Chapter 14: What A Tangled Web We Weave

She couldn't breathe. She couldn't move. Her chest began to ache, as if someone's hand was wrapped around her heart and squeezing. A choked cry forced itself up her throat.

"Hill. What is it?" asked Barton concern evident in his voice.

"Maria, are you there?" Coulson's voice rang in her ear.

Phil's voice was like a punch to her chest. Her breath shot from her lips and it was as if a light switch went on her brain.

"Where's Natasha now?

Maria saw Barton stiffen at her words and his eyes shot wide.

Maria waited for Coulson's response but her question went unanswered as she heard Coulson let out a shaky breath.

"Phil," growled Maria not liking his silence.

"We don't know Maria," said Coulson softly.

"Please tell me she is alive," whispered Maria the emotions in her voice almost causing the words to barely come out.

"We think so," said Coulson softly but reassuringly. "I'll brief you on everything when you get back. But first," Coulson paused and cleared his throat uncomfortably, "Fury needs you talk to the big guy."

"Phil…" hissed Maria instantly knowing who he meant by the "big guy."

"I know," said Phil interrupting her, "but Fury says that he is the only one that can trace the low levels of gamma radiation that the tesseract admits. If we find the tesseract we find Natasha."

"And we can't send Barton? Or Rogers?" asked Maria frustration evident in her voice.

"Fury believes he will trust you," sighed Coulson.

Maria sighed in frustration at Coulson's words. She reached up and ran her hand through her hair, pulling on it slightly.

"Fine. But I am sending the team to you," said Maria. "I want Stark to have full access to SHIELD's tech. Barton, Thor and Rogers will have access to everything as well. I want a plan in place by the time I get back with the doctor."

"That shouldn't be a problem."

Maria tried to ignore the uncertainty in Phil's voice.

"Make it happen," ordered Maria bringing her gaze to Barton whom was still staring at her with concern. She looked over his shoulder to see Tony, Thor and Rogers standing at the top of the hill watching them from a distance. "I am sending them to you now. Where is the doctor?"

"He is in Kolkata, India."

"Great. Set me up with a Transport."

Maria hung up her phone. She saw Barton open his mouth to question her but she quickly held up her hand silencing him before turning to address the woman behind her.

"I am leaving. But this conversation is not over and I will be back. If you try running, I will find you and I will not be happy."

The doctor nodded.

"I will be here."

Maria nodded and then turned to Barton. She shouldered past him and started walking up the hill towards the jet.

"Hill, what is going on?" called Barton after her.

Maria increased her pace and made it up the hill with ease. She stopped in front of the men and waited for Barton to reach the top.

She heard him make it to the top before turning to stare at him.

"Natasha's been compromised," said Maria schooling her features and making sure to keep her voice in full Commander mode. Maria ignored the way the men around her stiffened. "I am sending you all back to the helicarrier. I need you all working on a way to find her and start gathering intel. I want a plan of attack when I get back."

The men around her nodded.

"Wait," asked Barton, "where are you going?"

Maria sighed and nodded at his question.

"Fury needs me to talk to Dr. Banner."

"You are going alone?" asked Rogers, the tone of his voice letting everyone know that he did not like the idea.

Maria almost snapped at Rogers but stopped herself as she realized the man was concerned for her safety.

"I will be fine Steve," said Maria softly, using his first name for the first time since meeting him.

Steve paused at her words and clearly wanted to protest, but the use of his first name had him nodding stiffly at her.

"Okay," nodded Maria looking around at the team. "Let's do this."

Dr. Bruce Banner sighed as he stared down at the very sick children on the bed. He knew it was too late for them. Ever since he arrived here he felt as if he was fighting a losing battle. He stared down at the sick child again. He would make them comfortable, it was all he could do.

There was a sound of little footsteps running up the stairs and then mother of the sick child yelled in Hindi.

"What are you doing here?! Get out! You shouldn't be here!"

"I have to see the doctor!" cried out a small voice which had Bruce turning. "It's my father!"

"Calm down," said Bruce stepping forward his Hindi a little rough, "What is wrong?"

