to back off. The kid didn't want to, he said Banner had taken his drink and his seat.
"What's he saying?!" Banner asked quickly.
"He said you took his drink and his seat," Emma explained
"I didn't! This seat was empty and I had ordered a drink myself."
Emma explained Banner to the kid and the punk got pissed poured his half-drunk beer bottle all over Emma's white tank and it flowed down her shirt covering her blouse wrapped around her waist and her jeans.
"HEY!" Banner yelled and he dragged the kid out the backdoor Emma came in.
"DON'T!" Emma shouted going after them. "He's just a drunk asshole! Don't…" Emma opened the door and felt her words catch in her throat as she saw Banner turn into the rage monster and punch the kid in the head knocking him down by the trashcans but he shook his head and did some breathing and calmed himself down and he turned a normal color. But was naked.
"SHIT!" He yelled noticing her staring and she quickly covered her eyes.
"I didn't see anything, except for a split second, I swear!" She shouted.
He picked up his clothes that he had taken off quickly in the rage so they wouldn't rip and threw them on. He then tossed his jean jacket at Emma.
"Wear that, you can see straight through your top. So we are even," Banner teased and Emma gave a laugh.
Suddenly a gorilla journalist came out of the bar and saw the man on the ground mumbling 'Verde! Verde!' and Emma and Banner hovering close by, they turned and ran but Bruce looked back just as the photo was taken. Just as it was seen in the newspaper.
"Where are we going?"
"Away from that crap." He responded and led her up the cobblestone streets and up the hills and to the top of the mountain city to his apartment.
"Is this how you get all the girls to your place? Cause trouble and make them follow you for safety?" She said as they entered his place. She knew she sounded flirty but she needed information about him.
"No, I'm just trying to keep you safe. You can stay here for the night, you can use my bed and I'll take the floor." He said organizing a spot for him on the floor and his dog came over and sniffed her.
"I was thinking about getting a dog for my place back home."
"Where's home?" he asked.
"Brooklyn. I'm backpacking through South America as a graduation gift to myself." Emma commented as she pet his dog.
"What did you graduate in?" he asked.
"I was a Psych major in college, a lousy major as my dad said. You'll make no money at that. I'm going for my doctrine next year so I can be a Doctor of Psychology and work with kids in schools." Emma was always good at this part. She liked making up stories for herself.
"I didn't get your name?" Banner asked.
"Sorry, Katherine. Katherine Wallace." She stood up and held her hand out to Banner.
"I'm Brian."
"No last name?" Emma asked.
"Hanson."
"Nice to meet you Brian Hanson. The missing member of the band Hanson." Emma flirted and he laughed and Emma saw a smile on Bruce's face and it made her smile.
"So you aren't going to ask about what you saw?" He finally probed.
"I'm still adjusting to it." Emma admitted, she suddenly felt dizzy. "But I hate to run but I should get going. I'm here with a friend and she is probably freaking out right now. I will find you again and we shall discuss what happened. Sounds like you might need a friend to talk to."
Bruce was going to say something but just nodded his head and Emma nodded hers. "Well, goodnight. And thanks!" She waved and then walked out the front door and down the hall and closed her eyes and disappeared.
She opened her eyes and was back in the room with Natasha and Clint. Emma took off the jacket in the afternoon heat and sat down next to Natasha.
"Nice work Agent." Natasha commented with a grin and Emma noticed the computer screen she was looking at was the room itself. Emma looked down at the pin and saw it was a camera.
"You saw the whole thing?" Emma said shocked.
"Yeah, nice flirting job." Clint elbowed her.
"How did you get tech to work during my travel?" Emma asked curious and intrigued.
"It's something I've been working on for some time now, to help us see what you see and maybe use for future missions."
"We didn't see much after you got Banner's jacket but we heard everything which worked for a test run. So, you need to go back and find out more about him and his powers now." Clint said.
"Well, let me change first so I'm not in the same attire and I can go today, that way then it doesn't look odd." Emma grabbed her bag and changed into a new tank and jeans and boots. She threw another sheer blouse on over her navy blue tank and carried Bruce's jacket over her arm. She got decked out in an ear piece and her butterfly cam. She also put a pistol in her belt for safety and tried to remember where Bruce was and thought hard to travel there rather than walk or take a bus. She closed her eyes and traveled there.
It was the same day only seconds had passed.
"Success Emma! Now go get some information about Threat Red." Natasha said in her ear.
Emma went inside and up the stairs and found the familiar door and knocked. Bruce opened it and looked surprised to see her.
"Katherine!"
"Hi Brian, I came to drop off your jacket and so we could talk," She said holding out the jacket to him.
"Yeah, I thought maybe I would never see you again. You left in such a hurry." He said taking the jacket from her.
"Well, I had to go. I told my friend I went hiking today, she won't be missing me for a few hours."
"Good, good." Natasha said
"So, can I come in?" She asked.
"Oh…yeah, yeah!" Bruce said nervous. He ushered her inside and she followed him in.
"What's with the high tech equipment in the corner?" Natasha mused
"So you got some pretty nice equipment over there," Emma said pointing to it.
"It's what I use to communicate with someone to help me find a cure for my condition." He said.
"So you have a disease? Is that why you turn green and can knock a guy out like he's a fly?"
"Nice one!" Clint shouted in her ear.