The little girl froze as she stared at him before speaking, her voice small, "My father…" her voice fading as she stared at the sick children on the bed and tears began to gather in her eyes.

Bruce's heart broke at the little girls tear filled eyes.

"Is he like this?" asked Bruce softly crouching down in front of her and pointing to the sick children on the bed before looking back to the little girl.

A tear made its way down the little girls face as she held out some money to Bruce.

"Please," she cried in English.

Bruce nodded at the little girl and then turned to the adults in the room. He reached into his bag and gave some pain medication to them, explaining that it would make the children comfortable. They cried at his words before thanking him. Bruce nodded before turning to the small child and began following her down the stairs.

"Show me," he said to her and watched as she nodded and began leading him quickly. Bruce quickly followed her down the street and then down a deserted road. A lone house was at the end of the road. Suddenly, a government car turned onto the road. Bruce reacted quickly and stepped in front of the girl and kneeled in front of her, hiding himself and the little girl as best as he could. He only had to wait a few seconds before the vehicle passed them.

As soon as the vehicle rounded the corner Bruce stood up and let the girl once again lead him to the lone house at the end of the road. He quickly followed her inside. She rounded the corner and Bruce picked up the pace. He rounded the corner only to watch as the little girl hopped on to a chest, turning to give him a passing glance before escaping through the window.

Bruce froze as he watched the girl escape through the window. He could feel the "other guy" stir in side of him at the obvious set up.

"Should have got paid up front Banner," joked Bruce to himself hoping the humor would calm the big guy down.

Bruce saw a movement out of the corner of his eye to see a very hard looking woman in khaki cargo pants, a black shirt, and intimidating tattoos on her arms, with pair of a dark sunglasses on, appear from behind the curtains to his left.

"You know, for a man who's supposed to avoiding stress, you picked a hall of a place to settle," said the woman making her presence known and leaning up against a wood pillar.

Bruce stiffened at her words and stepped backwards putting some distance between the two of them. He tried to ignore the fact that the "other guy" was uneasily quiet at the woman's presence. He seemed intrigued by the woman.

"Avoiding stress isn't the secret," said Bruce stepping to the side and looking out the window to see just how bad this situation really is.

"Then, what is it?" asked the woman softly, smirking at the man. "Yoga?"

Bruce saw through the woman's teasing. She was trying to set him at ease but he refused to get comfortable around her. Something was definitely wrong here. He knew it.

"You brought me to the edge of the city, smart," nodded Bruce turning to the woman before crossing his arms over his chest and leveling the woman with a look. "I assume the place is surrounded?"

The woman's smirk only increased at his question before she pushed herself off of the wood pillar and began to slowly approach him before shaking her head.

"It's just you and me."

Bruce scoffed not believing the woman for a second, "And your actress buddy, is she a spy too? Do they start that young?"

The woman frowned at his words before going silent for a second.

"Unfortunately some do."

Bruce could hear the emotions in the woman's voice but he has worked with these type of people in the past. They were very good at playing on the emotions of their mark, and he refused to lower his defenses, only for this woman to capitalize on it.

"Who are you?"

Bruce watched as his words seemed to surprise the woman out of her deep thought. She took it in stride though and turned to Bruce.

"Maria Hill."

Bruce paused at her answer as he racked his name trying to think if he has ever heard of this name. He feels like the heard of the name somewhere but couldn't quite place it. As he thought about it longer though he doubted that it wasn't even the woman's real name.

"Are you here to kill me, Maria Hill?" asked Bruce watching the woman closely for any reaction to his words. "Because that's not gonna work out for everyone."

"No," said Maria Hill stiffening at his words. "No," she repeated, "of course not. I am here on behalf of SHIELD."

It was all coming together now for Bruce. The woman didn't look like any SHIELD Agent he had ever seen. Although, now that he thought about it, the woman did have an intimidating presence like Nick Furry.

"SHIELD," nodded Bruce stepping forward, just slightly more comfortable around the woman. "How did they fine me?"

Maria Hill scoffed at his words, "They never lost you doctor. They just kept their distance. They even helped keep other interested parties off your scent."

"Why?"

She shrugged slightly, "Nick Fury seems to trust you and now he is requesting that you come in."

Bruce stiffened at her words.

"And if I refuse?"

Maria Hill seemed to ignore his newly adopted tense body language as she walked towards the table and sat down.

"I'll persuade you," she said before nodding towards the open chair across from her.

Bruce walked slowly to the chair and sat down, his eyes never leaving the woman across from him.

"And what if the…other guy says no?" asked Bruce testing the woman.

She ignored his words completely as she reached in her pocket and pulling out her phone typing on it before answering. "You have been without an incident for year. I don't think you wanna break that streak."

Bruce leaned back in his chair, "I don't always get what I want," he pointed out.

He watched as she nodded at his words and typed on the phone for a few more seconds, "Doctor Banner, we're facing a potential global catastrophe."

Bruce couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his lips at her words.

"Well, those I actively avoid."

Maria Hill pushed her phone across the table. There was a picture of a glowing cube on the screen and a report attached to it.

"That is the Tesseract," she nodded towards the phone waiting for Bruce to pick it up an examine it. "It has the potential energy to wipe out the planet."

Bruce stared at the cube on the phone before accessing the file. He quickly read through the report before setting the phone down and leaning back in his chair.

"What does Fury want me to do? Swallow it?"

Maria Hill smirked at his words and shook her head, "He wants you to find it. It's been taken. It emits a gamma signature that's too weak for us to trace. There's no one that knows gamma radiation like you do. If there was, that's where I'd be."

Bruce scoffed again. He didn't believe it for a second.

"So Fury isn't after the monster?"

Bruce couldn't help the noticeable shift in Maria Hill's body language at the word monster. Interesting.

"Not that I am aware of."

It was an evasive answer and the tone of her voice was darker then it was before.

"And he tells you everything?" mocked Bruce his tone now darkening as well.

He watched the woman's hands clench into fists on the table.

"Talk to Fury," she growled, "he needs you on this."

Bruce chuckled darkly.

"He needs me in a cage?"

He knew he was pushing her but he needed to know her intentions towards him and judging by her body language she did not like the direction this conversation was going.

"No one's going to put you in a…"

"STOP LYING TO ME!" yelled Bruce standing quickly and smashing his hands on the table making it shake.

He wanted to see her reaction to the "other guy" possibly coming out. He waited for the gun he thought for sure was hidden under the table. But instead he was surprised to see the woman not even flinch at his outburst. She sat there stoic, her eyes brows rising behind her glasses in a silent challenge.

"Really, nothing?" asked Bruce surprised as he stared around the house trying to listen for the STRIKE team that he truly thought was surrounding the house.

"I am not afraid of you Dr. Banner and I told you I came alone," said Maria Hill softly relaxing in the chair.

Bruce sat in his chair as he stared at the woman in surprise before frowning at her. Now that he was certain that Maria Hill wasn't here to try and take him, he was able to relax…slightly. He assessed the women for moment, taking in her demeanor, her tattoos, the fact that she was wearing sunglasses at night, yes…there was more to this woman that she has let on.

"Who are you, really?"

She shifted in her chair at his question and Bruce watched as the woman before her shifted into almost a completely different person. She straightened in her chair. Her shoulders became rigid and suddenly she became bigger, more imposing.

"My name is Commander Maria Hill," her voice was stronger, more assertive and commanding. "I am the Deputy Director of SHIELD."

Bruce's eyebrows rose at this.

"Fury sent his Deputy Director to bring me in?"

The only reaction he received from his question was the slight tick in her cheek as she nodded at him.

"Fury believed that you would be more receptive to my presence."

Bruce stared at her confused, "I don't even know you. Why would Fury think I would trust you?"

Bruce watched as the woman nodded stiffly at his words. He didn't think it was possible but the woman got even more rigid in her seat and she went silent.

Bruce stared at her waiting for her answer. He waited, and waited, and waited. Bruce was a patient man but the silence was grating his nerves.