"Sort of, I was a professor at a college and a horrible accident happened and well, I turn into a monster when I get under emotional stress."
"Thanks for the cliff notes version professor, but we want the whole story. Is he doing any better?" Natasha's sarcasm seeped into Emma's ear.
"Well, I promise not to put you under emotional stress." Emma sat back from him and smiled, "But it looks like you got a better handle on your problem professor."
"I do, that was my first incident in over 100 days. I see a guru who helps me strength train and teaches me how to control my anger by controlling my body and my breathing. I watch my heart rate. Also, working with my ally to help me find the cure is good as well. I've almost cracked the code."
"He might be almost smarter than me," Natasha mused.
"That's good. I'm very impressed Doctor." Emma said. But felt her slip up and kept her cool.
"Doctor? How did you know I was a Doctor?" he asked curious and wary.
"I figured if you were a professor who could figure out a cure for a disease you had to have had your doctrine. Reason why I'm getting mine." She watched as Bruce's face relaxed and Emma felt a surge of relief in her chest.
"Good cover Emma, nice." Clint commented.
"Would you like anything to drink?" Bruce asked.
"No, I'm good thank you," Emma replied.
"You look thirsty, please let me get you a glass of water." He said getting up.
"Don't drink it, he's on to you." Clint warned. "He might put something in it."
"Do something to make yourself interested in him and not his monster side, we got to get him off the trail." Natasha ordered.
Emma got up and walked around the small room and pet his sleeping dog in the corner and noticed a newspaper clipping near his bed of a woman.
"Betty Ross, General Ross' daughter and his former girlfriend or still current?"
"Stop Nat, you make this sound like some tabloid crap."
"Well, I'm trying to give her accurate information!"
"Shh!" Emma hissed to herself.
"What was that?" Bruce said from the other side of the room.
"I sneezed," Emma covered. "Who is this woman?" She asked pointing to the clipping and Bruce came closer to her and handed her a glass.
"She's…she's not important." Bruce brushed off. "My past is my past, tell me more about yourself, future Doctor Wallace."
Emma smiled and gave a flirtatious laugh, "Well, that's if I finish my doctrine. I'm liking South America so far. It's beautiful, all the culture."
'This city isn't beautiful," Bruce scoffed.
"Then why do you live here?"
"Because it's the farthest away I could get without hurting anyone and that I could cure myself in peace. It seemed a fitting place for a monster to hide."
Emma felt an urge and reached up and touched his face, "But you aren't a monster."
"What are you doing?" Clint asked
"Give her time."
"You barely know me," he said taking her hand away from his face and walking away.
"I know more than you realize. I'm a Psych major, I can read people's eyes and faces and body language." He stopped and turned and looked at her, "You aren't a monster, you are fighting it so hard that it's making you stronger and you keep having doubts, when in reality, you shouldn't. You can figure this out, just give yourself a little more time."
Bruce walked closer to her and looked deeply into her eyes, "Who are you?"
"I'm a friend, here to help you. You aren't a threat to anyone any more, you never will be."
At that exact moment Emma had a flash and a vision of Bruce, a little older, not by much but smiling and laughing in a lab with Tony. Then a flash to him as the Hulk, his Green Rage Monster fighting alongside Natasha and Clint and then the vision ended abruptly, almost painfully.
"Whoa…" She said out loud.
"What?" He asked confused.
"You had a vision didn't you? Your body vitals spiked!" Natasha said excited.
"Yeah" she said answering Natasha, "Nothing, just I surprise myself sometimes with what I can read about people." She answered Bruce.
"You are the first person who has treated me normally and believed in me. Everyone else who knows about my curse, just treats me differently."
"No one should be treated differently even if they have something they can't control or understand or burdened upon them. But you Bruce, you have to believe in yourself. It will all turn out okay."
"Katherine…wait…"He stopped realizing she said his actual name.
"Get out of there Emma, get out now!" Natasha yelled in her ear.
"I figured it out when I saw Betty Ross' picture. I have to go."
"Who are you really?" he grabbed her hand as she started to leave.
"A friend, we shall meet again someday." And with that she ran out the door and hid in a closet down the hall and thought of Natasha and Clint and disappeared.
"What was that?!" Clint asked ripping off his headset as Natasha did the same. Emma took out her ear piece and took off her camera pin and put them in his hands.
"I made a different call, similar to one you made a long time ago." Clint backed down at that.
"But why? What was your vision?" Natasha asked.
"He's not a threat, he will be one of us one day. I saw it. Now, let's wrap this up and get a report to Fury and get wheels up." Emma started to pack up the equipment.
"I agree, he's not a threat but he still has that power. We need to still keep an eye on him," Natasha commented.
"No, if we do, Ross is clever and conniving, I saw the file. He is sickly obsessed with this and if he catches wind that SHIELD is still keeping tabs on Banner, he will pounce on our findings. We have to report its fine and to leave this as a closed case, for now."
Natasha nodded her head and started writing up the report while Clint finished packing with Emma.
'Nice job Emma." He said nudging her, "You are a good Agent and made the right call."
"Thanks Clint."
Just then her cell phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Emma, we need you back at Stark base ASAP. We are in trouble. Obadiah has gone crazy and I am with Miss Potts now trying to track down the Iron Man Suit he built. Tony is in trouble, you are back on the mission. We are at Threat Level Red."