"Commander Hill…"

"General Ross," she gritted out interrupting him.

For the first time since meeting the mystery woman the "other guy" made his presence known within Bruce. All it took was that "mans" name being said and the
"other guy" wanted to rip apart the entire house apart.

"What did you just say?" the anger in Bruce's voice was evident and very much real.

He watched as Commander Hill once again didn't seem to react at his anger.

"Fury believes you would trust me because of my past history involving General Ross and my severe hate for the man."

"You have past dealing with him?" asked Bruce avoiding using "his" name.

Commander Hill nodded stiffly.

"He is hunting me, like you."

Bruce once again found himself assessing the woman in front of him. Why would "he" want her?

"Why?"

Bruce was almost positive the Commander was going to break her teeth from clenching her jaw so hard.

"While I was a Captain in the Army I was exposed to high levels of gamma radiation. It resulted in my heightened strength and speed. General Ross…took an interest in me."

The coldness in the Commander's tone and her words told Bruce four things—One: This woman indeed was telling the truth, you can't fake hate that real. Two: He was talking to the only other person in the world whom hates "him" at the same level, if not more than Bruce. Three: There was definitely more to her story then "him" just taking an interest in her. Four: Fury was right, he did trust her.

Maria and Dr. Banner rode in silence on the Quinjet. It was a long flight and Maria knew that Dr. Banner had a lot of reading to do. The Quinjet landed on the helicarrier which was currently floating in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Maria pressed the button to open that hatch and instantly noticed Phil waiting for her at the bottom.

"Agent Coulson," nodded Maria to the man.

"Sir," acknowledged Coulson. "Fury needs you. The World Security Council has called a meeting. Fury wants you in on it."

Maria sighed. Dealing with The World Security Council was not something she wanted to deal with right now. She couldn't ignore it though, no matter how much she wanted to. She was the Deputy Director of SHIELD after all. She had a responsibility.

"Okay," nodded Maria before walking away but not before calling an order over her shoulder. "I want to be debriefed on your progress as soon as I am out. Gather everyone. I will be in the control center in 15 minutes."

Coulson turned to Dr. Banner, whom just finally made his way down the hanger. Coulson gave him a reassuring nod before turning to follow Maria down the deck.

Dr. Banner watched them go, confused as to what exactly he was supposed to do know.

"Dr. Banner."

Bruce turned at the voice to see Captain America smiling him and offering him his hand. He smiled nervously as he reached out and shook the offered hand.

"Hello," said Bruce nodding politely, "I was told you would be here."

Steve gave the man a reassuring smile and nodded.

"Word is that you can find the cube."

Bruce nodded but frowned slightly before looking around at the SHIELD Agents running around the runway.

"Is that the only word?"

"Only word I care about."

Bruce turned back to Captain America and assessed the man quickly noting the honestly in his voice before nodding.

"This must be strange for you," he commented indicating with his hand to the chaos going on around them, "all of this."

Steve smiled as he looked around to the bustling Agents.

"Well, this is actually pretty familiar."

The both looked around for a few moments before a siren sounded on the deck.

"We better get inside Dr. Banner," called out Steve raising his voice over the siren.

Bruce looked around the deck to see the men now tying down the jets. The sound of water rushing from the side of the boat had Dr. Banner looking over its edge before turning back to Captain America.

"Really? They want me in a submerged pressurized container?"

Steve smiled slightly at his words and shook his head before indicating with his hand for Dr. Banner to follow him.

"It isn't a submarine doctor."

Bruce's eyebrows rose at this as he followed Captain America to an open door. They were almost to the door before he felt the ship start to rise. He turned around to see four large propellers spinning, lifting the ship up.

"Oh no…this is much worse."

"This is out of line Director! You're dealing with forces you can't control."

Maria sighed as she walked into the room to see Fury standing in the middle of the room surrounded by holographic council members.

Fury turned at her presence assessing her quickly. He frowned at the glasses on her face but gave her a stiff nod before turning to the council members.

"Have you ever been at war, Councilman? In a firefight? Did you feel an overabundance of control?

Maria nodded at Fury's words before stepping up beside him. Truer words could not have been spoken.

"Are you saying that this Asgard…" the same councilman spoke again pausing as he noticed her presence before continuing, "are you saying that he has declared war on our planet?"

"Not Asgard," said Fury shaking his head, "Loki."

The other male councilman jumped in, concern evident in his voice, "he can't be working alone. What about the other one? His brother."

Maria answered this question, "Our intelligence says Thor is not hostile. He was with me when his brother attacked the PEGASUS base. He has nothing to do with this."

"My concern is that this Loki of Asgard is powerful beyond anything we can match. I sent you the surveillance footage from the lab. One of our best STRIKE teams was taken out in a matter of seconds and one of our best SHIELD assets was compromised."

"We have all seen the footage Director. Are we certain that Agent Romanoff was not in on this? We all expressed to you our concern about bringing the Black Widow to SHIELD. She is unpredictable and dangerous…"

"Agent Romanoff," said Fury stepping in front of Maria quickly silencing the angry rebuttal that was at the tip of her tongue, "is a SHIELD asset. She has shown her dedication to SHIELD on multiple occasions and is one of my most trusted Agents. I was present when Loki took control over Agent Romanoff and I assure you she fought him until the end."

Fury waited a few seconds before stepping to the side again to allow Maria to see the council members again.

"This isn't the first time we have had a visitor from another planet who has an agenda. We learned then, just like we are learning now that not only are we not alone, but we are hopelessly, hilariously, outgunned."

The silence in the room was uncomfortable and Fury looked over his shoulder to Maria then nodding to her and indicating for her to step up.

Maria stiffened at his look but stepped forward and addressed the council.

"We need a response team."

Maria rolled her eyes behind her glasses at the shouts of outrage from the holographic councilmembers.

"PHASE 2 was designed for exactly this!"

"The Avenger's initiative was shut down!"

"This isn't about the Avengers," said Maria firmly talking over all of them, effectively shutting them up.

"Commander Hill, we're running the world's greatest covert security network and you believe we should leave the fate of the human race to a handful," the councilman paused as he eyed Maria up and down, disgust evident on his face, "of freaks."

Maria heard Fury shift behind her at the councilmen's words. She looked over her shoulder to see Fury opening his mouth, his face contorted in rage. Maria stepped in front of him just like he did to her a few minutes prior.

"We scare you, don't we?" asked Maria watching the councilman's eyes shoot wide in shock and then anger. But she saw it in his eyes. She was correct in her assumption.

The councilman opened his mouth to respond.

"I see it in your eyes councilman," interrupted Maria. "You fear us. You fear the freaks."

Maria watched the man close his mouth and glare at Maria. She looked around the room to see all four council members with the same wide eyes as they stared at her.

"The job of protecting people is a job I fell into, really. Overtime I realized there are shades of gray to all of it. Throughout my life of protecting people I have seen beautiful and amazing things, acts of great valor…" Maria voice trailed off, "but I have also seen cruelty, destruction, hate and an unspeakable evil."

"And what you say might be true…I may be a freak…all of us…the Avengers. But freaks or not, like it or not…you need us."

Maria stepped forward making sure to make eye contact with every council member.

"Understand this, we could leave. We could leave this place and watch from a distance as the world as you know it is destroyed."

Maria made sure the truthfulness in her statement was heard by each one of the before turning to stare at Fury.

"I am certainly capable of leaving. I would like nothing more. To put the world behind me and finally live my life free. Free of the burdens that people in power have bestowed upon me. I don't want to be needed. I don't want this power and I certainly don't want the responsibility that comes with it. I want to run."

Maria and Fury stared at one another for a few moments before she continued.

"But do you know how I know I won't?" Maria paused to turn back around to the council members. "I know because when I really start questioning myself, and whether or not I am the monster everyone believes me to be, I remember—I, and the men and woman that I stand with, the Avengers, the good and bad, faults and all—no matter how right we believe we are…we never let people die just to prove our damn point. We won't let innocent people die just to make you realize that you need us."

Maria paused steadying herself before speaking, her voice strong and powerful.

"Now I don't know if that's enough for you, or the rest of the world, but for the time being—it'll have to do."

Maria gave them all a pointed look before turning and walking away. She made it to the door before pausing. She did not turn around but spoke one last time.

"The Avengers will stop Loki, with or without your consent."

Dr. Selvig and several scientists from the PEGASUS site were working on an underground lab that Loki had set up for them.

"Dr. Selvig."

Dr. Selvig looked up from the computer to see Agent Romanoff approach him holding a tablet.

"Is this what you need?" she asked holding out the tablet to him.

Dr. Selvig reached forward and grabbed the tablet to see metal substance on the screen. He nodded at the screen a smile on his face as he read the report attached to the image.

"Yes! Iridium!" he looked up from the tablet to Agent Romanoff. "It is found in meteorites, its forms anti-protons. It's very hard to get a hold of."

Agent Romanoff nodded and accepted the tablet back from him before looking down at the information for a second time.

"I will be even harder to get ahold of now if SHIELD knows you need it."

Dr. Selvig shook his head and smiled, "they don't know we need it. I didn't know back then…" over Agent Romanoff's shoulder he saw Loki approaching. He quickly moved passed her and approached him. "Loki! The Tesseract is showing me so much. It's more than just knowledge…its truth!"

Loki stopped in front of the man and smirked.

"I know," said Loki before looking over to Agent Romanoff. "What did it show you, Agent Romanoff?"

Agent Romanoff approached him as she pushed a few buttons on her tablet before flipping it to show Loki.

"My next target," she answered showing Loki a picture of the doctor's whose retinal scan would be required to access the Iridium.

Loki smirked at the coldness in her voice before nodding.

"Tell me what you need."

"I need a team," said Natasha instantly.

Loki nodded before stepping away smirking. He looked around the warehouse for a few moments before turning back to Agent Romanoff.

"SHIELD has no shortage of enemies Agent Romanoff…" Loki paused as he a sound much to faint for a mortal to hear sounded behind him. "And it seems "your team" has arrived."

Loki turned around to stare at a darkened corner of the warehouse. He felt Agent Romanoff move to stand next to him.

They both watched as a United States Armed Forces Strike team came into the light.

Agent Romanoff eyed the team with confusion evident on her face. There was no blue tint to any of the soldier's eyes which led her to believe that they were all here on their own accord. Why would the United States Armed Forces freely agree to work with Loki?

"How?" questioned Agent Romanoff looking to Loki then back to the Strike team.

Loki smirked at the confused look on Agent Romanoff's face before turning to the team. He then gestured to two men, indicating for them to step forward.

The men did as he requested and approached stopping just a few feet from them.

"Agent Romanoff this is Captain Emil Blonksy. He is a British Royal Marines that is currently on loan to the United States Armed Forces," Loki paused and allowed Agent Romanoff and Captain Blonksy nod to one another before moving to the next man. "And this," he paused pointing to the very large formidable African American man, "this is General Joe Greller. General Greller was asked by his superior to put this team together for us."

Agent Romanoff and General Greller traded nods before she turned back to Loki.

"Sir, how do we know we can trust them? SHIELD and the United States have close ties. How do we know this isn't a trap?"

Loki chuckled darkly at Agent Romanoff's question.

"Because Agent Romanoff I have struck an accord with them. They will help me get the Iridium and breach the SHIELD helicarrier, and in return I will give them what they want."

Agent Romanoff turned from Loki to look at the men before them.

"If caught, they are all risking treason, court-martial and they will be tried by the International Criminal Court with the United Nations…, " Agent Romanoff paused to bring her gaze back to Loki, "So if you don't mind me asking, sir…what could the United States Armed Forces want that is worth that risk?"

Loki opened his mouth to respond…

"What we want Agent Romanoff is worth everything," said a voice from behind the Strike team.

Everyone turned to the voice and the Strike team parted to reveal a man that Agent Romanoff instantly recognized.

General Ross eyed the Agent Romanoff a smirk forming on his lips as he spoke.

"We want Captain Maria Hill."